#last one for today but i've just seen so many of them complain and like...

[allpromarlo]

we got called soft all week (for laying dormant and resting our starters...lmao) but the moment we return the energy the tears start free falling. okay

[v-arbellanaris]

u know what actually im gonna make one last srs post abt this whole thing and then im doneeeee i swear lmfao, so all of the anons in my inbox can finally shut up and fuck off and i'll put it under a cut so i dont ~ruin your da4 hype~ the way youve fucking ruined mine i guess.

watsonian justification for this: "decisions you made 10+ years ago in another part of the country simply will not affect the current story". hey isnt the entire story behind veilguard that a guy has been working for the last 10 years to rip down the veil. like. is the whole thing not a story that started 10 years ago. do you not have access to the eluvian network now because solas stole it 10 years ago from briala. is the blight not around because of the evanuris in some way. isnt the entire magisterium something that's been in place for thousands and thousands of years. like even within the context of da, the entire story revolves around things that happened thousands of years ago that have shaped the world that our characters exist in today. we, ourselves, as real people, don't live in a world where things happening on one side of the planet do not affect anything else. and that's not even touching on the fact that we have companions from the first game showing up. at the very least decisions that affect them directly should have been factored in????

doylist justification(s) for this: #1 "we only wanted to include worldstate decisions we could develop reactivity to" so the only decisions were.... whether or not solas is romanced? for me, it's the way that when you're playing dai, the entire justification for NOT being able to romance him as anyone other than lavellan is that you can have a deep and important and complex relationship with him even if you dont romance him, the fandom is always going on & on about how important friendship!solas is and how it shouldnt be underrated but the moment his ENTIRE CHARACTER (and ours?!) gets boiled down to whether or not you had a romantic relationship with him, we're going to celebrate it??? really??? REALLY??? what in the fucking amatonormativity is this, and how is this a step BACKWARDS from dai for solas???

#2 "the world was too complicated so they wanted to simplify it for new players" that's literally the problem we're discussing. the problem we're discussing is the complexity of the world, and the solution bioware came up with for it is to simply scrap it all, and surprise surprise! not everyone is happy about it??? you are just describing the problem that the solution fails to address???

i think the most annoying part of this whole thing is the fan response to it. literallyyyy am seeing things like "no one ever complained about the worldstates not mattering in the next games before da4" which is NOT TRUE. ever since i JOINED this fandom, i've heard so many things about people complaining about leliana defaulting back to a hardened state in dai, about alistair's characterisation in dai, about cullen's repeat appearances, about your boons/decisions in dao not carrying forward in the next games. people HAVE been complaining about it, for ages, especially in dai. it is explicitly a problem in dragon age, and has been for a long, long time, and the problem has only grown the more complex the worldstate becomes. that's why they tried to address the problem here by simply scrapping it all. i've also seen things like "well if youre only interested in callback references, this dragon age game not for YOU" which not only minimises and dismisses the issues and feelings at hand here, but also reeks of self-righteous, smug superiority of I Am The Sole Correct Enjoyer. who is this game for, if not for people who love dragon age?

i'm not here for rook's story - i'm here to save the world that i've built with my own two hands over three games. i am doing that through rook as a character, yes, but i have no cause or reason to care about rook at all going into this game except for the basic fact of this is my character that i am playing - rook is a character that i expect playing the game will make me invested in and care about them. but you know what i already cared about before going into veilguard? you know what i've saved three times over already, potentially even at the cost of my own life? thedas. MY thedas. OF COURSE I WANT TO KNOW THAT IT MATTERS. in world, solas himself wants to know what changes his actions wrought. THOUSANDS OF YEARS AFTER THE FACT. why is everyone acting like fans are insane for this????

i, for one, have not complained about the game "ruining" origins or da2 or even dai. i was excited about the changes, because changes were evidently necessary. i have been fully prepared for the differences, even if i've been apprehensive or cautious about it. do you think i'm disappointed now because i hate dragon age??? where do you fucking get off saying this game is not meant for me? because i dont agree with how bioware has chosen to resolve this issue, suddenly these games are Not For Me anymore?

and you know what, i already know they're not for me. the way this series, and this fandom, treats people of colour, and characters of colour, i am made aware every single day that dragon age is not for me. these games are for the liberal white girlies and white queers living in the west. i know damn well these games have never been for me, and any insistence that it should consider me will be met with vitriol and viciousness. and guess what? i am still here.

i was sooo ready to let this go until the fandom just kept acting like ppl are idiots for being unhappy about things AT ALL in da4. its so fucking annoying to me. i'm NOT going to complain about every single little thing in da4 possible, but i'm also not going to act like bioware is going to do and is doing everything right. what is WITH this fandom and extremes of thought and behaviour. is it because you're all american??? like. i'm actually so sorry that you live in a black-and-white world with no complexities or nuances because it must be so boring and sad.

in my opinion, i would not have minded slimming down the narrative choices to a select few that they could really hone in and focus on. i feel like the dragon age keep decisions can be a bit arbitrary, and i would've loved to see like 5-6 key decisions per game, ORRRR even for your worldstate to boil down to something like whether or not you generally supported positive change or upheld the status quo per game, and then specific character decisions regarding the inquisitor to be brought in, since they're the pc that actually shows up. i do think there's likely a lot of chaff that can be cut off or simplified as a sort of "lost to the times" kind of narrative telling. but boiling down these games to three fucking choices that are ultimately just 'did u romance and like solas or nah' is fucking INSANE. why is the answer to the issue of the quantum - which has been an issue for a long time!!!!!! - to just... scrap it entirely???

edit: adding this here since i said i wouldnt make any more posts abt this topic but i rly find it laughableeeee when fans eagerly parrot bioware insisting that just because those choices dont matter in THIS game doesnt mean they'll never matter in a FUTURE game (i guess we can expect the next one in 2034?). if they already scrapped those choices for this game, and you're all still buying it (some of you??? PREORDERED it???? i thought we agreed not to do that???), why would they bother. do you think the next dragon age game wont have the same line of logic for 'we need to make it accessible for new players!!!!!' that they had for this one and for dai? how willfully stupid are you that you think I'M the stupid one here?

im happy for you guys tho! i hope the new dragon age game where theyve removed all of those complexities instead of making ANY effort to address ANY of the existing dissatisfaction around feeling like any of your game decisions mattered supports your existing brainrot so you can continue believing in a black-and-white reality. really glad theyve simplified it for you guys just like you wanted into 3 choices all about sola/vellan.

i'm going back to my own sandbox, as epler has instructed me to, so i can ~imagine~ my own thedas lmfao

[milksnake-tea]

Hi, can I request from Nanook or Yaoshi

Gn reader

Headcannon or Scenario like them giving kisses/affection to their reader

giving affection

characters: nanook

contains: fluff !! nanook is emotionally constipated tho

a/n: decided to do just nanook this time bc yaoshi gives a lot of affection in a lot of my other works lol, hope you don't mind! ngl not the happiest w this piece but is okay i can always edit it later <3

Alright, I'll be real with you, affection isn't really Nanook's thing. Like, they're bad at it. Real bad at it.

Aeons are often tied to their paths, Nanook especially. They haven't felt anything other than a need to destroy and kill for many millennia. Their hands are made to hurt, not to hold. They didn't even remember that they had a heart before you came around.

So you'll have to be patient with them. Nanook knows that they should show even the slightest bit of their attachment for you, and they do want to, it's just that they don't know how.

They take being emotionally constipated to the next level, but they do try. It starts out with little things, such as letting you hold onto them, or keeping a hand at your back to keep you close. Sometimes, they'll brush your hair back behind your ear, and other times, they'll hesitantly press a soft kiss to your temple.

Nanook isn't a talker, never was. Because of this, they'll rarely, if ever, tell you outright that they love you. Their love comes in other forms, such as protection and physical touch.

Nanook can come off as a distant lover, but the few moments where they choose to let down their walls remind you just how much they care for you.

"You're awfully touchy today," you murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Nanook's head. The Aeon simply grunted in response, embracing you from behind as they bury their face into your neck.

They pepper soft kisses and nips across your skin, closing their eyes as they drink you in. Their hands are tight around your waist, firm but never overwhelming.

You giggle as they nuzzle their way up to your cheek, nipping at your earlobe before resting their chin on your shoulder. You pet their head, fingers threading through their surprisingly soft hair - unfit for an Aeon of Destruction, but Nanook was never one to care about what they should or shouldn't be.

They hum as you do so, blinking open their eyes, gazing out into the cosmos.

"Too long," they mutter quietly, so quietly that you almost missed it. You looked up at them, silently prompting them to continue. Nanook leans back, bringing you with them.

"Too long since I've last seen you," they clarified, returning their gaze to you. You leaned your head against them, smiling as you twirled a braid around your finger. "I assumed you'd missed me."

"Is that why you're acting like this?" you ask, letting the braid fall back against Nanook's wound.

Nanook's chest rumbled against you as they hummed. "Are you complaining?"

You laugh airily, the faintest hint of a smile drifting onto Nanook's face as they watched you.

"No, of course not." You snuggled your cheek against theirs, kissing their cheek. Nanook seemed to be satisfied that, merely closing their eyes and returning to their spot at your neck.

You closed your eyes alongside them, savoring their presence for as much as you could. You knew that they would have to leave eventually, leaving you with the Legion for who knows how long. They always did.

But that was fine, because it made these moments all the more precious.

[vanillavengeance]

mystic malfunction is on my mind again and i've been thinking about how funny it'd be if mikey hijacked a training session and taught everyone Lou Jitsu style (à la fish and ladders). ik Splinter's already been trying to make it a little more interesting for Mikey, but maybe it's the day after a particularly sour mission and he's like "yknow what? okay let's do it Orange's way today, just for a bit of a change of pace. lighten the mood a bit." the 2012 boys learn a very structured style, which is def useful (like when Mikey was fighting Shredder), but the 2018 boys are way more used to improvising and using their surroundings in non-traditional ways - particularly Mikey. i think it'd be really interesting to see how the 2012 boys would fare trying to fight in that style, and if they'd use it in future! anyway. the image of Mikey chasing them all around with an improvised household appliance weapon is EXTREMELY amusing to me, along with seeing Splinter's reaction when Mikey informs him that this was how they first learned how to properly fight. I think he'd go through all the stages of grief, but it'd definitely help him understand Mikey's lack of interest in regular training. anyway back to rotating your fic around in my mind like a microwave <3

Oh, I love this idea. Here, have an unedited ficlet I wrote in my notes app quick lol.

