#it’s the writers fault for making raps that way

[reedmurdock]

Figure You Out- Mattheo Riddle

A/N: This one shot is based off the song Figure you out by Voilá

Summary: Mattheo, your childhood friend, knows you better than anyone else including your new boyfriend.

POV: 1st/2nd/3rd  Gender: fem/GN/m

Warnings: Jealousy, bad bf (not Mattheo), me writing while I have writer' block 😅, also I changed the Rolling Stones to Måneskin bc  I love them

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I could love you with my eyes closed Kiss you with a blindfold Figure you out (mm mmh) I might hold you with my hands tied Show you I'm the right guy To figure you out

——|——

     Mattheo stared at you from across the Great Hall. You were seated beside your new boyfriend, some Ravenclaw boy whose name he couldn't remember. The boy was too caught up in his conversation with his friends that he didn't pay any mind to the hand you nudged him with to get his attention. Mattheo frowned when the boy just brushed you off and continued talking.

   "Is that git still not giving them attention?" Draco asked, sliding into the bench across from him. Mattheo shook his head still glaring daggers at the Ravenclaw boy that, in his opinion, didn't deserve an ounce of your care and love.

   "I know them better than anyone. If you put me in a room with a hundred other people with a blindfold and my hands tied, I could find them from their voice. Also, he got them tickets to a rap concert. They like Måneskin a lot better than rap." Mattheo sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He knew he could treat you so much better. He'd known you forever.

——|——

   "Does he even give you any love?" Mattheo asked you while you guys were hanging out in the Slytherin common room. 

   "I mean he always invites me when he goes places with his friends. They're fun to be around I guess," you said not looking Mattheo in the eye and picking at the skin around your nails. Mattheo tilted your head up, giving you no other choice but to look at him.

   "That's not what I asked. I asked if he gave you love," he snapped though the anger was not directed at you but at your sad excuse for a boyfriend. Your silence told him all he needed to know.

——|——

   "I don't think this is working," your boyfriend said, "You seem to take a liking to the Riddle boy. You give him so much more attention than you do me." he nitpicked as if he was the victim to neglect. Instead of begging him not to break up or profusely apologizing like he thought you would, you countered his faults he found in you.

   "No. Ever since we started dating, you didn't give me an ounce of affection, in public or private. In fact you seemed embarrassed when I tried to hold your hand or touch you in any way around anyone you knew. Even when we were by ourselves, you pushed me away when I reached out. I tried to make this work even when I clearly saw it wouldn't. I'm done trying and I'm done with you!" you yelled and walked off leaving a very stunned Ravenclaw alone in the hallway. Mattheo approached him with a smirk on his face, "Didn't go how you expected huh?"

——|——

   Draco walk into the common room to see you and Mattheo curled up under a black fluffy blanket reading a book together. Although Mattheo was paying more attention to you reading rather than reading himself. Draco chuckled and made his way up to his dormitory happy for his friend.

   "You know, I bet if you put a blindfold on my I could still kiss you just the same. I could hold you with my hands tied," Mattheo said with a content smile on his face. He gently took the book and laced it on the table in front of you, pulled you closer to him, and pressed kisses all over your face until both of you were laughing and giggling like little kids. 

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A/N: AHHHHHH, I think this is one of my favourites. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm sorry if it was a bit choppy, I've had a very bad case of writer's block. I hope after this I can post more. Love you guys ❤️❤️

Word count:710

[discotenny]

How their division teammates are effected by your breakup - headcanons

Ichiro, Sasara, Jyushi

Ichiro

Jiro and Saburo still ask of you. He hasn’t told them that you’re never going to go to one of Jiro’s football games again. He doesn’t have the heart to tell Saburo there’s never going to be another chess rematch between you two.

Seeing the effect your presence had on his brothers is almost too overwhelming to bear. He feels guilty not telling them of your break up, but he knows he’d feel even guiltier if they knew it was his fault they’d never see you again.

When the two call out to you in the streets, excitedly yelling your name as Ichiro internally cries in the background- you look away. Seeing the excitement in their eyes die out and hurt settle in at the realization is one of the worst things Ichiro’s ever seen.

Sasara

Rosho looks at him and guilt from years past resurfaces. Sasara’s reaction is all too similar to one of years past. Denial of pain, overcompensating with humor, and binging of harmful habits. Rosho can’t help but feel helpless. He can’t even be mad at you, after all he did the same to Sasara once before.

Rei sees Sasara and feels partial guilt for playing into his bad habits. He doesn’t know how to comfort him other than offering to pay for drinks or a meal- so they go out more than they already did.

When he’s drunk, Sasara spills it all. The hurt, the pain, the old happy memories. Rei and Rosho wonder if there’s hope for you two to rekindle your love, all so they can see their friend smile once more.

Jyushi

Hitoya is the one that immediately notices his change of behavior. No matter how much effort he puts into his Chuuni persona, the underlying message of his words is clear.

He tries his best to cheer him up, just like he did before. He tells Jyushi stories of his own romance troubles but it only seems to remind him of old memories. He takes Jyushi out to places, but again it just reminds him of things he used to do with you.

Kuko wants to confront you for breaking his friends heart- Hitoya having to physically hold him back from stomping to your house and challenging you to a rap battle. Both of them just hate seeing Jyushi this way, and want to do everything they can to help him feel just a bit better.

Bonus

Dice notices that Gentaro doesn’t tease him as much ever since you broke up with him. Maybe it’s a win that he’s not being exploited just to get some cash- but it’s odd seeing the eccentric writer solemn and distant. Ever since you left, it seemed like Gentaro forgot how to have fun with life.

Samatoki’s stubbornness is the biggest source of pain for Jyuto. Samatoki grumbles whenever he sees something that even reminds him of you- which unfortunately is a lot of things. Which were once associated with fluff and happiness- now linked with bitterness of a love lost. It makes Jyuto’s job much, much more difficult, much to his annoyance.

Ichiro makes a small comment about Jiro not staying out as late anymore. Saburo follows it up saying that he noticed Jiro stopped making such large lunches for school. It makes Jiro stop eating, pausing as he thinks of an excuse. Of course, his brothers didn’t know of his secret romance. And they didn’t know of your secret break up either.

———

Kindashitty ??? Srry LOLOL. I just needed to write sm angst rn and I couldn’t think of any other ideas, my b guys lsndofbeodnfon

[divorceblogger]

spoilers for ep7 below the cut, beware that I discuss power balances, abuse and assault with book spoilers. I mostly discuss siuan, moiraine, rand, lan and elaida.

sooo much discourse about siuan and it’s personally very disturbing that people think it’s alright for the show to radically deviate from her established characterisation* (1. which is specifically, purposefully IN CONTRAST to elaida in the books 2. violates its own canon about siuan trusting Dreams, foretellings and prophecies wrt to the dragon more fervently than moiraine herself) or that she was reaping the consequences of her actions when she was deposed in tsr, ignoring how siuan isn’t unique in keeping secrets as an aes sedai or how gawyn and galad are intentionally treated like spoiled, privileged children who think they’re cleverer than they really are when they act without considering the consequences of their actions or how the books frame the whole sequence as a tragedy of errors on all sides. I’m pretty sure @/amemoryofwot made the breakdown on the black ajah to non black ajah sisters in the hall and it was very revelatory about the exact significance of the stakes set up against siuan. I also think it’s important to not ignore the gender dimension involved in the way people approach rand and mat as opposed to moiraine or egwene or siuan - male characters are always better tolerated when they make morally questionable choices while women are systemically taken apart and derided for being foolish.

that said. it’s very telling that the show is solely interested in moiraine almost to a fault; we’ve had 5 different expositions with significant screentime about moiraine pushing people away from alanna, anvaere and verin - and at some point it just becomes very bad writing. viewers are not juvenile. they don’t need to be rapped over the head over a concept that the show catches and chooses to explore.

this analysis segues into another conversation that we should be having - I do understand that framing lan and siuan in context of their relationships to moiraine as the protagonist of the series is inevitable, smart writing. but after laying the foundation for their characters in s1 and establishing their motivations there was absolutely no need to continue to frame them in context of their relationship to moiraine almost to the exclusion of all other facets of their characterisations. liandrin was clearly afforded a lot more generous writing and screentime and it’s a Problem and also very bad writing when an antagonist is afforded more screentime than your ACTUAL PROTAGONISTS. some of these writing choices are really racist, period.

with regards to discussions about assault and abuse in this episode I will say this once, and only once:

moiraine transferring lan’s bond to myrelle in the books was an act of desperation undertaken only because lan’s life was at stake. moiraine ACTUALLY asking alanna to forcibly take lan’s bond is akin to threatening him with assault. it’s bad writing meant to make her seem a lot more colder to justify the intervention that we see later on. lan offering an apology to moiraine at the end of the episode without any apology in turn displays the writers’ sheer lack of sensitivity in handling the whole conversation.

the show using the oath rod flippantly is another angle that really boils my blood because it clearly would’ve enabled worser amyrlins to exercise power with impunity. ELAIDA was famously the amyrlin who wanted to extract oaths of allegiance from her sisters.

