#preferences are subjective i just like big dudes

[semisolidmind]

so if vampires aren’t your cup of tea, how do you feel about werewolves, the other most common monstrous love interest?

also how am i just seeing the dj revamp omg DADDYS HOME-

(ah yes, DJ. probably my most popular oc)

i like werewolves more, yes. i feel that there's a bit more you can do with them, as far as what they can be. like, they don't even have to be wolves. werebears, wererabbits, werecats, werewhatever; you can fit anybody that sometimes turns into a creature into the were category.

not a huge fan of the modern iterations that focus on outdated alpha-beta-omega dynamics and being aggressively macho aggro all the time, but id be lying if i say that i don't like that they're usually portrayed as a bit possessive (but that depends on how it's written). they can be big adorable puppies that want your love and attention AND unhinged killing machines. you can have both.

if i had to choose between the werewolf and the vampire in a typical YA love triangle, (depending on the circumstances) i would usually pick the werewolf.

[melminli]

Dirty Cash (Money Talks)

summary - you had nothing against your colleague, but you weren't stupid enough to be fooled by his innocent smile and appearance since you knew exactly what kind of corrupt person was hiding behind that costume. after all, you were wearing the same one.

pairing: (gong yoo/ji-cheol) the salesman x fem. recruiter reader

word count: 1.4k

contains: talk about gambling + death and murder, sexual tension?, crack and just evil morals tbh

a/n: i watched maybe the first fifteen minutes or so of bullet train, but i thought of the two funny dudes from it while writing this bcuz their dynamic was funny af. also, i will use the actor's name in this fic since the character itself doesn't really have an official one that was mentioned in the series!

You straightened your tie with your free hand while watching your train approach from the side. The station was always pretty empty at this hour, which saved you the jostling and squeezing as you entered. After that, you sat down comfortably with a light sigh - next to the free seat beside your devilishly handsome colleague. “Are you alright? Don't tell me that you had a exhausting day?” he asked you worriedly with his typical innocent smile on his face but you've known the guy for a while now and you knew exactly how dishonest he sounded right now.

You returned his gaze for a second, uninterested, before turning it back in front of you to observe your surroundings from the window. “Exhausting day? Don't make fun of me or I'll punch you in the face,” you replied monotone and Gong Yoo didn't doubt your statement for a second - or Ji-cheol as you preferred to call him since you weren't a big fan of nicknames. “I had a great time punching those bastards in the face one by one. It feels kinda therapeutic, so I'm actually feeling pretty good right now,” you told him, talking about the subject as if you were talking about the weather.

Your colleague grunted with delight at your good news. “And I would never disagree with you on that.” he said and then just watched your figure silently for a while before speaking up again. “Since you're in such a good mood, would you be willing to play a more private game between the two of us?” he suggested, making you look at him in utter disbelief.

“A private game? With you?” you repeated, amused and laughed in his face. “Hell, no. But don't worry, I'll let you know next time I want to get totally screwed by a freaky pervert,” you added, your voice dripping with sarcasm. Which will be, never.

“Come on, don't be like that,” he asked you sweetly. As sweet as the wolf who pretended to be the mother of the seven little goats before he ate them all one by one. “It's just a tiny, harmless game. It's been so long since we've played anything together.” he complained to you earnestly as if you actually cared, and you didn't.

Yeah, you remembered the last time very clearly, even if you would much rather prefer that you didn't. You hummed. “Is that so? Huh. I mean, it could be because you almost killed me in a fucking game of tic-tac-toe the last time, but that's just a theory.” You said with a shrug, clearly still resenting him for that. However, he just rolled his eyes unaffected by your grudge. “But you didn't, right? It was the other guy who got the bullet in his head.” He replied, not even remembering his name. Not that he had to.

You just glared at him while you rubbed your forehead. “Yeah, maybe. But I'm tired of risking my life just because it makes you horny and you can jerk off to it.” You made your feelings on the matter clear. “You know that the whole living on the edge of death thing isn't really my cup of tea. At least try to understand me a bit here, too.”

I suppose she's not entirely wrong, I could give it a try. I never thought about it like that before, did I? He thought to himself in his head as he ran his tongue over the back of his teeth while he pondered. How selfish of me. “So what exactly do I have to do, to convince you?” He asked you while he already had a few ideas in mind.

You grinned. “You know that very well, don't play dumb.” You demanded as you leaned closer to him so that he could hear what you were singing softly. “Money talks, money talks - dirty cash, I want you, and dirty cash, I need you, oh ~”

He raised an eyebrow, not particularly surprised. “So you want to play for money?” He repeated it, not outright rejecting your request. “Don't you have enough of that already? You're really insatiable when it comes to cash and now you want mine, too?” he joked just to get you worked up.

Though, you didn't get the slightest bit offended by what he said. “Can you ever have enough money? Besides, I'm not forcing you to give it to me, am I?” you said with a smile, already knowing that he would agree to your terms. “But if you want me to play with you, I want eight million won for every round I win.”

She's so greedy for someone who is already more than wealthy. “Aren't you exaggerating a bit? Most people don't earn that much in a month,” he continued his act of - whatever this was - because he just loved arguing with you.

“So? We both have the same salary, I know you can afford it,” you said, holding a hand in the air as soon as you felt that he wanted to stretch this unnecessary conversation even more. “You have to decide now what you want to do or I withdraw my proposal again.”

Gong Yoo closed his mouth and started grinning even wider. “You don't even want to know what kind of game I want to play?” he asked curiously, nodding and accepting whatever you wanted as soon as he saw that you actually weren't interested. You couldn't even imagine how gladly he gave in to you at this moment. “All right, I agree with your request.”

You stood up with your briefcase in hand after your station was announced. “Good. Text me when you have something in mind, I'll be there as long as it fits timewise.”

Your colleague continued to watch you with a look on his face that used to make you more than just uncomfortable back in the day - though, it didn't even bother you in the slightest now. “You don't want to accompany me to the...office?”

You smiled while the train started to slow down. “Au revoir, Ji-cheol.” you just said your goodbye to him and stepped out of the doors. You didn't even spare the poor guy a second glance when he waved his hand at you from the window. She can be so heartless sometimes, he thought to himself, even if you were like this pretty much all the time. I'll have to think of something good to ask for in return should I win. I'm definitely not going to hold back when there's this much money at stake.

You didn't give a second thought to anything as you made your way home after a day's work like any normal citizen would do. However, your steps slowed considerably when you noticed a beggar in your field of vision and even though the rest of the crowd ignored the man and his entire existence, you couldn't help but focus your full attention on him. You looked at your watch, I've been off work for a while now. But even then, you couldn't help but notice that he was one of the people on your list to recruit for the game. He'll still be here tomorrow, but I don't mind another round of Ddakji. I love money more than anything - but I'm not doing this job for only that.

“Excuse me,” you spoke to the man with a polite smile on your face, and he only submissively avoided your gaze as he listened to you. After all, one rarely approached people like him and why would they? He held his cup of loose change out in front of him, probably expecting you to give him a small donation, but you wanted to give him so much more than that. Even if the guy didn't know it right now - you wanted to give him another chance in life, so that he wouldn't continue to be just a miserable failure.

You ignored his donation cup. “I was wondering if you might have a moment because I'd like to make you an offer,” you continued politely and the man met your gaze at that. Yeah, you were really looking forward to what was about to happen - after all, you were known for letting your opponent only win if you allowed them to.

[takes1]

ur blog is so pretty...

if you are okay with it, do you have any headcanons bout what type or p0rn the Karasuno boys would watch? 🌹

what type of p*rn would the karasuno team watch?

warnings. heavy nsfw under the cut. minors DNI

characters. suga. daichi. asahi. tsukki. kageyama. hinata. nishinoya. tanaka. yamaguchi. details. lots of kink discussion - just about anything you can think of

links. my masterlist. my ao3. more haikyuu. my imagines. requests open.

suga९᠀ - likes a good storyline video. loves a bad one. shitty acting gets him laughing, and he needs every chance he can get to feel as though he isn't sinning. won't say no to an amateur flick, but he likes the structure of 4k videos, and is a suuuucker for the 'oiled up' aesthetic.

asahi९᠀ - buddy has a rampant size kink that doesn't get much of an outlet. downside: most videos that cater to this are not what he wants, because of the unavoidable infantilization in most of them. so he opts for amateur vids with bigger guys turning out their smaller girlfriends, wives; extra props if there's some real, organic dirty talk, or if it happens to be super low-quality.

daichi९᠀ - has no shame about his oral fixation. face fucking. deepthroat. he's got any video with some lucky dude getting good head memorized by the title and the preview. his favorites are either: when the guy stays hands-off and silent, or when she takes a load down her throat. not much in between.

tsukishima ९᠀ - is a filthy animal with a porn addiction. will watch/has watched just about everything under the sun. he had a bukkake faze, a gangbang faze, but is now proudly serving his bdsm faze with specific interest in femdoms. shiny, black heels get him hard in an instant. has done the tried-and-true bdsm questionnaire in his spare time and does heaps of research on the community, usually as a pregame to jerking off.

kageyama ९᠀ - no particular preferences. but if he's got a crush on somebody, he will strictly watch lookalikes. it wasn't a conscious habit at first, but after the third time it happened, he couldn't articulate any other reason to look up seven descriptors in the search bar and get 0 results. how well/quickly he gets off is based on how well the actor or subject looks his crush. it's a long endeavor, too. he edges for as long as he can, and almost always does it twice.

hinata ९᠀ - can't watch porn long enough to build any strong preferences. has sensitivity/premature ejaculation issues, so he tends to just listen to whatever video he landed on. this has opened more of a pipeline to nsfw audios, instead. loves the sound of two bodies coming together, especially all the little pants and huffs in a video that aren't faked. has gotten insanely good at being able to tell if it's fake, too.

nishinoya ९᠀ - doesn't watch videos; similar problem to hinata. instead, yuu buys physical hentai novels. big fan of monster-fucking. tentacle stuff is a staple in his readable porn. he guards his collection with his life and would sooner lose a limb than have anybody go near the shelf that he keeps them hidden behind. once, asahi stood too close during a sleepover and -naturally- yuu bit him as a distraction, just to get him away from the area.

tanaka ९᠀ - wlw videos. solo-girl vids. he can't stand to watch something with a guy in it. it's huge turn-off, especially when the dude is too loud, or in the way, too soft, or straight-up ugly. learned to love the slow, women-catered stuff that's 40 minutes long and has plot to follow. also picked up a lot of tongue tricks from these vids, too. (congrats, kiyoko!)

yamaguchi ९᠀ - mmf threesomes. i think ya'll know what i'm getting at, here. either he 1: is poly and doesn't know it, 2: is gay and doesn't know it, 3: is genuinely very enticed by the idea of overstimulating a gorgeous girl, OR 4: can't see himself as enough for a potential partner, and this might be a subconscious way of evading that insecurity.

notes. i'm very sorry to any who were looking for ennoshita, kinoshita, or narita. i tried, but genuinely couldn't get anything going for any of them. they all seem like nice guys, but there's no material that i can properly make nasty.

taglist. @integers @paradoxicalwritings @yuchacco

links. my masterlist. requests open.

[munson-blurbs]

Everybody Talks (Best Friend!Eddie x Fem!Reader)

Summary: You've worked hard to keep your crush on your best friend a secret, since he doesn't feel the same way. But when the Hellfire Club members open their big mouths, it threatens everything you've tried to hold together.

Warnings: some angst, fluff, mentions of financial insecurity

WC: 1.5k

--

“Pizza’s here!” you call out, carrying a stack of pies into the Wheeler house. “I got one pepperoni, one mushroom, and one plain for all the boring people,” you tease, looking directly at Eddie as you say it.

“I prefer classic,” he retorts, taking the boxes from your hands and setting them on the table. The rest of the guys start to crowd around him, paper plates in hand, practically drooling at just the sight of food. “Hey, hey,” he chastises, pushing them out of the way, “ladies first.” He offers you a plate and you take a slice, quickly moving aside before you’re trampled by the herd of hungry teenage boys.

“So,” Gareth says to Eddie between bites, “your last Hellfire campaign is over and done with. How’s it feel?”

“You wish,” Eddie scoffs, plopping down next to you on the sofa. “Just because I’m graduating doesn’t mean I’m done kicking your asses in D&D.” He chugs his plastic cup filled with Mountain Dew and wipes his lips with the back of his hand. “Anyone else want a refill?” he asks, shaking his empty cup before looking over at you. “Oh, shit; you don’t have anything to drink. Diet Coke, right?” Before you can protest that you can get it yourself, he’s up and pouring you a glass.

“Thanks,” you smile, taking a sip. The bubbles fizz on your tongue as you lean back, careful not to get too close to Eddie. Not that you don’t want to; the mere thought of him draping his tattooed arm around your shoulders makes you giddy. 

Just a few more months, you think to yourself, and I’ll be off at college, meeting new people, and I won’t have to worry about my embarrassing crush on my best friend.

“You guys ready for prom tomorrow?” Mike asks, interrupting your pity party.

Jeff nods. “Just gotta pick up a corsage for Barb, and she’s getting me a, um, a…”

“Boutonniere?” you fill in helpfully, and he snaps his fingers and replies, “yeah, that thing.”

“What about you?” Lucas pipes up, turning to Eddie. “You ever decide who to ask?”

