#like i don't know why it's affecting me but the situation with the left party is making me nauseous. and it's everywhere.

[catboybiologist]

Yay I'm going to get all Political and angry again.

So pretty much every trans American is probably aware of the Sarah McBride situation at this point, but here's the bullet point summary if needed for anyone else:

Sarah McBride gets elected to the House as the first transgender member of Congress in US history.

Republicans predictably flip their shit. They pass internal rules of conduct that prohibit trans people from using bathrooms of their gender and stating that bathroom use is defined by AGAB. It obviously singles out McBride, but I believe there are trans staffers that are also affected.

McBride issues a statement that she will abide by these rules, and pretty much only use the bathroom directly associated with her physical office. She issues a statement saying she "wasn't elected for bathrooms" and will instead fight in issues that matter, with a milquetoast criticism of Republicans for wasting time on this.

Many trans Americans are predictably scared and disappointed by this, especially because this internal house rule is being used as a blueprint for more extensive laws, including a likely ban on trans people in gendered bathrooms in all federal land and buildings (including, notably for me, national parks. Which breaks my heart, but that's a different rant.)

There's been a lot of disappointment and criticism of McBride over this. The general leftist reaction has been criticism. There's lots of people that have expressed disappointment or rage, including Erin Reed, and also more "personality" type people like Vaush and Jessie Gender.

Now.

I'm disappointed too.

But. And please keep reading before chewing me out for being an apologist.

I think we can all understand that McBride is in an impossible situation. If she fights this too hard, then it vindicates the Republican rhetoric that Dems are crazy trans obsessed leftists. But there's a fear that this will only lead to more infringements of rights for trans people. McBride is completely stuck, and is a junior, freshly elected member of Congress who is trying to figure out how to make her voice the most effective.

I am so, so fucking tired of rights being ceded one by one. So I'm disappointed. But yeah, I understand McBride's statement.

But there's just one tiny. Eeny weeny. Minor. Itty Bitty question having over all of this. Just one little concern.

Where.

The fuck.

Are the rest of the Democrats?!?!?!?

There is a PAINFULLY fucking easy solution to all of this. McBride needs backing, solidarity, and other people to speak for her. If she's worried about her voice being effective, and being branded as the crazy trans representative, then step the fucking up, you spineless liberal slimebags.

AOC is the only one that I know of that has expressed any real opposition or anger. Her statements are getting aaallll the airtime.

But the real story is McBride's sentiment being echoed amongst the entire party. This is absolutely some kind of official platform. The fucking grumbling, milquetoast finger waving and "well I don't like this, but there's nothing to be done! Anyways"

Of fucking course minorites are abandoning the left. The message they're sending is "we'll abandon you with the most pathetic of excuses. We don't give a shit." Trimming groups out of their support one by one.

McBride is doing the impossible calculus of trying to be the most effective on the house floor. It's an insane task for a trans woman. And yeah, she got it wrong this time. But where the fuck is the anger for her cis colleagues? Why the fuck aren't people angry and terrified for everyone that let this shit happen?

As much as people love the narrative of the line wolf resistor, resistance takes coordination, effort, and solidarity. Without that, what would McBride raising opposition even be? One representative against the hundreds of others.

And yeah, of course I didn't expect any better from the Democratic party. But you should be disappointed and mad at your representative, not just McBride.

[kalki-tarot]

A conversation between you and your future spouse – timeless pac 💌

Disclaimer : this reading is for entertainment purposes only and does not guarantee any possible outcomes. Tarot is not 100% correct all the times. Your life is in your hands and you are responsible for your own actions and decisions.

Pile one 💫

This situation seems like some third party is affecting your relationship. The third party can be anything from people to things to addictions etc. You assumed thay future spouse may have lied to you about something which caused a fight between you guys. Remember that fights are normal in a relationship. And can be resolved with proper communication and understanding.

Your fs : See, I'm too disappointed with this situation and i deeply regret it. But you see, it's not entirely my fault..

You : I'm completely heartbroken because of you

Your fs : I clearly left and ignored that woman when she approached me darling, I walked away! I don't even know that woman!

Your anger calms down when your fs explains themselves. And you feel relieved. You may have insecurities about your fs leaving you for some other woman, so you got angry.

You : You know that I'm scared of you leaving me alone for someone else

Your fs : I know that, and i will never leave you sweetheart! Do you get that!? Don't get insecure about anything. I'm always yours. You are my better half and you are the only one with whom i feel at home, at peace.

Your fs comforts you and tells you how much you mean to them and you need not worry about anything or anyone. They also hug you and rub your back for sometime. This situation may take place while you guys are on a trip or traveling somewhere.

Pile two 💫

Wow, this conversation will take place when you are getting married or about to get married to your fs. You are happy and excited but you are also having racing thoughts and a restless heart. You are just feeling nervous about the whole thing, some of you guys actually suffer from overthinking and anxiety. And you are having intrusive thoughts at this moment.

Your fs : Hey honey ~ why are you standing there all alone? Come! Have fun with all our friends and relatives. Let's have a drink together ^^

You just stand there silent and say : Umh, I'm actually kinda scared.. to get married i guess..? This all seems to fast to me. I'm having intrusive thoughts, my mind is thinking of all the possibilities ahh! I'm getting frustrated... this feels like a big change for me. It's not that i don't want to get married with you it's just.. too fast for me!

Your fs : Hey hey hey! Calm down! I'm here for you. This may feel too fast but think of how joyful you were when we first decided to get married! It's a new beginning for both of us, i can understand you. You just need to relax. Don't worry about anything, I'll take the lead and do everything for you. You just take a deep breathe and calm yourself.

Your fs calms you down and assures you. You feel better when you hear them talk about taking care of you well. And you know from the deep corners of your heart that they will make a good spouse. Your anxiety feels relieved. And you are happy to have them in your life as a counterpart.

Pile 03 💫

This conversation can happen when you are going through a tough time in regards of your career. You are struggling between work and deadlines. You are completely exhausted but you are still working hard. Even people in your workplace may not appreciate you enough and you feel disappointed with yourself.

Your fs : hey nerd ;) where your eyes lookin' at? Come let's have some fun, take a break would you? Let's go out somewhere shall we?

You : Can you please not disturb me? I'm doing something important rn. And I'm not going anywhere till i finish this !

You frown and continue with your work. Your fs notices that.

Your fs : what happened dear? Is everything alright ? Are you stressed about anything?

You : yes! I am! Anything to do with you?

Your fs : why are u getting mad sweetie? 😋

You : AHHAHASAHAH, I'm so f**king stressed about this damn work i have to do. no one even notices my hardwork and patience! I'm sick of this!

Your fs : I appreciate you, your family appreciates you and you should change your godamn job if it keeps you hurting all the time yk? You have so much money already you should start some business or smth.

You : You know what! You are absolutely correct. I should start something of my own.

Your fs motivated you to leave your toxic work environment and start something of your own.

[ghostofhyuck]

NCT Dream and situationships with them.

Mark Lee

Everyone thinks that you're wasting your time having Mark as a situationship only. HELLO ??? That's Mark Lee??? He's kind, a gentleman, and everyone wants him but he's there!! stucked in a situationship with you and you're just taking advantage of the situation. But you told Mark many times, you like him yes but you just couldn't commit to a relationship at the moment and he was alright with the setup. You do feel bad but you two consent with the setup, so it's fine. 

Huang Renjun

Having Renjun as a situationship is such a light feeling? You two started as friends who confessed that you two like each other and the next step was what now? You two aren't prepared for a relationship so a non-label situationship it is. It still has that platonic soulmates feeling around but at the same time, you two know when one gives affection and gesture, it's something the other should take seriously. Seriously, having him as your situationship is just having a relationship without the label. 

Lee Jeno

OH. Pulling my hair hard right now because a situationship with Jeno is going to be so chaotic!! It'll be because first, you two have mutual feelings; second, past issues would leave you overthinking about Jeno; and third, you don't want to jump into a relationship where you're the only who wants it. So there's no communication!! And as much as you and Jeno like each other, the mixed signals can be so confusing like why are you so sweet to me, I know you like but do you like me enough to commit ???? tell me !!!

Lee Donghyuck

Another situationship that has a lot of mixed signals. Haechan's sweet, an ideal boyfriend really BUT he already told you that he's just not ready for a relationship BUT he just tends to be so indecisive with his feelings. (cough, gemini, cough) so there's a tendency where he opens up about commitments and stuff but then the next day, it'll be nothing for him LIKE !!!! make up your mind Haechan !!! because you'll be there all confused and wondering where this situationship will go !!! 

Na Jaemin

Hey are you still there? Good --- situationships with Jaemin would probably be the worst, (leos lol) he's the life of the party and if he's bored, he'll be bored. But if he remembers that he has you, he'll go back to you even though there are times that you'll be left hanging. You don't know what to feel about it but hey, it's Jaemin. Even if he calls you at an ungodly hour of 1 am, you'll be willing to meet up with him because you like him, and you hope that his feelings for you haven't fade yet. 

Zhong Chenle

Oh situationships with Chenle would probably be the fun type of situationship ??? It's like the honeymoon phase where you two are clingy with each other, flirt nonstop, and probably had fucked more than once. Everyone is convinced that you two are together but they'll be shocked that you two are not in a relationship. A situationship ??? Really ??? when you are THIS clingy with each other ??? You two probably would laugh it off but wouldn't try to open it to the other because you two are afraid of ruining with what you two have because of a serious commitment. 

Park Jisung

Situationships with Jisung can test your patience. Sure, he's everything and perfect. He treats you nicely BUT why can't he commit? why does he need to put you in a situationship when he is a complete package of a boyfriend !!! You tried to open it to Jisung but he tries to brush it off, he never said that he's not ready for a relationship so what's holding him back ??? probably would ignore all the signs that you want him because Jisung thinks that being a situationship is okay with him and you deserve more (but at the same time, he doesn't want to let you go!)

[chrysalind]

sweet and sour

pairing: suna rintarou x reader wc: 880 tags: fluff, fake dating, (real) jealousy, party setting ofc, reader wears makeup and is shorter than suna

Sometime last Wednesday, Suna Rintarou had discovered inner peace.

It had been after his last linear algebra exam, during his third consecutive hour of mourning, when it finally occurred to him that it didn't matter. Of course, it mattered in the sense that it would affect his GPA, and as a result, his job prospects, career, ability to be approved for a mortgage and become a homeowner, and of course his retirement. But in a more 'in the moment' sense, it didn't matter at all.

This was because, he'd rationalized, it had already happened and there was no use agonizing over it after the fact. And so, for a few short days, Suna abided by the belief that if he couldn't change something, he simply wouldn't bring himself to care about it.

So when you drag him into the tiny bathroom of someone's apartment with a swipe of glitter under your left eye and a frazzled expression on your pretty face, Suna is fully prepared to put his new philosophy into action.

The door shuts behind you, muffling the din of music and people and he tries not to think about how precariously close your drink is to the edge of the sink when you set it down.

"I need a favour," you begin, wringing your wrists as he tries not to fall backwards into the shower. It is, in fact, a very tiny bathroom.

"Nah," he replies, managing to right himself against the towel rack.

"'Nah'?" you repeat, jutting out your bottom lip. "But you don't even know what I'm going to ask."

He rationalizes that it can't be anything worth putting in the effort for. Therefore would it even make sense for him to hear you out? He thinks not.

However, as he eyes the door behind you, your face bobs into view, obstructing his path to escape.

"Please," you whine, dropping down from a tippy toe. "Just hear me out."

He glances once at his reflection in the mirror before his gaze slides up to the ugly white light on the ceiling.

"Fine."

"Yes," you exclaim, your elbow narrowly missing the cup. Suna looks away.

"Okay, so my ex is here with his new girlfriend," you begin, your hands moving fast, "and so I would really, really be so grateful if you could maybe, possibly, pretend that we're together."

He blinks. "Nah."

Your face falls. "But I'm gonna look like a loser out there."

He wonders if the glitter is supposed to draw attention to your eyes. If so, why just one side?

"That doesn't even make any sense," he says. "No one cares that you're single." After all, no one cares that he's single. Except for himself, sometimes, although, he's learning to let go of that.

You're pouting again. "I care. And I'm pretty sure that he cares. Chiharu said that he told the other guys on the soccer team that he was bringing her because he knew that I'd be here. Like, isn't that kind of fucked up?"

Something like irritation wriggles in his brain but he quickly shuts that down. After all, what can he really change about the situation? Even if he does pretend to be your boyfriend for tonight, your ex will continue to be a convincing piece of evidence that Neanderthals might still walk amongst modern humans. And even then, you'll still be hung up on him and things between you two will just stay the same. So why should he bother?

"I'm gonna pass," he says dryly, squeezing past you to get to the door. Your elbow brushes against the cup and it falls, clattering into the sink and splashing red liquid down the sides.