ELAIDA was also famously the amyrlin who gave orders to have rand transported to the tower so that she could use him as a weapon and deny him any agency. the tower *has* no rules for dealing with the dragon in the books and the show chose to manufacture it to no real benefit except awkward, badly executed conflict. siuan and moiraine may have often attempted to control rand in the books - and they were at least partly right sometimes because they had more worldly knowledge and experience than he did - but it’s important to the story that they choose not to deny him his agency and give him plenty of leeway and that elaida specifically thinks of him only as a tool. rand also being physically restrained by the shielding weave and possibly sleeping in that position uncomfortably reminds me of the box sequence in lord of chaos.

siuan compelling moiraine to follow her orders, as a partner she’s been intimate with, is akin to assault. rosamund pike made very specific acting choices that are jarring and difficult to ignore. moiraine gave that oath to siuan in 1x06 implicitly trusting her with her bodily and psychological wellbeing and siuan specifically chooses to violate it. it’s a step away from using the weave for compulsion (which is explicitly also stated as being forbidden btw!)

rand’s scenes when he’s shielded by siuan being juxtaposed against egwene’s scenes with renna was a very bad choice and the editing was so fucking awkward. if the choice was intentionally meant to generate conversations about autonomy it was a very bad one to make.

you know what the kicker is? lan’s exposition to nynaeve about the damane deserving to be free in WH (or was it CoT or KoD? I don’t remember very well) because it was every human’s right despite the harm that they might be capable of causing explicitly positions ELAIDA as a bad person. what does it say about siuan after this episode? any person able to wilfully participate in taking away another person’s autonomy is not a good person, full stop.

theories about siuan being under compulsion (by liandrin) are. fine. it doesn’t explain the showrunners basically speaking from moiraine’s perspective of the tragic turn that the romance took or ignorantly comparing it to the kind of assault ishamael performed on moiraine without any selfawareness or the disconnect in liandrin apparently trying to get rand back in the tower because lanfear and ishamael clearly want him in falme but whatever (unless speculation that another forsaken is free is true). I won’t dismiss it right now, but I don’t think they’re correct. there’s enough clues in the show to make it a plausible theory, but not necessarily a probable one - and it doesn’t explain siuan’s faith in her judgement about treating rand like weapon earlier in the episode.

I’m just…. lol. exasperated. I’m indifferent to her but there’s a very obvious sense of people condemning tuon for being a horrible person in the fandom - and like yeah she IS a horrible person but that’s still textually acknowledged. what is also textually acknowledged is the difficult process involved in deprograming people. when your show can’t understand the textbook definition of assault I’m a lot more unlikely to trust the showrunners actually!

*characters like ishamael, lanfear and min obviously needed overhauling because they were very badly done but their fundamental, core characterisations and motives still remain intact so they work. siuan and lan aren’t even afforded the grace of well-considered changes to their characterisations.

[writingmochi]

an honest review of beomgyu's panic and txt's love language purely from musical observation (not proofread)

opening remarks: i swear, it's been months since the songs have been released but that is very much okay (i still have ateez's golden hour 2 unreviewed and unlistened to other than ice on my teeth so i will do that when part 3 is coming this month)

okay, first of all: genuinely very disappointed that bighit decided to name txt's solo as "mixtape", i expected yeonjun's ggum to be a freaking album man. not a single track and this is also followed by beomgyu. it is actually disappointing. It feels like either a cash grab or a money-burning situation. maybe because bts had also done mixtapes, especially the rap line that i expected the mixtape to be that way--which is actually the true meaning of mixtape because in the hip-hop culture, mixtape is a showcase of someone's chops in production, vocals, lyrics, etc

but the plus side of this: i actually like the inclusion of the physical release. ggum with the figurine and panic with those view master thing like ughh. kpop has been killing it with the inclusions genuinely, with the little plushies to the limited edition t-shirts and the fucking enhypen bath bombs aka what the actual fuck.

other than that, first-ever txt korean single? literal single aka only one track? wow... they have stoop low /s /j but honestly i get it, they were on tour and in the festival circuit so props to them for actually still be able to release music (the pop industry will always churn out music when they have a bunch of writers and producers that will feed into the machine). it's good that they are having time to rest and branch out, txt has entered their sixth year after all and bighit are trying to open them up to other opportunities so that they could gain the members' trust to sign with them again for a short-term contract (3-5 years) it's tale as old as the end of kpop slave contracts honestly so you can see kpop comp's modus operandi now if you look a tad bit closer. also, since i've been out of the loop--what's with the talk of bighit changing txt lore? if that's the case, is it because of sanctuary?

one last one: i have BIG expectation with beomgyu's single. he is the one i am connected with music taste-wise (kai is second. it's the alternative taste in us i guess) so i expect guitars, very mellow when it comes to panic. but i also have big expectation with love language because i heard a snippet from the dance challenges (i hate them i hate them they're the ones that make current kpop songs longevity so short ughhh) and it sounds good

okay let's get into it cause i have a bunch to do (alongside the enha one)

panic: first, this is what expected for a beomgyu solo track. very indie rock. maybe because i've been listening to a lot of k-indie rock lately that yes, this definitely captures the vibe. i get a lot of early beabadoobee vibes from this especially her 2019 releases like loveworm and space cadet ep. this is the usual tangent for me anyways but WHERE'S THE BRIDGE?! WHERE'S THE FREAKING BRIDGE? why are they so allergic to bridges @ hybe? this is a rock song not a pop song; make a bridge for god sake. the guitar's sound is so fuzzy (which i love cause i love shoegaze so much and fuzzy guitars are like the characteristics of shoegaze-y sound) but idk, it still sound artificial? like i know they're adding like those amp plug thing but as a freaking transition, yet it shows how digital it sounds. that's definitely the mixing fault with that. the fuzziness sound tech-made so kinda dissapointed with

i give that a 72/100 tho cause i like rock and beomgyu is txt's rocker boy. i love how he is staying true to his rock roots with all the songs he had written remaining consistent as txt's rocker boy

love language: oh wow OH WOW okay

i love the subversion of expectation in that intro, it sounds like a ballad at first before we are hit with the beat drop. after hearing the song clearly with a good-ass headphones, i realized that this is more or less the sound of tinnitus and the killa and coming from that similar roots. the thing that is stuck in me is that this is the sound of txt that i miss--those the dream chapter and minisode 1 sound but much more mature with age. like they establish the balance of it perfectly with this song. i do think that the mostly instrumental chorus sounds empty after the three chorus but it definitely added to the main chorus dance. oh btw THERES A FREAKING BRIDGE. LISSIE IS SO HAPPY WE GOT A BRIDGE RRAHHH I MISS TXT BRIDGES. i like how the vocal mixing is clear enough you can actually pinpoint their voices and also with the vocal harmonizing and adlibs panning on the left and right channel. the main instrumental melody doesn't feel as droning because the VOCALS HAVE TEXTURE--from volume difference to panning. gosh, i'm gushing with this song. this is the sound of txt i want in over the moon and i'm glad i get to hear this

oh this is a definite 80/100, maybe around 83

closing remarks: wow, when i first write the opening, i expect more from beomgyu than the txt ot5. but it's actually the complete opposite. THIS IS THE OT5 SOUND I WANNA HEAR GODDAMMIT after the disappointment that is sanctuary--for me. i actually now want love language is an ep release honestly like i want more of this sound of txt. like what i mentioned--perfect mix of old txt sound with the maturity.

