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trusweethrt · 5 months ago

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NEW NEIGHBOR: BOY NEXT DOOR SERIES (1)

PAIRING: NEIGHBOR!RAFE X LUX!BABYDOLL!READER

SUMMARY It's your first day in obx and your neighbor isn't exactly what you expected.

GENRE: Fluff!

WORD COUNT 1,138

a/n: EEE first series I'm so excited!! This whole concept has been in the making before I even started this account so I'm so glad I'm finally making it happen. by the way, I don't care about this being a lil cliche cause I write for me and my enjoyment so if you don't like it, don't take the time out of your day to make a comment about it. SCROLL

Setting your last box down that's labeled 'kitchen', you glance out of your window, seeing a truck drive past your house and park at the one next to you. You were aware someone lived next to you but you weren't exactly sure who since no one was there when you first arrived.

This is your first home away from your family who lives all the way in Virginia and you've lived in that house since you could remember, so you're not sure what to expect of a neighbor.

As the car comes to a stop in the parking lot, you watch as a tall, short haired blonde guy gets out of the truck. His back was turned to you but you could tell by just the way he walked that he was entitled and maybe even a little snobby.

But still, you were a nice person so of course you were still gonna make an effort to talk to him.

So, you make your way over to his lawn as he mutters some sort of sarcastic comment under his breath as he watches you approach.

“Can I help you?” He asks with a bored expression on his face as he takes in the Saxs Fifth Avenue satin dress you were wearing. You definitely had money.

“Yeah, actually. I was just introducing myself. I'm your new neighbor-” He waves a hand, cutting you off before you can even say your name.

“Yeah yeah I know who you are, princess.” Of course he knew who you were already, the island wasn't exactly huge.

“Right. And you are?” You ask, not missing how he called you 'princess' in almost a mocking way. You weren't sure if it infuriated you , turned you on, or both.

He scoffs in disbelief, looking at you in absolute bewilderment. He was goddamn Rafe Cameron. How did you not know that? “Are you serious? What kind of question is that? Everyone knows me.”

You roll your eyes in response. “Well I don't, that's why I asked.”

“Rafe.” He simply answers. He didn't seem to talk a lot.

“Mm, okay.”

Rafe scoffs again, seemingly surprised by your lack of reaction to his name. “So you haven't heard of me?”

“No...I just got here today, remember?”

“Yeah, I got that the first time.”

You weren't sure what pissed you off more, his lack of enthusiasm or his smartass responses to everything.

“And where are you from, anyway?” He asks as his eyes look over you skeptically. “New York?”

“Virginia” you correct with a slight raise of your eyebrow “Why did you guess New York?”

He shrugs. It was either because of the way you dressed or the way you just carried yourself like you were from an expensive part of the city and aspired to be a model or something along those lines. “Just an assumption.”

You weren't exactly sure how to take his 'assumption' since all the people you met from New York were unhinged but either way, you were flattered.

“Need help unpacking or something?” He asks as he glances over at your house. From where he was standing, he could see right into your living room window that was currently filled with boxes.

The question surprised both of you since he knew he normally wouldn't help anyone without something in return, nor would he consider himself polite or 'neighborly', and it seemed you knew that too. But for some reason, he found himself wanting to help you out for whatever reason. Even though you guys barely even had a full conversation yet.

Once you nod and murmur a “Sure”, you lead him inside your house as he takes a good look around. He knew you had money by the way you dressed but he didn't know you were this well off. Your house was almost as nice as his...almost.

“You live alone or...?” he questions as he looks around at all the boxes you have scattered throughout the space.

“Just me” You step over a few boxes before adding “Oh and London”

He was about to ask who the hell 'London' was until he saw a golden retriever puppy with a pink ribbon tied onto each of their ears, padding into the living room where both of you stood.

Not too many people on the island had dogs unless they were for emotional support so he was a bit surprised to find out you had one of your own. He assumed yours wasn't for emotional support since you seemed fine to him, but then again, you can never tell. And he wasn't gonna ask either cause he wasn't that much of an asshole

He hums as he squats down to scratch behind London's ears “How old is she?” He wasn't exactly certain why he was suddenly so invested in your dog considering how much of an asshole he was acting just a few minutes ago, but he wasn't gonna dwell on that so much right now.

“Two months” You respond as you adjust her collar

His eyes move down to London's collar as you adjust it, scoffing quietly once he sees the Dolce & Gabbana logo on it. Of course you'd spend money on something like that. But then again, he was in no place to judge since he spent his money on alcohol and drugs.

When he finally stands up from interacting with London, he looks around the area again before asking “So where exactly do you want me to start?”

You shrug, looking around with pursed lips before answering “I mean, you could take the kitchen if you want.”

Rafe nods before picking up a few of the boxes and disappearing into the kitchen while you head off to start unpacking your room.

After about an hour and a half of both of you unpacking, you finally got your room mostly done and Rafe got all of the dishes put away in the cupboards.

“Need help with anything else?” He asks as he enters your living room where you're sorting out more boxes.

You shake your head “Nah”

He found himself a little disappointed by your answer for some reason. He'd be lying if he said he didn't wanna talk to you more. “You into partying?”

You shrug, not looking up from the boxes as you answer “Kinda. It just depends on the party.”

“Soo would you come to one of mine? They're pretty legendary.” It was true. Everyone always raved about a Rafe Cameron party since they were always the most chaotic and exciting parts of everyone's week.

“I don't think so.”

He rolls his eyes at your response. Normally people would be thrilled if he personally asked you to one of his parties, but you didn't seem at all fazed. You just shot him down without a second thought. “And why not?”

“I'm new to the island. What am I gonna do at a party? It seems pointless.”

He purses his lips, nodding slowly as he tries to come up with some sort of counter argument. “Well what better way to meet new people, right? Plus, you could always just hangout with me and my friends so you're not standing on a wall all night.”

He's not sure why he's so adamant on you going to this party or why he's offering to introduce you to his friends, he barely knows you. He waits for a few seconds before adding a “Please.”

Rafe wasn't one to beg. At all. He never begged for anything ever in his life, nor did he think he ever would. But here he is, begging a girl he just met to go to one of his parties.

“Fine.” You reluctantly agree. You weren't sure what made you say yes but you did. It was probably your own curiosity or the man in front of you. “I'll be there, when is it?”

He grins “Thursday at 9”

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ghostlynightpanda · 30 days ago

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Im so glad i found your tumblr account! I loved your oisuga fics on ao3, their so cute! Could i ask for a react for seijoh 4 (Oikawa, Iwa, Makki, Mattsun) and how they react when their best friend would admit he has a crush on the sister? so, oikawa tells Iwa he likes his sister and other way and for Mattsun and Makki? I hope you know what i mean, english is not my best language.

Seijoh 4 react to their best friend having a crush on their sister

A/N: Thank you for the request, I had so much fun with this one! Their dynamic is so chaotic in the best way.

content/warnings: Oikawa, Iwaizumi, Matsukawa, Hanamaki, fem!reader, fluff, 2.121 words

Oikawa

The gym echoed with the rhythmic thuds of volleyballs being spiked and bounced, but the sound that really turned heads was Oikawa Tooru's dramatic gasp, loud enough to rival a Broadway performance.

"You WHAT?!"

Iwaizumi Hajime winced, already regretting every life decision that led him to this moment. "You heard me, Shittykawa."

"No, no, no. I refuse to believe this," Oikawa said, hand dramatically clutched over his heart like he'd just been personally betrayed. "My best friend. My lifelong comrade. The one who's been through every match, injury, and salty post-game milk tea with me… is in love with my sister?!"

"Crush on. I said I have a crush on her," Iwaizumi corrected with a groan, running a hand through his hair. "And I didn't even want to tell you like this. But you kept pressuring me to tell you who I've been texting at night, so here we are."

Oikawa began pacing like a telenovela protagonist, muttering dramatic monologues under his breath. "Of all the girls in the world. The fangirls, the classmates, the admirers… My sister. My precious little sister. How will I face my family again? How will I—"

"She's a year older than you," Iwaizumi deadpanned.

"—How will I face her again?!" Oikawa finished anyway, ignoring the correction.

Iwaizumi sat down on the gym bench, letting Oikawa spiral a little. Better to let the drama burn out naturally. Honestly, this reaction was better than being punched. Which, to be fair, had been a possibility.

After a long sigh, Oikawa stopped pacing and stared at him.

"…So, do you like her for real?"

Iwaizumi looked him in the eye, earnest. "Yeah. She's smart, kind, funny—though just as annoying as you when she wants to be—and she doesn't put up with my crap. We've been talking more, and… yeah. I like her. A lot."

Oikawa squinted. "You're not just doing this to become part of the family and get free Oikawa genetics in your future children, right?"

Iwaizumi threw a towel at his face.

"Okay, okay!" Oikawa laughed, catching it and flopping onto the floor like a fallen star. "Honestly… as much as I want to be mad and pretend I hate this, I can't really think of anyone I'd trust more than you."

Iwaizumi blinked. "Wait, really?"

"Yeah." Oikawa grinned, then wiggled his eyebrows. "But I will be asking invasive questions about your intentions and reminding you that if you break her heart, I will spike a volleyball directly into your soul."

"Fair," Iwaizumi said with a chuckle. "So… we're good?"

Oikawa rolled over dramatically and sighed like a dying hero. "We're good. But I'm watching you, Iwa-chan. Always watching."

"Yeah, yeah." Iwaizumi stood, grabbing a volleyball and tossing it toward Oikawa's head. "Now get up, drama queen. We've got training to finish."

Oikawa caught it effortlessly, a glint in his eye. "I'm only letting you date her if you win against me in a spike-off."

Iwaizumi grinned. "Bring it on."

Iwaizumi

It was a normal afternoon. Practice had just ended, the sun was starting to dip below the gym windows, and Iwaizumi was toweling off the sweat from his neck when Oikawa dropped a verbal bomb with all the subtlety of a flying volleyball to the face.

"Hey, Iwa-chan," Oikawa said casually, dribbling a ball by the bench. "So, uh… I might be in love with your sister."

Iwaizumi froze.

Completely.

Didn't blink. Didn't breathe. Just stared like he'd seen the ghost of every bad serve Oikawa had ever made.

"…You what?"

Oikawa chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, that sheepish but somehow annoyingly charming grin spreading across his face. "You heard me."

"Nope," Iwaizumi said quickly, standing up. "Try again. Maybe in a language where that doesn't sound like a terrible idea."

"Iwa-chan, come on—"

"Nope." Iwaizumi paced now, towel forgotten. "Out of all people? My sister? You've got a literal fan club. Girls write you letters, stalk your Instagram, scream when you blink at tournaments. And now you want her? My sister?!"

Oikawa looked genuinely flustered now. "Okay, first of all, I don't ask for any of that—well, not all of it—and second, she's nothing like them."

Iwaizumi glared, but Oikawa wasn't backing down. In fact, he looked… kind of serious. Sincere, even. And that was worse.

"She's not just pretty," Oikawa continued, his voice dropping to something softer. "She's smart, and she doesn't care about the volleyball stuff. She teases me, keeps me grounded. She made me dinner when I sprained my ankle last month and told me to stop being a baby—do you know how nice that felt?"

Iwaizumi's face twitched. "Wait, that's why you were over at my house for three hours?"

"…Partly."

"You little—"

"Iwa-chan, listen." Oikawa stepped closer now, serious for real. "I'd never mess with her. Or hurt her. Or treat this like it's not something big. She's your sister. That means something to me."

Iwaizumi looked at him, eyes narrowed, jaw tense. The silence hung there for a long minute, heavy with every memory they'd shared since they were kids—every match, every late-night practice, every time Oikawa pissed him off but somehow stayed his best friend anyway.

"…I know you wouldn't hurt her," Iwaizumi muttered finally. "That's the problem."

Oikawa blinked. "Huh?"

"You're serious about her. Which means I can't even yell at you properly," Iwaizumi said, clearly annoyed by his own restraint. "But also—if she ends up falling for you, I'm gonna have to deal with watching this face at family dinners."

