#or if its just not your style of movie. its not everyones cup of tea

[perenlop]

“isttvg is bad because it didnt have a happy ending so its actually worthless and trans people are overexaggerating its importance because if it was Good it would have been Happy” i will drag you kicking and screaming into the english classroom and force you to watch and listen the lessons clockwork orange style if you do not shut up

[daisyblog]

Trust

Our Story Masterlist Summary: YN and Harry take the next step in their relationship. Warning: protected sex, first-time sex

They are celebrating Harry’s 18th birthday in Holmes Chapel with all his family, where they would be staying for the weekend while Harry had a break from touring. They had already celebrated with all his friends as he arranged a huge party earlier this week. They all went to an Italian restaurant that YN had learnt was a favourite of the Styles family. As well as Harry’s Mum, Stepfather and sister, Gemma, Harry’s uncle, auntie, and cousins joined. As they sat at the long table, Harry's Auntie had asked how LA was, as the band had just returned. “Yeah..it was so much fun, we couldn’t believe how many people knew who we were." Harry explained. “Nice to be home though?". “Yeah…it’s nice to have Mum running around after me.” Harry joked, making Anne roll her eyes playfully. “It’s okay YN..I made him tidy up his room before you arrived today…honestly you should have seen it” Anne spoke from her seat opposite Harry and YN. “Aww it’s okay…I’ve lived with Louis all my life..nobody can be as messy as him.”. YN attempted to joke about how disorganised her brother is. “He’s the messiest one of the band…you should see his bed on the bus…literally just full of random stuff” Harry described. “That’s what his bedroom looked like.”. YN added, agreeing with Harry. “I bet you miss him YN.” Harry’s Auntie spoke again. “Yeah I do so much…I suppose I’m lucky though having four sisters so me house is still crazy." YN laughed. Conversation flowed for the rest of the time at the restaurant, YN chatted with Gemma and Ella, Harry’s cousin, about hair, fashion and makeup. Harry and his two cousins were talking about football and trying to arrange a time when they could go and watch Manchester United play. Before travelling back to Harry’s childhood home, everyone hugged everybody goodbye and a ‘hopefully see you soon’.

Once they arrived at Anne’s house, Harry and YN changed into comfier clothes, YN opting for a pair of pyjama shorts and one of Harry’s hoodies and Harry changed into shorts and a plain t-shirt.

After sitting in the lounge chatting, drinking tea, and watching a movie with Anne, Robin and Gemma, everyone decided they were ready for bed and called it a night. After brushing her teeth and wishing everyone goodnight, YN made herself comfy in Harry’s large double bed. After a few minutes, Harry appears in the room, closes the door behind him, and takes off his t-shirt and shorts, leaving him in a black pair of Calvin Klein’s. “You comfy there babe?” Harry laughed as YN was tucked into his duvet and pillows, with just her head popping out at the top. “Very…now get your ass in here with me.”

Harry pulled the duvet open and slid in next to her .”Come here.” he hinted for her to lay her head on his shoulder so he could wrap his arm around YN's shoulder. “It’s so nice to have you home…even if it is for a little bit.” YN admitted, as she reached up to play with the curls near his neck. “I missed you so much.” he spoke as he ran his fingers through her hair. “I even thought about cuddling up with one of the boys to fall asleep.” he joked. YN moved her hand from his curls up to his cheek and cupped it gently. “I missed you more”, she whispered as he lowered his head to the crook of her neck and grazed his nose up along her jaw. At the feeling, YN's eyes closed voluntarily and as his lips reached hers, she tilted her chin slightly. As their lips meet, YN can feel herself melt into his arms as he brings his hand up to cup her cheek.

Their lips stayed as one, not wanting to break apart. Harry's hand that once held YN's cheek roamed down her body and lifted her leg so it hooked over his hip and his hand found its way to hold her bum. As their lips got ahead of themselves, they parted briefly and caught their breaths. “Do you want to stop?” Harry broke the silence and not wanting to cross any boundaries too soon. “I-I…no..but I haven’t..you know before.”. YN nervously stuttered, aware of how vulnerable she was in this moment. “It’s okay…we can stop if you want to” Harry reassured YN, not wanting to pressure her into anything she wasn't comfortable with. “No..I want to..I’m just nervous.”. “We can take it slow…and if you change your mind we’ll stop okay?”. Harry sympathised and pecked her lips in a quick motion, as YN nodded her head, grateful for Harry not putting pressure on her. Their lips met again and Harry’s hand found her bum, and as time passed he began to squeeze and pull at the skin covered by her shorts. Harry rolled from his position so he was hovering over her and began to slowly lift YN up so she was sitting. Harry held the hem of his jumper covering YN's body and asked if he could take it off. As he pulled it over her head, YN couldn’t help but feel conscious about her body.

It was like Harry had read her mind. “You’re so beautiful”, Harry whispered, before reaching down to pull YN's shorts and underwear down her legs. Nerves were forming in YN's stomach, not knowing what to expect or how to feel. He hovered his body over hers again, his face in line with YN's. “You okay..do you still want to?”. Harry continued to make sure YN was happy. “Yeah..I’m okay”. YN said with a slight shake in her voice. “I-is it okay..if I..um touch you first..you know to get you relaxed so it won’t be as painful.”. Harry reluctantly asked. To which YN nodded her head to let him know she was okay with it. Harry's lips found YN's, and they moved together in a slow and sensual motion. After a few moments, YN felt his hand move from her cheek down, over her breast, lingering around her hips and then slowly reaching down until he stopped when he found his destination. YN gasped at the sudden feeling of his fingers touching the spot. His fingers circled the area in a slow but steady motion, whilst his lips left wet kisses on her neck.

YN's hand found its place in his curls and as his fingers circled, YN's hand would tug slightly making him grunt. As time went on, his fingers travelled down where YN felt him carefully push two into her, making her tense and push her hips into the mattress underneath them, from the new sensation. “You okay?” he checked. “Yeah I’m okay”. YN once again reassured Harry that she was okay and he could continue, and realising how difficult this was for him too. Slowly as he could, Harry moved his fingers in and out and then moved back to the sensitive spot and switched from one movement to the other. Once Harry was satisfied with YN's excitement and thought she was less tense, he moved back up to hover above her and reached over to the draw sitting beside the bed and picked out a foil packet. “You still sure, you want to do this?”. “Y-yeah..I trust you”. YN nautically gulped, as she realised this was actually happening. Harry got up from his position and rolled his boxers down, so he was now completely bare, making YN take in the view in front of her. He opened the foil packet easily and threw the wrapper to the side and YN watched as he slid it down his length. He climbed back onto the bed and hovered above her. Harry's lips found YN's once more and they moved together in a needier and lustful way.

YN could feel Harry’s hand move from her cheek and slid in between them as he lines himself up to her entrance. YN takes a deep breath at the new sensation. The seconds feel like minutes, but he finally pushes himself forward and his tip slips in and YN couldn’t help but stiffen at the feeling. Harry pauses to check on her once again and YN nods her head to let him know to carry on. The further he pushes himself in, so YN's eyes shut tighter as the pressure increase and the pain appears. YN didn’t realise she was holding her breath until she hears Harry’s voice “Baby..breathe”. Harry's movements were slow and YN could tell how painful this was for him too, from his shaky breath as he held himself back. YN reached up to cup his face and bring his lips to hers. YN needed something to distract her from the pain, and Harry’s lips were the thing to do that. YN felt his hips meet hers as he kisses her with passion, and he slowly pulls out and thrusts his hips to meet hers again. Without realising a whimper leaves YN's lips at the movement and Harry hushes her lovingly and whispers “You’re okay..just keep breathing..you’re doing so well baby”, and leaves small lingering pecks up her neck.

His movements were gentle, almost like he thought he was going to break her. Low, grunts and moans were leaving his lips every time his hips met YN's, and she knew it was killing him not being able to move faster. When his thrusts become sloppier and his lips were no longer on hers, YN looked directly at him and the sight in front of her was breathtaking. His eyebrows frowned with concentration and his lips parted as he left out soft shaky breaths. YN's hand moved to gently touch his cheek and the words fell out of her mouth for the first time “I love you”. “I-I love..you too..baby..so much” Harry's out of breath voice spoke.

A moan escaped his lips as he closed his eyes and pressed his hips against YN's and slowly he let go of what he was holding back on “Uhhh…fuck..I’m comin’”. After collapsing his body on hers and smiling down at YN and leaving a kiss on her mouth, he pushed himself up and pulled out of her and removed the condom from his length.

As Harry moved around the room, YN felt cold and almost weak. Harry announced he was going to the bathroom to clean himself up, and picked up his boxers from the floor to put them back on before leaving the room. Whilst he was gone, YN slid her shorts back up her legs and Harry’s hoodie over her head and snuggled herself back under the duvet and against the fluffy soft pillow, trying to ignore the dull ache between her legs.

Harry returned and YN noticed two blue mugs in his hands. “I’ve made us some tea..I thought it would help you a bit”. He placed the mugs down on the side table next to the bed and he climbed in next to YN, like routine his arms slipped around her and held her in his arms as her head found his chest. “I love you forever.”. “I love you always”.

Tag List: (let me know if you would like to be added) @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @harrys-flower @platinumbarbie143 @frickin-bats @harrysbbyh0ney

[hecateisalesbian]

OOO ask game, all questions >:)

This one is for you and @bloodied-dagger and @idontliketomatoesleavemealonebut I’m only answering this one cuz your way of asking was better (L old man)

1. coffee mugs, teacups, wine glasses, water bottles, or soda cans?

Uhhhh. Depends. I don’t really drink soda, but I do like monster so monster cans, I hate water bottles unless I put something in it that isn’t water (often), I don’t drink wine (it’s gross), and tea cups are just fancier coffee mugs. Honestly tho mainly depends on A. The drink and B. What I will do with it (coffee mugs for sickness, Tumblers for taking a drink somewhere, etc)

2. chocolate bars or lollipops?

Chocolate Bars (dark chocolate is better fight me)

3. bubblegum or cotton candy?

flavor or actually food. The bumble gum flavor is delicious but you can’t really compare two totally different foods I eat for two very different occasions/reasons

4. how did your elementary school teachers describe you?

Gifted

5. do you prefer to drink soda from soda cans, soda bottles, plastic cups or glass cups?

don’t drink soda (unless it’s monster than from the can)

6. pastel, boho, tomboy, preppy, goth, grunge, formal or sportswear?

Depends on what, but my overall style depends on my gender of the day™️

7. earbuds or headphones?

Headphones but I only have earbuds sadness

8. movies or tv shows?

tv shows

9. favorite smell in the summer?

I hate summer (the smell of it ENDING. Also like ice cream or smth idk)

10. game you were best at in p.e.?

Basketball or Soccor, but my school plays the dumb versions/their own versions so I often just don’t play lol

11. what you have for breakfast on an average day?

idk. Some protein waffles, eggs (with sausage sometimes), overnight oats, yogurt w/ whatever, toast, etc

12. name of your favorite playlist?

Across the Spiderverse Soundtrack- jk but I don’t have one so none?

13. lanyard or key ring?

wait hold on I forget the difference lemme google-

Neither carabiner (but probs lanyard)

14. favorite non-chocolate candy?

���🏼‍♀️ fruit? Idk. I don’t eat a lot of candy besides chocolate

15. favorite book you read as a school assignment?

Because of Winn-Dixie (go read it its SOOOO good)

16. most comfortable position to sit in?

Gay

17. most frequently worn pair of shoes?

Doc Martens, followed by my Mary Janes, converse or combats, etc

18. ideal weather?

rainy and thundery with BIG flashes and stuff that shakes ur house

19. sleeping position?

gay (but with my dog)

20. preferred place to write (i.e., in a note book, on your laptop, sketchpad, post-it notes, etc.)?

laptop cuz it’s easy but I don’t have one ✨

21. obsession from childhood?

Harry Potter :/ it’s okay/gooodish but the author (JOANNE ROWLING EVERYONE-) is a major TERF, but I try not to associate the works.

22. role model?

my sister :}

23. strange habits?

not strange but I bite my nails. Also your basic nd habits.

24. favorite crystal?

ameythsyt cuz it’s purple (I’m tired I’m not spelling correctly it’s up to the gods (autocorrect) now)

25. first song you remember hearing?

uh

happy birthday?

26. favorite activity to do in warm weather?

sit inside in the AC

27. favorite activity to do in cold weather?

skiing

28. five songs to describe you?

If this counts

29. best way to bond with you?

Talk with me over something I really like :}

30. places that you find sacred?

My BED

31. what outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names?

Doc martens and anythign that says hot hobo hippie goth emo alt gay genderfluid

32. top five favorite vines?

“He need some MILK!”

“FRE SHA VACA DO“Lebronnnn Jamesss”

“You almost made me drop my crooisaantttt :{“

“And they were roomates 😦”

“two brrooosss chillin in a hot tob, five feet apart cuz they’re ❌🏳️‍🌈”

“Road work ahead? Yeah, I sure hope it does”

“A 🥔 ✈️ around my rooommm”

idk those are just the ones I can Remeber right now, but there’s a whole bunch

33. most used phrase in your phone?

“ 💀 “ or “ sobbinggg”

34. advertisements you have stuck in your head?

I don’t have cable so I don’t get a lot but ONE TIME I got this 4 hour long ad so that was cool

35. average time you fall asleep?

anywhere from 8 pm to 8 pm as in I stayed up the past 24 hours

36. what is the first meme you remember ever seeing?

idk

37. suitcase or duffel bag?

suitcase, otherwise your laundering money

38. lemonade or tea?

tea

39. lemon cake or lemon meringue pie?

tried both, don’t care

40. weirdest thing to ever happen at your school?

Too many but to make it easy for you were known as the drug school

41. last person you texted?

My mom probs

42. jacket pockets or pants pockets?

how about both

43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket or bomber jacket?

leather but all r pretry good

44. favorite scent for soap?

c l e a n

45. which genre: sci-fi, fantasy or superhero?

fantasy

46. most comfortable outfit to sleep in?

whatever, I’m not picky

47. favorite type of cheese?

Gouda is bussin but it ties with blueberry goat cheese

48. if you were a fruit, what kind would you be?

dragonfruit for the sick name or grapes but only the green kind cuz the reds suck

49. what saying or quote do you live by?

“ur mom”

50. what made you laugh the hardest you ever have?

idk but I do know I spat water out of my nose so it must’ve been funny

51. current stresses?

life

52. favorite font?

who

who has a favorite font

53. what is the current state of your hands?

tired from all this typing

54. what did you learn from your first job?

what counts as a job

55. favorite fairy tale?

the original ones

56. favorite tradition?

halloween

57. the three biggest struggles you’ve overcome?

life

Gay/transgender awakening

discord

58. four talents you’re proud of having?

draw

act

sing

autism

59. if you were a video game character, what would your catchphrase be?

“COWABUMMER”

60. if you were a character in an anime, what kind of anime would you want it to be?

does owl house count-? Probs assassination classrooom

61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc.?

“us weirdos have to stick together” 😭

“we’re supposed to be the good guys.”

62. seven characters you relate to?

Luz noceda

Anne boonchuy

Gwen stacy

Sasha waybright

amity blight

hunter noceda

Marcy Wu

Soooo many more

63. five songs that would play in your club?

Start a Band (Outro)- /j idk

64. favorite website from your childhood?

uhhhhhh. Who. Who has that?