==========

Mikey vibrated with excitement, Splinter amused beside him while the others cautiously filtered into the dojo.

Splinter had seen how he’d struggled during regular training and after a small talk about why that might be, he’d allowed Mikey to run his own session to see exactly how the teaching styles differed. Both for Splinters own curiosity and to provide a different, more improvised kind of training so the others didn’t fall too much of a routine.

“So, how many different death traps are in here?” Raphael asks. Michelangelo is attempting to hide behind him but Raphael keeps pushing him away. “And where is one of them so Mike can be distracted by something else—“

“No death traps!” Mikey confirms. The others still look around cautiously as they come to stand in front of him. “I’m gonna show you the kind of training I got from Dad back home!”

The turtles share a disbelieving look, glancing towards Splinter who merely nods in confirmation.

“That’s…great,” Leonardo says slowly. “I suppose we could spice things up a bit.”

“You betcha!” Mikey exclaims. The turtles share one last confirming glance with Splinter before falling into their training stances and pulling out their weapons.

Mikey’s grin grows. “Nuh uh, nope,” he says, rolling onto his heels and thoroughly enjoying their confusion. “Won’t need those.”

Splinter turns to him in curiosity while the other look on in slight terror. Regardless, they lower their weapons to the ground in front of them and wait for Mikey to continue.

Oh, this is going to be fun.

—————

“That’s not how you use a toaster!” Donatello screeches, lunging away from the flying toaster Michelangelo threw by the cord like a flail.

“That’s exactly how you use it!” Mikey encourages from the sidelines. His alternate sends him a bright thumbs up before his head is promptly smacked to the ground by the lamp Raphael wields.

“How on Earth are you still alive if this is how your Master Splinter trained you!?” Leonardo exclaims, hurriedly blocking Raphael’s next lamp strike with his couch cushion. “This isn’t what training is supposed to be!”

“Sure it is! You just have to get creative! I don’t see Michelangelo complaining!” His alternate groans from the floor and he immediately backtracks. “Not about the training anyway!”

The chaos quickly resumed with Raphael going on a rampage with his lamp and the others scrambling out of the way with their other improvised weapons.

Mikey beams up a smile to Splinter who pinches his brow with eyes shut tight, taking deep breaths.

“I…understand your frustration with my teaching methods, now,” Splinter grumbles, watching with tired eyes as Raphael gets a whack to the face from Leonardo’s cushion.

Mikey launches to his feet, not being able to help himself anymore. Without any warning he grabs the closets of the many household items he gathered before starting. His hands adjust around the pens he grabbed, fashioning them into claws between his fingers, before jumping into the fray and straight towards a panicked Donatello.

They’re nowhere near prepared for all the razz-ma-tazz he’s about to unleash.

==========

Hehehe ❤️

[viburnt]

Hiya, sweetpie! ♥ I've been thinking about being in a relationship with Alpha Dabi and Omega Shigaraki (hope you haven't explored this idea previously)

Hi, Douma! Thank you for requesting love <3 I'm very happy to see you here. I had never explored ABO before, so this was really fun!

CONTENT WARNING: NSFW, sex mentions. It's kinda implied that it's bit of a poly relationship since I wasn't sure if you wanted them separated or together at the same time.

Alpha Dabi and Omega Shigaraki with you

• Omega Shigaraki didn't quite had the opportunity to nest as a kid, which is bad considering all Omegas start nesting at a young age. He is not very sure of how to do it, nor if he is doing it right. Tenko likes to take your clothes from time to time, specially shirts and hoodies, to build his little safe space: pillowcases, sheets, blankets... he just takes what he can and tries to make it pass as a nest. It's endearing, really, specially when you find him curled up and sleeping after a long evening gaming. You keep a secret photo album of him sleeping.

• He is very sensitive to your scent, normally asking you not to wear perfumes because he likes how you smell. It bothers him that Dabi is an Alpha because his scent tends to compete with yours. Omega Tomura is also very whiny and needy when it comes to you, specially during his heats. He drags you to his nest and cuddles you to his heart's content, even if it's embarrassing for him (of course sometimes it'smore than cuddling).

• Talking about heats with Shigaraki, you'll be busy for a while. Dabi hates when Shigaraki gets his heat because his own hormones go bonkers, and Shiggy doesn't let Dabi near you until he's done. You spend a lot of silent nights making that man whine and cry while you satiate his need of uh- yeah.

• You have to clean the stuff of his nest with regularity after his heats because it just ends up being a nasty mess-

• Alpha Dabi also has his perks, specially when it comes to being protective of you. He is shameless whenever he talks about you, sending dirty smirks and making innuendos when a friend (or Shigaraki) ask where you are: "Oh, they're just sleeping in my bed. If you catch my drift..." "Last time I saw them they are between my legs, haven't seen them today-"

• Dabi doesn't understand Shigaraki's need of a nest but he tries to be nice about it since you insist. He often asks if you need a nest too (that, of course, depends on your type). If you happen to be an Alpha or a Beta, he'll just tease by saying "he'll build you a nest to fuck you nice and good"; if you're an Omega, he's more responsible and actually tries to make and effort with your nest (fails, but he tries).

• Touya is the kind of Alpha that is always rubbing on you, he doesn't know how to keep his hands to himself. It doesn't matter that Shigaraki complains about his scent on your body, he will make sure everyone can smell him on you.

• His ruts are... intense. You need quite the endurance to stand his stamina, and he will not waste a second to take what's his by right. During this time, he doesn't allow Shigaraki to spend a lot of time with you, often leading to arguments that are solved with long steamy make-out sessions and too many hands on your body.

• Alpha Dabi likes to make you wear his jacket when other Alphas are around (specially if you happen to be an omega), he thinks you look ridiculously cute with it. Also the kind that gives you dumb nicknames thinking they are cool but they're lame and sappy.

• Being stuck in the middle with these two sometimes allows you to see some unique dynamics you never expected to see between the two. Alpha Dabi and Omega Shigaraki tend to act like brothers from time to time: they fight for your attention, one wants to shit on the other, they snitch when they make a mistake to be your favorite... "OK, who left the toilet seat up again?" "Dabi-" "YOU FUCKIN RAT-"

• When you're not around, they tend to annoy each other with the stupidest things. Curiously enough, they sometimes work together to do nice things for you (or mischief). It's also hard to keep the place tidy with two gremlins like them.

• Sex with them is also complex. It's a constant power battle between the three, even if it's not what you guys want. Dabi wants to top you, while Shigaraki wants to do it too, and if you ever want to top it's the latter who wants to be selfish with your ministrations. Omega Tomura is very... eager in terms of you domming him. He'll of course enjoy the power trip that mounting you gives him, but he prefers it when you make him cum until it's unbearable and some tears roll down his cheeks.

• Alpha Dabi teases Tomura a lot for this, but low-key enjoys having two bitches whining under him. He'll push that knot of his inside you until you're practically trying to push him away.

"Fuck, you're so tight-" Dabi groaned, shoving his dick inside you while his hand pressed your face into the mattress. He'd been fucking you senseless for a hot minute, his rut being unbearable without your inviting body. Shigaraki was watching the whole scene display as he palmed his own cock, whining and whimpering with every carnal sound that escaped your lips. "S-shiggy, look at me- Oh, God!- Look at me, baby." You panted, your voice cracking as Dabi's knot finally reached its rightful place. "Ha- You look so sexy filled with me. Can't wait to do it again." Dabi growled, biting your skin in a territorial way.

You didn't know if it was good or bad luck to have those two with their respective heat and rut at the same time.

The omega seemed happy with that arrangement though.

[mattstromboli]

Over You- M.S

Warnings: Angst, Crying

Summary: You’re a singer holding a showcase to release a new song. About your ex, Matt, who’s in the crowd listening to you sing about him.

HEAVILY BASED ON OVER YOU BY LANDON BARKER

Matt’s pov

it’s been two months since you and i have seen each other— and two months since the two of us have broken up. you're a singer, and i broke up with you the day before you left for your nationwide tour. tonight you’re preforming an unreleased song, many people came to this concert, and little do you know, that includes me, nick, and chris.

“i just don’t get why i had to come here, she’s—“ i start to complain, but im cut off by chris and nick pointing at the stage, as you begin to speak.

“WELCOME TO THIS SHOWCASE EVERYONE!”

nick and chris cheer at your introduction, while i remain quiet, but still clap. i sit in my seat, watching you intently as you begin to speak

“today is my official bonus show! ill be performing an unreleased song today, and after i sing it, it’ll be released on all streaming platforms!”

i sit up in my seat at your words, looking around me at the hundreds of people around me, i look back at the stage— watching you intently. i see you look over at me shocked, and sad.

”okay- this is gonna take a lot for me to sing, knowing that who i wrote this about is here to hear it. this is kinda my way of admitting to myself that im not over what happened. this song has so much meaning to me and i can’t wait to share it with you all.”

i feel my heart shatter as you mention me, looking over at nick and chris, i see them eyeing me expectingly, while people around me murmur and talk about the song being about me. i remain silent and avoid eye contact, i continue to sit silently as people around me murmur about you noticing me, meanwhile, nick and chris nudge each other and look back at me expectantly

i sit there, listening intently as you talk about the song that you are about to sing, i get butterflies in my stomach, but also a sense of dread, i know that this song is about me, and im not ready to hear what you say

“okay. here we go.”

