#leigh hecking

[leighhecking]

A Beginner's Guide to Dark Academia

[lorstone]

George Rexstrew would make the perfect Darlington.

[awesometothe3rd]

“All this time, that Alice. Our long lost friend Alice, was- is, my Alice. And I had no idea.”

[lilisouless]

Since i officially won't be home for the trailer (i have an important meeting) i hope get at least ten wesper edits and one,tiny,little, SMALL Zoya pixel at least

Also maybe get an idea of who the heck is Fruszi

[pallases]

thalia deserves to be able to say fuck

[rose-tinted-vision]

Six of Crows holds such an important place in my heart as it was the first book I randomly bought with my own pocket money as a birthday present to myself and fell in love with one day after school. I remember eagerly waiting for Crooked Kingdom to be released on the 27th of September the year later (i even marked the day on my calendar) and just rushing to the bookstore after school to buy it. Then I proceeded to spend the entire afternoon binge-reading Crooked Kingdom (and I cried. If you know, you know).

The fact that the crows were adapted into Shadow and Bone is so special to me, and it feels so surreal that we have such a wonderful cast, who all seem to really want to do their best for the show and love their characters so much, and the fact that we even have a Season 2 red carpet Premiere makes it all the more mind-blowing.

I never expected that the series I loved so much as a child, with ao3 tags with like 5(?) pages worth of fics would get its own Netflix adaptation one day, and grow so much as a fandom.

The fact that S&B is set before SoC means that we're basically getting more Crows lore and that's a free meal, too.

Blame the red carpet pictures for this long ramble-y post. It made me emotional

[a-kinda-nerdy-girl]

Victoria clark whoo!

[dynamobooks]

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas, et al: Penguin Classics Marvel Collection: The Avengers (1963-1970)

[scarletsverse]

"The thought of finding that one thing that's uniquely ours, only to lose it forever. What if we're only given one thing that's truly meant for us?" ha this is poetry to me.

okay so i did not expect things to twist this far, and i'm honestly loving it. matt is a liar liar, and his "friend" was his brother all this time. reader was deceived big time 😤

fic: if i bleed (you'll be the last to know) (5/?)

Part summary: With Leigh, it feels like for every step forward, you end up taking two steps back.

Pairing: Leigh Shaw x Fem!Reader | Word count for this part: 5.600+ | Warnings Some angst, het stuff | A/N: Texts in italic indicate they happened in the past. We get an insight about R's past with Matt and a little surprise at the end.

Masterlist | Part I Part II | Part III | Part IV

-

You'd hardly expect to meet a decent guy on the street nowadays.

Though, to be fair, it's less about meeting him and more about running straight into him. At the moment, you don't give it much thought. You distinctly remember wincing from the impact, feeling solid muscle and jutting bones, and a surge of irritation bubbles up inside you because you're not exactly having the best day. But then, the man you ran into looks up, and his face is all apologies. 

He looks like he might cry if you don't forgive him, so you do. As you stand there, trying to process the situation, he notices the coffee spilled all over the floor—your coffee, which has now created a sad, dark puddle around your feet.

“Can I buy you another coffee?”

Despite the kind gesture, you find yourself shaking your head, more keen on changing out of your coffee-stained coat than sticking around any longer.

From a few steps away, his impatient friend calls out, “Are you coming, Matt?”

“Yeah, just wait a sec,” Matt responds, his attention still on you. You usually don’t trust men running into you without an agenda, but there’s something about him that tells you he didn’t mean to, and that he’s more than willing to make up for it.

“No, thanks. I got it…”

He looks unnecessarily worried as he leans in a bit closer. “You sure about that?” he asks. 

His brown eyes are the friendliest pair you’ve seen in a while. And being essentially alone in this new town, they pull you in like gravity.

“Y-Yes. Just watch where you’re going next time,” you stammer, attempting to stabilize your shaky legs.

“Matt!”

Matt nods hesitantly, then mumbles, “Sorry, I have to go. Again, I'm really sorry,” before his gaze releases you, and you feel its force that held you in a vice-like grip easing away. 

As you're walking away, you keep having to tell yourself not to look over your shoulder, even though every part of you kind of wants to.

You guess you must be really lonely, to cling onto the first bit of kindness someone throws your way.

-

Your deliberate attempts to bump into Leigh finally pay off one brisk Friday morning. But it’s not in the way you’ve imagined it would go.

The town is just waking up, the chill in the air biting at your cheeks as you take your routine jog through the quiet streets. You've discovered that running suits you better than yoga, mainly because it's something you can do solo, and you've always leaned towards activities where you can be by yourself. You’re tired, but you try to lift your knees higher with every stride, keeping your cadence in check.

Turning a corner, a sudden commotion catches your attention. A group of rowdy teenagers barrel down the sidewalk, loud and oblivious to anything but their own world. One of them, a bit too caught up in the fun, nearly crashes into you, forcing you to swerve unexpectedly.

In your effort to dodge, you step right into the path of Leigh Shaw. 

It all happens too fast; there's no chance for either of you to do anything else. You crash into each other, the impact sending a jolt through your bodies. You tumble sideways, your arm shooting out instinctively, breaking your fall and softening the impact as you land. Leigh lets out a sharp yelp as she staggers forward from the force of the collision, a look of shock quickly spreading across her face. As she falls, her knee scrapes against the rough concrete, and when she finally sits up, there's a noticeable gash, bleeding freely.

“Oh my god, I am so, so sorry,” you blurt out, horrified at the sight. “Are you okay? Can you stand?”

She grimaces, glancing at her knee, then back at you. “Well, I've definitely been better,” she says, trying to keep her voice light despite the pain. You give her a hand up, and as she leans on you for support, you can't help but notice she's dressed in denim shorts, a blue parka, and flip-flops—not exactly the attire for a morning jog. The sun's just starting to show its face, and you're left wondering where she's headed so early, if she's not out for a run or something.