"Just tell him to go fuck himself or something," he shrugs, before twisting the doorknob. "Or just pretend he's not there at all."

"But Rin," you pout as he lets the chaos of the party flood into the small space, "I thought we were friends."

And you are friends, he thinks, as he shoulders his way back through the crowd. That's the problem.

That's the fucking problem.

So when he spots you, fifteen minutes later, with your back up to a wall and that Cro-Magnon specimen crowding you, he thinks it's finally time to seriously reconsider his philosophy.

And sometime in the five steps it takes to cross the room does he finally come to the conclusion that enlightenment just isn't for him.

"Hey, angel," he says as he turns you around to face him. Your lips are parted in surprise and the glitter reflects fuchsia and gold in the low light.

He's acutely aware that the two of you are not alone, but he can't bring himself to look away. Something like a second epiphany dawns on him.

"Sorry it took a while," he murmurs as he leans down to meet your gaze.

"But better late than never, right?"

Sometime last Wednesday, Suna Rintarou had discovered inner peace.

But right now, tonight, as you let him kiss you in front of all the people you know, he decides that inner peace is entirely overrated.

[electrosquash]

Yeah i think that's it. Can't stop crying since i wrote it down

Yeah i think i know why. It's because my boss is a fucking asshole

[deepperplexity]

Don't Be Shy

Title: Don't Be Shy

Pairing: Young!Snape x Young!Fem!Reader (ALL CHARACTERS OF AGE!)

POV: Third, Snape

Setting: Severus’s dorms, End of Seventh Year.

Theme: Drunken shenanigans with smutty goodness and praise 🖤

Inspired by: THIS fanart of Young!Snape by @simper-maximus who gave me permission to write a fanfic for it 🥰

A/N: So, hello there, it’s been a hot minute - hasn’t it? 👀🙈

As some of you know my life is CRAZY atm, not only with work but we’re moving and all that goodness as well so I’ve been inactive for a while here even if I’ve done my best to log on and try to add to our lovely community.

However, I saw this fanart of our young Snape yesterday (do check the post linked above and give it some love) and just felt inspired. So here’s a little smutty goodness of our beloved Snape at an age I rarely write - you know me loves, I want our dungeon bat on the more mature side but this young Snape just made my fingers itch. I hope you’ll enjoy it 😘

ABBR.: Y/N - Your Name

Warnings: Ejaculation, Climaxing, Masturbation, Alcohol Consumption, Provocative Language/Actions, Slight Fluff, Slight Aftercare, Praise, Shame, Praise Kink, Inexperienced!Snape, Experienced!Reader, Confident!Reader, Kissing, Oral Sex, Stripping.

Word Count: 2.2k+

Masterlist page // Masterlist post // AO3 // Linktree

The sound of Moon Rage filled the room, the band’s hypnotic tunes with its edgy female singer easily overpowered any other sound. Or, perhaps, he was simply drunk and couldn’t filter out the loud sound of the record player.

Why he’d accepted your request to meet up, why he’d allowed you to smuggle alcohol into his room, why he’d agreed to you locking the door while whispering about the others being at the unauthorized graduation party by the abandoned greenhouse and not returning for hours to come — well, he couldn’t answer any of the sluggish thoughts that sneaked through his usually overcrowded brain for a few seconds.

It was quite desolate at the moment though. Only one thought echoed through the haze of alcohol after the questions fizzled out, you. The way you danced between his bed and wardrobe at the furthest left side of the room. Your hips swayed, and your hands skimmed atop your clothes. Your skirt hitched up, your slightly too-small shirt revealing every single curve of your upper body and the dangling of your tie across your chest was as hypnotic as the music.

He couldn’t believe you were there. Singing about being touched, humming about feeling like you could breathe under the sensual caress described in the song. You were magnificent in the dim candlelight. And he was hard. His cheeks flushed. His hand squeezed the fabric of his robe spread out on the couch from where he had an uninterrupted view of you.

You spun around — a new song filling the room with an even more sensual beat — and he blushed deeper as you smiled at him. You seemed less affected by the alcohol, or you were a more experienced drinker. The entire situation was new to him. Everything about it was so wholly new on every level and he barely knew what to do with himself.

You swayed your hips as you moved closer, he tensed and you smirked. Your eyes were alight with something he could only describe as mirth. Mirth and warmth. He was warm all over too, his cock strained against his trousers and jerked as your eyes darted down to it. Embarrassment filled him as you watched his tented pants with the highly visual outline of his erection intently.

“Like what you see, Sev?” you asked with a purr to your voice he’d never heard you speak with before as you dragged your hands up along your thighs, hitching the hem of the skirt up along with the motion — baring your black knickers. You moved differently, showed a new side to you he hadn’t ever even imagined you had. You were so sweet, so pure, so gentle normally. How could he not have noticed this side of you that made his heart hammer and pound so harshly yet your control was also comforting — it baffled him but his body was alight and too strung up for him to think further on it.

His fingers squeezed the fabric within his hand harder, his heart drummed as he watched your fingers trail up along your sides while tugging up the shirt before you unbuttoned it. The black bra matching your knickers came into view as you dragged it off and threw it on his bed while his breath caught in his throat — nerves coiled within him but the alcohol wouldn’t allow him to panic.

Severus gulped while it felt as if his cheeks were on fire, his cock nearly ready to explode. No, don’t-, hold it, don’t— “Sev?” you asked, interrupting his frantic thoughts. “Don’t you like me? Don’t you like what you see?” you continued with a shy smile but your tone, it wasn’t uncertain or worried about his answer. You sounded confident, sounded perfectly aware of what he was thinking.

“I-, I do,” he confessed — his voice slightly pitched despite it having become much darker over the last two years — as you moved your hips in a figure-eight. The way your stomach moved along with that motion, how your breasts bounced ever so slightly, and how you smiled almost wickedly at him had him in a twist of want-corded tension and he had never experienced sensations as strong as he now did.

“Won’t you show me, Severus?” you asked as you undid the button and zipper of your skirt, shimmying out of it. He gulped and panted while his cock jerked and his balls drew up, his body begging for release.

He’d dreamt of your body. He’d jerked off in the shower with the fantasies of your touch and moans. You had overtaken every whim of his hormone-riddled body, for over a year. A year of torture watching you from afar, knowing he’d never have a chance with someone like you. Someone so perfect.

“Y/n, please…” he exhaled while his body began to tremble with the restraint of not coming. But you merely tilted your head while keeping up your seductive dancing. “Be good for me, Sev…” you said just loud enough to be heard over the music as you moved yet another step toward him. The gloomy dungeon-like room with its green and silvery shades felt too hot.

Your bare skin glistened with a slight perspiration, little beads of salty water glittering in the low light that his mind screamed of wanting to lick up. His cheeks turned hotter still, his hand moving up to his mouth to contain his tongue and the involuntary moan slipping out.

Your eyes moved down to his trousers again, your gaze focused wholly on the pulsing erection he couldn’t do anything about while he watched you with a mixture of shame, need, and pure horniness while he squeezed the robe tighter in his hand, pressing his hand to his mouth harder as he moaned again when you stroked your breasts through your bra. Don’t come, don’t come… By Merlin, she’s so beautiful…

“Don’t be shy, Sev…” you hummed as you unclasped your bra. “Be a mess for me, like I am for you…” you continued as your breasts were exposed and he gasped while you toyed with your pebbled nipples. He groaned and sank into the sofa further, straining in every manner possible. You threw your head back with a moan and he couldn’t hold back any longer.

The sweet moan you let out made him sag as his trousers were stained with his cum, bleeding through the fabric while he closed his eyes as little tears lined the edges of them. He was so embarrassed, so relieved, so turned on he didn’t know what to do with himself as his cock kept pulsing, squirting wave after wave of cum sticking to his cock, underwear, and trousers. How embarrassing… How do I ever look you— “You’re so beautiful like this, Sev. All messy and bothered, all flustered and so cute…” you said, again interrupting his thoughts while the last tremor left his body and his cock softened in the mess he’d made — that you’d made of him.

He jerked as your hands landed on his knees, making him open his eyes only to find you between his legs with the most beautiful look of satisfaction, with want and pride in your eyes as you looked up at him. The shame he’d felt a second ago vanished as your hands stroked up along the inside of his thighs with nothing but glazed hunger in those inviting eyes he’d often daydreamed of.

“You did so good, Sev. I’m so proud of you for holding out so long. Such a good boy,” you said with praise and reassurance in your voice that did things to him he couldn’t explain or understand. “I-, I’m a mess,” he said, feeling his heart race as your fingers began undoing the button of his trousers with a smirk as you glanced up at him through your lashes. “Just how I want you,” you whispered with that tone of praise again. “A mess for me, with that sweet look of surrender… Makes all my fantasies of you pale in comparison.”

He felt elated, assured, and wanted when you spoke to him like that. It was wholly new to him, new territory and unknown terrain. It felt good. He felt so good under your hands, viewing, words, and voice. He felt good, and hearing you fantasised about him as he did about you eased a little knot in his stomach.

But then your hands were pulling down his soiled trousers, tugging down the waistband of his underwear until his spent cock became visible and he had to look away from you. Embarrassed by the mess, triggered by the salty smell of his own cum as it wafted up. “Let me clean you up, sweetie,” you said and he jolted. Before he had time to ask what you had meant, your hand grabbed his cock gently and your lips encased the slack member a second later.

The heat of your mouth, the look of your head moving between his legs made his eyes widen and his body erupted in a shocked burning. His heart instantly thundered, his pulse roared in his ears as he watched you lick up his cum, sucking and licking his cock with tender care.

He jerked as your tongue swiped the crown. “Oh, you’re such a good boy,” you praised as he began to harden anew. “Y/n,” he panted as you encircled him again, “p-please,” he protested with need and confusion. He’d never been able to get hard right away after coming before. “Hush, sweetie, let me taste you,” you said softly before he felt the hand you’d had on his thigh disappear.

You moaned around him and he jerked within your mouth, throwing his head back as he stiffened. You began stroking at his root while your tongue teased and swirled around the tip. He tensed as pleasure soared through him in an entirely new way, his last climax still loomed over him.

He looked down at you, feeling hot beyond belief as he watched you suck his cock while pleasuring yourself — all while being between his legs, on your knees yet in control of everything. I’m dreaming, I’m drunk and dreaming, he tried to convince himself but the sensations were too real, too palpable, too perfect for his head to be able to conjure such a dream.

You panted around him, moaning and humming while he watched you work yourself up further. The entire room began spinning around him while his hands squeezed the robe beneath him, the music and sounds of you invading him, the feel of your touch overwhelmingly perfect, the smell of your arousal and his cum mixing and mingling in the air.

His hips jerked as you suckled him. He watched you hollow your cheeks and never before had pleasure erupted so violently within him. He moaned, feeling self-conscious about the way his body was jerking and tensing, how he was burning up and desperate for a second release but terrified he wouldn’t be able to despite how good you made him feel.

You moaned around him, your rhythm faltering while your hand tightened around his root. Your movements turned erratic — hasty and needy. His own breath hissed out between his teeth as he felt his balls draw up. “Come for me,” you moaned around his cock. “Be good for me,” you exhaled before sucking harder. “Please-, please I can’t—” His words were interrupted as you moaned and shook between his legs, climaxing hard while still sucking his cock with vigour.

The sight was beyond his understanding, beyond his brain’s capability to comprehend in its beauty and he came. Hard. Moaning loudly while spurting a single string of cum into your mouth while his lungs nearly froze up at the warmth exploding within him. “So good,” you said while removing your mouth but still gently stroking his cock through the pulsing. “You’re so good, Sev. Such a pretty sight, such a sweetie coming for me twice.”

The praise hit something within him he couldn’t touch, your words made him feel so good he could barely stand the sensation — so at odds with anything and everything he had ever felt. He wanted you to say such words to him again. He wanted to be good for you, make you praise him, make you look at him like you did in that exact moment. Sated and happy. You were so beautiful to him, so perfect, and he wanted to be touched by you over, and over, and over again.

“You’re mine now,” you said with a sweet smile, showing that side of you he’d fallen in love with while watching you from afar. “Y-yours?” he asked as a fresh blush crept over his skin, heating his chest and cheeks. You giggled and reached up to stroke his cheek. “Yes, mine. I want you, Sev.” “Yours…” he said in a quiet murmur, trying the word while you watched him expectantly. But it was hard for him to even imagine that what had just happened had, in fact, actually happened.

