#let me know if this needs anymore tags please

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Not a Word 1

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as noncon/dubcon, age gap, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: You live a life in hiding, away from your father and the world, until a man decides to drag you into the light. (non-verbal reader)

Characters: Captain Syverson

Note: Happy Monday.

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Please do not just put ‘more’. I will block you.

I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖

You can’t hear your father’s voice anymore. You stand at your door, listening for any sign of life. It’s not him you want to avoid, though he’s rarely happy to see you, but his company. You’re pretty sure they left but not entirely. You feel asleep working on your diamond art. 

You can’t wait much longer. You have to pee so bad that you can feel it in your throat. It’s late. You’re sure you’re alone. 

The door hinges scrape like they always do. You hate that noise. You tiptoe down the hall, towards the yellow blare of the kitchen light. You turn into the bathroom and shut the door. You sigh as finally you get your release. 

You flinch as you stand up and pull your elastic waistband over your hips. The hollow metal tink of a metal can sounds from outside. It could be your dad. That would make sense. He probably got up to get water or another can of beer. 

You wash your hands and go back out. You head towards your bedroom without a look in the other direction. The grizzly pronunciation of your name draws you back. Your eyes round as you scuff to a halt. 

You turn to face the burly man at the end of the hall. “Did I wake you?” Sy asks. 

You gulp and shake your head. He’s one of your dad’s coworkers from the shop. He comes over with a six-pack and they sit on the porch to enjoy it. Or they linger in the kitchen and play cards. 

As the shadows shroud him, he looks even bigger than usual. You’ve only ever seen him from a distance. Usually he’s sitting down. Maybe you just never noticed how gigantic he truly is. 

He flips on the hallway light and you blink. His dark beard adds to the squareness of his jaw and his shaved head has dark stubble in a deep peak on his forehead. His blue eyes sparkle despite his naturally fearsome posture. 

“I just got your daddy to bed,” he says. “He should be just fine. You check that he’s on his belly tomorrow morning.” 

You nod again. He does the same. He doesn’t appear frustrated as your father. He seems almost intrigued as he stays there, scratching above the collar of his tee. 

“You okay?” 

You nod. 

“Checkin’, ya know? It’s late. Dark can be scary, huh?” 

Yes, your head bobs in agreement. 

“Right, well, you have a good night. Let me know if ya need anything in the morning. I put my number on the fridge.” He taps on the door frame and turns away. 

Most of your dad’s friends or the same. They don’t pay you much mind. You prefer that. You’re not one for chatting. That fact irks your father to no end. You just stay out of his way, and his friends’, and hide in your room. 

You wait until you hear the front door. Then you go to lock it as Sy’s footsteps clamour on the porch. You stay there, his headlights shining through the window as his engine rumbles to life. The gravel crunches as he reverses out and steers off into the night. 

You go around and shut off the lights. You take your time in the kitchen tidying up the beer cans. You wipe the counters quickly and rinses the dregs off your fingers. You leave the light on so you can find your door. 

You shut yourself in and go back to bed. You leave the small lamp on next to it and turn your back to the glow. You yawn and close your eyes. 

Another night. It’s a bit sad that the best part of your day is going to sleep. Your waking hours aren’t very interesting. When you’re not doing the chores or the cooking, you’re in there, busying yourself with something meaningless. Nothing you do will ever make a difference; not for you or anyone else. 

That’s why your dad hates you so much. You can’t blame him. There’s no jobs out there for someone like you. You tried and all you got for it was embarrassment and a new slew of insults. 

You cross your arms over the top of the blankets and sigh. When you lay in your bed, you can be anything. Behind your eyelids, you can’t paint pictures more gleaming than those etched in the small plastic diamonds. You could be a princess or an actress or even just someone normal. 

What keeps you awake, isn’t your dreams. It’s the dread of the inevitable. Once you fall asleep, you’ll have to wake up again and face bitter reality. 

🩶

Your dad’s snoring rocks you through the walls. The house is small. You hear a lot more than you like. Often, you leave the old Casio radio playing on low to gloss over the cricks and cracks and groans. 

You get up, knowing better than to wait until he does first. If you have the coffee waiting, it will appease a fraction of his temper. With a hangover racking his skull, he won’t be in the best of moods. 

The dead heat of summer roils through the house. Your dad has an AC unit in his bedroom window but it’s not big enough to do much beyond his door. He keeps that closed most days anyways. On the cold days, he also keeps the small electric heater locked away with him. 

You change into a pair of loose linen capris and a plain tank top. You don’t go anywhere so you don’t dress for any occasion. Most of your clothes are akin to pajamas, or nothing more than. 

The machine is old and dingy. No matter how many times you descale it, it keeps that yellow stain in the plastic. You snap the lid shut and flip the red button so it lights up. Dad says once it stops turning on, he’ll waste money on a new one. 

You get yourself a glass of water and wait. It’s early still but his alarm won’t let him sleep in. As it goes off, you keep busy.  

There’s a slam and a grumble. Your dad stirs violently and his door hits the frame as he swings it open. He lumbers out as you pour him a mug. He belches and ignores you. You put it on the table as he turns down the hall and goes into the bathroom. He leaves the door open and you hear his stream piddle into the toilet. 

You ignore it and turn back to your task. Breakfast. It’s the same thing every day. You do his eggs, sunny side up, toasted Wonder bread, and six strips of bacon. The smell soon has your mouth watering. The chair scrapes the floor loudly as he drops into it heavily. 

He slurps loudly behind you as you put together his plate. You set it before him and he wiggles the empty mug at you. You take it and pour him another from the carafe. 

A car door snaps shut. You wince. You didn’t hear an engine, but you’d been too swept up in cooking. You give your dad his refill and go to check the front window. 

“Is it that mailman already?” He hollers. 

You shake your head, even knowing that he won’t see.  

“Don’t know why I fucking ask,” he snarls. 

You watch Sy jump out of his truck. While the axle is high, it isn’t very treacherous for a man his size. He kicks up gravel as he steps around the door and shuts it. You back away as he heads towards the house. 

He clomps up the steps, thump, thump, thump, and you jitter as he approaches the other side of the door. You wait until he knocks before you answer it. You peek out through a single inch of space. He grins. You don’t think he’s ever smiled at you. You assumed he never did at all. 