Looking around, you notice the roll-up shutters of nearby establishments are still down, indicating they won't be opening anytime soon. It’s apparent that there's nowhere immediate to find help or a first-aid kit. You scratch the back of your neck, an awkward idea coming to you.

“I don’t think there’s nowhere we can ask for help,” you start, trying not to sound too anxious about what you’re about to suggest. “I've got a first-aid kit at my place, though. It's not far. We could fix you up there, if you're okay with it?”

Leigh takes a beat, and then gives you a nod. “I guess that's my best option right now. Lead the way.”

As you start walking, Leigh instinctively grabs your arm for support. Your foot have barely hit the pavement when she suddenly grips tighter, fingers clawing into your arm as she lets out a hiss of pain. The wound must have stretched as she bent her knee to take a step, and with the way she's limping, you realize making her walk is a bad call.

“Shit, I'm really sorry,” you apologize again, the situation dawning on you. This isn't at all how you wanted to run into Leigh again, especially after trying to find a way to reconnect since the dinner in her car. “Let me get an Uber.”

Leigh starts to object, but you're already pulling out your phone. The last thing you wanted was for your attempt to help to end up hurting her more.

-

“So, where were you headed earlier?” you ask casually, hoping not to pry too much. “Doesn't seem like you were out for a run like I was.”

Leigh’s injury is more severe than you first thought; after hitting a rough patch on the pavement, her knee took the brunt of the fall. The skin is scraped away in several places, revealing angry, reddened flesh beneath. 

“Grocery, or something,” Leigh mumbles, distracted and wincing a bit as you ready another dab of antiseptic for her knee. The moment the cotton touches the wound, she can't help but jerk away slightly.

“Sorry, sorry,” you murmur, soothingly, noticing she's struggling to stay still. To help steady her, you gently hold onto her calf, and that's when you feel your cheeks start to warm up. “I'll be as quick as I can,” you promise, trying to sound more confident than you feel.

“I’m okay. You're doing...fine,” Leigh sighs between clenched teeth, obviously trying to downplay her discomfort. 

You know you're not fine, certainly not in the way Leigh means. All you can hear is yours and Leigh’s breathing, and your heart stuttering in your chest, because despite barely seeing Leigh in recent weeks, this annoying little crush won’t go away. It’s weird enough that she’s Matt’s wife, and you can't shake the feeling that you’re probably the last person she’d ever look at that way. Not to mention, you're not even sure if she's into women.

Once you’re done cleaning her wound, you carefully wrap a bandage around her knee. Then, you head to the fridge to grab some ice, noticing Leigh's puzzled look when you return.

“What’s that for?” she asks, tilting her head slightly.

“I have a feeling you're going to have a bone bruise after that fall,” you explain, handing her the ice wrapped in a cloth. “This should help with the pain and keep the swelling down.”

She accepts it, a small smile of gratitude on her face as she says, “Thanks.”

“No problem, it's my fault anyway.”

“It was an accident,” Leigh points out.

An accident that, if I'm being honest with myself, I was somewhat hoping for, you reflect with regret.

Leigh looks relieved as she presses the ice against her knee, eyes closing for a moment. With the immediate pain taken care of, you can't help but wonder again where she was headed earlier as you start pulling ingredients out of the fridge to whip up some breakfast.

“Hope you're hungry,” you say, flashing a smile as you fire up the stove.

“I'm fine, really,” she says, but the moment the bacon starts sizzling, she caves. “Actually, I could eat.”

With your back to her, you could smirk all you want at her change of heart. After frying up the bacon and eggs, you pull out some leftover rice and begin chopping garlic.

“What are you making?” Leigh asks suddenly from behind you.

“This is something I picked up on my travels through Southeast Asia,” you share as you cook. “Can't do bacon and eggs without it anymore. But I'll get some toast going for you.”

Leigh's face lights up, almost childlike. “Toast sounds great.”

You and Leigh settle into your meal, you with your plate of garlic rice, bacon, and eggs, and Leigh with her toast done just right alongside her bacon and eggs. She surprises you by complimenting how you cooked the eggs, noticing they're slightly burnt to a crisp around the edges.

“I've never had my eggs quite like this before,” she says.

“Oh, that?” you chuckle. “Learned the technique by accident some time ago. Got distracted and ended up leaving them on the heat a bit too long.”

She laughs too, and soon enough, you're both just talking like old friends, the conversation breezy and effortless. You begin to get a real sense of Leigh's sense of humor and it complements yours in the best way. Leigh loops back to when you mentioned visiting Southeast Asia, and you're more than happy to share your experiences, considering she's never left the country.

“...I’m pretty sure Hawaii counts, right? With the weather and everything, plus it’s really far—”

You’re still cracking up over some joke she made moments ago, and now you’re wondering if you’ll ever stop. 

“No way, Leigh, it doesn’t work like that!” you get out between laughs, holding onto your stomach as you shake with laughter.

The more you talk, the more Leigh hangs on every word, making you feel surprisingly at ease. Sharing stories about places you've been and things you've seen becomes less about bragging and more about just sharing your adventures with someone who’s really listening. It's kind of refreshing, actually, feeling this free to dive into your memories with someone so interested.

That is until the topic eventually shifts to your fitness routine. It's then that Leigh offhandedly mentions, “You'll probably see more progress with the new instructor next week. I heard she’s got a certificate and all.”

You pause, fork paused mid-air. “New instructor? You’re not leading the class next week?”

Leigh simply shakes her head no.

“Then, when are you coming back?”

Leigh takes a breath before saying, “I actually quit.”

Hearing her say she’s left the studio nearly makes you spit out your breakfast. You're halfway through a bite, trying to wrap your head around the news, when suddenly, Leigh checks her phone. Before you can even dive into a million questions about why she quit, she's saying she needs to head home.

Your thoughts are spinning, but you don’t miss the opportunity to offer her a ride.

“You drive?” Leigh looks surprised. 

