#really feel connected and that they care and then one day

[tarot-quartz]

PICK A CARD - HOW WILL YOU MEET YOUR FUTURE SPOUSE

╰┈➤ Paid readings

left to right

★ pile 1 - When you meet this person you might be in a relationship that’s failing because of lack of commitment or growth. When you meet your fs you will be able to connect on an intellectual level, you’ll find conversations with them stimulating. Yeah for some of you I really see that you will break up with your partner to be with this person but this is absolutely the correct decision. You and your fs’ meeting will be destiny, the stars will literally align for you to meet this person. You or your fs will think "how did I get so lucky?". You will take this relationship slowly, go with the flow and let things develop as they go.

★ pile 2 - Your fs might be your soulmate. This relationship will be such a harmonious one, you will be the type of couple to NEVER have fights. Everything will be so easy with this person, as if they’re one part of you. I’m ngl this person might be an ex for some of you where you thought this person was the one and you still harbour feelings for them. They might’ve been the one if they come back and rekindle your relationship. However for the rest this might also mean that you had a bad breakup and lose hope over meeting the one. They might be an Aquarius. In ANY case, you will be in a relationship with the one destined for you. The future with you and this person will be bright.

★ pile 3 - I see you going into a relationship with your fs might’ve been something spontaneous on your part. Like you might’ve had a crush on them for awhile but did nothing and then one day you’re like "let’s go ask them out". I see you might start a family with them even accidentally because I see you and your fs having a lot of sex. I see some people might be jealous of your relationship and try to stir trouble so be careful. For some reason you and your fs’ relationship might cause a scandal. This might actually cause a rift in your relationship and you will need to take a step back. Maybe this is why people will try to break you up. However, people will come around and accept your relationship as time goes. You and your fs will connect on a physical and emotional level, it will also challenge you. Again, I see for some of you having children maybe quite rapidly. If your fs is a man you will think he’s dad material and if it’s a woman you will think she’s mom material. This is a very exciting pile but also full of challenge however at the end you both will be a happy family. This kind of reminds me of the quote "I’m not easy to love", "I don’t want easy".

★ pile 4 - I see a lot of people vying for your attention. When you meet your fs you will have more than 1 suitor waiting to court you. How you will know which one is your fs, you’ll have learnt from past relationships. This new relationship will be very nurturing, I see your fs might have a lot of money and they love spending it on you by buying you gifts and other. This person will be very masculine. Romance and affection will be abundant in the relationship. They will be devoted, romantic and a great spouse and parent. They might be older than you and they’re generous with their time and money ESPECIALLY for you. They might be an Aquarius, Gemini or Libra. They will be mature, loyal and protective. Think of the perfect Dad and there you have it. There’s a possibility you might meet this person because of work or business. You will be financially stable with them and will florish knowing you have a strong foundation.

[retiredteabag]

soft!Toji dog-sitting for a generous!reader

pt. 1 - pt. 2 - pt. 3 - pt. 4 - pt. 5 - pt. 6 - pt. 7

Synopsis: Toji was quite accustomed to objectifying himself for a check. And to be frank, far worse actions as well. Now he’s not sure what to do with himself after meeting the kind and generous owner of the dog he pet-sits for.

read along as Toji grows more comfortable around you despite his past.

〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰

Toji was flipping his burner phone around in his hand over and over. Waiting patiently for a recognizable man to come stand beside him.

It hadn't rained in days but the streets he had been loitering were damp, the drainage was clogged with leaves and trash. This place was shitty. Quite in a way that was dangerous to those from an area with high crime rates.

Three days prior, Toji watched as you shook, hiding your fear behind explanations. That night when he got to his run down apartment, he contacted a "private bail bondsman" (a glorified bounty hunter) to take on the favor he asked of his old boss, Shiu.

Toji knew better than anyone the kind of paper trail left in the wake of corporate abuse crimes. Though the man had never worked an office job a day in his life, it wasn't uncommon for a high roller to request his services. To think, you worked in an environment even remotely similar to the ones he had seen. It made him sick.

Toji had the bondsman look into HR files from your company. Look into the shareholders, those shareholder's families, and that was really all it took. Toji might not have known what to look for, but his little agent certainly did. The connections were obvious, all leading to one man.

A slimy bastard with a dozen write-ups, yet for reasons unknown, no trials, no court dates, no absence from work.

Perhaps a few years ago, this endeavor would give Toji a power trip, to be the one calling the shots, and handing out orders, he might have taken pleasure in the experience. Somehow that wasn't the case. Somehow the connection to you made him want to get it over with quickly. Somehow something had changed.

He told you none of this, of course. You with your big eyes and soft words. You and your endless kindness. No, he wouldn't tell you his plan. He would tell himself it was to protect you, but deep down he knew the truth.

He could not fathom you fearing him. He wouldn't allow it. Whatever that meant, he would become an image of security for you. And he wouldn't screw it up. Not after the gentlest soul he had met had been taken to feel unsafe.

It is for that reason. And only that reason, that Toji refrains from having your scummy coworker killed. He could've had it done in a few hours. Woulda done it himself too. It wouldn't have haunt him, he wouldn't feel remorse. But for you, he would go nicely.

Nicely enough.

Blackmail might strike fear in the heart of a man more than his own death could. And after days of research, there was a feast to exploit this snake with.

--

"Just get it done." Toji was saying, his flip phone in one hand, the other scratching between the dog's ears.

Toji made a kissy face at the panting canine. The dog appeared to be smiling as Toji brutally called the shots on a man's career.

The man over the phone spoke, "I've got an anonymous email ready for his rich little daddy, that and a CC for the CEO of the company. He'll be gone in a day or so. Won't have a face in the corporate world if it leaks." The man on the line was laughing.

"Good. Once you're done, Shiu will have your pay. Don't speak of it to anyone." Toji stood, looked at the clock.

"Yeah, man, I got it." And with that, Toji snaped the device shut, heading to the door to get his shoes. You'd be back soon, and he hopes to catch you on the way out.

Unintentionally, of course.

These past few days Toji had never felt so comfortable in his position. He was sure of himself. You didn't want him for anything but his care of your dog. You weren't gonna use him.

He felt almost ashamed. For the first time, he was more than just his body, more than a couple bucks. Why did a small part of him wish you would look at him the way other women did. With hunger.

He must be crazy.

He heard your car coming up the driveway, slid on his other shoe and swung open the door. He looked in the opposite direction, pretending he didn't see or hear you.

You stopped the car, put it in park, and rolled down the window. "Oh, Toji, you didn't have to stay this late!" You look at him with a worried gaze and he just smiles.

Bending down to look at you properly, he basks in the fact that you don't pull your face from his. He shares your space when he says, "Was nothin'".

You grin, "You're too good. I'm so glad you're here when I can't be, seriously, thank you."

You're too good. Oh, if only you knew.

"Yer' just easily impressed." He taps on your car door twice and stands to his full height again. "Too grateful and all that." He swings his key ring on his finger, stepping back toward his car but never taking his eyes from you.

You frown. "No really. I'm glad I can rely on you! And if you ever need a day off, just tell me, okay?"

He tilts his head, "Kay'" He smirks. Knowing it won't happen, but he likes to see you smiling at him. He leans against his beat up vehicle, watching you drive into your garage, park again, and get out. He watches you get to the interior door and waves back slowly before you press the garage door button to close.

Then, he looks up at the sky, sighing.

The difference between the two of you could not be more stark. He felt like a sewer rat in your presence. You were so pristine, and perfect. Still, you never treated him as anything but a privilege to be around.

His chest ached.

Sighing, he unlocked his car door and hopped in. Ready to make the drive back to his apartment.

Was it too much, to hope you would see him the way he sees you? Does he deserve that? Definitely not. But he couldn't help but hope. You never took an interest in those uppity corporate boys you worked with. And you were so endlessly busy.

He shook all the silly thoughts filling his head out. Starting up the engine, he ran a hand down his face.

She deserves a man who'll wait on her hand and foot. That'll kiss the ground she walks on.

Those rich boys don't know what they're missing. If he was in their position, he wouldn't let you work yourself to the bone, wouldn't let you put up with a work environment you hate. Wouldn't let you come home stressed.

Too bad I'm just the dog-sitter, huh? He chuckles.

When he arrives at his apartment, he barely has time to swing off his jacket, and step out of his shoes before his phone buzzes in his inner pocket. His work phone.

He ruffles with the jacket in his gasp and when he flips it open, all the messages say are:

"Sent. No need to follow up."

and

"This guy is done lol"

Toji smirks before he carelessly tosses the phone onto the kitchen counter. Flops himself onto his couch. Grinning with the knowledge that tomorrow, you're gonna have a great day.

--

And a great day, you most certainly have. You were barely in your office thirty minutes before, Lucy, your sweet assistant came racing in, squealing your name.

"What is it?" You asked, she was beaming like a child on Christmas.

Lucy attempted to contain herself, and stood straight with a faux air of professionalism, "He's gone." She giggles. "He's fired!"

You gasp. Surely not... "He...?" You question. No name is needed. The bastard was infamous.

She just nods her head with a huge smile.

You stand. Slam your hands on your desk. Then spin around and laugh.

Lucy squeals again and the two of you lock eyes, and embrace.

It had been too long. And it wasn't only you who had experience with harassment from the man. This was a win for virtually everyone in the company that wasn't in ownership.

"What-" You gulp air, "What was it? What finally did it?" Getting the question out.

She shakes her head and shrugs dramatically. "Not sure, nobody knows and the associates won't say."

Your brows furrow... "Really? Well, something must have happened..." You muse, "I wish I could see him packing his things now. Bet he's got some intern doing it form him."

"Oh, I'm sure. I just wish I knew what he did to finally lose grace with the company..."

You too were curious, but your overwhelming joy overrode that curiosity.

You felt free. Like you could be fulfilled at work now. A weight you hadn't known was there feels suddenly lifted and oddly, you want to cry.

It's a fact of life that when you receive good news, you want to share it with those around you. So why is it, that the first person you think of as your heart jumps for joy is the dog-sitter?

God, you were lonely.

You hope he doesn't feel burdened by your closeness.

〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰

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tag list is sadly full! If you ever want to be taken off of the tag list please just let me know :] (if your name is here but you didn’t get tagged. I think it’s either bc your blog is new/blank/empty or you need to check your privacy settings)

[lvmoure]

When I Was Your Man CS55

Pairings: Carlos Sainz x ex!reader

Summary: In which Carlos realized that it was his lost.

Warnings: break-up, angst, cheater

The room was silent except for the quiet hum of the city lights through the window. Carlos sat across from you on the plush couch, his posture as stiff as his gaze. He looked at you, but it felt as if he was staring through you, his expression cold and unreadable. You wrapped your arms around yourself, feeling the emptiness echo through the large, beautiful room that you both once shared.

"I just don’t understand, Carlos." Your voice was barely a whisper, yet it hung heavy in the air. "All I ever wanted was…something real. Just us. Simple things."

Carlos looked away, his jaw tight. "You knew how it would be from the beginning," he said, his voice flat, distant. “With my schedule, the travel, the life…you knew.”

You felt a pang in your chest. "I did know. I accepted all of it because I believed in us. But it feels like I don’t even know you anymore. I wanted you, Carlos. Not your career, not your lifestyle. Just…you."

A long, strained silence followed. You watched as he shifted in his seat, finally meeting your eyes with a flicker of something — perhaps regret, perhaps sadness — before it disappeared.

"What did you expect, then?" he asked quietly, almost defensively. “I told you from the start…I don’t do… this.” He gestured vaguely, as if “this” was something foreign, strange. "All this hand-holding and flowers, it’s not me."

