#she would make an excellent karen

[fictionadventurer]

My pitch for a High School musical sequel

Sharpay's musical theater career never went anywhere, so now she lives vicariously through her daughter. She terrorizes the East High drama department because she demands her daughter get all the lead roles, and she comes in and micromanages everything, etc.

Sharpay Junior is our sympathetic main character who wants to escape from her mom's control. She likes musical theater, but she's beginning to think that, gasp, she might have other interests! (Shocking, I know).

Gabriella is the school's science teacher, and she serves as a kind of mentor for Little Sharpay, teaching her that it's okay to like music and still do other things.

Troy's the basketball coach, of course, continuing the family tradition of men who cling to their high school glory days.

Maybe Troy and Gabriella's son could be the romantic interest? Little Sharpay has a connection with him, but of course Sharpay doesn't want her daughter involved with the family that stole her lead roles out from under her, and she doesn't want this boy distracting her darling from her theatrical career.

Of course, the process of deciding not to be in the musical requires Little Sharpay to take part in several heartfelt and elaborately-choreographed school-wide musical numbers.

[superhaught]

Sweetest Girl

Pairing: Regina George x Reader

Warning(s): slight reference to bad home life for reader?

Word Count: 1700, Part 1/?

Anonymous Asked: hello! I was wondering if I could request a regina x fem!reader fic where the the reader is known as the sweetest girl in school that everyone loves and regina is like “what’s so great about her” and just ends up falling in love with her

Part Two

Regina knew that she wasn’t excelling in her chemistry course this year but she certainly didn’t think she was failing. But the teacher asked her to stay behind after class and gave her a solemn look as she explained that with Regina’s most recent test score (which was, admittedly, abysmal), her overall grade in the class would drop from barely passing to failing. 

“Well, what am I supposed to do? I’m a senior, it’s not like I can retake this class!” Regina griped, beginning to feel her stomach turn over in panic.

“Calm down, Miss George. You still have time to improve your grade. I’d recommend that you start working with a tutor. One of your classmates is available for such an arrangement as it turns out. She’s a very gifted student who is doing quite well in this class. She will likely tutor you not expecting anything at all in return. Are you willing to reach out to her?”

Regina crossed her arms in front of her chest, “I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”

Regina’s teacher formed a thin-lipped smile, “No, Miss George. You don’t.”

Regina took the slip of paper with the tutor’s contact info scribbled on it from the teacher and left the classroom for her locker in a huff. 

Gretchen and Karen were waiting for her and immediately, Gretchen was hounding the blonde in concern, “is everything okay, Regina? What did the teacher want?”

Regina sighed, “I’m failing. I need a tutor, I guess.”

“Oh no!!!” Gretchen exclaimed. 

Karen tapped into the conversation in a brief moment of focus and said, “don’t worry, Regina. I failed chemistry last year and had to be tutored, too.”

Regina rolled her eyes, “yes Karen, and you fucked your chemistry tutor instead of studying.”

Karen smiled, “oh yeah!”

Gretchen chimed in, “well, it’s going to be okay Regina. I bet you’ll do really well if someone can take their time to explain the concepts to you. Do you know who will tutor you?”

Regina nodded, “yeah, the teacher gave me this name. Someone in my class.” Regina passed the slip of paper to Gretchen. 

When the small brunette read the name she made an excited sound, “oh! I know her, she’s the sweetest ever! You’ll like her Regina. She’s like, the nicest girl in the school.”

Regina narrowed her eyes and snatched the paper back, “why would I like the nicest girl in school? She sounds like a try-hard… What makes her so great?”

-

You were enjoying your lunch outside in the courtyard because it was a sunny day out. You scrolled through your phone and an email notification caught your eye so you opened it right away. The email read: Hey, I need a chemistry tutor. Teacher gave me your name. Can you? -Regina George

Oh, wow. You thought. Regina George wants me to tutor her?

You typed your response back and sent it off with a whoosh: Hi Regina, I’m happy to help! Do you want to meet to go over logistics today after school? I’ll be in the library if you want to swing by :) you can also feel free to text me if that’s easier

You sent Regina your phone number at the end of the email and in a few minutes, you got a text from, presumably, Regina. She said, “okay whatever” then another few seconds passed and she sent another text, “this is Regina, obviously.”

You responded, “haha yes, I figured!”

The little bubble that indicated she was typing popped up for a long moment and then disappeared. Then it popped back up and turned into a simple text, “k.”

-

Later that same day, you were sitting in the library doing your homework in the welcome peace and quiet. As you were working, you saw the blonde out of the corner of your eye. 

Regina walked down the half staircase into the library and flipped her hair over her shoulder, her tote bag hung from the crook of her elbow, and her other hand held an iced latte notably not from the student-run cafe but instead from the Starbucks down the road from the school. 

Regina approached your table and plopped her bag down on the floor and pulled out the chair across from you, “went to get a coffee before meeting you, hope you don’t mind. You didn’t want anything did you?”

You smiled and shook your head, “I don’t mind, and no thank you, I’m okay. I don’t drink coffee.”

Regina raised an eyebrow as she sat down, “you don’t drink coffee? How do you survive?”

You laugh lightly, “I guess I’ve never really needed it, and I prefer tea anyway.”

“Huh…” Regina didn’t seem satisfied with your answer but she dropped it, “so, do you just stay here to do homework after school?”

“Usually, yeah! I like to get as much done as I can before the library closes.”

“Why would you want to spend more time in this godforsaken school?”

You swallowed hard, “Oh, um… just ‘cause.”

“Kay…”

“So, do you want to talk about tutoring for chemistry?”

“Sure.”

“Okay great, do you know how often you want to meet or how many hours you want to do per week?”

“Christ, I don’t know.”

“It’s okay!” You assured her, “let’s just start with two hours a week for now. We can meet twice a week for one hour each and see if that feels good or if we need to work more or drop down to just an hour.” 

“Alright.”

“Does this time work for you?”

“Yeah.”

“And what about another day in the week?” You asked.

Regina shrugged, “Thursdays?”

“Perfect!” You jotted down a note of the schedule in your planner.

“Do you tutor a lot?” Regina asked, then sipped her coffee.

“Not super often. When I do, it’s usually because a teacher recommended me.”

“Are you like a teachers pet or something?” 

“I don’t know, I just like helping.” 

Regina was silent for a moment. She was considering you. Examining you. 

“So for chemis-“ you began.

“You know, it’s like weird how nice you are. Like, it’s off putting.” 

“Oh… off putting?”

“Yeah, ya know. Like you don’t have to be nice all the time, or for free. Not everyone deserves kindness.” 

“I mean, I disagree, but-“ 

“I can pay you, you know. For tutoring me, I mean.” 

“You don’t have to, though. I don’t need you to.” 

Regina scoffed, “you’re just gonna give me your time and energy for nothing?” 

“Yes. I just want to help. It’s not transactional.” 

“Oh, you sweet thing. Everything is transactional. Maybe you don’t want my money but you expect to get something out of this, don’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t.” 

You were frustrated, “how do you know that? You don’t know me or what I’d do!” 

“No one does anything for free. No one performs a service for free. No one is that nice.” Regina took another drink of her coffee. 

“Are you trying to ruin this?” 

Regina raised an eyebrow again but was quick to respond, “am I making you mad?” 

“You’re frustrating me. I’m just trying to do a nice thing.” 

“So you don’t want me to question your motives?” 

“No! I mean…” you huffed angrily, you felt your cheeks grow increasingly red and hot, “there is no motive.” 

“I don’t believe that.” 

“Look, do you want my help or not?” 

“I want to be tutored. What I don’t want is to owe you anything.” 

“You don’t owe me anything!” 

Regina’s expression turned into the slightest smirk as she stood up from the table and grabbed her tote bag off the floor, “I’ll meet you again on Thursday to review this week’s course materials. When I see you again, I expect an answer about what exactly it is you hope to get out of doing this for me.” 

With that, Regina turned and left the library, her hair swishing behind her. 

You hadn’t noticed until then, but you had crumpled up a piece of paper in your hand during that conversation. 

-

Thursday came around too soon for your liking. You had no answer for Regina’s demand, other than the truth, which you didn’t want to tell her. 

At 4:05 pm sharp, Regina waltzed down the stairs into the library once again, tote bag in hand, removing her sunglasses in an elegant motion, a drink carrier from Starbucks with two drinks in her other hand. 

You watched as Regina gracefully spit her chewing gum into a trash can on her way while walking up to your table.

She took one of the cups out of the drink carrier and set it down in front of you, “chai latte. Is that okay?” 

Your jaw dropped open a bit as you stared stupidly at the drink and then back up at her, “y-yeah… that’s really nice, thank you.” 

Regina didn’t sit down, “do you have an answer for me?” 

You sighed, “you really won’t accept that I just want to help you out?” 

Regina wordlessly shook her head. 

You looked down at your hands and saw that they were shaking slightly, so you hid them under the table in your lap and kept your eyes averted from Regina as you whispered, “I do what I can to avoid spending time at home.” 

Regina remained silent. 

You looked back up at her. Her jaw was set and she had a severe expression. You watched her exhale a heavy breath through her nose, nostrils flaring, then she sat down across from you and dropped her bag onto the floor. 

“Okay,” she said simply. “Let’s get started then.” 

-

You spent the next hour reviewing that week's chemistry lessons with Regina. 

When you decided to stop for that evening, Regina reached across the table and wrote something into your notebook. 

“There, that’s my address. You don’t have to check in with me, or anything, you can just come over whenever you want to.”

“Regina, are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. My mom loves having company to entertain, and there’s plenty of space in my room for you to be comfortable and do work.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

“How about, ‘thank you?’”

You laughed and nodded, “thank you, Regina. Really.”

The blonde stood up and returned her notes to her bag, “‘course. See ya tomorrow in class.”

“See you then…”

Next Chapter

[chvoswxtch]

i had an idea for matt but idk if it was good but reader who is matt’s neighbor and she always drops stuff off for him like a new first aid kit and food because she knows he’s daredevil and matt has no idea who does it till he catches her one day

like super fluffy

hi nonnie!

I actually LOVED this idea and thought it was super cute, so thank you so much for requesting it! 💘

warning: slight angst, cavity inducing fluff word count: 2.7k

[part two]

care packages

The first time it happened, Matt hadn’t thought much of it. He simply thought he’d placed an order that he had forgotten about, tossed the package containing a first aid kit and other items into his bathroom, and called it a day. Ever since taking down Fisk, the caseload at Nelson and Murdock had nearly quadrupled, and all the remaining crime lords in Hell’s Kitchen were competing for the vacant throne. Needless to say, Matt hadn’t been sleeping more than usual, and if you asked him what day it was, he probably couldn’t even tell you.