“Yeah, just got the car this weekend,” you manage to say, still reeling from the shock that Leigh won't be at Beautiful Beast anymore.

“Are you sure? I can just call a cab,” Leigh mutters, probably noticing you're a bit out of it. 

“No, really, I insist,” you say. Making her walk on that knee seems like the last thing you should do. 

Leigh tries to brush it off once more, “Again, an accident.”

You ignore her, grabbing your keys from a dusty fishbowl. “Doesn't mean I won't be kicking myself over it.”

She lets out a sigh, and you can't quite tell if she's resigned or just annoyed. 

-

As you pull up in front of Leigh's house for the first time, you're immediately taken in by its typical three-bedroom layout. The lawn, however, looks like it hasn't seen a mower in quite some time, giving the place a lived-in, somewhat neglected feel. You quickly get out of the car to help Leigh to the front step.

Then, out of nowhere, Leigh curses, patting down her pockets in a panic. “Fuck, I forgot my keys.”

“But someone should be home, right?” you ask.

Leigh rings the doorbell, her expression turning sour. “Yeah, my sister,” she mutters, clearly not thrilled at the prospect.

You're taken aback when, a few seconds later, it's Jules from the studio who opens the door. The sharp look they exchange isn't lost on you; it's clear there's more to the story than just Leigh coming home without her keys. You're gearing up to say goodbye, assuming Leigh will head inside, but instead, she turns to you and says, “Wait right here.”

You do as she says, glancing at the ground, shuffling your feet back and forth.

“Hi, I'm Jules, Leigh's sister. I've seen you around at Beautiful Beast. You're one of Leigh's clients?” Jules smiles at you, politely offering a hand for you to shake. You accept it and introduce yourself in return. Watching her face, you see the moment she puts it all together. 

“Oh, you're the vet who Matt had—I'm sorry. It's just, I wasn't expecting to see you here, helping Leigh home.”

You knew where that first sentence was going, but you're silently thankful Jules decided to pull back and not finish it. You force a smile as you explain how you got here. “She was out for groceries, and I kind of ran into her, leading to a bit of a fall, and now—”

“No, she wasn’t,” Jules cuts in sharply. 

“Sorry?”

“Leigh didn't come home last night,” she says. But before you have a chance to process this new information, Leigh returns, clutching a fifty-dollar bill.

“For the trouble,” she tells you, getting in front of Jules.

You attempt to wave it off. “Hey, you don't have to do that—”

But Leigh isn't taking no for an answer, she presses the bill into your hand. You never see it coming what happens next: she plants a quick peck on your cheek, effectively shutting down any further protests. The spot where her lips brushed against your skin tingles, and it’s all you can think about for a moment. Without waiting for you to react properly, Leigh starts herding Jules back inside the house, throwing over her shoulder a quick, “Thanks again, Y/N. Bye.”

You're left there, holding the bill in one hand, touching your cheek with the other, and staring at the closed door, suddenly very aware of how little you actually know about what's going on in Leigh's life.

-

Suzie shoots you that knowing look again as you head out of the clinic decked out in your active gear.

This time, a blush creeps up on your cheeks, memories of your chat with her about someone “making those sweat sessions worth it” floating back, and you try your best not to let your thoughts drift to Leigh. But then it hits you that she won't be there. Despite your dedication, the sheer excitement of going to the studio isn't quite what it used to be without her as your instructor.

Just as Suzie is about to lock up, the door bursts open. A man rushes in, cradling a small dog in his arms, panic written all over his face. He explains, breathless, that his pet is struggling with labor.

Suzie looks back at you. “I could call Foreman for this,” she says, already reaching for her phone. You stand there for a second, deliberating. Leigh won't be at the class; she's no longer at the Beautiful Beast. 

Then, making up your mind, you hold out a hand to stop Suzie. “No, there’s no need. I've got this.”

-

It feels like you've just walked into one of those old-timey romantic movies, where chivalry isn’t dead and everything turns out way better than you could've ever hoped. In hindsight, it’s better. Because it’s real, and you're right in the middle of it, living a dream you didn't even know you had, with the kind of guy you thought only existed in those movies.

The night air is cool and light, brushing against your skin as the car slows to a stop in front of your apartment. To say the least, it's been an unexpected evening for a first date, and easily one of the best.

As Matt pulls up to your building, he turns to you, a sheepish grin lighting up his face. “Well, here we are,” he says, as if surprised you've arrived so soon. 

You don’t want to say goodbye. Not yet. So you stay put in the passenger seat, doing your best to draw out the last strands of the evening.

“So, Nick was the mastermind behind all this?” you tease, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between you two. 

Matt chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, about that... I had no clue he asked for your number until he handed it to me and said, ‘You owe me one’.”

“He’s the perfect wingman, then?”

“I guess you could say that,” Matt agrees, smiling. “I didn't tell him about my interest in you, but Nick knew anyway. He's good at reading people, always has been.”

“I see,” you say, your gaze following the contours of his cheeks, which carry a soft pink blush. It could be from the red wine you both enjoyed at dinner, or, you find yourself hoping, it might be because of you. “Well, he has my thanks. I really thought he was the one interested in me though.”

Matt laughs, a sound that rumbles deep in his chest. “No, it was always me. Since the moment I, uh, ran into you.”

There’s a moment where you both just stare at each other, tacitly acknowledging the serendipity of it all—the accidental meeting that could've ended with a simple apology and nothing more. 

Yet here you are.

“You know, I'm glad it was you,” you profess, feeling a boldness that usually isn't there. 

Matt breaks into a huge grin, but it's really in his eyes where you can see just how happy your remark has made him.

“Would you... maybe want to do this again? Without the running into each other part, I mean,” he says softly.

You laugh, nodding. “I'd like that. Just maybe start with coffee next time. And no spilling.”

“Deal,” he says, his grin infectious.

As you step out of the car, a proposition forms in your mind and you backtrack.