Oikawa smirked instantly. "This face? You mean this face?" He flashed his brightest, most infuriating model-pose smile.

"Stop it. I'm already regretting this."

"But that means you're not forbidding it?"

"I'm not forbidding it," Iwaizumi said, groaning into his hands. "But you so much as make her cry, and I swear to every volleyball god there is, I'll spike a ball and crush your face."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Oikawa said with a soft smile.

Iwaizumi sighed. "Just… don't tell me how it's going. I don't need the details."

"But what if she—"

"I mean it, Oikawa."

"…Fair."

Matsukawa

The gym was quiet after practice. The team had already filtered out, the lights slightly dimmed, and the only sounds were the squeaks of shoes and the rustle of sports bags being packed up.

Matsukawa sat on the bench, stretching out his legs with a groan. "My knees are filing for retirement."

"Tell them to take mine with them," Hanamaki muttered, slinging his towel over his shoulders. He sat down beside him, unusually quiet.

Matsukawa gave him a side glance. "You good? You're not usually this serious unless someone takes the last energy drink."

Hanamaki tapped his fingers on his knee. "Okay, so, hypothetically... if one of your teammates were to like your sister... would that be a murder-worthy offense?"

Matsukawa blinked slowly.

"Hypothetically," Hanamaki added quickly, a lazy smirk forming on his lips, but the edge of nervousness behind it wasn't lost on Matsukawa.

"…What."

Hanamaki leaned back like he had all the time in the world. "You heard me."

Matsukawa squinted. "Please tell me you're talking about Kunimi. Or Kyoutani, even. Anyone else."

Hanamaki grinned. "Unfortunately for you, I'm referring to your very real best friend. You know, the one who brought you those onigiri after you failed your last exam. Your sister opened the door, by the way, and completely ruined my life with a smile."

Matsukawa stared at him like he was trying to solve a complex math problem with emotional consequences.

"You're serious," he said slowly.

"As a line judge during match point," Hanamaki said smoothly.

Matsukawa let out a long, suffering sigh and tilted his head back. "You like my sister."

"She's funny. She's cute. She didn't flinch when I made a joke about Oikawa's hair being a national disaster. She's basically perfect."

Matsukawa gave him a flat look. "You're my best friend, Makki."

"I am."

"And you're also a sarcastic menace with a talent for chaos."

"Also true."

"And you like my sister."

Hanamaki looked over at him, this time more serious. "Yeah. I do."

Matsukawa was quiet for a moment, then finally sighed again, rubbing his temples like this was a long time coming. "Okay. Okay. I'm not gonna punch you."

"Generous."

"But if you mess this up, I will replace all your shampoo with glue, salt your lunch, and tell Oikawa your deepest secrets."

Hanamaki's eyebrows rose. "You know my deepest secrets?"

"I will find them, Takahiro."

Hanamaki laughed, and Matsukawa rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

"Honestly," Matsukawa added, leaning back, "she could do worse. But I swear, if I hear you used a pickup line that started with 'are you a libero—'"

"—because I'd fall for you anyway?" Hanamaki finished with a wink.

"I hate you so much," Matsukawa muttered, but he was smiling now.

"I'll be good to her," Hanamaki said after a moment, quieter this time. "You know that, right?"

Matsukawa glanced at him, and his usual lazy grin softened into something more sincere. "Yeah. I know."

There was a pause.

Then Matsukawa said, "But just to be safe, I'm still watching you."

Hanamaki stretched and stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Of course you are. That's what brothers do."

Hanamaki

The walk home after practice was usually filled with nonsense — fake arguments over who forgot to refill the water bottles, dragging Oikawa's fashion choices, maybe one or two existential crises about school.

But today, Matsukawa was quiet.

Too quiet.

Hanamaki noticed around the third block. "Alright. Spill it."

Matsukawa blinked. "What?"

"You've been sighing like you're in a high school drama. Which, fair, I guess — we are in high school — but still. What's up?"

Matsukawa scratched the back of his neck. "Okay, but you have to promise not to get weird about it."

Hanamaki narrowed his eyes. "Whenever someone says that, it's definitely going to be weird."

"Probably," Matsukawa muttered. "But... I like someone."

"Ohhh," Hanamaki said, like the conversation just got more interesting. "Who's the lucky person? Is it that girl from class 4 with the cool nails?"

"Nope."

"…Not that upperclassman from the library?"

"Nope."

"…Wait—" Hanamaki stopped walking, expression suddenly wary. "You're not about to say Oikawa, are you? Because I'll support you, but I need time to emotionally prepare for that."

Matsukawa actually laughed. "God, no. Definitely not Oikawa."

"Then who?" Hanamaki asked, still not moving.

Matsukawa looked at him. Hesitated. Then went for it.

"…Your sister."

Silence.

Hanamaki blinked.

"…Wait. My sister?"

"Yeah."

"My actual sister?"

"Unless you've got a secret twin I don't know about, then yeah."

Hanamaki's expression went through about five emotions in five seconds — surprise, disbelief, slight concern, and finally: "You're kidding."

"I'm not."

Hanamaki squinted like Matsukawa had just told him he wanted to date a ghost. "Why? When? How?"

Matsukawa shrugged, trying to play it cool, but the pink creeping up his ears gave him away. "She's just… funny. And smart. And she's cool. I started liking her a while ago. It just kind of… happened."

Hanamaki narrowed his eyes, hands in his pockets. "You realize this is the part where I'm supposed to threaten your life, right?"

"I figured."

"I'm still thinking about it."

Matsukawa held up his hands. "Look, I get it. If you're not cool with it, I'll back off. I'm not gonna risk our friendship for this."

Hanamaki was quiet for a long beat. Then he sighed dramatically. "God, you're such a decent guy, it's actually annoying."

"So… you're not mad?"

"I'm not mad," Hanamaki said, rubbing a hand down his face. "I just need to scrub my brain with bleach for a second because now I'm imagining you trying to impress my mom and—ugh, gross."

Matsukawa snorted. "I already impressed your mom. She gave me extra karaage last time I came over."

"That's because you helped her carry groceries, you manipulative giant."

They started walking again, Hanamaki shaking his head like the world had personally betrayed him.

"I can't believe you fell for my sister," he muttered. "You've seen her yell at me for stealing the last piece of mochi, right?"

"She was right, though," Matsukawa said casually. "You did steal it."

Hanamaki groaned. "Unbelievable." But a second later, he added, voice softer: "Just don't screw it up, yeah?"

Matsukawa looked over at him, serious now. "I wouldn't. Ever."

Hanamaki glanced sideways. "Good. Because if you do, I will text every embarrassing photo I've ever taken of you to the entire team."

"…You already do that."

"Exactly. Imagine what I'm capable of when I'm actually mad."

Matsukawa laughed again, and Hanamaki couldn't help but smile — just a little.

Masterlist

#haikyuu #seijoh 4 #seijoh four #oikawa tooru #oikawa x reader #oikawa tooru x reader #iwaizumi hajime #iwaizumi x reader #Iwaizumi hajime x reader #hanamaki takahiro #hanamaki x reader #hanamaki takahiro x reader #matsukawa issei #matsukawa x reader #matsukawa issei x reader

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cybernaght · 2 years ago

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The fandom echo chamber: fanon, microanalysis and conspiracy brain

As someone who has been in fandom spaces, on and off, for 20 years, I find some fascinating trends popping up in the last decade that I thought to be fandom-specific but clearly aren’t. So, I would like to do a little examination of where those things come from, how they are engaged with, and what it says about the way we consume media. This is a think piece, of sorts, with my brain being the main source. As such, we will spend some time down the memory lane of a fandom-focused millennial.

This is largely brought about by Good Omens. But it’s also not really about Good Omens at all.

Part one. Fanon.

The way we see characters in any story is always skewed by our very selves. This is a neutral statement, and it does not have a value judgement. It’s simply unavoidable. We recognise aspects of them, love aspects of them, and choose aspects of them to highlight based entirely on our own vision of the universe.

Recognition comes into this. There is a reason so many protagonists of romance novels have a “blank slate” problem. Even when they do not, we love characters who are like us or versions of us that we would like to be. And when we say “we”, I also mean, “me”.

(I remember very clearly this realisation hit me after a whole season of Doctor Who with writing which I hated utterly when I questioned why I still clung so incredibly hard to Clara Oswald as my favourite companion. Then I looked at myself in the mirror. Oh. Well. That would do it, wouldn’t it?)

Then, there is projection, and, again, this is a neutral statement. Projection exists, and it is completely normal and, dare I say it, valid way of engaging with — well, anything. Is the character queer? Trans? Neurodivergent? Are they in love? Do they like chocolate? Are they a cat person? Well, yes, if this is what the text says, but if the text does not say anything… You tell me. Please, do tell me. Because, in that moment of projection, they are yours.

And then, there is fandom osmosis, and that is the most fascinating one of them all, the one that is not very easy to note while you are inside the echo chamber. It’s the way we collectively, consciously or not, make decisions on who or what the characters are, what their relationships are, and what happens to them.

(Back when I was writing egregiously long Guardian recaps on this blog I actually asked if Shen Wei’s power being learning actually was stated anywhere in the canon of the show. Because I had no idea. I have read and reread dozen of fanfics where that is the case, and at some point through enough repetition, it became reality.)

We are all kind of making our own reality here, aren’t we?

Back when things were happening in a much less centralised manner - in closed livejournal groups, and forums of all shapes and sizes - I don’t remember there being quite as much universally agreed upon fanon. Frankly, I don’t remember much of universally agreed upon anything. But now, everything is in one place: we have this, and we have AO3, and it’s wonderful, it really is so much easier to navigate, but it’s also one gigantic reality-shifting echo chamber, with blogs, reblogs, trends, and rituals.

Accessibility plays its part, too. If you were, say, in Life on Mars (UK) fandom between seasons, and you wanted to post your speculation fic, you had to have had an account, and then find and gain access to one of the bigger groups (lifein1973 was my poison, but ymmv), and then, if you feel brave you may post it, but also, you may want to do so from your alt account if you wanted to keep yours separate, and then you would have to go through the whole process again. And I’m not saying that fan creations then were somehow inherently better for it than fan creations now (although Life on Mars Hiatus Era is perhaps a bad example - because some of the Speculation Fic there was breathtaking), but there is something to say about the ease of access that made the fandoms go through a big bang of sorts.

(I mean, come on, I can just come here and post this - and I am certain people will read it, and this blog is a pandemic cope baby about Chinese television for goodness sake.)

The canon transformations that happen in the fandom echo chamber truly are fascinating to witness as someone who is more or less a fandom butterfly. I get into something, float around for a bit, then get into something else and move on. I might come back eventually when the need arises, but I don’t sustain a hiatus mind-state. This means that when I float away and return, I find some very intriguing stuff.

Let’s actually look at Good Omens here. Season two aired, and I found it spectacular in its cosy and anguished way; deliberately and intelligently fanfic-y in its plot building; simple but subversive, and so very tender. (I will have to circle back to this eventually, because, truly, I love how deliberately it takes the tropes and shatters them - it’s glorious). And, to me - a person who read the book, watched the first season, hung around AO3 for a few weeks and moved on - absolutely on-point in terms of characterisation.

So imagine my surprise when the fandom disagreed so vehemently that there are actual multi-tiered theories on how characters were not in possession of their senses. Nothing there, in my mind, ever contradicted any of the stated text, as it stood. This remained a strange little mystery until I did what I always do when I flutter close to an ongoing fandom.

I loaded AO3 and sorted the existing fic by popularity. And there it was, all there: the actual earth-shattering mutual devotion of the angel and the demon; willingness to Fall; openness and long heart-aching confession speeches. There was all of the fanon surrounding Aziraphale and Crowley, which, to me, read as out of character, and to one for whom they became the reality over the last four years, read as truth.