“How’s the old man?” He asks. 

You blink and let the door open a bit more and give thumbs up. As good as he’ll ever be.  

“That’s good,” he drawls. “So...” 

His eyes drift down, just a little. You squirm. Your shirt feels thinner as you stand there. Your nipple poke into the fabric and you hug yourself awkwardly. You remember you asked your father for a bra once. He laughed and you never brought it up again. You try to stick to loose clothing. 

You point over your shoulder then make a gesture as if you’re holding a fork and scooping. 

“Having breakfast, that’s nice.” 

You don’t have enough for him. You’ll wait until your dad’s at work before you sit and have your single slice of toast and peanut butter. 

“I already ate, in case ya worried,” he assures. “Was just comin’ to make sure I didn’t give him too much sauce.” 

He laughs. His booming humour makes your flinch. Your brows pop up and he quiets. 

“Sorry, I know, I’m a loud one, huh?” He snorts, “I don’t mean ta scare ya.” 

“I told ya, she don’t say shit,” your father growls into a yawn. You step back and the door opens all the way as you press yourself to the wall. He saunters forward in his boxers and tank top. “No point goin’ on like that when she probably don’t even understand.” 

“She understands me,” Sy avows confidently. “After a night with your drunk ass, it’s a breath of fresh air to have someone not yammer on.” 

“You’re the one brought me the piss,” your father retorts. 

“And you didn’t complain when I did,” he counters. “Wanted to see if ya were going to make it in today. Just in case I gotta finish up Dubeau’s clunker.” 

“I’ll be there,” your father sneers. “Why don’t you go and get it all warmed up for me?” 

“You’re a prick, Don,” Sy huffs. 

“What? No, you can’t see it,” your father covers his crotch and you blanch, looking away embarrassed. 

“Don,” Sy rebukes, “there’s a lady.” 

“It’s my daughter, dammit. She’s too stupid to get it,” he spits. “Hey, you, go on, kitchen’s a mess.” 

You nod and avoid looking at the other man out of embarrassment. Your father is crass, sometimes even at your expense. And he knows you can understand him. He must. You do everything he tells you too. 

“Well, then, I’ll see ya round,” Sy calls, though you only realise he’s talking to you as your dad changes the subject to some tail pipe. 

You stop and peek back. Sy watches you over your dad’s head. You give a wave, just a tilt of your hand, then continue into the kitchen. 

You can’t help but be thankful for the interruption. Sy’s boisterous intrusion offered a buffer between you and your dad’s hangover. You wash his plate, cutlery, and mug, before you move onto the pots and pans you used to cook. 

You can hear your dad barking outside at Sy. The other man responds with a deep rumble. Are they arguing? 

The front door swings open, “hey, girl,” you dad whistles, “more coffee. Bring some for this lump.” 

You take the order in stride. You don’t have enough for two cups, maybe half of one. You start a new pot and wait. When it’s finished, you dry your dad’s mug and pull out another. You carry both to the front door and elbow through. 

You hand one to each man as they stand by the porch railing. Your dad takes his gruffly, spilling some on your fingers, but Sy thanks you. 

“You didn’t even ask if he wanted sugar or cream,” your dad chides. You give him a startled look. He snorts. “How’d ya do that, huh? Maybe blink your eyes real big.” 

You frown at his mocking. Sy exhales and you back away. Now you have two men annoyed with you. You glance over at the bigger of the pair as he stares at you. You should’ve thought of you. Coffee is bitter, it’s why you don’t drink it. 

You point to his cup and he shakes his head, “coffee’s fine,” he insists, “I’ll have something sweet later.” You nod and retreat. You turn your back to them and step inside. Before you close the door, you hear Sy, “you know I take my coffee black, Don. No needa to give the girl a hard time.” 

You shut it before you can catch whatever snide remark your father tosses back. You know he won’t take kindly to being told what to do, especially if it’s to do with you. Or because of you. You’ll hear it all later, you’re sure. 

[matthewsroses]

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ voice audios bf!chris sends you while in boston

“Hi baby, (while chewing) I don’t think I can call you tonight cause im going out with nate and the boys but i’ll call you as soon as I can, okay bye love you”

“I was just at the store and I saw these two cute sweaters but I couldn’t figure out which one to get you so I just got you both, so umm yeah don’t complain you don’t have sweaters anymore”

“Im going live on instagram in a few minutes make sure to join, please okay bye”

“Oh god I need you so bad I don’t know how much longer I can go without you baby”

“Y/n this is Marylou chris is outside but I wanted to let you know that next time you have to come, we all miss you okay bye chris is coming”

“Hi baby im going back on Friday don’t worry about going to the airport anymore ill go to your apartment”

“Do you want me to bring you something from here before I go back, if you do let me know”

“I just boarded the plane, i’ll text you when I land love you babes”

“Just landed im just going to mines to drop off my things than im going straight to your apartment okay bye”

©matthewsroses™

tags: @liiixsturniolos @princekooks @mattslverr @ghsface @wreiawrites @emely9274 @gemzyy

[becausebuckley]

michelle's buddie fic recs: week 1!

happy new year, everyone!! we're kicking the year off with a slightly shorter rec list than usual - i've been spending a lot more time with family, and a lot less time reading - of lovely, lovely fics. enjoy!!

this is a mix of fics with all ratings, so some include NSFW content. please take a look at both the ratings and the fic tags before reading! some might also contain spoilers for season 8.

if you come across something you like in this list, remember to show some love to the author by leaving kudos and a comment!

all i want for christmas... | Tizniz/@tizniz | 3.4k | GA

“So…I don’t think we’re gonna make it back for Christmas.” Buck closes his eyes and takes a breath, letting the full impact of Eddie’s words hit him for a second. “Y-yeah, man. Of course. I totally get it.” He swallows, “Your family is there, anyways.” i am still thoroughly enjoying a few more holiday fics and this one was an absolute highlight this week!! so soft and lovely <3

'cause i took the long road to find you wanting me | BekkaChaos/@bekkachaos | 6k | T

Buck can't bring himself to act normal around Eddie in the days after he reveals he's looking for houses in El Paso, he knows that Eddie leaving will be one of the most painful things he'll have to endure, but he refuses to tell him that he shouldn't go. After a few days, Eddie comes to Buck's loft unannounced to confront him about it, and everything becomes even more complicated. i LOVE this fic's characterisation of buck so very much <3 so good!!

