#it's such a shame that we won't get to see more of the silliness until after the plane emergency is dealt with

[ravi-is-my-beloved]

I do love the way Hen's first "order" as acting captain after Gerrard is placed in the ambulance and taken to the hospital is to have a dance party. Because it truly shows how much the 118 had to repress their silliness under Gerrard.

[beegomess]

What is your relationship like? || Slytherin boys

Summary: We saw how other people see you in the previous chapter. Here we will see how things really are.

Warnings: A little spicy on some topics, but nothing so explicit.

Requests are open!

masterlist here

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Blaise Zabini

Your relationship with Blaise is really amazing, he is almost the perfect boyfriend;

You've known each other forever, but love only flowed when you got closer in recent years at Hogwarts;

Dating Blaise is knowing that he thinks about marrying you;

He's the kind of boy who plans to have a family with you;

His family has always loved you, and your parents love you as a child;

Of course, he has his flaws. Sometimes he can be a little anxious about the things he wants to do with you;

Never, ever disrespected you in any way;

He would understand if you chose to wait to have any physical intimacy after getting married;

At the beginning of the relationship you were the type who were always together, but over time you were respecting each other's individuality;

He will always be a gentleman with you;

You never had to worry about anything in relation to fidelity, Zabini never left doubts that he loves you more than anything;

He always imposes limits when a girl gets too close. Having colleagues is fine, but it won't get past it;

Blaise is not ashamed that others see how much he loves you;

He is the boy of every girl's dreams, as if he had come out of a romance book.

Draco Malfoy

His problems with Lúcios would certainly splash on you at one time or another;

You would certainly support him in facing his father if necessary;

Draco grew up with you, he has always seen you as a safe haven;

There is no doubt that he loves you, but his insecurity sometimes affects you;

Somewhat possessive when it comes to any Gryffinory;

Although he admires his kindness, he prefers not to exercise his. Something you can't change, but you certainly repudiate;

Narcisa loves you, always praising you and thanking Merlin for her son having found someone so good;

Draco tends to be stubborn, which is sometimes stressful for you;

He would buy you gifts whenever he wanted to apologize;

The fact that he has a slight shame in showing his love for you in public is something that bothers you a little;

Sometimes he exaggerates the jokes in front of his friends, but when you turn back, he stays in a continuous silence until the end of the conversation;

However, he loves to show that you are his when he feels minimally threatened;

You were surprised when you saw that he liked you to guide him during sex;

The golden trio just doesn't like you, even if you didn't do anything to them;

There is no way to blame them, even if you give a sermon on Draco whenever you learn of your insults to others.

Lorenzo Berkshire

Enzo was a sensitive boy, which made him listen to you as much as you needed;

His kindness certainly captivated you;

However, he tends to be too kind to some people in his opinion;

The girls didn't seem to mind flirting with him, it was as if he left them;

He certainly wouldn't betray you, but it was quite easy to put him in some frame like this;

His family didn't like him so much, always very demanding, they wanted someone like Malfoy or Nott;

Too romantic in your mother's opinion;

He was not jealous of anything, or anyone;

We need to tell the truth here, the total absence of jealousy was something you didn't like so much;

He was your best friend;

He certainly wouldn't yell at you, nor would he offend you;

Enzo was not ashamed to shout to the four winds that he loved you;

He has always been completely yours.

Mattheo Riddle

Mattheo approached you little by little. Being the sister of one of his best friends didn't make things easier for him;

Discussions were quite common, almost always resolved in sex;

Jealousy definitely existed on both sides;

A lot of jokes, you would create wrinkles from laughing so much at the silly things he says;

Always protecting you from his family as much as I could;

Your parents are definitely not Mattheo fans, but that just made everything more fun for you;

Mattheo was intelligent, he just didn't try very hard;

You encourage him to do the lessons of the class correctly;

The parties were definitely more fun with him;

The language of his love was certainly a physical touch;

He loved your body, it was as if nothing was more beautiful than you;

Even if other girls risked flirting with him, it was all in vain, Riddle never cared to look at them back;

His love for you was incalculable, completely devout;

If you wanted and were of this kind of person, you could manipulate your boyfriend easily, he believed in you a lot;

Flitting with you was completely out of the question for other boys, Mattheo was aware of that;

He takes care of you when you cross the line with alcohol;

The first time you had sex was in a broom closet, it was definitely not romantic, but it was wonderfully pleasurable;

Quickies were very common.

Theodore Nott

He saw you for the first time when they were still children. You ran away to the Nott Mansion library during a very boring dinner between your families;

They grew up together, he was always in love with you;

Completely devoted to your relationship;

Prefer to spend the nights with you than to go to noisy parties;

When you go to parties, it was always with you by the side. Never alone;

You admire him so much, all the things he did were great;

Theodore used to help you with schoolwork, always very focused on classes;

Not ironically, the first cigarette he smoked was with you in the astronomy tower;

Your families already had everything planned for their future, but you only thought about what it would be like to escape and travel together;

Formal dinners during the holidays suddenly became more interesting;

His mother would certainly be proud of who he became;

Theo's face was almost always expressionless, but with you he was almost always smiling;

The gifts he gave you were always significant;

He was jealous, even if he didn't show so much not to seem too possessive;

He may seem quiet, but make no mistake, the sex was definitely hot;

Nicknames in Italian always melted his heart;

Provocations were quite common, but very discreet.

Tom Riddle

You had more in common than it seemed;

Tom was quite obstinate in what he wanted, he wouldn't let anyone get in his way;

He didn't use to demonstrate in public, that was a fact, but he wasn't a completely cold boy either;

His favorite moments were when he lay down on his body and heard his heart beat at a comforting pace;

His family loved him from the beginning. He knew how to be polite and charismatic when he needed to;

He seemed so respectful of you in front of his parents, they barely knew that you had already been completely corrupted;

Teachers used to keep an eye on you and your interests;

He was the darling of the teachers for his apparently interested and innocent way, but some teachers did not let themselves be fooled by this manipulation, distrusting him and you;

Tom was determined to take you with him wherever he went;

Even if people didn't gossip clearly about you, there were buzz about what it would be like;

What attracted Tom to you was how he saw himself in you;

You weren't as innocent as you seemed to be, and he loved it;

There were only two things he would never give up in life: Power and you.

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A/N: Guys, I'm running out of ideas, please send me ideas for imagines or headcanons. 😭😭

xoxo, bee✨🫶🏼

[icyowl]

Gang Orca and Fear of the Ocean

Pairing: Kugo "Gang Orca" Sakamata x reader

Request: none

Synopsis: What better way to overcome Thalasaphobia than in the arms of an orca? 2.6k

Part of the Fear Series

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“We can stop anytime you want. I won't be mad or disappointed.” Kugo's deep timbre broke apart the sound of the waves sliding over the sand and your feet. The ebb and flow of the water was too fast, too unpredictable for your liking, but your rationale tried to bring comfort: the sky is clear, and the water is calm, these little waves aren't even anything to be worried about compared to a storm.

“I'm good, just. . .” don't let me drown, please, was what you wanted to finish with, but guilt kept you quiet. He'd picked out a private part of the shoreline so no one was there to embarrass you, held your hand patiently while you eased into the water, and soothed every one of your worries with a patient calmness. “You won't let go, right?”

“Wouldn't dream of it.”

You edged in a few more feet. The water was cold where it kissed at your shins.

“Thank you for doing this with me.”

“The ocean is very important to me -- I want to show you how enjoyable it can be, even if you won't ever like it like I do.”

Guilt clawed deeply into your chest. How did Kugo see his future in you when you couldn't share in his most quintessential aspect? This was worse than opposites attracting, this was an incompatibility you weren't sure the two of you could overcome. Would he have to sacrifice his joy, his pastimes, and his comfort, for your own? You hoped not (its why you were here, now), but the obstacle seemed possibly insurmountable. And yet you wanted to wade through the crushing fear to be with him. That had to account for something.

Sensing how your mind turned against you and attempted to drown you in its own way, Kugo broke your absent thoughts with a careful brush of his thumb over your knuckles. “Do you want to stop for today? This is already a lot of progress.”

"No." You rushed, then, "god, this is embarrassing."

"How?"

"You're having to hush me like a child! Little kids jump in, toddlers swim, and I'm here, shaking, wasting your time and--"

"How is this wasting my time?"

"I shouldn't be scared of water, Kugo! You should be swimming or fishing or relaxing. Anything other than taking an adult to a swim class."

"But I'm spending time with you."

He said it so simply. To him, spending time with you made it worth it, no matter what it was you were doing. The endless patience and care finally broke through your shame enough to focus on the kind gaze in his ruby eyes. Right. You were overcoming a silly fear. He was there to do it with you and make you feel safe (which he did). This could be fun.

You shuffled farther, digging deep treads into the sand and feeling it ooze around your ankles. This was the fastest you'd moved and Kugo worried you'd get ahead of yourself. “Don't push yourself. If you go until you panic, you'll fear it more next time.”

With his advanced senses, Kugo could hear your heart skitter and throb. He felt like he was at fault - this all came from a desire to be with him. As scared as you were, as much as it gripped you irrationally, your affection for him was equal. It made his own heart speed.

"I told you. I wanna tread water."

"It doesn't have to be today, sweetheart."

"I want it to."

You gasped loudly when the water raised to your chest. Now the buoyancy was lifting your feet from the seafloor and the cold gripped your lungs in a chilly grasp, making it hard to breathe. That part deep in your brain that had been moaning now began to scream. It would have bubbled out of your throat if Kugo hadn't put his hands securely around your torso and lifted you out and up to his chest.

"Breathe, little one." He whispered. You shivered, from the cold air kissing your wet skin or from his warm breath on your tight throat, you didn't know and didn't have the mental faculties to care. He was so tall and strong that he'd simply plucked you from the waves and brought you level to his eyes with strong arms linked under you, letting your legs pinch snugly around his hips. Now the water barely touched your waist, loosening the suffocating hold of fear in your chest and allowing you to focus on the heat of Kugo's body.

You inhaled as requested. It cleared your mind enough to realize your nails were digging into his back; if he didn't have a shirt on, you'd probably have broken skin. You relaxed your fingers with a rushed apology.

"Don't be." He replied. "I quite like it when you do that."

Very few people had desired him physically. To feel you latch on, to know you relied on him for security. . . his chest began to hurt.

You took the time to breathe through the remaining panic. Kugo's private beach was nestled in a cove, meaning, on a windless day like today, there were barely any waves to speak of. No rip currents or rogue waves. Just you and him, under the crisp brightness of the sun and the far-off warbles of gulls. Water gurgled in the little space between you two, rising up your belly and back down, small and harmless. Your forehead rested against his chest while you watched the sunlight turn parts of the water white as it danced up and down and back again. There was almost a gentle ebb to it, a sort of heartbeat.

Kugo felt your muscles slacken against him. Little did you know that, in your trance, you'd relaxed considerably. If he'd let go now, you'd fall into the water.

He finally spoke up after basking in your trust for some time. "You could just do this much for the rest of our lives and I'd be very happy."

"I wanna keep going."

Slowly, smoothly, he backed farther from the shoreline. When the water got to your chest again, your fierce grip returned, but Kugo fought through the sting. "Breathe when I do."

You hadn't even realized how fast and tight it'd become. Your mind struggled to prioritize the fear of dreadful possibilities in the water's unforgiving depths with the desire of your lover. In time, the latter won out. Sure, there could be an enormous and horrendous monster swimming up right now to swallow you both whole, with huge teeth, or maybe whipping tentacles, or perhaps a poisonous stinger or dozens of eyes, but you were confident that your lover wouldn't let any harm come to you. So you breathed. For minutes or years you matched his slow inhales and strong exhales. You felt their warmth as they wrapped around your neck and chest. You brought a finger up to touch the breaks in black and white on his skin, traced them as an artist would, full of reverence and care. You enjoyed how his chest pushed you back with every expansion and let you closer with every contraction. You focused on him more than anything else. Before you knew it, the water was at your chin, and you had to look up from his sublime midsection to avoid getting a face full of water.

His eyes were pale with tranquility as he looked at you, at ease in his arms. "You're treading water." He spoke quietly.

"No. I'm holding you, and you're treading water."

"I don't care for your semantics."

You merely hummed, burying into the soft skin on his shoulder and nosing against the spot that changed from a clean white to a mysterious black. Kugo felt his eyes dilating. How was he supposed to be on the lookout for danger when you did these things to him? Against his will, a gentle chuffing sound reverberated from his chest and enveloped you. A noise he only reserved for you and only in the most private of circumstances.

He let you enjoy his sounds of pleasure for a while before continuing the exercise. "Do you want to try on your own now?"

The fear swiftly returned to your eyes. "Uhhh."

"I won't let go."

You swallowed through the dryness in your mouth. A shame there was all this water around and no way to drink it. "Okay."

You tried to move your legs from their perch on his hips, you really did, but eventually, he had to help urge them off with a gentle hold around your knee. When they slipped into the water, you thought your heart would jump right out of your mouth.

Your feet now kicked freely through the cobalt-colored water, and though the cool temperature and gentle resistance of the water should have felt good, you couldn't bare to lessen the steely grip on Kugo's shoulders. It was a bad idea, you should have known, but you looked down at the clear water. So pure that you could see your toes dancing through the rays of sunlight, and the endless expanse of blue under them almost had you yelling.