“Would you like to get that coffee now?”

-

Sometimes, you find yourself dreaming about your memories with Matt, particularly the part Leigh interrogated you about. Even though you stuck to the facts, you couldn't shake off the feeling that you were somehow deceiving her.

You wonder if this is why you haven't been able to sleep for days. That, coupled with the fact that you've been handling emergencies yourself instead of calling Foreman as you used to. Suzie has mentioned that since you're taking on all the emergency cases, you might be overcompensating your intern. You don’t tell Suzie though that your work has become a welcome distraction from the realization that your new hobby no longer holds your interest, leaving you with extra hours to fill before returning to the solitude of your apartment.

And without seeing Leigh, there’s only your own head to get your fill of her. You find yourself thinking about her now and then, about what she's been doing, wondering if she's found a new job after leaving her yoga instructor position. She crosses your mind at the most random hours of the day, take right now, for example—staring at this little 8-day-old Shih Tzu puppy in the incubator, its fur somehow has you thinking of Leigh's hair color.

The puppy was part of a litter brought in for a C-section. Tragically, its mother didn't survive, and the owner, possibly overwhelmed by the situation and the impending bills, abandoned them. Out of four puppies, this one, the runt of the litter, was the sole survivor.

“What are we going to do with you, huh?” you muse aloud, the puppy blinking back with innocent eyes. “I can't take you for myself; you'd just end up living here in the clinic with me. And let's be honest, living in a hospital can't be much fun, right? It’s not safe either, exposes you to diseases.”

You sigh, brushing its length with your forefinger. “The other choice is to send you to a shelter. I'm sure someone would fall head over heels for you and adopt you in no time. But,” you sigh, your heart heavy, “I can't guarantee that'll happen quickly, as much as we both might want it to.”

“Finding where you fit in this big world isn't easy, you know? It's like searching for that one place, or that one person, where you could simply just… belong to. But I guess when you finally find it, it feels like winning the lottery, right?”

The puppy makes a noise, automatically bringing a smile to your lips. You wonder if Leigh has ever thought of the same thing—about searching for where she belongs after losing her home and everything familiar when Matt passed away. Perhaps it's even scarier for her. The thought of finding that one thing that's uniquely ours, only to lose it forever. What if we're only given one thing that's truly meant for us?

And once it's gone, what does that leave us with?

-

One sleepless night, after deciding to bring the puppy home for a more personal touch in its care, a thought crosses your mind. What if you could restore some of what was inadvertently taken from Leigh? Maybe bring back a piece of home and purpose that seemed to have slipped through her fingers when her world turned upside down?

It’s true, the puppy's late-night energy partly nudged the thought your way, but deep down, you believe Leigh will be perfect for him. You're sure she'll adore him, and he's bound to love her just as much.

Just as you're settling back to attempt sleep again, your phone starts ringing. You blink at the screen, disbelief washing over you as you see it's Leigh calling—the same woman you've recently realized you have feelings for, and who's been on your mind just moments ago. A part of you wonders if she dialed the wrong number by mistake, but it keeps ringing, compelling you to answer.

“Leigh?” you answer, the name almost a question in itself.

On the other end, you hear her take a deep breath—an ironic move given how the call exudes a vibe of urgency. Then, she speaks, her voice clear yet carrying an undercurrent of something you can't quite place. 

“Y/N Are you available to talk right now?”

“Yeah, I am. What's going on—”

“No, not on the phone. Can you meet me right now?”

You glance down at yourself, noting your sleep shorts and tee. You're so comfortable and cozy in bed, and the puppy had just gotten to sleep. It's tempting to reschedule this some other time. But the thought of Leigh Shaw on the other end of the line, coupled with the worrying nature of her request, tilts the balance. The idea of saying no, only to find out something bad happened to her, is something you know you wouldn’t forgive yourself for.

“Yes, I can meet you,” you say, hurrying your movements and snatching your jacket from the cabinet. “Where?”

-

The date doesn't end with just late-night coffee.

Matt's hand is on your ass, fingers digging in like he owns the place. You’re gripping his tie, pulling him in, again and again. Both of you are still wearing all your clothes, but they're starting to feel like barriers as you both lean into each other, striving to get as close as humanly possible.

The invitation for a nightcap, decaffeinated per his request, had both of you sitting a bit too close on the couch, sharing silly smiles over steaming cups as if you were already lost in love. When the cups were drained, conversation drifted dangerously towards the topic of sex, and that's when you caught yourself staring at Matt's lips. Before he had a chance to react, you were going for it, giving into weeks of pent-up sexual tension.

Matt's lips find their way to your neck, sending a shiver down your spine. Encouraged by the heat of the moment, your fingers start to work on the buttons of Matt's shirt, eager to explore further. 

But then his hands caught yours.

“W-Wait…”

You’re stunned, pulling back almost reflexively, feeling a bit embarrassed as you tried to figure out if you crossed a line.

“Did I... do something wrong?” you ask.

Matt shakes his head and then kisses you on the forehead. He further reassures you by saying, “No, no, it's not you. I just think we might be rushing things a bit. I really like you, and I want us to be sure about this, you know?”

Inside, you’re a mess of wants and needs, but as much as you want him tonight, you realize you want him even more tomorrow, and the day after. You won't rush this, especially if he's not ready. So, you nod, squashing down the throbbing between your legs as you try to concentrate on anything but his half-open shirt. 

“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable or anything,” he adds, wearing that apologetic look on his face that got you the first time.

In response, you hold Matt's face gently, giving him a quick, soft kiss on the lips. “I really like you too,” you say, despite feeling like those words pale in comparison to what you truly feel for him.

Standing up, you figure he'll say his goodbyes and head out. But instead, Matt looks up at you, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.

“I don't want to rush things,” he repeats. “But, I also don't really want to leave just yet. Would it be okay if I stayed the night?”