“Oh, he decided,” Jeff laughs, earning a scowl from his friend. “Too bad she decided to go with Jason Carver.”

Dustin throws his hands up in exasperation. “Dude, you’re still hung up on Chrissy Cunningham?” He rolls his eyes. “I told you; she’s sweet, but she’s not your type. You need someone who’s as nerdy as you are.” His eyes scan the room. “You know, like Y/N.”

You feel your cheeks burn with humiliation, not at Dustin calling you a nerd; you know he means that with utmost affection. It’s not even the idea of Eddie asking you out that has you nervous; it’s the prospect of him laughing at the thought. You’ve done a great job hiding your puppy love a secret from him, and you’d like to keep it that way.

“Ha!” Gareth barks out. “She wishes!”

No. No no no.

Tears spring to your eyes, and you can’t think of a decent excuse to leave before you’re dashing through the door, letting the screen slam behind you. There’s no lie in what Gareth said; you do wish Eddie had asked you to prom. Every time that the subject of the dance came up, you’d waited with baited breath to see if he’d say something to you. But he’d always ignore it, eager to move on to the next topic. And now you knew why: he wanted to take Chrissy, but she was in love with someone else. How ironic.

You’re almost at your car when you hear the squeak of the front door opening. “Sweetheart, wait!” Eddie shouts, probably a bit too loud for the short distance between you two. “I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” you tell him softly as he jogs over to where you’re leaning against the passenger side door. “‘S not your fault.”

“Kinda is,” he shrugs, bringing you to the front steps and motioning for you to sit next to him. “I mean, I was the one who went to a freshman for romantic advice. That’s the last time I do that; I don’t care how nauseatingly cute he and his singing girlfriend are.” He gives a small chuckle, but neither of you meet the other’s gaze.

Hold on. Freshman? Singing girlfriend? “Eddie, what are you talking about?”

Eddie stops gnawing on his lower lip long enough to answer you. “I’m talking about you being embarrassed by Henderson’s painfully obvious last-ditch effort to get me to man up and finally ask you out.” His brows furrow when he sees your similarly confused expression. “That’s not…what are you upset about?”

“Um, Gareth blabbing to everyone that I wanted you to ask me to prom?” You finally allow yourself to look at him, noticing the dejected look on his face. 

“I couldn’t do that,” he mutters, resting his palm sideways over his mouth and shifting his body away from yours. His words come out all muffled, but you can still make out what they are.

“I wouldn’t have said no to you,” you reassure him, mustering up all of your courage to place your hand on his bouncing knee. He relaxes almost immediately, but he still seems sad. “Eds, what’s wrong?”

His eyes are misty when he turns back to you. “I couldn’t ask you to prom because…because I couldn’t afford it,” he confesses, twisting his skull ring around his finger anxiously. “The tickets, a tux, those fancy wrist things…best I could do is steal some flowers from Mrs. Wheeler’s garden.” He hums out a sad laugh. “‘M sorry, sweetheart. I wanted to take you, but I knew I’d just be letting you down.”

“But Jeff said you were going to ask Chrissy,” you point out.

Eddie shrugs. “Don’t get me wrong; Chrissy’s nice and everything, but I just said that so he’d get off my back. Because if I told him the truth, he wouldn’t shut up until I made a move.” He sighs. “His dad’s a lawyer, and his mom runs her own business. He doesn’t understand what it’s like to worry about having enough food in the house, let alone all the extra shit like prom.”

You’re quiet for a beat, letting everything sink in. You knew Eddie lived in Forest Hills Trailer Park, and you knew money was often tight. Wayne worked hard to keep a roof over their heads, but the plant didn’t pay nearly enough. There were many occasions where you’d spotted Eddie eyeing something in the grocery store and instinctively thrown it in your cart for him, but for some reason, it hadn’t even occurred to you that finances was the reason he’d avoided talking about the prom.

“I wish you’d told me,” you finally say. “I would’ve understood.”

“Yeah, I know.” Eddie rubs his nose against his hand, another nervous tic of his. “That was never the problem. You’re the most understanding fuckin’ person I know. You just…I dunno. You deserve the whole ‘prom’ experience, not whatever half-ass version I could offer you.”

At that, you can’t help but giggle. “Eddie,” you begin, “do you really think I wanted to go to prom so I could wear a fancy dress and uncomfortable shoes in a stuffy gym? I just wanted to dance with you, and then spend the night on your couch watching stupid movies and eating junk food and talking shit about everyone who was there.” You look deep into his chocolate brown eyes, nearly losing yourself in their beauty. “I just wanted to be with you.”

Eddie stares at you, gaze traveling down to your lips. “Can I kiss you?” he asks, voice barely above a whisper.

“If you don’t, I’ll kiss you.” 

Your mouths crash together clumsily, but you’re too happy to care. You soak in every part of it: Eddie’s stubble rubbing against your chin, the way he tastes like stale cigarettes and marinara sauce, his curls brushing your cheeks. He only breaks the kiss to take a breath, and then he’s back, more purposeful in his movements the second time around. He brings his hand to your jawline, caressing it gingerly with his thumb as he parts your lips with his.

“Can’t believe I just did that,” he muses, smiling at you shyly. “Been wanting to kiss you for too goddamn long.” He leans in, frowning when you place your hand on his chest to stop him. “What?”

“You gotta take me on a date before you kiss me again,” you inform him, lacing your fingers through his. “When are you free?”

“Uh, right now? We can grab ice cream at Scoops. Lemme just get my keys.” He stands up quickly to head back towards the house.

“Wait, Eddie,” you call out to him, “what about the guys? And pizza night?”

“Who cares? I have a date with the most beautiful girl in Hawkins.”

--

[bambi-kinos]

Hopefully, this ask is a fun one! I've noticed that a lot of times you mention Paul is a bottom, and honestly, I agree 1000% per cent, but I'm curious how you came to that conclusion

For me, I feel like it was a result of tons of reading up on him, body language + his lyrics, and I think the whole control freak (misleading in a way too) part makes some fans think he's a top. Meanwhile, I sit here and think, nope, he's totally a bottom lmao

A lot of it is just wish fulfillment as a result of Paul's bus-sized ass. We're not the only ones thinking about it:

Like it would be a crime if John didn't fuck Paul in the ass. Right??? So it's easy to think "yeah Paul is a bottom" rofl.

But more seriously, I view Paul as a bottom for a number of reasons.

The first is simply how long John and Paul knew each other and how they naturally shaped each other's interests and desires. Paul may not have been that 'swishy' (i.e. effeminate) if he had never met John in the first place. It's easy to see how John and Paul's understanding of homosexuality would have shaped their presentation and the roles they took with one another. Like, in modern times two gay guys can just be Guys Being Dudes. They can both take shirtless selfies of themselves holding up fish with the 🤙 going "shaka braaahhh." In the mid 20th century this idea was not terribly widespread so even among gay people there was an impression of "well someone has to be the woman and it's not going to be me."

So I think that's a big part of it. It's impossible to know how conscious a decision this was but IMO John and Paul reached a consensus of some sort that Paul would take up the feminine role in response to John's masculine one. It's a natural (for a given value of 'natural') position for the feminine half to be the one who is penetrated. Paul, who has demonstrated a number of times his sharp awareness of homosexual activity and how society perceives it, would know this. And he took up that position anyway and kept with it, voluntarily. (And to be clear I think Paul stimulated John's butch attitude and grew that to make John more overtly masculine as well. This goes both ways.)

It's not hard to see why this happened. John is a lot more naturally traditionally masculine than Paul is, no matter what John said about being "soft velvet" and "le Oscar Wilde!!11!!1!" He's the one who got into bar fights and hammered the shit out of other men. He's the subject of a rumor about kicking Stuart in the head, not Paul. Personally I think Paul is perfectly capable of violence, even extreme violence, but he simply isn't perceived that way due to his feminine appearance. Meanwhile John is overtly aggressive and in your face about it, even when going through his druggie periods, which is simply a more traditionally masculine trait no matter how you slice it.

I guess what I'm saying is, Paul responded to and was shaped by John's personality and preferences. John likes to fuck, Paul leans more towards feminine expression, feminine = 'the one who is fucked' not necessarily 'the one who fucks.'

I don't believe they were thinking about this as teenagers (and I don't think they did anything besides circlejerking before Hamburg.) And Paul likes using his dick! However it seems obvious to me that John woke something up in Paul that would have naturally lain dormant under other circumstances. John had a habit of doing this for people, he woke them up to their higher inclinations that got them out of their boxes and I 100% believe that he nudged Paul's 'swishiness' awake and that Paul quietly used this to get out of the box other people wanted to keep him in. He was able to embrace this more fully while with Linda. For Paul, that swishiness comes packaged with a certain set of implications and to me there's no reason why he wouldn't embrace that.

That's not to say that he was completely gung-ho from the start. People who write Paul going 'wtf I'm not doing that' in response to John wanting to fuck him are writing material that feels 'real' for lack of a better word. But I also don't think it would be that hard of a sell once he got used to the idea. Really look at this gif:

John's interest in Paul's backside is overt. Paul seems surprised and a little overwhelmed in the moment but he also smiles a little in response to John checking him out. It seems to me that there's interest there, albeit tentative. In other words Paul seems okay with being the one who is piped.

It's a lot to surmise from a single gif, I know, but otoh we don't have a lot of these moments where John's feelings are overt and Paul responds to them.

In addition to all this, Paul is a curious hedonist. I think John could prevail on him to at least try it. Then I think Paul would enjoy it greatly. Anal orgasms are somewhere between clitoral and vaginal for me but anal sex is satisfying in a way that PIV isn't, and I think Paul would actively seek it out once he tried it and realized how good it is. Anal sex is extremely intimate and John paid close attention to his lovers, Paul is guaranteed a good time once John takes him to bed. And John would want to make that special for Paul especially once Paul did 'break down' and go 'alright I'll do it' as part of their kinky power game. John did like to make things sweet for Paul.

Paul has this whole thing about wanting to be John's second and not necessarily the leader. He enjoys being lead and dominated by powerful men who are at the top of their industry. Check out this quote from McCartney Legacy Vol. 1 in Chapter 26:

Paul explicitly giving in to a "strong and demanding" male after putting up a perfunctory fight that he had no intention of sticking to? What does this remind us of?

And look, Paul invites this himself very deliberately:

Paul is doing this on purpose. He shows his ass off to entice us, the viewers, into imagining his hole and putting our dicks inside said hole and inside him. Women appreciate a nice ass but lack the equipment to fuck it properly. Men do have the equipment and by 1965 Paul knows his effect on heterosexual men. He's very much dangling the fuckability of his ass as a carrot in front of everyone who wants to look. No other Beatle displays this kind of overt neediness for this specific kind of attention. Paul knows what he is doing.

Paul is a bottom. A needy and bratty bottom who enjoys being put in his place and has a thick kinky streak to be sure, but a bottom nonetheless.

The insistence that Paul is a top has always smacked of contrarianism, to me anyway lmao. It's always packaged with making fun of McLennon fanart where Paul is yassified and John is butch or with complaints that Beatle fandom is making Paul "too feminine" and John "too masculine." There's a lot I could say about it but for now I'll just leave it at this: it's usually paired with bitching that McLennon fans are having too much fun. Many are guilty of it.

John and Paul themselves acknowledged this dynamic between them in oblique ways. John, Paul, and even Yoko always imagined Paul as being a woman as well as acknowledging that Paulina would have been romantically attached to John. Paul acknowledged it with the "if I were a woman maybe I could have...." thing, Yoko said that Paul would be a "great threat" if he was a woman in her audio diary that she recorded in 1968/1969, and John also has a quote floating around about the potential that lay in Paul being a woman though I'll be damned if I can't find the stupid thing. And then there's the insulting "Lennon's Princess" nickname from Apple staff. They perceived the dynamic as well.

John and Paul, consciously or not, actively pursued this dynamic with one another. They enjoyed it and Paul voluntarily stayed in that role even during a time period where he might have been justified in going "okay we've hit the big time, no more of that!"

Just look at Paul's posture here lmao. John is shoving his erection into Paul's shoulder. Yeah he's trying to hide it but Paul is fine with it, shoulders relaxed with no tension in him at all. Paul wasn't just John's princess, John was also Paul's knight, and that comes with certain responsibilities as well as privileges.

John was overtly more stable when he had sex on tap. John and Paul actively lived together for months at a time where few people could get to them. Seems to me that Paul not only did his job but took a lot of pleasure in doing it and John reaped the benefits. Notably John didn't start falling apart until they stopped touring and his sexual access to Paul was bottlenecked. Then 1967 rolls around and John just sorta, moved in with Paul and noticeably got back on an even keel.

Many thunks are to be had my friend! Many thunks indeed and one of them is that Paul is a bottom. Not just that, an enthusiastic one that likes courting powerful and even emotionally unstable males capable of overpowering him.

Much to consider!