Again, only neutral statements here. This is not a bad thing, and neither this is a good thing, this is just something that happens, after a while, especially when there are years for the fandom-born ideas to bounce around and stew. I can’t help but think that so much of what we see as real in spaces such as this one is a chimaera of the actual source and all the collective fan additions which had time and space to grow, change, develop, and inspire, reverberating over and over again, until the echoes fill the entirety of the space.

Eventually, this chimaera becomes a reality.

Part two. Microanalysis

Here are my two suppositions on the matter:

1. Some writers really love breadcrumb storytelling.

Russel T Davies, for instance, on his run of Doctor Who (and, if you are reading it much later - I do mean the original one), loved that technique for his seasonal arcs. What is a Bad Wolf? Who is Harold Saxon? Well, you can watch very very carefully, make a theory, and see it proven right or wrong by the end of the season.

Naturally, mystery box writers are all about breadcrumb storytelling: your Losts and your Westworlds are all about giving you snippets to get your brain firing, almost challenging you to figure things out just ahead of the reveal.

2. We, as humans, love breadcrumbs.

And why wouldn’t we? Breadcrumbs are delicious. They are, however, a seasoning, or a coating. They are not the meal.

Too much metaphor?

Let’s unpack it and start from the beginning.

Pattern recognition colours every aspect of our lives, and it colours the way we view art to a great extent. I think we truly underestimate how much it’s influenced by our lived experiences.

If you are, broadly speaking, living somewhere in Western/North-Western Europe in the 14th century, and you see a painting in which there is a very very large figure surrounded by some smaller figures and holding really tiny figures, you may know absolutely nothing about who those figures are, but you know that the big figure is the Important One, and the small ones are Less Important Ones, and the tiny ones are In Their Care. You know where your reverence would lie, looking at this picture. And, I imagine, as someone living in the 14th century, you may be inspired to a sense of awe looking at this composition, because in the world you live in, this is how art works.

If you, on the other hand, watch a piece of recorded media and see the eyes of two characters meet as the violins swell, you know what you are being told at that moment. You don’t have to have a film degree to feel a sort of way when you see a green-tinged pallet used, when cross-cuts use juxtaposing images, or notice where your focus is pulled in any given shot. This stuff - this recognition of patterns - has been trained into us by the simple fact that we live in this time, on this planet, and we have been doing so long enough to have engaged recorded media for a period of time.

As humans, we notice things. Our brains flare up when they see something they recognise, and then we seek to find other similar details and form a bigger picture. This often happens unconsciously, but sometimes it does not. Sometimes we do it on purpose: finding breadcrumbs in stories is a little bit like solving a mystery. It allows us to stretch that brain muscle that puts two and two together. It makes us feel clever.

So yes, we love breadcrumbs, and, frankly, quite a lot of storytelling takes advantage of this. It’s very useful for foreshadowing, creating thematic coherence, or introducing narrative parallels and complexity. It’s useful for nudging the viewer into one or the other emotional direction, or to cue them into what will happen in the next moment, or what exactly is the one important detail they should pay attention to.

Because this is something media does intentionally, and something we pick up both consciously and not, it is very hard to know when to stop. We don't really ever know when all of the breadcrumbs have been collected. It becomes very easy to get carried away. There is a very specific kind of pleasure in digging into content frame by frame, soundbite by soundbite, chasing that pleasure of finding.

But it is almost never breadcrumbs all the way down. They are techniques to help us focus on the main event: the story. I truly believe those who make media want it to reach the widest possible audience, and that includes all of us who like to watch every single thing ever created with our Media Analysis Goggles on and those who are just here to enjoy the twists and turns of the story at the pace offered to them. And I think, sometimes in our chase to collect and understand every little clue we forget that media is not made to just cater for us.

One can call it missing a forest for the trees. But I would hate to mix my metaphors, so let’s call it missing a schnitzel for the breadcrumbs.

Part three. The Conspiracy Brain.

If you are there with me, in the midst of the excited frenzy, chasing after all those delicious breadcrumbs, then patterns can grow, merge together, and become all-encompassing theories. Let’s call them conspiracy theories, even though this is not what they truly are.

So, why do we believe in conspiracy theories?

One, Because We Have Been Lied To.

All conspiracies start with distrust.

If you are in fandom spaces - especially if you are in fandom spaces which revolve around a queer fictional couple - especially-especially if you have been in such spaces for a period of time, you have most certainly been lied to at one point or another.

We don’t even have to talk about Sherlock - and let’s not do that - but do you remember Merlin? Because I remember Merlin. Specifically, I remember the publicity surrounding the first season, with its weaponised usage of “bromance” and assertions that this whole thing is a love story of sorts, and then the daunting realisation that this was all a stunt, deliberately orchestrated to gather viewership.

And, because we were lied to in such a deliberate manner for such an extensive period of time, I genuinely believe that it forever altered our pattern recognition habits, because what was this if not encouragement to read into things? Now we are trained to read between the lines or see little cries for help where they might not be. Because we were told, over and over again, that we should.

(Yes, I think we are all existing in these spaces coloured by the trauma of queer-bating. I am, however, looking forward to a world where I can unlearn all of that.)

Two, Cognitive Dissonance.

The chain reaction works a bit like this: the world is wrong - it can’t possibly be wrong by coincidence - this must be on purpose - someone is responsible for it.

Being Lied To is a preamble, but cognitive dissonance is where it all originates. In so many cross-fandom theories I have noticed a four-step process:

A) this is not good

B) this author could not have made a mistake

C) this must be done on purpose

D) here is why

(Funny thing is, I have been on the receiving end of the small conspiracy spiral, and it is a very interesting experience. Not relevant to this conversation is the fact that a lot of my job revolves around storytelling. What is relevant is that my hobbies also revolve around storytelling. And one of them is DnD. Now, imagine my genuine shock when one of the players I am currently writing a campaign for noticed a small detail that did not make a logical sense within the complexity of the world, and latched on to it as something clearly indicating some kind of a secret subplot. Their thinking process also went a bit like this: this detail is not a good piece of writing — this DM knows how to tell stories well — this is obviously there on purpose. It was not there on purpose. I created a clumsy shorthand. I erred, in that pesky manner humans tend to. And, seeing this entire thought process recited to me directly in the moment, I felt somewhere between flattered and mortified.)

This whole line of thinking, I think, exists on a knife’s edge between veneration and brutal criticism, relentlessly dissecting everything “wrong”, with a reverent “but this is deliberate” attached to it like a vice, because it is preferable to a simple conclusion that the author let you down, in one way or another.

Three, Intentionality

I believe that there is no right or wrong way of engaging with stories, regardless of their medium, and assuming no one gets hurt in the process. While in a strictly academic way, there is a “correct” way of reading (and reading into) media, we here are largely not academics but consumers; consumption is subjective.

However, this all changes when intentionality is ascribed.

The one I find particularly fascinating is the intentionality of “making it bad on purpose” because, as open-minded as I intend to always be, this just does not happen.

It certainly does not happen in long-form media. Even in the bread-crumb mystery box-type long-form media.

When television programs underdeliver, they also underperform, and then they get cancelled.

If all the elements of Westworld Season 4 that did not sit together in a completely satisfactory way were written deliberately as some sort of deconstruction for the final season to explore, then it failed because that final season will now never come.

(There will likely never be a Secret Fourth Episode.)

And look, I am not here to refute your theories. Creativity is fun, and theorising is fantastic.

But, perhaps, when the line of thought ventures into the “bad on purpose” territory, it could be recognised for what it is: disappointment and optimism, attempting to coexist in a single space. And I relate to that, I do, and I am sorry that there is even a need for this line of thinking. It’s always so incredibly disappointing that a creator you believed to be devoid of flaws makes something that does not hit in the way you hoped it would. It’s pretty heartbreaking.

Unfortunately, people make mistakes. We are all fallible that way.

Four, Wildfire.

Then, when the crumbs are found, a theory is crafted, and intentionality is ascribed, all that needs to happen is for it to catch on. And hey, what better place for it than this massive hollow funnel that we exist in, where thoughts, ideas and interpretations reverberate so much they become inextricable from the source material in collective consciousness.

Conspiracy theories create alternate realities, very much like we all do here.

So where are we now?

I am not here to tell you what is right and what is wrong; what is true, and what is not. We are all entitled to engage with anything we wish, in whichever way we wish to do it. This is not it, at all.

All I am saying is… listen.

Do you hear that echo?

I do.

#fandom thoughts #fanon #good omens #good omens 2 #bbc sherlock #merlin bbc #think piece #it's been years and I still have no idea how to tag #conspiracy theories #fandom content #all fandoms

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stewpidcheescatarinabluu · 11 days ago

Text

A Week at Hers.

Synopsis: she’s famous you’re not, but by fate you two were assigned for a video project and things started to change.

Word Count: 1,773

Karina X Male Reader !!

You sat at the very back of the classroom, like always — slouched in your chair, half-asleep, barely hearing a word from the teacher’s lecture.

It was just noise. Background static. Nothing new.

Then came the announcement:

“For your midterm project, you’ll be making a video. You and your partner must spend a week together — documenting something meaningful.”

Suddenly, the room came alive.

Every student in class turned their heads toward one person: Karina.

Beautiful. Kind. Smart. The kind of girl who somehow existed in every hallway at once — the campus star.

“Hey Karina! Partner with me!” one guy called out.

“No, with me!” someone else followed.

A chaotic wave of voices and names piled on, echoing off the walls like a swarm.

Karina smiled awkwardly through it, but you could tell — she was getting overwhelmed.

“Enough!” the teacher snapped, slamming her clipboard on the table.

“If this continues, I’ll assign the partners myself.”

A wave of silence hit instantly.

She began reading names off the list.

“Ningning, you’re with Aeri.”

“Jeno, you’re with Taeyong.”

More names came and went. Some groaned, others whispered curses under their breath.

And then—

“Karina… you’ll be partnered with Y/N.”

Every head turned. Eyes swung to the back of the room — to you.

You blinked slowly, earbuds still in, unsure if you even heard that right.

Karina’s eyes widened just a little, but then…

She smiled.

Every single head turned toward the back of the class — toward you.

The quiet one. The nobody. The one who never even raised their hand.

“Wait, Y/N? That Y/N?” someone whispered.

“No way…” another muttered, eyebrows raised.

A guy scoffed from the front row.

“Must be a mistake.”

Someone else leaned toward their friend, already gossiping.

“Why would she be stuck with him?”

Class finally ended.

Everyone shuffled toward their assigned partners, voices rising in chatter and laughter.

You stayed seated, slipping your earbuds in, unmoved by the social buzz.

But people noticed.

“He’s partnered with Karina and doesn’t even care?” someone whispered.

“Seriously. That’s so rude. Poor Karina,” another muttered behind cupped hands.

You stared out the window, lost in the beat of your music — until a shadow blocked the sunlight warming your face.

You looked up.

Karina.

Standing in front of you with a gentle smile, her backpack slung over one shoulder.

“Hey, I’m Karina,” she said brightly. “Nice to meet you. I figured… we should get to know each other more.”

You pulled out your earbud and nodded, offering a faint smile back.

People thought you were cold. Arrogant.

But you weren’t. Just… misunderstood.

Karina didn’t flinch, didn’t look uncomfortable.

She just… stood there like she wanted to see the real you, no questions asked.

As you both left campus, she walked beside you like it was normal — no hesitation.

“Hey Y/N, what’s your socials? Or number’s fine too,” she said casually, swinging her phone out.

“I figured we can start talking about the project. It’s a full week, after all.”

You glanced at her.

Her tone wasn’t forced. Her smile wasn’t plastic.

She was kind. The real kind.

The kind that doesn’t feel staged or sweet for the sake of reputation.

It made you pause.

You’d always assumed people like her wore masks. But Karina?, She felt like someone who deserved the spotlight — not someone addicted to it.

You held your phone out toward her, screen glowing with your profile.

“Here’s my Instagram. I’ll follow you.”

Karina leaned in, a breeze catching the edge of her hair as she tapped into her app.

She angled her phone so you could see.

