#no one thinks there’s anything special about them but we need them just the same

[therealcocoshady]

Love Game - Part 3

A/N : After MONTHS of waiting… here is Love Game pt3 ! For those of you who weren’t there, you can find the first 2 chapters in the Masterlist (pinned post on my blog !).

If it weren’t for Denaun and his wisdom, you would have told Marshall to go to hell. Or rather, you would have sent him there yourself. After all, you weren’t exactly short on ideas how to kill him. You went over them in great detail as you vented to Denaun about his friend’s audacity. This lack of trust and complete disregard for the friendship you’d shared was enough for you to consider raising that baby on your own, but your best friend advised you against it. « We both know you’d come to regret your decision, Y/N » he said calmly over dinner, trying to level with you. You looked at him, crossing your arms, frankly pissed that he was siding with Marshall. « Oh, so you think it’s ok that he called me a slut?! Me, the mother of his child ?!» you asked with a glare. Denaun shook his head again, not backing down. « I’m not saying it’s ok. What I’m saying is : you’re a great mom and you want what’s best for this baby. And you do want them to know their father, don’t you? ». His tone was extremely calm, and he was annoyingly good at making valid points that didn’t go your way. « Well, if he thinks I’m such a whore, I don’t see why he would want to co-parent anyway » you mumbled.

It was clear that you were hurt, and that the few weeks that had passed since the confrontation hadn’t done anything to soften the blow. Denaun seemed to understand it, as he took your hand and looked not your eyes. « You have every reason to be mad. Hell, if you need me to say it out loud, I will : he’s an asshole. But you know as much as I do that, once he has proof that you’re carrying his baby, he will be a good father for this child. And your little one deserves to grow up, knowing who their dad is. It’s all about the baby». You looked down and nodded. As much as you wanted to make a point and prove that, if need be, you’d be an excellent single mom. But ultimately, he was right : it wasn’t about you. It was about the little one. You grabbed his hand and gave him a smile, full of gratitude. « Thank you, Nauny. I don’t know about the dad, but the baby is very lucky to have you as an uncle ». He gave your hand a gentle squeeze and looked into your eyes with the utmost seriousness. « I’ll always be there for you, Y/N. Both of you ».

You weren’t sure whether it was the hormones or just a regular emotional reaction to his kindness, but you couldn’t help the tears from welling in your eyes. « I don’t know what I would do without you, Nauny » you sighed. « You know… Sometimes, I wish you were the father ». He stared at you, staying silent for a couple of seconds. « Yeah, well… I’m not the one you took home that night » he sighed. You nodded, rolling your eyes. « That’ll teach me. No more fucking around with friends » you hummed before taking another bite of your burger, rather oblivious to the look of despair on your friend’s face.

A week later, the results came in : as predicted, the baby was, indeed, Marshall’s. To be fair, you had absolutely no doubt whatsoever regarding the matter. If they’d been any different, you would have been quick to fly to the Vatican and ask for an audience with the Pope so that your name was officially added to the Bible. You weren’t exactly fond of the idea of talking to Marshall directly so you arranged for the results to be sent to him in the mail, not even bothering with a letter or note. After all, the results spoke for themselves and all that was left was for him to eat his words. That same day, he called you and, though you debated for a quick second, you ended up taking the call. « Hey. It’s me. I, um…. I got the results » he said. « Right » you said in a tone that was as neutral as you could muster. « Are you… Are you free on Friday? We should talk. » he hummed rather awkwardly. « There’s nothing special to say for now, Marshall » you replied. « That baby isn’t due for another 22 weeks. Somehow, I don’t think there’s much for you to do, right now». You heard him let out a loud sigh on the other end of the line, and you could tell he was trying really hard not to go off on you. « We’re going to be parents. Both of us. Together. I think it’s actually important that we have a talk. So that we can… Prepare » he explained. You stayed silent for a couple of seconds, debating whether or not you were in the mood to do the right thing. But ultimately, the rational part of you brain, in which Denaun’s words were still echoing, ended up winning. « As you wish. My place. Friday. 6PM. Don’t be late ».

When Friday came around, you were thankful that Denaun had agreed to be with you. Somehow, you figured that the mention of you murdering Marshall was what convinced him, rather than the excuse of you needing emotional support. You knew your friend wasn’t keen on being caught in the middle of you and your baby daddy but, as much as you wished there was a way you could spare him, he was the person closest to you, the only one you confided in. When Marshall walked into your apartment and saw Denaun, he immediately froze. As far as you knew, they were on good terms, but he clearly wasn’t expecting him there. He quickly dapped him and looked at you with a confused frown. « You asked him here? » he asked in disbelief. You had promised Denaun that you’d be on your best behavior but you couldn’t help but clap back. « Well, unlike some people, Denaun has been here from the start. I trust him when it comes to the important decisions » you replied coldly. You could see Denaun stare at you disapprovingly, silently telling you off. Marshall sighed and shrugged. « Well, since we’re getting straight to the point… I have paperwork for us to go over » he said.

Your eyes opened a little wider. Paperwork. Seriously ? You gestured for him to sit on the couch and waited, as he handed you a small stack of paper. The first form was a non-disclosure agreement. As soon as you saw the title, you handed it back to him, absolutely refusing to have anything to do with it. « First you doubt my honesty and now what ? You decide to keep the baby a secret ?! » you exclaimed before turning to Denaun. « I gave it a try, Nauny. I really did. But if you think I’m going to-» you began yelling before Marshall interrupted you. « Will you just shut up and fucking read before you start screaming? » he asked in exasperation before continuing. « It’s not about keeping the baby a secret. I mean, of course, I want them to have privacy but I’m not going to hide the fact that they’re mine ! Who do you think I am ? Drake ?! It’s just standard procedure, so that nothing about our relationship as co-parents ends up in the media. My lawyers insisted ». You glared at him and took another look at the NDA. « Of course. You questioned my honesty in the first place. Why wouldn’t you think I’m after money ? » you scoffed. He stared at you in silence and rolled his eyes. « Again. Lawyers. Not me. Not that you care » he sighed, before glancing at Denaun. « I don’t know how or even why you put up with her. She’s fucking crazy » he mumbled. Your friend crossed his arms and looked at the two of you. « Stop. Both of you. You’re acting like children. You’re grown-ass adults, about to have a kid together, have some shame ! Marshall, you better show Y/N some respect. She’s carrying your baby ! And you, Y/N, you need to stop painting him as a villain. You guys obviously liked each other enough to mess around in the first place. So how about you show some of that appreciation when it comes to dealing with the consequences ?! » he thundered.

Both you and Marshall stared at him in silence, obviously not used to any outburst coming from Denaun. You stared down, while Marshall glanced sideways. « Now, I’m going to let you handle this as grownups and future parents. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen. And I better not hear any yelling » he threatened before leaving the room. The silence remained for a couple of minutes, before Marshall let out a sigh. « Look, it’s just… I told Paul about the baby, alright ? And he figured that paperwork might help figure out things. If it’s any comfort, it also states I’m not allowed to slander you or mention you in any track. And the rest… it’s just formalities. Like ensuring my name is on the birth certificate, making sure I have a legal right to see the baby, and that I give you child support » he calmly explained. You looked at him and nodded. « Alright » you said as you started to peruse the forms. « Denaun’s right, you know ? We need to act like… adults » he hummed, to which you nodded. « I know. It’s just not easy when the other co-parent pisses you off » you quietly replied. « But I suppose we’ll need to get used to it ». He let out a chuckle and leaned back in the couch as you read the forms. « Yeah, I guess ». When you finished going through the paperwork, you looked at him and sighed. « So… that’s what you wanted to do ? Paperwork? » you asked. « Mostly. I also wanted to know how you were doing. If the baby’s ok, or if you need something » he said. You hummed quietly, wondering if it your interactions would always have the same clinical and official undertone from now on. « Let’s see… Still nauseous but it’s definitely better. Craving for Italian, lately, if that’s of any interest. And, um… I have another ultrasound coming up. Other than that, that’s pretty much it » you reviewed. He thoughtfully nodded, as if he were making some mental note, though you weren’t too sure how that might concern him directly.