“I can't get out of my bed, your voice inside of my head

Our favorite song on repeat

I try my best to forget all of the words that you said

Act like it's nothing to me

This happens every time I wish that I could rewind

And end things differently

But, can't bring myself to move on

I miss you now that you're gone

I feel it terminally

Yeah, 'cause I can't help myself

But I'll get over you

Baby, over my dead body

There's nothing I can do

'Cause you were never just somebody

I still remember the highs, the lows, you come, you go

You leave me broken, black and blue

But I'll get over you

Baby, over my dead body

You're still inside of my blood, I won't be done 'til I'm done

I feel you run through my veins

If I've got air in my lungs, baby, then you're still the one

Nothing comes close to the same

Oh, I still can't help myself

But I'll get over you

Baby, over my dead body

There's nothing I can do

'Cause you were never just somebody

I still remember the highs, the lows, you come, you go

You leave me broken, black and blue

But I'll get over you

Baby, over my dead body

I can't understand it

I'm turning all the damage into madness over you

Oh, baby, I can't stand it

Feel like nothing worse could happen

And I know it's tragic, but not as bad as losing you

But I'll get over you

Baby, over my dead body

There's nothing I can do

'Cause you were never just somebody

I still remember the highs, the lows, you come, you go

You leave me broken, black and blue

But I'll get over you

If it's the last thing I do.”

my heart breaks further as the words of the song wash over me like a ton of bricks, i listen intently to each word, every single line of the song seems as though it perfectly describes exactly how i’m feeling. every single word of the song perfectly captures the way that i’ve felt these past few months. nick and chris look back at me, expecting some sort of reaction. i see a single tear stream down your face as the song ends and i feel a pit in my gut.

the room is nearly dead silent for a few seconds, before the room erupts in applause, meanwhile, i sit there, shell-shocked. how did you manage to describe exactly how ive been feeling these past few months? I see you erupt into tears as you walk off the stage and my body finally allows me to slowly clap, feeling dead inside.

nick and chris look at each other before looking back at me, i remain silent and just sit in my seat, too stunned to move

Your pov

as i sit backstage crying and listening to ‘over you’ on repeat, i feel my heart shatter piece by piece, knowing that matt was there to witness my song, and my breakdown over him. i watch the outside cameras as matt walks away from the venue with his head down

In a spur of the moment decision, i dial up matt’s number and hit call. the call answers and i can’t bring myself to speak. sobs wrack my body, but no words come out.

“y-y/n?”

“i-i meant it! i meant what i said. im not over you. you weren’t ever just ‘somebody’. please.”

“and i’ll get over you if it’s the last thing i do.”

———————————- THE END

taglist: @sassysturniolo2008 @wompwomp-1 @anna-sturniolo

to get added to the taglist, comment here

[lyon-amore]

    I put my hands on my face, resting for about twenty minutes before going back to work. It is just a matter of closing my eyes and waiting for the alarm. I cannot allow myself to sleep much since the last warning, even though it was a year ago, that made me stay on alert.

    A call wakes me up. Of course, it is not for me, but for Macie.     I see on the screen that it is a video call from Jessica. I have been a little too busy today to monitor her conversation, so after getting some rest, I was going to spend the whole night reading them. I am sure if Macie knew, she would be giving me a lecture about how important it is to rest.

    I shake my head at these thoughts and pay attention to both screens. If Jessica is calling this late, it must be important for Hannah's case.     I clasp my hands together and rest my elbows on the table, paying attention.

    "Hello Jessy," Macie greets with a smile, although it fades when she sees Jessica's expression, which seems more worried. "What happened?"

    I see what appears to be a room? At least, what I see behind her is a bed.

   "I thought I heard a noise and I got scared," Jessica walks towards the window, opening the curtain.

    I pay attention to any sounds I hear from the call, if the kidnapper is there, I will have to rule Jessica out as a suspect.

   "Do you see something?" Macie's scared expression is what worries me, for some reason, it makes me feel uncomfortable. Is that the word I am looking for?

    I clench my hands, as if I wanted to grab something.

<<Her hand…>>

   "No, everything's fine," Hannah's friend sighs, moving away from the window, "I'm sorry if you were sleeping Macie."

   "No, don't worry, I wasn't sleeping," shee leans a little to her right, murmuring words. Shee picks up her pet, caressing it. “Do you want to talk until you're better?”

   "I could use any chat right now."

    Macie nods.     Well, I guess if it is not going to be important, I would better turn off the audio.

   "What did you do with what you bought?" I am about to hit the mute button, but Macie answers Jessica.

   "Nothing, it was too big, it didn't fit properly."

    I pause for a moment, my brain is creating images it should not.

   "Oh really? Have you even tried spinning around?"

   "Spinning around, pressure, even with a little help to separate it," my face begins to burn. What did she buy? "If I continued insisting, it would surely destroy it."

    I cough in surprise. What is she going to destroy and with what?

      <<Calm down Jake… I am sure it is not… Well, she can do whatever she wants with her private life, it is… Why does it bother me?>>

   "You should have seen the scene I put on, with my legs spread so wide from the effort," she laughs and I shake my sweatshirt, trying to get some fresh air, "the neighbors have even heard me complain and I live in a house, not an apartment."

    I open my eyes wide enough to imagine sounds in my head that I should not.     Okay, time to close the conversation between women, I should not have heard it.

   "All this to put a screw in the wall?" Jessica laughs and I keep blinking.

   <<What do you mean, a screw?>>

   "Let's just say I didn't have the drill nut the same size as the screw so I tried to force it in with the screwdriver after drilling the hole."

    I hit my head on the desk, breathing hard. My head is spinning from imagining things with her that I should not. How is this possible? This has never happened to me. Well... No, never. I know it sounds weird, but it is like she brings up so many thoughts in so many ways that I do not know how to control them.

    "So all this conversation about a screw, huh?" I take a deep breath, raising my head.

    A fleeting smile appears on her face, a mischievous one. Wait a moment…

   "I have to admit, this is the first time I've heard such funny descriptions of how to hang a painting," Jessica laughs, although I do not, "I’m sure if the boys had heard you, they would have been shocked."

   "What can I say? I love to give my listeners a bit of humor," she smiles in that mischievous way again.

   "You mean the ONLY listener. "

   "Hey, Henry's here too," she lifts him up a little, "he's had to watch me make a fool of myself until I give up on trying to avoid breaking the wall."

    They both laugh, but I do not find it funny. I sit rooted to the spot in my chair, not wanting to move. I am thankful that the only water there is is cold water.

   "Thank you for cheering me up Macie," Jessica calms down, smiling, "I think I'm better."

   "I'm glad to know."

   "Try tomorrow to buy the correct size to make the hole with the drill," her friend reminds her, "the reforms are more expensive than putting up a painting."

   "I'll put it on the list."

   "See you tomorrow, Macie," Jessica says goodbye and Macie does the same.

    I throw my head back, feeling all the heat from my face transfer to my body. Macie knew I would be watching the conversation and after the chat we had about parkour, I feel like I was wrong to talk to her like that. I should not cross the line or she will be the one in danger.

    I get the message sound and sit up. Macie is talking to me.     I cannot talk to her like this… ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie Well? How did you liked it? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A laugh escapes me when I read that she is trying to imitate me. It calms me down.

   <<I really like talking to her.>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake I do not know what you mean. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I answer the same as her, except that my intention is to make it not obvious that I actually heard it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie My call with Jessy Since I know you hear everything, I thought you had snooped on the call too 😝 You and cats have something in common Your curiosity kills you ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   <<Not only has it killed me, it has turned me into a human oven. Something I never thought could really happen.>>

    I try to answer, but I make so many mistakes because of my nerves that she laughs at me again thinking that I heard her. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie Not everything I talk about is going to be about the Jake case 🤭 One also needs to have a normal conversation with friends

Jake In a normal conversation you give all the details, you do not let the other person guess what you were talking about.

Macie You and I weren't talking 😛

Jake But I was listening.

Macie So I was right ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I open and close my mouth. She is tricking me again into talking more.

   <<Well… I am not complaining… She is fun.>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake I apologize for doing that. I know it was inappropriate.

Macie You have to do it for the investigation

Jake I have to do it for the investigation though. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    "Am I so obvious that I was going to answer the same?"

    Apparently, I am not the only one who pays attention to someone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie I promise not to do it again 🙏 I just wanted to joke around a little 🤭 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I start to write “But at least I like that you are the one doing it,” but I think it is too much.

   "Stay professional, Jake... just... Do not get excited." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie Hey, what if we meet tomorrow for the first time and you put me the nail? 😊❤️ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I read her message several times, trying to figure out if what she says is true, she has ulterior motives, or she is joking.     Seeing her in person would be wonderful, although I would not know what to say, I am sure she would be bored with me.

   <<But you cannot go…>>

   "Thanks reality check."

    I come back from my thoughts and laugh at Macie's message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie I meant a real nail this time, Jake, I swear! 😭 Please don't think badly of me!

Jake Hahaha. Well, one thing is clear I never get bored with you :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   <<Maybe I have said this too much?>>

    I am going to delete the message hoping that she has not had time to read it.

    Late, too much time thinking ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie I'm not bored with you either You have a funny side 😜 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     A small sigh escapes me as I look at her picture.     It is actually been years since I have had this much fun with someone. And someone who makes me feel like myself again.

    Unfortunately, I have to stop it. If we keep getting our hopes up, we are both going to get hurt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake Unfortunately, I have to decline your offer. I live too far away from you. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lie… I know we are in the same city. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie Mmm… I see You have already told me a little more about yourself 😁

Jake Well, that slipped out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie I guess I'll have to deal with the screw alone then... 😏 Ok, now I was kidding 😆 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I would be nervous to see you open up, to see your smile. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake I noticed :) But try to choose your materials better this time ;)

Macie Yes, dad 🙄 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I would hear your jokes in person while I try to find excuses to stay a little longer, saying that the painting does not look good in every place.     But I am sure you would have noticed that already ------------------------------------------------------------------------------¡

Jake See you tomorrow, Macie.

Macie See you tomorrow, Jake And good night 🤗​

-----Macie is now OFFLINE----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Empty. That is what I feel when I see that notice. Not talking to her all the time reminds me why I am in this situation.

    I rest my head on the desk again, trying to calm my thoughts and focus on working again.

   "I am not like a cat, Macie," I say while I notice how my heart does not stop beating fast, "cats land on their feet, but with you I have crashed to the ground completely."

[sheepheadfred]

Ectoberhaunt Day 2- Dinosaur

Summary: With a portal to the afterlife in his basement, it's a wonder how they haven't been invaded by extinct creatures before. Not that many would complain about it. Danny would care more if it wasn't on a school night.

