#shame on me for giving superhero thing a chance

[anniebass]

might ruffle some feathers, but the superhero show The Bøys is soooo fucking meh. I regret the hours I put into that first season and two episodes of the second.

[oldmannapping]

Trigger warning: Discussion of past sexual assualt and mention of domestic violence (fictional).

HC: Dick donates one of his Nightwing suits to a What Were You Wearing exhibit to destigmatise male rape.

He does a single interview with a carefully-vetted reporter in response to the media explosion.

Exerpt below.

Reporter: Despite your flashy and talkative superhero persona, you've actually been quite good at keeping details of your personal life close to the vest for all these years.

Nightwing: (chuckle) Yeah, that's a pretty big part of having a secret identity. Talk lots, say nothing. When in doubt, throw in a pun or two.

Reporter: So after, what is it, ten, fifteen years of being a public figure-

Nightwing: More than twenty, now.

Reporter: Twenty! Gosh you're making me feel old.

Nightwing: Me too.

Reporter: So after more than two decades of being in the public eye as Nightwing, you've chosen to reveal a part of your life, some would say arguably one of the most vulnerable and private parts of your life. Why now?

Nightwing: It definitely wasn't a quick decision. I think that for any survivor of crime, it's important that they take time to heal and process things. Particularly for something like rape or domestic assualt, so much agency is taken away from you and I think for me, owning my story was a really important part of feeling like I could take control back.

Reporter: And you wanted to take control in a way that helped other people.

Nightwing: Not at first. I wasn't- It wasn't something I immediately thought like, "Oh, now I can relate to victims better on the job, how can I use this for good" kind of thing. I was really- For a long time, like years, I just wanted to pretend it didn't happen. Like it was the same as any other injury I'd get being Nightwing, or Robin, or whatever, like it wasn't any different.

Reporter: But it was different.

Nightwing: Yeah. I mean for one thing, it wasn't really an injury. I mean, there's no such thing as luck here, or being more raped or less raped, but in my case, I didn't have physical injuries. I wasn't- it wasn't like I was overpowered and beaten or anything like that. So I didn't feel like there was anything to "recover" from, if that makes sense. And I think there's also a lot of shame that went along with that, as a man, as a superhero, as someone who's used to being the strong one and the one who protects people, there was a lot of shame I felt. Like, if this was really rape then it would have been more violent, and I'd have been able to fight her off, and my body wouldn't have responded... All of that.

Reporter: All things that I'm sure you've heard from other victims, over the years.

Nightwing: Yeah. And that's something, I didn't want to be a victim. That wasn't- Nobody wants to be a victim, but I've spent most of my life helping people and being the hero, so it was impossible for me, for a long time, to do that cognitive shift and think of myself as both. Like, yes I'm a hero, yes I'm strong, and yes I was also assaulted and yes I need help to deal with this.

Reporter: So it was a long time before you told anyone.

Nightwing: Yeah. It was actually my broth- It was someone in my family, who noticed some things I said and some ways that I acted, and confronted me about it.

Reporter: Confronted?

Nightwing: Yeah. That's how it felt, anyway. I was really defensive at first. I was still in denial and wasn't really in a place to talk about it.

Reporter: But you did.

Nightwing: Well, he didn't really give me a choice, ha. It was- and you can cut this out later, if he doesn't want me to say it- but it was Red Hood. He's got a lot of experience with survivors and he's stubborn as shit so I didn't stand a chance. I think part of me also, I think I was ready to tell someone. I think I needed to accept what had happened.

Reporter: So it was the right time for some tough love.

Nightwing: Some tough brotherly love, yeah.

[sotwk]

Happy Birthday to you! Love your campfire party idea! I’d like to request a drabble about Steve Rogers/Captain America.

Thank you so much!

Thank you for the request, @zeldastrife, and for giving me a chance to dream about my favorite superhero of all time! <3 I really enjoyed writing this and I hope you and others will love it just as much. :)

Content/Genre: Marvel; Gen fluffy summer romance

Fireworks

Steve Rogers x Reader

Ever since you were a child, the fireworks show has always been your favorite part of the annual Fourth of July picnic. But now they were merely a convenient cover that allowed you to fixate on the sight you truly wished to openly stare at. 

He must have seen so many firework displays in his long lifetime, and with him being a war veteran (a gross understatement), you wondered if the sound of the roaring, cracking explosions bothered him. But the relaxed expression on his face, tipped toward the brightly, colorfully lit night sky, gave no indication of discomfort. 

Dressed in a plain gray t-shirt, jeans, and a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball cap, Steve passed for a run-of-the-mill all-American, allowing him to spend the entire day mingling with the rest of the townsfolk, quietly charming everyone with his gracious, easy manners, but never drawing prolonged attention to himself.

Who would ever expect Captain America to attend a small town, middle-of-nowhere celebration on such a significant holiday? No one would ever believe it, and none of the folks who had looked the living legend right in the face and spent several minutes chatting him up suspected a thing.

You yourself could still barely believe the entire day, or any of the past few weeks that led up to the present moment, was actually real. Steve Rogers was your date. Your love life catapulted from a woeful, lonely drought to dating literally the most perfect man in the entire nation. To think you had nearly turned him down for fear that this was all an elaborate prank or some cosmic joke. But thank God, truly, for the sudden, miraculous ability to not let your deep-seated anxieties get in the way this one time. 

Steve’s renowned bravery was slowly rubbing off you; you could tell. Every moment you spent in his company, you felt yourself becoming more comfortable and confident in your own skin, as though you were learning to see in yourself what he probably saw in you. Good things that he decided were worth his time and interest. 

That courage began to stir and bubble up inside you while you continued to watch Steve watch the fireworks. You knew he was a staunch gentleman, forever rooted in his old-fashioned ways. Four dates in and he's never done anything more than hold your hand or give you gentle hugs. 

He would not like a girl who’s too forward. The brazen courage smothered down the nagging warnings in your head. Or just give it a try, this braver side of you proposed.

You reached across the small distance between you and slipped your hand over his arm, folded across his chest. His intent blue eyes immediately shifted to you, and the smile he gave made your heart stutter.

Before your courage could get snuffed out, you rose on your toes and swiftly planted a kiss on his clean-shaven cheek.

“Happy Birthday, Steve. I hope you had fun today.”

With the daring deed done, your electrified nerves shorted out, and your gaze fell to the ground, heavy with growing shame. Hopefully the memory of that one kiss would be worth it, if this was to be the end. 

His strong hand closed around yours, squeezing gently, returning your strength to you. That hand then shifted to the small of your back, drawing you against him.

“Today was…” His fingers ghosted across your jawline before resting, lingering underneath your chin. Your own hands came up to his chest, your head was spinning and you so badly needed to steady yourself. Suddenly you noticed his heart was racing, pulsing furiously underneath your palm. 

“...perfect.” His chest heaved as he finally finished his sentence, and for a fleeting, ridiculously giddy moment right before he pressed his warm lips on yours, you realized that Captain America had been rendered nervous and breathless. Just for a moment, but it was all because of you.

This limited edition Marvel fic is a gift written as part of SotWK's Summer Campfire Sleepover 2024. (Requests accepted only on July 11-15, 2024.)

[fanficcrow]

Catch Me

tasm peter x reader

Ok so, this one isssss technicalllyyyy dual pov, but there’s a lot more of your pov.

a/n: I found a prompt generator :3 As always, no use of y/n!

Warnings: Nothing really, just fluff! maybe light weirdo!peter bc he pretends he’s never met the reader before :3

please rb and comment if you like the story! your words are what help me write <3

Your POV

It all started at the gas station near your apartment.

You just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. You swear this stuff always happens to you, it’s like you’re a bad luck charm.

The thief’s angry yells jar you out of your state of self reflection. “I swear to god you old hag, if you don’t give me all the money in the register, I'm gonna shoot this bitch!” Suddenly he swings his gun, and now you’re staring right down the barrel.

Your heart stops, more than anything hoping for a hero to show up and save you. Is this really how I’m going to die? You think. That’s really shitty. You had just started college, haven’t even had a chance to really see the world, and now it’s all over? Fuck, this blows.

The woman at the register nearly trips over herself in her rush to get the money out of the register when suddenly, the bell on the door jingles. The thief whips his head around to see who’s there, but before he can even blink his gun shoots out of his hand.