You looked down at your hands, fingers nervously twisting together. "I expected that maybe…just maybe…you'd try. Maybe care about what I want. Just small things, like holding my hand, talking to me at the end of the day. It’s never been about grand gestures, Carlos."

You took a shaky breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. “It’s not even about what you did with her. It’s about feeling like I was never enough. Like I was just…there.”

He stiffened, his eyes darkening, but he stayed silent. The absence of words weighed heavier than any argument. It was as if he was already gone, the connection that once held you two together severed.

“Carlos…are you even sorry?” you finally asked, your voice barely audible.

For a moment, he seemed taken aback. His eyes softened for a fraction of a second, but then he looked away, his gaze falling back to the ground. “I… I don’t know what to say. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

A bitter smile crept onto your face. “Sometimes silence says more than anything, doesn’t it?” You stood up, taking one last look at him. He didn’t move, didn’t reach for you. And that was when you knew — he wasn’t going to fight for this.

A few months had passed, and in many ways, you felt freer than ever. It was strange to think that such simplicity could bring such happiness. And then, there was Timothée.

Timothée was different. He was warm, gentle, attentive — all the things you had longed for, the things Carlos had seemed incapable of giving. Tonight, as you both walked out of a small café, the warmth of his hand in yours was almost surreal. You glanced down, a smile touching your lips. It was such a small gesture, but it meant the world.

"Are you okay?" he asked, looking at you with a soft concern that had become second nature to him. He always asked how you were, always noticed the little shifts in your mood.

You nodded, smiling up at him. "I’m good. Really."

He grinned, squeezing your hand. “Good. Because I have something for you.”

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small bouquet of wildflowers. You laughed in surprise, a happy, genuine laugh. "Timothée…"

“They’re simple,” he said, smiling shyly. “But I thought you might like them.”

You took the flowers, your heart swelling with warmth. "They’re perfect."

He lifted your hand and kissed it softly. “Perfect for you, then.”

The flash of cameras brought you back to reality, and you blinked as the paparazzi swarmed around you. Timothée kept a firm grip on your hand, pulling you close and shielding you from the crowd. Unlike before, the attention didn’t feel invasive or stressful. With Timothée, it felt safe.

Later that night, as you lay next to him, you couldn’t help but think about how everything you had longed for with Carlos was finally here. Timothée’s arm was wrapped around you, his breathing soft and even. And for the first time in a long time, you felt seen, cherished.

Carlos sat in his dimly lit apartment, a glass of whiskey untouched on the table beside him. The photo on his phone screen showed you laughing, hand-in-hand with Timothée. You looked…happy. Really, truly happy.

The realization hit him harder than he expected. There was a pang of something sharp, bitter, clawing its way through him. Regret. He knew it now, more acutely than he ever had. He had taken you for granted, assumed you would always be there, no matter how cold or distant he’d been.

He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched tight. Memories flooded back — moments when he could have held your hand, spoken to you, made you feel cherished. All the small things you’d wanted, the things he thought were meaningless, suddenly felt monumental.

“Carlos?” His teammate’s voice cut through the haze, but Carlos barely registered it.

“Sorry,” he muttered, brushing him off. “I need a minute.”

He turned back to the photo, something heavy settling in his chest. He thought of all the times he could have been there for you, the moments he missed out on because he was too focused on his career, too wrapped up in his own world to see you slipping away.

Another photo appeared in his feed — this one of Timothée with his arm around you, a small bouquet in your hands. He remembered you asking him, once, to bring you flowers. Just once. He’d laughed, brushed it off, called it “silly.” But now, seeing the way your face lit up for someone else, he understood.

As days passed, Carlos found himself haunted by the memories — your laughter, the way you’d always looked at him with such hope. It was the simple things that had mattered to you. All you had wanted was to hold hands, to feel connected, to know that he was there for you. And he’d let it all slip through his fingers.

He stared at his phone, re-reading your last text before the breakup. "I just wanted you, Carlos. Nothing more." He realized now, painfully, how simple that request had been, how much he had failed you by not seeing it.

Carlos closed his eyes, the regret pooling in his chest like a weight. You had been everything, and he hadn’t realized it until now — until it was too late. The cold, distant man he had been, the one who’d never truly understood your worth, had lost you to someone who cherished every part of you, someone who held your hand and brought you flowers.

He took a shaky breath, whispering into the empty room. "I’m sorry." But he knew it was too late. And he was left with nothing but the hollow echo of what could have been.

[alchemistc]

911 was always in my periphery bc of how popular Buck x Eddie is on Tumblr and Ao3. I didn't really want to watch a cable network procedural drama, especially one that came off as so unserious. I could also see how such invested shipping by a lot of fans who are young and think it’s ok to demand things from the cast and crew would inevitably become a toxic cesspool. I stand by that assessment of the show based on the behavior of the fandom these last months, as well as the overall quality of the writing and how often good story lines just get dropped or undermined.

However, I heard about Buck coming out. Over the summer, I was going through a lot and feeling aimless, so I finally started watching the show. And I liked Buck and Tommy, but what I really loved was the quality of the fan works they inspired. At the end of the day, I never really had real expectations of high quality television from a show like 911; that’s not what it’s for.

Despite this, what really affected me last night—which was also the first episode I bothered watching live ever because of how terrible this last week has been—wasn’t even how badly it was executed or the fact that they broke up. But how unnecessarily and viciously cruel the whole thing felt?

What was the point of showing Tommy as a caring, supportive, present partner in the previous episode if it was going to lead to an unceremonious break up? What was the point of showing his yearning for connection and family only to see him throw it all away? Why have him say such wonderful things about Buck moments before questioning the commitment of their relationship after six months together? What was the point of Buck getting that speech from Josh and bringing up marriage and moving in together and that Tommy had been a transformative relationship when it was going to end with him being dumped? It just felt so horribly cruel to see a character bare his tender heart and see it get stomped on. He looked so sad at the end.

Up till the very end of the episode, I was actually really enjoying it. Their acting was so good from heart eyes to heartbreak, and the show seemed to understand Tommy’s reaction to Buck getting hit on by those women would cause friction. It even made sense to me that Tommy would recoil at the prospect of moving in together because Buck clearly hasn’t come to terms with being queer yet (sir, you haven’t researched the Kinsey scale? You?) And Tommy is also clearly afraid to reach for the connections he wants and the seeming inevitability of his heart being broken and is masking that with nonsense about Buck needing to play the field and the biphobia present wherein. It was such an interesting depth to his character! I thought the break up speech was so well-acted, and I was so ready for the conversation they were going to have that would address it and let them move on together stronger. To see Buck learn from Josh and see the scars Tommy was unintentionally revealing in that moment and address them.

And then the credits started rolling and I felt like I got punched in the gut.

It was definitely the straw that broke the camel’s back for me, with the election and other personal stuff really stressing me out this week. Last night, I felt sick and unable to sleep, and I spent the morning bawling my eyes out. It feels like one of the few things I really looked forward to had been snatched away for the shock factor. I believe the interviews are the definite death knell, but even if you don’t follow the interviews, it was just a cruel way to end the episode. Even if this ends up being a temporary roadblock or they “fix” it, it’ll always leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Anyway, I’m upset that I let a show I always knew wasn’t very good affect me this much, and I regret spending months of my life on it. But the reason I wanted to send this ask was because my real hyperfixation these last few months was never the show itself; it was always the Bucktommy fandom. Reading some of the most beautiful fanfiction, including yours, these deep and intense character studies or au’s or future fics that show more love to these characters than the show does. The stunning art, the lovingly rendered gifs, the startlingly funny and insightful writing. The fandom has been my real love, and I hope that despite this huge blow, people like you will continue being so immensely creative and artistic for this ship.

I’m sorry this has been so long and vent-y, but I wanted to send you this ask because you’re one of my favorite fic authors, and I’ve been following your posts since last night and you’re still responding to anonymous asks. I’ve always been stealth in the fandom to avoid certain parts of it, so didn’t want this on my own blog. If you do publish it, I hope the other authors and artists and creators who have made my life better get to see it too <3 And that they don’t regret the time and passion and love they’ve poured into the last few months. I have appreciated it, if nothing else.

Hi.

First of all, please don't apologize for the length of this.

Everything you pointed out were exactly the reasons people joined this fandom. Everything you listed here is EXACTLY the reason it left such a bad taste in our mouth.

I'm sorry I won't be more eloquent in this post, because this is such a kind and thoughtful and lovely summation of all the things I've been hearing and seeing and feeling.

The point of all that, if we are to believe Lou (which I do, and honestly props to him for being as gracious as he was in those post-mortems: fucking TWO exit interviews for a guest star? wtf abc), WAS to pull the rug out from under the audience. It WAS to end it all on a shocker of heartbreak. They filmed the bulk of Tommy's S8 scenes AFTER the breakup. It is absolutely vicious and cruel and meant to make people talk about it. The engagement they are getting right now is to some extent WHAT THEY WANTED. I went straight to my notes after work and I can't be fucked to check the insta or FB to see if they've posted anything new and/or what the comment count is on the 8x06 posts but THIS IS THE INTENDED RESULT. Broken hearts, upset people, an increasingly toxic fandom crowing.

That's where I'm at. I think that's where a lot of people have landed. And it's so disheartening to see something that really genuinely drew people in because it was handled so gently and kindly at first just be ripped away and the door shut on it.

And honestly if they close the mid season OR open or close 8B on a premise that includes one of them being injured and the other having a Realization™️ I won't trust this team to do it genuinely or truly. Even the breakup would have held so much potential for me, but not like this.

Anyway. I'm sorry you're feeling so disappointed. I am grieving the missed potential of literally every plot they built up this season for every character and if I do watch it won't be live and I will likely have very little trust for it's potential. There has been So Much wasted potential.

And I want to say thank you. Even if you lurked, even if you disengage now, the creators who made those works made them out of love and they wanted to share them and the community around it all has been lovely to see. Thank you.

Some of us will still be hanging around building the world that could have been. I hope, if you feel up to peeking at that sandbox, that you feel welcome to go play in it or even just clap from the sidelines.

♥️

[iichfilwypj]

heroes | percy jackson

ღ percy jackson x daughter of hypnos! reader ღ warnings: :) ღ wc: 692 pt 1 - pt 2 - pt 3 - pt 4 - pt 5 - pt 6

The days that followed were awkward. The trip back to camp was awkward. They didn’t look at each other, didn’t speak. They couldn’t be in the same room for more than two minutes without her wanting to escape.

And it was entirely her fault.

She stepped into her cabin, wanting to fall into bed and sleep until the next day. Or, better yet, the day after –perhaps then she'd recover the naps she hadn’t been able to take. 

But, to her surprise, she wasn’t alone. 

There he was, lying on her bed. She could see he was in his pajamas, his hair messy and breathing so slowly it almost felt like he wasn’t breathing at all. He seemed so at ease, so peaceful, so much like before.

She could only snap.

Tears welled up before she could hold them back, flowing faster and stronger than ever. Each drop hit the floor like a moment they might have shared, a word they could have said. 

Her sobs must have roused the boy, who sat up in bed, a sleepy expression on his face as he stared at her. Her vision was too blurry and weak to see him clearly, but he appeared to be just as heartbroken as she was. 

“I- I am so sorry” Her words were shaky and barely coherent, but the boy understood them perfectly. He was sorry too. 

She wanted a hug, sweet words, for him to wipe her tears away. Percy stayed where he was, trying to give her space. 