Just as your legs tried to make their way back up Kugo's waist, he took one clawed finger and nudged your chin up in his direction. "Look up at me, little one."

You did as told. It felt like starting all over again with your breathing, but you refused to look from the garnet eyes carefully holding you in their grasp. If you looked long and hard enough then maybe you'd comprehend nothing other than their kindness. Maybe you'd get lost and forget about the fathomless blue reaching all around you.

He spoke again, a smile in his voice when you weren't present enough for your own words. "You're doing it."

You only nodded. If you contemplated what you were doing, you wouldn't be able to do it anymore.

Your nerves began to get the better of you - even Kugo's reassuring gaze couldn't hold you forever - and he pulled you back to him when he felt the shaking begin to worsen. His warmth and security were a welcome break. You fisted his shirt tightly enough to force all the blood from your knuckles. "Just give me a minute and I'll-"

"Let's try something else."

Something else? This was all you wanted to do, and you did it. What else was there?

He continued. "I want to do more than just push you away from me." All the while he guided your hips up until your legs were around him again, and your hands were on his shoulders, only for him to lean back. You startled at the change in balance but before you could protest his face emerged from the water.

Now he was floating leisurely on his back, you on his stomach like a makeshift kayaker. His hands covered the entire expanse of your thighs with room to spare, but he cared for little other than stroking your skin with his fingers and enjoying the feel.

Your hands settled on his chest. He was lucky he couldn't blush.

Kugo refused to open his eyes. If he did, he worried your picturesque visage - backlit by the sun's light and set against a perfect summer sky - would drive him mad. He brought you here to help you with your fear and have a private moment, not to turn into a hormonal school kid.

He could do nothing but release a steady clicking sound from the bottom of his chest when you rested your body against his. How could someone like you choose to be with something like him?

Far-off underwater whistles drew his attention, though he didn't make any show of it. Based on the noise, they were no threat to you. Simply passerbys.

You didn't know that though. After minutes of letting the sun gradually warm your back to a borderline uncomfortable level, simply feeling his heartbeat and trying to focus on taking level breaths (after all, your feet dangled over a watery nothingness and you knew it), you were drawn by the sound of something breaking the surface of the water and looked over to see a dark fin going beneath the waves.

You almost fell off Kugo's stomach with a scream, but he kept you still. "Easy, they're orcas."

"Still-"

"They won't hurt you. They know you're with me."

The gentle puff of a blowhole brought your eyes back to the newcomers. It looked like two females (you'd learned, during the lessons he'd given you over time, at least the basics).

"H. . . hi." You said for lack of anything else. It made Kugo chuckle.

One of the females breached the waves with her head, one earth-colored eye fixing you still. It wasn't because it made you fearful; it was the realization that someone was there.

These weren't fish eyes - the orca showed an inexplicable level of intelligence. Without realizing, you leaned closer. Her gaze betrayed a thinking, feeling, learning creature.

Human. She looked so very human. You were so entranced by the emotion that you didn't even notice her size. She even dwarfed Kugo and his indomitable stature, yet you only wondered what lie within her round iris.

Your moment was interrupted by another shadow breaking the surface, this one much smaller and clearly a calf that you hadn't noticed before. You could hear its high-pitched whistles as it nudged its mother. They continued to look at the two of you, the mother letting you gaze at her precious co-pilot. Kugo, completely unbothered, did little more than crack one eye to enjoy the interaction. He knew you'd be a natural; you always did have a way with cetaceans.

Another puff of air and mother and baby delved beneath the water together. You watched three dorsal fins rise and dip from the water as they made their way elsewhere. Only a stroke on your hip drew your attention back to the man under you. His eyes were closed, but you knew he was listening, observing, feeling.

You never would have guessed in a million years that you'd feel gratitude today, and yet here you were. "Thank you for sharing this with me."

To Kugo's surprise, it wasn't lust that gripped his body when you laid back down on him. He felt every inch of you, not a modicum of space between you two, and yet the part that captivated him the most was the thump thump thump thump of your heart. There were many things he lacked that made him different from normal people. What he knew he had, however, were tear ducts. He knew because they began to fill against his wishes. Kugo battled the emotion burning the back of his throat so he could speak and try to sound somewhat normal. The last thing he wanted was to worry you. "My pleasure."

[creepy-friday]

Ok ok hear me out 👀

What if, instead of fem! Proxy, we got a fem! Human maid 👀👀👀

Like the Slenderman chose her to take care of the mansions needs such as: cleanliness, general functioning (like electrical management, house repair, etc...), food management, etc...

But she isn't a demon nor proxy, but a human dragged into this life (The Operator is a cruel silly guy)

The Proxies have to watch over her so other residents don't mess with her, and also so she doesn't run away.

THE POWER DYNAMIC WOULD BE THROUGH THE ROOF 😭

YOU'RE BACK<3 this prompt is interesting ngl👀👀 I included more characters for the spice

Creepypasta x Maid!Reader

Characters Included: Proxy focused

Warnings: suggestive/NSFW themes,non-con/dub-con mentions,violence,misogyny,drugs and mental illness references

The difference between the power dynamics between you and the other residents are catastrophically huge

Once Slenderman took you in,he made sure that you understand what your role is from the start.It was a cruel time for him to make the decision to bring an innocent human in a manor full of deranged people,but in his mind he took the right decision

The first sick people who viewed you as a fuck toy would be Masky and Jeff

Since you're in the care of proxies,you are somwhat lucky,the others would mostly keep their hands to themselves

Maybe except Ben who has no restrictions by being a literal ghost,so I can totally see him messing with you for a while

The fact that you are a maid might give the others the opportunity to discover a new kink btw

Masky would slap your ass as you clean the windows "good job,get that body moving"

He's a whiny little bitch.He would scream at you if you missed a spot,if you were late to cook dinner by a minute or if he simply needs your assistance with whatever bullshit he makes up

He even called you to prepare him a bath and harassed you in the bathroom,even threating to drown you for his sick entertainment

The way you look up to him makes his dick hard,he doesn't care if the others find gross that he gets off on the power imbalance,he feels good about it

The only good thing he does is not letting the others fuck with you it doesn't apply to Hoodie

Sure,he might threaten to punish you by letting Jeff has his way with you,but we all know his pride won't let him to let you get fucked by another man yeah,once more,it doesn't apply to Hoodie

Right after a bloody mission he would bring you to his room and make you suck him off "How's it feel to have the dirty work done?Right where you belong"

Washing the blood off of their clothes it's a nightmare.Sometimes,the white masked man would try to scare you by saying all the messed up things he did to get them this red

Toby was happy he can look after a girl ngl.After seeing how scared and lost you are,he decided to make himself your safe space

But even then,he saw you as an opportunity to break himself into,it was a selfish tought,but he really craved to be your "knight in shining armor"

He actually started to stand his ground whenever Masky would start to harass him in front of you,and even if he would get beat up and would shame retreat in his shell for a few days,this boy doesn't give up

I can see him letting you escape in the forest if you pull the right strings,but the fear of what Slenderman would do to both yourself and him made Toby to get you back crying

INSTEAD,he goes on walks with you in the forest whenever you are free,just to give you that false sense of freedom

Even if it's just your job to clean,cook and do household chores,he views them as more intimate and might get romantic feelings towards you he has no self respect

Hoodie would play a lot of mind games with you,sometimes he would make you think he's your ally,sometimes he would give the impression that he's just another wolf from the hungry pack

He actually let you run free in the forest for a few minutes and waited for you to get your hopes up until he would show up from behind and get you back

"Gothca" he said,tackling you to the ground as one of his hands rested on your waist and the other one on the back of your head "let's get you back,shall we?awwwh,don't cry now,you know I wouldn't hurt you!Now I can't say the same about the others if they knew you got this far..so let's keep this between the two of us,what do ya' say?"

The son of a bitch would also blackmail you into having sex with him so that he can "protect you" or so that "he wouldn't snitch about your plans of running away"

Even if your plans would be top tier,he would know about them and would make sure to tear them down as slow as the light in your eyes fade away

If you're feisty he wouldn't feel the need to fight with you,but would rather keep him interested into bringing you down

But if you're on the docile side he would still take it as a challenge to himself,to see in how much time he can make you his loyal puppy

The manor is huge,four floors with large windows where a lot of dust piles up,especially on the inhibited last floor where The Operator works

I can see Masky making you work naked at a busy hour of the day, just for his fucked up entertainment,throwing some nasty comments while burning cigarette buts on your soft skin

EJ would watch from a distance,mercy and guilt piling up in his chest.Altough he doesn't see you as prey,he would certainly think of you as a safe resort to call when his heats/bloodlust appears

Jane would nod her head and advert her eyes,often even asking you if you're okay,just trying to make you feel..a little cared for

Natalie would argue a lot about you with Masky,but after all she's just a resident and Tim is still a proxy at the end of the day.She can't do anything about it.

All in all,your life in the mansion would be assured to be a long one,and depending on your behaviour you can make it a less traumatizing pressuring experience

[mj-iza-writer]

:3 I just had a silly late night crack thought that I had to share and you were the first person who i thought of:

Imagine instead of a collar as punishment you have ✨cone of shame whumpee punishment✨

poor pet crawling around bumping into every corner with the ✨c o n e ✨ makes me giggly

yours truly who should be sleeping ~ 🦊

I ended up falling asleep writing for this, but I love it so much.

This is a great idea, and I love the concept. I also love that I was the first person you thought of.

Hope you like the story, and I hope you got some sleep:

"Alright, hold still", Whumper sighed as they knelt and wrapped a giant plastic item around Whumpee's head.

Whumpee grew more concerned as they felt it tighten then click.

"Wait what is this?", Whumpee reached up and tried to pull it off, "what are you doing to me now?"

"That, my dear pet is lovingly called the cone of shame. You need to stop picking at your lips while they heal", Whumper grinned as they stood, "maybe this will help."

"But, but, but", Whumpee staggered, "this isn't fair."

"I'm sorry Whumpee, it's for your safety. You just made your lip bleed again", Whumper sighed, "it's not fair that I have to keep such a close eye on you."

Whumper turned to the door and started to walk out of the room.

"Wait", Whumpee hurried to crawl after them. The cone caught on the side of the wall and forced their head to turn.

"Ou..ch", Whumpee groaned as they shook their head trying to get the cone off.

Whumper tried to hide their laugh, but a small chuckle escaped.

"It's not funny", Whumpee complained, "that hurt."

Whumper pulled out their phone, "no my dear you're wrong, that was hilarious", they snapped a picture and smiled at their phone, "that's my new screen saver."

Whumpee sighed in frustration.

"Did you have a question?", Whumper stepped closer and readjusted the cone.

"How am I supposed to eat and drink with this thing on?", Whumpee tried to reach their face, "I definitely won't be able to get to my bowls."

"Just tell me you need something and I'll help you", Whumper frowned, "it's not coming off until I say so. That's final."

Whumpee held their head in shame and turned to crawl away. Whumper could hear tiny whimpers and sobs as Whumpee tried to find a way to get comfortable.

Whumpee bumped into a shelf, another wall, and the couch on their way to find some sort of comfort.

"This is so uncomfortable", they rolled around in frustration until they accidentally bumped into Whumper's legs.

"What are you doing now?", Whumper grinned as Whumpee tried to sit up.

"Trying to get comfortable", Whumpee rolled their eyes, "I can't lay down and I can't sit down comfortably. There is no way for me to look out the window because this isn't see through. I don't exactly want to be in a crawling position until you do decide to take it off."

Whumper made a frustrated sigh, "how is the grumpy puppy going to get by with this one sudden inconvenience that has popped up in their other wise comfortable life, hmm?"

Whumpee frowned.

"Maybe puppy could use a nap", Whumper grinned.

"I'm about to pee in your shoes and show you how bad I can truly be", Whumpee pulled at the cone again.

"You will not like the punishment if you do that, but how about we go outside if you need to pee", Whumper started to walk to the door.

Whumpee watched.

"Come on", Whumper beckoned.

"Can the cone come off?", Whumpee started to crawl and waited for Whumper to click the leash to their collar.

"Nope, it's stays on", Whumper led them to the door and out.

Whumpee struggled to see where a good spot would be to do their business. The cone was in the way of everything.

After a few minutes, they did their thing and waited for Whumper to clean them up.

Once inside Whumpee looked at their water dish.

"Could I have some water please?", Whumpee sat by the dish.

"Yes you may", Whumper came over held the bowl for Whumpee while they drank.

"How about you take a nap. You do look pretty tired", Whumper patted their head.

"It's hurting my neck. It feels like it's rubbing against my skin. Plus my neck feels tired", Whumpee rubbed under the cone, "please take it off."

"Whumpee, it's not coming off yet", Whumper gently rubbed their neck, "it does look a little chaffed though."

Whumper went to find some lotion.

Whumpee turned to follow, but the cone rubbed against the wall. They went to back up but tripped and fell forward.

"THATS IT", they yelled and reached up to force the cone off. They rolled on the floor trying to fight it.

Whumper quickly grabbed their hands and held them down.

"It's okay", Whumper whispered gently, "puppy needs to take a deep breath, and think about the situation."

Whumpee still fought against Whumper, but quickly remembered their owner was much stronger.

Whumpee took several deep breaths before relaxing their arms.

"Has the puppy settled down?", Whumper whispered again.

"Mmm-hmm" Whumpee grunted.

"What do you think would have happened if you got the cone off?", Whumper released their grip.

