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lucysarah-c · 20 hours ago

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Mounting Spring Ch. 3

Summary: Paradis has opened its doors to the world, and the Rumbling has not yet occurred. The military board insists, "We need more Ackermans!" to avoid ruining Mikasa's life. Levi agrees. Arranged marriage, explicit consent, Omegaverse. Alpha! Levi x Omega! Y/N. Mentions of underage marriage but it doesn't happen, the reader is over 21.Age gap but they are both adults. (I would say enemys to lover but they don't even know eachother to be enemys lol.) Author note: I've had this idea for so long… Omegaverse is my guilty pleasure, and I decided to treat myself with it. From the creator of "Not in season?" I bring to you "Mounting Spring" lmao haha sorry it's just that my first omegaverse was rather a success�� so I decided to do another. Masterlist to the previous parts! Ao3 link in case you prefer to read there!

The raindrops fell over the cobblestones, and, in particular, those falling from the gable were heavy against the small porch of the chapel where she waited. She breathed into her hands, seeking warmth as she tilted her head to the side. Now alone, she felt her curiosity begin to spark, like a cat finally let out of its carrier.

The narrow side streets hinted at the town’s size and social standing, with only one main road that, incidentally, was the only paved one. She guessed that if the weather hadn’t been so dreary, she could have seen the end of it. Her more optimistic side blamed the weather, but the town struck her as dreadful. In the distance, her attention was drawn to the farmer who had been inside with them.

He was talking to someone she assumed was his wife or another townsperson, with his horse beside him and a border collie patiently waiting against his leg. Eventually, both of them turned to look at her, and she stiffened under their scrutiny.

‘Should I... wave at them? Don’t small towns know everyone? Should I start getting to know everyone?’

But as her mind filled with these thoughts, they turned back to talk to each other. She pressed her lips together, feeling time drag painfully. The coat over her head made her uneasy. Almost involuntarily, she took a few deep breaths, catching a faint scent in the air, and then another, more focused sniff. It felt like cheating somehow, though it wasn’t, as her nose itched from his scent, and her body seemed to process it more deeply.

‘It’s deeper than Die...’ she thought melancholically. Perhaps it was because she hadn’t encountered many unmated alphas in her life, or at least hadn’t gotten close enough to catch their scent. ‘Well… isn’t he humanity’s strength? ...something like that. I guess it takes some strong genes to be called that.’

“All right.” Levi’s voice startled her, and she tensed, turning to see him. He was drenched from his search for horses but seemed to handle it with a calmness, like sheep who don’t mind the sky falling on them. His hand held the reins of two horses, and, if her mind hadn’t been elsewhere, she might have chuckled.

The black horse was absurdly tall and elegant, while the other was a dirty white with grayish spots, shorter and with bulkier legs.

“You can have the one I rented if you prefer,” Levi offered, handing her the reins. But she didn’t take them right away.

“Um…” She hesitated. “Sorry. I’ve never ridden alone,” she explained. Then, feeling the need to clarify, she added, “I usually just take carts.”

Levi quickly grasped the issue. After a brief consideration, he reached back and switched the reins. "Take mine," he said, extending the reins of the black mare instead. "She’s calm and obedient.” Levi said, nodding toward the mare. “Scout-trained.”

She looked at the tall, sleek horse in front of her, nerves clear on her face. He jerked his thumb at the other smaller, stocky white one. “This one, I don’t know.”

Her hand tentatively moved forward to touch the mare’s nose. At her touch, the horse nudged forward, her dark eyes focused intently on her. The mare’s imposing size made her hesitate. “Can’t we just ride together?”

Levi, double-checking the saddle, looked back and replied firmly, “No. Too much mud on the way. I don’t want to put extra weight on her.”

When he finished adjusting the saddle, he held out his arm, gesturing for her to step closer. He gave her a once-over and instructed, “Take the cloak underneath. No point in wearing it now that it’s soaked.”

‘Well… he does enjoy giving orders,’ she thought.

Feeling self-conscious under his observant gaze, she removed his coat, then unfastened her cloak, which was heavy and sodden. Her cheeks flushed as she noticed the white dress beneath was now damp and clung uncomfortably. She quickly ran her hands over her arms, trying to cover up, but Levi moved smoothly, placing his coat back over her shoulders before tossing the soaked cloak over the mare’s back.

She took her position beside the mare, gripping the saddle, though her uncertainty was plain. “But… with my dress and that saddle, it’ll be difficult to ride with my legs on the side.”

“Ride with your legs apart.”

She looked over her shoulder at him as he moved to help her up. Despite his short height, he hoisted her up smoothly onto the mare. She was perched high above him now, gripping the reins and feeling the unfamiliar weight of control. Levi stepped back and gave her a once-over, as though to make sure she was seated safely.

“This isn’t very ladylike,” she murmured, her voice carrying a note of unease as the powerful animal shifted beneath her.

Levi raised an eyebrow, still maintaining his stoic look but with a glint of dry humor breaking through. “Well,” he said, his voice calm and low, “I’m the husband now, and I don’t mind it.”

But the silence that followed told him all he needed to know: she didn’t find it funny.

“Just hold steady,” he advised, placing a hand on the mare’s neck in an almost fatherly pat. “She’s been through rougher trips than this.”

The mare, as if responding to his touch, lowered her head, brushing her soft nose against his hair and disheveling it slightly, so that her dark fur mingled with his equally raven locks.

With that, he took the reins and knotted them to the other horse and swung himself up with practiced ease, barely flinching at the wet leather. It struck her that he was completely in his element, as if he belonged here in this bleak weather and muddy roads, as if he barely noticed the discomfort.

The rain pattered steadily, its soft murmur filling the quiet as Levi guided his horse through the thickening gloom of the forest. Her soaked white cloak hung limply from the horse’s saddle. The water on it was counterproductive to keep the warmth, so she took it off. The green trench coat pulled over her head helped more, but it was far from miraculous. Despite the rain, a thick fog was rising as they left the small countryside town and ventured deeper into the forest. Soon, the cobblestones ended, leaving the horses to trudge through thick mud. The road became nearly invisible just a few steps ahead, and she cast a nervous glance at the forest, which seemed to stretch on endlessly.

“Captain… shouldn’t we wait? It’s getting dark, and it could be dangerous,” she murmured, eyeing the shifting shadows between the trees.

Levi’s response was firm, almost cutting. “I told you to call me Levi, and don’t worry.” His tone was as sharp as his gaze ahead. She wasn’t convinced, her brows knitting together in silent protest. Y/N clung tightly to the saddle of the black mare Levi had called his own. His raven hair stuck to his forehead as the rain poured mercilessly on him without his trench coat. When she pressed again, “But—” he cut her off.

“I wouldn’t do anything dangerous,” he declared, his tone allowing no debate. “If I say it’s safe, it’s safe. Understood?”

She murmured a reluctant hum, clearly displeased, but he glanced back over his shoulder, eyes piercing. “I didn’t hear you.”

She swallowed, muttering low, “Understood.” The word fell with barely concealed disdain, and under her breath, she added with a hint of defiance, “…sir.”

‘He said it wasn’t that far...’ but as they continued, it became clear that the headquarters weren’t close by.

Each step the horse took forward felt like moving deeper into an enclosure, further away from family and friends. Eventually, the rocky forest path opened onto the scouts' rustic facility—a large training field of neatly trimmed grass and a main building looming in the darkness, with smaller buildings in the back. She squinted, barely able to make them out through the thick fog but guessed they might be the barracks, possibly separated by gender.

She thought they would stop at the main doors, but Levi guided the horses further. The place overwhelmed her—she didn’t know where to look, and the quietness, at least from the outside, only made her more curious.

“Where is everyone?” she asked.

Levi looked around the quiet training grounds. “It’s late. Most of the soldiers are in the mess hall for dinner or getting ready for curfew,” he explained, his eyes sweeping the area with practiced vigilance. “Especially in this shitty weather.”

He dismounted near a back entrance, which seemed to be a service area littered with discarded training materials. When the horses stopped, she moved to dismount, glancing down to gauge the distance to the ground.

“Need help?” he asked, already striding over with firm steps, his boots far better equipped for the weather than hers. He positioned himself behind her and said, “Let go, I got you.”

With his hands under her arms, he lifted her down with surprising ease. She turned quickly to face him, but he just said, “Stay here. I’ll put the horses away.” before she could protest.

Though Levi’s presence didn’t exactly warm the atmosphere, his absence made the cold settle in even deeper. She shifted uncomfortably, her gaze darting around hectic —taking in the swaying trees under t the gusting wind, the flashes of lightning splitting the clouds. While the rain had momentarily stopped on the way back, it was obvious it wasn’t over. The forest sounds felt ominous in the dark, with only dim light illuminating the semi-open area at the back of the building.

‘I feel like a doe... in the middle of a meadow.’

Ignoring Levi’s instruction, she opened the door and stepped inside. She glanced down both ends of the corridor, where yellowish candlelight cast a warm glow. The hum of distant voices filled the air, and she wrinkled her nose in distaste. ‘It stinks.’

It reeked of alphas—too many of them. Down the corridor to her left, she saw two young women, a brunette and a dark-haired one, passing by. The brunette noticed her standing in the hallway and looked back with a puzzled expression.

‘Alright, maybe this time I should actually introduce myself.’

She raised a hand slightly, giving a tentative wave, but the brunette turned, calling out to someone—

“I thought I told you to stay there.” Levi’s voice cut in from behind, firm with a trace of irritation as he locked the back door. Without further comment, he led her up a nearby staircase, his movements swift and purposeful.

“But—” she started to object, glancing to the side, but he was already nudging her forward. His hand hovered at her back, as if nudging her without physically touching her, more a mental command than a physical push.

As they ascended the stairs, Sasha, a brunette at the far end of the corridor, tugged on Jean and Connie’s arms. “See, she’s there!” she exclaimed. But when the three of them looked down the hall, no one was there—only a trail of muddy footprints.

“...She was there,” Sasha insisted.

Jean shot her a skeptical look. “Sasha, are you that hungry you’re seeing things... again?”

Sasha frowned, clearly annoyed. “I saw her! I might be hungry, but I’m not imagining things.”

“Well, she’s not there now, that’s for sure,” Connie said, stretching his arms behind his head. “Maybe a ghost?”

“A suicidal one,” Jean added dryly. “Only higher-ups use the back door. And if Captain Levi sees that mud, he’d probably drag out a Ouija board just to kick that ghost’s ass for dirtying his floors.”

Sasha and Connie started to walk away, but Jean paused, wrinkling his nose and sniffing the air with a puzzled expression. “...I do smell something strange, though.”

Sasha and Connie shrugged, both of them betas, unable to pick up on any scent. But Mikasa, overhearing, joined them, her dark eyes narrowing. “Jasmine, berries, and coconut milk.”

Jean shot her a smirk. “Well, I did switch to a new cologne…”

But Mikasa ignored him, already walking ahead with a thoughtful expression, leaving Jean to trail off, his attempt at humor forgotten.

As they moved through the winding corridors, she struggled to keep pace. Levi’s stride was steady and brisk, his attention fixed forward, but after a few glances back, he seemed to notice her struggle. With a subtle sigh, he slowed his pace focusing on her feet to match her pace.

As he did so, he couldn’t help but notice the trail of mud they were leaving behind. Each footprint was a smear of damp earth and grime on the clean floor. His jaw tightened, and he clicked his tongue in irritation. ‘Focus on the important shit,’ he reminded himself.

Reaching the door to his chambers, he patted his trousers absently, then checked the pockets of his uniform jacket. His brow creased in mild annoyance before he remembered: ‘The keys are in my coat.’

He moved closer to her, his face showing a rare hint of apology. “Sorry,” he murmured, reaching into the pockets of the coat she wore. She held still as he fished around, finally pulling out the key with a subtle nod.

Before turning the key in the lock, he looked down at her shoes, now caked in mud.

“Wait,” he muttered, holding a hand up. He gestured to her shoes with a short nod. “Shoes off,” he instructed, bending to remove his own boots first, leaving them by the doorway. She followed suit, slipping off her mud-caked shoes, which felt heavier with every step.

She hesitated, glancing at the mud-covered shoes, but then leaned against the wall to remove her shoes. He did the same, tugging off his own boots and setting them neatly to the side. Once they were both ready, he unlocked the door and pushed it open, holding it for her to step inside.

To be honest, she couldn’t say she was disappointed—her journey to his office had shown her this wasn’t the marriage she’d imagined. She’d heard the Scouts were… humble people. ‘A sweet way to call them low class,’ she thought wryly, fiddling with her loose ring, trying to keep it from slipping off her finger. Part of her almost wished the room would stay dark so she wouldn’t have to face reality, while another part hoped for a glimmer of candlelight to surprise her for the better.

Levi shut the door behind him with a subtle sigh, closing his eyes briefly, as if gathering strength from somewhere unknown. ‘One task down,’ he reminded himself, as if safely getting her to the Scout headquarters unnoticed was his toughest mission yet. He shrugged off his uniform jacket and hung it on the coat rack by the door.

She stood, frozen in place, as he walked past her, lighting a few candles he’d set up earlier. He busied himself lighting more, methodically checking off tasks from his mental to-do list. “Why don’t you take a shower? The water should be warm,” he suggested.

‘And... here it is,’ she thought, her pupils darting around the room as though afraid to turn her head, scanning the place as the light started to fill it. She tried to hide her discomfort, not so much from a lack of hygiene as from a lack of warmth. Catching his eyes on her, she forced a thin smile. “Very... modest.”