[digenerate-trash]

Outta town freaks just as promised!!! Yandare head cannons. (Blackwolf and great hawk be harder to write for because animals are weird and obsessive anyway)

amab. again. Easier to write for

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Eden:

Eden is definitely one of those mother fuckers whose whole thing is "If I can't have you no one can".

big possessive man with an insecurity complex the size of the moon

but since no one can get to you Eden feels pretty secure in you loving him back eventually

if you're sold to him by Bailey a couple weeks in eden tells Bailey you died. You couldn't handle the cold out in the woods.

if he captures you there's no need for him to lie to anyone. He keeps you trapped in the cabin till you love him back.

prefers to use leashes cages and locks to keep you in place. He's very realistic about you not wanting to be there at first but he thinks with training and a strict routine you'll just fall in line. No matter how defiant.

will absolutely Break your leg to keep you in the cabin.

is fine with blood. But doesn't want to cut off your leg or arms to keep you in place because he's not confident you'll stay alive. He's a butcher, not a surgeon.

really wants you to fall in line. He gets desperate the more defiant you stay as the weeks go on. Harsher punishments, more broken bones. Starvation. Anything to keep you down and weak.

if you give In to the hunter immediately he's suspicious but happy. He watches you carefully. Every movement you make is watched carefully. You can tell he's studying you.

once Eden is fully comfortable with you being in his home he really starts to get possessive. Spouses are supposed to stay home after all. Take care of things for him while he works out in the dangerous woods

you're not allowed past the clearing. Even washing clothes in the spring isn't supposed to be done when Eden isn't home.

absolutely no going to town. The town is dangerous and dirty and gross. Freaks live there. Freaks that could hurt his spouse and it's his job to keep you safe.

he brings you gifts from the woods. Sometimes they're things that remind him of you and sometimes it's barries or flowers. Something he thinks you'll like. He never offers an explanation he just thrusts it in your hands.

when wolves (or even people) get too close to the cabin it's shoot first for Eden. He'll drag the carcass on the porch if you're still defiant when this happens. He might even brag about how he's a perfect shot. So it's just best for everyone if you listen.

✦•····················································•✦•···················································•✦

Remy:

Remy honestly would rather not have feelings for you but now they can't stop it. You're their favorite little riding student after all.

Remy is pretty body-focused and that's mainly what he likes about you. He thinks your body is perfect.

very touchy, Feels you up as he rides with you on horseback. He digs his nails into your wrist when you tell him you have to leave.

he's enamored with you. The only problem is when you start to talk with Alex you get it in your head that he's the enemy.

he knows he could just convince you otherwise but it's much more fun to watch you fight with him. (He knows you're not serious you're just playing)

talking with Remy is like talking to a brick folksy wall. Witty banter. Coy remarks. He takes all your insults with a smug grin.

getting on his bad side is a hell of its own making though because no questions asked you're going to the underground farm.

You are separate from the other animals though. Too precious to Remy to be with the others. But he makes sure you understand what kind of person he can be when you refuse to behave.

you will absolutely never meet harper even if Remey has subjected you to living as livestock. Remy knows how much of a freak that dude is.

he still loves you and your body even though the changes it goes through. When you can't speak words anymore he sees it as a win. He doesn't need to have an intelligent partner. He just needs you to be here. Under his control. That way he can at least convince himself that you're happy here.

✦•····················································•✦•···················································•✦

Alex:

He is mostly just a big puppy. He wants you around always and will never take no for an answer.

the only dude who's more family-focused than Alex is probably Kylar.

determined to breed you. Dude will never quit. Wants a picture-perfect household and a barefoot spouse to boot

wants to lay in bed all day with you but since he's got work to do he's dragging you along with him.

will never leave your side. He's keeping you company always. Dude is clingy.

obsessed with making you. Bites hickies bruises. Whatever he can get away with. Even when you tell him it's too much hell always say next time he'll be more careful. But he isn't.

it only gets bad when you say you don't love him or that you can't be with him. sends him into hysterics.

he says it's fine. It's not. The first few days apart from you are fine. But eventually, he gets too worked up.

hell track you down. Whether you are in serious danger or just returned to town. He'll tell you all about how he misses you and he can't take it and how his heart breaks when you're not there.

guilt trip to the extreme until you come back home with him.

if that doesn't work hell just overpower you. Hell, justify it by telling himself it's just a temporary measure. That you really want a life with him but other people are holding you back. And once you are back at the farm Alex is happy to dote on you again. More than before. He is extra sweet as well. Your favorite meals are served up he lets you take breaks from farm work when you like. He carves you little trinkets and gifts. Anything to make you forget about a life outside of him.

✦•····················································•✦•···················································•✦

Blackwolf:

an actual dog. Separation anxiety to the max.

bites, marks, saliva, blood, piss, he marks you with everything he can. He needs you to smell like him so much that you two are inseparable

not gonna tolerate you leaving. Grabs you by the scruff and drags you back to the cave.

hunts with Blackwolf are the most annoying because he's too focused on you staying safe than hunting and the pack blames you for Meger return and distracting the best hunter. (Blackwolf prefers you stay back in the cave anyway. Safer there)

has killed other wolves for sniffing around you.

will absolutely start fights for no reason if you've been away or not giving him enough attention.

will always bring you the best parts of the carcass for you to gnaw on. (He doesn't know or care if it's bad for people)

constantly licking you everywhere he can spend hours doing it.

✦•····················································•✦•···················································•✦

Great hawk:

is so spouse-focused but doesn't know what it means in human terms.

birds get jealous and crazy so easily so probably that as well.

puffs up feathers and chest when he sees a "threat" could be anything from a small animal to an actual monster.

will bite. Doesn't mean to hurt you it's just to get your attention

wants to make you happy performs mating dances then gets frustrated when you don't seem to reciprocate.

takes his time grabbing shiny things that you'll like. Gets way more frustrated and bird-like when you refuse his gifts.

prefers to hunt at dusk and dawn so that the days are spent nesting and the nights are spent sleeping

all food he brings you is either shredded terribly or is coughed up for you.

he's a little gross but he's got the spirit.

trying to escape Great Hawk is..... difficult. You'll need some help

[kurinhimenezu]

ASMRTIST

“Why don’t you get on your knees and tell me how you really feel about me huh?”

Some shuffling sounds were heard and then a zipper slowly being pulled down.

“Yeah that’s it baby…now open wi—”

“Yo! Bitch I’ve been trying to get your attention for 10 minutes, what’s up?” Arrem sat down in front of her. Her books clattering on the quad table.

You gave her a slight grin and shut your phone off before she could see the screen. “Just listening to a podcast and shit”

Arrem narrowed her eyes, flicking open her book and pulling out a notepad. “Uh-huh…” Her eyes looked down at her notes before she smirked, “You’re listening to that asmr dude again huh?”

“You-I! Hell no..!” You spluttered, “N-no I wasn’t!”

Shoving your phone in your bag, you dragged her books back in front of you, trying to take in the notes or whatever the fuck the subject it’s in.

Your friend only laughed, tying up her short hair in a low ponytail before handing you a pen. “Maybe focus on our exam first before getting it on with your fantasy man?”

Snatching the pen, you stuck your tongue out and took out a piece of scratch paper. “Fuck ooofffff”

The exam really did kick your ass this time, but the time spent reviewing was worth it considering some parts of what you studied actually came up. You can’t wait to fucking graduate and get a job already. Only one more semester before internships.

You huffed, looking up at the cereal aisle, your favourite cereal box at the top of the shelf, teasing you.

Your fingertips barely brushed the bottom of the box and climbing the shelves is frowned upon and would probably result in you getting kicked out.

And you refuse to go out to another grocery store in the cold, when it's right there.

A large arm reached up from behind you and plucked up what looks to be the last box.

“Hey! That’s my cereal!”

Glaring, you turned around only to be face to face with a wall of meat. Chest hair underneath a sheer fishnet shirt, black leather jacket that has probably seen better days and meaty hands filled with rings and chipped nail polish.

You looked up and gulped, seeing a shiny fanged grin on a face that should probably belong to a douchebag, dangling your cereal just above your nose.

Fuck, why were you instantly attracted?

...Are those nipple piercings?

A loud click snapped you out of your thoughts just in time to see the stranger laugh at you, his fingers poised in a snapping motion.

“Damn baby, if I didn’t know any better, I would think you’re checking me out”

UGH, his voice even sounded hot.

“Shut…up..I was just..you’re so, god you’re built like brick wall! Of course I’d stop and stare!”

You winced, cringing at the weak excuse but it only seemed to make the stranger even more amused, not taking any offense at all.

“Well some bitches like’em big…” He grinned, making sure you made eye contact before winking.

Oh my god.

“Just hand over the cereal and nobody gets hurt” Huffing, you crossed your arms, glaring at the man between you and your silly little treat.

“Don’t worry baby, I saw you struggling and wanted to tease a little, here you goooo” He chuckled, “Name’s Adam by the way”

Taking the cereal from him suspiciously, you told him your name and placed the box in your basket, “Right…well..I’m gonna go..now”

You don’t want to go, you really don’t, he’s so hot and you’re really kinda? maybe? Lonely. Or bored. You really wanna know what those Y/N’s in those fanfictions you’ve read feels like. Sadly, this is reality and you could be kidnapped or something, and you prefer your organs attached to your body thank you very much.

“Alright, lemme walk you to the check out, I’m going to pay my shit anyway” Adam started to walk off and it only took you a second to notice he only has a pack of gum and a box of cigarettes in his hand before you walked after him.

Placing your groceries on the belt, you didn’t notice that Adam had already paid for everything before you could even hand your cash over to the cashier.

“Hey..wait! you didn’t have to do that” Your eyebrow raising at the black card and receipt the cashier handed back to Adam to sign. Holy shit…

Adam waved you off and began shoving everything in the bag before handing it off to you. “Naaah…it’s fine”

He grinned, slowly leaning down low to pluck the earbud from your ear, his breath so close it brushed against your cheek, giving your neck that tingly feeling.

“Anything for a fan”

The horror set in when you realized that the ‘podcast’ you’ve been listening to was still playing. And it was one of the more…intense ones from his Patreon.

“Baby if you wanna be discreet you better be careful with your volume control”

You grabbed your earbud and scrambled to pause the app. “Okay listen—”

Adam laughed as you booked it out of the store.

Slamming the car door closed, you groaned into your hands in utter embarrassment. You could cry at how humiliating that whole spiel was.

At the corner of your eye, you saw something scribbled messily at the back of the crumpled-up receipt.

‘If you wanna experience the real thing, call me’

+1 201-XXX-XXXX

Adam

I needed to get this out before I lose it

May edit this 🤷🏽‍♀️

Enjoy~

[bless-my-demons]

Redamancy: Chapter Five

Series Summary: What happens when your soulmate is a vampire that struggles to maintain a diet of trying not to kill you? Common sense says run for the hills, nothing is worth your life - but my heart is whispering why not, what’s there to lose?

Warnings: Curse words (idk about you, but I swear like a sailer - so I apologize in advance bc it’ll be a recurring item)

Notes: The last half of this chapter was one of the first scenes I wrote when I played around with writing this series, these random snippets inspired this whole thing. I’m so glad everyone is enjoying my work!

Word Count: 1930

Series Masterlist

• March 4th, 2005 • Forks HS Cafeteria •

Reader

It’s raining outside again for the umpteenth time this week, forcing myself and my preferred Cullen sibling to sit apart at our respective tables inside as our usual table outside collects rain. I glance at the table the Cullen’s claimed and spot Jasper already watching me so I wave shyly. He returns it with a grin only to receive a shove from Emmett as he no doubt teases Jasper for the action.

“Hey - La Push baby, you and Y/n in?” Eric asks Bella as she drops her bag into the chair next to mine.

“Should I know what that means?” She questions back before I could voice the same inquiry.

“La Push Beach down at the Quileute Rez, we’re all going tomorrow.” Mike explains.

“Yeah, there’s a big swell coming in.” Jessica adds.

Eric pops up from his seat, splaying his hands out like he’s already riding a wave “And I don’t just surf the internet!”

“Eric, you stood up once and it was a foam board.” Jess teases him as Mike mirrors his goofy stance, earning a smack from Tyler at the goofy display.

“But there’s whale-watching too, come with us.” Angela prods us gently with her kind eyes.

“La Push baby, it’s La Push.” Eric tries to make the words sound cooler than they are and I can help but hide a chuckle behind my hands.

“Okay,” glancing at me before I give her a nod, “we’ll go if you stop saying that, okay?” Bella concedes before leaving our table to grab a school lunch, I catch Edward standing from his seat to follow her.

“Seriously dude, it’s creepy man.” Mike teases Eric. Their conversation fades into the background as I lean back and open my book while I munch on my carrots.

• March 5th, 2005 • La Push Beach, Quileute Reservation •

Reader

“I don’t know if it’s worth it anymore.” Eric says worriedly as he, Mike, and Jessica finish pulling on their wetsuits.

“We drove all the way out here, I’m at least paddling out.” Jess tells the boys. She’s stronger than I am, because there isn’t any chance I’d subject myself to the freezing water willingly.

“So,” Angela starts, “I keep thinking that Eric’s going to ask me to the prom. And he just… doesn’t.”

“You should ask him, take control. You’re a strong, independent woman.” Bella affirms our friend.

“I am?” Angela responds, unsure.

“Yes.” Blunt and to the point, Bella nods at her.

“Absolutely Ang, he’s just a boy and he would be stupid to turn you down.” I add, confident Eric would be over the moon to go to prom with someone as smart and amazing as her.

“Hey, will you do me up?” Jessica asks me, spinning around in front of me where I lean against the open passenger door next to Angela’s perch on the seat.