AO3 link

Damn! These dinosaurs flying at him from all angles at this time of night! Danny has a test to study for that he'd rather do than fight these toothy monsters! A badly done ghost version of Jurrassic Park, though when they said that Sam went off about the horrible capitalist decisions made by the guy in charge that he tuned it out, not in the mood for what is basically a lecture at this time on a school night.

"Where did these extinct lizards even come from? I've never seen them around in the part of the zone the portal is in."

Tired and cranky gripes coming from a half ghost out way past his curfew and definitely getting grounded once he fails that test in school tomorrow.

"Are you really going to complain about real life dinosaurs, ghostly or not, in front of you?"

"Sam, I'm with Danny. I'd rather not get eaten tonight, or see my best friend bite it like he's in Jurrassic Park."

The Fenton Phones are quite useful in battle to receive his friend's support but he really isn't in the mood for their color commentary. All he wants is to go home at this point.

"Thank you peanut gallery, but do either of you have anything helpful to say while I'm being chased by a T-Rex, some small and fast guys, and the winged fossils coming at me?!"

"Technically, those are raptors and Pterosaurs respectively and Pterosaurs aren't actually dinosaurs."

"Can't they all fly, being ghosts and all?", Tucker oh so helpfully chimed in.

"Can't say I'm surprised Sam knows that, but anything i can USE?" Danny is tired and Sam's recent dinosaur kick will serve his irritation right now. He'd appreciate it more if he didn't have to see real ones. At least these creatures being gone aren't something she can get mad at humans for. Something, something how goth it was to learn about these massive animals that no longer exist- right now he can't even care right now if it makes sense.

"Well, excuse me for being well informed! Fine, if you want to be like that just save me one."

"Sam, I am not giving you a ghost dinosaur that you can sic on people," he really should have seen that coming.

"You are no fun, but I guess it would be unfair to cage such beautiful, wild creatures."

"You're still mad your parents won't let you get a tarantula, aren't you?"

Suddenly he felt the shadow and heavy breath of a large mouth about to snap at him. Oh no, was he distracted, are they working together, or both?

"AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaah!" Danny screams, narrowly avoiding being swallowed in one bite.

"We forgot to keep track of them, didn't we?" the deadpan voice in his ear goes.

"No shit, Sherlock." says the snarky voice, answering Danny and Tucker's questions at the same time. Fascination with these creatures aside, it really is time to take it more seriously.

"Since you've already led them to the park, how about -"

This plan took several more hours of back and fourth and near full death. Danny decided to put them back in the zone after school, far away from the portal. If he finds out Vlad was involved he's going to end that man for real.

Danny collapsed on his bed without changing and was awoken three hours later by his dad's booming voice complaining about missing the ghost dinosaurs and that 'no good phantom' a citizen or two must have reported on last night. They weren't exactly quiet after all.

-----

At school, Dannys meets up with his friends who somehow got in an argument about how dino meat tasted vs the ethics of finding out.

"Can we not do this today, please?" Danny is so tired and if they try to pull him in he will just leave. He's already dreading going to class and he does not need their petty debate added to it.

Two 'Hey, Danny's and a thankfully dropped subject later and they headed inside.

"Still want a raptor, though..."

Tucker and Danny looked at each other and just sighed. Exasperated, Danny replies, "Just get a bird, then. Didn't you say they are descendants of dinosaurs or something?"

"Of all the things you remember from my research and it's that. Not a bad idea, though. Raptors are beautiful and endangered creatures, I should learn falconry."

Danny just looked at her and went, "Are you fucking with us right now, because i seriously can't tell."

"Talking bird capitalism, babey..."

Tucker's deadpan delivery was enough to get all three sleep deprived teens laughing and almost missing the first bell.

[writingsofanomnivore]

Moonlit hearts- Tsukishima Kei x Reader

never thought I'd write for him out of everyone. I like his character but don't see him as someone I'd be with. This piece is based on a poem I've written. I've added it too. I hope it fits him.

Fluff. It has mentions of reader writing? calluses? I've made a suga,bokuto, kuroo trio. they fit well together.

You wonder how you found yourself here, on a balcony with him. Your journal is splayed out, a pencil between your fingers, half-scribbled words before you as you look at the moon.

It's almost like there are two moons in front of you. One is shining in the sky, and the other shines too, right here, eyes concentrated and eyebrows furrowed, deep into a book. You wonder what has him so engrossed. Has he always been like this? So calm and serene? Or did you never notice this side of him?

The white light highlights his face, casting an ethereal glow. His glasses sit atop his nose, and you can see an indent from years of wearing them. The bags under his eyes are visible through the frames, the result of late nights spent on university projects and work deadlines. You almost remember the days—being in the same class through high school, sharing some classes at university too, and then ending up with the same group of friends. The same friends because of whom you’re here. There is distinct chatter coming from the ground—the hyena-like cackle of Kuroo and Bokuto’s laugh, Suga joining in, forming an unexpected chaotic trio.

But right now, everything is a blur. You’re surrounded by a haven. Your figures cast huge shadows on the concrete floor, resembling one of the dinosaurs you saw in one of his many books. A halo surrounds him, and you feel like a peasant graced by his presence.

After considerable staring, you had to get back to your poem. Words spilled from your pencil tip, filling the page, because, today- your muse sat in front of you. You didn't even need to think of words. It felt like you were writing something you always had in you, just not something you had paid attention to.

You were so engrossed in it that you didn’t notice someone looking at you, as if you were the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. His eyes softened, a smile spread on his face without his control. His heart could have leapt out of his rib cage if it were possible. The sounds of his friends are in the background, but he is here with you, in a little corner, doing his thing while you do yours. Everything feels so domestic. He wishes this could last forever. It takes every fiber in his body not to lunge out of the chair and catch you in his arms, or hold your hand while his thumb rubs over every callus, every cut on your fingers. There are times he wants to tell you to stop complaining about the bumps on your fingers from gripping your pen so hard. His fingers itch to hold your hand and maybe get your eyes checked because how do you not find them beautiful? The outcome of your words, your answers, your sleepless nights learning and studying—all which have brought you here. He wonders how long he can hold this secret. How long must he pretend you don’t have his heart captured? How long should he pretend you don’t have him wrapped around your tiny finger? How many sleepless nights, blushes disguised, must he suffer before it bursts open? Right now, all these thoughts race in his head, turning this previously peaceful, serene night into the complete opposite.

As these thoughts plague his mind, he makes a decision to finally say something. Little does he know, the person sitting opposite him is on the same page, if not the same line. Finally, daring to look up, his eyes—surprisingly—meet yours, as if there’s something you want to say. But today, he has his mind set. He will not let this moment go. It’s either now or never.

“Y/N, I wanted to—”

“Tsukishima, I had something to discuss—”

Both sentences are said at the same time. Your cheeks heat up, and you can see a blush cover his face. Right now, you’ve never felt more embarrassed. What could he possibly want to say? You are not ready to discuss the newest book he read, as much as you love to read—not now. No, not after you’ve built up your courage to finally say something about your poor heart.

His mind is just in the same state, if not more frazzled. Do you want to move to where everyone else is sitting? Maybe you’re bored here. Are you missing out on their fun?

Before either of you could begin, a voice calls out, “Tsukki! Y/N! Where are you two cooped up?? We’re cutting the cake—hurry up, come on. Bokuto has waited long enough. Come on.”

Yamaguchi comes into view, bursting this little bubble you created.

At this moment, you’ve never hated cake as much as you do now. Why? Sparing Tsukishima a sad glance, your eyes meet again. You agree while he grumbles something you cannot hear. As you get up, you wonder what he wanted to say. But more than that, you wonder what could have happened if you had told him the truth. Would your little heart still be intact? Or shattered into a million pieces?

The Poem behind this-

Is my handwriting legible? I've been told it's not. Maybe I'll type it later

[bibbityboppitybillyharvgrove]

Admiration - S.Black

Summary - Y/N and Sirius Black are spending their time together watching muggle Christmas movies, more like she was watching and he was watching her. Even though he had seen these movies a million times he would never change it for the world.

Word Count - 512

Warnings - Female reader, use of Y/N, Sirius in love, not proofread

Author's Note - Hello my friends! Welcome to day 10!! I know this is getting posted later once again but I've been super busy the last few days. I spent like 6 hours doing homework today before the end of my semester this week. When all of my work is done, I will be more consistant and on time with my posting. I hope you enjoy!

Harry Potter Masterlist

my masterlist

25 days of fics masterlist

Feedback is welcomed and encouraged

Enjoy!

not my gif

not my gif

In the twenty-first century, there came a plethora of first world problems, like not knowing what to watch on tv, the internet going down and so on. One of these problems was currently occurring in the Black household.

“Baby, I don’t know what to watch,” Y/N whined to her husband. She had been scrolling aimlessly through streaming service after streaming service trying to find something for them to watch that they hadn’t seen before. Sirius walked into the room with a smirk on his face.

“I already know exactly what you’re gonna go right back to. Just turn it on,” He told her as he plopped down on the sofa right next to her. 

“But you always complain that we’ve seen them so many times. I wanna watch something different.” 

“If you can��t find anything now, I don’t think you ever will. Just turn it on, even if we’ve seen it a million times.” She sighed but listened, turning on her go to Christmas movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Despite how many times she has seen it, she will watch it over and over again. Sirius swears she could quote the whole movie if she had to.

He lovingly watched as his wife mouthed the words to the film as she was hyper-focused on the tv in front of her. He continued this until the end of the movie. She only looked to her husband when the credits began to roll. “What?” She giggled under his gaze, her heart fluttering in her chest as she looked in his eyes.

“Nothing,” He shrugged as he continued to take in her appearance. She had a day off so she spent it as a lazy day. She had lounged on the sofa waiting for her husband to return home from work most of the day, her hair was still messy from waking up, mascara smudged under her eyes, her body drowning in a large t-shirt and a pair of shorts. She felt like she looked disgusting but Sirius would disagree. He thought that she looked even more beautiful than usual, her skin glowing, her hair was healthy and her eyes sparkling with joy.

“Stop looking at me like that!” She whined as she hid her face in his chest. 

“Like what?” He questioned with a chuckle.

“Like I’m your last meal! I swear you’re more like Padfoot than you think, baby.”

“Oh shush. I’m simply admiring my beautiful wife, am I not allowed to do that?” She picked her head up, pecking his cheek and brushing off his question.