65. any permanent scars?

lots

66. favorite flower(s)?

snapdragon maybe

67. good luck charms?

I have a lot most are in my room, l just trinkets from friends or loved ones

68. worst flavor of any food or drink you’ve ever tried?

grape medicine

69. a fun fact that you don’t know how you learned?

your nose grease can be used as chapstick

70. left or right handed?

right

71. least favorite pattern?

idk

72. worst subject?

PE lol

73. favorite weird flavor combo?

I used to love mixing Dr Pepper/Root beer in general and lemonade together. Sooooo good

74. at what pain level out of ten (1 through 10) do you have to be at before you take an advil or ibuprofen?

-10

75. when did you lose your first tooth?

like a few months old when I got in a car accident (I lost my two bottom teeth and for 7 years I had to sing all I want for Christmas are my two bottom teeth)

76. what’s your favorite potato food (i.e. tater tots, baked potatoes, fries, chips, etc.)?

chips or fries probably

77. best plant to grow on a windowsill?

idk

78. coffee from a gas station or sushi from a grocery store?

neither or coffee

79. which looks better, your school id photo or your driver’s license photo?

idk I haven’t seen either in years/ever

80. earth tones or jewel tones?

both

81. fireflies or lightning bugs?

fireflies

82. pc or console?

Depends (ow my hand hurts)

83. writing or drawing?

Both make me suffer

84. podcasts or talk radio?

podcasts

84. barbie or polly pocket?

barbie

85. fairy tales or mythology?

mythology and fairy tales often have the same story depending on which one you read

86. cookies or cupcakes?

cookies cupcakes make my stomach hurt

87. your greatest fear?

spiders

88. your greatest wish?

to be a shapeshifter

89. who would you put before everyone else?

my sister

90. luckiest mistake?

Dunno

91. boxes or bags?

for what (bags)

92. lamps, overhead lights, sunlight or fairy lights?

fairy lights

93. nicknames?

for who?

94. favorite season?

fall

95. favorite app on your phone?

ibis paint

96. desktop background?

don’t have a desktop

97. how many phone numbers do you have memorized?

like 3

98. favorite historical era?

Any really

[solitaryandwandering]

Hi....If you don't mind, can I ask, what are your top 10 (or top 7) favorite media (can be books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series)? Why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before......Thanks....

Hiya! Of course I don't mind, thank you so much for asking!! This question is... EVERYTHING. I've subsisted almost solely on different forms of narrative art my entire life, this list could seriously span MILLENNIA (and would not account for quality lol). I'll do 7, just because I tend to spend FOREVER making these lists, haha. I'm not generally into manga or anime so those will be excluded, sorry! I also try to pick something different for every list I do, so here's hoping I don't repeat anything I've talked about before!

A Series of Unfortunate Events (my favorite is book #4, The Miserable Mill) by Lemony Snicket (pub. 1999-2006; United States) - 4/5

Other than just being a fantastically written children's book series, the answer to why I love this so much is pretty personal and would take up an entire essay's worth of unpacking. So I'll try to keep it short (ha!). When I said above that I basically subsisted on media as a kid, I was not joking. Books were my first love precisely because they allowed me an escape. I was ostracized by many of my peers in school and had nowhere else to turn except books - mostly fiction, mostly fantasy, but I read a LOT of classics, Greek mythology, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, Shakespeare, etc. One of the genres I gravitated to most was gothic fiction/poetry - something I consider foundational to my current taste and sense of humor - and no book nor series was more accessible than ASOUE. I still vividly remember discovering the series in my elementary school library; while everyone else was doing something or other with the group I snuck off into the shelves and boredly perused until I came across what was probably The Grim Grotto. The texture of the hardcover, its design, the ART immediately captivated me. It stood so widely apart from the other children's books on those shelves. Then I hunched over on the floor and began reading. And... I don't even know what about it grabbed me. It might have been that these intelligent kids were also lonely, also struggling to survive, surrounded by ignorant and neglectful adults. It might have been Snicket's style, absurdist and full of big words my slightly pretentious kid brain gobbled up. Maybe it was its mystery, the thrill of an anonymous author who very well may have actually published these books! from a secret bunker or shack on an island!, commiserating, asking me for help. Maybe it was how dark it was, paired with delightful humor which PERMEATED every page, probably my first real introduction to dark humor. I wandered away with that book (and The Carnivorous Carnival) before I was ushered back by the librarian or a teacher once we realized I had not read the first books in the series yet. My eyes must have been as big as dinner plates. The rest is history; The End may very well have been one of my first "anticipated events" in the world of narrative media. I own the entire series now, including that hardcover copy of the last book I picked up at Borders in the first couple of weeks after its release.

2. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1890; United Kingdom) - 3/5

This is a book I read on my iPod Touch in high school. Only book I ever did that with haha. I think at the time I had just signed up for Goodreads and they had a free version of the book on their website? Anyway, that didn't stop me from absolutely loving it. I had never stopped reading things in the vein of gothic fiction, but it wasn't until high school that I started to read (some) more explicitly horror-oriented stuff. Horror books have never really been my cup of tea, simply because I tend to either get TOO immersed or bored very quickly. I'm pretty confident in crediting this book for giving me one of my first satisfying tastes of horror in a literary form. That ending still STICKS with me, man!! The psychological horror of it all! I don't think I really picked up on the queer (sub?)text all that much besides in the character of Basil Hallward which is more an indication of how much I was struggling with compulsory heterosexuality than of the CLEAR intent of Wilde in... everything he put in TPODG. I'm pretty sure I had only relatively recently come out to myself (and was still closeted). But regardless, this book also launched an utter fascination with Wilde himself; when I visited Paris with my mom and aunt in my senior year I insisted on visiting Wilde's tomb in Père Lachaise Cemetery (the entire place is AWESOME btw). Standing in front of the tomb, reading the epitaph, reflecting on his life and art and how it influenced the lives of queer people in the UK, meditating on my own future as a queer person and my context in queer history, was a pretty significant moment in my queer journey.

3. Avatar: The Last Airbender created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko (ran 2005-2008; United States) - 10/10

I mean, what more is there to say about this amazing show? How gorgeously animated, written and acted it is? How compassionately each character was written? How it made concepts like genocide and warmongering not only accessible but legible for children? How it's literally a children's cartoon but is one of the most moving portraits of micro- and macro-level geopolitical grief? How abuse and efforts to reclaim a life mottled by it is a PRESENT and CLEAR theme? How much the theme song SLAPS?? Fuck, I need to rewatch this. On a more personal note, Toph was the first example I saw in media of a legitimately blind character - not just one "playing at" blindness. Her being a MAIN character and so completely in charge of her shit was fucking incredible to me. Then! The impossible! She was COMPLEX, allowed to be realistically limited by her blindness and youth. Though I wasn't able to completely relate to her as someone who was only a "low vision" blind person her character existing at all gave me a lot of strength. And yes, I would be an Earth bender.

4. Teen Titans created by Sam Register and Glen Murakami (ran 2003-2006; United States) - 9/10

I don't really know what to say about this, it's honestly here based off a lot of nostalgia as I haven't re-watched more than the first couple of episodes after I graduated kid-dom. But this is yet another example of great characters navigating abusive or toxic relationships, all the while kicking butt as super-cool superheroes. I've always been a huge sucker for superheroes (I haven't bought into the current superhero craze for quite some time though); these teens took the cake and so did that THEME SONG!! Still occasionally plays on a loop in my head! Looking back I absolutely had a crush on Starfire though I REPRESSED THAT SHIT and instead focused on how absolutely cool and badass Raven was (also probably had a crush on her tbh). Of course, her story of overcoming her overwhelming emotions and mental illness (such as they were, in a kid's superhero cartoon) resonated with me quite a bit. Outwardly, though, I was absolutely obsessed with Cyborg. I had this running joke as a kid where I would tell people I was a cyborg because I had a cochlear implant. Cyborg gave me a cultural reference to relate to and I LOVED HIM for it. Even if Beast Boy was my favorite.

5. My School President dir. Au Kornprom Niyomsil (ran 2022-2023; Thailand) - 9/10

I blame my sappy, sentimental heart and preteen obsession with High School Musical for this one. But let's be real, this show is SO CUTE. It came along at the perfect time, too, as I was struggling pretty badly with depression and PTSD flashbacks in the beginning of 2023. MSP was the first time in a while I really felt like I had "something to look forward to" in terms of appointment television. I enjoy watching TV as it airs but it's very rare for me to latch on to a show so much that I get EXCITED when it airs, let alone for it to genuinely keep me buoyant and, for lack of a better word, going. The last time that happened was in high school for the brief period of time we had BBC America and I could watch Doctor Who. MSP is just so... joyful. It made me happy. Sweet, consistent, well-acted, with love seeping out of every pore... so easy to love. It has just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek cheesiness while still taking itself and it's characters' troubles seriously. Though the music wasn't always my thing (those boys are not stellar singers... yet), all the songs fit with the story and were very fun and touching - I'd be lying if I said I didn't still JAM OUT whenever a MSP song plays on Spotify. Despite some small misses here and there, it still managed to be incredibly smartly-written. I was not expecting this show to be so good or to make me so emotionally invested. Right up my alley.

6. Hereditary dir. Ari Aster (2018; USA) - 5/5

Though it may be a surprise to those of who I've come to know in my exploration of (mostly televised) BL, I consider movies to be what I'm most passionate about, if we had to pick a medium of narrative storytelling. I've loved films since I was very little but my love for film was revitalized with a PASSION in college. 2018 was a big year for movies, Hereditary being one of its many shining lights. Seeing this still remains one of my best theater experiences. My best friend and I spontaneously decided to see this when we were bored and in desperate need to put off the realities of school. I had been laboriously begging them to see Hereditary with me and was THRILLED to go, armed with trivia and opinions of film critics to unload as soon as we walked out (I am so thankful they put up with me). We were one of around maybe 20 other theatergoers, so we could hear every single gasp and comment made under the breath of anyone around us. It was GREAT. Not only the movie, of course, which is a phenomenally directed and acted (#OscarForToni) horror/family drama; the audience reacted perfectly. It felt like a truly communal experience, laughing and exhilarating together at our collective fear and awe. When the lights went up we all grinned at each other and trembled our way out to the parking lot. Especially great considering I've heard horror stories (lol) of people laughing during some screenings??? And yes, of course, the movie itself is very very good. I can't watch much horror because of the aforementioned issues with TOO MUCH immersion but regardless, on a purely academic front horror is one of my favorite genres to study. All that to say, I've grafted a tougher skin when it comes to watching certain kinds of horror films and know what to avoid. Films like this one, with so much artistic integrity (get back to me on the disability rep, I have thoughts), keep me coming back for more. Nothing prepared me for Annie sawing her fucking head off with a piano wire though, no thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7. Eighth Grade dir. Bo Burnham (2018; USA) - 5/5

Guess the theme of this answer became "let me tell you about incredibly personal pieces of media and force you to listen" but hey. Favorites are favorites. Holy fuck, this movie hit me. I'm sure it's not a surprise to anyone who's followed me for any length of time that coming of age narratives are some of my favorites; this doubly holds true for film. Though the girl in this movie is very much of Gen Z there are so many elements of her middle school experience that resonate with my teen years, including the absolutely horrific decision to put unbearable YouTube videos up of yourself for EVERYONE TO SEE. God, for most of this I was cringing in absolute embarrassment. How did Bo crawl into my past?? Why did he put it on screen, AGAIN? Genuinely, though, I was completely blown away. Most people recognize Bo's talent as a filmmaker at this point but this was his first try at making a feature film. I came into this knowing of his previous work, having watched (and loved) his comedy specials and purchased his poetry book. I also knew of many of his Vines, of course. But nothing prepared me for how GOOD this is. To choose this subject is wonderful in the first place but to then, in his FIRST FEATURE FILM, completely compassionately excavate and examine the anxieties and small (but so insurmountable!) problems of an entirely normal eighth grade girl is POWERFUL. Nearly impossible to do, let alone with this much skill and insight. Every choice he makes as a director with his camera and actor directions entirely SUPPORT the story instead of being flashy additions. An excruciating watch for any AFAB person who struggles with social anxiety (mine reared its ugly head in ninth grade), especially if you're sitting in a very small independent movie theater in the middle of nowhere, Maine (not my home state). Still, absolutely beautiful and emotive, one of the most true-to-life films I've ever seen. This, I should absolutely rewatch. Maybe when I feel like being tortured.

[strooples]

Some reviews on a handful of popular anime

This won’t be too in-depth, so basically a thoughts dump. But thinking about it, in terms of more popular anime + anime movies, I felt a bit let down seeing a few awhile back. My memories on each will vary in range, though it’s worth a shot to get down the mental notes I took.

In terms of anime, I wanted to talk about parts of “Komi Can’t Communicate” (which I was told beforehand was a story exploring a character with social anxiety) and “Horimiya”. Both did some funny things, both had new/refreshing takes. But likewise, both stories had other issues that made it a bit hard to generally enjoy. So, I’ll start with those 2.

1) Komi Can’t Communicate

In “Komi Can’t Communicate,” I felt kinda bugged how the MC was treated while Komi sort of rebounds on the impossibly-pretty-therefore-everyone-is-obsessed-with-her situation. Some of the classmates start off cold to Tadano (the MC) and very generously nice to Komi on very superficial standards. I guess I expected social anxiety to generally be explored in its alienating aspect over reverence. Though you could say that many of the classmates initially didn’t see Komi as an equal human being genuinely. The random instances of meanness towards the MC and superficial treatment towards Komi threw me off heavily because not being able to communicate to anyone and struggling to fit into a new, very judgmental schooling environment are some serious issues.

Komi and Tadano, the 2 main characters.

It was still pretty hard to see people so angry at the main character for existing, even some of the later friends of Komi. My SO who enjoyed the show more than me did tell me of Komi’s group of friends, only 1 has gone extremely far (like, beyond the brink of acceptable comedy) and even they have seen repercussions for harmful actions. But it feels weird to have things bounce back so lightly bc the ML ended up being the butt of jokes. At the same time, it’s hard to deny how the concept of a socially-phobic girl who struggles to talk and speak to those around her — yet being idolized by those same people as almost a status symbol over a human being — was still interesting overall. Also just the desire to make genuine friends, despite struggling with your anxieties around others.

Minus the yandere girl who takes things too far, there’s genuinely nice moments — Komi opening up, Komi’s wholesome family (+ etc.). And some genuinely funny characters/situations, like the blond guy (I forgot there names; it’s been awhile) who looks scary on the outside but is also nervous inwardly. Overall, it wasn’t my cup of tea even though it wasn’t bad??

2) Horimiya

*Okay, so technically I didn’t start with the anime. I read the manga but I admittedly do really like the author’s art style!

“Horimiya” also starts with a concept that could’ve been elaborated on and lead to interesting scenarios — mainly the 2 MC’s living somewhat of a different life outside of school than their schoolmates would expect. In that category, it’s sort of like a more recent rendition of a “Switch Girl”-esque romcom story. It starts with a refreshing confession that happens basically the beginning. No mishaps or drawn out tensions & dramas beforehand (which could be done well too in other stories but also super super common). However, after that the original concept of a double life gets thrown away and the story gets super super slice-of-lifey. Which isn’t bad in general (a lot of times the humor was fun). Though TBH it generally felt directionless after, and not in a relaxing way I expected from SOL but sorta just… hard to continue? I got a bit bored and struggled to keep reading.