“Woah dude, you gotta be more careful with things like this!” He said, gently tossing the gun up as he shot a web at it, sticking it to the wall. The man’s grip on you slackens, and you shove off of him before stumbling straight into Spider-man.

He catches you deftly with one arm, sending your heart racing. “Did no one ever teach you how to treat a girl? His eyes momentarily darken and you feel a shiver go through you. Apparently some things can make the notorious comedians get serious.

He glances over at you before letting go of your waist. “I’ll take care of this guy for you.” He winks…. or as close as he can get to with that mask on, which doesn’t really have the same effect.

Spider-man had the man wrapped in webs and hanging from the ceiling in a matter of moments. Really, the robber couldn’t have put up less of a fight. It’s like he gave up as soon as spiderman started walking towards him.

“I hope you don’t mind hanging out.” Spider-man said brightly with a small giggle. “Get it, get it; cause I-“ He cut off, noticing the thief’s heated glare.

He sucks in a breath. “Geez, tough crowd, huh.” He says before turning to you.

It was like fireworks. As soon as he locked eyes with you, you were sure you were in love.

“Are you alright?” He asked.

“I- uhm, I ah.” You fumble. Shit, why aren’t words coming out???! You clear your throat. “Yep, I’m just dandy!” You wince at the crack in your voice.

Spider-man laughs again and you cover your face, burning with shame.

“Well, I’m glad you’re alright, I hate seeing pretty girls cry.” He winks at you…. again.

Pretty???? Spider-man thinks I’m pretty????? You’re absolutely sure you’re about to implode when you hear him clear his throat.

“Well, I, um- I have to go! Lots of world-saving to do, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man stuff- you know how it is.” He gives you a quick smile and runs out the door, swinging away before you can even choke out a reply.

Peter’s POV

His heart beats wildly as he swings off into the night. Who would’ve thought that he’d run into her while he was out superheroing?? Just his luck that he would look good in front of the cute barista while he was in a mask. He groans. Just great.

——1 week later——

Your POV

The campus map rustles in your hands as you smooth out the creases. Ever since that run in at the gas station you’ve been more jittery, moving to a new city is stressful enough without running into danger.

Although….. danger might mean seeing him again. You think back on the robbery and how quickly Spider-Man handled the situation. It’s odd, but as soon as spider-man showed up you weren’t scared. Almost like he radiated a calming energy that affected all the people around him.

You put a pause on your daydreaming and actually try to find the class you’re supposed to get to. It’s the first day of college and you only have 2 lectures to get to, but it’s gonna take you a while to find them…

As you walk the map obscures most of your vision, so you don’t notice the boy walking down the sidewalk towards you.

Peter’s POV

Peter walks with his head down, loud music blasting in his ears. Like most of his free time, currently his head is full of plans to ask the cute barista out. He’s thinking through the ending of another fantastical plan when suddenly a girl runs into him, dropping her map.

It flutters away on a chill autumn gust and the girl curses loudly. He turns back to her, apologizing profusely, when he realizes the girl he’s been fantasizing about is standing right in front of him.

“I- I am so sorry…. oh my god..” He curses quietly to himself. “Is there any way I can pay you back?”

She looks at him, and he can’t explain it, but it seems like something briefly flickers along her expression. “It’s fine, the map wasn’t much help anyways.” She chuckles self-deprecatingly and his heart twists. “But…..” She looks up at him. “If you could show me where to find Anthropology 101 I wouldn’t mind.” She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Peter’s heart leaps. “I have that class!!” He says excitedly. “I could walk you there, since we’re going the same direction anyways.” He looks on eagerly waiting for her response.

Your POV

Your irritation fades as the boy talks, stumbling through his words. He’s so nervous it’s almost funny. “Yeah, sure.” You say. His eyes light up as you nod. “Lead the way!” You gesture vaguely around. “Otherwise we’ll be walking in circles all day.” You chuckle self-deprecatingly.

He nods and starts walking, but before he turns he calls out. “Oh, I’m Peter by the way.”

[radroller]

HANK PYM COSTUME RATINGS

At long last, here are my thoughts on the many looks and identities of Marvel’s own Hank Pym!!! Being a fan of this guy is a real rollercoaster, but his costumes are always so great and interesting, ive wanted to talk about them for ages!!! As some of his looks kinda blend together Ive tried to stick with the bare essentials (barring ones i especially like) but you can generally assume that i rate most of the suits of a given identity the same unless i specifically state otherwise. So here we go!!!!!

Ant-Man 10/10

What can i say? You can’t make an ant themed character much cooler than this. The irresistible 60s scifi charm of his big chrome helmet, the red, black, and blue color scheme with patterns that say “i am a super scientist” but gloves that say “im attemptint to look visually interesting.” Naturally Hank forgets he’s wearing some of the coolest headgear in comics. Ant-Man has had some good looks and updates but the charm of this one is pretty undeniable.

Giant Man 8/10

I think we can all agree that Giant Man kinda sucks, but damn if he didnt look cool! I guess he kept the antennae to keep some Ant-Man functionality, but you rarely see him using it. That’s fine though, it gives him a cool and distinct silhouette. It’s strange, if this were a new look for him as Ant Man, id call it a more considerable downgrade, yet Hank becoming Giant Man is a downgrade in just about every sense of the word. And even so, i LOVE Giant Man! It’s a conundrum!

Giant Man Redux: 6/10

I think they were trying to recapture the scifi tech charm of Ant-Man with this one, and it does kinda work! I think my main issue with this one is that it doesnt stick around long enough to really win me over. There are far more minor and insignificant variations of Hank’s suits that stick around way longer than this one. And id say this suit’s pretty damn significant, he left the Avengers for the the first time wearing this shit! I wish they’d played around with it some more.

Goliath: 8/10

Goliath is extremely solid. I have to wonder if Marvel was conscious of Giant Man being a loser that they felt the need to rebrand him like this, there’s little significant changeover from his previous identity other than color scheme and name besides him being stuck at 10 ft tall for a bit. I LOVE the addition of the goggles btw, one of my earliest exposures to that design trope i love so much.

The weird thing with Goliath is that they make him look more and more like Giant Man while refusing to change his name. Like again i know the guy got his ass best plenty of times but when you add antennae and red to his costume….that’s just Giant Man! But whatever the case, i give Goliath and all of his iterations a solid thumbs up.

Yellowjacket: 10/10

The PINNACLE as far as im concerned. What if you took Ant-Man and refined his charming but clunky scifi elements into something sleek, aerodynamic, and downright badass, while still having bright colors? You get Yellowjacket! I can’t stress how much i loved this suit as a kid. Do you know how rare it is to have a primarily yellow superhero who looks cool? It’s mostly just Wolverine, and he didn’t even exist at this point! I also like how it sorta resembles Wasp’s original outfit, though you probably wouldn’t get a chance to compare given Jan’s ever shifting wardrobe. It’s really a shame how maligned the Yellowjacket identity is because id love to see this design again, but its lasting association with the worst shit ever done with Hank pretty much made sure that’ll never happen.

West Coast Avengers: -/10

It’s funny that what is arguably the height of Hank’s superhero career comes from when he’s vehemently not a superhero anymore. Thus, in terms of costumes…well this isnt a costume! But for what it is, it’s great. A nice practical super science getup. But i have trouble rating it on the same scale as the rest. Just know that I love it!

90s Hank: 5/10

I was ready to rip this thing a new one, but tbh it isnt bad. The only thing that keeps it from being truly good is the stupid pouches, but i cant outright call it bad when it’s basically a worse version of Atlas from Thunderbolts’ costume without them. It’s passable.

Giant Man???: 10/10

Yeah, I know. Confusing, isnt it? Well listen, regardless of names and costumes and what have you, this is by far my favorite variation on the original Goliath look. The red goggles just do it for me! I love primary color schemes and i prefer a touch of red to a touch of yellow, yknow?

Goliath??????: 8/10

So NOW he can be Goliath. That makes perfect sense. Yeesh. This suit is cool though i like it. It’s based on a Goliath suit Jan designed for Hank, but by then he’d had become Yellowjacket, so Hawkeye became Goliath for a while instead. It’s a nice callback, and while I don’t actually care for that Goliath look, there’s no way a redesign by George Perez at the height of his career and abilities is gonna be anything less than great.