"I would have been punished", Whumpee rolled onto their stomach.

"Yes, you would have", Whumper nodded, "I understand the cone is not comfortable, and you can't move as well, but if you break a rule you will be punished. Right now the rule is that that cone stays on until I say so."

"Yes Master", Whumpee rested their head on the floor, "you mentioned a nap earlier."

"Yes I did", Whumper nodded.

"May I lay my head on your lap and get pets?", Whumpee looked up quickly, "please?"

"I think we can do that", Whumper smiled, "let's put some lotion on your neck and some ointment on your lips, then you can cuddle."

Whumper gently applied the lotion around Whumpee's neck.

"I hate how chaffed that cone is making you. Your neck is very red", Whumper frowned, "I'll have to research other options to see if there is something better."

Whumper reached for the lip ointment and inspected the sores.

"They look so much better, at least you can't pick at these right now", Whumper started to apply the ointment, "they should heal up nicely. We need to do better, your lips get chapped so easily."

Whumpee rubbed their lips together as Whumper put the medicine away.

"Alright let's get you covered up, then I'll sit down", Whumper grinned, "and I'll do the one job you think I'm good for."

Whumpee grinned as Whumper finally sat down. They scooted to them and rested their head on Whumper's lap.

Whumper moved the cone around so it sat a little more comfortably.

"Thankyou master", Whumpee happily fidgetted with the blanket.

"You're welcome", Whumper turned on the TV. They nonchalantly ran their hand along Whumpee's body several times before resting it on Whumpee's shoulder.

Whumper grinned when Whumpee let out a few soft snores.

"Good Whumpee."

After a while Whumpee felt Whumper get up. They jumped a little at the movements.

"You can continue resting, I'm going to make dinner", Whumper smiled, "you know what?"

Whumper looked over the cone, "don't make me regret this", Whumper unlocked and removed the cone, "be good for me Whumpee."

"Yes Master, thankyou so much", Whumpee happily felt their face and moved around freely, "this feels so good."

"I'm glad", Whumper chuckled.

Whumper wasn't in the kitchen for to long before they came back.

"Whumpee do you want fries or.... WHUMPEE!", Whumper yelled.

Whumpee was on the floor, fingers resting on their lips in a picking movement.

"I didn't do anything", Whumpee whined, "I-I'm sorry."

"Whumpee your killing me, I just took off the cone", Whumper sighed and walked to them, "Whumpee you're bleeding again."

"Please I don't want the cone on me... please. I'm sorry", Whumpee backed away from them, "please", they whined.

"I'm not putting it on you", Whumper sighed, "I'm doing something else."

Whumpee gulped, "wh-what?"

Whumper pulled out some rope he had stashed in a shelf nearby and knelt by Whumpee.

"No, no please", Whumpee begged.

"Either fucking turn, or I'll turn you myself", Whumper talked in their mean voice.

Whumpee whimpered but turned away from them and moved their arms to their back.

"Grip your fingers tightly", Whumper ordered as they began to tie the rope.

Whumpee blubbered as the knots were added tightly. The rope extended from their wrist to their upper arm.

"I will not put that cone on, but you will now be sleeping like this", Whumper stood, "the cone would be to hard to sleep in, but you should be use to my arm binding tie."

Whumpee weakly nodded as their body shook.

"I'm sorry Master", they whined.

"I know you are sorry that you got caught", Whumper patted Whumpee's head, "if you were truly sorry you wouldn't have picked at your lips again."

Whumpee looked down.

"It's okay Whumpee, let's finish dinner and just relax tonight. I'll apply some more ointment later", Whumper started to walk to the kitchen.

Whumpee butt scooted to follow.

"Fries master", Whumpee whispered, "may I have fries?"

Whumper nodded as they started to cook.

Whumpee sat in the kitchen wanting to stay in Whumper's sight.

They wanted to be a good pet for Whumper, so this was the best way they knew how.

Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all. @villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived @sacredwrath @porschethemermaid @monarchthefirst @generic-whumperz @bloodyandfrightened @freefallingup13 @notpeppermint @cyborg0109 @idontreallyexistyet @thebejeweledwatercat @painfulplots @whumpbump @everythingsscary @skittles-the-whumpee @expressionless-fr @theforeverdyingperson @legendarydelusiongoatee @candleshopmenace @whumpanthems @lavndvrr @ivymyers

[fizzigigsimmer]

Back At One Part 2

Pairing: Caligator, Billy Hargrove x Gator Tillman

Fandom Fusion: Stranger Things & Fargo S5

Dom/Sub au

*Title taken from this truly sappy love song by Brian McKnight that these boys would NEVER admit was kinda okay lol.

<<<<PART I

“When is that fella of yours gonna make an honest man out of you?" Dot asks, just as Gator reaches for the pans stacked on top of the fridge, and he jerks, pulling too quickly, sending a cookie sheet clattering toward the kitchen floor - he just manages to save it. Scotty raises the cover of her book to hide her face, but his ears work just fine and he hears her snicker.

"What do you mean?" he gripes as he fumbles with the cookware. This is what he gets for trying to do something nice for his boyfriend on his birthday. "Billy's already registered as my dominant."

Which means if Gator really does burn the house down trying to make this fucking cake, Billy can have the honor of identifying his barbecued remains and save Dot the trouble.

Dot’s giving him this look though. Like she can see right through his bullshit. Let's get real. She always could read him like a book and play him like a fiddle.

“Alright, lets bake this mother fu-uuning,cake” Gator self corrects, remembering Scotty at the last minute. Shit that was close. Dot only has a few rules for when they’re together: no talking about the past when Scotty’s in earshot and no potty mouth. She literally calls it that. It’s kind of annoying though, cause the kid is like twelve right? Gator could curse in three different languages by the time he was twelve. But apparently that’s not the thing to be proud of that he thought it was when he was twelve.

“Real nice save Hon.” Dot laughs at him.

“Yeah yeah. Let’s just do this.” Gator grumbles in reply, and they do. 

Dot ties an apron around Gator's waist and hands him a mixing bowl while Scotty eagerly climbs up on a stool to read out the recipe as they work. She’s only meant to be walking him through the basics of a simple white cake with Billy’s name spelled out on it, but somehow the kitchen quickly descends into chaos. 

"Okay, first we need to cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy," Scotty reads.

Gator dumps an entire stick of butter and a heaping cup of sugar into the bowl. He picks up the electric mixer and jams it in after, cause that much he can figure out for himself. Only it sends a plume of sugar into the air the minute he powers it on. 

“Holy shit!”

"No, silly!" Scotty giggles. "You have to soften the butter first or it won't mix right."

Grumbling, Gator fishes the hard butter out of the bowl and tosses it into the microwave. A few seconds later, there's a loud pop - because he’s a fucking idiot and apparently it doesn’t take more than a few seconds to warm butter. One glance inside confirms the worst: the stick is now a molten mess, and butter drips down the microwave door.

"Oh honey," Dot sighs, grabbing a towel to wipe up the mess. "Just grab another stick and leave it on the counter for a bit to soften."

“Jesus. Come on. Get your head in the game!” Gator admonishes himself, trying to shake off his embarrassment and the feeling of shame welling up inside of him from fucking up something so simple. “I have cooked before. I’m just -”

What? Nervous? Fucking stupid? What else is there to say when he can’t even melt butter.

Dot lays a hand on his back. She doesn’t need to say anything, and she doesn’t as she hands him a clean bowl and Scotty reads out from Dot’s phone that it’s time to sift the dry ingredients together. He upends the bag of flour over the sifter, and thinks it might be too much. It definitely is, because he doesn’t get more than a few taps in before flour has started to overflow everywhere, dusting his hands and the arms of his black t-shirt. But hey, some of it is getting into the bowl.

Somehow with Dot's patient guidance and Scotty's enthusiastic "assistance", they manage to get the cake batter mixed and poured into pans. Gator slides them into the oven, sets the timer, and leans back against the counter with a sigh, his shirt and jeans thoroughly dusted with flour, bits of batter streaked in between.

Dot chuckles as she hands him a damp towel. "Well, that was an adventure. I think Billy will appreciate the effort you put in, even if it's not perfect."

Gator wipes his hands and grumbles. "It better turn out decent after all that. I still think I shoulda gotten him something else though. Something big, to really wow him, y'know?"

Dot studies him for a long moment, and then finally broaches the subject that has been festering like a smelly turd in the corner of the room.

"Want to talk about what happened at the store today?"

No. No he really fucking doesn’t. Gator turns to snap on the faucet, thinking that he’d like to stick his head under it and drown himself right about now. He focuses intently on scrubbing the batter caked on his nails instead.

"Nothin' happened. She was a stuck-up bitch is all. Lookin' down on me like I'm nothin' just 'cause I ain't some fancy dom in a suit."

He hears Dot murmur something quietly to Scotty about going to get her things together, and grunts in acknowledgment when the twerp says a shy goodbye before slipping from the room. He immediately feels like shit, because Dot can’t really punish him anymore - it’s not her place, and she’s got too much respect for Billy to overstep - but she can take away the one thing she knows he really wants. He wasn’t ready for them to leave, but he can’t blame Dot for not wanting her kid around him when he’s like this.

Her family is not something that Dot plays around with, and Gator might be someone she cares about, but there’s a stark line between whatever the hell they are to each other and the beautiful thing Nadine - fuck - Dot, built for herself with her own grit and guts in the aftermath of the Tillmans.

He understands. He gets it. He does. And yet he still flinches when she speaks again, body somehow unprepared for her to still be there even though he would have heard her leave if she wasn’t.

"She shouldn't have treated you that way," Dot says softly. "But Gator, how you reacted wasn’t like you. I haven’t seen you do something that rash in a long time. What’s this really about?”

Gator's jaw clenches and his hands still, suds dripping from his fingers into the sink. The air grows heavy with all the things unsaid between them.

"It’s nothin'. Alright?" he mutters unconvincingly. "I lost my cool is all. Won't happen again."

Dot sighs and leans her hip against the counter next to him, arms crossed. Her eyes are filled with gentle understanding and he hates it. Hates how much it reminds him of his mom, and all the times after, when she was gone and it was Dot standing in her place, filling the void as best she could. Hates most of all that he’s never been strong enough to resist the comfort Dot offers and the temptation to fall apart in her arms. She was his safety, even when safety was a lie and she was just a kid who couldn’t do shit to keep herself safe, let alone him.

But no matter how hard Gator had tried, he’d never stopped needing someone to lean on and take him apart and clean out his rust and dust, to put back together again good as new. That’s his curse, the sub in him, which is hard to swallow most days but Billy makes it better. No one does any of that for him like Billy Hargrove does. Even when Gator makes it hard on him, Billy always knows just which way he’s bent and how to fix it. Yeah it bugs the shit out of him, but he wouldn’t know what the hell to do with himself now without it. If Billy left he’d -

Stop that shit! He flinches away from the thoughts, and reminds himself for the umpteenth time that Billy isn’t going to leave him over some dumb shit like a lame birthday gift. He needs to just quit already. Why can’t he make the thoughts stop?

"You've been doing so well lately, Gator. Really making progress in therapy, communicating better when you’re dropping... What happened today?" Dot presses again.

Gator's throat works as he swallows hard. His hands clench the edge of the sink, knuckles going white. He doesn’t want to talk about this but maybe it will help. God he hopes it helps.

"I just... I wanted to get him somethin' special, y'know? Somethin' to show him how much he means to me." His voice cracks slightly on the last word and Dot's face softens. She reaches for him, laying a hand on his shoulder. 

"Oh honey... Billy knows how much you love him. You don't need fancy gifts to prove that."

"Don't I though?" Gator argues, a bitter edge creeping into his tone. "He does so much for me, Dot. Takes such good care of me, even when I'm a pain in the ass. And, like when am I not a pain in the ass, huh? You were gonna kick his ass and like send him to the Gulag. How am I worth that?”

Dot laughs, giving Gator's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Listen to me. You are a pain in the ass, but only when you’re trying so hard not to be the sweet, kind, and wonderful man I know you are. You're a good boy, Gator. You always have been. And yes, at first I was worried when I found out your Saftey-Dom had a thing for you. Who wouldn’t be?”

Gator shrugs away her very good point - doms who are employed to counsel and provide subs with therapeutic care are bound by a strict code of ethics. Billy could have been in deep shit if anyone other than Dot had found out about their relationship before Billy stopped being his therapy dom.

“I kissed him Dot, and he never let it happen again while I was still just a case.” Gator laments. “That’s what I’m talking about though, all I could do was think with my dick - meanwhile I could have seriously fucked up his life. And he still took care of me!”

“He did. Which is what convinced me he’s the best thing for you.” Dot says. “It’s because he loves you for who you are, flaws and all."

Gator shakes his head, jaw tight. "You don't get it, Dot. I'm not...I'm not good like you keep saying. The shit that goes through my head sometimes…”

He trails off, shame burning hot in his gut. He can't even bring himself to say it out loud. But with Dot he doesn’t need to. 

She was there through the worst of it. She’s seen the worst of him. Shit Billy knows about, but hasn’t seen. Hasn’t really lived it, the way Dot had to live it, and maybe that’s why Gator’s been fucking everything up. 

Maybe he’s trying to see once and for all whether or not someone who isn’t trauma bonded to him will stay once they see him for what he really is.

"I know I'm fucked up, alright? I know I got a long way to go before I'm anything close to the kinda sub Billy deserves.” He tries to shrug off the admission like the words aren’t sending pain twisting inside him like a knife.