The request takes you by surprise, a warm fluttering sensation bubbling up inside you at the thought of him wanting to stay. “Of course, you can stay,” you whisper, a smile tugging at your lips. “But I hope you're okay with the couch.”

Matt laughs and starts pulling off his socks. “There's nowhere else I'd rather be.”

-

Ever since Leigh asked to meet at a gas station on the sketchier side of town, your anxiety hasn't settled. It's a part of town known for trouble, somewhere you'd rather not be, especially in the dead of night. It doesn’t matter, because you’re hopelessly driven by concern and an unspoken affection that won't let you say no to her, no matter the time or place.

You walk up to the convenience store next to the gas station, its fluorescent lights flickering ominously, almost like you've just stepped into the opening scene of a horror movie. It's dead silent, aside from a radio playing inside the store, turned up by the person manning it in a feeble attempt to fill the silence or maybe to keep company. Leigh is inside, visible through the large, pane-glass window, nursing a coffee, alone. The way she's standing, something's off. 

You make your way towards her, hands buried deep in the comfort of your hoodie's pockets. 

“Hey—”

She's like a coiled spring at the sound of your voice. That should’ve been your first clue.

“Why did you lie?” Leigh asks point-blank.

“Leigh, I—What do you mean?”

Leigh's face twists into a grimace that chills you to the bone, a clear sign that tonight's going down one of two paths: either you both find a way through this mess, or she cuts you out for good. But you're lost, genuinely clueless about any lie she's accusing you of. You've been straight with her, at least you think you have.

Her nostrils flare, her eyes burning holes into you as she waits for some sort of confession. But all you can give her is a dumbfounded look.

After a while, Leigh's patience wears thin. “We're not doing this here,” she growls, glaring at the lone store clerk, who seems amused and makes no attempt to hide his interest in eavesdropping on the conversation.

“Leigh, I seriously don't know what you're talking about.”

“Just come with me,” she snaps, ushering you back outside, pulling at your arm with a grip that leaves no room for argument. It's painful, the way her nails dig into your skin, but you suppose you deserve it, whatever it might be. If it helps her release her anger, you're willing to bear it.

Leigh stops, plants her hands on her hips, and just looks at you, like she's waiting for something to click in your head. “Leigh, please—” you start, but you're cut off not by her anger this time, but by the sight of her eyes glistening, fighting back tears.

“You're really going to make me say it?” she manages to choke out, before giving a humorless laugh and running a frustrated hand over her face. Before you can protest again, she thrusts a phone into your hand. It's lit up, a text conversation open and waiting. As you scroll through the messages, your mouth opens in shock. They're from Matt. 

Skimming through the texts, your jaw nearly hits the ground. He's recounting your first date, detailing how the night ended with him at your place. He admits nothing happened, but not for a lack of desire. Instead, he confesses he held back because he's still wrestling with the fact that he's married to Leigh. He mentions wanting to make sure when he jumps in with you, he's not dragging any “chains” along.

He goes on, saying he felt you were on the same page, ready to go further, and implies the only reason things didn't heat up was because he had self-control. Reading this, you can't decide if Matt's just showing off or if he's trying to justify his half-steps to whoever's reading this on the other end.

“Whose phone is this?” you blurt out, the only question that registers in your brain. It turns out to be the wrong thing to say, though, as it’s precisely the spark that ignites Leigh's fury, sending it cascading over the edge.

“Don’t fucking change the subject!”

You press your lips into a thin line, your own frustration simmering. “I didn't lie to you, Leigh.” You wave the phone with Matt’s messages like some kind of proof, arguing, “He even says here nothing happened!”

“It's not just about what did or didn't happen!” she fires back, her eyes blazing. “You wanted it to happen. You were ready to go there with him. You wanted more, and you're still not owning up to it.”

At this point, keeping your emotions under wraps isn't an option anymore. 

“Yes! Of course, I wanted to go there with him,” you explode, your hands coming up in the air in surrender. “I found him attractive, thought he was a great guy, and—single, Leigh! I thought he was single when I was falling for him, okay? Are you happy now?”

Leigh's response is to laugh, but it's not a happy sound. It's bitter, mocking, and it just keeps going. 

You're standing there, breathing hard, your breath visible in the chilly air, when it hits you why she’s so upset: When you were telling her the details of your affair, you made it sound as if what happened—or almost happened—was just a casual fling. And Leigh, she just soaked up that version. In doing so, she somehow managed to forgive Matt, forgive you for your role in it, and even toy with the idea of being friends with you.

You made her believe it didn’t mean anything more than what she meant to him. It ripped off the bandage and thrust a knife back into her wound.

After Leigh's laughter fizzles out, the cold seems to bite a little harder, and you notice her shivering—whether from the cold or the tumult of emotions, you can't tell. She's just in shorts and a thin shirt, unprepared for the temperature drop.

Seeing her like this, vulnerable and cold, you feel the urge to just hug her and make her feel a fraction of how badly you regret deceiving her all along. Because saying “I'm sorry” feels way too small for the giant mess of feelings you're dealing with, especially the ones about her that you didn't even realize were piling up until now.

“Leigh,” you whisper, bargaining for something you don’t know.

She meets your gaze, a bit more peace in her eyes now, but that doesn't stop the tears from finally rolling down her cheeks. She's about to speak when suddenly a car pulls up in front of you, its headlights flashing across your faces, momentarily blinding you both.

A man steps out of the car, and Leigh recognizes him immediately. You do too, although it takes you a second longer to realize. Before either of you could react, he's already launching into a tirade. “Leigh, what the hell? Leaving in the middle of the night, stealing my phone—”

“Not now, Danny.”

You freeze, every fiber of your being locking onto the newcomer—because you're almost certain Leigh misspoke. 

His name is not Danny.

It’s Nick.