Wasp: 7/10

Was Mighty Avengers good? I read a couple of issues and remembered enjoying it, but that was when i hated every other Avengers book do idk if that means it was actually good, yknow? Anyway while losing Jan as the Wasp and gaining Hank is about as big a net loss as i can think of, this is NOT a bad look. There are only a few gripes i feel: I get what they were going for with the design on his chest but it makes him look like he’s The Stickbug and not The Wasp. Secondly, i think the goggles are kinda lame compared to some of his other eye/headwear he’s sported throughout the years. That’s about it! Not bad for the worst Wasp in the main continuity!

[thestrangestthing89]

The Inversion of Tropes

This show has repeatedly inverted a lot of common writing tropes. They often give you the narrative you expect to see and then the next season flip it upside down. Not all tropes are bad but ST does try to invert the ones that are. An example of one that isn't problematic is the Chosen One trope. I think we will get this with Will but I'm curious to see if there is a spin on it. I googled a list of common writing tropes and read a few of the articles that came up for this. There are a lot so it's interesting to me when people don't see this or they think that they won't do something like break up Mike and El. There is tons of evidence suggesting that they will. This is in 2 parts.

Nerdy boy gets girl/Born Sexy Yesterday These tropes aren't exactly the same but they are similar so I am grouping them together. In the first one, there is an awkward nerdy kid who ends up with the pretty girl (who is often the popular girl). The second one goes a bit further. BSY is the when the female character is naive and doesn't understand the world and needs the male character to show her and protect her. The male character is usually nerdy or overlooked by other female characters They then end up in a romantic relationship and this is meant to imply that all of their insecurities were magically cured by this relationship and they lived happily ever after. Stranger Things gave us this trope with Mike and El. But they start to invert it in S3. We see how unhealthy this dynamic actually is. They are both still insecure, they lie frequently, and they can't really be themselves with each other. It's clear El still has a lot to learn about the world and instead of learning this from Mike she starts to learn from Max. She learns independence and Mike learns he wasn't being himself. Continuing with this trend in S5, I expect to see a confirmation of a break up and El being independent with Mike getting the boy that he's in love with.

The Special Girl Trope El is described as special by many people. She's a superhero. She saves the world. Everyone, even adults, are dependent on her to save the day. But the inversion of this is that El is discovering she doesn't want to be a superhero. She doesn't want to be the person who always has to save everyone. Her reclaiming her lost childhood is more important than her being a superficial hero who always saves the day. Being normal and average is the thing that she wants. Not being special.

The kid in a horror movie does everything wrong trope This was in the very first episode. Typically we see teens in horror doing every stupid thing imaginable when they are being chased by whatever monster/serial killer the show is about. There is often a run and stumble and that person making so many bad choices that you're often yelling at your screen watching. Will doesn't do this. When he realizes he's in danger he does everything right - runs home, locks the door, looks for his older brother and mom, calls 911 when he realizes they aren't there, runs out back when the monster comes inside, and in a last ditch effort to protect himself loads a gun. But he doesn't get a chance to use it. It doesn't help him and he ends up getting taken anyway. This honestly makes it scarier. Knowing that there isn't anything at all he could have changed. The bad thing would have happened anyway. We see this a few times throughout the series too. The group frequently makes smart decisions to get themselves out of tough situations. They are nerds and their intelligence is what saves them.

The girl who has sex in a horror movie gets killed first trope This isn't just in horror movies but the girl who has sex usually gets slut shamed or punished in some way. In S1, Nancy has sex with Steve but it's not her who gets killed by the monster it's her friend. Nancy does get slut shamed by Steve and his friends later. But the twist here is that Steve realizes he did something wrong. They were the bad guys and Nancy didn't actually mess up or deserve to be humiliated like that. He cleans up the spray paint and goes to apologize to her (and Jonathan) for his bullying.

The bully is 1 dimensional and stupid trope Steve is a bully in S1 and does some awful things to both Nancy and Jonathan. But he genuinely changes and has character growth. He learns from his mistakes and doesn't behave this way again. The middle school bully and his friend are different. Troy is a terrible person. Not only because of the bullying but because of how far he takes it. He holds a knife to Dustins throat and forces Mike to jump off a cliff. Typically in movies, the bully has henchmen who are stupid and blindly follow whatever the bully says. But we see Troys friend get freaked out by his behavior. He tells him this isn't a good idea. He's going too far with this and his friend tries to stop him.

The trophy wife/housewife trope When Nancy describes her family she describes Karen as being younger than her. She married someone rich and settled down in the suburbs. Typically this person is superficial and not a great mom. But we see Karen being attentive to her kids and trying to bond with them. She is tempted by an affair with pool boy (aka the lifeguard) but is hesitant when this starts to become more than a fantasy. She realizes it's not like her to have an affair and doesn't let it go further than this. Her family is important to her.

The tomboy trope When Max is introduced she is the typical tomboy - she skateboards, plays video games, and doesn't have female friends. This is often used to show female characters who are what certain male character like. In this case, Dustin and Lucas are fascinated by her because she's a girl and she likes all the things they like therefore she's cool. We've seen a different side to Max though. She does genuinely like those things, but she also has a feminine side and isn't ashamed of this. Typically this trope involves making it seem like being feminine is a bad thing. This girl isn't like those other girly girls. But Max isn't like this. She wants to be El's friend so they can do girly things like shop and have sleepovers and talk about boys. She isn't shown to be silly for wanting this and she isn't trying to hide this part of herself. It makes her more complex and interesting. Not to mention doesn't insult anyone who is feminine.

The knight in shining armor trope Mike as the paladin is an interesting choice. He's nerdy and scrawny and not typically the person who plays a romantic male lead. But Mike has been shown repeatedly throughout the series to be a great leader and resourceful under pressure. Typically this role would be played by someone who looked like Billy. The strong muscular guy who saves the day and gets the girl. Mike's a little awkward and self conscious but he's smart. And it's his smarts and empathetic nature that save everyone and get him the boy.

The girlboss needs to look hot while kicking ass trope I cannot even begin to tell you how relieved I am that Nancy was never kicking ass in a skimpy outfit. So many times, especially with male directors, if they allow the female character to take the lead at all she has to do it while looking hot. Nancy does wear trendy outfits sometimes but it in no way seems like she isn't being herself when she does. And it's never an impractical outfit that no one could possibly be fighting for their lives in (no 4 inch heels or short skirts - I'm looking at Buffy here) She just likes that kind of style. And they never make her look "pretty" (I put this in quotes because obviously all the actors on this show are pretty, it's tv. But they don't go out of their way to make her look like a model unnecessarily). When she's in the UD or fighting for her life in S3 at the hospital she gets messy. Her makeup is smudged, her clothes get torn at one point, her hair is frizzy. They aren't afraid to make her look like she's been through it because she has. It always irks me when you see any kind of post apocalypse show and all the women still have perfect eyebrows and hair but the men are allowed to be messy and grow crazy beards (Walking Dead comes to mind). They let Nancy get messy in a realistic way - she's not surviving an apocalypse so it doesn't need to be an extreme. But they aren't afraid to show her sweating and messy. And this applies to the other female character as well. I never felt like I was screaming "why the hell is she wearing that in this scene" while watching this show.

The bury your gays trope A lot of shows will introduce a gay character and have them be sidelined as the comedic relief or the gay friend of the main character. They are often killed off as well (again Buffy, still mad about Tara). But that isn't happening with Will. There are a lot of indications that he is taking the lead next season. He has a complex backstory and a full range of emotions. He's also not a stereotype and neither is Mike. Having that relationship be the slow-burn romance will be unexpected. Robin fits here too. After coming out in S3 she wasn't sidelined and we see her friendship with Steve develop. He supports and accepts her. She is also starting to develop a friendship with Nancy. She's her own character with quirks and flaws and a full range of emotions. Vicky belongs here too but we don't know much about her at this point so it's hard to say much about her. I also think Henry and Murray belong in this category but I'm going to hold off until next season to say more here. Part 2

[beans-core]

I finally got around to watching season 2 of Invincible (great show btw) and… oh my lord.

I need to ramble. I MUST.

spoilers after the cut! (If there’s still people who haven’t watched it lol I’m late to the game)

Oh my good god. There’s so much, but this is just the stuff that’s lurking near the front of my brain.