You made small talk for a bit and ended up calling Denaun back to the living room. As he walked in, he stared at both you and Marshall with a stern look on his face, much like a parent willing to make sure their kids had behaved as directed. « Everything alright? » he asked in an inquisitive tone. Both of you glanced at each other and nodded. « Yeah we’re good », Marshall assured him. « I should probably get going. Do you want to come by the studio later ? I’ve got beats ». Your friend looked at you and scratched the back of his head. « I would have loved to, man, but we made reservations for that Italian place Y/N is obsessed with, these days » he replied apologetically. Marshall paused for a second and hummed. « Right. Well… see you around, Y/N. And uh… you’ll call me if you need anything, right? ». You nodded and gave him a tentative smile. « I mean, sure. But unless you’re willing to hold my hair when I puke, I don’t think there’s much for you to do, you know? » you replied. He stared at you intently, his eyes going from your face to your belly, and shrugged. « Well, yeah, but… I don’t know. Like… if you have updates ? » he asked awkwardly.

The whole thing seemed haphazard. If a stranger were to walk in the room, they wouldn’t have been able to tell you and Marshall had ever been so… intimate. In that moment, it felt like you were two strangers learning to communicate. You but your lip, the realization being rather painful. After all, before all of this, he had been one of your favorite people on earth. Why he had turned his back on you this way, you weren’t too sure… but now, you didn’t have much choice, and you needed to do your best to mend things. Even though it felt like you weren’t at fault. You gave him a smile before grabbing an envelope from your handbag. « I don’t know if you… uh… I can show you the latest ultrasound if you’d like? » you offered. At your words, his eyes opened a little wider and he blinked even faster than usual. « Yeah. Ok. » he nodded. He got closer and you showed him the closest thing you had to a picture of your baby. You tentatively pointed the shadows on it. « So, here, there’s the head. And over there, that’s an arm » you explained. He seemed kind of fascinated by it, much to your surprise. « That’s really crazy » he whispered. You could see a smile form on Denaun’s face as he encouraged you, while Marshall was focused on the picture. « Do you want to keep it? » you offered. « Can I? » Marshall asked. « Yeah, sure. I have copies ». He grabbed the picture from your hand and carefully placed it in his pocket, before staring at you. « Thanks, Y/N » he said in a solemn tone. He leaned forward and, for a second, you almost thought he was going to hug you or kiss your cheek. But instead, he patted your shoulder in a way that made you wonder if he had actually ever interacted with a human being before. You even noticed Denaun raising an eyebrow. He went to dap Denaun and, before he left, you had to ask an important question.

« Uh, Marshall ? » you called as he stepped in the hallway. « Yeah? » he asked. « You… you said you were going to legally acknowledge the baby as yours, right? » you questioned nervously, to which he nodded, as if the answer was evident. « I mean, yeah. I think it’s what’s best » he replied, visibly wondering where this was getting. You thoughtfully hummed and bit your lip. « So…don’t you think we should tell the other guys in the group as well? ».

[the-universal-sun]

Little Stan being scared of a thunderstorm with Ford and Fidds comforting him?

I’m going to make this based in the 80s where Fidds and Stan got Ford back after a few years. I just couldn’t think of how to involve Old Man McGucket in this. But one day I will!

BAM-CRACKLE

Came the loud noise from outside, the power in the shack going out briefly before the back up generator kicks in. Stanford hears a terrified yelp come from the living room and rushes, as calmly as he can, to the next room to check on his brother and Fiddleford. Loud noises have a tendency to scare Stan, and while Stanford trusts Fiddleford to look after him, he’s been doing so for a couple of years without him, he still needs to see that his little brother is okay when he’s like this.

The scene he came to was one of Fiddleford frantically waving around a large lump in Stan’s Teddy Bear blanket, trying to coax the lump out. Stan must’ve hid under his blanket when he heard the thunder. All in all, this was a tamer reaction than other times, he can’t hear any crying or wailing, yet.

“It’s okay, Jitter Bug, it’s just some thunder! I know it’s loud n’ all, but it can’t hurt ya! I’m here, I’ve got ya’, Stanley!” Fiddleford flutters around frantically, trying to coax Stanley from his blanket cocoon, which shivers occasionally, but otherwise makes no sound or movement. Stanford walks closer and leans down and places a hand on what he presumes is Stan’s back, rubbing it in circles softly, speaking lowly as to not frighten his brother further.

“Lee? Stanley? It’s alright. It’s just like Fidds said, we’ll protect you from the thunder, so there’s no need to be afraid,” the lump under the blanket shivers some more, but leans towards them. “Can you come out, please? We’d love to see you, I know I’m missing my Lee’s face. Hmmm?” He sees Fiddleford slowly grab the edge of the blanket and pull it up, revealing Stan to the living room. And it’s a pitiful sight indeed.

Stan is hunched over on his knees, cuddling his teddy bear and covering his ears, his eyes tightly clenched shut. He’s shaking a little, and it just brings an ache in Stanford’s heart. He knows Fiddleford feels the same by the small sad-sounding whimper he hears be released from his throat. Stan cries and lunges for Stanford when another loud clap of thunder sounds out. Ford, of course, catches his brother, holding him close and shushing his sobs, Fiddleford rubbing his back and whispering assurances in his ears.

“There, its’s okay, Lee. Your Fidds and I are here, we’ll protect you from the thunder.” Stanford kisses the crown of Stan’s head, softly shushing him.

“Ford’s right, Pumpkin Pie, ain’t gonna let anything hurt ya’, we’ll keep you safe.” Fiddleford tickles Stan’s ear with his nose, earning a wispy giggle before a quieter clap of thunder sounds.

Stan whimpers, burying his head in Ford’s shirt, nibbling on it before he catches himself. Squeezing Poindexter tighter between him and Stanford, and Ford mimics the right squeezes on his brother, keeping up a comforting pressure around him, hoping to stop any potential sobs that may crawl their way out of his brothers throat.

“How about Fidds gets my special headphones from the basement for you, and we can build a Fort in the living room. One just for the three of us.” His headphones were used to listen to radar signals coming from outer space. They may be used to listen for sounds, but when disconnected they’re adequate at muffling the sound around the wearer. Stanford gently pulled Poindexter away from Stan’s chewing mouth.

“Yeah, n’ I’ll be back in a jiffy, too,” Stanford mouths ‘Bring a Pacifier’ to Fiddleford “and we’ll make the best Fort ever, ‘kay, hun?” Stan sniffles and nods, turning his pout toward Fiddleford, one handedly attempting to sign ‘safe’. ASL was still a work in progress.

“Fiddleford will be safe, Lee. He’ll be gone for only ten minutes at the most. Now,” Stanford sits up, bringing Stan up with him, “let’s get started on our Fort. I’ll gather the pillows and blankets, can you write down a name for it? I trust that you’ll pick the best one.”

Stan, with a small smile, gathers his scattered papers and crayons, settling down facing the doorway so he can watch for Fiddleford. Stanford smiles, ruffling his brother’s hair and earning a giggle. Moses, he loves his brother. He loves how much happier Stan’s looked since he’s started regressing without shame, how light he looks. He loves how Fiddleford loves Stan, loves to care for him. Stanford loves to care for his brother, being the protector for once.

With these two and his research, Stanford’s life feels absolutely perfect.

[sweetbabymantykes]

How do you keep habitats for swamp-dwelling pokémon like Clodsire or Whiscash appropriately... "swampy"?

I've recently come into possession of an Alolan Muk. I'm trying to figure out what sort of habitat it needs online, but all I've found is someone talking about "sludge ponds".

How do you figure out what sort of purity to keep the swamps at? I know she's supposed to eat trash, but I don't want her habitat to just be an uncleaned pool. Do you have to clean the swamps at the aquarium?

Well, uh...Muk is a bit of a special case. For most 'swamp' habitats we make, the most important factor is the substrate. Clodsire and Whiscash specifically require mud-bottom habitats, which means we bring in a lot of silty soil and leaf litter to make sure their environments are accurate and the water's acidity is high enough. Getting the right plants in there too really helps minimize the amount of work that needs to be put in filtering and cleaning the water, most of the cleaning we do of the wetland exhibits involves pruning plants and rotating leaf litter and adding peat moss, but most of this advice isn't particularly helpful with the Muk family.