But then it happened again. And again. And again. And again.

Every couple of weeks, a new package arrived at Matt’s door, and the contents varied with each box. Some of them contained first aid kits, bottles of ibuprofen, other over the counter medications, ice packs, epsom salts, and various other supplies. Other times there were carefully packaged homemade dishes and freshly baked treats. Foggy and Karen both swore it wasn’t them, and even inspected the packages on Matt’s behalf. There wasn’t ever a note left, or anything written on the boxes, so none of them could figure out where they were coming from. Foggy lit up like a child on Christmas morning every time Matt entered the office with a new batch of goodies, and Matt couldn’t deny how nice it was to have a break from all the takeout. Whoever was leaving the packages was an excellent cook, and an incredibly skilled baker, but not knowing who was leaving the packages or why was driving Matt absolutely insane. 

Between both of his hectic lives, he didn’t have much time to investigate where the packages were coming from. He had asked his neighbors on a whim if they had seen anything, but they didn’t have a clue either. On the rare occasion when Matt did have an off day, he camped out on his couch in anticipation, hoping the next care package would arrive while he was home. 

But it never did. 

Karen had suggested leaving his business card taped to his front door, making the argument that it had his name and phone number on it in case whoever it was felt brave enough to contact him. But Matt was hesitant, because he wasn’t sure if the person leaving the care packages was leaving them for him, or for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, and the latter made him nervous. He had no idea if they had made the connection, and he didn’t want to make it for them. 

For two months, Matt drove himself completely crazy trying to solve the mystery. 

By some miracle, or the grace of God, Matt was home at a normal time one Thursday evening. He was in the kitchen loosening his tie and reaching for a beer in the fridge when he smelled it. A familiar scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that had been infused with cinnamon and nutmeg. The exact same chocolate chip cookies that had been left in front of his door four times in the past two months. The ones Foggy had dubbed, “crack cookies”. They were, in his defense, highly addictive.

Matt instantly froze, focusing solely on the sound of light footsteps approaching his door from the side of the hallway by the stairwell. The person’s heartbeat was steady, and they were humming softly to themselves as they bent down to place the package directly in front of Matt’s door. Matt abruptly slammed his fridge shut, racing towards his front door to fling it open like a madman, nearly tearing it off the hinges in the process and earning a shocked gasp from you as you were still knelt in front of his door.

He cocked his head to the side slightly, noting the sharp uptick in rhythm of your heart rate as you stared wide eyed up at him, fingers gripping tightly onto the sides of the container. For a moment, neither of you said anything, until the scent of cortisol creeping into your bloodstream snapped Matt back into focus.

“Are…are you the person that’s been leaving these?”

Letting out a shaky breath, you swallowed thickly as you gave a slight nod of your head.

“I…um…yeah.”

Your voice was timid and quiet as it came out, and there was something familiar about it. There was also something incredibly familiar about your scent, but Matt couldn’t quite place it. Your heart was thundering loudly in Matt’s ears, and he could hear the anxiety in every shuddering breath you took in. As his tongue darted out to quickly wet his lips, he slowly extended his hand out towards you.

“Do you…will you come in?”

Glancing between Matt’s outstretched hand and the dish in your own, you stared up at him silently for a moment. It suddenly occurred to him that his reaction might have made you more tense than the fact that you had been caught, and he pulled his lips into a gentle half smile.

“I’m not upset. I just…want to talk to you, if that’s alright?”

His words seem to put you at ease, and you carefully placed your hand into his own, allowing him to pull you up to your feet. Matt liked how soft your hand felt in his own, and he reluctantly let go to step back to grant you space, gesturing for you to come inside. After closing his door, he followed you cautiously into his living room, tuning all of his senses into you as you turned around to face him while still clutching the dish in your hands. There was something recognizable about you, but Matt for the life of him couldn’t place what it was.

“Um…I guess the obvious first question is…why you’re leaving all these care packages?”

Matt kept his voice even and gentle, not wanting you for a second to think that he was upset. As far as he could tell, you were leaving them with genuine intentions, and while that warmed his heart, he still wanted to know why. He caught the way you trapped your bottom lip between your teeth and tilted your head to stare down at the dish in your hands, taking in a deep, shaky breath before answering.

“Because you saved my life.”

Matt’s lips parted slightly in surprise, cocking his head to the side slightly as he took a step closer towards you and fixed his gaze in your direction with an expression of confusion. 

“I…I’m sorry, I don’t think I’ve represented you-”

“You were wearing a different suit.”

Matt’s entire body instantly went rigid. You did know who he was. Panic started to rise in his chest, and his brain wasn’t working fast enough to come up with some kind of lie or excuse to protect his identity.

“I…I don’t…I t-think you must have me confused with someone else-”

“Those men didn’t just want to rob me. They wanted to hurt me. They followed me home from that bar and pulled me into that alley. If you…hadn’t shown up when you did, they probably would’ve killed me, or left me there after they did what they really wanted to. I…I’m honestly not sure which would’ve been worse.”

Matt stilled hearing the way your voice trembled, tasting the fear that built in the corners of your eyes as the memory sent a shiver cascading down your spine. Suddenly it all clicked into place. That’s why he remembered you. He recognized your voice because he remembered hearing your frenzied cries for help from the rooftop. He recalled the scent of you lingering beneath his nose while he held you comfortingly to his chest as you gripped onto his shoulders, begging him not to leave you alone in the dark. After taking care of the men that had attacked you, he’d waited with you until the cops came, doing his best to keep you calm and reassuring you that you were safe. 

Your name tumbled from his lips before he could stop himself.

“Y/N.”

He remembers asking for it that night. He remembers repeating it back to you soothingly, enjoying the way it tasted on his tongue while wiping your tears away with his gloved fingers. He remembers the sweet melody of your voice as you thanked him endlessly, and the way you struggled to let go of his hand once the police arrived and he had to disappear into the darkness.

He noted the way your lips tugged into the faintest of smiles as you nodded.

“You remembered.”

Matt had wanted to find you, as himself, to offer you legal representation if you wanted to build a case. But with things being so hectic lately, he never got the chance. Another wave of confusion settled over his features when he took another step forward towards you. 

“Wait, but how did you-”

“I live in this building. I saw you on the roof about a week later.”

Matt’s lips parted slightly at your words, giving a slight nod of his head to encourage you to continue. 

“I was up there kinda late one night. There was a lunar eclipse that was supposed to be visible at a certain time, and I wanted to see it. I saw you. You disappeared through that door on the roof, and I thought it just went to a stairwell, but none of the stairwells I found led to that same door. I kinda put it together that it only led to your apartment…and it wasn’t that hard to figure out which one was yours from there.”

“So…you didn’t…know that I was-”

“No. I didn’t know who you were, not really. I never saw you again after that. I just…you looked like you were hurt that night. I wanted to do something…something to help you. I felt like I owed you.”

Matt pursed his lips as he shook his head quickly, letting a dry chuckle escape his mouth.

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“I owe you my life.”

Matt paused at the sincerity in your voice, noticing that it came out a lot firmer as you spoke those words. His fingers twitched slightly at his sides as you let out a soft sigh, turning around to place the dish of cookies on his coffee table.

“Look, I’m sorry if I…I freaked you out or anything. I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to do something nice for you since you saved me. I figured you probably go through a lot of first aid kits and don’t have much time to cook with your busy night job.”

Matt chuckled softly as a light smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, placing his hands on his hips as he followed your movements.

“That’s an understatement. Can I…can I ask…why you didn’t say anything? I mean, you never knock or leave a note or anything.”

Nibbling at your bottom lip, you tucked a strand of hair behind your ear and shrugged lightly as you fiddled with a ring around your finger.

“I told you, I didn’t wanna freak you out. I’m sure you wear the mask for a reason. I…wanted to respect your privacy. Look, you don’t owe me anything, certainly not an explanation. You don’t have to tell me anything at all, and I would never tell anyone about this, I swear.”

The steady, strong rhythm of your heartbeat had Matt’s chest swelling with gratitude. He knew you were telling the truth. 

“I believe you.”

There was a faint smile pulling at your lips as you stared at him, and Matt desperately wanted to know what you saw, and what you were thinking. He didn’t think it was a coincidence someone like you had fallen into his lap. He didn’t believe in coincidences. But he did believe in divine intervention. What were the odds of him saving your life, being your neighbor, and the recipient of your unwavering kindness and genuine understanding? 

“I…I’m not a doctor, or a medical professional by any means, but I do know my way around a first aid kit. I’m also a horrible insomniac, so I’m usually awake at ungodly hours throughout the night. If you ever…need…or want any help, I just live a floor down. I’m in 5C.”

“I…thank you. And thank you for all of the care packages.”

“Thank you for saving my life.”

Matt felt his cheeks heat up at the candor in your voice. He didn’t get thanked often for what he did every night, not that the praise was his main motivator, but they were still two words he didn’t hear all that much. The people he took down certainly weren’t thanking him for sending them to prison, and sometimes the people he saved were in too much shock to speak, or he had to take off before he got caught by the cops. But something about the way the gentle inflection of your voice dripped into his ears like honey had warmth spreading throughout his entire body. He took another careful step towards you, extending his hand once again for you to take as his lips parted into a tender smile.

“Matthew. My name is Matthew.”

His heart started to beat a little faster feeling the way your mouth pulled into a smile of your own, reveling in the feeling of your soft hand slipping into his once again, fingers delicately curling around the bottom of his palm.

“It’s nice to meet you, Matthew. Officially.”

Matt keened at the way his name sounded falling from your lips, and he gave your hand a faint squeeze.

“It’s nice to meet you officially as well, Y/N.”

He didn’t miss the way your heart jumped slightly when he repeated your name, or the fact that neither one of you seemed to want to let go of the other’s hand.

“You know, my partner is going to be beyond excited that I’ve finally found the person responsible for those amazing cookies.”

Matt’s chest expanded with pride feeling the rise in temperature across your cheeks, lips parting slightly as your soft giggle hit his ears.

“Nice of you to share, Matthew.”

A wider smile tugged across his lips hearing you say his name again. He lightly stroked his thumb across your knuckle as he shrugged.

“I thought at first one of them was doing it, but neither of them are as good of a cook or a baker. You’re a hit in our office, by the way.”

“I am?”

“They ask me everyday if I’ve gotten a new care package. Obviously the edible ones are their favorite.”

Another soft giggle slipped past your stretched lips, and Matt found himself inching closer to the sound as heat spread down your neck and across your chest.

“They…they know, too?”

“They do.”

“Well, then they’re just as deserving.”

Matt found himself completely in awe of you, wondering how he had managed to find an angel when he walked the path of the Devil. 

“Can I…can I take you to dinner? To say thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me-”

“I want to. You’ve provided me with a ton of dinners lately. I’d like to treat you to one.”