First off, Allen the Alien is the pookiest pookie to ever pookie. He’s so sweet and so determined. He literally risked loosing a battle on purpose to try and be taken to prison, a prison of the enemy, on the off chance that Mark’s dad would be there. And even then it was still a maybe that Nolan would even want to help the cause! Allen still trusted Marks word completely, even though it sounds crazy... “yeah dude okay I believe you, your mass-murdering Viltrumite father who totally tore up Earth and a bunch of other planets has changed his mind and feels bad. Good to know, I’ll make sure to find him and make sure he isn’t executed. I also understand you not wanting to ditch your planet and loved ones, and even though I’ll get in trouble with my commander I’m not going to force you to come to space with me. Bye now, sorry for breaking your bed, nice seeing you man!” And this was all in season 2. Even in season 1 he was still a bro. Allen is the Bro Code personified and I love him for that.

Eve and her family always makes me tear up. Because I can understand how her father, a hardworking man who was probably raised on the saying ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’ — who now has a daughter who can literally make money grow on trees— would feel so upset. It doesn’t make up for the fact that he’s yelling at his family like a dickhead, but it’s still a whole shitty situation. It’s always a grand ole time when Eve is back with her parents… ha ha. The little pep talk from Rex was an awesome little insight on their relationship through the years too.

Rex… my boy, how do I even begin. He’s been a reluctant fav of mine since season one, but he’s also such a douchebag! Sucks that it took being shot in the head and watching your superhero friends/coworkers die in front of you to realize that maybe the whole douchebag thing isn’t really the way to go. But yeah. Good for him! Want more of his backstory tbh, think that’d be cool. And yes, I know I could probably look through the comics and see if there something in there if I really wanted to. But what if I spoil something for myself :c

The Immortal grieving and confused on why he feels so much… the parallels to Nolan with that… not to mention the reveal of Kate being alive! The way he stood there stunned before hugging her was so beautiful. Ugh. Was a bit weary of their relationship until Kate said ‘he knows what it’s like to die over and over’ and then it was like bam they’re in love your honor new otp.

And man. Amber and Mark were my old otp… I knew it was going to end sooner or later (I accidentally got spoiled bruhhh) but I really had hope for them. Sad but honestly Amber deserves the world and if Mark can’t give that to her (and he’s so sad about it too he just wants to go to college and be normal and love his bae) then literally no one can fault her for putting her needs first. That’s another thing I love about the show, there’s no shame when people put their own lives first, and the tough conversations are organic. Magnificent. Anyway Amber is amazing I’m going to miss herrrr T-T hopefully they stay friends and she shows up in other seasons!!

Have I mentioned that I love the gorey fight scenes? Because I really really do. It’s the whole reason I started watching Invincible. So the scene with Mark beating the life out of that slimy megamind with the name I don’t remember? AMAZING. For me, anyway. Mark experiencing the panic and mania right after was still not so great for him, but for me? Good soup. I like my soup seasoned with extra angst, morality struggles, and mental breakdowns. Yum.

Mark hugging his mom so so tight after he gets back to his dimension and curling up crying on the hospital bed next to her? Hitting a little too close to home. Had to pause to wipe my eyes. Also grape baby Oliver has all my love. If something happens to that child, I’ll want to burn the world down. Mark Grayson probably will.

Mark telling his mom he needs to get better so he’s leaving college. ouch. “I need to learn to control myself”… “I can’t be like dad”… gods above. And also “what am I going to do, become a dentist?” LMAO it sucks but he’s right, unless some crazy shit happens and his morality suddenly crumbles to dust, he’ll be a superhero. Because with great power comes great responsibility and all that. There’s usually a bonus savior complex included in the package, but everybody doesn’t learn about that until later womp womp. He and Amber talked about it too, she said something like “if you were the type of person who didn’t immediately leave to go save people, we wouldn’t be dating”. PERIOD.

Don’t even get me started on that last line from Nolan. Caught me by surprise, came out of nowhere. “I think I miss my wife.” STRIKE ME DEAD… I actually shed tears. After everything he’s done, after getting a new wife and having another child and seeing Mark again,,, this bastard is just now missing his wife?? He’s so fucked up fr. But the pain in his voice, BRO, he sounds so confused and heartbroken, like he’s wondering how after everything he’s done to earth and their family, how can he still miss his wife when he doesn’t even deserve to think her name??

Man. This show. So many different subplots and they come together like *chefs kiss* it’s amazing. This show makes me FEEL, even for the characters that I thought I’d always hate… the writers and actors and everyone make all of the characters so human it hurts. EVEN WHEN THE CHARACTERS ARE ALIENS—

[tophealthyreview12]

ED Gummies: Because Who Knew Getting It Up" Could Be This Sweet?

So let's discuss something everyone knows exists but nobody actually wants to talk about: erectile dysfunction (ED). That's the awkward topic nobody wants to discuss but is experienced more often than you imagine. And here's the thing: if you are experiencing it, you're far from alone.

But here's the catch – there is a solution that could be a little less …. "awkward doctor visit and a bit more "delicious candy – ED Gummies.

Yes, you read it right. Gummies. No, they are not magic, and they will not, like some other things we have been assured by a bottle of magic water will do, turn you into a superhero overnight (sadly), but these little guys might just be the help that kick ED to the curb, all while satisfying that sweet tooth of yours.

 What Are ED Gummies?

Imagine your favorite gummy candy, but with a twist-these aren't for just any snack break. ED Gummies are packed full of natural ingredients like L-arginine, ginseng, and maca root, which have been known to help improve blood flow and general sexual health. In other words, they might give you a little boost when things aren't quite. up to speed. ????

Best part? No need for you to cope with the large, awkward pill bottle or prescription slips. These gummies are discreet, easy to take in, and-most importantly-the best: tasty. It's like you're doing something good for yourself as you were indulging in some treat.

 Why Try ED Gummies?

The benefit: They taste good. No more bitter pills to be swallowed down. Now, you can just pop one-or a few-and be done and out for the day, knowing you're working on your health without making a chore of it.

ED Gummies, on the other hand, are quite discreet. You never have to explain why you're taking a gummy. No shame, no embarrassment—just quickly pop that gummy into your mouth and take off. It's basically your secret confidence booster –don't tell anybody.

 Do They Really Work?

Truth be told, these gummies aren't going to do miracles. But hey, they can help you out. It's all about consistency. Just like with everything else in life, you don't get those overnight results, right? You're not going to walk out of the gym with a six-pack after one gym session (though, if you can, please share your secrets). ED Gummies are best taken when used regularly, and many users report feeling more confident and seeing improvements over time. It's almost like building a foundation for a stronger, healthier you-one gummy at a time.

 The Pros:

Easy: No pills to choke down, no uncomfortable doctor appointments. Just a simple gummy.

Natural: L-arginine and ginseng are natural, so you know you are not piling into some weird chemicals.

Delicious: Honestly who doesn't love gummies? It is like sneaking in some health with a little sweetness.

Discreet: Pop in a gummy, and nobody has to know what you are really up to.

 The Cons:

Does Not Work Overnight: These aren't overnight fixes. You're not going from zero to hero in five minutes, but that is fine.

Not for everyone: Results are varying; it does not work the same for everyone. Some men see progress; others not so much.

Costly: High-quality ED gummies may cost a little more; still, worth it if you can avoid all the awkward pharmacy trips.

 Final Words:

Easy, natural, and slightly tasty, at the end of it all, ED Gummies help your body out a little. Is everything now going to be dandy? Heck no. But it might just give you that little nudge when things aren't working the way they used to. And who doesn't want a little confidence back, right?

So, if you have ED and are searching for stealthy, efficacious, and yes—sophisticated—solutions, then these gummies might be worth a try. Chances are they won't make you a superhero, but hey, they might just make you a little more. super.

Hope it works well for your post on Tumblr! It's light, fun, and accessible yet facetious and wittingly funny-let me know if you need any changes!

[azrielgreen]

This is long. Forgive me.

Also, I have posted this on AO3 as well, cause sharing the love!

Right, I think the only way to do this is thus...

Jason... I hated Jason in the show. He was vile, and he scared me more than Vecna did. He showed the true depth of human fear and hatred, and he was terrifying. In this, I love that you gave him a second chance to show who he truly could be given the right environment. By the time Steve didn’t once let go of his hand, I was in love. He was so beautiful in this, well crafted and thought out. His journey wasn’t a slow thing. It took time, trust, and love. Thank you for giving him and us the chance to know him.