The thing about Muk, and especially Alolan Muk, is that they feed off of human pollution. The 'sludge pools' in question are usually full of this- trash, oil, chemicals, industrial sludge. And to that end you really can't keep anything else in there, ideal living conditions for Muk are toxic to everything except the most resilient poison types. It's great that you want to do better for your Muk in terms of food, but if they aren't fed something with a diet of enough heavy metals and toxic chemicals- the chemicals are especially important for Alolan Muk, the reactions is where they get a lot of their energy- they get aggressive and destructive, and then they get sick.

I'm not an expert on poison types, but given the conversations I've had with other competitive trainers, you can at least curate the type of garbage your friend eats. The fancy curated diet one of my IRL friends feeds their Alolan Muk consists of cadmium paint, industrial pesticide, and batteries (charged and dead). Kind of expensive, but this is a diet for a high-level competitively-trained Muk, so given that it's still in the same ballpark of other high-level diet costs. I'm not sure how you plan to train your Muk, but I think this diet is a pretty good base to build off of. Paint, household chemicals, and scrap metal generally aren't difficult to come by. And if that doesn't satisfy them, give your local sanitation department a call and see if they're looking for help with waste disposal- I'm sure your Muk would be more than happy to help.

[hailturinturambar]

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Sauron and Adar's Relationship

This analysis is not romantic or emotional in nature following human standards. But I treat this analysis as an overview of the relationship between two immortal beings who spent centuries at war.

So we start at the beginning. When Arda was created and Eru Ilúvatar allowed the Valar to enter the world, accompanied by immortal beings of lesser power.

In the first season, Galadriel begins her prologue by stating that not everything in the beginning is bad. Not even Mairon (later Sauron) was. He began in Arda as a Maia of the Valar Aulë. One of the most powerful and renowned Maia. Something that clearly attracted the interest of Melkor, Morgoth.

Betraying the Valar, Mairon accompanies Melkor on his dark path to rule Arda. His knowledge gained from Aulë proves to be of great value and regret in the future. And Sauron served his new master masterfully.

So we come to the main point, where does Adar fit into the story? We know from the books that the Orcs were created in different contexts, the forms vary according to the book. In some, the Orcs were elves corrupted by Morgoth, in others he just created them/or they already existed, but we also find reports that the Orcs are a mockery of the elves, which Morgoth hates more than anything.

Adar still possesses elven traits, even if his appearance is distorted. So, in my view, Adar is possibly one of the elves of Beleriand captured and damaged according to Morgoth's designs.

But there had to be something special about Adar. He was of a higher rank than the Orcs, yet lower than Sauron. Who is Adar among Morgoth's followers? Perhaps an ally of Sauron, an aide or captain of Orcs, a spy of great value, perhaps.

Without Morgoth, someone needs to take control, and that person could only be Sauron. And for some reason, he trusts Adar enough to keep him by his side. Sauron has lost yet another master and is alone in the world, he only has the Orcs by his side, and of course, Adar.

On a twisted level, I would say, but in the prologue of the second season we see a certain camaraderie between Sauron and Adar. Perhaps, without Morgoth, Sauron saw himself with the new Melkor and Adar as a new version of himself.

When the first Orc attacks, it seemed to me that Adar hesitated, as if an intrinsic part of him, corrupted by centuries, was ready to protect Sauron, with whom he had lived for so long, even if that was not his plan.

But to Adar, his children are more important than Sauron. And he knows that Sauron will destroy his children if he has power in his hands. He knows that deep down, Sauron is as cruel as Morgoth and that the Orcs do not matter to him. Just small pieces in the great game.

This is the point of no return between Sauron and Adar. I wonder, when the Orcs started attacking Sauron and Sauron killed so many of them in self-defense, why didn't Adar fight back?

Why did Adar, the Father of so many Orcs, who suffered at the hands of Morgoth and Sauron, not attack his oppressor? Was he simply delivering vengeance and justice into the hands of his children, or was he ultimately not capable of ending Sauron forever? Yes, he struck him with Morgoth's crown, but would he be able to destroy Sauron forever?

Sauron looks at Adar as the crown hits him, and you can see the betrayal in his eyes. He certainly did not expect Adar to hurt him, to turn against him.

Centuries have passed since Sauron's death, and he has spent many long years struggling to regain his new form, while Adar has increased his influence and power among the Orcs.

Sauron has returned and now he is Halbrand. Vengeance emanates from him and he needs to reclaim his kingdom and everything he lost to Adar's betrayal. So he is on the ship with the mortals, to a better place. And we wonder if this could be the beginning of his redemption.

I still think a lot about the mortal's words "What haunts you so?"

Yes, Sauron, what haunts you? Is it the loss of your power? He is alone in the world again, weaker after his recovery, stripped of his power and his servants, forced to start over. Or is he haunted by Adar's betrayal that took everything from him? Like a stab in the back from a long-lost friend.

In drifting with Galadriel, Halbrand talks about the Orcs taking everything from him. We know he's the Great Deceiver, but he's not genuinely lying to her at this point.

In his conception, the Orcs, his servants, betrayed him and took everything from him, but it is not as Galadriel thinks and he is satisfied with that. He needs to regain his lost kingdom, so he lets her believe that he has lost his mortal kingdom to the Orcs.

Galadriel has deep wounds caused by Morgoth, Sauron and the Orcs, unconsciously she takes Halbrand's side and embraces his suffering. The meaning is the same, Sauron/Halbrand have been betrayed, lost everything and are alone.

Galadriel understands him and suffers for him, but not for who he really is. And he knows it. Sauron has learned that no one will stand by him, not knowing who he really is. So, he is who Galadriel thinks he is, if it means gaining her help and sympathy.

Our "brothers in Morgoth" are now going their separate ways.

In Númenor, Galadriel insists that Halbrand reclaim his throne. Whether it is a deception, a strategy, or not, Sauron insists that it is best not to return. Better for everyone, right? For Middle-earth, for the Orcs, for Adar, even for Galadriel.

The flame of vengeance still burns in Sauron and Galadriel manages to conquer his will. "Because I cannot stop." These are Galadriel's words to Halbrand. But it is a very intimate question, perhaps a reflection of Sauron's inner self and vulnerability.

He has lost everything, why does he continue to fight? Because just like Galadriel, he cannot stop. He would never be able to find redemption and I believe this phrase defines it well.

Let's now analyze Middle-earth. Arondir is captive and talking to Adar. Adar speaks of "lies so deep," lies that will never be cleared up until the world is remade by the gods. And even though he claims he is not yet a god, he still holds the gods in some regard, perhaps in his still elven part.

Sauron and Adar share similar worldviews, even if they don't agree. Sauron wants to heal Middle-earth, either by ruling or saving it, but he believes that his path is the right one and that light will come through the darkness, as Galadriel told him. I think he has thought deeply about this.

It is similar with Adar. He believes that he can find a safe place in Middle-earth for his children, away from Sauron and his destruction, away from the humans who have never accepted them. In any case, Adar and Sauron's vision of healing and helping is just as corrupt. Always seeking a form of evil in order to achieve good.

“Do you remember me?” Sauron, I don't think you're capable of forgetting.

Together in Middle-earth, we have Sauron and Adar fighting on opposing sides. As he confessed to Galadriel, he is not fighting for humans against the Orcs, but fighting against his own enemies.

He thought about this a lot. Did Sauron expect recognition? Even after centuries and a new beautiful form, did he hope that deep down, Adar would recognize who he was facing?

Adar's words don't really affect me that much. He believed Halbrand was mortal, so it's only natural that he believed his revenge would be completely mortal. A wife or children are usually what motivates many men to go to war. But he doesn't realize that he's dealing with the only person who trusted him and who has been betrayed by him.

Sauron wants to kill Adar, and it takes a lot of control and calm in his plan to not take the next step. Which was good, obviously, because it convinced Galadriel.

Galadriel also believes in Adar's beliefs, trusting that Halbrand is a mortal who lost his loved ones to the Orcs, like her. Her pity for Halbrand also represents how she sees herself.

Did Sauron fear that Adar would know the truth? I don't think so. He must have noticed that he was not recognized. So Adar is focused solely on Galadriel. Halbrand has been forgotten. Their paths are now long separated. Sauron leaves for Eregion after the attacks of Adar and his sons.