But Dot, perceptive as always, cups Gator's face, turning him back to meet her gentle gaze. "Oh honey... Is that what this is about? You want Billy to collar you?"

Gator's breath hitches. Hearing it stated so plainly sends a jolt through him, equal parts longing and terror. He jerks away from Dot's touch, arms wrapping defensively around himself.

"No! I mean... Fuck, I don't know," he stammers, the words tangling on his tongue.

Dot is quiet for a long moment, letting his confession settle heavily between them. When she speaks again, her tone is thoughtful.

"Have you talked to Billy about this? About wanting his collar?"

Gator barks out a harsh laugh. "No. No fuckin' way. He'd probably laugh in my face if I did.”

Dot's brow furrows, her eyes shadowed with concern as she clicks her tongue in admonishment. "I don’t believe you really think that for a second. That Billy would laugh at you for expressing your needs."

Gator's shoulders hunch, defensive. He keeps his gaze fixed resolutely on the mixing bowl in the sink, watching the dregs of batter slowly dissolve under the running tap. The sweet scent of vanilla and butter hangs heavy in the air, incongruously cheerful.

"I didn't say I needed it," he mutters. "I'm just sayin'... a guy like me askin' for a collar. It's funny right? Like, I’m not some needy bitch who needs a collar to keep from dropping, and I don’t need Billy thinking he gets to boss me around more than he already does. Guy’s an absolute control freak."

"Uh-huh and you love it. I've seen the two of you together. The way Billy is with you... It's special. He'd move heaven and earth to make you happy. To give you what you need." Dot says. Her voice is soft but sure.

Gator swallows thickly, his eyes stinging. He blinks rapidly, determined not to let the tears building behind his lids fall. "Sure. Why hasn’t he done it then? I’d put that shit down in two seconds, but he hasn’t even tried. Y’know?"

And the reason why is obvious. Yeah, there’s the fact that Gator doesn’t need a collar, but even if he wanted one he’s too much work, too damaged.

Dot sighs heavily, like he said the last part out loud.

"Honestly Honey, I think you should think about it from his perspective. With the way you talk about it... He may not realize how much this would mean to you. Billy does a good job, making sense of what’s going on in that squirrel head of yours but he’s not superman. Talk to him.”

Gator grunts noncommittally. Because hell no. He will not be begging his dom to collar him any time soon thanks, but he doesn’t want her to worry either. 

Dot says she has to get Scotty home in time to start dinner and he follows her out to the front door where Scotty is waiting with Dot's purse and her school bag. He sees them off with a wave and a promise to attend some talent show at Scotty’s school next week. Dot gives him a kiss on the cheek, urges him to talk to Billy one more time and reminds him that her mother-in-law knows the president, and really can get Billy thrown in the gulag if he really does laugh in Gator’s face.

And then he’s alone. Alone with his thoughts. Which is frankly the best way to be. Gator can think much more clearly about this now that Dot’s not here, reminding him of the past and making him feel weaker than he actually is. He can totally still salvage this situation. He’ll just make the cake really impressive. Like those 3D ones that look like real shit? Billy loves to chill with him on the weekend and watch that show where people try and guess which random item is cake or not. Gator’s usually tied up, plugged or gagged when that happens so his memories are a little hazy - but it doesn’t look that hard. It’s just cake right?

When the timer goes off Gator brings the cake out of the oven.

He whips out his phone and starts scrolling through cake decorating videos on YouTube, determined to find something suitably impressive. His eyes light up when he spots a tutorial for a realistic 3D surfboard cake, uploaded by some fruit calling himself Barry Bakes. He doesn’t really want to take advice from some dude with pink hair, a full face of makeup, wearing a sparkly crop top with the word TWINK encrusted on the front, but the cake is undeniably badass.

"Alright, let's do this," Gator mutters, cracking his knuckles. He fast forwards through the beginning of the video, impatient to get to the good stuff.

First step - carving the cakes into a surfboard shape. Easy enough. Gator grabs a serrated knife and starts hacking away at the layers, tongue poking out the corner of his mouth in concentration. Crumbs fly everywhere as he saws off uneven chunks. When he's done, he steps back to survey his work. It...sort of looks like a surfboard. If you squint. And tilt your head to the side.

Next up - the "ocean" frosting. Gator mixes a batch of blue buttercream, dumping in what is probably way too much food coloring, but whatever at least he softened the butter without blowing up the microwave this time.

Gator continues to follow along with Barry Bakes' tutorial, growing increasingly frustrated as each step seems to go awry. The blue buttercream frosting he mixed up is a garish turquoise color from the excessive food dye. It's also too thin and runny, dripping off the cake in gloopy rivulets.

He blames Barry, that fucking fruit, because if he weren’t so hell bent on turning everything into some kinda innuendo maybe Gator could actually concentrate on what he is doing!

"Shit shit shit," Gator grumbles under his breath, frantically trying to smooth the messy frosting over the lopsided surfboard shape he carved. It's a losing battle. The cake looks like a melted smurf.

Next, Barry cheerfully pipes delicate white frosting swirls and curls to create realistic seafoam on his perfectly smooth blue surfboard. Reminding the audience that big tips are better for piping, and everybody loves a good pipe.

Gator glares at the screen. His own piping bag is loaded with frosting that's somehow both too stiff and too drippy at the same time. When he tries to pipe, it comes out in sad, deflated spurts. He can only imagine what Barry would have to say about that.

"Motherf-!" Gator bites off the curse, chucking the piping bag down on the counter. This was a stupid idea. He's no baker, who was he kidding? He should've just bought Billy a damn gift card like a normal person.

Dejected, Gator slumps against the counter, hanging his head. Failure churns in his gut, sharp and nauseating. He can't give this monstrosity to Billy. He just can’t. Can’t bear to watch him try to hide his disappointment.

Frustrated and embarrassed, Gator gives up on trying to salvage the cake. In a fit of pique, he grabs a spatula and starts roughly shaping the blue frosted mess, not even bothering to smooth it out anymore. He carves angry slashes and gouges into the cake's surface with the edge of the spatula.

Before he even fully realizes what he's doing, the cake has taken on a new, crude shape under his hands - a lumpy, misshapen hand with the middle finger extended in an unmistakable gesture of "fuck you".

Gator steps back, breathing hard, and stares at his handiwork. The hand is far from anatomically correct, with uneven sausage-like fingers and a palm that curves at an odd angle. Globs of sticky frosting cling to the digits in gloopy turquoise clumps. The raised middle finger lists slightly to the side, like it's too heavy to hold itself up properly.

It's possibly the ugliest cake Gator has ever seen. So ugly it crosses the line twice and becomes perversely impressive in its sheer awfulness. A surprised, slightly unhinged laugh bubbles up from his chest as he takes it in.

This is what he has to show for his efforts. This fuck-ugly, lewd gesture of a cake, cobbled together from the dregs of his failure. It suits him.

“Yeah don’t know what the fuck else I expected.” Gator grumbles, despondent. He goes to the fridge to fetch a beer and tabs it open roughly, determined to drink thoughts of the stupid cake away. 

He’s not crying over cake like some lame ass. It’s whatever. It’ll probably still taste good, and if Billy doesn’t like it he can throw it in the trash. They’ll order a pizza or something and Gator will ride him till his dick goes numb and call it a night. Happy birthday.

Gator stomps to the bedroom he and Billy share and pulls out the trunk where he keeps his hunting gear from under the bed, because it’s been awhile since he polished his knives and that always helps lift his mood. He takes the trunk out to the living room and gets to work. Ques up his workout playlist on his phone and connects it to the TV so he can put it on blast.

It helps a little. Allows him time not to think. But the time gets away from him, because he doesn’t even hear the sound of the front door opening and closing. 

Billy's entrance is marked by the faint scrape of his boots against the hardwood floor as he turns the corner into the living room. He pauses briefly, taking in the scene before him—Gator, surrounded by an array of gleaming knives, his trunk spilling open on the coffee table, and the ear splitting rifts of heavy metal blaring from the television speakers.

A faint smile tugs at Billy's lips as the dom sets down his bag and sheds his leather jacket, revealing the broad contours of his chest hugged by a tight white T-shirt. The room is thick with the scent of metal and leather, a comforting familiarity that wraps around Billy like a second skin. He approaches Gator slowly, noiselessly, his gaze fixed not on the array of blades but on the man holding them as gently as baby chicks.

Billy casts a long shadow across the coach and Gator finally notices him. He jumps up, fumbling the knife in his hands which clatters to the floor. The music crescendos, a dramatic backdrop to the moment. Gator lowers the volume, and whips around to glare at Billy who laughs at the fright he gave him.

“Hey, Baby Gay.”

“Don’t call me that!” Gator snaps. “And don’t sneak up on me. I was like, this close to killing you!”

“Oh?” Billy arches a mocking brow. “Probably shouldn’t have dropped the knife then.”

“Haha. Very funny asshole. You’re lucky I did,” Gator grumbles in reply, bending down to pick up the fallen knife. “You know how sharp one of these babies are? With one o’ these I can cut through the shell on a coconut just like that.”

He flicks his wrist to demonstrate the ease with which he could peel Billy’s flesh off, and Billy gives him this look - like Gator is just fucking adorable - and it’s god damn condescending, is what it is. But it also makes the back of Gator’s neck tingle with awareness, and his dick try to get hard. So yeah.

It’s probably a good thing that Billy’s so distracted anyway. Because swearing at his dom is firmly against their rules on account of the fact that Gator uses it as some kinda defense mechanism to keep Billy at arms length.

Or that’s what Billy said anyway when he made the stupid rule. Gator doesn’t make the rules here, he just follows them.

“I’ll count myself lucky then. I think I’ll get a beer. You want one killer?” Billy asks, already on his way to the kitchen. 

FUCK! The Kitchen. Gator remembers too late that he forgot to clean up and do something with that awful cake and scampers after him.

Billy strides into the kitchen before Gator can stop him.

His stomach knots as Billy pauses, his gaze landing on the misshapen dessert surrounded by strewn icing bags, crumbs and powdered sugar. Slowly a grin spreads across Billy's face, and blue eyes sparkle as he turns to look at Gator, where he lingers hesitantly in the kitchen doorway.

"Is this cake trying to tell me something?" he teases, amusement rich in his voice. He leans forward slightly to inspect the cake more closely. "Is this your way of telling me you don’t want to sixty-nine later, or is it a failed science experiment? Hard to tell."

Gator feels heat rush to his face, embarrassment mixed with irritation bubbling in his chest. He knows Billy is just poking fun, yet it stings, tapping into that deep-seated insecurity instilled by years under his father's critical eye.

"Scotty was here with Dot and it gave us something to do. That’s all," Gator mumbles defensively, his words sharper than intended. Then, unable to stop the words from tumbling out recklessly, he adds, "Just thought it would be nice to share, but you don’t have to have any if you’re just going to be an asshole."

As soon as the words are out, Gator regrets them. Swearing at Billy is one thing, but lying to him breaks one of their most cardinal rules. It’s not just about respect; it’s about trust.

Billy’s expression shifts subtly; the playful light in his eyes dims as he adopts a more serious demeanor. He closes the distance between them with measured steps. "Gator," he says softly yet firmly, "That’s the second time you’ve pulled that tonight. Watch it.”

Gator snaps his mouth shut and fumes silently, hanging his head. God, Billy sounds so disappointed in him and it’s worse than he even imagined.He wants to puke.

“Did Scotty really make this?” Billy asks, and Gator can tell just from his tone that Billy already knows the answer, but he’s waiting for Gator to fess up to it. Gator shakes his head, hot tears stinging at his eyes that he blinks away as rapidly as he can.

“It’s for you.” He confesses, feeling a weight lift off his chest despite his overall misery. “I made it for your birthday, and you made fun of it.”

“I did.” Billy acknowledges too easily for Gators liking, but before he can say anything Billy goes on. “I could have handled that better. You’re right. But before we get to that, don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“No. Can’t think of anything.” Gator immediately denies, because how is it fair that he has to apologize for a little white lie when he only did it in the first place because he knew Billy was going to laugh. He knew it.

“Oh?” Billy’s face is impassive but he’s unhappy with Gators answer. It crackles in the air between them. “Do you need a reminder of the rules?"

Gator swallows hard, defiance battling with remorse inside him. He shrugs stiffly, avoiding Billy’s gaze. “Let's just forget it. I don’t need a lecture right now.”

“I’ll decide whether you do or not.” Billy’s tone is calm but carries an undeniable edge of authority—one that sends shivers down Gator’s spine and fear bolting through him all at once. “You know, I was looking forward to a nice night with my boy. Didn’t know I was coming home to a brat.”

Gator ignores the voice inside that screams for him to stop stop stop, barreling ahead in desperate angry defiance.

“Fuck you and what you want! Maybe I want a boyfriend who knows how to lighten up huh?  Sorry I’m not your perfect little bitch. Go cry about it to someone else!” 

His insides shake from the fear and lingering tension. Gator has just royally pissed off his dom. It’s in Billy’s eyes and the slow exhale of breath he takes. Punishment is inevitable. Gator longs to take it back but he can’t - can never take it back - and nothing will fix it. Or fix him. He’s all wrong inside and nothing works no matter how hard he tries.

But the thing is, Billy is safe.

Billy is angry and Gator is terrified and trembling but It’s nothing like it was before, in his father’s house. When the fear of a hand went bone deep and lived in his nightmares.

