#oh and also that he doesn’t like it if someone DEMANDS to be referred to by different pronouns

[chrometheraptor]

Ughhhhhhhhhhhh really upset because an irl friend turned out to have stupid views about trans people. I mean we were already drifting apart but still, it sucks

[mariamakeslemons]

Spooktober 2024: Day 6 Ghost

Warning: Non-con voyeurism, non-con touching, breaking and entering

You move around your apartment, ignoring Johnny’s whining and grabby hands. He’s trails behind you as you throw out the paper plate you used for breakfast, pouting at you as you try to make the apartment viewable for the man’s friend.

“Listen, I’m not letting the first impression your Lieutenant have of me is as a trash gremlin,” you remind the man.

“But, booooniiieee,” he whines, trying to grab you, “Ah jes wan’ a kiss.”

“Absolutely not,” you declare, spinning around to point at him with narrowed eyes, “If I let you kiss me, I know exactly how that situation will escalate. We don’t have time for that.”

“LT won’ min’,” Johnny states, causing you to sputter and flail at him.

“Absolutely not!” you repeat with a shriek, feeling your face burn as you scurry into the bathroom. Soap cackles, following behind you as you start the shower.

“Then, how aboot we have a lil’ fun?” he purrs, wiggling his eyebrows. You scowl and toss a spare towel at his face, ignoring his laughter as you start up a quick shower. You feel filthy after only two hours of sleep due to stress and nerves about work and this visit. The email you got from the Lieutenant only made it worse.

“Yeh sure Ah cannae help yeh in there?” Johnny asks, peeking his head through the curtains.

“Out,” you intone, grabbing your shaving kit and carefully start shaving.

“Och, tha’s right, bonnie,” he purrs, “Git proper smooth fer LT an’ Ah.”

“I will get the salt, you horny fuck,” you threaten, which only makes him pout and finally disappear. You’re pretty sure he’s still watching, but when Johnny turns invisible, he can’t talk to or touch you.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a week after you moved into your new apartment when weird shit started happening. Nothing malicious, but still, weird shit. Your keys moving around when you know you’ve set them in a certain spot, your water bottle filling and emptying at random times, the music suddenly cutting on or off (luckily at reasonable levels of volume). You went and got one of your friends, one who’s always been sensitive to medium bullshit, to show up.

“Oh, this is rancid,” they said and immediately stepped back out of your apartment, refusing to go back in. They explained that your apartment is haunted by the last owner, a soldier who was killed. The spirit wouldn’t leave, there was still too much energy for them to just disappear into the ether. So, you now have a roommate who doesn’t pay rent. Fucker.

Of course, having grown up watching horror movies way too early, you know the best thing to do is research. Low and behold, you got a lot of information with a few careful questions and searches. One Sargeant John “Soap” MacTavish, also called Johnny due to serving under Captain John Price, was killed on a classified mission, leaving his apartment for sale once everything was processed with the family. It took a little longer, but you managed to email someone who knew the spirit. A Lieutenant Ghost, who was initially dismissive, at least, until Johnny started talking to you and demanded you type something only he’d type with a reference to a mission with a moment that didn’t make it anywhere near the report. Then, the Lieutenant started to ask questions, ones that you could answer and Johnny eagerly answered. From how the two men would converse with only each other, you’re pretty sure they were together together. Which makes Johnny’s obvious flirting and the few lines that the Lieutenant typed specifically for you all the more awkward.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Oh, yeh shoul’ wear that!” Johnny chirps, pointing at a particularly short pair of shorts, “LT’s always liked a pair o’ legs.”

“Absolutely not,” you declare once more, trying to dry your hair before giving up and stomping over to your clothes. Pulling out a sweatshirt and sweatpants, you pull them on before sticking your tongue out at Johnny childishly. The ghost whines as you head into the living room, only to freeze. Standing in the middle of your room is a mammoth of a man, wearing a skull balaclava and dressed all in black. He turns his head, dark eyes taking you in before humming.

“Yer a looker,” he rumbles, taking a step toward you.

“Oi, LT! Boots off! Bonnie thing likes th’ flat clean!” Johnny calls, perching his chin on your shoulder. The man, the Lieutenant you think, looks at your shoulder and his eyes widen a bit.

“Well,” he huffs, “Bett’r listen t’ their rules, yeah?” He bends down and pulls off the giant boots he’s wearing as Johnny shoves you toward the giant. You swallow around a bundle of nerves as Johnny’s hands trace over your sides.

“Um,” you choke out, “How did you get in?” The behemoth pauses and looks at you, pulling out a key from his pocket.

“Was Johnny’s,” is all he says as explanation, before grabbing you by your hips and shoving you onto the couch. He clamors on top of you and pulls his balaclava up enough for you to see his mouth, “Now, yer gunna be good and let us have a little fun.”

“Donnae worry, bonnie,” Johnny coos, his blue eyes glowing ominously above you, “We’ll make sure yer havin’ a good time.”

[lightlycareless]

Okay but im so curious

how would the zenin household react to seeing naoya become affectionate/simp for y/n?????? the thought of it already makes me kick my feet in the air

I will start with the fact that everything Naoya does with you is like a huge shocker to the whole clan.

From him finding a partner that willingly wants to be with him, to demonstrating affection to said partner… yeah, no one believed Naoya could actually care for anyone else but him, at least in a way that doesn’t denote making fun of them or something.

But he does, and when you came along, it brought out that side many wished he would’ve kept hidden.

I never envisioned Naoya to be very fond of PDA, at least not with people he knows, because he gets somewhat embarrassed (lol). Even holding hands with his wife when his relatives are nearby is like a big no-no. He feels like he needs to uphold this untouchable image of heir before them, demand their fear respect and so on.

However, as years go by, he’ll eventually just stop caring, especially if the two get married. He just… doesn’t give a f*ck lol.

And the thing he’ll do though at this point, oh, they’re going to be far from sweet. Let’s say that Naoya is a huge pervert when it comes to you lol. I don’t have any other way to put it, he’s just obsessed with you.

Naoya is the kind of person to slap your butt when passing/approaching you. He doesn’t care if you’re in the company of your staff, or if his uncle/cousins are there, or anyone really—he just had to do it, couldn’t hold himself, and you absolutely hate him for it because it makes you go through embarrassing moments!! Having to apologize in his name in order to do some damage control, people looking at the two and immediately looking away because they can’t remove that mental image!!! Oh boy.

You’ve talked to him about it and agreed to at least… keep it to a minimum, be more discreet if possible. Of course, that only applies in public places. In the bedroom… that’s a completely different story 😏

And let’s not forget he’s known to be a loudmouth, so the things he’ll tell you are not short of indecent either. This is probably the thing you dislike the most out of his affection. The other you could tolerate, act like no one saw anything (even play the fool if someone alleged they saw something) but THIS???? Nah, it’s just too much—and childish too.

“I don’t think it’ll fit, Naoya” you say, probably about something mundane like a new couch you got for the house.

“Really? But I saw how well you fit me yesterday.” And the way your face turns red is almost comical, more so when the mover was right there, listening to everything, Naoya just had to laugh.

“Shut up!!”

“What? I was referring to the conversation about the couch we had last night, pervert.” lies. The sneaky bastard will act like you’re the indecorous one out of the two for having understood his words like that!! As if you hadn’t known him for years now!

It’s safe to say that it’s really hard to have important meetings when the two are present, so his family would often try to get you or Naoya alone.

But… it wasn’t all that bad, because even when Naoya can be mildly infuriating, he’s also capable of being sweet.

That is something that mostly happens when in private, away from the prying eyes of the rest of the world, more so when he’s spent a long time away from you.

Naoya will reach out for you first thing upon arriving back to the estate, gently cup your cheeks and pepper your face with kisses, telling you how much he missed you and your pretty face.

He’d wrap his arms around you, rest his face on the crook of your neck, taking in your scent as he relishes the fact that he’s finally back to your embrace.

Another thing I think he’ll enjoy doing (you as well) is when he rests his head on your lap, telling you of his day as you thread your fingers along his hair.

Bottom line, Naoya is overly shameless confident when in the eyes of others, but vulnerable with you :>

As for the reactions of the Zen’in clan….

Ogi, Naobito, and Jinichi would stare at him in complete silence/shock as Naoya goes on with his supposed displays of affection. I think that out of the three, Ogi would be the one more comfortable when showing his distaste for it, scowling whenever seeing you and Naoya together, quickly leaving the room as soon as he gets the faintest idea Naoya is to do his usual nasty shenanigans. The rest wouldn’t really care that much, asides from a “Really? Naoya? Ooookay” (and they know better not to interfere at this point 🤪 he's crazy protective of you)

Ranta would remain speechless, face completely red as he catches Naoya’s innuendos. He definitely feels a whole lot of empathy (pity) for you. But when his friend isn’t being nasty, he’s happy that he’s found someone to be vulnerable/happy with 😊.

Junko, Mai and Maki’s mother, is just the same as Ogi, only that she’ll openly tell both of you to “stop it”, and to “hold some decorum” for that’s no way the future leader of the clan should behave. Naoya just laughs it off, you apologize to her in private. At the end she knows it’s futile to even hope to change him—the two were young, after all, (IMAGINE IF HE WENT ON LIKE THAT EVEN WHEN OLDER? Hahahahah, Oh poor Junko) and contrary to her marriage, this was one made out of love so… good for them, she guesses.

Naoya’s brothers would be the ones to openly, even more than Ogi, show their disgust whenever catching his PDA. Naohiko would be the one to exclaim “EWWWWWWWWWWWW” as loud as possible when he sees them, maybe do some puking noises too? haha

Naofumi would initially not understand what the hell Naoya is going on about and why you’re so embarrassed all the time, but when he does get it, oof, he’ll disappear as soon as it begins.

And Naoaki… well he’d just try to avoid the two as most as possible in general lol. He never liked seeing people making out anyways... (uh who does???)

At the end, Naoya’s behavior would worsen become more and more obvious, especially when the two have their first kids 😊 He just loves you too much, he needs you to know that—that the others have issues with it he doesn’t care 🥺 all that matters to him his you and his new family.

ajgfakghagk Thank you so much for sending in this ask!! I hope it was to your liking ❤️

[hyperfixat]

HELLO NOT A REQUEST BUT ID LIKE TO DROP A BRAINROT THOUGHT I HAD!

Just read through your "how the brothers show affection" hcs and I sat there and thought "man I'd probably do that back no questions asked"

>Attempting to mimic Levi's Purrs/Trilling (and completely mutilating it but oh my demons he is FLUSTERED. Ask him to teach you and bro passes away)

>Softly biting Mammon (open mouth and slobbering on his jacket lmao) or straight up doing bird-style contact calling (I chirp and whistle at my pet bird she loves it and demands pets)

>Headbutting Satan in the arm (and then maybe doing some face nuzzles like cat becuase I think he'd melt)

>Nibbling at Beel, like if he feeds you a food just nip softly at his fingers (or like absent-mindedly chew on his forearm)

>Brat vs Brat Violence with Belphie waking up to find his whole face has been licked (smug bastard about it because he kinda smells like you now)

Idk it kinda just clicked in my head bc I do these things a lot and I wanted to share my brain juice

HELLO thank u for the ask and your comments on the rb and I LOVE THIS!!

post they’re referring to here

- i think levi would pass away then and there if while you guys are just hanging out, you start trying to make those noises. i imagine mild confusion anf then it clicks and he goes red in the face and falls backwards.. its like u suddenly reminded him he likes u and thats so embarrassing on his end >_< silly little otaku

- the mammon point you have made the slobber part really resonates with me <3 i would love to get his jacket covered in drool no reason other than to be a menace, and its more than fair!! you probably have bite marks and assorted demon afflicted marks on your clothes!!

- with satan i can see a headbutt compitition brewing. he does it, you do it (but harder), he goes slightly harder, and the good thing is u can almost always win!! he knows at some point if you dont give up he’ll end up hurting you.. its all in good fun, so the only way u lose is if you get interrupted by someone

- biting beel.. i like to think the demons in general have thicker skin if u know what i mean… hilarious to think that he doesn’t even know what youre doing or that it happened the first couple of times you went in for a bite 😭

like beel nibbles u a little and goes back to whatever he was doing idk, then in the back of his mind he thinks ‘hm something touched my arm’ completely not registering that was u going ham trying to dent his thick skin

- personally im not a licker, but i can also see compitition between you and belphie where at the end you both have to take a shower and change clothes becasue your licking went too far ☹️

[literaila]

the tour

tasm!peter x gn!reader 

summary: 

"...and this is where i slipped on that ice and got that bruise that went all the way down my back and turned green before it healed--"

"ugh, peter, don't bring that up."

warnings: fluff, it’s literally only banter because i forgot what the point of this was, catch the psych references, teasing 

a/n: you’re welcome, shawn spencer 

*

peter made you put on this jacket. 

the jacket which is, at the current moment, inhibiting every single one of your senses. 

your arms are locked in the puffy material, and when you try and turn, your whole body must follow to make it possible. your eyes and ears are covered by the hood--overbearing and completely unnecessary--causing you to only hear the static of the material every time you shake your head, and to only see blimp gestures of light. peter when he waves a hand in front of your face. 

because, as previously mentioned, you can't see nor hear and he hasn't quite caught up to that fact. 

oh, and, of course, he zipped it all the way up so you're snacking on some metal which you're hoping is the zipper. 