I also had issues with some of the gags (like the girl-beating-up-the guy/basically-abusing-him-played-off-as-a-joke trope) and the relationship norms (just in general how jealousy and possessiveness seemed normalized/expected). The violence was a bit… much? The LGBT jokes like on same-sex relationships was too much also. And it was generally a bit buggy to see Miyamura constantly get physically punished by Hori for situations he didn’t understand/couldn’t have, or situations he was even right in.

The main focus/relationship was what stagnated the work. And already, it was unfortunately the relationship we were supposed to pay attention to most wasn’t ideal for Miyamura, had little chemistry (my subjective opinion here though), and sorta just dredged out. I’d much prefer a lot of the duller moments to be exchanged for other things. Some of my suggestions being on how they could’ve elaborated on characters like Shu’s sister, Sakura, Yanagi etc.

But I do feel one of the best strongpoints of the story was when Hori and Miyamura were at the Hori’s residence. The scenes were comforting and happy, seeing how the entire family and Miyamura spent time together and had dinners. I also ended up rooting for Sakura because of how grounded and down-to-earth she was. So the SOL moments in this wasn’t too bad of a thing, and there were decent aspects and a few likeable characters. It just wasn’t enough to make it great in particular.

Now, in terms of movies…..

…it’s got to be 2 that I watched awhile ago. A handful of things left me leaning towards feeling indifferent at the end of the day, and those were “A Silent Voice” and “Your Name.” Both had massive debates in online circles over which was the best anime movie of the year, but both fell a bit flat for me personally despite all the build-up. For “A Silent Voice” though, I do think the discussions it generated were pretty important because it resonated with a lot of people’s personal experiences (so it isn’t something I mean to discount & the themes it touched upon made it a bit more interesting).

3) A Silent Voice

I think “A Silent Voice” had a lot more that could be said of it, both good + unhelpful towards its prime topic of bullying. IMO, it’s interesting to have the main character be a former perpetrator-turned victim. I think we’re able to see a lot of nuance, namely how even the formerly-unsympathetic side can feel remorse, can grow up with low self-esteem, can even be a victim themselves. We see the situation flip, people change, and people with the capacity to want to be better. And we also see how fast a society/group of people are, in terms of ignoring the main problem to ostracize a scapegoat — while trying to shirk facing consequences or guilt of their own. It’s especially interesting & heart-wrenching that we go to see the life-long trauma inflicted to both Shoya and Shouko. All the while their other perpetrators are ignored (like Kazuki, who bullied both). We also see terrible people being terrible in different ways, from the more visibly terrible Ueno to the self-victimizing Kawai who will put on an innocent face — even tears — all while pretending she has no idea of horrible things she enabled/even partook in.

But where it goes very, very wrong is structuring it out to be a love story of a victim with her former bully. Though I liked the concept of the former bully try to make amends — genuinely feeling guilt and wanting to do better — writing it in that direction had very Stockholm Syndromey-vibes. They could’ve eventually become friends; they didn’t need to develop romantically and the situation honestly didn’t requisite such a relationship. You could argue that people do get Stockholm Syndrome and start feeling that way when given decent treatment by those who’ve formerly hurt them, but then it would’ve been written a bit differently. Like not really emphasizing romantic feelings, but rather a mix of situations and confusing problems, where a crush wasn’t centric to the themes presented.

The aforementioned friend group, strung together by the end of the movie. I think there was a few more but I don’t remember quite clearly?

The ending especially was very uncomfortable where Kawai was presented as a good person trying to pep-talk Shouko and all the main characters are in a now-formed friend group, sort of just mashing together. Ueno’s issues and callousness towards Shouko were never resolved, yet they were in there together. It was presented as a happy ending, but I think a lot of the characters fundamentally had issues (like did Shoya honestly feel good around all these people??? Did Kawai basically BS to look/feel like a good person while never owning up?? Is Shouko going to be re-traumatized around a horrible person like Ueno??).

All of the above combined made me leave the movie with general discomfort. Though at the time, I couldn’t put into words what was wrong? It took awhile for me to think the situation wasn’t that great for Shoya and Shouko, still.

Onto our last review dumping!

4) Your Name

“Your Name” is the last anime franchise I wanted to talk about, and I don’t deny the animation and art were pretty amazing! Like you could see the gruesome and tedious effort put into every little scene.

Seriously though, the picturesque backgrounds are where most Makoto Shinkai works shine! Though I didn’t love this movie as much as others did, it does really make me curious of his past & future works.

But as a story? I don’t think it had much depth. Which doesn’t mean it wasn’t enjoyable, because it was still fun watching. It was just lackluster for a movie that wanted to build up the emotional aspects.

Of course, it has some good build-up and somewhat of an atmosphere for the deeper emotions in the world. There was also an underlying thread about traditions vs. the modern world, what is lost vs. what we must preserve. Personally, those messages don’t resonate with me but they are things can could be worked with and built up pretty well. We see it in how Mitsuha wants to move away from her slow, mostly-rural hometown to pursue a life in the more bustling, modern city of Tokyo. Her background? Living with her primary caretaker — her grandma, the main female figure of Mitsuha’s life. Her grandma wants her to partake in the spiritual traditions of their Shinto shrine, from shrine maiden rituals to watching the grandma sew on an old loom that’s now nothing more but a loss art. And then we get the strained family relationships: How her dad abandoned his duties to the shrine for a career in politics after their mother died, while Mitsuha (now older) generally resents/dislikes his presence as an uptight bureaucrat vying for his image. Deep down, she doesn’t feel either of their lifestyles are ideal. But like her father, wants to shed aside traditions for something more modern (such as a big city life). We end up with that dichotomy, which is a strong basis to begin with.

The Shinto shrine maiden ceremony.

So with all of that, we generally expect to have insight into the family life and background of Taki (the ML). But instead, besides his school friends and work crush, we don’t even hear or see much of his dad. His home life is left an absolute blank sheet, with his character staying incomplete. He’s a blank slate with nothing but a spot for the viewers to project themselves into. He has a job. He has an oddly specific hobby of drawing detailed pictures of lots of landscapes and structures. That second one is especially interesting — like wtf, he can draw complex structures by memory?? Yet it doesn’t get elaborated upon at all. Nothing does.

So the love story follows. There’s a lot of emotional scenes, body switches, disastrous current events, memories forgotten at the end of the day before they all meet up again. But nothing quite tied me to the ML nor even Mitsuha. I did feel invested in them meeting each other. Yet as people, I wasn’t quite invested in Taki nor fond of either. Which for a love story, is bad because you’d hope to see the other half being built up with solid background and characterizations. Leaving his life stories empty felt like it meant he was someone we could project ourselves into (and perhaps that was the purpose as is in many romance genre stories?) but it made it a lot weaker and less elaborated. Being a core, fundamental detail and all.

On my end conclusions:

I really thought each of these stories had more potential. Either to be in-depth, nuanced, interesting, or better-structured (and/or needing a few character reforms). Also, I fully see why someone would enjoy a large chunk of them or feel inspired by them. Sadly, each fell flat for me.

Though of the 4, I often think of “A Silent Voice” because regardless of its flaws, such a work is important at beginning a lot of discussions — such as the hardcore school bullying in Japan or bullying in general. And for “You Name,” it really introduced me to Makoto Shinkai works and a few of his other movies, so I don’t deny the talent behind his skills and creativity in a lot of instances. It was mainly those that stuck with me?

At the end of the day, I hope I elaborated my thoughts on what I found good in each and what made me not feel as invested in them! And of course, if you felt other things were done better or ended up liking them more, that’s valid too and up for discussion!!

[greycornersofas]

Embrace Elegance: Exploring the Allure of Grey Fabric Corner Sofas

When it comes to crafting an inviting and visually appealing living room, furniture plays a pivotal role. Among the many options available, the L-shaped corner sofa stands out as a versatile and stylish choice that can truly elevate your living space's design. If you're seeking to infuse your home with both functionality and aesthetics, read on to discover why the L-shaped corner sofa should be at the top of your furniture wish list.

A Modern Twist on Seating arrangements

The L-shaped corner sofa brings a modern and refreshing twist to traditional seating arrangements. Its unique shape effortlessly creates a sense of flow in the room, encouraging a natural focal point while maximizing seating capacity. This innovative design ensures that no corner of your living area goes to waste, making the most of your available space and contributing to an open, well-utilized environment.

Space-Savvy Solution

Whether you're furnishing a cozy apartment or a spacious house, space is a precious commodity. The L-shaped corner sofa is a space-savvy solution that can be tailored to fit snugly into any room's corner, freeing up valuable central space. This is especially advantageous for smaller living rooms, where optimizing every square inch is essential. By choosing this sofa, you're not just adding seating; you're creating an inviting atmosphere without compromising on comfort.

Design Versatility

Interior design is a reflection of personal style and preferences, and the L-shaped corner grey fabric corner sofa accommodates a wide range of design aesthetics. From sleek and contemporary to cozy and eclectic, there's an L-shaped sofa that can seamlessly integrate into your existing decor. Its clean lines and adaptable nature make it a versatile canvas for pillows, throws, and other decorative elements, allowing you to refresh your space with ease.

Functional Flexibility

Gone are the days of rigid furniture arrangements. The L-shaped corner sofa offers functional flexibility that empowers you to reimagine your living room layout. Need an impromptu guest bed? Simply extend the sofa to create a cozy sleeping area. Planning a family movie night? Everyone can gather comfortably without anyone's view being obstructed. This adaptability ensures that your living room can transform to suit any occasion.

Cozy Comfort

At the heart of any sofa's appeal is its comfort level, and the L-shaped corner sofa certainly delivers in this department. With its spacious design and plush cushions, it provides an inviting oasis for relaxation and socialization. Whether you're curling up with a book, enjoying a cup of tea, or engaging in lively conversations, this sofa promises a cozy and inviting experience for everyone.

Fostering Connection

Your living room is more than just a space; it's a place where connections are nurtured and memories are created. The design of the L-shaped corner sofa encourages a sense of togetherness, making it easier to engage in meaningful conversations and shared experiences. As friends and family gather around, you'll find that this sofa becomes a hub of laughter, storytelling, and bonding.

Material Magic

Selecting the right material for your L-shaped corner sofa is a crucial consideration. From leather and fabric to a variety of colors and textures, the options are virtually limitless. Take into account factors such as your lifestyle, preferences, and ease of maintenance when choosing the perfect upholstery material. This decision will ensure that your sofa not only looks great but also withstands the test of time.

Conclusion

In the world of furniture design, the L-shaped corner sofa shines as a statement piece that seamlessly marries style and functionality. Its ability to maximize space, adapt to various layouts, and create a cozy atmosphere makes it an indispensable addition to any living room. Whether you're revamping your entire decor or simply looking to refresh your space, consider the trans formative power of the L-shaped corner sofa and watch as it becomes the centerpiece of your home, where design and comfort intertwine effortlessly.

[dramaticunicorn82]

The Facts of Life

"You take the good. You take the bad. You take'em both and there you have The Facts of Life. You got the future in the palm of your hands. All you gotta do to get you through is understand. You think you rather do without, you will never make through without the truth. The facts of life are all about you." ---Alan Thicke, Gloria Loring, Al Burton

Oh "The Facts of Life"! One of my favorites from childhood. Technically, the started in 1979 and ran until 1988. I was born in 1982, so I wasn't really there watching the first aired episodes. However, syndication is a marvelous thing. I remember watching repeats on Saturday mornings or afternoons (On NBC I think) and then in the early 90's they used to play it all the time on USA in the mornings and I watched it all the time when I was home from school or during the summertime.

It amazes me that this show lasted as long as it did. It was never a critics favorite, it never received awards and specific accolades, and it was a very cheesy show. Yet it stayed on the air for 9 seasons. Yes, 9 WHOLE SEASONS! Also, back then a whole season of shows consisted of 20-26 episodes. That's amazing! Very few new shows theses days that are a whole lot better in quality and critically praised are lucky to get more than one season of 7-12 episodes. Its quite the unusual thing to happen. Especially since the "Different Strokes" spin-off was heavily retooled after its first season because it didn't do well. They just had to find the right formula to give it the charm it produced. Can you imagine what could've been done with fantastic shows that were prematurely canceled before they could find their niche? "Freaks and Geeks" anyone?

Why am I writing about this 30 year old sitcom you ask? Well, I saw a few months ago that the entire series was free to watch on "Tubi" (big shout out to Tubi!) and I hadn't seen them in so long I decided to watch all 9 seasons and I just finished a couple of days ago. This "Facts of Life" binge watch took me a couple of months and I certainly didn't give my 100% attention to every single episode, but I watched it all -- including the made-for-TV movies (remember those?) where they went to Paris and Australia (conveniently cut into four part episodes that were included in their perspective seasons) and I gotta say, I totally understand the shows staying power. Even with all the dated references and old jokes, this show still has something to say to modern audiences.

This show is about growing up and I consider it up there with any great coming-of-age movies. While there were many, MANY silly episodes, (especially in the later seasons) we get to experience these four main characters experiencing life through their lens and we get to watch them grow up. The writers really had a grip on this and showed both the positive and the negative sides to life. Not everything was wrapped up in a perfect bow - it showed the complications of life which a lot of sitcoms at the time did not do. Yes, some episodes might have seemed very "special episode" or "after-school special" but the messages were always great.

As a 40 year old I got to watch some of the similar things I experienced in my own teens and early 20's. The situations may have been very different and not as heightened, but the feelings were just the same. I also may have made them all dramatic in my own way because, hello! I'm a dramatic person!

Anyways, this show has just been on my brain lately because I just finished watching 9 seasons of it and I still really love it. While it may not be as smart as some of the sitcoms of the time like "The Golden Girls" or "Cheers" and the acting doesn't leave much to be desired, I firmly believe it deserves it earns its spot right next to them. It gives the same messages and expresses the same feelings, just in a different style. A style that might not be everyone's cup of tea. Also, the theme song is a total banger and I challenge anyone in my generation to claim they don't know at least the chorus of it. It's beautiful!

Fun fact: One time in 2010 maybe? 2009? Somewhere around there when I was living in Haslet, TX which is outside of Fort Worth. I was working at Starbucks at the time and I worked at a very busy store-it was right off the highway. One day I was working the front register when a blonde woman comes up and makes an order. I forget the exact order but I screwed it up somehow not only once, but twice. Maybe it was something like she ordered something we didn't have and then ordered something different but then I had to tell her we didn't have that either - I don't remember, it was something like that. Basically I rightfully annoyed the customer more than once because I told her something that wasn't true more than once. Looking back on it now, I think I made those mistakes because she looked SOOO familiar to me and I could not place where I knew her from. It was bothering me so bad. After this customer left I could not get her face out of my head and just knew that I knew her. Then it dawned on me! LISA FREAKIN WHELCHEL! Yes indeed, I waited on and annoyed Blair Warner from "The Facts of Life." WOW! I could not believe it and I could have hit myself for not realizing it before she left. I know the actress doesn't really act much anymore and that she does indeed live somewhere up in north Texas because that is where she's from. I also know she's a HUGE Christian, which - good for her. It would be nice to have that moment back because I really would've loved to thank her for being on that show and for being a big part of my life watching reruns.