Gator loves Billy’s hands. They way they touch him. The way they hold him fast and glue him back together. They’ve never let him down those hands, which is why Gator is shaking like a leaf right now, terrified that they won’t reach for him.

He didn’t yell those things at Billy because he wants more space. It’s stupid, he knows, but he yelled them because he needs Billy to take over. He can’t stop himself running full speed ahead toward a punishment. Billy will straighten him out. He can trust Billy to know what to do even when he’s lost sense of which way he’s turned.

Gator’s dom considers him for a long moment, the silence stretching taut between them.

“Go in our room and get me a paddle.” Billy finally orders. Then, deliberately turning away, he starts rummaging through the kitchen cupboards - no doubt in his mind apparently that Gator will obey him.

Of course he does. Knees shaking, Gator stumbles out of the kitchen because now that he’s driven them to this point his skin is crawling with the need to make it right. He’s aching with the need to be good so bad his knees feel like jelly and it’s everything he can do just to follow the order. He wants to hit the floor - go to his belly and plead for his dom’s forgiveness but that’s not what Billy asked for.

He will be good. He’ll make Billy forget that mouthy idiot who talked back and clearly had shit for brains. He can be such a good boy. The best boy! Just give him a chance and he’ll come wagging his fucking tail.

It’s pathetic.

But it’s also a relief, when he returns to the kitchen a few minutes later with a paddle from their toy chest and sets it on the table and Billy acknowledges it with an approving nod.

“Good boy.” he says, and Gator’s knees buckle. He catches himself on the table, holds himself up with palms pressed firmly to the wood because Billy hasn’t told him to kneel yet. He forces himself to focus on Billy as the dom takes an empty glass vase inexplicably sitting next to a bag of rice on the table, and places it on the floor between their feet.

Gator watches warily as next, Billy grabs the open bag of rice and tilts it sending a stream of white grains cascading down onto the tile. He stops when the bag is empty and kneels briefly to stir through them gently with his fingers before straightening and meeting Gator’s eyes again.

“Pants off.” he orders, and Gator sucks in a breath. He doesn’t have to ask why, and doesn’t bother, cheeks hot with shame as he reaches for his belt and gets to work.

"On the floor," BIlly commands softly, when Gator is down to his underwear. The dom points to the pile of rice on the floor.

"Kneel."

And Gator folds like fucking cake batter, sweet sweet relief coursing through his veins. He puts himself at Billy’s feet where he belongs, where he wants to be and shudders, biting his lip to stop himself from begging for the dom’s touch. He hasn’t earned that. Doesn’t make him want it less, but he can be good for Billy and prove when he remembers how.

Billy picks up the paddle that Gator chose – sleek and dark, crafted from polished walnut. As Gator settles on his haunches, head lowered in submission.

“You picked the heavy one. My favorite.” Billy remarks. “That why you picked it, or do you just really need to feel it tonight? You can answer.”

“Want to feel it.” Gator licks his lips. “Want you to be happy.”

“Good boy.” Billy says, leaving Gator to wonder which he is pleased with: that Gator wants his ass beat so raw he can’t sit or Gator wanting those things because they please his dom?

“Alright Baby, are you listening? I want you to pick those up and put them in the vase. Count each one,” Billy instructs, motioning toward the scatter of grains. His voice is firm. It brooks no argument.

Gator looks down at the nearly indistinguishable mass of tiny grains and feels a rush of frustration. "All of them?" His voice is a mix of incredulity and unease. What if he can’t do it? What if he can’t be good and Billy is disappointed in him again?

“Every last one Baby boy," Billy confirms with an implacable nod. “Don’t think about it. It’s not your job right now to think. Just do what I ask you to do. Can you do that?”

Gator takes a deep breath, steadies himself on the sound of Billy’s voice and nods. He can do that. He can follow Billy’s instructions. He doesn’t have to worry about ho much rice there is or whether he can even find it all. That’s not his to worry about. Not his place. He just has to listen. 

He reaches out shakily to touch the closest grain, his voice barely audible as he starts, “One… two… three…” His fingers tremble slightly; counting each grain feels like an impossible task. But Billy never sets him up for failure - not the way his dad used to. Billy doesn’t ask him to do things he’s not capable of just to fail. He asks Gator for things he knows he can do, and if he fails anyway it’s because Billy wants to be there when he breaks. He won’t leave Gator laden with shame and misery that will eat away at his insides.

As Gator focuses on the rice, Billy steps behind him. Without warning, he brings the paddle down gently but firmly across Gator's backside. The sound cracks sharply in the air, followed by another count from Gator's lips that judders from the impact.

“Four… five…”

Billy administers each swat in time with Gator’s counting—methodical and paced.

The pain is not harsh but it accumulates with each slap—the stinging warmth spreading across Gator’s skin contrasting starkly with the coolness of the floor beneath his knees and hands. Tears prickle at Gator’s eyes as he continues—his voice breaks around “twenty-nine… thirty…” 

It’s more than just physical pain; it's a release valve for all he’s been holding inside. Every impact sends ripples through him, but it’s not just his body. It does something to his soul too that he can’t explain. Something he no longer wants to deny.

“Let it out,” Billy murmurs close to his ear between paddles—a soothing contrast to the sharp swats.

“Thirty-one… thirty-two…�� The numbers start blurring together as sobs hitch in his throat. The task which seemed merely frustrating at first now feels poignant— slowly, bit by bit, Gator cleans up the mess on the floor, and swat by swat Billy cleans up the mess inside. He doesn’t hit Gator after every grain, that would be excessive. He takes breaks at interment periods, spacing them out so that it’s impossible for Gator to try and guess when he might start up again. The fresh sting whenever he does is brutal, worse in some ways than if he had just continued until Gator’s cheeks were numb.

“Two-hundred and ten…” 

Billy pauses, placing his hand gently on Gator's shoulder as he surveys his progress.

"You’re doing well," he encourages softly, and that little praise, that nothing bit of touch, is enough to break him. Gator chokes on a sob, hot tears spilling down his cheeks despite his best efforts to hold them in.

“Keep going.” Billy reminds him and Gator nods emphatically, tears dripping off his chin, because he hadn’t meant to stop. He was doing so well. Billy said so. He’ll never stop. Not until Billy tells him too.

With shaking hands Gator pinches grains of rice between his fingers and continues to count aloud between sobs and hits from the paddle—each number spoken is more than just an acknowledgement of rice grains; but of his submission to Billy. 

Billy’s little murmurs of praise and sounds of pleasure make him feel high. Like his head is floating in the clouds.

He loves subspace. Wishes it were easier for him to reach and he didn’t have to be taken down so hard. But finally he feels the familiar edges of it and the tears fall faster as he lets himself go.

Gator sinks into the feeling of weightlessness as it rises up to take him. Billy maintains a rhythm that is both firm and considerate, attuned to Gator's responses—his body language, his breathing, his blown out pupils and slurred speech. 

This is no longer about punishment. It’s a guided breakdown.

As Gator’s cries begin to subside into quiet murmurs and his ability to speak leaves him, Billy lessens the intensity of his strikes until he stops altogether. 

“That’s enough. You were beautiful Baby.” Billy halts Gator’s hands woozly still trying to lift rice and the sub sags against him. “You’re always so good for me baby boy.”

He brushes his fingertips along Gator's heated skin, tracing the raised welts along his buttocks and thighs softly, and making him shiver. Gator’s mouth stretches in a dopey lopsided smile, beaming from inside and out. He soars. Works his mouth to ask Billy to do it again - he can take more - but can’t get past the mushmouth.

The room is heavy with the scent of sweat and leather, the only sound now the quiet thud of Billy’s heart and Gator’s shaky breaths.

Hands roam over Gator’s back and legs, soft, soothing caresses that glide over his flushed skin. Billy leans close, his breath warm against the nape of Gator’s neck, whispering reassurances that float through his head like feathers.

The shift is gentle, a tender transition as Gator's breathing evens out and his trembling subsides. Billy’s hands are confident, knowing exactly where to touch to bring Gator back from the intense high of subspace. With each calculated stroke on his back and whisper against his ear, Gator feels the ground slowly come back under him, the weightlessness dissipating as reality takes hold once more.

Billy finally eases back, giving space for Gator to gather himself in the afterglow of their session. He cups Gator’s face tenderly, wiping away the trails left by tears with his thumbs. 

“Talk to me, Gator. What’s been eating at you?”

The use of his real name pulls Gator further out of his dazed state. He blinks slowly, focusing on Billy’s concerned face, grounding himself. “I... I’m scared,” he admits, voice still hoarse.

“Scared of what?” Billy probes gently, petting the long side of Gator’s hair now.

“I’m scared I’m not enough for you,” he confesses, dropping his gaze to where their fingers are entwined. He knows the words will hurt Billy. Make his dominant frown in the middle of his brow and start thinking of all the ways Neil Hargrove used to tell him he was a waste of space - too broken and wrong to ever take proper care of a sub. Nothing could be further from the truth. But if there’s one thing Gator knows it’s daddy issues and how they can haunt you.

But to his surprise Billy’s expression doesn’t change. He just nods quietly, still petting Gator’s hair. “Why would you think that?”

Gator hesitates, lips parting but no sound coming out. He swallows hard and shrugs.

“Listen to me Baby.” Billy says after a moment, fisting Gator’s hair between his fingers and tugging until he brings his eyes up. “You’re what I want. You. Even when you’re being a greasy dirtbag leaving your shit everywhere and blaring your candyass music.”

“Hey, lay off my Skyfire man.” Gator can’t help but smile, because Billy’s lips have curved up in amusement and they’ve had this argument a dozen times or more and it just makes him feel so good, that Billy pays attention to which albums he gravitates to depending on his moods. “They aren’t candy. Fractal is the best album produced since Reign In Blood.”

“Why are we talking about fucking Slayer, or Skyfire, right now when Ride the Lightning exists?” Billy growls, tugging on Gator’s hair until his scalp stings just the sweetest bit. “I should beat your ass again just for that.“

“Yeah. If you wanna.” he pants, eager, and Billy’s smiling mouth kisses him, hot and hungry. Billy licks into Gator’s mouth, possessive and sweeping, until he whimpers. The dom nips at his plump lower lip with a grin before pulling back.

“Don’t think you realize how sore you’re gonna be when you come down off this high babe.” He says. “But you heard me right? When I said I loved you? Cause I do. I wasn’t about to lose you before over shitty timing, and I’d never let anything take you from me now. Not Dot. Not him. Not anyone or anything. Okay?”

Gator shivers, but even the mention of his father can’t intrude on the blanket of safety Billy has woven around him, the sure way his gaze holds Gator and rings with truth.

“Yeah.” he sighs, breathless.

“Yeah?”

But it’s not good enough, according to Billy’s tightening grip. And fuck that feels good. Gator is suddenly aware of how hard he is in his briefs, but it’s strangely distant. Like he’d be happy to just sit here hard for another hour or more, letting Billy play with him.

“Yes Billy.”

“Good boy.” Billy's voice is soft, infused with a warmth that seeps into Gator's bones, coaxing his tight muscles to loosen.The room around them—their living room with its deep blue walls and plush gray couches— disappears momentarily, focusing all existence on their intimate bubble.

Billy lifts Gator’s chin so their eyes meet. "Nah nah, stay up for me Baby boy. I need you present." His thumbs brush under Gator’s eyes, rubbing warmth into his skin while he waits for Gator’s eyes to focus. "I think it’s time I show you something," Billy continues, when Gator’s gaze is clear once more.

"In the bedroom," Billy instructs softly, "In my sock drawer, there's a small white box. I want you to go and bring it to me."

Gator feels a jolt run through him. It shocks him rather unpleasantly back to reality, like he’s been dropped from a short height.

“Wait what?” he tries to ask, tries to think, because Billy can’t be hinting at what his muddled brain is trying to convince him he is. Can he?

“Shh. Don’t ask questions.” Billy warns. “And absolutely no peeking either. Just go get it.”

Gator’s movements are slow and automatic as he stands and makes his way down the hallway. This isn’t happening. Well obviously it is, he is on his way to their bedroom to open Billy’s drawer - which is strictly hands off unless he has permission - and get some mysterious box. But it’s probably like some new toy they can enjoy together. Maybe Billy went out and finally got those chains Gator found on that web store, the ones with the studs that dig into your wrists the more you struggle? He’s going to feel so owned wearing those. It’s gonna be great.

He’s convinced himself down off the ledge by the time he gets to the bedroom, but his heart hasn’t gotten the memo because it starts going double time in his chest as he reaches for Billy’s drawer. It slips open smoothly under his fingers which are trembling slightly. From fear or excitement, he isn't sure.

Inside lies a small white box, unassuming in its simplicity yet Gator just stands there and stares at it like it’s a bomb for a full minute before lifting it from its nest among Billy's socks. The weight of potential futures presses down upon him as he clutches the box in his hands.

He should be a good boy. He can just turn and go back into the living room and - Fuck it! Gator’s not kidding anyone. Least of all himself.

Before he knows it, Gator has torn off the ribbon and lifted the lid on the box to peek inside.

And there lies a beautiful black leather collar, its surface smooth and flawless except for the bold engraving of 'GATOR' studded across it in shining silver letters.

Gator stares at it in disbelief, eyes flooding with fresh tears. His heart trips over itself in his chest, thrumming against his ribcage like a caged bird desperate for flight.