"where are you?" peter is asking as he pulls the hood away from your head, giving you just a brief moment of fresh air. 

you just grumble, trying to push it off of your head. 

"c'mon, you're gonna get cold." 

"it is literally forty degrees out here," you say, between mouthfuls of polyester. 

peter is smiling--indicated only by the slight snicker he makes as he unzips your jacket. 

and then you can actually see his grin, his silver-lined eyes. 

"it's winter," peter insists, pulling your hood back up. "let's not take the risk." 

"i'm going to suffocate in here." 

"don't worry, i know cpr." 

"how long did it take you to come up with that line?" you ask him, rolling your eyes. 

peter is teasing you. 

you're looking up at him, he's leaning over you, a mere inch away, when you slide your hand to the zipper--pushing his out of the way--and pull it the rest of the way down. 

and then, as you take off the jacket, you definitely do not hit peter with the sleeves. 

"there," you say, smiling. "that's better." 

you're in a t-shirt. 

"you're going to freeze." 

"i choose that over asphyxiation." 

peter throws his head back, and then swings an arm around you, almost burying you in his skin. 

but he's awfully warm. and he smells like soap, and some scent of deodorant you probably bought for him. 

so, clearly, you try and push yourself away from him. 

"why didn't you choose a different jacket?" peter asks you, not even budging when you push at his chest--sometimes you forget how strong he is, if only for his cowardly lion tendances. 

"um," you say, offended and under his arm, looking up at him. "i distinctly recall someone demanding that he 'picked out my wardrobe for the evening.'" 

peter doesn't mind the air quotes you're making near his stomach. 

"i didn't say it like that," peter claims, frowning at you. his eyes are very close to yours. 

he has this fake intimidation tactic he likes to try out every time you mess with him. unfortunately, he looks more like a child throwing a tantrum when he furrows his eyebrows like that, with little crinkles on the side of his forehead. 

and also his eyes are always a bit too bright. 

"you really did. you even had the accent." 

"this is a surprise," peter reminds you, "which is why i decided what you're wearing." 

"you chose the jacket at the very back of my closet, peter." 

he shakes his head. "if you don't want to wear it, then why do you own it?" 

"it's for smothering people." 

speaking of that, you pull the jacket up to his face, laughing when he begins to cough, and finally escape his hold. 

you leave him with the jacket, cringing and glaring. 

"this smells like mothballs." 

"i think there's a mouse in the pocket." 

peter opens his mouth, looking down at the jacket, then back to you. 

he doesn't say anything. 

and you laugh--you smile at him like a child, like a little kid getting to play with their favorite toy. you turn away from him and start walking again. 

"you're such a gentleman," you say, as peter catches up. "holding my jacket and everything." 

"you forgot the part where i tried to prevent your death." 

you tsk. "if you were so worried about me being cold, why didn't we do this earlier today? you know, when the sun was out?" 

peter shakes his head. "it's not the same." 

"and by 'it's,'" you repeat, leaning into him, "you mean...?" 

and then peter smiles, a reflection of yours, another child desperate for the warmth of someones love. another kid that's just happy to be there. 

you blink and take a deep breath in, trying not to look away. 

"the tour," peter says, simply, and looks away for you, but slings his arm around your shoulder and trips along with you. 

"of what?" 

"new york," peter scoffs, because obviously. 

and you're about to question him, but then you bump into another couple, and peter begins to apologize for the both of you. 

he also starts a ten-minute conversation with these strangers. 

*

"well, they were nice," peter says, as he locks his hand with yours and obnoxiously swings your arms around. 

but his hand is warm, and he's still carrying your jacket, so you'll give him this. 

"you did that on purpose," you retort, snorting. 

"did what? be nice?" 

"changing the subject so you didn't have to explain any more of your brilliant plan." 

"okay, first of all," peter says, looking at you through his peripherals. "if you hadn't bumped into sarah we wouldn't have had to stop in the first place--" 

"--maybe if you were better at actually guiding this so-called 'tour--'" 

"and second of all, it's still a surprise. i'm not telling you anything." 

"i think that counts as kidnapping." 

peter rolls his eyes. "not when the person you're kidnapping still has a bruise from the hickey you left a week ago when--" 

you push his shoulder. "i get the point." 

"are you sure? cause i can keep proving it." 

"just lead the way, peter," 

he's still smiling. and you're still pursing your lips, searching for some string to tie them together. 

"of course, sweetheart," he says, "follow me." 

*

"...and this is where i slipped on that ice and got that bruise that went all the way down my back and turned green before it healed--" 

"ugh, peter, don't bring that up." 

he grins. "and you rubbed some type of lotion on my back before we went to bed, trying to pretend like you hated every moment of it--" 

"that was literally bruise cream." 

peter shakes his head, he's looking away from you but smiling fondly at the ground. "good times."

"you falling and almost getting a concussion is a fond memory?" 

"my head wasn't even near the ground." 

"are you sure?" 

peter gives you a blank stare. 

"'cause you have been acting different since then, a little bit weirder, maybe even more reckless--" 

and then peter digs a finger into your side, stepping behind you so he can get a better grip to trap you in his arms. 

"mhmm," peter whispers, breath on your ear. "keep going." 

"don't--peter, i swear--" you squirm as he tickles you, trying to get away from him. 

"no, really, i'm listening, baby. you're voicing some obvious concerns, and i'm all ears."

"and hands!" you say, leaning your head back in an attempt to headbutt him. 

but peter moves back with you, and when your eyes open, you're looking at a brilliant grin and two very cruel eyes. "oh, hey," he says, moving his hand--finally--so he can keep you there. 

"i don't appreciate you doing this in public." 

"there's no one here." 

"correction--i don't appreciate you doing that ever." 

"you were laughing," peter assures you, rubbing a hand up and down your shoulders, pretending to comfort you. 

"i was screaming for help," you argue, "there's a difference." 

"well, if you weren't such a smart ass--" 

"me?" 

*

"i think you should come with a warning," you say to peter, watching him sip at the boba you just bought for him. 

"hmm?" 

his hair is messy and his cheeks are red. his mouth is its own threat, with its smooth and intoxicating manner, the ability to steal the breath from your lips, and your chest, and attack you until you can feel nothing but his name in your mouth, on your skin. 

all in all, you have to look away. 

"like some kind of user discretion. 'warning: will eat all your snacks and cling on to you like some type of kola.'" 

peter continues sipping, just staring at you. his brows are raised and his nose is crinkled. 

he is too calm and collected and you kind of want to jump into his arms and steal all of his warmth. 

"'likes to wake you up in the morning by biting on your nose, and lays at your feet while you're trying to get work done.'" 

"are you describing a cat?" 

you scoff, hand to your chest. "peter, i would never insult the feline species like that." 

"do you want a sip?" he asks, nonchalantly. 

"where are we going?" 

"well, you wanted drinks, so we're off course." 

"you wanted drinks. you said that it was ignorant of me to not treat dehydration as a serious condition--" 

"i've heard it both ways." 

you pout, tilting your head up at him. 

"ah, don't do that," peter complains, rubbing his eyes. 

"do what?" 

"make that face." 

"i'm not sure what you're talking about," you say, grabbing his hand so you can wrap it around your waist, and nuzzle into his shoulder. 

"is this because i got the popping boba instead of the tapioca?" 

"no--but that is an offense i will deal with later."

peter sighs. 

you're still looking at him, attempting to keep your face as smooth and innocent as possible. 

"okay," peter relents, "what do you want?" 

you feign confusion. "i don't want anything," but as you say it, you look over to the flashing lights you can see in the corner of your eye. 

then you look back to peter, and you smile at him, teeth white, eyes wide. 

"what was that?" 

"what was what?" 

"that look. that suspicious look over like i wouldn't notice you staring at the--" 

and then peter groans, and he slouches towards the groan. 

"what?" you ask him. "see something strange?" 

"why are you so mean to me?" 

"not sure what you mean, but it might be the strange curve of your nose. it's a bit alarming." 

"if you want pretzels," peter says, almost scolding you, "you just have to ask." 

"but you'll say no." 

"yeah, because that guy hates me. and coincidently--" 

"--he loves me." 

peter sighs into you. "can't we go somewhere else?" 

"peter, it wouldn't be a proper date without stopping by to see the pretzel guy. and maybe flirt a little." 

peter glares. "his name is paul and he's very unpleasant." 

"to you, maybe." 

"do we have to?" 

"you're telling me that you don't want one of paul's famous pretzels?" 

"...no?" 

you smile at him, ruffling his hair. "c'mon, pumpkin, maybe he'll give you his number on the receipt this time." 

and, although with a huff, peter follows you, holding onto your hand.

*

after an entire night of walking around, getting lost around corners that you've definitely never seen before, and watching peter struggle with the stem of the cherry from your sundae, swearing he can tie it--he begins to walk the two of you home. 

any other night, you might ask him to swing you both there. you might whisper in his ear until he slings you over his shoulder and you're breathless when he pushes the both of you through the window to your bedroom. 

but tonight, you and peter have deigned to freeze to the bone. 

you're walking towards your complex, toes gone and nose twitching, but peter is holding onto you, his hair is tickling your ear, and you've got a hand under his shirt. 

so, honestly, it's not that bad. 

"how'd you like your tour of new york?" peter asks you, after a couple of minutes of silence. 

"you know i live here, right?" 

peter leans forward, eyes wide. "what?" 

you roll your eyes at him and pull him back down so you can lean against his chest again. 

"you had fun though?" 

"it was okay. paul makes everything worth it." 

"paul is going to mysteriously disappear one day, and we'll have to find a new pretzel cart." 

you point a finger at him, frowning. "bad, peter. don't threaten people behind their backs." 

"hear me out," peter continues, "paul accidentally gets three of his wheels stolen during a bank robbery... probably sometime around next week." 

"he can buy new tires." 

peter looks up--which is good, because he can't see you grinning at him--and then nods. "okay, new plan, we buy all of the available yeast in new york." 

"and do what?" 

peter shrugs. "does it matter?" 

"yes." 

"fine, we'll start a bakery." 

"all of this so that paul can't continue to practice his pretzel business?" 

"do you have any better ideas on how to teach paul some boundaries?" 

"give me some one-on-one time with him," you tease, whispering  it on peter's jaw. "we'll figure it out." 

peter leans back. "that's not funny." 

"it is a little." 

"it's really not," he says, staring at you until you break, and you're both grinning at each other again. 

you can barely feel your mouth, chest constricting every time peter blinks, and aren't quite sure where you are anymore. 

but you're glad you asked him if you could walk home. 

peter leans down, his nose against yours, his breath making you shiver. "thank you for coming," he says. 

you can feel it. 

"thanks for carrying my jacket," you return. 

"you owe me," peter breathes. 

you lean back, just so you can open your eyes and look at him, taste his mouth without moving forward. "how's a kiss?" you ask him. 

and peter tries to hide his grin. there's a beat of silence where he pretends to consider your offer. "i suppose that's alright." 

and when you kiss him, it's with freezing blue lips and a smile that has been pulled onto your face. 

and you can't stop smiling, even when peter leans your head back, causing you to go on your tip-toes to reach him. 

even when he spews his poisonous breath into your mouth. 

even when you feel his jaw clattering against yours. 

and you're smiling when you pull away. 

"good?" you ask him. 

"mmm, you might have to keep trying."

you laugh and kiss his cheek. "c'mon, baby, pick up the pace." 

"got big plans?" peter asks you, pulling you into him again as he begins to walk. 

"i have my own tour for you when we get home." 

and peter almost starts running.

*

my masterlist here.

tags:@moonlarking-blog @v1ci0us @preciousbabypeter @alexxavicry @directioner5life @inthegetawaycarwithtaylah @localrockstargf  @thestudiouswanderer @take-my-hand-time-boy @thoughtsofagodlovingsunflower @nyomjoon  @moo-b1tch​ @raindropstearsandtea @rqmanoff​ @hollandweather​ @wetcoldnoodle @urlocalavenderhazestan​ @valvlry​ @imthatcoolmom​ @spideysimpossiblegirl​    invisibletrolleyson-jeremy ��@sharkswaters  

[daemon-in-my-head]

Disclaimer that this is my personal opinion, but to me Durge never seemed like gods most special princess, at least not in the sort of ‘Bhaal spoiled them and they never suffered’ kinda way. The way people talk to/about them just never seemed to fit that claim to me.

Like, Bhaals introduction to them was killing everyone they ever held dear. Bhaals influence on just ‘normal’ Bhaalspawn that hold not nearly as much divine essence as Durge is enough to drive the individual mad and he genuinely enjoys sending nightmares and shit their way. Bhaal at the very least used the Urge to control their body 2 times but possibly far more often. The slayer eats away at your sanity/humanity every time you use it. The way Bhaal and Scel talk, the ‘oh my beloved master/masterpiece’ but the second Durge tries to question something or wants an explanation Scel gets absolutely mad or dismissive and Bhaal just demands you to bent the knee.

Scels confrontation of a failed Durge. The aggression followed by self pity; read: I too am scared of bhaal and what he’ll do to me now, u should feel bad cuz I’m immortal and ur failure pissed him off so ill suffer for it. Scel just straight up imploding without giving Durge another chance to speak as he weeps. Also his refusal to talk afterwards despite chilling in ur camp.