Their paths separate once more. The elves know the truth about Sauron, though not all. But his deception remains. The people of Middle-earth still believe in the lost king. But does Adar really believe?

In Númenor, when Halbrand sends Galadriel to find another head to crown, when she insists that she could place that crown there herself. Did Sauron remember Adar's betrayal? Maybe. He reacted extremely angrily. Or was it a lie?

In the second season we glimpse an interesting twist. Sauron, once so powerful and feared alongside Morgoth, then a revered mortal king, has now been stripped of everything, again by Adar. And Adar is now the king of Mordor. Something Sauron has not achieved.

Does Sauron envy Adar's relationship with the Orcs? Sauron has gone through many changes in his life. From a kind master in Valinor, to a tyrannical and cruel master in Middle-earth. And Adar has managed to have servants who are not servants, but sons who follow him and will stand by his side.

Adar tells of his transformation at the hands of Morgoth, of his torment and pain. Then there is Sauron, his light in the darkness, a salvation after so much pain. Why did Sauron cry? Was it a deception? Or a reminder of his own sufferings at the hands of a god?

Waldreg says that pain must be something Halbrand enjoys. And Annatar confesses to Celebrimbor that sometimes pain was a reward. Was that the reason for her tears?

In different ways, Sauron and Adar suffered at the hands of Morgoth. Like sons suffering at the hands of a tyrannical father, one is rewarded and the other destroyed. But in the end, both know only suffering.

If Adar suspected Halbrand, why did he let him go? Like centuries ago, when his Orcs killed Sauron, did he stand still out of fear or because he was unable to face Sauron? Not out of fear, but because of their long history together.

Love and hate do indeed go together.

By fate or the Valar, Sauron and Adar are doomed to fight each other. Sauron departs as Halbrand and enters at the calm and peacefull Eregion. It is time to begin his deception and obtain what he desires most in the world, The Rings of Power.

While Sauron pursues his goal of creating the rings and dominating Middle-earth, he leaves Adar in the background. He has not forgotten him and will still destroy his forces, but now his attention requires elsewhere.

In this time, Adar and his Orcs grow stronger and seek enemies against Sauron. Galadriel is once again entangled in the story of these two long-time enemies.

I believe that Adar was sincere in his words. He wants to destroy Sauron and is willing to ally himself with the elves. But Adar is very powerful, he has many followers. He does not need the elves and their help, he needs The Rings of Power. With the ring, he would be able to face Sauron.

Why does he need Galadriel? Perhaps because, like her, he understands the emptiness that Sauron's departure leaves, the grayness that consumes everything until only he and his absence remain. Is Adar capable of destroying Sauron and never getting rid of the grayness? Maybe yes, maybe no. But he believes that with Galadriel by his side, he will be able to.

With the Siege of Eregion, Sauron loses his temper and his plan is almost discovered. There is Adar again, hindering his glory. But he is patient, he is intelligent. He has spent centuries thinking about his revenge, planning his sovereignty over all beings in Middle-earth, this time, Adar will not be his downfall.

Adar fighting the elves was very beneficial to Sauron. Adar thinned the armies, separated the elves and murdered them. Sauron's path is almost clear. He is like a king of the world, sitting on his throne watching his enemies fight. Like an emperor in an arena, waiting for everyone to destroy each other for his glory and amusement.

It was hilarious, I must say, see Adar to believe he was winning. That he was being wiser and more intelligent than the elves. To Adar, the elves had fallen into a trap. But wasn't it the other way around?

"Never make war in anger."

Honestly, Adar, is this about you or Elrond? Because Sauron got what he wanted and Adar fell for his deception.

Here the curtain closes and the play is at an end. Eregion has fallen and Sauron is still free. The Great Deceiver returns for his final revenge, for now, of course. Adar has Galadriel's ring. And he looks so tired. Fighting Sauron for centuries has finally defeated him, he has given up. He wants to live in peace with his children, far from Sauron and his power.

Adar spent centuries with his children, but he seems to me a very lonely man. He had children and nothing else. The gray remained there. Perhaps, in some twisted and painful way, he missed Sauron's company. Once, many centuries ago, they had served the same master and were relatively equal.

"They are not children any more."

That sounded terribly cruel. That was Sauron’s goal, wasn’t it? When he says those words to Adar on his deathbed, Sauron is removing the last shred of joy from Adar. Decimating the goodness and innocence that Adar had tried to instill in his children. Sauron took away from Adar the last thing he cared about. This was his ultimate betrayal. An eye for an eye, you might say.

Did Adar think of Mairon as he died? How in the Elder Days, Marion was there to be the cure when Morgoth was the disease? How he offered him wine and helped him in his own sick and cruel way. Did he think of his beautiful face?

Or did he think of the beautiful face of Annatar, who is Halbrand, who is Sauron, who is Mairon, as he killed him and took his revenge? Their deaths were similar and I am sure it was no accident.

May the Valar have pity on them, because my analysis does not. Sauron and Adar are like characters in a Greek tragedy. Condemned to solitude and suffering until the end of days.

Last words: English is not my first language and it is quite tiring to write a long text in my language and then have to translate it into English, paying attention to mistakes and spelling. But I do it so that more people can read it and appreciate it.

I posted this analysis after the hate I received, for all the people who voted for the suggestion for the next analysis, and for all those who supported me when I vented. To those who follow me and are happy with my writing, this long text is for you.

[seventeenlovesthree]

Since it's my personal mission to make everybody watch the Digimon Adventure Tri Stage Play, I dug up one of my favourite interviews again. I owe the producer my life, because he simply managed to create the best piece of Digimon Adventure media since Adventure itself (in my opinion almost as amazing as Our War Game and that MEANS something). However, I saw a few people being confused about a few things, so I wanted to clarify:

"Wait, is the Stage Play just Tri's story but done on stage?"

Nope, it does take place during the Tri era (between the third and fourth movie to be exact), but it is an original (side) story that can be watched without having any knowledge of Tri or Tri's plot.

"Does the story take place in the real or in the Digital World?"

That would actually be a spoiler and since there is no easy answer to this, I'm gonna say you have to watch it for yourself.

"Are the characters like in the original or like in Tri?"

That's the fun part - of course there are glimpses and pieces of the Tri characterizations, but the producer really did his very best to adapt the characters faithfully and as respectfully from the original source material as much as he could and I think you can feel that:

"To be honest, the generational timing was a little off for me, so I had never seen Digimon before. After I received the request for the stage play, I watched all of it, including the original TV series and the movie series, but I didn’t expect that I’d be crying so many times. It was a story of human growth and Digimon evolution being deeply intertwined, and I watched as that growth and evolution was overlaid with so many other things. Maybe it was because I watched it as an adult, but I was able to see it from all sorts of perspectives in regards to “people growing”. (...) While I’ve worked with other people’s stories and made plays out of them several times, it was usually in the sense of taking the original work’s story and repurposing it for the stage format. But for this one, even though I’m borrowing the original series’s characters, the story is being written from scratch, and it’s my first time writing words for characters that were created by other people. It was a high level of difficulty, and I still feel it even now. Also, it made me wonder how the scriptwriters for the anime must have done this. They were also writing the same characters in the same world, while sharing that job with tons of other people. It’s amazing that they were able to do that. But, naturally, it wasn’t just full of difficult and painful things, but once the story properly got going, I got to hear the lines I was writing in the voices of the characters from the original series, and getting to savor those kinds of moments was very fun. Someone like me, who works in the theatre field, gets to take over the job of writing the lines of characters made by others. And then I have Toei check over it, and we get even closer to the mark. So in other words, we bring these characters to life by sharing them between everyone. And especially in the case of Digimon, it was an interesting experience in that there wasn’t just one writer or director, but rather that everyone had their own version of Taichi and Yamato, and the dialogue was born from between all of that.

"Anything else I need to know?"

If you are able to see past some cringe, don't mind nostalgia baiting and are okay with a few... Questionable scenes in regards to the main antagonist (which you will definitely know if you've watched the original Adventure series), you will enjoy this.