“Severus,” you began as you rose up fully on your knees, “I want you. And I know you want me, so I’m going to make you feel good enough to accept that. Okay?” you continued and his eyes widened but he nodded and you smiled that sweet smile he loved seeing your face marked by. Then your lips were pressed against his and he melted under the taste of him and you. He wanted you to make him believe you too, so he’d let you try…

Masterlist page // Masterlist post // AO3 // Linktree

A/N: It’s almost 1 am as I finish writing this, I wrote it in one single sitting right after I got the artist’s permission to write a fic for their art and gosh… This became way longer than I had thought, and bit more “adult” than I’d planned at first but I blame that on me usually writing for older Snape and it’s the middle of the night atm 😂👍 But damn, this was fun and enjoyable to write. I hope you had a good time too, dear reader 🙈😘🖤

☕ Caffeinate me? ☕ 

Your support means the world to me and you will be helping me toward my goal of becoming a full-time author in the future! Currently, my goal is to get funds for a cover and editor and I'm at 89% - every cup of coffee helps me towards that goal! 💻🖊️✨

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[wildpeachfarm]

I met up with a friend of mine today for some Coffee and cake. I told her about the gogcident, the whole timeline, all streams, all 'proof' and what other CCs said. Also what happened afterwards and how it is right now.

That friend of mine has zero connections to the community and only on about Dream Team from me and only know they play minecraft. Said friend has also been a victim of SA ever since she was a young teen and goes to therapy and has been healing for years while also having been a victim over and over again.

She agreed with what most people here on your block said but added some more stuff. Basically said that many if not all people accidentally overstep boundaries. Rather we like it or not, everyone has overstepped someones else's boundary at some point in our lives. And it's the job of the other person to tell us when we do so. We can't know about boundaries when we don't get educated on them by the affected person. Especially not when hookup culture is a thing with lots of non verbal consent while also being drunk.

She also said the thing that made the situation and shows that George is not an assaulter is that, when Caiti eventually did show her boundaries at the elevator, he stepped back and let her. He didn't try to convince her, didn't keep flirting and let her move away without a fuss. Which is something an assaulter, specially when they habe already gone through cuddling and flirting all evening, simply wouldn't do.

And especially the last part is where I mostly stand as well. The way he acted at the elevator is what was most important and that was him accepting Caiti backing off from his flirting and leaving for his room alone

Yes I definitely agree and it was something I brought up on twitter but maybe not here recently: party culture is THIS unfortunately. It's well-meaning people people mistaking advancements and fumbling through awkward social interactions on the cusp of intimacy. Unfortunately if you don't verbalize your boundaries, there is no way for anyone to know otherwise especially in a situation like this with positive nonverbal cues. And that's typically why people get a bit of grace during this stuff if there was no verbalization of boundaries being crossed.

And you're right, the fact that he left her at the elevator when she verbalized her disinterest and even said in his response "i left after the obvious sign of 'no'" means that he had no ill intent or planned on taking advantage of her, or is an assaulter. It just seems that the stuff before was muddled in signals and drunkenness that it created that faux pas for him in the room.

Those are things that it seemed like people at first didn't want to give him understanding for, and I have to wonder how many of those people had ever been to a bar or a house party where someone just mistakes the signals and its awkward at best, not necessarily assault.

[mins-fins]

something — [ mahae — 엔시티. ]

where it's a usual dooming situation, your good old powder keg that'll result in chaos | now playing ☁︎

mark lee is absolutely doomed.

which, in hindsight, is completely foreseeable. it's a little irrelevant to the current motion of this overly dramatic festivity. if there's one thing your family loves, it's a good party. the guest list is packed with quite literally every patron settled in your neighborhood, ranging from the decades old family friends to the barely perched neighbors who probably only accepted the invite because it they wouldn't have to cook for the night.

and of course, they drag, they drag for so long that mark has become accustomed to staying up late on literal school nights. it was a little bit of a shocker to eight year old mark when he was allowed to tag along to one of your parents' overly excited outings with his eyes staying open past eight pm.

they throw parties for every single occasion, but this one is especially important, because you're home. your parents are anything but lazy, they decorated as if you had come back from serving for your country, in reality, you had just studied overseas for a good half a year.

communication over technology wasn't easy for them, so the moment you got back, they made sure to remind everybody of your presence. the party soon came around the corner, and now.. here we are.

it isn't as if mark didn't see you for a whole year and a half, the attachment you have is.. special, still, the whole occasion instates a feeling of longing he doesn't exactly know the specific origins of.

"are they really giving out gift cards? it's not like you enlisted or something.." mark mutters, pouring lemonade from the large glass jug into a mere cup.

"you know how they are, one year without me and they go crazy" your laughter is pretty, the small nudge you offer mark along the lines of an affectionate gesture.

"they're a little too attached aren't they?"

"normal for parents" you again share another smile with him, rolling your eyes. mark listens as you begin exchanging greetings with many familiar faces, as they again act as if you'd left forever. it was just a year.

maybe mark just doesn't get it.

he clears his throat at the lack of attention, but he can't exactly control the volume of his action, which results in you turning your head towards him. heat immediately coils along his skin, a tint of red spreading across his cheeks. he sneaks a glance peripherally, but you're already looking.

god you look enamored by him.

it's so stupid, maybe mark is just looking at it through rose tinted glasses. you're just naturally like that, the stupid fucking enraptured looks you share with everyone are just that, looks. you don't even realize the extent of your affect, mark is absolutely going crazy.

the jewelry hanging around your neck shines under the light of the barely peeking sunlight, and you straighten your posture as you sigh. "you missed me right?"

mark narrowly holds back his true words, opting for a feigned reply of stubbornness; "barely".

"sure mark" you offer your hand for him to take, and the stubborn front doesn't last for long, the intertwining of your fingers is smooth, soft, an action performed so many times that it becomes it's own trademark.

you glance down at your wrist watch, nose scrunching. "hyuck is gonna be late".

mark assumes his glare must be hidden by the fleeting euphoria of his own eyes. why talk about donghyuck when he's right here holding your hand? isn't mark enough for you?

okay, that's too much, an entitled way of thinking.

he hums instead.

your smile reaches your eyes. "okay, enough about everything else, what did you get up to while my angelic presence was absent?"

"don't be so full of yourself" mark whispers, just barely hears over the feat of childish laughter filling the outside air. "i did what i usually do, got a new job at the huang's ice cream place, made music on my laptop.."

"same hobbies?"

"same hobbies".

your laughter is laced with elation, maybe mark would actually be able to focus if you weren't so pretty. you don't even have to do anything, what kind of a person has a melodic rhythm to their laugh? one that is so pleasant it makes the recipient feel as if they now have to purposefully crack jokes?

"this new color fits you" you swipe your index finger against a single strand, removing his hand and ruffling the rest with your fingers. "and this hat is stupid".

mark frowns, but he then snickers. "chose the first thing i could find".

"green doesn't fit with the atmosphere" in the most hypocritical chess move, you place the hat atop your head, whistling as you level at your best friend with a inquiring glance. "looks better on me right?"

mark sucks his teeth in a feat that isn't genuine irritation. you lean just the slightest bit closer, and mark again takes in your close up facial features. your identical moles and the shape of your eyes, yeah, nothing's really changed, you've always been just as beautiful up close.

it'd be a good time to kiss you.

but mark can't give into his desires so blatantly, not in this huge expanse of a backyard, not while both your parents stand no more than a few feet away, not with eyes clearly burning through the back of his head.

but is it mark's fault you look so kissable?

no, he doesn't think so.

"never" mark attempts to swipe the hat back, but you avoid his hand, a muttered curse leaving his lips as yours turn upward in retaliation. there's a gleam of victory shining behind your eyes, and even with the vexation, mark finds you so.. gosh he can't even explain it. would attractive be the correct word?

"hey, let me keep it for a while okay?"

"y/n".

you shrug your shoulders as you begin walking towards the snack table, a small breath escaping mark in reply. he trails behind you with a smile concealed by his petty anger, your whistling filling the air. "it's my welcome back party!"

see? mark lee is most definitely doomed, he can barely even keep his irritation at a seemingly natural level when it comes to you. you're just too..

"hey, you know jeno's asking for you right?"

mark gets brought back to reality by your words, and he again takes your hand in a rushed moment he can't even explain himself. you pause as you stare, but you don't mention it, simply chuckle. "jeno is obsessed".

"come on, let's go".

absolutely doomed, he won't be able to recover.

lee donghyuck seems to have a much easier time.

it's the same old story, yet he has a high advantage in comparison to everyone else. charm is everything, he's learned that well enough, and he's charming to most.

he's adored by your parents, his immediate toothy grin practically put them in the palm of his hand. is it really that manipulative if it was all natural? seven year olds can't exactly manipulate the adults around them.

they love a good party, and so do his own parents. if not for opportunity to get drunk, but also so they can drag him out without receiving a no.

and the only reason they wouldn't receive a no is because you're the center of the discussion.

"oh you dyed your hair now?"

donghyuck's eyes glimmer in something he can only describe as euphoric, it's completely your fault. all your fault, who gives you the right to have such a pretty smile?

your gaze zeroes in on his black hair, and you yelp as donghyuck almost lifts you from the ground with the sheer force of his hug. "y/nie!"

if it was a usual day you'd complain about the volume of his voice, but you'll give him a pass. he starts with his onslaught of attacks, if the cheek kiss was crazy, then neck kisses can only be described as outrageous.

but those are all regular donghyuck actions, you can barely be perturbed by his uncanny proceedings at this point, knowing him for so long does that to a person. you simply him and lean back, whistling. "okay, okay, calm down hyuckie".

donghyuck simply smiles, feigned innocence behind those fierce eyes. "sorry for the lateness, i had a thing".

"oh i don't care, i missed you".

well that's just lovely.

it's a contrast to how mark sees all of it, it isn't usual for donghyuck to get tripped up by the easiest of things. you're pretty, he can admit that, but anyone with two good eyes can see that. you could look smitten by any little thing, you could stare enchanted by any person (and maybe there's one particular person donghyuck loathes in specific), those aren't anything.

but maybe it's the way you speak that has a tint appearing on his face. you've always articulated your words in a way that could make anyone beam, donghyuck wants to gatekeep them sometimes.

"aww, really, i knew it!"

you stay stuck on the strands of his hair, your index finger twirling a strand. he blinks, yet he manages to keep his composure. he can't give himself away, not while your standing so close. "both you and mark dyed your hair.."

mark. that's funny. why talk about mark when donghyuck is right here? right here for you to admire with his eyes blinking a look of fondness right at you. "oh, so you've seen mark already?"

"mark always comes early".

donghyuck doesn't care that much about mark, shouldn't it be about him now? call him self centered or whatever, but he thinks when he's in front of you, talking about mark is just.. stupid.

"enough about other things, how was portugal?"

his arm comes to link with yours, the press of your bodies together completely intentional. maybe mark will see, he hopes mark will see, donghyuck does like to think of himself as the superior one in this little competition of theirs.

you shrug as you again begin whistling, your ramble starts off with a comment about the country's scenery. donghyuck won't communicate it verbally, but he missed you too, missed your cute little giggles and the pauses in between your detailed rambles. he doesn't think of himself as doomed in the same manner as mark, no, he's the one with a real chance, isn't he?

you cut yourself off with a small laugh as you mutter something funny midway through your story, and you lightly nudge donghyuck. his eyes flitter upward, catching your own in the process.

the glow of your eyes is full of bewitchment. it should be illegal for you to stare at anyone like that, can anyone really blame donghyuck for feeling the way he feels when you stare like that? it's not unheard of to develop feelings for a childhood friend, especially when said childhood friend is so.. lovely.

lovely is the best word he can think of for this.

"are you going back next year?"

"yeah, i'm only around for the summer, i've gotten much too involved".

donghyuck's jaw clenches momentarily, but he masquerades it as uncomfortableness at the flies swirling around him. "okay then, let's make sure we spend good time together this summer".

you hum in reply, laughing at some unintelligible thought in your mind as you again stare at your friend.

donghyuck usually isn't a weak man, really, a mere smile can't render him bashful.

your eyes hold universes that he wishes to get lost in.

would it be so bad to kiss you in the moment?

he presses his own lips together, thoughts steady in his mind.

is it really donghyuck's fault you look so kissable?

absolutely not.

he almost gave in to the desire of being reckless, but his worst nightmare (hyperbole) comes rounding the corner in a feat of a few seconds.

"listen, they're too spicy, you know i don't have a good tolerance" mark's mumble stretches until he glances up and catches sight of the particular scene.

there's a hint of his eye twitching, donghyuck narrowly holds back his own giggle, it's invigorating how mark gets pissed off. he then smiles at the sight of you, even if the irritation slowly slips through. "hi donghyuck".

"mark! it's been a while hasn't it?"

it's only to get a scowl from him, the hug is simply an action he knows will get a kick, but mark can't display such vexation so clearly around you, he knows better than to ruin a party because of childish jealousy. he frowns in your direction, and you snicker, completely oblivious to his genuine turmoil.

"y/n told me he's here all summer".

