#not an ounce of toxic masculinity in sight

[feraltwinkseb]

Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat dance in the pit lane to entertain the fans after qualifying was suspended due to bad weather October 24, 2015 - Austin, United States Source: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

[queen-of-love-and-beauty]

For @bunnykaye AoS 30 Day Challenege

Day 14 - Underrrated Character

Andrew Garner

I started out very late in the AoS fandom (as in I watched Season 1 in April 2019) so imagine my excitement when I got to Season 2 and Andrew was introduced.

Not only is he Melinda May’ ex husband, but he is a good husband. Not an ounce of toxic masculinity in sight, supportive, loving, understanding. Most importantly; not jealous!

Andrew is such a well written character. There is canon evidence (see 2x17) that he is supportive of May’s work, believes her to be a badass, and is very comfortable with her having a male field partner. In fact, Coulson considers both of them as his close friends, and this is mentioned multiple times on the show (see 2x22 & 3x02)

It is also canon that he stood by May after Bahrain and that it was May who left him (see 2x13 & 2x17).

It so also canon that he wants May to reach her full potential with more than just being a Shield agent, hence taking her away from an environment that was destroying her mental and physical health (see 2x22).

Now imagine my excitement to see a friendship between three grown people portrayed with not even a hint of jealously and pettiness among them, only to find out Andrew is hated in the fandom by many, Meldrew is considered a rare-pair even though they were married, and that there are only 187 fics on AO3 with the May/Andrew tag.

Andrew is highly underrated. In Season 2 he was always portrayed as the supportive husband/ex-husband and nothing more (that’s canon).

A lot of people have an issue with Season 3 Andrew because of his transformation into Lash. Andrew does ice and kidnap May, and had he lived he would have had to own up to that.

But Andrew’s struggle with his transformation is over-simplified by the fandom and often used to excuse the hate against him in favor of staning Philinda (which was not canon in Season 3).

Andrew kidnapping May in a moment of panic doesn’t “reveal” he has been violent all along even before he was Lash, just like Skye stabbing the bald dude from “real” S.H.I.E.L.D. by accident when she destroys the forest around her doesn’t make her a killer all along.

I strongly believe that Lash’s true purpose was not killing random Inhumans, but curing them from Hive’s infection, but since he changed before Hive came back he was lost with no true purpose. Like Lincoln said, it wasn’t his time.

The way Lash’s death was treated, the lack of screen time for the team and especially May to grieve also added to this idea that Andrew/Lash were not the good guys like our heroes, therefor they didn’t deserve a second thought.

In conclusion, Andrew Garner is an underrated character and he deserved better.

Thanks for coming to my TedTalk

[thesweetestofsweetpeas-blog]

Courage || Sweet Pea x Reader

Summary: When the Southside Serpents transfered to Riverdale High, you didn’t expect to fall for one, but alas your heart knew otherwise.

Requested: can you do a sweet pea imagine where the serpents come to riverdale high and the reader falls for sweet pea and she’s super shy and nervous and he likes her too and she gathers up some courage and asks him out and can it just be really cute and fluffy please?

Authors Note: This was actually really fun to write and I actually like it.

The halls of Riverdale High filled with frenzy as the students prepared themselves for the Southside transfers. You stood behind Veronica and Archie as they organized the extracurricular flyers on the welcoming table. Veronica approached you, asking if you’d be there to represent the tutoring department. You yourself weren’t a tutor, but you helped assign students in need to someone who could help. You of course agreed to make an appearance as the Southside students arrived, not wanting to say no to Veronica. You’d make an appearance yes, but would you stay long to actually speak to the transfers? Not a chance.

Josie and Kevin made small talk with you trying to pass the time until the new students showed up. The warning bell rang loud and clear as the doors of Riverdale High busted open. Leather clad students strutted in, lead by Jughead Jones. You clutched your first period binder to your chest, ready to book it at any second. Your eyes roamed over each student, locking on the tallest boy beside Jughead.

“Friends,” Veronica welcomed, “on behalf of the students and faculty here at Riverdale High, welcome to your new school. To ease the transition I’ve set up a registration desk where you can get your locker assignments, class schedules, and a list of sports and extracurriculars. We encourage each and every one of you to drink deeply from the cup that is fair Riverdale.” Few scoffs were voiced and many eyes were rolled at Veronica’s speech.