Her account popped up — clean, aesthetic, and…

205K followers.

Your brows raised immediately.

“Two hundred thousand?! Holy— I’m sorry for even trying to follow you.”

You chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of your neck.

Karina just laughed.

“What, were you expecting ten?”

“I mean, maybe… a hundred? Not… verified-worthy levels,” you muttered, eyeing her account again.

“And you only follow two people? That’s terrifying. Are you sure it’s okay I’m even here?”

She bumped her shoulder into yours lightly.

“It’s just Instagram, Y/N. Not a blood pact. I liked talking to you — so yeah, I’m sure.”

You looked at her — really looked.

No smugness. No condescending smile.

Just Karina. Just honest.

“Alright, then… I’ll wait for your message,” you said, stuffing your phone back into your pocket.

You gave her a short wave as you turned around.

“See you, Karina

You were lying on your bed, earphones in, the world blocked out by music—until your phone buzzed.

Karina calling.

You blinked.

A call? You expected maybe a message, not this.

You answered.

“Hello?”

“Y/N! Sorry—did I disturb you?” Her voice was light, a little unsure.

“Nah, you’re good. Just didn’t expect a call, that’s all.”

“I feel more comfortable talking on a call.”

A pause.

An excuse maybe—but one you didn’t mind.

You didn’t say it out loud, but… you liked hearing her voice too.

The conversation flowed easier than you expected.

You talked about the video — how to structure it, what tone to go for — but somehow ended up swapping weird facts and funny childhood stories.

She told you about the time she tried to microwave metal.

You told her about the time you accidentally submitted a meme for a math assignment.

You laughed more than usual.

Eventually, you both agreed:

“Let’s spend the week at my home— Talk about hobbies, routines, and all that on camera.”

The week had begun — You arrived at her house.

Her house was big, almost unfairly pretty — like her.

But you expected that.

She greeted you at the door in an oversized hoodie and dolphin shorts.

Barefaced. Casual.

Still stunning.

“Hi, Y/N! Come in. Your room’s right beside mine — hope I didn’t crush your dreams of us sharing a bed, huh?”

She nudged your shoulder playfully.

You blinked, caught off guard.

“Wasn’t planning that. I’m not a weirdo.”

“Aww, not the mischievous type? Boring.”

“Sorry?”

She laughed — then, without thinking, grabbed your hand to lead you inside.

It was instinct.

Only afterward did her cheeks flare pink.

Her voice stumbled as she gave you the house tour, camera recording every second.

You both sit in front of the camera, explaining childhood memories.

She shows her old art — clumsy at first, but sweet.

Talks about her favorite books, dramatic retellings and all.

She laughs with her whole body, and you try not to smile too obviously.

You’re lying on the guest bed, music drifting from your phone.

Eyes tracing the ceiling like it might spell out answers.

Then, a soft knock.

“Y/N? You awake? You good?”

“Come in.”

Karina steps inside.

The light hits her just right — and for a moment, you forget how to breathe.

“Why’re you listening to sad music?” she asks, sitting near your legs.

“It gives me ideas for writing,” you say, smiling.

“That’s… such a weird thing to say.”

She giggles.

“But hey, I can’t blame you.”

The night stretches on.

You talk. And talk.

About your favorite foods. Dreams. Dumb things you used to do.

She tells you she wanted to be a singer once.

You tell her about the first time you wrote a full story and cried after.

Time becomes soft and quiet.

Somewhere between her teasing and your half-sarcastic replies, her body leans toward yours.

And without noticing —

She’s curled in your arms. Warm. Breathing steady. Trusting.

You’re blushing so hard it almost hurts.

But you don’t move.

Neither does she.

You both fall asleep like that — tangled, close, and completely unaware of how much had already changed.

The first day felt like a dream you weren’t supposed to be living.

After the house tour — full of stumbles, blushes, and laughter — you both sat in front of her camera, answering simple “get to know me” questions. But everything led to something deeper.

“What’s your comfort food?”

“What do you do when no one’s around?”

“Who do you feel the safest with?”

Karina always turned the questions on you. Curious. Genuine.

By nighttime, she was lying on her bed with her legs kicking in the air, you seated on the floor against the bedframe. She watched you with half-lidded eyes, voice soft.

“Hey… you can sleep here if you want. Again. Like last night.”

You looked up.

“You sure?”

She nodded.

“It’s weird, but I sleep better when you’re around.”

That night, the camera was off.

It was just the two of you — tangled in a pile of blankets, her head on your chest. The sound of rain outside made the world smaller, quieter.

She talked about her past — about being lonely, despite being loved by many. You didn’t interrupt. You just listened, heart softening at every word.

“You’re easy to be with, Y/N… no pretending, no needing to smile all the time.”

You wanted to say something, anything — but all that came out was a small smile, your fingers brushing her knuckles in return.

The last night was different.

She was quiet at dinner. Kept glancing at you.

You noticed, but didn’t push.

Later, when you were lying on your back, music humming from your phone again, she knocked once — then came in without waiting.

She climbed beside you.

No teasing this time.

No jokes.

Just her, curling into your side, pulling your arm over her like it belonged there.

Silence. Safe and heavy.

Then, her voice — quiet enough to almost get lost in the air between your heartbeats.

“Y/N… I don’t know how to say this without sounding dramatic…”

You stayed still. Listening.

“But… when I said I sleep better with you, I meant it. You make things quiet. Safe. And… I think I like you. Not just because you’re kind, or honest, or quiet… but because with you, I don’t feel like I have to be anyone else.”

She buried her face into your hoodie. Embarrassed.

You were stunned. Blushing hard.

But your hand moved on its own — brushing her hair, resting gently behind her back.

“Then sleep here again,” you whispered.

“I already planned to.”

And in the soft glow of her nightlight, with your arms holding onto something you never expected but secretly wished for —

The story you posted 2 weeks later.

Some of the Comments.

“Dude you have a girlfriend?!”

“that’s gotta be Karina isn’t it? everyone liked the presentation you two did.”

“lucky mf”

“love potion recipe reveal please.”

#spotify #kpop #aespa #aespa x reader #aespa karina #karina #karina x reader #yu jimin x reader #karina fluff #aespa lockscreens

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scam-alerts · 5 months ago

Text

❗❗Scam Update❗❗

Previously on... 🔎Scam Exam(ination)🔍

Seen as: I would like a commission of my son/pet... Scam Type: Commission Scam

Please read this post for a complete rundown of this scam.

While browsing #scams on tumblr earlier today, I saw a post from the wonderful and very talented @louksna-0 where they were calling out a scam account that seemed to be running the art commission scam.

After messaging them.. I found out something... interesting.

The scammers are now changing their script.

@louksna-0 was kind enough to answer some questions and help explain their interactions with this scammer with me, and even provided me with some screenshots which I'll show you all as well.

----------

Part 1 - How it start(s/ed)

Note: @louksna-0 has told me that due to being blocked, they cannot access their conversation with this scammer, but they were kind enough to detail their conversation with me to the best of their ability. :)

@scam-alerts: When this person messaged you for a commission, what did they ask you to draw? What was your response, and what sort of images did they provide?

@louksna-0: They asked me to draw two cartoon portraits of a girl with blue eyes and blonde hair, it was 2 photos, but the second seemed to be taken from a video, not a photo itself. I told her alright, the two were separate drawings, one for $18, the other $20. $38 in the end. She started pressuring me for the details of the commission to get the process finished, being cold and even rude.

@scam-alerts: Did you tell them a price first, or did they offer you money first? Was this amount higher than normal, or was it the price of your commissions?

@louksna-0: I told them the price first, they didn't offer a price to pay. They were pressuring me to tell them the final price.

@louksna-0: I say them because although the profile seems like a girl. Her account of PayPal, email confirmation and Tumblr were all different. So I can't really say their gender. Her profile said Elizabeth, her email said mayes Mary, and her PayPal account said Margaret castro.

These were the screenshots provided to me:

image 1 - The scammer getting very persistent in having @louksna-0 check their spam email for confirmation that the money was sent.

image 2 - The different names that appear on the PayPal, blog, and email (in that order.)

Image 3 - A screenshot of the fake email. (the same exact one that can be seen in the previous scam exam(ination) report.

Image 4 - This one is.. odd. @louksna-0 says that this was sent to them by the same email with a request telling them to send a refund, yet it has a very odd and fishy looking link. (they did not click on it.)

----------

Part 2 - Examining the Evidence

From what it looks like, the scam is pretty much the same 'I want you to draw my <thing>' scam except now they've switched from:

can you draw my son / daughter / pet. to can you draw this cartoon character*

*They might look at blogs now and see what an artists 'style' is to get a grasp on what an artist can do before trying to run this scam? Since not all artists can draw kids and/or pets? So that might be worth keeping an eye on.

They've also switched from:

Offering you a very large amount of money. to accepting commission prices to seem unsuspicious.

----------

Part 3 - What you should do now

🚩Red flags still present🚩

Blogs sending these asks are either blank or bare in one way in another. Little to no reblogs, maybe 'one' picture or two posted. In this case the scammer just had a picture of a dog that probably isn't even theirs.

They will refuse to pay with any other method than PayPal.

The purpose of asking for your real name and your PayPal email is just so they can make a fake email to scam you.

Stop. Read the email very carefully. Think about what it's asking you.

'you are to send (name) money to expand your account.' You are to send someone money, to get money.

You can't just 'expand' your account by sending another user money. That's not how PayPal works.

Emails from these scammers will always show up in your spam folder because they are not from the real PayPal service. They are 100% fake. Only trust emails about PayPal from a @paypal.com email address. Any email claiming to be from PayPal ending in a gmail/hotmail/yahoo.com address is. a. scam.

Always check your PayPal account via the website or App for issues before responding to someone and certainly before sending anyone money. If you see no issues, there are no issues.

Never click links in an email you get during or after interacting with a stranger when money is involved. If someone asks: 'did you get the email?' Check your spam folder.' Make sure you click the link to fix your account.' It's a scam. And they're probably trying to hack you.

----------

Final thoughts:

Remember, take screenshots and report these users to the websites they are running these scams on. If they DM you on tumblr? Report the DM. If they do it on insta, bsky, twitter or even discord?

Make sure you report them there too.

ALSO: Beware of recovery scammers. This is anyone coming into your DM's telling you they can 'help you get your money back' after you made a post talking about how you got scammed. These scammers are just looking for a quick buck.

I've got a whole post right here talking about what one looks like.

Take care and stay vigilant.

