#read: he doesn’t LIKE being the oddball

[soullessjack]

i think perhaps another layer of autism in jacks character is that he’s fine with being different, but is always upset to be treated or perceived differently.

[steviewashere]

I love you guys, so for WIP Wednesday, you get the first two and a half pages of my unnamed, but currently named "Steve Makes Eddie Apologize to Lucas for Not Postponing Hellfire for the Championship Game" fic. Uh, I don't think there's any warnings, but here we go.

You can read it here on Tumblr

Or you can read it here on AO3

——— “So, you and Eddie, huh?”

Steve startles at the sound of a voice, deep and hushed, from where he's been waiting in Hawkins High’s parking lot. Hellfire was supposed to be out by now—6:50pm if his watch is correct—it’s their first time back since March and it would be cordial. But it seems that only Lucas got that memo.

“Jesus Christ, Sinclair!” He yelps. Holds his right palm flat against his chest, trying his best to rescind the spike of panic that is crawling through him. “I thought I told you to quit doing that,” he harshly whispers, rubbing his palm against his shirt. The scratchy material of his polo a balm against his nerves.

“Sorry,” Lucas sheepishly murmurs. Speaking at a normal volume, he asks again, “So, you and Eddie?”

He rolls his eyes. “What about me and Eddie? Can’t I just hang out with the guy without being pestered?”

Lucas shrugs. “You can do whatever you want,” he states, but Steve can already tell there’s somehow more. “But I didn’t think you two would be…buddies. Considering how he feels about, y’know, sports and whatever.”

For a moment, Steve considers Lucas’s approach. His fidgeting hands and his slightly closed off eyes. The hunch to his shoulders and the general unease that accompanies talking about Eddie. Which, that’s particularly odd. Aren’t they buddies, Steve questions himself. Wrapped up in the Hellfire club, their mutual interest in Dungeons & Dragons, the ragtag group of nerds that they are—all of that is perfect for their oddball friendship, at least Steve thought so.

“What’s wrong with you and Eddie?” Steve asks, beating around the bush. He doesn’t do cryptic. And he especially doesn’t do it with somebody like Lucas, a kid already smarter than him by several margins.

There isn’t an answer right away. But Lucas’s shoulders drop. His eyes go from frustrated to…sad. “Remember my championship game?” He asks, though it seems a bit much of a topic change. What does this have to do with Eddie, Steve has to wonder.

“Well, yeah,” he answers instead, “I was there. Had a pathetic date with a girl I hardly enjoyed being around. Mocked Tammy Thompson with Robin. Watched you get that winning shot. It was a, genuinely, awesome championship game.” And that’s the truth. It’s the best one he’s ever witnessed. Which is saying something, considering he’d played several championship games. All of them, though, were major losses. He’ll take those to the grave with him, with how often his previous basketball teams teased him.

Lucas gives a harsh single nod, a small smile that whisks away as soon as it appears. “Right,” he mutters, “I remember.” He leans against the Beemer’s bumper, shoulder brushing with Steve’s. Looks forlorn towards the high school’s doors, where Eddie and the rest of the Hellfire bunch should be spilling out any moment now. Steve looks on with him. Listens as Lucas’s voice drops low, nearly angry, fully spiteful, “I begged Dustin and Mike to talk to Eddie about my game. To see if the Hellfire campaign—which would be happening the same night—could be moved. And I, look, I understand that D&D means a lot to all of them, it means something to me, too. But I was really hoping to see my friends there. If not my friends, then at least Erica.

“They didn’t move the campaign,” he states so bitter, Steve tastes the words on his own tongue, “apparently a game where you’re shooting ‘balls into laundry baskets’ is too…mainstream and norm-ie for Eddie. He refused to move his precious game. Then, get this, instead of getting some random kid to play, they egged Erica in.” Lucas drags his eyes away from the school, head turning slow to look at Steve. He follows suit, eyeing Lucas back. His stomach churns with the vitriol painting itself unsubtly across Lucas’s face. “Color me surprised, I guess, that he’s going out with a jock,” he states, voice carefully blank of anything.

Steve stares on at him. He didn’t know this was the case at all. Remembers getting the phone call about Dustin wanting him to play, but he figured that had something to do with him bugging Steve for the millionth time. Because that was something Dustin wanted. For Steve to play. And, granted, Steve refused because it was too nerdy—unimportant and embarrassing. Yet, now he’s looking into Lucas’s face. Where hurt etches itself like solid lines of chiseled marble. Being told, instead, that Eddie’s holding his own bias.

Maybe he hasn’t removed his biases towards high school nerds, not completely. But he’s coming undone from that mentality. Considering Nancy and Robin and Eddie—Dustin and Mike and Lucas—even Max, they’re all big nerds. They all have some sort of interest with Dungeons & Dragons or theater or video games and math. And he loves them all. Though, Steve’s never stopped to think about the opposite side of the coin. Tail-side, where balls in laundry baskets is considered taboo.

After a deep silence when Steve finally digests this information, his eyebrows furrow on their own accord. Mouth downturning into a harsh frown, one that he feels to the bottoms of his feet. He stops himself in time from balling his hands into fists, but the urge to do so snarls in him like a newly unmuzzled, wild dog. A dog, he thought, that he trained obedient away from his anger. But it seems like once the teeth are bared, they never truly hide away.

“That ass,” Steve snarks. “What—so I have to reconsider all my biases surrounding nerds, reconstruct how I view everybody around me, and realize how awesome it is. And—what—Eddie can just get away with that…bullshit? That’s…What the hell?” There’s a little bit more of a bite to his words than he had anticipated. But it really isn’t fair. The table turns and he’s better for it, sure, but Eddie just…That’s not fair. The dog growls louder, drool burbling in its chops, a bark forming in the back of its throat.

———

[dovesdreaming]

Soo, idk if ur still doing Harry Hook requests, but could you possibly do Harry Hook x reader who is the daughter of the cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland? And if you do, I would like it to be Head cannons pls!! :)

Your Cheshire Cat grin

Such a good request! I hope you enjoy what I wrote <3 sorry it took so long and that it’s not as long as it could be!!

Warnings: none

Not proofread

You and Harry as a pair were a dangerous combination. You constantly got into trouble together and would be asked where your other half was if you were seen without the other.

-Your relationship started from being friends and blossomed into a relationship. However your friendship consisted of a lot of flirting and people often mistook you for a couple any way.

-You match each others freak. There’s nothing more to say than that.

-You of course inherited your fathers smile and Harry loved it. He thought it was the right mix of cheeky and cute. He always made you laugh just to see your Cheshire Cat grin.

-Due to your father you also loved playing tricks on people and you often roped Harry in to help you. He would go along with anything you said though he was too lovestruck to care.

-You could disappear and reappear at will and used this to your advantage to confuse people. But you also were a bit lazy and skipped the walk from each class. Harry however would still insist to carry your bag like the gentleman he is.

-You had grown up in wonderland so of course you were slightly crazy but nothing you did ever fazed Harry even if other people were.

-Harry would love to visit wonderland with you and find out more about your childhood. He understood what is was like to grow up somewhere completely different to Auradon and the isle. He knew what it felt like when you were homesick and missed the comforts only your world offered. He would help out in anyway he could, trying to recreate certain foods or teas you had there, he just wanted to see you happy again.

-Harry would happily listen to any stories you had of wonderland and would grow to love the place almost as much as you.

-if you inherited powers to turn into a cat you would live to wonder around in this form. You would always catch Harry off guard and sometimes manage to scare him. Would love to play games of hide and seek Harry doesn’t know he’s part of.

-He would find you sunbathing on a window sill, completely unbothered by how worried he looked by him thinking you had gone missing.

-Would always be willing to protect you and put himself in danger for you.

-You would be classes as the oddball of Auradon (think the Luna lovegood of the school) yet he never took notice of the weird glances you got.

-You always seemed to be off in your dreamworld and he was fascinated by what was going on in your head

-You would happily visit neverland with him and got on with tinker bell very well, she might even lend you some pixie dust which Harry was quite jealous of.

-His friends were a bit confused by his interest in you at first but after spending more time with you saw how interesting you were as a person. You were conniving yet kind and it drew them to you. Harry was pleased that the people he cared about liked you, not nearly as much as he liked you though.

-Would always attend any tea party’s thrown in wonderland and would think they were the best party he had ever been to (though he hadn’t been to many in the first place)

-Found your style of purple clothing very attractive even if others didn’t. Loved how you were never scared to express yourself.

-Would never judge your whimsical behaviour in anyway and would always protect you from the weird glances thrown at you. He would love every part of you and nothing would ever change that.