[leighhecking]

Book Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

I can’t remember when I first heard of this book, but it’s definitely been a cult hit for a while on TikTok. I’ve been curious to read “Fourth Wing”, but was slightly turned off that this was marketed as a YA (Young Adult) book. Some of the fantasy books in that genre tend to read very juvenile, so that was my biggest worry for this book before going into it. But boy, can I admit when I’m…

[bathroomtrapped]

ohmygod i literally just made an account on letterboxd bc i watched saw (2004) and loved it so much and ur interview was so inspiring to me and ive been on an absolute craze trying to reblog like every single saw post on tumblr and i somehow found your account what the heck?!!?!?! ur art is AMAZING and i absolutely love ur takes on saw as a franchise and its significance to the queer community. i hope to be as knowledgeable of this franchise as you are one day despite me only being a baby saw fan!!

i had a quick question; i found on the saw heritage post blog that they thought leigh/james/someone else confirmed that saw (2004) did not actually occur the day before 9/11 despite the phone given to them being set to that date. however, when i asked them if they knew where this source was from (bc im so curious!!! i want to know everything!!!!!!) but neither they nor i could find the actual source for that so i was wondering if maybe u knew??? just curious :3

regardless ty for taking the time to read this and dedicating so much time to this fandom!! i love that horror fans like you exist in a fandom that i previously thought would be weird and slightly disturbed film bros (i had a lot of incorrect preconceived notions about saw that have been quickly resolved i promise)

thank you!! im glad that people feel the same way about it as i do but even if people thought i was some crazy transexual making everyone else woke and pronouns, i wouldnt care. the story, especially lawrences but adams as well, really resonates with me as a trans person for so so many reasons, more than i listed in the interview. to me, i cant read his character without filling in the gaps with trans subtext. it not only explains but also enriches the personal experiences of these characters as well as their dynamics with each other. theyre both characters that are defined primarily by how theyre seen by other people, themselves, and eventually each other. the narrative is soooo focused on perception and masks and who u truly are, i find it hard to separate any kind of queer theory from that.

as for the 9/11 question thats such a dumbass pet peeve of mine. its one of the things that makes me shout UMMMM ACTUALLY at the top of my lungs. my blood pressure sours to inhuman levels when someone confidently says the movie takes place not just in 2001 but the day before 9/11. not because of some interview or confirmation from any of the crew because my knowledge of old fandom history is incredibly spotty. old sites and interviews r a mystery to me for the most part BUT! the reason it is for sure not before 9/11 is because during the flashback of pauls trap (during lawrences monologue about jigsaw) kerry tapp and sing are all at the scene with other officers and i believe its kerry who holds up an evidence bag thats labeled 2004. the scene takes place 5 months before the events of saw 1 so its not possible that it takes place 3 years before that. it just seemed like a funny (but insanely bold considering how 9/11 was only 3 years before) joke and easter egg for people to catch on to, not actual lore meant to be taken seriously.

if u want to look for the interview, i would honestly just listen to the commentary tracks bc it mightve been said there. i know in the one with leigh, james, and cary they discuss plot holes fans complained about, questions fans had online, the fanfic they read (briefly LOL). ive only seen that one (and once) but theres at least 2 other commentary tracks with different people that i havent gotten around to for fear of like. completing saw? idk i cant bring myself to watch all of the commentary tracks but theres a chance they discuss it there! i can only speculate on the reason, all i know is that saw 2004 takes place in 2004 based on actual evidence from the media itself

if u have any other questions let me know. i still have the original draft of the interview which had more questions and longer responses bc i couldve gone on for days abt the lore and saw queer theory and ill never shut up about it

[bubuslutty]

The adventures of an ex-mercenary, avatar, cab driver and ex-gift shopist & his university student friend and neighbour!

part of the "I'm friends with the moon" au & can be read as stand-alone

pairing: platonic moon boys x fem!reader

word count: 582

tags: 3rd pov, she/her pronouns, reader insert, no descriptions of physical appearance, no beta read so all mistakes r mine

warnings: none

summary: my own hcs of some snippets of the life of the moon boys with their chaotic neighbour 💙

When Steven ends up telling her how everything happened, and I mean everything from season 1. At the end of it, reader’s eyes are red, her nose is runny and she has snot running down her nose, her hair is sticking in every direction and she has her head between her hands while rocking against the wall. Basically, she falls into a mini depressive episode that lasts 2-3 days.

“What the fuck, guys??”

☆

When reader finds out about everything that has happened, she also learns about Khonshu. And she gets freaked out big time when she’s hanging out with Marc, sitting on a chair next to the tank, watching Gus swim, (well, Gus 2.0 as well, really) there’s a gust of wind that comes out of nowhere and she screams and runs to Marc, “What was that?? What was that??? Marc?? Marc-” and she has to stand there, watching him glare at something invisible in the middle of Steven’s flat while she’s almost pissing herself.

☆

For a few weeks, any gust of wind makes her jump and she screams when she feels cold air hit her feet and runs out to her flat, banging on Steven’s door which he opens, obviously worried, and she tells him Khonshu’s in her flat and he has to assure her it was just the wind because if it was, he would have felt his presence.

☆

Khonshu doesn’t often appear when she’s around, but when he does, she curses at him, “You lying CUNT!” and Marc has to watch her trying to fight nothing (literal air) while Khonshu’s watching her from the other side of the room, the side she wasn’t standing in. "Is this woman mad?"

"Don't talk to my friend like that."

"So you have friends now?"

☆

Once, reader suspects she has a rat in her flat and freaks out and runs to get a strong and capable man to get rid of it, aka one of her neighbours. And it happens that Jake was fronting that day and she tells him she heard a tiny squeak and she thinks there’s a rat somewhere in her flat. And Jake says, “don’t worry, I gotcha.”

And mr. mustache and fat ass pulls a gun in the middle of her flat and reader grabs onto the wall and her boob, trying to calm her heart so she wouldn’t die of a heart attack at such young age, heck she hasn’t even seen BTS in a concert yet, it’s too early to die!

now imagine reader screaming and jake chasing a rat while pointing his gun at the rodent with a crazy grin on his face.