"yeah i know it's just.." mark's face scrunches as he shoves donghyuck backward, though gently enough that his true animosity is hidden enough. "i was looking for you for like twenty minutes".

"well i didn't run away or anything, i just found him and i missed him so" you roll your eyes, poking donghyuck in the shoulder. mark clears his throat, and you level at him with a look of indifference.

you whistle, observing the lights your parents decided to hang up, knowing this party would go on for longer than it was supposed to. your hands settle behind your back, gaze remaining upward. "it's been a while since it was just the three of us huh?"

reminiscing about old times is the one thing you can't help but do, under the bright lights and surrounded by people you've know for.. forever just brings out something saddening in you.

mark's glare settles, but he avoids donghyuck's eyes. you blink as you stare at him, but then you shake your head. "anyway, i think my mom would be happy to know your here, come on" you nudge donghyuck forward with your shoulder, and there's barely anything behind mark's eyes as he watches the scene.

but before you walk away, you then turn back to look at him, eyebrows furrowing. "mark" you start softly, offering a pinch to donghyuck's shoulder that draws a wince. "come" you motion your head forward, basically telling mark to tag along.

and really, who is mark to disagree?

maybe the two could shut up for once, they could be civil, it's not like it's out of this world.

it's for your sake, they can save the chaotic blow for another time.

[deadweight-at7am]

My kids are back to school today. It's sad for me, I only have this year and next year left with Daniel. Then he's going to be an adult. Possibly working? Possibly in school? Vincent has a lot of schooling left. My sons still let me help them but even Vincent has started to want to be more independent. It's good, I know. But it's sad as a mom. I was DOG tired this morning but everyone got up on time and we had a pretty seamless transition. I helped Daniel with his hair and outfit but he got off to school, Vincent had a pretty easy time and woke up in a decent mood. I hope everything goes well for dismissal.

Things with my ex are truly in a state of disrepair and I'm losing my will to want to even work with him anymore. I don't care if he reads this. This manipulative MFer will be checked out, unhelpful, completely inaccessible, doesn't call or text or check in or ask me at any time that's good for me, and then the moment I don't let him come and grab the kids at 6pm he's manipulative and starts in with the "you're trying to keep my kids from me!" He'll call me names, flip me off IN PUBLIC and then act surprised when I block him for 24 hours. If anyone knew even the half of the extent of his bullshit, they'd be over it, too. I've given him many breaks on child support payments with the intention of giving him room to breathe financially (why, he's a single man who has no kids to account for he could work 2 jobs easily, but I DIGRESS). He doesn't appreciate it and he thinks I'm not going to be angry when I find out he's been going to some dumbass warehouse to party during the summer when he SHOULD have been at home, sleeping or doing one of any number things he needs to do (getting rid of a flea infestation being number ONE). He's like a petulant child. My ex was a semi-workable human while with me, and everyone tells me "you were the only thing keeping him anchored to reality" and now I know that's true. He doesn't care. He doesn't consider how his lifestyle choices affect anyone else. He doesn't care how it affects his kids. No one understands this unless they've gone through it themselves, being the only workable human in a co-parenting situation is hell. If I could trust him to do anything half-way decently it would be less stressful.

He got mad at me the other day because I wouldn't let him come over to my house at 7pm after not having been in communication with anyone all day. He wanted to sleep over at my house and let our youngest sleep with him on the couch. He phrased it as "you'll have the bed to yourself". I told him no and didn't want to do that and he immediately turns on me like "you're trying to keep me from my kids". Fucking moronic. Why do you think I should or have to agree that? He was here watching our kids when I went to NYC and he literally was sleeping at 11am, the kids were up by themselves. Neither of them NEEDED him there, all he did was use my car to do his errands and then eat my food and sleep here. Then he was 20 minutes late picking my sister and I up from the train station in MY CAR after I had told him NUMEROUS times what time to come and get us. He didn't leave until I called him and we had already arrived.

[clumsy-jiminie]

ɪɴᴇᴠɪᴛᴀʙʟʏ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱ | ᴘᴊᴍ | ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ

❝ ᴍɪꜱꜱ ᴍᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ❞

↣ summary :: Kiara Smith had dreamed of true love for as long as she could remember. from being obsessed with the Disney princesses who found affection in the strangest situations to dressing up as a bride from kindergarten to fourth grade. it was the only thing she ever truly desired, so much so that a pleasant smile and kind eyes could have her smitten in seconds. right when she thought she found the one, a chance encounter with Park Jimin—the city’s famously perfect fuck boy with a smile so warm and a heart of ice—has her feeling quite the opposite. he knocks her off her axis and derails her life as she knows it, yet the universe seems to have another plan for the two.

↣ rating :: 18+

↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn

↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung

↣ word count :: 4.5k

↣ chapter warnings :: mature language, mentions of pining (?maybe?), angst with little resolve, descriptions of a small panic attack

↣ notes :: this is a pretty tame chapter tbh minus taehyung being an asshat but what’s new? maybe kiara is finally opening her eyes?? jk is the best of the best here he deserves a crown

↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢

if you have any questions, comments, or concerns PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖

"I miss the days where I was young and naive. I thought the perfect guy would come and find me. now happy ever after, it don't come so easily."

- all I want, olivia rodriguez -

ｓｐｒｉｎｇ

It's been days since Jeongguk swept away Kiara. Days since she heard anything from Taehyung. Days with tear-stained cheeks. Days of fighting with Jeongguk for her phone because she desperately wanted to contact her boyfriend, she wanted to reach out first and forget about this whole thing. Forget about him ignoring her. Forget about him taking her car and leaving her stranded. Forget about him single-handedly ruining date night.

But Jeongguk was a good best friend—a fantastic best friend—and wouldn't let Kiara have her phone until she realized the importance of the matter.

It took days. It was like kicking a nasty drug habit, and love was one hell of a drug.

After the third day, Kiara couldn't help but sit with her thoughts. Jeongguk locked her phone in a safe box that only he had the code to so she wouldn't do anything stupid while he was gone. She sat on the couch, sinking into the cushions from the overuse throughout the years. The 24-year-old played with her fingers, staring at nothing as her thoughts consumed her. 

When did things take a turn for the worse? They fight more frequently over the smallest of things. She knew couples fought, which was healthy for the relationship, but why did it leave her with a sinking feeling in her gut? The woman never saw her parents fight this much—maybe they were strategic with their disputes—but when she did, her father always came home with flowers for her mother. Her mother would smile brightly, lighting up the room while her father fell in love all over again.

Taehyung never did that for her.

Even in the beginning, once they moved out of the honeymoon stage, arguments were often left unfinished. They would become shells of themselves as they avoided contact with each other. Kiara would have to fake smiles around her friends so as not to worry them. After a few days of silence, she would reach out to the man, and all seemed right in the world once again.

No flowers, no I'm sorry's, and no falling in love all over again.

Was this how it would always be—their arguments left unresolved with her always putting her feelings aside to reconcile? Why did it seem like these disputes chipped away at her soul more while the other party remained untouched?

How was she going to fix this?

Why did she have to fix this?

By day four, she had become numb to the thought of Taehyung. Kiara was carrying the weight of their problems by herself and didn't want to anymore. She took off the load, tying it up with a pretty little box until she eventually returned. The woman was in the city, within walking distance of her friends. Being out here happened less than she would've liked. Until further notice, Taehyung didn't exist to her. She tried to ignore the freeing feeling, knowing it was only a temporary patch on their relationship problems.

"No, no, no!" The dark-haired woman yelled at Jeongguk's television screen. It was 8 in the morning, and she had no concern for the occupants who lived there. She got on her knees from her original sitting position, desperately mashing her little fingers on the controller.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" She exclaimed as she watched the screen, her eyebrows folding inward. She inched closer to the screen as if it would help her. "WHICH ONE OF THESE ASSHOLES SENT A BLUE FUCKING SHELL?!"

The attack knocked her back a few places, but there was still time to reclaim her title of first place. She stared up at the 60" flat screen as silence fell over her, using every ounce of focus she had. She aimed for every box on the track, using the random items with precise skill until she returned to the top. It was the final lap, after all, and tensions were high.

"Down in front," said Jeongguk from behind her.

"YES!" She barely heard the man speak as she secured first again. She was only a few seconds away from the finish line. That was all until Kiara listened to the familiar beeps of something trailing behind her, trying to hit her. Her eyes widened as the red shell crashed into her cart right before the finish line.

The attack was fatal, knocking her back to fifth place.

“WHAT THE FUUUUUHHHHCK!!” The voice that came out of the woman's body barely seemed human. It was deep and guttural, starkly different from her soft and silky tone.

Jeongguk couldn't even hold back the cackle that ripped from his throat. His head flew back into the couch cushions while his hand held his tensing stomach. His eyes shut, deep crinkles forming next to them as his cheeks started to burn from the muscles of his face holding in place for too long.

"You're such an asshat for that!" She yelled while turning back to look at him. "You couldn't accept second place?!" Her amber eyes burned a hole into the grinning man.

"H-Hey!" He stammered through laughter. Once his sounds of joy finally died down, his eyes met hers while his lips fell into a straight line. He cocked a brow at her, "Do I look like someone who comes in second?"

"Right now, you look like a dickhead."

"Don't be an ass because I beat you fair and square."

"Fair and square?!" She repeated, her depth going up an octave. "I had that race, and you know it!"

The man's structured lips formed into a playful smirk. He leaned forward, exposed biceps subtly flexing as he rested his elbows on his thighs. His hands hung between his legs gracefully as he stared at Kiara.

"Is that why you came in fifth place, sweetheart?"

If this were any other woman, they would've been on their knees already for the man. Everything about Jeongguk was attractive—from the piercings that accentuated his lips and eyebrow to the tattoos that covered his entire left arm down to his hand, obsidian hair tied up into a messy bun most of the time, and his built physique. He had large, dark eyes, a straight nose slightly on the larger side, and baby-pink lips. On top of physical looks, he was an absolute sweetheart. He was protective of his friends and gave to anyone who needed help. It was apparent why he got girls with ease and rarely got rejected.

But he was going against Kiara, and all she did was stare back at the man. Her expression was unreadable, so he was caught entirely off guard when she suddenly reached out and grabbed Jeongguk by the collar of his tank top. With his eyes growing wide like a deer in headlights, she pulled him down to the floor before he could process what was happening, making the man forget how strong she was for a moment. As his back hit the ground, she swiftly got on top of him, straddling his hips. The woman grabbed a pillow off of the couch and began to beat the man with it senselessly.

Jeongguk laughed from underneath her, trying to block his face with his arms. Somewhere between the attack, he managed to grab the weapon from her and tossed it across the room. Kiara glanced back at the small pillow slumped against a wall before looking back at the dark-haired man under her. 

And for a second, the world had frozen in time for Jeongguk.

As his eyes locked with the woman above him—eyes golden like a summer sunrise, hair natural and wild like a lion's mane, his shirt draped over her body like a dress with a faint playful smirk tugging at her lips—he felt his heart pang. Like he was shocked with a defibrillator and brought back to life. He heat rushed to his face, flushing his cheeks with a pretty pink.

Kiara didn't notice.

Thank god she didn't notice.

She just reached for another pillow from the couch and continued her attack.

"K-Kiara!" He stammered again through fits of laughter. He tried to grab the pillow again, ignoring how his heart felt in his chest, but failed. His desperate attempts motivated the girl to increase the intensity of her hits, hearing a satisfying thud every time the plush object connected with him. This satisfaction didn't last long, as Jeongguk finally grasped the pillow and threw it with the other.

Their eyes met again.

"Looks like you're out of ammo," Jeongguk said with a smirk, his hands absentmindedly landing on her thighs. Her skin was soft to the touch and surprisingly warm. Why did he suddenly want to hold her?

"I wouldn't speak so soon." The dark-haired woman raised both of her hands.

He cocked an eyebrow. "You're gonna fight me?" Before she could respond, he let out a loud scoff. "You know I take MMA, right?" She nodded. The man was expecting her to back down, but instead, he felt her fingertips at his sides, tickling him. Jeongguk's eyes widened as he burst into laughter, squirming beneath her. He tried to grab her hands but couldn't get a good grip. "Fuck!"

Kiara laughed maniacally, giving the man exactly what he deserved—sweet revenge. Maybe he'd think twice before costing her a win in Mario Kart next time.

Suddenly, Jeongguk gripped onto her shirt, pulling her down on top of him before he rolled them over. The swift movement made Kiara discombobulated, allowing him to grab her hands and pin them above her head. Soft pants parted from his lips as she looked up at him with innocent, doe eyes—like the evil woman didn't just subject the man to pure torture. She pushed against his restraints, back arching in the process, causing Jeongguk to tighten his grip. In this position, he could only think about one thing. And he couldn't find himself to care about anything else at this moment. All he saw was Kiara's amber eyes looking at him like he was the only one who mattered in the world. He needed to shove those thoughts—those feelings—into whatever box they came from.