“Turn on something you want to watch.”She handed him the remote, and he changed the film to another one that she enjoyed, Elf. As he slung his arm around the back of the couch behind her, she took the opportunity to snuggle into his side and take in his warmth. Sirius had never believed that he would get a life like this but he thanked his lucky stars that he did. He would never give up the life he has with Y/N.

[cetaitlaverite]

Can we maybe see jealous Rosie? Maybe during the war or whenever you think it makes sense. Maybe some new guys don't know Freddie is with him. Whatever you think. Thank you!

absolutely you can!! this is set a few days after freddie returns to thorpe abbotts after she and rosie got married. it got just a little bit suggestive at the end - hope you don't mind!!

this is the first of the requests i've gotten to so far but if you've sent one in, rest assured it is on the list/in progress!! and as always, the masterlist is here <3

Freddie was back at the piano. She’d had an urge to play all day. After arriving back at Thorpe Abbotts, the last few days had been a whirlwind - being filled in on Operation Corona efforts from her stand-in, getting everything planned and prepared to pick up seamlessly from there, filling out all the necessary paperwork to get her last name changed on her WAAF profile - and she just hadn’t had time for music in the chaos it had become. But she was a married woman now and there was so much she wanted to say and yet hadn’t properly been able to, not through her music. When Rosie left after the wedding she hadn’t had too many songs left in her, not between all the worrying, but she was full of them now. Love songs, songs full of passionate crescendos and beautiful, twinkly beginnings. Rosie had inspired so many emotions in her from the moment she’d laid eyes on him but never more than now, when he’d come back from the dead and married her the next day.

No one had made it to the officers’ club just yet - it was too early in the evening, Freddie supposed. But she had finished work early today and had gotten ready early. Now, her hair was placed in pristine curls and her makeup was freshly reapplied, her uniform ironed and her earrings in, and yet there was no one here to appreciate it - save for Atley the barman, that was, who had jokingly complained when he had accepted Meatball’s water bowl from her but filled it up for free nonetheless.

Meatball was keeping Freddie company, as he tended to, by lying beneath the piano bench. He had heard her play the piano so many times by now he knew exactly where to go and what to do with himself, and was able to tune it out and fall asleep. And he was so sound asleep, and Freddie so deep in her playing, that neither of them noticed when the club started to fill up with wireless operators and American Red Cross girls, American airmen and ATA pilots alike.

Freddie’s fingers lingered over the keys when she finished playing a song she was happy with, a song she would have written down had she had any paper. She peeled her eyes open with a smile. Rosie would love that one, she thought. Well, Rosie loved all of her songs, but he would especially love that one. He had always uniquely understood what she was trying to communicate in her music and she knew he’d understand the depth of her affection for him after hearing that song.

With a grin, Freddie turned on the bench to face the door, hoping Rosie might enter through it any moment now, but gasped and pressed a hand against her startled heart when she was met with four unfamiliar faces instead.

“Buy you a drink?” one of them asked, an expectant smirk on his lips.

Freddie’s eyebrows furrowed. These must be new arrivals, she thought - presumably, they had arrived while she was on R&R. She didn’t think she’d ever seen them before and she was sure they’d never seen her - if they had even the slightest idea of who she was they certainly wouldn’t still be standing there.

“No, thank you,” Freddie managed to reply after a few beats. Before she could say anything more she found herself being cut off.

“Aw, come on,” one of the other airmen spoke. “Playing all those tunes has gotta take it outta ya. And it just ain’t right for a pretty lady like yourself to be sittin’ all on your lonesome, and with no drink at that.”

“Let one of us keep you company,” chimed in one of the others.

“Better yet, let all of us keep you company,” added another.

“Four drinks and four dates, how’s a lady gonna say no to that?” asked the first.

“I’m married,” Freddie said, holding up her left hand to display the two rings on her ring finger.

One of the men smirked. “I don’t see a husband.”

“You will soon,” Freddie said.

The airman closest to her lifted one eyebrow. “He work here?”

“Major Rosenthal is my husband,” Freddie explained. She raised both eyebrows. “Will you take my no for an answer now?”

Three of the men’s faces fell. Fear briefly flickered through one of their eyes. The fourth, however, didn’t bat an eye. “Major Rosenthal ain’t married,” he said, flicking his wrist as though batting away her rejection. “Now don’t be difficult. All we’re asking is to buy you a drink, maybe dance a little.”

“Major Rosenthal is recently married,” Freddie corrected, turning on the piano bench to face the group properly. “To me. The day after he came back here after his fort went down.”

The same doubtful airman scoffed. “You expect us to believe the first thing Major Rosenthal did after being carted across Europe with a sprained wrist and damn-near hypothermia is marry you?”

Freddie rolled her eyes and sat up straighter. “Believe it or don’t believe it, I really don’t care. But my answer is still no. I don’t want your drinks and I certainly don’t want to dance with you.”

The airman sat back into one of his hips, tilting his head back with a dramatic roll of his eyes and smoothing out his eyebrows with one hand. He shook his head briefly, then stepped forward and bent down until he was at eye level with Freddie. No longer was he smiling and smirking. His gaze was hard. “Fucking difficult broad,” he snarled. “Should think yourself fucking lucky we’re trying so hard to loosen you up -”

“We got a problem here, gentlemen?” Rosie interrupted. His voice was light and casual on the surface but its hard edge was undeniable. Immediately, Freddie stood and hurried into his side, less out of fear and more to prove her point, but Rosie was all too happy to lift his arm for her to snuggle up under, his gaze unwavering on the group of airmen currently staring back at him with jaws agape.

“They don’t think you’re married, Major,” Freddie said when none of them replied. She was looking up at him from beneath his arm with wide, innocent eyes. “They think I’m lying when I say I’m your wife.”

Rosie’s eyes found hers and now there was a twinkle of amusement in them. “That so, honey?”

“Yes, my love. And apparently I’m a ‘fucking difficult broad’ for telling them I don’t want to dance or have a drink with them, and I’m ‘fucking lucky’ they would even try.”

“Filthy language,” Rosie disapproved, turning back to the airmen. Now his eyes were hard, his lips drawn in a thin line.

He was greeted with four sets of eyes filled with horror, four Adam's apples bobbing as lumps in throats were swallowed.

“I ever catch you speaking to any woman like that again you’ll be grounded and on latrine duty so fast you’ll mistake the toilet bowl for your bomb sight, you understand? And if I ever catch you speaking to my wife like that again you’ll be court-martialled so fast you won’t know what’s happened ‘til you’re sitting in the damn cell. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir,” chorused all four voices at once.

“That ain’t how you boys have been taught to treat any woman and it’s certainly a problem that you tried it out on my wife,” Rosie responded. His voice was still casual and yet authoritative. His arm around Freddie’s shoulders was protective. “Now, if I were you I’d call it a night and we won’t have any more problems, gentlemen. But that’s up to you.”

“Yes, sir,” they all replied once more.

“Fantastic,” Rosie said. He flashed a smile at each of them in turn. “Glad we see eye to eye on this. Make sure you hand what’s left of your drinks back into the bar, see if they can be refilled and passed on to someone else. You want one, honey?” Rosie directed this last question at Freddie, looking down at her with a small smile.

“No thank you, my darling love,” Freddie answered him sweetly, pushing up briefly on her toes to beg a kiss which he promptly gave her. She didn’t drink beer and he knew it, but she knew he was feeling protective and wanted to flex his muscles a little bit. He had earned it, she thought. And it wasn’t often she got to see him jealous, not when everyone on base quickly learned that Freddie was Rosie’s girl and thus made sure to keep a wide berth. She was rather enjoying it. She thought the two of them would probably have to cut their night short, too, though for entirely different reasons to the group of airmen currently nodding, eyes wide like deer in headlights.

“Alright,” Rosie agreed. He turned back to the disciplined airmen. “Dismissed.”

They scattered like a handful of marbles dropped on a hardwood floor, hurrying over to hand their drinks back into the bar before scurrying out of the door with their tails between their legs. The last in line threw one final glance back over his shoulder as though he expected Rosie to follow them. 

As soon as the door closed behind them Freddie turned into Rosie completely, wrapping both of her arms around him and nuzzling into his chest. “Thank you, Bärchen,” she said softly.

Rosie’s arms twined around her in turn, holding her close. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before answering, “Not a thing, honey. I don’t think they’ll give you trouble again but let me know if they do, alright?”

Freddie hummed her agreement.

“You want a drink?”

“I want you,” Freddie replied simply. She withdrew her head from his chest to look up at him with a coy smile. “Can I have you?”

“Now?” Rosie asked. He was starting to grin.

“So big and strong and protective,” Freddie said, tilting her head to one side. She moved her hands to his biceps and started rubbing slowly up and down, gazing up at him from beneath her lashes. “Yes now. Millie and Jem will look after Meatball and I happen to know for a fact my office is empty.”

“Oh?” Rosie humoured her. “That’s convenient.”

“Isn’t it just?” Freddie mused. “So what do you say, Major? Gonna let me take you on a date?”

“Absolutely I am,” Rosie decided, his eyes all lit up with stars. “Whatever my princess wants.”

Freddie laughed, taking his hand and starting to cart him towards the door with her. “And they thought you weren’t married.”

[justalittleprince]

I just came to remember The Grays from Netflix ig??? while I was taking a bath after work and I was like

Like I know maybe not many people are talking about it now but I haven't complained about anything today and since I can't be happy, here I go. Because oh boy, I have A LOT of things to say about this

Starting with the modern environment. I know, the story could work in a modern environment because of the context of the whole story and it's meaning. But I can't help but think in a more superficial way (which I KNOW they are) the portrait itself doesn't work... Internet filters, Photoshop, PLASTIC SURGERY IDK. There, problem solved. I'm just saying incoherent stuff at this point bc I want to complain about something. But going to the thing that actually matters...

Dorian's and Basil RELATIONSHIP. Who tf told them it was a good idea to make them siblings??? SIBLINGS.

They're ruining their complete relationship, Basil's whole character arc. They're changing it completely and I don't like it. His own thoughts about Sybil Vane. There was a scene in the book that broke me, where Dorian, Henry and Basil are on their way to the theater and the absolute heartbreak that was reading to Basil's thoughts alone during the whole ride, it's something I won't have. THE LOVE CONFESSION.

