#so you probably should work out why you’re calling to not vote for her

[sapphia]

tumblr telling everyone to not vote for kamala over israel like the US election decides the war and kamala herself is netanyahu. meanwhile netanyahu is sitting around the negotiating table trying to draw out the talks and so he can use them as an opportunity to massacre more palestinians.

eagle eyed focus on the real issue as always, guys 👍

[imagines--galore]

||Theatrics||

Summary: During a little impromptu training session, you happen to sprain your ankle. Luckily Zuko is around to help you back to Katara so she can help. Unfortunately for Zuko, you have a tendency to be slightly dramatic about your injuries.

Pairing: Zuko x Reader

Rating || Genres || Warnings: T. Romance. Fluff. Slight mention of injury but that about it.

A/N: You guys voted, so here it is! Also gif is definitely Zuko’s reactions to reader’s.....theatrics :3

"I’m dying!”

“You’re not dying Y/n.”

“Then why is the world growing dark!?”

“You probably have your eyes closed.”

"I do not need your sass while I am dying Zuko!”

“Well maybe you should shut up before I drop your dying butt.”

Smack.

“Ow!”

“Rude Zuko!”

“Thats it! You can crawl back for all I care.”

“No! Wait! Zuko! Wait!! I’ll be quiet.”

“One more word out of you, and I won’t carry you back.”

Katara looked up from where she had been mending Sokka’s shirt, again. There was no one in sight yet Zuko and Y/n’s voices were loud enough to echo along the path leading up to the main courtyard of the Ember Island Summer House. She stood, dropping her sewing to side as she quickly made her way towards the door and peered outside.

It took a minute or so, but then she saw the approaching figure of Zuko with.......you on his back. An amused smile played across the young waterbender’s lips as she watched the Fire Nation prince approach with you slung over his back, your arms wrapped around his shoulders to keep yourself in place.

“Katara! Oh! Now I won’t perish! Or perhaps I will? The pain is too much.” You moaned, throwing your head back for dramatic effect, the force of which nearly made Zuko stumble in his steps. Katara giggled as Zuko huffed in annoyance.

“She twisted her ankle.” He explained as he carried you into the courtyard with Katara trailing behind.

“And who’s fault is that? If you hadn’t startled me during my practice then I wouldn’t have twisted it.” You snapped back. Clearly the pain was making you more then a little cranky.

Zuko rolled his eyes, turning around and dropping you, rather unceremoniously onto the wooden platform that led to the rooms. You gave a little yelp, glaring at the Prince who smirked back as you rubbed your tailbone a little. Katara, ever the kind soul, carefully removed your shoe. You let out a soft hiss as the leather was slipped off.

Removing the cork from her water pouch, Katara made quick work of assessing the damage. “Well you definitely twisted it. I’ll try to heal it as much as I can, but it’ll be a little while before you’re able to walk on it properly. Probably a day or two.” You turned to glare at Zuko who rolled his eyes. “I’ve blasted you off the side of a flying bison Y/n. I don’t see you holding a grudge about that against me.” He said, referring to the days when he had spent chasing Aang and the rest of them.

“Yeah, well I got my revenge when I knocked you out with a blow to the back of your head.” As Katara started her healing process you held up a threatening finger in his direction. “You better watch out Princey, I will have my revenge.”

Zuko smirked. “What will you do? Hobble after me waving a crutch?” You growled under your breath, looking like you would leap at him at any moment. And if your ankle wasn’t throbbing so much you would have.

“Now now children. Lets not fight.” Katara said in a mocking tone as she tried to contain her laughter. You let out a small sound of relief as some of the throbbing was alleviated as Katara worked her healing abilities. “You’re a spirit-send Katara.” You said, gratitude shining in your eyes as you grinned at the girl.

Zuko frowned. “What am I? An ostrich-horse? I carried you back and you don’t call me a spirit-send.” You turned your attention back towards him, an annoyed frown creasing your forehead. “And who’s fault was it that you had to carry me back?”

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

“I am a performer, I’m supposed to be dramatic.”

“Over dramatic you mean.”

“Need I remind you, the acting company I worked for won awards for being one of the best in the Earth Kingdom.”

“Probably when you weren’t working for them.”

“As if your dramatic self is any better? Out of all of us, who’s the one moaning about his so-called honor all the time?”

“That was in the past.”

“The past was only a couple months ago, Princey.”

“Shut it Drama Queen.”

“Ah! At least I’m a rank above you, you fire-breathing-”

“Er.....guys?”

You and Zuko broke eye-contact to glare at the poor unsuspecting Avatar who had just arrived from the market with Sokka, Suki and Toph from an errand run.

“What?” The two of you snapped in unison, prompting Aang to let out a nervous laugh and slowly back off, holding his hands up in a surrendering manner.

Taking the lull in the argument, Katara quickly finished bandaging up your ankle and patted it in a reassuring manner. “There, you’ll be all better tomorrow.” You gave a small smile in thanks to the girl before gripping the sides of the wooden platform and slowly starting to stand. You tried putting some weight on your bad ankle, only to wince at the pain that radiated from there. It was much better then what it had been a few moments ago, but it still hurt.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I shall be retiring to my room.” With a haughty look in Zuko’s direction, you turned towards where you room was.