every corner of this house is haunted | justhockey | 2.5k | GA

And now that love is everywhere, is in everything. It’s worn so deeply into the grooves of his skin that it’s changed the very structure of his fingerprint - is burrowed so deep inside of him that it has rewritten his DNA. His love for Eddie and for Christopher is carved into his bones - etched onto his heart like an epitaph: love lived here. Love left here. the excitment i feel whenever i see a new justhockey fic <3 i mean seriously, do you need to read more than those two little summary paragraphs to be convinced to read this gem of a fic? i don't think you do. click the link, you know you want to <3

honey came in and she caught me red-handed | lizzybizzyzzz/@lizzybizzyzzz | 9.3k | E

buck accidentally sends eddie nudes; they fuck it out. so hot so good so them <3 oh how i love buddie accidentally sending each other nudes, and this fic is right there among the very best of them!!

if only in my dreams | songbvrd/@songbvrd | 9.2k | GA

Eddie moves to El Paso a month before Christmas. Buck goes a little bit insane about it. at this point a michelle rec list isn't a michelle rec list without a fic by songbvrd on it lol. what can i say, i know what i like, and this author happens to write a lot of it! i love buck going a little bit insane over eddie moving and his decorating and the buddie and just everything <3

pluto is not a planet. | gooondocks (happyhauntt)/@happyhauntt | 3.2k | GA

buck finds out that pluto isn't a planet anymore and takes it very personally. this fic is so so gorgeously written. the most beautiful character study introspection buck fic. genuinely just that good <3

with all the clouds around (it's never been clearer than now) | seachanged | 2.4k | T

It happens on a Saturday. Or, it starts on a Friday that turns into Saturday, the easy joy of the night tipping over into the pale, vulnerable light of the morning; dazzling in its inevitability.  the buddie dynamic here is so so good, a little teasing and a little flirty but mostly so very soft <3 lovely fic!!

[thelettergii]

Sugarplum Cafe FAQ

I held an AMA about my upcoming game Sugarplum Cafe on Instagram and figured these Q&A's would be helpful for you to know as well!

If you have questions of your own, my inbox here is open!

Q: What is Sugarplum Cafe? A: Sugarplum Cafe is a merge crafting game that I'm solo developing! In this game, you run a sweets cafe and make desserts for fashionable ladies inspired by sweets. I wanted to make a game with frilly pastel shoujo aesthetics, and yes, there will be tea parties!

Q: What platforms will Sugarplum Cafe be on? A: The goal is to publish on PC and mobile (Apple included), but PC will come first because it's easier to fix bugs on PC.

Q: When will this game be out? A: Not for a few years, it's still pretty early in development. But paid members on Patreon can play an early version of this game now with about three hours of content! Support starts at $2 USD/month.

Q: How good do I have to be at games to enjoy this game? A: Sugarplum Cafe is meant to be a super casual game, so you can be the worst gamer in the world and still play this haha. It's more about collecting pretty ladies than any sort of strategy or skill.

Q: How many characters will there be? A: At least 50 Ladies! I have ideas for about 70 Ladies, but whether I get to all of them depends on interest in the project. So 50 feels like a good benchmark.

Q: What are your inspirations for this game? A: For one, The Nutcracker Ballet of course! Aside from that... For the longest time I was obsessed with Cookie Run: Ovenbreak because they had so many clever character designs! I don't play as much anymore (the UI is too cluttered now and I don't love the new characters as much) but I want to recapture the spark I felt when I used to play. I also really love Sakizo's illustrations of Victorian/Rococo sweets-inspired ladies, and I wanted to capture her aesthetics while mixing in my own fashion sense so I'm not ripping her off entirely haha

Q: Will you still be drawing fashion? Are you moving to gamedev permanently? A: I don't know about a permanent pivot, but this game will be my main focus. TBH I wasn't very happy with just drawing stuff and I'm really excited to build my own world where my designs can live. I will still be designing fashion, but it will just be part of something bigger. My goal is to make the world of games a little more fashionable! I may still draw the occasional illustration though, so never say never!

Q: What game engine are you using? A: Sugarplum Cafe is made in Godot! It's a free open-source game engine and I highly recommend it for 2D games. I think the scripting would be easier to learn than something like Unity. There are a few quirks but the community is so active that it's easy to find answers to your questions. I am using Godot 3.5 - I believe the latest version is Godot 4, but I heard 3.5 was better for porting mobile games. Will let you know how true that is!

Q: Can I cosplay/draw fanart of characters from Sugarplum Cafe? A: YES PLEASE!! Please tag me if you share cosplay or fanart! And if you need to know details of certain characters' designs, please don't hesitate to ask.

[sapphire-heart-tippy]

I hate it when you're just having a good time and then suddenly you're hit with a nasty memory x_x

Me remembering how I left a discord server because everyone was like "don't body shame!! Body shaming is bad!!!" Then proceeded to shame my body and say they'd never date/sleep with somebody that looks like me and they kept saying "that's so unattractive yeah it's unattractive yeah" :

(fesh pince of blaire gif haha^^^)

Like, I understand everyone has attraction preferences, I do too but I'm not a jerkwad to people I'm not personally attracted to. You can't just say "don't body shame" then proceed to body shame people you're not specifically attracted to. People don't owe you attractiveness in order to get respect.

They were making fun of how small my lips are and saying I look like a corpse because of how thin I am. Then they got mad at me and acted like I was crazy when I said something like, "hey that's not really a nice thing to say." After everyone jumped all over me saying it was just a joke and that other people have it worse blah blah blah I said "you know what, I'm just gonna go." And I left the server.

I know not all servers are like that, I'm in a few right now that are pretty chill. But I'm still very nervous about joining new ones. I'll step out of my comfort zone and probably join that one selfship server that's been floating around...

It happened a long while ago and I don't want retribution or anyone to try to confront these people, I just wanted to vent.

I don't need people to hammer it into my skull that you find me repulsive. It's not going to stop me from taking selfies, it's not going to stop me from wearing makeup and jewelry, and it's not going to stop me from wearing clothes that show off my body. Yes it hurts my feelings, but at the end of the day, it's a you problem. You don't have to find me attractive, that's not what I'm saying. If you're going to flip out because somebody doesn't meet your specifications of sexy or whatever, that's... your personal issue you need to work on.