"I fucked up everything. I was afraid when I realized how much I love you, and how much I need you, and I didn’t know what to do." The tears kept flowing as she uttered the only words she didn’t want to say. “We can't be together, Percy”

He was furious, frustrated, mad. He couldn’t decide whether he wanted to push her away or pull her into his arms, whether he wanted to never speak to her again or kiss every inch of her body. 

And though he wished things could go back to when she was just his best friend, the one sleeping beside him all day and unaware of his (and her own) feelings, he knew he had to give it another try.

“Why not?” he dared to say, without taking her eyes off her trembling figure. "What makes you think that?"

“I’ll be mean, and you’ll get tired of me” No. Percy couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Getting tired of her? 

Without her, something was missing, something was off. 

He made his way toward her carefully, checking if she was okay with it. His hands traced her face, and he smiled without thinking as he felt her skin after so long. 

“You know that is not true. None of that bullshit it's true" She shook her head, and he nodded. She pouted, and he smiled. “We love each other, and that's a fact.”

“Nothing would keep us together” she knew he understood; the others, their stupid opinions, her own insecurities…

But was she being honest with herself? Was she really unwilling to give everything she had to spend the rest of her days with him?

“I don’t believe that. We can try”

He didn't release her face as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“We could steal time.” 

A kiss on her cheek.

“Just for one day.” 

A kiss on her other cheek.

“Please.”

Their noses brushed together, their breaths merged, and their bodies inched closer without even trying.

Their lips were so, so near. 

And she nodded. Because she depended on him, she adored him, she hungered for him. She ached for him. Her body yearned and craved for his company, his hugs, his kisses, his touch. 

She wanted him. 

Without a second thought, their lips met in a soft, warm kiss. His hands pulled her closer as her fingers tangled in his hair. The world around them seemed to freeze, granting them more time, more peace. 

And the kiss became desperate, raw, and yet somehow full of sweetness.

Every part of them connecting, as if they were finally where they belonged.

heroes >>>>> any other song IT FINALLY HAPPENED AAA I COULND' STAND WIRITING MORE ANGST maybe it's rushed because i NEEDED them to kiss but i don't care

[overnightheartbeats]

Cloud nine was too low for the blissful feeling she was experiencing as he returned her kiss. Laurel hoped, but didn't expect. Feeling him so close to her, well, it was impossible to melt while in his arms. "Clearly many talents," she agreed breathlessly, happily remaining in the daze he left her when he pulled away. Her knees felt weak, and she couldn't be more thankful for the seat she was on. There was no denying, she had fallen for him. It was a thing, right? Love at first dance? "The baby whisperer," the title made her laugh, picturing him as the ultimate babysitter. "Oh that sounds so cute, watching her grow up. You probably have some really good stories from your babysitting days. I can see why she's so close to you, big brother duties." Laurel rested her chin on her palm, listening to him talk more about Chicago. "I'm sorry to hear that, losing a home is not easy." Optimism wasn't her forte, despite the positivity she was trying to display, so she was familiar with his sentiment. It just saddened her that he didn't feel connected to a home, the sadness only increasing with his comment on his parents. Is that what led him here? "Maybe this place helps you find some hint or some direction to a new home. You still have a long time." After all, they were still so young. So much could happen, right? Wasn't that the world's big promise - adventure and twists/turns to find their place? "I know they'd love to meet you, hm I don't know about those stories though." Still, a resigned sigh followed. "They'll be eager to share the most embarrassing stories about me."

She had called herself an open book, so Laurel meant to deliver, even in the topics she tried avoiding. Her big one? Her family life. It often led to some variation of, that's family, you need to understand. The warmth from his hand soothed the turmoil she began to feel with the topic, like settling a storm that hadn't even begun. It was nice to hear otherwise for a change. "She's just...particular about what she wanted. You see past the dust then?" His reassurance brought a smile to her face, "careful what you wish for, but don't worry. I've been learning to be myself, promise." It helped to be in a new place with her dad, no more nagging in her ear. "You like to learn, and I like a challenge, hm...we'll be a good pair. We will add cooking to the list, finding a new recipe, and hope we don't burn the place down."

She was glad that he agreed, because it was the simple truth. It felt like a cliche to say that from the moment she saw him, but things really had not been the same since she spoke to him. "Good, consider it your new nickname. Pretty green eyes," how easily it flowed. "It could be, don't be surprised if I call you that in the middle of class." Or the middle of campus, that'd be funny. Would it embarrass him though? "You picked one hell of a state then." Not that she was complaining, Laurel probably wouldn't have met him otherwise. "Heatwaves are the standard here, but good to know you get irritable. I'll have to keep you near an a.c. unit."

Her eyes seemed to brighten just a smidge more, filled with excitement. "Really?" Laurel was basically a kid at Christmas. "I'd really like that. You can show me what I've been missing. We should totally plan it!" The thought had momentarily crossed her mind, thinking holiday plans and wanting to make the cabin idea happen for him, just to see him smile. Getting carried away was in her nature. But, him suggesting it? Well, that gave her free rein. "Have you visited any of them, or have a list of top three you'd like to visit? I'd like to spend any day with you, outside or inside. So, sign me up for this nature tour." She nodded without hesitation, confirmation was sitting right in front of her. "Nerdy is hot, absolutely. Sharing," she hummed in thought, even if the answer was already at the tip of her tongue. "No, I'm not a fan of sharing at all. Hope that's okay."

"Tell you what, you come over to my place. Well, my dad's place. We do that cooking lesson, and I can bring those pom poms out of retirement to see if the clap clap cheers stuck." Her voice was laced with amusement, using the words he used earlier. "I'm intrigued to hear these ideas you're thinking of. That would be great, company is really all I want, but I do love fun facts." Taking her hand shouldn't surprise her, but it still sent a light jolt of electricity through her. Laurel loved it though, how things flowed between them with barely any awkwardness. She felt like she had known him for ages, and not just weeks. "Green is a good one, might be becoming my favorite color too. Wow, you know all the good places. Madrid seems like a fun spot, and food..oh my god, probably so good. Me? I have a whole list of places, but top would be Brazil or Japan. Brazil for their carnival, but it also just looks so beautiful." She stepped into his room, offering him a smile as she looked around. "Thank you, I'll be alright." Couldn't get that cold, right? "Okay, I'll be here," she teased, knowing there was no intention to leave.

"Comfy looks good on you." No outside clothes. Well, Laurel was out of luck there. She was not exactly carrying an extra pair of pajamas in her backpack. "Makes sense, I'll just avoid your bed then. And, now I know the outside clothes thing, for future reference."

Eli smiled against her lips as she returned the kiss he had just given. There was no hesitation in reciprocating it. His hand cupped her face and pulled her close as he deepened the kiss for a brief moment. If this was what people called love, he wouldn't mind falling and break every bone in his body. The feeling was euphoric. Or maybe that was just Laurel. A soft chuckle escaped him as he dropped his hand and opened his eyes again to look at her. "I'm a man of many talents." His head nodded in acknowledgement. "They're the best but she's the one I watched grow up. She was the legit baby of the family. I cuddled her at night when she wouldn't settle. I think a big part of why her parents liked me was that I was the baby whisperer." Not only that but Emma understood him. Isa and Inez did too but they were different. Each sibling unlocked a hidden piece of what made Eli him. "You have a lot more hope for Chicago than I do. I think that is a nice sentiment but I think I'm done there. Visiting them is one thing but having a home, not really. That died with the parents." Again, Eli reverted to himself, the nomad having nowhere to call home. "Yes, really," he laughed. "I'd love to meet them. I am kind of curious to hear stories about you."

He felt for her but it wasn't pity. There was a longing there in her voice that told him that her mom wasn't a subject she liked going into but still would be willing to answer the question. Settling his hand over hers he smiled. "Sometimes people don't realize what type of diamond they have. They just see the dust and assume they're not worth much. Just because your mom had a harsher way to treat you doesn't mean you aren't worth it. Don't feel like you need to tone it down for me. I want you to be your unapologetic self." What he wanted her to take away from this was that he'd never make her change into something else to fit a mold she would never fit. "Mhm. I do like to learn. I like to get into something I've never done before. Cooking is one. Maybe we can come up with a new recipe."

An amused smile took over his features. "Fair enough. Drew you in." Lucky for him she even turned her head. "Pretty green eyes. I like it." Truly just because she said it. "Is that going to be your way to get my attention moving forward?" Amusement danced in his eyes as he leaned forward and chuckled thinking of the way everyone with colored eyes would turn if she did scream that out in the courtyard. "Definitely. I can't stand the heat. It makes me irritable. I don't like heatwaves." Now why did he pick Texas for his home would be something he'd never be able to explain but it felt like there was an inexplicable pull drawing him in to the blazing boot of a state.

"We can go together. Why not right? A cabin in the snow seems like we would both enjoy it." His eyebrows furrowed and a laugh was kept at bay as he realized she'd never had a real vacation. "Maybe we can change that. The winter break is coming up so why don't we head down to one of the National Parks and spend a day with nature. If you want to spend a day with me outside. I am a great nature guide." Eli slowly fanned his eyelashes and smirked. "Good to know you think nerdy is hot. Oh, you don't share is that it?"

"I might be trying to test your knowledge. See if any of those clap clap cheers stuck. Now, see that works well. I've got a few ideas on what we could do and since you're pretty confirmed to try something once then this should be easy." His mind had come up with multiple activities they could do and that already brought a smile to his face. "Company I can give. I'll bring at least one or two facts. It seems sad if there isn't something to learn." He took her hand and lead her out. Bag in the other hand and his hand holding one making sure they were locked. "Favorite color? Don't laugh but green. I like the color. It's nice and pretty. Place? Madrid. It is so vibrant. I'd love to go walk down their streets and eat their good food. You?" The shop wasn't too far from his dorm room which he was grateful for since he didn't want to keep walking so long. They reached his building and as he let go of her hand he took out his keys and opened his door for her to enter first. He dropped the bag of food on his desk, a neat pile of books and a laptop sitting on top and closed the door. 'Make yourself comfortable. If you want something to wear like a sweater take your pick. It gets cold here since I open the window. I'll be back."

He went to his closet and grabbed a blue sweater and sweats and his socks. After a five minute absence he came back out, hair outof his face and comfy clothes now on his person. "It's a thing we used to do. We don't sit with outside clothes on the bed."

[orangepanic]

Why do you think that Asami has no friends at the beginning? With Korra it’s because she grew up in isolation and with Mako and Bolin it’s because they were homeless- but why doesn’t Asami have any friends? A girl like her should’ve had a million friends

First of all, bless you, anon. I'd literally opened up a window to talk to some friends about how alone in fandom I feel these days because so many people have moved on or stopped creating and interacting. Then I saw this message! Don't underestimate how motivating it is to get asks about characters and headcanons, or even just to know someone else is interested in your thoughts and wants to talk about mutual interests. You really brightened my day. I hope I can do the same.

As for Asami, I have three theories. The most likely and most boring of these is that it's simply convenience on the part of the writers. In book 1 we didn't see much of her personal life outside of interacting with the Krew so there was no need to waste precious screen time on Asami's other friends. After the show got renewed the writers had to scramble for reasons Asami would still be around - because let's face it, who winds up hanging out with your ex and the girl he left you for as your main friend group? IMO there's zero reason for Asami to be in the show after the first season if she has other friends and sources of support.