Matt angled his head to the side slightly as he listened to your heart’s tempo increase, enjoying the way you delicately tightened your hold on his hand as you took in a shaky breath.

“Well, how can I refuse my savior?”

“You can’t. It’s against the law actually.”

A large grin spread across your mouth at Matt’s playful tone, peering up at him with curiosity.

“Are you a lawyer, Matthew?”

“I am.”

An incredulous giggle escaped your mouth as your brows knit together in the center of your forehead.

“So, wait…lawyer by day, vigilante by night? How does that work, exactly?”

“I’ll let you know when I figure that out.”

Matt chuckled softly as you giggled, resisting the urge to reach his hand up to tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear like he had done the first night he met you. 

“So, Friday night?”

“You know where to find me.”

“I do, now.”

tags: @yarrystyleeza @little-miss-dilf-lover @neverlandcity @charmedkim @queenofthenoobs @stilldreaming666 @mattymurdock1021 @bubuslutty @messymissy @dark-academia-slut @strawberry1042

[chobani-flip]

the disconnect between the storytelling of the show and of the fandom

lately, I've been thinking about storytelling and storytellers in the context of 911.

like, there's two sides to this storytelling business, right?

there's the small group writers and showcreators who have an idea for the characters and plots and have to come up with a way to share those ideas within the constraints of a network television series

and then there's us, a massive international community with a wide-range of life experiences, who watch their show and then go on to tell our own story about it.

and i wonder if we're always watching the story they're telling.

im not even necessarily talking about the buddie goggles right now.

what got me thinking about this was ana flores.

and the one scene the fandom likes to pretend sealed her fate (when in actuality, let's be quite candid, it was the fact that she was a beautiful woman who dared to date eddie instead of allowing him to remain a viable option for canonical/fanonical offscreen cannoodling with buck)

"there's a lot to be said for getting back on the horse, but there's also some value in learning that you don't like horses." eddie: "i'm sorry?" "sometimes, our limitations tell us when to stop. but sometimes, they can show us where to look next." (romantic, feelingsy song starts playing) "today, he falls off the skateboard. but tomorrow, he writes the great american novel."

see, the problem here is that this is CLEARLY meant to be viewed as wise and deep advice. as a moment of connection between ana and eddie... the way the scene is cut, the music that plays in the background, the intense eye-contact between the two characters, the way eddie reacts to her words... we're meant to enjoy the simmering tension and potential between them...

but... it's not great and deep advice, not really. it's been pointed out that it comes off as ableist. and ana is supposed to be a teacher at this excellent inclusive institution; she is meant to have experience with children of different abilities feeling frustrated and wanting to do the same things other children are doing... someone on here pointed out that if they were the teacher, they would seek to understand what need christopher was trying to fullfil by getting on the skateboard and help him achieve it by other means

but what ana comes up with is this awkward horse metaphor that doesn't really make sense for the situation, and a condescending: "awwww, well, im sure he's the next hemingway"

BUT SEE, THAT'S NOT THE STORY THE SHOW IS TELLING US. the show is ostensibly framing this scene as romantic and great and deep. and that is NOT ana's fault. the character of ana didn't travel to our reality, didn't block the scene, didn't cut it and add the soundtrack. that's on the showcreators.

but somehow, it's really difficult for us to see it that way when it comes to ana.

in a way that it's not when it comes to Hen, poor little Mara and the Doberman.

because we know Hen and Karen, and we like them.

so we awkwardly shuffle around, side-eyeing each other, quietly nudging each other and going: "bit of a fail that, huh? kinda a weird thing to do on the part of the show, huh? comparing a little Black girl to a dog...why did they do that???"

or there was an excellent post floating around about whether Buck and Eddie realize they can say no to sex, that their consent matters.

"what if i come home and she wants to haaaaaave..." "well, you'll get through it somehow," says buck with an amused grin on his face.

see, the problem isn't necessarily whether the characters know that their consent matters, but whether the showcreators do. because this is clearly meant to be viewed as a joke.

eddie is a macho guy, who tends to keep his cool in difficult situations, so it's funny when you see him freaking out over the fact that his girlfriend wants to have sex with him and he doesn't want to have sex with her because her former chosen-profession taps into his well of Messy Catholic Feelings.

isn't it? isn't that just fucking hilarious?

and the answer to that is: no. it's not funny to any part of the audience who's ever felt pressured (by a partner, by society, by their own expectations) to want or to have sex.

but does the show realize that?

i'm sorry but i don't think so. this is the show that framed dr.wells sexually assaulting buck during a therapy session as a joke to casually bring up and needle him over later, that felt the need to reassure us that chimney and maddie can and do have wild, passionate monkey sex (you remember, albert teasing chim, then the hotel with the revolving room, etc), that had karen ask hen what the point of a relationship was if the couple weren't having sex...

now, i genuinely don't think the showcreators mean to be hurtful, or harmful. i don't think they realise how all these things come off. because they're a fairly small group of people from Los Angeles, North America, and are working within the constraints of a network television show

(and the point of the Eddie and Buck scene was Buck coming out to Eddie, so maybe they felt Buck saying: "you know, you can tell her you don't want to have sex, right? that's allowed." would fraction the focus of it? idk)

but what happens is that there's this disconnect between the story they're telling us and the story we continue to tell among ourselves.

when it comes to the characters we like, we tend to ignore the unpleasant meanings and messages in relation to the character, or we retcon it in fanfic, or we Fix-it with some heart-to-hearts and apologies.

(for example, i haven't seen many fics that show athena being a Cop as not-a-great-thing. but are we really ok with her saying "i wasn't on their side, but i understood their side." when her son expresses some reasonable dissatisfaction with her reaction to a cop pointing a gun at him and michael? or are we just ignoring it because we love angela bassett?)

when it comes to characters we are predisposed to dislike, this disconnect makes us dislike them even more. which leads to the writing of bashing fics, and in some cases harassing the performers online jfc do not do that people that's never ok

(of course, some characters are hated justifiedly imao, like the buckley parents and chimney's father...)

maybe this is the frustration that makes for such a prolific and active fandom?

I don't know.

but I think it's something to keep in mind when watching the show. because that disconnect is always going to be there and I know that for my own personal mental health, it's easier and nicer to believe that a group of RL people might sometimes be just a bit ignorant at times and write in weird shit unintentionally, than that my favourite characters are massive assholes unpredictably and randomly

[lus-sav]

I want to know everything about devil foggy, is he a demon? Can i make fan art for this au? Please tell me all your headcanons im obsessed

Thank you, and please feel absolutely free to make art for this AU. 🥺

To answer your question: Franklin isn’t a demon. Matt just thinks of him as one. Temptation and sin in human form and all.

And Matt’s angry/guilty crush aside, Franklin’s just a regular human who happens to be a crime boss.

(And now that you’ve put the idea in my head, I will definitely make an AU with demon!Foggy.)

To offer some headcanons for the mob AU:

Franklin picked a different name to distance himself from his mother. He didn’t want to be referred to as Sharpe. So Bruin it was.

He picked Bruin specifically because it meant bear. People assume it’s because bears are considered dangerous. True but also: bears don’t attack without reason. They’d rather be left alone. Franklin would also prefer it if he didn’t have to deal with any violence. He’d try talking first.

Speaking of talking, honey-tongue is one of his nicknames. He’s very good at persuasion and he sounds nice, very polite and fun. (Matt found Bruin’s voice soothing. One of the many things Bruin had that was pleasing to Matt’s senses. It pissed him off to no end.)

Franklin used to keep his hair short. He started growing it out once he stopped trying to get Rosalind’s approval. He also started dressing himself in ways that Rosalind would hate. She hated most people that tried to dress rich and looked gaudy instead. So that was his favorite way of dressing.

Franklin learned the law. Not with Matt; he was in a different uni. Passed the bar and everything. He framed it as knowing the law so he could bend it to his advantage. That he could be away from his mother for long periods of time and build up his own person was a bonus.

Franklin has a very simple relationship with Daredevil. He guides the vigilante’s path of terror and justice whenever it veers off course or hits a dead end. Also, it's a free service! Franklin doesn’t want this or that ring operating in his territory? Point Daredevil at it.

What’s complicated is Franklin’s feelings. The child he once was, Foggy, would have adored Daredevil. But it was Franklin that survived with no one that would have dared to fight Rosalind for him and—Well, it didn’t matter anymore. Daredevil was useful and that was all that mattered.

(Maybe Daredevil would be more useful if he didn’t have a strict moral code he stuck to no matter what but. Franklin can take care of it, no biggie. Daredevil doesn’t need to dirty his hands when Franklin’s have been stained red since his childhood.)

What’s even more complicated is Franklin’s image of himself. He thinks he killed Foggy, his kinder nature. What he actually did was he built a wall around Foggy. A wall of excuses. He made up excuses for every good thing he did, dismissing his actions as selfish and a means to an end. If it served him in some way, it wasn’t a good deed.

No matter how much he hated her and distanced himself from her, Franklin still considered himself his mother’s son. He couldn’t be good. He just couldn’t.

(And Rosalind didn’t want a good child. She wanted an heir for her criminal empire, as ruthless and ambitious as she was.)

Franklin stole half of Rosalind’s empire by being better in every way but mostly by being an excellent employer that offered better working conditions.

Franklin took the Murdock firm under his protection. It was good for his image! And there aren’t a lot of people that had the guts to go against his kind of people. It was refreshing to witness. He’d also prefer it if the guy running it didn’t have it out for him but whatever. Franklin can handle his own in the court of law.

Franklin rather likes Matt Murdock, the prickly lawyer that barely hides his distaste for him. The man is vicious and clever and fun to play with. Karen Page as well.

(Franklin would never admit it but he always did get so fond of idealistic people fighting to make a change. Hero materials with zero self-preservation skills. It’s thankless work, taking care of them. But Franklin didn’t mind.)

[givemewallywestorgivemedeath]

hiii did you read knight terrors: the flash #2 and world’s finest: teen titans #2? cant wait to reas your thoughts about them

I did in fact!

Knight Terrors: The Flash #2 went pretty much exactly the way I thought it was going to go and I absolutely loved it. It was an excellent story and I thought it was 10/10 for being a two issue tie in.

World's Finest: Teen Titans #2 was really good. I loved the intro to Mal, Lilith and Gnarrk. It's really great to see them still being involved, even if they aren't in the roster.

I also really appreciated the deep dive into Garth's character. His issues with the surface world, Roy picking on him (mocking him and giving bad fashion advice ect), his insecurities/under water racism about his eyes, ect. Garth is usually underutilized so it's super cool to get some focus on him.