when it comes to beomgyu's panic: i see the potential for him to do more. like the rock sound he is releasing with panic is very "mainstream" that it is very easy listening--especially a gateway for a kpop fans' pop ear coming into rock. knowing that beomgyu very much like slow rock songs like oasis sound, i expect him to get more into that sound or maybe a bit into blur's sound. very britpop sounding but i don't really see him going into radiohead experimental rock territory. but knowing panic and blue spring having similar trajectories, i want more of beomgyu's rock taste (he is very much a soft rock type of guy tho)

small conclusion: love language is being added into my fav kpop instrumental playlist. genuinely that is a huge w for it. highest of praises for them. want the sound of it more in their next release ughh

[kowardly-k]

Throwin my opinion abt dirty work into the void:

Tbh idk if it’s my fault or theirs but I was really disappointed with dirty work. The concept was so different from what they usually do and I was really excited to see how this would translate musically but ugh— idk maybe I’ve put them on such a high pedestal but this was a let down. The way Katrina and winter say the chorus did kinda get on my nerves but I really liked ningning and Giselle doing it, but then them versus hit and I just can’t😭😭 after listening to it a few more times Giselle’s rap isn’t that bad but despite how beautiful ningnings voice is I just can’t stand her rap. Something abt her saying “little baddie” just makes me cringe lol. But tbh I think this beat was just too hard for aespas writers cuz everything was just lacking.

Tbh SM kinda set them up, like 90% of the song is just them saying that’s dirty work over and over- which I feel like wouldn’t be as bad if they hadn’t already spoiled the chours with that Apple ad. I’ve already heard that part and was hoping that their would be more layers to the song like their other titles but tbh that was the biggest highlight and it was just kinda a let down.

With previous aespa songs like drama whiplash and even supernova there were so many more layers in the song, more thought out verses, brilliant bridges and endings that actually make the song feel finished but I feel like dirty work doesn’t really have any of that- even the bridge was boring to me!! Idk maybe SM didn’t put any effort into this song bc it’s just suppose to be a song for their apple brand deal? Either way ik sm has more in their vault so I can’t understand why someone thought this scrapped b side deserved to see the light of day. Maybe I just have too high expectations for aespa but they could’ve done so much with this concept and gave nothing but mud shots and face cards

I saw someone say that aespa has dropped their lore era n is just aura farming and that is basically all dirty work is, it’s not a bad song, just bad for aespa

[weaversweek]

22 "Steal my sunshine" - Len

writers Gregg Diamond & Marc Costanzo

"When I hear the song now it makes me laugh. It makes me smile. It takes me back to that time. I know how I felt. When people play it I dance to it. Two weeks ago I ended up at a bar and it was karaoke night and Steal My Sunshine was in the book, so I said let's do it!" - Marc Costanzo

Part of the UncoolTwo50 project, marking the best singles from 1977-99.

Canadian pop had a rich vein of form in the late 90s. After the international success of Sarah MacLachlan and Alanis Morissette, and the breakout of Barenaked Ladies, record companies came to the frozen north with their chequebooks in hand. Performers like Sloan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Great Big Sea, Amanda Marshall, and the Matthew Good Band were snapped up and marketed internationally. Most of them came back with their tails between their legs.

One song did escape past the 49th. "Steal my sunshine" sounded like nothing else on the radio - out went lush production, in came a knocking sound. It's the drum beat on a sample of "More more more", over which this guy is talking about - well, he's talking about something, but it doesn't make much sense. Probably what they did when they were a bit tipsy last night. It's a boppy, poppy soundtrack, though when we do get to hear it, the lyric seems rather dark.

An inescapable summer jam in Canada, which explains why it came out over here a few weeks before the millennium parties. Sounded way cool, a bright blast of summer heat in the chill and damp of December. Siblings Marc and Sharon Costanzo were noticeably cool towards each other in promo appearances - I can't find their snappy interview on SM:TV.

Inevitably, this sort of rollerblading white rap wasn't going to be a lasting proposition, but we cannot fault the group for taking $750,000 of Dreamworks' money in case they ever came up with another hit. Rest of the album You Can't Stop the Bum Rush is very different, and pretty damned good.

After the band split, Marc went on to head EMI Music Publishing, signing acts like Sum 41 - featuring his party buddy Deryck Whibley.

Some other recommendations for late-century Canadiana, starting with the ones who almost broke worldwide…

"Money city maniacs" was Sloan's international launch single.

"Before you" gave Chantal Kreviazuk a spot on my 500-song longlist.

"Run runaway" - a Slade cover - was Great Big Sea's near-hit.

"Let it rain" is Amanda Marshall's best-remembered single.

"Load me up" called the Matthew Good Band.

Sky should have been huge, "Love song" was promoted at .gb radio, but programmers were more interested in repetitive dance.

I had the pleasure of seeing Kim Stockwood perform an acoustic set in early 1999; the Newfoundland singer's 12 years old could have been on an episode of Dawson's Creek. Longlisted.

Susan Aglukark was also touring at the time; "One turn deserves another" is one of those songs I've never quite been able to get out of my head - this was on an episode of Dawson's Creek.

Back to "Steal my sunshine", which was nominated for the Best Single award at the Juno Awards. Didn't win, lost to "Bobcaygeon" by The Tragically Hip; I still don't agree with the award, but I can certainly see why the elderly Juno voters preferred it, and "Bobcaygeon" has become a proper cultural touchstone.

[azonewithu]

They can go ahead and not make smends i like watching them burn. They better remember where the power is next time or itll be eorse and thats it. An artist should have the right yo work with his own words. Just because you font have one fuckn writer on my levrl americsn doesnt mean you can just borrow dome of mone earth. If this was a war or rap battle i won a decade ago. Now youre startn to add up the damage id just mske anends before i get any madder at you. That could be permanently fatal to your region. No you better shut the fuck up Michaels pissed he watched the whole time. If i can fuck with musk i can fuck with you whoever you is even harder. Dont fuck around with the KING fucker. Your planet is in complete violation of most od Gods laws. What you put yourselves in severe debt now the workd should pay your interest of bend over do you can do better after devades of usrless wars and wasteful spending in all ways. The asians own all your debt so its their fault you got yourselves in debt like that in the first place. Blane your wasteful culture not the world. A prolonged trade wsr just hirts everyone. You talk like no one ever helped you on your way and youre the greatest. Youre the greatest at bloeing money and it hasnt made your kids better people. The lust over money that doesnt actually exist will kill us all. Ya got more people justcwantn money but they dont wanna work. Getn tid of your labour gorce will only make that worse. The reason immigration has worked so well for us is we re spoiled. Not hingey like them to make sonethi g of themselves. Nobodies smarter than anyone dome peopke are just more motivated and others are just dumber thats all. Not literally dumber but literally more spoiled. Thats an unbalance corrected by immigration. And immigrants with money wanna go shopping not work. Its like people think by brining more spoiled assholes like us here helps more than bringing in bettervworkers. Now we just got more assholes to talk to and not a syrong labour force. Those people will cry if they ever had to work hard. They might fo it but theyd cry a lot and not work as hard. And not get shit done. Then you think youre goin out in doace you do npt even have an energy shield.

[sporadicarbitergardener]

October 7, 2023

Also in January I also felt the helenin circle open up in the realms of Louisiana. Its the only state known for voodoo and dark magic. I am starting to see spirits again. My counselor told me that me that I was not crazy that I had established a good spiritual relationship with God but to stay in my place with the living and to not interact with them because they will also attach themselves to you so that way they can steal your energy . God is angry but everyone's belief is different with God. Learned to just stay in a woman's place. I had a vision while it was dark and I saw a 360 light around the room while it was dark and I told my partner that I am with as well.

He is not a believer of God as such. And being with someone that is not yoked with the spirit of God and seeing that he is even struggling with himself. SO my prayer game got stronger because I am hoping I can help him have a relationship with God through the journey of life with me as life goes on. Men will always call a woman crazy when we speak of things in this tense because there is no science that can back this up as well. Also read the quarter this year it the take down year for women.