Thank you for reading 🫶

[10piecechickenmcnugget]

lineup of the main 4 in my empires dungeon meshi au;; more info under the cut (there’s a lot of it. kudos to you if you read all that)

oli: oli is a halfling. his hometown was destroyed in a monster attack after a nearby dungeon collapsed when he was little, however he doesn’t remember this and no one ever told him. he presumes his parents are dead (they are)

he was taken in by a nearby town of primarily tall-men, who were unfamiliar with traditional halfling naming conventions and as such just named him oliver. he doesn’t technically have a last name

he’s been studying bard magic since he was 15. halflings have a lower magic tolerance, so bard magic is the easiest for him to use, although he’s been known to get nosebleeds, headaches, or flat out pass out on occasion. he’s been exploring dungeons for about 6 years

his first death was caused by him getting caught in the crossfire of one of lizzie’s spells.

lizzie: lizzie is a beastkin, and it’s unsure whether she was created artificially or born as such. she was sold around as essentially a circus attraction izutsumi style before escaping when she was very young and finding herself in the same village oli lived in. because of this she was very untrusting and hostile for a while

oli and lizzie were often lumped together as the town oddballs; lizzie did not like oli at first and he still has several scars from her scratching the shit out of him on multiple occasions.

lizzie warmed up to him eventually, and they’ve been best friends for most of their lives. lizzie left the village as soon as she could along with oli so the two of them could pursue magic, as they were both banned from it as teenagers

she quickly discovered ancient magic and took a passion for it instantly, and it’s the main thing she studies. she’s been exploring dungeons with oli for about 6 years

lizzie is surprisingly skilled at staying alive, as she was her party’s only magic user for a long time and they relied on her to revive or heal them (healing magic is not her strong suit)

her first death happened very late into her career when most of her party was wiped out on a lower floor.

joel: joel was born and raised in the town that took in lizzie and oli. he met them both in school and the three of them have been close friends for many years. he moved out with them as soon as they were all old enough because all 3 of them were tired of being banned from pursuing their interests.

joel is not too skilled with magic, preferring combat. he’s spent years and years training and building his skills so that he can protect his party when needed (which is a lot.) he’s the party leader and lizzie and oli trust his skills and judgement.

joel’s first death involved him being drowned by a siren while trying to save oli.

sausage: sausage is an enigma to say the least. no one really knows anything about him or where he came from. oli asked once and received net zero information. everyone assumes he’s a tall-man but it’s uncertain

oli met sausage at a tavern on the island his party moved to in order to explore the dungeon there. they became friends quickly; and lizzie and joel befriended him as well. they invited sausage to join their party once they decided they wanted to go deeper into the dungeon, since he’s skilled in healing magic

sausage seems to get more and more antsy the deeper they go, but they’ve all mutually agreed not to question it

sausage has not died since joining their party, but it’s unknown if he’s died before that.

[gunnrblze]

My little COD Ghosts sexy time/kink head cannons. (I’m ovulating, just bear with me, I think I lost the plot like 9 times)

My husband Hesh is rather vanilla in bed, but has a couple kinda oddball things (oddball to him lol) he’s fantasized about. It’s still something on the more tame side of kink, but I like to think his favorite kind of sex is romantic missionary but he also kinda wants to spank you sometimes or yap about getting you pregnant (whether you even can, want too, etc, doesn’t matter as long as you’re into it). He may or may not even admit it, but it plagues the inner corners of his mind (he’s shy methinks). He tries to hold back his noise, but if he’s desperate enough the man is VOCAL (he gets very desperate lol). Also down to try most positions, preferably if he can still see your face though. If you ever DO get pregnant by this man though, in a planned capacity, he will dick you down in a way that has you questioning how well you really know him, that dick will be FERAL!

My sweetheart Logan gets down I fear…I just know this man will have you in any room of the house, in any position. Loves to fuck you against the wall? Yeah. I think he’d also like being a little submissive sometimes. Like, tell him what to do, get a little bossy, if you catch him in the right mood he’d definitely get on his knees at the drop of a hat for you. I like to think he’s still not much of a talker during sex, but in lieu of little verbal communication, he can read your body like an open book. Soooo in tune with your reactions, it’s second nature for him to observe you like that. He can give head like it’d resurrect Christ himself though, do not let that man’s head between your legs unless you wanna ascend to heaven. (You def do.) Like a good soldier, he follows directions…

Keegan? This guy doesn’t play, he knows what he likes and he wants you to enjoy yourself too. He doesn’t see the point if it’s not mutual enjoyment, he’s gotta make you cum. I like to think he’d engage in some kink, also on the ‘tamer’ side, spanking, dirty talk, maybe a blindfold or some handcuffs here and there. I think he’d be willing to try/consider a lot of different things though if you asked. Avid pet name user, will “sweetheart” “love” “pretty/good girl/boy” you to death. Dick game is mean though, like I see him having an average amount of experience for a man his age, but he gets DOWNNN. Loves giving head, could probably bust just from watching you lose your mind over it. I’m a Keegan Russ soft dom truther.

Merrick gives me similar vibes to Keegan, except I feel like this man would secretly be a bit freaky once you guys have been intimate for a while lol. Like for a while it’s pretty conventional, but then once he’s well acquainted, he’ll manhandle and flip you in any position, order you about, whisper all kinds of shit to you… this man can yap methinks. Dirty talk comes so natural to him. (I think he has a thing for spanking too, sue me.) Naturally has that domineering energy but will lean into it more if you want. You’re absolutely his sweetheart during sex though, chronic “is this okay?” “does this feel good?” “do you like that baby?” user. Loves to praise too methinks, “you’re doing so good” “just like that” “there ya go, baby” etc etc.

Kick definitely gives me FREAK vibes, but in an almost controlled way if that makes sense? Very straightforward with it lol, like if you’ve got any kind of kink or scene fleshed out, he’s almost a little mechanical and analytical with it. Not because he isn’t connected in the moment, but because he’s SO turned on he’s observing you like you’re an act of god, a literal dog salivating at your feet, trying not to bust too quickly. Giving me that “focused but unfocused” energy. (You can’t convince me he wouldn’t like car sex too.) He can definitely have intimate, emotionally charged sex too, especially if he’s locked in with you.

Elias my beloved, he’s gotta be a sweetheart lol. I like to think him and Mrs. Walker had sweet married couple shit going on. I don’t really see him being into anything on the kinky side, but would prob dom you a little if he was in a mood. But this man can fuck ykwim? You need a soul mending experience? Get that man in your bed asap. If you two are mutually in love that dick will change your life fr, the Walker sons were made with care LMAO. (Loves finishing inside you if able, something triggers the primal ‘marking my territory’ part of his brain…)

Rorke is NASTYYY lol. This man would have the nastiest, freak sex with you, change my mind. I can see him being down to try sooo many things, like if you need that perv shit, he’s your guy. He’d def be into dom/sub things, and I can see him liking semi-public type stuff, the thrill of being seen/caught and what not. The mouth on this man is dirtyyyy, teases you relentlessly. If he loves you though, I think it sobers him a bit because he wants to worship your ass completely. Can also have slow, sappy romantic sex if the time is right. Will guide you and sweet talk you heavy. Loves getting head, and overall is a grunter lollll

[nereidprinc3ss]

Hey can I just thank you for writing Spencer the way you do because I tend to see a lot of violent rough sex with Spencer and of course everyone is free to characterise him as they want but I just don’t see him doing that even in later seasons and I just can’t get into if I feel like it doesn’t speak to his character yknow. We all have our fanon versions and do believe that part of being a good fan fic writer is taking a character and adapting them to scenarios that would never happen in their universe so of course it’s ok if he isn’t completely like show Spencer but sometimes I’m just reading a fic and it’s like it’s not even about him cause they didn’t retain a single one of his canon characteristics- I heavily fuck with soft dom Spencer but I can’t get bdsm daddification of him(I love my awkward oddball off putting man!!) but that might also partially be because I think sex is a very vulnerable and intimate thing and something I only feel comfortable doing with someone I’m in love with do maybe I’m just projecting!! - 🍒 anon

we’re the same babe, i agree that ppl can be into whatever they’re into but spencer being into like hurting his partner during sex or being any sort of violent is just blatantly antithetical to his character imo, like the whole point of his career is to understand what drives violent offenders to do the things they do and to understand how violence and sex become intertwined and can make an individual extremely sick. he’s seen the worst of what happens when you combine sex and violence and i think he just absolutely would not be into that because why would he want to hurt a woman for his own gratification when all he sees constantly is women who have been hurt to fulfill the sexual desires of some man? like the amount of cognitive dissonance that would require is insane and i don’t see him being able to do anything like that

although again i do not think fic has to adhere strictly to canon, people can interpret characters however they’d like, that is simply MY interpretation of him and how i choose to express his character in my own writing

[bluesidez]

OKAY I HAD TO HIT YOU W THIS BC I NEED THIS TO COME TRUE 🗣🗣‼️‼️

AcademicRival!Miguel x AcademicRival!reader

where they will do quite literally ANYTHING (legally) POSSIBLE to one up each other.

whether their petty rivalry began in high school or first year of uni/college, IDC- but they absolutely despise each other.

and!!! at some point down the track, they forgot why they were beefing in the first place, only for it to start stemming from a place of 'jealousy' (yk how sometimes jealousy is actually feelings of romantic interest in disguise,, yeah, that) and it gets to the point where they are quite literally making it all their friends' problem bc of it.

like i can imagine reader drinking something that Miguel sees and Miguel going 'i need to have this all the time and sell it out so reader can never have any' and Peter is like '???', or reader finding out Miguel got a certain mark and goes 'nobody speak to me for a month i have to understand everything about quantum physics before that smug asshole opens his mouth' and Jess is like '??? just kiss, fym??'

and then they finally have a moment where they have no choice but to rely on each other- whether Miguel's car breaks down on the side of the road reader happens to drive by and she takes him to his, or if reader desperately needs help in a situation and immediately calls him bc she knows he'll pick up bc she needs scary dog privileges and thats HIM so then they end up having a moment of reflection together with either super fluffy smut or absolute debauchery and fluffy aftercare i totally dont mind either way.