As for Donna, it's really funny to me that Waid made sure to specify what origin she had lmao. Like, clearly we would have no fucking clue which one they were rolling with so Waid made sure it spelled out in the sand for us. I appreciate that. I also think it's just what Donna thinks and it'll end up being the clay version but I digress. It's good to see Donna getting characterization as well in this series. I love to see her struggles with man's world.

Also there was some classic Roy whump and Robin's little sarcastic "go shoot an arrow at the psychic" quip and I greatly appreciated that.

I also appreciated how Dick sent Garth Donna and Roy to go into the psychic/magic haunted house while him, Karen and Wally did detective work even though that makes zero sense as a plan??? Literally though, what is Roy going to do in that situation??? Seriously. It'd make way more sense to send Garth, Donna and Wally because Wally can case the house faster. (Garth for magic, Donna for muscle, Wally for coverage) Also Roy, Karen and Dick would be a fantastic detective team. (Karen is great with people and could be the eye in the sky if needed, Roy and Dick are trained in this)

But, LMAO, Dick didn't want Roy anywhere near him and he also didn't want Wally anywhere near Roy.

(And, no, I'm actually not looking too into that because in the og Teen Titans comics Dick had a reoccurring issue of putting Wally with him despite strategy and Waid is writing this so there's gonna be layers to this series.)

Anyways, that's my thoughts.

[imsparky2002]

We All Dye - A Teen Titans (Girls) AU

Band: We All Dye

Founded: October 30, 1999

Location: Jump City, California

Fun Facts

The band is called We All Dye because at the time, everyone had dyed hair.

While they officially formed the band in 1999, they had been practicing together for about a year before the official founding. Their first concert was on Halloween.

Rachel Roth (Raven)

Born: May 1, 1986

Favorite Acts: The Cure, Korn, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Radiohead, Joy Division, The Smashing Pumpkins

Instruments: Lead Vocals

About: On stage, Rachel Roth is a gothic force of nature. She loses herself in the music, putting all her emotions on display and excelling in flair and passion. When she's offstage, Roth is the complete opposite. In real life, she's a reserved and mild-mannered kid who uses sarcasm and bluntness on a regular basis. Rachel's look on life had been jaded even before her mother's death from cancer, an which caused her to create the band as a way of finally releasing her emotions and hurt in a creative manner. She found that in making the band, she had found lifelong friends who would be there for her every step of the way. She tries her best to do the same for them.

Kori Anderson (Starfire)

Born: May 21, 1986

Favorite Acts: Bjork, Britney Spears, The Beach Boys, David Bowie, Rush, Sum 41

Instruments: Lead Guitar

About: An immigrant from Canada, Kori is without a doubt one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Though she's unapolagetically peppy, she's got a love for rock. She is trusting to a fault, which her older sister Kristen (Blackfire) would take advantage of. It was only after her bandmates showed Kori that she was being mistreated, did she finally begin to stand up for herself. Now she feels that she's finally gained true sisters.

Karen Beecher (Bumblebee)

Born: March 19, 1986

Favorite Acts: Jamiroquai, Green Day, Gloria Gaynor, Prince, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill

Instruments: Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals

About: The mom of the group, Karen works alongside Kori to be the peacekeeper. She makes sure everybody's packed and ready to go for concerts. Karen's certainly busy as a bee, which just so happens to be her favorite animal. She's also a proud nerd, hoping to work in tech if the band somehow fails to work out.

Tara Markov (Terra)

Born: February 21, 1986

Favorite Acts: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Linkin Park, Soundgarden, Fiona Apple, Avril Lavigne

Instruments: Bass

About: Tara is a girl who is not afraid to get her hands dirty or speak her mind. This came from being bullied in childhood as a poverty-ridden kid needing to fight for everything she had. She chose to play bass as she felt it fit her "no-theatrics" attitude. Tara also is the most likely to argue either for herself or for other members of the band if she feels anyone is being disrespected.

Alina Hao (Jinx)

Born: August 8, 1986

Favorite Acts: Hex Girls (She won't apologize), Queen, Shonen Knife, Misfits, Stevie Nicks, David Bowie

Instruments: Keyboards, Backing Vocals

About: Alina is as wry, passionate and mischievous as they come. When Rachel was creating her on-stage persona, she mostly drew inspiration from Alina's theatricality. Funnily enough, Alina and Rachel had been rivals in elementary school, due to frequent bouts for spots in school plays. It was only after puberty and tragedy in Rachel's life did the two realize how silly their rivalry truly was, and Alina was invited into the friend group. Now she feels it's her job to back up her friends, and occasionally drive them nuts with pranks.

Rose Wilson (Ravager)

Born: February 21, 1986

Favorite Acts: Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, Alanis Morissette, Guns 'n Roses, Rage Against the Machine, Le Tigre

Instruments: Drums

About: If you want to keep Rose happy, don't tell her what to do without a good reason. She has problems with authority due to issues with her parents and being seen as a disappointment by most of her teachers. Having two younger brothers (with an older brother, Grant, who's serving in the Army) to protect from their mom and dad means she looks out for other kids going through a hard time. It's also caused her to become jaded, using snarkiness as a way to cope with the feelings of hurt and anger that have built up inside her. While she sees all her bandmates as sisters, she particularly bonds with Tara as a fellow victim of parental abuse, even if they bicker a lot.

So that's the band so far. Credit to Artzy for the name choice! Lemme know headcanons, and thoughts in the replies and reblogs. @artzychic27 @nerd-chocolate @msweebyness

[green-alien-turdz]

What are your headcanons for the main five, if you dont mind answering. I really like your take on all of them (Especially Kyle!!) and id love to hear more of your takes on them, aside from what you include in your art.

I'm curious as to which headcanons you're really interested in, but I will do my best to try and cover as much ground as possible.

Keep in mind that this is all teen headcanon's (so like 17-18)

STAN: Doing his best to not fall apart at any moment. Home life is still pretty ass and Randy is a dickwad like always. Sharon is a good constant in his life, and she's become much more lenient with him over the years, knowing that he's got a lot of shit on his plate. Is still in Crimson Dawn because it helps him vent his frustrations. Worked rather hard to not be an alcoholic, but doesn't turn down drinking with Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny. Genuinely making an effort to try and take care of himself and trying to get Kyle to do the same. He is also going to be narrowly graduating by the skin his teeth with help from Wendy (who is simply a friend), and Kyle. He also became much more into protest groups, but to the dismay of his friends who are forced to watch hundreds of documentaries and listen to him read articles. (The intensity of this passion came from trying to find a purpose in life when he was at his worst, mentally.)

/\ Both like one another but have no clue where to go from there \/

KYLE: In desperate need of anger management classes. The pressure of always trying to be perfect and excel at everything caught up with him in about 6th grade, where he'd start trying to control every aspect of his life in the worst ways possible. Sheila and Gerald are completely blind to any of this, seeing as the grades never dropped, so they assume all is well. Despite that, he does still preach about self-care and the importance of letting out "pussy emotions" to the rest of his friends, who are all well aware of his issues (sh + ed) but aren't sure how to fix them. He is also Crimson Dawn's biggest supporter and is usually wearing the same shirt because he finds comfort in it.

CARTMAN: Thriving in his own sense. He still has an insane amount of unwarranted confidence, but he does still have some insecurities (the narcissism often cancels it out though). He has become more barrable with age, but that's not saying much. Somehow, he still can't grasp why no one outside of his friend group even likes talking with him. Has a thing for Wendy again, but it's very on again and off again between the two, seeing as Wendy will usually get bothered by him and then dip. Genuinely does care for his friends (in his own way), but masks it with insults and fighting. May or may not purposefully drive away all of his mom's boyfriends, afraid of losing her care and attention. - EXTRA: Worked at the sewerslide hotline as a joke for about a week before getting fired -

KENNY: Can't take a single thing seriously because if he does, it'll break him. Takes pride in being the most comedic person in the room, always trying to one up the next guy, typically with gross out humour. Spends most of his time away from home, unless it's to take care of Karen, but he often takes her out with him, even to his jobs. He still works at City Wok, but also picks up other odd jobs around town. Stan will also give him a shit ton of Randy's supply to sell around to minors as a way to get some extra cash. Similar to Stan, he's not doing so great school wise, seeing as he spends so much time working, and would rather be with friends in his free time, but Kyle also helps him to make sure that he's going to graduate. When it comes to his friendship with Marjorine/Butters, he's the main supporter, doing what he can to help out. -EXTRA: While he doesn't have time very often to do so, he does try and go out as Mysterion when possible)

BUTTERS/MARJORINE: Get this bitch out of her household now. After many years of uncomfortable confusion, finally came to the conclusion that being Marjorine was what she wanted. Despite an unaccepting homelife, she is very openly feminine once out in public, getting dressed into clothes she likes in public restrooms. Going to graze over the home abu$e we know occurs. She mainly hangs out with Kenny and everyone else when she can but spends a lot of time grounded. Getting a job at the mall has helped with being able to get some time to be herself. She also really enjoys being the guitarist in Crimson Dawn and is one of the few times she'll actually let negative emotions out. Although there is still the occasional outing as Professor Chaos.

As a whole, they're all still dickwads who love going around town and fucking shit up. They are NOT well liked because they're so obnoxious, and they're very likely going to be the ones behind random destruction and vandalism. They still love scheming and ruining the lives of others, but try to be less open about it as to avoid getting in trouble with the law as an adult.

(If you have any specific headcanon's you were looking for, feel free to send an ask! I'm not sure what it was you were looking for, so please let me know if I missed anything you were curious about.)

[veturiusofserra]

look what you made me do | part 1/6

jake seresin x pilot!reader

summary: Y/n Harris, the top student at Top Gun Academy finds her match in Jake "Hangman" Seresin, unraveling a fierce rivalry and uncharted feelings.

warnings: your surname will be Harris, only for plot purposes, suggestive talk (?), your father name is John (ik) and your mother is Karen – while writing i had to come up with this or it would be confusing, sorrey

reputation series | my masterlist

The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon as young Y/n Harris stood on the beach, her eyes fixed on the distant naval base. With each passing day, her yearning to be part of the Navy grew stronger, fueled by her father's heroic stories from his time as a fighter pilot. She knew that her destiny lay in the skies, and she was determined to become a Navy pilot, just like him.

Raised in a family with a strong military background, Y/n grew up surrounded by tales of bravery, camaraderie, and patriotism. Her father, Captain John Harris, was a respected and decorated Navy pilot who had flown countless missions during his career. As Y/n watched him don his uniform with pride, she couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration and longing.

From a young age, Y/n was drawn to the concept of flight. She spent hours building model airplanes, studying aircraft manuals, and watching documentaries about the Navy's elite pilots. Her bedroom walls were adorned with posters of fighter jets, and her dreams were filled with the roar of engines and the thrill of aerial acrobatics.