Also, personally, I'd say this is the order of plot relevance of each human character, so if your favourite characters are in the top half of the list (and even if they're not), you are likely to have fun:

Taichi

Jyou

Koushirou

Yamato

Mimi

Hikari

Sora

Takeru

[9trixieturner6]

Oh yeah no I get that enjis wasn’t a persona he was just a standoffish dick. I was saying if he had more knowledge in how to handle people or work a crowd he could have done that encounter wrong. And yeah in the future there may very well be a mistrust against rough and tumble heroes we don’t know, given how the biggest focus wasn’t even on what endeavor did to his family but more that he was related to a villain I can’t really say what the general audience reaction is gonna be in the future. Maybe they’ll just think bakugos rude.

Once again could be we don’t see what dropping is, does dropping mean wow he went from fourth to fifth or seventh to fifteenth or seventeen to twenty eight or to a hundred and ninth.

That one is a rough one since it is subjective, unless specifically told something like horikoshi saying yes X and Y were intentionally done and mean this you can take anything done in the story a lot of ways. And even if he does come out and says something like that nothing is stopping people from viewing it another way if they want to it’s one of the best things about art, it’s subjective so anyone can take it how they want.

As for not being brought up again that’s all how you wanna take it, author bias and just not showing what’s going on in the background or is the author showing it isn’t happening anymore. It’s in the tone of how it’s presented too, a lot of people call bakugo an angry Pomeranian lightheartedly cause horikoshi has been showing his personality more for comedic effect since the school festival arc. You can take that as just ignoring the problem or showing it’s not a problem anymore and just a gag. Nothing wrong with either view it’s just a matter of perspective.

Do you mean how he fails for his bad bedside manner? Cause yeah by that point that’s where his biggest weakness was, that’s why he failed it while kaminari and kirishima passed just by helping those two people.

Yeah that one is a mixed bag that falls into the shonen logic cycle. Since this is the main characters test it doesn’t fit the same mold as everyone else’s test. More than being a test against all might it was pretty much just an excuse to start building the bridge between them and honestly it could have been done at any time it didn’t need to be here.

Yeah all might even has that line of working together was a prerequisite not something special, but again that’s on the author giving the test special treatment cause it’s major characters. Just like with shotos and momos, it was more for their growth than to be a true test.

Oh for sure I one hundred percent get that, horikoshis writing falls into that weird space between show don’t tell and keeping the status quo. He likes to have these big moments that show growth or change and has characters point it out to say see this is a bullet point in their growth, instead of more slowly integrating it and letting it slow burn in the background. It’s like he does with deku and aoyama, we really don’t get any build up just all of a sudden they’re friends having this big bonding moment, then it’s completely gone and ignored till it needs to come up for some reason like the traitor plot.

What bothers me the most about Izuku's character is that it seems like he can't feel anything, like because he can't be angry with what happens to him, you know why he can't have negative feelings towards Bakugou? This admiration he has for the bomb boy is not normal and healthy, it reminds me of Stockholm Syndrome. Bakugou stans say that Izuku is boring, but when talking about this thing about him not being angry with Bakugou, they keep saying that we don't understand Izuku's character. What's your opinion? Am I exaggerating?

I don't think you're exaggerating. In fact, I think it's deliberate on Horikoshi's part.

I began to realize Izuku's character was regressing the minute I first came across this scene:

This is the only scene I can justify hating Izuku's character because it was such an out of pocket line coming from him. And it kind of stuck in my head for weeks because it felt so OOC. Like, Izuku of all characters pushing for Todoroki to forgive Endeavor? It made no sense to me.

But do you see how it pans to Bakugou?

To me, this is Horikoshi indirectly attempting to absolve Bakugou. Izuku's line here is trying to communicate that that's how he feels about Bakugou.

Similarly to All Might saying Izuku doesn't hold what Bakugou did against him, this is another piece of plot manipulation from Horikoshi. Bakugou's redemption is pushed through the words of others, not through his actions. Especially when it comes to how he treated Izuku.

If Izuku, at any point, was still upset or noticeably traumatized by Bakugou's actions, Bakugou couldn't have been reasonably redeemed. Because there would be no feasible reason to even have him around Izuku and the only reason Bakugou's even relevant is due to Horikoshi sticking him onto Izuku in every arc

[lilnasxvevo]

Oh my god just realized Antsy Bonano and Calvin Schwa were TOTALLY gay for each other

[edwinisms]

see I can’t accept charles’ comic background and socioeconomic status as canon for the show because if I did that would mean the whole group would be a bunch of rich kids and that’s a horrifying concept

[kr-cube]

med looking less wasteful this tournament than he did the entire year is a good thing, especially now that we are getting closer to uso

[hollowed-theory-hall]

#anyway. a bit on the 19th century amenities#they had to be washed and cleaned thoroughly + it was important to keep different things for different products#acidic fruits will rust the knives so you'd want to use smth like glass and so on#making butter was a tedious process and i suppose wizarding kitchens still have these instruments and most importantly raw fat milk#however.#i suppose they bewitch their instruments hence why rice cooker when the stove “knows” when to turn off the heat#+ i wonder if they buy muggle-made amenities. stainless steel is simply better than anything else used previously for example via @superconductivebean

These additions in the tags are great!

I mean, we see they use pewter cauldrons, so I actually don't think they use stainless steel. They probably just use charms to make whatever material they're using more durable than the muggle equivalent.

And yeah, they can probably bewitch the stove to "know" when to turn off. I assume they also don't need to preheat the oven, as magic could just get it to the right heat instantly.

And the same way the dishes wash themselves I love the idea of a butter churner, just, running on its own in the background in many wizarding houses. I mean, they seem to not have supermarkets, and we know the Weasleys actually have a chicken coop for eggs, and the Lovegoods fish Plimpies. (I want to note about my former point regarding magical ingredients in food, that the Lovegoods are shown as eccentric and weird for drinking Gurdyroot tea, for example). So it seems wizards living far from muggles (which is most of them) get a lot of their food from whatever they can grow/make/fish/hunt nearby. Though, I assume they have greengrocers for various vegetables and butchers where they can buy meat, maybe a few bakeries as well (although I definitely see Mrs. Weasley baking bread on her own). In general, they seem to be operating without supermarkets and would need to shop in more specialized stalls/shops for different foods instead of one giant building with everything. Like, I imagine it like older marketplaces. I mean, It's possible there's a butcher shop in Diagon or Hogsmeade that Harry never mentioned because he never needed to buy food products there.

What do you think cooking looks like in the wizarding world?

As in, how many modern ameneties do you think they're incorporating? We can assume they have things like a toaster, since they eat toast all the time in the books (unless there's a toasting spell) but I highly doubt the wizards have a dishwasher, since magic can fulfill the same function and the Weasleys don't use one.

Other things, like microwaves, are a little more unclear to me, since there's definitely a spell to reheat food, but microwaves also have some unique properties in HOW they cook that gets you things like mug cookies. And how would they be cooking rice? They'd probably have to stovetop it right? Which seems a lot more inconvenient than a microwave or a rice cooker.

Adding into that, there are unique ingredients wizards have access to with magical plants and animals that might require a different approach to cooking them. Do you have any thoughts on that front?

Do you think certain foods that are less common in the muggle world are really common in the wizarding world? Or vice versa?

We also know house elves do a lot of the cooking and chores for families that have them, but how much magic is involved in that process?

It also seems like even with magic involved, it takes Molly a lot of time and effort to cook. That might just be because she has to cook so much to feed everyone or because they eat everything homecooked, but I feel like it's an indicator that cooking with magic doesn't make the process that much easier, just different. Instead of a dishwasher you're using your wand and all that.

And speaking of homecooked, what kind of pre-packaged meals do you think exist in the wizarding world, and what would prep for that look like?

Sorry, this was like 12 questions in one, I just had more thoughts the more I looked at it.

I saw this ask and I was immediately super interested to answer it because it raises some fun world-building details. Now, I'm gonna say, right out of the gate, I think wizards use close to 0 (zero) modern amenities in cooking. They have spells, stoves, ovens, tools like knives, and that's basically it.

I'm gonna start with the toast since you can make toast without a toaster. All you need is a frying pan (or oven, but I use a frying pan).

So I assume that's how wizards make toast as Mr. Weasley clearly treats toasters as a muggle contraption he has no clue how to use:

Sitting on top of Mr. Weasley’s overflowing in-tray was an old toaster that was hiccuping in a disconsolate way and a pair of empty leather gloves that were twiddling their thumbs.