"You good?" He asked, chest heaving up and down slightly.

Kiara looked up at him, eyes flickering over his pink cheeks, hair falling out of his messy bun and into his face. "Are you?" She countered, smirking playfully at his appearance. She knew that look. She would catch his eyes lingering over her repeatedly and would ignore it every time she did.

Jeongguk let out a weak chuckle, the grip on her wrists loosening until they disappeared completely as he leaned back. At the same time, Kiara propped herself up onto her elbows. "Yeah," he breathed. "I'm good, couldn't be better. Uh….” He looked away from the girl, deciding that anything but her needed his attention.

A door suddenly opened, followed by heavy footsteps and a loud yawn.

Thank goodness.

"Y'all are so damn loud," said a tall man as he walked into the living room. Sporting a t-shirt and some blue stripped boxers, he plopped down onto the couch. His raven hair was sticking up at all angles from a rough night of sleep. His skin was pale pink with a little beauty mark underneath his left eye.

"Don't act like you weren't up anyway," Jeongguk said as he stood up. He offered Kiara his hand, pulling her up as well.

"Well, how could anyone sleep with y'all rolling around the place like you're having sex!"

The pair let out equal sounds of disgust. "Oh, shut up, Yugyeom!" They both groaned.

"I'm just saying!" Yugyeom countered as he looked at the couple. "Honestly, when are you two gonna finally get together? You know I've been an avid Kiakook shipper since meeting you guys."

"You know she has a boyfriend," Jeongguk stated as he rolled his eyes. 

"So? What's a little obstacle gonna do? Aren't y'all fighting anyway?" Yugyeom asked as his dark eyes settled on Kiara.

"I don't see why that matters," the girl said with a shrug.

"Oh, but it does!" Yugyeom grinned as he leaned forward. "See, if you guys are on the rocks, my boy Jeongguk could swoop in and save the day; then you guys can get together, and my Kiakook dreams will be fulfilled!" Heat rose to Jeongguk's cheeks, staining his face with pink once again despite the glare he was sending to the other.

"It's not gonna happen," Kiara deadpanned as she stared at the paler man.

"Who's to say it won't?" Yugyeom argued with a raised brow.

Kiara fell silent for a second, folding her arms over her chest as her brows lowered. "Jeongguk doesn't like me like that, right?" She turned to look at the man next to her, who was staring at Yugyeom.

When their eyes met, Jeongguk's heart skipped a beat. "Right," he quickly agreed while reaching up to fix his hair. Kiara knew him too well for her own good. She knew whenever he played with his hair, it was a tell.

Ignore it.

"Anyway," Jeongguk cut through the growing silence, feeling as if his roommate and best friend already knew the truth. He walked over to the bookshelf and pulled down a solid black metal box. After inputting a code, it unlocked, and he grabbed the phone from inside it. "I think you've earned this back." He tossed the device to Kiara, and she caught it between her hands. "I gotta take a piss," he announced before walking off to his bedroom.

"He's so bad at lying," Yugyeom chuckled as he stood up. He reached outward, stretching his long limbs while emitting a groan. "He's madly in love with you."

"Bro, shut up," Kiara rolled her eyes as she fiddled with the phone in her hand. Deny. Deny. Deny. That's all she could do at the moment. Between the rollercoaster of her relationship, dealing with Park Jimin whenever he decided to intrude on her life, and keeping Luna a secret, coming to terms with the fact that her best friend of over a decade could have feelings for her…, it would make her brain implode right now. She could only have so much on her plate before it shattered beneath the weight.

The skinny man shrugged her off. "It's only a matter of time, Ki!" He said in a sing-song voice as he got up and left the room.

Kiara sighed deeply before glancing down at the phone in her hands. Her brows furrowed for a moment as she stared at the device. Turmoil was bubbling inside her—half of her saying she shouldn't care while the other half cared deeply. She was scared that her assumption was correct. That Taehyung didn't bother reaching out to her at all—that he didn't care where she was. How could he not worry that the bed was empty whenever he arrived home and remained empty for four days afterward? This was her boyfriend, and he had to care, right?

Wrong.

When she unlocked her phone and scrolled through the notification banners, her heart sank further into her chest. Kiara scrolled back to that night, seeing only text messages from her group chat with her girlfriends, Aimee, and a missed call notification from her mother. She even opened up her text app, hoping that she possibly muted her notifications from him in a drunken rage.

But there was nothing.

Not a missed call.

Not a text message.

From Kim Taehyung.

Tears prickled at her eyes, threatening to leave and stream down her cheeks in hot waves. She looked upwards, blinking them away.

If he doesn't care, why should I? Why am I the one saving this relationship?

Just as she debated whether or not she should reach out and give that man a piece of her mind, her phone began to ring. She looked at the device, causing her heart to race a mile a minute. She contemplated, knowing she shouldn't for her sanity, but feeling like she should hear what he had to say. She clicked the green answer button and put it to her ear.

"Darling."

And with only one word falling from his lips, the woman was done for. Just like that, she fell back into the cycle of Taehyung without any resistance. Her heart swelled, all the negative feelings from the moment earlier melting away into nothing. The word alone was kryptonite, and how his deep voice said the pet name so effortlessly was like a shot of dopamine straight to the brain. She sighed in relief, sounding like the word "Hello."

"Hi." She could hear Taehyung smiling on the other side of the phone so clearly that she could picture his full lips forming that boxy grin she loved. "Where are you? You haven't been home for a couple of days."

Her heart outweighed her mind, ignoring that he noticed she was missing but didn't care enough until now to see where she was. Love was a sick thing. "I know, I'm at JK's place."

"Tell him why." Jeongguk's voice boomed through the quiet living room, sending a chill down her spine. Her eyes slowly trailed to him, meeting his glare. He leaned against the doorframe to his room, arms folded over his chest. "Tell. Him. Why." He spoke slowly and clearly, his tone more profound than before.

Kiara only nodded once, wrapping her free arm around her midsection. "Be-Because you left me at the restaurant."

Taehyung let out a soft sigh. "I know, that was so fucked of me, but I was so angry by your actions."

"That's not a reason."

"What? It is—"

"That's not a reason to endanger my safety. What if something happened to me? What if I didn't have a mind to call JK?" Kiara's heart started to race in her chest as her fingertips clutched the soft material of Jeongguk's shirt. "Would you have been OK with that?"

"I—" he paused for a moment before sighing deeply. "No. It would tear me apart. I'm sorry, Kiara."

A smile cracked on her lips, and the grip on her shirt began to lessen as she felt her heart swell again. Maybe he did care. "I forgive you."

"So when are you coming back home?"

Kiara's brows furrowed. He could miss her and wanted her next to him. But something in her gut was telling her it was not that, that it was something less pure. "I'm not," she answered before fully processing anything. It was almost like it was instinctual.

"What?"

"Not for a while," her tone started to get soft as she looked down at her feet. "I'm still a little upset and need more time to process." The fact that he waited four days and five nights to reach out didn't sit well in her stomach. If the roles were reversed, she would've been blowing up his phone on day one.

Maybe that was her problem.

"But I apologized!"

"And? Taehyung, I could've been kidnapped because of your actions!"

The reality was finally setting in for the woman. If she hadn't called Jeongguk, who knows where she would be right now? Someone could've picked her up, offering her a ride home, and that would've been the end of her.

"My actions only happened because of your attitude!"

Kiara's jaw dropped to the floor, uncertainty swirling around in her abdomen. It was still her fault. Of course, it was. She chose to drink, thus choosing to mouth off at him. If she stayed silent and played the good girlfriend, she would be home by now.

"Still," her voice fell to just a whisper. Her throat tightened as she held back the urge to let rivers of tears flow down her cheeks.

Taehyung huffed, signifying that he was growing tired of this conversation. "Listen, I'm sorry you made me so angry I had to leave you. All I can do is apologize, and you've already forgiven me! Just come home, please. I miss you."

Kiara's breathing quickened as she listened to the bullshit spewing out of his mouth. She looked at Jeongguk, who looked like he was ready to drop everything and take a ride out to Long Island to beat some ass. His jaw set, tongue poking at the inside of his cheek as his arms folded over his chest. As if the anger emitting from Jeongguk spread to her, she gripped her shirt again. "Miss me some more then," she said before hanging up on the man.

Kiara panted softly, placing her hand on her chest as if it would slow her racing heart. Jeongguk looked at her with wide eyes, his once-set jaw now hanging. "Ki!" He screamed, causing Kiara's eyes to dart towards him. He had a broad smile spread on his lips. "FUCK YEAH! Do you know how long I've been waiting for you—" Jeongguk looked at the woman, who suddenly started crying. She was on the verge of hyperventilating as she crumbled to her knees. He ran over to her, pulling her sobbing self into his hard chest. He rubbed her back gently, "What's wrong?" He asked softly.

"I-I just don't know how long I can keep doing this. Everything is always my fault," the girl sobbed, absolutely breaking Jeongguk's heart.

His brows furrowed as he clenched his jaw. What did this man do to her? "Nothing is your fault, Ki. What he did was beyond wrong, and the fact that he's trying to blame you for it is sick."

She didn't say another word, for her mind convinced herself she did wrong. No matter what Jeongguk said, nothing would change her mind. They wouldn't be fighting right now if only she held her tongue.

"I love him, Kookie," she sniffled, "I love him so much. I just want him to know that nothing else matters than him."

"Ki," he mumbled. This relationship was getting out of control. Her mindset was fucked, and he didn't know how to fix it besides telling her to leave. And she wasn't going to do that. This wasn't the first time she cried in his arms on his living room floor, and it sure wasn't going to be the last.

Jeongguk pulled away from Kiara, whose sobs had quieted down to soft sniffles and whimpers. He cupped her face in his large hands, wiping away tears from rose-stained cheeks and trying not to melt at glittering amber eyes. It was heartbreaking to see her cry. She had one of those faces that made you want to cry along with her.

"Why don't you come out with me? Clear your head for a little. We'll stop by Little Latte, and while I'm at work, wasn't there a yoga studio you wanted to try?" Kiara nodded a little despite her cheeks squishing from Jeongguk's hands. He couldn't help but smile. "OK, you can get a class in, then we can stop by Mario's on the way home. Sound good?"

Kiara inhaled deeply, knowing her best friend knew best. If she declined, he would've dragged her out regardless. Otherwise, she would soak Jeongguk's pillow with tears until she cried herself into a nap, then repeat the process. Pushing through these negative emotions was the best way for her to process them. Kiara knew that. Jeongguk knew that. She hated that he knew that.

"Fine."

It was the most positive response she could muster up. Jeongguk didn't allow her time to debate, practically lifting her off the ground and shoving her to his bathroom. He gave the girl 20 minutes to get ready, including a shower. Kiara barely had enough time to properly sulk before Jeongguk barged in, blasting That's My Best Friend by Doja Cat and Saweetie while singing along remarkably loud. Kiara tried her hardest not to laugh at the man who impressively rapped each lyric with the same energy as a five-month-old puppy.

Jeongguk had dragged her out of the apartment complex soon enough, hand in hand, tattooed fingers laced with non. The cool air nipped at Kiara's exposed skin, but it was insufficient to cause discomfort. She tried to keep up with the long-legged, chipper boy, but in the back of her mind, all she could think about was Taehyung.

Not that she had enough time to think about him. Little Latte was a hop, skip, and jump away from Jeongguk's apartment, which explained the cafe owner's distaste as he walked into the quiet shop. 

"Hey! You're 15 minutes late, Jeon!" Mr. Choi yelled out, and all Jeongguk could do was offer the man a childish smile full of mischief and wonder. Kiara hid behind the taller man as much as she could. She hated Mr. Choi seeing her like this.

"Sorry, Mr. C., but I brought your favorite person!"

Kiara softly cursed the man as he stepped to the side, revealing her before she slowly looked up at the man.

"Good morning, Mr. C."

The man's face sank, instantly recognizing the sadness hidden in Kiara's features. "Aw, my child, come here." He outstretched his arms to her, prompting the small girl to drag her feet close enough to the man for him to embrace her. She inhaled shakily. He smelled warm—like toasted cinnamon and freshly roasted coffee beans. Mr. Choi had the best hugs, especially when her family was far away. He patted her back gently like a father would.

"Do you want your favorite?"

Kiara nodded as she let go of the older man. He gave her a single nod before returning behind the counter to get to work. She wasn't a coffee person, hating the bitter taste it left on her tongue, so her favorite included a hot chocolate with fudge drizzle and extra whipped cream. It didn't matter if it was a thunderstorm outside or 100 degrees; Kiara would consume the beverage regardless. 