‘…Empty and rustic, but the last thing I want to find out is what he’s like when he’s mad.’

The room had only two doors: one, she guessed, led to a small bathroom, and the other to the bedroom. The main space was an office with a single shelf filled with books and not much else. ‘Doesn’t he have paintings or decorations?’ She found herself searching for anything that might make the space feel less austere and more homely, something to give her a glimpse of who he was. The office seemed to be the most furnished part of the quarters, with a set of sofas, a coffee table by the fireplace, and a desk. The large arched window was probably his only indulgence, a feature suggesting he spent most of his time here.

“Shower?” Levi insisted, “Don’t take it personally, but I’d like to shower too.”

That snapped her out of her trance. “Oh—sure,” in a small voice. “Um... where did you put my luggage?”

Levi’s brow furrowed, and after a moment, he realized he hadn’t noticed her lack of belongings. “Was I supposed to have it?” he replied, answering her question with another—not a habit of his.

“I sent it ahead, two days ago,” she explained, “They told me it would be best.”

His eyes flicked to the window and the rain still pouring down outside. ‘Well… I think it’s pretty clear why that didn’t arrive yet.’

With a weary sigh, Levi leaned against his desk, one hand running over his damp hair. He looked worn out, both physically and emotionally. “This is a rural area,” he said, “and with this rain, it could take a few more days. A cart wouldn’t make it through the forest right now.”

Levi stepped over to his bedroom, opened a few drawers, and, without moving from her spot, she couldn’t resist sneaking a look. She leaned forward, trying to get a glimpse over the door frame.

She couldn’t see much, but curiosity stretched her mouth open as she craned her neck. A chest of drawers held neatly folded clothes, a couple of books stacked on top, and a wardrobe nearby had boxes on top that reached the ceiling (probably he used it as storage) with boots lined up beneath it. There was a standing mirror in one corner and she could only see the wood footboard of a small bed against the wall.

“Here, you can—” Levi turned back toward her, catching her in the act of peeking. She straightened up quickly, feigning innocence. He raised an eyebrow at her obvious interest. “It’s not as if it’s off-limits. Walk in if you want.”

‘Like a dog caught digging through the trash,’ he thought, mildly amused by her guilty expression.

“Anyway, here.” He handed her some clothes. “The rest is in the bathroom.”

She took them with a distracted nod, disappearing behind the bathroom door.

“Ah...” He let out a deep breath he didn’t know he was holding as he let himself collapse, boneless, into his desk chair. His hair was soaked, as was the rest of him, but he didn’t care. “A moment of silence.”

Though she hadn’t said much, her silence was somehow louder than any words. Covering his eyes with his forearm, he felt drained—he’d been through expeditions to retake Wall Maria, yet this felt just as exhausting. But as always, Levi quickly pushed himself back up, pressing the bridge of his nose to calm the headache beginning to throb behind his eyes, and moved on.

“I don’t have time to slack off,” he grunted to himself. He didn’t have much firewood left—it had been an unusually warm spring until today, and firewood was a luxury he was used to being frugal with, like nearly everything else in his life.

'She should probably dry her hair before bed,' he thought, setting a kettle of water on in case she wanted tea. He considered making himself a cup but, as “going to bed” crossed his mind, the idea shifted to the liquor he had stashed in a cabinet. He poured himself a small glass, not intending to get drunk, but needing something that soothed him better than his usual caffeine.

The fire began warming the room, and he placed his coat and jacket near it. He stepped outside briefly to bring in their shoes, cleaning them off and setting them to dry. The kettle’s whistle echoed in the quiet room, and he took it off the heat. That’s when a thought began to bother him.

‘Should I check?’ He found himself near the bathroom door, ear pressed against it, straining to hear any sign of life. ‘What if she passed out in there?... or maybe she’s just constipated and can’t take a shit’

Knocking softly, he asked, “You okay in there?”

“Yes, sorry.”

Relieved but mildly exasperated, he shook his head. She’s using up all the water in the place, he thought, realizing she’d definitely not adapted to the military’s five-minute shower rule.

Inside the bathroom, she was struggling to detangle her hair, but there was no conditioner, no hair mask, or anything remotely helpful. Her skin felt dry without any lotion, slightly raw from the harsh soap he had. Her hair smelled vaguely like cucumber, a tangled mess that only worsened under her frustrated attempts.

“We are not going to cry, we are not going to cry,” she kept whispering to herself in front of the mirror.

‘This was supposed to be my wedding night,’

For as long as she could remember, she had dreamed of her fiancé slowly, reverently helping her out of her wedding dress—a dress chosen just for him. She’d imagined him finally seeing her, her skin soft, her scent sweet enough to eat, a blend of lotion, perfume, everything.

Instead, here she was, struggling with tangled hair and an uncooperative brush, her mascara still on because there was no makeup remover, wearing a baggy T-shirt and gray sweatpants, smelling like some generic soap, with her wedding dress stuffed in a dirty laundry basket.

A million questions rushed through her mind. ‘What do I do?… Should I just lay there and let him do whatever he wants?’ ‘Is it going to hurt?’ ‘Would he force me to do something?’

“I could lock myself in here forever,” she reasoned, gripping the doorknob. ‘…Or could I?’

But eventually, she stepped out cautiously, slowly opening the door. He was sitting with his back to her, watching the fire from one of the couches. When he sensed her presence, he glanced over his shoulder. “Finally. For a moment, I thought you drowned in there.”

Eyes downcast, she muttered, “Sorry.”

Levi clicked his tongue. “It was a joke,” he grunted, feeling like nothing he said made the situation any less awkward.

Levi noticed her standing there, looking unsure and uncomfortable, and with a small sigh, he gestured toward the couch. "Sit down," he said, his tone a bit softer than usual. "Dry up. It's cold in here."

She hesitated but finally obeyed, slowly lowering herself onto the couch, her hands still clinging to her damp hair. Levi awkwardly stood for a moment, unsure of what to do next, before clearing his throat before speaking again.

"Do you want something to eat? I can go see if there’s anything left from dinner," he asked awkwardly, already knowing she hadn’t eaten since the long journey.

She didn’t reply immediately, only giving a soft hum as her response. Levi looked over his shoulder, brow furrowed.

"That’s a no, then?" he muttered, then shifted his weight and walked to the desk. He leaned against it, sipping from his glass.

"Fine," he muttered, “but I prefer when people actually answer me with words.”

She didn’t respond. He glanced over at her, then added, “You sure? I can bring something. I don’t mind.”

"No, thank you," she replied, her voice quiet but clear.

Levi let out a small grunt of acknowledgment, not wanting to push her. He felt an odd tension in the air as he took another sip from his drink. “Alright then.” He paused before offering, "Tea, maybe?”

"No, thank you." Her voice was quiet, distant.

Levi exhaled a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his wet hair as he tried to focus on the fire.

The tension lingered in the air, and after a moment, she spoke again, breaking the silence.

"When do you think my things will arrive?" she asked, a note of uncertainty in her voice.

Levi glanced at her, "Could take a while. The roads are bad, especially with this weather." He paused, his eyes meeting hers for a moment before continuing. "But if you need anything urgently, just tell me."

She hesitated, her eyes darting away. Levi frowned slightly, sensing she was holding something back. He was starting to feel a little impatient.

"Are you still on the rags?" he asked bluntly, unable to ignore the subtle discomfort in the way she fidgeted. "Need something for that?"

Her eyes widened, a blush creeping across her face as she looked away, clearly embarrassed by the question. She seemed to shrink under his gaze, her shoulders stiffening.

"I-I’m fine," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Levi raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced by her answer. He didn’t know her well enough to be sure, but he was certain that something was off. He wasn’t about to let her go without offering help, though.

"Look, if you need anything, just say it." He rubbed the back of his neck, his voice softening slightly, “I can be named humanity’s strongest and all that bullshit but I’m not a mind reader,”

She didn’t meet his eyes, still hesitant, but Levi stood still, waiting for her to speak. ‘There’s no point dragging this out any longer,’ she decided.

“No, uh—” she chose her words carefully, “I’m over it.”

Levi still seemed confused, so she clarified, her face growing redder by the second. “I’m... ready for you… whenever you tell me.”

Her words dropped into the room like the cannonballs once used to break titans’ necks. Levi’s first thought, admittedly, wasn’t his most noble: ‘So... she thinks people don’t fuck when women are bleeding or?’

Lost in his thoughts and the awkwardness of the moment, he didn’t notice how she bit her lip, glancing up at him shyly. “Just—please, don’t be too rough on me.”

Captain Levi always had a comeback, a retort, a dry response. But now, he only pressed his fingers against his glass, eyes locked with hers, lips parted as if to speak but words caught in the back of his throat. Across his life, he’d seen people look at him in many ways—admiration, anger, pity, fear—but hers was different. Her eyes, reflective and tinged red, stared up at him with something close to terror. A terror filled with pure resignation, pleading him.

His jaw tightened, and he felt a knot form in his throat. ‘I’m going to make those bastards pay for this,’ He broke eye contact, turning his head and squeezing his eyes shut.

It was painful, painful for him to think someone could look at him like that. To see him as someone who might treat her as an object, begging him that at least, if he was going to do that, not to be a brute about it. But the worst part, the thought that clenched his throat even more was: ‘Like my mother…’

The room felt silent except for the branches scratching against the window in the storm outside and the flickering firelight. He forced his voice to sound steady. “Just go to bed.”

“Huh?” she asked, confused. “...Should I...wait for you there?”

Levi shook his head. “I can’t do it. Just go to bed. You look like shit.”

He wasn’t known for being the best communicator, and his words often got lost in translation. She blinked, panic rising in her eyes. “I’m...not pretty enough? I tried to look my best—I didn’t mean to disappoint. Please, don’t call this off…”

The thought of being sent back as a failure made her stomach turn. Her family, her younger sisters, her grandmother—they all depended on her.

Levi raised his hand, stopping her mid-sentence. “Oi, oi, relax. I didn’t mean that—damn it! I meant you look tired.”

“But—” she hesitated, moving a step toward him but keeping her distance.

“Shit,” he muttered, his cheeks warming slightly. “It has nothing to do with that.”

Her confusion was clear, so he forced himself to say it: “You’re...pretty, alright? That’s not the issue.”

She still looked uncertain. “If you don’t…claim me…what will people say?” she asked. “People will look down on you as a soldier, as a man...as an alpha.”

Levi chuckled, though he didn’t mean it. “Well, one good thing about who I am is that everyone’s too scared to say anything to my face,” he replied, almost gently. “I just can’t—not while you’re this scared.”

The truth hung in the air, and she resumed fidgeting with her ring, frowning as she looked at the carpet and her voice grew quieter. “What if…I never want to?”

Levi shrugged, too tired to pretend. “Then I guess we’ll wait until next spring when we’re both so damn drunk on hormones, you’ll be begging for it, and neither of us will remember it.”

"Spring?" she echoed, her caution mixed with disbelief. "But that’s a long wait..."

“Oh, well,” he said, with a dry humor, “we’ll just have to try not to kill each other in the meantime.” He gestured to the room. “Go to bed.”

"Where will you sleep?" she asked, then added, almost disappointed, "Do you... have someone else?"

Not that she was jealous, but she’d heard that “a good wife always knows.”

This time, the question made Levi scoff, an amused smirk tugging at his lips. “Good one. No, I don’t. I don’t even use the bed—I sleep at my desk.”

‘That can’t be healthy,’ she thought, grimacing. But, like a mouse just freed by a cat, she walked cautiously toward the bedroom, unsure if this escape was real. That can’t be healthy, she thought with a grimace of disapproval. But with hesitant steps, like a mouse released from a cat’s grip, she headed toward the room, still unsure how real this escape was.

Levi finished his drink, then readied himself to take his own shower, thinking, ‘It’s going to be a long, tense wait until next spring.’

A wait filled with mounting anxiety.

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louisferrignojr · 5 hours ago

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i have all sorts of criticisms for 911 as a show overall, for the 8x06 bucktommy storyline specifically, and for tim minear as a writer and showrunner. all valid criticisms and things I'm allowed to do as a queer viewer, because it relates to the writing choices, regardless whether they are influenced by external factors such as actor availability, budgets, or network demands and restrictions.

but you won't see me turning on oliver stark like a fucking rabid delusional buddie shipper.

using my logic and basic knowledge about the world of television, i can't put any blame on him for this shitfest. you won't see me coming up with ridiculous theories that he hates lou (#1 buddie talking point since the beginning) or that he got tim to write the episode this way (he's just a bloody actor ffs), that he hasn't done enough to champion the ship (you want him to be a bucktommy warrior?), because guess what?

say he promoted the relationship on his personal instagram, say he hyped it up more in interviews, say he interacted with shippers online or showcased more bucktommy fanworks... and the pair broke up in 8x06? because he doesn't write the show? you could then argue oliver engaged in queerbaiting, because the show did not deliver the queer content he promoted.

and isn't that what he was accused of anyway, before he deleted his twitter? doesn't it make sense that he might want to be careful about this?

and given the harassment he's had to endure from buddie shippers, i find it perfectly acceptable to answer buddie questions diplomatically because we know what those people are fucking capable of. it makes sense to me that he doesn't want to anger them.

at the end of the day, i'm not defending him. i've said before i'm deeply disappointed with his comments in the TVline interview and the way he doubled down in that instagram post. he has lost my respect and i no longer think he's a good ally to bisexual people specifically, because when you are playing a bisexual character, you have the bare minimum obligation to listen when real bisexual people are telling you that you fucked up. yes, i would like to see him acknowledge his wrongdoing and show that he understands the issue and why the things he said were biphobic. no matter how badly he fucked up, he should be allowed to reflect and make amends... because he's a human being and that's what the weewoo show is about. redemption arcs and second chances all around, folks.

but - he's literally just an actor and a celebrity. i expect nothing. i'm not holding out hope. i spare him no mind. i don't hate him and i'm not angry with him because i never idolised him. because i don't know him beyond the persona he shows the world. no one does. we can infer things based on what we see and hear, but there's really no way to know how much of that is his authentic self.

anyway. just my two cents 🫶

#oliver stark #my goal at all times is to never act like a buddie #peace and love #bucktommy #911 abc #send post #911 discourse

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veilofaponia · 3 days ago

Text

Xiao is no good at navigating human emotions, but even he can tell there’s something off about you.