“Of course.” I oblige her as she moves her hair to the side.

“Bella!” Turning towards the voice, three tall guys from the reservation walk towards our van.

“Hi, Jacob.” Bella greets the one leading the small group, “Guys, this is Jacob.” She tells us and he gives the rest of us a nod and a wave before sitting next to Bella in the open side door. “What are you, like, stalking me?” I hear Bella tease Jacob.

“You're on my rez, remember?” Jacob chuckles, “Are you surfing?”

“Definitely not.” It’s my turn to chuckle as I catch the scoff and completely serious look on her face.

“You guys should keep them company.” Jess encourages the new group of guys, “Um, Bella’s date bailed.”

“What date?!” Eric panics and pauses like a deer in headlights.

“She invited Edward.” Jessica answers, but Bella jumps to defend her crush.

“To be polite, that's it.”

“I was going to invite Jasper, but since Edward didn’t want to come…” I trail off awkwardly.

“I think it's nice they invited them, nobody ever does.” Trying to come to our rescue, Angela adds.

“Yeah, 'cause the Cullen's are freaks.” Mike’s jealousy showing clear.

“You got that right!” The slightly taller Quileute guy to my right agrees and I’m immediately annoyed.

“You guys know them?” Bella ignores their comments and tries to latch on to any spec of information she can. I also turn to the guys, curious about anything I might learn of the Cullen family.

“The Cullens don't come here.” The other one says ominously, silencing the group.

What an odd thing to say… I mean, is the family not allowed? Did something happen? I have so many questions, but I also know it’ll be incredibly awkward to press them for answers after only just meeting.

After munching on a Twizzler, Jacob stands and turns to my friend. “Wanna go walk the beach while your friends jump in the water?”

“Sure.” Bella rises and pauses in front of Angela and I, “you guys good?”

“Absolutely - yeah!” We nod and smile, both of us content to watch the surf and huddle under our blankets as everyone sets off for the shore.

Jumping in Bella’s truck once everyone’s had their fill of the freezing waves, I lean over and crank the heat dial while she starts the ancient vehicle.

Rubbing my thighs to warm my hands and legs, I ask, “So was that weird, or just me? The comments about the Cullen’s not coming to the Rez?”

“Definitely not just you, I asked Jake on our walk what they meant.” Coaxing the truck onto the road towards Forks, she continues. “He started talking about Quileute legends and old tales.”

“What does that have to do with the Cullen’s?” I press.

“He said they’re supposedly descendants from an enemy clan and they were found hunting on their land.” She glances at me before continuing, “So they made some kind of treaty I guess, to stay off their land and they wouldn’t expose them.”

“Expose them for what?”

“I don’t know, he didn’t say.” She huffs, annoyed. “Do you-do you want to come over for a little bit? I was thinking about doing some research on this stuff.”

“Oh hell yes, count me in!” I turn to look out the window with a grin, I might be closer to actually getting answers now than if I were to solve this on my own.

The rest of the evening was spent huddled around Bella’s computer. We searched Quileute legends on google and ended up coming across tales of ‘Cold Ones’ intertwined in the tribe’s history. An odd sensation came over me when it described their qualities, almost like a foreboding feeling - but I shrugged it off. After a few more clicks, we found a book that could help dive more in-depth on the legends.

“There!” I point at the screen, seeing the availability of it at a store close to our location.

“One is in stock at Thunderbird & Whale Book Store in Port Angeles.” Bella reads as she pulls up a map, scribbling the address on a sticky note. “Wanna come with me after school Tuesday?” She turns to ask as I munch on some chips, taking a seat at the end of her bed.

“There’s no point in asking anymore, we’re in this together. I’m just as invested in finding out more about Jasper as you are about Edward.”

“Fair.” She cracks a sideways grin as she flops on her bed next to me.

• March 7th, 2005 • Forks HS •

Reader

Rushing through the clouded hallway before first period to avoid Tyler Crowley and his gaggle of friends, I spot Jasper loitering with his sister Rose near the end of the corridor. I practically ran in his direction-pushing him by the chest into a secluded alcove by the stairs, an apologetic wince of a smile thrown in Rosalie’s direction that was immediately met with understanding as her eyes located the entourage hot on my heels.

“Sorry,” I whisper to his shocked form, “if they find me, you give a very distinct ‘fuck off’ vibe they can’t ignore.”

His eyes were wide as he looked down at me - I think I rendered him speechless with my forward actions, commandeering his body for personal use against other boys. Come to think about it, what was I thinking? This is Jasper Hale, why would he-

“Glad to be of service. Even though this might be a little bit of a strange request.” He whispered right back, the space small enough that he didn’t need to talk too loud over the din of the hallway and with how close we were standing - there wasn’t much space between us.

God, what the fuck am I doing?

Without even thinking, I lean my head forward to settle on the center of his chest, closing my eyes in embarrassment, arms clutching my notebooks to my chest. Before I could think about what I just initiated, one of his large hands came to settle on my back, immediately soothing the worries that began to swim that I was being too forward.

“Are you alright?” He murmured into my hair.

“That’s a loaded question.” I mumbled into his shirt, squeezing my eyes shut even tighter. How could he read me so well?

The longer we stood here, the more I began to realize his chest wasn’t moving. Is he holding his breath? Oh shit, do I-

“Oh, uhh, my bad! I-I’ll see you around Y/n.” I heard Tyler stutter, I turned my head to see him glancing between Jasper and I. Perfection, my plan a success as the gaggle of boys turned tail and hurried away.

I glance upwards to Jasper’s stoic face, “Thank you for your flawless execution.” Complimenting his quick compliance in my hasty plan before running off to my next class of the day.

“Anytime, doll.” He replied with that southern accent and signature half-smirk.

Damn him for being so attractive and for using that nickname.

Jasper

I remained standing here a few more moments, not entirely sure what just transpired between Y/n and I. Her scent lingering in this alcove she accosted me into, lavender and fresh linen invaded my senses as those all-too-familiar flames of devastating hunger take up residence in my throat again.

I know I’ll hear it about this little stunt the moment I’m home this afternoon, Rosalie no doubt currently informing Emmett and Alice of what transpired.

I exhaled a sigh and let my head thump against the wall behind me, eyes slipping closed. I swear I can still feel her forehead pressed against my chest. I forced myself to stop breathing then in the moment, the desire for unsavory things it caused to swirl in my chest needed to be suffocated. I could feel the tension emanating from her then and I had to stamp that out if I ever hoped she’d continue to be comfortable with me, my own bloodthirsty desire be damned. I could still feel the warmth from where her body touched mine.

This gorgeous human girl has me wrapped around her tiny little finger and I’m not even sure she’d give me the time of day.

Once I manage to peel myself away from the wall, Alice rushes up to me with worry saturating her emotions.

“I’ve been looking for you! We need to leave, the sun will be out by lunch.” She tells me in a rush.

What I wouldn’t give to not have a life dictated by the weather. With a sigh, I follow my sister to the student parking lot.

Next

[zabiume]

Hello! I just wanted to ask if you think Orihime might have been a little too complex for the audience that bleach was aimed at? (teenage boys that is). I mainly interact with the bleach fandom on tiktok (the bleach tiktok fandom is horrendous but moving on) the opinion of Orihime is kind of mixed on tiktok, there's a big portion of people who love her, but there's also a big portion of people who hate her. Whenever I get into an argument about her and ask why people think her writing is bad, they always say stuff like; ''she's too emotional/she has too many emotions'' and I'm just like ??? How does that make her a bad character?? To be fair the bleach tiktok fandom has A LOT of internalized misogyny so it's not that suprising that they hate Orihime, but again I wanna hear your opinion because I do feel like people on tiktok trow around the good/bad writing a lot without even really knowing what it means.

this is an interesting question! my joke answer is that it should be illegal to hate orihime😂, but my serious answer is that i feel like there's a difference between enjoying something as an audience member vs enjoying something as a critical reader, so if we're talking about pure enjoyment, it's perfectly okay for people to have preferences and like/hate certain characters based on those preferences. enjoying something as an audience is subjective. for instance, i really can't stand the kuroko no basket movie as a critical reader but i do enjoy it a lot as someone who was there to have a good time! i liked seeing my favorite characters again, i liked seeing them bicker and interact. sometimes stories fulfill simple needs, like "woah! that was a cool fight!" or "some dude had an incredible entrance backed with an incredible OST" and your knee jerk response is to just enjoy it. i have lots of characters that i don't really care about, so it's not surprising to me that orihime is a character lots of people don't care about. it's not a big deal.

but i think critical reading is a little more nuanced than that, especially if we're talking about what "counts" as good writing/bad writing. i don't think there's one particular way to write a Good Female Character, and i think trying to make good female characters a monolith is very bad for writing in general. trying to make any identity a monolith while writing them is obviously bad, and having different kinds of characters is a better indicator of good writing to me, which i would argue that bleach does, to a certain extent. there are lots of female characters in bleach and they're all very different from each other, and we do get to see some interiority, however rich or poor. BUT, i also think it's important to note that kubo does draw women like a freak, and a lot of the fanservice leaves a bad taste in my mouth. it's good to view a series in its totality — what it does well, what's kind of shitty, etc etc. you can acknowledge some of the great character beats for a lot of these female characters but also acknowledge that the story is not free from the author's perception of the world, and of women in particular. yes, a lot of them are interesting and have engaging storylines, but sometimes they are here to be Sexy keeping a specific kind of reader in mind (male) and orihime is not free from that kind of depiction, though she is nowhere near the only bleach character to be a "victim" of that! even ignoring the fanservice aspects of it, we could always make an argument about certain storylines and have those criticisms be valid, but it's important to do that in good-faith, which is what i mean by seeing a story in its totality!

and this is where the point you bring up comes in, because i think a lot of fans don't account for their own internalized misogyny, and how much accountability they have as an audience in writing certain characters off, especially if they're pushing goal posts that they wouldn't for male characters. yes, it's important to be critical, but you have to be critical of the series in a way that suits the genre. bleach is a shonen, which is historically a genre that appeals to the lowest common denominator of people — which means it's not going to be a transcendent, transgressive indie work of art that has radical things to say about gender and society and capitalism or whatever. if you want that, you have to pick up a manga that does that and assess how effectively or ineffectively it achieves those goals. as it stands, i think it's cruel to expect things from a story that it never even set out to do.

i know this is getting long, but my point is that when i look at orihime, i'm not holding her to the same standards that i would a character from a shoujousei or a seinen. i'm looking at her in relation to other characters in bleach, and seeing how effectively or ineffectively she fulfills her role in the story. and, if i'm allowed to be controversial: i think she's an amazing character for what her role is supposed to be! she's a love interest in a shonen, which should have doomed her from the start, but nope! she's got great relationships with characters other than ichigo, she has flaws, she has a complex belief system that is taken seriously + sometimes challenged/sometimes validated by the narrative, some of the biggest themes in bleach like the rain or the heart are explained through her, she has at least one pivotal scene in every arc (even when the plot of that arc isn't centered around her), and we get such a rich view of her inner life in every chapter centered around her. we know so much about her — from silly things like what she likes to watch and eat, to major things, like who she want to be, what she believes in, what her fears are. we get to spend so much time with her. she gets to have an antagonistic relationship with a character without actually being a full-fledged fighter. even the most bitter of orihime haters i've seen have at least acknowledged how iconic her moral clash with ulquiorra was, and the scene where he accepts defeat in front of her (he WAS accepting defeat and telling her he was wrong btw; you can't take a non-romance moment, convert it into a romantic moment, and then cry about how orihime's plotlines are only ever centered on romance. YOU are doing that, not her!), is routinely seen as one of the most iconic bleach scenes of all time. speaking of iconic scenes, orihime is in some of the most memorable bleach fights even when she's not an active participant, and a lot of times, her presence leads to a major change in how the battle is going

[literally 3/4 of those fights have a major moment with her in it, and they're voted 1st, 3rd and 4th place. yes, those were ichigo's fights but his relationship with orihime is at least hinted at or mentioned in of THREE OF THEM]

it's also worth noting just how seriously the narrative takes her feelings. we see orihime happy, angry, sad, jealous and she's allowed to be it so openly and sincerely, even at the risk of ridicule. she's allowed to cheer people up, but she doesn't exist just to do that! there are so many scenes where she's in need of comforting, where she needs reassurance, and she gets to be a scared, insecure teenager just as much as ichigo does. she's bright and vivacious, she's defiant, she's loud, she's a dreamer and a yearner, she's lonely, she's emotional, and she's so, so warm and kind and human. like, i'll be honest, so many shonen fans seem to think girls can either be tomboys or shy/submissive, but they're the ones boxing characters into those stereotypes when they don't even fit (orihime ESPECIALLY doesn't fit into either category but i've seen so many people do that)

and like, yeah, kubo can be a weirdo, but he defended her, and he considered her important enough to acknowledge her growth, even when he was running short of time. and he could have so easily made orihime's envy of rukia this catty thing of like. oooh girls are falling over themselves for ichigo, they're FIGHTING for him, but he doesn't...do that. he allows orihime to be insecure without making her the butt of a joke, and he allows her the complexity her feelings deserve. and he gave rukia enough respect to have orihime want to be her friend, even as she navigated her complicated feelings about her.

and these are all OUTSIDE of her role as a love interest. as a love interest, she's basically perfect. she has meaningful and thematic parallels with ichigo, she has so many heartfelt moments with him, her confession is almost universally loved by normal people, and ichigo is so kind to her that you never feel like she picked someone who doesn't value her or respect her. these are definitely bare minimum things, but again, i'm judging it by shonen standards, and by shonen standards, she is very, very lucky. i can work with this much material, this is good enough for me, but if people's standards are higher then maybe it's not hitting for them idk! maybe their expectations for good writing were different! at the end of the day, i think it's a good thing for characters to be widely discussed because it just means there's a lot to talk about, and that's always a good thing, but let me just plug my favorite tweet to summarize my thoughts on the matter

[teddiee]

Nothing But Gravity: Chapter 3

Summary:

Tony lifted his coffee again, a makeshift shield. Bucky noticed how his knuckles had whitened again around the ceramic. “Yeah, well,” Tony said, quiet and terse. “Didn’t exactly get a choice. The old man set the path, and I followed.” He wiped at his nose and turned his gaze toward the nearest window.