Generally speaking, Bhaals whole ‘domination thru fear’ bit hes got going on. Be so extra and so purposefully cruel that people are too scared of defying you. One of his prayers ‘Bhaal embrace thee, Bhaal awaits thee, no one escapes Bhaal’. The looming threat of him being all encompassing.

That doesn’t sound like prerequisites for ‘spoiled child’ shit. It’s more so peak manipulation. Durge wasn’t rebellious cuz every time they were Bhaal or Scel would make it about them and fucking guilt trip Durge to Gehenna and back. Bet your ass anytime Durge ‘failed’ in even the most minor ways Bhaal and Scel would torment them and then pull the ‘it hurts me to do this but u understand why I have to do this’ card and just chip away at their being until basically none is left. Just, manipulating them into fearing a rebellion and shit under the guise of love and care. After all Bhaal extends his own will as a servant, one apparently direly needed, how could u ever defy his goodwill like that, yk? The urge must’ve undoubtedly protected you from the horrible upbringing ur adoptive guardians would’ve put you through, daddy just saved you from being ordinary, can’t you see?

They were conditioned to be the chosen they became. There is no love or some shit despite what Durge nd the other Spawn may claim. I do love my boy Scel but he too is abusing Durge in plain sight w the way he talks, omits information, forces a visibly painful transformation on a Slayer Durge and then just calls it fucking jimjams as though transforming into a gods avatar isn’t confirmed to eat away at your fucking sanity and humanity and having ur body ripped apart just fucking visibly hurts.

The fucking failed ending. Durges inherent death wish/desire for their own obliteration. Being referred to exclusively by a title and worshipped not for their own achievements but for their heritage. Thats not a loved or healthy kid, that’s someone who has absolutely 0 ego left and no chance of reclaiming any because the second it even seems like it their ‘guardians’ would pull yet another ‘but what about me’.

Tldr; I wanna talk more about the cult conditioning and the very much abusive sht going on there.

[dragonsdendoodles]

What do you think the children would watch on YouTube? What would their favorite youtubers and content be?

Oh god time to just scream my age on the internet

Also for the record if any of these people are problematic I don’t know about it or what happened my entire YouTube feed for the past six years has been Reddit stories and video essays I use for background noise when I draw so if I mention someone sucky I’m sorry I haven’t consumed their content since at least middle school

For starters, I think Emma, Millard, and Horace avoid it altogether out of principle. Emma and Horace because people are stupid and they cannot believe this is what modern entertainment is and Millard because he has ruined many videos by pointing out every inaccuracy he could find and he got sick of the cesspool of misinformation that is the internet.

Jacob has been watching Minecraft videos since the beginning of the damn site. Specifically he discovered iHasCupquake and DanTDM a couple years after joining the loop and now when he’s bored and in a time with internet access he watches Minecraft Oasis and DanTDM’s Custom Mod Adventures on repeat. Noor is the exact same way, but with life hack videos very obviously aimed at middle school girls that have stuff like painting staples with nail polish and sneaking candy into class via empty glue sticks. Think Wengie and SaraBeautyCorner. They actually grew up with this so it’s more about the nostalgia than anything else

Enoch likes history videos. And videos about games like War Thunder and World of Tanks. He also likes Vine compilations, discovered when Jacob and Noor were quoting vines to each other and Enoch joined with them having absolutely zero knowledge he even knew what that was. (Horace also begrudgingly knows what Vine was, but instead of saying “yeah I sure hope it does” to Enoch’s “road work ahead???” he goes “I hate you and everything you stand for” and Enoch laughs.)

Olive, Claire, and Bronwyn watch Gacha Life/Club/whatever the fuck they’re on now I don’t know anymore music videos and Vine compilations. Bronwyn is here for quality control. (Bronwyn’s favorite YouTube series is Rosanna Pansino’s Nerdy Nummies series, even though she has no idea what any of the references are. What she does know is that she showed Jacob the Angry Birds cupcakes and he demanded they be made that exact day.)

Hugh is fascinated by all this but has little to no idea what’s going on. He did however get very invested in Sanders Sides and is very impatiently waiting with me for Orange to be revealed.

Fiona also doesn’t know what’s going on but she thinks Warrior Cats AMVs and multi-animator projects are INSANE she loves them and gets very sad when Noor is helping her look them up and they find out yet another creator is problematic

[the-moon-lullaby]

Hi! It's so great to see someone writing for good old mc. Can I get the boys (by that I mean Nathaniel, Castiel, Lysander, Kentin and Armin but feel free to left some out if that's too many characters) talking to Candy's pregnant belly? Ofc feel free to ignore if you are uncomfortable with topic of pregnancy or kids. Also have a great day!

The HSL boys talking to Candy’s pregnant belly

N/A : Heyy! Thank you for being so considerate in your request, it's lovely of you ! It was fun to write ! Thank you for your request and have a great day as well darling !<3

���𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚕  

He would totally sing to Candy’s belly. Whether it is a Crowstorm unreleased song or a little lullaby, he’ll do it and you can’t convince me otherwise. Perhaps at the beginning it would be at Candy’s demand and he’d act annoyed/bothered but don’t let him fool you : he loves it. At some point, he’d just do it. Like if he’s writing a new song or anything, he’d sing it to Candy’s belly (and to Candy as well ofc). Double audience for my guy now

However better not tell anyone about this or he’ll get a bit embarrassed. He likes the fact that these moments are just between him, Candy and their baby. It’s just so intimate to him so he feels like this would ruin it a little if Candy starts to tell or brag about it to other people (as if she would tho)

Not but for real, just picture him singing Hakuna Matata to Candy’s belly (PLS this is so wholesome and funny at the same time, I CAN’T)

Also I think he would be the type to randomly interact here and there with the baby like, for example, when complaining about people (‘cause we know he does that sometimes) « God, people sucks ! Not you though, mate. » Cute 

After a while, when he feels completely comfortable with talking to the baby and that you’re both used to it, he’d be more emotionally open and would say things like « Can’t wait to meet you mate » or if it’s this kind of day when he doesn’t want to come off as too sentimental he’d go for something like « You’re gonna love Pancake » or « Pancake is so impatient to meet you buddy ! » (the dog is a good cover, right ?)

That said, I just know that Castiel would always refer to the baby as « mate » or « buddy » (any nicknames like that honestly) even if you guys already choose a name. Why ? Well because he believes it makes the situation less cheesy but (in my humble opinion), it just makes it even more adorable

He secretly wishes for his baby to be able to recognise his voice but pretend that it’s not that important to him (it is). As if he was trying to bond with his child even though they’re still in the womb lol. So behind this chill facade that he keeps on, if the baby moves or kicks while he’s speaking or singing, he’ll instantly get so excited (forget about being embarrassed, he’s to thrilled for that at the moment) and it would be the cutest thing ever. Ofc Candy would tease him a bit about it but bold of you to assume that this is going to stop him

He might even break his own rules and go brag about how his baby reacts to his voice.

And now he can’t wait to hear them in return.

𝙻𝚢𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 

Oh Lord ! This man, I can’t. Lysander talking to Candy’s belly would be the sweetest thing ever. 

Just imagine : Lysander reciting the most heartfelt, passionate and soul-stirring poem (that ofc he wrote himself because this man has it all y’all) kneeled in front of Candy’s belly. 

Honestly Candy would be tearing up at this sight (just as I am imagining it, Lysander truly is a gift) and when he notices that he would just place a kiss on Candy’s belly before kissing her forehead and take her in his arms. So freaking sweet. 

Lysander’s poetic (rizz) talent isn’t just a myth. He’s the embodiment of poetry if you ask me and he certainly has a way with words. 

Between him and Castiel, it’s some creative boys that we have here. How lucky

That said, be prepared for him to constantly write poems about Candy and their child. He has now two muses so his inspiration is doubled

Also, I feel like when it comes to choosing the baby’s name, he would just say the names in front of Candy’s belly and see if there’s a reaction inside. Just because he kinda wants his baby to choose their names somehow

Ofc he would sing to Candy’s belly. I mean with his angelic voice (as it was mentioned more than once in the game), how could he not ? 

I think Lysander would not feel ashamed to talk to his baby (unlike most of the boys at some point). Not in the slightest. And it make sense because since when Lysander care about what people think ? The only persons that matters to him are the persons he loves and they would never make fun of him or judge him for that. 

And of course, he'll be the greatest dad ever (his kids won't ever relate to Daddy issues by the Neighbourhood or Family Line by Conan Gray, that's for sure)

𝙰𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗 

 Ok so with Armin if you expected heartfelt speeches or sentimental words from him, you’ve come to the wrong place. We don’t do that here lol (However, out of topic, I think Alexy would do that for him though as the invested uncle and the drama-queen he is, and ofc Armin would laugh at him)

Don’t assume he doesn’t talk to the baby though. He does and does it a lot. 

I don’t know why but I can picture him telling Candy to sit next to him while he plays LoL ( for example) and explaining how to play a game to her belly or tell everything  about the Zelda lore (idk about you but that’s funny to me)

Candy might even get annoyed at some point but Armin will joke saying that they need to educate their child as soon as possible (little does Candy knows that Armin is only half-joking lmao)

He is totally the kind of guy that will address to Candy’s belly without explicitly showing it just to mess with Candy. Let me clarify : for example he would say something and it could be anything really and Candy would go « huh ? » and « I wasn’t talking to you, I was talking to them, duh. ». But it’s all fun and games, nothing mean obviously

Or also, when Candy curses for whatever reason, he would act so shocked « Oh my God ! Have you heard what Mom said ?! » (pls someone stop this guy)

It still cute because, Armin’s playfulness is part of his charm and more than often it makes Candy smiles so everything’s alright and the baby could hope for a cooler dad.

𝙺𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗  

Over protective dad. I won’t argue with anyone about this, I just know

You know these « dad-like speeches » where they swear they’ll always be there for you and protect you with their life ? Well that’s Kentin on a daily basis

And keep in mind that for now, the baby isn’t even out of the womb yet. My guy is rea-dy to deal with it lol

It’s actually very sweet and knowing how Kentin always felt ignored or despised by his father, it is very important for him that his child knows that they’ll can count on him no matter what

He wants to be someone they can rely on and that’s why he says it often to Candy’s belly. That way he’s sure that they know (well not really but you get the point)

I don’t see him speaking with a baby voice though because he’ll feel a bit shy about it (it’s actually sad when you think of it but most guys are embarrassed about doing things like that. That’s a shame if you ask me but let’s go back to the Headcanon before I start ranting about societal issues and how Toxic masculinity ruins lives)

But when Candy is asleep, that’s another story 

He’s just so happy that he and Candy get to have a family of their own after all this time

I mean, this boy has been in love with her for so long so the idea of having a little one as a result of this unconditional love ? My boy is over the moon right now so let out the baby voice 

That was before he got caught by Candy one night and he became so red that it looked like he got instantly sunburned

But let’s be honest, he can’t stay embarrassed in front of his girl for long because he knows she loves him as much as he loves her. Therefore, he never shied away talking to his future child from now on. 

𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚕 

So, we know that Nath doesn’t want children. That’s canon. However for the sake of this request, let’s say that he reconsidered and changed his mind (probably after months and months of therapy) 

I think of all the guys, Nathaniel is least to be talking to Candy’s belly and there’s multiple reasons for that : First, he would be embarrassed (yeah, again). Even if he knows he can be vulnerable in front of Candy, he would cringe at himself if was to do something like that (why do I get the feeling that Nath is so easy to cringe lol ?). The other reason would be that he’s still processing and that the baby’s arrival feels so far away yet (forgive him for that, he’s not exactly known to be in touch with his emotions)

But then, as the fateful moment approaches, all his attempts to gaslight himself into believing that everything will be perfectly fine seem to fire back at him

That’s about when he starts to get insomnia. Most nights, he would be just laying in bed, tired and ready to meet Morpheus with Candy already asleep by his side when this chest-crushing anxiety would take over him. « Will I be good enough ? Patient enough ? Caring ? Will I be enough ? ». Really these thoughts terrify him and slowly drive him crazy (add to that the sleep deprivation)

He categorically refuses to tell Candy about it because he knows she has enough to deal with (pregnancy is a trial of life, so I’ve heard) and he doesn’t want to be a burden to her (poor baby). And it’s not like he’s gonna ask life advices to his dad because this man might be one of the worst father figures you can think of and Nathaniel want to be the opposite of this man in terms of parenting. Candy can tell something is bothering him but getting this boy to talk is far from easy

So, one night when he’s laying wide awake in the middle of night, he can’t help but to stare at Candy’s belly and instinctively, puts his hand over it. A so gentle move that it could barely be felt, as if he was scared to wake the little one (and Candy as well). 

Then without knowing why  he wants to tell his future child that he’ll do his best so, in a whisper, he makes this promise. And then he makes another one and keeps going naturally. All whispers. He asks himself if these promises are for the child or for himself until he feels something timidly moving under his hand.

He could barely feel it. To the point he thought he imagined it. But it didn’t matter. Somehow, he felt relieved. About what ? He couldn’t be sure about this but maybe it was a sign that his baby knew that he was trying.

After that, it would become a habit. Every time he would struggle to fall asleep he would whisper to Candy’s belly, hoping that the baby hears (even if sometimes he tells himself that it’s ridiculous but who cares if it is after all ?)