"DON'T KILL IT! DONT KILL IT!" reader is screaming, and jake screams back, "WHY DID YOU CALL ME THEN?

☆

When reader gets into something new and obsesses over it, she shows up to their door and knocks on it, basically like, “Excuse me sir, do you have time to talk about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus christ?”

And if marc happens to be fronting and is in his edgy feels, he shouts at her to “LEAVE ME ALONE!”

“Marcie pooh, let me tell you about the lore of this band I like!” She says like a villain, trying to share their very evil plan.

“NO!”

“Come on, let me iiinnnn! Please, Marc!” She says, trying to squeeze her arm through the crack between the door and doorframe.

But not only she likes to annoy them (sometimes) in waking, but also when she's supposed to be sleeping, when THEY'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO BE SLEEPING

tag list (pls ask to be added or removed): @bobastayhigh @weblesstherains @h-leigh @unspokenmoon @ahookedheroespureheart @thursdaywritings @gebstargeb @softieekayy @fem-moony @peachjellypackets @pakhiya

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

Could you like bundle your story into a pin? Or post on Ao3? Cause shit, it's good...I'm reading chapter 60 and wanting to get to chapter one, scroll times one million. Tag me please, how the heck do I get your entire story Daughter of Rain and Snow in it's entirety from start to finish? I write as well, mostly on Ao3 and love Six of Crows...Shadow and Bone is eh...

Hiya, I’m so sorry I have no idea how this got buried in my inbox for so long but the fic is complete and on ao3! I genuinely don’t know how I missed you; I was just scrolling through my inbox looking for a different ask and I saw this and I don’t remember ever seeing it before, I must have accidentally deleted the notification or something (??? idek) Thanks so much for your interest and I’m so happy to know that you enjoyed what you read thank you very much

I am so sorry that I missed this ask but I will link the fic here for you, and if you are still interested in reading it then I hope you enjoy!! <33

All links to this and my other ao3 fics are also in my pinned post :)

Summary for anyone else who’d like it:

Around ten years after the events of Crooked Kingdom, 25-year-old Captain Inej Ghafa frees Maya Olsen from a pleasure house in Ketterdam. Maya is looking for revenge against the man who put her in her position, a man who she knows nothing about except his name: Kaz Brekker.

[marcmarcmomarc]

To me there seems to be a criteria RWBY characters have to meet in order to make an appearance in RWBY Chibi.

1. They must be easy to make into a chibi.

2. Their personality must be easy to comedically exaggerate.

3. Their voice actor must be within the show’s budget.

4. They have to make sense, since RWBY Chibi is set in a timeline where Beacon Academy never fell.

So remember to recite this to the people insulting CRWBY for “not knowing how to use their characters for Chibi”. It’s obnoxious enough that they think Chibi is better than the main show (Gee, I wonder why), but this almost rivals it.

1. Don’t quote me on this one in case I’m wrong, but I remember CRWBY stating that translating the models from the main show into cute tiny chibi designs is not easy.

2. The chances of someone like Salem being in Chibi are next to zilch. How can they take someone who isn’t supposed to be funny, who is only present in the darkest of scenes, who is a force of nature more than just a simple villain, and comedically exaggerate her into a funny chibi? You look at who’s already in the show, and you can see how it’s easy to believe they’re still the same character, despite the exaggerations. Weiss’ brattiness, Yang’s puns, Jaune’s butt-monkey status, Nora’s crush on Ren, Pyrrha’s crush on Jaune, Ozpin’s obliviousness and treatment towards his students, Oobleck’s craziness, Port’s attempts at manliness, Winter’s militaristic attitude, Emerald wanting Cinder to love her like a daughter. What is there to comedically exaggerate about Salem? Of course, not that nothing Salem has done hasn’t been funny (I mean, she took a dive into a pool of Grimm like she was in the Olympics), but what can they exaggerate personality-wise, I mean?

3. And even if they can make a comedic Salem work, RWBY Chibi has a smaller budget than the main show, and Jen Taylor is an expensive voice actor. Cherami Leigh being another one, so Chibi Ilia doesn’t stand a chance.

4. And for anyone who’s that upset over the lack of Chibi Oscar, again, RWBY Chibi is set in a timeline where Beacon Academy never fell. If Beacon doesn’t fall, Ozpin doesn’t get killed. If Ozpin doesn’t get killed, he doesn’t reincarnate. If Ozpin doesn’t reincarnate, Oscar never leaves his farm, meets the main characters, and trains to become a Huntsman. So what the heck can they do with a Chibi Oscar?

So, long story short, the complaints about the character use in RWBY Chibi get under my skin, and these are what I think are the reasons many characters aren’t present.

[payton-arts]

Anime Voice Actors As Marvel Characters

On my YouTube channel of the same name, I've been making videos called, "What If Anime Voice Actors Had A Marvel Role?". While some like Yuri Lowenthal and Laura Bailey have played Spider-Man, Iceman, Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy, I think it would be cool if existing VAs from Fairy Tail, My Hero Academia and various English dubbed anime from Funimation got to voice them. If you love these two subjects, I think you're gonna love this article and my videos.

Todd Haberkorn as The Human Torch

In my first video, I nominated four cast members from Fairy Tail. Starting with Todd Haberkorn, I think he fits well for the Human Torch and not just because Natsu Dragneel has similar fire abilities, but they have similar personalities. They're both ecstatic, carefree, adventure hungry, brash, childish and reckless. Because of that and since he's Spider-Man's best friend, I can imagine what he might sound like if he was on a mission teaming with the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man or by himself. I've even made some concept edits to give viewers a rough idea of what kind of performance they could give.

Newton Pittman as Deadpool or Iceman

I could actually see two characters Newton Pittman could play. Also linked to my first video, the first one should be obvious. Since MHA was heavily inspired my Marvel and DC comics, Twice bears some similarities to Deadpool. Their costumes almost look identical and they have similar inner monologues with another voice.