The mention of Tony’s father hung in the air like a sour note.

Words: 5,017

They ended up at a small café tucked behind one of the campus buildings, the kind of place most people overlooked in favor of the more popular spots closer to the main quad. It was quiet, save for the soft clatter of mugs and the hum of muted conversation. The air smelled like roasted beans and something faintly sweet, maybe cinnamon.

Bucky had always liked this place; it felt like a pocket of calm amidst the chaos of campus life. There were nicer coffee shops around—fancier ones, the busier chains that Steve usually preferred.

But this place had an undeniable charm with its colorful, mismatched furniture and large collection of secondhand mugs. It was currently bathed in a soft golden glow, the kind of late afternoon sunlight that slanted through the tall windows and painted everything in warm, honeyed tones. Dust motes drifted lazily in the light beams, giving the air a gentle, dreamlike quality.

“Welcome to Ninth Circle Brews,” Bucky announced with mock grandeur, stepping aside to let Tony pass first. “The coffee is fantastic, and the playlist is, uh…” He paused, listening to the faint hum of a tinny indie-rock cover. “Subject to personal taste.”

Tony darted a quick glance around the shop, shoulders still visibly stiff. There were only a few other patrons—a pair of students buried in textbooks at a corner table, a middle-aged woman pecking furiously at a laptop near the window, and a bored-looking barista scrolling on his phone behind the counter. If Tony was relieved by the lack of crowd, he didn’t show it outwardly. But Bucky could sense a slight easing in the tension around Tony’s eyes.

They approached the counter. “Let me grab this one,” Bucky offered easily, tossing Tony a practiced, lopsided grin and pulling out his wallet.

Tony blinked at him, already reaching for his own back pocket. “That’s… you don’t have to.”

“I know. I want to.” Bucky paused, giving Tony a sidelong grin. “Unless you’ve got some moral objection to free coffee.”

Tony sighed, clearly weighing whether to argue, then stepped up to the register. “Just a black coffee. Please,” he told the barista quietly.

Bucky clicked his tongue in mock dismay. “Dude, at least get a cappuccino or something. Live dangerously.” He turned to the barista. “I’ll take a mocha latte, whipped cream, extra chocolate drizzle… and, fuck it, toss an extra shot of espresso in there for good measure.”

Tony shot him a wary look.

Bucky held his hands up in mock surrender. “Hey, man. Don’t knock it ’til you try it. Besides, I’ve got a big appetite, especially when I’m not stuck with frat house swill.”

Tony glanced at his feet with purpose, seeming to backtrack in real-time. “No, I… I mean, I’m used to the stuff at the dining hall at this point.”

Bucky snorted. “Low bar, that. Pretty sure the dining hall stuff doubles as engine degreaser.” He gestured toward an empty table in the corner. “Let’s sit.”

They made their way over and settled opposite each other at a small, round table tucked into the far corner, partially hidden by a shelf filled with worn books and mismatched pottery.

Bucky leaned back in his chair, his legs stretched out comfortably underneath the table as his gaze fixed on the boy across from him.

Tony was a study in contrasts, the sunlight catching in his messy curls, turning the dark strands a rich chestnut. The warm light softened the sharp planes of his face, illuminating the faint freckles scattered across his pale skin like whispered secrets. His eyes were ringed by faint smudges of exhaustion.

He sat perched on the edge of his chair, looking like he was ready to bolt at any second. His hands curled tightly around the arm rests, his thumbs rubbing absentminded circles along the upholstery. He kept his head slightly bowed, his shoulders hunched as though trying to make himself smaller, less noticeable.

But Bucky noticed everything.

The way Tony’s foot tapped an uneven rhythm against the floor. The way his gaze flickered around the café, never settling for too long, as though afraid to linger anywhere—especially on Bucky.

He’s cute, Bucky thought, not for the first or second or even the fifth time, watching the way Tony fiddled with the sleeve of his sweatshirt. Really cute, in a delicate, unguarded way that made Bucky want to reach out and smooth the tension from his brow.

Which was a problem, kind of, because that wasn’t how Bucky usually operated—he liked boldness, confidence—an energy that matched his own.

Tony was clearly the opposite: skittish, reserved, possibly the shyest person Bucky had tried to flirt with in… well, ever.

Not that he was exactly flirting.

Not successfully, anyway. But whatever.

Either way, Bucky found it… incredibly disarming.

“So,” he cleared his throat, shoving the distracting thoughts from his brain. Forced his line of sight away from Tony’s freckle-splattered cheekbones. “Freshman, right?” He kept his tone casual as the barista plunked down two mugs on the table—one black coffee in a slightly chipped ceramic cup, and one mocha latte drowned in whipped cream and an avalanche of chocolate drizzle. Bucky’s, obviously.

Tony muttered a quiet word of thanks before curling his fingers around his mug. He held it so tightly that Bucky wondered if the ceramic might crack under the pressure.

His eyes flickered toward Bucky, tracking the movement of his throat as Bucky took a slow sip of his drink. He then seemed to register the question and froze briefly, his fingers tapping the side of his mug before he shrugged.

“Yeah,” he answered eventually, his voice a little more guarded. “Freshman. First year here.” He took a careful first sip of his own coffee and chased the residue left behind on his lip with his tongue. Bucky’s fingers tightened around his mug. “How’d you know?”

Bucky stabbed his tongue into his cheek and repressed his urge to laugh.

Tony couldn’t have been more than eighteen. Nineteen, max. His youthful boyishness radiated off him like sunlight, all large doe eyes and soft, rounded features that hadn't quite shed the last remnants of childhood.

His expressions flickered like a film reel stuck between frames—sharp but fleeting, raw but quickly masked. Regardless of his noticeable, tangible apprehension, the edges of his face still held vulnerability, too—that impression of someone who hadn't been totally hardened by the world yet.

“Lucky guess,” Bucky drawled eventually. His tongue felt a little fuzzy in his mouth. Too much whip. “Where y’living? Dorms?”

Tony nodded, a flicker of something—maybe unease, maybe thoughtfulness—passing across his face. “Yeah, the dorms,” he muttered, then paused, glancing at his lap for a second before looking back at Bucky. “It's... not bad.”

“Not bad, huh? You got a roommate, or are you flying solo?”

Tony seemed to hesitate, glancing away briefly. “I’ve got a roommate,” he said, quiet. “Bruce Banner. He’s... pretty cool. Physics major.” His lips quirked into the smallest of smiles, and for the first time all afternoon, Bucky could hear the sincerity in his voice. “He’s been a good friend.”

“That’s good, man. Living situations can be tough. Take it from someone who lives with twelve other idiots who don’t know how to do their own laundry.”

“Yeah,” Tony said, his voice a little warmer now. “Bruce is solid. He keeps me from…” He trailed off, suddenly. Something unreadable passed over his face, fleeting. It disappeared just as quickly. “Anyway, he’s moving into campus housing next year. With other physics majors.”

“And you?” Bucky pressed, treading lightly.

Tony shrugged again, this one tighter. He took another small sip of coffee, shielding his obvious disappointment with his mug, and Bucky’s heart tugged pathetically somewhere behind his ribs. “Still figuring that out. I’ll find something. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Bucky sat up a little in his chair, curious. “You had a roommate before him?” Tony blinked at him, looking a little bewildered, and then realized his own slip. Heat flooded his face, blooming at his temples.

“No. No, I… uh. I was at MIT for a while. Before this.”

Bucky took a few seconds to process this new piece of intel.

“MIT? No kidding,” he said slowly. “How old are you? You seem—”

Tony exhaled, a short, sharp breath, like he was steeling himself for the usual barrage of questions. “Yeah. I, um… started college really young. At fourteen.” He paused, probably expecting Bucky to erupt into shock or disbelief. “Graduated from MIT at seventeen. I’m nineteen now. It’s… complicated.” His knee started bouncing under the table.

Bucky blinked at him. The confession settled in his chest, quickly morphing into something dark and jagged, but he reeled in his immediate reaction. Flexed his fingers before allowing himself to speak again.

“Fourteen,” Bucky repeated. “Jeez. That’s—holy shit, Tony. That’s impressive.”

Tony ducked his head. “I guess. I don’t know.”

“You don’t—? You literally finished MIT at seventeen.” Bucky leaned forward, unable to keep the reverence from his voice. “That’s… insane. In a good way,” he hurried to add, not wanting Tony to take it the wrong way. Not wanting to spook his date—was this a date?—five minutes into sitting down. “Seriously, you must be, like, a super genius or something.”

Tony’s lips quirked downward, and he stared into his coffee like he might find the right words swirling in the dark liquid. “I just… it’s not that I’m—I mean, I am smart,” he said, stumbling over his own admission, “but it was also about… circumstances. My father wanted it.” The word ‘father’ sounded tight in Tony’s throat, as though it hurt just to say it. “He… pushed for it. Hard.”

Bucky schooled his expression into something neutral.

Retreat. Retreat. “Must’ve been a lot of pressure.”

Tony’s jaw clenched; a flicker of something raw and pained darted across his features. “You could say that.”

A tense hush settled between them. Bucky let the moment linger, waiting to see if Tony would volunteer more.

He didn’t.

Instead, Tony took a measured sip of his black coffee, wincing slightly at the heat. His expression had fallen into something shuttered, his eyes vacant and distant, his hands clenched around his coffee cup like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to the present.

“You, uh, said degrees,” Bucky prompted carefully, setting his mocha down so he could give Tony his full attention. “As in, more than one?”

“Electrical engineering,” Tony mumbled. “And quantum physics.”

Bucky blinked once, slowly. “Both?” he repeated. “At MIT? By seventeen?”

Tony nodded, his expression guarded. “Yeah. My dad—he thought it would be… beneficial for me to explore multiple fields. So I…” His throat worked around a swallow. “I did.”

For a second, Bucky could only stare. He was sure his expression was betraying something like awe, or maybe horror, but he couldn’t quite wrangle it into something more impartial. A kaleidoscope of emotions spun inside his head—admiration, bewilderment, concern.

“Wow,” he breathed, finally. “I mean… wow, Tony. Shit, man.”

Tony lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug, still avoiding Bucky’s gaze. “Wasn’t really my choice,” he said, voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t… I didn’t exactly want to start college so young.”

And Bucky opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly found that he wasn’t quite able to form words.

He pictured a fourteen-year-old version of the kid sitting in front of him, trudging through MIT’s labyrinthine halls, dwarfed by backpacks twice his size, surrounded by older students who probably didn’t know what to make of him.

The mental image caught in Bucky’s throat. Restricted his breathing, faintly.

“That’s… that’s rough,” Bucky finally managed, stupidly, voice hitching a bit. “I can’t imagine. Most kids are worried about, like, eighth-grade dances at fourteen—not, Christ. College apps.”

Tony lifted his coffee again, a makeshift shield. Bucky noticed how his knuckles had whitened again around the ceramic. “Yeah, well,” Tony said, quiet and terse. “Didn’t exactly get a choice. The old man set the path, and I followed.” He wiped at his nose and turned his gaze toward the nearest window.

The mention of Tony’s father hung in the air like a sour note.

Bucky could see how Tony’s expression turned inward, like he was replaying some private movie reel he’d rather forget. The faint lines of tension around Tony’s mouth, the edge to his posture—everything pointed to a story far uglier than Tony was letting on.

Bucky wanted to ask. He wanted to press: What was he like? Why did you leave MIT? What happened? But a little voice in his head warned him that he’d lose Tony entirely if he pushed too far, too soon. That tension in Tony’s eyes was a flashing caution sign, a sign that said: Stop, you’re not allowed here.

So Bucky swallowed the urge and nodded slowly. “Yeah, I get it,” he lied because, like hell, he did.

Sure, he knew the concept of parental pressure—overbearing coaches, pushy teammates—but nothing like… this.

Still, it felt right to acknowledge Tony’s discomfort rather than forcing him to detail the entire train wreck. “Not easy, having someone else dictate your every move.” Understatement of the century, clearly.

A muscle worked in Tony’s jaw. “It isn’t,” he said, voice tight. Then, as though catching himself, he slid a glance up at Bucky, half-expectant, half-wary. “Sorry. You don’t want to hear me whine.”

Bucky huffed a laugh, hollow though it was. “I’m asking, aren’t I?”