He’ll never tell Candy about it or not before a while as he likes the idea that this is him and his kid’s secret and he know can’t wait to meet them because he doesn’t want to let fear keeps him from being the father they deserve

(𝖮o𝖿, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝗀𝗌𝗍 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗀𝗎𝗒 ! 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗍, 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖺 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗍𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌𝗇’𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝗀𝗌𝗍𝗒 ? 𝖭𝗈𝗍 𝗌𝗈 𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝗂𝗇 𝗆𝗒 𝗈𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗈𝗇. 𝖧𝖾'𝗌 𝖺 𝖻𝗂𝗍 𝖾𝗆𝗈𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗉𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝖾'𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝖻𝗀) 

And there you go ! Hope you enjoyed it ! there might be mistakes but I wrote this at 4am instead of studying for my Italian exam because why not eheh (this was much more fun to do) This is a first (and I am struggling) but I think it's pretty okay

See y'all soon and wish you the best ! <3

PS : Here's a little song recommandation ‘cause I can & it’s a good song ! It's called Run Away to Mars by Talk and I thank my labo teacher for recommending it, she's a sweetheart !

[shimmeringweeds]

剪刀石头布. jiǎndāoshítoubù. Rock, Paper Scissors: English Translation!

In which they verbally rip each other to pieces before making up with a bestie handshake and declaring that, yeah, actually I’d rather live with all your faults before finding a new partner.

Video link: here starts about 1 min, after 算了把

As always I am a novice translating for fun. I do not speak any dialect of Chinese, this is not fluent, but I hope it is reliable enough to be insightful.

CXS

石头, 剪刀, 出不出拉倒

Shítou, jiǎndāo, chū bù chū lādǎo

Rock, scissors, can you even play them?

你的底牌就这一招

Nǐ de dǐpái jiù zhè yī zhāo

This hand is the only move you make

LG

摆烂, 自闭, 冷战又绝交

bǎilàn, zìbì, lěngzhàn yòu juéjiāo

You give up, close yourself off, break off another relationship (he’s referring to “rock” and “scissors,” symbolism… but ouch????)

你底牌也很无聊

Nǐ dǐpái yě hěn wúliáo

Your moves are also quite senseless

CXS

论阴阳怪气你第��没人第一

Lùn yīnyángguàiqì nǐ dì èr méi rén dì yī

Talk about eccentric, you are second to none.

LG

翻旧账你第一别谦虚

Fān jiùzhàng nǐ dì yī bié qiānxū

But to bring up old scores you’re first, don’t be modest ꉂꉂ◟(˃᷄ꇴ˂᷅๑)༡ god, I hope I translated that right

CXS

既然没诚意就和好暂停

Jìrán méi chéngyì jiù héhǎo zàntíng

Since there’s no good faith, let’s take a time out to make up. <- (oh? CXS being the bigger person?)

(Nope. They take a breath, then right back to it lol)

CXS

毒舌, 古板, 冷酷, 傲娇

dúshé, gǔbǎn, lěngkù, àojiāo

You have a venomous tongue , you’re old-fashioned, calloused, tsundere (no, really, apparently it’s a loan word. … CXS has a bit of a hard time saying truly mean things doesn’t he? He’s just spitting hard facts lol)

顶着扑克睑看谁都像没有还你钱

Dǐngzhe pūkè jiǎn kàn shéi dōu xiàng méiyǒu huán nǐ qián

Wearing a poker face like everyone owes you money <-okay, maybe he’s a little mean :)

LG

幼稚,冲动, 抠门 又愚蠢

Yòuzhì, chōngdòng, kōumén yòu yúchǔn

Childish, impulsive, stingy, and foolish.

相馆沒倒闭是奇迹

Xiàng guǎn méi dǎobì shì qíjī

It’s a miracle the photo studio hasn’t shut down

CXS

失败就怪我成功的全都归你

Shībài jiù guài wǒ chénggōng de quándōu guī nǐ

If it fails then blame me, success is all due to you

下次穿越你自己搞定

Xiàcì chuānyuè nǐ zìjǐ gǎodìng

Next time we traverse (time) you can handle it yourself (ooooh ouch. No, he knows what game he’s playing.)

LG

说到底这才是你的底气

Shuōdàodǐ zhè cái shì nǐ de dǐqì

In the end, this ability is your “breath,” (as in CXS is the one who breathes life into their ability? LG really switch back to complements in a hurry, huh)

合二为一是前提

Hé èr wéi yī shì qiántí

Combining two into one is the prerequisite

Refrain - accompanied by bestie handshake

揭开底牌

Jiē kāi dǐpái

Reveal your hand

契约绑是不可分离

Qìyuē bǎng shì bùkěfēnlí

This contract binding us is inseparable

彼此能力要共赢

Bǐcǐ nénglì yào gòngyíng

Our abilities demand mutual benefit

LG: 我预知末来

Wǒ yùzhī mò lái

I predict the future

CXS: 我穿越归去

Wǒ chuānyuè guī qù

I traverse back (in time)

Both: 若命运洗牌新的能力

Ruò mìngyùn xǐ pái xīn de nénglì

If fate reshuffles new abilities

新的伙伴到来

Xīn de huǒbàn dàolái

A new partner arrives

Xīn de huǒbàn dàolái

Huòxǔ bùrú nǐ

Perhaps not as good as you

这样想来你勉强可以

Zhèyàng xiǎnglái nǐ miǎnqiáng kěyǐ

I presume you can struggle through as it is.

(I’ll take your weaknesses to someone else’s strengths, is that how it is??????)

—————

That is where the encore bit ends. This next part must have been reserved for the play. I’m going to make guesses on who is singing in these lines and you are free give opinions .

—————-

Both: 旧账放一边

Jiùzhàng fàng yībiān

Set side old quarrels,

CXS: 我只是在意不被认可

Wǒ zhǐshì zàiyì bù bèi rènkě

I just take to heart disapproval (not sure on this translation, but ouch my heart?)

我来协作

Wǒ lái xiézuò

I will cooperate

不甘心我总是闯祸

Bù gānxīn wǒ zǒng shì chuǎnghuò

Unresigned, I always bring trouble

??? 旧账都翻篇

Jiùzhàng dōu fān piān

All old quarrels turn a new page

LG: 也怪我曾经主导太多

Yě guàiwǒ céngjīng zhǔdǎo tài duō

It’s also my fault for controlling to much

??? 放眼未��不计前嫌

Fàngyǎn wèilái bu jì qiánxián

Look to the future, forgive and forget

解开底牌

Jiě kāi dǐpái

Unravel the (player’s) hand

契约绑是不可分离

Qìyuē bǎng shì bùkěfēnlí

This contract binding us is inseparable

彼此信任是唯一

Bǐcǐ xìnrèn shì wéiyī

Mutual trust is the only way

别回望过去

Bié huí wàng guòqù

Don’t look back at the past

别回望过去

Bié huí wàng guòqù

Don’t look back at the past

别在意将来

Bié zàiyì jiānglái

Don’t worry about the future

(别在意将来)

(Bié zàiyì jiānglái)

(Don’t worry about the future) <- current opinion? This is CXS. But I haven’t checked the poll.

面对将来无所畏惧

Miàn duì jiānglái wú suǒ wèijù

Face the future without fear

新的挑战到来

Xīn de tiǎozhàn dàolái

New challenges arrive

我终于明白

Wǒ zhōngyú míngbái

I finally understand

朋友才是最后的底牌

Péngyǒu cái shì zuìhòu de dǐpái

A capable friend is my final hand.

[supercriminalbean]

Bookstore

Aaron Hotchner x GN!Reader.

Summary: Aaron runs into the reader at the bookstore and has to ask them on a date.

Words: 1.8k

Warning: Kissing otherwise just fluff. (Let me know if I missed anything)

Aaron smiles as he glances back at Jack, enjoying the way his son rumbles about the book he’s looking forward to getting. Aaron chuckles softly in response as he focuses back on the road, driving to the book shop. The book shop, he was going to one a little far from his house, and why is that? Well simply because he knew someone

else was going to be there today, and even though he only saw them yesterday he couldn't help but want to see them again. He soon pulls up outside the shop, getting out, helping Jack out of the car seat, his boy full of joy as he pulls his father into the store. Laughter erupts from Aaron as he follows his eager son inside, taking him straight to the children's area.  They both look through the books, Aaron finding the books Jack has wanted forever, pulling them off the shelf for his son. 

“Oh you wanted ‘Charlie and the Chocolate factory’, right?” Aaron hums softly, a light smile across his face as he finds it on the shelf, his eyes leaving his son for a moment. Aarons eyes narrow when he doesn’t get a response.

“Jack?” Aaron calls for him, just as his eyes drop down to his boy, well where his boy is meant to be. “Jack” Aaron calls more panicky, his eyes scanning around him, but no sight of the small boy. Aaron has to hold himself back from going full agent, his mind spinning with every single missing kids case he has ever worked. He moves quickly to the end of the aisle looking around, to see where he could have gone. Luckily his panic vanishes quickly as he sees Jack in the arms of his coworker. A huge smile on your face as you hold Jack in one arm and a pile of books in the other, laughter filling the gap between you and Jack. 

“No need to panic Aaron, I got him” Smiling softly as your eyes land on your boss, making your way over to him, putting Jack on the ground who runs over to his dad with a sheepish look on his face. 

“Jack, you know better than to run off like that” Aaron gently scowls at him, pacing a soft hand on his shoulders.

“I know, sorry dad, I just saw them, and wanted to say hi” Jack pouts softly, glancing up as he gives his dad his best puppy dog eyes. You can’t help but laugh lightly at them, the way Aaron worries and fear just eases from his face as soon as he sees his son.

“He’s a fast one” Smirking faintly at him as you meet his eyes, your stomach feeling as it explodes as you do. Aaron can’t help but chuckle in response, a warm loving smile spreading across his face. 

“That he is, I swear I only took my eyes off him for one second” Aaron's smile grows as he looks at you, thinking back to how comfortable and lovely you looked while you held his son. 

“Can we go look at books now” Jack groans, squirming under Aaron touch, just wanting to run back to the kids section.

“Sure buddy let's go” Aaron smirks at his son's impatience.

“Wait, (Y/n), join us” Jack grins up at you, excitement boiling out of him.

“Oh I don’t want to intrude kiddo” You glance over at Aaron, hope that he also wants you around.

“You would never intrude, come on” Aaron eyes flicker down a small blush flutter over his cheeks, before he looks back at you. 

“I would love to then” Smiling brightly at him, before moving closer.

~~~

The rest of the afternoon is full of joy as you three search for books, Jack and Aaron demand to help you find the books you were looking for. Mainly because Aaron didn’t want this afternoon to end so soon, didn’t want the relaxation and comfort he feels with you to end. It's always different when he hangs out with you outside of work, or even at work, you are the only person to refer to him as Aaron, not Hotch and it feels nice. 

“So, Aaron” You smirk at him as you three make your way out of the store, and towards his car. “You know if you want to spend more time with me after last night, you could of just asked instead of running into me at the bookstore I mentioned to you” Smirking teasingly at him, your heart fluttering as you see his blush creeping up his neck at being called out. 

“I have no idea what you're talking about (Y/n)” Aaron smirks at you, a cocky look over his face.

“Yeah right Hotchner” Rolling your eyes as you laugh lightly, smiling happily as you read the emotions he’s trying to hide from you. “See you Jack” Smiling at the young boy, as you kneel down to give him a hug.

“Bye bye (Y/n)” Jack wraps his arms around you tightly with the biggest grin on his face, which just makes Aaron's heart soar and his mind made up. 

“See you monday Aaron” Turning to look at your boss, his face covered in  a smile full of love.

“Or tomorrow, maybe for a cup of coffee” Aaron clears his throat as his nerves start to show up, his eyes flicker down as he speaks, before glancing back up at you with hope. A smile breaks across your face as you bite your lip softly, your heart feeling like it's going to collapse with the love it's feeling.

“Are you asking me on a date Aaron Hotchner?” You can’t help but tease him, seeing the nerves of this man has got your heart wrapped around his pinky.

“Well I’m trying to” He lets out a small chuckle as he looks into your eyes, feeling at home in them.

“Then it's a date, I’ll see you then Aaron” Grinning happily to yourself, before walking towards your car, but just before your out of ear shot you hear your two favourite boys celebrating.

“Go dad” Jack cheers, followed by Aarons beautiful laughter.

~~~

The next morning, you couldn’t contain your excitement as you got ready for the day, but most importantly your date. This date feels completely different to all your other dates, for once you're not full of nerves, you're not worried about what to wear or what topics to speak about or avoid. Maybe that's because you're already friends with Aaron, or maybe because it's Aaron. The most sweetest and thoughtful guy you know, the one who isn’t afraid of deep conversation, the one who has seen you at your worst and never left your side. Maybe because you two already know each other so well so all the cards are already displayed, you both know what you're getting into.

When you walk into the coffee shop a couple hours later, your eyes automatically land on him, sitting by the wall in the middle of the shop. Your smile widens as your eyes meet, a grin erupting over his face as you make your way over to him. 

“Hey” Taking a seat across from him.

“Hey, you made it” Aaron grins back up at you, enjoying the view of you in front of him.

“What afraid I would stand you up, huh?” Laughing softly as you lean back into your chair.

“Not at all, I even ordered some drinks. I hope you don’t mind” Aaron smiles as he looks you over.

“You know what I drink?”

“A large caramel latte, extra shot and not too hot” Aaron smirks when he sees the impressive look on your face. 