“Stand down Eva Perone.” Cheryl’s voice boomed down the hall as those against the Southsiders joining Riverdale marched their way towards the welcoming desk. You squeaked, eyes wide. Cheryl’s confidence filled the area causing you to retreat back into yourself. You wanted to leave, sensing trouble, but alas your feet were glued to the floor. I did NOT sign up for this. No way. Nuh uh, your thoughts cursed Veronica for pulling you in. Granted it didn’t take much work considering you’d give in to anyone who oozed that much confidence. Your eyes drifted from Veronica to Cheryl as you watched the scene unfold.

“There’s the school spirit I so fondly remember.” Jughead sneered. The new students went from open and ready for the new experience to closed and ready for a brawl.

“Cheryl, no one invited fascist Barbie to the party.”

“Wrong Veronica, no one invited Southside scum to our school.” Cheryl stood there with her arms crossed as the two girls stared each other down. You gulped and latched your hands around Josie’s arm. Josie patted your hand, running her thumb over your knuckles in an attempt to calm your nerves. “Listen up ragamuffins! I will not allow Riverdale High’s above average GPA to suffer because of classrooms that are overcrowded with underachievers. So please, do us all a favor and find some other school to deface with your hard scrabble ways.”

The short feisty one stepped forward her lips curled in a sneer, “Why don’t you come over here and say that to my face.” You began to scream in your head, you had not mentally prepared yourself enough for this. Your morning spent gassing yourself up in the mirror had gone to waste as any ounce of confidence deflated. Your head felt light so you leaned your back against the wall. The two separate groups each took a step forward, crowding around the two girls.

“Happily, Queen of the Buskers!”

“Okay! Guys” Archie intervened, “everyone, can we just put our Northside-Southside differences apart and start over? A new slate?”

“Mhm, you don’t speak for the Bulldogs Andrews. And need I remind you, these greaser snakes showed up at your place trying to kick your ass.” Reggie said, interrupting Archie’s plea.

The tallest Serpent you had first noticed sprang forward, growling, “Happy to finish what we started.” Jughead tried to hold him back, but he just shook him off, squaring up with Archie.

“I’m so over the toxic masculinity in this hallway right now,” Veronica said.

“Okay!” Principal Weatherbee exclaimed, stopping the ever brewing fight. “That’s enough pomp and circumstance. Everyone, let’s get to class. Now.” You nodded, springing forward never more ready to sit through the boring explanation of Stoichiometry. Your eyes never left the ground as you hurried away from the abandoned battle ground.

However, before you got very far your were knocked on your behind letting out a quiet “Oof!” You were met with decadent brown eyes. Eyes as soft as the fur on a rabbit. They danced with laughter as the tall Serpent held back a snicker. He stretched his hand out offering to help you up. You scrambled off the floor, ignoring his offer. You squeaked out a sorry before rushing off towards your class.

You stood outside the classroom evening out your breathing before opening the door. Your hand rested on the handle as you prepared yourself for entering the classroom, eyes of your fellow classmates zoned in on you.

A few steps behind you the skyscraper of a Serpent, known as Sweet Pea, and the feisty girl, Toni Topaz, stood, watching you, “She’s cute.” Toni said, elbowing Sweet Pea in the side.

He nodded, yet he wasn’t happy you ignored his offer. Next time, he’d walk away. “She’s a nervous wreck.” He stated, now headed for his first class, which just so happened to be in the classroom you finally entered.

“You’re late.” You stopped in your tracks as your teacher voiced his current problem at hand. Your apparent lateness.

“Um, I-I” your eyes darted around the room and your cheeks flared. You held your binder closer, attempting to hide the hot blush rising up your neck. You for sure remember telling him you’d be late today. “I thought I- well I was”

“She was showing us around” Sweet Pea spoke, entering the classroom with Toni following close behind. As much as he enjoyed watching you stutter, he figured he might as well end your suffering.

The teacher nodded, remembering the conversation the two of you had the day before, “Oh yes, I remember. My bad y/n.” Your eyes rolled as you scurried to your seat. Once you sat down, you buried your head in your arms avoiding eye contact with anyone around you.

Your eyes caught sight of a pair of black boots walking past your desk. You slowly lifted your head and turned towards the Serpent who found a seat right behind you. You inwardly groaned as he sent you a wink while chewing the end of his pen. His legs sprawled out under the desk, causing it to be lifted in the air a few inches. He rest his feet on the back two legs of your chair. “Can I help you Princess, or are you going to snuff my offer once again?” His lips curled up in a smirk that brought a deep blush to your cheeks. You shook your head and quickly turned towards the front. You gripped the edge of your desk, hard. A smile tugged at your lips as you tried to push it down. He was cute, real cute and kind of funny.