I mentioned earlier how dated the show is and yes, it really is. I am amazed by an episode in its final season where one of the girls (all of whom are now 19-23 years old and a couple of them have graduated college by this point) has......wait for it....SEX! OH FOR SHAME! In todays world, sex is commonplace for most shows that include teenagers (hello, Euphoria?) but back then? Oh we better not show sex cause that will just show all girls and boys that sex is wrong and that you should always wait until marriage before you have sex. I have such issues with how the United States views sex and pleasure. Violence and guns = good; sex and pleasure = bad. We SOOO have it backwards in country. Anyways, the episode was actually written for Blair to lose her virginity but the actress is such a good Christian woman she asked to not even be in the episode and the plot was given to Natalie. Honestly, out of all the lead characters, Natalie losing her virginity makes the most sense. Plus, they addressed the aftermath of sex. Natalie had sex with her longtime boyfriend "Snake", but after they had sex he began to avoid her. Anyone whose ever had a one night stand with someone else thinking it was so amazing that it could lead to more than just sex knows exactly how that feels. I've had a dozen or so experiences just like that. Alas, Snake ended up being just so overwhelmed with everything because it was his first time too and he needed to gather his feelings and thoughts because it made him realize he 100% loved Natalie and wanted to be with her forever. Awe...that's sweet. Not saying that doesn't ever happen but yeah...never happened to me (crickets...crickets...)

While the subject was pretty archaic, the feelings and thoughts that these characters felt was amazing. It seemed very realistic and that is why I love this show. If you haven't seen it or haven't seen it in awhile, give it a chance. It's still quite good. You might not wanna watch the entire 9 seasons but there are some great episodes that really showcases why this show struck a cord with people both then and now. There's a reunion movie from 2001 I could watch for free on youtube, but I don't know...Jo's not in it and none of the original creators and writers are involved so, yeah, I may have to miss that.

Enjoy the theme song and intros for the show below...Until next time, this is Disco Donny signing off....

[a-small-batch-of-dragons]

Come Now, Little Prince

Prompts: Hey uh... *brushed off dust from crashing in through the roof* Could you write something about Roman or Remus having Agoraphobia and them getting trapped somewhere? My brain just wants to relate. If not that’s fine! Love your writing! - anon

Might I suggest,,,, writing trope where the severely hurt person goes to their nemesis and says “sorry, I just didn’t have anywhere else to go” but it’s with Roman and Janus - 1namelessalien1

Ahh, yes, the inevitable. Honestly a lil surprised I haven't done this sooner but here we go! Finally...

Read on Ao3

Pairings: roceit, dukeceit, creativitwins. can be platonic or romantic you choose save for creativitwins. they brothers

Warnings: roman gets stabbed and has to get stitches, agoraphobia

Word Count: 7611

Cities are full of bright lights and shadows alike. Those that live in the light, the heroes, the 'good guys.' Those that live in the shadows, their grisly work only illuminated when the sun deigns to show its face again. Sometimes the shadows are too deep. Sometimes the spotlights are too much.

The Prince, Roman Prince, is the Golden Boy of the city. The newsreels, the cameras, the public adore him. But they don't see the winces when the bulbs go off right in his face, or whispers to be better, do better, perform better from the people that pull him aside after every daring adventure.

No one knows the name Janus, but they know his work. They don't shout, they whisper. They huddle together in the dark, searching for the light so as not to get caught in his coils.

But sometimes, when spotlights are too bright and shadows too flat, a little prince will make its way into the snake's den.

He didn’t mean to.

He didn’t mean to.

It just—his hand slipped and they fell and they—they—

He didn’t mean to drop them. They weren’t—they weren’t supposed to fall but the knife hurt too much and he flinched and he—he—

The choppers roar around the roof, battering his head with their noise, noise, noise. The wind whips up around the concrete railing, whistling, whining, wailing as the body falls down, down, down. The searchlights glint off the knife as they pull it down with them.

And then he is alone, in a crowd, on the top of a roof, king of the clouds.

The lights glare in his face as their body disappears. Then…then…

Then fear.

———————————

One of the best things about being seen as a ‘super villain,’ and how gauche is that term, is that no one wants to ask too many questions when you rent an apartment. There are really far too many landlords that want to get to know you, want to be your friend, while knowing full well that they participate in a system where there is no ethical consumption or behavior. Really, if he ever starts renting his own property, there will be no illusions on his end.

But hey, at least these ones know not to put their noses where they’ll get bitten off if they poke too far.

Janus sighs, opening the cupboard and taking the teacup down. The kettle whistles merrily on the stove as he reaches for the tea boxes.

Black, green, white, herbal…really, there are so many options. What to have for tonight, then? It is awfully late in the evening, there’s no real justification for consuming caffeine. Then again, he’ll do what he likes.

His phone buzzes. His real phone, not the one everyone sees him carry when he’s out and about. He rolls his eyes and takes the kettle off the heat as he spots the name on the text notification.

R. Sanders: 1 new notification

“What’ve you done now, Remus,” he mutters as he slides the message open, “and which one of your messes am I cleaning up now?”

The message opens to a report. Brief, as is the style of all the reports Janus demands, but the thing that gives him pause is just how brief.

Remus, as one can very well imagine, is…not exactly compliant when it comes to following the rules. And while that can be useful in its own special way, it does mean that Janus occasionally has to factor emojis out of Remus’s reports.

Well, more than occasionally.

But this time the report is two sentences. Janus pours the water into the teapot as he glances over the words.

R. Sanders: Slaughter down at 85th and Marilyn. The head of the beast is cut off.

Well, on paper, that should be a fantastic report. The rival infringing on Janus’s turf has been, ah, taken down a few notches.

That’s undermined considerably by the fact that this report lacks any of Remus’s enthusiasm.

Janus sighs as he settles on the loose-leaf blueberry mint tea, placing the cup aside to brew as he wanders toward the window. Perhaps Remus is simply tired from all this work today. It wouldn’t be the first time the man’s manic energy had been tempered by a good amount of strenuous activity. And cutting off the head of the beast was never going to be a simple job to begin with. True, it was always an issue with causing more collateral damage than Janus was personally comfortable with, but what’s done is done.

The city starts to slumber, the last of the pleasant natural light fading from the sky, giving way to the horrid stained brown of the light pollution. The skyscrapers barely flinch in the oncoming night, instead choosing to stand firm as the workers inside slave away. The smaller shops close their doors, the nighttime crowds vanishing into subway tunnels and bus stations. Janus leans against the window, the glass reflecting the elegant lines of his suit alongside the angles of the buildings.

If he were slightly less himself, he’d say it looks like he belongs here.

When the light fades further, he sighs, turning away and fetching his tea. He drops into his favorite chair next to the window and raises the cup to his mouth.

The head of the beast has been cut off. He has no appointments, no reports, no debriefings to attend. He has his cup of tea, Remus will handle anything that blows up on the networks. It is the perfect evening to be alone, secure in his apartment.

So of course, there has to be something that sends a prickle up the back of his neck.

Why is Remus’s report sitting with him like this? This should be fantastic news, he should be willing to open the bottle of champagne that’s sat in preparation for this moment. And yet, as he raises the cup to his mouth again, his teeth hit the rim and he jolts, spilling a little more than he meant to into his mouth. He swallows, thankful that there’s no one else here to see it, and sets the cup and saucer aside.

He folds his gloved hands behind his back and goes to the window again.

If there were something wrong, someone would tell him. He has eyes all over the city, ears everywhere, and those under his employ know better than to try and cross him. Remus is alive and well—clearly, given by the way the evening’s progressed so far—and wouldn’t hesitate to gleefully drag anyone he suspected into his rooms or an abandoned warehouse.

He spares a glance over his shoulder. The phone stays silent.

Fingers tap against his hand as he looks down. Not for the first time, he wonders what it must be like, down there, scurrying about, without the faintest idea of what it looks like from up here. Oh, he’s walked on the sidewalk outside his building, who hasn’t, that’s how he gets into the building in the first place, but…not like that.

The outside world is so…temperamental. So many people, so many things. There is no better place to be alone than a crowded city street, but there is no more dangerous a place to be yourself.

When he’s finished his cup of tea, and the prickle has not left the back of his neck alone, he stifles a curse and turns. Remus will listen to him. Or, more precisely, Remus will ramble and scheme and reassure him that nothing is wrong. He might get a strange look—because while everyone else can underestimate how much Remus sees at their own peril, Janus never has—but he will do it.

Janus opens the door, idly wondering if he needs to bring his coat, and abruptly stops walking.

There is someone on their knees right outside his door.

Well.

That would explain the feeling he’s had of something being wrong, how on earth his security system didn’t alert him to their presence is beyond him. He doesn’t bother to hide his sigh as he pulls his cane from the holder and tilts their chin up.

“I’m certain that you must be…”

Janus trails off as he tilts up a chin to reveal a bloodstained, agonized expression of someone who should not be here.

“I’m sorry,” Roman Prince says in the voice of a lost child, “I didn’t—I didn’t know where else to go.”

Janus’s fingers twitch on the cane as he watches the roll of Roman’s throat.

“Y-you said if I—if I—ever needed help one day to know better than to—to try and go back to th-them.”

Remus’s report is beginning to make more sense.

Janus remembers. Janus remembers this upstart pain in his ass getting in the way of many operations, from transports to exchanges to hostage negotiations. He remembers the crooked smile straight out of a movie as this little shit got in the way of everything, including his resolve to not get involved with any of the so-called heroes that ran around in this city in their spandex and naiveté.

He remembers shaking his head at this shiny new one and saying that when he realized the world was much, much grayer than he wanted to believe, Janus would be there to watch. He remembers a softer offer, after a rescue had resulted in a building—abandoned, but a building—blowing up and the poor thing looking like someone had kicked his puppy.

He remembers watching the rival’s henchmen carted off to jail as the hero of the hour was reprimanded for causing too much collateral damage by the people who supposedly adored him.

“You were right,” Roman continues in that lost, lost voice, “I’m—I’m sorry.”

It takes Roman reaching for him for Janus to remember what is going on and the cane jerks his head up higher, forcing him to stop. Janus narrows his eyes at the hero kneeling on the floor, takes in the blood on his face, his neck, his hands.

“Why are you here,” he asks, wrenching that chin just a little higher, “why did you come to me?”

“You said you would help,” comes the reply, “if I—if I didn’t want to do this anymore.”

Has the perfect prince killed someone for the first time? Is that what’s brought on this little display?

His eyes trail lower, looking for the weapon.

The light from his apartment shines on a tunic stained with blood, cut and torn, and a dark, ugly stain that is not getting any smaller.

Roman’s head lolls forward, almost nuzzling Janus’s thigh as it slips off the cane. His hair sticks to his face, too soaked with blood.

Janus’s eyes go wide.

Roman Prince is here, on his knees, bleeding out because he has nowhere else to go. He came to Janus, the person he should trust the least out of everyone in this city, and he’s here on his knees, pleading.

The hand not on the cane twitches, then slowly reaches forward to find the least bloody spot on Roman’s head. It runs gently through his hair and finds its way to his chin, lifting it up once more. Roman’s eyes, full of tears, stare back at him.

“Come inside, little prince,” Janus says, his voice far softer than he would normally allow, “you’re bleeding all over my carpet.”

There aren’t many places to go that aren’t carpeted inside Janus’s apartment, but they make it over the threshold before Roman’s state begins to truly worry him.

How did he even get here? By how much blood there is, surely he would’ve passed out by now? Roman seems oblivious to his inside questions, simply looks around for wherever Janus is leading him before he notices how much blood he’s leaving behind him.

“It’s alright,” Janus says, surprising the both of them, “I can have the floor cleaned.”

Roman just blinks at him. And oh, if it doesn’t hurt to see that innocence still in the eyes of the little lamb, even as the wolf goes to take his arm.

“The bathroom is through this way,” he says softly, “come now…”

It is an odd experience, surely, to have one’s own nemesis bloody, wounded, completely at his mercy, as he strips off his suit jacket and rolls up his sleeves, and want to do nothing but hunt down the people that made him this way.

Roman sits like a broken doll, he realizes as he watches the man ease himself down and wait as Janus pulls on a pair of plastic gloves. He is not uncooperative when Janus pushes his limbs to the side, snipping away at the fabric, trying to figure out what precisely is going on. He does not protest when Janus finds the stab wound and presses a cloth harshly on top, nor when Janus grabs his hand and bids him to hold it there, hard. He is not unfeeling, just very, very quiet as Janus begins to douse the pads in antiseptic.

He doesn’t flinch when Janus cleans the wound as best he can—he’s no doctor, after all—before muttering that it’s going to need stitches.

“Oh,” he mumbles instead, “okay.”

“Yes, so—hold still,” he barks, forcing Roman to sit back down, “where do you think you’re going?”

Roman blinks. “You said it needs stitches.”

“Yes, which is why you shouldn’t be moving.”

“I was going to go get the stitches.”

Now it’s Janus’s turn to blink. “I will stitch you up, Roman, now stay.”

And there’s that lamb-like innocence again as Roman tilts his head. “You will?”

“I may not be a doctor,” Janus mutters, twisting to grab the first aid kit, “but I do know how to suture a wound.”

He takes a few more wipes and cleans the blood he can, pointedly ignoring Roman’s attentive look.

“You could be a doctor,” comes the mumble, “you seem…good at it.”

Janus huffs. “Less a doctor, more a medic.”

Roman’s brows furrow. “What’s the difference?”

“A doctor fixes you, a medic makes dying more comfortable.”

There’s a moment of silence. Janus half-expects the poor thing to seize up in fear, tremble before him, or—god forbid—try and fight him, but he does none of that. Because that would make sense.

Instead, Roman just closes his eyes and lets his head fall to the side against the tiled wall.

“You don’t have to make it comfortable then.”

Janus’s hands falter for a moment. His eyes flick to Roman’s bloodstained face before refocusing on the wound in front of him.

“You’re not going to die here,” he says firmly, and if he starts to work a little more quickly, that’s his business, not yours.

“Oh.”

“I imagine you wouldn’t’ve come here with the intent to die on my doorstep, that’s quite rude, you know.”

“…no.”

Now, see, as the best liar in the city, Janus knows when he hears one.

The absurdity of the situation strikes him once again, fainter this time, but still there. Roman Prince is here, bloody, wounded—fatally so if Janus hadn’t started tending to him right when he did— forced to roll over and show his belly, Janus’s teeth at his throat, and yet Janus reaches up to turn that pretty face to his.

“Tell me what happened, little prince,” he commands softly.

Roman swallows. “I didn’t mean to.”

Janus simply raises an eyebrow and starts to stitch up the wound. Roman doesn’t flinch but accepts the silent chide.

“I-it was the building security guard,” he mumbles, “they called in that someone was firing shots in the upper stories and couldn’t—couldn’t get away in time. They were—they—the call wasn’t completed.”

They died while they were on the line, Roman doesn’t say, but Janus hears it.

“Wh-when I got there, there were—they must’ve thought there was a mole in the—on the inside and they started—they were—“

They were killing their own people, Janus realizes, hiding his disgust behind another tied-off suture. He’s starting to have an awful feeling about where Roman’s been tonight.

“Something went wrong in one of the labs. They made a toxin, and it—it—“ Roman swallows— “it drove them insane.”

It made them homicidal, they killed each other.

“I...I think they were going to flee from the roof.”

As Janus ties off the last suture, he freezes.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh, no.