“Good job profiler” 

“More about being around you too much than a profiler” Aaron laughs as they call out his name, which he politely excuses himself to go grab the drinks. He returns shortly with the drinks and conversation starts to flow on by.

“I always forget how much of a bookworm your kid is” Laughing at the story he’s finished telling you, about how he couldn’t get Jack to stop reading last night before bed time. 

“I don’t know where he gets it from” Aaron chuckles, before sipping on his coffee.

“Well seeing as your nose is normally stuck in a file I could probably tell you” Teasing the man again, enjoying the way his eyes roll backwards.

“You just love to tease me don’t you” Aaron licks his lips as he looks into your eyes. This is his first ever date that he has ever felt at home when looking into his partner's eyes.

“Oh I truly do” Chuckling lightly as you glance away from him.

As the conversation carries on smoothly, full of laughter and comfort there is no doubt in either of your mind that you want to do this again. 

~~~

Of course Aaron's phone has to ring and pull you both away from this precious moment.

“We have to go in?” Your smile drops just a little as you watch the expression on Aaron's face, his professional boss face. 

“Yeah we got a case, it's a bad one” Aaron groans as he stands up, his face full of trouble.

“Hey, at least we don’t have to explain to each other the difficulty of our job” You joke, trying to lighten the mood, which you happily succeed in, a soft smile picking at his lips.

“I guess you're right” Aaron smiles, leading you both out of the store and towards both the cars. 

“Well I don’t know about you Aaron, but I really enjoyed today” Smiling up at him as you lean against your car, your eyes glancing down to his lips before settling back on his eyes. 

“So did I, maybe when we get back from the case we can do it again?”

“I would love that, ohh maybe we could go to the movies, the new spiderman is coming out and I know Jack would love to go to it” Beaming up at him as you remember how much his kid was rambling about it yesterday.

“That sounds perfect, I’ll see you back at the office soon then” Aaron smiles.

“Sure, I’ll race you” Laughing softly as he turns away, heading to his car.

“Don’t break any laws” He calls back.

“No promises sir” Laughing as you go to open the door, before someone is grabbing your arm and pushing you into the car. Your head swings up to see Aaron staring down at you, his hand cupping your jaw, before pressing his lips against yours firmly. You can’t help but melt into the kiss, closing your eyes as you enjoy his touch. Eventually he pulls away from you, a playful smirk playing on his face as he glances down at you.

“Don’t be late” He chuckles as he makes his way to his car, leaving you there speechless and breathless. Oh that man is going to be the death of you. 

[mothxmoons]

Hello, I gotta say that I love your stories and posts, I enjoy reading them whenever a new story is posted. Keep up with the work, it's makes me smile a lot.😁😁😁

Also, can I request a Wesker x fem reader? They are both each other's soulmates and the way that they met had to do with their Tsum Tsums look alike.

Hehe hoohoo tsum tsum

You were sure your soulmate had something to do with your tsum tsum. You’re not sure where he came from, or when he got in your home, but the fact is that he’s just there now. He lives in your home now, and he’s now your friend, can’t get rid of that. You were sure this was a weird soulmate thing, you were so sure of it. Plenty of other people have gotten weird soulmate things, this can’t be that different. Your tsum tsum was a blondie, bigger than the other tsum tsums in your room, had black sunglasses and a black outfit. More importantly though. He could move and talk.

You were very surprised when he first started talking. He had a sneer for a voice, it was rather high pitched too, maybe because of his size. But when he first talked to you, it was in the kitchen and you nearly dropped your plate. He demanded that you stop and turn around to pick him up, because he wasn’t going to follow after you if you went all the way back to your room. He was very upset that you were leaving him on the counter and immediately decided to scream at you about it. You would think you were definitely loosing it when he first moved but now this? Nearly gave you a heart attack, but you did as he asked and let him crawl his way into your hand.

You wondered why out of all the things to refer to your soulmate, you got a little tiny plush toy of him. Does that mean he has a little version of you wandering around? What does little you do with your soulmate? Does it do the same things you do? There wasn’t much use thinking of these things, so you decided that now that you know he’s your soulmate link, you should start taking care of him.

So you found your old wooden dollhouse which seemed to be perfect for him. You switched out the old wooden bed for an antique doll bed, complete with sheets and pillows. He seemed to enjoy that very much, being able to have his own bed and little space, the doors were just big enough for him to enter and exit as well. However, despite his new little home you cleaned up for him and even getting him new stuff to fill the space, he seems to like your bed the best. Snuggled next to your head, snoring away until morning where he wiggles his way into your neck and naps. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t use his home! Oh no, he’s always asking for things to be put in and wants to come with you when getting these things.

That’s how you’re in this situation. Looking through mini furniture, a small tsum tsum soulmate in your hands as he squeaks at his favorites and the colors he wants. You guess his squeaking caught the attention of someone else in another isle.

“Excuse me?” A deep voice sounded, it was so familiar and you couldn’t help but turn to the voice to see who was the owner of it.

“Uh-“ In front of you seemed to be a bigger version of your little soulmate link. But he was safely in your hands and this one had a…you..so to speak.

You two were so involved with looking at each other you both barely even noticed that your tsum tsums squeaked and jumped down from their places and fell to the floor, tumbling their way over to each other. Their happy squeaks made you two realize where you both were and what had just happened. You both looked down at your soulmate links, the little version of you happily rubbing against his much larger plush body.

“It’s…nice to meet you, soulmate.” He said, a little embarrassed from what was happening.

“It’s lovely to meet you too, soulmate.” You responded in kind, watching as the two plush toys happily squeaked at each other.

It appears you’ll have to move soon… because of the two plush toys and to get to know your soulmate, of course.

[nanawritesit]

Class 1A as Baristas at a Coffee Shop

TW: this is aged up bc there’s references to alcohol and 🍃, so if you’re a child of god then read no further 💀 also mineta isn’t included because i hate him, and you should too 😊

A/N: i’m a barista so i’m qualified to make these claims. also i know i haven’t written any of my actual requests. i’m depressed and my life is chaotic. besides this is just for fun and didn’t really take much effort so leave me alone 😤

midoriya:

literally the best barista boy on the planet

his customer service skills are GOD-TIER

even when a customer is being rude to him, he’s just such a lil cinnamon roll back to them and kills them with his kindness

has amazing relationships with all the regulars, completely memorizes all their names and orders

legit has full conversations with them

“hey carl, how’s the wife doin’?”

“welcome back emily, did you get into that university you told me about?”

“good afternoon joyce, how’d your husband’s gallbladder surgery go?”

comes up with really creative drinks to use for the monthly specials

is secretly all of the managers favorites because he just works so hard (even bakugou’s)

whips through all the cleaning so fast at the end of the day

todoroki: “okay so we need to wash the utensils, mop the floors, and clean the espresso machine…”

midoriya: “oh, i already did all that todoroki!” 😊

loves coffee but is very sensitive to the caffeine so the managers have to make sure he doesn’t have more than two shots a day 💀

bakugou:

one of the managers

honestly the least likely person you’d expect to be a barista

can only work morning shift bc he goes to sleep at 8:30 (nerd)

his customer service SUCKS but he’s literally so good at his job they can’t really fire him

he just hardly ever runs the cash register and assigns it to one of the more sunshine-y baristas (usually deku or uraraka)

not usually trusted with training new recruits bc he’s such a bully

if a customer is being rude to one of the baristas he won’t hesitate to clap back, because HE’S the only one allowed to bully his employees 😤

uraraka will just step away from the cash register and go “bakugou i need your help with something” and he whips around with the most deadly grimace

bakugou: “is there a problem, sir?”

customer: “n-no problem here, the coffee tastes great” 😄

god forbid one of them gets snappy on one of the rare occasions he works the register

customer: “i demand to see your manager!”

bakugou: “you’re lookin’ at him, dumbass”

damn near explodes when some white girl comes through wanting a mocha caramel latte-cino made with skim milk and no whipped cream in a medium cup with the same amount of coffee as a small so she can stir in her own nutmeg

doesn’t give a single fuck about regulations if he thinks they’re unnecessary

iida: “bakugou, the health department says these bagels have to be thrown away after six days!”

locks the doors ten minutes before closing time and won’t let anyone else in

bakugou: “i don’t give a damn what the health department says, i’m not throwing away six perfectly good bagels!”

punched the espresso machine one time when it wasn’t working and it fucking exploded 💀

iida made him walk across town to buy a new one

todoroki:

another one of the managers

is tasked with training the majority of the new recruits since bakugou cant

the most level-headed chill person to have around during a rush, he never loses his head

can instantly correct someone’s order if they mistakenly got a hot or iced coffee

customer: “excuse me, i ordered this coffee iced.”

todoroki: “oh i’m so sorry, lemme just-“ *touches the cup with his right hand and it fills with ice* “there ya go”

OR

customer: “i don’t mean to be a bother, but i wanted a hot coffee and this is iced.”

todoroki: “yeah gimmie a sec-“ *heats up the cup with his left hand and melts the ice* “should be good now”

likes macchiatos because the separated milk and coffee reminds him of his hair 🥺

pisses off the rude customers with his indifference

customer: “i’ll just take my business elsewhere!”

todoroki: “okay well, it’s your money so you can do what you want with it”

gets flirted with all the time but is too oblivious to notice

kaminari: “dude that girl TOTALLY just gave you her number”

todoroki: “nah she probably just wrote it down in case we needed a survey” *throws it away*

kaminari wants to go off on him but he racks in a lot of money in tips for all of them to split so he keeps quiet

iida:

general manager from hell

runs the shop like it’s the fucking army

really nice if you follow all the regulations tho 😀

he’s the best person to have around during a rush because he just kicks his engines into maximum overdrive and speeds through all the orders

also does deliveries on the side because he’s a fast boi

tried to implement a demerit system, but bakugou took one look at the poster and tore it off the wall 💀

everyone prays to god that they get scheduled with momo instead of him

constantly taps the other workers on the shoulder to hand them a wash cloth and a spray bottle and goes “if you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean”

everyone acts like they hate him, but when he gave a really touching speech at the christmas party everyone started crying

also organized the secret santa

ends up apologizing to customers for bakugou’s terrible customer service and hands them like a thousand coupons

uraraka:

customer service skills only come second to midoriya’s

she’s a DELIGHT to talk to

even at 7 am when you’re sleep deprived and caffeine deficient, the sight of her smiling face behind the counter will cheer you up :)

during a rush she forgets not to grab the receipts with all five fingers, so they’ll just start floating everywhere

bakugou: “hey round face, all my orders are on the ceiling!”

uraraka: “oh shoot, sorry!” *puts hands together* “release!”

draws cute little pictures on all the chalkboards 🥰

somehow knows exactly what a customer would like when they ask her to recommended something? people start wondering if that’s her real superpower

ironically doesn’t like the taste of coffee… her favorite drink is a hot chocolate with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles

tsuyu:

only got the job to be closer to her best friend uraraka but ends up really enjoying it

gets nervous talking to customers so she mostly just sticks to making the drinks

has to be reminded not to grab things with her tongue because it’s against the health code 💀

when a customer is rude to her the ENTIRE team gets pissed at them, because she’s an angel and must be protected 😤

hates when people watch her make their drinks (she gets anxious 🥺)

pretty much the baby of the shop, whenever she accidentally burns herself steaming milk everyone rushes over like “OH MY GOD TSU ARE YOU OKAY?!?!”

kirishima:

one of the only two baristas trained by bakugou, so he ends up being really good at making coffee

is able to memorize large orders really quickly

“alright i’ve got a skinny macchiato no whip, iced dirty chai with oat milk and an added shot, two americanos extra hot, and a vanilla frappe?”

is the designated carrier of the cold brew kegs

AND the delivery boxes

AND the milk jugs

pretty much anything that’s heavy, he happily carries it

eventually becomes a team trainer, which suits him perfectly because he’s always boosting the team’s morale

bakugou giving the morning debrief: “alright guys, today’s gonna be super busy, and it’s gonna suck.”

kirishima: “SO LETS GET OUT THERE AND DO OUR BEST! I KNOW WE CAN DO IT!” 😆

kaminari:

the OTHER only employee that was trained by bakugou

tries so hard to flirt with customers but fails miserably

is really good at making coffee but he makes a decent amount of mistakes, like using the wrong milk or making drinks hot instead of iced (good thing we have todoroki!)

also wanted to become a team trainer but couldn’t pass the servsafe exam 😀

hooked himself up the espresso machine after bakugou broke it so they could use it until he came back with a new one 💀

does stupid shit with kirishima whenever the shop is dead

bakugou walked in on them making a castle out of cups and knocked it over, then screamed at them to get back to work

conveniently goes to the bathroom every time a huge group of people walks in

sneaks his phone in the bathroom with him

is also a chronic stoner and can’t get through a shift without hitting his pen

he accidentally left it in his apron one night and the next day iida gave everyone a talk about paraphernalia in the workplace

and everyone just had to act like they didn’t know it was kaminari’s 🤡

sero:

only has this job to pay for weed

is basically a glorified janitor because he’s not good at making coffee at ALL

he tries tho 😗

has the worst memory ever

customer: “can i get a small hot vanilla cappuccino?”

sero: “yeah so a large iced mocha frappe?”

customer: “no… a small hot vanilla cappuccino…”

sero: “yeah, that’s totally what i said.” 😀

also can’t remember how to make drinks to save his life