The next few weeks were critical to your heart. You hadn’t thought a heart could race that fast or skip so many beats without suffering from an incredibly intense heart attack. You almost asked your mom to take you to the doctor, just to make sure there wasn’t anything seriously wrong with you. Then you remembered that most of the time it was caused by the tall Serpent who sat behind you in Chemistry.

He flirted shamelessly with you. Your reactions egged him on, leaving his heart in a just as critical condition as yours.

After one particular comment you even got the hiccups. The two of you were partners for a project. You had to make rock candy, and of course Sweet Pea had to be the taste tester. “Don’t lick it!” You exclaimed, pulling the unfinished candy away from his mouth.

He leaned towards you, his arm now on your side of the table, “Why? Do you want me to lick something else instead?” He adored how wide your eyes had gotten and the deep rose blush that adorned your cheeks. You had stuttered and eventually gave up on giving him a response, constantly being interrupted by an overly spastic diaphragm. Sweet Pea had laughed so deeply, his head leaned back as he gripped his desk and a deep laugh exited his mouth.

You hadn’t seen him laugh so freely before. You liked the sound just as much as he enjoyed your little squeaks. Your hiccups fled as butterflies arrived instead. You decide right then and there that you wanted to be the one to make him laugh like that every day. A smile spread across your face as you returned to your work.

Today was the day. Today you were going to ask Sweet Pea out. The idea scared the holy tolitos out of you, but to you he was worth it. It took a few days before you scrounged up enough courage to make your move. However, with the help of your trustee stuffed bear, Sugar Bear Cuddlebutt, you were well prepared. Mr. Cuddlebutt always said yes, but you weren’t sure how Sweet Pea would respond. You hoped that he liked you just as much as you liked him.

Your intuition, and Toni, told you that he did. His eyes glowed with adoration any time he caught site of you and his stomach flipped when you smiled at him. His hands itched to tuck that one pesky piece of hair behind your ears, so you wouldn’t have to. Of course, you had no clue about this, but the way he said your name made you believe that you had a chance with the serpent boy.

As the last bell of the day rang, you quickly made your way towards Sweet Pea’s locker, hoping to catch him before he left. You stopped once you spotted him. “Okay you can do this. He totally likes you, I mean who wouldn’t right? You’re one adorable piece of booty. Just say what you practice. Oh cow, what if I didn’t practice enough. Yes I did, yes I did. You got this girl.” The students standing around you glanced at you awkwardly as you hyped yourself up thus causing you to scramble away.

Sweet Pea closed his locker and jumped, surprised by your sudden appearance. He leaned against the lockers a smirk playing on his face, “What’s up y/n?” You suddenly forgot how to speak, or breath for that matter as your name rolled of his tongue. His chocolate eyes beamed down at you as he restricted himself from pushing that darn lock of hair out of your eyes. “Well, if you’re just going to stare at me, can you at least do that while I leave? You can watch my butt and everything. I’ll sway my hips, give you a show.”

Your cheeks blushed that lovely shade of red he adored as you spat out, “doyouwanttogooutwithme?”

“What?”

You took a deep breath, preparing your lungs for one of your frequent rambles, “That was stupid. I shouldn’t have asked. I mean it’d be a lot of fun like a lot and honestly I think we’d enjoy ourselves. But I mean, I totally understand that you don’t want to. Um, who’d want to go out with some random girl from their Chemistry class. Haha not me. Wait, I mean not like I wouldn’t, but like I’m not interested in some random girl from my Chemistry class so duh. I’m actually quite interested in you, I mean you’re really cute and funny. You’re so cute actually. Like a troll. But like not like those trolls that live under a bridge, but more like the ones with the crazy colorful hair. I mean those are cute, right? No? Well whatever, it’s a compliment. So, take it and be thankful troll.”

Sweet Pea finally caved and pushed that lock of hair behind your ear, brushing his hand along your cheek in the process. You squeaked ready to pass out from his touch. “Oh baby,” you let out.

He chuckled and released your vice like grip from your binder. “You’re cute too. Like a troll, but like those ones that live under the bridge, not like the ones with the crazy colorful hair.” You nodded, distracted by his eyes. Oh those eyes. “I’ll pick you up at 8:00 tomorrow? Dinner at Pop’s?” You nodded again. Those damn eyes.