They’ve always been much more effort to figure out than what it was worth, so he’s never given them much thought, but it’s hard to miss what’s going on with you. Even he notices the dullness in your eyes, as if you’re never fully present, that twinkle he had gotten so used to now gone. He notes that your movements are sluggish, if you even move at all. You tend to spend a lot of your time simply laying down, staring down at a wall or something comparably unremarkable.

He wants you to go back to who you were, that old attitude that ultimately caused you to end up like this. Thus, he sets out to observe humans to find some kind of solution.

That one couple catches his eye, the one that always seems to be arguing yet still remains a pair. Xiao notices that every time the woman is mad at her husband, he gets her some kind of gift, and suddenly they’re all lovey-dovey again.

Getting you a gift… That’s within Xiao’s realm of capabilities. He finds something he’s sure you’ll appreciate, you’ve always liked pretty things. He places it next to you while you’re sleeping (an activity you’ve been doing a lot more than before, he thinks) on the mattress of your room in his abode and quickly teleports away, lest you wake up and catch him in the act.

The next day, he returns, assured you’ll be back to normal, maybe even gushing over the trinket. You’re awake, but alas, you’re staring at the wall again, back turned to both Xiao and his gift. The shiny rock he got you hadn’t even moved a single inch.

That’s odd. He was sure that should’ve been enough, but apparently he was wrong.

Staring at your figure on the mattress, he racks his brain for any kind of alternative, only to come up with nothing but blanks.

This is frustrating. If there’s something wrong, just tell him already, then he can fix whatever the issue is and have this solved.

Communication, he realizes because of his train of thought. He’s caught wind of communication being important in relationships. You two technically aren’t dating, but it’s close enough.

You don’t turn to face him when he demands you tell him what you’re doing, this whole thing of doing all day, of never talking or reacting, but you do reply, though your voice is a little muffled from the blankets you're covered by.

I want to go outside.

That confuses him. There is an outside, but you’re still insisting on staying inside the whole time.

You can go outside. Just walk through the front door.

That’s not the same, you bemoan, everyday is the exact same, it’s like living in a time loop.

That’s it? The repetitiveness of the cycle in his abode was causing this? That’s an easy fix, so much so he almost scoffs that this was all it took to make you so depressed. Humans are so sensitive. He’s sure you’ll feel better the second he changes things up.

. . .

Okay, apparently not.

He’s changed the weather and time in his abode. Many times now, actually. So then why do you remain the same? It’s not like you haven’t noticed, he’s dragged you outside to show you, but you just shrug and shuffle back inside.

Why?

He did what you asked, got you what he thought to be the right treatment, so why aren't you cured?

This whole ordeal feels like a pesky weed that won’t be removed no matter how hard he tugs. He’s aware that his attitude is the root of said weed, but he feels there’s no way for him to disperse of something that already digs so deep. This is the way he chose for things to go, spontaneous and badly planned as it was. Nothing to be done now, that’s his reasoning.

Then, are you really going to stay like this forever? This dull, unresponsive you? Is this going to become the new “normal”?

Xiao doesn’t want it to (and he insists it’s because he wants to protect your livelihood, not because of some selfish reason like wanting to quell this sense of anxiety within him or not wanting to lose you). There has to be something, anything he can do to get even a glimpse of the real you.

Now that he’s really thinking about it, there is something, but it has a bitter taste building in his throat at the thought of going along with it.

But if it’s what it takes to get any kind of reaction out of you, maybe it’s worth it.

I’ll take you outside. To the real world.

The response is immediate, so quick it even shocks Xiao. You sit up in bed and stare at him with wide pupils and your mouth a little agape, almost as if you’re asking him really? The real world, the place Xiao ripped you from, deeming it too dangerous. Too many risks, too many variables, making it impossible for him to secure your safety there.

He gives little time for questioning. He walks up to you and grabs hold of you, pulling you to your feet, then your surroundings become unstable.

You’re attacked by a sudden brightness, stinging and closing your eyes that grew too used to the lighting of your room, and you can’t help but gasp at what you see when you reopen then.

You’re high up, far away from civilization, but you know this isn’t something Xiao created. That familiar, dingy mattress is replaced by grass under your feet. The neutral temperature is replaced by the heat of the sun shining on you, the rays causing your eyes to twinkle in the light, only further adding to how happy you look right now, with those wide eyes and that smile reaching them.

You realize now he’s brought you to a mountain. It’s cold, really cold, but you’d rather jump down right now than voice your discomfort. Knowing Xiao, his paranoia would immediately kick in and you’d go right back to his abode.

He’s holding your wrist far too tight for comfort — you’ll have to convince yourself you don’t notice the way his cheeks are dusted red at the contact — but you can almost pretend he isn’t there at all, because he is of no concern right now.

You’re outside, the real world. Not some fabricated world where Xiao controls every little detail, down to the length of every individual blade of grass.

It feels surreal.

You’re preoccupied with taking in everything while you still can; there’s no saying when Xiao will decide it’s been enough and take you back, so better make every second count. You don’t notice how the adeptus is looking at you. You don’t notice the relief painted on his features, usually stoic and awkward.

If this is the result of taking you to this real world, then perhaps this wasn’t a terribly stupid thing to do. Necessary sacrifices and all that.

He just really hopes you won’t get used to this and start demanding he take you out more.

#♥︎my works #♥︎xiao #yandere xiao x reader #yandere xiao #xiao x reader #genshin impact x reader #yandere genshin impact #yandere genshin x reader #yandere x reader #yandere

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iamthetruenhaz · 4 hours ago

Text

I'm not going to call myself a feminist man or anything like that. But I do try to stand up to other men in daily life when they say or do something sexist against women. I try to convince them that women are human beings like them with similar issues and struggles and not some insidious foreign species that is strong and weak at the same time that should be "returned" to their rightful place.

The problem? They don't respect me and thus won't listen to me. I mean, why would they listen to a man in his thirties who has last had a relationship years ago and it was his only one which didn't start until his late twenties, who has a low-paying job, can't afford to move out and in general has slim prospects to secure what those men respect the most - successful relationships with women? Like, I don't have the credentials that would make those men listen to me, and they'll point to my "feminist" beliefs and say that's the reason.

Men that aren't close to me who act like that? To them I'm just a "pedal" (read: fag) and they see me as some kind of traitor to men or a silly bleeding heart and they'd rather listen to a woman than to me. Or usually I don't engage with them at all unless I have to talk to them.

With friends, I do call them out, I say stuff like "bro that's a fucked up things to say", "don't generalize", we have discussions at length, but because of my shall we say limited experience with women, they dismiss me as naive and idealistic, at best. They know women better, they've had experience and that, you see, justifies them being sexist. I'll grow up, they almost say, I'll see.

The only people I "get to" give a piece of advice to and have spoken to are incels-to-be because I've been in their place and not turned out an incel (I spent most of my 20s without any female attention with all the feelings of rejection and frustration that entailed).

So yeah, I'm doing what I can. I know it's not enough. But I don't know what to do anymore that's not counterproductive.

Men need other men who have faced the same issues and made the right decisions and come out on top. As in, lead a life they're content with and are feeling confident regardless of, or maybe thanks to, "feminist" choices they've made, because to many men those choices seem mutually exclusive with "true" masculinity that will leave them feeling comfortable in their own skin.

If your vision for the deradicalization of right-wing men begins and ends with "other men telling them that that's gross and to stop it" then I'm sorry, you do not understand how masculinity works.

"Men who hold patriarchal status" and "men who are feminists" are two groups who overlap less than you want them to. I'm sorry. That's not solely because men are so happy with patriarchal status that they don't want to risk it by policing misogyny/queerphobia/racism, It's because being misogynistic, queerphobic, and racist, end expressing other forms of toxic masculinity(and often abusively so) are part of how people establish and maintain patriarchal status. The men who have the ability to stop this via nothing but peer pressure are the very people who are doing it. That's by design. And engaging in feminist intervention is, in and of itself, usually the abrupt end of that status and its associated power to persuade misogynistic men.

Like, I have worked in blue collar jobs as a notably queer person. It was pretty much a constant deluge of verbal abuse. In my experience, most blue collar work environments are exploitative, abusive, and bigoted, and very gleefully so. On the occasions I have spoken up about someone saying something that was super fucking out of line (asking me which of the girls walking by was hottest. We were installing a portable classroom at a middle school), believe it or not, they completely failed to be shamed! Because nobody else on the crew gave a fuck. *I* was the weird one. They ghosted me. A full blown company ghosted me. I suddenly didn't have a job anymore because they just straightforwardly stopped telling me where the next job site was.

Like, this doesn't mean that it's your job to do it, but this vision you have of these big groups of men where everyone is on the fence and there is precisely one shit stirrer who can be shut down by a brave feminist man who can single handedly set the example for all these other guys...you are high. You are describing an "everybody clapped" level absurd scenario. Most of these truly virulent misogynistic guys either have zero friends, because, you know, our society is atomized to fuck, or they are in a group where the feminist guy is actually the weirdo who can be shut down and ostracized much, much easier than the misogynists, because there is no such thing as a man misogynists respect who stands up for women.

You might be saying "well, we're talking about longstanding personal relationships, actually. Like, they need to have to want to spend time with you and then, as a side effect, you can mind control them out of being a threat to us."

Problem with that being:

1: Many feminist men also have no friends, see the atomized society above.

2: Feminist men already stopped hanging out with men who make rape jokes because why the fuck would we want to spend time with them.

3: That isn't just because we respect women so hard. We are in many cases talking about men who are also deeply queerphobic, heirarchical, violent and abusive to other men. What initially drew me to feminism and women was a lack of heirarchical squabbling and constant bullying, and the ability to be openly queer. A lot of men who came to feminism did so because they knew that the patriarchy was not a place they would find success or acceptance. These are not the men who are gonna be able to change right wing minds.

4. Men do not view themselves as a monolith. There is no universal brotherhood of men. The actual meaning of the term "Fragile masculinity" is that men are constantly expected to prove that they are deserving of the status of being a member of their own gender. There are large swathes of men--including most of the men who you'd look to as examples of good, feminist men who you want to undertake this project--who are considered failed men, sissies, f****ts, soyboys, ect. They are. Not. Going. To. Convince. These. Men. Of. Jack. Shit. Much less successfully *shame* them. Jesus.

I know all of this sucks. I know it would be cool to be able to just point at a group and have them be responsible for the work. But nah. It's gonna have to be a societal project, one that will probably outlast all of us. Sorry. The thing you want these men to do is, absolutely, the morally correct thing to do. But presuming that it would be effective is, and once again I am so sorry about this, just ignorance of how these social groups function.

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xclowniex · 2 days ago

Text

Okay I need peoples opinions in this.

There is a tik tok creator and author who has a series on tik tok they're trying to turn into a book called Cafae Latte.

It is this very queer and diverse series. All characters are played by one woman, the creator who is white.

She has 2 jewish characters, both are dragons who shape shifted into humans. One wears a magen david and the other is orthodox and wears a tichel. The creator wears them when portraying the respective characters

Now I have an issue with this for a few reasons which all fall under the big glaring thing of, they didn't consult any jews or do any research past the surface!

First issue of business is the tichel. I do find it incredibly disrespectful for a non jew to wear a tichel when you're portraying a Jewish character and you can't even get tzniut correctly. It wasn't until they finally got a tichel, that they learnt thay they needed to cover their collar bone and elbows. Especially when you also don't call it a tichel and just call it a "jewish head covering". If you're trying to make a Jewish character who keeps tzniut, these are basic things you should know if you did any research!

Second order of business, the magen david. I do find this disrespectful as it's not really for non jews to wear???? Like it's not like you commit this great atrocity by wearing it. But considering their poor rep with the character above, I doubt they know anything meaning behind it and why its important to jews. Plus it's pretty much literally just used to signify that the character is Jewish and that's it.

Thirdly order of business, idk how else to start this besides, they unjewished hebrew??????

Like they were creating a family crest for one of their jewish characters and had this design with the tree of life and some hebrew and wanted help on getting the hebrew correct and said "hebrew speakers and that probably include jews, I think. I need your help with this hebrew".

Like excuse me what. Not all jews speak hebrew and not all hebrew speakers are jewish, but the majority of hebrew speakers are jewish. Adding jews as this after thought which may technically be included is awful.

Last order of business. This time, not about the jewish characters but the arab and muslim one.

Therre is this character they play who is a Muslim arab amercian and they said in their intro post for this character "I'm not sure which arab country specifically she is from as I'm not educated enough". Like excuse me what. There are cultural differences between different arab countries, not in a way which they're completely different from each other but it is a thing.

And to make matters worse, she has a YouTube video giving tips on writing diversity well.