I was even in sync with energy around me everywhere I road this year and I have a gift and power in myself. Starting to see it as life continues. Keeping the Holy Ghost near me because he is the Comforter when things get hard. I made alot of mistakes in my life but as life goes on I am no longer scared of anyone because when you ask family to keep boundaries they continue to keep entertaining other sources just to keep playing well its sad because well it will never make sense to me. Family needs to learn how to mind their own business and stop trying to break me down more because they never believe a woman of rape. I also need prayers for my Paran "Robert LcCombe" as he is having surgery October 23 , 2023 for his back please say prayers, share this and also please share this story. My family is going into debt and he's a good man. Back in the day he road motorcycles. When he met my pawpaw Robert Mccain they clicked and he also had to ask for my pawpaw's blessing to marry my Aunt Denise McCain because he had his own club on motorbikes back in the day. He also raised a son that wasn't his and made one with her, lost his daughter Alicia LcCombe back in 2002 before Katrina as well.

He said he was worried about me that I would end up like her . Dead and gone not here to enjoy the blessings life has brought . I lost my respect when I was told that because I don't believe she was a shame to the family. She was a human being that was drugged and trafficked and used as an object back in the day . It was not her fault . She was a blessing because in family we accept those that don't have a shoulder to lean on. Her son goes by Tae Tae on facebook and he makes beats and has an amazing talent with music as well. I sing, dance write and sometimes rap as well.

But please say some prayers for my Paran and please also check out his grandson's music. If anyone looks him up and talks to him on fb don't mention his family history just show musical support please. I'm the black sheep outcast like him as well because I know how it feels to be used then told gtf. Sometimes you have to learn from a distance and welll you also have to learn to still show respect for your elders and leave them alone after because death is the atonement for sin and well my family is not ready for another lost . Not now , it usually happens in 3's when we start losing people. Please help me to get prayers and check out my cousins music . Don't tell him I said a part of his story. He's family. Were all misunderstood in life.

FLS

#prayer #family #prayerwarriors #love #understanding #joy #peace #rapmusic #womensrights #louisiana #texas #neveda #NewYork #Nola #Usa #Girls #boys #music #poetry #Lol #Happiness #data #story #information #writer #blogger #newaccount

[sunlightandsuffering]

Lys, as a writer, do you have anything to tell us about your recent experience writing angst as opposed to your normal style? And if there are other genres you’re open to?

Ooh that's an interesting question! It was definitely very different than my normal stuff, and even very different than when I first started writing it, like the bulk of that fic I think I wrote more recently, but like the scenes at the beginning are pretty old now from like when I first started writing EM again. I definitely listened to a lot of angsty music and like slow rap tracks 😂 I'm open to anything tbh, I think no matter what tho I usually find a way to slip some humour in there tho bc that's just my writing style! I think more than anything tho I just struggle with the plot of angst fics 😂 bc I have ttrouble making things the fault of one or the other, I much prefer extraneous things to be the conflict rather than one of them, Is there a specific genre of fic you'd like to see me try? Cuz halloween is coming up!

[disneymiraculousefandomsblog]

Thank you so much for your Ruddiger and Varian edit! Ruddiger is truly Varian’s best friend! He was the only one who saw the good in Varian when everybody else dehumanized him. Even when Rapunzel, Eugene and Cassandra met him, it never seemed like they truly cared about him as a friend. Only cared about what he could do for them and not about being friends with him. Which is why it was so easy for them to turn on him. They could all learn a lesson of loyalty from Ruddiger.

Aww thank you so much!!🥰 I’m glad you liked it!💖

Yes I do agree with you, Ruddiger was the most loyal companion and friend Varian had. I think Raps did somewhat care for Varian, but yes it was mostly because what he could do and how he could help them. They made that clear too when Rapunzel said “He’s the only one who can stop the Quirinion, we need him.” That was telling us that’s pretty much why he got pardoned too. I love Raps and honestly it’s really not her fault, it’s the writers for making her that way unfortunately 😒.

[flossy2003]

“Then you can argue that Var, too, was not in the best headspace (being too emotionally driven & gettin desperate of wishin to be heard & finding a solution) when he did the things he did *and yet* still paid for the crimes he's done & went to prison AS A KID.

Point is, whether external forces influenced Cass at her lowest or not,no matter how you look at it SHE still caused the damages in corona & srsly endangered ppl in the process (& not even for any substantial reason other than a selfish one)

If not banished/put in jail,then she shouldve atleast helped the kingdom (that SHE put in ruins) rebuild. But rather than take responsibility like an adult, she left the kingdom in that state with no actual consequences w/c juz personally gives me the ick. im sorry

Also I hardly believe the real Cass will ever listen to a gremlin like ZT for as long as she did when she smelled Andrew's bs from a mile away in S1 & even when shes startin to be doubtful in S2 she still kept her guard up bout Adira,no way she'd just do watever a random ghost gremlin she juz met tell her to. And why was the Gothel reveal the last straw for her to betray the team?when nowhere throughout the show did she ever gaf bout who her bio parents were?? make it make sense lmao. Her clingin to that as her justification for betrayin her friends hardly weights anythin cuz S1 Cass KNOWS that Raps didnt have the best time w/ Gothel (but writers seem to forget that too) so it just made her look petty if anythin imo. There are pre-established things about Cass from the first 2 seasons the writers seemed to either forgot/abandoned just to have an excuse to nonsensically drag the drama she had w/ Raps w/c ruined her chances of being sympathetic to me overtime personally.

2 things can be true.The team can forgive her for what she did AND still hold her accountable for the aftermath caused by HER actions instead of lettin her exit juz cuz shes still havin a midlife crisis 💀”

- - -

I’m going to have to reply in reblog because for some reason the comments are limited-

I never said that Varian was in the right headspace. I literally said that I didn’t agree with the way he was punished because of that and because of him being a child. He should’ve got help, not prison. I know that Varian wasn’t in the right headspace. Neither him and Cass were.

Still, Zhan Tiri was at play, she literally pushed her to do it and the moonstone was altering her mind. I’m not saying that it wasn’t Cass’ fault, but her brain literally wasn’t functioning right. It isn’t right that she destroyed Corona and put people in danger, I agree. Please don’t take me as this as me saying that I agree with Cass’ actions/excuse them, etc. because I do not. But I am giving you the reason and the answer to why they happened and why Cass most likely didn’t end up going to prison (on-screen anyway, but I’ll get to that).

Also- Cass literally fixed the problem she started and died doing it! She helped take down ZT and offered up the last remaining piece of the moonstone. I-

“She should’ve helped rebuild the kingdom”- we actually don’t know that she didn’t! Time passed between ZT’s defeat and Cass leaving. We know this because the bridge is rebuilt and when we see Corona at the end, it looks very much in tact. The throne room has been rebuilt, too which would’ve taken a long time. The only thing still destroyed is Rapunzel’s bedroom, and they make it clear that they’re going to get it fixed, when Cass leaves. Rapunzel most likely wanted to leave it until last because of her kind nature.

We have no idea if Cass helped to rebuild, but I’d say that she did. Despite what you may think, when you look at her character as a whole, you know that she isn’t the type of character to walk away from something she’s done, Scott-free. She would’ve when she had the moonstone, but not her normal self. Normal Cass wouldn’t do that. Her own voice actress said as such, that Cass is always willing to make up for her mistakes, that’s why she apologises to Raps when she gets angry with her. It’s something that she loves about her. She wouldn’t have wanted to leave unpunished.

A lot of people seem to forget that time limits exist in episodes, and especially with it being the last episode and a three parter, they literally wouldn’t have time to fit in a part where Cass goes to jail, or is seen cleaning up, so they did a time skip. You don’t see Varian’s time in prison, so they didn’t feel the need or have the time to show Cass’ punishment. Maybe some clarification either way would’ve been better.

I really don’t like that people think that Cass left straight away when she very clearly didn’t 😅.

“Why did Cass trust ZT”. It’s all about bad headspace’s. Cass was already feeling down and unwanted, so someone wanting her made her feel like she had purpose. Also- ZT was disguised as a child, at first, Cass was trying to be nice to the child, and just appease her, even if she was a ghosts. When she sees ZT’s appearance, she lowers her sword, changes her stance and entertains what she wants. She doesn’t really have much of a reason not to trust a young child.