She waited to pay, and Mr. Choi always fought her on the matter. And as always, Kiara shoved whatever money she owed him, plus a few extra dollars, into the usually empty tip jar on the counter. The dark-haired woman took her drink, walked to her usual seat by the window, and watched the shop come to life. As she sipped on the chocolate goodness in her cup, licking away whatever whipped cream got on her top lip, she watched the store buzz like a beehive. All types of people from different walks of life gathered at this shop. Some just needed a quick cup to go. Some grabbed a pastry along with their drink and stayed a while. Some had textbooks and notebooks with laptops, studying for something important. Others had just a good book that they enjoyed reading.

People-watching had always made Kiara feel better for some reason. It made her seem less significant in the grand scheme of things. She would forget about her problems as she pretended to know others. There was nothing wrong with a bit of escapism now and again.

After finishing her drink and watching Jeongguk interact with the customers for a little while, Kiara finally felt OK enough to continue her day. Yoga clears the mind. But before she got up, she grabbed a sticky note and pen that was on every table and left a small message for her future self whenever she would return.

↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢

[retrotrait]

wait last anon got my attention and ive also been wanting to send you a long ass ask dissecting simon's behavior lol~ also cw this talks about drug abuse!

I don't want to be a simon shooter, but I feel like he deserves empathy considering he abuses substances and has trauma from his childhood. Not to excuse his behavior at all. I feel for anani and simon because i was in a relationship with someone who abused substances (xanax) this was in my senior yr of high school & it sucked seeing someone you care about constantly high of their ass vs. the person you met. The drugs affect not only the person, but the people around them and its awful.

There is such a stigma towards people who abuse substances (I personally dont like to use the word addict thats just me tho!!) I feel like people tend to think ppl who abuse drugs act out on purpose and want to purposely hurt their loved ones, when that isnt the case.

Anani was without a doubt, simon's diamond in the rough. It does make me feel a certain was that his mother called her to BASICALLY, fix her son. Girl.............that is your child, Im pretty sure his mother asked her to "get him help" because she couldnt face the music, she couldnt see history repeat itself, but you cannot send someone over that he hurt so many times to fix things.

I believe Anani continuously stayed by his side because she thinks itll be different everytime. She could fix him, its possible in her eyes because of their bond, but that is not true at all. He needs to realize for himself that he needs help. If he cares about the people he loves he would go and get help. Anani is def a push over in this case (im sorry my queen PLS STAND UP I KNO U LOVE HIM BUT PLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS STAND UP!!)

I dont think its possible for them to have a platonic friendship after everything, but I do believe Simon needs a good support system around him and MAYBE anani could be apart of that support system...minus the physical bc from what it seems, simon uses Anani like temporary medicine to ease his pain & it hurts to see Anani care and love him, but get hurt in the end :c

I love what you're doing with this story & I am so excited for what is yet to come. <3

You couldn't be righter and the number one reason I created an OC with substance abuse problems is because I know how one sided it can be for people to misjudge them, even the people who love them. It's not as easy as quit and get better and I wanted that to reflect who Simon is.

Anani became that drug replacement for him as well and even loving someone to that extent can be unhealthy because without them you don't know who you are (also a reason why he left in the first time around) the town, his parents, even Anani, he needed to separate himself from becoming the person his brother was but unfortunately, it's not easy when you're in that party/rockstar lifestyle. He's stuck be

To Anani, he also became like a drug, someone who filled that musical emptiness that her mom's passing left. Like you said, she wants to fix him, it's in her nature and him knowing that makes walking away a little bit easier to understand, however wrong it was to do it in that situation. It's very on brand for him the "not wanting to hurt someone while hurting them."

I think their relationship thrives on that push and pull, that "I hate you but I love you." I just don't know if it would work if they were ever just good to each other without the toxic-ness.

<333 ILY and thank you for sending this amazing dissection of these characters.

[folightening]

Confession : Portbra

Hetalia - Portbra There was one last thing Brazil had to do to finish celebrating his independence. However it ended, it couldn't be left unsaid any longer. Vague incest warning, but not really: Nations have complicated relationships, so there is a few mentions of familial feelings in here while it is a ship fic. In case that isn't your cup of tea

He'd been receiving congratulations and compliments all day but one man's words had lifted him to heaven and left him stranded.

I'm proud of you.

The tight, warm embrace had sent his emotions into a flutter that had yet to fully calm. He had smiled at him; all pride and love leaving Brazil pleasantly hot. Then he left him to his friends. Brazil hadn't had the chance to be alone with him since.

Now that the party was finally dying down Brazil looked for him. If Portugal left earlier without saying goodbye he was going to get an earful.

Unsurprisingly Brazil found him standing at the edge of the water away from the party, staring across the waves. Brazil stood at his side and looked out over the ocean as well. Beautiful, but he'd never understand what had Portugal so captivated.

"Party's dying old man."

"I heard."

Silence stretched between them, unexpectedly light and comfortable and Brazil tried to gather his thoughts.

"I." Brazil fell silent again.

A few minutes ago he'd been fully prepared to march over and speak his mind. Usually he could. But suddenly this felt like a delicate situation he wasn't certain about handling.

"How are you feeling?" Portugal's question pulled Brazil from his confusing hesitation.

"On top of the world."

Portugal laughed and Brazil relaxed a little. There was nothing to be worried about. No reason for hesitation. This was Afonso.

"Thanks for siding with me. Your Boss couldn't have liked that much."

"You're a lot more important to me than some humans."

Even still, Brazil knew how the humans could affect them. There were times it had been difficult to hold the separation between Brazil and Luciano. He'd given Afonso a hard time for no reason other than the war between their humans. His emotions had been in turmoil and he knew Portugal had his moments of the same. It had never quite escalated into anything - Afonso knew when to walk away and Luciano'd had the sense to let him - but still Luciano felt bad about it.

"You know you're important to me too?"

"You may have said something about that a few times."

Brazil laughed. A few times was an understatement. He'd said it so many times he was sure Portugal was sick of hearing it.

Enough beating around the bush.

"Actually, I needed to talk to you about that." Brazil paused. "Now that I'm definitely not your colony anymore."

Portugal huffed in amusement and Brazil grinned. He hadn't been Portugal's colony for a while.

"I'm in love. With you."

Portugal looked at him, startled, and the next words came tumbling out.

"I have been for... A while." So much longer than a while. "I know you kind of think of me as your son, and I know it might be a little weird especially with everything that's happened,"

"Luciano,"

"But I don't... I want you. To be more than just my dad, or a coworker, or- For however long it lasts."

Brazil couldn't take Portugal's heavy gaze and turned his attention to the waves.

"You are my darling boy Luciano; I won't deny the familial feelings I have for you. But... You know I wanted you to succeed in gaining your independence. Do you know why that is?"

Brazil returned his gaze to Portugal's gentle expression.

"You want the best for your son?"

"No. Well, I do but that's not what I'm talking about." Portugal paused and Brazil waited for him to gather his words. He knew how hard it could be for Portugal. "Part of me does want you to stay my colony; to keep you as close as I can and never let you go. I also want you to stand on your own and be the nation I know you can be. You aren't just a son to me. Or a colony. Or anything else people might try and say you should be. You haven't been for years "

"Then why didn't you say anything?"

"And risk a negative reaction?" Portugal laughed. "I'm too old for that. I'm content with whatever you want us to be."

"Oh. Well, in that case..."

Brazil pulled Portugal closer and the kiss he gave the man was lingering; a series of kisses now that he finally had him where he wanted him.

"I think it's time for us to have a special celebration."

Portugal laughed and gently swatted at him, but there was no protesting when Brazil kissed him again and dragged him across the beach. There was still time left for one more activity to make the day perfect.

[jimmerzz0905]

mythical incorrect quotes because why the fuck not

(also there are some mentions of shit like alcohol and stuff under the cut so uhh)

Yawstrich: *tries to make the child laugh*

Anglow: *tries to play a game with the child to make them calm down*

G’joob: *gives detailed instructions to the parents*

Cherubble: *cries with the child*

Strombonin: *ignores the child*

Hyehehe: *is the reason why the child is crying*

—

Hyehehe: What's wrong with you?

Strombonin: Off the top of my head, I'd say low self-esteem, a lack of paternal affection, and a genetic predisposition for anxiety and depression.

—

Strombonin: Happy Throwback Thursday. Here’s a throwback to when Yawstrich ate an entire fucking tube of lipstick.

Yawstrich, whining: But why would it be cherry-flavored if you can’t eat it?!

—

Cherubble: Am I a boy? Am I a girl? It doesn't matter. I'm going to burn your house down and then take a nap.

—

G’joob: And now for a gay update with Yawstrich and Strombonin.

Yawstrich: Getting gayer!

G’joob: Thank you, Yawstrich.

—

G’joob, holding in his laughter: Hey, how do you ask a glass of water what it’s doing?

Strombonin: A glass of water is an inanimate object. Therefore, it's incapable of having a thought process or understanding basic Monstrous.

G’joob:

G’joob: Water you doing?

—

Yawstrich: Oh, fiddlesticks! That really ruffles my feathers!

Strombonin: Please, just say fuck…

—

Cherubble: The last time I went to an urgent care clinic, I checked off 'excessive crying' on the symptom list, and then the nurse got really confused and said that was meant for babies.

—

Yawstrich: *texting* Hey can you pick me up I’m drunk.

Yawstrich: Oh you don't have to anymore. I'm home now.

Strombonin: Yes, I'm aware of that after dropping you off at home.

—

Hyehehe, with a headache: Advil me up, daddy.

Cherubble: I will short out the language centre of your brain if you say anything like that ever again.

—

Strombonin: I’m the sexiest bitch in this therapy waiting room.

—

Cherubble: Truth or dare?

Anglow: Truth.

Cherubble: How many hours have you slept this week?

Anglow:

Anglow: Dare.

Cherubble: Go to sleep.

Anglow: I don't like this game.

—

Cherubble: Today at 7 am, Hyehehe poured a Monster Energy drink in their coffee, said "I'm going to die" and drank the whole thing.

Yawstrich: I watched Hyehehe brew their coffee with Monster instead of water. Three cups in two hours. I think he’s ascended into the astral realm.

Strombonin: The survivability of the Monster race never fails to amaze me.

—

Hyehehe: And I’d love to be sorry for that, but we all know I’ve done much, much worse.

—

Yawstrich: Oh, Strombonin! We have a visitor!

Strombonin: Don’t tell me it’s Hyehehe.

Yawstrich: It’s Hyehehe.

—

Anglow: What time is it?

Hyehehe: I don’t know, pass me that saxophone and we’ll find out.

Anglow: *hands Hyehehe the saxophone*

Hyehehe: *fucking BLASTS the saxophone*

G’joob: WHO THE FUCK IS PLAYING THE SAXOPHONE AT TWO IN THE FUCKING MORNING?!

Hyehehe: It’s 2 am

—

G’joob: That's it, I'm cutting off the internet!

Cherubble: No, please don't! I have a family to feed!

G’joob: …

G’joob: What?

Cherubble: I need to feed my Neopets!

—

Yawstrich: To everyone who has treated me poorly; I am sexier than you.

—

G’joob: I left instructions for everyone while I'm gone.

Hyehehe: Mine just says "Hyehehe, no."

G’joob: I want you to apply it to every possible situation.

—

Yawstrich: I didn't drink THAT much last night!

G’joob: You were flirting with Strombonin.

Yawstrich: So what? They're my boyfriend.

G’joob: You asked if they were single.

Yawstrich: …

G’joob: And then you cried when they said he wasn’t.

—

Strombonin: Sorry I'm late to the party. I've been… doing things.

Yawstrich, entering dizzy and covered in kisses: I got caught up doing things too.

Hyehehe: Wow, Strombonin was late too! What a coincidence!

—

Yawstrich: You know what I asked Yool for Yay this year?

Strombonin: If you say me, I swear I’ll—

Yawstrich: You? What? No, I asked him for that cool Lego Ninjago set we saw in Target!

—

Strombonin: My life is a little too much panic and not enough disco.

Yawstrich: My life is a little too much fall and not enough boy.

G’joob: My life is a little too much chemical and not enough romance.

Hyehehe: My life is a little too much imagination and not nearly enough dragons.

—

and that’s it lol

[mrs-monaghan]

Hybe didn't?

Lmao they were no.1

Things hybe 'did' for Jimin FACE era

1. Denied him of 4 MV, to artist who build that fuxking company. While giving their rookies 4 MVs on 1st album, Yoongi and Hobi a documentary and now a world tour. Apparently 4 MVs request is unreasonable, my ass.

2. Lets forget about other international platforms but they Didn't raised a finger against hanteo robbery even if it's their own home country. Still no one knows where that 770K sales went. Conveniently stole his #1 soloist sales record.

3. Didn't sent LC to radio even after mass request from fans and it achieving no1 on BB, left all work to be done by fans. LC had a very big opportunity to go even big but how much fans can do without a single support from agency ?