Her determination to become a pilot was evident in every aspect of her life. She excelled in her studies, acing science and mathematics, knowing that a strong academic background would be crucial for her dream to take flight. Yet, Y/n knew that being a Navy pilot required more than just knowledge and skill; it demanded unwavering determination and mental fortitude.

As she reached her teenage years, Y/n faced the daunting task of convincing her parents to support her decision. Although her father understood her passion for flying, her mother, Karen, was apprehensive about the dangers that came with being a pilot. Y/n, however, was resolute in her desire, and she spent hours talking to her mother, addressing her concerns and reassuring her that she would take every precaution to stay safe.

Eventually, her parents saw the fire in her eyes and the unwavering conviction in her heart. They knew that trying to dissuade her would be futile; she was destined for the skies, and they could do nothing but support her dreams. As her father proudly pinned the Navy pilot wings on her uniform, Y/n felt a surge of joy and gratitude. She had taken her first step towards becoming Lieutenant Y/n Harris, a future ace Navy pilot.

Her journey through the Naval Academy was no less than a rollercoaster ride. The grueling training tested her physical and mental endurance, but she was determined to excel. Her fellow cadets admired her resilience and admired her dedication to the craft of flying. She was often found at the airfield long after training hours, honing her skills, and immersing herself in the world of aviation.

During her training, Y/n discovered an intriguing aspect of her personality – her ability to captivate and charm people. It wasn't that she was consciously trying to be persuasive; it was simply a part of who she was. She had an uncanny knack for connecting with people, making them feel valued, and leaving a lasting impression. This quality earned her the nickname "Python" – a reference to the serpentine charm she wielded, as well as her extraordinary skills as a pilot.

As she progressed through the ranks, Python found herself effortlessly building relationships with her peers and superiors. Her genuine interest in others and her ability to make people feel important made her a sought-after companion. Little did they know that her charm was often a calculated move to win their trust and cooperation.

During her second year at the Naval Academy, she met Lieutenant Paul Richardson, an ambitious and talented pilot. His sky-blue eyes and warm smile drew Python in, and she couldn't resist the opportunity to befriend him. As their friendship blossomed, Python subtly guided their interactions, making Paul believe that it was he who was taking the lead.

"Paul, you have such a unique way of seeing things," she would say with an enchanting smile. "I've never met anyone who understands the dynamics of aerodynamics quite like you do."

Paul blushed, flattered by her praise. "Thanks, Python. But you're pretty amazing yourself. I mean, who else can pull off those daring stunts in the sky?"

Their camaraderie grew stronger, and Paul became more and more enamored by the vivacious and captivating Python. Unbeknownst to him, every compliment, every shared laugh, and every intimate conversation were part of her carefully orchestrated plan to gain his trust.

As Python's reputation as an exceptional pilot and a charismatic presence spread, she was selected to join the prestigious Top Gun Academy, an elite group of Navy pilots renowned for their exceptional skills and aerial prowess. It was a dream come true for Python, and she knew that it was an opportunity to take her manipulation and seduction to new heights.

As she stepped foot on the Top Gun base, she felt the weight of expectations on her shoulders. The competition was fierce, and the male-dominated environment challenged her to prove herself at every turn. But Python was more than up to the task. With each flight, she wove her spell, leaving her fellow pilots captivated and intrigued by the enigmatic woman known as Python.

One day, as she stood on the tarmac, preparing for a training mission, a tall and confident figure approached her. It was Lieutenant Jake "Hangman" Seresin – a pilot with a reputation to match his callsign.

"Hello, Python," Jake said with a cocky grin. "They say you're quite the charmer."

Python returned his smile, intrigued by the challenge he presented. "They're not wrong, Hangman. But I hear you're quite the daredevil yourself."

And so, a rivalry was born, fueled by their competitive spirits and mutual fascination. Little did Jake know that he had just walked into Python's carefully crafted web of seduction.

[bylerposting]

Max knows about Billy & Karen and that's what's in her letter to Mike: Season 5 Theory.

I've always wondered what the purpose of Mike being in this scene was, because it feels like such a specific choice. This scene is about Max experiencing the nosebleed symptoms. Mike is all the way in California having gay thoughts about his best friend. What's he doing here in Max's flashbacks? Why was it important that Mike saw Max getting this nosebleed?

From his perspective, Max's hair would be blocking his view from the blood, so mabye he didn't notice the nosebleed specifically. But he noticed something was wrong.

Check out these BTS pics. Look at how much went in to this scene.

All of those extras, the classroom location, outfits for everyone, makeup, props, just for a few shots of B-roll.

Note how Mike is blocked at the start of the shot, and the camera pans right to reveal, as well as racking focus on to him.

It could be just to show growth between the two characters. They both take math class together, and they sit next to each other. Mike and Max have been at odds with each other a lot, so its nice to see them a little closer.

It does keep Mike's from feeling too disconnected from the main Hawkins plot. But due to the nature of his story this season, his character was going to be little disconnected regardless. That's why I like to think there's more to it.

Remember that thing Karen/Billy had?

As lots of time has passed between seasons, a lot of fans have criticized that for it's characterization of Karen because, while it provided excellent subtext for what happened to Billy as he was flayed, it doesn't condemn Karen's involvement. Therefore it comes off as painfully tone-deaf toward the predatory nature surrounding that dynamic. If they weren't going to condemn Karen's involvement, then why characterize her this way in the first place?

At the same time, people have also noticed that season 4 seemed to slowly build something up with the Wheeler family. Namely, with Nancy's vision in S4E8 showing her Karen, Mike, and Holly presumably dead.

And I think the final piece could be hidden in Max's letter to Mike.

Season 2 Episode 8: Billy and Karen meet for the first time and are instantly infatuated with each other.

Outside of the meet-cute, Billy is looking for Max, and Karen knows where she is. Karen gives him the address and says "And when you see Mike, tell him to come home already, yeah?"

Both Mike and Max get tied to this from the start. Billy and Karen talk about Max and Mike as their responsibility, even though Billy is only 17.

As of up to season 4, neither Max nor Mike have any clue this even happened.

But I think Max could know.

Season 3 takes place 6 months after season 2. Billy and Karen met before the 1 month time jump at the end of S2E9, Add that up and from their first scene together up to their last scene together, Karen and Billy have known each other in-universe for 7 months.

Maybe sometime prior to S3, Max could've seen Billy and Karen together. Maybe she could've overheard how they were talking to each other, and and maybe just didn't know what to do. (I wouldn't blame her. She's 14. She shouldn't have to have a conversation like that.)

Mike's presence in this scene could therefore be to represent that secret. To hint at what she was hiding that got her the symptom.

As of Season 4's ending, Max is in a coma, and she instructed that her letters only be read if she died. Right now it's 50-50 on whether they'll actually be read in S5.

Mike finding out this truth would be really interesting. Finding out your mom cheated on your dad with Billy Hargrove makes a great catalyst for a TON of conflict. I think there's so much that it could lead to.

Argyle being cut in half in that shot with Mike and Karen; "your dominoes are gonna fall."

[lovelycrimsonredsnow]

Yes I'm alive.

Yandere FNAF 1 headcanons:

(yes the art is indeed mine, I'm trying out something)

Yandere Freddy:

🎩 so first of all this dude is the looks like he could end your life in 1.0 seconds.

🎩 he definitely knows that he scares/intimidates people and thrives in it.

🎩 especially rude customers/Karen's, he loves the look on their face when he politely asks them to leave. It never gets old

🎩 now there's multiple ways you could meet this guy:

A: your working night shift and he slowly becomes obsessed

Or B: your working dayshift and you draw his attention. By either kicking someone out or just being kind to the kids.

🎩 either way he's certainly interested in you.

🎩 th first time you guys actually officially meet he tries to make a good impression. Y'know: being all gentlemanly and nice.

🎩 this bear LOVES to follow you around, but he doesn't want to come off as clingy to you so he restraints himself and stays on stage.

🎩 he really enjoys physical affection, he likes to give you bear hugs and nuzzle in to you.

🎩 although do not be fooled by him, he may seem to be a cute cuddle bear but when he doesn't like someone which is almost anyone who approaches you he gets mad easily.

🎩 he has some anger issues (not as bad as Monty but)

🎩 he deals with you being defiant in two ways:

He either waits till your done with your 'tantrum' as he calls it or he just locks you backstage for awhile.

🎩 he doesn't like having to punish you, he prefers to just cuddle you and smother you in affection.

🎩 most of the FNAF 1 gang are definitely some of the softest when it comes to you.

"are you ready for Freddy~?"

Yandere Bonnie:

💜 he's probably the most aggressive and cunning of the group. Finding ways to manipulate and toy with people.

💜 that however, does not apply to you. He would never.

💜 when he met you he just knew that it was love at first sight.

💜 this dude is 100 percent a worshipper, he can't keep his filthy paws off of you! Your just so perfect~

💜 he doesn't care if he comes off clingy tbh, cause he IS clingy. He, also like Freddy: loves to follow you around like a lost puppy.

💜 now he isn't delusional, at least completely. He smart enough to know that what he's feeling is wrong that he shouldn't be feeling it. But the thing is that he straight up doesn't care that he's delusional, He's happy and everyone else can die in a ditch 😀.

💜 he really likes to call you pet names like: darlin', sweets, and even cottontail is he feeling frisky 😉 (yes, I do headcanon them with ai's that are supposed to replicate humans and their feelings).

💜 but he....doesn't take defiance very well: it causes him to sober up a bit out of his delusions that he created. And as such he will get kinda pissed with you.

💜 but on a bit of a lighter note he likes to play music with you :)

💜 he likes to play your favorite song on his guitar and sing to you. (Yes, he can sing)

💜 he loves you so much, and you'll never get rid of him.

"sweets! I was worried you'd left...."

Yandere chica:

🧁 ah yes, mama chica.

🧁 I headcanon her as very sweet and loveable. Everyone likes her.

🧁 she's also an excellent cook, meaning whatever your favorite food is she will try to cook it for you.

🧁 she loves to give you hugs! She just loves you in general. There is absolutely nothing you could do that wouldn't make her just adore your every move.

🧁 you could litterly be a serial killer that kills for sport and she will think your an angel from heaven.

🧁 she isn't delusional, just lovesick. And oh so desperate for your affection and attention: like foxy and Goldie, she wants your attention a lot. But she isn't forceful like Cassidy is.

🧁 she deals with your tantrums in a different way, instead of punishing you like the others she just shuts you up with food XD

🧁 but if someone were to hurt you their dead meat.

"honey would you mind helping me make more cupcakes?"

Yandere foxy:

🏴‍☠️ our favorite pirate fox boy ✋☺️.