The boys, not including Will...the three of them are so sweet in this, just as they should be. I loved how you had Dustin and Lucas play if each other, how they worked together on their theories, how they gave each other the confidence to say what they thought and back it up with science. With Mike I’m so glad he got to be the soft caring Mike we all know he can be. He was so beautiful in learning to show his emotions and feel no shame, to voice his concerns for those he loves knowing he would be listened to. You gave them all a voice in this, keeping them true to themselves, making them feel alive rather than just being there.

Will...damn I love that boy, his instinctive caring nature, his shyness in his own self. We all know how powerful he is, how amazing, bright, and beautiful he will always be. I love the relationship he has with Eddie and Steve, how he slowly opens up to them, allows them in, and how they let him take the lead. I love the question about the world with the monster and the smile he only gives in response to Steve saying no and asking if the monster was scary. That was Little Bit wasn’t it?

Max and El... their friendship was pure light, pure life. I loved how they talked with Steve, letting him learn with them. Max is so special, her to the point nature, allowing brutally honest conversation that help bring to light facts that help them all at times. She’s like a little flame that shows people the truth of things, never shying away what’s before her just showing the truth of it all. El is pure joy. Despite everything, she just brings light and laughter into her world, sharing it with those around her. When she tells Hopper that his kids are just like him and he says that they are all little assholes and she deadpan responds that no, they are all superhero’s, I cried! Again, you brought them to life, made them real, and had them be the beautiful lights they are.

Hopper...oh my god, that man, that beautiful gruff, hard-headed man. I cried when you brought him back when he walked out of that bathroom. He is just brilliant in this, the pinnacle of being a good person, of putting family and loved ones first. Sure he does it with gruff words, and an angry frown and a few swear words scattered throughout, but he wouldn’t be him if he didn’t put some sort of affronted look on while happily doing it. I love that you made Steve his, gave him a son, gave him another child to love and care for. But also to give Steve an adult he could love and trust because he needed that, he needed that so bad after everything Sylvia and Daniel put him through.

The rest of the adults... I have to say I wish all adults were so understanding and accepting. Just taking things as they were thrown at them and simply saying “as long as you are happy and safe”. That is how it should be, how people should love, with knowing its not their right to choose how others live, but it is their choice on how they react.

Chrissy... this beautiful bright light of a human. We saw it in the show, that light softness that was still there despite everything she was going through and you ran with it. She is so lovely in this, just a tiny little fluff ball of joy and light. The dynamic she adds to the four of them is so spot on, the way she just slips in like she was always meant to be there, to be part of their pack. I love her relationship with Steve, how she instinctively became a fellow Omega, loving on him in a way the others didn’t. But more so I loved her and Eddie, again, we see a little snippet of what could be on the show and again you ran with it. Their cute nicknames, the way they played and leaned on each other was just so lovely and made me smile so much.

Robin... God love her. Her every word, action, and thought was just so her. Her relationship with Steve is a thing of pure love, pure need. They are definitely soul mates, totally made for each other in a way not many people get to have. The scene in the bathroom, when Steve wakes covered in blood, is done so well. I’m sure when that door opened, she wanted to scream, make a fuss, but she had promised, and she kept that promise, only looking at him. She is so amazing, she reminds me of my best friend so much.

Robin and Chrissy.... arghhh so perfect! Their dynamic is spot on, I wish we got to see a little more of their relationship, more spilt coffee, please!

Doors... love, love, love this idea. Being able to travel through worlds, seeing imagined lives, seeing the what if’s. The construction of this idea must have taken some time to make it plausible and real. I liked that Steve had a guide, that little Stevie got to be with him, show what to do, how it worked, that he got Charlie, he was sweet and cute. The scene with Sammy was brilliant, and heart wrenching, to be able to see her grown up and alive was such a gift, for us readers and Steve. Then...then, you threw in Eddie, not just any Eddie, our Eddie, the one from the show, I cried, I was happy he was there, helping Steve understand that he deserved love, just as he did in the show, just as he always has in every story written about the two of them. What I love most about this concept is that not only does it link each and everyone of your stories together it also links every single story written about them because this concept is unending and infinite ♾️.

Eddie... my love, my beloved, God, I love this boy. Every incarnation of him is just amazing, especially when he loves the way he does. This Eddie, Alpha, is so raw. The struggle he has with becoming who he is, is so real and heart-breaking. He truly believes he is unlovable, a monster. The time when they broke up was horrible, I know we saw it through Steve but you still felt how horrible it was for Eddie too, especially having that need to care for Steve and not being able to and having to reconcile those feelings with his Alpha self as well as his human side. He tried so hard not to push Steve, to let him do what he needed even as it went against ever instinct in him. I love how you don’t romanticise what they have. You make it very hard, very real, make it imperfect, and above all you make it human.

Steve... my sweet sweet boy. You gave him magic! You gave him powers to be what ever he needed to be, let him become what he had to be. Beautiful inhuman monster, made all the more human because when humans love to their full ability they are magic. Steve is love personified, he breaks, becomes fragile and brittle when he can not love, doesn’t understand why some people just can’t accept what he so willingly offers, and it destroys him. He becomes this new thing, a new word, Omega, because he just loves so deeply, so wholeheartedly and being human isn’t enough to give the love he has inside of him. Him loving Eddie was always going to be a lot for Eddie to bare, for someone who thought themselves unlovable suddenly having the love of Steve was never going to go down well. I know why Steve felt so hurt and crushed by what Eddie said, being told his love was too much, would have of course broken him. Their time apart again, horrible, but it was nothing to when Eddie died. God that stole my breath, it broke me, had me crying, sobbing because I could feel what Steve was feeling. It took me a while to push through that part, to get to the other side of it because you made the pain so real.

I think, if I could, I would spend a year going through this story, breaking it down, analysing it, showing the world just what you have created, and that it is a work of genius. Nearly 400k words of pure brilliance is something you need to be proud of. It is an accomplishment not many authors have made. I looked up how many published books have that many words, and there are not many above that word count, but you are up there with the likes of Stephan King and George R.R Martin.

Az, thank you for letting me bombard you with silly little Asks as I have read Touched, it has been amazing to touch base with you, to tell you my little thoughts and feeling as I have read. I could never give you enough praise for what you have accomplished, what you have shared.

So, thank you, just thank you.

Natasha x

OH MY GOD THIS *BEAUTIFUL* GENEROUS KINDNESS JUST MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME, THANK YOU MY DARLING SO SO MUCH 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[tryslora]

Welcome to What I’m Reading Wednesday on a Thursday, because yesterday was chaos and while I got as far as making my little graphic, I didn’t get to do a proper writeup!

I also managed to finish three things between yesterday and today, but that’ll get discussed next week—this is being done as if I were posting it on Wednesday morning as I should have done! Preparing AHEAD OF TIME is apparently the new name of the game for future!me.

Audiobook

I finished reading Heat Wave, the third book in the Incredibles trilogy by TJ Klune, and DAMN that was an awesome ride. Do you love YA books? Queer books? Superheroes? Complicated gray areas but also villains who are villains? Non-neurotypical POV? This is that series. I adored Nick—our POV narrator in all his ADHD glory. I adored the story. It was just so much fun, and angsty in moments, and SO GOOD.

I then started the non-fiction writing advice book Never Say You Can’t Survive by Charlie Jane Anders, narrated by the author herself. This book is wonderful, like having a conversation with the author, and it makes me feel SO GOOD. Even unfinished, I’ve been screaming about it every chance I get. It’s great to read a self-help book and come out feeling energized and motivated rather than shamed.

Physical Book

My physical book is continuing The Marann by Christie Meierz. I have a few quibbles with the book, but overall, I’m enjoying it. There are some trigger warnings that should be included, so be prepared for that. I continue to enjoy the difference in culture between the aliens and humanity. This is definitely a romance, and has that vibe and happy feel.

Ebook

I have a huge collection of ebooks in my Kindle library, many of which I am not entirely sure how I obtained. Some are freebies that Amazon gives to Prime members monthly. Either way, I’m not certain how I got Love Among the Stars by Claerie Kavanaugh but I’ve been enjoying the romance. It’s a quick, easy read, but too light and quick to be great.

Manga & Graphic Novels

My journey through Elfquest continues with The Complete Elfquest, volume 2 by Wendy & Richard Pini. I’ve reached things that are definitely not familiar! I completed the Seige at Blue Mountain arc and am in the middle of the Kings of the Broken Wheel arc (hopefully I’m remembering that title correctly). Continuing to love it. I fully admit, I want to kick Rayek often and do hope to get to see some character progression as it goes on. I’m very much enjoying getting to see the new things. My excitement grows and it’s hard to hold myself to only one chapter a night!