And idk it just really irks me as they are a published writer, who is all about good diversity representation yet can't even do it properly. Consulting jews, not even jews actually, hebrew speakers to use their words, is not enough to give good rep. You need to talk to rabbis, jewish community leaders in general.

#antisemitism #jumblr #jewblr #jewish representation

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tinydefector · 3 days ago

Note

Can i request a Sunstreaker×Reader(gender nuetral)nsfw one shot?

Attachments- Human Effects

Sunstreaker x human

Word count: 2.3k

Warnings: nsfw, touching, naked bodies, interspecies relations.

Fic masterlist

______________

Ambassador hums to themself as they watch Sunstreaker, Bluestreak and Traxies mess around and mingling. It was nice to see the blue mech so care free after the recent events. In truth they believe everyone is excited to be heading back to Cybertron.

"You boys better not damage each other God forbid Optimus or Ironhide and Prowl see you three damaged." They call out with a playful smile. Sunstreaker turns his helm toward the human Ambassador with scoff. "Don't worry, we know better than to damage the merchandise," he replies cockily. While he enjoys sparring with his convoy mates.

Still, he can't help snickering a little as Bluestreak leaps at Traxies, sending them both tumbling across the floor in a tangled pile of limbs. The two mechs wrestling playfully, but Sunstreaker knows from experience just how wily Bluestreak can be in a scrap.

Sunstreaker observes the ruckus with amusement, crossing his arms over his broad chest, Bob chitters and squeals as he watches the two mechs play, looking to his master as if to ask if he can join. “Go play Bug” he hums, Bob runs full speed before clambering onto Bluestreak's back, a shrill cry coming from the Insecticon as he attempts to wrestle Bluestreak off Traxies.

They shake their heads in amusement before turning to watch Sunstreaker as he saunters up to them. "Hello Sunstreaker, what can you do for you?" They tilt their head slightly, eyes flicking up to his optics. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were missing out on all the fun." He gestures casually toward Bluestreak, Traxies and Bob who are still play-wrestling amid peals of laughter, and chirps.

He redirects his focus to the Ambassador, azure optics sweeping over their form in a slow, appreciative once-over. One hand comes up to buff a spot on his broad chest, as if to draw attention to the gleaming sheen of his plating.

"What do you say we find somewhere a little more private, got something I want to talk to you about" he suggests. But his subtle hint isn't lost on them after how forward Ratchet had been.

"Christ Sunstreaker, are you hitting on me now too?" they groan out softly, but no true anger or discomfort is in their voice. Sunstreaker lets out a sly chuckle at the Ambassador's reaction. "That wasn't what I was intending but if you take it that way I'm sure I could make an exception for you," he replies with a wink. "Besides, a mech like me would be a fool not to take advantage of such charming company, while it lasts."

He begins walking with them, making his strides slower so that they could keep up with him. " unless you're already catered for? I have heard rumours of certain other members of our crew. Not that I blame you."

"No I'm not spoken for, just..... it's complicated" they state softly, not really wanting to have more mechs listening in on their conversation. "Let me guess you saw the pin up photos?" They ask, eyes flicking to Sunstreaker again.

He chuckles lightly. "Ah, I see. 'Complicated' seems to be the way of things around here more often than not." He gives the Ambassador a knowing look, he himself had complicated flings with Rodimus, Skids and Mirage.

"Let's just say Ratchet has fine taste, and leave it at that." He hums waiting to see how they would react to those words, he was hoping Ratchet hadn't seen the pin-ups and made a move, he didn't think the Medic would, he was in a relationship with the Ex-con, but he never knew with the CMO.

"Ah so you know..” they mumble softly. It makes Sunstreaker realise that Ratchet had indeed made a move on them.

“ I felt like if I do anything more than I already have I'll have the whole crew at my door. And I'm already trying not to have issues with command on Cybertron and not to mention the Galactica union." They mutter.

"Affairs of the spark can certainly make logistics...complicated," he acknowledges with a wry quirk of his lip plates. "Especially where command protocols and off-world politics are involved. Primus forbade any diplomat to find themselves on the wrong side of bureaucracy!" It's a chuckle, a true one from the rather snarky mech.

“Please don't spread it around, I don't need Magnus up my ass over me having a fling With the crew let alone the CMO” they pleade hoping that he understood enough how bad the situation was for them if it got out of hand,

"Easy, your secret is safe." He shoots them a conspiratorial wink. They laugh loudly. "Sunny no offence but you are one of the least subtle or Discrete mech I have ever met" they giggle while looking away. He grumbles as he looks away feeling ashamed to have been called out. "Guilty as charged" he admits under his breath.

His reigns in the snarky comment he wanted to shoot their way. "I wanted to.. frag how do i say it.” He grumbles again before trying to figure out how to broach the subject, he had never been the one trying to get someone in berth, it was always others trying to get him into their berth.

“I would like to invite you to um… Frag im slag at this. Would you be interested in interfacing with me?" He manages to ask, feeling the heat under his plates making his frame uncomfortable due to the situation.

The Ambassador freezes up, head snapping towards the yellow gold mech with surprise on his face. “ I…” they start only from Sunstreaker to hiss at himself for being stupid. “no I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked”

"I don't have anywhere to be for the next cycle, I was just checking up on Traxies" they blurted out to him. In truth Sunstreaker was a very pretty mech, they just never took him as one to be interested in humans.

Sunstreaker's optics flash brightly as he catches the Ambassador's words. "Well now, a whole cycle to yourself?" he asked, almost speechless, excited and intrigued.

"As it happens, I find myself also unexpectedly free for the foreseeable cycle," he adds casually, leaning down to scoop them up into his servos and arms. "Only conditions are, I can't have others finding out about this, do not talk about it with others" they state.

" I'm not looking for a relationship, f you have issues with that or me being with others, I'm occasionally sleeping with others, please reconsider" they explain. Sunstreaker nods slowly as he considers the Ambassador's terms, mouthparts pressing into a thin line.

"Very well, i won't tell anyone," he promises, voice low and serious. "As for your other arrangements...that is your affair, not mine." Truth be told, he wasn't looking for a relationship either, but he was rather intrigued to see what a human was like in berth.

The trip to Sunsteaker's website is a decent one but now that they are in there they look around admiring the different decorations, paints and detail supplies he had around.

A smug smile crosses his faceplate. "Like what you see?" he purrs, leaning down until his face is mere inches from theirs. "I take great pride in my collection. Only the finest."

They look over the many different paints and rims. The only way they could really describe it was like walking into a hat and shoe collectors house. "Woah fancy paints you have, never seen you in anything but the gold yellow" they hum while walking around. Sunstreaker chuckles slowly as the Ambassador examines his collection of paints and detailing supplies. "They are my pride and joy," he says, optics glittering with undisguised delight. "You'd be surprised how much work goes into maintaining my finish."

He watches them with rapt attention as they wander, taking in the array of exotic pigments and high-grade polishes. A pleased rumble escapes his vocalizer when they compliment his prized finishes. But then, with a playful flick of his wrist, he sends a plush detailing cloth sailing toward the Ambassador. They yelp in surprise, and Sunstreaker can't help but burst into raucous laughter at their reaction.

"What, did you think I'd let you admire my collection without getting your hands dirty?" he teases, stalking closer. "This frame doesn't clean and polish itself, you know." he looms over them, one digit tracing the curve of their jaw.

"I do so enjoy a little...hands-on assistance," he murmurs, voice dropping to a low purr. They just stare at him for a moment. "You... you brought be back here to be your personal polisher didn't you, I can't believe I got swindled like this, and here I thought you were looking for something else" it's a playful huff and teasing.

But the glint in his optics and the sly quirk of his lip plates give away his true amusement. He leans down until their faces are mere inches apart, " no, my dear Ambassador, I had quite a different sort of hands-on activity in mind." His voice drops to a sultry purr.

Bringing them up to his chestplate, he rumbles, "There, that's much better." His field practically crackles with smug satisfaction as he gazes down at them, azure optics burning with unveiled desire. "Now then, let's see what those nimble little fingers of yours can do," he murmurs. One thumb gently strokes along their side in a teasing caress.

"I have a few...sensitive spots that could use your attention."

"Oh do you now?" They chuckle while sitting down on his plating. Discarding their uniform top as they grab the polish and cloth. One hand pressed to his chassis as they give him a playful yet seductive look. Fingers trailing down the ridges and edges before they throw the polish cloth at his face with a laugh.

Sunstreaker lets out an indignant squawk as the polish cloth hits him square in the faceplate. His optics widened in shock, field flaring with offence. "Why, you cheeky little--!" he sputters, swiping the cloth away. But despite his outrage, a frown tugs at the corners of his lip plates.

"Oh, you're going to pay for that one," he growls playfully, optics glinting with mischief. Careful not to jostle the Ambassador, he shifts his weight, feinting as if to make a grab for them. "I'll have you know I don't take kindly to such flagrant disrespect of my finish," he huffs, trying and failing to keep a stern expression.

Sunstreaker may be vain, but he's not above a bit of playful back-and-forth. He settles back, They settle back down on his plating, relaxing into his servos. The cold metal trails up their sides, a slight shiver running down their spine as he drags his digits over their body admiring how different human physiology is to his. He could see why the rest of the crew were so taken by the ambassador.

"Fascinating," he murmurs, digits ghosting reverently over their skin. He can't help but marvel at the sheer softness and pliability of their form, so different from his own rigid, metallic plating. "You know," he purrs, voice dropping to a low, sultry rumble, "the rest of the crew really has excellent taste." One thumb brushes teasingly across their jaw. "I can certainly see the appeal..."

His free servo comes up, fingers lightly caressing their chest in gentle, exploring sweeps. Sunstreaker is utterly captivated, his focus zeroed in solely on them. "Christ Sunny, you just interested in teasing me, with how thirsty you bots are online I was expecting you to be a bit more handsy" they tease.

Sunstreaker chuckles lowly. "Thirsty, you say?" he rumbles, optics glittering with mischief. "In fact," he purrs, leaning in until his breath ghosts across their skin, "I'd say I'm positively famished." His grip tightened.

They let him remove the shirt, digits caressing their skin as he trails further down their body. Sunstreaker savours the soft moans that escape the Ambassador's lips, his own vocalizer rumbling in response. He trails feather-light kisses along their skin, his glossa darting out to taste the subtle nuances of their unique scent and texture.

They hear the hissing and clicking of his plating moving, shooting a look over their shoulder. Their eyes go wide when they see his spike. "Holy shit, Sunstreaker, there is no way that will fit in me at all!" They stutter out.

Sunstreaker sulks, a frown falling across his faceplate. "My mods aren't that bad. don't you worry your pretty little head about that, Ambassador," he sits up ,moving the, to the berth as he stands up and moves over to storage cubes.

"You're welcome to look through the options, if you'd like," watching as he pulls out different mods for them to look at. "Umm do you have anything smaller?" Sunstreaker huffs. "Smaller?" he rumbles, "I'll have you know, Ambassador, that nothing about me is 'small'."

He rummages through the storage cube, plucking out a few choice attachments with a flourish. "But fortunately for you, I do believe I have a few. more modest options in here somewhere."

"Let's see now..." he muses, "where did I put that petite little number?" A groan escapes his vocalizer. "Ah, here we are!" Sunstreaker presents the selected attachment. "I think you'll find this one much more manageable," he quips.

They watch as he brings out the smaller spike, this one looked like it wouldn't impale them, it's a ‘small’ silver attachment with little details etched into the metal along with little balls along the length of it. "That one looks better in size, but umm. How exactly do you.." they trail off. Eyes flicking from the small spike in his servo and the large one between his thighs.

"How do I...?" he prompts, one optic ridge arching upward in a blatant display of smugness. He tsks, shaking his head in mock-pity. "Allow me to demonstrate."

With an exaggerated flourish, he swaps out the sizable spike for the more modest attachment, the change accompanied by a series of slick, metallic clicks and whirs.

"There, you see?" he purrs, flexing his hips to show off the new addition. "Perfectly...proportional."

______________________

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@dannyaleksis

@averysillylittlefellow

@rosielecktor

@shurushurubanban

@strawberrydutchling

@azuragalaxya

@dumpster-fae

@simp-sentral

@smallestapplin

@starscreamloverfr

@doodle-dongs

@natchayaphorn

@askcookieanon

@aerisvirtue

@horizonartist980

@soulless-nocturnal-raccoon

@gracebear

@lilliaslonghair

@rabies10

@alextheknight707

@chershire23

@goretechnician

#transformers #transformers idw #mtmte #transformers x reader #transformers x human #transformers lost light #valveplug #sunstreaker tf #sunstreaker x reader #sunstreaker #transformers: more than meets the eye

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welcomefortune · 1 day ago

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One of the big problems I do have with Veilguard is that they seem to not want much moral ambiguity. Like finding out that Sten has nothing to do with the Qunari invading despite being previously established as the Arishok. Or the Crows just being completely morally good now and making sure all of their targets deserve it. Or none of the elves joining their gods or Solas because they’re good and only evil people would join evil people so it’s just the Venatori and the Antaam despite the fact that the Venatori’s vision of Tevinter relies on human supremacy to elves and the Antaam hate magic they’re actually fine with it when it comes to the elven gods. Or how if you are blighted now the Grey Wardens will put you through the Joining to save you but don’t worry they wouldn’t actually make you join against your will because that would be bad. Or how the Lords of Fortune are treasure hunters but don’t worry they would never take anything cultural important and respect indigenous rights. Or how none of the Shadow Dragons want to do a violent uprising against slavery the most they want is to threaten that they might do violence but ultimately they are going to end slavery by asking nicely.