The room is silent except for the sound of Gator's shallow, ragged breathing. Gator runs his fingers over the cool, shining letters that form his name, the studs scraping against the pads of his fingers sending tingles through him.

He lifts the collar, feeling its weight in his hands. It's heavier than it looks. He brings it closer, inhaling deeply—the leather smells rich and earthy. It’s the good shit. Supple and strong enough to take some serious pull, and yet the inside of the collar is lined with soft velvet, ensuring his comfort.

Something white resting on the blue lining of the box catches Gator’s eye. It’s a folded card, its crisp edge nearly taller than the sides of the box. Gently plucking it up, Gator flicks it open and scans, eyes widening at the one word message inside.

Peeker!

An unexpected burst of laughter escapes him as he wipes away tears. The simple word on the card speaks volumes, but so does Billy’s presence in their bedroom doorway where Gator finds him leaning when he looks up.

Billy is gazing at Gator with an intense mixture of emotions.

"Do you like it?" he asks, and there’s something like worry there. As if Gator might actually have shit for brains and do all that stupid stuff he’d told Dot he’d do back when he was scared shitless. All because he’d convinced himself that Billy wasn’t true - that he’d disappear like every other good thing has.

“Yeah.” Gator sniffs through his red nose, rubbing fiercely at his eyes. “Shit man. How long have you had this?”

“Since right after your birthday actually.” Billy confesses with an easy shrug. Like he isn’t just standing there admitting that he bought a collar for Gator and has been hanging onto it since September.

“Billy! It’s fucking March!”

“I know! I thought if I forbid you from going through my drawer eventually you would. I know what you’re like.” Billy said. Meaning of course he knows that no matter what, Gator eventually messes up.

But Billy says, “I guess I underestimated what a good boy I’ve got, huh?” with this soft look in his eye, like he’s looking at the best sight in the world and not his fuckup boyfriend standing in the middle of their bedroom in his tighty-whities.

Gator might be melting a little, which is why he has to sit down heavily on the bed before he crumples.

“Hey Billy?”

“Yeah, Babe?”

“I’m your sub…” Gator begins and Billy laughs, the sound loud and full of joy instead of mockery.

“No shit?”

“Come on, Billy please. Don’t be mean.” Gator whines, lifting the hand still holding the collar wordlessly and Billy finally takes pity on him and crosses the room to take it from him. Gator trembles, straightening up and bending his neck a little to give Billy room as he claps it on. He gasps a little, shuddering when Billy leans back and the heavy weight settles against his skin.

"You’re my sub," Billy repeats with finality."With or without this. But when you wear this, I want you to remember," he pauses for effect, letting his fingers softly caress down Gator’s neck and over the dark leather. "You’re my gift. The love you give me, makes me Gator, and I thank whatever lucky stars I’ve got that you came into my life when you did. Okay?"

A simple nod is all Gator manages in response; it’s all that’s needed. The smile that spreads across Billy's face is radiant—as if a piece has clicked into place within him too.

Carefully, lovingly, Billy cradles his chin and pulls him into a kiss.

It tastes sweet… like buttercream icing.

[ficoandleo]

I have mega ADHD so I forget things easily and have a hard time settling down and doing stuff. I don't remember everyone who deactivates or goes inactive. And I know I should express my love more for people who are currently around--i'd like to do that someday too!! But idk i kinda wanted to shout out to some of the people who deactivated/disappeared, especially recently, in the off chance they see this and know i love them lol

@battyoldman let's start with you because whether or not you decide to stick around you're kind of the most recent. I really hope you just need some time away for your mental health and, if this is something you'd like to continue doing, if it's something you enjoy, that you come back and keep blessing us with your presence. Your Ed is so. Silly and fun and chill and perfect. The video and movie titles you'd come up with are so befitting of his goofy conspiracy interests. You have really captured that old man's essence, in my opinion. Your interactions with Rui were so seamless I figured you were in one of the discord servers and already knew each other and you were just growing and exploring a relationship you'd already practiced in another setting. Honestly everything felt so seamless on your end when I saw you interact with others and when I got to interact with you--Ed was so largely unphased by everyone's shit and distaste for him(up until Towa said he was bad at sucking dick, he was not taking that lying down--) and the way he entertained himself with everyone's affairs. . .he really had the feeling of lying away in his tower, entertained by the humans. 10/10, if it's still fun for you I hope you won't leave us because we will miss you.

@ask-kaito-fuji i didn't get to interact with you much WHICH IS A SHAME. Your Kaito is so cute and he's. Really trying he felt so solid and charming and just awkward enough and I love the way you let him interact with posts that were ooc too because lbr he loves social media! He would be vibing out on tumblr!! It felt like he was this close to realizing he was in the matrix sometimes. Seeing people know a bunch of stuff and going 'why/how do you know so much it's so creepy!!' was delightful, and getting to personally chat with him once or twice was also very fun. 10/10 you brought the party to other people and you captured the character very well. His PDL is coming up though, so you may wanna hide him /joke

@frostheimking so your blog is gone but not deactivated(deactivated tumblrs have '-deactivated' and a string of numbers on the end of them and you can often still ping them) which, to me, reeks of Tumblr being stupid because I've seen that happen to multiple people before. I don't think you're gone on purpose, I assume there was a bad spam deletion somewhere or an alleged break of the rules because I've seen that happen before. So I'm hoping you either get the blog back or remake because, while you weren't around often because lbr it's slow around here for the most part, I loved your Jin??? I don't just mean because he was kinda flirting with Romeo, he was snappy and cold and. Idk he really felt like Jin. That's the best way I can think to word it, you captured his character from what I could see. I enjoyed our interactions and I enjoyed the ones you had with others too! I was looking forward to exploring Romeo and Jin's history and dynamic with you quite a bit haha. HOPEFULLY YOU GET YOUR BLOG BACK or remake if you're interested!! 10/10 tumblr fix your shit there's unfinished business--

@leo-brat-kurosagi-deactivated20 hey. You. You are far more Leo than I am lmao. I DO NOT HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO BE THE MEAN LEO THAT YOU WERE. I WISH I COULD BE AS SNARKY AND BRILLIANT. You weren't around super long and you didn't get to have a ton of interactions or answer a lot of asks but like. How do I say that I could just kind of tell what kind of potential was there for something great??? You handled him very well in the time you played him. You lived up to being a little brat for sure.

@sinostracasino-deactivated20241 YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE VISCERAL REACTION OF WHAT NO WHY COME BACK THAT I FELT SEEING YOU GONE. You were hilarious and fun and silly and also a good writer as I recall. Your Taiga had great energy and this underlying tension to him and we would have dug into that Taiga doesn't care about himself if Romeo wasn't afraid to do so. I was looking forward to them having some great, stupid, cyclical arguments, maybe a shootout, maybe eventually getting back together a little. And maybe a little something for that birthday trip to Rui's bar. And his chemistry and interactions with others and with anons were fun??? Immediately warming up to Towa? Teasing the honor students?? The little bit of 'bickering' with Ritsu? Also the way you tagged some of your reblogs god. 10/10 Taiga, he owes so much child support.

. . .those are the ones off the top of my head, mostly recent, which isn't to say I don't see or recognize or have appreciation for others not being around a lot or going away(like @/ask-lucas-errant who did answer an ask recently-ish, who isn't too active but that's probably because of lack of asks/interaction; @/shiranami-ren who I figure isn't around much because they draw a lot of their answers and that's a bit more intensive of a way to run their blog--amazing stuff and very much the classic way to do this from the old days, I would absolutely do the same if I could draw; and the Lycas who deleted probably because of inactivity) all of whom have/had great presentation for their characters and handled them well but. Idk. Maybe i ended up posting mostly people 'closer' to me in this context haha. . . .

I wish this fandom was bigger and more active with sending asks and stuff because I feel like that's a big contributor to people falling off or deleting, and I wish I were more consistent with asks and responses and better at sending asks myself because I could be the change I want to see in the world. (I feel like the asks I send have to be, like, good. Like I appreciate getting simple and basic asks but I feel like I need to ask Big Headcanon Questions or something.) But I know everyone's got their own lives and their own things going on so I'm not going to pretend I know what's going on with everyone, y'know? More than anything I hope everyone--active, inactive, deleted, or otherwise--is happy and safe and comfortable where they are and that the ones who've dropped off didn't do so because of anything bad or any kind of discouragement. Sometimes we lose interest in things and that's more than fine. Or life is busy. I hope you're all doing well. I miss you! I'm sure I'm not the only one!

[runawaycarouselhorse]

Anime Lillie is not a "spoiled brat," Lusamine's neglect, particularly her emotional neglect, traumatized her too

Lusmaine comes off as a narcissist in the anime (albeit one that actually wants to get better and do right by her kids, I am NEVER getting over Gladion telling her off for initially being more upset Faba hid an Ultra Hole from her than the fact her DAUGHTER was TRAUMATIZED.)

All of those years, she never once questioned why her daughter, who had loved Pokemon in her youth and handled them easily, suddenly became deathly afraid of touching them, while loving them form afar. Sudden changes in children's personalities are usually signs of trauma, but Lusamine was too much of a self-absorbed workaholic to notice or care... for years.

(And notice, her first response is to yell in anger/offense at Gladio when he tells her off, perfectly justifiably, for her neglect as a mother... it's only after that she apologizes and he tells her he's not the one who deserves that apology.)

Lillie in the anime repeatedly has an issue where she tries to legitimize her feelings (in the present time, she tries to diminish and deny her fear of touching Pokemon and later, her fear of crashing while sledding) by claiming her stances are perfectly “logical” (even if it’s based in fear or anything else) and then we see Lusamine wrote off her feelings about not wanting to evolve Clefairy (which Lillie wanted to start her journey with.) Which a lot of people wrote off as silly, because she just wanted to keep her at a "cuter" stage becaue Lusamine thought her reasoning “utterly illogical.” It’s really little stuff that piles up that makes you deny aspects of yourself or try to fit it into your parent’s narrow mindset.

As there is no room for "illogical" emotions in Lusamine's world, Lillie denies her feelings, even her traumas and fears.

If you do not listen to children and respect their feelings about little things, they will not trust you (or, eventually, anyone else) to tell about their feelings about big things.

On one hand, the incident that started this is childish because Lillie was a small child when it happened. But little things are big things for children. There is no distinction. If you write off children and ignore them for the little things, they won't tell you about the big things. The lesson Lillie learned from it was clear and stayed with her until the end of the series: that anything that didn't have a "logical" explanation to justify them (like feelings and emotions) did not matter to Lusamine or, worse, were something shameful that must be denied, hence her quickly hiding behind (often very unconvincing) arguments that her responses are based entirely in logic.

Lusamine’s not intentionally abusive and loves her kids and, unlike a lot of real life abusive narcissistic parents, actually tries to make amends and become a better person, so I’m actually really fond of this Lusamine, she's a very nice in-between of heroic (she tried to sacrifice herself to save her children from Nihilego, to make up for not being there for Lillie in the past, becoming more involved in her children's lives again) and the utterly controlling and cruel monster she was in the original games (which was heightened/exaggerated by the neuroteoxin removing her inihibitions).

Also, Lillie lagged behind the other kids because her mother had become such a workaholic, that Lillie did not know basic life skills like cooking (the last time she cooked with her kids is a very, very distant memory), Lillie also looked uncomfortable with Professor Burnet brushing her hair (likely because she felt it was too much to be shown basic care like this), and watched her in amazement afterwards... Lillie is unused to basic, every day motherly care, because her mother is not around.

[burningcheese-merchant]

You are very cool I like your writing style I inspire to write as good as you 🥹🥹

Aw come on, flattery won't get you anywhere lol. Seriously though, thank you. I'm touched you would take the time to say this to me (and when anyone does, really). I don't actually believe myself to be that good at writing tbh, there's plenty of superior talent online and off. I've even read stuff on here and AO3 that made me downright hate myself lol. I'm just a clown with clown ideas, I'm happy there are people out there who like them

With that said, if I may offer a bit of writing advice despite not being qualified to offer it

Read. That's the best advice anyone can give you, I think. Read lots of books (real ones, not just fanfiction lol). If reading isn't your strongsuit, start small. Read something short and sweet, then eventually go bigger. Read classics, they're classics for a reason. Try out different genres (but maybe delve more into ones you like the most and want to write for). Get a feel for characters and dialogue and settings and the like. Understand different writing tropes. Learn from great authors, see how they made their stories work and why, see what inspiration and lessons you can take from them and their success (there is no shame in standing on the shoulders of giants, we all do it. Even the giants themselves). I've always been a bookworm my whole life, it's why I know so many words lol

Always make multiple drafts. You can half-ass the first one all you want (mine often tend to be just a series of points haphazardly strung together lol), then iron them out in the second, then refine the story and its contents more in the third. Keep going for as many drafts as is necessary. I average about 3 or so before I feel content enough with what I have to post it. I've posted first drafts before, but that only really happens when I'm possessed by demons and they won't leave until the inspiration dies down. It's a matter of making sure the story makes sense, the characters and dialogue seem engaging, there are no spelling errors, etc.