Since I received the latest volume of Black or White by Sachimo (Vol 8), I sat down and read it right away. I mean. It’s BL, pretty much what it says on the tin. Jealousy between two men—both actors—who can’t be out, but there are an awful lot of people in the know about their relationship. That said, they really have settled in to their relationship and that part continues to improve.

Spoiler for next week… Between Wednesday morning (when this should have been written) and Thursday afternoon (when I am writing it), I finished three of the above books… so expect some new things next week! I may have also discovered that audiobooks make thick unwieldy highly descriptive prose accessible to me, when I struggle to read it in a physical book. So that’s cool!

[true-blue-sonic]

I was honestly so excited to see the new flufftober update when I refreshed AO3 today but wHEN I SAW IT HAD SUPER SILVER TOO that was another burst of excitement cause I love him so much

I kinda wonder; what do you think would be Espio's reaction to seeing Super Silver for the first time, and what circumstances would that "first time" happen in? Cause on one hand I'd imagine Espio would find the super form to be very alluring but on the other hand if they're in the middle of a battle he's not just gonna pause mid-fight just to marvel at his pretty boyfriend

I'm happy to hear you liked it!💕 I'm quite fond of Super Silver too; there's something about his design, the fact that his two largest quills and tuft of fur on his back raise up and his PK and said tuft become golden, that I find very appealing. Especially the fact his neck floof changes colour and rises up on his back really nicely separates him from the other two Super forms, in my opinion! And I really like the Shield of Light; not only the name, but also that it is something protective and used for defense. To me, in a way, it links towards Silver's ultimate goal being protecting others.

As for Espio and Silver's first time turning Super, I think it would be interesting if Silver actually does not know he can turn Super until that moment. Sonic might have elaborated about turning Super before in a recollection of his grand adventures, and then likely also mentioned Shadow can do the same, but I doubt Silver would immediately be incentivised to try it out himself. After all, the might of the Chaos Emerald is no plaything... but Espio can easily see he does wonder what it would be like if he could, haha! Just very innocently daydreaming about turning gold and having his powers be infinitely more strong, like a kid imagining themselves to be a superhero. It's cute to look at, but both Silver and Espio know to not go search for answers until the time is there.

And then one day things go completely to hell, like they tend to do in Sonic's world with a bit of help from Eggman. Everyone gathers the Chaos Emeralds to have a fighting chance, and Sonic turns Super to fight Eggman off; and I like to think that Silver does the same by sheer accident. I headcanon the Emeralds have a level of sentience and can reach out to people, and thus as Silver is studying them, he cannot shake the feeling he needs to get closer. Espio asks what he is doing, easily noticing that Silver is acting very off and almost like he is possessed. But by that point Silver has already reached out to the Emeralds, and Espio can only stare in shock as light engulfs him and Super Silver is revealed from there. All in all I think Espio might not be too startled once the initial surprise wears off; he can reason what happened to Silver because he knows Super Sonic is a thing, and I figure he always had a feeling it would not be odd if Silver with his PK is similarly attuned to the Emeralds to allow for such a transformation. And I like to think that turning Super comes with a sense of knowing what to do and a feeling everything will turn out okay, because they embody such positive emotions. So for Silver everything kind of 'falls into place' when turning Super, and he easily helps turn the tide of the battle after assuring Espio he is alright. If the situation allows for it Espio might catch himself marvelling a little bit, though he's got enough personal restraint to keep his head in the game and not get distracted. It would be a shame if he suffered injury while Super Silver is being all awesome and heroic, after all.

....And then the battle is won and Super Silver can depower, and because it was his first time, he basically collapses from dual exhaustion (the fight itself and the excitement around turning Super) into Espio's arms <3 <3 Espio will carry him to bed, where Silver sleeps for like a good twenty hours straight before waking up somewhat disoriented! But he's got Espio at his side to give him some water and food and fill him in on everything that has happened. Silver can dive further into what it felt like, but I think he quickly concedes turning Super is best kept only for emergencies, considering the strain it does put on him. But luckily Espio's got plenty of memories to marvel at mentally until the next time his beloved needs to turn Super! <3

[miloscat]

[Review] Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures (3DS)

What if Pac-Man was Mega Man but also slow and boring?

I’ve been loyal to Inti Creates ever since I fell in love with Rockman Zero (I played a Japanese import first). They kinda lost me with Gunvolt and I find Gal Gun deplorable but they usually seem like they’re really trying to make compelling action games. I’ve wanted to try this handheld companion game to the 3D platformer console tie in to the modern animated series since I learned they were behind it, and after seeing this reboot’s debut in Dimensions it seemed like a good time for it. As for the game, well, I guess every studio has their phoned-in contract work.

This setting has a surprisingly dark backstory but the actual stories are light and stuffed with “action show for kids” tropes. Pac is a teenager always talking about burgers, grimacing, and hanging out with his hideous friends. He also might secretly be a superhero? Either way, he is “the only one” who can save Pactown in Pacworld or whatever, by eating ghosts which regularly invade via the schemes of their boss Evil McEvilface, er excuse me, “Betrayus”.

A lot of familiar Pac elements are repurposed in occasionally tortured ways: the classic ghost foursome have new designs and are your double agent friends, the fruits exist as transforming vehicles that assist with certain platforming sections, and pellets are central. The small ones, called cookies for some reason, give you lives (again, why have these in a game that you’re intentionally making easier for kids?) and spawn in fruits for points. Power pellets, here berries of the “tree of life”, have elemental alignments that act as your Mega Man powers.

You can pick from a set of six stages, and the action plays out as a sidescroller. Certain stages unlock new abilities, four in all: fire, ice, magnet, and… chameleon. Collectibles can increase your stock of berries, or unlock art or entries in the model viewer. The powers of course can help you in combat and to interact with your environment to find goodies; replaying stages with new powers is encouraged but I opted out, thanks very much. Chameleon is the most fun when given a chance to shine, as its tongue lets you grapple around and best plays into the combo system.

The most interesting thing the game does is this mid-air mechanic. You can multiply your score by eating successive ghosts without landing. Well, score didn’t matter much to me but just pulling off strings is satisfying and sometimes lets you reach new areas. Pac has a single-use Yoshi-like flutter jump and a chomp attack that gives you a horizontal boost and can home in on ghosts. This all could add up to a dynamic and fun movement system but in truth it’s quite stilted and never reaches its full potential.

The combination of mid-air mobility and the powers giving you alternate attacks again could make for really exciting boss fights, and occasionally when you find a specific interaction between a power and a boss weakness there’s moments of brilliance. But most of the time these fights just plod along, waiting for them to become vulnerable. The late-game boss rush only hammers this home.

Inti Create have shown that they can make world-class Mega Man games, whether it’s the slick Zero games or Mighty Gunvolt Burst with its classic vibes and novel customisation. You can see a little tiny bit of that expertise being applied here but it’s not enough. Amusing as it is to meld that gameplay structure and its recognisable characteristics in with this ridiculous setting and its weird try-hard updating of a gaming icon, it just doesn’t amount to much. And that’s a shame, because this could have been something special.

[5sosfanfictioncatalogue]

Fluffy AU's Masterlist

chasing rubies (ao3) - cyberpunknct luke/ashton T, 32k

Summary: What’s Ashton supposed to do if he ends up sharing the cabin with a cute counselor?

Coffee Boy (ao3) - Jay_isnotokay michael/calum, luke/ashton M, 12k

Summary: Calum Hood has a crush on a barista, plenty of coffee making ensues.

Daydreams (ao3) - cornflowerblue (daydadahlias) michael/ashton T, 6k

Summary: It's not Michael's fault the owner of Fletcher's Flowers is so good-looking. And no one—Luke—should be able to blame him for wanting to come to the shop and admire the pretty buff man with large delicate hands as he assembles bouquets or pets his cat.

go for miles (ao3) - strxngersagain luke/calum, michael/ashton G, 11k

Summary: When Calum had bought tickets to Glastonbury Festival with his ex nearly a full year ago, he never imagined he would have ended up going alone. The very messy breakup of a nearly-three-year relationship pushed any and all thoughts of future-plans to the back of his mind. He had almost entirely forgotten about the tickets tucked into an envelope, if he was being honest with himself. It wasn’t until an email dropped into his inbox with the subject: 'We can’t wait to see you!', reminding him that oh shit, they had bought tickets together and oh shit, that’s in like two weeks.