No one even seems to have any prejudices against anyone or anything. If you play a Shadow Dragon mage Rook you don’t have any issues with the Qun or the Qunari even though you’re family is military and has been at war against them or that you are from Ventus which was taken over by the Qunari and all of the mages were lobotomized with qamek a few years ago or from Tevinter propaganda or just from being a mage. The worst you can say is to question if someone who follows the Qun is scared of mages and everyone looks at you like you’re crazy for asking that. And the other way around doesn’t apply either. No Qunari hold particular prejudice against you for being a Tevinter mage. Taash’s mom seems to not like Tevinter mages in a codex entry but she doesn’t say anything to you or Taash about it. The Butcher doesn’t even hold it against you! People have made a lot out of no one being prejudiced against elves which is true but it also applies the other way around. There really is very little mistrust of you as a human Tevinter mage by any elves. The only pushback I remember getting is being asked if you will respect the halla which seems to be more about you not being an elf than anything else. Any sexism also seems to be mostly brushed under the rug. When you talk to Tarquin he tells you that he was told by his father that to be a man he needed to be in the military. That mostly tracks with what we know about Tevinter. It’s a little more trans accepting than it was according to Krem but I can buy that Tevinter has started accepting trans men in the military in the last decade. He then goes on to ask a female Shadow Dragon Rook why they aren’t in the military and you can’t even bring up how women’s roles in the military are very restrictive. You don’t bring up anything about gender roles in Tevinter even though according to the lore they are more rigid than in the South and men hold nearly all of the leadership positions. You can’t bring up how it may be difficult for Tevinter to accept a woman as Archon since as far as I know all of the previous Archons have been men.

There’s some background mentions of how life is difficult for certain groups in certain places but we never see it or even hear specifics. We hear that there’s slavery in Tevinter and it’s hard to be an elf but we don’t see it and a Shadow Dragon Rook seems shocked that the Venatori are engaging in human trafficking. We hear life is difficult for mages in Treviso but we never see or hear about it after one line.

This isn’t a Veilguard exclusive problem it seems to be an issue in a lot of media today that there’s this total unwillingness to deal with anything controversial or difficult. I think they’re trying to respond to feedback about how people didn’t like the way in which sensitive things were handled in media in the past but it seems like the way most are choosing to handle it is by not dealing with it at all? Or flattening out characters like in HOTD where in response to the criticism about how Dany was handled they’ve decided that now women have no ambition or capacity for evil or violence and they are all purely good but also have zero agency whatsoever.

I know a lot of people prefer this and like all of their media to be escapist with no bad things happening in it but I personally prefer when difficult things are handled as long as they’re handled with care. I personally don’t subscribe to the belief that by depicting something you are inherently endorsing it. Anyway it’s fine if you disagree and I hope I don’t sound like a chud who just wants to be racist in games, I’d be fine if Rook couldn’t express these views but it’s just a bit strange to me that no one holds these views anymore in Thedas.

#datv critical #dragon age the veilguard critical #datv spoilers #dragon age the veilguard spoilers

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im-totally-not-an-alien-2 · 3 days ago

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Ooooh, I love this!

Originally, I had planned for a bunch of people from other franchises to the part of this but I was too lazy to write it out.

Sephiroth from Ever Crisis was going to be there learning how to interact with other people around his age as they deprogramed him from the brainwashing Shinra did.

Inertia was there because I liked him and wanted to learn more about him. I still need to Google more. I'm sorry

Jynx from the Teen Titans show from when I was a kid. The pink haired girl who could cause unlucky things to happen and fire energy beams (might also be magical???) is there, very doubtful that she could ever be "good" but has been talked into giving it a try

Psaro was there as part of the negotiations he had done with the Justice League. They would protect his younger half-brother Prince Ludo and his brothers mother, Elshael, as the two received psychiatric care at a mental institution in Central City. Psaro would also be given special lessons on how to properly rule Nadiria as king by members of the Justice Leage.

There naturally would be more characters than this, but my point is that each of these people is powerful, traumatized, and have difficulty letting people in. Everyone goes through a minimum of one story arc involving facing thier past traumas, Sephiroth faces of against Shinra as they try to reclaim him, maybe on a political propaganda route, maybe they attack with an army of highly trained enhanced humans and machines and are repelled, maybe they successfully capture Seph and the team recues him to see the full scope of the horrors Sephiroth has endured. Maybe all of the above?

For Psaro, I think dealing with the so called "heros" who followed him to this world only for them to be arrested and put on trial would be both funny and satisfying. I'll explain more in the comments if someone asks

And Jynx being captured by her old crew from the H.I.V.E. Five only for her to convince them to also join before her rescue even arrives

Ludo eventually joins tok when he is deemed mentally fit enough to do so. Does he betray them? Probably. Does him announcing his arrival with poetry like Genesis Rhapsodos trigger a reaction from Sephiroth, make him realize that he's not as emotionally healed from Shinras torment as he had thought he was? Absolutely.

Everyone here is messed up.

I don't think I need to mention Damian and him having to deal with the LOA and their issues from time to time, do I?

Then Danny, safe, sane Danny betrays them.

Danny, who loved to try bizarre and amazing food combos with Thad.

Danny, who liked to draw with Damian and invite him to play fetch with Cujo..

Danny, who stayed and comforted Jynx through her worst breakdowns saying, "I'm a Fenton. We're already unlucky!"

Danny, who channeled Jazz to explain human behavior to Sephiroth to help him fit in with his new friends.

Danny, who was always happy to have pun battles with Psaro.

That Danny was fake. Danny betrayed them.

Idk which is better. Danny freeing his parents and going on the run with them or Waller, killing them and Danny going for revenge.

Danny held up a large sign from the background like a man at an airport as thier leader, Robin, gave his report to this "Justice League". The first sign said, "Help! I'm surrounded by daddy issues!" Earning a laugh from someone off camera. He then pulled the next card out from behind the first one.

"Can you send air fresheners? It smells like teen angst in here"

This one got a cackle from someone on the Justice League side of things. Score. No one here really wants to laugh. They're all edgelords and Danny is suffering. He didn't really want to be here, but things in Amity had ended in a way he never expected.

Both he and his parents had been arrested.

Not by his worlds government, mind you, but by the government of another Earth. This Earth that he was currently on to be more accurate. Who knew that so much of the stuff he and his parents had been doing was super illegal and wouldn't ya know it? He was in the middle of doing something really sketchy looking in his parents lab when the feds busted in.

Thankfully, the Justice League presented him with a deal: they take him out of Juvie and the reformation program he was in, and in return, he joins a team of former teen/child villains and anti-heros.

Figuring he had nothing to lose at this point he agreed.

He was not expecting to be surrounded by angry angsty teens. His fault really. He should have known better. Thankfully it seems like nobody knows about Phantom and he'd like to keep it that way.

Psaro was his calm in the storm. The other boy was proud and almost as arrogant as Robin, but he had been proven to be very kind and reliable. If Danny ever needed advice or if Robin was getting a bit too much, he could just knock of Psaros door.

The last time Robin had a fit and was starting a fight with someone, Mr. Pointy ears stepped up and told Robin that his outburst was undignified, especially for someone of a higher class like Robin seems to be presenting himself as. He also said something about there being a big difference between a king and a tyrant, but Danny had been trying to rush Robin's victim to the medway and didn't hear all of the convo.

Psaro was some kind of half demon prince who was also from another world. He didn't have a superhero name yet, but the program was brand new, and to be fair, Danny didn't officially have one either.

Some lady called Raven was supposed to be coming in to help Psaro and convince him to embrace his human half and help him with magic and...something about a curse? What did Danny get himself into???

#new young justice au #but with the kids of villains and child villains being reformed #kinda #no one knows danny is phantom #they just think hes the kid of evil mad scientists who was going down a bad path #hes the one colourful nerd surrounded by goths and dark clothes #Good Parents Jack and Maddie #Because I love them #and also them loving Danny only for him and their family to get fucked over anyways by outside forces makes for much better angst #Danny is playing them all #The betrayal will be gut-wrenching #But Danny will feel nothing #Imagine something kind of like in the Original Young Justice when they were looking for their own mole in the team #Danny will be the light that warms and guides them #That helps and encourages them to be better people #To be better than what their parents wanted them to be #only to discover too late that Danny was really the wildfire that spread too far and too quick to notice #And by the gods will it burn when they find out #i love this so much you dont even understand

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whateverisbeautiful · 3 days ago

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I feel like Rick went through the most physically in TOWL and TWD. While Michonne went through the most mentally. So many people would say Maggie is the strongest female character, but I firmly believe it's Michonne. Michonne lost 2 sons, killed a bunch of kids, saved Judith, lost her female best friend, lost her boyfriend, then her soul mate, and still have the courage to rebuild civilization and have another baby. Maggie doesn't have half of what Michonne has been through. So my question is, who do u think is stronger and what makes the other stand out more.

Hi @theoneswholive32 ! It was definitely interesting to watch the ways in which Michonne and Rick's internal and external hardships paralleled each other in TOWL. And I wrote out the rest of my response to your question below: ⬇️ 💗

I do believe Michonne’s strength is unparalleled. And in choosing who stands out the most, I’m choosing Michonne every time. To be as multifaceted and well-rounded as she is, to be both one of the world’s toughest and one of the world’s tenderest, it makes her an incredibly admirable character who embodies that quote Deanna shared - “Someday this pain will be useful to you.”

Over the course of her journey, Michonne learned to turn her grief and pain into something productive and motivating rather than destructive and devastating all while still being in tune with her hurt and emotions rather than neglecting or supressing them.

I think it’s hard to compare traumas, in that apocalyptic world especially, so I can't say I agree with the statement that Maggie hasn’t been through half as much tho.

I do agree that Michonne has been through so much and more than people tend to acknowledge. Just because one of her most painful experiences happened offscreen and before she joined the group doesn’t mean it should be dismissed. To experience losing a child at any age is absolutely tragic, and especially as a toddler when they are so defenseless and dependent on others to keep them alive. It makes sense that Michonne shut down the way she did after the horrors she endured. And the fact that she went on to grow the way she did, not by being a strong warrior robot but by reopening her heart and letting love and family in again is one of the greatest signs of her strength and character.

Maggie was put through the wringer too and one of the unique things about her losses is that the three closest people to her (husband, father, sister) didn’t just 💀 but were unalived by human hands. Two of which she had to watch lose their life painfully, slowly, and all just so their murderer could make a point. And that’s on top of the rest of her family being taken out by walkers on the farm. So, even with me being overall neutral on her character, I can’t deny that Maggie has been through a lot of hell and that she’s a strong woman.

I think one of the notable differences between Maggie and Michonne’s strengths is in how they address their issues. After Rick spared Negan, it made sense that Maggie would feel extremely hurt by that executive decision but rather than talk to Rick about it as family she concocted plans behind his back which had tragic ramifications. Whereas when Michonne has an issue with someone she’s been shown to go directly to the source and address things which is another sign of her maturity and strength.

Now I do think when it comes to physical violence, Michonne is the woman they put through the most physical harm and that is upsetting for several reasons. There is certainly an aspect of it that feels racially charged, even if subconscious because take 9.14 for example, I genuinely can’t see them being comfortable having Maggie or Carol be beat with a pipe while 7 months pregnant the way Michonne was.

One of the millions of reasons I’m grateful to Danai for what she wrote in ep 4 of TOWL is that she actually gave Michonne the space to acknowledge what she’s been through and voice her hurt. And Michonne also got to have someone who cared to acknowledge her scars and hurt as well through Rick. That was important because all too often Black women are portrayed as having to carry so much on their own and just keep it pushing without anyone caring to see their pain or vulnerability.

And to add one more reason that I feel Michonne is exceptionally strong and a standout character is because when she found someone she could trust and be held by in Rick, she opened herself up to that too. It could have been so easy for someone as competent as her to stay the independent lone wolf but she found a partner who she can be her most human and vulnerable self with and that vulnerability shows a whole lot of strength.

So that's my little essay response. Thanks for asking! 😊

#richonne #reflecting on richonne #asks & answers

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m-jelly · 1 day ago

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Late night snack - Chapter 2

Vampire Levi x human reader

Trouble arrives for Levi and Erwin, so they must work with the police to stop some dark and twisted trading. You go shopping, meet a fan, take Levi home and it's loving time.

Ao3

Levi pressed you against the wall, his lips never parting from yours. He should have left your place about an hour ago to help Erwin, but he just couldn’t let you go. The way your body curved against his, the heat of your body, the taste of you and your darling touch and voice was addictive to him. He was in a pure happy bubble, but he could hear someone walking closer and it annoyed him because he knew very well who was coming.

Erwin walked into your apartment and went up to your blood heater. “Afternoon.”

You pulled from Levi’s lips. “Mm, hi Erwin.”

“Afternoon.” Erwin and you had met two weeks ago and you just clicked. You became fast friends and you were helping him romance a cute thing down at the city hall. Erwin had some control over Levi’s power and strength, but you fully tamed him and Erwin appreciated it a lot. “I figured he would be with you.”

Levi slipped behind you and hugged you tightly. “I’m not leaving.”

“I need you for work.”

“I don’t want to leave.”

Erwin sighed. “Levi.”

Levi hid behind you a bit. “No.”

Erwin looked at you and said your name. “Could you have a word with him?”

You turned in Levi’s arms. “Sweet honey kitten.” You cupped his face. “Be a good boy and go with Erwin, okay?”