And thanks again to @louksna-0 for being a dear. <3

Other helpful guides on spotting scams. (by @kyra45)

#scam #scams #art commission scam #commission scam #commission scams #scammers #scam alert #paypal scam #scammer #art scam #scam awareness

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ivysangel · 11 months ago

Note

…vampire!jason thoughts… you must provide them im desperate…. -🐞

(ik you probably expected #real smut, honestly i did too but this ended up turning into a whole bunch of lore/headcanons/whatever tf. i'm so sorry bae cw: talks of consuming blood)

you ask, you shall receive. i've been thinking about jason and dick as vampires in relation to each other, so this'll be a post about both of them just for the sake of comparisons. also, in my mind, this au takes place during the 19th century because i've conflated vampirism with the victorian era, and it's also no capes in regards to vigilantism bc vampires do love a good cape.

in this victorian era, vampire au dick would be either a nobleman or straight up royalty. he's got status, money, and a pretty face, and he uses them all to his advantage when it comes to feeding. you know in the originals or itwtv when they host an event that's actually a cover for them finding their next meal? yeah, he does that. he flirts with all of the ladies, plays into his charms, and sweeps women off their feet. and at the end of the night (sometimes even mid-ball), he coaxes them upstairs and ravishes them, sometimes in more ways than one.

i think for dick feeding is something he can have fun with, knowing that he holds such a high ranking in society that when bodies of people he's been seen with show up around town, people turn a blind eye. and even when someone does try to investigate, the wayne family checking account talks enough to shut down anything beyond a questioning.

in many pieces of media surrounding vampires, there are people who know about vampires and choose to feed them their blood. there's a bunch of lore that explores the idea that a vampire bite is almost orgasmic and kind of addictive, which is why some people are more than willing to put themselves in harm's way by either being employed by vampires or by straight up just throwing themselves into a vampires line of sight with open wounds.

with that being said, i think dick grayson likes the chase. i think that even if his father (bruce, who is also a vampire in this au because vampire families are just superior) has people on his payroll to provide blood for them, he's going to go out on his own to flirt a bit, get laid, and then have his fill.

which brings me to my next point; while feeding, like sex, is an intimate act, it's far from necessary for dick to need an emotional connection with a person he feeds off of or even a physical one. sex and feeding are related but not totally synonymous, and if he needs to just feed or just get his rocks off, he can. is it preferred? maybe not. i believe he does like the mess that comes with doing both at the same time.

ok so for jason, ugh so obsessed with him as a vampire because i think it's so in line with his canon story. in a lot of vampire lore, to become a vampire, you have to consume the blood of a vampire and either die or be on the brink of death, which is just so. it's so jason dying and being revived by the lazarus pit coded. and even the way he inevitable that he will spill blood post-revival in both this vampire au and his canon storyline…it's almost prophetic.

anyway, jason's approach to vampirism is quite different. i think he struggles with it no matter how long he's been one. he can't fully grasp that he's immortal; he looks in the mirror and sees that he hasn't aged a day and he feels sick. being a vampire for him feels like a curse and he only continues living because he's scared to die (again).

he doesn't stay anywhere too long, typically hopping from town to town in the middle of the night when less people are around. he believes himself to be out of place amongst normal people and he's paranoid that people can smell the iron on his breath when he talks to them so he makes it a point to have minimal interaction with people.

it's crippling, he drives himself mad with the solitude, but i feel like another reason why he continues to stay alive is to spite his creator, whoever that may be. he's most definitely got an agenda, in true jason fashion. i just don't know what it is yet.

he feeds only when he needs to but tries not to let the hunger get too intense because i do feel like when he loses control, he's the stefan salvitore type. a ripper. but he's pretty good about it and is almost polite when he's feeding? like he finds a victim and says i'm sorry before just absolutely tearing into their jugular.

i just really think he grapples with his own mortality, or lack thereof, and how it exists at the expense of others. so he is genuinely ashamed of who he is and what he's become. so, while blood drinking is something he needs to survive, it holds a lot of weight for him, which is why i think drinking blood and sex are pretty equal for him when it comes to intimacy level.

that brings me to my MAIN point (which isn't really a main point because it's being reduced to a small paragraph at the end of this post), all of that was background for this, eek. the act of drinking blood during sex is so. big. for him, it's eye-opening, life-changing. the amount of trust required on both ends for this to happen…at that point, it's basically end game for you two. and it's so funny because that's just a normal tuesday for dick.

anyway, i do have more thoughts and more lore, but this got really long, so i'll cut it off here

#vampire!jason #vampire!dick #jason todd #dick grayson #red hood #nightwing #jason todd headcanons #red hood headcanons #jason todd imagine #dick grayson imagine #red hood imagine #nightwing imagine #★ 🐞 ★

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octahyde · 9 months ago

Text

Groomer in the TWST Fandom

The post in question is going around again, and as someone who was groomed in online fandoms in high school it makes me absolutely fucking livid that they got away with it the first time.

(Please note that I got Doom’s consent before posting this because it indirectly involves them.)

@_snooboots on twitter has publicly groomed minors.

Sno wrote a thread calling out another user, which I am seeing go around again. The thread has plenty of issues (in certain areas they can have legal action taken against them for cyberstalking, speaking from direct experience), but there’s one in particular that sticks out to me.

The most pressing and disturbing part, however, is that they tagged children in uncensored pornographic images.

(as you can see based on the first screenshot, the censorship in the second and third images were added by me.)

After posting several screenshots, many of which had sexual images along with this literal pornography, Sno ends it with tagging several minors (and one adult):

Note that Sno is 19. Also note that the youngest user tagged is fourteen years old, a literal middle schooler.

Though 16 and 19 may not seem like a major age difference where grooming can take place (in many contexts it isn’t!), there are still cases where it can be. Case in point: I started being groomed by a 19 year old online when I was 16, and it lead to horrible, horrible things happening to me once I turned 18.

The amount of similarities this thread has to my own experiences with being groomed at that age is, point blank, extremely fucking uncomfortable. Though mine was in a slightly different context (it being sent as a “joke”), it was still being told Look How Bad This Porn is. Likewise, if Sno really cared, they would have taken 10 seconds to censor the screenshots before posting, like how I did.

Again, it’s important to note: these images were originally posted on a private account where minors could not access them. They were only made publicly and exposed to children when Sno reposted them.

When called out for sending porn to real life minors, they chose to double down:

Apparently tagging children in a twitter thread with graphic, uncensored pornography because “they asked” is “the right thing”. (Note also that they admit they had also exposed these kids to this prior on a locked account, which is very Normal behavior and opens up the possibility that this isn’t the first time they’ve “called someone out” doing this, but that’s just speculation.)

And again, I would like to reiterate, which Sno themself corroborates in these screenshots: these images were originally posted on a locked account, where only adults Doom knew were allowed in. Sno was the one who posted these images publicly.

I’ve been angry and hurt by this since this thread was first posted. Doom deliberately kept these images away from children. In contrast, this person sent the images to children whom would never see them otherwise to “call them out”. Sno absolutely should not or have gotten away with this.

(Also, as a footnote: do not use this post to start some proshipper vs anti tribalism bullshit. While I’m not that anon, I do absolutely hate both sides equally and both do this kind of thing on a regular basis.)

(EDIT: not that it means much at this point but it was pointed out that I was kinda uhhhh a huge hypocrite with the original screenshot of the thread! That’s been censored now too.)

#twst #twisted wonderland #disney twst #riddle rosehearts #leona kingscholar #azul ashengrotto #kalim al asim #vil schoenheit #idia shroud #malleus draconia #jade leech #floyd leech #octavinelle

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dashofmonsters · 1 year ago

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Dreamers & Delusions- Pt. 2

Merman x Female Reader

"I'll have to go into hibernation if it gets too cold or if I can't find something to do. The acclimation program already knows about my kind and our issues with the cold so they have accommodations for winter," he explains.

"Well I hope it doesn't get too cold then, would be a bummer if I couldn't come see you," you smile at him.

Tao's eyes go wide for a second before he clears his throat, "Yes well it would indeed be a bummer... Especially since we have just decided to be friends."

"Right?" you beam.

You and Tao talk and talk almost to the point where it's just about silly things or what he's struggling with during his acclimation. You find out he's a very literal person who has issues the most with slang, metaphors, and emotes. He lives in a rental that's about a couple miles away from the beach and he usually walks to work or the local grocery store since he can't fit into normal vehicles.

After a little bit of work though you find out an even more endearing side to him, he likes to try his hand at cooking ever so often. Though he prefers his meat raw, he likes the idea of charring the outside and adding bits of flavor. He was a little embarrassed to admit it but you found out it's because his father was supposed to show him how to create a feast to impress a mate per tradition.

You didn't press as to why his father didn't teach him seeing he was already uncomfortable enough to admit it. So you decided to share a bit of something uncomfortable about yourself.

"My mom never taught me how to do a lot of basics that most parents are supposed to teach their kids. I had to watch a lot of how to videos and make myself look like an idiot if I messed up or didn't know something. A lot of people assumed I was stupid or had no common sense. I just didn't have a point of reference and I hated being ignorant but I was judged for my short comings and no one ever helped," you admit.

Tao nods and gives you his first, though very small, smile.

"Is that why you are forgetting things constantly?" he asks with the slightest smirk.

"Yeah...sure," you feel a bit embarrassed by his question, but you'll never confess that you 'forgot' those things just as an excuse to talk to him.

"I see, I will take that into account that due to your upbringing that you just don't think about these things and I will stop being annoyed by it," he nods.

"You were annoyed," now you feel a little hurt.

"Of course I was, but no more than I usually am," he shrugs.

"That doesn't sound fun," you grimace. "You can't just be annoyed all the time."

"I'm not annoyed when I'm at home," he says.

"Lucky," you laugh.

"Why? Are you unable to be at peace at home too?" he gives you a look of genuine concern then.

His number one thing seems to be peace. He's a no nonsense guy who just wants to go about his day with no hiccups. His life honestly seems perfect compared to your at times.

"Only when I'm sleeping or about to leave for work. Peace... that doesn't come easy to someone like me," you frown.

Tao studies you then as he drops to your eye level. You should feel super uncomfortable but for some reason you don't mind. He stares hard at your face and scans it until he nods.

"You do look very tired," he says.

You can't help but to laugh at his observation, "Tao, I'm going to let you in on a secret: I'm always tired."

"That is unhealthy," he scowls.

"Yup and there's nothing I can do about it," you shrug.

"Yes there is, you could go home and sleep," he says, almost ordering you to do so.

That's when you can't help but to crack up. It's horrible that this is how you cope, but it is.

"If I went home to sleep right now, my grandmother would give me an earful about being lazy," you laugh.

Tao doesn't laugh, he doesn't smile, doesn't do anything except stand up slowly and prowl over to you.

You shut up real quick thinking something is wrong until he picks you up. You yelp, being carried in one arm at his hip like a sack of rice.

"What are you doing?!" you squawk as you sway when he shifts to carry you princess style.

He doesn't say anything until he sets you down onto your tie dye towel.

"Rest, I'll make sure no one bothers you while you're here," he says.

You can't help but feel a mix of emotions then. Your eyes water a little but you swipe away any moisture before a tear falls.

"Thank you, that's probably the sweetest thing anyone has said to me in a long while," you smile at him.

And Tao in all his Taoness, just nods.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Tao really meant it when he said no one would bother you while you were on the beach.

The day after he said that, you had what was possibly the best beach nap you've ever had thanks to Tao brining you a beach chair with your name on it. Literally.

At first it felt weird that he'd go that far just for you to get a beach nap but you guessed it might be some cultural thing and as far as Tao said, you're his only friend. You thanked him and didn't think much of it until the day after that.

A group of teenagers were playing volleyball a little too roughly and one of the guys fumbled and the ball got you right on the head even though you did your best to dodge it. The boys tried to apologize but Tao gave them an earful about respect and being more spatially aware.

That too was normal for Tao though he was a bit harsher than usual. Unfortunately it got worse.

Yesterday was a blessed off day. No work, your grandmother was out thrifting to her heart's content, and all your bills had been paid. You were excited to head to the beach but that excitement was short lived.

The first thing you noticed was that your chair was pulled a little closer to the guard tower. Next was that Tao wasn't in the tower but leaning against the ladder like he was expecting some shit to hit the fan any second. And finally, the group of muscle hunks posing as they flexed for the cameras.

Apparently some magazine decided this spot was the perfect location for some weird gym rat protein powder ad photo shoot and to make matters worse, they tried to rope Tao into it.

Before you sat down though, Tao made a bit of a scene by scooting your chair even closer to the tower while making eye contact with one of the big buff dudes.

You told him he was being a bit extra to which he said he was only being cautious as they had been eyeing you since you started walking down the beach. You rolled your eyes, ready to tell him that there's no way they'd be interested in you until he thrusted a binder in your direction.

It was a detailed list of ingredients, dishes, and recipes commonly enjoyed by all saltwater merfolk with a few dishes his kind liked the most. You had almost forgot that he said he'd make this list for you so when he gave it to you, you almost cried.

You thanked him and started fanning through the pages and noticed his hand writing was especially nice on dishes that his people particularly enjoyed. You gave him a quick side eye and smiled.

These are probably his personal favorites, you think.

As you started to skim through the recipes with the neatest hand writing a shadow fell over you.

It was one of the buff guys.

He gave you the most generic social media fake ass grins ever and you couldn't help the eye roll. He started to introduce himself but was hardcore interrupted when Tao drove him into the ground like a fucking bull.