Tony’s lips twitched, something that wasn’t quite a smile but at least looked less grim. He fiddled with his mug again, turning it in small circles on the table. The swirl of coffee inside mirrored the swirl of tension in the air.

Bucky realized he wasn’t sure how to keep going. This conversation—this entire scenario—was so far outside his usual wheelhouse.

He didn’t know what he expected, really—a quick coffee meet-up, some surface-level banter, maybe, and an exchange of phone numbers if everything went well? The usual one-two punch.

Instead, he was currently knee-deep in some freshman boy’s messy backstory—haunted eyes and daddy issues and insane academic brilliance, to boot.

And he was floundering, no doubt about it. Not in a bad way, necessarily—just… unprepared.

He’d never been the type to shy away from spontaneity, or from wading into new territory on a whim. That’s how he ended up living in the frat house, for fuck’s sake. But something about Tony tugged at him more insistently—made him want to linger and pick through the layers carefully.

It wasn’t just physical attraction—though, yeah, that was definitely part of it. Tony was stunning; that much was obvious. In a quiet, unintentional way that left Bucky a bit tongue-tied. But there was also a sorrowful magnetism to Tony, an air of I’ve been through a lot, I’m trying to pretend I haven’t, that Bucky couldn’t ignore.

He’s different, Bucky reminded himself, a little forcefully. Not your usual type at all, Barnes. Yet Bucky found himself drawn in, like he was reading the first few pages of a book he couldn’t put down, even if the subject matter was complicated. Or grim.

A few long seconds of silence hung between them, punctuated by the acoustic indie-rock cover piping through the shop’s speakers. Outside, a stray breeze rattled the windows, and the golden light in the café shifted to a deeper, more subdued amber as the sun sank inch by inch.

Bucky cleared his throat softly, steering the conversation back into calmer waters. “So, I guess that means you’ve done, like, your share of everything—engineering, advanced math, you name it. Is that why you came here? To try something different?”

He half-expected Tony to dodge. Instead, Tony let out a quiet breath, his gaze sliding sideways. “Sort of. I, uh… I had a falling-out with my father.” The muscles in his throat strained around the words. “Stopped talking to him. So I applied here to keep my scholarships going. At least for now.”

“Scholarships?” Bucky asked, because God forbid he took a hint and changed the fucking subject.

Tony grimaced. “You know, the standard. Got to keep a certain GPA, take a certain number of credits, all that crap. The money’s nice—it means I don’t… owe my father anything. But it also means I’m stuck at a place that doesn’t quite know what to do with me academically.”

“And that’s why you’re basically re-doing your undergrad?” Bucky ventured.

Tony’s mouth twisted wryly. “Yeah. I mean, the admissions folks technically recognized my MIT degrees, but I… I was behind on some general requirements. Stuff that didn’t transfer. So they stuck me as a freshman.”

“So you’re sitting in classes with eighteen-year-olds who are fresh out of high school,” Bucky summed up.

“Eighteen-, nineteen-year-olds,” Tony corrected, lips pursed. “Kids my age, for once. But… yeah.”

“That’s got to be weird,” Bucky murmured, imagining Tony in a sea of other first-years discussing dorm pranks and frat parties, while he’d already done years at MIT, had two degrees, and a father complicated enough to drive him away.

Tony shrugged, but there was a heaviness in the gesture. “Weird, yeah. But it’s… better than the alternative.”

Bucky wanted to ask about that alternative—about the father who apparently used Tony’s brilliance as his personal project. But Tony’s expression screamed don’t pry, so Bucky eased off.

Instead, he let his gaze drift to the chipped mug in Tony’s hands, the swirl of coffee, the faint steam rising. He tried to picture how Tony must feel in this new environment, carrying a story no one else had—like he was juggling secrets in plain sight.

A pang of empathy hit Bucky. He was used to being liked—he was easy-going, charismatic, quick to flash a grin. He’d never had to worry about forging connections. Meanwhile, Tony looked like a porcelain figure perched on a shelf of clumsy giants, always on guard, always ready for someone to shove him off.

But he’s here, isn’t he? Bucky reminded himself. Tony had agreed to come with him, to share coffee, to open up about at least some of his backstory. That meant something.

When he finally spoke, he kept his voice low, gentle. “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you ended up here, man. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met you.”

Tony blinked, as if startled by the admission. A flush rose to his cheeks, faint but there. “Me too,” he said, so quietly Bucky almost didn’t catch it. He shifted in his seat, glancing around as if to ground himself. “Though… it’s been weird. I’m not… used to the ‘college experience,’ you know?”

Bucky snorted. “Yeah, well, if your introduction to the ‘college experience’ was that party at the frat house, I don’t blame you for freaking out. That’s, like, the deep end of the pool.”

A ghost of a smile flickered over Tony’s lips. “Yeah. Not exactly a gentle ramp-up.”

He set his mug down, tapping one fingertip against the little chip in the rim. For a second, his eyes flicked to Bucky’s mocha. “You, on the other hand, seem to thrive in that environment.”

Bucky shrugged, giving a lopsided grin. “I’m a people person. Or maybe I just like chaos. Hard to tell sometimes.”

Tony’s response was an amused snort—soft, but genuine. The tension in his shoulders eased by a fraction. “I couldn’t do it,” he admitted. “Too loud, too many… unknowns. I felt like the walls were closing in.”

“And that’s why you bolted to the roof,” Bucky finished, remembering Tony’s pale, panicked face. “Hey, I get it. Sometimes I need air, too. Just, you know, maybe next time, don’t do it alone?”

Tony’s gaze caught on Bucky’s for a moment before skittering away. A flicker of something that might’ve been gratitude passed through those dark eyes. “I… I’ll keep that in mind.”

Silence briefly returned, but it wasn’t as charged this time. Bucky found himself letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. 

He drummed his fingers against the table, searching for a lighter topic. Something that wouldn’t make Tony’s expression shutter up. “So, if you did have free time, in some hypothetical world, what would you do for fun? Don’t say more classes.”

Tony blinked, seeming to consider it. “I guess… I used to like to draw,” he said, sounding almost unsure of himself. “When I was younger, I’d doodle designs for robots and cars, just for fun. Now it’s basically my job whenever I’m in a lab. So I don’t do it much outside of that.”

“Robot doodles,” Bucky said, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “That’s cool. Back in high school, I couldn’t even manage stick figures that looked good.”

Tony’s lips twitched, almost a smile. “I was never good at people,” he admitted quietly. “Just machines.”

Bucky nodded, biting back the urge to make a self-deprecating joke about being a machine on the baseball field. Instead, he tried a new angle. “Well, if you ever want to practice drawing a face, I’d totally pose for you. I’ve been told I’m devilishly handsome from the left side.” He turned his head in an exaggerated profile, fluttering his eyelashes comically.

Tony stared at him, and for one excruciating moment, Bucky thought he’d just made a total fool of himself. But then a tiny, involuntary snicker escaped Tony’s throat. He quickly pressed his lips together to stifle it, cheeks darkening, but Bucky caught it. Savored it.

“You’re ridiculous,” Tony muttered.

“Ridiculously charming,” Bucky corrected, winking. “Not all of us can be mechanical prodigies, Trouble. Some of us just have to rely on wit and good looks.” He sunk back into his chair, unnecessarily smug as he watched a faint splotch of color bleed onto Tony’s cheeks. “What else, Stark? Clubs, sports, some top-secret robotics side project?”

Tony gave a little shrug, taking another sip of his coffee. “I’m not… great at the social stuff. The clubs here…” He wrinkled his nose. “I tried the robotics club once, but it was full of underclassmen who think they invented the concept of building drones. Felt kinda weird being the only one who actually had real lab experience.”

Bucky laughed softly. “So you out-nerded the nerds, basically.”

Tony rolled his eyes. “Something like that.” Then he paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. “I, uh… guess I do have a couple of side projects. Nothing major—just tinkering with some designs that might… well, that might go somewhere.”

It was clear Tony was deliberately vague. But Bucky could sense the underlying excitement—a quickening in Tony’s voice that said I care about this more than I want to admit.

“Somehow,” Bucky said, “I’m pretty sure your ‘nothing major’ is beyond anything I can wrap my head around.”

A faint smile curved Tony’s lips. “Maybe,” he allowed. “But… it’s just something to keep me busy.”

They lapsed into another quiet moment, each sipping at their drinks, the ambient noise of the café drifting in and out. Bucky noticed that the golden hour light had deepened into a burnished orange, painting the walls and mismatched chairs with a warm hue. The place felt like a sanctuary apart from the bustle of campus, a small world of chipped mugs and drifting dust motes.

And in this small world, Bucky could feel the subtle tension thrumming in his own chest. Something unfamiliar. Warmer.

Get a grip, Barnes, he chided himself. But he knew it wasn’t so simple. For all his bravado and easy charm, Bucky had a soft streak a mile wide. And Tony, with his shaky boundaries and haunted eyes, was tripping every protective instinct Bucky had.

Eventually, Bucky cleared his throat again, quieter this time. “So, you said your father—”

Tony stiffened immediately, and Bucky kicked himself for not approaching that subject more gently. “Sorry,” he said quickly, palms up in surrender. “I was just… I was gonna ask if you had any siblings or something. But if it’s too personal—”

Tony relaxed a notch, though his brow remained furrowed. “No siblings,” he answered, clipped. “Just… me.”

Bucky nodded, letting the sentence end naturally. “Cool,” he said softly. Then, in an effort to keep the conversation flowing, he added, “I’ve got three sisters. Two older, one younger. Total assholes, but I love ‘em to pieces.”

Something softened in Tony’s eyes, a sort of wistful curiosity. “That must be nice,” he said, voice quiet.

Bucky opened his mouth to ask if Tony ever wished he had siblings, but closed it immediately—he could guess the answer, and pushing further might put Tony on the defensive again. So he simply nodded, acknowledging Tony’s statement without turning it into a question.

They both took the last sips of their respective coffees. Tony’s black coffee was nearly gone, and Bucky’s mocha was now just melted whipped cream at the bottom of the cup. Neither seemed eager to stand.

Bucky tapped the side of his mug absently. He felt… off-balance, in a way he wasn’t used to.

Usually, he led conversations with confidence, banter—flirtation, if it seemed welcome.

Now, the ground felt uneven under his feet—there were so many emotional landmines, so many half-spoken tragedies in Tony’s voice. Yet Bucky couldn’t deny how alive that made him feel, how it fed a part of him he rarely let out: the part that actually wanted more than surface-level fun.

God, he needed a drink. A real one.

“Listen,” he said, adjusting in his seat so he faced Tony more directly, “I don’t want to keep you here forever. But I… I’m glad you came.”

Tony’s gaze flicked up, meeting Bucky’s for a brief, charged moment. “Me too,” he said quietly, his voice almost lost under the café’s music.

Bucky pushed his luck, leaning forward just enough that Tony’s eyes flared with cautious awareness. “I’d like to do this again sometime—hang out, get coffee that’s better than engine degreaser, maybe not talk about your dad unless you like, want to, or… talk about something lighter. But only if that’s, you know, chill with you.”

Tony looked torn. He inhaled, slow and steady, before giving a short nod. “Yeah,” he finally said. “I… that might be nice.”

Bucky felt a grin start at the corners of his mouth, something warm and genuine and relieved. He’d half-expected Tony to freeze up or bolt. “Okay,” Bucky said softly, letting the grin take over. “Cool.”

They exchanged numbers—the actual act a bit awkward because Tony’s phone was hidden in his jacket pocket, and he fumbled it, nearly dropping it in the process. Bucky tried not to tease him about it, though a small chuckle escaped when Tony shot him a halfhearted glare.

Cute. Cute. Cute.

Finally, Bucky handed Tony’s phone back, having typed his name—Bucky Barnes—with a baseball emoji next to it just for the hell of it. Tony stared at the screen, the faintest flicker of bemusement crossing his face.

“You, um… you put an emoji,” Tony said, his tone halfway between amusement and bafflement.

Bucky shrugged, grin turning playful. “Gotta make myself memorable, right?”

Tony rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth twitched. “Dork,” he mumbled.

Bucky laughed, a real, full sound that echoed in the quiet café. “I’ve been called worse, believe me.”

Tony made a soft sound—indeterminate, but not hostile. “Yeah, well… I'll keep that in mind.”

He slipped his phone back into his pocket with care, as if it suddenly held something fragile.

They both stood, the scrape of their chairs echoing in the near-empty space. Tony fidgeted with his hoodie sleeves, pulling them down over his hands, while Bucky stretched his arms over his head. The moment felt heavy with significance in a way that made Bucky’s stomach flutter.

“Guess we should get going,” Tony said, eyes flicking to the windows where the light was now more midday sunshine than morning glow.

They stepped out into the crisp air that had gained a slight chill since they first walked in. The wind ruffled Tony’s messy curls, and Bucky found himself wanting to reach out and smooth them down—a fucking ridiculous notion. Instead, he shoved his hands into his jacket pockets.

For a moment, they just hovered outside the café door. Students bustled around them, chattering about dinner plans or library study sessions. The sun was high and bright, casting sharp shadows across the walkway.

“Well,” Bucky said softly, “that was… not exactly what I expected, honestly, but… m’glad we got to do this, Stark.”