“I tried to stop them,” Roman whispers, “I was holding onto them, it was windy, they were going to fall, they ran too fast out of the door, I caught them, I—I had them, they—they were going to be safe but then they—they—“

Janus presses two fingers to the warm chest next to the wound. He can feel Roman’s heart jumping. He rubs in slow circles.

“They stabbed me,” Roman finishes, “and I—I—I—“

A small noise that sounds too much like a sob swallows the rest of his words.

Oh, this poor little prince…

Roman swallows another sob. “I’m sorry.”

Janus tilts his head. “What’re you apologizing to me for, little prince?”

“Well, I can’t imagine that this is how you imagined spending your evening.”

“No,” Janus says, folding his hands in front of him, “but I can’t imagine this is how you imagined spending yours either.”

The little prince bruises as easily as ever, only this time he doesn’t bother to hide behind his bravado.

“Off,” Janus says softly, tugging lightly at the remains of Roman’s costume, “the rest of you needs to be cleaned.”

He watches unashamed as Roman follows his instruction, eyes traveling over the scars littering the body revealed to him piece by piece. Too many scars. When he stands bare, Janus takes his hands and deliberately cleans them of the blood.

Roman doesn’t stop trembling until Janus has cleaned away every last bit.

The costume will need to be disposed of, there’s no saving it. The floor in the bathroom is littered with bits of blood and the carpet near the door will need to be cleaned quickly. Luckily the cleaner that Janus employs is well-accustomed to such a request. Instead, Janus walks back to the bedroom.

There the little prince sits, looking far too much like a lost child. Janus pauses at the door, tugging his normal gloves back on.

The little prince looks far too good wrapped in Janus’s colors.

“Why did you come to me, little prince,” he asks after a moment, “you had no way of knowing that I wouldn’t kill you.”

Roman lowers his head and the lie from the bathroom plays uncomfortably in his head. Janus tilts his head as Roman clears his throat.

“I thought—part of me thought you would.”

A harsh laugh tears out of his throat before he can stop it. “So what, I was to be your confessional? You would fall on your knees, repent, and I would put you out of your misery? Or put you down, like some misbehaved dog?”

Roman hunches his shoulders. Janus’s mirth disappears in a flash.

“…maybe.”

Roman Prince dragged himself from the roof of 85th and Marilyn, all the way across the city to Janus’s real apartment, disarmed his security, and did not once tend to the stab wound in his chest.

Roman Prince witnessed a slaughter, watched people be driven out of their minds, and dropped someone who did their very best to kill him off a roof by accident.

Roman Prince fell to his knees in front of the one man in this city who he knew would be capable of killing him without a second thought.

“…do you want me to kill you?”

There’s a softness in his voice again, one that slipped unbidden into the words to make the blow seem more like a caress.

“I would make it quick,” he murmurs, still leaning against the doorway, watching the little prince, “it wouldn’t hurt.”

Roman looks at him. The child is lost, so lost, and so, so tired. He opens his mouth.

“Don’t you want to?”

…well.

Does he? Certainly, the little prince has caused more than his fair share of mishaps, messes, and mistakes, and putting him out of the equation permanently benefits Janus in more ways than one. And it’s not like it would be difficult. No one knows Roman is here, let alone anyone who would care, and even fewer that wouldn’t expect him to never be seen alive again. Janus could kill him in half a dozen ways in the next minute that Roman couldn’t possibly fight against, a dozen more that would take scarcely any longer.

Unbidden, his mind begins to list off the possibilities. The gun in the cabinet, the knife tucked into his shirt, the poison stored in the bathroom, even snapping the little prince’s neck.

But he takes one more look at the little prince and all of them vanish in an instant.

“Why did you come here?” he murmurs again.

Roman lets out a long breath. His hand on the borrowed shirt tightens and loosens, tightens and loosens.

“You’re the only one I trust,” he tells him quietly, and it’s the saddest thing he could’ve possibly said.

Janus crosses the room and cups the back of the little prince’s neck. Roman just bows his head, the little lamb waiting for another hand to come up and twist. Janus bites back the snarl of rage at how resigned Roman is to dying tonight and brushes his thumb along the curve of his cheek.

Stroke by stroke, he coaxes the tears from the little prince’s eyes and wipes them away.

“It wasn’t your fault,” he murmurs, leaning his weight against the edge of the bed, “there’s nothing you could’ve done.”

“I could’ve held on.”

“You’d just been stabbed, flinching is a perfectly understandable reaction.”

“But I’ve been stabbed before.”

“It’s not like you build up an immunity to knives going into you.”

“But I—“ Roman cuts himself off, curling his fist tightly in his lap.

“What is it, little prince?”

He just shakes his head firmly, lips pressed tightly together, red blooming on his cheeks.

Well, at least there’s blood flowing properly again. “We’re well past the point of embarrassment, little prince,” Janus remarks gently, “and if you’re worried about sharing weaknesses with me now…”

“I got scared,” Roman blurts, sounding every bit the reprimanded child. Janus pets his hair absentmindedly, encouraging him to speak again. When he won’t, Janus hums quietly.

“You were stabbed,” he reminds again, “that’s understandable.”

“Not of being stabbed.”

Janus frowns. “What then, little prince?”

“I…”

“I won’t harm you, little prince,” Janus murmurs when he hesitates.

“…I got scared of being outside.”

Janus’s hand pauses in Roman’s hair before gently lifting his chin. “What do you mean, little prince, that you were scared of being outside?”

“There—there was nowhere to go, I couldn’t get out, I couldn’t escape, there were too many people, the choppers were so—so loud and I—I didn’t know what to do—“

Fucking hell, Janus realizes as he shushes the little prince tenderly, he’s agoraphobic.

Flashes of their fights and altercations start to make more sense now. Why Roman prefers fighting in dark, cramped warehouses, why losing the hero on public transportation was so easy, why he almost never confronted Janus in public in broad daylight even though he clearly knows where Janus lives.

The weight of the expectations on Roman…how difficult his chosen occupation must be…how little support he gets for something that makes it infinitely harder for him…

Janus doesn’t realize he’s cradling Roman’s head until he strokes his thumb down his cheek and feels the soft brush of hair against his forearm. He looks down and sees Roman’s eyes all but flutter shut, lulled by the gentle touch against his face.

Trapped under the spotlights of the world, laid bare, stripped by their merciless eyes, unable to look away, escape from what they would only see as a colossal failure…

No wonder Roman sought out a denizen of the shadows where he could be sure no one would look for him.

What should, by all rights, feel like a cage to Roman might just become a den.

The snake tightens its coils protectively around the little prince and leans down to whisper in Roman’s ear.

“You’re safe, now,” he soothes, “there is no one else here but me, and I will look after you. There are no expectations here, you cannot do something wrong. I’m here to help you.”

The snake hisses in contentment as the little prince slumps into the coils, letting it pick him up and deposit him gently in the mass of the den, leaving only for a brief moment before returning to his side.

“Shh, shh,” he soothes as Roman blinks about in confusion, “you need to rest, I’ll be right here.”

“Why—what—“ Roman’s head hits the pillow and Janus almost laughs at how quickly his eyes close— “why’re you…helping?”

“You came to me for help, little prince.”

“But you…care?”

And oh, if that doesn’t make the snake’s cold black heart beat warmly in its chest.

“You may be surprised, little prince,” it hisses, drawing the little prince closer and closer, “but you’re not that difficult to care for.”

No, Janus decides, resigning himself to a night of little sleep as he watches Roman’s breathing begin to even out, stroking a hand through his hair, the little prince isn’t so hard to care for after all.

The snake has never been one to spare those that wander carelessly into its den, but this little prince did not do it carelessly. And it is surprisingly easy for Janus to soothe the remaining prickle on the back of his neck by scratching his fingers lightly along the back of Roman’s, to gentle the furrow in Roman’s sleep with a murmured reassurance into the little prince’s ear. The night passes slowly as the little prince dozes under the snake’s coils.

Only later, when the sun has begun to rise, does he realize he’s left his phone on the counter. He sighs, extricating himself gingerly from the sleeping Roman and going back to the kitchen.

R. Sanders: 1 new notification

He glances toward the bedroom and opens the text.

R. Sanders: if you don’t get your security system back online yourself in the next 30 seconds I’m coming over

Well, considering this message is from two minutes ago, Janus simply sighs and opens the door.

“That,” Remus snarls as he stalks inside, “is not the point.”

“I was about to reboot the system, Remus, do calm yourself.”

“I’m not the one who spent the entire fucking night in an unsecured location!”

Janus raises an eyebrow. “By all means, Remus, do keep shouting about my security system at the top of your lungs while the door is still open.”

Remus mutters angrily to himself but has the decency—or perhaps, the self-preservation—to quiet down while Janus shuts the door and turns the security system back on.

“Now then,” he says easily, setting the kettle to boil again—blueberry mint really was the correct choice to make last night— “what would you like to drink?”

Remus regards his tea boxes like he regards the new bottles of bleach.

“You still don’t keep coffee in your house, do you?” At Janus’s look, he sighs. “Just hot water.”

“Splendid.”

Janus takes his time setting up his teapot. Looseleaf black tea, a new teacup, the honey laid out just so, all while Remus’s tapping gets more and more impatient. But Remus is a good dog, he’ll wait until he’d given leave to speak again.

“I imagine you must have a reason for infringing upon my privacy this morning,” Janus says as he stirs the honey into the tea, “if not just to turn my system back on so that a corpse could not be tampered with.”

“I didn’t know if you were fucking dead, Jan,” Remus snarls, and oh, the poor thing was worried. How touching.

“I’m fine, Remus,” Janus says, softening his voice just the barest amount, “and it certainly speaks to the faith you have in me.”

“Yeah, yeah, faith in your something.”

“Come now, dear, let’s not be crass.”

“You like me crass.”

Janus hides a smile behind the rim of his cup. There’s the Remus that was missing from the report. Though as he looks at the loyal minion sitting across from him, he sees that something is still bothering him.

“Well, if that’s all then?”

Remus takes the bait. “Wasn’t us.”

“Pardon?”

“The beast,” Remus mutters, still glancing around the apartment, “wasn’t us.”

Then he spots the blood.

In Remus’s defense, Janus did open the door right as he arrived and he was definitely given time to look around before Janus swept him into a conversation. Still, the fact that it took Remus this long to spot the blood is…well.

“Shit—“ Remus springs to his feet— “are you hurt? How many?”

“Keep your voice down,” Janus murmurs, “I’m not hurt.”

“Then explain to me why there’s blood everywhere—“

“Keep your voice down.”

“Why the fuck should I keep my voice down? Someone was here, there’s fucking blood—“

Both of them freeze as a rustle of covers comes from the other room. Remus’s eyes widen and his hand goes to the gun at his side. In two quick steps, he’s almost to the bedroom.

Janus catches him by the arm.

“Don’t.”

The steel in his tone finally gets Remus to settle, the man glancing at the door once before allowing himself to be held in place.

“What the hell is going on here,” he hisses, finally keeping his voice down, “what aren’t you telling me?”

“Stay out of that room,” Janus orders, even though it’s a redundancy at this point, “and tell me what else you know.”

Remus opens his mouth to protest but a look quells him. He glances at the door one more time before sighing.

“By the time we got there, everything was over. There were network choppers crawling over every inch of that place, swarming with civvies. We had to fence to get in. Janus, they—“

If Remus has to take a breath, what the hell happened?

“God, Janus, it’s like someone gave a neurotic thirteen-year-old a hallucinogenic and a sledgehammer and told ‘em the building was a giant whack-a-mole.” Remus shakes his head. “Heads bashed in, eyes gouged out, like they—they—“

“Like they did it to each other,” Janus finishes.

Remus nods, his face pale. He looks up at Janus and it’s the second time in the last twelve hours he’s been caught off guard by someone’s expression.

“Jan, it’s bad,” he says quietly, “if they—we’re lucky it only got into that building.”

“And you’re certain it’s contained?”

“Someone tripped the quarantine field. The building locked down. Only way out was the roof.” Remus shakes his head. “The head of the beast was splayed out on the street, spine snapped in half, bloody knife. Like he was pinned up like a butterfly.”

He quirks his brow.

“Gotta admire the craftsmanship.”

Janus nods. Remus notices his silence and steps a little closer.

“So who the fuck is in that room?”

As if on cue, there’s another muffled hiss.

“Don’t,” Janus says when Remus’s hand goes to his gun again, “you’ll scare him.”

Now Remus looks at him like he'd grown another head. “Who the fuck is in that room?”

Janus bites back a curse when there are more noises.

“The person who cut the head off.”

“If you think that’s gonna stop me from getting in there—“

“Remus.”

Remus subsides, looking at him carefully. Janus sighs. Remus knows better than to directly disobey an order, and if Janus pushes, Remus will leave.

And yes, part of the snake wants to wrap around its den and keep its precious charge safe from anything else.

A larger part of Janus knows that keeping this information completely under wraps will become a liability quickly.

“Watch the door,” Janus says, letting Remus go.

Remus hasn’t worked for him for this long without picking up some of his observational skills, so he goes without complaint. Janus opens the door to the bedroom and has to stop the fond smile on his face as he sees the little prince trying to feign sleep. As if it’s going to work.

He crosses the room and leans down.

“You can stop pretending now, little prince.”

Roman’s eyes open and the snake hisses gently, noticing the pressure the little prince’s position is putting on his stitches.

“By all means, ruin the work it took to suture you up,” he remarks dryly, chuckling as Roman quickly—and carefully—rolls onto his back, “better.”

“D-do—I can go now,” Roman mumbles, “if—if you—if you want. I can leave. You don’t have to see me again, I’ll—I’ll go.”

Janus quirks an eyebrow. “And let you leave without breakfast? How rude of me.”

Roman’s eyes widen. “N-no, I didn’t mean—you don’t—I—“

“Hush, little prince,” Janus murmurs, petting Roman’s hair again, “none of that now.”

Roman’s eyes keep darting around the room, from the closed door to Janus’s hands to his face and away again. Janus frowns.

“Oh, little prince, have you always been so afraid of me?”

“Yes.”

The honesty takes Janus by surprise. Roman Prince has never been afraid of him, at least not like this, like some creature constantly bracing for a blow. He’s responded brilliantly to whatever jibes Janus throws at him during one of their altercations, always ready with a quip on his tongue or a pretty blush to a flirtation. He’s not—he’s never been this.

Perhaps the little prince is a better actor than I gave him credit for.

There are not many people in this city capable of doing that.

Then there’s the sudden realization that the reassurances from the night will no longer work. Roman was safe because he was alone with Janus, there was nothing he could do wrong that would hurt him, there was an easy way to escape if need be. But now Remus is here, there’s another variable to worry about.

And Roman is no match for the both of them.

“Let me have a look, little prince,” he says instead, leaning down to gently tug the shirt up and out of the way. Despite the hero’s movement, there’s no blood, no popped stitches. The wound will still be tender for a while yet, but there’s nothing to worry about. Not at the moment. He says as much, ending with a soft: “sit up, let’s get you something to eat.”

Roman glances at the door again.

“Remus won’t hurt you,” Janus reassures, “not while I’m here.”

Roman’s head whips around so quickly he frets that the little prince will snap his own neck.

“R-Remus?”

Janus blinks. “Yes, Remus, he’s who’s here, he works for me.”

“Remus Sanders?”

He quirks a brow. “And here I thought you didn’t bother to learn my staff.”