A more interesting proposition and the one I mostly go with in my own fics is that Asami did have other friends initially, but that they all abandoned her after her father's arrest. She'd have gone to a fancy private school full of other rich kids with other rich and important parents who'd know that a connection to the daughter of a convicted felon was now social suicide. Suddenly nobody returns her calls, everyone is busy, that invite to Su Li Lim's party happens to go astray, etc. With so many social doors now shut to her, hanging out with the former Fire Ferrets makes more sense. She might even do it initially out of spite in a "well FINE, I'm gonna go be important to the Avatar and go fight crime and be awesome" kind of way.

My last theory is that Hiroshi Sato didn't really let Asami have friends. Acquaintances, sure, but he wouldn't want her growing too close to any dangerous benders and there wasn't an easy way to do this without it being obvious that's what he's doing so he didn't let her grow close to anyone. I think of this as the Victorian novel scenario where Asami is disincentivized from doing kid stuff to "take care of father" and from an early age assumes some of the duties her mom had taken on in terms of household management. She's somehow always too busy for friends. When the class field trip comes around her dad needs her for something important. This might also explain how an 18-year-old thought they were qualified to be CEO of a huge company. She's already managing half the staff at the estate as well as the vendor contracts. How hard could it be?

But what do you think?

[echoalyssa]

No Love | Dick Grayson

“You’re falling in love.” He whispers.

My heart throbs wildly in my chest and I glance away, hoping he won’t catch the swirl of emotions in my eyes.

I can’t confirm or deny his statement.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair and gripping the back of his neck. “I think you’re way past that.”

My eyes start to water and I clamp down on my lip. “It’s been a year…”

Dick’s jaw works. “What do you want from me?”

I look everywhere but at him, knowing that the second our eyes connect I’ll burst into tears.

I’m his little solider. I don’t cry. He doesn’t want me to cry.

“I don’t want anything from you… I just, I wasn’t supposed to feel this way about you but I do and you don’t feel the same and-“ I pause to wipe furiously at my eyes. “I’m upset and I know you don’t understand but I just wanted to be enough for you.”

“You are.” He leans forward, rubbing my knee with the thumb of his left hand. “I don’t understand where this is coming from. Everything was fine.”

I risk a glance up and the concern in his irises make my heart clench.

“I don’t know. I r-really don’t. I just… I don’t understand why you don’t love me.”

He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t love me.

“Y/N… I care about you. I do. I don’t love people.”

“Neither do I!” My voice is louder than I intend it to be and I start to cry. “I didn’t hear those words for years growing up. I-I can count on one hand how many people I love in this world and you’re one of them. You don’t love me.”

Dick grimaces. He means well. He wasn’t behaving any differently than what the two of us had talked about when the whole ‘friends with benefits’ situation arose. I was the one that had caught feelings.

I love his friends. I love his family. I love the life we have together. I love our dynamic and his passion for the things he cares about. I love him. Almost painfully.

Dick had done nothing wrong and yet it felt like he had stabbed me through the heart. We had talked about this. Like mature adults. We’d laid down our ground rules and expectations.

We had different views for our futures. And because I loved him it meant knowing that he deserved more than a future with me.

To fall in love was to accept weakness. To have someone who can be used against you.

Still, I can’t help but ask the question because hope is a dangerous thing. “Do you think that’s going to change? Could you see y-yourself on the same level as me ever?”

Dick crosses the distance in half a stride and then he’s cradling my head to his chest, carting his fingers through my hair.

“I couldn’t even tell you how I’ll feel tomorrow. One day at a time remember?”

The tears fall heavier and I hiccup because he’s crushing me and it’s not even his fault.

“Don’t cry baby. Please don’t cry. Just enjoy being in the moment with me.”

It feels like the world is coming to an end. They say to love someone is to surrender complete control of your feelings and that’s true.

I let him hold me but inside I shatter. How could two people so perfect for each other not be together? How could he invest this much time into me and not love me? How could he look at me and touch me the way he did and not love me?

“It’s okay.” He murmurs but it’s anything but okay.

[deliasmilkshake]

Underneath the Stardust

Samebody!Sun/Moon/Eclipse x Waiter/tress!Reader

Basically you work as a server/waiter/waitress at this cheap 'Stardust Motel' (Totally inspired by this post) which is located in a small town where more people have been going missing as of late and how you slowly discover the truth behind it while a certain animatronic toys around with you.

I personally don't think any content warning is needed for this chapter, unless anyone notices one?

I guess just take into account that Sun & Moon are a bit.. sassy? rough? (a tiny bit inspired by the HW2 DCA) but I hope you guys do realize the small actions they do which shows that they do care for the reader! They're just a bit... funny about it ibasbakisubhiusabg

| Words: 2,246 | Chapters: 1/?

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Another day to go to work at your horrendous job. You really had no choice. You were kicked out of your last job and evicted from your cheap apartment. This was the only place in this godforsaken town that had a job opening that accepted you.

As for your new home, your friend Michael was kind enough to let you move in with him. You appreciate that a lot from him, and to be honest… you might like him just a teensy bit? But even you're not so sure if you have a crush on him or if you just like how kind he's been to you during this whole mess. It's not a feeling you've been able to process or have been wanting to, actually.

You're busier trying to relieve the debts you have and making your life stable.

With that thought, you sigh as you finally reach your job at the oh-so-marvelous 'Stardust Motel'. Good thing the work is within walking distance from Michael's house because you do NOT have the money to afford gas, much less a car.

Michael always suggests accompanying you ever since the cases of missing people have increased around town lately, but you insist that you can take care of yourself. Deep down, you just don't want to be more of a burden to him than you already feel you are.

Here you work a double shift. One from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the next starting from 5 p.m. and ending at 1 a.m. At this point, the motel feels like your second home. You do have breaks, and luckily, there isn't much going on around in this small town. but it's still exhausting nonetheless.

Your job is being a server for the small restaurant right next to but connected with the motel. However, since there isn't much activity, they also have you work as a housekeeper and do some small maintenance here and there. This place sucks, but alas, it's the only one that would accept someone as lowly as you.

"You're late." Bob begrudgingly tells you. He's the only chef of the restaurant and the second boss.

You look down at your phone and see that it is 5:05 p.m. You slump down and put your phone away in your pocket as you approach the kitchen.

"Sorry, Bob, I'll make sure to arrive at exactly 5:00 p.m. next time."

"It'd be better if you arrived 15 minutes earlier than that."

Another deep breath in and out. "Yes, Bob." As if they don't push you enough already. And as you're about to put on your apron, Bob interrupts you,

"Say, a light bulb burned out; go fix it. Second floor, at the very end."

Geez, not even a please? "I'll go fix it."

And so you walk out through the door on the side that leads to the motel. There, you are greeted by the receptionist.

"Bad day, huh?" Vanessa asks while typing something on her computer. "When isn't it a bad day for you~?" she teases but you're not really in the mood for any of this.

You bury your hands in your face with a groan. "Bob told me to go fix the light bulb." Your voice sounds muffled as your face is still hidden by your palms.

"Well you better hurry. The sun is about to go down." She points at the light bulb on top of the desk and continues working.

Your hands twitch slightly from her last sentence.

"Sun…"

Oh yeah, the housekeeper and guard of the motel. He's an animatronic who can be… How should you describe him? At times he's nice, and at others he can be a bit of a condescending jerk.

You shake your head. You take the light bulb from the desk and redirect yourself towards the stairs, walking towards the second floor where you head towards the very end, spotting the last light bulb hanging lifelessly.

As you approach, you look up and realize,

"Shoot… I forgot the ladder … AUGH!!" You groan loudly as you turn around to retrieve the goddamn ladder. When suddenly-

"BOO!"

"AH!"

"HAHAHA!" You hear that familiar laugh as you fall onto the ground, landing on your butt.

"SUN!" You yell out furiously. "Don't scare me like that! Do you want to give me a heart attack!?"

Sun's laugher slowly dies down to a mischievous smile and tilts his head. "Hmmm…" He hums in thought as he looks to the side.

"Don't think about it!" With that, you get up and shake off your pants from any dirt on the floor.

Once you're standing, you feel a hand lay on your head and pat you. "How has your evening been, friend?"

"Bad!" You cross your arms and pout as you look up at him.

"I didn't mean to scare you so badly!" He chuckles as he leans down to meet you face to face- maybe even just a bit too close. You plant a hand on his faceplate and push him back gently. "Too close, buddy."

He raises his hands and then looks behind you towards the light bulb. He points at it as you slightly turn your head to where he's pointing. "Did you really think you could reach that without a ladder?"

Your eye twitches; he just called you a shorty. It's not your fault he's insanely tall. "For your information! I simply forgot the ladder!"

"Surprise, surprise," he says with a taunting grin.

"How about you step aside and let me get the ladder?"

"No~" He replies, still holding his cheeky grin.

"Well then! I'll just go- aaAAAH!" As you were about to walk past him, he grabs you by the waist and starts to walk back towards the end of the hall, where the light bulb hangs.

"Sun! Let go!" you shout, and he does! He lets go right there and then, causing you to fall to your butt… Again!

"OW! BUT NOT LIKE THAT!" You rub your bum gently from the pain and get back up. Once you do, Sun puts his hands on your shoulders and turns you around, and before you can process it, he's picking you up once more. But this time, you get it.

"Oh- you were going to be my ladder…" He rolls his eyes seemingly unimpressed that you only just now understood his intentions.

"Chop chop, friend~!" He exclaims behind you. You huff at him before you quickly replace the lightbulb.

"Done!"

Sun places you down and claps his hands. "Good job, friend, for doing allll the hard work around here~!" It seems like Sun isn't in a great mood today either because he's being bitchier than usual.

"What's got you in a bad mood today?" You place your hand on your hip as you question him.

"You see-" but before Sun can answer, you hear Vanessa shout your name from the first floor.

"Your friend is here!" she yells. "Michael!" you say enthusiastically as you rush downstairs. "Michael…" Sun says unenthusiastically as he rolls his eyes and sluggishly goes down the stairs.

You rush toward the front desk where you see your friend holding what appears to be… your lunchbox! "Did I forget it at home?!"

Michael chuckles at that and nods. "You did. But thankfully our home is near, so I brought it over for you."

"Surprise, surprise," Sun interrupts as he walks over to where you all are. "Our sunshine's forgetful like that, aren't they?" He crosses his arms and leans on the desk.

"You're lucky to have someone bring you lunch; I wish someone brought me lunch." Vanessa says as she takes a sip of her coffee.

Michael scratches the back of his head sheepishly. "It's just what… good friends do, no?" Aww, what a dear.

You take your lunchbox from his hands and give him a gentle smile as you whisper, "Thank you, Michael." You hear a slight scratch on the desk behind you screech.

"HEY! You jerk! Don't ruin my desk like that!" Vanessa shouts at Sun and slaps his hand away as he straightens up quickly.

"Sorry, Vanessa!" He pretends to let out a long yawn. "I was just getting bored out of my mechanical mind watching this poor scene play out!" He grips his hands together.

"Not my fault you're jealous that no one brings you lunch!" Sun's eye twitches at your remark, and with that, he leans toward you and gives you a death glare for a moment before snatching your lunchbox.

"My lunchbox! SUN! Give it back!" Sun ignores you with a laugh as he runs away. You run but stop to turn around and face Michael.

"Thank you for bringing it to me!" You give him a wave of your hand "I'll catch you later tonight!" Michael nods with a smile and gently waves back at you, and with that, you continue running forward.

"They're so oblivious" He whispers softly. "That goddamn bot scratched my desk-" Vanessa rambles as she checks the scratch marks Sun made and Michael simply lets out a nervous chuckle at Vanessa's remarks.

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You finally reach the basement where Sun ran into. You try switching the lights on, but no matter how many times you try, the basement stays dark.