I don't stoop so low to insult another person's appearance just to make myself feel better. And do you want to know why? Because I'm actually genuinely confident and content with the way I look. If you feel the need to bring others down, especially about things they cannot fix in 5 seconds, you are not content with your appearance.

[daisybell-on-a-carousel]

Being someone who read Under The Red Hood and came out with the firm belief that, for Jason, it's not about killing Joker, it's about Jason wanting proof Batman would choose him over the Joker (bc shelia chose the joker). Makes seeing any other media where it's all about just wanting the Joker dead is a teeny bit frustrating. to be honest

Jason could've killed the Joker himself, really, really easily. Jason kidnaps the Joker before the confrontation. I can't open my comic for a reference right now, but it felt like he had the Joker for quite a bit before the confrontation. He had him. He beat him up with a crowbar. He had every single opportunity to kill the Joker himself, but he didn't because that wasn't his goal. Make no mistake, he did plan for the Joker to be dead by the end of it, but do you see what im trying to say here

Edit: If I knew this post was gonna get 1000+ notes I would've tried to word it better or something, this was a rant I made on the way to the grocery store 😭

It's not about making Batman kill either. When Batman says he won't kill, Jason adjusts and goes, 'Let ME kill the Joker or kill me to stop me' instead. The test is all about Batman choosing him. The whole final confrontation is Jason's first death again. The parent, The Joker, and the explosives. It even ends with Jason unable to move as a bomb goes off right next to him again because the parent didn't choose Jason. And instead tried finding an option that'd benefit them and (consequencely) letting the Joker walk, again, lol, lmao <-in agony

[goldkirk]

hey this isn’t aimed at anyone in particular but I’m saying it for the record here: if I tell you no, please stop messaging me about fundraisers and mutual aid.

I get enough messages that it’s impossible for me to keep up without devoting at least half an hour each day, when I’m not even on tumblr that long most days. Me having a boundary about this isn’t a moral failing, it’s a lifeboat for me on my own blog.

In my personal life I’m already advocating and donating literally as much as I can spare. This is not me not caring, it’s just me not willing to interact with that on the one place I go online to not interact with irl news and world events for the most part.

I cannot be upset all the time. I cannot be upset everywhere. I cannot use all my emotional and mental energy fielding my own upset from ongoing events. My options are to hold boundaries about this or stop coming online at all.

I’m all for sharing information and signal boosting to reasonable extents, but the scale of it this year is so large and so enduring that it is literally not possible to for me to participate on every account I have. I’ve previously shared links to Gaza eSIM donations and a major hub of verified Go Fund Mes here and elsewhere online. We, the online humans, know how to look those things up ourselves by now. There are many, many people choosing to do advocacy work, and right now, I can’t be one of them.

If you’re extremely upset when I tell you I can’t share/donate right now about a Gaza family or personal fundraiser you ask me to share here, just unfollow and block me. That’s what those buttons are for. Protect your own emotions and energy and get me off your feed instead of staying upset and continuing to engage with online people or content that upsets you.

Please don’t send repeated angry messages based on manufactured purity politics and moral outrage into my messages and inbox when I exercise the right to run my own blog.

[the-real-couchrat]

I finally have enough songs on this playlist to feel like I can post it so. Enjoy.

This fic (by @etheralisi ) has literally had me frothing at the mouth for MONTHS. It’s so beautifully written, and a really fun concept! Most living corpses are from being reanimated in some way, but the idea of the spirit never leaving is so interesting!

Anyway. Doodles

edit: THEYRE NOT APPEARING. I DONT KNOW WHY. But for SOME REASON my photos haven’t been syncing between my tablet and my phone. So that might have something to do with it

[thelivingsin]

it's normal to be disappointed when you learn that your dreams are already dead. but just like a phoenix, our death will lead us to our own rebirth; and like a supernova, some deaths are beautiful.

[crownedwille]

For once I'm begging for fics with crown prince Wilhelm in it where that's not just portrayed as a bad thing where he is miserable and he and Simon are struggling but where it can work out and be good 😩

Or give me fics where you have the s3 ending but it didn't solve everything and they don't live a happy 'normal' life and have struggles. Both should be possible, there is not just one option for the way you can write those two outcomes. That's what fanfiction is for - to create and explore different alternatives. I see so many s1 or s2 canon divergence fics but where are the s3 canon divergence fics? Please, I'm begging 😩

[isdalinarhot]

just saying for the sake of transparency that im at like. suicide risk level one billion due to the fact that my parents have made it so i cannot use their money to buy alcohol anymore and i am unemployed and have only 85 cents accessible to me so like. after the One Singular Bottle I Have Right Now runs out i dont have any way of getting more. i am not fucking ready to get sober and the thought of having to quit entirely is not something i can fathom being alive for, im serious.

i dunno. i want to have my voice drop. i want to read kowt. i want to bury my parents so i dont get deadnamed during my funeral. but the amount of days that is, days filled with so many unfathomable moments of agony, days where i will suffer and suffer and suffer and suffer, doesn't feel worth it to me.

[lighthouseas]

so uh

[sapphire-heart-tippy]

Sapphire Heartverse! The Fanfic!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

Part 7: Lovelorn Hearts

Part 8

CW: implied intercourse

August

With a short grunt, Ice hoists a few packages into his freshly washed black SUV. 

“Hm?” He turns around and sees Tippy trying zeir best to keep carrying one of the large boxes, clearly struggling. Vanilla inhales and sighs, makes his way over to the bluenette, and rests his hands on his hips,

“Now, what are you doing?”

“Lifting… Mr Dio’s… mysterious packages?” Tippy struggles to answer.

“Really?” Ice looks him all over, up and down, “It looks like you’re trying to…” Ice thinks for a bit, “Lift… the pyramids of Giza rather than a simple little package.” He chuckles then takes the large package from Tippy, “Go get the others. They’re more your size anyway, Termite.”

“Wha–? Hey, wait a second! Is that why you call me a termite?! Because I’m short?!” Tippy puffs out zeir cheeks, a little annoyed. Vanilla sets the package in the back of the SUV before turning around with a bit of a bored expression, as if the answer to this question is obvious,

“No, actually.”