🏴‍☠️ ngl he's probably the softest out of the group. He's just so lonely to the point he craves attention. Please give it to him 🥺🙏.

🏴‍☠️ he's probably the only one that wouldn't kidnap you (unless your in danger)

🏴‍☠️ he's a soft boy ✋. Also those ears? Give em a pat.

🏴‍☠️ he really likes telling you about his adventures (pirate stories). He is quite a talker, he'll talk for hours about random shit untill it's six.

🏴‍☠️ he littlerly talked the night away.

🏴‍☠️ he gets kinda sad when you go home but he understands. He has some humanity 👌.

🏴‍☠️ despite being soft he flirts with you like there's no tomorrow. He does it in front of the others to.

🏴‍☠️ he deals with you yelling at him in a way he knows squeezes your heart strings: he just looks down in shame with his ears flat. Works every time.

🏴‍☠️ you wouldn't even guess he's a yandere till someone gets a little close to his liking.

"yarharhar! Don't worry darlin', i'll show that scallywag!"

Yandere golden Freddy/Cassidy:

💛 oh Lord, if you thought Freddy and bonnie were bad, wait till you see him. He's littlerly the biggest simp ever.

💛 you could just be breathing and he'll compliment on how utterly ✨bootiful✨ you look.

💛 being an old fredbear suit (this is my au) he can't move around much, but he can still somewhat move his arms. Which works well when they have to dispose of someone.

💛 he would littlerly jump off a cliff if you asked him.

💛 and they just love you so much they can't even say.

💛 they aren't to big on physical affection but he likes cuddles alot :D

💛 if anyone even much looks at you though he's ready to roundhouse this bish-

💛 how dare they breathe the same air as you 😤✋

💛 he's actually pretty manipulative, he does things he knows you like to attract you to them.

💛 and with tantrums? He just holds you and ignores all the biting and crying :)

💛 he isn't delusional but he isn't all that....sober either. He switches off.

💛 he's not very emotionally stable, but he tries :'(

💛 though he just likes to hold you with that same lovesick look in his nonexistent eyes

"darling....could you please come here? I would like to hold you right now"

[mattoidmeerkat]

Redeption arcs in the second chances show, shocking.

Like, obviously there is the Bobby of it all. That's the one most of the audience default root for.

And we have examples where the redemption is attempted but doesn't pan out: see Eva when she cleans herself up but understands that she has burned the bridge with Hen and cannot ever redeem herself now.

And ones that do, like the Buckleys. Sure things can never be what they might have been, but they've all made piece with who they are and what they want to be for each other.

Like, I think it would be in line (and so very interesting) with the show if they even allowed an opportunity for Gerrard to redeem himself. Like, not to wave away the past. Because that has never been the shows messenge, but to show that anyone can choose to change and make the world better. (And not be seen as a hero for it of course.)

Very true.

I do believe Eva got her redemption too. She got herself clean and started to put the happiness of others above her own, even if that meant letting go. Her conversation with Karen was so important. Karen means no one to her. But Karen means everything to Hen and Denny so Eva chose to reassure Karen because that's one thing she could still do for the people she cares about.

I'm glad they brought her back to tie up this loose end on a happier note. And because of the growth Eva has shown I'm rooting for her.

(This reminds me of a Bobby&Amir / Eva&Hen gif set I wanted to make for months...)

As someone with a difficult and complicated relationship with a parent I also appreciate the Buckley parents arc. No one can go back in time and undo the damage done. And Margaret and Phillip are far from perfect now. But no one is. But they are trying. And that is something. (And it doesn't invalidate anyone else's decision to cut out toxic parents from their lives.)

As for Gerrard, he has been an excellent villain. I'm interested to see where they go with this. Considering the damage this man has done over the decades a redemption arc would be difficult to pull off. I do think showing us some of the villain's humanity would help tell a more engaging story even if this one does not end with Gerrard redeeming himself.

They tried to humanize Claudette in 5x08, 5x16, and 5x17 but the "growth" in May Day was too little, too late. Having Gerrard come close to seeing the error of his ways but doubling down on them before his downfall could be an interesting story. The villain getting the option to change and choosing not to can be satisfying narratively.

[lumenflowered]

[A video is posted of what appears to be the Indigo League's breakroom. Maria is visible, though her coat is off and she appears to be busily mending a tear in it. Karen appears to be taking a nap on the couch with her Umbreon on her lap, while Koga is scrolling through his phone and Will appears to be letting his Xatu mess with his hair.

A door walks in, and Lance walks in past the camera with a quiet mutter of hello to Ade, who is presumably the cameramon and is currently hanging out either on the floor or under it. Either's very possible, considering how Ade is.

Maria doesn't look up at his approach. But she does ask, "My turn?"

"Not yet. Challenger lost; no more for any of us until two."

She nods, satisfied, and returns to her mending without a word amidst various muttering from the others—most audible is what sounds suspiciously like the words hell yeah from Karen, who's cracked an eye open specifically to sleepily punch the air.

"Excellent; I am admittedly rather occupied," Will says. His Xatu chirps emphatically in agreement.

"I'm gonna go back to my nap now, if no one's got anything important I should know about," Karen says.

"...Actually, there is one thing." Koga sounds legitimately worried. "Have the rest of you seen the news from Kalos?"

"Pssh. Some kids will handle it like they always do. Or some Faller like our girl will." Karen waves a hand dismissively. "Or maybe both! Who says Fallers can't be kids too? Anyway, yeah, I'm not worried."

"I'll admit I am," Lance confesses, "but we're far enough away that there really isn't much we can do about it except hope that the Kalos League resolves things on their own."

"It will turn out just fine," Will says.

"Are you saying that because you're psychic and you've seen it," Karen asks, "or because you're just trying to make us feel better?"

"I would have seen something if it was to turn out particularly poorly," Will says, "though I'm hardly an Absol, nor a particularly strong psychic, and Kalos is not a place I typically think about."

"Fair! I only do 'cause their Champion is hot," Karen says with a careful shrug, running a hand through her Umbreon's fur. "Speaking of hot Champions, Maria, what do you think? ...Maria?"

Maria, for her part, has frozen with the sewing needle in hand. It probably isn't because Karen just cheerfully called her hot.

"There is... something happening in Kalos?" she asks, at last.

"Yeah. Lot of misinformation out there, but most sources agree that it involves the Holocaster guy?"

"Lysandre?"

"Yup, that's him. He always gave me rancid vibes, personally."

"You say every person that's rich enough gives you rancid vibes," Koga protests.

"And have I ever been wrong?"

"Don't be mean to Steven like that," Lance says, though he sounds amused.

"Oh, I wasn't talking about him. He's cool. His dad on the other hand."

"Maria?" Will asks, looking again at her. "Is something the matter?"

Slowly, Maria shakes her head. "It's just... interesting timing, is all, and probably nothing to do with... other events..."

"Oh, is there shit going down on the multiverse site again?" Karen says flippantly.

Maria nods. "Yes. There is. I believe I would have known by now if I did share a universe with her, but..."

"I'll forward any reliable news I see to you," Lance says.

"Thank you." She exhales slowly, and returns to mending.

The video ends.]

[withpeopleinperson]

11, 12, and 20 for "i choose you and me, religiously" please? it's one of my favs!

omg hi thank u for asking me these!!!!! I love talking about my fics and I especially love when ppl send dms or asks about them off anon because it’s nice to know that real actual people are reading my things !

11. Was there a scene that you hadn't originally planned to include? Why did you decide to fit it in?

yes!! so i had the entire thing meticulously planned out and the sick regina scene wasn’t supposed to be in it! neither was the one where they sleep apart and call each other! then a million little things within the fic that originally weren’t planned either (the johnny cash quote, the . i think the main motivator in including them or fitting them in was just that it was so Them that the moment it popped into my head i had to put them in that fic instead of the long document of scene/dialogue/action ideas!

12. Was there a scene you wished you could have included? Why didn't it fit in?

oh my lanta YES! this fic has been in some stage of planning for nearly 3 years and I would chip away at it little by little with ideas and plans that never came to fruition. there was supposed to be a scene where they walk past a park and cady swings with regina and encourages her to heal her inner child, one where they fuck in a bathroom stall, one where they take a road trip and cady picks blue cotton candy bc the color is similar to reginas icy eyes

20. What is something you wish more people noticed about this fic?

the typos & the lack of italics bc ao3 didn’t import them. hahaha im just joking but there are two typos that it won’t let me fix. but there’s so many little things i peppered in that i wish ppl would tell me they notice. callbacks to the beginning of the fic, full circle moments, the way gretchen and karen are nearly integral plot points without doing much at all. im gonna put some under the cut here for the people who want to notice them on a 2nd or 3rd read through

- the fic starts with cady bringing regina a coffee, near the end regina is the one making cadys coffee

- cady’s careful consideration of regina and her feelings. when she thinks she might offend regina about the spin class, she carefully shifts her wording. she always accepts a drink to make regina not feel self conscious about drinking more or too much. she shares things with regina in conversation when she’s worried regina is self conscious about opening up too much. cady is so attuned to the emotions and thoughts of the people around her

- and on that note. cady is the quiet leader of the relationship while regina makes every physical move. cady is always anticipating reginas thoughts and actions and feelings, always prepared to gently lead them towards the next steps even if she lets regina do all the leading

- reginas extensive shoe and bag collection. i had an entire pinterest board dedicated to her seasonal colors

- the book they read. the way they read it. it’s such a small detail and barely central to the plot but I love that part.

- the way they enmesh so well. it reminds me of a concept that’s been fairly pertinent in my life recently, the fact that you are a combination of all the people you have ever loved, and i think you can look at cady and regina in this fic and see what parts of each other they adopt into themselves. like regina getting water for her bedside table even when cady isn’t there

- i also love the way the proposal scene goes as a full circle moment. it calls back the parking lot being their place, the ring being the expensive thing regina wants to surprise her with in the johnny cash quote scene, the callback to fetchen’s wedding and how regina didn’t think she was cut out for marriage. ugh, it’s excellent.

that was just a lot of me blabbing about me own fic so please feel free to ignore haha

[cinematics123]

So… there is a lot. And I will probably save some of it for a more focused/personal Buddie post.

First, if you were on the Buddie train (and I am) you were not wrong. Secondly, despite no Buddie, this was an excellent finale. Even the pacing was mostly on point. It was… good tv. If they were going to get cancelled (and they thought they were) this was the canon ending. We’ll call this CanonA. Let’s look at the CanonA ending.

For many of our mains, the firefam, it’s a good ending. Bobby and Athena are both healthy and get their cruise. Maddie and Chimney are planning their legal escape from the IRS wedding.