Gothel’s a complicated one for me- I for one, completely understand Cass’ arc about parenting, her dad was emotionally unavailable, Cass does get upset when talking about her birth parents in season 1, and I get why she see’s Gothel it’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back, because, the range of emotions that must be going through her head must’ve been insane. She probably thought that she would have loving parents, who adored her, but instead she finds that she was raised by an abusive monster who never really loved her. That’s why she gets so set on Gothel loving her, she’s trying to convince herself, rather than anyone else.

I fucking hate the victim blaming btw, idk why it was added but it’s the worst thing about Cass’ villain arc. I get her being out of character is the point, but that’s too out of character for her?

Tbh I feel like they were struggling to write Cass as a villain, they had so many ideas and didn’t know how to piece them together. I like the majority of Cass’ arc, but I agree that some of it doesn’t make much sense, like why the hand was suddenly forgotten about.

Can we stop belittling Cass’ trauma and calling it shit like “a midlife crisis”? There are some people in the fandom who do really relate to Cass’ trauma and struggles and I think it’s wrong for people to belittle them like that, because despite Cass’ actions, the mental health side of things is actually very real.

i'm sorry but Cassandra, a fully grown ass adult, getting off scot-free and getting to go out in the world immediately after committing all that shit in S3 without so much as at least a year time in jail will never not leave a bad taste in my mouth

Cuz like, Eugene almost got sentenced to death by hanging for, what, petty thief???? while absolutely zero for her despite leaving corona in literal ruins ??? yeh right sure

idc if one was extreme to heighten the stakes for the movie, and the other one just gets a slap on the wrist cuz "the punishment is not the point" because in-universe, thats just fucked up and fuckin unfair

So yeh, I personally prefer to think gurl was actually permanently banished from Corona and is not allowed to so much as step foot on coronian soil like thats the bare minimum on the justice system's part ig

[jazzycurls]

You Belong To Me

Pairing: Eddie Munson x fem!Reader

Summary: Its a surprise 😉🤫

Warnings/Tags: 18+ minors dni! Unestablished dom/sub relationship, bullying, cheating, slight coercion, smut, thigh riding, choking (let me know if I missed something)

An: Hi you guys! I guess I'm not new to writing anymore but I'm definitely still a newbie. All feedback is welcome, be gentle please haha. Please do not steal or copy my work. Don’t repost without credit. This is my written work, everything besides the characters and plot points by the original writers, belongs to me. Repost since Tumblr is tripping. Love you guys and thank you so much for the support, hope you enjoy ❤

Word Count: 3,245

You kept your head down as you walked down the hall, trying hard to avoid being noticed. Life as a high schooler was hard, even more so when you had someone who had made it their mission to terrorize you every chance they got. A sigh of relief escaped your lips as you saw Mrs. O'Donnell's class up ahead.

'Just a few more steps,' you thought silently. The possibility of making it to class on time for once seemed very likely. It was no fault of your own that you were constantly late, your tormentor always chose the moments right before class to harass you. Before you could make it to the door, you were yanked backward by your backpack into a utility closet.

You yelped in alarm as you stumbled over your feet into the dark room. The door clicked shut when your back hit the solid surface with a thud. You let out a strangled gasp from the wind being knocked out of you.

Your eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness as a looming figure towered over you threateningly. You were yanked upward by the collar of your shirt, bringing you face to face with your assailant. "Where is it," he uttered with a low dark voice.

Light seeped in from the cracks of the door, offering a small amount of light in the dark space. "What?" Your eyes zero in on dark solemn eyes, instantly recognizing it to be Eddie.

"Don't fuck with me, sweetheart." He took the hand fisting your collar, moving it upward to wrap lightly around your throat. His thumb rested on the front, applying enough pressure to make your head swim without cutting off your circulation.

"I— I d-didnt have time to do both of our work." The words left your mouth in a meek whimper. Your heart thundered in your ears and tears bristled against your lashes from anxiety.

Eddie shook his head in mock sympathy as he squeezed your neck tighter. "I'm really disappointed in you darling," he whispered as he leaned close to your ear. His lips ghosted over your ear causing a shiver to run down your spine.

"I'm sorry Eddie," you cried softly. A few tears skipped down your cheeks. For reasons unknown, you were genuinely saddened to have disappointed him. The rational part of you knew that you had no real reason to be upset but the feelings remained nonetheless.

The soft pads of his guitar-calloused thumbs wiped the tears away from your face. He let out a heavy sigh "No worries— I guess we'll just have to find a way for you to make it up to me," he stated simply as he played with the soft ends of your hair, twirling it around his finger.

You shook your head vigorously, eager to have the chance to make it up to Eddie and avoid any punishments.

"There's a party tonight at Janie Calhoun's. I want you to be there," he told you, leaving no room for argument.

"What about Chrissy," you questioned. You knew that he and Chrissy were a thing. There was no way he would take you to a party instead of her right?

"Don't you worry your pretty little head about her. You just show up and wait for me, I'll come find you." The sound of the tardy bell began to ring in the background, catching his attention. "Gotta go, I'll see you later," he finally steps away from you and drops his hand from your neck.

You move away from the door, allowing him to open it and slip out. You wait a minute before leaving the small room. Your mind runs rapidly with thoughts of what Eddie has in store for you.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Eddie wasn't a bully, at least he liked to think so. He had become something like a protector to the lost sheep who wandered the halls of Hawkins High. He took the outcasts under his wing, giving them a brotherhood of sorts that offered friendship and protection as well. He knew that if the dynamics of his relationship with y/n ever came to light, he would have a lot of explaining to do.

It's not that he didn't like y/n, it was quite the opposite. He thought that she was beautiful, sweet, and kind. She was also naive and shy, which also endeared him to her. Something about her nature made him want to dominate her. He knew it wasn't healthy and he didnt understand it, he just knew that it was a reaction he had whenever he was around her and only her.

The fact that he was with Chrissy complicated things immensely. The history between him and Chrissy ran deep and he felt obligated to her in a way. He loved Chrissy but he was in love with y/n. He needed and wanted you beyond comprehension.

The music thumped loudly, causing the house to vibrate. He leaned back against the couch, spread out comfortably with his arm wrapped around Chrissy. She sat close to him with her hand perched on top of his knee, while she spoke animatedly with her friends. A joint sat loosely between his lips as he inhaled and exhaled the smoke lazily.

Eddie hated parties and with his girlfriend being the social butterfly that she was, he felt obligated to show up as well. On the plus side, it allowed him to make a lot of money on rich inebriated high schoolers who couldn't tell when he was ripping them off.

His heart sped up at the sight of you as you made your way through the crowd of horny teenagers dancing in the middle of the floor. You had on a pink pleated skirt that stopped mid-thigh, paired with a white low-cut blouse that showcased your ample cleavage teasingly. Once you had cleared the floor, you made your way to the corner of the room and braced yourself against the wall.

Sweat trickled down the back of your neck from the heat of all the people crowded in the living room. Someone had cracked open a few windows allowing some of the cool night air to filter through. You pressed yourself against the wall as a couple squeezed by you, heading up the stairs. A sigh fell from your lips as you glanced around the room.

You were definitely not looking for Eddie, you told yourself as you searched the crowd. Your search was cut short as a guy with blonde hair and blue came to stand in front of you. A drunken smile settled on his face as he looked you up and down. He leaned close to your ear "Wanna dance," he yelled. You cringed as the smell of his beer-laced breath fanned across your face. 

"No thanks," you stated firmly. You turned your gaze away from him, indicating the conversation to be over. He moved away from you as he left, in search of another prospect.

Your eyes met Eddie's dark gaze and an audible gasp pilfered from your lips. A girl next to you gave you a questioning look and you smiled back apologetically. You turned back to Eddie and noticed that he had left and the seat beside Chrissy was now empty.

You made your way into what you believed was the kitchen, searching for a drink. The only beverages available were beer, cheap liquor, and water. You decided on a beer and you could use one to help settle your nerves.

'This is so stupid,' you said to yourself, as you took a sip of your drink, currently on your third beer. Here you were drinking this God-awful beer, at a party with people you didn't know, all for a person who didn't even like you! Who were you kidding, the only reason you were here was because Eddie scared the hell out of you. The thought of defying him sent a chill up your spine.