That is such an important piece of the story, it's indicative for Dorian that he has power over Basil. Of course, that was also changed in that weird movie back in 2009 (the only piece of cinema I've seen because I cannot find the others 😞) but at least personally I liked the kiss part, idk.

I just DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY'RE DOING

And like, 2 things came to my mind, one more possible than the other

1. They're gonna do really weird stuff

2. The most probable one, they are literally changing things so much that at this point it won't be The Picture of Dorian Gray, it will be just a random story with their names on it (except for Basil my poor baby doesn't deserve this)

And last but not least... Henry. What are they going to do with him, what are their plans? I am not really informed what the whole thing is going to be, but I don't know what's going to be with Henry. Modern environment, knowing how Henry is the minimum thing he would say and he would be absolutely BLASTED in social media, cancelled on Twitter and all /j

Or, just my thoughts I really don't know, but seeing how things are going they could change his character so much he wouldn't be Henry Wotton and would be more like Enrique Waton

Anyways, I finished rambling now, imma disappear for another fifty centuries

[destinyc1020]

I think the point is that many Tom fans are tired. For example, Z has Dune, Euphoria and now The Drama lined up, while Tom only has Spider-Man. It's as if we're living in a loop. We have no confirmation of any other projects that look promising, absolutely nothing, not even a glimpse of a new character or an interesting movie. And I know he's just done a play, but it's not the same, not everyone was able to see the play.

For those of us who are fans and don't live in London, it's as if we've been waiting forever to see only Spider-Man again, and that's the frustrating part. 😩

And I hate the way most people on Twitter treat Tom and now we're back in the same place, with people comparing his career to all the other white boys in the industry today, but this time there's no defending it, because in a way they're not entirely wrong. 😭😭

I understand your frustration Anon, but try to keep things in perspective here:

True, we haven't seen Tom filming a big screen movie since SM NWH, but most of us saw NWH in Dec 2021.... AND in Jan 2022 (let's be honest, we didn't just see the movie once lol 😏), then, right after that, we had "Uncharted" come out in Feb 2022.

We also JUST had Tom's series TCR come out last summer, where we saw not just 2 hours of footage of Tom (like a regular movie), but 10 episodes of the series, which is essentially like 10 HOURS of Tom footage... which basically equals out to him being in five 2-hour length films.

He also decided to take a much-needed and much-deserved break last year, which was ironically also the same year that a LOT of actors weren't allowed to film anything or even promote any of their films due to all of the strikes going on. 🤷🏾‍♀️

He just did a play run in London, and while most of us didn't see it, he was still keeping busy, and he also has SM4 coming up. I'm not sure what's going on with the FA biopic and whether or not it's still going to be smthg he's attached to, but I'm excited to see him take on that role as well in the future if it comes to fruition! 😃

Sometimes, some of these filming projects take TIME. There are also a lot of factors going on bts beyond the actor's (and even director's) control, so if there's a delay, then an actor just pivots, just like Tom did, and goes on to do smthg else in the meantime! 🤷🏾‍♀️

We also don't know what Tom might have going on in his personal life. He might be deliberately slowing down on some projects because he has some things he wants to do on his own. I just learned about Tom and Harry supposedly starting up their own production company last week lol 😆 We really don't know all the facts.

Some actors go 2, 3, even 4 years in btwn a filming project. Leo is notorious for this. I don't see his fans complaining. 😕 They just know that he takes his time, and they will be there in theaters to support him when another one of his films come out. Maybe when Leo was younger he was doing more back-to-back roles, but he's now pushing 50 REAL hard, and maybe he's just slowing down a little, or wants to work with specific directors on very specific projects. He can afford to do that.

Same with Tom! 🤷🏾‍♀️ If he can afford to take long breaks in btwn roles, then that's fine! Spiderman is a very physical role. It can take a lot out of your body. Plus, he's doing a lot of his own stunts. He might need breaks in btwn from those types of roles.

Another thing.... STOP ✋🏾 🛑 comparing Tom to Zendaya. They are two different people. They are two different actors. Just because they are in a relationship with each other, it doesn't mean that they have to have the same exact career journey.

Zendaya's acting journey is her own. Tom's acting journey is his own. Fans don't need to compare them both. I've never seen people compare both actors in a romantic relationship with each other in my life.

If you're a fan of both Tom and Z, then when one has some down time, you can enjoy whatever the other has going on work-wise on their end. 🤷🏾‍♀️

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

The One I've Been Waiting For {Part 10 of 13}

Word count: 2.2 K

Summary: Billy Hargrove is just one of the many students you're supposed to help. The last thing you expect from your interaction is that he'll start flirtt with you... Much less that Billy would stir up feelings you'd rather keep hidden. Despite the mutual sentiments that soon enough start to grow, there are a lot of reasons for whatever it is to be left alone, and one of them is your age...

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

A/N: In this story, reader is 5 years older than Billy, who's 18.

•••

Love Confessions

 The sun makes you use your hand to protect your eyes as you step out of Liam's car. Tanya is especially happy today, excited to get a tan. She never thought Hawkins would have weather like this, and honestly, neither did you.

 “I hope this heat wave never leaves,” Liam says, smiling as the three of you enter the pool. “You know what? We should visit the lakes this weekend.”

 “Count me in.” You agree.

 “Double date. Me and Tany, you and Billy. What do you think?”

 Blushing, you roll your eyes. “Maybe. Guess you'll only know when we get there.”

 “Over there,” Tanya says and you follow her to an empty table.

 “We should've come sooner,” Liam complains and both you and Tanya roll your eyes. “What? Next time I'll come alone and you'll have to come by yourselves, ladies.”

 “Oh my God, Liam. What would we do without you to drive us around.” Her sarcastic tone makes you laugh.

 “You're so funny, Tany.” Liam snaps before looking around. “Is there someone famous visiting Hawkins? Because half the women here are looking over there.” He gestures at the other side of the pool.

 “Show time, ladies.” You hear a woman saying in a low voice somewhere to your right.

 Chuckling, you pinch your eyebrows together. But the confusion soon vanishes when you see exactly what they're talking about. Or better saying, who.

 Billy comes out of the locker looking like a movie star. All eyes are on him, and so are yours. It feels like he's walking in slow motion, or maybe it's just your brain that's halfway through a mental breakdown. You've seen him shirtless before, but this is different, you're not sure how.

 “(Y/N)? Are you in there?” Tanya snaps her fingers right on your face, and you look away from Billy, clearing your throat.

 “I'm here.” Taking a look around, at all the girls drooling over Billy, you feel your stomach burning with anger. Chewing on the inside of your cheek, do your best not to think about what they're thinking. “I'm not sure coming to this stupid pool was a good idea.” It comes out suddenly, in a bitter tone. “The lakes are way better.”

 “Uhh. Someone's jealous.” Liam chants and you turn at him, arms crossed. “If you're going to kill me, do it before next month's exam, please.”

 “Shut up, Liam.” You tell him, looking for anything in your bag that can distract you from the whole thing.

 “Hey, Princess.” Both the voice and the pet name make you raise your head, finding the center of all attention standing right before you. “You shouldn't have come,” Billy says as he walks around the table, coming closer to you. “How am I supposed to look over the pool with you here? You'll distract me.”

 “If it makes you feel better, you're distracting almost everyone here.” Tilting your head at the pool, you cross your arms. “Even the married women are thirsting over you.”

 “Jealous much?” He says, bending over to whisper in your ear.

 Biting your lip, you push him away, a hand on his chest. “Not in public.”

 “As you wish.” He smirks, nodding at your friends. “Need help applying sunscreen?”

 “I applied it at home.” With a smirk, you shrug your shoulders. “Now, go lifeguard. Go watch the pool.” You push him away, but Billy holds your arm, giggling.

 “Won't you let me go?”

 “Never.”

 You suddenly feel your friends' eyes on you, and when you give them a look, they're both staring. Clearing your throat, you turn to face Billy again. “Really, you should go. I don't want you to lose your job.”

 “Fine. But when the pool closes, don't go. Wait for me, alright?”

 “What for?”

 “Just don't go.” Pulling you closer, he places a kiss on your cheek.

 Blushing like a tomato, you bite your lip and nod, watching as he walks away to his post.

 “Look, I don't know about you ladies, but I'm going to swim a little.” Liam kisses Tanya and gives you a significant look before gesturing at Billy.

 Rolling your eyes, you sigh. “Let's join the girls playing volleyball, Tany.”

 “Let's go.”

 Before following her, you take the dress off, revealing the two-piece swimsuit, purple, pink, and black. As you walk along the pool, you shoot Billy a glance. He was already staring, so you give him a smirk and a wink.

 The rest of the day goes by slowly, with you and your friends enjoying an entire afternoon of not talking about college. But soon enough the sun is setting, and people start to leave. Tanya and Liam hang around until there's barely anyone here, and when they leave, you move your stuff to the table next to Billy's chair. Taking off his sunglasses, the man looks down at you.

 “You look absolutely beautiful, you know that right?” He says before jumping to the ground. “Been dying to tell you that.”

 “You're breathtaking yourself. When you came out of the locker all the women here were staring.”

 “You were jealous.” Billy pulls you closer, a hand around your waist.

 “Mind the public.” You tell him with a whisper.

 “The last person already left. And I told my fellow colleagues to leave earlier.”

 “Mmm.” Mumbling, you let him pull you to him until you're pressed against his chest. “So, will you tell me what this is about?”

 “We have the pool all to ourselves.” He starts walking, forcing you to move backward. “And no public to get in the way.”

 “Are you even allowed to do that?”

 “Who cares? I won't be here in Summer so they're welcome to fire me if they want.” That said, Billy moves suddenly, picking you up. “Better hold your breath, Princess.”

 And you only have time to do as he says before he jumps in the pool, pulling you down with him before you both move back to the surface. You're laughing when you're above the water, wrapping your arms around his neck. “You know what? I call this a special occasion.”

 Billy's lips break into a beautiful smile before he kisses you. It's wet at first, because of the water, but soon enough his taste overcomes everything. You want to kiss Billy all the damn time, and you have no idea why you don't.

 Oh, it's because you don't see the point of making out with someone you have nothing with.

 The thought makes you pull away, catching your breath.