Please learn to spell lol. Not calling you illiterate in any way, I do just mean this as general advice. Grammar and syntax are very important in writing, don't forsake them. I comb through my works multiple times even after I post them just to look for stray typos (I can feel a vein pop out of my forehead whenever I find one, I hate typos so damn much and I hate when I accidentally miss them the first time I look). I know I talk like a fucking bozo on here but that's really just because I feel more silly and relaxed lol. I write actual research papers irl, I can assure you that my grip on language is far stronger than what is presented here (really, I just read a lot. More reading = better vocabulary)

Probably not the most detailed advice, but it's what helps me personally. Writing is a skill that takes practice to perfect; do it enough, with enough passion and the willingness to improve, and you will. I was not born knowing how to write, I just enjoy doing it for some reason lol. Believe me when I say my writing used to be abysmal even just a few years ago. It's just a matter of keeping it up. Do that and you'll turn out great in time.

Work hard, always seek to improve, learn from the masters. Do that and one day you'll be a writer worth admiring, and you'll look back and see that Merchant really wasn't so great after all haha

[mintyisms]

Pinocchio (1940) Starters

"Anything your heart desires will come to you."

"I'll be a lot of you folks don't believe that...about a wish coming true, do you?"

"Pardon me, wait till I fix this thing here."

"One night a long time ago, my travels took me to a quaint little village."

"It was a shame to see a nice, cheerful fire goin' to waste."

"Soon as I saw there was no one about, I made myself at home."

"Just a little more paint, and he's all finished."

"Little do you know, and yet it's true, that I'm mighty proud of you."

"Wouldn't it be nice if he was a real boy?"

"You deserve to have your wish come true."

"Prove yourself to be brave, truthful, and unselfish."

"A conscience is that still, small voice that people won't listen to."

"Don't I get a badge or something?"

"Maybe you and I had better have a little heart-to-heart talk."

"Now, you see, the world is full of temptations."

"Always let your conscience be your guide."

"Maybe we'd better go to bed before something else happens."

"Here's an apple for your teacher."

"School is not for you."

"Remember the time I tied strings on you and passed you off as a puppet?"

"If we play our cards right, we'll be on Easy Street."

"Why, I can see you name in lights."

"It's great to be a celebrity."

"He can't get in much trouble between here and school."

"Oh, what'll I do? I'll run and tell his father."

"I've got no strings to hold me down."

"I want the world to know nothing ever worries me."

"What does an actor want with a conscience anyway?"

"What could have happened to him? Where could he be at this hour?"

"Does that mean I'm an actor?"

"We will tour the world! Paris. London. Monte Carlo. Constantinople."

"You will make lots of money...for me!"

"Shut up before I knock you silly!"

"I'll have you out of here in no time at all."

"It'll take a miracle to get us out of here."

"It was my fault. I shouldn't have walked out on you."

"Monsters? Weren't you afraid?"

"A lie keeps growing and growing until it's as plain as the nose on your face."

"Let's get out of here before something else happens."

"I'd rather be smart than an actor."

"Come on, slow-poke, I'll race you home!"

"Close your eyes. What do you see?"

"Come! The coach departs at midnight!"

"Get your cake, pie, dill pickles and ice cream!"

"It's the roughest, toughest joint you ever seen!"

"There's something...phoney about all this."

"You're havin' a good time, ain't ya?"

"You mean to tell me you take orders from a grasshopper?"

"I thought we'd never make it."

"He went looking for you and he was swallowed by a whale."

"Hey, blubber mouth, open up!"

"Oh, you are soaking wet."

"Come, we'll make a nice fire, and we'll cook some of the fish."

"This calls for a celebration!"

[miiilowo]

I've never really watched anything about Security Breach's cut content so I'm don't know much about it. Any specific things or moments that you wish the most were actually used?

And/or, could you tell us about your interpretation of Vanny :3c, I don't have any less vague questions off the top of my head so just in general I guess-

SHATTERED. FREDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCKING HELL SHATTERED FREDDY!

YOU SEE THIS ASSHOLE ?? ^^^^

there are voice lines and unused art for glamrock freddy that show vanny commanded to other glamrocks to disassemble him, and it would have turned him against gregory. Having your one failsafe source of protection and guidance (well. if you dont include him getting stuck on walls and railings) ripped out from underneath you, now hunting you? can you imagine how effective that would have been for most people?

this was the intention for the game. it wasnt an idea that was scrapped, it was cut because they didn't have enough time. this was SUPPOSED to happen. even if it wasnt scary, (which it might not have been accounting for how MONSTROUSLY BRIGHT THE PIZZAPLEX IS), it would've made the game much more memorable, the characters have more stakes, and made the game feel less empty. and can you IMAGINE the sexyman potential? Hot bear dad turns fucked up and evil??? you know the fandom would be all over this freak

like all silliness aside, one of my major complaints w SB is how empty it feels. It's fundamentally broken, and not just from a bugs perspective; The story does not work like it should, because most of the story was removed. You experience the most barebones version of the plot. The meat used to be there, but they hid it in the files never to be seen again. It's stuff LIKE shattered freddy that would've made this game more than it is, would've fleshed out the characters, the plot, and motivations. It injects some EMOTION in there, god forbid. Among the lines for shattered freddy related cut content is one of gregory crying!!!! come on man!!

They'll probably bring him back for Ruin, but it won't be the same, nor have the same plot or characterization. Just a skin slapped onto him, I imagine.

Before I get to vanny, i wanna touch on glamrock bonnie. I do think we were supposed to get more of him in general, seeing as a whole bonnie bowl minigame was cut out, but we really only got scraps hinting at a larger mystery. I'm not sure what all was cut, but it feels like it was building up to something much bigger and it simply never had the chance to be executed, which is a shame.

Moving away from him though, theres a bunch of stuff about Vanny/Vanessa (most of which i will not cover here). vanny my sweet lovely girl who was done so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO dirty

First of all, they completely made Vanessas personality do a 180 degree turn right before release. The version of her that we got is very mean, short tempered and cruel, whereas the version of her before actually cared about Gregory and helping him out of the pizzaplex; The reason Gregory wouldn't trust her, being that he knows she is also Vanny, but I'll get into that in a second. She seemed just as confused and scared as Gregory is, and while, yeah, having every female character be motherly and sweet is BAD i do have a point as to why that would have been better for her character, especially if it was a ruse she was putting on:

It makes the player want to trust her. Since Gregory never explains WHY we shouldn't trust Vanessa, it would make sense that we would want to doubt him, wouldn't it? There's cut lines that show Freddy didnt believe Gregory for a while either until he proves that something is up. The game was originally supposed to have a sort of "vanny meter"; I'm not sure how this would deplete, but whenever it did, Vanessas model itself would turn INTO Vanny, at which point she would start hunting you. Having the player witness one of these transitions after being led to believe that Vanessa has been genuinely trying to help us this whole time would be 1. scary in the same sense shattered freddy wouldve been 2. would explain why gregory doesn't trust her (he's seen this happen before, presumably) 3. would give freddy an actual reason to protect you instead of just doing it for the sake of protecting you, continuously going against his programming in rather inconsistent fashions

You can see how this was likely going to be incorporated through the trailers, (the line where shes saying she didnt want to hurt gregory, and it was 'just a glitch'), and it would also explain why shes NEVER IN THE FUCKING GAME DESPITE BEING ADVERTISED AS A MAIN CHARACTER AND VILLAIN

While I do think steel wool wouldn't have made her full evil (as much as i would love her to be) and would've made her genuinely a helpless wet rag whos scared and being puppeted around by afton, I do think this wouldve been better, because she wouldve been an effective threat and more sympathetic as a character. In the end game she still is just a helpless wet rag being puppeted around by afton but without any of the emotional impact. what fucking ever i guess

i still stand by the fact she should've been a copycat killer and afton's "i always come back" line would mean his INFLUENCE is eternal, not that HE HIMSELF is eternal, as we both know this would have been better in one thousand hundred million billion trillion ways forever

[safrona-shadowsun]

Daily Writing Challenge || 2024

Day 1: Mysterious / Appearance (Gravekeeper)

Day 2: Agony/Embrace

Day 3: Shame/Favorite

It was a meeting, in secrecy. The warlock constantly underestimated Elernia, and now she swore Safrona would pay for her lax attention, her utter dismissal and betrayal. Their infernal bond waned as the warlock's bond with the new young succubus AND incubus strengthened, allowing the Elder Sayaad to roam further from the warlock without notice. She lured a victim by teaching her name to the right lovesick acolyte and she was effectively summoned in the dank crypt long enough for her to overpower and slaughter the silly elf. And now, presenting the fresh flesh with the right sigil, she bid the one in mind to attend her.

The Sayaadi presented herself in her full demonic glory for her potential new favorite. No glamour, even giving over the truth of her name. A Sister would have been taken aback at such a risk. Elernia might have even been called foolish, a weak link among the Legion even, once, but there was a trust to be earned here with her audience. She could feel the cold distrust in the icy stare she was given as her victim rose anew, yet Elernia basked in the presence as if it were a stage spotlight, putting on her best infernal charm. She was intent on winning over her new prospect.

“Why did you call me here, demon?” Her company was not so easily charmed, none too thrilled to be called to the husk the demon murdered.

“Mmmn, curiousity,” Elernia offered coquettishly. “You would not have answered unless you were just a bit curious too, no? Have you forgotten me already?”

“Perhaps." How DID the demon know the personal sigil to call that particular soul by? "But I will not play your games long, especially if I don't feel quite entertained.” Her company’s voice darkened with an insidious edge. “Sometimes toys like to break.”

The succubus laughed, titilated. “Oh…promise my Pretty? We can play any time, but I called you here because I’d like to think we have some things in common.” Elernia sighed with a little dramatic flair.” My mistress shames us both.”

“I have very little care in how your mistress shames you. She is a mistake. And she will breed more mistakes until she is buried.”

“Oh, I absolutely agree,” Elernia grinned intensely. “It took me far too long to realize that little truth, sadly. I placed her on a damned pedestal for SO very long. Now the years of devotion to her melt to nothing, and I've been such a fool. I am nearly 327 years now, my Pretty, and I am shamed to only now see the lesson. The Shadow on the Sun is a mistake of life, and has little worth on the Path of Power. She is disgustingly complacent, wasting every breath she's stolen."

Elernia could see her contact had quieted with a gathering interest, giving pause to all that she would say. “After all my years of devotion and service in making her stronger, she dares to replace me. ME.” Hate oozed out in each sharply spoke word now, the demon did not mince a word. “I am trapped, made useless, cast aside. Abandoned by the one I have been a constant too. And I seethe.”

Her company scoffed. “Seems to me you must lay in the bed you made. Maybe you’ll warm the empty sheets with your ‘righteous’ anger.”

“Oh, but I’m a little rebel.” Elernia shimmied, and slid her fingers down her skin sensually. “And I want a new bed.”

A wave of dismay, even disgust radiated from her singular witness. “Don’t even think to ask. I will NOT pact with you. I won't make the same mistake again.”

Elernia pouted briefly, but feigned consignment to the denial. “Be that as it may, scorned soul to soul, I offer my help to you out of the kindness of my little black heart. If she gets to play favorites, so will I.”

The corpse sighed. “So now you’re going to find new ways to annoy me? I don't quite like the idea of you knowing how to call me.”

“Oooh Pretty, that hurts! Think about what I'm offering. A direct connection to the little bitch. Information, freely.” Elernia leaned forward, basking in the luminent visage of her company as she whispered her schemes. “I offer opportunity for you to take. I can see that one gleaming desire when you look at me, even now. You desire to make her suffer as much as I do.”

The banshee gazed now in return, her yellow eyes agleam on the succubus as she processed the potential of the words that next slithered off the demon's tongue. “And when we have ruined her enough and had our fun? I will happily help you to bury her."

Elernia felt a swell of victory as the corpse the banshee wore showed a sign of a smile, just before it rapidly rotted, contorted upon itself with sickening crunches, and lay dead once more. "I must go, the spectral form replied, an old haunt to the demon that held its wealth of nostalgia. "Perhaps...we'll speak again. But first, be a good demon and de-bone your little gift for me. "

The Lady Haunt gazed on the crumpled acolyte thoughtfully as the demon began to separate bone from the withered husk. "In fact, make more gifts of more stupid warlocks for me, and I'll continue to answer in the "flesh". I think it's terribly fitting of you."

@daily-writing-challenge

[biolizardboils]

Hey again.

I was saving this for when I'd wrapped some other stuff up, but it's taking too long. I'm just gonna say it while the words are fresh in my head.

The two-month break I've been on? I think I'm gonna stay on it. As in, stay logged off except on special occasions.

There's still things I want to finish here. I will answer what's left at @ask-the-all-consuming-void and bring it to a proper ending; The Secret Thing it was gonna segue into will go up, even if only as sketches and drafts; And there's another project I'm still helping with behind the scenes. But aside from those… I want to maintain my internet presence a lot less.

I've learned a lot about myself since I left: most importantly the hyper-empathy, compassion fatigue thing, and that being terminally online probably does more harm than help. There's trying to be a good, vigilant person, and then there's overwhelming oneself about things they can't control, with info that isn't always accurate. I've been doing the latter in different ways for years; late April/early May was a big wake-up call. Lesson learned: I've got to find balance, and I won't find it here.

The second-most important thing I learned is that… the reason I "joined" the internet in the first place? It's pretty much been fulfilled. Has been for a few years now, actually.

I made this tumblr in 2015, but I got my real start on deviantART and WordPress in 2011. Don't expect links; what people post in their preteens can stay between them and God lol. But I'll tell you what got me to make accounts: my confusion as a new Sonic fan. The way people talked about them, the way they talked to each other… it hurt to see.