IDK do you know what i mean??? 🫣🫢🤭

anyway LY BLUE-BLUE, thank yew for letting me ramble on 🤍🩵

Are you asking me to write this? 🧐 (I shall add it to the pending ideas list just for you 🐰🩵)

I wrote that as a reply as soon as you sent it, but now I have more ideas that I wanna yap about to go along with this.

SO!! You already have a rivals, enemies to lovers trope going on. What better way to make it even more fun than to add the stoic x chatty dynamic???

Like I’m imagining the reader and Miguel first meeting in middle or high school. He’s a transfer student that’s immediately making the top grades and people are like where tf did he come from?? Reader doesn’t really think anything of it, she just carries on with her school life, chatting away (and getting in on the gossip about Miguel).

It’s not until he ends up in the same class with reader one semester (probably in high school) that reader is finally able to be in close contact with him. He’s so quiet and a little boring, but there’s always random girls coming in and out of the classroom to attempt to chat to him.

They’re always bringing snacks or sweets for him. He always turns them down with a “No thank you. I don’t like chocolate.” type of response. (What he thinks to be polite and cordial)

The guys in the class think he’s a huge jerk. The girls in the class still fond over him. You think he’s an oddball, a weirdo. But you really have no solid information to justify it.

It’s not until one day that the teacher asks this obscure question that he pisses you off. (I havent thought of a weird question yet tho). Everyone else has given crude or stupid answers, riling each other up and joking. You raise your head to give the most out-of-the-box, yet plausible answer that leaves the teacher impressed and the class laughing in shock. Miguel scoffs and debunks it so fast, that you start to feel like one of his rejected groupies. If you thought the laughter for your answer was loud, the laughter for his sounds like the crowd in a football stadium.

You’re embarrassed but you don’t really show it. You just brush it off and joke with everyone else like usual.

Then, one of the class’s first huge tests come. You’re gunning for the number 1 spot although you figure it won’t be too hard with half of the room being class clowns and the other half not giving af. You read over the material once and already have a good grasp on it, so you joke around with everyone else. There’s rap battles and TT routines. You guys even manage to get the teacher in on some of them. From the front of the room, you can see Miguel glancing back at you with such a sour look on his face. Wtf was his deal??

Test day finally comes. You’re the first to turn yours in with a smug smile on your face. You even take a nap until the next bell.

You’re on cloud nine for about a good week. Although, every time you open your mouth in class, Miguel looks like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Then, the time came for the teacher to hand out the papers. He was pretty theatrical and loved to announce who got the highest score.

You were gearing up for him to say your name. And you don’t know of you’re crazy, but you’re certain your mom didn’t put “Miguel O’Hara” on your school registration form.

You frown as you come back to reality, watching as teacher handed him is paper. From your seat, you can see the bright red 100 in the corner, a smiley face to adorn it.

Then the teacher hands you your paper. A 99.5. Just 0.5 points from a perfect score. And what you got points taken off for is something so ridiculous that you could scream.

You can see him in your peripheral as you chat with the other students about the answers. Just as you discuss your silly mistake you take a small look at him. He has a faint smirk on his face, as if to laugh at your downfall.

From then on, you decide that it’s a war.

[and obviously, the story would travel with them as they grow. Once they’re adults, I can imagine Miguel to still be this same stoic, yet more approachable person who has had a ROSTER of hookups and a reader who’s still so flirty and chatty, yet can’t find a good partner to save their life. The dynamic of him knowing exactly how to make reader feel good verses reader being overwhelmed for once would be sooooo good]

What do you think Lexie-bun?? 🥸

[tarot-junkie]

Coulda woulda shoulda. Just kind of ranty thing today…Not a Tarot Reading, But Still a Read:

I think what’s more aggravating these days is that Mr (basically wouldn’t use the term) “reductive” to describe certain things has, in FACT been reduced to THIS type of news. THIS type of content. THIS type of play.

Silly me, the stupid fan, for investing money into a curated image. Silly me, for thirsting over this person who doesn’t even exist anymore. It’s weird. He appeared to be invested in social commentary, interacting with fun content on IG, putting effort into social Justice related issues, a wiiiiittle thirst-trappy (but oook!), flirty, funny.

We joked about chest hair, glasses *and* his personality (welcome to the oddball female fan gaze). We all…ALL OF US (cue generalization) wanted to be besties with Scott, caretakers of his dog. In our dreams, right? These were the running jokes, anyway. It was fun. Funny. Interactive.

But now here we are. The superlative-laden girlfriend, who doesn’t know how to ACT inclusive beyond tweeting it, is allllllll we now know about him anymore. He is, and she is. And so we exist only in this weird-ass vacuum. To be fair, we are not OWED. ANYTHING. What I mean is that “he” as a concept is now reductive. The substance is absent. Lacking.

I don’t have an emotional feeling on this other than “that’s a shame.” Because I feel opportunities were pissed away. ASP is silent at a time when misinformation is aplenty, as always. His ability to utilize platforms for good (not a requirement) is absent. Ok fine. And the only speaking representation isn’t some slick motherfucker with big words, but rather other people, cheap articles and what appears to be a pretentious group of hangers-on who love to spout his IMDB accomplishments.

The other shame is that…if you’re someone who has been through trauma, you don’t use it for an article (the abduction), you don’t brag about being charitable or a humanitarian. You just do it. Brag about that. Tag THAT in your stories. But, I see. I get it. Charity is not fashionable like a resold miu miu skirt. Do you.

What’s become abundantly clear is that there is a group of individuals using the “everyones so mean” schtick. 🙄mmmk. Honestly, it’s your fault. Your loss. And your inability to manage your image.

👍🏻 cool bruh.

[strawberrystepmom]

okay so satoken witch au….this is a book

basically this isn’t like historical it’s fantasy au and the village i live in is small and very set in its ways. farming is the main source of income for everyone who lives in the village and livestock is prized for that reason and it all starts when my family’s two goats both die of an illness nobody can explain.

there’s suspicion immediately because witches and hexing are literally the main theme of the folktales parents in my village tell their children to make them behave. everyone is deeply fearful of witches and magic except for me (they caught me reading a book of spells i found in the woods once) so yk my bad although more proof is warranted bc the opinion of me is mixed. some of the other villagers like me because i help them (childcare, taking care of their livestock if they’re ill or unable, caring for the ill if not their goats and cows etc), the other half is so suspicious it doesn’t matter how good i’ve been to them in the past.

the evidence mounts. i’m withdrawn from the village (spending more time foraging in the woods because winter is coming), every cat in the village flocks to me when i return (these must be her familiars she has spy on us), i’ve started reading more books publicly than ever before (they must be spell books shout the villagers who won’t let me read aloud to them to prove otherwise) and it comes to a head in wintertime, on the night of the first snowfall. two other goats in the village fall ill and she.

the accusation is levied and my family is powerless to defend me but little do i know all of these happenstance things (finding a spell book, some of the cats that have just shown up at my door) are carefully laid but not evil traps by an actual witch - satoru. he’s from the city closest to my village, he’s kind of an oddball but they let him do his thing. nobody speculates he’s a witch bc he’s a man.

he first noticed me a few years prior to the actual hero moment because he came to the village to trade for a friend who didn’t feel safe coming on their own for a big load of meat and he could tell immediately there was magic somewhere in the village. lo and behold, it’s the very girl he’s picking up a freshly processed cow from!

the reputation of my village precedes it and he keeps an eye on me from afar from that day on. leaving a spell book out, sending familiars to follow me, showing up on occasion on his own so when he finds out the plot to burn the witch is on - he already knows what he has to do.

(sadly he’s a drama queen and waits until I’m bound in the stake. you know how he is.)

but he has a safe cave he hides me in for around six months and then we go to the city and he shelters me there. my village is screaming about him being a witch and harboring one but the people in the city are somewhat less superstitious and see my village as a bit hysterical.

so yeah!!!!! happily ever after (of course)

[vampire-the-askerade]

Could you spare a crumb of general Beckett headcanons?

[Here you go! This is just some of my understandings of the character, and the ideas might change later on down the road]

While most everyone, including himself, would think that he is one of the smartest and most calculating kindred to live (so to speak), there are many, many times where he’s just flying by on guesses, knee-jerk reactions, and an inordinate amount of luck.

Don’t get it wrong, he is extremely intelligent and a master of planning when he needs to be, he’s always been more of a creature of action, and convinces everyone that it was all planned. Himself as well, sort of a, “I’m so good a planning, i even surprise myself sometimes!” attitude.

Going off of that, he is very conceited. He would argue confident is the correct term, perhaps self assured. However, it well passed the line of, “being sure of one’s self,” to, “being full of one’s self.”

Thing about it though is that it’s not a malicious sort of conceit. It’s more of a, “I’m better than everyone else, therefore I am the best teacher for everyone else.” Look at those other people, it’s so sad how they have to struggle over the simplest thing that he is moved, nay, obligated to show them the error of their ways.

As long as it doesn’t do anything that could put himself or his current objective at risk.