Your bladder began to ache slightly, protesting the liquid you had rapidly ingested. You wobbled a bit as you pushed away from the counter and headed back toward the living room. Your eyes immediately went to the spot you had last seen Eddie, finding that his spot was still empty. Chrissy had also left and was now on the dance floor with the rest of the cheer squad dancing proactively as the jocks leered nearby.

You shook your head and turned towards the staircase as you made your way upstairs. As you passed by various rooms, your ears were bombarded by an onslaught of moans and thumping immersing from the rooms.

'How many rooms does this house have,' you wondered as you walked down the carpeted hall. You tried the last room on the right, which was the only room with no noises coming from the other side. You smiled in victory when you saw it was indeed the bathroom and closed the door shut behind you.

You quickly used the bathroom and made your way to wash your hands. You were checking your reflection in the mirror when you heard the doorknob turn.

"Someone's in here," you called out, with a frown gracing your features. You had been sure that you had locked the door behind you. The person on the other side opened the door, disregarding the fact that the bathroom was occupied.

Your heart fluttered nervously as you pressed yourself against the sink. Panic began to rise within you, making your stomach twist in knots. A curly head of hair peeked in, as they slipped into the bathroom. Relief flooded through you when you realized it was just Eddie.

You visibly relaxed as you let out a sigh of relief. "Eddie, you scared the daylights outta me." Your hand flew to your chest as you let out a nervous laugh. Eddie stood with his back against the door, his gaze dark as he regarded you silently.

"Eddie," you called out uneasily. Your nerves began to rise again as you realized that Eddie had yet to say anything. You were so happy that Eddie had walked in and not some dangerous stranger, that you had momentarily forgotten that Eddie was essentially a bully to you.

The deafening sound of the lock clicking rang in your ears like an alarm. "What are you doing," you whispered, watching as he stalked towards you.

"I told you, sweetheart, that I would come find you," he replied, quickly crossing the room. He leaned into your space, placing his hands on the counter on each side of you. "Y'know y/n I was real disappointed in you earlier. Thought that you were my good girl."

"But I am— a good girl," you exclaimed hesitantly, the thought of being anything but good upset you immensely. No one had ever called you anything but good before. You were known as the straight-A student who never got in trouble, a perfectionist who could also be a little high-strung sometimes. For reasons you couldn't explain, you wanted— no you needed Eddie's approval.

He shook his head as a gleam lit up his dark irises. "Think I'm ready for you to make it up to me baby." His arms wrapped around you and he spun you both around, placing himself against the counter.

'This is wrong,' you thought to yourself. Eddie was with Chrissy and he had never once shown any type of kindness towards you. Every one of your interactions together had been with some type of intimidation involved. Deep down you knew that you liked Eddie on some level. That's why you had never asked for help, deep down you liked the attention he gave you, whether it was good or bad. You had even begun to crave it without realizing it.

There was one question that plagued you....why you? You were certain that he didn't like you, why would he want to be with you in that way? The question fell from your lips as a small frown darkened your face.

"I don't know why," he admitted honestly. His carefully schooled features slipped for a moment, allowing a genuine expression to slip through. He had tried to stay away and not think about you but you had him in a chokehold. You were always on his mind and he had failed miserably.

"But I— this isn't right Eddie! You belong to Chrissy!" Your head swam as you struggled to breathe. You were braced tightly against Eddie. The feel of every hard angle on his body, pressed roughly against your soft curves was causing your breath to come out in spurts.

"And you belong to me," he said simply. I don't need permission to take what's mine. "You are mine aren't you?” He wedged his leg between yours, pressing it directly into your middle.

You breathed in sharply at the feel of his hard thigh ground up against you and your mind went blank, unable to form a response.

"Baby, I asked you a question." His voice was stern as he stared down at you. He moved one hand to your lower back and rested the other lightly against your throat.

The cool metal of his rings bit into your skin and your eyes glaze over as you nodded your head silently. A beautiful smile lit up his face at your response. His dimples peeked out and his dark eyes shone with tiny flecks of ember in them. Your insides warmed at the sight and you decided then that you would do anything to have him look at you like that again.

He takes ahold of your hip and begins to grind you along his thigh slowly. You grab onto his shoulders quickly allowing him to guide your movements. He eases your body into a languid rhythm and all thoughts flee from your mind as your body begins to move on its own. He reaches down between you and slips his hand underneath your skirt. His fingers brush along the sides of your folds as he tugs on the front of your panties, pulling the sides to the middle and upward. Your lips swallow the fabric, applying more friction onto your clit.

Eddie's eyes are trained on you, mesmerized by the faces you're making. You have your bottom lip tucked between your teeth as you attempt to stifle your moans. A small smirk lifts the corner of his mouth as his eyes sparkle mischievously. His grip on your hips tightens as he presses you down, jerking you forward. Your reaction is immediate and a low groan leaves your lips, and your hands clasp together tightly behind his neck.

The hand around your throat tightens, limiting your air and making your head spin. "Go faster baby." His voice is stern and gruff filled with restrained desire.

You pick up speed and begin to ride his thigh in earnest. Your clit drags along the rough denim of his jeans, sparks of arousal shoot through you and your nub begins to swell from the pleasure. Your panties are saturated with your juices, making a delicious mess on his thigh. Heat spreads throughout your body making you feel like you are on fire. A stream of airy moans flows from you as your lower half pulses and clenches with an aching need to be filled.

Lust clouds Eddie's face as he leans towards you, sliding his tongue against the rim of your ear. His voice is husky as he whispers the filthiest things you've ever heard into your ear. His name falls from your lips with a gasp and your movements become frenzied as you hurtle toward your release.

"That's it baby, ride me. Yeah just like that." he praises, his eyes are dark and blown out with lust. His lips replace the hand around your throat and he starts to lick and suck into your soft skin. He doesn't stop until a pretty bruise is formed, front and center for everyone to see.

A red-hot flush spreads from head to toe as your orgasm hits. Shudders rack throughout your frame and your grinding slows down to a complete halt. You rest your forehead on his as you try to regain control over your breathing.

"Such a good girl," Eddie coos as he takes your chin into his hand softly. His eyes are soft and back to their normal dark brown color. He looks at your plump soft lips and wants nothing more than to kiss you right now. His gaze flits from your lips back to your face as he pulls your body closer to his.

Your breaths mingle together and your eyes slide shut when his nose nudges yours intimately. His lips part, tongue peeking out as he brings his lips down onto yours.

Eddie's heart stops when he feels your lips on his. Your lips are soft as you move tentatively against his, unsure of what to do. He's sure that this is your first kiss and feels proud that he's the first to have you in this way. He deepens the kiss and his fingers dig into your hips as he grips you tighter.

A loud knock pulls you both from the moment instantly. A guilty look flashes across your face as you jump from his lap, scurrying across the room.

"Occupied," Eddie yells out gruffly, pissed off at the interruption. You hear mumbling on the other side of the door before footsteps fade away. He stands up glancing down at his pants, noticing a wet spot on his dark jeans. His erection is strained against his pants, causing a noticeable budge. He looks over to you and you keep your eyes trained on the floor.

He crosses the small space over to you and you glance up at him beneath your lashes. His ringed fingers ghost over your lips as he looks down at you. "Gonna call you later tonight, sweetheart."

He lets his fingers fall from your lips and down your chin before he takes his hand away. He doesn't wait for an answer as he makes his way to the door, preparing to leave.

"Wait," you call out. He stops and turns back to you with a raised brow. "You don't have my number," you exclaim softly.

He gives you a knowing look before a laugh rumbles in his chest. "Just wait up for me sweetheart, I'll call." He gives you one last look making you clench your thighs together before he slips out the door closing it behind him.

Your mind is empty, and you feel almost giddy. You know that in the morning you'll have to think about the consequences of your actions but for tonight all is calm. You wait a few minutes to collect yourself before you exit the bathroom. You leave the party immediately and head home so you could wait for Eddie's call.

Part 2.