Ice walks past Tippy while saying,

“It’s because you bug me to no end.” Tippy isn’t able to witness Ice’s smug smile at his little joke because he’s picking up another large cardboard box.

“Y…you… I-I…” Tippy is flummoxed by yet again another clever joke from this normally poised gentleman. 

“What are you waiting for, bug? Go grab that package.” Ice tells zem. Seemingly out of nowhere, Ice leans in close to Tippy and halfheartedly scolds zem, “Oh, get your mind out of the gutter, you rapscallion.”

“H-hey!” Tippy blushes, yet again missing the smirk Ice so cleverly hides from zem. With a huff and a pout, Tippy carries over the last of the small packages, “Hngh! So, what are in these things anyway?”

“Classified.” Vanilla closes the back of his SUV and heads towards the driver’s side.

“So you don’t know what’s in the boxes? What if it’s rabid alligators? What if it’s more severed heads? What if it’s explosives? What if we hit a bump and go KABOOM?!” Tippy waves his hands and makes explosion noises. 

“I never said I didn’t know what was in those packages. I just said that the contents inside of them are classified information… No, they’re not explosives. Well,” Ice turns around then looks back at Tippy with a shrug, “At least I hope not.” 

“.... But having said that, you didn’t deny it was at least one or more of the previous things I said.” Tippy narrows his eyes and lightly taps his chin. Ice pulls out of the hidden warehouse driveway and onto the road,

“Mmm… that’s classified.”

“Oh, come on! Won’t ya tell me? I promise I won’t tell Mr Dio!” Tippy pleads.

“I don’t think so, Termite.” Vanilla shakes his head lightly. He presses play on his radio, playing a CD that he had in his car. Tippy recognizes the artist instantly,

“Whoa, hold on a second. That’s Eminem! You like Eminem?”

“Yeah.” Ice braces himself for what’s about to come next,

“I always assumed– nah, it's too easy.” Tippy slumps down in the passenger’s seat. Vanilla sighs in relief and rolls his eyes,

“If you must know, I am fully aware. But that’s all we’re going to say.” He makes a turn and looks around at the city street, “I have a ton of CDs in here before the ‘big bloop’ happened. I couldn’t help myself though. I went ahead and bought a ton more after I had discovered more music. They’re all in the glove compartment.” 

Tippy curiously opens the compartment, sure enough there are tons and tons of CDs in cases all in neat rows,

“Whoa!”

“Help yourself. Go on, pick something out, see if I have anything you might like.” Ice’s voice is a bit more gentle. Tippy looks around then notices a familiar CD. He opens it up and places it in the CD player.

“Oh, that’s… that’s a good one.” Vanilla nods at him. Tippy and Vanilla end up happily singing along at the same time,

“I just saw Halley’s Comet, she waved. Said, ‘why you always running in place? Even the man in the moon disappeared… somewhere in the stratosphere!” x

This cheesy little moment has made Vanilla more relaxed and solidified his decision in trusting Tippy just a bit more. The feeling of having somebody sitting in that normally empty passenger’s seat, is enough to make him feel less alone in general. He will never forget this moment.

In the mansion

Vanilla and Tippy bring the packages inside and painstakingly bring them into one of Dio’s sitting rooms for him to inspect.

“So is it like… dr–” Vanilla softly hushes Tippy and kneels to Dio. Vanilla lightly tugs on Tippy’s shirt for him to copy his manners. Tippy kneels down next to Ice and tries to do what he does. Dio turns around and gives the two gentlemen a passing glance as he makes his way to the packages,

“No, sweet little boy, it isn’t illicit substances. Mmm, yes, these are just some things I am simply…. Owed.” 

The two remain silent. Ice doesn’t look upon his master, while Tippy watches curiously as Dio takes out a jewel encrusted dagger. Dio slices the packages open delicately, yet something about the way he cuts them is so sinister. 

“Hm. Ice.” Dio doesn’t look away from the freshly sliced package.

“Yes, my lord?” Vanilla is ready to jump up and do whatever is commanded of him at a moment’s notice.

“Did you, perchance, tell our little friend here what is in these parcels?” Dio asks with feigned politeness. 

“I did not, sire.” Ice answers.

“Hmhm… That’s a good boy.” Dio chuckles. “You two are relieved.” As soon as Dio says this, Vanilla quickly stands at attention and pulls Tippy up by the bicep,

“Yes, sire. Very good, sire.” Ice pushes Tippy out of the room quickly yet gingerly. 

In the kitchen

Vanilla is fixing up lunch for the day.

“What the heck was that all about?” Tippy asks, sprawling zeir arms over the small dining table.

“I told you already, Termite,” Vanilla points a butter knife covered in mayonnaise at zem, “I have sworn to Lord Dio never to tell a soul any secrets he confides in me.”

“But what about Jonny? He doesn’t even have a soul! He’s just a head, so you could tell him then he could tell me!” Jonathan stops bouncing on the counter while holding a plate in his mouth and gives Tippy an offended look. “See? That way technically you didn’t tell me anything.”

Vanilla takes the plate from Jonathan,

“Just because somebody is only a head, doesn’t mean they do not count as a soul.” Vanilla sets a sandwich on Jonathan’s plate. “Don’t you know anything about secrets, Termite?”

“Well, yeah, I know!” Tippy pouts and rests his cheek on the palm of his hand, “I was just wondering is all.”

“Huh! Curiosity killed the cat, bug.” Vanilla notices Jonathan is trying to take the plate in his mouth and bounce off. Ice takes the plate away. He grasps Jonathan gently and swiftly turns him around and sets the plate back down. Pointing at it, he silently tells him to stay on the counter, “Some things are better left a mystery so let’s leave it at that.”

“Oh, alright…” Tippy lays zeir face on the table. Vanilla walks over and lays a plate down next to Tippy,

“Quit that.” Ice nudges Tippy with his elbow, “Eat.” He walks back over to the counter to finish making himself a sandwich, and to make sure Jonathan doesn’t make a mess. 

“Hmph.” Tippy takes a bite.