He spent the better part of the afternoon sitting on the living room floor trying to figure out what to do with his ticket. It was too late for him to transfer it to someone else, he couldn’t sell it because it had his name printed on it, and he didn’t really want to lose out on the £300 he spent on the damn thing by just not going. So, he decided then and there that he would go alone. Ex-boyfriend be damned, he’d have a great time even if he was by himself.

If I'm Lame Then You're Beautiful (ao3) - ashsparagus michael/luke N/R, 4k

Summary: Luke doesn't think cheesy stuff can be cute. Michael takes that bet. They never thought they could fall deeper in love.

I hope you like superheroes (ao3) - brokenstereotype luke/ashton T, 20k

Summary: Luke doesn't see the appeal of a guy dressing up in spandex to save the city from nonexistent troubles. It may just be the fact that Michael has made a huge hype about this masked man in tights, but he's just not impressed - until he's on the recieving end of the saving.

It's Such a Shame That We Play Strangers (ao3) - velvethood (orphan_account) michael/calum/ashton T, 14k

Summary: “Well, when my favourite customer disappears I’m going to be worried.” Ashton reiterates, hands Michael his drink and a plate full of three types of cake like he knew Michael was coming. “You have a lot of food to catch up on. I’ve been on the cake wagon lately, haven’t I Cal?”

This is the first time Ashton’s addressed Calum in front of him which isn’t surprising because they’ve never been in this situation before, but Michael’s unsure of what to do with himself. They haven’t even been introduced each other.

No Chance (ao3) - iCheeseYou (EHook) michael/luke, calum/ashton T, 72k

Summary: So Ashton's going on a road trip with his friend, Calum, and he invited me to tag along. Being the adventurous shit I am, I said yes, but I wouldn't have if I knew that Luke Hemmings was going as well. God, I hate that guy, and the feeling's mutual. Why does that annoying brat have to come along? And Ashton and Calum expect us to be friends? Yeah, right. There's no chance that Luke Hemmings and I, Michael Clifford, are ever going to get along.

Oh Christmas Lights, Keep Shining On (ao3) - allsassnoclass (brightblackholes) michael/ashton, luke/calum T, 3k

Summary: Michael and Ashton have won their town's Winter Decoration Competition for the past two years. This year, their new neighbors are going to give them a run for their money.

Puppies, Pastries, and Other Sweet Things (ao3) - LyricalPary (hoseoky) luke/ashton, mentioned michael/calum G, 16k

Summary: When Ashton heard someone scratching on his front door in the middle of the night, he expected it to be a burglar, maybe even extraterrestrial beings who planned to take him to another planet. However, the last thing that he expected to find was a lost puppy who simply wanted shelter from the rain.

Say It With Your Hands (ao3) - GirlTheyCallAllie michael/calum, luke/ashton N/R, 3k

Summary: Meeting your soulmate was pretty easy in this world. You had a timer on your wrist which counted down to the moment you hear their voice for the first time. Until then all you had to do was wait.

Except for Luke and Ashton it wasn't that easy.

(So I'll Sit Here) Waiting (ao3) - dafeedil luke/calum T, 2k

Summary: Normally, Luke wouldn't think twice about it, because quite a few people went jogging in his neighborhood, but the guy was shirtless, and he looked damn good.

It became a bit of a habit after that, part of Luke's morning routine. Wake up, make coffee, turn on the news, watch the hot shirtless neighbor running by instead of the news.

stick to the status quo (ao3) - cliffakitten luke/ashton, michael/calum M, 29k

Summary: It's weird. Luke knows it's weird. He's very much aware of the degree of weirdness that he is being right now. Very, painfully aware. Which is why he's wearing a black beanie and sunglasses inside in the middle of spring. Inside the school theatre to be exact, sure to anyone else it wasn't exactly a place which requires a friggin disguise to be in. But Luke was a football player, by the ancient and all knowing laws of high school he shouldn't even know where the theatre is, never mind sneaking in through the lighting booth to stand in the back of it. ~ Or, the one where Luke is on the football team but has a mahooosive crush on this kid in the theatre club with the big hazel eyes and emo fringe.

storms of fabled foreign tongues (ao3) - fermentedpotato luke/ashton G, 5k

Summary: Literature class gets cancelled due to a lack of interest and Ashton gets stuck in creative writing. It's definitely going to suck.

superlatives (ao3) - dazedlight (opinionoutpost) calum/ashton, michael/luke G, 2k

Summary: '“We're not even dating,” Calum says, exasperated, ignoring his friends as he raises his head once more and throws his hands in the air. “Shouldn't the Best Couple actually be a couple?”'

Or, Calum and Ashton win the award for Best Couple in their school yearbook even though they are not, in fact, a couple.

What I (don't) like about you (ao3) - truly_madly_deeply michael/luke, calum/ashton, minor harry/louis, minor niall/liam E, 70k

Summary: Michael hates Luke, Luke hates Michael. When Luke’s older brother Ashton starts dating Michael’s best friend Calum out of all people, the two arch enemies are suddenly forced to spend way too much time together. Which they don’t like at all, but hey, shit happens, and so does love.

Or the one where Luke gets his lip pierced and Michael finds it very distracting.

Where the Heart Is (ao3) - LyricalPary (hoseoky) luke/ashton, side michael/calum E, 86k

Summary: By the time that Ashton Irwin is twenty-seven years old, he's already a widower and a father of three. After his third nanny quits on him, he comes to the conclusion that life in general doesn't seem to like him very much—that is, until his luck turns around when he discovers a particular nanny by the name of Luke H.

The question now is, can a twenty-two year old man with mile-long legs and a smile made of gold really be the super nanny that Ashton needs?

Perhaps so.

Your Love Will Take Me Home (ao3) - GirlTheyCallAllie luke/ashton, michael/calum N/R, 4k

Summary: The concept is simple. From the moment you turn 15 until the day you meet, you will be able to hear your soulmate's voice inside your head.

[primewritessmut]

6, 13, 20, free space (pick one you wanna answer!)

6. write 3 sentences of any wip you’d like, post it in the answer.

do i have to say what the wip is or...?

Shame that, the rings on the guy’s hands would have made the next few weeks of his life very easy. But he was one of those laissez-faire kinds. People were gonna do what they were gonna do and he wasn’t too pressed about any of it. The tide went in, and the tide went out, and all he tried to do was stay dry.

Perhaps that was its game. A lure. Fantastical and brutal and beautiful in its own way. A siren hidden beneath a yellow wood but instead of singing it simply existed, and that was draw enough.

He flopped boneless onto the loveseat pushed back against one wall. It was a recent addition to the office that, as far as she could tell, had been purchased solely for the purposes of lounging around roguishly on the off chance an attractive person wandered into the room. He knew his angles.

13. what’s a wip that you’re determined to actually post within this month/the next few months?

*pulls up writing calendar like an absolute nerd*

i have two answers for this bc there's the "i just want to get it done so i never have to think about it again" answer and the "i must finish this because i have to know how it ends" answer.

there's an epilogue that i've been slogging through for an old semi-original fic that i really want to finish by the end of this month. but it has a polyamory element that i'm struggling to do justice to so it's kind of been languishing. on the other side, i'd love to wrap up gwen and mj's soulmate fic in the next month or two. i think they're going to give me a little more trouble than that, but i'm... optimistic.

20. how do you usually come up with story ideas?

they just.. appear? magically? in my brain?

but really i think i'm always playing this huge game of "yes, and..." like a lot of my story ideas, for fics and original work, can be traced back to other media i've gotten into (books, podcasts, movies, comics, etc.). i don't always notice it until i stop to think about it so i live in constant fear of plagiarizing someone bc all my story ideas are just me constantly getting incredibly excited and deciding "yes, i like this and what if it was like this instead?" which is how i end up with lesbian superheroes or gun play in my wips folder.

also sometimes i just REALLY want to write a specific scene or idea or trope and then end up writing an entire fic around it. like right now i have a wip that i specifically started bc i wanted to write some more monsterfucking outside of symbrock. or the gwen and mj fic that started bc i just wanted to write some femslash.

FREE SPACE: 10. how many wips do you actually have right now? 

i picked this mostly bc i wanted to know but have been too afraid to look. so why not use this game to do uncomfortable things!

oh yikes. i have 18 wips right now.