(OotP)

(I want to note about toast in a frying pan, as someone who makes it occasionally, the taste and consistency of the bread is so much better in a pan than in a toaster. You fry it with butter (or olive oil) so it doesn't get dry like in a toaster. It's great, you should try it)

And you don't need a rice cooker to cook rice, you can make rice in a pot on the stove with water, that's a thing people do (by people, I mean me, I never owned a rice cooker). Like, people made rice before the rice cooker was invented (as they made toast before the toaster was invented). But, I'll note I don't think rice is a standard part of the cuisine in Magical Britain, at least it doesn't seem to be served at Hogwarts or at the Weasleys. The staple carbs we see served most often in the books are potatoes, I believe (potatoes are probably the most mentioned food that isn't candy).

Like toasters, wizards have no idea what a microwave is or how it works:

Back in the kitchen, Moody had replaced his eye, which was spinning so fast after its cleaning it made Harry feel sick. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Sturgis Podmore were examining the microwave and Hestia Jones was laughing at a potato peeler she had come across while rummaging in the drawers. 

(OotP)

They don't even know how to work a potato peeler which is interesting since they do peel potion ingredients. I assume they are used to just using knives and scalpels to peel ingredients and not peelers made for the job. Basically, wizards still cook like in the 19th century in terms of tools and amenities.

I was always under the impression they have heating, cooling, and preserving charms (since they don't have fridges) that replace many amenities. Though I assume preserving charms won't really work like a fridge, they would keep the food as it is, if it's warm, it stays warm so you won't even have to reheat it!

And any heating charm would likely not be able to cook like a microwave, neither would it heat like an oven or a stove (I imagine it'll have an effect similar to an air fryer if I had to guess) and they don't seem to have ready-made microwavable food either, so, they won't really need a microwave. I mean, all the food we see is homemade from scratch. Besides, pre-made meals just don't fit the vibe of the Wizarding World.

To continue the discussions of household charms, there is a charm that make dishwashers unnecessary:

She [Molly] flicked her wand casually at the dishes in the sink, which began to clean themselves, clinking gently in the background.

(CoS)

As for it taking Molly time to cook even with magic, well, I think that has more to do with the cooking than the effort. Like, magic probably makes quite a few of the processes necessary for cooking (peeling, mixing, dicing, etc.) easier, but cooking still takes the same time. Like, if you need a certain amount of minutes to heat up water to a boiling point in a given heat, magic doesn't make a difference. If it takes 2 hours for something to bake in an even heat in the oven, it would still be 2 hours even if the heat source is magical. The heat is still the same heat. That's why, I think, magic doesn't really affect the time it takes for something to cook.

(I will note it's possible mixing, dicing, and peeling might need to be done by hand too considering they do all of this by hand for potions. But I think they can be done by magic mostly because potion-making is different from cooking and it's likely spells for this aren't as exact and precise as doing it by hand, especially for young and inexperienced wizards and witches. Also, a severing charm exists, and making a spoon mix a cauldron for you is very similar to making utensils clean themselves, which is something we know they can do. So, I think this is more a matter of personal preference of whoever is cooking)

House-elves need to cook the way wizards do. They don't have any unique magic that can speed things up. Certain things take a certain amount of time to cook and no magic can help it. There are pots and pans in Grimmauld Place that Kreacher uses to cook:

The kitchen was almost unrecognizable. Every surface now shone: Copper pots and pans had been burnished to a rosy glow; the wooden tabletop gleamed; the goblets and plates already laid for dinner glinted in the light from a merrily blazing fire, on which a cauldron was simmering. 

(DH)

He still needs to cook in pots just like Molly does. So house-elf magic doesn't make much of a difference, I think.

As for common foods, I don't really know. We see potatoes and meats are very common, so, I'd say wizard cuisine is probably very local and doesn't have as much modern or international influences as the muggle one does. Wizards don't have fast food, nor do the ones in the UK seem to eat Asian food, for example. The food we see in the series is all very British. So, I think the cuisine would really be very local and based on stuff grown/raised locally by wizards (and perhaps muggles on occasion) for the most part. At least, that's the impression I got.

As for magical ingredients in food, well, most magical plants and herbs have magical properties used for potions. Many of these are properties you don't want your food to have, so I don't think magical plants are used for cooking often if at all.

Same with magical creatures as most of them are illegal to capture and kill. So, I don't see them as part of the cuisine either.

These are the thoughts I have on this at least.

[poppyseed799]

I think one of the weirdest signs that I was trans was that I was fine with being called a woman but NOT a cis woman. I felt awful cuz I was like “do I have a problem with people calling me cis even tho I am???” cuz I am NOT someone who minds being called accurate descriptors such as cis. I felt like I just wanted to be special or something even tho that wasn’t it and felt so bad. Something just felt really wrong about being called a CIS woman. Definitely one of the more thought provoking signs I was trans lol

[caninecowboy]

24 days!

[teaboot]

This is gonna sound rather conceited but I feel like it highlights an issue we have in Art.

I'm good at art. I've never had a hard time making art. I started using crayons before I could walk. Painting, Beadwork, sculpture, sketching, stippling, whatever- once I have a feel for the material, it doesn't take long to start doing what I want with it. It's been a common theme my whole life.

(Y contrast I'm awful at things like dancing, performance, sports, etc- in all things there is balance, right?)

Now, I've taught myself to use so many artistic mediums now that I KNOW how to most efficiently integrate them into the brain database. Once you really *understand* a material, it's much like memorizing the layout of your house, or flexing a muscle, or something in-between- it becomes PART of your brain in a way I cant quite articulate. But to get there involves just fucking around for a bit doing nothing in particular.

And I've found, especially in group settings, that nobody seems to be able to see you make something badly and leave you alone. Even if you say you're fine, you don't want help, you're happy, you're having fun, it's fine, they gotta ride your ass and hover.

I was at a class the other day for something I hadn't done before. The medium was one I've never used, so once the instructor told us the basics I started experimenting with weight, gravity, texture, viscosity, saturation, temperature, etc. The instructor had given enough info to know what was dangerous and what was safe, and beyond that I just wanted to absorb what I could about it.

And no insult to the instructor, but they kept checking in. Which was fine the first few times.

But then, without asking me what I was trying to do, started giving tips. That I told them I was grateful for but didn't really need just yet. If I had a question, I'd ask.

But they kept coming over. And touching my shit. And manipulating my project. And touching my hands. And using my tools. Without fucking asking.

And this happens every time. EVERY TIME. And by now I know the best way to get them to fuck off is to make something way beyond their expectations so they know I'm capable, then go back to doing what I want.

So I did. I wanted to keep having fun and learning, but instead I made something beautiful that I really didn't want to make, and wasted my time, and really didn't learn what I wanted to learn at all. I knew the formula to create a beautiful thing, so I followed that formula the same way I have a hundred times before, and didn't get to try anything spontaneous or ugly or exciting, just so I could be left alone.

And I know when I was a kid, I was aware aware people saw me puttering alone on something ugly assumed I had a special issue and treated me like I was stupid because of that. (I was neurodivergent.) And at at time I knew that I could do a neat trick for them like a trained pony and they'd go, "Oh, surely they aren't defective if they can do something like that!" And piss off.

But what if I hadn't known how to do that?

What if I hadn't been talented, or "special"?

What if I'd been just any other average kid trying to learn, and I couldn't pop something pretty out of my ass to get them off my back?

My problem my whole life has been that I haven't been allowed to make anything ugly in peace. I'm capable of beauty, so I have to make beauty, or get stepped on. And once people see what I can do, they get loud about it. "Look at this! Look what they did! We all know who the best is, don't we?". And that used to feel good, but it's tiring.

And how many people like me just wanted to play? Just wanted to have fun and experiment? Who were having fun with no goal in mind, or just took longer to learn, who gave up because of all the obnoxious helpers breathing down their neck with no way to shake them off?

How many of us are made to feel defective because we aren't doing things beautifully?

I have a lovely piece of art I didn't want to make.

I think I'm gonna frame it.*

(*I think I'm gonna burn it in my yard.)