A good example of this is his interactions with the fledgling during the events of VTMB. He might not go out of his way to follow them, at least not purposely, and when he realizes the imminent danger in LA he gets the hell out of dodge, but when he does meet up with them, he gives truly helpful advise and even talks to them in a gentler, almost brotherly tone as opposed to the majority of their other interactions.

That being said, once he does run into someone he deems to be truly on his level, or god forbid, above it, he can get a bit pissy. He’ll keep it tone down as long as all parties are cordial, but the first glimmer of rivalry or contempt, then he is not going to be tolerating that person in any way, shape, or form

Similarly, he has very little problem letting pompous people know that he sees them as such. There’s that whole thing where a prince made him reveal what he actually thought of him, but I do get the feeling that the prince didn’t have to delve too deep to get to those feelings either.

He’s an interesting case of trying to be suave while simultaneously neither not carrying or not completely knowing how. Ends up being so in his own oddball sort of way. That is, he’s so unapologetically himself that it ends up being more appealing than people that put on airs.

This however can make it rather difficult to read the room. Almost can’t grasp why people wouldn’t have the same thought process as him.

He will make an effort to listen and understand where he might be mistaken, but only if it’s done in a courteous manner. Finds the whole process as a puzzle to solve rather than an actual faux pas.

Might seem like an oxymoronic statement, but he is one of the kinder hearted kindred. He still partakes in the more violent aspects of the other vampires, but only when he has to. It’s sort of his way to combat his nature as a gangrel and the perception that all kindred from that clan are little more than the beast that inhabits them.

Even with that, a kind wolf is still a wolf. If you’re not careful of what you’re doing or where you are, our dear anthropologist with bite and bite hard. When things get messy with him, they get violently messy.

Sort of like, other than changing into animals when he needs to, he keeps his more bestial nature under such a tight lock and key, that when there’s a reason to actually let it out, he’s got months worth of beast rage pent up there.

While he doesn’t mind it where people call him an history or archeologist, he does much prefer for people to more specific term of anthropologist. Sees it as it being as misleading or incorrect as referring to someone as an artist or a painter when they were actually a sculptor.

[yuanw3i]

a lot of thoughts about silver twisted wonderland

Good morning it’s 3:45 am and dorm silver dropped after almost 3 years so here’s a full length post dedicated to him. not spoiler free

Quick Note: I remember when I first saw all the twst characters lined up and he honestly…didn't stick out much. i picked him as my first favorite anyways though because of zakki and hes been trapped in my brain ever since. Even though his background is still shrouded in ??wtfs i think exploring that is part of the fun of silver!! Personally, I really love him because a lot of his character beyond niceguy.jpg is rooted in subtext and it's super fun to delve into. so i can’t promise this is an unbiased analysis, but I hope you enjoy it anyways. 

Translation Credits: @mysteryshoptls, @twstarchives, and TWST Miraheze’s Enharo translations

OVERVIEW

Silver, at a quick glance, seems like both the most normal and most bizarre character in Twst. In a sea of self-serving, scheming villains, he lacks the sort of insidiousness most of his peers are constantly displaying. From a player’s perspective, we know this is because he’s most likely based on Aurora; but other NRC students simply deign to see him as an oddball. From the Disney properties he’s twisted from to his own strange upbringing, Silver is a bit of a question mark to both us and the ingame characters. In this post I’m gonna try to dissect some underappreciated complexities of his character, and hopefully get you or whoever’s reading this to give him some love! haha hope this doesnt get too long

PART 1: INTRODUCTION 

First off, Silver’s a pretty lowkey guy. Not in the way Jamil is (forced), or the way Trey is (less forced than Jamil but still forced), but moreso in a way that points to him being out of touch with himself and his own internal state. He doesn’t really…stick out in comparison to the more bombastic members of his dorm; at least not at first. A lot of his quirks are hidden behind his cool expression and appearance, and the gap between those two qualities leads to some funny gags in his interactions with others. 

Part of Silver’s charm as a character comes from his super blunt way of speaking, especially when he starts to describe extremely weird situations that he deems are normal. Like in Endless Halloween, when he casually mentions that he’d used to fight bears to Jamil and Jack (who react as expected). He isn’t used to “regular” social conventions, and this is coupled with the fact that he doesn’t really think like a villain does. In Fairy Gala IF, Ace comments on his heroicness, wondering how they both attend the same school. 

Essentially, there’s a significant divide between him and the people around him in both mindset and in lifestyle. Other students also view him as strange due to unchanging face. Some of his voicelines point this lack of expressiveness, like these:  

“They say that silence is golden. But in my case I just don’t have anything worth talking about���” (Ceremonial Robes SR) 

“I’m happy. ‘I don’t look like it’? Understood. Next time I’ll try harder.” (Groovy Voiceline)  

His dorm SSR also places this aspect of his character front and center. In Part 1, he overhears his peers whispering about how expressionless and weird he is. One of the students even questions if Silver has feelings, which triggers Silver to try to “learn how to be more expressive” with Kalim and Jamil’s help. Thank god for Sebek, who plans to spar with him in the courtyard so Silver’s classmates can witness his true, extremely cool self. He reiterates that Silver shouldn’t care about their opinions and doesn’t need to change.  I don’t think being as on display with one’s emotions as say, Kalim, is necessary for Silver to show growth; he doesn’t have to change who he is to please others. I also really really don’t think that him being less externally expressive is a fault. Sebek’s lines in Silver’s dorm uniform story make this very clear. 

PART 2: SILVER IS A HUMAN 

Still, an important part of his dorm uniform personal story is his reasoning behind wanting to change his expressions. He says he feels bad for burdening his classmates this way, and doesn’t want this issue to reflect poorly on Malleus. Silver’s dorm uniform story, as well as countless others (see: his PE card, where he only helps Vil after the former mentions Malleus), show off a key facet of Silver’s character. Of course no man is an island, but Silver only seems to exist in relation to Lilia and Malleus. His lack of self awareness can thus be linked to his constant drive to be useful to them. Silver only focuses on training and bettering himself in academics, physically, magically, etc in order to better serve others or avoid staining Malleus’s reputation; it’s all he can talk about. So much of his life is spent dedicated to his family that he’s frighteningly UNself-centered. And I know that his selflessness is part of the joke, but he really doesn’t seem to be thinking about himself at all, ever. 

One way to read into Silver’s devotion is through the lens of his mortality. Like Sebek, I think Silver has some internal struggle surrounding his humanity. Unlike Sebek, I don’t think Silver is necessarily ashamed of his race or cognizant of this inner conflict; rather, the fact that he is human and is mortal influences his dynamics with the other three greatly. Something easy to overlook with all the gags about Silver falling asleep in random situaftions or playing with animals is that he is burdened with the knowledge he will die long before his loved ones. Lilia, Malleus, and potentially Sebek (not sure about his projected lifespan yet?) are all likely to outlive him and there’s nothing he can do about it. Unlike the others, his time is palpably finite. 

This inner conflict manifests most obviously in his desperation to fix his sleeping issues. While it's in part just a dislike for it constantly disrupting his everyday life, any time spent unconscious is just another reminder of the limited time he has in comparison to his quasi-immortal loved ones. His character profile also marks his dislike as "being idle", which makes total sense when considered in relation to his mortality and not just in relation to his narcolepsy. in this short time he's been blessed with, he should devote his being to giving back to those who raised and cared for him, those who he lives for and who gave him the chance to live. Not a second should be wasted when he could be improving himself as a son, guard, student etc, and this fixation then feeds into his already lacking sense of introspection. While I don’t think he’s necessarily aware of this view of his own humanity (ie it doesn’t cross his mind in such a melancholic or existential way when he’s looking for a cure to his sleeping) I think it’s a key part of his character that explains a lot about his motivations and being. 

But what makes the divide between human and fae lifespans even harder to navigate is the sheer difference in their experiences and values. Of course Lilia and Malleus care for Silver, but the difference in perspectives between a human and a centuries old fae is massive. An example of this is in the Endless Halloween event: 

Silver: There’s no way I could doubt you, Fath…Da…Lilia! You both took this way too far! 

Lilia & Malleus: Hm?

Silver: I understand that you and the ghosts just wanted us to have fun. But those who were taken over by the ghosts tried to fight us. All it would’ve taken was one mistake and someone could’ve gotten seriously injured. Are you saying that was a hint, as well? 

Though Lilia and Malleus clear up the misunderstanding-the ghosts were supposed to tell everyone it was entertainment but were attacked before they could-Silver still shows his willingness to challenge them when he believes it necessary. I wouldn’t add this as an example because it is part of a misunderstanding, but Ace criticizes Malleus in his own SR Scary Dress personal story, citing that “normal students can’t compare”, so he should be more aware of how powerful he is. 

Endless Halloween is in general a really great Silver event. Not only are we shown his willingness to stand up for what he believes is right, even against the people who make up his whole world, he’s forced to confront the question of his humanity in relation to them. In his SSR Scary Dress personal story, he acknowledges that he never thought they could part: 

Silver: Lilia-senpai was always there for me, so I was never lonely.

Silver: Training with Sebek was always fun, and sometimes Malleus-sama would come and visit us in secret…

Silver: Somewhere in my heart, I had decided that that peaceful time would continue on forever.

Silver: …I had never even given it a thought that I could experience a parting.