"Isn’t our room upstairs Y/n?”Toph helpfully reminded you, causing you to pause from hobbling forward. Your face fell, shoulders slumping, causing Sokka to let out a bark of laughter, only to shut up when Suki gave his shoulder a light punch.

“Hey Aang? Can Appa drop me into my room through the window?” You asked, turning to the younger boy with a pleading look. Before Aang could reply, Zuko let out a loud groan, throwing his head back to stare at the sky as he growled.

"For the love of Spirits!”

With that he stomped forward, and before you even got the chance to say anything, he had lifted you off the ground, one arm secured around your waist, the other under your knees to keep you from falling. Meanwhile, you had let out a shriek of surprise, your arms coming to wrap around his shoulders.

“If we want to defeat the Father Lord, you’d better start laying off from the FireFlakes.” He grumbled as he began to carry you towards the stairs.

“Its Fire Lord, and are you insinuating that I am fat?!”

“I said that! And I’m not insinuating, I’m stating a fact.”

Thwack!

“Ow! Will you stop hitting me?!”

“Then stop being so rude. I thought Prince’s were all about manners and chivalry when it comes to ladies.”

“Lady? You? Please! Toph is much more of a lady then you are.”

Thwack!

“You hit me one more time and I’ll drop you on these stairs.”

“Do it! I’d rather crawl up then be carried by you anyway!”

“Ungrateful brat!”

“Pouty prince!”

“Drama queen!”

“Honor bound jerk!”

Your voices started to muffle to the rest of the group as the two of you walked further into the house. The younger members of the group stood where they were, a little dumbfounded at what had just occurred.

“I bet you anything these two are gonna be even worse with their flirting when they get married.”

Sokka gaped at Toph, who stood there smirking.

“That was flirting?!” He exclaimed, prompting his girlfriend to roll her eyes at her boyfriend, smiling at how oblivious Sokka could be. Aang blinked his wide grey eyes. “You know, now that I think about it, whenever we fought Zuko in the past, Y/n always had something to say to him.”

“And he always said something back.” Katara added, the laughter obvious in her tone as she continued to listen to the muffled arguing through the wooden floor above.

[morgana-larkin]

Alright peeps! So I took a look at the poll and saw that most of you wanted the second part of 'Don't Call Me That' the most so here it is! There's everything in this one, heartbreak, angst, smut and fluff. A bit of a rollercoaster so good luck!

On another note: I'm working on part 4 of 'Mine' as that was the second most voted on. I also realise the poll is still open for another 4 hours but idc, you can still vote though!

Part 1

Don't Call Me That - Part 2

Warnings: Smut, angst, lots of fluff (Not in that specific order lol), happy ending

Words: 4.2k

Melissa didn’t get any sleep last night. Everytime she closed her eyes, all she imagined was you kissing her, and nothing was on her mind except the thought of you saying you love her. You still love her, even after her breaking up with you.

Melissa walked into Abbott a little earlier, she needed extra caffeine considering she got 0 hours of sleep last night. She barely survived the day, not only from lack of sleep, but seeing you multiple times, and everytime all she thinks about is your lips on hers.

The next day she barely got any sleep, about 2 hours. The next day was the same. She thought that at least it was Friday and she could sleep in on Saturday. On Friday, everyone can clearly see the bags under her eyes as they’ve darkened over the week, and the way she can barely stay awake. Melissa thinks that it’s good her students have a test to do today and a book report coming up, and a couple other things she can get them to do instead of teaching.

At the end of the day, you go to walk to your car and you pass by Melissa’s classroom and you can see her asleep at her desk. You walk in and you see there’s no one else there, so you walk over to her and shake her a bit. “Melissa?” you say and she groans but doesn’t wake. “Melissa!” You just about yell and she opens her eyes but doesn’t move her head. You kneel down to her level and look at her. “Hey, saw you sleeping, you ok?” you ask her and she looks at you with the saddest eyes you’ve ever seen.

“Am I dreaming?” she asks you and you tilt your head.

“What makes you think you’re dreaming?” you ask her.

“Because you’re here, you wouldn’t talk to me otherwise. If I was awake then you would just avoid me because I’m an idiot.” she says and you look down and sigh.

“Ok, come on. I’ll drive you home and then you can continue dreaming ok?” you tell her and help guide her up from her chair. You take her purse with you and help guide her to your car, as well as buckle herself in as she didn’t have the strength to do it herself. “Why have you been so tired this week?” You ask as you get in the driver’s seat and start the car.

“Because I’m being haunted by my stupidity.” She says and you snort, you then back out of the parking spot and pull out of the parking lot.

“What stupidity have you done?” You ask her.

“Breaking up with my girlfriend, Y/n.” She tells you and you then realise she has no idea where she is and might still think she’s dreaming. You know you probably shouldn’t but this might be your chance to figure out what’s really going on with her.