4. No celebrations or theme cakes like other members, no interviews or hype after No.1 BB like bangtan had during dynamite era. When rest country was celebrating and their share prices shoot up. Even Jimin's dad's friends celebrated while it's silence from his agency.

5. Even his pre orders still not shipped which is affecting charts. It's been a month, mind you. Took days to restore CDs in BTS store. Took days to add LC to This is BTS Playlist, which is the biggest we can have, while haegum was added in a day.

6. Army were begging them about BB situation for 3 WEEKS but no response but conveniently corrected the website just a day before D DAY. No comments regarding his 90%+ sales being deleted while all K media were writing about the BB payola.

7. Cut down his promotion to 10 fucking days leaving even Jimin disappointed and doubtful about his promos. Just to announce a whole new album in a week and killed hype of FACE.

8. Threw him to hands of kpoppies and antis, they were rentlessly attacking him since SMF dropped, articles were written, they were making sexual harassment and rape jokes against him. 'Artist protection' no where to be found. Didn't even took down korean articles or hate blogs.

9. Made him overwork and finish everything within 10 days till he was sick. He attended parties with tapes on his neck and was sick af by end of promos, even on BB hot 100 announcement day.

10. Remember when Filter was removed from iTunes when it began outstreaming ON ? Yeah same thing happened. FACE tied with BTS record for iTunes album IMMEDIATELY next day there was a 'glitch' and FACE falled.

That's an accurate depiction of me rn. I said in a comment and I'll say it here. I love Jimin with everything I own, but I'm gonna need my man to start having some sort of defiance. He doesn't see his potential, fine. But he needs to start prioritising himself. He don't need to be putting others infront of himself all the damn time. Did other members put their shit on hold for his sake? No. He was born to shine...its why he's so hated because he doesn't need to do much and people will gravitate towards him. If YT didn't do what they did SMF and LC would both have over 100M views by now. No seriously think about it. Forget the streamers like u and me. We have 74 million subscribers on Bangtan TV and 70 M subs on Hybe labels. Then Jimin has 49M followers on insta. Lets say 10 million are people with multiple accounts. That leaves 39M followers. Again, forget the streamers. Lets say there is a person who is busy so they only have time to watch his MVs once before going to work and once before bed. Then we of course have the haters obsessed with Jimin who also watched the MVs at least once. Add the fact that both MVs for sometime were number 1 and 3 on trending which means locals who like to see what's trending clicked on the songs and watched them. And then that's when the streamers come in. The math does not math no matter how much u try. The fact that LC doesn't even have 50 million views is absolutely ridiculous.

But, I digressed. Back on topic. Hybe did do him dirty. BH been doing him dirty for fucking years. But he stays. If you've been listening. You will notice Suga and Jimin are the two members who've been the most vocal about coming back as 7. I'm not saying the rest don't want that, but Yoonmin do appear to want that the most.

We have seen Jimin refuse to go hard when he's dancing with people who are not as good. The TT he did with TXT he did not even try. He took the cute route. And that's not the only one. VIBE he could have gone harder, but u can see he is holding back because that is not his song, he was a feature. Watch how he dances with Suga versus how he dances with Jhope. U will see a clear difference. Jimin has always, always put other people into consideration. Its why u will see when V is making fun of Jimin he won't stop and keeps going and going. But when Jimin is making fun of V, he will catch himself and stop and admit he has gone to far.

He has always put Bangtan before himself and it sucks. Look at JK "what are they gonna do, fire me?" JK knows the power he holds and uses it and takes advantage of it. He knows he's indispensable. But then so is Jimin and I wish he would follow his boyfriend's lead because this is absurd. Other members have gotten sm and he got so little. How and why was he okay with this?

I would bet my right arm (I'm right handed btw) that he has also put BTS before his relationship and could have been the cause of some of their fights. And u know JK sees whats happening and doesn't like it one bit. BH weren't promoting his man to his satisfaction so JK did a whole live dedicated to Jimin. He said; fine, I'll do it myself.

Y'all think I'm kidding when I say JK stays for Jimin 🧐

I hope military service hardens Jimin and he comes back with an attitude because this man deserves to reach even greater heights than he already has.

Fuck Hybe and Bighit with a fucking cactus I'm fucking done with this shit

[sometimes-men-need-help-too]

I frequent the childfree subreddit on Reddit often.

To summarize, the subreddit involves daily lives of people that don't want kids, people looking for support when their lives are affected by kids, people looking for resources for sterilization, and of course, people who had kids and need to vent their regrets.

I was scrolling these regret posts, and I found one that broke my heart.

It was written by a man, confessing that his girlfriend had been on birth control until the day he said that he didn't want kids in his life.

She secretly stopped taking the pill because of that, and intentionally baby trapped him.

He tried, so hard to be a good father. Even when he didn't want this lifestyle, he still loved his son, he wanted the child to grow up with a father, he wanted to be a good parent, but around two years, he couldn't take it anymore.

Surprise, the woman who baby trapped him was emotionally abusive, and started to spiral into depression, so he left.

He wrote the post while drunk, and he sounded completely defeated. I was devastated for him, it seemed like he tried to hard, and someone else forced him into a life he had no say in, and that he has to be responsible in for 18 years if not the rest of his life.

People in the replies were calling the entire situation abusive of course, and some were saying men needed a louder voice in these sorta situations.

I wish I had a solution too, but everything I consider causes harm to women as well.

"What if the man wants to abort it, then his voice should matter?" Well that takes the choice away from women.

"What if he's allowed to leave the child's life forever, and abstain from child support if he was tricked into these situations?" And leave a single mother to struggle financially?

I'm angry and confused, and I don't know the right solution for this man, if any men in his situation. Why isn't there any easy solution for both parties :(

Why do women have their reproductive rights taken away, why do men get babytrapped when they thought they were being careful?

See, that kind of stuff isn't okay

If she wanted a baby, she should have broken off the relationship with him. Both people need to be 100% on board

It reminds me of this post/article thing where women confessed on this anonymous online forum how they baby trapped him and some of them are actually bragging about it

[crystalelemental]

Generation 6 has held an awkward spot in the series for me. Since around Gen 7, I started calling this game the beginning of Pokemon's decline in quality, or at the very least, the point at which the strains we all now understand began to show. Cut content, delayed feature rollout, save-annihilating bugs; Gen 6 was the first time this felt prominent and noticeable. But it was also the last time I truly felt whimsy and excitement picking up a game. Maybe I was still young enough, or maybe fan response was still positive enough, but the introduction of Fairy type and the presentation of mega evolution as a concept got me really into it, and I went through that first run wildly excited. While my eventual opinion would turn a little sour, recent years have also resulted in my mellowing out, and holding opinions on what I like a little more earnestly. So now that it's finally time to revisit Kalos, let's see if I'm finally ready to love again.

My team used was Braixen, Spritzee, Emolga, Carbink, Gourgeist, and Cryogonal. We had additional rotating cast members of Fletchling, Butterfree, Wartortle, Furret (if you count the HM user), Krookodile, Meowstic-F, and Sliggoo, with a ton of options that were brought in early but didn't stick around longer term.

Right out of the gate, this is an extreme departure from previous games, where I had a dedicated team of six and very little deviation. XY's biggest change, and the biggest hangup for many in my demographic, was the EXP All. This tool allowed the whole team to gain EXP per battle, and now also with each capture. Many who were used to previous systems complained this made the game too easy, myself included. I did soften out fairly quickly into "I'm not opposed to EXP All, but I don't think it's integrated well," and I'll get to that, but I'd like to start out with what works about this system.

EXP All allows you to rotate your team around in a way that the series never had before. EXP always felt extremely finite, and grinding was a long, drawn-out process you did one by one. You could catch something up with the old EXP Share hold item, but it took a while, and you certainly couldn't swap an entire team. The EXP All allowed this to happen. It's a pretty obvious feature, but it's inherently at odds with how people played the older games.

When you're used to the system of picking a core of six and going with only that, this expansion feels unnecessary. You already know how to manage your party's EXP, and sharing it around just means you're overloaded with the stuff. You're wildly over-leveled, and nothing can stand against you. The expectation was that players would switch up their team more often to counterpick opponents, but the reality was that many players from the olden times were already set in their ways and wouldn't rotate the team at all. The merciful thing was that XY left EXP All as optional. You could turn it off. But its mere presence sparked complaints, because...I mean, let's call it what it is: players have trouble not optimizing their own fun out of the game.

"But it's optional" is not a compelling argument when presented with a system that is purely beneficial. Players who are used to attempting optimizations are going to look at EXP All as mandatory in many situations, because why would I not want to optimize? If you play normally, you're still going to hit points of grinding, why not turn it on for that at least and save the trouble? But now it feels like a cheat. When you insist it shouldn't be there, but its presence is a pure benefit, there's no winning for you. You have to meet the system where it's at.

This happened for the other features introduced as well. Pokemon Amie was a cute little minigame hub to play with your Pokemon more directly, feeding and petting them, which increased an affection score that granted in-combat bonuses, such as boosted EXP, and the ability to randomly dodge or endure through attacks. Again, all upside, but feels wildly overpowering. Then there was Super Training. Pokemon finally acknowledged the presence of EVs without calling them what they are, and allowed players to train in perfect increments of 4, allowing players to actually maximize stats without knowing the whole system. Again, both features are optional. You can ignore both. But like. Come on.

Unlike EXP All, however, the intention here is harder to see beyond "make game easier." EXP All rotating the team keeps some teeth in the game while giving the player more time with a wider variety of Pokemon, but Amie and Super Training don't. They're just embellishments to make everything easier, so...why are they there? What benefit to they confer?

At this point, it's best to talk about statistics in a way I haven't before. Not because they're important, no one runs these numbers in main game, but it illustrates the point.

In prior games, at best your Pokemon was fed stat boosting medicine to cap out around 100 in speed, relevant offensive stat, both defenses, and HP. This equates to 25 points at level 100, or 15 around the level 60 you typically finish a game at. XY's introduction of Super Training allows players to fully invest two EVs to maximum, for a total of 63 points at level 100, or around 37 at level 60. This is a wild jump in power, speed, bulk, whatever the player wanted, compared to what used to be possible. But if we assume this was intentional, and designed to accomplish something, then we can start to pick apart where the benefits are and what you can do.

The first obvious one to me, person who is used to optimizing natures, was to consider offsetting a bad nature. If you pick up...let's say Chespin, and roll an unfortunate Modest nature, in previous games you would suffer. My Platinum run involved a Gardevoir who had Sassy, and let me tell you, that speed drop hurt. Detrimental natures can be difficult to work around in ways that don't involve grinding levels for the missing stat points. Super Training allows you instead to maximally invest in the stat, providing an extra 22 points at a comparable level. Which is more than the 10% drop of a bad nature at the level you're finishing up the game. But this was a fairly superficial one. That never stopped you from being able to work around it before, so what's truly new with this system? What can you do now that used to feel impossible?

Suppose you picked up Fennekin as your starter. You really like the cute fox, and when it evolves into a little fox magical girl, you are delighted. But you've seen Delphox and...yeah, it's just not as cute. but you know, you're used to the older games, and evolution is really almost required. You can beat things with pre-evolutions, but the grind is intolerable. But hey, new generation, new mechanics, you decide to stick to your guns and not evolve Braixen, using everything at your disposal to make it as strong as possible.

Statistically, at around level 60, here's what their stats look like, considering a neutral nature, max IVs (because the calculator defaults to it) and no EVs:

Delphox: HP: 178 (75) Atk: 106 (69) Def: 110 (72) Sp Atk: 160 (114) Sp Def: 143 (100) Spd: 148 (104)

Braixen: HP: 159 (59) Atk: 94 (59) Def: 93 (58) Sp Atk: 131 (90) Sp Def: 107 (70) Spd: 111 (148)

In every category, Braixen lags behind pretty severely. The smallest gaps, in Atk/Def, are still 12-17 points of difference, while the important ones, Sp Atk/Spd, are off by 29 and 37 respectively. That is a massive discrepancy, and the kind of statistical drawback that will keep most players from even considering Braixen. So historically, you would evolve to Delphox, and taking the best possible outcome you probably don't have with medicine, you get this at level 60:

Delphox (100 EVs HP/Def/Sp Atk/Sp Def/Spd) HP: 193 Atk: 106 Def: 125 Sp Atk: 175 Sp Def: 158 Spd: 163

But you've decided you're sticking with Braixen. And maybe you don't even know how EVs work as a system, but you do understand number go up in Super Training, and also that speed determines turn order while Sp Atk governs damage, so you max out both. You slap that Eviolite item on for a pre-evolution, and you get:

Braixen (252 Sp Atk/Spd, 4 Def EVs + Eviolite) HP: 159 Atk: 94 Def: 94 -> 141 Sp Atk: 169 Sp Def: 107 -> 160 Spd: 149

Braixen is now comparable. You're still slower by a good margin, but offensively and in bulk, you average out compared to what a final stage used to get.