Hen and Karen story picked back up a thread about a baby, which is very interesting, but… we didn’t really get anything else on Denny and his Dad? Is that story line… done? Are they ok? It seemed like there was more conflict because of how the hospital scene let Nathaniel in but with some real distrust. It feels like they dropped one (meaningful) thread to grasp at another. It’s good, but not great.

Buck’s ending is more mixed; Eddie’s is downright tragic. Buck’s CanonA ending is that he got close to the answer and got the wrong one. Any wonder that his math power crapped out on a date with Natalia? People have said that growth in the show is non-linear. People don’t always learn, people don’t always grow. Buck makes the same couch mistake he did with Taylor. In CanonA, Buck may never know how close he got to that special ending. Instead in CanonA, instead of finding happiness, he goes down the Lev path from 6A. Happy-ish. Girlfriend, maybe kids, life gets busy, maybe finding the meaning at the end. Not bad, but not what “The Age of Absolutely” was about either.

Eddie’s is… tragic. We’ve gotten trickles of Eddie’s real story, but 6B confirmed so much fandom speculation. Though he had met Shannon before, they got together senior year, right into kids and marriage - and Eddie runs away for at least 2 deployments. He bails. He later dates Ana, sees the ready made family - and breaks up with her. He is putting wanting a wife and mother over his heart - that’s canon.

Eddie fawning over Buck in the poker scene and all of 6B is equally canon. Please correct me if I’m wrong but I believe their last deep talk together is… about how Natalia sees Buck. Eddie says the experience had to have changed Buck. Not only does he see Buck… but implies something has changed between him and Buck. With Nat and Buck dating, Eddie rushes to find anyone to date - and basically ends up with Ana2 (instead of Chris’ teacher, she helps him find glue for his project).

It seems like… Eddie’s realized that while he sees Buck, Buck… doesn’t see him. And Buck is not seeing Eddie in that scene. In a kind of parallel to “Buck is in the room”, Eddie needs Buck there too… but this time Buck goes the other way and Eddie doesn’t say a word. Instead, Buck goes… and Eddie goes back to his heteronormative fantasy. Despite saying he wants to get better “for me” he’s after a wife and mother for Chris, Chris is even there with him on the date phone call. It’s not just lack of progress, Eddie got to the very threshold of opening himself to Buck - if only admitting it to himself. Instead back into the closet. That’s Eddie’s CanonA ending. It’s grim. It doesn’t “get better” for Eddie. He gets to the edge and chickens out.

If you think you were misled that Buddie was a romantic plot, you’re right. When looking at our firefam, Buck and Eddie were constantly paired alongside the other couples. We didn’t just see them through a romantic lens, that was how they were presented. In the CanonA ending, there is not even a last scene with Buck and Eddie tighter as friends, it’s Buck&Nat and Eddie/Chris talking to Marisol. The pairing of the two as a couple/family is broken. In itself, that’s sad. Them laughing over beers or Buck being there encouraging Eddie on while he talked would not have broken the “coupling” lens. They deliberately chose to do so.

So much like how Eddie reaches the point of understanding only to hesitate and withdraw back into heteronormativity, so does 911 on Fox. It clearly got to the point of understanding Buddie as a couple, presenting Buddifer as a family, and then… pulls back and gives them last minute female love interests. Like Eddie, it chickens out and loses out on giving Buddie CanonA happy ending. Instead what it gave then was… realistic and everyday bad relationships. They got close, but in a case of life imitating art, like Eddie it settles for being convention and traditional at the expense of its own growth and happiness. I hope 911 on ABC does them better.

[yoosmekihyun]

Conversations in the Dark (pt. 6)

Summary: After a series of major personal events, you decide to move to New York (in part) so you can have a relationship with your newly discovered half-sister, Karen Page. Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson become additional important figures in your life as you navigate new relationships and figure out how to live your life.

Genre: Fluff, Angst, Smut

Warnings: mention of death, grief, anxiety, drinking, pining (so much pining), self-deprecation, chapters with sexual content will be marked with their own warnings, violence or attempted violence (i.e. Daredevil related)

Word Count: 3.8k

Part Six

Karen decided it was time for a girls’ night. You had met Marci a couple times when you’ve dropped by the office with coffee or met Karen for lunch and the two of you got along so far. When Karen pitched the idea to you, you were a little nervous but thought a fun night without the sexual tension you felt with Matt would be a nice change. You knew Marci and Foggy were serious and could tell from how Foggy spoke about her that she was end game for him. Since you’d quickly grown to adore Foggy, this was the perfect opportunity to develop a friendship with Marci.

Marci suggested a nice dinner somewhere with an excellent bar and you quickly agreed. It was a little bit of a walk from the Nelson, Murdock, and Page office but doable and you could take a cab home. This was the first time you had the occasion to dress a little nicer than usual, so you took your time getting ready, enjoying the process. You couldn’t remember the last time you wore a dress or heels and decided to go for it tonight but made sure you took a bag large enough to slip a pair of flats in, just in case. You dabbed a small amount of your favorite perfume on your wrists and throat before giving yourself a final once over in your full-length mirror.

Your burgundy sweaterdress would help keep you warm under your coat in the early December chill while your heeled ankle boots did little for warmth but looked too cute to pass up. You were grateful to Karen for the reminder to pick up tights the last time you were out, knowing you may need them to help layer as winter fully set in. You felt girly and pretty and just excited to make a new friend and have a relaxing night out.

Walking to the office to meet Karen, you reflected on the last few months of your life. While you still missed your mom and had days where the grief kept you from functioning properly, those days were happening less and less. You felt you were exactly where you needed to be at this moment in your life and you knew your parents—your mom, stepdad, and biological father—would be pleased with the close relationship you and Karen had developed. As you arrived at the office and pulled open the outer door to head into the warmth of the building, you sent up a prayer of thanks to whoever was listening.

The office was quiet for a change as you entered through the interior door, finding it a little unsettling. The lights were on and Karen’s desk looked to be in a slight state of disarray as it was typically mid-day, not how she liked it when she was about to leave.

“Hello?” you called quietly.

You heard a chair move and steps towards the open door of Matt’s office before he stepped into the shared space. “Hey, Y/N, I didn’t know you’d be stopping by today.”

“Hey Matt,” you stepped over to give him a quick hug which he reciprocated without hesitation. As you started to pull away, he held you still with his hands as his face was buried in your hair and neck.

“You smell incredible,” he said softly.

“Oh,” you blushed at his compliment as he released his hold to let you step back. “It’s my favorite perfume, thank you.” You stood staring at him, noticing a light bruise on his cheek and a cut on his lip. “Matt, what happened?” you asked as you gently stroked the bruised area to indicate what you meant. You started looking him over for other injuries, your night out pushed to the back of your mind with your concern for him.

“It’s nothing, I promise. I like to box from time to time and stopped a couple of the punches with my face. It’s no big deal.”

“Well, I disagree, I think it is a big deal,” you started, scolding him lightly, “I happen to like your face, so you need to be more careful with it.”

“You do, huh?” Matt smirked at your admission. You could have smacked yourself for confessing it so plainly but decided to go with it. You could moan and groan to Karen and Marci later over drinks.

“Come off it, Matt. You know you’re beautiful, I’ve heard the stories from Foggy about all the ladies over the years.”

“Maybe I’m just charming?” Matt countered, grinning fully now. “But we seem to have gone from you liking my face to finding me beautiful. That’s a big jump, sweetheart.”

“Ah, goddamn it,” you murmured softly as you looked up for some deity to save you from yourself.

Chuckling at your distress, Matt stepped forward and slipped a hand under your open coat to rest it on your lower back and tugged you closer to him. Without his glasses and his face so close to yours, you could see how beautiful his hazel eyes were as his gaze rested on your cheek. You were trembling slightly at the intense need that flooded your system at his closeness and touch. Matt took a deep inhale and closed his eyes as if he were trying to keep his composure. The hand on your back flexed slightly and his other hand came up to brush away the piece of hair that managed to get stuck in your lip gloss. He tucked the stray hair behind your ear and your eyes looked longingly at his mouth. As if he knew, Matt slowly licked his lips before taking another inhale and groaning softly.

“For the record, I find you quite beautiful as well.”

“I’m not sure that’s possible,” you whispered.

“I don’t have to be able to see to know that you are,” Matt responded with a slight frown.

“No, I don’t mean that,” you clarified softly, “I just mean that I’m not beautiful. I’ve been called cute, pretty on special occasions, but never beautiful. So, I think you may be mistaken.”

Matt pulled back slightly in shock at your response but before he could formulate a reply, the door burst open as Karen and Foggy rushed inside. They both froze at the sight before them, and you flushed a dark crimson at getting caught in a semi-intimate position with Matt again. You stepped away from Matt and cleared your throat, “You ready to head out Karen?”

“Um…yeah…” Karen slowly responded as she walked to her desk to drop the paperwork in her hand.

“What is happening right now?” Foggy asked, still frozen and looking from you to Matt and then glancing at Karen before moving his gaze back.

“We’re having a girls’ night with Marci. Didn’t she tell you?” You responded, keeping your eyes on Foggy and Karen, avoiding Matt’s reaction.

“I think she mentioned it but that is not what I meant.”

“Well, I just came to meet Karen and then we’re walking to the restaurant so, that’s what’s happening,” you answered, avoiding what you thought he was actually asking.

“We’re going to have to leave now to make it on time for the reservation,” Karen interjected as she observed the situation. You wore a nervous and slightly downcast expression while Matt was looking towards you with a mix of emotions and his hands on his hips as if he were going to start a cross-examination. Foggy, for his part was still rooted to his spot just inside the door with a look of bewilderment on his face.

“Right! Okay, have a good night, guys. Don’t work too late,” you said as you gave a haphazard wave and rushed out the door.

Karen followed you and whispered to Matt and Foggy as she pulled the door closed, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”

The two of you walked quickly towards the restaurant in silence. Karen wanted to give you time to settle and relax with a couple drinks before getting you to divulge what she had just witnessed. You were praying that she would let what she saw drop but had a feeling it wouldn’t be that easy.

Marci arrived just as you and Karen were opening the doors to the restaurant. Relieved she wasn’t kept waiting, the three of you exchanged greetings and quick hugs before checking in with the host. After checking your coats, the three of you were led to a booth in a far corner.

Drinks and dinner were ordered quickly and conversation began without mention of the incident. The longer you sat there, the more you found that you liked Marci and could see how she and Foggy worked well together, even if it wasn’t quite as obvious at the outset. Finishing your second gin and tonic, you laughed at story Marci was telling about a partner in her law firm.

“And he didn’t even bother locking the door! I walked in to give him the settlement paperwork and he was standing in the middle of his office with his pants in one hand and a hair dryer in the other! I’ve never seen someone turn that shade of red!”