Ice gently wipes Jonathan’s mouth with a napkin after he’s finished and leaves the plate on the counter. The brunette looks over at Tippy and makes sure he’s eating before he can feel content enough to enjoy food for himself. Ice watches Tippy for a bit and takes his plate when he is finished eating. 

“Hey, you need any help, Vans?” Tippy asks, following Vanilla to the sink.

“Hm? No, no. It’s not that much work.” Ice tells him politely as he scrubs a plate with a sponge.

“Well, whenever you need any help, you know where to find me.” Tippy says to Vanilla with a playful smile. Their eyes meet one last time before Tippy leaves. Vanilla’s hand slips and he accidentally drops one of the plates in the sink with a loud KEE-THEENK! Jonathan hops over next to the sink and looks up at Vanilla’s face.

His eyes are a bit wide, his mouth twisted into a frown, Ice is very flustered and troubled at the moment.

“Mr. Ice?” Jonathan speaks up.

“What do you need, Mr. Jojo?” Vanilla remains polite as best as he can.

“I hope you don’t mind me saying this, my dear friend but… I have noticed that your shoulders tend to relax whenever Tippy is around. Otherwise, you’re quite–” Ice accidentally drops a fork on the ground, “er… tense.”

“Tense? I don’t get tense easily,” Vanilla washes off the utensil, “Sure, it’s a bit grueling to have to keep everyone in this place in check, I have to cook and clean and do laundry, I have to go grocery shopping, I have to break up fights…” Ice sighs and rests his hands on the counter after turning off the sink. He dries his hands off and rubs his forehead, “All in all, it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make for Lord Dio. I owe him my life, you know that.”

“Be that as it may… Your mental stability has deteriorated, all of this stress has taken a toll on you.” Jonathan hops along the counter to follow Vanilla, “I worry about you, dear friend. Although, it seems as though all of your troubles simply vanish when that gentleman is around! Ohohoho.”

Ice freezes in his tracks. He’s… he’s right. Somebody who was once a person I dreaded even being around, is now somebody I look forward to seeing each day. 

“Oooh, if I didn’t know any better, I would say you’ve developed a little bit of an infatuation for the guy.” Jonathan pokes fun at Ice a little bit.

He turns around to face Jonathan a little too fast that his long brown hair flies over his face. Vanilla spits his hair out, some sticking to his lip gloss, and fixes it by brushing his fingers through. 

“What– pleh! What makes you think that?” Ice asks, feeling his heart skip a beat, “You know I love no man aside from Lord Dio! Who even told you such a false claim?! Just because I have to haul that squirmy little aphid around with me on occasion, doesn’t mean I have fallen in love with him! And no, I do not have daydreams about him every now and then like I do with Lord Dio! I am loyal to one man and one man only, and that man is Lord Dio… as I have stated previously many times over.” Ice puffs out his chest and feels his heart flutter in his chest, sending adrenaline shocks through his veins.

“My my! My goodness, Mr Ice. Seems I’ve struck a nerve there.” Jonathan mutters, just loud enough for Vanilla to hear. The brunette is fuming internally, trying not to let his emotions spill out at once. If he keeps speaking this foolish nonsense, I’m going to stick him in a pickle jar. 

A few weeks later, one night

“Hahaha, okay then, Termite. I have a question for you now.” Ice chuckles. Both gentlemen are sitting outside under the desert sky. It’s quiet except for the bit of ambience coming from the city in the background. The temperature is cool, a nice contrast from the blistering heat of the day. The stars glimmer across the dim navy blue veil of darkness, which was once a dainty pastel blue. Tippy looks out onto the horizon then back up into Vanilla’s milk chocolate eyes,

“Oh yeah? Go ahead.”

“Hmhm… Why do you always wear those gaudy dog collars around your little neck?” Ice delicately fidgets with Tippy’s spiked choker with a little heart locket on the front.

“It’s not a dog collar!” Tippy smiles and playfully bats Vanilla’s hand away, “I just like chokers is all. It’s like you with those dorky little leotards.”

“Well, at least my leotards have a purpose, Termite.” Vanilla makes a faint smirk, “Do these,” he nonchalantly slips his finger under Tippy’s choker and pulls zem a little with it, “serve any purpose aside from making you look like a feral animal?”

The two gentlemen stare into each others’ eyes for a few seconds, both of them with cheeky smiles on their faces. Ice glances down at Tippy’s glossed lips then back up into zeir dark cocoa eyes. Tippy makes a short inhale,

“Why would a feral animal wear a collar?”

“I don’t know.” Ice releases Tippy, “Maybe somebody was trying to tame it? They underestimated that animal’s ferocity perhaps and it escaped while wearing the collar?” 

“Maybe!” Tippy giggles and rubs zeir arms with zeir hands, shivering a bit. 

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re cold. It’s not that bad out here.” Ice leans back and relaxes a bit more.

“Just a little bit. I get cold easily. Look at all these goosebumps I have.” Tippy shows his arm to Vanilla.

“You are just so darn fragile, hm?” Ice teases him. Tippy looks up at the night sky at all of the stars, still shivering, all curled up in on himself with his knees up to his chest. Vanilla takes his ripped dark jean jacket off and rests it upon Tippy’s back. The jacket is very warm and smells just like Vanilla’s cologne and deodorant.

“Hm?!” Tippy looks over at Vanilla with surprise. Ice’s smile fades and he looks up at the sky,

“You need it more than I do. I’m sweating over here.” He hides the goosebumps on his arms with the sleeves of his leotard. It doesn’t help much, considering his legs are also quite cold. The silence is a bit awkward, but Tippy is warm and content. Vanilla clears his throat,

“So… do you know what constellations are?”

“Yeah, of course!” Tippy laughs. Vanilla points up to the sky,

“There are those that everyone knows about, but… there’s one thing I used to do with Lord Dio before he ultimately grew bored of it. We would make up our own.”

“Oh, yeah! Hey, check it out, that one looks like a diamond!” Tippy points.

“You’re right. Oh, look, over there. That one looks like two hearts.” Ice leans over, getting a little closer to Tippy. 

“It does, heh!” Tippy looks up at Vanilla, “Like your earrings kind of.” 

Vanilla looks down at him and touches one of his own earrings. Tippy notices Ice’s arms,

“Hey, you are getting cold. Maybe we should head back inside.”