“N-no, Remus Sanders, he’s—he’s not dead?”

Not dead?

Judging by the sudden silence in the other room, Janus has about three seconds to brace for it before Remus slams the door open.

Remus’s eyes are giant, his face almost drained of color. Three quick steps and he’s got a fist in Roman’s shirt, wrenching him away from Janus and slamming him up against a wall.

“Remus,” Janus barks, “put him down.”

It says something about Remus’s state of mind that he doesn’t even register Janus’s command. Instead, the man has a knife pressed to Roman’s throat, every muscle in his body bunched up like a clenched fist.

Roman hasn’t flinched. He’s just staring at Remus, his hands sliding and scrabbling uselessly at Remus’s shoulders.

“Y-you’re alive,” he keeps mumbling, “you’re not dead, you’re alive, you’re safe, you’re—you’re—“

Remus abruptly lets Roman go, shoves him further against the wall and yanks the shirt out of the way to see the stitches. The knife goes back in its holster as Roman keeps babbling about how Remus is alive.

“Was it him,” Remus asks in a soft, dangerous voice, cutting through Roman’s babble, “did that bastard stab you?”

Roman jerks his head up and down.

“…well, at least you finally learned how to stand up to your bullies.”

Ah.

Janus must be getting rusty.

“As much as I hate to interrupt the family reunion,” he says, startling the brothers, “I believe there is still business to attend to.”

Remus has the decency to look a little ashamed at directly disobeying several orders now, but the little prince is still staring at Remus like his life depends on it. Janus shakes his head, crossing the room to gently take his chin again.

“You need to eat, little prince,” he murmurs, “come now.”

He doesn’t have to ask Remus to help the little prince to the kitchen. By the time he’s followed them out—and made sure his tea isn’t ruined—Remus has Roman sitting on one of the bar stools, stood next to him, every bit the guard dog as Roman clutches Remus’s tactical vest. As Janus starts to get something together for Roman to eat, Remus doesn’t move once. Instead, he lets Roman cling onto him, mumble to himself, and absentmindedly rub his cheek against Remus’s chest.

Janus sets a plate of food in front of Roman and picks up his tea again, taking a sip and staring at them over the rim of the cup.

This could be a problem.

Remus’s loyalty is not easily won, nor is it easily lost. The man’s been dragged behind a truck by his fingernails and not squealed once. And yet as Remus lifts his head—finally—and looks at Janus, it’s the first time he’s seen that loyalty waver.

Janus stares back. Remus knows better than to try and cross him. Remus himself has been the blunt instrument that disposes of those who did. Remus knows the extent of Janus’s influence better than anyone else, aside from Janus himself.

And still, that loyalty wavers.

The little prince, oblivious to the staring match happening over his head, mumbles a small thanks as he starts to eat. His hands are still shaking. Remus steps closer, pressing Roman further into the counter and the little prince lets him. The message is clear.

This is the one thing of Remus’s that he won’t let Janus take.

Which would be a problem—or wouldn’t be, depending on how quickly Remus cooperates—if Janus weren’t currently dividing his attention between Remus and how his hands are itching to wipe the last speck of blood from the little prince’s hairline.

It takes barely a glance for Remus to understand that Janus would never.

“Little prince,” Janus murmurs, coming around to the other side of the counter once Roman finishes, “I need to have a talk with Remus, do you think you can sleep a little more?”

“I can try.”

“Let’s have you try.” Janus glances at Remus.

“C’mon, Ro-Bro,” Remus says quietly, one arm around Roman’s waist, “back to bed.”

“Re?”

“I gotcha, Roro, I’m right here.”

How adorable.

Remus closes the bedroom door and there’s a long pause.

“Fuck.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Janus takes another sip of his tea. “Does anyone else know what happened?”

“The networks have a hold of the main story, they won’t know what happened inside until the lockdown expires, but Jan—if he was there—“

“The choppers saw him.”

“Shit.”

“They saw him drop the beast’s head but him fleeing the scene won’t look good.”

“I’ve got the team scrambling the data, the location of the beast’s head won’t reach the airwaves.”

“Good.”

Another pause.

“…why’d he come here?”

Janus settles the cup back in its saucer. “…he said I was the only one he could trust.”

Remus snarls. “As if we needed more proof that they treat their people like shit.”

“Believe me, I’ve got quite the list of people I’d like to question.”

Remus bares his teeth. “Don’t do it without me.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, dear.” He watches Remus stare at the door. “So…you have a brother?”

“Don’t act like you didn’t know that from the extensive background check you did.”

Janus accepts it, setting the teacup aside. “The famous Roman Prince…oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

Remus’s head flicks sharply around to stare at him. But Janus says it with none of his usual flare, dragging his gloved fingertips along the counter.

“Has he always been so…” He fumbles for the right word.

There isn’t one.

Thankfully, Remus understands what he’s trying to get at.

“It’s hard not to,” he mumbles, “even when I hated him—and I hated him, he was always…”

Remus trails off into silence too.

“There was never a moment where I didn’t know that he was still my fucking brother.”

This is dangerous.

The closest thing Janus has to a weakness, up until this point, has been Remus. And Remus is a loyal man, but even he knows Janus will watch him die and feel only the slightest bit of remorse that a useful tool will no longer be in use.

But not anymore.

“I think he wanted me to kill him,” Janus murmurs, noting the way that Remus jerks in surprise.

“Do you think that’s why he came?”

“He told me that I was right,” he says, “that I was—that he remembered I’d told him if he ever realized he couldn’t do it anymore, if he ever needed help, that he should know better than to go back to the people that pretend to care about him.”

“You basically told him you’d be his suicide gun?”

“I didn’t mean it like that, Remus,” Janus says lowly, looking up.

Remus regards him. “Would you have?”

“Killed him?”

“Yes.”

Could he have killed Roman Prince? Yes, easily.

Can he kill the little prince in the bedroom?

“My God,” Remus breathes, “you can’t do it, can you?”

Janus shakes his head. Like it or not, the snake can’t kill the little prince.

“So what now?”

Janus stands up straight. “The city isn’t just going to let Roman Prince disappear, not like that. They’re going to look for him. He’s going to have to make another public appearance.”

“And we have to clean up the rest of the mess.”

“That we’re used to,” Janus sighs, “that I’m not worried about.”

“You’re worried about Roman’s people trying to look for him.” Janus nods. “We’ve got feelers out, we can keep tabs on that.”

“Good.”

Remus spares another glance at the door. “Are you gonna keep him here until then?”

“Yes.”

He lets out a low whistle.

“Go. Get to work.”

“Aye aye, boss.” Remus fixes him with one last look before he disappears out the door.

Janus walks to the bedroom. This time the fond smile crawls across his face unhindered.

“You don’t have to pretend, little prince,” he says as he crosses the room, “if you can’t sleep, you can’t sleep.”

Roman blinks up at him as Janus sits on the edge of the bed. “Sorry.”

“No need for apologies.” He tilts his head to the side. “I never offered you painkillers, are you alright?”

Roman nods.

“Roman,” he asks softly, “why did you come here?”

There’s a pause.

“You said that you remembered me telling you that you could,” he continues, “and that you…trusted me, and yet you seemed surprised that I was—I am willing to help.”

“Still am.”

Remus’s words play in his head again. “You said you remembered what I said—and you be honest with me now,” he says, giving Roman a look, “did you want me to kill you?”

Roman swallows. “I don’t know what I want anymore.”

And oh, Janus has waited so long to hear those words from that pretty mouth but not like this.

He pulls a tissue from the side table and tilts Roman’s head just so to get that last speck of blood, pausing at the way Roman shudders under his touch.

“When was the last time someone touched you,” he asks gently, “before this?”

Roman just shakes his head.

“What is the point,” the snake hisses, “of people pretending to care about you when they don’t give you what you obviously need?”

“You were,” the little prince mumbles, still a beat behind, “I think you were the last person to…to touch me.”

“Before…?”

“Yeah. When we…when you…”

When he had the little prince tied up in the factory downtown, another attempt to persuade him to back off. When he cupped the little prince’s chin in his hand and chuckled as a pretty blush spread across those cheeks. When he let gloved fingers run through his hair and smirked at how easily the little prince lost track of the conversation.

Now, though, Janus cradles the little prince’s face in his hands and lowers himself onto the bed.

“You can have it,” he whispers, running his fingers through the little prince’s hair, “if touch is what you need, you can have it.”

Roman’s eyes flutter, lost on the sensation of Janus’s touch, all but floating on the bed. He starts to curl unconsciously towards him, pliant and still. Janus lets him, moving to wrap his arms around the little prince as he tucks himself under Janus’s chin.

“Why didn’t you tell me,” he asks gently, “that you were hurting so badly?”

He feels the roll of Roman’s throat. “Didn’t want you to think I was any weaker.”

Janus bites back a curse. “Well, I’m afraid you’re about to witness firsthand how weak I am.”

Before Roman can ask what he means, Janus cups the back of his neck and gently, gently kisses his forehead.

“If no one else will do what needs to be done,” he murmurs into Roman’s hair, “then I will.”

If no one else will take care of the little prince that sacrifices so much to protect this city, then the snake is happy to oblige.

General:@frxgprince @potereregina @reddstardust @gattonero17 @iamhereforthegayshit @thefingergunsgirl @awkwardandanxiousfander @creative-lampd-liberties @djpurple3 @winterswrandomness @sanders-sides-uncorrect-quotes @iminyourfandom @bullet-tothefeels @full-of-roman-angst-trash  @ask-elsalvador @ramdomthingsfrommymind @demoniccheese83 @pattonsandershugs @el-does-photography @princeanxious @firefinch-ember @fandomssaremysoul @im-an-anxious-wreck @crazy-multifandomfangirl @punk-academian-witch @enby-ralsei @unicornssunflowersandstuff @wildhorsewolf @thetruthaboutthesun @stubbornness-and-spite @princedarkandstormv  @your-local-fookin-deadmeme @angels-and-dreams @averykedavra @a-ghostlight-for-roman @treasurechestininterweb  @cricketanne @aularei @queerly-fluid-fan @compactdiscdraws @cecil-but-gayer @i-am-overly-complicated @annytheseal @alias290 @tranquil-space-ninja @arxticandy @mychemically-imbalanced-romance @whyiask @crows-ace @emilythezeldafan @frida0043 @ieatspinalcords @snowyfires @cyanide-violence @oonagh2 @xxpanic-at-the-everywherexx @rabbitsartcorner @percy-07734 @triflingassailantofmyemotions @virgil-sanders-the-gay-emo @cerulean-watermelon @puffed-up-bees

If you want to be added/taken off the taglist, let me know!

[aki-mochi]

Levi x Reader: Halloween Special

Pumpkin Spice filled the kitchen as Levi sat at the table reading his book with a cup of tea in his hand. Standing across the table from him was his fiancé, Y/n, who was carving a pumpkin to display it on their front porch for kids to see. Of course, he left the kitchen the second she started to gut out the plump fruit of its seeds and brains, finding it utterly disgusting to even look at. Y/n only laughed but called him back in once the stringy goo was disposed of. Levi glanced up from his book to eye his gem of a woman as she poked at the pumpkin corpse to lay out the design. Her tongue stuck out slightly in concentration as her slightly shaky hands carefully did their artwork on the poor victim. Her hair was pulled back from her face and adorned her body was the apron he got her for her birthday a couple years ago with the words 'badass cook' across her chest. A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips from the sight before his eyes went back to his book, somewhat ignoring the low Pandora music coming from her phone. Soon, her music was abruptly cut off by a specific ringtone. Levi groaned, knowing who it was since they both have the same sound for that one crazy bitch.

Hanji.

"Don't answer it. She's probably gonna beg me to try another fucking experiment" he glared.

"If she wanted to beg you, she would be calling your phone instead of mine" Y/n hummed as she picked up the phone.

Tapping the green button on the screen, she placed it between her ear and shoulder so she can continue her torture on the pumpkin as she talked. From his spot, Levi could hear bits and pieces of what Hanji was saying but he chose to ignore it until the words 'haunted mansion' peaked his interest.

"No. I won't go. I have plans tonight. Ask Levi if he wants to go."

Y/n always denied anything spooky related. And every year, Hanji would call and invite them both to a haunted mansion with the group only to be rejected. Levi clicked his tongue and set his cup down before giving her a glare.

"Y/n, just admit that you're a fucking wuss and she'll leave you alone."

"I-I'm not a wuss, Levi!" she exclaimed with red scratching at her cheeks towards her ears.

"Then you'll go to Hanji's stupid event with me." he stated with his arms crossed.

Levi inwardly smirked. He knew he got her in a corner. He could practically see the inner battle she was having with herself as Hanji's voice rang through her phone to find out her answer.

"Okay, fine! I'll go!" she growled as she hung up the phone. "You happy now?"

"Maybe. Don't get a stick stuck up your ass, I'll be with you incase you scream your head off." Levi mused as he stood from his seat.

"I hate you..."

"Love you too. Now let's go before Hanji blows up our phones." he hummed as he made his way to the door with her in tow reluctantly.

~Timeskip~

Once they got there, Hanji, along with Eren and his friends, were waiting for them at the front door. As they approached the group, Hanji started to explain how they were being divided into pairs of twos so they can cover more ground. Y/n was going to go with Armin but Levi held her waist and made her stay in place.

"You're staying with me, brat." he stated.

All she did was pout but nod, knowing it was useless to reason with him. Once the doors opened, everyone went inside and started to go their own separate paths. Levi and Y/n went down a hall that was splattered with realistic fake blood and hand prints. The lights flickered that of a poltergeist movie and the floors creaked with every step they took. Her grip on his arm was unbearably tight but he didn't care. Levi was honestly bored and unamused by all the dramatic effects they put into this mansion.

"Y/n, if you hold on any tighter, my arm might fall off." Levi grunted.

Realising how tight she was holding, she quickly releases his arm and gripped her jacket around her body tighter as a cold chill ran up her spine. Suddenly, the sound of skitters reached her ears. Something was moving just down the hall and she really didn't want to find out. She hated bugs, especially beetles and spiders. And the noises she's hearing was definitely a bunch of insects crawling about. Swallowing a lump, she rested a hand on the wall for some support until something landed on her arm. Her entire body tensed up greatly as her head slowly turned to see what had touched her. There, on her jacket sleeve, stood a massive hairy spider with red eyes. And it was real.

With a terrified scream, Y/n flailed her arm to rid of the horrendous bastard of an arachnid and threw herself into Levi's arms. Levi grunted at the sudden weight of his fiance but sighed while his own arms wrapped themselves around her waist.

"I-I don't wanna be here....take me home....please" her voice cracked as her body trembled.

"Y/n, it was just a fake spider. Stop being a fucking scaredy cat." he sighed before feeling light pressure crawling up his leg. Using his phone, he shined light down where the pressure was and there was the spider, casually making its way up his leg. With a string of slight panicked curses, Levi got the spider off his leg and kicked it down the hall before picking you up bridal style and carrying you to the mansions entrance and taking you home.

Once you both got there, Levi insisted on having you sit on his lap. You didn't complain and snuggled close into his neck, a relieved sigh escaping your lips.

"You're not making me go to another haunted mansion ever again, Levi."

"Alright, brat, you have my word. Just sit there and let me cuddle the shit out of you." he hummed as he turned on a non-scary movie for the both of you to watch.

"....The pumpkin isn't done yet."

"Fuck the pumpkin."