You sigh as you reach into your pockets and take out your phone to use its flashlight.

"…Give me my lunchbox back, you menaces!" No reply, and after a few seconds, you feel a strand of your hair being slightly pulled.

You look up at the top of the shelf behind you and point your phone toward the one who did it. The one who stole your food.

"Moon." You huff at him "Get back down." You threaten.

He grins and slightly chuckles as he holds your lunchbox up with one hand and rests his face on the other.

"Magic word~?" he asks. "Now!" "Wrong answer." he replies menancingly.

Augh- He's really making you say it, isn't he? "…… Please?" you finally give in.

"I couldn't hear~ Louder." Goddammit.

"P-Please! Pretty please!" Sometimes you feel as if you're just a toy that they enjoy teasing and playing with. Much to your relief, Moon hops down onto the floor with a satisfied laugh.

He straightens up, but as he does, he picks you up with one arm.

"Let us feed you~" Pardon? "What? NO! No! Why?!" you struggle in his arm as you try to reach for his other hand, where he still holds your lunchbox. Curse his arms for being so long.

"Funny, funny~" he chuckles as he wiggles the lunchbox you're trying so hard to reach.

…. He finds this funny, huh? Will he find this amusing then?

You reach toward the back of his head, grab his nightcap, and pull it back as hard as you can. "!!!" His eyes open wide, he stumbles back from the harsh tug while you grin.

"Hahaha! Funny, funny~" you mock him, using his own words against him. He stabilizes himself and his smile only widens with ill intent.

He places your lunchbox on the shelf and inmediately tugs on your hair harshly, causing your head to lean back in his arms. "OW!"

So this is how he wants to play? You tug on his nightcap again. "HA!"

He responds by tugging your hair in return. "Naughty!" He growls but you retort by tugging on his lips. "You're naughtier!" He tugs on your lips back, "Is that so~?" He leans his face closer to yours-

"Get a room, you two." Vanessa interrupts as she manages to turn the lights on.

You feel Moon lower his hand, and his other arm tightens around you as he transforms back into Sun, a process that always appeared painful. But once it's done, Sun gently places you on the ground as he holds his head with one hand, seemingly in post-transformation pain.

"Vanessa , you could have warned us," Sun tells her begrudgingly.

"Next time, go to some other motel." She glances in your direction. "And you." You tilt your head. "Bob wants to know why you're taking so damn long. His words, not mine."

Shit! You definitely took way longer fixing that light bulb than you should have.

"Ah! I'll be returning quickly then! Sun!" You turn around to ask him for your lunchbox, but he's already handing it out to you. ".... Thank you," you softly tell him as you take the lunchbox from his hands without a fight and run toward the restaurant.

And now it's just Vanessa and Sun.

"You really like ruining other people's fun, don't you?" Sun glares at Vanessa.

"Just like you ruined mine last night. It's payback for that and for ruining my desk with your little jealousy tantrum." she hisses back at him, then turns to walk away from the basement without another word and toward the main desk, leaving Sun alone in the basement glaring at her.

"Party pooper." He exclaims with a huff as he crosses his arms. And they were having so much fun toying around with their darling starlight.

────────────

"What took you so damn long?!" Augh. Bob's mad mad. "Sorry... I just got a bit distracted." you say as you put on your apron, not daring yourself to look at his face.

"Then stop lazing around and go tend those customers." He growls at you and returns to his cooking. You sigh and walk towards the table with your notebook out, ready to start your second shift.

[colebegins]

i said this all in the tags of abigail’s post, but it was so long that i’m putting it in its own post

i completely understand where this breakup came from, and i am not upset with either of the characters involved in it. i appreciate the slight insight it gives into tommy’s lived experiences and his expectations, as well as the deep seated loneliness that he has alluded to in nearly every episode he has been in. the longing and the hope for connection and family and stability.

so yes, the breakup feels a bit self-sacrificial and self-destructive because he’s doing it now in an effort to protect his own heart. he thinks breaking things off now and dealing with that heartache now would be easier than waiting for it to ‘inevitably’ happen later when he is even more invested. and that makes sense!!! it does not come across, to me, as out of character at all. josh’s great speech even highlighted the scars that come along with queer people’s struggles (pre-glee) with themselves and with their relationships. there are so many experiences that could’ve left tommy scarred that would lead to this feeling that he cannot be buck’s last relationship. so this breakup, while it hurts, makes sense based on tommy’s reasonings, experiences, and conclusions he has come to.

but he also deserves for someone to prove him wrong.

my struggle with this breakup comes from the finality of the post-ep interviews. without the interviews, as a viewer who just saw the episode and is waiting for the next ones to come out without knowing any bts stuff or reading any articles, this would feel like a great path forward for buck to learn what he wants and to go for it — to fight for it.

buck discovering his bisexuality and being in a relationship with a man was never going to automatically solve all of buck’s issues with himself and with relationships, and specifically his place in relationships. but for the past 13 (?) episodes we have seen buck become more secure with himself and his space — the loft has had so many homey and cosy little decor changes, and it has been so interesting to see him feel more comfortable while making his place more comfortable. all of that makes the breakup feel sudden and unexpected, but that was the point. tommy surprised himself too, he even said so. they both felt comfortable and happy, but they also both have their own hangups. but also, they both actually want the same things. they both want love, stability, and mutual care, respect, and understanding. tommy thinks that buck will inevitably, accidentally, not maliciously, break his heart. and tommy does not think he can handle that, which i understand. buck has the opportunity to prove him wrong. but it seems (from interviews) that this is the last we will be seeing of tommy and their relationship.

now to take all of that, and have his next step be to just let this relationship go completely as he uses his old (self admitted) unhealthy coping strategies could be an interesting narrative arc to go down, but, for me, it would really only be worth it if he recognizes this old behavior coming back again, understanding where it’s coming from, and finds security in understanding what he wants. i want buck to feel happy, secure, safe, and loved. no matter who that is with — be it tommy, eddie, or some other person he happens to meet later. no matter who he is with, he is bisexual, and i will always be thankful that we have had this journey of self-discovery with him (which i hope we will continue to see ore development of — would also love if they would actually use the word ‘bisexual’ on the show). buck deserves to have growth and stability within himself and in his relationships, which is very clearly something he wants. he deserves to have that after eight seasons.

at the end of the day though, i will still feel upset for this end to tommy’s story, because he also deserves to feel happy, secure, safe, and loved. i hope he gets that one day. for now, that is what fan works are for.

[daryltwdixon]

The Promise of Us: Chapter 55

remember when I said I was writing something cute and fluffy :') this has part of it, next chapter has more

Walking the path back to the church, their dollies loaded with food and supplies, Daryl keeps his head down, lost in the swirling maze of thoughts that circle around Y/N. His mind is a whirlwind, but it’s the kind that settles something inside him, something he’s been feeling for longer than he’s ever had the courage to admit. The connection he has with her—it’s stronger than anything he’s ever known. Through every nightmare, every mile of blood-soaked ground, it’s only ever been her. He knows it, always did, really. But it's clear as day now.

The church looms ahead, offering a kind of safety they haven’t known in a while, but the tension within the group digs into him. He thinks of his closest friend–Carol. She’s been quiet, too quiet, and whatever happened out there with her, the girls, and Tyreese—it’s marked her, left her with that haunted look he catches every now and then. He’s been in that darkness before and he can tell she’s carrying something heavy, but he doesn’t push. He supposes they’re all carrying something now.

And then there’s Gabriel. The priest’s polite smiles and darting eyes grate on him, as if the man's whole being is wrapped in something he’s too afraid to face. There’s a jitteriness to him, a lurking guilt that only deepens Daryl’s distrust. He’s seen men haunted by the things they’ve done, but Gabriel’s guarded eyes, clutching his Bible like it might save him—it all feels like a mask hiding something he’s not ready to let anyone see.

But it’s Y/N who fills his thoughts, rising above the noise, her face, her voice pulling him in like a lifeline. He doesn’t know when it happened, maybe even before the world went to hell, but the thought of a world without her is one he can’t bear. Hell, he’d already tried that—already felt what it was like to think she was gone, that she’d disappeared along with everything else after the prison. And the guilt that settled in after...those days with Beth, thinking he might find something in someone else’s company, feels like a faint shadow now. She had been a flicker of light in the dark, but nothing—nothing—like what he has with Y/N.

For a moment, he pictures her beside him not just in these ruins, not just surviving day to day, but something different, something that isn’t about waiting or putting things off like the world they left behind. He wants that with her, whatever “that” means out here. She’s been a part of him longer than he’d even known, and all he wants now is to make sure she knows it, to find a way to make it real, even if he can’t find the words yet.

Rick watches him, raising a brow as Daryl fidgets with something in his hand. “You good?” Rick’s voice is careful, a touch of something familiar. "Whatcha got there?”

Daryl’s head snaps up, his grip relaxing just slightly as he opens his hand, giving Rick a glimpse of what he’s been holding tight. Rick’s gaze drops, surprise flickering in his eyes, quickly replaced by something else—a glimmer of warmth, something Daryl hasn’t seen in a long time.

Rick’s mouth edges up, a small, genuine smile, and he glances back at the path ahead.

“What?” Daryl asks, maybe a little too defensively, his own heart hammering at the question.

Rick chuckles quietly, his tone lowering, almost as if he’s talking more to himself than anyone else. “Just happy for ya. We all need somethin’ good.” He pauses, his voice softer, “She needs somethin’ good.”

The words hit Daryl hard, settling deep in his chest. He feels the weight of what he’s holding, a quiet promise he’s not sure how to share, but one he’ll keep close for her.

❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥

You

The low hum of voices and soft laughter fills the room as everyone settles into the warmth the church walls provide. Contentment settles over you as you lean back against the pew, watching Glenn eagerly reach for seconds and Maggie nudge him, laughing softly. You glance over at Daryl, the warm candlelight flickering over his face, casting shadows along his cheekbones. He’s licking his lips, catching a hint of sauce on his mouth, and there’s a crinkle at the corners of his eyes as he glances at you, something knowing and soft there that feels like it was always meant just for you. From your quiet corner, both of you sit apart from the others, content to watch them for a while. There’s a warmth in the air, a sense of safety none of you have felt in a long time, and the satisfaction of full bellies—something you know many of you have been missing for far too long.

“Thank you,” you murmur quietly, looking over at Daryl beside you, “for going out there for all of this.”

“Wasn’t just me,” he gruffs, eyes dropping to his hands. He licks the remnants of food from his fingers, and you can’t help but watch the way his lips purse around each one, how the candlelight makes his skin look almost golden. He catches you looking, smirking slightly. “Surprised you kept your promise fer once,” he teases, voice low, barely above a mumble.

“Oh, yeah? Wha’s that supposed to mean?” You lean into him, your voice light and challenging.

“Actually stayed put when ya said ya would,” he teases back, leaning closer. He’s relaxed, in his own Daryl way, but there’s a glint in his eyes that tugs at something deep inside you. You roll your eyes and set your plate down, pulling your legs up close, hugging them to your chest as you turn to him. His gaze meets yours, holding it for a beat longer than usual. There’s an energy in the air, something tender and open between you, pulling you closer until you’re so near, you can feel the warmth of his breath.

You reach over, fingers just brushing his cheek before he leans into it. It feels like gravity pulling you together, and before either of you can think twice, his lips are on yours, soft and tentative. You have had enough of pretending like you didn’t want to spend every waking moment savoring him, being this close after what you’d been through. There’s a sweetness to his kiss, a hint of shyness, like he’s still testing how close he can let himself get, even now. But he lets his hand come up, fingers curling around the back of your neck, drawing you in deeper. His thumb brushes along your jaw, and the softness of his touch nearly breaks you, making you feel like the world around you has fallen away. 