Levi pouted. “But you’ll be lonely without me.”

You wiggled his face. “I will be a bit lonely, but when you come back will be so exciting and fun. Think of all the kisses we’ll share when we reunite.”

He nodded as he processed what you said. “You’re right.”

“Plus, you’re off to be strong and brave.”

His eyes lit up. “Yes! I’m off to be very strong and brave.” He kissed you. “I’ll be back later, okay?”

You grinned. “Okay!”

Erwin cleaned up his bottle before recycling it. “If you’re that worried about her, I could always ask our friend Theodore to look after her.”

Levi pouted. “No.”

“What is your issue with him? He’s a good friend.” Erwin laughed. “Is it because he’s clumsy sometimes?”

You looked over at Erwin. “Who is this friend?”

“We have a few, but the one we’re talking about is Theodore.”

You heard Levi growl a little. “Well, I hope I can meet more of your friends.” You kissed Levi’s cheek. “Be safe.” You playfully bumped your fist against Erwin’s jaw. “You too.”

Erwin chuckled. “I’ll bring him back in one piece.”

You waved as both left your apartment. “Bye!”

Erwin walked with his hands in his pockets while Levi dragged his feet. “You have changed a lot.”

Levi pouted. “What do you mean?”

“You enjoyed it when you had to work, but now you pout and show a lot of emotions.” He paused by the car. “It’s a good thing.”

Levi climbed into the back and waited for Erwin to join him. “You think so?”

Erwin nodded. “I do.” He leaned forward and whispered to his driver before sitting back. “You two are good for each other. You bring out the best in each other.”

Levi smiled softly. “I think you’re right.” He tapped on his phone and texted you a bit. “So, what’s the job?”

“Now, I know we usually sort out vampires but the issue here is a human.”

Levi frowned. “Human? What?”

Erwin pulled his phone out and looked at the report. “This human is capturing vampires and bleeding them. He’s not become a vampire, he’s just using the blood to be stronger and heal up.” Erwin put his phone in his pocket. “He’s claiming he’s close to god.”

Levi rolled his eyes. “So, he’s pretending he is a prophet and achieving the lie by using vampire blood?”

“Yep.”

Levi clenched his fist tightly. “What the fuck are the police doing?”

“They called me.” Erwin looked over at Levi. “They said that we can have this. I was surprised that they called, but they weren’t sure how to handle this so it must be bad.”

Levi leaned his arms on his legs as he stared at the floor. He said your name with deep love. “I worry about her. If she knew how terrible things were, the things I’ve done, the things I do…she’ll…she’ll leave me.”

Erwin placed his hand on his dear friend’s shoulder. “She loves you more than you think. I know she’ll stay with you even after you’ve told her everything. Trust her, Levi.”

He nodded as he considered Erwin’s words. “You’re right. I trust in her and love her.” He climbed out of the car and glared at the high-rise building. “Tch, fucking businessmen.”

Erwin walked with Levi. “They’re the scum of the earth, especially the ones on wall street.” He paused by the door and saw a sign put up for vampires that said all are welcome. “Thank goodness for that sign.”

Levi stormed into the lobby and up to reception. “Erwin?”

Erwin leaned on the table. “Hello, miss, mind telling me what floor Mr White is on? I would really appreciate it.”

She blushed a little at seeing the two handsome vampires. “Top floor.”

He winked at her. “Thank you so much. Oh, and thank you for putting a sign up on the door.”

She nibbled her lip. “All are welcome here.”

Erwin chuckled. “What a lovely lady you are.”

Levi huffed. “We need to get going.”

Erwin walked with Levi. “Let’s race up the stairs. Shouldn’t take us long.”

The lady at the front desk gasped when the two men became blurred as they rushed off up the stairs. “Vampires are hot.”

Levi slammed the double doors open and stopped in front of Mr White’s desk. He saw Mr White flinch and drop a bottle causing blood to glug out onto the desk. “Mr White.”

He shoved his chair back, but Erwin grabbed the back of his office chair and trapped him. Mr White shook in his seat. “Mr Smith and Mr Ackerman! H-Hello.”

Erwin leaned over White’s shoulder. “Say, Mr White, that’s an interesting colour of drink you have for a human.”

“I-It’s a medical d-drink.”

“That so?”

Levi picked up the bottle and sniffed. “Vampire blood. Odd medical drink.”

Erwin hummed. “Interesting medicine, right Levi?”

Mr White laughed nervously. “I-it’s just medical!”

“Levi?”

Levi used his speed to act. He launched the chair across the room before grabbing Mr White’s neck and slamming him against the window causing it to crack. “Talk, Mr White, or I show you what happens to the human body when it falls from 40 floors down to a tarmac floor.”

Mr White sobbed. “Okay! Okay! It’s vampire blood.”

Erwin walked over and looked up at the scared businessman. “Where did you get the blood from?”

He nervously kept looking over to the same spot in his office. “I uh…it’s donated because I-I’m a prophet!”

Levi looked over at a painting of Mr White as Jesus. “You seem to really love that painting, huh?”

“N-No!”

“Erwin, you might want to take a look.” He flipped Mr White, crashed him into the marble floor before grabbing his ankle and dragging him. “Let’s have a look at what’s there.”

Mr White wheezed. “P-Please.”

The squeaking of Mr White’s sweaty body being pulled against the marble floor filled the room. Both the smart shoes of Levi and Erwin did join in, but Mr White’s sobs took over. All of them came to a stop in front of the large painting. Levi and Erwin weren’t religious, but this painting was making a mockery of those who did have faith.

Levi grunted. “It’s a door.”

Erwin grabbed the edge of the painting before ripping it off the wall to show a huge safe door. “I wonder what’s behind door number one. Levi?”

Levi handed Mr White’s leg over to Erwin. “Got it.” He walked up to the door, tapped his knuckles against it and hummed in thought. “Couple of feet thick.” He grabbed the handle and pulled a little causing it to groan loudly. “Easy.” He yanked the door off and held it above his head. “Where do you want this?”

Mr White screamed. “He’s a monster!”

Erwin pressed his foot against the man’s chest causing him to gasp. “Quiet.” He looked around. “Anywhere will do.”

Levi threw it to the side causing the marble floor to crack and splinter everywhere. He looked at the opening to see it was pitch black and something didn’t feel right. “Erwin?”

Erwin moved closer to the opening. “Something…it’s not right.”

Levi grabbed the back of Mr White’s neck and dragged him into the dark. “Tch, what the fuck do you have in here?” He banged his fist against the light switch making the room brighten up and reveal the horror inside. “Fuck.”

The room wasn’t large, but you didn’t need a big room to break people. Chained up by silver were four vampires, their wrists and ankles bleeding due to silver knives constantly pressing against them. Their eyes were just crusted puddles of silver that had clearly been poured into them. The smell inside was horrific which was unnatural for vampires. However, these vampires were not normal and appeared to be infected by bad blood. When a vampire’s blood becomes tainted they lose their minds and become mindless beasts. The vampire illness was long gone from the world, but this man had found a strain and some weak vampires.

“He’s bleeding them.”

Erwin leaned closer to a vampire and sniffed. “These vampires are practically dead.”

Levi shoved Mr White against a vampire’s oozing wound from the infection. “Tch, look what you’ve done, you shit! All these lives were ruined because of you!” He leaned towards Mr White’s ear. “Do you feel holy now?”

Erwin pulled back and took his phone out. He dialled the police captain and sighed. “Captain, I need a word with you. You were right, Mr White was bleeding vampires, but there is something very concerning here.” He looked over at Levi. “I’d get here before Levi kills Mr White.” He hummed as he listened. “Understood. Thank you.” He ended the call. “Levi? Try not to kill Mr White, the Captain is heading over here.”

Levi glanced over at his friend. “Can I break him?”

“Yes. Like I said, no killing.” Erwin put his hands in his pockets and watched as Levi covered the floor and wall in blood. The screams of Mr White were like music to his ears. He glanced at the vampires to see they weren’t reacting to human blood. “These vampires really are lost.”

Levi stopped beating Mr White for a bit. “No reaction. Tch, this fucker.”

“No. Killing.”

Levi shook a little as he tried to control his rage. “I just keep imagining it’s my bunny in there.”

Erwin patted Levi’s shoulder. “I understand.” He looked over at the entrance to the secret room to see the Captain enter. “Captain.”

The Captain looked around the room slowly as he tried to process everything. “What in the world?”

“I called you because there vampires here are almost mindless. He’s infected them with an old virus. We need to know where he got this and how.” He folded his arms. “Buying a virus is a bioterrorist act. If there was no virus, I would take care of this but you need to be involved.”

The Captain looked up at one of the vampires. “I would like to work with you on this. Having the support of your group would be appreciated.”

Erwin offered his hand. “You have our support.”

He shook Erwin’s hand before looking over at Levi. “Mind calling him off?”

“Levi? Let’s go home to your girlfriend.”

The Captain’s brow raised. “He has a girlfriend?”

Erwin nodded. “Yep and he’s madly in love with her, so it’s very useful in getting him to behave for me.”

Levi walked over to Erwin. “I need to clean before I see my bunny.”

“Use the bathroom here. I’ll finish chatting with the Captain.”

Levi bowed his head before hurrying past the police scaring them a little. He barged into the bathroom and cleaned himself up as panic started to set in. All Levi could think about was how his actions would terrify you. He strongly believed that you would hate him if you knew all the things he did. He didn’t want to lose you, he couldn’t lose you because you were the love of his life.

“Levi?” Erwin leaned in the doorway. “You’re spiralling. She loves you for you.”

Levi turned and faced his friend. “I just worry I’ll frighten her.”

“You two need to talk.”

Levi walked with Erwin. “What if she leaves me? I can’t live without her.”

Erwin chuckled. “You had a life before her.”

“It was a bad life. It’s better with her.” He whined a little. “I need her.”

You huffed as you looked between two bottles for Levi. Both would heat blood for him, but you didn’t know which one he’d like more. You pouted as you thought hard and then it clicked. “Ah! This one.” You decided to get him one with bunnies all over it and then hurried to the section with human thermal cups and grabbed one with black cats on.

“Batbunny?”

You gripped your basket as your hair stood on end. You loved meeting fans, but there were some mental and physical scars from some crazy fans. You slowly turned to see a woman smiling with a cute goth look. “H-Hello.”

She gasped and bounced a little. “I’m a fan. I love your streams and videos!”

You relaxed because the vibes you got from her were soft. “Thank you so much.”

“Are you releasing more merch soon? I’d love to get more. You make such cute things.”

You pulled a face as you thought. “I wasn’t thinking about it, but maybe? I did talk to the team and I was thinking maybe a witch bunny?”

“That’d be so cool!” She eyed your basket. “Sorry, I stopped you while shopping.”

“Oh, I don’t mind.”

She shifted a little on the spot. “Could I get a picture or something?”

You shifted close to her. “Mm.” You smiled with her as she took a selfie. “Do you want me to sign anything?”

She admired the picture before gasping in delight. “Really? That’d be so cool!” She fished around in her bag-shaped like a coffin and pulled out a little book. “Thank you.”

You signed your name and drew a little bunny. “How are things? How are you doing?”

She took the book back. “I’m doing better than I was. I reached a dark moment, but I’m fighting through it and having you there most nights just chatting and playing games…it really helped me.”

You welled up. “I know how you feel. Do you want a hug?”

“Y-Yes.”

You hugged her tightly. “You’re so brave, strong and amazing to be here in this life still. Keep fighting.” You pulled back and smiled. “You are loved.”

She smiled. “Yes.” She gasped as something clicked. “Oh, are you shopping for you and your new fella? Is he here?”

You hugged yourself. “He’s not here. I wish he was, but he’s been very busy with work.”

You were right, Levi had been incredibly busy and it was due to work. Levi made it very clear to you that he loved you and it wasn’t avoidance, he had something bad pop up. He had been honest with you and told you about the tainted blood, the virus and the sick vampires he’d found. Levi said he was going to tell you everything that was going on in his life and the things he did. All you needed to do was wait for him to come home and he was going to open up more.

She nodded. “I bet you miss him.”

“So much.” You let out a long sigh. “I hope to see him soon. I’m doing a shop for him right now.”

“He has very pretty tattoos.”

You nibbled your lip as you thought about Levi’s beautiful hands, muscular arms and the stunning tattoos on him. “He does.”

She blushed. “I should leave you be.” She looked behind you as her eyes widened. “Oh…oh wow. He’s…”

You turned around to see Levi walking around the shop looking like an angry guard dog. He spotted you and instantly lit up, he smiled softly and hurried over to you. You giggled at how he went from someone scary to someone wonderful. “Levi.”

Levi charged for you and ignored everyone around him. He tackled you into a hug and hummed in delight. “I missed you.”

You hugged Levi with one arm. “I missed you too.”

He pulled back a bit. “You hugged me with one arm.”

You showed him your basket. “I have a shopping basket.”

“But.”

You placed it down and hugged him tightly. “Mm.”

“Better.” He released you and noticed the goth girl. “Oh, hello.”

You petted Levi’s chest. “She’s a fan of mine.”

Levi picked up your basket. “Thank you for being a fan.”

She squealed in delight. “I can’t believe I’m meeting Leviathan. You two are just so perfect for each other.”

Levi pulled you against him. “Mine.”

“I better leave you both to it, I can imagine you have things to do.” She waved to you. “Bye Batbunny!”

You waved to her. “Bye-bye.”

Levi gripped your basket. “What you getting?”

“Secret.”