[yanderenightmare]

TW: angst, toxic traits, somewhat bullying, breakup

fem reader

You’re his first girlfriend. He’d never bothered with anything serious before—it seemed too messy to trifle with. He doesn’t know why he suddenly decided. Suppose he’d been feeling a little bored, and something within him saw you as a fool-proof opportunity.

It wasn’t because you were anything special. Actually, it was more the opposite. You didn’t seem like too big of a risk. You were just a normal, honest, nice person—a bit of a loser, too, if he was being honest. He could do a lot better and pick someone of the same caliber as him, someone with a cooler style and presence, but then he’d only get caught up in the competition.

You were more to his appetite—a dorky, blushy lil’ nerd who giggled nervously at everything he said. In other words, no competition at all. You’d never dare break his heart because you frankly couldn’t afford it. And he found solace in that imbalance—knowing he held all the cards and that you could only be grateful he’d chosen you.

At least, that had been what he’d thought. But then, here you are, holding his hands from across the table in a cute little sundae café, telling him how this just can’t work anymore.

He’s confused for a whole minute before it sinks in.

You’re breaking up with him.

He’s confused afterward, too.

You’re breaking up with him?

That can’t be right. You must be joking. He almost laughs, almost cackles, but ends up staying completely silent. Something about that pitiful look in your eye makes his throat tight, and he almost thinks he’s going to cry instead. 

You’re breaking up with him. You, with him. His foot starts to tap. Have you hit your head or something? You’re dressed in a hoodie, for crying out loud, with not an ounce of make-up on—effortless, as if his perception of you wasn’t any of your concern while you’re fucking breaking up with him.

No way. There’s just no way. You must be confused about something, is all. There’s absolutely no way you’re doing this.

“What are you talking about?” It comes angry. Louder than he’d intended, enough to make you jolt in your seat. A couple of heads even turn your way. You wait for them to turn back before answering.

“I just think we’re a bit too different. And… I don’t know…” You were trying to find ways of telling him you weren’t in love with him but ended up deciding it was unnecessary—it wasn’t exactly something he needed to hear even though you had a lot you could say.

You’re rude and arrogant and treat me like some rescue pet you’ve nurtured back to health. You act like you’re embarrassed to be with me even though you’re the one without any friends. You’re selfish and spoiled and—

“If you don’t know, then there’s nothing to talk about. Quit being silly.” He has a furrow between his brows as he picks up the pink menu between the two of you, scanning the different types of milkshakes you could share and forget all about it. After all, you weren’t breaking up with him—that would just be absurd. “Let’s get strawberry.”

“No—”

“Guess we could get mango if you want that instead—”

“I’m not sharing drinks with you—”

“What? You tryna lose weight or something? Not like anyone but me is gonna see you when all you wear are those baggy hoodies all the time. Speaking of which, you should wear mine instead, they’d suit you better—”

“Listen.” You stop his rambling. “I’m not sharing drinks, and I’m not wearing your clothes. I’m not being silly, either. I’m being serious. It’s over—”

“No, it’s not.” His fist bangs against the table—the look in his eye on edge and twitchy. “I asked you why, and you had no good reason—so it’s not, not until you convince me.”

You had wanted to avoid it, but it seems he wouldn’t allow you the grace to spare him. That being said, you hadn’t meant to be so brutally honest…

“You’re a narcissist. You don’t treat me like a girlfriend. I’m more like a charity case or some type of experiment to you. Half the time, it feels as though you’re just playing a game with everyone in your life like pawns for you to shuffle around the board as you see fit.” You’re the one with the furrowed brows now, unable to bite your tongue as you’d kept it in all this time. “I think you should seek help and get your controlling tendencies straightened out before having any type of relationship. Or don’t. In any case, I don’t think I’m the right girl for you.”

There’s a silence. The chatter of the café seems distant. You feel half inclined to apologize as you look at him and stare down the glassy tabletop as if trying to find his reflection for comfort—but then he beats you to the punch.

“You’re right…” he starts softly, mustering the words, and you’re almost proud to see him take it so well, but then there’s a viscousness to his next words. “You’re not the right girl for me.”

When he looks up again, his face is warped—callous and seemingly disgusted by the sight of you. Something about it even seems to lash out at you, seeking revenge.

“I can’t believe I thought I saw something in you,” he sighs. “Turns out you’re exactly what everyone warned me you would be—just a plane-boring old Jane. What a joke—wasting so much time on something so worthless. Forget breaking up with me, I should have broken up with you a long time ago.”

He gets up in a rush and bears over the table, both palms laid flat upon the surface.

“Charity case?” he seethes, then conjures a fake laugh and an even faker grin. “I couldn’t have put it better myself. Enjoy sitting here alone like the loser you are.”

And even though you’re the one watching him walk away while ordering a chocolate sundae for yourself, you can’t help but feel sorry for the poor guy… 

That had been the most emotion you’d ever witnessed come from him.

Obviously, he doesn’t take it very well, stumbling through the café before bursting out the door, but even he’s surprised by how disheveled it had made him. He’s hyperventilating when the fresh air hits him, almost sprinting to his car so that he can lock himself inside it.

But the car only makes it worse as he’s far from alone in there. You’re everywhere. On the hood, waiting for him with a smile. In the rearview mirror, waving at him. In the seat next to him with a pout, asking if you can stay over. In the backseat, naked with a coy twinkle in your eye.

He knows! He has some of your underwear at home—he’ll threaten to pass them around campus unless you beg him to take you back. No, what’s he thinking!? You’ll never come back to him that way. Fuck, what can he do, what’s he supposed to do!? He just called you worthless—what that fuck was he thinking?!

The tears startle him as they drip down and splash upon his whitening knuckles, where he grips the wheel for dear life even as the car stays completely still—safe and sound in the same plot.

There’s a light pink lip balm on the dash. Yours. You must have left it there—maybe on purpose? No… you don’t play games like that. You’d been honest in the café. The fact terrifies him—his heart seems to want to reject it at all costs, the way it tears in his chest.

He picks the slim pink stick up and rolls it around in his hand, which can’t seem to stop shaking. You’d sat on his lap in this very seat, laughing at something dumb he’d said while applying the very same balm on his lip—kissing his forehead while saying something sweet. He knows it wasn’t, but he imagines you’d whispered that you loved him.

When he smears the balm around his lips this time, he imagines kissing you and your soft lips and that everpresent smile he never bothered telling you was pretty.

He’s such an idiot. The birds in the parking lot take flight at the jostling of his car, but no one hears the roar.

And as he sits there in the following silence, wallowing in his own self-pity and regret, he can’t help but feel like the lead of some angsty teen romance.

And like the lead in an angsty teen romance, he swears… whatever it takes… he will win you back.

You will be his again.

♡ BNHA – Bakugou, Dabi, Hawks ♡ JJK – Gojo, Naoya, some young type of Sukuna, or Toji ♡ HQ – Tsukishima, Oikawa, Sakusa, Miya twins ♡ BLLK – Reo ♡ AOT – Eren

♡ FEM x M INSERT masterlist ♡ GN x M INSERT masterlist

[hxney-lemcn]

Mine, Only Mine — Mr. Crawling, Gap, Silvair, Chopped, Hugeface, and Scarletella x gn! reader

summery: how jealous do some of the Homicipher boys get?

tw: unhealthy relationships (Mr. Hugeface & Scarletella)

wc: 1.2k

Master List

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Crawling

❥I know people have written about how he gets jealous…but I don’t really think he does? Or at least not terribly. The scene with Mr. Chopped and the cat ears show that Mr. Crawling won’t pout or get sad at you showing affection to others, just that he wants to gain the same attention (the ear scene…). So jealousy with Mr. Crawling isn’t too bad, just be prepared to shower him with more affection than the person you originally did. 

❥On the other hand, I do think his jealousy may increase if you ignore him. Say you give more attention to Mr. Scarletella, Mr. Crawling would get a bit sad and pouty, thinking you don’t like him anymore. If this happens, give him lots and lots of attention and reassurance, he’ll be super grateful. I mean he loves your affection anyways, so might as well give him some extra headpats and kisses. Even better if you only show certain signs of affection with him, it makes him feel special. 