He walked away, breaking your trance, “Sweet Pea!” He turned back around waiting for what you had to say. You approached him, taking a pen from your bag. You reached for his arm, rolling up his sleeve, “Here’s my number, text me and I’ll give you my address.” You wrote your number on his arm, leaving a small heart at the end. You then rolled his sleeve back down, making sure not to smudge the ink and beamed up at him, “I’ll see you tomorrow!”

[briannanags]

To add to the previous post:

• Your medical diagnosis cause so much chaos and uncertainty, you make yourself sad worrying about all the things you can’t change, you blind yourself with the what if’s and why nots that you don’t seem to realize that maybe those dreams, ideas or images for yourself and your future weren’t meant for you. It may not seem like it now but things happen as they should, and maybe, just maybe those fantasies you invisioned weren’t meant for you. Maybe your dream hasn’t even evolved yet, because truthfully you’re still getting to know YOU. “Someone has it worse”, is true but don’t belittle your own feelings to be kind to the universe, your cards are stacked against you. Life has thrown you loops and curveballs and hurricanes since you were a child, but you envy the “chaos”, it keeps you on your toes. Nothing in the future is concrete so don’t allow yourself to get so worked up that this or that isn’t going to happy. Nobody really knows. You were placed here to write your own story. And yours may be the never ending cliff hanger...and that’s okay. Because you have strength in your blood. And love in your soul. And the brain to obtain anything you set your mindset to. The universe handed you these cards...with no rhyme or reason..now arrange them however you please.

• Secondly, I kmow this one isn’t going to be easy to type, or read at a later time when weakness takes over...but it’s fine to come to terms with the truth. And the truth is, that wasn’t okay. You may say you know but deep down I don’t think we’re fully their yet because you continue to self harm, which is what made you think what he did to you for all those months was okay. You didn’t want to leave anymore marks on your precious skin, so letting someone else do it was your best compromise. You were in a low place, you needed help but the words found themselves stuck down deep. It’s scary. It’s so fucking scary because asking/admitting you need help means allowing someone on. It means reopening those closed chapters. It means reliving those feelings, heavy, that you’ve continued to carry around with you as daily reminds, creating a path to be mean to yourself. STOP. No more excuses. No more dodging the topic. No more swallowing those words you so desperately needed to scream out. You cannot move forward in your road to self care if you don’t release him, his hands, his knees, his pillow over your face, his pistol between your eyes, his words piercing every ounce of self love you had left. He didn’t love you, he loved the control he was able to have by over powering you and using your deep affection and care for him to his own benefit. He knew you were weak. He could mold you into whatever because at that time you accepting any form of love and affection that was thrown your way. You didn’t pick the wrong person per say. That person chose the wrong soul to try and destroy. He tried to demolish a woman who wanted true love so deeply, she’d sacrifice herself for those she believed she loved. Now let’s be honest Brianna, why did you do that? - the answer - because you knew how it felt to constantly feel unneeded, how it felt to withhold so much negativity that you burst out at those trying to lend a hand because you’re unsure of how to accept affection. I’m so sorry we didn’t work together to bring us back to reality, and to encourage our past self to run, the minute he laid a hand on you you should have run. It wasn’t love when he was threatening your life if he loved you he wouldn’t even be able to envision life without you. He tried to kill parts of himself through you, and you always made the joke that if he needed to release his emotions you’d be there to be his punching bag, but when did I turn from love and empathy, to living your life in constant anxiety. When is he coming home? Did I do this right? Is he going to be in a bad mood when he comes home? Is he going to be sober? Does he really love me? What do I do to deserve these beatings? Why me? If you’re so unhappy then why do you stay with me? Do you still think about it? Do those nights or days with fist fulls of my hair, blood on your clean socks, your switchblade dragging indentations along my arm as you held that gun to your mouth? Did you think of me? Or what I had previously gone through? Did you think I’d stay that long? Was it a relief the night you left? Do you feel better now?

All I can pray is that you grew up. I hope that one of those traumatizing days, with every punch you swung or personal belonging you destroyed, did it get better for you? Were you able to release those negativities that you’ve clearly been holding in for years? Did you realize who you were hurting? Did you realize it was the person who came to save you? Did you ever look back and wish you could do it again? Or are you satisfied living a life without a care in the world for the damage you left behind when you got bored and left me here to pick up the pieces alone? What if your words stuck, and I pulled the trigger one day before you got out of work? Would that have phased you then? Or would you continue the toxic, detrimental patterns you unleashed on me? What did that first connection with your fists feel like along my jawbone? Did you feel better? Were you hurting me to “hurt”‘yourself in some twisted manor? Are your parents proud of the “man” they raised so selfishlessly? Did you ever question why I never swung back? What happened that you suddenly turned and thought that those actions would fix anything?