That’s what makes part 1 of episode 7 is such an interesting set up in terms of character drama- as with the Endless Halloween kidnapping farce, the roles between son and father have been reversed. This time, though, it’s seemingly for real.  Silver can’t picture outliving Lilia, or even just living apart from him forever because the first seemed biologically impossible and the other extremely unlikely, and now everyone is crying and Malleus is burning down NRC. 

The Valley of Thorns is behind on the times. It’s a stagnant and slow to change, a point emphasized in almost all of its mentions, so I think the Diasomnia chapter will center on them coping with time,  change, mortality, etc. I’m trying not to cross over into theory territory, but another possible route episode 7 could take is surrounding Silver’s origins. We see Lilia give him the ring from his original parents. What if he leaves to find them? I really really don’t think he will, but there is that threat of “Silver has ties to another place besides Diasomnia” which is another stake in how lonely Malleus, as the overblotter, is. 

JUST TO REITERATE AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT WHEN DISCUSSING SILVER LIKE THIS: I also don't think he's super self-aware yet considering his general lack of introspection, or at least doesn't think about it too often unless he's confronted with a change in the status quo (like in his Scary Monsters SSR). He’s very here-and-now minded. I’m not saying he’s secretly hiding some dark and sad secret side, just that his situation’s complexity extends beyond the falling-asleep-everywhere gags. Mortality and all that. 

PART 3: I LOVE SILVER TWISTED WONDERLAND 

But one thing that always makes me sad about Silver’s situation is wondering…is he lonely? It must be lonely right? Or does he throw so much of himself into others that he isn’t even aware if or when he is? So much of twst boils down to how loneliness absolutely destroys a person, and how understanding from others and human connection is incredibly necessary. Without it, people can turn into literal monsters, consumed by their pain and isolation. Like their leige, Silver and Sebek haven’t socialized with others much until NRC. But a big part of twst chapters is the dorm head/members of the respective dorm connecting with their classmates a little more, which is why I’m hopeful that Diasomnia will have a happy ending. The game is a Disney property after all. 

And as Lilia says, human or not, Silver will always be his son. Sometimes a family can be two fae, a human baby, and their giant crocodile. 

tldr; Silver is isolated in a lot of ways (human instead of fae, has morals unlike the other scrubs at NRC) and hyperfocuses on others instead of his own sake because of it; I think episode 7 will be about him and the rest of Diasomnia learning how to make connections with others while coping with time, change, and mortality. 

[chronicsyd]

So I saw The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes over the weekend and there’s been a few oddball things I’ve seen on social media

Now the first being all the people simping over young Snow… Im mainly chalking that up to Tom Blyth being in the role than anything else and the fact that the movie doesn’t really show Snow’s inner monologue that the book does cause when you’ve read the book then you Know what kinda sociopath Snow really is.

Second, the amount of Snowxreader fics I’ve seen… y’all missed the point SO badly

Third ties into the last two with people being avid Gale haters since the first trilogy and then being a Snow apologist. Like How?! (At least with Gale you feel some sort of empathy with him in the beginning that dissipates as the books go on with the decisions that he makes and the way he treats others but because TBOSAS is a prequel that we got later we know what person Snow becomes so you can’t feel anything but destain for the guy)

Fourth, the “Lucy Gray is actually President Coin” theories… what? What in Lucy Gray’s character in the book Or film would lead you to that conclusion? I understand that you want some semblance of closure to Lucy Gray’s character because we don’t get one because the story is told through Snow’s perspective but to think that a girl who wants to be free of Snow would turn around and end up as “Snow in a different font” to the point to where Katniss kills her instead of Snow is just Beyond me

And this is just a personal thing for me but I don’t understand the people getting upset that the Ballad of songbirds and snakes had Singing in it. Common sense ain’t so common I guess…

[steviewashere]

Balls in Laundry Baskets: An Apology

Rating: Teen and Up CW: Bitchy/Mean Steve Harrington, Mean Eddie Munson (Both Briefly and For Good Reason) Tags: Post Season 4, Post Canon, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Arguing, Steve Harrington & Lucas Sinclair Friendship, Eddie Munson Gets Put in His Place, Lucas Sinclair is a Sweetheart, Steve Harrington is a Sweetheart, Protective Steve Harrington, Emotionally Hurt Lucas Sinclair, Emotionally Hurt Steve Harrington, Established Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Eddie Munson Means Well He's Just Defensive, Hurt People Hurt Others

This is chapter one, which also includes the first two pages that I already posted. Please keep your expectations low, as I'm still working on the second and final chapter.

Read on AO3

Read Chapter Two Read Chapter Three (Final)

🏀—————🏀 “So, you and Eddie, huh?”

Steve startles at the sound of a voice, deep and hushed, from where he’s been waiting in Hawkins High’s parking lot. Hellfire was supposed to be out by now—6:50pm if his watch is correct—it’s their first time back since March and it would be cordial. But it seems that only Lucas got that memo.

“Jesus Christ, Sinclair!” He yelps. Holds his right palm flat against his chest, trying his best to rescind the spike of panic that is crawling through him. “I thought I told you to quit doing that,” he harshly whispers, rubbing his palm against his shirt. The scratchy material of his polo a balm against his nerves.

“Sorry,” Lucas sheepishly murmurs. Speaking at a normal volume, he asks again, “So, you and Eddie?”

He rolls his eyes. “What about me and Eddie? Can’t I just hang out with the guy without being pestered?”

Lucas shrugs. “You can do whatever you want,” he states, but Steve can already tell there’s somehow more. “But I didn’t think you two would be…buddies. Considering how he feels about, y’know, sports and whatever.”

For a moment, Steve considers Lucas’s approach. His fidgeting hands and his slightly closed off eyes. The hunch to his shoulders and the general unease that accompanies talking about Eddie. Which, that’s particularly odd. Aren’t they buddies, Steve questions himself. Wrapped up in the Hellfire club, their mutual interest in Dungeons & Dragons, the ragtag group of nerds that they are—all of that is perfect for their oddball friendship, at least Steve thought so.

“What’s wrong with you and Eddie?” Steve asks, beating around the bush. He doesn’t do cryptic. And he especially doesn’t do it with somebody like Lucas, a kid already smarter than him by several margins.

There isn’t an answer right away. But Lucas’s shoulders drop. His eyes go from frustrated to…sad. “Remember my championship game?” He asks, though it seems a bit much of a topic change. What does this have to do with Eddie, Steve has to wonder.

“Well, yeah,” he answers instead, “I was there. Had a pathetic date with a girl I hardly enjoyed being around. Mocked Tammy Thompson with Robin. Watched you get that winning shot. It was a, genuinely, awesome championship game.” And that’s the truth. It’s the best one he’s ever witnessed. Which is saying something, considering he’d played several championship games. All of them, though, were major losses. He’ll take those to the grave with him, with how often his previous basketball teams teased him.

Lucas gives a harsh single nod, a small smile that whisks away as soon as it appears. “Right,” he mutters, “I remember.” He leans against the Beemer’s bumper, shoulder brushing with Steve’s. Looks forlorn towards the high school’s doors, where Eddie and the rest of the Hellfire bunch should be spilling out any moment now. Steve looks on with him. Listens as Lucas’s voice drops low, nearly angry, fully spiteful, “I begged Dustin and Mike to talk to Eddie about my game. To see if the Hellfire campaign—which would be happening the same night—could be moved. And I, look, I understand that D&D means a lot to all of them, it means something to me, too. But I was really hoping to see my friends there. If not my friends, then at least Erica.

“They didn’t move the campaign,” he states so bitter, Steve tastes the words on his own tongue, “apparently a game where you’re shooting ‘balls into laundry baskets’ is too…mainstream and norm-ie for Eddie. He refused to move his precious game. Then, get this, instead of getting some random kid to play, they egged Erica in.” Lucas drags his eyes away from the school, head turning slow to look at Steve. He follows suit, eyeing Lucas back. His stomach churns with the vitriol painting itself unsubtly across Lucas’s face. “Color me surprised, I guess, that he’s going out with a jock,” he states, voice carefully blank of anything.

Steve stares on at him. He didn’t know this was the case at all. Remembers getting the phone call about Dustin wanting him to play, but he figured that had something to do with him bugging Steve for the millionth time. Because that was something Dustin wanted. For Steve to play. And, granted, Steve refused because it was too nerdy—unimportant and embarrassing. Yet, now he’s looking into Lucas’s face. Where hurt etches itself like solid lines of chiseled marble. Being told, instead, that Eddie’s holding his own bias.

Maybe he hasn’t removed his biases towards high school nerds, not completely. But he’s coming undone from that mentality. Considering Nancy and Robin and Eddie—Dustin and Mike and Lucas—even Max, they’re all big nerds. They all have some sort of interest with Dungeons & Dragons or theater or video games and math. And he loves them all. Though, Steve’s never stopped to think about the opposite side of the coin. Tail-side, where balls in laundry baskets is considered taboo.

After a deep silence when Steve finally digests this information, his eyebrows furrow on their own accord. Mouth downturning into a harsh frown, one that he feels to the bottoms of his feet. He stops himself in time from balling his hands into fists, but the urge to do so snarls in him like a newly unmuzzled, wild dog. A dog, he thought, that he trained obedient away from his anger. But it seems like once the teeth are bared, they never truly hide away.