Tao and the buff guy started hashing it out until his bros came and peeled him away from the fight. It was the first time you really really saw Tao's teeth. Sharp and pointy like a shark's and then there was the spike like fins on his lower arms and legs. He looked like a mad dog ready to rip someone in half.

You heard one of the photographers comment on how territorial some of the fair folk can be with places or people they claim as their own.

If that was the case, then you guessed it might have to do with your friendship with Tao. If it wasn't, then he's about the get a stern talking to.

~~~~~~

"He was bothering you, I don't see why you're upset with me," Tao says after you lectured him about yesterday.

"I'm upset you dingbat because shit like that can get you sent back to your home realm! Do you think I want my friend to get deported over shit like that," you poke his arm, but it ends up being a jab.

Tao opens his mouth then closes it. He looks around a bit then let's out a long sigh "I'm sorry. I really don't know what's come over me. After I moved here, I didn't have my shoal. My sponsor checks on me maybe once every three months since he's been busy working with another merman who's been trying to get his pass here. I guess the loneliness drove me a bit crazy."

Now you feel bad for making him feel bad but you hope your gift will more than make up for it. You worked all morning long on it, double checking to make sure the meat was ready and perfect right before you left the house and that the sea greens were cooked and seasoned just right.

"Well moving past that, I brought you something," you take out the lunch box and show it to Tao.

He looks down right shocked as he goes to reach for it. He carefully removes the lid and his eyes stare hard at the contents.

"You made this... for me," his voice is soft and quiet and you can hear the pain behind it. He hesitates for a moment then takes a slice of the thin cut beef and pops it in his mouth. He closes his eyes and tilts his head back and swallows. He's quiet for a minute and you're afraid you messed up and he's too nice to tell you other wise.

"Tao if it's bad you can just tell me, I can take the criticism," you tell him, ready for the critical blow.

Instead he tilts his head back down and opens his eyes. The whites are now all black which makes his yellow irises pop even more so.

"My friend, if this was bad I would have spat it out," he grabs two more slices and then a few more practically stuffing his face like a kid who was caught with a bag of candy.

You watch as he eats everything, savoring every bite like he hasn't had a decent meal in ages. His harsh features soften as he takes the last bite and licks his fingers clean. For some reason you focus on him as he rolls the sauce off of his fingers and onto his tongue.

Bad lonely thoughts, Tao is our friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

"So was it good?" you ask, though you can probably guess the answer by the clean plate.

"If I was mermaid being offered a feast, I'd allow you the honor to continue courting me," he jokes.

"Oh what an honor," you laugh.

For the first time since you've met him he laughs back. You can't help but stare at him and feel a smile build up that hurts your cheeks.

"Thank you, really. I have tried and tried to create something that tastes like home but it was never quite right. It was either too salty or I over cooked the meat or the greens were under cooked somehow. This is pretty close to the flavors of my shoal. I didn't realize how much I missed this," he looks down at the empty lunch box with a mix of emotions.

Something in you feels for him. You haven't had a taste of home in forever but your problem is that you're pretty sure that it would make you physically sick instead of homesick. Home never felt like home, here didn't feel like home until you met Jessica and Tao.

Jessica made you her to die for pie for you birthday which you almost threw up from over drinking when she took you bar hopping for your birthday. Tao gave you an amazingly detailed binder of saltwater mer foods and recipes.

You can't think of anything better than food that brings all sorts of peoples together, human or the fair folk.

"Well, I can't do it all the time but I can at least make you a boxed lunch once a week, how does that sound," you smile at him.

"If it weren't for the fact that you're human and my friend I'd think you were trying to court me," he laughs. "But yes, that sounds good."

You play slap him and he laughs again.

~~~~~~~~~

"For the last time Jes, there's nothing romantic going on between Tao and I," you roll your eyes as Jessica gives you her biggest grin.

"Uh huh, sure girl. Maybe you don't see it that way, but guys don't risk getting deported for just friends and not just once. This is what, the second offence? He's lucky that he's, oh what did you say? A combination of a bookish mafia boss, the inspiration for the statues of deities and all around hotty mchot hot hot," she wriggles her brows at you before popping another slice of gum in her mouth.

You snort laugh, "I did not say that last one Jes."

"No, but you were thinking it," she raises a brow and twirls around till she's behind the counter.

"Listen, I can find him physically attractive and still not want more than a friendship. Plus he hasn't come onto me so I'm pretty sure he's not into me like that," you sigh and continue cleaning the table you just cleared.

Jessica hums something and clicks her tongue, "Girl you do know he's not human right? That he might have been coming onto you from the get go without you realizing it? Shoot for that matter he might not even realize it himself."

That has you curious now.

"What do you mean by that," you look over you shoulder to see Jes twirling a red curl.

"Oh you know, that the fair folk believe in fated mates and things like that," she gives you a cheesy grin and blushes a little.

You do know about the fated mates thing, it's one of the reasons a lot of fair folk, especially the guys, flocked to this realm in droves once the rift border opened up. With the fae it was pretty easy to tell once the bond clicked which wasn't always immediately. Their calm and calculated appearance would become wild and untamed. They would get quickly territorial and easily violent towards anyone who came close to their mate. A mark would usually show above the heart and a matching one would appear on their mate once their bond was consummated.

As for merman, no one had any idea what to look for since they just started coming this side as of a few years ago.

"Yes, I'm well aware about that. So what does that have to do with him not know if he's coming onto me," you ask.

"They know it deep down and act on it sometimes. They don't even realize they're courting you half the time or that they have this desire to want to be with you. It's hardcore ingrained into their DNA or something, I don't know. But it sounds to me that he is indeed into you. You're both just too oblivious to see it. Unlike Artek," Jes grins at the mention of her wild fae lover's name and sighs.

And suddenly her weird school girl crush behavior makes sense.

"Jes, did you and Artek.... Wait a sec, are you and-"

Jessica folds down her top just enough for you to see part of a swirling mark above her heart. She shakes in place with the goofiest smile you've ever seen on her.

"Just found out last night. Oh and he did not want to let me go," she places a hand on her forehead and feigns being scandalized. "But I have to go to work. He threatened to come in and tear Mikey a new one if he so much as thinks he can schedule me during my bond week," she give a vicious grin then.

The fae took about a week to celebrate their mate bond here, which was a much shorter version of their actual month long festivity of it. Mates were so rare on their side for some reason but here it was becoming as normal as two humans getting married. It just happened, but it was equally special if not more so.

Regardless, you were happy for Jes. Mikey tried to take everything from her in their divorce but got next to nothing after a detective brought in proof of his multiple affairs. That's why he's such an ass to her here.

"So, when's your bride feast huh? Gonna go all out," you turn to her and cross your arms.

Jessica goes into great detail about what she wants to do for the rest of the shift. That Artek has invited his large ass family this side to celebrate and that he's already started sourcing materials for their marriage bed. It was more than obvious that she's over the moon and can't get over the fact that she's found the one after years of dealing with a heartache.

Mikey tried to shut her down but several of the fair folk patrons snapped at him saying that it's a blessing that her and Artek found one another and he shouldn't discourage her happiness. His flustered face was priceless.

~~~~~

"Hey grandmama, I'm home," you shout as you slide your shoes off at the door.

Your grandmother's house is unusually quiet for this time of day when she's usually scrolling through her phone while listening to her soap operas. You look around and the livingroom is empty and so is the kitchen. You're about to call her when you see a note on the fridge saying Gayle has whisked her away for margaritas with the girls.

"Fuck me sideways and call me bob," you rake your fingers over your face in frustration. As much as you can't stand her normal antics you loath her when she's drunk. If you're lucky, Gayle will have her spend the night at her house until their hangovers wear off. If you weren't, there's a nice beach with your name on it.

Typically you'd go there after work but you're tired and you have the house to yourself right now. So you stretch and crack open the fridge and start preparing for a blissful night of snacking and binge watching some of your favorite shows.

~~~~

Hours pass and you get a text from Gayle that she's taking your grandmother home with her since she's had one too many and sends you a pic of your grandmother trying to put a dollar bill in a male strippers strap.

"Thanks for the mental scarring Gayle, just what I needed," you text back to her knowing she'll get the joke.

Gayle was a close family friend and was more like a grandmother to you than your biological one was at times. She was sweet and caring with a crazy sense of humor and infectious laughter. You sometimes wish you lived with her but she travels too much and she likes her alone time just as much as she like partying.

You squirm in your grandmother's recliner and grab a bag of chips getting ready for the next show until you hear a frantic knock at your door.

The bag flies out of your hand due to your shock reflex and you place a hand over your heart.

The knocking continues as you rush to the door to check through the peephole. You can't see nothing.

"Who is it?" you ask.

"It's me, are you ok," you hear Tao's voice.

You pause, not remembering if you ever told him where you live aside from the general direction. You slowly open the door and look up at him. He looks worried out of his mind.

"Tao, are you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost buddy," you ask him.

His hair is all messed up and he's breathing fast and hard, trying to catch his breath and his tan skin looks like he worried himself sick.

"You didn't come to the beach today. You've been coming everyday except when it rains. I thought something happened," he frowns.

"Oh uh well, no I'm fine. My grandmother is out tonight so I thought I'd enjoy a night in since this rarely happens," you explain.

"I see, ok... That's good then. As long as you're alright," he nods and sighs as he leans against the top of the door frame.

A crack of thunder peels off in the distance causing Tao to flinch. He looks even more worried then.

"Sounds like rain," you comment.

"Yes, I... I should get going then, I don't want to accidentally transform back to my other form while walking home. It'd be very inconv-"

Before he finishes that thought lightning bursts through the sky and the little misting sprinkle turns into a torrential downpour.

Tao groans and looks resigned as he's about to turn to leave but you quickly stop him.

"Hey you can stay here for tonight if you want to wait out the rain," you tell him.

He looks to you like that's possibly the dumbest thing you could say.

"That sounds inappropriate," he glares at you. "Inviting an unmated male into your house is never wise."

"Tao we're friends and adults. I'm pretty sure I can trust you to keep your hands to yourself unless you've had ulterior motives from the get go," you cross your arms and stare up at him.

"It is still unwise," he nods, being firm.

"Oh so then you do have ulterior motives," you raise a brow.

"I never said that," he grimaces.

"Then there's no problem if you don't. Come on, get your ass in here," you open the door all the way and beckon him inside.

You hear him groan as he accepts his defeat while walking in. He struggles with the low ceiling, well low for him as he shuts the door.

"Is this your first time in a human house," you ask, leading him to the livingroom.

"Yes, it's very uh small and compact," he notes.

You get the compact part as your grandmother is a bit of a tidy hoarder, the small thing, that's probably due to his height.

"Well mi casa su casa. Well more like mi abuela's casa su casa, but still, make yourself at home," you say then try to offer him something warm to eat and drink.

Tao tries to deny any offers but you snap back saying it's rude to deny your hostess the honor of taking care of her guest. Tao eventually resigns and you bring him a warm cup of tea. As you go to the kitchen to make him something to eat he asks if he can watch you. You agree and start pulling ingredients left and right.

You get fully into the zone as you start preparing the food. You glance over at Tao ever so often just to see that he's fixated on your process. As you start cooking you notice the whites of his eyes turn black again. He sniffs the air and his pupils dilate.

"Want to try a bite," you offer him a piece and he takes it with no hesitation and scarfs it down. His nails which are sharp and pointed seem a bit longer and more pointier now. His expression looks more predatory than normal and some of his spikey fins have started protruding.

Guess that means he's really hungry.

"Give me just a few more minutes and dinner will be ready ok," you tell him as you continue on with his meal.

Tao just nods and stares daggers at pan. You feel like if you let him he'd lunge at it with reckless abandon and eat everything in record timing.

After a little bit you scoop the meat into a bowl and hand it to him. He looks at it and takes in a deep whiff before carefully grabbing a bite. He looks like he's holding back going ham on the food and you're wondering if he's trying not to scare you by going into some weird merman feeding frenzy.