[daydream-cement]

HELLO MY FAVE LARISSA WEEMS FIC WRITER

your stories make me really happy 😚 if you have time can you please make a larissa x fem reader where r is pregnant but suddenly has a miscarraige if that makes sense. and r thinks she disappointed her wife and larissa assures her that it's not her fault or something like that? thank you! ❤

Not Your Fault

Larissa Weems x F!Reader

Authors Note: This is such an important issue to write about! So many women experience miscarriages and all deserve comfort.

(Also for those who like my other series, this story is in no way related to the pregnancy happening there.)

WARNINGS: Descriptions of a miscarriage.

You sat on the bathroom toilet with your face buried in your hands. You were at the end of your first trimester when the bleeding came. At first you tried not to be too concerned, reading that spotting could be normal during pregnancy, but the bleeding became heavier and heavier over the past day. You knew you had lost the baby. Endless internet searches had made you positive of this fact.

You had been so excited. Larissa and you had begun to talk about moving off campus and getting a home. You discussed names and baby room themes. Larissa had filled an online shopping cart full of baby clothes just because she loved thinking about that future baby so much. What was Larissa going to say? She wanted this baby so badly. Truthfully, you wondered if she was going to hate you.

You felt like you had failed as a mother and failed to give Larissa the child she wanted.

A gently rapping on the door accompanied by Larissa's voice pulled you from your thoughts, "Honey... Are you okay in there?"

You couldn't respond, but Larissa does hear you sob. She pushes open the bathroom door and remains by the bathroom door, still seeking some form of permission to come near you. As she evaluates the scene in front of her, she can see the pad in your underwear stained with blood and the tears streaming down your face. Her eyes begin to water and you feel your heart sink as you look up into her face, assuming that she must be intensely disappointed with you.

Nothing in Larissa's actions prove this, however. Instead, she helped you clean yourself up and assisted you back to bed.

When she tucks the covers up under your chin, she brushes her fingers over your forehead and looks at you with all the love in the world. You pull your hands to your face, trying to block her out, tears rolling once more, "I'm s-sorry..."

"What are you sorry for?" Her hands pull yours away from your face, pulling them to her lips. As she waited for your response, she began kissing all of your fingertips.

"For... the baby... I know you wanted her..." You were trying to calm your breathing, but the sadness was completely overwhelming for you.

Larissa finished kissing your hands and dropped them, traveling around the bed so she could crawl into bed next to her. Her movements were hurried, not wanting to be away from you long. Once she was next to you, she pulled you into her chest, hugging you tight. "Oh, honey... Well of course I did. It was our baby... but it isn't your fault, darling... These things... just happen sometimes."

Larissa let you cry into her chest until you finally settled down enough to sleep. She just kept whispering how much she loved you and how none of this defined how great of a mother you were going to be. Even while you were still in mourning for what could have been, you knew that with Larissa at your side, you were going to be loved and cared for in the meantime.

[c-estmabiologie]

Pretty Box of Evil (Candela Obscura Fic)

I'm already obsessed with Arlo Black, so here's a teeny-tiny character study that I'm sure I'm going to have to rewrite in a month.

Also on AO3

You get used to the bleed. That was what the professor had told her the first time. Arlo sat at her vanity, remembering. She stared into the mirror, at her room reflected behind her. Her gaze didn’t land anywhere in particular, just floated among the comfort of everything that was hers: leather-bound books with foxed pages, pinned beetles and butterflies in frames, and meticulously dusted bell jars. You get used to the bleed, he’d said, after she had touched something that she shouldn’t have touched, because she was always touching what she shouldn’t, and the pain had been exquisite and bright with cold. The professor had pulled her hand back too late, like he had wanted her to learn what it could feel like. (That was his fault.)

Even now, Arlo wouldn’t say that she was used to the bleed, but it had become familiar. It never stopped crawling around and flapping at the edges of her vision like black butterflies come alive and unpinned. She’d had to learn to turn her head to see anything beside her. It was a constant susurrus under conversation, so she’d learned to listen more carefully. Sometimes it made simple tasks take twice as long as they used to, and made her twice as tired, but she didn’t mind if it meant she might understand it. She didn’t understand it yet. 

Maybe it was because she was thinking of it that the bleed began to overwhelm her. Her face in the mirror blurred and darkened, and then disappeared completely as if she’d closed her eyes. She replaced her comb on the vanity by touch and folded her hands in her lap. She would wait it out. Times like these never lasted too long. 

No, she wouldn’t say that she was used to the bleed, and she still didn’t know it well. But she was desperate to know it. Arlo couldn’t help herself. She wanted to understand the bleed with her hands. She wanted to let it in. She was so excited to touch the flame of it and snuff it out that she often forgot to lick her fingers first. (This fault was all her own.)

After a moment, the bleed scurried away, and Arlo saw herself reflected again. The candlelight was just bright enough to show that her face had become pale and colourless. She pressed her lips together to bring the blood back. Just a young woman like any other. Pretty, a little distracted perhaps, but that could be overlooked because she was pretty. There was nothing to otherwise mark her as peculiar except that she only wore one glove, but that was another affectation that could be overlooked. Arlo had no illusions about her advantages. She pulled her hair back from her face before her sight could fail her again. The bleed seemed particularly active tonight. Just as well that her Circle planned to meet within the hour.

She’d begun her studies thinking she’d make a career as a spiritualist — she hadn’t really known the difference between spiritualism and occultism. She’d just known that people listened even when she spoke softly, especially when she spoke softly, and that making people listen (and listening to them in turn) might make for a way to spend the time that her father would disapprove of only slightly less than her current endeavours. She recalled how she’d practiced her penmanship for hours in case it was her calling to become an automatic writer, filling tomes with loops and flourishes. Her script would be fluid no matter who or what guided her hand. Or how she’d thought that maybe she’d translate rappings on tabletops and read into the tiny flutters of eyelids and muscle twitches of her hopeful audience. She’d always been good at that, reading people. Everything else about people still eluded her somewhat, but she liked the idea of helping them.

She had joined Candela to be helpful. The professor had helped her see that she had a knack for seeing things that others couldn’t. That spirits were drawn to her in ways that made rappings and automatic writing seem like play. He’d encouraged her to embrace the visions that they granted, and with practice and study and more than a little abandon she’d helped so many people with her first Circle.

But the professor was quicker now to throw his hand in front of her, to speak a word of warning, to touch her wrist and stay her hand. He’d grown wary and protective after—

They both knew that he couldn’t stop her every time or they would never learn enough to keep their places within their Circle. (Whose fault was this, in the end?)

The professor used to call her Pandora. It was supposed to have been funny, a nickname to pick at the scab of her curiosity for every darkness hidden in the world, not really taking the danger of it seriously. He’d stopped using the nickname almost a year ago. She wished he hadn’t stopped. Arlo liked the idea that if someone would find hope buried beneath so much awful it would be her. But she knew he blamed himself for what had happened. He’d never admit that he oughtn’t be responsible for his student’s actions. She wasn’t a child, after all, and hadn’t been a child then. She’d done what she’d done out of the fascination for the occult that he had nurtured in her, but that was as far as his responsibility could extend. That people had died…well, that was just something that happened when the bleed was involved. Candela only knew what she and the professor had chosen to tell.

Arlo pulled the glove off of her right hand and examined the corrupted skin and graveyard fingernails. She ran a finger across her palm — heart line, head line, life — and up her wrist. It felt like nothing. It was never short of bizarre to see her hand, know it was hers, touch it and use it, but not be able to feel it as part of her body anymore. She knew not to hope that it would ever be a part of her again; she could just hope that she wouldn’t lose more of herself. 

A gentle knock on her door let her know that her carriage was waiting.

“I will be down in a moment,” she called out. She rose to find her coat.

With one last look in the mirror, she reached over with her dead hand and snuffed her candle out. The skin on her fingers didn’t blister anymore, but neither did they feel the sting of the flame. It was still so curious. Arlo sighed as she slipped on her glove and left the darkness of her room.

[notmoreflippingelves]

So like I'm pretty much in complete and total agreement with everything said here, but I'd just like to build upon what you said a bit more especially in the reference to the writers largely ignoring Esteban's trauma. Partly because "well, it was kind of his fault" and partly because "this guy spent 41 years in captivity wallowing in guilt and desperation without a break or a friend" is admittedly rather a lot to put on the eight-year-olds watching.