“That ass,” Steve snarks. “What—so I have to reconsider all my biases surrounding nerds, reconstruct how I view everybody around me, and realize how awesome it is. And—what—Eddie can just get away with that…bullshit? That’s…What the hell?” There’s a little bit more of a bite to his words than he had anticipated. But it really isn’t fair. The table turns and he’s better for it, sure, but Eddie just…That’s not fair. The dog growls louder, drool burbling in its chops, a bark forming in the back of its throat.

“That’s what I thought,” Lucas says, “and I know, I know, that Dustin and Mike tried everything in their power. And that Eddie was the one to, y’know, be the asshole. But I thought that maybe my friends would be on my side. That they’d skip the game, show Eddie up. Not get my little sister involved or have fun without me or…I don’t know.” And the way he says those last three words stings something acidic inside of Steve. Corrosion and battery acid hot and alive in his stomach. Anger reaching the surface of his skin, words crawling and resonating in his mouth. 

The doors to the school open distantly and Lucas suddenly perks back up, blossoming from where he was wilted against Steve’s car. “Doesn’t matter,” he chirps, though it’s all fake, “at least I can play with them now, which is awesome.”

But before he can stride away, to where his bike is parked and locked up, Steve snakes a hand onto Lucas’s wrist. They lock eyes again. “I’ll talk to him,” Steve swears, “he’ll apologize.”

“Steve, you don’t—“

“You used sports as a means to fit in, right? Granted, popularity’s not all that cool and you know that especially now. But it was a…a—“ He snaps his fingers, searching for the word. “—A cover, something to find security in. And you had that. And that’s what the D&D game is to Eddie. Sports is my D&D, too.” He loosens his grip on Lucas’s arm. Neither make any sort of move. “Just because you were trying to find your people doesn’t mean you can be…” He chooses his next words carefully. “Ostracized or outcast by those who you found safety with before. Especially when those guys orbit around each other for the same reason. I’ll talk to him,” he urges, “and he will apologize, or else.”

Lucas gives him a softened look. “Thanks, Steve,” he mutters, “I wasn’t looking to start anything, but I appreciate you having my back. It really means a lot.” And then he shuffles away, towards his bicycle, small chat starting up with Mike and Dustin.

When Steve turns back towards the school, Eddie is sauntering towards him. Eyes wide. Smile big and easy. Yet, his soft features are all too nauseating to Steve’s chest right now. His heart aches. If Eddie thinks of Lucas’s interests that way, what does he think of mine?

He tamps down his annoyance and anger. Because Eddie takes his hand and is looking at him as if the world belongs to the two of them. But that hurt on Lucas’s face is like a dagger impaled in his brain when Eddie greets nice and low, “Hi, baby. Been thinking about you the entire time I was in there.”

Steve smiles, though it may come off as more of a grimace with how Eddie falters. “Been thinking about you, too,” he echoes. Though, thinking positively isn’t what he’s been doing, as far as anybody’s concerned. Beat around the bush, he tells himself. He takes a steadying breath, posture straightening, demeanor changing. Says with a sour tone, “I, uh, I think we need to have a little talk in the car, if that’s okay? It’s not a breakup thing, but it might make you…somebody might get mad and I don’t want to cage you in at my house.”

“Oh,” Eddie breathes. His eyes go distant very briefly. When he refocuses on Steve, something has hardened in his features. Steve’s throat goes tight. “It can’t wait until after our date night?” There’s a low amount of ire in his words already and Steve is momentarily caught in it. Until he lets his eyebrows scrunch down his face again, giving in to that tightness in his throat.

He sighs, annoyed already. “No, Eddie,” he bites without meaning to. “I need to talk to you now. I’m already upset about it and it’s not going to do me any good to just brush it off.” His hand releases from Eddie’s grip, falling heavy against his side. He turns towards his driver’s side door and stares back at where Eddie is rooted. “Come on,” he states lowly, “you were the one to tell me to talk about the shit that’s bothering me. Can’t ignore it just because it has to do with you.”

Bitchy is probably not the best approach to all of this, but Steve is already cornered out of options. He pulls his door open with more force than necessary. Slides into his seat, key into the ignition, and honks once at Eddie. Jarringly gestures at the passenger seat. Thankfully, there’s nobody else to witness the potential torrential fire that’s brewing in him. It’ll be just the two of them; though that realization stirs something sickly in Steve’s stomach.

Eddie gets in silently. Places his school bag in the footwell. And keeps his face pointed out the windshield. “What’s wrong?” He asks, though his voice is devoid and edging on irritated.

Steve rolls his eyes, though Eddie can’t see him. He sets his hands firmly on his steering wheel. Squeezes the leather for comfort, an instinct. And heaves a sigh, urging himself to be calmer about this. “I had a talk with Lucas,” he starts. “About, uh, about his championship game back in March.”

Next to him, Eddie immediately tenses.

He continues without acknowledgement. Keeps himself as leveled as possible. “He told me that you refused to move your game for his. That he was looking forward to having his friends, which I’m assuming includes you, watch him play. And I—I know how important that championship game was to him. Y’know, it’s one of the bigger—“

“Are you mad because I didn’t want to sit at some jock event?” Eddie interrupts, question clipped. Though there’s also mild amusement in his tone, as if Steve being upset is poposterous. He continues without any regard for Steve. “In a room full of, mind you, people who hate me?”

Steve tenses more than Eddie had. His shoulders hiking and his stomach knotting impossibly more. Finally lets the dog bark, gives in to whatever it wants. “You know what, Eddie?” He bitches back. “I am mad at you. In fact, I…I…I’m so fucking angry that you…you make this whole deal about ‘lost sheep’ and herding them in to play your game. You concern yourself with making a community for people who are lost to the crowd of cliques in that school. And it’s just—Lucas is one of those kids! He is, even if that means he wants to play basketball!”

The passenger seat squeaks. Clothes rustling as Eddie turns toward him. But Steve doesn’t rip his eyes from the windshield. If anything, he leans more towards the left, creating a deeper, larger space between them. His hands instinctively tighten on the steering wheel again.

“Yeah, I do pride myself on that,” Eddie spits. “I do. Which is why, honestly, it irks me that Lucas would pick a crowd full of assholes. A bunch of people who would never give him the time of day.”

Steve goes rigid at that. He was an asshole, too. He knows that. Eddie especially knows that. The Munson Doctrine wouldn’t exist without the inclusion of asshole jocks, Steve being near the top of the list. He tries to tell himself that Eddie doesn’t think of him that way, but it’s hard considering himself. Who he used to be. Instead, he takes another breath, this one longer and hopefully more steadying than the other ones have been.

“He went out for basketball for a sense of security,” Steve states slowly, verging on impatient. “To find somewhere to belong to. That’s all a freshman looks for—a group to be somebody with. And, you know, considering that he’s already sort of singled out for being one of a few black kids at the school…Belonging is kind of important to him.” He settles back into his seat, arms still stretched to their full length in front of him. His stomach is turning and his heart is racing. And why won’t Eddie just get this? “Even if the basketball team has a bunch of assholes, he still wanted to do it. He was celebrated for his skills, who he is—even if it was for a moment. Playing was, and probably still is, important to him. And you—“ Steve finally turns his head towards Eddie. Knows his eyes are shooting daggers, can see where they lodge themselves between Eddie’s ribs. He raises a finger and accuses, “—you made his game feel unimportant. None of his best friends came because they were toopreoccupied with your game.” His face grows unusually hot as his voice drags passionately. The words just tumbling, splattering between them. But he carries on like a fire fed, “They even got his little sister to play yourgame. And, you know what really hurt to hear? Lucas wanted at least Erica to watch. And she wasn’t there. She wasn’t there because of your game, Eddie. How do you think that looks to him?”

Eddie has the audacity to look cowed, appalled. His mouth agape and his eyes as two large craters on his face. And for the first time, probably ever, he is stunned into silence.

Steve looks away. Bitter. All that festers in him now is hurt, ache, sadness. He chews on his lip, inhales softly through his nose, and opens his mouth with a silent word. Finally, he murmurs, “When I came to the high school as a freshman, I did the exact same thing as Lucas did. I joined the basketball team. Not because I was good. Or because my dad forced me to, like everybody seems to think. It’s because I wanted to fit in.”

His eyes are stinging. Cheeks flushing even more with overwhelming, consuming emotion. Continues, “And, though I let the feeling eat away at me, it felt good to be protected by a camaraderie like that. Outside of the nerdy friend group I had in middle school, going into high school. It felt good. And—It’s not the same as why Lucas joined, I know that, but I can understand.

“On top of that, I never had friends or family members show up for me at my games. So, for me to know the hurt Lucas feels, that would be an understatement. What’s important to note, though, is that he had people in his life to be there for him and they didn’t show. They didn’t.”

The fight is draining out of him, but he has to solidify his point. Has to finish this or else. Thinks briefly that maybe he should quit while he’s ahead, but he can’t make himself do that. The ferocity engulfing him from the inside out all too much to ignore. He’s been beaten down before for Lucas, literally—oh so literally—but he’d do it again and again and again for that kid to find his footing. Including this…spat? One sided argument? This argument with his boyfriend. 