"Hey if you need to eat however you want to eat, go ahead. I can just uh go into another room if you want some privacy or someth-"

Tao grabs a handful of the meat and stuffs his face with it. His pupils nearly engulf his irises making his eyes look pitch black. He tears into the strips of meat like a crazed hungry animal. The juices and sauce start dripping down his arms and you roll your eyes at the mess.

"I'm going to get you a towel, that stuff'll get sticky after a while," you say as you walk towards to laundry room.

Tao grunts and consumes some more meat.

As you get to the laundry room you smack yourself over the head for having another bout of terrible lonely girl thoughts.

Tao, smack.

Is, smack.

Just, smack.

A, smack.

Friend, smack.

You should not be even more attracted to him after that feeding frenzy trance thing he just went in and yet you can't stop thinking about it.

"God, does that mean I'm depraved," you question yourself. "Or does this just mean I'm weird and anything goes right now in my lonely haven't had sex in ages mind?"

Probably a bad mix of both...

You sigh and grab a towel and turn only to be met with a brick wall.

"Oh hey, are you done," you ask, praying that he didn't hear you questioning your sexual sanity.

He nods and cocks his head and points to the towel.

"Yeah, um here," you hand it to him and he slowly but carefully cleans himself off.

"So there's a guest bedroom in the back. Bed is probably a bit small for you even though it's a king size. It gets cold at night since my grandmother has the a/c on a schedule so I'll bring you some extra blankets," you tell him as you turn to go show him the room.

He quietly follows you and steps slowly into the room, smelling and inspecting it. You leave him be while you go grab a large comforter and a few throw blanket for him. When you come back he's already curled under the covers with his feet barely sticking out. As you go to lay another layer over him he snatches you and pulls you into the covers with him.

You flail about for a bit until you hear what you're pretty sure in a purr. You kick up the covers to see Tao asleep now and honest to gods purring. He pulls you in closer and just cuddles you. He's mentioned a few times that when someone gets cold that his shoal will form basically cuddle piles to stay warm. Maybe that's it and maybe he's also really homesick. He said he can never go back though...

"Just this once, jeeze. Not letting you go into a feeding frenzy next time I give you food," you snort laugh and try to relax against Mr. Brick wall.

Tao shifts a bit till he's holding you close enough that you can hear his heartbeat. He moves the covers and extra blankets back up and slowly drifts back to sleep.

You're a little jealous of how fast he can nod off but eventually you start dozing in and out.

He's probably going to flip the fuck out about this in the morning. Well, we'll deal with it then...

#monster boyfriend #monster x girl #monster x human #monster x reader #monster lover #merman #Tao the merman #merman x reader #monster romance #merman boyfriend #monster love #merman x female reader #monster boyfriend oc #monster bf #slow burn #slow burn romance

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unicornlovers10 · 2 years ago

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Am I the only one who has a glitchy inbox? It's showing multiple questions. And when I check on it, it's only showing the one question I haven't answered yet.

So far this has only happened when I initially open up Tumblr. Which makes me think that's my inbox is buggy. And it's been happening for a few weeks, so it's just weird.

#tia talks #posting this on my main so more peeps can see it #question #quick question #normally i would ask this kind of question on my personal account #but my main has a wider reach #so i'm posting it there

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20dollarlolita · 10 months ago

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A lot of the stuff that I've learned so far about wearing lolita fashion and using a wheelchair:

I get some questions about this, so here goes:

Tip #1) No one is going to be better capable of knowing what your comfort and safety limits are than you. It's normal and pretty much expected that lolita fashion is going to be less comfortable to wear than cozy pajamas or sweat pants, but you're the person who has to decide if something is too uncomfortable. Also, any rules or guidelines should be ignored if following them would put you in an unsafe situation. You (and your medical care team) are the one who is responsible for your safety.

Tip #2 You are the person who is also the most capable of determining what does and doesn't count as disability accommodation. You're the person who can say, "I have to wear these kinds of shoes for safety reasons, and so I'm going to wear coords with these shoes," and that's the only justification that you need. "I'm doing this because it is a healthy decision," is a full sentence and does not need any additional justification. Disability looks different for everyone and what you need and what someone else needs are going to look different.

I've also found that people who aren't disabled don't actually have a place to say, "this is an okay accommodation for disabled lolitas, but it's not okay if you're not disabled, because that's really fucking shitty and 100% ableist. Everyone's disability is different, and it's not possible for one disabled person to make rules about what's okay for another disabled person to do. It's definitely not possible for one non-disabled person to make rules about what every disabled person is allowed to do. It's not acceptance to make different rules for disabled people; it's acceptance to listen to disabled people and help them in ways that they need and want. Every disabled lolita I know actually cares a lot more about, "how do I wear this fashion with my disability needs taken into account," than any abled person I know, so let's not have another Ballet Flat Spammer incident over here.

Okay, so now that we have the disability disclaimer for disabled and not-yet-disabled alike, we can get into:

Tips and tricks that I've learned about wearing lolita while using a wheelchair!

Part A) Petticoats:

This is the most often asked question I get: how do you fit the petticoat into the wheelchair?

The answer is that I don't. The lolita silhouette relies on the petticoat to get the right shape, when you're standing. It can contribute to getting the right shape when you're siting on a chair that does not have arm rests. If the skirt can drape over the sides of the chair, the petticoat will help poof out the hem, and keep the extravagant look with the hem fullness.

The petticoat does not contribute to the lolita shape if you're in a chair where the skirt cannot hang over the edge. This is probably pretty obvious, but if your beautiful lolita skirt is hanging over the edge of your wheelchair while you're scootin' around, you won't have a beautiful and clean lolita skirt when you get home. When we're talking about disability accommodations and safety, your clothing's safety should not be on the top of the list, but it should be somewhere on the list.

So, what does lolita look like in a wheelchair, when you're actively going out and about, moving and going places?

Pardon my "I'm not ready for you to take my picture yet," face. I don't look like I'm ready to take the picture, because I'm not ready to take the pictures.

This is how I tuck my skirt back to that it's out of the way and I have maximum mobility. My side guards aren't super tall, and later one of them cracked in half, so I have to really shove things under my backside to keep them out of the way.

There's a little bit of strategy that I've learned here, which is that if you can keep your knees covered, it looks much better. It's also usually a slightly more flattering angle to have someone take the photo from a bit above you (not normally a problem since everyone's taller than you in the wheelchair). When your skirt is above your knees and someone's on your level, you start looking a bit like everyone's taking an upskirt shot of you, which isn't really great.

I've gotten pretty used to sitting on a bunch of fabric, but it's not the most comfortable thing in the world, so when we've stopped for a while, i usually un-tuck the skirt.

Lolita dresses have a lot more volume at the waist than some other fashions, and having all of that volume hang out of the top of the skirt doesn't usually look super great. If it's casual, I'll pop the hem of the skirt out and then leave the back tucked behind the side guard.

In terms of doing a big, dramatic drape, some skirt shapes just lend themselves to that a little bit better than others. Skirts with a wider frill at the bottom, tiered skirts, and flared skirts tend to do a little bit better than gathered rectangles. You can make it work, but anything where the hem circumference is bigger than the waist really just shines.

I'm also ambulatory, so I can take pictures outside of my chair. In all the wheelchairs I've been using in these posts, I had somewhere between 0" and -4" of wiggle room in the seat width, so that didn't always showcase my skirts to their best of powers. I managed to get better coord photos by finding somewhere to sit or to stand for a few minutes. In the standing picture up there, I'm holding my skirt out so that it's not as obvious that I don't have the petticoat going on.

So that's the petticoat issue right there: I don't wear one, I just pretend I am.

Some other wheelchair lolita stuff:

Soap doesn't get wheelchair dirt out. Oxiclean doesn't get wheelchair dirt out. You need to get a brush and mechanically scrub it out. Good luck.

Shoes: I have to walk to the back of my car to get my wheelchair out, so I have to wear shoes that I can stand in and lift an awkward and bulky thing with. I like wearing fun platforms and I think they balance out looks pretty well, so I'll put my socks and shoes on after I get the wheelchair out of the car. If I'm wearing tights, I'll wear cheap socks over the tights and take them off before putting my shoes on.

If you're getting a new wheelchair and lolita is of a concern to you: If your wheelchair fitting or your doctor says to get a chair the exact size of your ass, you can still wear lolita fashion with it. There's a little bit more care that has to go into tucking it in, and a little more wrinkles to get out of the back of your skirt when you're home, but it's doable. I have a 17" butt that was in a 14" chair for a lot of these pictures, and it was great. However, if you're considering getting a new wheelchair and one of your concerns is lolita fashion, it can help a LOT to have a tiny bit of wiggle room on the sides. Tall side guards really help.

I don't like arm rests, but when I was borrowing a wheelchair with arm rests, they did really protect my clothes pretty well. If you're getting a wheelchair for yourself, and you know it'll have arm rests, get ones that flip back. This way you can get them out of the way when you want to drape your skirt for photos.

My first wheelchair was sour apple green and I never felt like it held my coords back. Get a wheelchair in the color you love, because it's not going to ruin your coord to have a pink dress and a green chair.

If you're picking between low profile side guards and taller side guards, you probably want taller.

If you really want to wear a petticoat in a wheelchair, you should probably do a late pledge on Puvithel's kickstarter for the accesible petticoat.

Anyway, that's about it for wheelchair lolita stuff on my mind. Just remember that EGL fashion is open to everyone that wants to wear it for the joy of the fashion, and that being disabled in lolita fashion means that you sometimes have to do things differently, but it doesn't mean that you can't do it.

#egl community #wheelchiar lolita #disabled fashion #lolita fashion #long post #20dollarcoordposts

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maxdibert · 4 months ago

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What do you think would be a fair punishment for James and Sirius, considering the werewolf attack (murder attempt) and Snape's worst memory (sexual assault)? In real life, those actions are crimes and they could go to jail, but things are a little different in the magic world.

We know they didn't get any punishment because the school either didn't care or covered up everything. But if the truth came out, what would be the best way to hold James and Sirius accountable for their actions? To me, expulsion would be a start, but it's still the bare minimum.

Okay, we should take several things into account. First, we’re talking about 15-year-olds, so they are minors, which is always relevant when issuing a judgment or requesting any type of sentence. We’re also talking about different crimes, so on one hand, I would judge Sirius, and on the other, James. Perhaps, aside from these specific crimes, I would ask the judge to consider the fact that they committed constant bullying. And then we also need to consider that they are British, so we should base it on the legal system of that country, which I vaguely know. Let’s remember that we are not talking about normal criminal law but juvenile criminal law, which is different because minors are never really judged with the severity of adults, and I’m not going to deviate from that script.

I like this question because I’m a criminal lawyer but not specialized in minors nor am I British, so I’ll be guided by what I know about this type of law as well as the specific laws of the country.

The first thing, obviously, would be to separate the charges I would request for each because the crimes are different.

For Sirius, taking Snape to where Remus was during a full moon, knowing full well what could happen, that’s attempted murder or at the very least reckless endangerment. He was putting Snape’s life at risk with a dangerous creature, which is no small thing. Even if Sirius didn’t directly mean for Snape to die, the fact that he acted with such disregard for Snape’s life would qualify for attempted murder under reckless disregard for life.

James is a bit different. We’ve got him on assault, battery, false imprisonment (by levitating and holding Snape in the air), and indecent exposure (since he forcibly exposed Snape in front of everyone). All of these are serious charges, especially the public humiliation aspect of the SMW incident, which would be aggravated by the bullying nature.

Given that they were 15, they’d be tried in the Youth Court unless the crimes were deemed severe enough to move to the Crown Court. For Sirius, considering the gravity of the attempted murder charge, I’d push for a youth detention order, which could range up to the max of 2 years for the most serious cases. The court might also look at an extended sentence under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act, if they believe he poses an ongoing risk.