“No, no. I’m fine… However… I think there’s a nice little shop across the street from here where we can, perhaps, grab a couple of drinks and warm up a bit.” Vanilla rubs his neck.

“That sounds like a plan. I was getting a little thirsty anyway.” Tippy stands up and tosses Vanilla’s jacket in his face playfully, “Let’s get going!” Tippy giggles and runs to the gate.

Ice puts his jacket back on and a warm smile spreads across his face.

At the little cafe

The two gentlemen are laughing and drinking their tea. Ice stirs his drink a bit with a straw,

“Yeah… I suppose I have a lot to thank Lord Dio for, hm?”

“Well, now you know not to put Dio’s handmade throw pillows in the washing machine!” Tippy giggles and covers his mouth. 

“I was picking out feathers from my clothes for weeks.” Ice smiles and looks at his drink. “Um… hm… You know, Termite. I have a curious little question for you.”

“Go ahead!” Tippy takes a sip from his drink.

“You mentioned… that you have had previous lovers a while ago. Have you ever loved one of them so much that you were willing to do anything for them?” Vanilla casually takes a sip of his drink and looks at Tippy.

“I wouldn’t say that… There have been times where I was afraid of them cheating on me so I just tried to be everything they wanted. It didn’t work and they still ended up cheating.” Tippy tells him.

“I see.” Ice looks to the side, “What did you do after that?”

“I told myself that I’m not going to let myself be treated poorly by anyone ever again. I may be small and weak against physical fights, but I refuse to be treated like dirt. I wasn’t going to stand there and be compared to other people anymore. I wasn’t going to let them tell me who to be or what to do anymore.” Tippy’s face goes from jovial to forlorn once this conversation has begun. Vanilla doesn’t speak nor look at Tippy. This makes the bluenette feel a little embarrassed,

“I-I’m sorry, I think I said a little too much.”

“No, you’re alright…” Ice takes another sip from his drink, “You've been treated poorly by those around you, not just your exes, but from your peers, your loved ones…” The brunette stirs his drink with the straw a little, “Me…”

Tippy’s brows frown. His eyes go from staring into Vanilla’s, to looking down at the floor. The energy between the two gentlemen is tense, but not in the way of anger or resentment. They both regret the things they have done and said to each other in the past. Ice watches Tippy’s body language and knows that he feels a whirlwind of emotions. There is so much to be said in this very moment and yet… silence from both ends. 

They both finish their drinks and are too uncomfortable to speak to one another for a while. Vanilla inhales and closes his eyes as he clutches his cup speaking gently,

“I’m sorry.” Tippy looks up at him. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you. That was unfair.”

“No, dude… I’m sorry.” Tippy stands up from the chair, “After all, I started it.” A teasing smirk from Tippy sends a wave of ease to Vanilla. The brunette sighs in relief,

“You sure did, you little Termite.” Ice tousles Tippy’s hair. 

After a while, the conversation turns back to lighthearted and fun. 

Back outside

“Here,” Vanilla takes his jacket back off once again and rests it on Tippy’s shoulders, “This time, don’t give it back to me until we’re at the manor.”

“Alright, alright, Lucky Charms.” Tippy gives an exaggerated eye roll. During the walk back home, Tippy playfully bumps into Vanilla a few times,

“What are you doing, you little bug?” Ice bumps him back with a chuckle.

“You’re like a brick wall!” Tippy stumbles a bit then bumps into Ice with a laugh. Vanilla laughs back,

“Hey!” The brunette pushes a little too hard and Tippy loses his balance. The short gentleman slips and starts falling to the concrete. Ice gasps and swiftly grabs onto Tippy. Instead of gracefully helping him back up, they both end up tripping and wobbling down to the sidewalk. Both of them end up with scrapes and light bruises. Vanilla and Tippy softly groan in pain and the feeling of being dazed, until they realize…

“Hngh?!” Vanilla had broken Tippy’s fall for the most part and now their legs are intertwined, and Vanilla is still holding onto Tippy’s forearm. 

“I-I-I’m sorry!” Is all Tippy can say. They both scan each others’ faces, which are very close to each other. Vanilla’s cheeks are on fire and he feels his heart is about to explode out of his chest. Tippy’s cheeks are scarlet and he feels the same way, and can’t help but laugh uncontrollably. The way Tippy laughs makes things a bit less embarrassing for the two. Vanilla grins, still feeling a little awkward about the situation.

“Here,” Ice crouches and holds out his hand for Tippy to take it. He grasps onto Vanilla’s large hand and is pulled up a bit too quickly. 

“Whoa!” Tippy crashes into Vanilla’s chest face first.

“Oh! Are you alright?” Ice asks and gently takes Tippy by the shoulders.

“Y-yeah, I’m good. Uh…” The two look each other in the eyes for what seems like ages. Tippy sighs and looks away.

“Wait. Is something wrong?” Ice asks with concern.

“It’s nothing… Well– no, nevermind.” Tippy may have a slight smile on his face, but there’s sadness behind it.

“You can tell me. If something is bothering you, I would be more than happy to help.” Vanilla nods and they continue the walk back home.

“It’s just that… I don’t want to ruin everything. But– you know what? Now’s a good a time as any.” Tippy steps in front of him. “Vanilla…”

“Y-yes?” Ice tries to remain calm and poised as usual, but he can’t shake the nervous sparks running up and down his body like an electrical current. His stomach churns and his heart skips a beat when Tippy speaks,

“I have feelings for you. I like you. I do. I really really like you! Ugh! And I hated the fact that I liked you for so long, but I just–!” He stumbles over his words and covers his face. Vanilla is taken aback, his eyes are wide and his cheeks are flushed. “I’m sorry. I know your heart belongs to Dio… I know I just ruined everything by saying something, but I just had to say something, but– ugh, this is so confusing!” 

Tippy sits down on the curb and sighs, resting his chin on the palm of his hand. Vanilla is at a loss for any kind of response. After a while, Vanilla decides to sit down next to Tippy and speak in a gentle tone,

“Yes, I told you that my heart belongs to Dio… however… I don't think he knows. He doesn't...have to know.” Tippy looks over at Vanilla, which causes Vanilla to turn away. “What I’m trying to say is… you–,” Ice inhales and holds his breath, “I share your infatuation… unfortunately. Now, don’t make me say anything else.” Vanilla exhales. 