She just giggled and rested her head on his shoulder to watch the movie with him.

[soclonely]

Clones as some controversial or unpopular opinions you have, serious or funny ones!

I'll do a little mix of both, as a treat! **These are all my personal opinions**

Rex- Butter belongs at room temperature Echo- Steak should be served rare or medium rare Fives- All businesses should have employee only bathrooms that the manager is in charge of cleaning. The workers clean the customers, so its only fair the manager cleans theirs. Jesse- Dogs Rule, Cats Drool (metaphorically ofc. Duke soaks my floor after coming in from his walk) Kix- Pineapple belongs on pizza Tup- In high school, Gym should not be mandatory, however cooking and classic home ec or basic life skills classes should be. Dogma- Stop pressuring women into getting married and having kids because society deems it necessary. Let them choose their own paths Hardcase- The only good cup of tea is one with a lot of ice and a lot of sugar added (just kidding i like all but nothing beats sweet iced tea) Coric-Vegetables are better than dessert Bly- Some people are chasing love so much right now, that they forgt to learn to love and "date" themselves 99- State testing is a fucking sham way for schools to get money. Literally all you work on in elementary on is StAtE tEsTiNg PrEp and "oh do your best because this tests results is a grade for your teachers performance AND the schools!" How about you use a students overall grades at the end of the year and success rate over time? I come from Oklahoma City School districts where currently 60-70% of our schools are scab teachers because of protesting. This means that the current teachers teaching in their place are not fully qualified to teach them long term. My nephew has had 4 teachers this year! What about students with testing anxiety? What about them? Cody- Also teacher should be paid more. TF is this $22,000 a year my best friend is paid, with 7 years of experience? Waxer/Boil- Also everyone deserves a right to an education Wolffe- Trade school should be encouraged more. I am so tired of seeing as a society of people feeling pressured to go to college. Trade school is a fantastic alternative if there is nothing interesting for you at college. A majority of people who I know that dropped out after the first year said they only went for the experience. Its over glorified in movies and in school and we need to start admitting its not for everyone and thats okay! Boost/Sinker- The best music you will hear are the opening and closing songs for nearly any anime. Hunter- JarJar is hella sexy Wrecker- If you can't respect someone else's religion, beliefs (minus asshole nazi, terfs, and any other clearly toxic scenarios), life style choices, or existence than YOU are the problem. Tech- The biggest waste of money in my life was every school dance I went to and bought a dress for. I barely remember any details from prom, homecoming, or any of that. Crosshair- I love drinking pickle juice, love it iced, and love it in alcohol. Omega- There should be a mandatory retirement age for people working in the government, especially representatives of the people. Howzer- A woman shouldn't have to have her husband present in the room when talking to her doctor about birth control. My friend had to have her husband sign off a paper with his "knowledge" that she was getting a hysterectomy. Fucking bullshit no one has a say about my body but ME. Fox- Imperialism sucks so why are we still fucking doing it guys? Gregor- I can never give up on human kind no matter how shitty some people are. Earth has beauty, different cultures to explore, people to meet, and many amazing discoveries to uncover. There is more good than bad and we need to start embracing that.

[devildomdreams]

General Asmodeus Headcanons

The fifth brother and Avatar of Lust, Asmodeus, lover of everyone and above all himself! Generally an upbeat individual, you can find him usually at The Fall or in one of his favorite stores. Charismatic and attractive, you’ll have a hard time turning this demon down!

Behavior

Actually a bit of a party mom, he’ll hold your drink or nurse you after a particularly hard night of partying

Always has at least a small bag on his person. Next to shoes, that’s the fashion piece he has the most of

Humming or singing is his favorite pastime if he has to sit still somewhere, Asmo makes up his own melodies then asks everyone’s opinion on it

He’ll never leave out the “I” in the “I love you”, he wants you to know he means it!

Collects plush animals, all stacked neatly against a wall in his room

Food Preferences

A bit careful with his food, his skin has to look its best after all!

The one sweet he’ll always indulge in is a flavored soda, especially if it’s cherry

In charge of the popcorn on movie night, he has a knack for getting the taste just right

Doesn’t care about the temperature of the food, can, has, and will eat cold pizza if he stayed out late the night before

Will only drink coffee or tea if it’s served in a cute cup, preferably limited edition from Devilbucks

Misc

Regularly watches magical girl anime with Levi I forget if this is actually canon, he likes to try and help Levi recreate wearable versions of the costumes!

Like Mammon, he can have trouble reading boundaries, but will respect them and settle for a pout if you don’t want a hug (he’s not offended, though!)

He prefers colder weather, since it’s so easy to make cute layered outfits in addition to him just liking the snow

Follows vintage lamp accounts on Devilgram, he likes to send them to his friends and brothers if they remind him of them

Out of all the shoe styles, he prefers the look of kitten heels

[jjuzoir]

Homare Arisugawa General HCS

request: “Hi Sora! I never see any art/writing for my boy Homare from A3! (Maybe because his dialogue is so ridiculous.) Would you mind writing something for him?” from tlali

a/n: ahhh i don’t think i’ve ever taken so long in a request jdjdndnd but i just wanted to make it right because i love homare so much❕ he deserves everything and more i just HDHSJJA we need more homare love 🤬 his dialogue is hilarious and i feel like we need to appreciate his style more no more homare slander 🙅

word count: 1667

- He smells like earl gray tea. No one knows why since he uses unscented soaps, he says it’s probably because he spends most of his time drinking or around tea.

- He’s very particular about his hair, he uses very specific shampoos and conditioners that he will absolutely not share or change unless he notices his hair needs it. Talking about his hair, it’s naturally kind of dry so he uses a lot of hydrating products which leaves him with the softest, most fluffy hair ever. It’s like touching a cloud.

- One of his favorite gifts given to him is a tie given to him as a birthday gift by his members. Everyone pitched it, including Izumi, and Azuma picked it out. It’s black, much like his everyday tie, but it’s got a small embroidered snowflake.

- He’s got three main pairs of glasses; his everyday ones he keeps at hand when he goes out, his at home ones which are (according to him) less flattering, and his driving ones. Keep in mind he can’t drive, he doesn’t even own a car.

- He can speak french and latin, and he’s super loud about it too. He’ll sometimes slip in french phrases and no one will understand other than Chikage and it’s just a mess - Muku is always so amazed that he knows two other languages too and probably asks him to teach him sometime.

- Definitely has the prettiest handwriting when it comes to the roman alphabet, he writes in ink and with fancy pens that cost more than Banri’s tuition.

- Absolutely has a bunch of business cards printed out, each with its own quote made by him. Sakyo thought it was such a waste printing them until he realized that no matter how many Homare took when he went to run errands he always gave them all, to whom? No one knows.

- He’s very well respected in the literary community, which still shocks pretty much everyone. He gets stopped often by fans or people who’ve read his work, it happens at least once a day and Izumi really doesn’t… she doesn’t understand, poor girl.

- He’s not that good with phone calls, he’s not bad but he definitely prefers texting or just talking face to face. To him there’s just a certain level of discontent he doesn’t like that doesn’t exist in other mediums.

- His favorite shows are either comedies or heavy hitting detective shows, there is no inbetween. You’ll walk in on him watching a sitcom leave the room and walk in on a serial killer chase down.

- About his love for detective shows, his favorite pastime is trying to solve the mysteries with the main character. He’ll rewatch the episode so many times to try and pick up clues, he’ll take notes and come to a conclusion and he loves the feeling of getting it right.

- In the same spirit as the statement above, absolutely got Tsumugi and Sakyo hooked on some of his favorites and they hang out to talk about the latest episodes and the overarching mystery. The conversations can tend to get kind of heavy very quick, more than once Muku thought they were investigating a real crime and almost fainted.

- He looks like he’s probably allergic to wool sweaters, they make his skin itch and he always needs to use a shirt underneath them - so he tends to buy those expensive anti-allergic ones that need to be washed in a very specific way that could probably pay Tsuzuru’s whole college debt and it takes a lot of restraint from the playwright not to steal one and sell in the black market.

- Talking about Tsuzuru, he often gives him writing advice. Said advice tends to be very useful, like keeping a pen and notebook on him in case anything comes to mind during the day or writing daily to help ease him into a style, etc. Homare genuinely wants him to bloom into a writer and is willing to beta-read anything Minagi needs, be it a script or a sleep deprived rambling about the gay subtext in Nocturnity.

- Arisugawa sets himself reading goals each month, he likes to read at least one book. He prefers poetry books or classic english literature, but he also likes to read romance books or really bizarre dystopian novels.

- Has read more books than most people in the company and can give very detailed recommendations if you give him like a day.

- Sings operas in the shower, unless stopped he will keep going until the second act. Surprisingly good falsetto, but one time Tenma thought it was a Banshee for a second and almost cried into Juza’s chest.

- He’s not only an overly emotional drunk but also a loud drunk, he’s already quite loud but when he’s downed half a bottle of wine and a shot of vodka he’s louder than the Summer Troupe combined. Because of this, Izumi tends to restrict his alcohol intake when they’re at the dorm.

- I can see him being very big into musicals, not all musicals but a very specific niche; classic horror novels turned into musicals. He’s a very big fan of both the German and Korean versions of Dracula, his favorite song is probably “Zu Ende” or the Korean version of “It’s Over”. He also likes the Frankenstein musical too, but overall he finds Junsu’s Dracula more interesting thus his preference.

- He will talk your ear off if you mention any musical though, be it a classic like Phantom or something newer like Heathers.

- A very big fan of Ghibli movies, he told me so himself today. He really likes Spirited Away though, it’s a movie he’s watched so many times but he’s still completely enamoured by it; he probably has made the Winter Troupe watch it at least once and Hisoka definitely knows the beginning of the movie by heart now.

- Homare is also really good at drawing, not like Kazunari but he’s probably the second best. He learned by analyzing and looking at artists he admired and picking up on their techniques. A true Renaissance Man™️.

- I feel like he’d also have a bunch of skills that are kind of, useless? He can probably carve wood and make candles, he also took a course in glass blowing probably. Arisugawa just wants to try everything at least once, his motto is probably to explore and learn as much as possible, not just about art but the world (he can be surprisingly smart if you have a dictionary at hand).

- Very observant, just in general. Which can be both good and bad, it’s good because it helps him understand the situation in ways others might not but it leads to him to sometimes overthinking things and behaving in manners which may annoy or hurt others.

- He also has a hard time trying to react to social cues, as seen in game, with certain people. While he’s worked it out with the Winter troupe and the Mankai company he still struggles when it comes to new people.

- Will make little tunes he sings in the shower that kind of become a little daily song, each day there’s a new one he’ll hum.

- He also canonly makes music and he makes contemporary electro-pop, you cannot change my mind. He probably also mixes opera and classical music into his tunes, which can go from 1 minute to 10, so you end up with a very cool mix of orchestra and techno-pop - it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but he’s probably got his own niche group.

- Now, into more romantic HCs...

- He’s a good flirt, a very good flirt. They may sound weird looking back at it, but his pickup lines work and they work well.

- He knows when to stop pursuing someone too. He senses even a bit of discomfort and he’s backing away, won’t ask anything. Very big on consent and unless stated absolutely explicitly he’ll keep his distance.

- A true gentleman, please - he’ll never let his dates pay, always open the doors for them, will even do the “walk on the inside of the sidewalk” when he’s walking you home.

- His favorite dates tend to be ones where you get to know more about each other, not always necessarily by talking though. Being able to go into a bookstore and look at the books, seeing the ones you pick, what you pick at a cafe or restaurant, it all helps him draw a better picture of who you are and he likes to think it helps you get to know him better too.

- He’s very in tune with his S/O’s feelings but is afraid of overstepping any boundaries which may lead to some miscommunication at the beginning of the relationship. But it’s workable and it wouldn’t be that big an issue in the long run as long as his partner is willing to help him understand them.

- Not big on PDA, thinks certain things should remain inside - not to say he wouldn’t talk for hours about his partner to anyone who listens but things like kissing or hugs tend to be behind closed doors. He’s okay with hand holding and maybe a kiss on the cheek though!

- Likes wearing matching outfits with his S/O, thinks it shows how they’re “one in spirit, heart, and mind” and will not stop pointing it out to the point even married couples feel single as they hear him ramble on about the subtle coordination in your color schemes to create a perfect contrast.

- Notices the smallest things like how much sugar you like in your drinks, the telltale signs of when you’re lying or uncomfortable, how you act when you’re too cold or too hot, and learns it by heart.

- Homare is also the kind of boyfriend who’d confront the waiter if they get your order wrong, he’s not ashamed of it either.

- He kind of just wants to make sure you’re doing well and happy, he’s a gentleman.

- Damn… I love him so much

[kirain]

Hazbin Hotel and VivziePop Drama

I've been hearing/seeing a lot of drama concerning Hazbin Hotel and it's creator VivziePop, and while I don't know her personally or really care what people think, I do hate slander and the spread of misinformation. Truly nothing in this world upsets me more than when people believe rumours while making no effort to fact check, and that's exactly what's happening right now. That said, I wanted to try and clear up some of the rumours going around about Vivzie and the show, because I think some of them are absolutely outrageous and need to be addressed.

1. Vivzie hired an abuser onto the show.

Now, I’m not here to burn anyone at the stake, especially since I don’t know anything about Chris Niosi (the alleged abuser), who I believe openly admitted to the allegations? Regardless, this is a moot point. He’s not credited anywhere at the end of the episode. So either he was booted before production wrapped up or he had nothing to do with the show in the first place.

2. Vivzie supports bestiality.

Admittedly I thought this one might be true, since she draws so many anthropomorphic animals. In the very least, I figured she was probably a furry, but I haven't seen any evidence supporting this accusation either. Near as I can tell, this rumour started for two reasons. One, because of her famous Zoophobia comic, which revolves around a therapist named Cameron who gets assigned to work with human-like animals. Ironically, poor Cameron suffers from crippling zoophobia, which makes for some pretty decent comedy. I didn't read the whole comic because, quite frankly, it’s not my cup of tea and I just don’t have the time. But from what I saw there are no examples of bestiality anywhere in its contents.

Two, this message, which blew up all over social media:

To me, this just proves that people are more interested in virtue signalling than checking to see if their claims are actually true. Everything about this message is 100% false, which I’ll touch on in my next point.

3. Vivzie is a pedophile and she’s drawn child porn.

This is hands down the worst allegation and holy shit, I really wish people would stop using it to defame someone when they don't have any proof. This is a life-ruining accusation and you're disgusting if you believe it based solely on hearsay. This rumour began to spread when Vivzie allegedly shipped the two underage characters in the above photo and drew them NSFW-style. At the time, one character was 19 while the other was 14, and the relationship was a very illegal student-teacher relationship.

This is WRONG! The characters were not 14 and 19, they were actually 18 and 19, the legal age of consent! Additionally, the relationship wasn't student-teacher. One character is a student and the other is Alumni (a student teacher). This one pisses me off the most because it’s obvious the person who sent that message didn’t even bother to conduct any research. They said, “He’s a teacher, she’s a child.” Both characters are MALE!

Since then, Vivzie has apologised for any NSFW art she drew in the past and stated that it's not a reflection of her art today, and I'm inclined to believe her. Almost every artist has drawn NSFW content at some point in their career, and hers wasn't even distasteful. Other than this one example, there is no evidence anywhere that suggests she’s drawn “child porn”. In fact, she’s never even drawn explicit NSFW.