For James, we’d likely be looking at a community rehabilitation order, given the multiple charges but also factoring in that it’s not as severe as attempted murder. The focus would be on rehabilitation, but the court might also impose a youth detention period if they find the indecent exposure and public humiliation severe enough.

Both would have conditions attached, like attending counseling, educational programs, and possibly community service. The aim would be to rehabilitate but also acknowledge the seriousness of their actions.

That’s as far as general terms go. But if you’re asking me personally what I would do as the prosecution attorney and what kind of strategy I would follow, the answer is that I would go all out. Because I always go all out in criminal trials, and because I’m quite competitive and I like not just winning, but winning the best possible outcome for my clients. So, in a case like this, I honestly wouldn’t have much mercy, especially knowing that the defendants are rich kids. So, well, my prosecution strategy would be something like this:

argue that the actions of both Sirius and James were not isolated incidents but part of a prolonged campaign of bullying against Severus Snape. This ongoing harassment exacerbates the gravity of their specific actions — Sirius’s attempted murder and James’s assault and humiliation — and establishes a pattern of behavior that warrants harsher scrutiny.

Evidence and Arguments:

1. Constant Bullying: We would present evidence from witnesses, including other students and possibly teachers, who can testify to the frequent and targeted harassment Snape endured at the hands of Sirius and James. This could include verbal abuse, physical intimidation, and orchestrated pranks that go beyond mere schoolyard teasing.

2. Collaborative Nature: It would be crucial to highlight how both Sirius and James often acted together, using their power and popularity to target Snape, who was frequently alone and without allies. This demonstrates a systematic effort to harm and humiliate him, which should aggravate their charges.

3. Power Imbalance: We would emphasize the socioeconomic and emotional vulnerabilities of Severus. Coming from a less affluent background and dealing with family struggles, Snape’s isolation and lack of resources made him an easy target for the more privileged Sirius and James. This context would further paint the defendants’ actions as exploitative and cruel.

4. Psychological Impact: I’d call on psychological experts to assess the long-term emotional and psychological damage caused by the continuous bullying. This would show that the harm inflicted went beyond the physical, leaving lasting scars that justify a substantial legal response.

Of course i would also would show asistí on al charges.

• Aggravated Assault: For both, given the sustained nature of their actions and the mental distress caused to Snape.

• Harassment: Under the Protection from Harassment, showing a course of conduct causing distress.

• Public Order Offenses: For creating a hostile environment within the school, disrupting not just Snape’s peace but potentially that of others.

For Sirius, adding these charges could push the court to impose the maximum youth detention period, with a strong emphasis on rehabilitation programs designed to address violent tendencies and lack of empathy.

For James, the aggravated charges and public order offenses might lead to a combination of a longer community order, including mandatory participation in programs addressing bullying and its impacts, and a possible detention period if the court deems the public indecency and assault severe enough.

And of course I would seek financial compensation for Severus under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, which provides payments to victims of violent crime. Given the sustained nature of the abuse and its psychological impact, we’d argue for a substantial amount, citing:

• Medical and psychological treatment costs.

• Lost educational opportunities due to the hostile environment affecting his learning.

• General damages for pain and suffering.

This compensation would serve both as a recognition of the harm caused and a deterrent for similar future behavior in school environments.

And yes, I would demand a large sum of money from each of their families. I would also require a public apology from both of them, apologizing to Severus in front of their peers. And, of course, immediate expulsion from Hogwarts and a prohibition on continuing their studies in a standard school environment unless they complete and pass all reintegration processes and programs.

I think that covers everything lol.

#severus snape #Sirius black #james potter #marauders #the marauders #Marauders meta #Sirius black meta #james potter meta #Severus snape meta #Snape what if #marauders what if #pro Severus snape

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yanfeisty · 1 year ago

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I wonder how funny it would be seeing Zhongli x Reader x Neuvillette and how their territorial instincts would come out randomly and they would almost fight each other to the death before they stop themselves and they're like wait im sharing my lover with them. I cannot attack them or else lover = sad

Honestly, I don’t really imagine them fighting because they are so well mannered and all, but there is definitely some tensions in there but let’s see that. Content warnings: none.⠀⠀Thanks for the request, hope you’ll enjoy !⠀⠀ ︵ ⠀⠀ ̼

⠀‣ Zhongli, Neuvillette

These two are from different lands with jobs they are dedicated to, and therefore they can’t travel much, which is convenient because this means they don’t see each other and can fully enjoy your presence alone. However, this also means that you need to travel between nations and leave one of them to see the other. It’s a pity, but they understand, and they also don’t want you to worry since this relationship is already strainful.

You don’t notice it because you’re mortal, but there’s a sort of competition between the two, they can smell the scent of the other on you and despite being well composed, it kind of awake something within them, the need to remove that scent from you and replace it with their. They’ll get more clingier than usual, like asking if they can hold your hand whether it’s in outdoor or indoor, or giving hugs when you’re already close to them and make them last a bit longer than it should.

Sometimes, you’re able to get them in the same room with a bit of forcing with Neuvillette to go outside, and convincing Zhongli to go see him. They’ll keep throwing side-eyes at each other’s while staying still in their chair, and when you try to discuss with them, one won’t take part of the conversation if he sees the other is already in it, unless you ask a question to him directly—yes, it’s very awkward. They think they’re subtle but they really ain’t, anyone walking by can feel the tension, especially you.

“This tea is wonderful!” You exclaimed as the hot drink fills your throat with multiple flavors, going to the tea shop was a good idea that you thought since everyone could enjoy it and it gave you a subject of conversation to talk about. You gave a look to the two persons to your left and right as a hope for a response from them, knowing they always had interesting things to say even when it’s about drink. “I agree, this tea shop uses an old traditional technique, the process demands lots of patience and care but the result is worth it.” You nodded and smiled to Zhongli’s explanation, then you looked at the other direction. “And what about you, Neuvillette?” “Oh. Yes, it is a wonderful taste indeed.” He nodded while looking at his tea. “…”

You don’t expect them to like each other, but at least hope they could act normally without this feeling of distance. Not only that but there are times were they would throw implicit critical comments about each other’s, “You’re going to spend time with the usurpe- I mean, Mr Zhongli?” It gets tiring, this doesn’t feel like a relationship which makes you disappointed, and they can feel it.

They’ll realise how unwise they acted and will try to make efforts for you, even if it takes a long time, trying to restrict their natural instincts. Eventually, they’ll act more casual when the three of you are together, and when they put their differences aside they find common traits and linking they have which makes you think that in another life they would have been really good friends. Say bye to the awkward silence and hi to the long never ending conversations between the two on Liyue water.

‘𝓣𝐇𝐄 𝓔𝐍𝐃 Please don’t copy/translate and don’t reblog with yand3r3 tags, also if you’re a yand3r3 blog/reblog account, or you’ll be blocked. Besides that, likes/reblogs/comments are appreciated.

Would Neuvillette even know that Zhongli is an archon TT?

#genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #zhongli x reader #neuvillette x reader

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sketchedspiders · 1 year ago

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Cotag actually breaks my fucking heart knowing the reality of their relationship and the fact that they could never be able to truly love each other.

1. Their workplace literally steals their mind, body, and soul so they can just become machines that don’t think of or take interest in anything else.

2. It’s the 1970s and they’re both guys; being gay wasn’t allowed anywhere back then.

[Full analysis under the cut + Spoilers]

[Keep in mind some of this is my own interpretations, but it still goes off canon)

Normal Guy literally tells Protag this when he tells him that Coworker was a great help and they got along well.

He gets frustrated by this fact and worries that Coworker is a distraction for Protag. He doesn’t want them to form a relationship of any kind because it would distract them from their work. Immediately after Normal Guy tells him that, he goes on to ask this:

Maybe I’m reaching right now because this question comes up no matter what, but for this it’s important. There’s multiple reasons and aspects as to why he asked this question, but one of them could be the fact that if Protag did feel anything around Coworker, then Normal Guy would know. It’s hard to explain, but think about a racing heart for example. People’s heart rate increases when they’ve infatuated by somebody, and when they see that person do even the tiniest things it makes them flustered. If they become nervous around that person, their breathing may become weird; which is why it brings us to this question. If Normal Guy finds an abnormality in Protag’s body that would prevent him from working, he would wanna know the reason, and if that reason is Coworker, then it pushes him to think their relationship is even more of a distraction to the both of them.

Normal Guy wants all his employees to dedicate their entire lives to the company. He doesn’t want them forming any sort of relationship that’s not entirely business related. If Protag’s heart is in something else, then that would create a multitude of problems. Not even his organs belong to him anymore, so neither of them even get the option to be together fully.

I think it’s also important to note that if you do choose the option to tell Normal Guy that Protag and Coworker did get along, this can lead you to get the bad ending where he literally erases Protag’s entire identity and makes him a different person. It’s wrong for them to be together no matter the circumstance, and their entire lives would be erased, along with their original relationship.

However, if the company did allow them to have a full on relationship, it wouldn’t have worked anyways. They’d be a gay couple in the 1970s, and homophobia was not only rampant back then but it was illegal. People would get arrested, sent to conversion therapy, or even lobotomized for being homosexual.

I’ve been wanting to talk about this for a LONG time, and this is also what pushed me to write “I wish you were born a girl” (yes hi I’m destroymeiloveyou on ao3 I’m exposing my identity for a moment here and if you don’t know wtf I’m talking about then ignore this).

They could be together in private theoretically, but with them being gay and also working at a company that doesn’t even want their employees to have a life outside of work, it’d be near impossible. Both of them would be at a constant risk of losing everything. Although, they already have given up so much for their work, would it even be worth it?

Coworker is already a closeted person with his feelings and such. He puts up a narcissistic front because of how insecure he is. His title means everything to him because he doesn’t have much else. It gives him a sense of security, and he wants somebody else to recognize that because he wants to feel loved. That’s a whole other analysis for later, but taking this into account with everything else, would he be willing to give up the little that he has to give him security for a relationship that was doomed from the beginning?

With how desperate he tries to impress others (especially Protag), and how attached he is to his title as well as his nepotism, his life being turned upside down just like that would be a nightmare. Everybody would turn against him, and no longer would he be the star employee at the company. In reality, he would be just as in denial about his feelings as Protag would be.

Also. ALSO!!! Speaking of Protag, it is heavily implied and agreed upon that Protag has religious trauma because of floor 4. If he did grow up in a strict, christian household, he would definitely have internalized homophobia.

The sight of a cross makes him nervous, meaning he’s probably no longer christian, but it has left a longterm effect on him.

This means that despite how he left his christian past behind, the things he was taught as a kid has never left him.

If his parents wanted him to be a “good kid” and follow God, I think they would’ve taught him that homosexuality is a sin. That’s one of the lessons that have also never left him, and he still stands by it even if hiding his identity makes him miserable.

Although, no matter how hard he tries, it’ll be obvious his heart will never be in the company or christian values. He’s gonna end up hurt and hurting whether he hides his feelings or not, which is just as tragic. He’d feel terrible once he recognizes how he feels about Coworker and I don’t think he’d ever confess. Protag would just suppress his feelings and they would both suffer silently.

If either of them did end up confessing, they still wouldn’t ever be able to truly get together anyways.

So, cotag could be in love, but they would never actually be able to be romantically together or express their feelings at all. They can do the littlest acts, like spending time with each other on breaks, but it’ll never be enough.

It’s not even right person, wrong time; it’s wrong person, wrong time.

I would write WAY more and I’ll probably yap about this later too because I’ve been keeping this to myself for so long, but I have to cut this short for now.

I probably sound like matpat right now with how im reaching with some of this stuff but I don’t care I need everybody to suffer along with me LMFAOO

I would add a funny image here but I’ve reached the limit. Anyways if you have any questions PLEASE let me know I love yapping about my cotag interpretations and theories

#cotag #coworker elevator hitch #protag elevator hitch #elevator hitch #neptune yaps #people reading this being like did we play the same hour long game where two dudes are trapped in an elevator #yes. i’m just insane #i love tragic doomed elevator yaoi

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