WIP ask game

[spacebird-diaries]

I just realized I wrote myself into a corner, and the only way out was some very in-character hoop jumping on Bailey's part

Don't know if I can explain it well, but:

Bailey gets the armor, and elects to be a hero with her civvie ID a secret. She has family she wants to keep safe and far away from this danger. Niblings who deserve to grow up living normal lives and not having a crisis about being part space-alien and free of the responsibility that acknowledging their superpowers would give them.

The armor is reported lost, and likely stolen after the fight at the end of Takeoff (I'm working on it, I promise) wrecks the museum.

Bailey is now running around as Golden Eagle, helping old ladies cross the street, saving kittens from trees, and foiling the occasional Rogue's plot when she gets the chance. (You can't swing a cat without hitting a speedster in Central-Keystone. Not a lot of space to do the hero thing...)

Unfortunately for Bailey, she's forgotten one loose end. Nightwing had offered to help figure out this mystery, via a "contact" he was enlisting.

So now a new superhero shows up on the scene, in armor that seems awful close to Bailey's descriptions of the missing museum piece. Dick has seen connect-the-dots pictures on cereal boxes that were less obvious than this. But... There's always room for an incorrect assumption, as he's learned. And what would he even say? "Hi, I know your secret identity?" No! He has to be subtle about this.

Bailey is grinning like an idiot in the face of victory, when Nightwing melts out of the shadows like the weirdly attractive vampire he is and scares the daylights out of her. And then he's questioning her about the armor, where she got it, when she got it, does she know about the recent events in Keystone...

Bailey panics. I can't tell him the truth! The more people who know about Bailey Adler, the more danger my folks could be in. Besides, what if he thinks he has to reciprocate? That's way too much trust and responsibility, he doesn't know me, I don't know him, nope, no way, time to lie my ass off. Sort of.

The armor is hers. (Technically true!) She decided Earth was a decent place to live during the Thanagarian Invasion and decided to stay. (Also true! It just implies a Big Fucking Lie!) She's been quiet until now because... none of your business?? Why do you want to know her personal life?? She has to leave now for totally non-suspicious reasons that don't have anything to do with anything. Goodbye and good day, sir!

...Lying to him would be so much easier if her brain worked properly when he was around. Stupid charming jerk with his stupid pretty hair and stupid fucking smile... Ugh.

Dick, a little relieved by the fact that she has some kind of cover story and/or improv skills even if he doesn't understand where this sudden hostility came from, decides to try and have her defend from the other direction as well. He shows up at her apartment in Keystone with everything he can find on this new hero, the armor, Thanagar, and Andrew Fell.

Bailey tries to kick him out because she still can't stand Richard Fucking Grayson, but relents when he points out that he crossed half a continent on the request of their "mutual friend" -- not Wally, the other guy -- and gives him the space of a cup of coffee to make his elevator pitch.

And suddenly (because like hell is this jackass gonna figure out her secret identity) Bailey has to start insisting that there's no connection between Thanagar and her family, the necklace and the armor were a funky coincidence, such a shame it was stolen after the museum exploded -- no, no, it didn't look anything like the armor the lady in the photos is wearing, something was clearly lost in the game of telephone, oh look your coffee is empty time to get out of my house forever goodbye now!

...Dick conveniently "forgets" the file on Fell as she scoops up his papers and shoves him out the door. He does want to help, even if she doesn't want to let him, and damn it all... It's been awhile since he's gotten under someone's skin like this without actual violence being involved. She's... kinda fun to annoy...

[skeren]

Now, when I was a girl, things aren’t like they are now. The whole situation wasn’t the same, you could say. Yes, we had aliens, and boy were they a shock, and then there was the whole magic thing that went on the rise, but really, it was just sort of a slow build of increasingly ridiculous things. People coming out with this or that for attention, you could say.

Honestly, the alien thing took the longest to catch even when it came first.

But, what I’m saying is that the system we use these days wasn’t really a thing back when I was a girl. No, I remember the whole evolution of normal every day heroes rescuing puppies without any skills to girls holding up burning buildings to help firefighters, to fellows fighting off alien invasions. You know, the normal hero to Superhero progression. If such a thing could even be called that. Similarly, I can remember the not so inverse of that, where criminals went from thieves in banks, to villains trying to blow up city blocks, to Supervillains trying to kill off anyone who refused to divest themselves down below a billion dollars in the world.

Well, that was only one man, really, a charismatic and frankly handsome boy I knew as a child who remained too old for me for the entirety of his life. Not that he would have had any chance to survive to the modern day given how long ago it was and how everyone who didn’t want to share their money came down on him like a house collapse.

It was a real shame, honestly, because his legacy was breathtaking and I think he would have wanted to see it, if he could have. Probably to set the whole thing on fire, if I’m being entirely honest, he wasn’t into capitalism, was that once-friend of mine, but he still would have been at least impressed by how far everyone had come.

You see, because the very first Supervillian had a proper cause, the desire to level the financial playing field and generally benefit the world, the ones who came after had to either be very bad or very good and they were all treated equally under the law.

They were not treated equally by the public.

No, both Superheroes and Supervillains had a certain weight to them in the public eye, and both sides of that line were equally profitable. Admittedly, Supervillains had to source their materials though second hand suppliers and their everything tended to be more expensive because of it, but just like Superheroes had sponsors and fans, so did a lot of Supervillains. Even the really awful ones who everyone agreed really needed to be arrested.

Others though? Eh, others just wanted this or that cause and would lay low for years between them, if their goals got met. Today’s villain was one of those, actually, and I was somewhat relieved to see her out and about, actually. I remembered when this one got started, if you want the truth. I finally had made my way into a late teen appearance and had finally felt I could marry and have some children without it being horrifyingly squicky, you could say.

The downside of a natural talent that worked like the fountain of youth, I suppose. It utterly ruined my aging and I’d looked like a small child for a ridiculous part of the last century.

But! I had a teenage daughter now! She was even one of the Superheroes on the field right these days. Mind you, the only reason she was out here was because I could give her supervision. I, much like the handful of others with abilities like mine, was a good inclusion to any teen team. I had the aesthetic of the children, but the maturity and experience of a grown ass adult who could keep any of them from getting killed. It was a win to everyone in the know, honestly. I was exactly on such a team last time I met this villain, actually, and I could see that she recognized me at the start of the fight.

It was flattering.

Of course, none of that stopped the disaster from kicking off toward the end of the fight. Well, what I made the end of the fight anyway when one of the girls, my youngest’s best friend, ended up giving a mortified ‘mom, please!’ to stop her teasing over one of her male teammates.

See, fights like this? They were publicity stunts and everyone knew it. So a slip like that? That could lose the girl her mother if anyone actually knew, and while the children panicked, coming to a mortified halt as dawning horror over what had just been said spread, I went on the move.

Knowing who was behind the mask on the other side meant that I had a vested interest in keeping the girl out of jail. Our children were sweet, very cute in fact, and the parents of my daughter’s friend were awkwardly and hilariously in love. I wasn’t going to let anything happen to them just because money and a conscience had them pulling the villain card instead of the hero one.

It was more profitable, if not legal the way government sponsored heroes were. Which is why I ended up throwing jammers up to break the signal and contacted my people on the ground to wipe the footage before it hit the internet. Then I went after the cameraman nearby. They knew what was going on, thankfully, and gave it up without a fight, but, well.

That charming fellow when I was stuck as a ten year old little girl? The one who decided the rich needed to be handled? I’d shown that boy that meme. I’d shown him the posts and the half serious and half humorous discourse over the concept. And he’d shown me all kinds of things technology could do. Sure, it might have been well over a century since those days, but I was a spry girl, barely looking seventeen even now, and I’d grown with the times. And that meant I was going to save a silly group of children from the consequences of their actions. Supervillain didn’t mean bad, but I liked to make sure that in my general vicinity that Superhero meant good. Even if it might, maybe, mean a bit of a city brown out, the loss of footage, and a little bit of censorship. Later that evening, I invited the girls, both the mother villainess and my daughter’s friend, over for dinner, nothing complicated, but there was pie, and that was really all that mattered when it came down to it. A treat to ward off the scare while I kept an eye on the media. Of course, I also used the visit to try to teach the young woman how not to get caught in the future, but that was just good sense. Someone had to.

The teen superhero accidentally just called the supervillain “Mom”.