 “Hey. What's wrong?” He caresses your cheek, making you look up at him again.

 “What are we?” You can't help but ask, wondering if this is a mistake. “You know what, never mind. I don't want to ruin the moment.”

 “What do you want us to be?” He says in a low voice, strong arms holding you close. “Because I made it clear what I want.”

 “I don't want to be just another fling.” Speaking low, you hope he can't see your blushing cheeks. “I want something real. Solid. Something that lasts.”

 “We have to talk then,” Billy states and you both start moving to the edge.

 Pinching your eyebrows together, you let Billy help you climb off. “If you look at my ass, Billy Hargrove, I swear to God-” And you push yourself up, looking down at him. “-I'll punch you in the face.”

 “Then you can't look either, baby.” He mutters as he comes out as well, a smirk on his face. “Come, let's sit.” Billy takes you to the table near his lifeguard chair, passing you a towel before taking one to himself.

 “What is it you want to talk about?”

 Billy sighs, and you sit side by side, bodies turned toward each other. “I'm going to California when school is over.”

 Nodding, you look down at your hands, keeping the towel from falling off your shoulders. “I know.” Your heart sinks, and you start mentally counting the days you'll still have him around. “Then what-”

 “I want you to come with me.”

 Raising your eyes at him, you freeze. “What?” You ask, but no sound comes out. “What do you mean by that, Billy?”

 “I mean I want you to come with me. Live with me.” He takes your hand, placing a kiss on your knuckles. “I can't picture myself going and leaving you behind but I can't picture myself staying...”

 “I don't want you to stay, not even because of me. This place isn't for you and you need to stay away from, well, your father. I just-”

 “You won't live with someone you're not in a relationship with, I know.” He smiles, bringing one hand to caress your chin. “Be my girlfriend, (Y/N).”

 Gasping, you bite your lip. This isn't about saying yes to being his girlfriend. It's about saying yes to moving to the other sound of the country. That's a lot. “We need a plan. And you need to be sure because if I move there with you and you dump me, I won't be mad, I'll be furious.”

 Billy laughs, shaking his head lightly. “I would never propose such a thing if I wasn't sure I wanted you with me.”

 “I'd have to transfer to a University there. And I'll have to start the process now so when I go it'll all be ready and we'll need a place to live and–”

 “Slow down, Princess.” He cuts you off with a smile, furrowing his eyebrows. “Actually, go on. Because all that means your answer is yes.”

 He got you there. You're making plans already, thinking about everything you'll need to do to go. Even before saying the word. “I guess...” You mutter, looking down at your hands again. “But there's a lot we have to go through before doing that.”

 “A friend of mine has a job for me. They pay enough to rent a small apartment. I have some savings as well and I plan on getting into college. But if you're coming I could wait until you graduate and-”

 “If we're doing this we have to plan it together.” You say, mind racing as you stand up, pacing around and leaving the towel behind. The sun is almost down, and the shadows are mixed with an orange, golden light. “California is a big city so that means a lot of job opportunities and I can pull up a part-time job. Actually, I can have some recommendation letters that would get me a nice job during college.”

 Billy comes after you, and you turn to look at him. “I don't wanna mess up your studying.”

 “I can do both. And we'd have a house to keep, we both will need jobs.”

 “God, it sounds like we're getting married,” Billy says, chuckling.

 “Oh, I...” Clearing your throat, you look away. That's not how you wanted to come out. “I'm just trying to think about how to make things work for both of us. You know overthinking is my thing and-”

 “We should just get married then.” He cuts in, and his words make you stop. Make your heart stop. And you think the entire planet stopped spinning as well.

 “Excuse me, what?” You nervously giggle, hands on your hips. “Are you serious? Because I don't like this kind of joke.”

 Billy smiles, taking your arms and pulling you close to him. “It's simple math.”

 “You suck at Math, Billy.”

 “First of all, ouch.” You giggle, surrendering to his embrace, wrapping your arms around his neck. “Second, I want this. I wanna go to Cali with you, live with you, and that, Princess, it's a freaking marriage. So I don't see why we shouldn't just do it.”

 “You're not supposed to get married just because it makes sense. It's supposed to be a commitment between two people who are in love.”

 “Well, Princess. I fell for you some time ago... So now I just need to know if you feel the same way.”

 Biting your lip, you sigh. “I love you.” It comes out suddenly because you need him to know. Billy makes you feel safe and comfortable and loved. And God, you want to make him feel loved. Show him the amazing man he is, that he's nothing like his father. You want to stand by him, always. “I tried to fight it. Tried to give you all the reasons why this couldn't happen, but here we are.” Pecking his lips, you give a little jump, wrapping your legs around his waist. Billy is quick to hold you up, both hands grabbing your thighs. “And I was dying to kiss you again.”

 “Well, now you can kiss me all the time.”

 “Wait up, wait up.” You put a finger over his lips when he tries to kiss you. “If this whole thing happens, we'll need to tell my parents.”

 “And how do we do that?” He bounces you up to have a better grip.

 “They're coming next weekend.”

 “They're coming all the way here? Why?”

 “Mmm... Because it's my birthday next Saturday.”

 “Why didn't you tell me?!” He asks, making his way to the pool again. “I'll need time to get you the perfect gift.”

 “Billy, I'll be turning-” You're cut short when Billy jumps into the pool.

 You're both laughing when you go back up. “You're turning 24, I know, Princess.”

 “Mhmm.”

 “Now, we can either talk about this dammed age gap or I can kiss you...”

 “I rather you kiss me...” That makes him smile, and Billy bites your lower lip softly before capturing your lips in a passionate kiss.

•••

@aunicornmademedoit @alexa4040 @goth-cowgirl-03 @nyctophilic0vitnir @minispice-1

[stitching-in-time]

Voyager rewatch s4 ep17: Retrospect

Somehow I'd never seen this one before, and all I can say is thank goodness, because it's far and away the worst episode of Voyager, and one of the worst episodes of Star Trek, I've ever seen. Not only was it full of plot holes you could drive a truck through, but it's whole message was shockingly clueless and insensitive, and honestly made me angry to sit there and watch.

(Long post below the cut- Content Warning for discussion of sexual assault:)

I have no idea who thought this storyline was a good idea- there's like four different writers credited, so hopefully it's just a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth, but if this garbage was what anyone actually set out to make- MAJOR YIKES!

The whole theme of the story is that women shouldn't be believed when they accuse a man of attacking them, and that even investigating such an allegation is a terribly bad thing to do because it will ruin that poor man's life. Really. That's what this episode is about. Even in a pre-Me Too movement world, these were some absolutely rancid takes.

When a used car salesman-ish arms dealer comes to Voyager to try to sell them a cannon, Janeway agrees to trade for it. He's arrogant and rude, he gets angry and bitches at Seven, and tries to shove her out of the way in engineering, to which she responds by punching him in the face. He complains to Janeway that he did nothing wrong and she attacked him unprovoked, which is provably untrue, since it was observed by other characters. The guy is obviously a jerk, and Janeway attributes the incident to Seven's lack of social graces as an ex-Borg, and that's that, it seems.

But then Seven has a panic attack and flees when the Doctor uses medical devices to examine her for her routine check up, which she can't explain. The Doctor finds unusual activity in the memory center of her brain, and decides he's going to be an amateur psychologist today (um, no??? playing psychologist when you're untrained is bad, duh!) and tries to help her delve into her memories to find out why she reacted that way to the medical instruments. Seven rediscovers an incident with used car salesman guy- we see in flashback when she was on an away mission to his planet, when they were alone in his lab. He fired one of the guns they were testing on her, then he experimented on her Borg implants to steal nanoprobes from her, and erased her memory of it.

The whole rest of the episode is basically a rape investigation, since the allegory here is not even a little bit subtle. The alien guy denies it and makes a fuss that he's being persecuted, it will ruin him, he's a poor victim, blah blah. Janeway and Tuvok are shockingly sympathetic to him, and skeptical of Seven from the beginning, which is like, um, wtf??? Just because Seven doesn't like to follow Starfleet rules, it doesn't make her any less credible. (Though why they were even assigning her duties again right after Janeway supposedly took away her access to the ship's systems in the last ep, idk! Wanna know why your disciplinary actions don't work on her, Captain? Because you don't follow through with them! Can't just say you're giving her a time out, and then not do it, and expect her to learn anything.)

At every turn it's suggested that Seven imagined the whole thing, or that she's just remembering incorrectly, which is wild considering how many times they've had aliens or space anomalies messing with their brains before. The whole thing has a major 'she's just a hysterical woman' vibe, which is super gross, and even the Doctor, who seems to be the one character who believes her, seems a little too into the idea that she was attacked, and keeps going on about how she was so horribly violated, and she should be angry, and she'll feel better when her attacker is punished. All of which is like, oh my god, what?? First of all, leave her alone and don't tell her how to feel, and secondly, stop telling her that punishing someone who hurt her will magically make her feel better, that's not how it works!

When they investigate the guy's lab, they find active nanoprobes, which leads them to believe he intentionally fired on Seven, and his planets authorities try to arrest him, but he transports away to a ship and flees. (Which seems a little far fetched that he would have all that in place if he wasn't doing shady stuff, but this episode isn't about logic.)

Back on the ship, they test out Seven's nanoprobes to find out if they would activate whether the phaser was fired intentionally at her, as Seven claims, or overloaded accidentally, as the guy claims. They find that the nanoprobes react the same way either way, which everyone inexplicably takes as proof that alien guy is innocent. What?? That doesn't rule out anything, either thing could still have happened! But they don't investigate further, they consider the case closed. How quickly everyone turns on Seven is legitimately the most chilling thing I've ever seen on the show, and all the more so because it wasn't even supposed to be.