The second, taken from my third video, is Iceman from the X-Men. Clearly, Bobby Drake and Gray Fullbuster have similar powers. Outside of the X-Men, he's close friends with Spider-Man, with their similar sense of humor. He's also has a close friendship with the Human Torch as their powers are polar opposites. In some comics, they also have rivalries, like Natsu and Gray would. But personality wise, Gray is kind of laid back and chill guy. Maybe sometimes introverted. Bobby can be like that in some versions, but I guess not nearly as much. Still, the remaining similarities Natsu and Gray have with Human Torch and Iceman are still there. Heck, In Ultimate Spider-Man (Brian Bendis, not John Hickman), Johnny and Bobby moved to Peter Parker's house and went under the identities of being his cousins. So, they've been constantly teaming up to fight crime as heroic trio.

Cherami Leigh as Mary Jane Watson

This one is my personal favorite, in my first video, if not out of all of them. Cherami Leigh has played all kinds of characters female characters and their personalities are partly defined by how she pitches her voice. With her more casual voice as Lucy Heartfilia, Minako Aino and Asuna Yuuki, I think she might make a great Mary Jane Watson. She started out as a carefree and flirty party girl, in Stan Lee's run, Which Minako and Lucy are no strangers to. Then when Gwen Stacy died, she and Peter became more closer, expressed more emotional sincerity (which is what Mokoto Nijima has presented) and they started a relationship.

Cherami could also capture other incarnations like Ultimate MJ, Insomniac's PS exclusive games and Spider-Woman in the Marvel Mangaverse.

Colleen Clinkenbeard as Captain Marvel or Black Widow

In my second What If video, I created two concept edits of Colleen Clinkenbeard possibly voicing Black Window or Captain Marvel. This is because she's played some of the toughest and most powerful characters. One of them being Erza Scarlet. Although she can be bossy, she is a dedicated wizard to focusing on completing a mission. In some versions, Captain Marvel has been written as an emotionless kind of character, which Erza is no stranger to early on in Fairy Tail. Then there's Momo Yaoyorozu, who's calm, anaclitic, intelligent and strategic, bearing resemblance more to Black Widow.

Robert McCollom as Moon Knight

Ending this with Robert McCollom, I think he'd make a great Moon Knight. If you've watched all of Fairy Tail from start to finish, it's mainly because of Jellal and Mystogan. Combine the robes with the deep, mysterious voice Robert brings to them, compare that to Robin Downes, Gideon Emery, Diedrich Bader and Nolan North and it sounds like Robert McCollom could pull of a good portrayal of Moon Knight. I don't really have much to say about it this one because all it could take for me was to vibe with the personality everyone brought to their characters.

Well, that should be it here. If you want to see me talk more about things like these, I have a playlist on my YouTube channel. Also if you have any suggestions, feel free to leave your comments and I'll look into it. Thanks for reading!

[nightguide]

LITTLE MIX IN ACTUAL REALITY

NEVER PISS OFF YOUR MOTHER

YOU KNEW THE 'LIL' SHIT' WAS THE ENTIRE TIME

OBSERVE WHAT SHE DOES (THE MAIN CHARACTER IN ACTUAL REALITY)

THE FCKIN ANTI-CHRIST (WHY SHE LEARNED HOW TO SAY 'NO' LIKE A DAJJAL IN REAL LIFE IS WHY YOU SHOULD ASK FOR MORE)

MOM N' DAD DED (THEIR HEAVEN IS YOUR EARTH: NOW SHE FiNDs OuT???)

DICK.

YOU HATE YOUR GRANDDAD, DONT YOU?

DEEN OVER DUNYABITCHIDIDNOTCAREABOUTYOUINTHEEND(WHATEVER YOUR OLDER SISTER OF THE OG KNIGHTS DID TO BETRAY THE ALLAH STATUS FOR A CUTIE (SHE THE GOOD GUY OF NOW A DEAD BUNCH OF (STARDUST: 2007) CHARLIE COX DID YOUR HOMEWORK FOR YOU THAT KIND OF SLUT SHAME YOU KNEW THAT YOU'RE GONNA WIN, SO NO BEEF)

'SHE AIN'T WRONG' (MY BLOG (2024 - INFINITY, LIKE HECK IM GONNA CANCEL MY KNOWLEDGE FOR THAT BASTARD TO LIVE ON, I AGREE.) STORKS (2016)

JADE THIRLWALL (LAW-ABIDING RULE FOLLOWER HASBEEN WIFE MODE 2019 ASSLESS CHAPLESS HEARTBROKEN NOW WANNABE (SCARY SPICE ETHOS)

LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK (ACTUALLY OKAY, HER MOM ACTUALLY DYING IN DOCTOR WHO THAT 'THIS THOT' WANTED TO GET RID OF (MILLIE GIBSON IS ACTUALLY AN ANTI-CHRIST TO HER IRL) (BABY SPICE GONE TO HELL)

PERRIE EDWARDS (ABOUT TO GET DIABETES UNTIL A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS PERSUASION GOT HER IN A TIGHT GRIP WITH ANNE HATHAWAY IN REAL LIFE (NEVER WAS MEANT TO BE ALIVE SCENARIO NOW A SAVED LIFE REASON FRIEND FRIEND TIL END REASON TO BE A PAKISTANI GORL GROWING UP (SHAMS AL MA-ARAF POSSESSED BY HER ALL ALONG) (ANTI-CHRIST SPICE)

JESY NELSON (OBESITY RIGHTS AGAINST AN ANTI-CHRIST DEMI LOVATO FAN FICTION IN REAL LIFE (SHE WAS NOT THERE) TORY SPICE IN DIETS ALL ALONG) RAN THE CUNTRY)

MASKED-LESS IS RELATED TO PAIR OF HANDS DOWN THE LINE TO KING ARTHUR (BRIDGIT MENDLER)