“Even I was there,” he says, hollowly, “cheering him on. It just would’ve been nice, for him, to have more than just some washed up, ex-jock, nobody be there. Right? I’m sure you get where I’m coming from. You can understand what I’m saying.” He glances forlorn out his window. Can’t even muster the courage to look over at Eddie. He’s basically drained himself. Being vulnerable isn’t his forte, but he can be for the people around him. Even if it’s at the expense of his own well being. “Well, I thought you’d understand. Wanting to have a community, people to lean on, to make something of yourself. No matter the means. I just didn’t think you’d be part of the reason that Lucas feels so…so singular.”

He takes a deep breath, ignoring how nasally it is to his ears. And mutters, a final thing, “I didn’t think you viewed something that Lucas and I are into as so…nothing. I try my best to be better about what you like, but it seems that you don’t make that same effort. That’s not fair, Eddie. You should know that.”

Without much else to say and with Eddie’s eerie silence, he starts the car. Puts it into drive. And peels away into the silence of the long and stretching road.

Briefly, he thinks about turning on the radio or cranking down the window, but the air is too thick to move through. Even the slight turns of his steering wheel is enough to make him feel sick. He’s sick with how disgustingly to-the-point he had to be. Though, there’s no other way that Eddie would’ve listened. Not with how defensive he immediately got.

The original date night plan had been to go to his house, but he finds himself pulling into Forest Hills’ driveway. Past the dimly lit trailers and the striking quietness of Max’s home. He parks in the vacant spot next to Eddie’s van. Which, the van is broken down right now—the main reason Steve is even driving Eddie around. But, now what? Is Eddie mad at how mad Steve was? Is he going to realize that he doesn’t like Steve because of his interests, who he is? Is this it?

A gentle anxious thrum runs through Steve like the very blood he needs to exist.

He silences the car. And just sits with his hands in his lap. Looking blankly at Eddie’s front door.

“Your stop,” Steve murmurs.

Eddie takes a deep breath and sighs heavily through his nose. But he doesn’t make a move to open his door. To step out. To walk away from…all that Steve is and has been.

Steve turns to him, gestures loosely at the Munson’s. “Your stop,” he reiterates.

“I—“ Eddie musters, voice croaking and rough. “I didn’t realize that…I didn’t know Lucas was mad about that. I didn’t think it…mattered.”

“Of course you didn’t,” Steve bitterly states, “It’s not like you actually cared.”

“But I do,” Eddie insists, “I care so much about Lucas. And I care so much about you. I swear!” He finally moves, tossing himself in the seat to face Steve, flailing. His face a mournful thing, downturned and sad. Skin pale and his hands desperate and his voice urgent. “There’s no excuse, I know. But I just…The reason I look at jocks so awfully is because they’ve always turned on me, you know? They always downplay my interests and mock me and tease me for what I like. Which is why I have to show myself as the bigger guy, that I can take it. I just didn’t realize that I was doing it, too.”

Slowly, Steve crosses his arms over his chest. Fingers tightening over his biceps. “Real life and your friends are more important than biases, Eddie.”

“I see that now.”

“And I think that you…you love me? And that you like Lucas. But it’s just hard to feel that, for either of us, when you adamantly refuse to involve yourself in our interests. Even if it means attending some jock event. Even if it means sitting in a room full of people that hate you. Which, by the way, that isn’t true because Lucas and I both like you—I love you, even.” He faces Eddie again. His face a sure thing of great ache, based on Eddie’s own crestfallen eyes. “Maybe just…give us space for a couple days? Think about this. Apologize once you’ve given it some thought. I understand where the whole hating jocks thing comes from, but just think about how that hurts, too.”

Eddie takes a gasping breath. “But I’m sorry now, Stevie,” he swears, “I am. I’m so sorry.”

There’s part of those words that soothe Steve like aloe to a sunburn, but he can’t accept them. Knows that the sure sting of the burn will still be there if he lets Eddie do this now. So he collects himself, mulls the words, and defends himself—for once. “I’ll accept that when it doesn’t feel like you’re saying it just to make me feel better. I want you to mean it. And I want you to apologize to Lucas first.”

He watches Eddie nod fervently, sharply. His hands twisting together in his lap and his eyes wetting, shoved harshly to the side. “Yeah, okay,” his voice trembles, “okay, I’ll fix this.”

Carefully, Steve takes Eddie’s hands. Tugs them until Eddie looks at him. Involuntarily, he makes a soft, sympathetic noise. It’s clear in the wetness of Eddie’s eyes that he’s determined to change this, to make this better. It’s clear that he didn’t mean to hurt this severely. He presses deep into the back of Eddie’s hands, tethering himself down to the earth, away from the cloud of anger that threatens to swallow him whole. 

“Hey,” he murmurs, “listen to me, baby. I know that you’re sorry. I know, okay? But Lucas won’t know that, he’ll probably think you’re saying it to get on his good side. And…maybe you are, a bit, but it’ll be better if you really mean it. Trust me.” He swipes his thumbs over Eddie’s knuckles, massages them to ease the tension. “I still love you. I’m still learning, too, to love your interests with my full heart. And I know that it’s hard to let go of stupid biases, but you’ll be better for it. You will, Eds, and you’ll find you actually feel good.” Steve runs his hands up Eddie’s arms, to his shoulders, the sides of his neck.

Gently, he cups Eddie’s face between his hands. Presses his thumbs underneath Eddie’s eyes.

Eddie softens, loosening. Breathes slowly onto Steve’s wrists. “I’ll make this right, Steve,” he promises quietly, “I want to love both of you guys right.”

“I believe you,” he whispers in turn, “you’re a good guy, Eddie. You’ve got a good soul and a good heart. But you just need to relearn some things, baby.” He leans in, softly pecks the soft tissue of Eddie’s facial scar, and pulls away. Reaches up and runs a hand through the wiry ends of Eddie’s curls. Finds that he does mean the softness in his words, even with the bitter edge in his chest. He murmurs, “Let’s cool off tonight, because I know we’re both upset. And we’ll reconvene in a couple days, after my shift. I’ll help you come up with a good apology, promise.”

“Okay,” Eddie mutters, sniffling.

“I love you,” he feels the need to remind.

“I love you, too, Stevie. And I mean that. I really do.”

🏀—————🏀

Taglist (Open For Chapter Two): @wonderland-girl143-blog @tinyplanet95 @sharingisntkaren @ghostquer @practicallybegging @croatoan-like-its-hot @reinedslys-central

[yuurei20]

Idia Info Compilation Part 6: Idia and Ortho 2, Music, Handmade Goods

While Idia describes himself as “a wuss who can’t bring himself to say no”, he doesn’t always acquiesce to Ortho’s requests: he reneges on a promise to play outside with Ortho after ranking low in a video game.

When Kalim expresses surprise, however, Ortho defends Idia, saying that he is “the best brother ever. He’s just…kind of an oddball.”

When Ortho asks Idia to design him legs so that he can play soccer in the schoolyard like the other students Idia refuses entirely saying that “floating around is every guys dream” and “walking is so analog. Total NPC stuff. Flying is for heroes.”

Longing to “try jumping in puddles and kicking rocks and stuff”, Ortho vents to Floyd and Jade whom he meets by chance in the library while looking up designer shoes. They blackmail Idia into designing Ortho’s desired legs. (In a birthday vignette Idia mentions wanting to keep distance between himself and “those disturbing twins”, possibly based on this interaction.)

We learn that he wears his lab wear for gaming due to its plethora of pockets, blue light lenses that he installed in his goggles and the comfort of wearing pajamas underneath it all.

One of his favorite video games is “Star Rogue” (the subject of his wish in Wish Upon a Star) while his favorite idol group is called “Precipice Moirai”, described as “A 3-girl idol group bound by the threads of fate”. This may be a reference to the three fates in Disney’s Hercules.

Idia explains, “They look all old and decrepit, but their hype level gives teenagers a run for their money”. During Fairy Gala, Jamil happens upon Idia while he is following along with the audience of a Precipice Moirai live concert via his tablet.

Jamil asks Idia to teach him the dance (referred to as “glowing”), which he then incorporates into his Fairy Gala performance. Much like his excitement in describing Precipice Moirai to Jamil, Idia often loses his shyness when discussing something he likes like when he asks Silver if he is a ninja and then has to explain what ninja are, to which Silver responds, “I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you speak”.

He expresses frustrating with having to waste time on classes on a day when a new event is being patched into a video game, and when faced with death in the Phantom Bride event he expresses regret that he will miss a patch in an online game and not be able to complete his prized toy collection or the latest volume of a manga series he is reading.

Idia seems to have an eye for well-crafted, handmade goods, fawning over a hand-crafted chess set he receives from Leona for his birthday, handmade dolls he discovers in Glorious Masquerade and purchasing a handmade, 3D puzzle in the shape of a cat that he discovers in Harveston.

From the game guide: "The flames of his hair become weaker when he loses interest in something. His eyebrows always make him look troubled. His hair is always moving and the ends are translucent. His eyes are always shaded. He has a well-defined face, but he is not aware of it."

[honest-moth-of-silver-grove]

Hello! Thank you for doing BG3 match-ups. I know these can be a lot of time and effort, but I’m sure you’re making lots of people happy! (I’m also very curious to see what other people submit because I love learning about everyone’s Tavs/Durges.)

A few tidbits about my Tav, Chamois: to begin with, she is a wood elf sorcerer with draconic ancestry (silver). Her family has long been tea artisans and she, as the youngest of four, has just started her apprenticeship under her mother. For now, she assists her mother in selling their tea leaves. Chamois can get a little tunnel-visioned at times, so deep is her love for all things tea.