Now, this wasn't a perfect solution. A second stage like Braixen can roughly keep up, but a first stage is far more behind than its final form. So let's say you're still scarred by SmogBird, and can't use Talonflame. You also have Braixen, and don't want the type overlap of Fletchinder, but you do want a Flying type. So you pick up Fletchling, and run a comparable approach. To compare stats with Talonflame:

Fletchling (252 Atk/Spd, 4 Sp Def + Eviolite) HP: 142 (45) Atk: 121 (50) Def: 75 (43) -> 112 Sp Atk: 71 (40) Sp Def: 69 (38) -> 103 Spd: 135 (62)

Talonflame (100 HP/Atk/Def/Sp Def/Spd) HP: 197 (78) Atk: 135 (81) Def: 123 (71) Sp Atk: 112 (74) Sp Def: 121 (69) Spd: 189 (126)

Fletchling doesn't just lag across stats, its speed is wildly behind. Attack gets closer than I anticipated, but you definitely feel this discrepancy more strongly, and the Super Training can't salvage it.

But EXP All can. Keep Fletchling in your party long-term, to soak up all that experience and over-level a bit, and now you get:

Fletchling (same parameters, level 70) HP: 164 Atk: 140 Def: 86 -> 129 Sp Atk: 82 Sp Def: 79 -> 118 Spd: 157

A comparable spread. Speed is still lower, though, and your bulk isn't great, so maybe you're worried about your little bird managing through a hit. We've exhausted EVs, and even EXP All only goes so far without serious grinding, so what do we do?

Amie can grant sudden surprises, like bonus crits, dodges, and endure effects, that let your little baby stick it out. Even if stats aren't on par, you can get some surprise outcomes that can make it work.

I think this was the intent. The three new features work in step with each other, providing means of keeping pre-evolutions and generally weaker Pokemon up with their fully evolved competition. It's more of an investment, but it's now a reasonable one (45 minutes for Super Training, 15 minutes for Amie) compared to trying to force level grinding well beyond what's typical (several hours and likely a lot of frustration regarding damage).

Now, for all that good, I do think the system struggles against itself in two major ways.

First, nothing is done on the opponent's end to combat these tools. Opposing teams remain small like Gen 5, but without the same teeth. All of the E4 felt surprisingly easy, except for Wikstrom who kinda got the drop on me from a misclick and remembering too late that three of my Pokemon were weak to Steel. But like...Malva literally could not hurt Carbink. She had nothing against it. And that's rather staggering after Unova, where each of the E4 felt so supremely capable of countering their expected weaknesses that Hydreigon felt difficult to use. Combined with the sense from many that EXP All and the other features simplified things, it's easy to understand the belief that the game is too easy. After all, the system works great for pre-evolutions, but it's a universal buff and you get more benefit from full evolutions, so why not stomp it all? The answer is fun, but again, people optimize away fun. I'm getting off topic...

Second is structure. In older games, you would pick up Pokemon as you went. You get your starter, maybe an early option, then not get you third until about Gym 3, staggering out a new Pokemon every gym or two until you have a team of six going into the League. With smaller regional dex sizes, this wasn't too difficult, because you only had so many things to choose from. Gen 6 is flush with options across a ton of types. By the end of Viola's gym, you have something in nearly every single type available for your party, and several with multiple options. Choice paralysis starts here. I have a tough time playing games from this point on past the opening, because I'll start, get wishy-washy about the team, and then just...stop. I think it's also bad for the new Pokemon when you have a huge roster, and a ton of the early acquisitions are powerhouse favorites like Bagon and Ralts. It feels hard to justify picking up Goomy, who turns out okay but not great, when you can pick up Bagon, Axew, and Gible by that point. I prefer Gen 5's requirement to use the new stuff.

There are plenty of other issues with the gameplay. I didn't even talk about the myriad issues with Mega Evolution and how it may as well not exist given its access point. But these are aspects that are more understood and agreed upon, so I think it's time to move on.

I have talked about this already several times on this blog, but it's been a while and it's fresh so I'm doing it again. When the game came out, I was fully on board with the story complaints. It makes no sense, it's stupid, Lysandre's stupid, etc. All of it is obvious and dumb. But in recent years, I have softened to the point that I think I'm something of a Gen 6 story fan.

The major complaints against it tend to focus on the antagonist, because...let's be honest, Pokemon never has a robust story, all of it centers on what the antagonist is doing and your player is interpreted based on being the foil. Complaint 1: Lysandre's motivation makes no sense and is stupid. Complaint 2: Lysandre is so obviously the villain, why doesn't anyone stop him or question him?

I'm tossing complaint 2 out the window immediately. I have no interest in this point, it's a boring line of thought that ignores the concept of dramatic tension and what the characters are experiencing for whether they fit into our perceived logic boxes as omniscient viewers. It's as vacuous as complaining about why Eirika would trust Lyon with the Sacred Stone: because she cares about him and wants to trust he can overcome this. Done. Easy. Almost like you didn't think about the story at all if this is your complaint.

The first complaint is more salient, though, because it feels like bad writing is at fault. Why is Lysandre so contradictory? He claims to care so much about people and the region, but he's actively genocidal. He claims he wants to be someone who gives to others, to be a good person, yet is given ample opportunity to change when confronted with how wrong he is and never does. He goes on and on about people who take, but runs a Scientology cult you pay a small fortune to get in on, and runs a tech company that spies on people and collects personal data for profit. What is his deal?

But with age, I feel like...I've seen a Lysandre before. He runs a tech company and is likely worth billions, but he also runs this little cafe and is apparently a pretty good boss who cares about his workers taking breaks. He cares deeply about the country and its future, and is extremely philanthropic to things he believes are important. But at the same time, he views some subset of the population as parasitic, taking beyond what's theirs and dragging the whole country down with them. His only perceived solution is one of violent removal of these people, and is overtly willing to let others be harmed in the crossfire of removing what he has identified as the problem. I hope you can see where this is going.

Lysandre is an extremist and a nationalist, who is on the one hand someone who wants to help others, but on the other so deluded by his belief that he's perfectly identified a specific group that is The Problem. It's just that said group is a wide shot. At times it's the "unproductive fools" that makes it sound like he's on about welfare. At times it's stuff about ongoing war. His specific target shifts constantly, but his end goal is clear: everyone has to die, unless they think exactly like him. Only the in-group that he's created is worth saving. While his specific complaint feels inconsistent, his big picture is. This is the end result of that kind of in-group/out-group thinking.

This is the same for Sycamore, a highly regarded professor who, while likely not as wealthy as Lysandre, fits in the same general social spheres. Sycamore has not radicalized like Lysandre has, but Lysandre is also his friend. Yes, he goes off about things and can be uncomfortable at times, but this is a man you've known for years as someone who is compassionate and driven and does good things for the world. It's hard to confront that he may be going down a dark path.

"Okay, but Lysandre literally goes off about the positive spin on genocide and he doesn't do anything." Of course he doesn't. Aside from just believing it can't be his real feelings, it's outlandish enough to read as apolitical. The reason you get gamer dudes talking about games like FF7 as if they're completely apolitical is because, when you have a political statement that meets group consensus, there's no debate to be had, thus it is apolitical. It is bad to harm the planet to the point of killing it. No politics enter here because duh. The flip side of this coin is that anything that is so wildly against group consensus must not be serious, and is thus also apolitical. It's only when there's debate that it becomes a serious question, and serious extreme views fly under the radar because of that disbelief. And thus, Lysandre saying "What the ancient king did was terrible, but you can't deny it cleaned up the problem" is treated as just an impassioned statement said in anger, rather than a serious concern. He says it in a rough way that stings the ears, but it's because he's passionate and justifiably angry at the state of things, don't think ill of him. He doesn't mean it. Until he does. And then the warning signs make sense.

This also ties into why I think Serena (or Calem, but it...it's Serena) is the most developed protagonist, despite being silent. Protagonists get some mild character solely through their stance against the antagonist. Dawn can be assumed as a sort of champion of emotion - the importance of feeling and empathizing with others - solely because Cyrus is the complete opposite. In the case of many protagonists, this does little. Gens 1-3 don't add anything, and Gen 5 has Ghetsis who is so laughably cartoon evil that it doesn't say anything about the protagonists that they oppose him. Even in contrast to N, their presentation as "Caring about bonds with Pokemon via Pokeballs" is so in line with the status quo narrative of literally every game that it adds nothing.

Serena has flavor, though, because of the scene in the labs. You are presented a choice of two buttons. Press one, and the weapon will be damaged in a way that renders it inoperable, and the day is saved without any conflict. Press the other, and it will fire instantly. Serena is given that choice. What makes this scene tick is two elements. First, that Xerosic will fire the weapon anyway if you guess right, and Lysandre will call him out for it. The gamble was legitimate, and Lysandre was willing to let his entire plan fail before it even took off if you guessed right. Which brings into question, what's his motivation? If the genocide could be stopped so easily and he'd be fine with it, then there's another, possibly more important goal, he's after, right? Which leads to the second interesting point: there's a third option, but you cannot take it.

Look at the situation from outside. The weapon is inert, and as far as you know, the only way to currently turn it on is one of two buttons in front of you. If your end goal is "don't let the weapon fire," you can just...not push a button. That's a viable option. Stop Xerosic but don't make a choice. Except you can't just leave. The game makes you choose, which reflects the notion that the character would not think to, or would not accept, rejecting a choice. Which, I think, was Lysandre's goal.

Consider Serena as a character. When you start this journey, you are with four friends, who (notoriously) suck. They're all kinda bad at what they do. Calem is no threat as a rival, Tierno and Shauna just kinda fart around without accomplishing anything, and Trevor is so bad at being the guy filling out the dex that I have never lost our competitions no matter how much content I skip. Serena breezes through the toughest trials the region has to offer, and excels far beyond her friends, even acquiring and mastering the art of Mega Evolution that Professor Sycamore couldn't achieve. Serena is, by definition, gifted. She is exceptional. And because she is exceptional, she has never really known failure. When Lysandre makes his announcement that the weapon will be fired, there is no ultimatum issued to you. There is no reason for you, specifically, to show up. And yet he counted on it, so thoroughly that he had this decision set up just for you. A decision you didn't have to make, but cannot back away from. Why?

Because in that moment, you're thinking like him. Who else is going to stop him? Professor Sycamore can't even talk back to this guy about his extremism, he's all but useless. Your friends certainly can't contribute much in a fight. Diantha hasn't done a thing since she showed up. If you don't, who will? It has to be you. You're the only one qualified, because you've proven, time and again, how exceptional you are. You have the inflated ego, the sense of self, to see this problem the way Lysandre would. To see it as your responsibility. He openly shows it, but the character really could be part of his in-group. You have the outline for that path, you just need pushed down it. And imagine what it would do to someone like that to have made the wrong choice. God I need to write that fic some day...

Now, this isn't to suggest that XY story is peak...although I am inching ever closer to that statement to be inflammatory. A lot of its problems are really in presentation rather than substance, though. Lysandre doesn't get much play, despite how much Ghetsis got to ramble on about literally nothing interesting. Diantha does nothing but mumble about bonds one time, despite how many previous champions became deeply ingrained in their regions. Even Sycamore doesn't really get much play. But your friend group does, and a lot of that play feels extraneous and slows down progress a bit. It's just a bit too much of them, and at times they can feel rather annoying, which...I guess is ludonarrative, in some sense.

It's really just...cutscene spam. Gen 5 could go for a while, but Gen 6 feels like you get a lot more stop and go. Here's a scene. Okay now go downstairs for another scene. Okay now leave the lab for another scene. Okay try to move on to be told to visit the cafe for another scene. Okay now leave but oops another scene! It's constant interruptions where you think okay, this time for sure we're going forward, but then it screeches to a halt again. The strict gameplay sections are still fun, but I found it harder to deal with a lot of the unnecessary interruptions. I will, however, applaud the Santaulune Forest. I think having Shauna follow you and heal your party as needed was a divine way to offset the usual need to run back to the center like a dozen times while catching and training your early party. It really smoothed things out.

Overall...I had a ton of fun with this run. I'll be honest, this is above Gen 5 now. I'm kinda staggered by it too, but it checks out. It's just fun, and fast, and lets me get away with absolute nonsense. This definitely isn't my favorite, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

As for the next game up...long story short, my wife's playing Digimon but also works over the summer while I don't. While she has the switch, I think my handheld is going to be ORAS or White 2 (I'm avoiding Gen 7 as long as possible), but I'm going to start picking up Galar. Haven't decided between Sword or Shield, but...there's going to be a lot to say there, too.