sero: “i’m sorry but what the hell is the difference between an iced coffee and an iced latte?”

bakugou: “OH MY GOD IVE TOLD YOU LIKE A HUNDRED TIMES”

goes to take out the trash with kaminari and they don’t come back for like twenty minutes

and when they do they’re coughing up a storm and reeking of weed 💀 like they don’t even try to hide it

would have gotten fired months ago if they weren’t so short staffed

mina:

is also a team trainer because she’s good with people

tries to get everyone to hang out outside of work, and she usually succeeds

made everyone go to karaoke and get drunk together

iida was QUITE the life of the party after a few drinks, and she evilly videotaped it all

makes memes about the managers and sends them to the barista group chat

spontaneously starts dancing while working, even when there’s customers

drinks like eight shots of espresso a day

is also the shop’s social media manager

constantly takes pictures of everyone and posts them on the shop’s instagram

jirou:

manages the shop playlist

kaminari tried to get her to put a bunch of inappropriate rap songs on it but she didn’t want iida to get mad

sings to herself throughout the entire shift, everyone thinks it’s really cute

except bakugou, he isn’t afraid to tell her to shut up

only drinks black coffee, she doesn’t like milk or sugar

always spices up her uniform with cool accessories and jewelry

she’s not going to sacrifice her individuality for a corporate position 😌 (even if iida constantly lectures her… momo didn’t want to hear it anymore so she started scheduling jirou with her)

momo:

assistant general manager

everyone loves her, she’s an amazing boss

always releases the schedule two weeks ahead of time

is everyone’s barista crush

literally, a new man asks her out every day

is in charge of keeping inventory and ordering ingredients, she’s good at math so everything is always well stocked

is super nice to all the new employees she trains

is a tea enthusiast

sources a bunch of fancy tea and recommends it to the customers

she’s actually garnered a few coffee converts, no one is really able to say no to her pretty face 🥰

never gets made at anyone for requesting time off, in fact she’ll excitedly ask them ab their plans

also never guilts anyone for being sick and not coming into work

pretty much everyone’s mom, if anyone comes in looking upset she’s immediately like “okay what’s wrong, tell me right now”

hagakure:

sneaks up on people all the time

like someone will go up the counter to get their coffee and just see a floating apron

customer: “um, i ordered a latte and-“

hagakure: “yeah, it’s right here!” 😄

customer: “OH MY GOD-“

LOVES to gossip with mina

always has way too much energy early in the morning

*todoroki barely being able to keep his eyes open as he unlocks the door*

hagakure: “AYO SHOTO ARE YOU READY TO OPEN THIS COFFEE SHOP?!?!”

aoyama:

refuses to wear a hair net

DEVOURS croissants

wants to put cheese on the menu, and doesn’t care at all that it’s a coffee shop

buys fresh flowers to put on all the tables 🥰

one day the open sign burnt out so bakugou made him shine his navel laser though it 💀

goes on his phone during his shift ALL the time, and never listens to iida when he yells at him to put it away

tokoyami:

everyone likes being scheduled with him because he’s basically two baristas

“hey dark shadow, can you make this order for me while i stock the bakery case?”

wants to be emo like jirou and only drink black coffee, but can’t stand the taste

“yeah jirou, we’re the only strong ones in the shop!” *dumps three creams and five sugars in his coffee when no one’s looking*

made everyone wear costumes for halloween and handed out candy to customers

purposefully messes up rude customers’ orders 💀

like if they ask for almond milk he’ll put in whole milk so they shit themselves

or if they want it skinny he’ll use the regular syrups so they get sugar overload

doesn’t know how to answer the phone

customer: “is this my hero coffee academia?”

tokoyami: “no, this is fumikage.” *hangs up*

almost has a meltdown everytime he spills something, has to lock himself in the freezer to calm down before walking back out like nothing happened

only works night shift for obvious reasons

shouji:

multitasking king

all his arms allow him to do different things at once

him and iida are the speed demons of the shop, so when the two of them work together everything gets done in like two seconds

iida will be running around making all the orders while shouji is cleaning everything all at once

is pretty much everyone’s therapist, he’s just so easy to vent to

gives the best advice

is so huge and intimidating that there’s hardly ever any rude customers during his shift

koda:

gets so upset every time a bug is killed in the kitchen

koda: “NO PLEASE HE HAS A FAMILY”

momo: “koda i understand this is hard for you, but we cannot have a spider roaming freely around the food”

squeals whenever a customer leaves their dog outside

he’ll be standing at the window with his hands pressed up against the glass and tears in his eyes

todoroki: *sigh* “you can go pet the dog if you want-“

koda: “THANK YOU” *sprints out the door*

starts buying dog treats to give to the owners, he even offers to put them in a little cup of whipped cream 🥺

gets sato to make some vegan baked goods :)

ojiro:

cant spell customers’ names right to save his life

ojiro: “alright, can i get a name for this?”

customer: “yeah, it’s brian with a y!”

ojiro: “got it!” *writes yrian*

or he just writes the wrong name altogether

sharon is now shannnon

tyler is now tyson

jack is now jake

let’s kaminari fluff his tail when he gets overstimulated during a rush 🥺

is constantly apologizing to everyone for accidentally bumping into them with it

sato:

the faithful head baker

comes in at 4 am everyday to prep the baked goods

always asks everyone if they have any special requests <3

customers are constantly complimenting the stuff he makes and asking who made them

the baristas just smile and they’ll them that their baker sato made them, and if he’s still there, they’ll drag him out to accept the compliments 🥰

isn’t very good at asking for help, but hagakure and aoyama are always around to frost donuts or decorate cupcakes when he’s running behind :)

(BONUS) aizawa:

the area coach that stops by every so often to make sure everything is running up to standard

everyone is really scared of him but he honestly doesn’t give a single fuck so long as they’re not serving trash

only comes by during the night shift because he refuses to wake up early

and of course that’s when they least expect him

iida and momo are just nervously leading him around the shop while kirishima and kaminari are sprinting to the kitchen to throw away all the expired food 💀

tells them they’ll get shut down if they don’t get enough customer surveys, which makes everyone panic and hand them out with every order

they still didn’t have enough so sero and mina were in the back filling them out the day they were due 🤡

turns out they were never going to get shut down, he just lied to them so they’d push surveys 🙃

[rovingotter]

My Wish Rewrite

Everyone under the sun has done a Wish rewrite at this point so I thought I’d try my hand at it.  I’m going to try to keep both Magnifico's and Asha’s characterizations relatively intact while giving Asha a more compelling motivation, and also keep the structure fairly similar to what we got in the movie.

Note:  I use he/him to refer to Star for the sake of clarity, though Star has no official pronouns.

Much of the setup is the same:  Asha giving a tour, going to her interview, etc, with the major difference being that rather than Saba and his wish, the focus is on Simon.  Why?  Because he’s the only person we see in the movie who’s suffering some kind of negative repercussion from losing his wish (aside from just disappointment at it not being granted).  And in this version it’s made clear, in the scene with all the friends gathered in the kitchen, that Simon isn’t just sleepy:  he’s depressed.  He’s lost interest in most things, even the cookies he used to love.  Asha is troubled by this.  Dahlia says something like, “I’m sure things will be back to normal once he has his wish granted.”

Gabo replies, “You mean if he ever has his wish granted.”

“Gabo…”

“You don’t really think everyone’s wish gets granted, do you?  Asha, your saba is one hundred and he’s still waiting.  There’s only a ceremony once every month. How many people do you think live in Rosas?  Do the math.”

Asha:  “Right, but…the good and worthy wishes get granted.”

“And?  We don’t know what Simon’s wish is.  Even he doesn’t know, now.  Maybe he wants to rule the world.”

“Gabo!”

Simon:  “It’s true.  I don’t know. It could be something awful.”

The scene with meeting Magnifico and seeing the wishes goes much the same, but then after “At All Costs,” Asha asks for Simon’s wish to be granted.  And when Magnifico is obviously disappointed that she would ask for favors when they just met, she clarifies:  “Oh, I wouldn’t ask, except…since he gave up his wish, he just hasn’t been himself.  He seems so…sad.”

Magnifico softens visibly.  “All right.  Let me take a look.”

I’m also changing Simon’s wish:  he’s the one who wants to inspire people through music (or art or writing or whatever) but specifically, he wants to inspire a great change and to create a new dawn for Rosas.  As Magnifico examines the wish we can see that this hunger for change is what disturbs him.  He flinches back, quickly sends the wish back to the ceiling, and gives Asha the speech about how some wishes are too vague to grant:  there’s no telling what could happen.

“…then can’t you just give it back?”

“Excuse me?”

“His wish.  You could just give it back.  Then if it’s dangerous, it could be stopped, but if not—”

“That's not how it works. The wishes stay here until they are granted.  The system only works if everyone follows the same rules.  That’s the only way I can keep us all safe.  Look at this kingdom.  I’ve drawn together people from all over the world, and they live here in harmony, wanting for nothing.  Where else do you think that happens?  Do you believe that’s a coincidence?  I don’t just grant the good wishes.  I keep the bad ones from hurting anyone.”

“But Simon is hurting now.  Surely, in this case, you could make an exception—”

“If I make one exception, then everyone will start demanding their wishes back, and the whole system will crumble.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

The argument keeps escalating to the “I decide what everyone deserves” line.  And this is what causes Asha to start questioning the system she’s believed in her whole life.  She’s always seen Rosas as a paradise—and it is, for most.  But now that same system is harming her friend and Magnifico is unwilling to rectify this due to vague fears about the potential consequences of Simon's wish. 

She doesn’t get the job. Magnifico grants someone else’s wish at the ceremony.  Asha’s not just sad, though:  she’s pissed.  When Magnifico takes the newcomers’ wishes and gives her that little smirk over his shoulder, we see her eyes narrow, we see her maintain eye contact with him until he looks away, a hint of something like confusion or regret in his expression.

That night, she talks to her family about what happened, and they urge her to trust the king’s judgment.  It escalates to a furious argument and she storms out.

Asha doesn’t just wish upon a star, though.  She summons Star, deliberately.  How?  Her dad was a philosopher, but also secretly studied magic, specifically star magic, and Asha alone knows where he kept his books of spells.  Before his death, her dad also cautioned her to never to use the magic unless there’s no other choice:  it’s too difficult to control, and it can have unforeseen consequences.  Asha decides that desperate times call for desperate measures; she’s going to steal back Simon’s wish from the vault, using this power…which is still not a great plan, and she hasn’t even talked to Simon about this yet.  But here, her recklessness is driven by anger and desperation, not a vague sense of unfairness.  Her “I want” song also becomes a spellcasting song.  And—somewhat to her surprise—it works.

This gives Asha more agency in her own story, but also, I think it better reflects the attempted theme of Wish:  self-determination.  If you’re going to write a story about the importance of people pursuing their own desires and being in charge of their own destiny rather than waiting around hoping for someone else to give them what they want, I think it’s kind of hypocritical to have the main character get a necessary power boost by essentially praying and receive divine aid because the heavens judge her to be good and worthy. Here, Asha makes the decision to cross a line for the sake of her friend.

Star is still a cute little glowing bob who doesn’t talk, and he’s still whimsical, but in this version he’s got a bit more of a mischievous edge.  He’s a chaotic little gremlin.  He does things that are a bit more bizarre than just giving animals and plants the power of speech:  maybe he starts swapping body parts, giving a rabbit’s head to a bear and vice versa.  Maybe he gives consciousness to a mushroom and it starts experiencing existential confusion ("Who am I? What am I? Why am I stuck in the ground?") and asking about its purpose, only for Star to giggle and kick his stubby little appendages in the air. 

“You’re a Star” wouldn’t work in this context, since it’s too straightforwardly empowering, and in this moment, Asha is experiencing some genuine anxiety over what she’s unleashed.  Maybe she can sing about that. The song is called, "What Have I Done?" Some of the animals can chime in.  The mushrooms sing about their existential angst.  The song wraps up, Asha decides that, now that Star is here, she’s going to go ahead with her plan, despite her many questions.

“Star.  Listen to me.  I need your help to…”  She takes a breath.  “To commit a crime.”

Star squeals in delight.

“But it’s a good crime.  We’re helping my friend.  We have to retrieve one of these bubbly ball things from inside a locked room in King Magnifico’s castle.  Okay?  Can you help me?”

Star produces a small flame.

“No, we’re not setting anything on fire.”

Star’s little face droops in sadness.

“I’m serious.  No arson.  Okay?  Just some light breaking and entering, and then we’re done.  And once King Magnifico realizes the wish is gone…well, that’s a problem for future Asha.”

Star nods in agreement and winks.

* * *

Meanwhile, King Magnifico has seen the burst of light in the sky.  He’s tearing his study apart looking for answers.  Amaya asks him what’s going on.  And he tells her.

He recognizes that light:  he’s heard of this.  It’s star magic.  Very powerful, very rare, and most of all, unpredictable.  Such magic has brought down entire kingdoms, in the past.  Who in Rosas could possibly have the knowledge to summon such a thing?  Who would dare to so brazenly break his law against unauthorized sorcery?  He thinks of the interview earlier.  “Asha?  No.  No, surely not.  She’s just a child.”  But the suspicion has been planted.

The scene of him almost turning to the book, then being talked down by Amaya, would play out similarly.  But here it parallels the scene of Asha finding and using her father’s book.  Both Asha and Magnifico have flirted with a kind of Faustian bargain, but so far only Asha’s actually taken the plunge.

Asha introduces Star to her friends, including Simon.  Star causes some more mayhem, including briefly transforming Dario into a donkey and Hal into a wooden marionette. (There's some Disney Easter eggs for you.) Star cures Safi's allergies and then gives them back. One of the chickens now constantly sings opera solos and cannot be stopped.