❥Overall, not the most jealous, but not completely unaffected either. Make sure he gets his daily dose of attention/quality time and he’ll be as right as rain.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Gap

❥Uh, he gets more jealous than you’d think. Like…his whole thing is he wants to be special to you…in his own strange way. Doesn’t like the thought of someone taking his place as a jokester to you. Also why he brings you things he’d think you like from time to time, just to make sure you still have that special place in your heart for him <3

❥Hates hate hates when you call him bad or not good. He’s good! He swears! Remember how he’s helped you before! Gets all frowny when you call him not good and then call someone else good. He’s good too! Guess he has to prove it, AGAIN. It’s honestly kind of endearing how he has no clue how he actually kind of does like you? But not exactly in a romantic way? It’s honestly hard to label his feelings towards you, so why should I?

❥I’d say he’s the second most jealous in this list of characters, watching on angrily as you praise someone that isn’t him. Be prepared for magazines and books galore when he’s in this mood, trying to prove his worth to you. Kind of strange for someone to try so hard when they claim to not like you…

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Silvair

❥Definitely the chillest one here. Doesn’t really get jealous at all :/ If anything, he finds it entertaining when you’re affectionate with others. Gives him more insight to his lab rats. Yes, he sees everyone as a lab rat. Idk, I can’t really see him get jealous.

❥Maybe…MAYBE if someone else tries doing research on you, or if Ms. Nurse treats you instead he’ll feel a bit off. Like…you’re his test subject, he knows you from the inside out…literally and not in the fun sense. Why would you go to someone who doesn’t know as much about you and how this world affects you? It’s very hard to spot his jealousy, doesn’t even notice it/recognize it himself. He just doesn’t want anyone to mess up his data…that’s all…totally.

❥In conclusion, not really jealous. Doesn’t feel like he needs to be. You’re ‘friends’, doctor and patient, mad scientist and lab rat not many others threaten that balance between you. 

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Chopped

❥Honestly…Mr. Chopped I’m kinda mixed on how he’d be. Like on one hand, I could totally see him getting jealous if you call others cute or pay too much attention to them. On the other…he could probably care less. He loves himself, you love him, why does he need to get jealous? It’s clear how much you like him with the way you pamper him. I mean we get so many examples where you’re affectionate to Mr. Crawling in front of Mr. Chopped and he doesn’t really bat an eye. 

❥Now, I can see if he gets a bit insecure he might get more jealous. Whether it be because Mr. Crawling pats your head or tucks you into bed, Mr. Chopped feels a bit sad. He’d like to tuck you in, you look so comfy. Might be just a bit pouty, eyeing you like a dissatisfied cat. Easily rectified with head pats or even cuddles. Gets side tracked from his jealousy as soon as you give him a sliver of attention honestly.

❥Mr. Chopped is fifty fifty when it comes to jealousy, but it’s never too bad. He’s pretty comfortable with what you both have and doesn’t really feel threatened by others. After all, you did call him cute.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Hugeface

❥I wouldn’t say he gets jealous? More possessive than anything. Like that scene when Mr. Machete stumbles into his little makeshift dollhouse that he made for you and gets all angry that he’s there. It’s more of a ‘you’re not supposed to be here, this is our playtime’ more than actual jealousy. Throws a little fit whenever someone messes up your playtime. Very accusatory lmao.

❥Does not like when you try to escape. Was he not providing enough for you? Were you unhappy? You’re not allowed to leave! You’re his cute human! He can’t just find another one y’know. Mr. Hugeface may be lenient if he sees you happier, you need enrichment after all. Feels extra happy if you come back on your own violation. 

❥The most childish out of all the characters on this list. Isn’t afraid to throw tantrums, will also punish you by putting you in a solid concrete cube if he’s really upset. Yeah…not the most healthy of relationships to have…BUT! I do think you could convince him to be a bit better…? Maybe? Only if you put enough work in communicating with him though. Maybe punish him in your own way like leaving for longer if he threatens to trap you.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Scarletella

❥Uhhhhhhhhhhh. Top of the list when it comes to jealousy. Watches your every move with curiosity and spite. Why are you doing that to Mr. Crawling? Do it to him instead. Why do you look so happy braiding Mr. Chopped’s hair? Style his hair instead. Why are you looking so fondly amused at Mr. Gap? Don’t you find him amusing? You do like him, right? He likes you. He likes you a lot, and he thought he was enough…was he not?

❥Will stare through your skull. It is so intimidating. His smile? Strained, it makes your skin crawl. You have to make sure he doesn’t hurt your friends, he’s so close to snapping, but he knows that would upset you and that’s not his goal. So instead he stands ominously in the background, body staticing in and out while his hand clenches the handle of his umbrella. 

❥Not that easily mended. Likes to monopolize all your time and affection. Needs constant reassurance as well, he’s quite needy. If you like constant validation and no social life go for it, just don’t get too upset if he threatens your other monster friends…he can’t stand that you could like someone that wasn’t him.

[bookdragonideas]

Here's the thing. I'm a girl, and as a girl, I really like it when girls are portrayed in fiction. Especially fantasy.

But so much fiction/fantasy mixes up 'girls' with 'unstoppable forces of female badass' and there's not necessarily anything wrong with having a character who is an 'unstoppable forces of female badass'. But it gets old real quick. And it is not the same as portraying normal girls, or having good female characters.

And that's one of the many reasons I love Avatar the Last Airbender.

Because all the girl characters have flaws and weaknesses and sometimes act like idiots or jerks. They get emotional and make mistakes. They lose fights or arguments or are just wrong sometimes. Some of them are amazing warriors, and some aren't. Some are powerful or special and some are normal, with nothing special about them.

And I Love that.

I was around the same age as Katara when I first watched Atla. And I instantly connected with her as a character. I loved her optimistic attitude and her fighting spirit. And I could relate with her anger, and with her maternal instinct. I admired her fighting skills of course, but I loved how the show portrayed her compassion and kindness, the way she could both beat up a bunch of bullies AND enjoy a relaxing day at the spa. She was a baddass warrior that should never be crossed. But she was also a normal teenage girl who had a lot of the same internal struggles and problems that I did.

(I never connected to Toph on the same level, but I did relate to her on a few things. She's an adorable trash gremlin who would commit any crime for fun and I love that. But she struggles with being both independent and letting people help her, and I still struggle with that sometimes. I've learned that sometimes, you can help others by letting them help you.)

Yue is, in my opinion, a perfect example of a type of hero that seems to be disappearing. She is not a warrior. She is not a fighter. She's not even a bender.

Yue is a perfect princess, a perfect daughter. She is extremely feminine in a rather older sense.

And she was the only one who could save the world. She gave up everything for her people. She saved everything, everyone, the entire world. Without ever becoming a fighter.

Yue is a perfect example of a girl who was never more than a girl, and how that's okay. Not every girl has to be rough and tumble and fight for her rights in order to change everything. Sometimes it's okay to just be a quiet obedient girly girl. Sometimes that's all it takes to be a hero.

And I love that. Yue is strong in her own way. She is unique and interesting. She appears in only a few episodes and yet manages to be one of my favorite characters.

Song is another great example of this. Song is a healer in a small town. We don't see much of her but we see her compassion and empathy. She is gentle and generous. A healer not a fighter.

She watches Zuko steal her ostrich horse and does nothing.

Is that because she's kind and generous and knows he needs it more? Or is it because she's a healer girl who knows she can't actually stop those two from taking the horse? Maybe neither, maybe both. I have always thought that the scene where Zuko steals the horse and only the audience knows she saw it is one of the most thought-provoking in the series.

Suki is a badass warrior woman who is an awesome fighter and good leader. She is one of the best non bender fighter we see in the entire show. She was one of the smartest, most efficient, and powerful characters we ever saw.

She kissed a boy she had just met because she thought he was cute.

Now don't get me wrong I love SokkaxSuki. Its one of the best couples in the show.

But Suki totally did the old 'love at first sight' thing. And that is awesome. Because when she kisses him she delivers one of the best lines, not only from her, but, I think, in the entire show.

"I AM a warrior, but I'm a girl too."

Being a warrior doesn't mean that she isn't also a teenage girl. She might be a fighter, but she still gets crushes and likes to flirt with cute boys. And hey, she picked a good one. Not every boy is going to come break you out of prison.

Anyways, let's have more realistic girls in fiction. And please enjoy the next 24 hours.