Tony seemed to consider that, biting his lower lip before letting it go. “Me too,” he echoed, more certain this time. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, shoulders still a little hunched. “Thanks for… paying. And for… you know. Listening. Sorry, again.”

Bucky reached out, letting his knuckles brush Tony’s forearm in the lightest possible touch—a fleeting contact that made Tony’s eyes widen. “Anytime,” Bucky said, voice steady. “And hey—if you ever need a rooftop buddy again, or just someone to talk about… anything, you’ve got my number.”

Tony nodded, his throat working around a swallow. For a second, it looked like he might say more, but he pressed his lips together instead. Then he dipped his head in a brief, almost shy acknowledgment. “I’ll, um, text you. Maybe.”

God, Bucky hoped. Instead, he just smiled, easily. “Cool. I’ll be waiting.”

Tony made a small, noncommittal noise and started walking off, merging into the flow of students. Bucky watched him go for a few heartbeats, noting the slight slump in Tony’s posture that never quite dissipated.

Then Bucky sighed, digging out his phone. With a quick smirk, he thumbed out a message to Steve—Dude, you won’t believe who I just grabbed coffee with…—and set off across campus, the lingering warmth of Tony’s quiet smile still flickering through his thoughts.

[weebsinstash]

OHOHOHO, I absolutely LOVE the idea of an unhinged, yandere omega. Who would ever suspect the 'soft little omega' as an actual danger? What can they do, cmon, you should be flattered~

Or even if it's someone like Miguel as an omega, despite him being Absolutely Huge and totally able to crush you like an empty soda can there's this... lingering /urge/ to protect and serve him that he takes full and absolute advantage of.

Like, say he decides he needs an assistant to help him keep track of his busy schedule and any objections you come up with straight up don't matter because He's An Omega and you Have To Help Him. Or just kind of plucks you up one day and informs you you are now on call for his upcoming heats- what're you gonna do, tell this 'clearly vulnerable and fragile' Omega you aren't interested?

You can be chatting to someone and have him come up and literally drag you off and EVERYONE dismisses it or blames you for setting off his fucking 'nesting' instincts like he's not a grown ass man capable of making his own damn decisions.

Or even him pheromone bombing you to make you all pliable and agreeable when he needs it. His Alpha is getting fussy? He just forces your face into his neck until you go all soft and dazed and fuzzy, letting him do whatever he wants because you're just absolutely punch-drunk.

Anon you are opening my mind's third eye right now, there's a post I think about from time to time and it was kinda about gender roles and like certain things being subjective and it was someone going "am I still butch if I have plushies all over my bed" and someone replied something like "dude that's butch as hell, you have all these cute tiny creatures you're being a guardian of and feel protective of"

You're just a female Alpha trying to mind your own business and one day you get a good WHIFF of those Certified Omega Miguel Pheromones and suddenly your stupid ass Hormone Brain is going "hey, hey, you know what would be very Alpha of you. If you took care of that Omega by getting pregnant and giving him a baby. Don't you want to give the Omega a cute little baby or two to take care of and give kisses to and buy little baby clothes for? Don't you want to see his big strong arms holding a lil teeny baby? He'd be SO HAPPY if you gave him a lil baby. Just one. Or a few. Provide for your Omega by taking a fat cream pie from that man. Dont you want the Omega to be happy" and from then on your coochie/instincts are like screaming out half the time you're around him

I guess it can kind of vary depending on how "all consuming" you prefer like heats and ruts and pheromones to be/have an effect on you

And like, yandere and not wanting anyone else besides you or not, I'm sure like he has plenty of fans right but he probably intimidates the fuck out of most people so, you know, he probably intimidates most Alphas too

You're helping him in his office and you can tell he's got a bad migraine from being light sensitive and suddenly you're overwhelmed with the urge to rub his back and ask if he needs anything. You're bringing the man food and drinks every so often and make sure to ask him when he's got enough sleep. One may think, "oh you're a submissive Omega serving and obeying your Alpha" nah son YOU'RE the Alpha and like yeah you are being just nice and compassionate but, you're PROVIDING for him

Fucking nesting ass Miguel. It depends on preference since with ABO sometimes you know, Things Are Different Downstairs, we all need a little girldick from time to time, but, him developing the nesting instincts not even for himself he's like preparing for YOU to be pregnant. Scurrying around making sure his home is well stocked and rationed up like he's a squirrel storing for the winter because, he doesn't want his Alpha to not be able to soothe all her cravings 🥺🥺🥺 that would make him a Bad Terrible Horrible Omega and also you need the utmost care for the baby/babies/pups/whatever word you prefer

The pheromone bombing, godddd. Even if you're still mad and upset I imagine from a biological standpoint that it would at least like, help your body stop like reacting to any negative stress, like how you can be anxious or you can be Anxious Anxious where you're literally having heart palpitations and your chest feels tighter, like, he doesn't want his Alpha to be too stressed 🥺 you want him to bake you some sopapillas or something?

Lyla all "heyyyyy call me crazy but I think judging by the way Reader is so antsy and stockin up on food lately that SOMEONE is about to have their rut ;) maybe you should pop on for a visit"

Miguel: I dunno if I should

Lyla: why, because its questionably ethical and she might sleep with you when she's not in the right state of mind?

Miguel: no because what if I can't please her in bed and she doesn't like me 🥺👉👈

This man sees you holding Mayday ONCE and suddenly he's got a mental catalogue with all the different ways your potential babies could look. Would you let him name any of them Gabriella after his daughter or Gabriel after his brother? Would they have your eyes or his? Hair color? What if you spit out an Alpha with his height? Or maybe you two would have cute Omega babies just like their mom. He's just sitting there mentally going 🥰🥰🥰 while Lyla is snapping her fingers in front of his face "Hey, Hey, Earth to Planet DILF, you've never even kissed her yet, buddy"

Your rut hits and you're isolated in your Nueva York cyberpunk apartment which or course he has the pass key for and, "oh gosh Reader are you ok-- oh no you're suddenly pushing me down and ripping my clothes off, oh noooOoooOoo I sure hope you don't get prrrrregante, I didn't bring any protection 👉👈 *wink wink*"

[orisquirrelking]

May I please have p1 dude x reader Headcanons 💕 I love him so much (sob)

Also I'm from the RWS server LOL

P1 dude/reader HCs

I’m not gonna lie to you chief i am writing this in my lecture hall because i have no time otherwise LMAOO

Enjoy !!

——————————-

He’s not very social so the fact that you two even met in the first place is lowkey a miracle. He’ll dwell on this a lot. Were it not for the fact that the two of you were coincidentally at the same grocery store at the same time, he doesn’t think you would’ve ever even have heard of him.

(this is more of a gen headcanon, but) adding on to his antisocial personality, it’s been years since the incident in paradise (however you may interpret it, whether it be just a dream or an actual, physical event,) that lead to his long-term hospitalization at the paradise psychiatric ward. He had been staying there for as long as he can remember, only being released very recently due to medical advancements with medication for mental health issues. It’s not exactly a topic he likes to talk about though he may crack a joke that you’re not sure you can laugh at every once in a while.

Very schedule oriented. When you two began dating it was difficult for him to adjust to having another presence in his life. In the beginning he usually had to host dates at his place, just because he didn’t want to adjust at all. Its a push and pull process but the two of you are working on a more relaxed, healthier schedule.

You’ll notice that he patrols the borders of his house every once in a while. His paranoia can get high and at times he feels unsafe in his home. It’s mostly harmless behavior, and he doesn’t mind if you join him. 

You're going to be subject to a LOT of rambling about his weapons. He's a big collector, doesn't matter if they don't work, as long as they can look pretty. He keeps his “real” firearms and ammunition in safeboxes around his house. If you don't already know, he's teaching you how to use them.

As I've stated in other writings, I think that all of the dudes enjoy physical contact in one way or another. Unlike P2, P1 dude prefers to initiate physical contact and be able to pull away at any time. Don’t get him wrong, he loves physical contact, but he can be overstimulated at times and would prefer to not be in a pissy mood when around you.

When you start getting him to go out, he prefers to be able to go out to somewhere more spacious and more nature oriented, (as stated in the dating HCs.) so he can bring baby Champ with him.

Speaking of Champ, that puppy is his fucking lifeline. I like to think that in this universe Champ is his service dog in training, and is the first thing he received when he left the ward. If you don’t fw Champ, the chances of you two getting together are lower than 0%. On the other hand, nothing brings him more joy than when you’re lazing around at his home together and you start playing with Champ. He thoroughly enjoys it when you help him with Champ’s training, he loves seeing his two favorites get along!

Does not like it when he misses taking his meds. You’re going to have to assure him that missing one dosage isn’t going to erase all of the progress he’s made. Dude would be more on edge on the days when that happens. Sometimes this will lead to a meltdown, and honestly (as somebody who has the same issues that he does,) there really isn’t much you can do except be there for him.

Appreciates everything you do for him and will not hesitate to try to one-up you. You’ve offhandedly bought him food? He’s treating you to dinner. Homemade. Take care of him when he’s sick? Flowers, chocolate, and a day out with Champ. He doesn’t have the most money in the world but he wants to show you that he cares too.

Doesn’t want to seem dependent on anything, so sometimes he might pull away from you. He’s been independent for most of his life, so it hits an insecurity when he thinks he might have been “burdening” you with his issues. He’s not exactly used to being treated with so much kindness.

Overall? Be patient with this man for the love of god. It’ll take him some time to open up and yeah, he’s got his issues, but in the end he’s just a guy trying to make the best of a life full of experiences he never asked for.

[sunofpandora]

Okay but can we normalize writing about female characters being just like, a total meathead in the relationship?

I say that for lack of a better word.

Now; don’t get me wrong, I love a good sexy fic where the girl has no idea what tf is going on and the guy is just the man with a plan, or a good fashioned (AGE APPROPRIATE) mentor x student dynamic, (I repeat, in a specific fic that will contain two consenting adults.)

What I’m talking about is more along the lines of tropes we’ve normalized.

Writing is such a broad subject. Specifically, writing your characters.

We would be here for the next 300 years (maybe all the avatar movies will be out by then?) and we still wouldn’t cover everything.

And no. I’m not talking about the generalized ‘big strong man comes along and rescues the helpless damsel’, as much as that tends to bother me, I’m going a bit smaller.

I’m talking making your male character cry like a Disney princess at a wishing well and still making him a loveable, sexy, strong protagonist that doesn’t have any kind of ‘loss of masculinity’ throughout the story.

In talking about a female character who punches the shit out of a tree like a Minecraft character for 30 minutes straight because she’s really pissed off.

I’m talking about a girl grabbing a guy by the waist and kissing him.

You know what else is so funny? We can do that all without having their dynamic of sexual encounters be ‘she’s into dudes who dress up in skirts for her’ or ‘he wants a girl who will boss him around’

And of course; there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with those things. I am not kink shaming anyone. What I’m trying to get at here is that some people may think certain traits that are displayed would stereotypically reflect their sexual preferences.

Like; ‘oh that guy cried over a movie? Yeah. He probably wears a dress and makeup for his wife in bed’

Yk? That’s just getting old at this point.

I love seeing writers, filmmakers, and artists who are running wild with this concept and creating characters and dynamics that reflect all types of personalities and ‘abnormal’ gender identifying traits.

And guess what? Your male protagonist can absolutely cry over a book or movie and still portray dominance.

Your female protagonist can absolutely be the type of girl who beats the shit out of a random object because she’s pissed and afterwards paint her nails because she feels like it!

I’m currently writing a Neteyam x Reader, and I’m experimenting with some of these ideas myself. Writing more ‘emotionally natured’ male characters without straying them away from their original canonical structure.

This is getting long and it’s 3:54 in the morning where I live and I don’t want to wake my partner so I’m gonna wrap it up with this,

Dudes can be 6’00, built like a rock, and cry like a Disney princess.

[thehollowwriter]

The Official Bio of Nkululeko Adrade

Basic Info:

Name: Nkululeko (En-koo-loo-lee-ko) Adrade

Nicknames: None yet, but some just call him Adrade or Nkulu for short

Homeland: Afterglow Savanna

Species: Sally Lightfoot Crab beastman

Birthday: 18th April

Age: 16

Height: 197cm

Dominant hand: Left

Class: 1-B

Dorm: Heartslabyul

Best subject: Conjugation

Club: Track and Field (He's very good at longjump)

Unique magic: TBA (He hasn't got his yet)

Family:

•Unnamed parent

•Unnamed siblings

•Unnamed cousins

Preferences:

Hobbies: Crafting/making things

Likes: Looking after the hedgehogs, the beach, flowers, drawing

Dislikes: Troublemakers, the cold, people who act fake

Favourite food: Nori wraps

Least favourite food: Octopus

Appearance:

Nkulu has long, waist length hair that is orange and red at the top and slowly shifts to light blue, like this:

However, unlike the picture, he has braids similar to this:

He often ties his hair in a pontail. However, he also loves to try out different hairstyles as much as he can. He has dark red eyes. His lower half is that of a Sally Lightfoot Crabs (which are aa brazilian crab!), and it is blue, black, gold, and red! Like this:

It makes him look extremely big and intimating even though he isn't. He's black (for the Americans/non-South Africans, I don't mean "not white" I mean black), tall, and very fit. He doesn't have pincers, but he does have claws.