Asha promises to get Simon's wish back.  He’s troubled.  “Asha…I never asked for this.  I don’t want you getting hurt for my sake. I don't want to cause trouble.  I can wait—”

“Simon, you don’t understand.  He’s never going to grant your wish.  He thinks it’s dangerous.  But I know that it’s not.  What he’s doing—it isn’t right.  Please.  Let me help you.”

They argue back and forth a bit, with Simon ultimately agreeing, though still obviously nervous about the whole thing.  Dahlia helps Asha get into the study, and here, Star starts setting things on fire and creating havoc…not accidentally, but because Star really likes fire.  Asha manages to put the fire out and distract Star from what he’s doing (turning Magnifico’s collection of rare books into squalling, pointy-toothed purple blobs).  Star then helps her get into the wish room, where she locates and retrieves Simon’s wish.

While this is happening, Magnifico—heeding Amaya’s advice to look to his people—calls the gathering, and things play out pretty similarly to how they do in the movie, with him becoming increasingly agitated when his citizens start questioning the system.  He storms back into the castle, telling Amaya he’ll be with the wishes. 

And here, now, we see an unexpected side to the king, who has (up to this point) always appeared as dignified and serious:  to unwind, he plays with a set of toy people and does a cute little dance to his “villain song,” acting childlike and rather silly as he sings about wanting more respect, embracing his own personal chaos as an escape from the pressures of leadership…similar to the movie, but it’s more obvious that the song’s silliness is a deliberate stylistic choice.  We’re seeing an aspect of himself he normally hides from people, and even from his wife.  (The vibe of the song remains the same, just imagine the lyrics are better-written and reflect this theme.)  At some point, Amaya comes to check on him—because she doesn’t like the way he’s been eyeing that book lately—and catches him in the midst of his goofy dance.  He freezes.  The music stops.  They’re both embarrassed, and she makes an excuse and quickly leaves.  Kind of like that scene in Spaceballs where Dark Helmet is playing with his dolls and Colonel Sandurz walks in on him.

The song resumes, the lyrics now shifting to King Magnifico being self-critical—why is he messing around with these stupid toys?  There is a traitor in Rosas!  A dangerous magic is afoot! He needs to Get Serious.  It is at this point that he starts working himself back into a panic, with his reflections in the mirrors (which previously praised him) now chiding him, yelling at him and egging him on.  He turns to the book.  Like Asha, he’s now been driven to the breaking point of using a power he’s been cautioned against using.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Asha, meanwhile, has successfully stolen back Simon’s wish.  She gives it to him, and we see him healed.  We see the spark of life come back into his eyes.  We see him smile for the very first time.

Then Magnifico bursts in, and it’s clear something has changed.  He’s not acting like himself.  He tells Asha that he knows what she did.  In this version, see, it’s not Simon who tells Magnifico the truth about her:  it’s her family.  Except they didn’t even see it as a betrayal.  They have total trust in Magnifico, and Asha’s been acting “strange” lately, so when the king comes to their house asking about her, they tell him about the forbidden book of star magic they found in Asha’s room, hidden beneath the bed.  They’re so embarrassed and shocked that their daughter/granddaughter would experiment with such dangerous magic.  Magnifico reassured them that he didn’t blame Asha—she’s just a child, after all—and that once the star was destroyed, their daughter would go back to normal.  (Of course, the irony being that Magnifico’s made his own bargain with the devil at this point, and they have no idea.)

Magnifico, Asha, and Simon—who’s got his spark back now—have a heated argument.  Magnifico demands that they turn over Star, and they refuse.  He becomes more and more enraged as they hurl accusations at him, telling him that the entire system is rotten and they’re not going to take it anymore.  When his fury reaches its peak, he growls, “You gave this to me…and I’m taking it back.”  He wrenches Simon’s wish out of his chest again and crushes it…and then he gets the unexpected rush of power from the magic.

Star emerges from hiding.  He grants life to a table, which goes ballistic and attacks Magnifico.  They flee.  Simon’s depression has returned, even worse than before. He's practically catatonic.  They search for a safe place to hide him and go to Bazeema’s sanctuary (let’s just say they already know where it is—no need for them to conveniently stumble across it by chance). 

Much like in the movie, Magnifico starts putting up wanted posters for Asha, he creates his wish-powered staff, Amaya stumbles across him and is horrified.

Asha and co. sing “Knowing What I Know Now.”  Amaya bursts in to tell them about the forbidden magic.  She asks for their help in finding a way to break its hold on her husband.

The main difference here is that when she’s introduced to Star and learns that Asha summoned him, Amaya isn’t charmed and delighted, she’s appalled that Asha’s first action was to start experimenting with a magic she didn’t understand.  “If you had come to me, if I had known, I could have done something.” 

We then get the story of Magnifico’s past, from Amaya:  we see it on the wall in the form of shadows and light.  His family was not killed by thieves or invaders, but by revolutionaries.  In his homeland, there was a bloody and chaotic uprising.  The rulers were overthrown, but countless ordinary people were killed as well.  And it all started with a seemingly benign wish for change, with songs and poems about freedom.  This is why Magnifico finds Simon’s wish so threatening and why, when he saw Star's light, he interpreted it as a threat.

Dahlia starts to defend Asha, to say that it wasn’t her fault, it was Magnifico's, but Asha speaks up—“No, Dahlia.  Amaya’s right.  I should have talked to you, first—to all of you—instead of taking things into my own hands.  I was just so…so angry.  And scared.”  (Look, see, I gave her an arch.  This also emphasizes the thematic parallels between her and Magnifico.) "I need to fix this.  But I can’t do it alone."

Cut to Magnifico, who’s now having a conversation with his reflection—a reflection clearly meant to represent the forbidden magic and its influence.  He’s rattled by his own actions, asking himself whether he went too far, but the magic shows him the horrors of his past in the mirror, reminding him of what happens when order is not maintained…though again, we see only vague shadows and light, hear distant echoes of screams.  “Look at Simon as a sacrifice for the greater good,” the mirror said.  “Nothing is achieved without sacrifice.  You called upon me.  Put your trust in me, now, and I promise—you will never feel that despair again.  I will protect you…at all costs.”

Amaya and Dahlia, meanwhile, are looking through the book of forbidden magic and find the passage saying that there’s no way to break its hold.  Once someone embraces it once, they commit for eternity:  it’s a rule of nature.  But Asha interjects:  “That only means no one has found a way yet.  And we have a star.  Star magic is all about breaking the rules.  So let’s break some rules.”

Asha and her friends infiltrate the castle to free the wishes so Magnifico can’t crush and absorb them. Amaya, meanwhile, goes looking for Magnifico, hoping she can still reason with him, but when she finds him, he says, "You're too late." He uses a blast of magic to put her to sleep.

Magnifico—who now fully under the magic’s sway—ascends to the top of the castle, absorbs all the wishes, pulls Star into his staff, and uses its power to block the sky.  He hauls Asha to the top of the tower with his magic and tells her that he’s going to add her wish to the collection.  When he pulls the wish from her chest, it’s an image of Asha sitting quietly with her father in the tree.  His rage falters.  His own wish emerges, unbidden, from his chest—the family he lost so long ago.  He stuffs it back inside his chest, but the reminder of the shared loss between them pierces his armor.

His breathing speeds up.  His eyes shift from green to blue, green to blue.

It is at this point we get the Reprise of “This Wish,” but this time, Amaya (who reappears at the last minute, having woken from her sleep) is the one spearheading it, and they’re singing to break the magic’s hold, using the combined power of their wishes.  The staff glows, Star and the wishes burst free. 

In a spasm of panic and horror, Magnifico throws himself off the tower.  Asha cries out to Star to save him.  Star shoots straight into Magnifico’s chest and slows his fall, and he drifts down like a leaf, landing in the midst of his people.  There’s a burst of green and gold shimmers from within him, spreading outward, mingling and then winking out like fireflies.  The forbidden magic’s hold is broken, but the cost—as he soon finds—is that he can no longer use magic at all.  He’s powerless.  He stares at his hands and laughs until he weeps.  Amaya comforts him and gives him one of the toy people she found in his study.

The freed wishes return to their owners…including Simon’s now-restored wish, which has become a self-fulfilling prophecy, having inspired Asha to bring great change to the land.  And Simon finds to his surprise that his wish, too, has changed:  he no longer wants to be a revolutionary, but a healer.  Star returns just long enough to say goodbye.

There’s no magic wand.  Some of the animals can still talk, the mushrooms are still questioning their existence, but Rosas can no longer rely on magic:  its gods have departed, and the people are left with themselves and their own choices, their own fragile wills and hearts. 

[rocketturtle4]

To Sir With Love, a Reflection

What is Love and What is Duty?

MAJOR SPOILERS

ALSO TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR SUICIDE (briefly mentioned)

The way family love is framed in this show, sparked a lot of reflection and made me realise how un-nuanced some of my thoughts about love have been. (This also made me realise how engaging I find generational family trauma in stories like this so thanks @lurkingshan for answering all my questions).

(This post follows the journey of my thinking so it’s a bit choppy, skip to Duty vs Devotion Vs Love if you want the outcomes bit)

During my initial thoughts about this show I stumbled across @waitmyturtles big meta on: Pain, Suffering, and Narratives in Some Asian Dramas/BLs and it definitely impacted my thinking so go read that.

What struck me as particularly odd (on a personal level) was the idea that western parents are conditioned to love their children. Turtles uses these phrases as examples of a common Western Experience

“There is NO WAY your parents don’t love you.”

“There is NO WAY your parents will ever give up on you. Even if they treat you badly, they love you.”

“In the West, we ALWAYS end up loving our children. That’s what society demands of PARENTS. We’re CONDITIONED to be like that.”

And uh What? *checks own brain* that doesn’t seem right fitted to my experience? (I come back to this at the end, promise)

Now, the point that Turtles goes onto make about Asian family structures is deeply meaningful and poignant (Summarised very briefly, by her, as:

“The equation is: even if you suffer at the hands of your parents, even if you don’t receive unconditional love and empathy from your parents, you must sacrifice in order to respect and serve your parents”)

GO READ IT IT’S BEAUTIFULLY MOVING AND IMPORTANT

However, part of the reason I feel this is relevant is because I DID NOT assume that Tian’s parents (Or Yang’s parents for that matter) loved him going into this show.

I am not quite sure where my own frame of thinking, (of parental love is not an automatic assumption) comes from, now that I know this isn’t standard, I’ll be looking into it further, but I felt it was important to start with this frame because I’ll be talking about the way this drama reshaped my thoughts on love, especially familial love, thus my starting point seems important.

SO

Prior to about episode 14/15 I would have argued that neither of Tian’s parents loved him, they only loved the idea of him. (A literally line I thought to myself as I watched)

Li’s (Tian's mum) arc was the most impactful so I just want to give a quick rundown of the stages I went through and then I will be talking to some of these stages, with reference to Li (Mum), Song (Dad), Yang (brother) Chan (Wife 2, Yang's Mum), and Bua (Wife 3):

Stage 1 (most of the series): She (Li) doesn’t love her son, her love died when she realised he was a homosexual and everything since then has been about his conformity and power for herself.

Stage 2 WHAT, Maybe she does love her son

Stage 3 OH she definitely loves her son (SO WHYYY?)

Stage 4 Maybe she loves his son despite him being gay, rather than accepting him as a whole?

Stage 5 No she doesn’t even seem that specifically hung up on the homosexual, just his safetly

WAIT

Stage 6 Was all this…protective did she actually love him the whole time??? WHAT THE FUCK

Thus reflection:

Stage 1 (some initial thoughts)

Turns out my view on love is (or was?) rather black and white: to love someone & to hurt that person knowingly and intentionally were two concepts I viewed as mutually exclusive: Li hurt her son both physically and mentally on a regular basis and so from my initial standpoint she could not love him. (very unnuanced) (for the record, I'm not saying love and hurt are mutually exclusive (lol) but that I thought love and ongoing intentional hurt were)

In some ways I believed (emphasis on past tense) Song's love for Tian was greater than Li’s but that his love was also false due to a lack of knowledge.

Yang is the bestest bro but we’ll get back to him

Question: Did I really believe that all the actions Li took to protect Tian’s secret were not born out of love while she actively murdered people? Yeah kind of.

I had ascribed her a very similar motivation I ascribed to Chan: She wished to remain as the first wife and retain power and thus needed her son as the next head, discovery of his secret would end this possibility, so it must be kept secret at all cost.

I did not even ascribe her fear for her son’s death as a possible motivation which retrospectively seems very odd. My bias towards Li as unloving is why I had the whole opening section of this post.

Stage 2-4

I think part of the change in my thinking began not with Li’s actions towards Tian, but with Li’s interactions with Song midway through the show.

Song knows of Tian’s secret (but not what it is) and implores Li to tell him (and implores Tian to tell him but that’s not discussed here even if it was at that moment, I decided I hated him) and it is very clear that Li, really WANTS to tell him,

She wants to preserve their marriage.

She wants to give back the honesty he’s asking for,

BUT she never even considers actually doing so because to do so would condemn her son.

That she sacrifices her relationship with her husband to protect her son’s secret was the first rock to really put a dent in my un-nuanced take on her characters motivation.  

A lot of things happen from here, but Li throwing herself in front of the police officers and begging them to take her instead was definitely the final straw that shattered my perceptions.

But hold on, I’m getting ahead of myself

Stage 5

The societal and familial homophobia woven through this story and most strongly represented by Song is also a key part of this reflection.