I pray for you. Not all the time but occasionally. I pray, that you never make another beautiful woman feel so worthless, unlovable, fat, ugly, stupid, paranoid, anxious, depressed....the way you made me. I was an easy target but I’m thankful for the things you did, because now I am here. I am ALIVE. I am HEALING. I am living. I am laughing. I am taking the good with the bad. But lastly, through the nightmare I lived for over a year with you, I am now able to fully accept the absolutely genuine love and care I’m receiving now. I’m now able to speak openly about my pain. I’m able to express my emotions and know it will not fall on deaf ears and close minded, terrorizing, angry and sad excuse for a “man”. I am able to appreciate healthy relationships. And open lines of communication when it comes to my head and the battles I fight regularly, something I tried so hard to suppress that way I didn’t “overlpad you”, that way I didn’t “scare you”.

Ha! Never again...nobody is worth losing this light I have again over.

So lastly, thank you James Essig for erasing the messy slate I and those around me previously had created for myself and my life, my future and my abilities, and allowing me to start brand new. It took falling in love with a monster disguised as a nice guy, then being dragged to the darkest parts of heartache without giving me even a moment to scream out for safety, and then falling further to rock bottom by abusing any and all substances to numb the confusion and emptiness I felt after you left. I’ve seen heaven, it’s right in front of me every moment of every day. I fell, I broke and shattered, crumbled the pieces to oblivion...and then something happened that even shocked myself: I went and got myself help. I walked into that hospital completely unaware of what I was signing myself up for, but I’m forever grateful I did. So thank you. For taking my beauty and energy, burning and beating it to the ground, because now I’ve started rebuilding and the mosaics being made from those pieces are aligning to something so beautiful, something I deserve, something I portray out into the world but sometimes forget about myself; h o p e .

If for whatever reason you’re reading this, I hope you remember this is nothing else...you pushed me hard and far enough to want to change for myself, you didn’t ruin or get the best of me you made me realize that I am my own saving grace. I lost sight of my love for myself, and allowed you to make me think so small of myself, and that’s genuinely a shame. Cause I am a rare gem. I am deep rooted. I am understanding, accepting and everything except judge mental. I am strong and independent. I am full of smiles, laughs, jokes, kind meaningful words but especially love. I was going to give you every part of me unconditionally, and I’m so thankful you only took what you did from me...because your darkness never deserved my light. Your aggressive masculine need to be dominant never deserved my soul.

I wish you nothing but whatever the universe decides to allow you...and I hope with all of my being if I ever come upon you again, I’m able to say just this, “I’m sorry you’re so unable to accept positive relationships or simply happiness, contentment into your life, but I’m thankful you tore my world apart because now, when I look into his eyes, and his hands softly graze my cheek as he’s pushing my hair behind my ears, leaving reminders of his comfort, happiness and most importantly; unconditional love and affection for who I am, as I am with his kisses on my forehead reminding me so gently that I am cared for. I am appreciated. I am more than damaged goods. It gave me the opportunity to realize what I truly deserve, and how to accept genuine relationships into my life. You pulled the certain back and proved to me what I did not ever want to become, and who I probably would have eventually become if I continued down the destructive, harmful and hurtful path I was on. You gave me the opportunity to feel again, truly deeply feel. It’s overwhelming but I’d rather be on the edge with my best friend who’s so proud of the smallest daily tasks I’m able to complete because he knows that they can sometime be the most emotionally consuming for me, who’s smile lights up the same every time our eyes meet, who has built me a home within theirs that I’ve never felt so familiar with in a different human. I’ve finally began to search deeper for my purpose, because now I have a reason to live. And I mean LIVE, not just go through the motions like you are doing. Thank you for pushing me right into the arms of my guardian angel. I’ve waited so long to meet him, and now, I am ready to release all that has weighed me down. There’s no reason to continue carrying your emotionally draining baggage anymore. Thank you, and please, don’t ever come back.”

- words to myself during my healing journey

[feraltwinkseb]

Red Bull Racing - Meet the 2015 Drivers Event January 27, 2015 - Milton Keynes, England Source: Mark Thompson/Getty Images