He pouted a bit. “Can I buy it for you?”

You shook your head. “No. I’m buying you things.”

“I don’t need anything, I need only you.”

You patted his cheek. “I understand, but I want to spoil you.” You held his sleeve and pulled him around the shop until you were done. “Close your eyes while I’m paying for everything, okay?”

Levi chuckled. “Okay, closing them.”

You paid for everything and patted his cheek. “All sorted.”

Levi opened his eyes and smiled. “I love looking at you.” Nuzzled his nose against yours. “Oh, I’ll carry that bag for you.” He held it and took your hand. “Let’s go home.”

You hummed a laugh as he showered your hand with kisses. “Levi?”

He blushed a little. “Forgive me. I’m just so happy.” He hummed and led you to a car. “I drove by car today, hope that’s okay? I know you love my bike.”

You hurried over to his black car and marvelled at its beauty. “This car is perfect,” you said. “It looks comfy.”

He opened the door for you. “Get comfy, okay?”

You slipped into your seat and wiggled into the spot. You waited for Levi to get in before speaking. “It’s very roomy.” You looked over at Levi and rubbed your thighs together. “You have tinted windows so people can’t see in.”

Levi tapped his thumbs against the wheel. “It’s a good car.”

“Room in the back too. Do these seats go back as well?”

“Yes.” He glanced over at you. “What are you getting at?”

You gripped your seatbelt. “I have some thoughts and some ideas.”

He chuckled. “Really? What kind of ideas?”

You massaged his thigh and moved your hand up slowly. “I want to do something for you.”

He gripped the wheel tightly. “I uh…what…what kind of thing?”

“Pull over somewhere private and I’ll show you.”

He turned his car. “We’ll go to yours as it’s close.”

You pouted a bit. “Okay.”

He parked in the little spot he had at your place. “I’m curious about what’s happening in your cute head.” He grabbed your bags and followed you into the lift. “You’re a fun little mystery.”

You giggled as you leaned against the lift wall. “A mystery only you can explore and solve.”

Levi growled a little as he eyed you. “Just the way I like it.”

You walked out of the lift and unlocked your door. “Come on, handsome. Follow the cute little bunny.”

Levi raced after you and tackled you into a hug. “Bunny.”

You wrapped your arms around him as you kissed him. “I love you.”

“I love you always.”

You pulled him along to your sofa and sat him down. “Get comfy.”

He parted his legs and hummed as he watched you. “What are you planning?”

You ran your hands up his thighs slowly as you knelt. “You look so cute. You’re a man in control and confident, but as soon as I’m not shy you get all flustered.”

He gulped hard. “You just keep me on my toes so much.”

You undid the button on his trousers. “Levi?”

“Mm?”

You looked up at him through your lashes. “Can I uh…you know…suck your dick?”

He went bright red. “U-uh, y-yes. S-Sure.” He pulled at his shirt a bit. “Don’t f-force yourself though.”

“I asked for his. If it makes you comfortable I won’t.”

“I’m comfortable. I just.” He laughed nervously. “I mean…it’s you. I love you. I’m very attracted to you. I just…I don’t want to disappoint you.”

You leaned up and cupped his face. “I’ll love you no matter what. I’m sure you look and taste perfect. Besides, it’s okay if you don’t last as long as you want.”

He caressed your cheek. “If you let me touch you or eat you after.”

You giggled. “Deal, now sit back and relax.”

He watched you open his trousers and stare at his bulge. He grunted when you pushed your hand into his boxers and pulled his erection out. His hard length sprung out and tapped against his abs. Normally Levi was confident, but with the love of his life looking at his most intimate part, he was embarrassed. He turned his head to the side and whined a little.

Your eyes widened in awe at how beautiful he looked. He was thick, not too big with a cute pink tip. His shaft was a lovely smooth and light colour with a vein wrapped around it. “Levi.”

He placed his hand over his face. “Tch, I know it’s ugly.”

You touched his tip before running your finger down his shaft. “You’re so pretty.”

Levi moaned at your touch as a shiver ran through him. “S-So…mmm…” He peeked a bit. “R-Really?”

You massaged his length. “Mm, very pretty.” You leaned closer and kissed his tip. “Your skin is so soft too.” You titled your head and kissed his cock. “Hmm. Heavy too.”

“Y-you like it? You like me?”

You nodded as you licked your lips. “I love it.” You stuck your tongue out and ran it up his length causing him to sigh in delight. “Perfect.”

He relaxed against the sofa and closed his eyes as your tongue dragged over him like a cute little kitten. He pushed his fingers in his hair and hummed in delight. A shiver consumed him when you sank your mouth on him. Each hot inch of your mouth was incredible to him. He shifted his legs a little more and felt his body pulsing as you moved your head up and down on him. Each movement from you was electrifying.

He bit his hand a moment. “Fuck, how are you so good.” His fang pierced his hand a little causing his blood to run down it. “Such a hot cute mouth you have.”

He looked down at you and watched for a while as he began to lightly pant. He reached down and massaged his fingers in your hair. He smiled when you looked up at him and hummed against him. The vibration of your hum sent Levi into another world of pure euphoria. He ran his hand to your cheek and ear allowing him to caress you. He chuckled when you hummed a little and mewled against him, he knew you were seeking something from him.

Levi tucked your hair behind your ear. “Good girl.”

The purr of his words of praise was delicious to you. Something about Levi praising you like he did was addictive to hear, you wanted to listen to it for the rest of your life. You tried to take all of him, but it was too much. You pulled back and coughed a little as you felt embarrassed that you let him down, but you were wrong he wasn’t disappointed at all.

“Shh, it’s okay. You’re doing wonderfully, my little bunny. You feel so good.”

You smiled at him. “Really?”

“Yes.” He pulled you up. “Come here.” He kissed you and sighed in contentment. “That’s my bunny.”

“Can I keep going?”

He nodded and let you move back down. “I’m all yours.”

Levi melted against the sofa as you bobbed your head up and down on him, your tongue caressing him in all the right places. He couldn’t control himself, the urge to cum was building up inside him. He gripped the sofa hard as he resisted the desire to buck. He panted as he felt his pleasure increase. His fangs began to tingle as his hunger for your blood increased. He clenched his jaw and growled.

He gasped when he felt his release. He moaned as his cock twitched in your mouth and filled it with cum. He grunted as you sucked and gulped every last drop. “Bunny.”

You popped your mouth from him and smiled. “Did I do-?”

Levi used his speed to slam you against the sofa before you could finish talking. His lips were on yours as he kissed you passionately. He pulled back from your lips, bit the crook of your neck hard and gulped down your blood. “Mm.”

You held Levi against you as you moaned. “Levi.”

He pulled back as his lips and fangs dripped with blood. He licked his lips and moaned your name. “You are a delicious little bunny.”

You felt your whole body heat up. “I-I am?”

He kissed down your body with blown pupils making his eyes look almost black. In one swift motion, he whipped your bottoms off. He admired your thick thighs as they pressed together. “Why are your legs closed?”

You whined a little. “Because I umm…”

Levi massaged the back of your legs as he lightly kissed your knee. “You’re perfect, sexy, cute and lovable.” He parted your legs and dragged his lips down between your legs. “And all mine.”

You cried out in bliss when he sucked on the inside of your thigh before biting down. He moved your legs over his shoulders and dove for your heat. You gasped as his hands plunged and pierced your pubic mound. He lapped up the blood before taking your clit into his mouth. He squeezed your thighs as he sucked and licked you over and over. Your body was on fire with pure pleasure.

Your thighs pressed against Levi’s head making him growl. Your toes squeezed in delight as euphoric bliss rushed through you. The way Levi’s tongue moved against you was such heavenly bliss, you’d never experienced anything like this before. Levi was pure perfection, and he seemed to just know your body and exactly what you needed. He knew how your body worked and what you craved.

You reached behind you and gripped the cushions. “Le-Levi.” You arched your back. “Oh, fuck, Levi.”

He squeezed your thigh as his tongue lovingly rolled against you. He purred sending a vibration through you. A pleasure-filled gasp came from you. Levi could sense everything about you through to your blood and it was music to his ears as he sensed you enjoying everything he was giving you. He could feel you were close and he could wait to taste your blood when you came hard.

You shifted under him. “A-Ah, I’m…mm.” You covered your mouth in embarrassment as you came hard. “Mm! F-fuck.”

Levi lapped at your pussy before crawling up the sofa. “Darling bunny, you are delicious.” He panted a bit. “I want to be inside you.”

You wrapped your arms around his neck. “I want it too.”

He shifted a little before pressing his tip into you. He pushed in all the way slowly so he could feel you stretch around him. “You feel incredible.”

You panted a little. “Mm, you’re perfect.”

He tangled his fingers in your hair as he rocked slowly against you, each drag and push of his hips moved his cock perfectly in your pussy. “I love you. I adore you. I need you.”

You dragged your nails across his back. “I will always need you, my love.”

He grabbed the arm of the sofa behind your head and pumped his hips a little faster. “I need your body to remember me, need me, desire me. I need your body to crave me and only be satisfied by me.”

You arched your back and grabbed Levi’s slender hips. “Y-Yes, Levi!”

He gripped the arm of the sofa more causing it to groan under his strength. “You’re mine, mine, all mine.”

Your eyes rolled back into your head as his thick warm member rammed itself in and out of you, each movement pressed against your g-spot and placed you in a constant state of pleasure. Words failed you as the man above you sang your praise and worshipped your body. You were at the pure mercy of a blood-drinking beast above you and you loved it. There was no going back after being with his man, he was perfection personified.

Levi dove for your neck and peppered loving kisses on your skin. He couldn’t help but smirk when you whimpered and lifted your neck closer to his lips like you were asking for a bite. He panted and sighed against your skin and ear setting your nerves ablaze with bliss. Teasing you was another delicious meal within itself, but deeply teasing you would have to wait for another time.

Your toes squeezed tighter. “Le-Levi.” The desire to be bitten was consuming you. “Please.”

He parted his lips before latching down on you. The cry of delight coming from you was enough to make him rut against you in an animalistic way. Such a beautiful creature you were below him and he couldn’t wait to make love to you all night. He had yet to inform you that a vampire’s stamina, especially a pureblood, was unmatched and almost unending. You were in for a long night.

He moaned against you as your blood pumped into his mouth was sweet, which meant you were cumming and you were cumming hard. He smiled when you screamed out and shook below him. He pressed himself against you as you bucked and spasmed in bliss. He released your neck, cut his tongue and then licked the wound making it heal.

You panted softly as your body tingled all over. You weakly caressed Levi’s cheek as he licked his kissable lips. “Mm, that…you’re…”

He turned his head and kissed your hand. “Darling bunny, you are in for a long, long night. Vampires have impressive stamina.” He leaned closer to you as you gasped. “I’m going to get you cumming all night long before I stuff your pretty pussy with my cum.”

You squeaked in delight. “Levi.”

“Don’t worry, I can only impregnate a vampire. So, you are safe for now and get your pussy filled with plenty of cum.” He knelt up and massaged your pelvis right where his cock was buried making you mewl. “But when I turn you, I’ll breed you like the good little bunny you are.” He eyed you. “Would you like that?”

You nodded as pleasure throbbed inside you. “Fill me with all your cum, Levi. I want to always be filled with it. I want it all. Stuff me with it so that it almost leaks out. When you turn me, breed me good. I’ll give you the best little babies.”

Levi blushed hard. “They’ll be adorable.”

You giggled as you linked your arms around his neck. “What a cute dom you are.”

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utilitycaster · 1 day ago

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#reblogging for the “see: girlfailure” tag#caus I have opinions on the insular fandom memeification of characters but I don't - as this post highlights - have the words for it#but I keep those to dms caus anytime I or a friend has challenged it in a public space it gets shot down#it reeks of my troubles with the general fear of using the word woman these days and how it's girldinner this girlmath that#also what do you call as intentional character traits vs a flopped dice roll

(via @distant--shadow)

so I agree and this is interesting to me because what always frustrated me about "girlfailure" outside the more general issue of "um, coquette/bimbo/girl dinner/uwu soft divine feminine cottagecore domesticity don't you mean u want to braid her hair is actually TRUER feminism than being the surly woman who loves math and sword fights and hates sewing" and the fact that, as you said, it mostly came from bungled dice rolls and no real intent, is that the same people who call her a girlfailure insist that Imogen is the main character. And like, she kind of is! And yet - and I've said this about Imogen and Laudna in the context of their relationship but I'm going to not include that because I actually don't think that's even relevant, it's about them as individual characters as well - people want them to simultaneously be The Main Character or at least heavily in focus and also never, ever have any agency. Like, they want "capable" to mean that everyone likes you, and not that you are a person who makes hard choices for the better.

Maybe it's because I'm playing Baby's First RPG right now, but the deal with RPGs and I think(?) especially this one, is you must make every choice and it is laden with consequences (not that I as a D&D player, or, you know, a human woman, am unfamiliar with that already) but what drives me nuts about the just a silly guy! girlfailure! she chooses to be good and therefore is good narrative for Imogen, and the "stripped of choice" (another highly repeated turn of phrase) for both her and Laudna is that it's untrue and it means nothing. For all my criticism of What Doesn't Break, Laudna makes choices. I frequently dislike them and wish they had more gravity, but she does make them. She doesn't make every choice - notably, her death and Delilah's presence are huge things that happen to her without her input - but even while barely herself she frequently brushes off Delilah. You can imagine the dialogue trees and the paths she takes, to intervene or not. She decides to renew her pact; she decides to run into the desert. Imogen decides to attack the villagers with lightning to defend Laudna. She decides to leave, she decides to keep burning their rivals in the Twilight Mirror Museum, she decides to tell her mother that she won't join her, she decides not to help assassinate her mother.