When he pulls back, his cheeks are tinged pink, eyes flickering down briefly before he clears his throat, almost like he’s caught off guard by his own feelings. He’s close, still leaning in, the hand on the back of your neck now wrapping around your own fingers. His free hand fumbles in his pocket before he produces something, shaking just slightly. He opens his palm to reveal a simple, thin gold band, the light catching on its smooth surface.

“Found it…” he starts, voice rough, “at the food bank. Damn walker had it on, but I thought…it just…looked like somethin’ that would suit ya.”

You can see the awkwardness creeping over him, his eyes shifting away, his thumb rubbing the side of the ring as if he’s trying to gather the words together in his mind. His gaze flickers back to yours, and he shifts, seeming to struggle to stay still under the weight of what he wants to say.

“Ain't much for sayin’ stuff like this, you know that, but…” He swallows, his eyes catching yours with a rare softness, “All that time apart, every second…it felt like I was losin’ my mind, like I was losin’ somethin’ I didn’t know how to name. Hell, you’re the only damn thing that’s ever made sense, really.”

He looks down at the ring, then back at you, the vulnerability in his gaze almost breaking your heart. “I don’t ever wanna be apart from ya again, ya hear? Been wantin’ this—whatever this is, been wantin’ it since the start, I just didn’t get it back then. You were always…” he pauses, his thumb brushing your hand, “center of it all. Since we were kids. Hell, even through that mess with Shane. You were it, even then. Just took me a while to figure out what was goin’ on up here,” he mutters, tapping the side of his head. “You’re the center of everythin’ for me, always have been.”

He clears his throat, swallowing hard as he lifts the ring between you both. “So…you think maybe…maybe you’d wanna…be mine? Be my... my wife?” His voice is barely more than a whisper, his gaze full of hope and the slightest tremor of fear.

The quiet intimacy of the room melts away everything else around you, leaving just the soft glow of the candles and the feeling of Daryl’s hand wrapped around yours. His words hang in the air, filling the silence with something both fragile and heavy. You can feel your heart pounding, every beat echoing his words back at you as his thumb gently rubs over your knuckles. His voice is so raw, so open—more vulnerable than you’ve ever heard it. The look in his eyes reaches deep inside you, stirring a warmth that feels both achingly familiar and yet entirely new.

Without even realizing it, you reach up again, brushing your fingers along the rough edge of his jaw, your touch tender and careful. Your hand trembles as you move it, and you feel a faint, almost giddy smile tugging at your lips as you try to steady yourself. He watches you, waiting, his gaze full of nervousness and hope, and you feel your chest tighten again at the vulnerability you see in him.

You glance down at the ring, touching it lightly, letting your fingers brush over his palm as you look back up at him, heart racing. “You don’t even know,” you whisper, voice thick with emotion, and you let out a shaky laugh, glancing down as you blink back the tears that blur your vision. “From the very start, Daryl. Since we were kids, then even when we didn’t talk, when things got…messy. You were there, always a part of me,” You pause, the memories rushing through your mind. “I think, even then, you were already everything to me. But I was too scared to understand it.”

You swallow, the words tumbling out in a rush, like they’ve been waiting all this time to find their way to him. “Through everything—losing people, the farm, Shane, and then when I thought I’d lost you for good when the prison fell and I…” Your voice breaks, and you can’t bring yourself to finish the thought. The memory of that emptiness, of thinking he was gone forever, sits like a weight in your chest, and a tear slips down your cheek. You squeeze his hand, grounding yourself in his warmth.

“I don’t want to go through this world without you. I can’t. I won't.” Your voice is barely more than a murmur, your thumb brushing along his knuckles as your other hand cups his face, feeling the rough stubble beneath your fingertips. “You’re it for me, Daryl… the center of my everything too. I don’t know if I’ve ever been sure of anything, but I’ve always been sure of you.”

A quiet, overwhelming joy rises in you, mixed with all the love you’d never put into words until now. “Yes, Daryl… yes, of course, yes,” you whisper, and you feel his hand tighten around yours, steadying you. You let out a breathless laugh, one hand still resting against his cheek as you watch his face, seeing a softness in his eyes that he rarely lets anyone see.

He lets out a small, almost relieved breath, his gaze fixed on you like he’s afraid this moment might slip away. You lean forward, meeting his lips in a kiss that holds everything—every unspoken promise, every moment you’ve shared, every piece of your heart that’s been his all along. It’s soft, warm, a kind of love you feel down to your bones.

When you finally pull back, your forehead rests against his, and his fingers, a little shaky, slide the ring onto your finger. It’s a simple, worn band, but in his hands, it’s perfect, and you can’t help but smile, feeling more whole than you have in a long, long time.

Just as you’re catching your breath, feeling the warmth of Daryl’s hand in yours, a loud whoop cuts through the soft murmurs in the room. You turn, startled, to see Rick grinning wide, hands clapped together as he lets out a hearty, joyful cheer. The rest of the group catches on, and suddenly, laughter and clapping fill the room. Faces light up with smiles, everyone cheering, and you can’t help but feel the blush spread hot across your cheeks. Daryl grunts beside you, scratching the back of his neck, his usual awkward discomfort more obvious than ever.

From somewhere in the crowd, Glenn hollers, “Hey, Father Gabriel, think you can ordain a wedding on the fly?” He’s laughing, but Maggie’s already in front of you, pulling you both up from the pew, her face bright with excitement.

“Oh, c’mon! Let’s make it official!” she says, guiding you both toward the front, and Daryl shoots you a helpless look that makes you laugh even more.

As Father Gabriel steps up, he clears his throat, looking as surprised as he is pleased. You and Daryl share a look—half-embarrassed, half-disbelieving—as Gabriel begins reciting some heartfelt words, ones you can barely hear over the pounding of your heart and the laughter echoing around the room.

"By the power invested in me," Gabriel announces, with a solemnity that almost makes the whole thing seem real, "I now pronounce you husband and wife."

The room erupts into louder cheers, and you look up at Daryl, grinning. He stares back at you with that same look of wonder, that softness, before his hand slips to the back of your neck and pulls you close for another kiss, sealing the moment as husband and wife. The cheers get louder--as loud as this world would allow without inviting any unwanted guests--and you’re both laughing, happiness bubbling up in you so overwhelming it almost hurts.

But before you can get too caught up in it, Daryl pulls back, shaking his head, his face flushed as he turns to the group. “Alright, enough’a this!” he grunts with a playful glare. He scoops you up into his arms, catching you off guard, and everyone smiles as he turns, heading for the back office. “Gotta get away from you people! Ain’t nothin’ private ‘round here,” he calls over his shoulder, a gruff smile breaking through.

With everyone still laughing and cheering behind you, Daryl carries you out of the room, his face softening as he glances down at you, something quiet and tender in his eyes. It’s a moment that feels like yours alone, and for once, everything feels right. You’re finally his, and he’s finally yours.

[nagichi-boop]

I spent a day with Angela Giarratana felt lowkey therapeutic, so here’s some parts that I found particularly profound and/or comforting (with some minor tweaks to condense the quote)

(Putting under a cut cuz I realised there are too many good quotes and this got long)

— (Angela) “The reason why I have so much is because I lead with the word ‘yes.’ And I said yes to everything, which is why I think I have so many fun avenues to create and great groups of collaborators. But someone told me that ‘no’ is actually magnetic too, and that saying no will open up other things for you.”

— (Angela) “I can be enough and not be ridiculous. I can just sit and talk, and I’m not letting anyone down, it’s not boring. It’s hard for me not to have a joke lined every 5 seconds, like am I only making jokes so I don’t lose someone cuz I’m worried I’m getting boring? And it’s just sitting in that space going; ‘if I am boring, let’s just see - will everyone walk out? Will everyone hate me? I dunno, there’s only one way to find out.’”

— (Angela) “If we’re being really honest, I think somewhere deep down, I think I am boring and not interesting. As I grow older I notice it, and I then care less and less. I think the more I see people stick around for just who I am, it makes me feel more comfortable. As I’m getting older, I feel more and more vulnerable with just being myself.”

— (Anthony) “It’s tiring to wear a mask and be something because people want you to be this way. And there was a big period of time where I was afraid of people not liking me, so I was trying to be as broadly appealing as possible. ‘I want everyone to like me! There’s one commenter that didn’t like me? How can I change to make sure that person likes me too?’ But I’ve come to realise that actually, this is an awesome way to filter out sh—y people that I don’t even want to like me. If someone only likes me because I’m fake and I’m trying to be this person for them, actually I don’t want them to like me.”

— (Angela) “‘I want every single person to like me, because if every single person likes me, that means I’m valued, and that means I am of value and I’m not a piece of sh—.’ But then you go; ‘I don’t know if I’m genuinely connecting with anyone, cuz every single thing I’m doing is bullsh—, and I’m just emulating what I think this person wants so they can approve of me, and that’s just a lonely place to live.’”

— (Angela) “Sometimes when you’re around abusive friendships or relationships that might not be good for you is when you don’t feel like you can have an opinion - that’s when you know. Like something in you is thinking, ‘I’ll do whatever you want cuz it’ll be easier that way.’ That’s a safety mechanism that you don’t really need if you’re feeling fully supported.”

— (Anthony) “When you surround yourself with people that expect you to do whatever they want or they expect you not to have an opinion, in a sense it’s almost like you don’t necessarily respect yourself fully, so you are allowing people who don’t fully respect you into your life.”

— (Anthony) “With these transitional periods, there’s so much uncertainty, and I feel like that’s really scary when you’re used to knowing what you’re going to do. And sometimes you find peace in having that North Star that’s super obvious. But there’s actually so much freedom in this time of uncertainty. Cuz if someone says ‘what are you gonna do?’, you’re like ‘I dunno, I’ll figure it out as it comes; as my day progresses, as my life progresses, I’ll figure it out in the moment.’”

— (Anthony) “I feel like the more that you are comfortable being yourself and the less that you do worry about what people think of you, it’s actually the opposite effect. I feel like it’s natural to think that if you care about what people think of you that you’ll be more entertaining. But what’s interesting is it’s the opposite effect I’ve realised. The less you care about what they think about you, the more that it will actually attract them to be like, ‘wait, oh she’s just being herself,’ and it makes it so much more interesting. I think it’s the authenticity.”

— (Anthony) “I feel like our entire culture is centered around the outcome of everything that we do, and that’s why we’re so future oriented; we’re never in the present just enjoying it. It’s like turning on a song just to get to the end of it. It’s like doing a dance just to do the final pose. That’s not the point - it’s about the process.”

— (Anthony) “We all want what’s familiar, even if it’s hurtful, because it’s like; ‘I know I can deal with that pain. I know I can deal with that uncomfortable feeling. That’s a lot of discomfort, but I know I can handle that.’”

— (Anthony) “It’s preemptively feeling less than just in case you have to feel less than in the future.” (Angela) “Cuz I’d rather feel less than on my terms than someone making me do that cuz it hurts more.” (Anthony) “But when you do it on your terms, you almost invite because people will treat you and you will be treated in the way that you perceive yourself. And if you perceive yourself as less than because you preemptively want to feel that feeling, you are inviting that to happen.”

[traceytonight]

Tracey rambles about Tron Ares again

Tron Ares fills me with so much dread, each passing day is like a countdown to the death of a franchise I care so much about.