But even knowing that does not make it any more frustrating to watch as an adult. I already did a little word vomit of my own about how "Island of Youth" is actually rather heartbreaking in an understated way. But at least, he does get considerable focus in that ep, unlike the other microagressive moments in S1-S2 which Esteban's past experiences (or even the man himself) are either ignored, played for laughs or both.

Don't think I didn't notice how quick everyone was to ignore his stated wish for a quiet, traditional Navidad at home with the familia in the first holiday episode ! Even though he has probably been dreaming of that very thing for decades! Nope, this idea is not even worth considering for everyone else. (At least, he got his family Christmas time the second time around).

Don't think I didn't notice that he straight-up *wasn't* there during the "family" vacations in "Royal Retreat" and "The Gecko's Tale"! (And yeah, he was probably working but would it really have been so hard to have someone quickly say "It's really too bad Esteban was too busy with that trade agreement to join us. Next time, we'll take him with us even if we have to pack his entire study to lure him here.")

And on a similar note, his absence in every Dias de las Muertos episodes is also super-glaring. Word of God says he's visiting his parents' altar but like... you could've showed that and you chose not to. Because apparently, he's the only one who isn't allowed onscreen grief on the day where people remember their lost loved ones.

But all of that is absolutely nothing at all compared to the glaring hole of wasted potential/unexplored complexity that was Esteban's characterization in S2 in particular. (Adding further insult to injury, he's not even listed at all as either a "main character," a "recurring character," *or* a "supporting character" on the official wiki's page for S2. King Verago's listed and he's only in 1 episode. Esteban is in 8-9 but apparently he's a non-character).

It's incredibly frustrating considering that S2 as a whole is arguably the most plot-consistent and has the least filler. More importantly, Esteban has long-standing and very important connections to the driving forces of said S2 plot (namely Elena, Shuriki, and Victor). And yet, the only real things of substance the S2 narrative gives us for him (apart from a few funny moments) are his rap battle with Elena and the Navidad episode. (Ironically, both of those are only peripherally related to Esteban's connections to the S2 plot as a whole)

Even both of those great moments are undercut by the fact that in the latter case, he has to share focus with Elena, Mateo, and Naomi all of whom get at least 1 additional character-focused episode of their own that they don't have to "share" with anyone else. And in the former case, the fun Hamilton-esque beat makes it far too easy to ignore what is actually happening during "The Right Thing to Do." Namely, Esteban doing a literal song and dance in order to convince the Grand Council to protect Elena from Shuriki--since Elena sure as hell isn't going to protect herself.

However, the most aggravating to me personally is the absolute wasted Esteban potential in "Song of the Sirenas." This is arguably the most important episode of the show since "Secret of Avalor" and it should've been nearly as huge for Esteban's character as it was for Elena's. He comes face to face again with the person who manipulated him and terrorized him for forty-one years, (!) the person who had thought he was finally free of but turned out to be mistaken (even if the reunion was mercifully temporary). The narrative owed him a direct interaction with Shuriki, one that would've brought him closure or at least would've acknowledged how painful and terrifying his situation is. I would've gobbled up that delicious angst like Esteban gobbles up tres leches cake.

Instead, we get only two tiny little character moments from Esteban in the episode, both of which involve his "cowardice" being played for laughs and neither of which stop to consider that his self-preservation instincts are normal considering what he's been through.

The first of these moments is Esteban immediately darting behind Francisco for protection when he sees that flash of green smoke for the first time in two years.

This is especially striking as it's a direct contrast to his behavior in S3. Long before his sacrifice in the series finale, we see multiple occasions where Esteban inserts himself as a physical barrier between Elena and Ash Delgado. Even though Elena sees him as the "enemy" and arguably "more" of the enemy than Ash, Esteban still refuses to let any harm come to his cousin, even if he has to put himself literally in the line of fire.

And yet when Esteban sees his former queen, his first instinct is to hide behind his grandfather like a scared little boy. Shuriki terrifies Esteban in a way that nothing else in the show seems to--not even Ash or Zopilote or Cahu. He reverts to being the child he was forty-three years earlier and waits for the older, braver man to save him from the nightmare.

The second notable Esteban moment in "Song of the Sirenas" is pretty similar to the first and nearly as striking. And it's played for laughs even more so than the other. After Esteban, his cousins, the abuelos, and Marisa are locked up in the tower ("for now" as Shuriki made sure to remind them), they are rescued by Naomi, Gabe, Mateo, and the jaquins. When Mateo asks who should be taken to safety first, Esteban's response is an immediate "me, me, me." And then two seconds later, "Or Isabel."

Unsurprisingly, Esteban's first instinct is to protect himself from the person who made his life hell for decades. But equally telling is the fact that just a few short moments later, his priorities reorient towards protecting the youngest and most vulnerable person in the room. Even though no one was able to protect him when he was nearly as young and nearly as vulnerable. (I'm fairly meh about Mateo overall but my opinion of him did shoot up dramatically when he subsequently decides to save Isabel and Esteban at the same time. You done good, wizard boy. Keep it up)

It's all so much and Esteban is just so much, the most character. But still not nearly as much character as the narrative should let him be.

Both my twitters are locked now due to the increase in spam and bot issues since the Muskrat's hostile takeover but here is the original "losing my mind about Esteban Flores" thread for posterity and your reading pleasure*

[sydneyofalltrades]

Another day, another Moni headcanon list hehe

Moni is a person who wakes up with back pain, a grumpy attitude, and hair that hasn’t been fixed since the Stone Age. Without four cups of coffee she WILL grab a knife

Moni flirts with everyone, especially when she doesn’t mean it. It’s never her fault, it’s just preprogrammed in her brain to be flirty with anyone so they’d be willing to take her in, but there are several occasions where she’s flirty on purpose to get a negative reaction and she loves it

Moni doesn’t really know how to cook or bake, she’s been forced to work with whatever she could back home so Constance gives her a few lessons and now she can properly make something for herself

Moni and Ricky will frequently have quiet moments where the two of them will just draw and take in each others’ company, switching sketchbooks and admiring the other’s work.

When Moni is in a situation that she knows damn well she’ll be in trouble with her mom for, she just speaks French the whole way through, acting like she doesn’t understand English, and usually whoever bothers her leaves or she manages to punch them

When Moni is high goddamn you do not want to be there. Noel frequently has to stop her from picking fights or doing doing something outlandish like jump from the school’s roof.

Moni is fiercely protective of people, whether they be her friends, her brother, a girl she had seen being harassed by some strange dude, she’ll never miss an opportunity to pick a fight for someone she cares about

When Moni was a kid, her great-grandparents called her Nini, a nickname she hadn’t heard in years. When her mother called her Nini one day after a long shift, Moni ran over and hugged her

Monique’s nicknames are Moni, Mon, Mon-Bon (coined by Constance), Nini, and Mo-Mo. Moni doesn’t usually let people give her nicknames so she usually just goes by her full name, but over time she lets others use Moni and it feels like a breath of fresh air

Moni does write poetry, but it’s not the best compared to the genius Noel comes up with. She’s more of a freelance writer, drafting ideas for stories she might want to tell, making short stories of her favorite memories

Moni has an aversion to the color pink, but she does mind it in small doses. However, what she doesn’t let on is she can and will adore a fully pink media if it was introduced to her properly

On the rare occasions Ocean is willing to have a break, the four girls will go on mall trips. But as Penny is the oldest of the four girls reality crashes down on them in the essence of the fact that they will spend their entire allowances in five stores. Moni was revoked from her credit card privileges for a month as a result

The first four months of Moni in Canada was a disaster bc she was still holding onto her life in France, storing food, staking out places that would be decent to spend the night, even keeping a list of possible guys she could charm into letting her stay. She had to unlearn five years of work and pain, but it was worth it

Moni and Mischa will meet once a week and just spend the night together, whether sitting outside smoking or coming up with lyrics for a new rap, or just indulging in their countries’ cuisine. They called it their “Miscasts Nights,” and it makes them both feel like they’re not alone

Noel and Moni will have sleepovers on the weekends. One of them will find a way into the other’s room and they’ll gossip and do each others’ nails and talk and joke around until the sun comes up or Mona comes home, and she’ll see them sleeping together like little kids and she’ll take pictures of her kids being real siblings