The fact that Song grieves his brothers death, grieves for the brother he was closest too, grieves for the breakdown of the five families that they’d built and STILL VIEWS SAID BROTHER AS LESS THAN A MAN FOR BEING A HOMOSEXUAL was feckin INSANE.

But it was also the reality of what I’d been imposing onto Li. This is the kind of (not)love I ascribed to her.

Song didn’t truly love his brother for who he was, only who he knew him to be. And if knowing something fundamental makes you view that person as less, then, in my opinion, you never really loved them in the first place. You don’t love them, you love your own perception of them. You don’t love them, you love the idea of them.

(Look at Song here, reinforcing my black and white thinking, no wonder this show got me all twisted around).

Now Li on the other hand arguably doesn’t believe that being a homosexual makes her son automatically less.

Does she believe that he needs to supress this part of himself to become head of the families? Yes,

BUT, I would argue that this is more to do with her knowledge that he’ll definitely be unable to inheret due to Songs views (and may be kicked out of the family/die) than any personal belief of his unsuitability.

She views him as competent DESPITE his homosexuality, this is something that is hidden for his safety, more than for making him less of a man.

(I am not saying this is okay, just unpacking the different motivations as I understood them, and given ep 1 she KIND OF HAS A REASON)

I'm also not saying she's not homophobic (There is also her view that he can ‘be fixed’ as seen in her repeated attempts to get him to sleep with a woman in case he realises he likes it. Which is messed up, but again NOT my primary point.)

Stage 6

Turns out she loves him a ton after all:

She throws herself in front of the police

She planned to commit suicide (yes to absolve herself of her wrongs for some religious adjacent nuance I didn’t fully understand as a western viewer but also to ensure that her wrongs didn’t negatively impact her son’s future)

She sacrifices her husbands trust in her (as mentioned earlier)

She would sacrifice who she is in her sons eyes (someone he does love) to secure his ideal future (as she see’s it).

She loves her son and this love comes out in what I have reframed for myself as Devotional love

Duty vs Devotion vs Love

Duty is, I think, what we often see framed as love or love adjacent in the families portrayed in Asian drama’s, at least to Western viewers.

Children are taught they have a duty to their parent’s ABOVE ALL ELSE

Above love

Above self-care

Above other relationships

This is what their parents expect from them.

This is what’s framing their parent’s investment in their lives.

Duty WITHOUT love is, in my opinion, what we see discussed in turtles post with the examples of “Non’s father in Dark Blue Kiss; or Korn’s father in Double Savage; or ESPECIALLY Uea’s mom in Bed Friend”

Do these children love their parents? I have no earthly clue

Do these parent’s love their children? I would say no, but that doesn’t change the fact that as their children they must be DUTIFUL.

Devotion is then the intersection of duty and love, it is love with expectations. My current thinking is that many child-parent relationships in Asian dramas, especially child to parent, fall firmly into this category. How much emphasis is placed on duty over love seems to link with how damaging that relationship can be.

Li’s love for her son falls into this category, her love is for her son but her duty is for his future position and safety and this is of highest value to her, higher than her love for who he is.

This is a thread I definitely notice in Asian dramas, she is not duty without love as mentioned above, she is not “rooted in judgement against her offspring” (again from turtles) to the exclusion of all love, but this does colour her raising of him in a way that is significantly traumatising.

I think it is possible that Dad in Khun Chai may have reached this level of judgement if he had discovered his son’s secret (in a less extreme situation) and Li knows this, and so must keep him safe.

Though in the end he sees this too:

Yang & Tian

Now, Devotional love is something I also want to talk about in the context of Yang and Tian because I feel that the kind of love Yang has for Tian is different to the kind of love Bua has for both boys and this is the only way I can articulate how.

It's also important to know that duty often forms a part of a relationship that involves commitment (family or otherwise) so I am not saying devotional love is bad.

Despite Chan's best efforts, Yang grows up devoted to his older brother, we see this COUNTLESS times through the drama, and it was undoubtedly my favourite part.

Yang’s love for Tian is unconditional and certain, his realisation that Tian is gay leads to his desperate search for, and hug of his, brother, because he IMMEDIATELY recognises how hard that must be.

It does not alter how much he loves his brother

It does not make him think of his brother as different or less

If anything it increases his determination to keep his brother safe.

This Protectiveness leads his love further up the scale into Devotion

Yang’s love felt very devotional to me because he loves his brother and acts as if it’s his duty to protect him (despite being younger).

We see this in his taking of punishments for Tian

In how he searches for answers to the murder and then only tells Tian about it after talking to Pin as he initially believes protecting Tian is more important than anything else

(I have not got to talk about Pin, but I would argue Tian’s love becomes less devotional (less lead by duty in the form of protectiveness) as:

He shifts to being the caretaker of Pin as well

Jiu is introduced into Tians life

This combination (especially Pin) leads him to treating Tian with more autonomy.)

A key difference, even at the start of the show between Li and Yang’s devotional loves is the focus of their duty.

Li’s is to Tian’s future

Yang’s is to Tian

Yang's duty to his parents (especially his father) is much less (or at least shown as less important) than his duty to his brother.

Tian

I'm not going to talk about Tian's love

ITS ALL FRICKEN SACRIFICIAL @colourme-feral

Boy needs to care less about his duty.

(Sacrificial = Extreme Duty + Love)

Bua

Bua’s love and acceptance of Tian (and of Yang) felt different to Yang’s love and acceptance of Tian and this a key part of helping me frame the duty vs devotion vs love

To me, Bua is the best example we have of love without duty (or with minimal duty at least), her (literal) separation from the family due to infertility (she lives in a different building) leads to having less stakes in the whole game. She loves the boys, but she does not believe anything is more important that them being themselves. Duty is not part of her relationship with them, and arguably, duty is not part of their relationships with her.

In my opinion, Li tries to instil a sense of duty in Bua’s love when she encourages her adoption of Tian, but it doesn’t really have the desired effect.

Bua loves them, but she also clearly loves Song and we can see (for example in the way Yang never tells her Tian’s secret and she never pressures him), that her care for others does not come with a caveat of duty. (Song pressures her though)

Did she have a duty to Song? to anyone? Would her love have lead her to the belief that Song needed to know? Ugh, honestly I have so many questions about Bua.

Side Note

Obsessional love is something different again which didn’t really feature in this drama but which my current thinking frames as possessive devotional love, (with possessiveness causing corruption maybe? Not sure).

ALSO

I feel like the duty/love scale overlaps with a lot of what we see in the portrayals of marriage on screen where duty is often put first and foremost in a way that often breaks down over time or leads to resentment but I haven’t really thought about this in detail.

What was the point of all this?

I think as westerners a key difference in family culture is the way duty is framed in parent child relationships. Having written all this I can now return to this point:

“In the West, we ALWAYS end up loving our children. That’s what society demands of PARENTS. We’re CONDITIONED to be like that.”

And, while I’m still feeling rather uncertain about the phrasing of this, I do think that societally (in the west) parents have a duty to their child RATHER THAN children having a duty to their parents (in Asian cultures)

That’s what feels the most different to me, and I think often expectation of care (duty) is framed as love, you're expected to care for your children and thus you must love them.

But parents don't necessarily love their children even when they care for them. Doing your duty is not the same as loving,

its still causing me a bit of disconnect, so maybe it’s causing disconnect for other people as well.

I’m not sure how realistic my duty to love scale is, but I wanted to chronicle the ways this show shaped my thinking, in the hopes other shows will change my thinking in new ways.

I am very keen to view other shows on @lurkingshan’s generational trauma challenge and see how my thinking continues to grow.

Also I loved this show like crazy and gave it 94%, equal 10th out of 76 shows. Go watch it if you haven't.

[heliphantie]

"Inside Out 2"

I've watched “Inside Out 2”, and there’s my notes:

Conflict expands on themes of first movie, and if the moral of first was, difficult and discomfortable emotions and memories are as important for personal growth as positive ones, here it is about not giving away basic emotions and good memories even while growing and building personality and ambitions. I’d say conflict of IO was executed in better organized form and it was easier to follow as it unrolled, but it’s a general flaw of sequels. It wasn’t so bad.

Interestingly, antagonist is motivated by striving for better future, which mainstream media usually reserves for protagonist. As someone who is critical to “destroy the past, build future on the ruins of it” philosophy pushed by media as role model, I can say I welcome this twist in formula. Pixar in general seems to handle “Well-Intentioned Extremist” trope decently, be it antagonists or antiheroes. Even characters who could be villainous in regular media defied expectations. (I honestly expected Val ending to be “bad influence”, in typical fashion for “cool kids” trope, but she’s ended to be sympathetic character throughout the movie and not the source of conflict.)

Main 5 kept (mostly) together for the length of movie gives room for interactions and dynamics that were limited in first one. Breakout star, unexpectedly for me, is Anger, he had the funniest scenes. I generally like the characters like that (Grumpy the dwarf, octopus Hank, Gabo in Wish… you got idea), but can’t say he was enjoyable to this extent in first movie. Maybe he just better works as foil for someone with opposite personality, rather than with somebody like Disgust and Fear.

Speaking about antagonists, I felt there was potential in Envy, even guessed if she ends to be twist villain before the first trailer. In the end, new emotions somehow turned less interesting personality-wise compared to old ones. There are still opportunities for the franchise unfolding, so likely their spotlights are in due course.

References/memetic moments in regard to first movie are scarce, but ones that happen are fairly unexpected (like cameo of certain brick joke), and don’t linger too long. There is also some shipteasing sprinkled over (but not too overt), which wasn’t a thing in original. (Mount Crashmore was a biggest surprise, by the way.)

One thing carried on from IO is, fairly hilarious one scene wonders, my favorite is one that wasn’t spoilered by promos, you know which if you have seen it) Worthy successor of Brazilian helicopter pilot. (I feel fans are going to have a field day with them…)

Another unexpected moment is the scene that seems to be an explicit dig at industry of which the movie is a product. Animators that rebel when main five encourage them to let imagination run free as opposed to following demands of Anxiety who’s obsessed with sticking to trends in pursuit of success. One can wonder what it was about…

Conclusion: enjoyable movie, which doesn’t even seem forced, as it happens so often with sequels. It even appears to left open for further expansion, and I smell mini-series, maybe? It’s a good concept to be mined, frankly.

Oh, and I’ve got idea I couldn’t wait to work on so I didn’t wait for the movie to get released and started it in advance and almost done with. So… does it count as fanart if it doesn’t involve the setting and characters of thing, but deals with central concept of it? Anyway, soon.

[fuck-you-upmusicbracket]

Malfunction (Steam Powered Giraffe)

What's their malfunction?/It's a start; can we teach them not to fall apart?/Their malfunction isn't us, it's all the clamor and the fuss/When I say that I love you, damn it Janet, take it as truth/Everything's a little broken/To be pristine well you must be jokin'

"Please please listen to it oh my god. oh God. aauauagh. it's about feeling imperfect and how that sucks but it's not like "oh everyone's perfect" it's "so what? everyone's imperfect!" it's also just. bunny (the writer and main singer) said it can be interpreted as dysphoria as well"

Famous Last Words (My Chemical Romance)

Cause I see you lying next to me/With words I thought I'd never speak/Awake and unafraid/Asleep or dead

I am not afraid to keep on living/I am not afraid to walk this world alone/Honey, if you stay, I'll be forgiven/Nothing you can say can stop me going home

"Living as yourself is fucking hard! Coming to terms with love and grief and pain all at once! And if you fuck up enough you DO die. There's no second chances, and it's hard to believe even if you're living it!"

"To me this song is like. “Man. Life is fucking difficult and there’s so many things being demanded of me but fuck it we ball I’m gonna keep going even if I have to go at it alone sometimes, even if people I love have to leave my life eventually, through death or something else. Keep living.” And that fucking got me when I first entered a really low point in life. And it still gets me, especially now. It’s a song that will always be there for me and many others. Fucks my shit up but puts it back together too."

"Without context: this is an insanely beautiful and powerful song that calls for the listener to keep going even when they’re alone and incomplete. Unlike a lot of songs off the album, it doesn’t have nihilist or defeatist undertones; it’s a direct call to keep moving, to feel everything and know you’ll be okay if you just keep MOVING. With context: the band recorded this album in a famous haunted mansion whose dreary atmosphere wreaked havoc on their already very stressed psyches. Mikey Way, the bassist and younger brother of the singer, suffered a mental breakdown so severe he had to temporarily leave the band and the mansion. Before that, he would sneak into his brother’s room at night and sleep on the floor to feel safe. The band wrote this song for him while he was away. It directly references the nights spent on his brother’s floor, the conversations they had, and the long-standing fear that the singer has of losing Mikey (a fear so strong it’s present through all four albums major as a significant theme.) Mikey himself later said that when the band played the song for him, he immediately felt better about the album than he had in months, and was able to record it with them soon after. When you know why the song calls you to keep walking this world alone, to not be afraid to keep on living, to forgive - what was already a powerful anthem can move someone to tears easily."