The producer, title & main character, is literally Joker Morbius alleged pedophile since the early 2000s himself Jared Leto. That alone ruins the movie for me, and yet every following bullet point makes everything about and around it so much worse.

-Premise is explicitly "What if the Grid came to the real world".

NO, the interesting part of the series is THE GRID, where all of the deeply meditative commentary about our world and visually interesting splendor is supposed to be! Yes we had the lingering plot thread of Quorra coming to our world, however;

-Nothing directly tied to Tron Legacy is specifically being followed up

So no seeing where Sam Flynn could have taken Encom, no Quorra adjusting to our world, No Edward Dillinger Jr scheming with the resurrected MCP; But most disrespectfully of all, they didn't even bother to get Bruce Boxleitnter back, THE GUY WHO PLAYS TRON (and Alan Bradly & Rinzler). The one guy who actively loved this series and campaigned for a Third Tron film for over a decade, and previously Tron Legacy for even longer. But you know who they are bringing back?

-Kevin Flynn is back

THE GUY WHO FUCKING DIED IN THE LAST MOVIE. Undermining the noble sacrifice that was integral to the core themes of the film.

And just today we got this:

This is so far from an advancement design wise of the Light Cycle from either film. None of the simple shape language of the original. None of the sleek visual melding of human & technology of Legacy. While the light cycle was always cool for being a futuristic video game-ass motorcycle, its was just one of the multitude of visual elements that served the thematic purposes of Tron flawlessly.

Meanwhile, this not only physically separates the driver from the cycle, they further emphasize it through all the little gaps where there were none on either prior design. They so easily could've had the red line on Ares connect into the obviously aligned part of the bike.

Even if this is meant to show the separation of the programs from the grid for some thematic element we're unaware of at the moment, we're already going to be getting a lot of that considering the movie takes place in an average ass city.

Also, to be truly nitpicky, it looks really uncomfortable to sit in & I don't like all the added greebles.

To circle back around, what I really hate about the cast, besides the obvious one, is that there are a lot of actors who I think will work extremely well in the world of Tron. Greta Lee, Gillian Anderson, Evan Peters? Inspired casting choices.

Meanwhile production wise we're literally taking David Fincher's collaborator trifecta. Jeff Cronenweth (Cinematographer), Tyler Nelson (Editor), and Trent Reznor (Composer, backed up by Nine Inch Nails) all worked on The Social Network, another one of my favorite films. Jeff is literally the son of Blade Runner's cinematographer, Nelson was co-editor on The Batman, a film with incredible pacing thanks to their hardwork, and while I'm not the most familiar with Reznor's full body of work, I've sincerely liked everything I've heard and think in conjunction with Jeff & Tyler he will make something fantastic and fitting for the tone of this film.

However, the screenplay is done by the writer of Harry Potter & the Cursed Child, and is being handled by the director of Pirates of the Caribbean 5. Choices that feel at odds with the prestige praise I was just handing out a paragraph ago.

Theres so many good elements that are eclipsed by its central glaring protagonist, seeming lack of the interesting setting/designs or integral thematic elements that I look for in Tron, and lack of expectation regarding the choice of director & writers.

Because my two greatest fears are not about if the movie is awful and destroys the franchise as I'm expecting it could, it's either:

What if the movie is genuinely good? Well acted and performed, somehow actually has the same level of philosophical inquiry that Legacy & Identity have? How am I gonna face that reality with the enormous horrific issue starring in it?

What if the movie is bad in everyway that I think it will be, but does financially and/or critically better than the first two? The franchise is not killed again, but revives and bases everything going forward around this awful outlier in the series?

Unless this movie fails so horrifically that Disney wants to scrub it from existence, as they tend to do, the future of any Tron media will undeniably be forced to cohere itself to the existence of Ares.

If you want something that actually expands on the musings and universe of Tron, play Tron Identity. A game so lovingly crafted for fans of those elements of Tron as a connected series. And I know this factually, as the writer of the game itself (who also created Thomas Was Alone) watched my twitch stream of it and confirmed my ramblings about the deep seeded lore and intent of design of the TREES that appear in the game. Only one example of the incredible attention to detail the game delivers on. Plus its also getting a sequel that unlike Ares, I'm awaiting with bated breath.

[letters-to-lgbt-kids]

(Content warning: US election/politics) 

My dear lgbt+ kids, 

Over the last few days, the phrase “Hope for the best but prepare for the worst” came to my mind a lot. 

My post with safety tips (things you can do now that may potentially help when project 2025 comes) got a lot of notes, and many people added on their own advice or ideas. I wrote that post when I was still very much in the initial stage of shock over the election result. I wrote it because I felt really helpless and enraged and scared and heartbroken… and I just felt like I had to do something, anything, to help before the world goes to hell. I guess that’s a feeling a lot of us had or are still having. 

I didn’t want to - or maybe I just couldn’t at that stage - talk about hope in that post. How could I watch a fascist criminal become one of the most powerful men on earth and then go on my silly little blog to ramble about hope? In fact, I told you don’t need to feel optimistic, but you need to take care of yourself. You need to be kind to yourself. 

What I didn’t say (and should have said) is that taking care of yourself IS hope. 

None of the safety tips I shared or the ones you guys added would matter if it wasn’t for hope. We need to believe in a future to prepare for it. To fight for it. 

If we didn’t have hope, we wouldn’t make appointments to get an IUD or a flu shot. We wouldn’t share advice on which health products to stock up on. We wouldn’t remind each other to check in and connect with each other. We wouldn’t share advice and resources and ideas with each other. If we believed we are all doomed and there’s no future, we’d do none of that - because you wouldn’t fight for a future if there wasn’t one. 

Every time I see that post popping up in my notifications, I am reminded that there is hope. Because hope isn’t just a feeling. It’s an action. And I see you taking that action.

We are here and we are queer and we are willing to fight for our future. And as long as that’s true, there is hope. 

With all my love, 

Your Tumblr Dad 

[hi-hi-hi-hhhiii]

Set List

1. Escapism. & Genesis. - RAYE

Modern!Actor!Aemond Targaryen x Singer!Reader

Warnings: Angsttttttt, sexism, mentions of drug and alcohol addiction (just rumors), semi-meet cute

Word count: 2.4k

“Every song has a meaning for your relationship with Aemond Targaryen. Aegon has asked you to sing at one of his infamous parties and in the midst of dealing with your feelings for Aemond, you decide to let your set list do the talking.”

Note: This chapter explains how the reade met Aemond and the state of mind they were in during that time. Also, these characters are neither book or show accurate as I am taking some of the actor’s personalities in real life. Imagine Aemond wearing Ewan’s London premiere look for the second season!

How did it all begin?

That’s what everyone wants to know. Of course, they only want the good bits: when you fell in love, when you knew it was true, if he has a big dick… But no one wants to know what really happened, the truth and the darkness behind it all.

You arrived on the set of a short series you were having a small role in. In the span of five minutes, the series was struck from your schedule. Humiliated and angry, you stormed off of he set and back to your life.

Of course, rumors began to swirl as soon as the news broke that you were no longer attached to the project. The regular ones were there, saying you were too emotional, too much of a diva, maybe back on the drugs or alcohol…

No one knew that you didn’t touch either of the substances, but no one cared since it brought them views and clicks. The truth didn’t gain attention, didn’t get money. Regardless of it, you tried to pay as little attention to what people were saying online. Such is the beauty and pain of fame.

Without the series, it freed up more of your time. You tried to limit your screen time and did not allow yourself to comment or read the pop-up ads that came up with articles about you and the series director, the rumors and lies. What else were you supposed to do with the time?

Even as time slowed, you woke up early on a Wednesday morning for an event that you had been looking forward to since it had been booked by your team. It was the third season premiere of the high fantasy series that made Aemond Targaryen an instant celebrity. The second season is where he really got to shine in having an expanded role from the first season and everyone noticed the talent and charm that came with it.

You had been offered to write and sing a song on the second season’s soundtrack when your singles were dropping for the world to hear, and a producer listened to them and offered you the job. What you didn’t know is how much further it would skyrocket you into fame.

The success of the song brought you to this day, even with the rumors, to walk the carpet and to perform at the afterparty, thanks to Aegon, Aemond’s older brother. He had messaged you directly asking if you would perform. Your hands shook as you took in the message, and he must have been desperate to use the only social media platform you hadn’t blocked him and most of his family on.

You tried not to think on Aemond and his reaction to you accepting. You also couldn’t help but wonder if he was the one who suggested it to Aegon… You considered not accepting the offer as you would be fine without it, but you needed an outlet, not just from the humiliation of getting axed from the series.

London was closer to where you lived and while you knew of the memories that would linger from the last time you were there, you could not, and would not, allow the memories to get the better of you. You were performing and that was your job.

The second series premiere was easer. Besides writing the song, that wasn’t out at that time, you had no real reason to be there, besides being invited to the after party. You could have always declined but you thought it would be a nice opportunity to be social and make some new connections, both professional and otherwise.

You had success and money but still weren’t sure exactly what your image should be, not that anyone would probably know who you were. So, you wore a dress that complimented both your skin color and the way it hugged your figure, as well as matching sunglasses to protect against the flash of photographers.

You stepped into the space, alone, and took in the music coming from the speakers with the amount of people either dancing or mingling. You swallowed as the room seemed much smaller for the amount of people that were present. But you were calmed as you heard one of your songs playing over the speakers. You had made it here.

You did not touch alcohol or drugs, which you assumed was also being passed around, given the company of the Targaryen’s. You sipped your mocktail in a corner as you watched people move around and the excited chatter coming from the entrance.

People started to clap, and you assumed that it was the cast entering. You swallowed as the whole tone of the party shifted to them and their presence. Of course, Aemond was one of the faces of the show, but his fame extended to the whole Targaryen family. You weren’t sure if they were doing that on purpose, Aegon surely was, but the rest of them were a puzzle. Maybe that’s why people were so fascinated with them.

You moved from the corner as people were starting to press on you and you had no desire to feel compressed. You made your way back to the bar, where it was somewhat less crowded, and you could hear yourself think.

You heard someone sniff loudly beside you and you cleared your throat at the presence of obvious drugs. Aegon’s influence.

You felt someone nudge your elbow on the bar top, most likely by accident, and so you moved away. Some people didn’t have the special awareness. But if you had looked, you would have seen that it was Aemond and his nudge had nothing to do with needing more space.

“Hi!”

You turned to see Helaena Targaryen, the only daughter of Alicent and Viserys. You couldn’t help but raise your brow, even though she couldn’t see it from the sunglasses you still wore from the strobing lights.

“Hi,” you responded.

“I’m Helaena. I’ve been following you since you released ‘Revolve.’”

“Really? ‘Revolve’ was years ago! I’m surprised anyone still remembers my SoundCloud days.”

Even now, Helaena was the one who reached out to you when the news dropped of you being axed from the series you were some excited to do. She had asked if you wished to talk about it but you left her on read. You didn’t want your feelings to get back to Aemond, even with the series.

“I liked the reference about being hard as a cockroach. I really like insects.”

You can’t help but laugh.

“Thank you. I like to throw in slight innuendos in a clever way, at least I think so.”

Helaena asked you more questions about your music, and if you had any more bug related quirks to throw in, which you said none at the moment, before she asked you a deeper question.

“What do you think about Aemond?”

You tilted your head a little.

“What do you mean?”

“Aren’t you involved with the show?”

“Yes but I wrote a song for it. It isn’t out yet. I don’t think it has anything to do with him.”

Lie but you couldn’t reveal anything about the song and its significance since it wasn’t out and the news of the collaboration was scheduled to be released tomorrow.