Fearne has a wonderful line when she's talking with Chetney after shardgate, in which she explains that she's terrified of making bad choices. Not of being a bad person, but of making the bad choices. And that's the thing. You cannot choose to be good. You cannot choose to be bad. At least not in any general sense. You can, however, make choices that harm people or help them. You constantly must do this. You can stray, or change the type of choices you've made, but they do accumulate to a point, eventually, where it becomes harder and harder to stray. However, the premise of D&D is very much that your character hasn't become locked in, yet. Is Imogen making choices that will be better for other people? If the world rests on her shoulders, is she making better choices for the world?

This is perhaps the core theme of this campaign, dating as far back as Downfall. Aeor made their choice - many, many choices. The gods made theirs. Ludinus kept making his, over, and over. It's particularly resonant among the women of the campaign. Obviously there's Fearne, and I've covered Imogen and Laudna, but going over to the Crown Keepers, Morrigan becomes a paladin in a few short weeks - an immense choice. Fy'ra advises others on what they are going to do. And Opal is where she is now because in one moment she put the crown on her head - and in doing so, ceded further choice in the long run. The deities of both fate and free will in this world are given considerable presence in this story, and both use female pronouns.

Maybe I'm making a mountain of a molehill, but I don't think I am. I really do think people cling to "girlfailure" and act like we're just being meanie haters who don't believe Imogen is good because she can be the central character who has power to change the world and the narrative; or she can be pure and innocent of all wrongdoing. she cannot be both. No one can. And deep down I think the "girlfailure" proponents prefer a useless innocent girl to a powerful woman who sometimes makes choices or does things that hurt other people. So I don't think that one's just harmless meme-ing, and if you want to see Imogen as an exceptionally important part of this narrative I think you have to reject the girlfailure, and anyone saying "oh it's just a joke" is either unthinkingly repeating or is pushing a story where Imogen is just a MacGuffin without agency, and neither is worth, in my opinion, listening to. Someone "stripped of choice" in real life is worth our pity and deserves our assistance but they make for a pretty terrible fantasy protagonist, and it's maddening to see a woman in the center of the story and then to be attacked if you want her to be treated like a person who, as a result of being a key protagonist, holds particular power and isn't just a girlfailure.

#cr tag #anyway. if you're using girlfailure #ask yourself if you've ever in your life used the term boyfailure and consider stopping. we gotta get back to old school #don't use the word girl unless it's for actual children or if you're doing this to underscore the point eg Just A Girl by No Doubt

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hyperlexichypatia · 2 days ago

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Yeah, that is definitely a more comforting and hopeful thing to believe. It's also one of the many, many, many contexts in which I, as a liberal socialist, think the dichotomy between "liberals" and "leftists" makes no goddamn sense, but that's a separate issue. Maybe. Perhaps. But sure. It is more comforting and hopeful to believe that a political movement that has all the appearances of being motivated by malice, hierarchy, and domination is actually just motivated by material conditions.

And there is undoubtedly significant truth to this. Polls absolutely show that prices and the economy were a major factor for Trump voters; they weren't looking at any policy positions other than "Biden is president and prices are high, when Trump was president prices were lower, ergo Trump." It's highly likely that if economic conditions were better under Biden, or if Biden-Harris had appeared to have a better strategy for addressing them, Harris might have won the election. That's true! I'm not disputing that!

But we're still talking about a few percentage points -- yes, a few percentage points that could've swung an election in a two-party, winner-take-all electoral system, but still, a few percentage points, not a cultural movement.

The ideological fascism represented by Trump&Co is a cultural movement that has been thriving in the U.S. for decades and is paralleled by similar right-wing, authoritarian, nationalist, and fascist movements around the world, in Europe and India and China and Japan and many, many other countries. It's happening in countries with universal healthcare, and countries without. It's happening in countries with higher GDPs and countries with lower GDPs. It is not connected solely to economic conditions.

Also, right-wing voting correlates positively with income. The people most victimized by economic problems are not making up the bulk of the shift to the right, no matter how many hand-wringing thinkpieces about "the white working class left behind by liberal elitists" get written (you'd think The Hillbilly Elegy Guy becoming Trump's VP would have permanently discredited that theory, but thinkpiece writers have never been able to read the room).

The relationship between the housing crisis and right-wing political movements is sometimes framed as though the phenomenon is "People unable to afford housing vote right-wing on the assumption that right-wing policies will improve their economic prospects," and while there are some instances of that, people who can't afford housing are not Trump's base. Trump's base are housed people who are angry that they see unhoused people panhandling outside their Nice Neighborhood and are angry that Those Damned Liberals won't round them up and put them in debtor's prisons or just shoot them.

And. Like. Again, as a liberal socialist, I think the government should, actually, be guaranteeing everyone housing and healthcare and food and education! Those are policies I support because I think they're the right thing to do anyway! So I would very much like to believe that these policies, that I already believed in for other reasons, would also have the side benefit of making people less bigoted and authoritarian and fascistic, and, I don't know, maybe it would help a little, but for how long?

Because there will always be ups and downs in material conditions, at least until we achieve full post-scarcity. I mean. I absolutely want to abolish capitalism and economic inequality, and want the effects of ups and downs in material conditions to be borne equally across the population rather than the hoarding of wealth we have now, but even in a socialist utopia, there will be shortages. There will be crises. There will be natural disasters. There will be outbreaks at the egg farms (yes even if there are regulations and proper procedures, sometimes these things just happen!), and there will be times when there are no eggs on the shelf. If humanity is going to get hold of our climate/energy crisis before we make the planet entirely unlivable, there will be gas shortages. There will be rationing. There will be reductions in energy and material resources used for leisure travel, and that is the absolute ideal, best-case scenario. And if people's response to being told "Sorry, there's no eggs today" or "Sorry, there's no gas today," or, heaven forfend but completely necessarily, "Sorry, only a limited number of people can own personal vehicles, you'll have to take the bus, oh, and the person sitting next to you on the bus might be queer or Black or Jewish or schizophrenic or another demographic you hate" is to become fascists, then humanity will flat-out not survive. As long as people's culturally ingrained default response to adversity is "Blame a despised minority group, identify as better and more deserving than someone else, divide people into in-group and out-group," fascist ideologies will continue to be a recurring social problem.

And. I mean. That doesn't mean I know the solution! I don't! Scolding does not work! There is some evidence that exposure and personal interactions with actual people one is bigoted against reduces bigotry, as does representation of counter-stereotypical examples, but these are far from foolproof! There was integration in Germany before the Holocaust. There was integration in the Balkans before the Bosnian genocide. "Integration" alone is not sufficient to prevent bigotry nor even to stop it from becoming genocidal. But neither are better material conditions or economic systems, not when Belgium kills disabled children and China is actively committing a genocide (that half the "leftists" on this site are active deniers of) and so is Turkey and I could absolutely keep going.

But not knowing the solution to the problem of authoritarian, bigoted, hierarchical ideology doesn't mean we can write that off as a problem!

I actually think the real solution has to be fundamentally changing education away from hierarchy and competition, changing the system of children beginning in toddlerhood having to "earn" a position of being "better" than other children, but I'm also aware that this is unlikely to happen unless guaranteed material living standards are established for adults, because parents will never support non-competitive education as long as they rationally believe that education must prepare their children to compete for an ever-shrinking number of possibilities for a decent quality of life, because material conditions aren't actually separate from egalitarian liberal values and framing them in opposition is false in the first place.

(I also think a more practical relevance of material conditions to combating authoritarian ideology is not in improving the material conditions of authoritarians to make them less authoritarian, but improving the material conditions of the victims of authoritarianism so that they can better free themselves from their authoritarian abusers. Less "If that domestic abuser had a guaranteed income, he wouldn't abuse his partner" and more "If his partner had a guaranteed income, she could afford to leave her abuser." But for some reason, that isn't acknowledged as much.)

So no, I don't "have the answers" for combating authoritarian, bigoted, hierarchical, fascistic cultural attitudes, but I certainly think acknowledging that they are the problem is better than assuming that bigoted authoritarianism is Just What Happens When High Grocery Prices or Just What Happens When Feminists Are Mean or whatever else. People choose, on purpose, to subscribe to bigoted, hierarchical ideologies. People choose, on purpose, to build a worldview and identity around being intrinsically superior to some other kinds of people. It's not inevitable, and I don't buy that it's unchangeable.

Source

#us politics #liberalism #liberal socialism #dialectical materialism critical

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nadinescholtes · 7 hours ago

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Hi, big fan here. I love your Laia series so much and am planning on checking out your cool uncle series it looks just as adorable. But I have a question

What would Laia's reaction to meeting Ruin, Nexus, and Dark Sun would be?

I have had that thought bouncing around in my head for several days now and I NEED to know.

Also, when does Laia enter their lives in your au? Is it after or before Nexus' turn to the dark side and death?

Hi, thank you!

She would appear after Nexus and every other future villain of Sun and Moon Show. It would be like Sun fighting and surviving and finally getting his girlfriend, lol.

But their new "villain" would be the humans, fighting for their rights, maybe? Nothing big. Fazbear treats them ok, as long the animatronics make money for them, but they don't want the title "property" over their heads.

If she was there when those three were still around. Of course, she would be very protective of the family. But she would also try to understand the villains. She wouldn't try to kill until it was really the last resort.

Dark Sun: until now he is a mystery to her but doesn't trust him.

Ruin:...throws 5000 slippers at him.

Nexus: this is going to be a long one, and my goal is a happy end. I try to keep it short.

Laia would be confused as to why Nexus became like that and would do what she is good at, watch movies, and critique them. She did that for years in the shop in her free time. So she watches the videos to see what went wrong. Having a new perspective on the situation.

She would see that the family isn't fully innocent. Their relationship with Nexus was unhealthy from the beginning and became worse with time and the death of Solar was the breaking point.

They did treat him like a nice version of Moon, not a completely different individual. I know it was unintended because of the same face, voice, and name. They should have seen what they were doing, giving him time, helping him find his own personality, altering his appearance, and giving him a new name if he wished. Nexus was talking about his issues, and they should have listened but they were dismissive. Grief can do a lot of damage.

But also Nexus should have just left, he had the knowledge and the resources. He could have just left this toxic relationship, it wasn't healthy to stay because the others didn't change their ways of how they treated him. If he had left they would have gotten a breather and kept the contact minimal until they figure themselves out.

And she would be super mad at Monty because they could have brought back old Moon any time.

Nexus became so resentful he didn't know what to do with those feelings, he didn't know why it became like that because he had new excuses every time they met, why he became evil. He chooses to use a power to feel strong and be in control but is killing him slowly.

This would remind her of one of her previous owners. Who lost control of the business and started drinking and doing other substances, which were harming them. In the end, they lost all.

She would find a way to be with Nexus alone, maybe with the help of Solar or Monty, because she knows he can't be in a room with any of his ex-friends and family without fighting. She would be scared but she knew the chance of being killed by Nexus would be minimal because every chance he got to kill, he would hesitate and keep talking and talking.

So she does that, talk. She would be someone new to talk to, someone who didn't have a past with him or Moon. Also, she understands him at some points, she wasn't her own person for a long time from day one, and she didn't have control until someone helped her.

He would threaten to kill her and her response would be: "And I could kick you in the bolts, yet here we are."

Or he would accuse her of trying to play the therapist. Her response: I know Jack sh*t about therapy. Do you want to talk or not?

If he stayed, she would say she saw how his ex-family and friends have been treating him, that it wasn't healthy from the beginning. And can't believe how fast they gave up on him, their own brother! Even Killcode who actually killed people and made their lives hell was forgiven and left alone.

She would ask him what he would have done on the first day he was "born", what person he would have liked to be, and what his life could have looked like, if he wasn't treated as the "new, nice Moon".

Maybe he would tell her. maybe not. But if he does, she would ask him, what is stopping him from living that life right now? He wants control? Go leave, start somewhere fresh, a new dimension, and go No-contact with everyone. She would tell everyone to go No-contact as well.

Yes, he left but he keeps coming back, harassing and threatening his ex-friends and family, which is not truly leaving, it's not being in control. He lets the resentment that was created by that toxic relationship control him and be bound to them and even if he kills them all, he wouldn't get that control back. Their death would not be him leaving them but them leaving him and he would never be able to change that, carry this for the rest of his life.

And those powers don't make anything better, they just make him feel like he is in control but he actually isn't. It's slowly killing him like a drug and not giving him what he wants.

He might say, that he doesn't care what happens to him. She would call him out, if he truly doesn't care about himself then he would still play the role of the "new, nice Moon" and not fight. Do what you couldn't back then, leave!

He might say, you can't tell me what to do. Laia would say, she doesn't, she just is giving advice to a person who is hurting. He can take it or not, it's his choice. But the next time she sees him and starts his crap again, she would fight him. And don't think the family would go unpunished. She would not go on eggshells and have a serious word with them and make sure they'll make up for him one day.

Now here it would be Nexus' choice of what to do.

I don't write fanfiction only scripts, lol. Usually, I would think and write on my stories for weeks until it's fleshed out and make sense. But this is just an idea of how it could go with Nexus. I hope it wasn't too much.

#answered ask #Nexus #Laia Cotton #fanfiction? maybe? kinda?#I just wanted a happy end #I'm not good at it #I'm used to do calm cute relaxing stories #sun and moon show

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