The amount of plot holes here are glaring- Seven and Tom are the only crew who go down to a strange planet, full of aliens with guns, and they split up? For two hours? Without checking in with each other, or the ship? What??? How is that safe?!? That can't possibly be Starfleet procedure- that's a recipe for getting your officers killed. Next, Seven remembers seeing a female lab assistant in her flashback- did they look for her and interview her? No. She also saw them inject another guy they had strapped down in the lab with Borg nanoprobes that started to assimilate him- did they look for this other guy? Or a body that's half Borg buried somewhere? No! That's kind of important!! If they really were stealing Borg technology to use as weapons against people, that's very bad and dangerous, and they absolutely had a duty to investigate that possibility and stop it, but no, they don't. As soon as they get their (totally inconclusive) nanoprobe evidence, they decide Seven is just confused/delusional/whatever, and that alien guy is totally innocent (wtf??). They try to track him down to apologize (wtf??) but he kills himself by blowing his ship up (wtf??) and Seven and the Doctor feel guilty about it (major wtf??) and have learned their valuable lesson about how bad it is to make false accusations. (off the charts wtf!!!!!) I just... cannot even begin to unpack everything wrong with this scenario.

First of all, they went to the trouble of setting the guy up as someone who had acted agressively and lied before, yet then turned around and said, actually, he's totally trustworthy, it's Seven who's wrong for suspecting him, which is such a cop out. Making an episode about how it's wrong to distrust strange men, even when their behavior shows that they're disrespectful and aggressive, is a terrible and harmful message to put out there, especially on a show that kids watched.

Meanwhile, showing the audience what Seven saw, then saying it wasn't real, without bothering to explain what it actually was, feels like being gaslit by a TV episode.

Next, the idea that a mere accusation of wrongdoing could ruin a man's life is, quite frankly, offensive. They can say 'oh but it's an alien culture' all they want- the aliens in Star Trek have always just been thinly veiled allusions to our own society, and in reality, accusations against men rarely have negative consequences for them, even when they're true. The accusers usually get worse consequences than their attackers. Men get believed, and continue to work in their fields, respected and celebrated, while women get doubted, and hated, and slut shamed, and sometimes even targeted for more violence. (I recently read an article about a woman musician in the NY Philharmonic who was drugged and raped by two of her male colleagues, and when she came forward with her story, despite having actual evidence against them, the orchestra believed the men, despite the guys track record of bad behaviour to women, and they fired her instead of them, and told everyone else in the orchestra they were forbidden to even talk to her or listen to anything she said. And this was just a few years ago! The parallels between that situation and this episode are so strong, and realizing that a show you love is taking the side of institutional misogyny is like being hit in the face by someone you trusted.) In the real world, any kind of assault allegations ruin the accusers lives, which is why people only brave coming forward if it's true. That these writers have the audacity to say that the (miniscule) possibilty of someone being falsely accused is worse than the possibilty of someone being assaulted, and worse than their attacker going free to harm more people, is apalling. What was the alternative here? That Seven should have just said nothing? Are they saying she should have just let it sllde, because no matter what might have happened, this guy's reputation was more important?? Jfc, these attitudes are exactly why we need the Me Too Movement! And then to blame Seven for the guy's choice to freak out and kill himself is also apalling. His actions are not her responsibilty- putting that on her is more misogyny.

And then, if we're to believe that he didn't do it, and what Seven remembers isn't what really happened, then what the hell did happen??? They never answer that! They never even bother to investigate at all! If she's having panic attacks and flashbacks, they owe it to her to find out what's going on and help her. Especially since she's often performing delicate work that affects the whole ship, they need to figure out what's going on with her for the safety of the whole crew, so she doesn't have random flashbacks and freak out in the middle of an important mission. (And you know, because they should care about her well-being in an of itself!) They wrote it off as 'oh, she experienced a lot of trauma as a Borg, she's probably just remembering that and getting confused!' but even so, that's something that needs to be addressed! But no, they seem content to let her live with flashbacks or delusions or whatever they are, and never addresss it again. (Sloppy writing alert!!) (Also, how come in every other episode they jump to Tuvok mind melding with someone- but not here?? When an investigation (and a main character's mental health) depends on it?? Janeway should never have let the Doctor run around playing unlicensed psychologist, she should have just asked Tuvok to help Seven find the real memory from the start, and not only would it have avoided this whole situation, we would have had a far more interesting episode.)

And then, to top it all off, in an episode where Seven experiences what may have been an attack or a traumatic memory, it then becomes all about the Doctor! The last scene is him going to the Captain saying that he's going to delete his subroutines that make him want to do more than his medical programming because he got carried away with trying to be a psychologist when he's unqualified, and it made him mess with Seven and led to alien guy's death. (Which tbh, is more self-awareness than he usually has.) But then Captain Janeway says no, don't do that! Who cares what negative consequences your actions have, you should do whatever you want regardless of how it affects other people! I absolve you of responsibilty in this because you Learned Something! (She didn't say it in so many words, but that was the gist.)

It's legitimately one of the grossest episodes I've ever seen, and not worthy of Star Trek at all. I just want brain bleach to scrub it from my memory so I can keep loving the show as much as I did before. This is up there with 'Cogenitor' for the Worst Star Trek Episode Ever prize.

(This is another episode that should come with a trigger warning whenever it's aired, although I wish it would be pulled from rotation altogether. This is full of deeply harmful tropes that should be consigned to the past.)

Tl;dr: The most offensive, misogynist nonsense to pass itself off as Star Trek that I can think of, besides Enterprise's 'Cogenitor'. The absolute worst episode Voyager ever did. 0/10, a failure on every level.

(Addendum: I listened to The Delta Flyers ep after I wrote my recap, and they had co-writer Lisa Klink on to try to defend it, but it honestly doesn't change my opinion of the episode. She said the theme they were originally going for was based on some study that showed that people can be easily led into believing they remembered something that didn't happen, but that was totally lost in the final episode. The Doctor didn't even suggest anything to Seven when he tried to help her retrieve the memory, so you can't construe that as a theme of the actual episode no matter which way you look at it. The use of a female character as the accuser and a male character as the alleged assailant, the use of the words 'he violated me' when Seven recalls an incident that's uncomfortably similar to a drugging and date rape- the parallels are undeniable. That, coupled with the constant questioning of Seven's perceptions, and everyone's quickness to sympathize with the male character, despite him already having demonstated his inclination to mistreat women and then lie about it, are just too much to be able to interpret this episode in any other way in good faith. Even in the 90s, for anyone to be so tone-deaf to not see how this looked- I just can't give anyone a pass here. I was disappointed that Lisa Klink didn't just admit she screwed up- as a writer, if you have to explain what you really meant with a story after the fact, you didn't do your job right. The reason audiences 'misinterpret' this one isn't because they're not smart enough to understand what you were saying, it's because you didn't say it well. They made those choices to put those words on the page, put those characters in those situations- own up to it. Reflect on how your words made your audience feel, take the criticism and learn from it, and do better in the future.)

[7grandmel]

Todays rip: 04/05/2024

FEEL SO FINE STUCK INSIDE

Season 8 Featured on: The Joke-Explainer 7000™'s Highest Quality Rips: Sunset

Ripped by KnightOfGames (@knightofgames)

Tentative rip name: FEEL SO FINE STUCK INSIDE

Hey everyone - remember Stuck Inside? The Five Nights at Freddy's fan song I covered back in Willievan Afton Polkka, the one pushed entirely by long-time team member KnightOfGames? Back when I first wrote that post, the meme was just beginning to take off, sitting at seven rips total by the beginning of March. We've now reached the two-month anniversary of that post - and in the time since, the amount of Stuck Inside being done has grown exponentially. Not only has the total rip count more than quadrupled - currently at 33 - but the tune has also caught on with more rippers on the team than just KnightOfGames, bringing about a huge variety of more takes on the song. Granted, today's rip is still one from the man himself, but after you've listened to FEEL SO FINE STUCK INSIDE I highly recommend checking out all the other Stuck Inside rips if you haven't already - 12 AM - Maroon GO got a really good chuckle out of me in particular.

But yes, no matter - it's been three months since KnightOfGames first had the idea to start putting a silly fan song into his rips back in February, and it's arguably turned into the most prominent reoccurring tune to specifically debut during Season 8. And like, you'd think that would lead to a sort of overexposure to it, that one would get fed up hearing the same joke in so many places - but this deep into the channel's life, rippers have learned just how to leverage running jokes in a way that keeps them sounding fresh at every turn. Last time it was vocaloid - today, months after my post on SING A SONG ABOUT HOPES AND DREAMS, we're returning to the world of hyperpop, with one of the most cool-sounding interpretations of Stuck Inside that we've gotten yet. To be completely honest - this rip may alone have perked my interest in 100 gecs' music.

Yes, we're at one of those rips again, the kind where I'm woefully unfamiliar with the material that the rip's joke is using. But even moreso to an outsider looking in, there's a whimsy to 100 gecs' music that I just can't help but be allured by, a sound that somehow feels like a nostalgic calling to the early days of internet expression: to be loud, cringe and unashamed of being as such. FEEL SO FINE STUCK INSIDE is in particular using the band's debut single Money Machine as a baseline, both using parts of its instrumental and tuning the original Stuck Inside vocals to that level of distortion and higher-pitch that 100 gecs is known for. It's a surprisingly natural fit (hence why I'm writing about it here) for how different you'd think the two songs are in terms of tone - but then, Stuck Inside had its chorus be sung by a rather filtered voice to begin with...perhaps this combination of tracks isn't as far-fetched as one would initially think?

In truth, I don't know if there's much I have to say beyond my absolute highest recommendation to FEEL SO FINE STUCK INSIDE in particular - I'm just incredibly happy that Stuck Inside is continuing to see use in general. KnightOfGames' passion for the track is infectious, and it's really sweet seeing just how much its caught on with fellow SiIva viewers in the comments - despite how blatantly prevalent it was during the April Fools event in particular, I've hardly ever seen anyone complain about its overexposure the way people did with Grand Dad or Snow Halation back in Season 1. Perhaps that just speaks to how much better the rips have gotten over the years - Stuck Inside is incredibly prevalent, but each rip is made with such care and with such a distinct feel from the last to where it never feels as if the jokes are getting redundant or stalel.

Stuck Inside is just a damn good song - and through rips like FEEL SO FINE STUCK INSIDE, its presence on SiIvaGunner is also helping me uncover my tastes in music in a rather fun way. It's not an inherently funny leitmotif nor something grounded in any sort of meme culture - it is merely a tune KnightOfGames saw tons of potential in, and has leveraged to incredible lengths in the months since. I cannot wait to see what the future of Stuck Inside looks like, but FEEL SO FINE STUCK INSIDE will do just fine in the meanwhile.