Wiping away a tear, you commented, “You would think after getting caught drying his pants like that the first time he’d learn to lock the door! Or keep a spare set of pants at the office!”

“Those WERE his spare pants!”

The three of you cackled and you managed to flag down the waiter to order another round of drinks. As your laughter died down, you smiled at the women across from you and said, “This was such a good idea. I can’t remember the last time I went out like this.”

“Agreed!” started Marci as she sipped her fresh cocktail, “but Foggy Bear mentions that you join them at Josie’s pretty often.”

“Well, you know, it’s different with the guys…”

Karen saw her opening and pounced, “You mean it’s different with Matt.”

You flushed slightly at her call-out and just responded, “Mmhmm.”

“I am so out of the loop!” exclaimed Marci, “What is happening between you and Matt?”

You glanced at Marci and Karen, unsure of what to say. You settled on keeping it simple, “You know, he’s my neighbor and works with Karen so I see him a lot…that’s all.”

“That is so not all,” Karen quickly responded. She turned slightly to Marci while also keeping you in her periphery. “I have walked in on them twice now on the verge of kissing and when Y/N had us over for dinner, Matt was calling her sweetheart, and you could tell they completely forgot Foggy and I were at the table by the end of the night. I thought she was going to crawl into Matt’s lap during dessert!”

“Karen!” you admonished as you placed your cool hands on your cheeks in hopes to calm your flushing.

“Am I wrong?” Karen challenged.

“No,” you answered in a quiet voice.

“Let me get this straight,” Marci started using her lawyer voice as if she were presenting facts to the jury. “There is tension, like extreme sexual tension and you two literally live across the hall from one another but based on the way the two of you are talking about this, you haven’t even kissed yet?”

“Um…maybe? I mean, I feel the tension but I don’t know if Matt does.”

“Trust me,” Karen interjected, “Matt feels the tension. We all feel the tension.”

You dropped your head in your hands and groaned as Marci asked, “Okay, I gotta know, what is the problem here?”

What was the problem? you asked yourself. Honestly, there were two main issues that held you back and you took a moment to mull over the best way to explain.

“If I’m being honest,” you began hoping to explain yourself clearly, “there are two things holding me back right now. The first is that I know Matt is a flirt so I’m not sure if he’s flirting with me because it’s fun or because he’s actually interested.”

“He’s interested, trust me,” interrupted Karen.

“Is he? Because I’ve watched him flirt with other women in front of me when we’ve picked up coffee or even at Josie’s.”

“I am seriously going to have to have a talk with that man,” muttered Karen.

“I’m going to have to withhold judgement on your first point until I can see how he is with you,” Marci said. “However, based on Karen’s description and your reaction, I have a feeling there’s a difference between what he’s doing with you and what he’s doing out in the wild, so to speak. Sometimes people flirt to smooth over interactions that might be a little prickly otherwise.”

You considered Marci’s suggestion and filed it away to give more thought when you were fully sober. It seemed logical but you knew you couldn’t trust your judgement right now.

“You said two issues, what’s the second?” Karen asked.

You blew out a breath to help steady yourself. This was the issue that was truly getting in your way. “The second point has more to do with me. The best way to explain it is just that I’m not a fan of casual dating or hookups. I’ve been told that I’m the ‘relationship’ or ‘marriage’ girl and it’s true. And honestly, at this point in my life, I don’t want to get into something if the other person isn’t also looking for something long term.”

“I’m still not quite seeing the problem here…” Marci said.

“I’ve heard the stories about Matt from Foggy and Karen and I don’t judge him, but it doesn’t sound like he’s interested in settling down. I don’t want to ruin what is starting to be a lovely friendship or make things awkward for anyone.”

“For arguments sake,” started Karen, “have you tried casual dating?”

“Yeah, before mom got sick,” you threw back the rest of your drink and contemplated another. “It was awful. I can’t tell you the number of times I came home crying because some douchebag tried to pressure me into giving him a blowjob twenty minutes after meeting or the ones who basically negged me until I left.”

Karen reached over to pat your hand reassuringly and Marci gave you an understanding smile. You continued, “The worst one was when I tried a one-night stand. The sex was mediocre and after the guy answered the phone on speaker and it was another girl he was arranging a hookup with for that night! I think I scrubbed off a layer of skin in the shower that night; the whole thing made me feel used and disgusting.”

“Matt would never treat you that way, if you guys did just hook-up, you know,” Karen said softly.

“I know, and it’s not about how I think Matt would treat me in that kind of situation. It’s more that I just can’t do it and I don’t want to end up resenting Matt because of a choice I made. At this point, I like him too much for a casual thing to be enough for me anyways.”

Marci looked at you with a shrewd but not unkind expression as she tapped the glass she was holding thoughtfully. “Based on conversations with Foggy Bear and what I’ve witnessed over the past couple years, I would say that Matt may be at a point where he’s ready to settle down. Karen, have you heard about any hookups lately?”

Karen thought for a moment as you watched her, “Actually I think it’s been several months, even before you moved here, Y/N.”

You felt your heart flutter with hope in your chest, “Really?”

Marci continued, “To be perfectly honest, I thought Karen was going to be the one to tie Matt down.”

The hope you felt fluttering in your chest sunk like a rock into the pit of your stomach. “What do you mean?”

Your question caused both Marci and Karen to freeze as you waited for an answer. “Did you and Matt date, Karen? Was it serious?”

Karen sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “We went on a couple dates and kissed but that was it. This was a few years ago, not too long after I met him.”

“Why didn’t it work out?” you asked quietly as you fiddled with the napkin in your lap.

Karen thought for a moment and you appreciated that she was attempting to give you honest answers rather than brush away the information and what you were feeling. “I think in part it was timing,” she began, “and then a lot of things happened that drove a wedge between us. We were able to come back from it all to be friends but we missed our window and the romantic feelings weren’t there anymore.”

“So,” you began nervously, “you know the romantic feelings weren’t there for you but they could still be there for Matt?”

“They’re not,” Karen quickly answered.

“How do you know? Did you two ever actually talk about it after things settled down?”

“Well, no, but I can tell it’s not there for him anymore either. If it were, he wouldn’t be flirting with you, Y/N.”

You sat quietly as your thoughts swirled in your head. You knew you couldn’t think through all of this new information logically, but it didn’t stop your emotions from swelling and a tear sliding down your cheek.

Karen panicked slightly and glanced at Marci who appeared equally as alarmed. Sliding in the booth closer to you, Karen put an arm around you to help ground you and to pull your focus. “Hey,” she said softly, “what’s going on? Why are there tears?”

“How can he want to be with me when he could be with you Karen?” you whispered. “You’re so beautiful and I know we’re sisters but we’re not physically alike at all. I know he can’t see us but the difference is going to be so obvious he’s not going to want me if he could have you.”

“He can’t have me, Y/N,” Karen replied softly.

“You know what I mean,” you sniffled.

Marci, having heard your quiet response to Karen, reached across the table for your hand. You obliged and slipped yours into her waiting one and she clutched it tight. “Why do you think so poorly of yourself, Y/N? From what I can tell, you’re a smart, driven, kind, lovely person, inside and out, and you are WAY out of Matt’s league.”

You laughed softly and wiped at your tears with your napkin. “I’m not sure about that last part,” you began, “I can usually keep the negative self-talk at bay, but it always rears its ugly head at the most inopportune times.” You sighed and decided to tell them the rest, to get it all out on the table. “I don’t want to be anyone’s consolation prize or backup plan. I’ve been that before and it hurts too much.”

“What makes you say that Y/N? What happened?” Karen asked gently.

You cleared your throat and started fidgeting with your napkin again. “The boyfriend I had in college told me when he broke up with me. He wanted to date my friend but she was already in a relationship so he pursued me so he could basically have a warm body but also to have a chance to hang out with my friend more.”

“Motherfucker,” spat Marci in disgust.

“Oh, it gets better, or I guess, worse,” you laughed bitterly. “When my friend and her boyfriend broke up, he waited just long enough and swooped in after being her shoulder to cry on. They hooked up and started dating. Only after did he tell me and break up with me.”

“You have got to be kidding me!” Karen said with outrage in her voice.

“I wish I was. I wish I could say they both got their comeuppance, and it blew up in their faces but…”

“No,” whispered Marci.

“Yep, they’re married now.”

“Jesus Christ,” Karen said before finishing her drink. “No wonder you feel this way. You know Matt would never do that to you, right?”

“I know, but it doesn’t mean the insecurity and fear just goes away. I guess the surprise of this history with you two brought these old emotions back to the surface.” You ran your hands through your hair to try and shake off the baggage that decided to make an unwelcome appearance on what was supposed to be a fun night.

“I’m sorry for dumping on you guys, I think my drinks were a little stronger than I expected,” you chuckled.

Karen looked at you thoughtfully and then asked, “You mentioned a while back that no one had managed to get you off or really even turn you on much before. Is what you mentioned, the boyfriend and disgusting casual dates all you’ve experienced? Like have you ever dated anyone at least considerate and sweet to you, even if the chemistry wasn’t there?”

You shook your head sadly, “When I decided to moved here, I thought that maybe it wasn’t in the cards for me. I’ve been lucky enough to have an amazing family and the career of my dreams. Maybe it was just too much for the universe to give me a romantic love on top of it all?”

Marci’s eyebrows were practically in her hairline with the skeptical look she was giving you. “You know it’s not like a pie, right? Love and happiness aren’t finite things.”

“I get that in theory, but it hasn’t seemed to pan out in my life that way.”

“Maybe,” Karen interjected, “it’s because you weren’t supposed to meet anyone yet. So you could focus on your family like you did the last couple years. And now you’re ready to find that romantic love?”

You stared at the table with a frown on your face. You hadn’t really considered that timing may have been the biggest factor. With all the caretaking and death that happened in the last few years, along with juggling your budding writing career, you don’t know if you would have been able to give a romantic relationship the attention it deserved.

“Can we rewind for just a second?” Marci started, “Did I hear Karen right that none of these guys, even that piece of shit boyfriend in college, ever managed to get you off?”

Snapping your head up you looked at Marci and then sagged back into your seat. “Not one. Not even close.”

“This is a travesty,” Marci said with indignation. “Please tell me you’ve at least ascribed to the school of self-love?”

You laughed at Marci’s phrasing and the genuine smile on your face relaxed the two other women into smiling with you. “Oh, I am well-versed. You could say I have a double PhD—one in history and one in orgasms.”

The three of you laughed and Marci flagged the waiter for a final round of drinks. Once they arrived, she lifted her glass and you and Karen followed suit. “A toast for you, Y/N. May Matt Murdock get on his knees and atone for the disappointing past lovers! And sooner rather than later!”

Flushing from the alcohol and her toast, you clicked glasses with your friends and hoped Marci’s toast would become a reality.

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