“Oh. Aemond had said that there was someone writing a song about him, but maybe it was just a rumor.”

You shrug.

“It’s part of the show but that’s all I can say. Perhaps it is just a rumor.”

“Hel?”

You both turned to see Aemond. He had a drink in his hand that looked to have elderflower syrup in it.

“Aemond!” She exclaimed and hugged him before taking the drink. “Thank you and it looks so pretty!”

You took in his hair, dyed to look more like a natural blonde than silver and the elaborate pant ties that went up around the bottom of his legs. You couldn’t exactly place your hand on why he looked so interesting, but he did.

“It’s time!”

In the hotel room in London, you saw your assistant come out of the bedroom. She was texting on her phone and looks up to see you, almost ready.

“Do I look nice?” You ask.

The front is a simple green cocktail dress, and the back is covered by green tulle that has scale-like ridges that rest against your spine. It does represent Aemond’s character in the show, which you hadn’t thought of until the back piece went on. You just hoped people got the reference and didn’t think you looked like a lizard, which you were sure a meme would come out about it by morning.

“You do. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

Too late, you thought. Why can’t people just say things simply? Oh, you look lovely. Oh, you look really nice, just to ease the worry.

You swallow down the racing in your chest as the ensemble is finally put together. Your team buzzes around you as you walk down o the lobby of the hotel and you know you are not the only one staying here from the presence of the paparazzi and people waiting outside. But that’s okay. You are not the most important thing to them today.

Camera flashes blind your vision but you are saved from most of it due to wearing the sunglasses. Your team ushers you through the clear line to the car and you are instantly greeted with subdued sounds of the people outside. The car starts once everyone is inside and you sigh.

“How do you find it?”

Aemond had turned his attention back to you as Helaena was admiring her drink. He raised his brow.

“Find what?”

“All this.” You gestured around you with a hand. “It’s a lot and I assume it’s even more on the carpets.”

“I don’t take it for granted.”

You sigh to yourself as you know that is the PR answer. You were hoping for some honesty, but you did just meet, officially. Him hearing your song second hand does not count since you weren’t in the room.

“She’s asking about you, Aemond,” Hel spoke.

You smiled a little as you took another sip of your drink.

“I don’t know the complexities of fame and success as you have. Must be different.”

Aemond looked at you for a moment before taking a sip of his drink.

“It is. Why stop when there is another chance to improve?”

You were going to speak when Aemond was bumped into from behind and the other figure vanished once more into the crowd.

“Excuse me,” he said and left.

“Don’t mind him. It takes him a while to warm up but I’m sure he appreciated the effort you put into the song.”

You nodded and kept to Helaena’s side for most of the party. If you had known just how much the song would have changed your life, you would have understood more of why Aemond was secretive.

Now you understand. But how were you to know?

You turn slightly to see Aemond already on the carpet with his name being screamed by fans and photographers. He remains cool and poised in his suit and Targaryen blonde hair cut short to the nape of his neck. You swallow, longing for his longer hair.

You turned away to step onto the carpet yourself, unaware that Aemond had cast a look to you as well. There was no point in leaning away from the obvious reference that your outfit had and reporters picked up on that, obsessing and cooing over the connection you showed to Aemond’s character. Of course, asking if there was more to the outfit than just supporting Aemond. You denied it.

You had almost forgotten about the axing of the series as msot questions were about your music journey from two years ago until now and then someone brought it up. You swallowed as you remembered the humiliation from on set but knew that it could not be avoided forever.

The microphone under your chin was a daunting sight for a moment before you took in a breath to ground yourself.

“I had a different opinion on what my character was going to be doing in a certain scene, and the director didn’t agree with me. I am not someone to be humiliated for someone else’s gain and so I left. I don’t want to be part of that environment.”

You stepped off from where all the reporters are and let your assistant take you to where the after party is being held. You would have about two hours to get everything together as they would show the first episode in the theater after a short cast q&a.

The time did not bother you. You felt lighter than you had in some time as telling the truth about the axing, even though it did not make you more money or allies, lifted a weight off of your chest. It is the truth.

There is a small alcove behind the stage that is filled with sound and stage equipment for use that you use as your dressing room. There are three costumes in total to showcase the change in tone. The first being a sequined red gown, similar to Jessica Rabbit’s, but with more coverage. The second is a pink mini dress and the third is a black suit with a matching sequined bralette.

As the first dress is being zipped up along your spine, you feel the beating of your heart increase. Aemond will know. Aemond will know.

You swallow it down as best as you can, not only for yourself, but also that your makeup won’t run. You know you can be strong, and it is a change to perform here. You allow that calming thought to rest as change can be scary, especially knowing that Aemond will be in the crowd.

But tonight is not about him. It is about you. You step up onto the stage to cheers and whistles with your smile, showing off the brilliant white teeth.

“Hello, everyone, and thank you for coming. As many of you well know, my performances often have acts and today’s will have three. There will be a 10-minute intermission between them to refill at the bar or use the restrooms. Until then, let the music take hold.”

You pressed the earpiece back into your ear to make sure you could hear the opening notes before taking a breath. Then you sing.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

They Dream In Unison

Trix Week Day 1 - Sisterly Bonding

Summary: After the Trix form the Megatrix, their souls bind to one another.

She comes home bruised and bloody on most days. 

All three of them do. 

But she likes to take most of the hits. 

It hurts like hell and sometimes it is more than just a scratch or a cut. Usually it is a burn or two. Most of which have healed and faded aways. But she still has the scars from the Great Witch Invasion. They cover her left side and part of her stomach save for the portion that she had shielded with her arm. 

It is fine. 

She doesn’t mind. 

Her sisters don’t bear any scorches nor burns. 

They have been through a lot together and they will go through a lot still. She supposes that that is that path that they, with all of their drive and ambition, have chosen for themselves. 

It is said that witches can’t form bonds.

That they have no loyalty.

And Icy does delight in that image.

She delights in it while proving it false. A fairy could never get as close as the three of them have. It had been quite a decision to become the megatrix; a being of pure shadow and darkness. A being of ice and gales. To have become so wholly interwoven has changed them. Altered them and connected them in a way that the three of them still don’t fully understand.

It is a state wherein not one of them could take more control than any of the others without risking their own ruin. A state that few covens have ever managed to reach, for trust had been at the core of the spell. If they couldn’t trust each other fully and completely then their magic would shrivel and their physical forms would corrupt and disintegrate.

And now she knows things about them. And they know things about her. Things that they had never been able to bring themselves to tell one another. Darcy doesn’t like her nose. Stormy thinks that she is too short. And Icy wishes that her face wasn’t so naturally soft and delicate. Darcy is afraid of mice—which does explain a few things. Darcy also fears losing she and Stormy. Stormy who gets quite uncomfortable at the sight of clusters of holes and the thought of the responsibilities that come with growing up. And Icy is afraid of failure and being forgotten and losing her magic. And also ducks. And plenty more. They give her a hard time over the duck thing and the sheer amount of fears that she has concealed so very well. 

They know that Darcy had a history of being terrible and flirting and getting rejected until she blossomed into herself. They know that Stormy is actually quite scared about what their future holds and that she sometimes questions the path that they are on. And they know that Icy herself isn’t really as confident as she makes herself out to be. That she feels as though she is a waste of potential, that she should be much further than where she is at.

It is something of a relief to have at least two people who know. Truly know and truly understand. They know each other because they have become each other. For a moment and forever. They had interlaced their spirits and such a feat can never be completely undone. 

Sometimes Darcy wakes up screaming over Stormy’s nightmares. Sometimes Darcy weeps over Icy’s memories—she never wanted anyone to know where the scars on her back have come from, let alone that they were given to her by her own parents. She certainly didn’t want Darcy or Stormy to live those memories, to feel that pain exactly and as intensely as she had. And Stormy never wanted she and Darcy to feel the exact moment when she had dragged the razor across her calf. She said that alleviates anxiety and that she wouldn’t do it again. 

They feel each other’s pain, each other’s humiliation, and dreads. 

They feel each other’s pride, each other’s delight, and affections. 

In fact, Darcy knows it before she does that she cared quite a lot about Tritannus. 

That she still does. Darcy wonders why she has broken Tritannus out of Oblivion just to pretend like she has no affections for him at all. Darcy can’t seem to figure that one out because Icy also has yet to understand it. Icy just likes knowing that he is there and available for when she is ready. What Darcy has figured out is that Stormy only loves women before Stormy had figured it out for herself. 

And Icy realizes that she is fine with that. Content and even comforted in knowing that two people will always understand her perfectly. Content and comforted in that she can understand them. That they will always have each other. 

She has heard tell that most covens never consider becoming one with each other. That it feels unnatural and that they would never give up even a portion of their agency. 

She thinks that they can hardly be called covens if their trust is that null. 

For Icy, the convergence had been the most natural thing in the world. They have known each other for so long now that it feels almost exactly correct. Natural, as though they should have become one with each other ages ago.

And so it is no surprise that when they drag themselves back from yet another battle covered in gashes in bruises, most to their bodies but some to their egos, they fall upon the sofa and lean against one another. Icy is tired. Frustrated. They know this. 

“Maybe next time you should let us take a few more hits. We’re tough too.” Stormy insists. 

Maybe she could use that. 

Darcy sighs. “You’re a complete mess.” 

“I do hope that you are referring to my disheveled appearance and not the state of my life.” Icy grumbles as Darcy fetches a washcloth to dab at her bloodied cheek. It is starting to swell. 

“I’m referring to both.” 

Icy gives a dismissive wave and then a hiss, “you didn’t tell me that you put alcohol on that.”

Darcy shrugs. “Because you would have tried to stop me from cleaning your wounds. Stormy and I are not dealing with another infection because you don’t want to feel a little sting.” She pauses. “Which is wild because you get burnt worse than that all the time.”

“That’s different. I don’t know that it’s coming so it hurts less.”

“Right…” Darcy mumbles and rolls her eyes. 

“More like you don’t have time to be worried about it.” Stormy adds. 

That is her nature, to be worried about every little thing all at once. Sometimes she wishes that Darcy and Stormy didn’t know this particular thing about her. She frets over things before there are things to fret over.

“Next time we go out to fight the Winx you’re going to…” Darcy reaches for a bandage and plasters it onto Icy’s cheek. “Let us get a bit banged up. How much more do you think that you can take before you sustain some real damage.”

“Yeah! Darcy and I don’t want to be bombarded with distress if you find out that you have permeate damage to one of your organs or something. You’re really dramatic about it.” 

“It’s my mind, I can think what I want with it. If you don’t like my silent brooding and lamenting then maybe you should work on blocking me out better.”

Stormy slugs her in the bicep. “Just let us takes some hits, will you!?”

Icy sighs. “Fine. I suppose that it would be nice to not…” she hisses a second time. “Have Darcy sneak up on me with alcohol wipes and…ow! And forcefully stick bandages onto my arm.”

Darcy gives Icy’s knee a pat. “There, you’re all cleansed and bandaged.” 

Icy grits her teeth. “Oh how lovely.”

She will deny it to the end that they actually love each other. All three of them will; bonding and deep friendships are for faeries. And yet they have interconnected themselves more deeply than most anyone else has. 

So much so that if anything were to happen to one of them the other two would have an insatiable hole. A yawning void. To lose one another would be to lose a part of their soul. Their shared, sister soul. 

Icy leans herself against Darcy’s shoulder and Stormy lays herself across their laps. It has been a hard day.

It is time for some rest.

They fall asleep. 

They dream in unison.