I got it in my preteen head to set a better example. To not let my love for something become disdain for others of its kind. To explain instead of assume. And to assure anyone who'd listen that it's not shameful to like Sonic, that those who do deserve better, and that they could still have it better someday.

And now, 13 years later… we do. The hurtful stuff I saw back then is nearly gone now. When it does pop up, it's easier to counteract than ever. People realize how silly and petty and wrong it was, and can call it out accordingly. People can live a little truer to themselves, now that that shit isn't everywhere anymore.

I think that, specifically, is all I really wanted. Everything else—the reinvigoration of the characters and their world, the downpour in avenues once closed off by "cringe" and "not enough interest"—have been wonderful byproducts. I've been gassing up Sonic Movie 3 as the final step, but it's really more of a victory lap.

After realizing that, I just… don't feel the need to post so much here anymore. My self-worth and sense of morality shouldn't rely on what I do or don't type. I don't need to document every thought or choice I make and why.

The cause I've performed for since middle school no longer needs my time and energy, if it ever even did. I can just enjoy things in relative silence, and spend myself in other ways. Ways I've taken too long to get around.

Sonic Unleashed is what set me down this path. I watched it go from rejected at launch, to just divisive, to respected and beloved. I still wonder if, had it gotten a fairer chance, the current Sonic renaissance could've happened sooner.

But dwelling on that won't change anything. I'd rather dwell on how, this year, I got to scream Endless Possibility with hundreds of other people, loudly and proudly. No fear of who's watching, no need to self-sabotage. It meant the world to me.

There was a con in my area on June 23rd. I wasn't planning on doing anything that day until I heard about it. There was someone in attendance who helped me put a symbolic bow on this part of my life.

I think he did a wonderful job :)

I have one last thing to say before I go. That'll be its own post, so I can put it in the public Sonic tags.

Again, the stuff I've left hanging here will get finished eventually. But for now, this is goodbye.

Moots, followers: thank you so much. I will quite literally remember you all in therapy.

--BiolizardBoils

[aoyama-division]

Tomi's Thoughts on Obihiro Division

Hisoka Tetsumasu

"Tetsumasu-san? He's taking part in this contest, as well? And he's the leader of a team? ...If it weren't for me not wanting to embarrass myself or because it would be improper of me, I'd probably laugh myself silly right now. The very thought of this man leading a team, any team for that matter, is downright foolish as it is ludicrous."

"No doubt you're probably wondering how exactly I know this man. I don't, not exactly anyway. I only know of him because he works as a horse breeder at the Spur Stud Ranch. Why should I care about this? Because my family, or rather I, own several of the horses there. You peons might find this hard to believe, but... I actually adore equestrianism. When we were younger, my father forced my brother and I to take up some sort of physical activity. I don't know what Kunio took up, but I decided to do horse riding. I'm quite good at it, believe it or not. I find horses to be rather unique animals. I'm quite fond of them. A shame none of the horses I own have won any races, though."

"Anyway, I came across Tetsumasu-san when I went to visit some of my fine steeds in Obihiro. The owner of the ranch recommended him, so I have him as the watching over my fine stallions. While I find his skittish nature to be annoying, he does know what he is doing, so I pay him no mind and pay him for his services. ...Still, I have to wonder what someone like him has to do with the D.R.B., or Chuohku. Perhaps there's more to skittish man than meets the eye..."

Daiki Kamiyama

"Ugh, Daiki-kun. I only know of him because of his family name. If not for that, I'd pay him absolutely no mind at all. The Kamiyama family and mine are business partners with each other. In exchange for letting them get first pick of any jewels we uncover, the Kamiyamas let our family stay in their hotels, free of charge. Since my father travels a lot, he always tries to stay in the hotels provided by their family. I've stayed in one or two of them myself. They're quite good."

"As far as his family goes, I only know of the two oldest children, Carter-san and Akimi-san. I know there are more, but I've yet to meet. I only hope that the rest of the children aren't anything like Daiki-kun. Ugh, as I stated earlier, if it weren't for his family name, I'd almost think he were a peasant from how he acts! Karada thinks he's swell, but I want little to nothing to do with him until he acts his age."

Jack Verrill

"Ah, Verrill-san. I met him at soiree, accompanying his young master, Daiki. I must say, the young boy should consider himself lucky to have a fine butler like Verrill-san keeping him out of trouble. I've noticed he and my own butler, Hino, seem to have a friendly rivalry of sorts. I'm glad to see that even in his old age, he hasn't lost his thrill for competition."

Veiled Vanguard

"I have to question exactly why this team is present. For one thing, as I stated, Tetsumasu-san doesn't scream 'leadership-material' at all. Secondly, I have to wonder why Chuohku has taken notice of him. For all I know, he is just a simple horse breeder. Of course, it wouldn't be out of character for Chuohku to just force people to join their tournament out of the blue, but why him exactly?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious... but I don't really care enough to find out the reason. If he is joining this tournament, I sincerely hope he'll give a good show. ...But I won't be holding my breath on that."

[mamamittens]

The eternal struggle of "I don't want so many excessive hours when there isn't enough work to justify it" and "damn is my paycheck going to be nice"

And I'm living it while low-key planning to give whoever the shit is panicking so hard for literally nothing a massive fucking wedgie until some sense falls out.

Anyway!

I've got a zine fic to write (probably this Saturday--work Sunday again, the bastards), two present fics, two cards, and eventually two arts?

Drew another Nikia thing, and I think it's super cute! Very nice stress relief to zone out and not worry too hard about the details since it's just for me lol

I originally had the necklace be more like a compass but the details I wanted kinda got lost at this distance so I simplified it to just a star. Had the cute idea it was a joint gift from the boys cause a nautical star has quite a bit of meaning to sailors! So this is a nice coupley gift that isn't just their clothes lol

I like to imagine in terms of the holidays, Thatch is the most into it. Loves setting up that Instagram worthy, yet still homey, vibe for the season. He's a big goof but the closer it gets to a big event the more anal he gets about stuff. Izou has Opinions about decorations and usually ends up picking stupid arguments with Thatch about like, table runners and precise decoration placement.

Nikia loves the whole thing but does think they're a bit... Much about it. She finds it most effective to alter the decoration herself and gush about "loving being able to help them out, hopefully they don't mind--she never really got into this much before, is it alright? Should she move it?" And they usually simmer down--their focus now about either fawning over her choice, or convincing her of the merits of their own choice until she gets enough info to mediate for a better middle ground.

Thatch usually handles the food, but will let both of them help with food prep and gush about his "cute helpers" while still efficiently cooking.

When they get to be too much, she usually goes on a shopping trip for things they need ("I'll pop over to the store--no, no! It's fine! I like going on little adventures! Brb!") or sometimes shrinking and hiding if they're being entirely too much and are unlikely to let her leave alone.

Thatch does expect kisses for all his hard work and Izou will clear his throat for his own reward for contributions. It's rarely just a little kiss, too, which is why she's a little wary about this particular maneuver.

While they'd never get it as a main present, they would (half joking half serious) gift her lingerie for the season. Maybe costume lingerie if they're feeling spicy. Armed with this gift, Nikia has the fastest way to shut down any argument, but the results are... A tad exhausting. After a few times though, they'd definitely catch on and start teasing her about it when they realize they're arguing over dumb shit again.

"--the last time, the centerpiece shouldn't go on the table! There won't be room to pass food with it there unless you want everyone to pass shit around the entire fucking--ah."

"Ah."

(both looking over at Nikia expectantly.)

"I guess we're getting a little heated over silly shit again... Shame we don't have another, more pleasant outlet for all this frustration. Maybe a sexy little reindeer..."

"...I know what you're getting at, but out of context that sounds so fucking weird. Also, no. Not in the livingroom."

"Oh? Bedroom then, baby? I'm willing to set aside the centerpiece for that!"

"... I expected literally nothing less from you. Affectionately."

"...is that a yes?"

"Maybe... Guess I'll have to see how I feel when I get to our room."

(both boys watching her leave before rushing after.)

Silly nonsense, basically.

[qcomicsy]

I was going to reblog with a comment but that post is already super long. But so true ! Like the ninja assassin thing with Dick is a modern retcon something that would be a Tim Cass or Damian thing to do. But writing a flashback for an adult Dick in the 2000s would be weird. By the 1960s he was firmly in canon 18 and in college. How are you gonna go back to the era of goofy and be like this is Dick’s angsty teenage years involved getting turned into a vampire and fighting Bruce over dating Talia. It just doesn’t make sense with how Long comics keep going. 80 years of comics and he’s only what 28. Like it’s very hard to keep a consistent character when everyone wants to make Dick Jason and Bruce new characters every few decades

Absolutely!

My personal view about how they kept retconning Dick's personality as a child and his relationship with Bruce is that it's a mix of complex things and bullshit.

The complex things is yeah, Dick and Bruce had their share of problems when Dick was growing up. They did start bumping heads a lot, but it was more like "this kid is turning into a man and is starting to clash views with his father (who is already someone who's not easy to deal with)" and "that's the part where he starts to develop who he is as person" (I won't get much into that because I haven't read many comics regarding Dick transition from Robin from Batman & Robin to Robin from Titans until Nightwing in the pre-death of the family era.) than the borderline abusive and toxic relationship they started to introducing in the late 90's to early 2000's portrayals of them.

It's complex because after rebooting everything it's hard to introduce such a long and gradual process that took almost ten years of development that is Dick's emancipation not only from working with Bruce but also following his every step as boy wonder. Specially if we think about the huge fall out they had right after Jason died.

It's bullshit because they started with those retcons when we had that long and embarrassing period of Super-hero history (late 90's to early 2000's) where everyone was trying to make super-heroes popular again but following alongside with a palpable embarrassment and self-conscious shame regarding any silliness and/or whimsical side the superhero universe. Like "we're making superheroes stories but this is for adults, this ain't for children 😡😡". Nobody wanted to be the "60's Batman TV show everyone makes fun of" and everybody wanted to be Alan Moore.

We had all this writers who grow up reading "Death of the family", "The Killing Joke", "Batman Year one" add were dying to recreate the 80's dark period glory, even if they didn't had the same writing skills for that.

I mean hate the Killing Joke all you want (I know I do), it has a shit tone of good writing.

It's bullshit because everyone was still sore about how Batman turned into a joke in the 90's after that one movie and for some reason everyone blamed Robin. It's bullshit because comic books are always influenced by the popular media around them, and while 40's Batman had the American Way and American Family Values™ 🦅🦅🦅, 80's Batman has Scarface, Taxi Driver and long urban tragedies.... 90's have Die Hard and every extra power macho fantasy under the sun.

I mean... This was 90's Nightwing.

he's so big and so stupid and one day I'm gonna top h–*gunshots*

No one wanted to see "good father" Batman, hell no one wanted to see any emotional shit in comics? Emotions??? In my manly comics??? Miss me with that gay sit emotions is for girls 😡😡 I wanna see big buffy man making his enemies cry 🔥⛓️☠️💪☠️😡⛓️🪚🔧

So you reach early 2000, everyone kinda hates or is kinda embarrassed of Robin, Batman is a former shadow of the man and the father he used to be. But you still wanna introduce new readers to your character (Dick Grayson) that (for better or for worst) is loved but only by the people who already know him, you're still embarrassed of his silly origins and the whimsical part of it.

So what do you do?

Personally I think writers thought Dick had it too easy as Robin, personally I think they were obsessed about making it real, personally I think everyone was obssessed and trilled with the idea of being the next Tim Miller and making their one fresh real edge introduction of the boy wonder. Personally I think this is all the new 52 was absolutely on for the Batfamily.

Personally I believe (and this is more a optimistic take) some writers were creatively trying to tie Dick's anger issues as Nightwing to his origins as Robin.

You have this chance of one in million (at te time) to reintroduce Nightwing (reintroduce Robin), now you can make it as real as gritty and as edge as you want. You can make it Robin cool again, you can introduce in a way that will sell well the dark story you where preparing for this character. And you also can deny any father and son relationship he could had have with Bruce Wayne and keep the big beef strong man without feelings reputation that people have been manufacturing by choice into Batman from ten years by now.

And what is more dark and character building than an abusive father?

I think writers thought that making Bruce abusive towards Dick and Dick resentful towards Bruce was the best way to launch this new universe as realistic and grittier. Not only making Dick's Robin introduction (and origin) more "real" but also separating Bruce even more from a emotional and father like figure that for some reason some writers (and fans!) despised to much.

Killing so many birds with one stone might as well call yourself David from the Bible.

And they were so certain this direction would be a success that the just notice their mistake now.

Anyways... A load of bullshit.

I personally don't mind Dick's Robin having anger issues, I think it's a natural progression from his first real serious introduction from back in the 80's, I also think it adds more to his character tying up his first trauma along with a long life of others and the result of having to deal with a frustrating job (that is vigilantism is) since literally ever. I like the idea that the perfect Robin wasn't perfect all the time and he also had (and has) other side of his personality that isn't as nice or likeable as it should and that's a thing he consciously have to work on as a person since he was a child.

However I also think writers did took to far sometimes and Dick history and specially his relationship with Bruce suffered from it. And I also agree that if everyone tries to reboot, retcon and fucking "subvert" a character every fucking ten years you won't even have a fucking consistent character to begin with (gestures vaguely to Jason Todd, Deadpool and now poor fuckin Damian and their wreck of comic book history).