Personality:

Nkulu is actually a very chill person. You could almost call him the stoner/surfer dude type. He gets excellent grades and is extremely dedicated to whatever he decides to do. He's honest to a fault, almost too honest, but will happily trip someone up if it benefits him. He's warm and easily excitable and always ready to try and learn new things. He's a bit of a jokester as well.

Some Fun Facts/Extra Info

•Nkululeko means "freedom" in Xhosa

•Nkulu is South African (whatever twst's equivalent is??) and one parent is Xhosa, and the other is Brazilian

•He thinks Riddle is great, especially post-OB Riddle

•He's trying to figure out his sexuality

•He's friends with Jack and Epel

•He heard Floyd call Yuu Shrimpy and told Yu with a completely straight face that he, as a crab, will have to eat them because that is the way of life. He then burst out laughing at their horrified face.

•He is extremely strong

...........................................

A/N: My other oc! Not a mer this time! I am not black, however I am South African and I thought it would be neat to have a South African oc besides Quinn ^^

Tagging: @distant-velleity @cyanide-latte @ramshacklerumble @kitwasnothere @the-banana-0verlord @officialdaydreamer00 @theleechyskrunkly @elenauaurs @jovieinramshackle @boopshoops @oya-oya-okay @whspermy-name @cynthinesia @elysia-nsimp @br3adtoasty @quartztwst

@the-trinket-witch @ghostiidasponk @natsukishinomiyaswife

[halfmoondaze]

Jack is starting a serious relationship with y/n (only a couple months into their relationship) and knows very well she has trouble being in noisy, crowded places. She prefers spending time with only her and Jack no one else. She finally opens up and shows up to jacks house that’s filled with his friends. She gets super quiet and ends up in her own bubble not having the courage to speak to anyone. His friends end up saying mean things like “is she mute or something?” to Jack and starts pointing fingers at her, making fun of her thinking it’s a joke. Y/n at first tries to laugh along as well to try and get along with them but notices they’re taking about her. She feels bewildered and gets emotional. Jack tries to step in but y/n ends up going home without saying anything. Couple days have past Jack tries his hardest to reach out to reader about that night but she’s ignoring his calls, texts, etc. Maybe angst ending..? I’m sorry if this was too long I just want you to have something to work with😭

Sheltered

Y/N and Jack have been dating for a few months now, and their relationship was becoming serious. 

Despite being naturally shy and reserved, Y/N found it surprisingly easy to open up to Jack. She confided in him about her struggles with being in crowded and noisy places, which is something that always been challenging for her ever since she could remember. 

Jack was a perfect saint. He was incredibly understanding and supportive, and thanks to his patience and caring nature, he found a way to help her navigate her anxieties, while offering her a safe space in the midst of all the chaos, in little ways such as: having a movie night at least twice a week to be able to recharge, cooking or baking together, despite the fact that Jack was not the best cook. Or just cuddling while talking for hours while enjoying each other’s company. 

However, Jack being more extroverted, he would go out and have fun every now and then, but at the end of the day he would always go back home to Y/N. After all, she was his grounding force and he loved how he was able to find a balance through her. And given that they have a lot of mutual respect and love for one another, he would make sure that she never felt pressured to accompany him.

But one night, Jack was attending to this house party given that he was back home for a few days after promoting “White Men Can’t Jump” for the past months, and couldn’t wait to catch up with close friends. Y/N was happy for all of his achievements, and wanted to be there for him, which is why it came to a big surprise for Jack when she asked him if she could come along. 

“Really?” 

She just nodded. 

He smiled and sat with her in their living room couch. 

“Babe, you know you don’t have to go if you don’t feel comfortable, right?” 

“I know. I just thought it would be nice to be with you and all your friends, because I’m very proud of you” 

He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. 

“Ok, but if you’re not feeling it and want to leave at any moment, you say the word and we’ll go home, ok?” 

“Ok” 

He kissed her. 

“Good” 

You hurried and put on a nice-looking short sundress and did your makeup, and in no time, you found yourself in the foyer ready to head out. 

“What’s up man” Jack greeted Shloob.

“Hey, what’s good?” he said.

“Yuh yuh yuh Jack is here” 

“Jackman” Nemo greeted him.

“Hey man” 

“How you doing” 

“I’m chilling” 

“This your girl?” 

“Yeah, this is Y/N” 

“Hey” 

“Hi” Y/N said avoiding eye contact as all eyes were on her. 

“Is she cool?” Shloob asked. “She mute or something?” Nemo asked. 

“Dude what the fuck?” Urban called him out. 

“My bad” Nemo said. 

“She’s just a little shy. Hey remember that one time-“ Jack attempted to change the subject but the conversation went back to Y/N.

“A little?!” Nemo burst laughing. 

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t think she would come” Shloob said

“Yeah I was starting to think that girlfriend of yours was imaginary” Nemo added. 

Everyone started laughing. 

Y/N could feel her anxiety rising as unconsciously was scratching her arms, which nobody noticed but Jack did. 

At some point, their voices became like background noise as she felt her anxiety building up and it was becoming unbearable so she excused herself and walked to the hallway that lead to the bathroom to escape the commotion. 

Jack gave Nemo a look. 

“What did I do?” 

He just walked away. 

After looking for her everywhere in the house, she eventually find her in the hallway upstairs, absorbed in her own world as she scrolled through her phone. 

He quietly walked to her as to not to startle her and stood next to her.

Upon noticing his prescence, she pulled her phone away and looked down awkwardly. 

“Sorry about that”

She gave him a forced smile and looked away. 

“It’s ok. They were probably joking” 

“That still doesn’t make it ok” 

Y/N shrugged. 

Jack offered her his hand. Y/n paused for a few seconds before taking his hand, and he pulled her closer into an embrace. 

Then Y/N hugged him back and relaxed into his arms. 

After a few seconds, they pulled away. 

“Can we go home?” 

“Of course” he said kissing the top of her head.

[thesnazzysharky]

Analyzing and reviewing all the updated models in the SOUP update for SJSM

Because why not?

Specimen 2 / Gel

The guy who wants to give you your wallet. Dude is mad skinny and more skeletal now. Although, unlike the other skinny redesigns (which I will get into later), I actually don't mind how Gel looks here. Considering the fact he was most likely a human at some point, a human who most likely was on the verge of dying from starvation and thirst, I can see Gel looking like this.

Not to mention, his new animations are pretty cool too! The animation with him rising out of the goo puddle looks more interesting now and I like how his attacking animation is much more animalistic and aggressive compared to his awkward and kinda stiff attacking animation in the original HDR. My only complaint is that his rising animation should be more slower and less choppy. Otherwise? A pretty solid model.

Specimen 3 / Subject 5

The cutie patootie spiderpede. Another decent one. He has been given a bit more texture to his body and he has a much more rounded appearance overall such as his body segments and head. His legs are a bit more thinner which looks more unnerving imo. A cool little detail that was given to him is that his pincers now move! A very unnerving sight to see. I'm not a fan of how he's more bright in color and the animation on his legs looks quite janky looking. Also maybe it's just me, but he doesn't seem as big as his previous model. Other than that, this model is pretty solid and is a bit more scarier than the previous model, but it has some downsides.

Specimen 4 / Ringu

Vore ghost woman. Ngl, I was pretty scared when I saw little snippets of Ringu's new model. I thought she was going to be made into a skinny stick like some other models. While that ended up being somewhat true, like in her upper torso region, her arms, and neck, it's not too noticeable or atrocious.

Her hair has become longer, her skin has a bit more texture to it, her breasts are more pronounced, her arms are a bit longer, her hands are bit longer and sharper, her clothes are a pastel purple color, and the blood on her hands are more brightly colored.

My favorite new detail however is that instead of her legs being a solid black color, her legs are now half white half black. Giving off this cool little effect, like the black part is engulfing her legs or something.

What I'm iffy on is the color of her clothes. Why change it? Although I suppose it doesn't look bad, I prefer the old gray look. I also prefer the more dried blood look on her hands with her older model. Other than that, I actually enjoy this model more than I thought I would, especially taking into account the new floating animation that was given to her, which is a very good and smooth animation that is a huge improvement from the last one. I really like this one!

Specimen 5 / Bab

Jesus christ! We were having a decent streak going. What the fuck happened here? What were they thinking? Let's see... so they made Bab go from looking like a mannequin to looking like a stick, alright... Her head is less humanoid and looks more like a deformed cube... She has this weird texture given to her legs for some reason... Her sword is pointing downwards which makes her lose some intimidation... The holes in her face which were only visible in her death screen are now fully visible in gameplay for some reason... and because of her whole body and textures being drastically changed, you can no longer tell she's supposed to be a reference to Silent Hill... AND THEY GOT RID OF MY GIRLS CURVES!

Yeah... there's nothing redeeming here. The model just sucks in pretty much every single way. Definitely the worst model this update has to offer.

Specimen 6 / Ben

Stabby puppet guy. Now I've seen a few folks crapping on Ben, but I don't think he looks too bad. He definitely got a massive change in terms of textures, but otherwise he looks mostly the same to me. I personally like the shading that was done to his face. Makes his facial expressions really pop out and he looks a bit more intimidating overall. I especially like this shot from the trailer where the room is dark and the flashlight is shining solely on him. Was pretty unnerving on my first viewing.

Is this my idle version of Ben? No. I still prefer the original model due to the Ben Drowned and Happy Mask Salesman references being more clear and although I find the redesign to be more intimidating, I also think that it tries a bit too hard. One thing that I liked about Ben was that he seems like an ordinary and somewhat friendly looking puppet at first, before you start making a run for it once he goes after you. This one is more on the nose. Decent model nonetheless.

Specimen 8 / Deer Lord

"Deer" lord! (sorry, I had to). Funnily enough, while everyone else got the skinny treatment, it seems like the deer man got a bit wider. He also had his textures changed a bit, his snout angled more downwards with more blocky and yellow teeth rather than sharp and white ones, his height slightly decreased, and his eyes look slightly bigger.

Other than that, there's not much to say about Deer Lord's new model other than it looks great. Especially with the new textures he was given when he opens his cloak.

I still prefer the old model due to it looking more scary, thanks to the height and more thin look, but the new model is still pretty good.

Specimen 10 / Parasite

Annnnnndddd back to trash... Yeah this model sucks. I still remember first seeing this thing from Ryan J's video and laughing my ass off. The ridiculous walking animation, the over exaggerated and way too floppy arms, and the overall terrible and bland textures. Just a trash model all around... until...

They listened to the community and updated the textures! And I'm pretty sure they mentioned somewhere that the animations would be slowed down too. I still prefer the original model, but this is a massive improvement from what we previously got and I feel like I could potentially get used to this model and even start to prefer it to the old one if they get the animations correctly (not sure about the ass cheeks, but those are there too, I guess lol).

Specimen 11 / Beef Demon

Funny beef man. This one is a mixed bag to me. I really like the goat legs, the creepy arms, and horns, but everything else screws it all up. Yet again, bro has been made skinny for no apparent reason and has lost his intimidating bulky build. His head also looks too small and his eyes look too big and odd. If he kept his bulk and his head was changed up a bit, he would probably look a lot better, but for now, this model is unfortunately kinda bad. Not much else to say.

Specimen 12 / The Sickle Man

Weird ass lonely old man. We haven't gotten a full glimpse of him yet, but we do have this screenshot. He seems darker in overall color and he looks a lot more detailed with some nice shading going on. From what little I can see, he looks pretty good!

Specimen 13 / Siren

Piano keys for teeth lady. Her model seems to be the same. So not much to say there. Although we do get to see her swimming in the water! Which has its positives and negatives. The fear of the unknown factor is lost now that she's visible, but at the same time it's really cool to actually see her instead of just only seeing her model sitting on a box and then disappearing once she goes into the water.

Unknown Specimen 2 / Otto the Otter

Har Har Har Har Har. Okay. This one is definitely a step up and is the 2nd best new model from this update. The more detailed textures, the added grim, the bits of metal, his new walking animation... it's all so great! The only negatives is that his eyes don't glow and you could say that his older model being so low quality was apart of the joke and what made him so charming. So although I really like this model, there is a sense of charm that is lost from the old one. Still very great though!

Unknown Specimen 3 / Spooper

Mpreg parasite. We hadn't got to get a super close look at Spooper yet, but from what I can see, his model looks great! Mostly just the same, aside from more detail and having different colored shoes.

Other things

The specimens weren't the only things that got an update!

The subjects in the test tubes now have 3d models which look pretty great.

The old Specimen 10 has a new model and it looks amazing! Easily the best model from this entire update.

And to wrap things up, the White Cat finally has a 3d model now. Although her fatass head makes her look like she got stung by 1 million bees, it also makes her look adorable and squishable, so I don't mind. Plus I like the little transparent effect on her lower body. Makes her come across as very otherworldly.

Verdict

So, I honestly don't think the SOUP update is downright horrible like some people say. However, I will say it's definitely a mixed bag in terms of quality and I can see what people mean when they talk about how these models diminish Kira's vision and thus their charm is lost. The only models I prefer to the old ones are Specimen 2 and 4's along with the test tube subjects, the old Specimen 10, and the White Cat. All the other ones are either equal to or downright worse than their old models.

I'll wait and see until the update comes out. Maybe I'll warm up to some of these more (except for fucking Bab. All my homies hate the new Bab). Anyways, thanks for reading and have a great day.