Positive Traits

Chamois can be quite charming, in a sort of awkward way. As a child, she was very studious in her eagerness to understand more about the trade, to the detriment of her social development. Now that she’s older and not such a shut-in, Chamois has almost leaned into that awkwardness—she know she can be an oddball but she’s a friendly oddball! Who likes to laugh! And also wants to sell you some delicious tea! She talks to almost everyone with an unguardedness and cheerful energy that most would reserve for close friends. Hence, even if she says something strange or goes off on a tangent, many folks just see it as an endearing trait.

Negative Traits

Chamois has a tendency to tell white lies. It’s almost instinctive, the way she’ll slip a lie into some story she’s telling, even when she’s not being interrogated or pressured. Whether it’s to make her tale a smidge more exciting or because she can’t be bothered to give a long explanation, Chamois doesn’t have any qualms with sticking to absolute truth.

She’s also a huge coward; this comes more into play for the tadpole adventures. She’s never fought before and most of her sorcerer spells are teeny tiny bits of magic to help out on the tea farm. She desperately wants to be better though. After her moments of fear, she tends to really berate herself over her mistakes.

Chamois struggles with her negative emotions. She feels jealousy (especially jealousy), anger, and loneliness as much as anybody else, but always wants to present a cool, composed face so badly to others. A lot of her self-worth (when she’s not with her family) is placed on her friendliness and charm.

Likes

Tea (obviously!)

Reading, particularly on botany and chemistry

Theatricality and dramas

Windy days

Meaningful work

Socializing with others

Sour foods

Dislikes

Practical jokes

Unreliable people

Disruptions to her schedules or plans

Alcohol

People who never or rarely complain

Preferred Result

Male; monogamous or poly is fine!

Sorry my response got a little bit away from me. Thank you again for taking match ups and I hope you have a good night!

A/N: Holy information, Batman! Thank you for being so detailed. I love how you organized it too! Very neat and considerate. Thank you!

For you, my Detailed Anon, I think your best matchup is… Gale!

Gale is the perfect match for Chamois! He’s smart and kind, and a bit awkward himself. He’s a wizard, which may put him in competition with sorcerers from time to time, but he finds he actually Chamois great company to be around because she’s much more humble and less overconfident in her abilities than typical sorcerers are. 

For sorcerers, magic comes from within, but wizards are required to study and practice in order to harness and control the natural web of magic flowing through the universe. This means Gale is a great partner to study with. He’d be very encouraging to Chamois in helping her learn more about her innate abilities. He’ll most likely suggest she look into more traditional means of magic as well, be it potions or using The Weave, just to help her gain confidence and sort of find her footing as a magic user. With his constant cheering her on, Chamois is bound to become more proficient in her natural abilities, the longer they spend time together. 

He’s also lowkey obsessed with the fact Chamois is a tea artisan, as he’s quite the avid enjoyer of tea. He insists on having at least one cup a day, and cannot quiet his mind before bed without it. Plus he was raised by a single mom, so he’s very understanding of Chamois’ closeness to her mother. 

Gale is very social. He’s also incredibly awkward. Thanks to spending much of his formative years locked away studying magic, he didn’t develop the nuanced social disciplines possessed by most adults. The good news is the two of them can be awkward together! The bad news is, it can make them a bit more obvious to others in public. But Gale doesn’t mind. Being the odd one out looking in never bothered him all that much before, why should it bother him now? 

He’s not always cheerful per se, but he does tend to look on the bright side of things. This makes him much more likely to appreciate Chamois’ sunny disposition. And he loves it when she goes off on one of her knowledge tangents! He does the same thing as well! Their niche love language is basically them taking turns info-dumping to one another. 

Gale isn’t a huge lair, although he does tend to be a bit withdrawn when meeting new people. He’s more likely to omit a detail than to tell a fib, as he’s more on the secretive side. (It’s a wizard thing.) He’s also used to being in close competition with braggarts (like Rolan and Lorrokan) so Chamois’ embellishment doesn't shock him too much. He does ask however that she remain honest with him on matters of the heart as it relates to their relationship. He’s been burned in that area before. 

I wouldn’t call Gale a coward, but he’s on the fragile side (also a wizard thing lol), so he’s often more in the back or the side of the fight as opposed to the frontlines. He’s not put off by Chamois being scared- he’s scared too. And he thinks it’s smart of her. It shows she’s paying attention, and she understands what's at stake. 

Despite how hard Chamois is on herself, Gale thinks she’s wonderful. He’s always singing her praises, telling her what great thing she did to aid the fight, no matter how minor it may be. He knows what it’s like to be hard on yourself, and he certainly knows the pain of making mistakes. He doesn't want Chamois to ever feel alone in that way. He wishes she could see herself the way he does, through his eyes. That way, maybe she’d understand how truly lovely she is. 

Gale’s traditional when it comes to love. He’s a one-lover-at-a-time kind of person. He tends to be a bit insecure in his affections, which often manifests itself as jealousy. It comes from a deep-rooted fear that he won’t be enough for his lover. (And it’s all the more recent a wound because that’s how Mystra made him feel when she abandoned him.) 

He’s not a huge drinker, but he does indulge occasionally. So Chamois better be prepared for the odd drunken declaration of true love, because he's most certainly going to get up on his soapbox and give that speech one, too many times. He really does mean everything he says- he loves her. And he thinks she’s the best thing that could have ever happened to him. Even with the tadpole, and the orb in his chest, he wouldn’t have had his life turn out any other way. 

He loves staying indoors on thundery days, with delicious tea and good books, Tera nestled between the two of them. He can hardly wait for the day their families meet, hers and the Dekarios clan, so they can be one big happy tea-selling, potion-making, magic-using family. 

[gemglyph]

Martyr: Sky's Father

TW: Child abuse, Child neglect

I'm honestly not certain that this will be touched on too much more in the story. I know I have mentioned a few things about Sky's Father, and I think it will help explain a little bit about Sky's... parental issues/authority issues. I don't remember if I tagged this stuff in the fic, or if I need to?

Let me know if I do. I'll be happy to update the tags. (I might end up doing that for chapter ten anyway so please be on the lookout)

Analysis below the Read More

Here are the times that Sky mentions his "Father"

Chapter Four: Haircut

“I use hair product to keep it down and manageable. My mom died before she could teach me and my father.. Nevermind.” Why is he saying this? He doesn’t know. At least he cuts himself short.

Chapter Six: Shred of Courage

This… Ignites an argument. That Sky simply lets happen. He doesn’t even make so much as a twitch to intervene as he blots out what the Veteran and the Rancher say to each other. Gripping his hand over his heart and squeezing his shirt. Feeling the texture and discomfort of the action. It’s like when his parents-

Chapter Seven: Apologies

“I mean- I mean you look like my father.” Frustration bubbles up and Sky looks away from the Captain. “It’s wrong to compare you to him… My father wasn’t a good man.” Not that… Warriors started out as a good man to him either. "To everyone around us I was a strange and sickly child, to my mother I was a blessing…” Sky mumbles the last part. “And to my father, I was a curse.”

We will start with.

Curse.

No. No… I'll end with Curse.

Born with the ability to See (Sights/Dreams), Sky has always been a little bit of an oddball. Talking about things kids his age shouldn't really know. Having an insane sense of intuition. Knowing things that he really shouldn't know. His Mother called them blessings, encouraged Sky in his abilities... and his Father was wary about it at first.

His Father had wanted a normal child.

Sky is not 'normal'.

Things really hit the shitshow when Sky predicted his Mother's death when he was small. It had been what Sky had thought was a nightmare. He had talked about it where his Father heard him. Sky's Mother would always defend him. She always had his back. Sky was always uncomfortable around his Father, so he would take comfort in his Mother's presence.

As predicted, his Mother got sick and she died.

When Sky's Mother died, Sky's Father truly started lashing out at Sky- despite the fact that it wasn't his kid's fault. Which partially reinforced Sky's idea that well, his Sights aren't warnings or things that he can change: They're Absolutes. They're not something he should talk about. They're not something people will believe.

Which is partially why when Wars was asking Sky if he was a "liability" it hit harder, harder than Wars had meant. Something that Sky was already self-conscious and sensitive about was being pressed on.. When he already isn't in a good mental space.

It has been mentioned a few times in Martyr, but Sky was a sickly child. His Father started outright neglecting him, despite the fact he was sickly, and would actually hit Sky if he complained or attempted talking. "Forgetting" to feed Sky or care for him at all. Refusing to help Sky when he needed it. Telling Sky that he should never talk about his Sights- least he curse everyone by speaking them into existence.

For this reason, Sky steadily gets mute the more stress he's under. Abandons conversations when he feels they're bad. Skittish around Authority Figures. The only reason he didn't outright silence himself in Chapter Nine is because he was forcing himself to speak. He was- more importantly- ‘defending’ someone who wasn’t himself.

He can’t defend himself.

If you’re wondering by now why Sky’s Father is past tense in Martyr, I unfortunately cannot tell you. Because that is between Sky’s Father’s Loftwing and Hylia. After all, Loftwings are protectors first and foremost.

To Hylia and his Mother, Sky's Sights are a blessing. His Mother died believing in him. To his Father, he was a Curse.

Demise cursed Sky.

Who would want to love a Curse?