Please stop spreading this rumour. It’s dangerous and completely incorrect.

4. Vivzie said the "N" word!

No, she didn’t. It was a fabricated tweet. That is all.

5. Vivzie is copyright striking every video that criticises her!

No she isn't. YouTube’s DMCA is automatically striking people who are using full clips without permission. Vivzie has gone public several times, telling people exactly how to avoid getting a copy strike from the algorithm, which is something she absolutely does not have to do. At this point, she doesn't owe you anything. In my opinion, she should just sit back and watch these channels burn.

6. Vivzie copies and traces other artists’ work.

This is another one I’ve seen going around, but I looked into it as thoroughly as I could and failed to find any concrete evidence to support the allegations. As of right now, there are only two examples of Vivzie “copying” or “tracing” other artists’ work, and both of them can be explained. The first is a gif she made with a character from her Zoophobia comic, which looked a lot like the girl from ME!ME!ME!:

Damn, that’s pretty incriminating. She obviously stole-- oh, wait. This gif was part of a ME!ME!ME! MEP (multi editor’s project) and Vivzie didn’t take full credit, despite the fact that it’s not even a direct trace. It’s supposed to look like the original, which she fully cited. The second example comes from a short dance sequence from her Timber video, which seems to have been inspired by several Disney movies. As Vivzie herself stated, that was an homage to the original animations. Lots of artists and shows do this, including the beloved Stephen Universe series.

Regardless, this doesn’t count as stealing character designs or plagiarising someone’s work. It’s meant to be respectful, an admiration of other projects. Other than these two instances, however, there is no evidence of her tracing or stealing other people’s art. From what I’ve discovered, all other designs she’s been accused of “stealing” are characters she bought and paid for. They’re quite literally HER characters.

7. Vivzie supports problematic creators.

I’m getting really tired of guilt by association. Vivzie follows and enjoys some controversial figures, but who cares? We can argue all day about whether or not the accusations against them are true, but it ultimately has nothing to do with the show or Vivzie as a person. I do the exact same thing, to be honest-- follow and listen to people on all sides so I can learn, understand, and form my own opinions. The fact that some people think this is bad, to me, is absolutely mesmerising. Vivzie doesn’t control what the people she follows post, and if they do something overly questionable she publicly criticises and denounces it.

From Vivzie:

Now that that’s been dealt with, I’d like to address some complaints/claims about the actual show.

8. Vaggie is an angry Latina stereotype and a lesbian stereotype. Vivzie is appropriating Hispanic culture and misrepresenting the gay for profit.

First off, I see a lot of people passing around yet more misinformation regarding Vivzie's race. So many people seem to think she's white? Well, I'm here to tell you they're wrong. Very incorrect. Vivzie is in fact Latina, and Vaggie is meant to mirror some of her own personality traits.

Second, who is Vaggie mad at? Context matters, and if we take a look at the episode, we see that Vaggie is literally only mad at two specific people: Angel Dust and Alastor. Why? Well, for starters, it's her girlfriend's dream to run a rehab hotel for sinners, and Angel Dust nearly demolishes that dream single-handedly. Vaggie has every right to be over-the-top vitriolic. Then there's Alastor, a known sadist, narcissist, and murderer who loves trapping people in his nefarious schemes. He invites himself in, effectively takes over the hotel, and pushes both her and Charlie aside. At one point he even sexually assaults her by slapping her butt during his musical number. So yeah, I think her seething ire is totally justified. Keep in mind, however, that when she's around Charlie she's calm, collected, and happy. I wouldn't call that a stereotype.

Thirdly, the lesbian stereotypes. I keep hearing this argument but I really don't see it. Both Vaggie and Charlie have so much personality and trust for each other. Maybe I'm wrong, but the stereotype I know always totes a more butch, tomboyish woman with a ditsy, innocent, naive woman. Charlie is optimistic, but she isn't stupid. She refuses to shake Alastor’s hand because she knows he’s likely trying to screw her over. She’s also not entirely innocent herself and uses words like “fuck” and “shit”. I also wouldn’t call Vaggie butch or tomboyish. She has a cute, girly presentation, complete with a pink ribbon in her hair, lace stockings, and a dress. She's protective of her girlfriend, as I think we all are with our partners, and there's nothing wrong with that. They're flawed characters, as every character is meant to be. This isn't a problem.

9. The show is racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, blah, blah, blah.

I’m amazed this is even an argument. The show is supposed to be a dark comedy that takes place in HELL. You know, the place the worst of the worst end up after they die? What were you expecting? Everyone gets a shot or two fired at them, but that doesn't make them bad characters nor does it make the show itself horrible. Take, for example, Katie Killjoy, the news reporter so many people are up in arms about. She says she doesn’t “touch the gays” because she has “standards”. Well, here’s a newsflash of my own: we’re not supposed to like her! She’s an antagonist. Not to mention ten seconds later Charlie insults her and isn’t the least bit slighted by her pretentious attitude. The characters are strong and don’t take shit from anyone, because to some degree they’re all terrible people who can throw down when it’s called for.

Obviously if you don’t like the show or think it’s offensive, I’m probably not going to change your mind. That’s perfectly fine. You’re entitled to your opinions and you don’t have to watch the show. Just stop lying and stop trying to take it away from everybody else. Stop attacking Vivzie and spreading misinformation without checking the facts. I realise a lot of people probably aren’t trying to be vindictive and only want to do something good, but just remember this: the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[starlessea]

Ultimate Guide to Writing Accents and Dialogue

I recently saw an amazing post on how to keep your characters ‘in character,’  and I wanted to make my own about writing accents, dialects, and overall just creating dialogue that suits the people you are trying to portray.

I’m a language/linguistic student, so here are a few tips I think you should consider!

1) Standard Pronunciation: 

First you need to think about where your story is set, and what is the standard dialect of the majority of your characters compared to your main character. What I mean by this is, if your story is set in the South, and all of your characters therefore have that Southern drawl, then it becomes the STANDARD, and has nothing to contrast it unless you introduce something.

If your main character (your POV) has a different accent, then make it NOTICABLY different from the standard of your story. It’s good to have accent variety, otherwise all of your characters start to sound the same.

2) Constructing your Vocabulary: 

Next, you’ll want to consider the vocabulary of your character. Ask yourself questions about them: are they educated, what was their upbringing like, do they work in a field with specific vocabulary? You can strip it back even further than that - when you think of your character how would you describe them? Could you see a badass biker using long, sophisticated diction on a regular basis? Or an old woman swearing like a sailor?

Don’t get me wrong, these are very much stereotypes, and often the most interesting characters are created by subverting your expectations. But use these questions as a springboard for your characters. If you’re writing fanfiction, and know the characters well already from a movie / tv-show, then try to IMAGINE them saying your lines to see if they are something they would actually say. 

However, also note that the register of your characters is bound to change given the situation. Obviously, someone is more likely to use heightened vocabulary in a certain setting - e.g. within a classroom - and more casual language elsewhere - e.g. in a bar. See below for such a distinction:

Formal: Yes/No

Informal: Yeah/Nah

3) Orthography, Syntax and Morphology: 

Okay, so those words might look a little scary, but don’t worry. Orthography is just a fancy way of saying spelling (specifically, the standard spelling system of a time/place and how we might see a character deviate from it), syntax is word order, and morphology is how words are formed (such as grammar, inflections etc.). I’ll give some examples of what I mean.

Orthography: I’m going to use Daryl Dixon from TWD for reference (keywords: Southern drawl, redneck, country). For Daryl, some words he says I write phonetically (according to how he says them), so that the spelling matches the phonology. E.g.:

Standard: “Take care of yourself.”

Daryl: “Take care of yerself.” 

I tend to do this alot with pronouns, such as ‘you/ya,’ ‘your/yer.’ But I also use the long, standard forms for variety and emphasis - e.g. ‘you’re right.’

Syntax and Morphology:

Often, a character will use different syntax or morphological patterns that we aren’t used to. Often, non-native speakers are portrayed using types of English we often categorise as ‘incorrect’ - but are just non-standard. You can find good examples of this within Creole literature.

For example, past-tense verbs are usually conjugated in the present-tense form:

‘we was / if I was you’ instead of ‘we were / if I were you’ 

“I go now.” 

“She gives it to me yesterday.” 

Unfortunately, a lot of these conventions are also stereotypically used to portray characters who are uneducated - think of Joe or young Pip from Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, for example.

But, you also want to avoid STEREOTYPING your character too much, as that can come across as amateur or cliche. What I mean by this is don’t over-rely on certain patterns - don’t overuse them. It’s okay to have variety, even if its with the SAME character. Just do it in a way that fits your overall construction. You can even change these speech patterns DURING your story to represent the development of your character, or them picking up an accent, or being around different people.

4) Apostrophe and Negatives:

Apostrophe: These can be used to mark a number of things - such as abbreviations, contractions, possession etc. If your character has a certain accent, they might roll certain words into one another - not stressing specific consonants, for example. We can see this in ‘C’mon.’

Alot of abbreviations are now recognised slang words, too. For instance:

C’mon = Come on 

‘Cos = Because

Lil’ = Little

‘Ma = Mama / mother

Ol’ = Old

Think about whether certain abbreviations and slang matches the register of your character, as well as their location. For example, slang words like ‘cuppa’ (cup of tea) are usually expected in a British setting.

Also, remember that the apostrophe goes in the position of the letter/letters you are getting RID OF, which is not always necessarily in the place of the contraction. E.g:

‘Do not’ contracts to ‘donot’ which abbreviates to the standard ‘don’t.’

Going back to my Daryl Dixon example, other common abbreviations I use for him include the following:

‘Ing’ contraction - walking becomes walkin’.

 Anyone, anything - becomes ‘nyone, ‘nything

Pronoun contractions - her becomes ‘er.

Connective contractions - and becomes an’ or n’.

Other contractions don’t even need apostrophes - such as ‘gonna,’ ‘gotta,’ ‘sorta,’ ‘wanna.’

Negatives: 

Even though Standard English doesn’t use double negatives anymore, we can use them in our writing of characters as an indicator of their background or dialect. They can also be used for emphasis.

Coming back to Daryl, he tends to use a lot of double negative constructions:

“I ain’t nobody’s bitch.”

“Don’t want nothin’.”

“Ain’t go no reason to.”

If you want to get even more complex, you can have a proclitic negative (where the negative attaches itself to the verb - e.g. don’t), and contract it further so you get a multiple contraction. For example:

You (pronoun), Are (verb, form of ‘be’), Not (negative) = you ain’t = y’aint.

“Y’aint never done shit for me!”

Because this is a three way contraction, it becomes a bit confusing where to put the apostrophe - is it y’aint or y’ain’t? To be honest, it becomes mostly your choice after that (stylistic). 

5) Loanwords and Imposition:

Loanword: This is a word borrowed INTO the native language FROM another one. For example, think of an American speaker using a French word or phrase in a sentence.

“Thought we were all takin’ a laissez faire approach now?”

Think of how this changes the sentence, and the impact it is going for. French is still seen as a prestigious language, so it can be used to heighten register, or can be used to mock/patronise/be sarcastic in a certain context (as in this example).

Imposition: This is when a speaker uses a word FROM their native language in the context of a non-native language they are speaking. It has connotations of power and agency. 

For example, a French speaker might use a French term in a conversation, despite it having a perfectly good English counterpart. This might be in order to demonstrate that a character is trying to show off, or is reminding their peers of their background or status.

6) Non-verbal Indicators:

This is more on the border of style, but I thought it was worth mentioning. Sometimes, the descriptive words you use can reflect a character's dialect. An obvious example can be how ‘drawled’ is associated with a Southern accent.

Although it might sound cliche, you should think about the vocabulary you want to use in order to describe a certain accent. If we were to compare perhaps Scottish or Welsh with French, for instance, you would be able to hear the distinct sound differences. The former are more harsh, guttural, have a lot of sounds that come from the back of the throat, whilst the latter is nasal and flows more.

Use your descriptions to emphasise this. Look up synonyms that describe the WAY in which your characters are pronouncing the words. Are they guttural, harsh, gravelly, thick? Or are they soft, fluid, smooth?

Anyway, I’ve rambled enough. Good luck writing, everyone!

Disclaimer: Even though this post is long, it’s actually really basic on a linguistic level - so I hope no true linguists read this haha. These are just some personal observations, but I hope they help!

[capncassas]

If you could only read 10 novels for the rest of your life what would they be?

Oh dang! Hmm. This is a tough question - but I'm glad it wasn't one of those, "Whats your favorite," kind of questions because I have so many! If I could only read 10 novels for the rest of my life they would have to be ones I really loved and have done back to again and again.

1. Jane Eyre - Bronte, because personally I felt like it was teaching me that we will always struggle that's just the test of life, what matters the most is how we react and conduct ourselves in those times. I really like that.

2. Elizabeth's Wolf - Leigh. Obviously if I'm reading this book the rest of my life I want a nice little romance and some ✨spice✨ that is to my liking.

3. Doctor Sleep - King. I've head The Shining multiple times and I love it BUT if I could only read one? It would be Doctor Sleep. I read that book in two days and then turned around and re-read it again I loved it so much. I'm a sucker for good triumphing over evil. (If I could recommend, this one is HIGHLY recommendable as well as The Institute by Stephen King as well.)

4. Flowers in the Attic - Andrews, at one point I actually had the entire series. I would SQUEEEEE to have them all again. Tricky thing? Last I checked, Flowers in the Attic is still popular in print but I had to go to a used book store that smelled like roaches and rat peepee to find the rest of them. Sadly I lost them all in a cross country move. This story will break your heart at literally every turn (I will caution you, if you don't know, now you know, there is incest in these books however its not being fetishized or written as a kink. It's just heart breaking. I dont know why I like my heart broken but I do. I still cry every time little Corrie dies.)

5. The Southern Bookclubs Guide to Slaying Vampires - Hendrix, I bought this book twice I loved it so much. Once for my kindle and again in paperback. If you like vampire horror/suspense books then I think this is a good one to pick up. Seriously, if you are a fan of Salem' Lot , you'll love this one.

6. Not title just anything by Janet Evanovich. I love her writing style.

7. Jurassic Park - Critchon. In case you didn't know the films are based on his works, at least the first two films. Sadly, Michael Crichton has passed away. I have an awesome hardcover copy of this book in brown leather than is embossed with the skeleton of the T-Rex and the leathers made to feel like dinosaur skin. It's like...the pride of my collection plus it was a very sweet birthday gift.

8. Heart-Shaped Box - Hill, AH! I've re-read that book so many times I had to buy a new copy. It's probably not everyones cup of tea and I'm sure Joe Hill has written far better since as he expands his writing craft but I really liked this one. (PS its a ghost story).

9. Chaos. Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the sixties - O'Neill, if you are interested in literally ANY of these topics ...10/10 recommend. When I finished this book, I had to go re-read one of the above to lighten the load of my brain because honestly...the topic matter is some pretty heavy stuff. And yes, I have read Helter Skelter. I own two copies for some reason.

10. The Lost World - Critchon, come on. You didn't think I would put Jurassic Park on this list and not have the sequel? If you loved the movies you'll enjoy these too. (PS, pertaining to Jurassic World, John Hammond was a DICK and he didn't give a FUCK about his grand kids on the island. So, you've got that to look forward to.)

Thank you so much for the ask dear anon, I enjoyed this.