“R-really?” Tippy raises an eyebrow in surprise, “I mean… I kind of figured you were flirting with me every now and then, so I kind of did the same! Heheh!” 

Vanilla covers his face with both of his hands and sighs in embarrassment. 

“So uh… what do we do now?” Tippy says softly, with a giddy little smile.

“I guess this means we’re a couple now.” Ice takes Tippy’s hand and looks at him with that stoic face he always has. They both look at each other with pure romance in their eyes. Tippy covers his mouth and can’t help himself, he giggles. Ice attempts to suppress a smile. Ugh… damn it, he’s so cute… I should go for it… right? Vanilla leans in, making Tippy lean in too. Both gentlemen close their eyes and go in for a kiss.

They end up bumping their noses against each others’, chuckling, then finally planting their lips together. 

The kiss between Vanilla and Tippy is so warm and filled with desire. Ice can’t control himself, he leans in further, melting into the kiss as if they were both the only two men in the entire world. Tippy wraps his arms around Vanilla’s shoulders, running his fingers through his long brown hair. Vanilla’s touch starvation surfaces when he lets out a small pleased grunt while kissing his new boyfriend. Everything Vanilla has ever wanted in a partner was right in front of him the entire time. This moment is so magical, he wants to cry. Tippy doesn’t pull away too soon like Dio does. Vanilla finally gets the satisfaction of romance he so desperately craved. Tippy smiles on Vanilla’s lips and they both pull away for breath. Ice gently rests his forehead against Tippy’s and gulps, catching his breath still. I don’t want to let him go. I don’t want this feeling to end. Please… please stay… forever and ever. Tippy chuckles and holds Vanilla close,

“This feels right…”

“...yeah.” Ice is internally beating himself up for not saying everything on his mind. Not only does he not know how to articulate his intricate thoughts, but speaking about his own feelings has always been an obstacle for him. 

In Vanilla Ice’s bedroom

The two gentlemen decided to paint each others’ nails, brush each others’ hair, and share music like any other night together. Ice listens to Tippy talk about things and make jokes for a while, until he speaks up,

“We kissed…”

“Yeah, we did!” Tippy says.

“But… Everyone knows we don’t like each other very much.” Vanilla messes with some nail polish.

“Well… I mean… nobody has to know anything just yet.” Tippy crawls over to Vanilla and looks into his eyes. Ice’s eyebrows are frowned and his eyelids are hooded. Tippy leans in and lays on Vanilla’s chest, to which the brunette wastes no time wrapping his muscular arms around the thin gentleman. Ice breathes a content sigh and snuggles up against Tippy. 

After a while, it’s obvious Vanilla tends to follow his instincts and only has so much self control. Every now and then he does things in the heat of the moment. He and Tippy are quite similar in that regard, the two gentlemen end up sharing a beautiful night full of intimacy and passion. They can’t keep their hands off of each other. Each moment spent together this night is pure ecstasy, the feeling of bliss and fulfillment is immeasurable. Ice has never felt this amount of pleasure in his entire life, he is ever so grateful to share this intimate moment with his new beloved. The couple share a shower, filled with romantic embraces, warm kisses, laughs, and the close feeling of togetherness that is washing each others’ hair. 

Vanilla and Tippy end up falling asleep in each others’ arms for the rest of the night. Vanilla doesn’t want to let Tippy go… They keep each other warm in that big cozy bed of his. Those two are inseparable and complete each other to the highest degree. Ice wakes up in the middle of the night, expecting to wake up to a big empty bed once again… but it’s true what happened. He curls up next to Tippy and kisses his cheek sleepily before resting his arm over his boyfriend.

I can get used to this… I don't want sire to know just yet. I can't shake this feeling of guilt, even though I know Lord Dio wouldn't mind. What sire doesn't know won't hurt, right? I can only hope this feeling never goes away… I hope Tippy never ever goes away… I love him so much.

To be continued…

[elliesbelle]

lol

[todayisafridaynight]

'im gonna sleep' he lied

[assblastergaster]

Way too many people (both general and tumblr fans) have interpreted the Greens' bassinet eggs not hatching as a symbol of them having to work harder for something that is rightfully theirs. I believe that that's part of it, but the real message gets lost along the way, and is something that i feel like needs constant reminding:

Rhaenyra's children are the rightful heirs because she is the rightful heir.

The fact that prince/princess bastards do not inherit thrones is because, usually, the ruler is a king and thus their true father does not pass down any inheritance of the position. However, no matter who the father of Rhaenyra's children is, the true queen is their mother and her inheritance passes through her to them. The point of the Dance of Dragons is that the war was fruitless and destructive for no reason other than Rhaenyra's reign was denied for reasons no male heir would ever face (i.e. if Rhaenyra and Laenor were the opposite sex, it would've been another situation of marital rape á là Alicent and Viserys). When we get lost in the details of how the succession should probably turn out, we lose the main idea. Yes, Aegon does have the stronger claim in terms of the show—but the point is that there is no real reason for that. The same thing happens in Game of Thrones, where people forget that even in a fantasy universe that has its own rules, the story for which it serves still has a theme or moral it strives to explore.

But I digress. Rhaenyra's sons have their eggs hatch because they are the sons of the chosen Targaryen (as is at least implied by the show). Without being too reliant on Valyrian magic prophecy mumbo jumbo, Rhaenyra's line descends down to the "modern" Targaryens and I think there is a rather strong notion that her succession is the one favored by fate/the gods/the song/whatever. It would not be too far of a stretch to say that favored Valyrian children had dragons hatch at their side and unfavored children just had to go out and make their own way; This is where I agree with that initial conclusion that the hatching/not hatching dilemma is a representation of the firstborn and second born relationship between heirs (but switched, obviously). I just disagree that this encompasses the entire situation.

But also, a small side point about Alicent (because I love her): I believe she's the in-universe way of representing the religious aspect of rejecting Rhaenyra's claim, as her father represents the sociocultural aspect of the same thing. This makes her special in that the religion of the Seven would reject her children as bastards regardless of Rhaenyra's sex which is a beautiful parallel to Alicent loving her regardless of whether or not she is her enemy. She is a metaphor and a parallel to a LOT more than this, of course, but I enjoy mentioning this aspect.