“Why was that a stupid decision?”

“Because I still love her so much. All I think about when I try to sleep is her kissing me or her saying she loves me. I can’t do this anymore, I need her.” She says and a few tears slip. “I’ve barely slept these past 4 days, I probably got no more than 8 hours of sleep combined. I’ve barely eaten as well. I broke up with her 3 months ago and I was still able to sleep and eat, I don’t know what changed.” She says and you think about it, you should probably help her out.

“Do you feel guilty all of a sudden?” And she lets out an airy laugh.

“I’ve felt guilty ever since I thought I should break up with her?”

“Ok, so not that then. What about the fact that she told you she loves you?” You ask her and she doesn’t say anything. “Maybe you thought her feelings for you would disappear when you broke up with her cause you thought that she would just find someone else?” You tell her and she still doesn’t say anything. You thought maybe she fell asleep so you glance over at her and she’s still awake. “Melissa?” You say and she looks up at you. “Did you really break up with me because you thought I should be with someone else?” You ask her and she sighs.

“Ya.” she says and takes a deep breath. “I was holding you back from everything you’ve wanted so I let you go so I wouldn’t be in the way because I love you and I want you to be happy, even if I had to watch someone else make you happy and give you what you want.” she tells you and her eyes slowly close and she falls asleep.

The rest of the car ride, you think about what she said. You’re honestly surprised by what she said. She thought she was doing something selfless for you, but instead just ended up hurting you both, she never meant to hurt you so much. And now you see the toll it’s taken on her to stick to her decision to try and make you happy. She’s willing to sacrifice her happiness for yours, you never thought anyone would do that for you.

As soon as you pull into her driveway, you gently wake her up. “Come on Melissa, you’re home, we should gotta get you to your bed and you can sleep comfortably, ok?” You tell her and she nods. She unbuckles herself but can’t open the door fully so you do that for her. You unlock her door with her key and you help bring her inside. You set her keys and purse at the door and you close and lock her door while she attempts to take her shoes off. You end up helping her with her shoes when she falls down and you help her back up and to her room. She falls on the bed when you get there and then you tuck her in, you go to leave after but she grabs your arm and you turn to face her.

“Will you stay with me?” She asks softly and you sigh.

“Ok, but only until you fall asleep.” You tell her and she nods. You get on the bed but stay on the covers instead of under and she wraps an arm around you. You admit that you do miss this and you miss her and her craziness. You turn around to face her and she’s still awake and looking at you.

“I do want you back, y/n.” She tells you and strokes your hair.

“What’s stopping you?” You ask her and she yawns and is slowly closing her eyes.

“The fact that you won’t be happy with me.” She says and falls asleep. You stay looking at her stunned and go over everything she’s told you, thinking that you weren’t you or she was dreaming. You then slowly crawl out from her hold on you and you replace it with a pillow so she doesn’t wake up.

A few hours later Melissa wakes up. She opens her eyes and realises she’s in her bed and has no idea what happened this week that well as she’s been so tired that the whole week has been a blur. She looks at her phone and sees that it’s 5:43pm and it’s Friday. She gets out of bed and hears some noises downstairs, she then grabs her bat and carefully goes downstairs. She gets to the middle of the stair when she sees you on the couch watching tv and she tilts her head and stares for a few seconds. She then continues down the stairs and you look over at her and chuckle.

“Were you planning on hitting me with a bat? You were friendlier when you were falling in and out of consciousness.” You tease her and she looks confused. “Do you remember anything from the end of the day to how you got home?” You ask her and she stares at you then shakes her head. “I found you asleep at your desk and then I drove you home. If you want I can drive you to the school parking lot to get your car and then go home.” You tell her, you don’t want to scare her if what she said while on the verge of sleep was true.

“You drove me home?” She tells you and you nod. “W-why?”

“Because I want to make sure you didn’t fall asleep at the wheel or stay at school overnight.” You simply say. “I bet you’re hungry since you also haven’t been eating, so I made you some mac n’ cheese.” You tell her and you go and get it.

“How do you know I haven’t been eating?” She asks when you reappear with a bowl.

“Cause you told me.” You tell her when you hand it to her and sit back on the couch. “Come sit.” You say as you pat the couch cushion.

“I wouldn’t tell anyone that.” She tells you as she obeys and goes to sit beside you on the couch.

“Wow you really don’t remember anything you told me.” You say and she freezes as she was about to take a bite.

“What do you mean?” She asks and takes a bite of the food.

“I mean we had a whole conversation while you kept falling asleep. In your classroom, my car and here, at your house.”

“What did I tell you?” She asks and prepares for the worst.

“Now I don’t want you to get freaked out ok? Cause you had no idea where you were or who I really was.” You tell her and that makes her feel worse.

“Y/n. What did I tell you.”

“You told me that you still love and miss me and you want me back.” You say and her eyes go wide. “You also told me the whole reason you let me go.” You add and she drops her fork. “And why you haven’t been sleeping, and you confessed that you’ve also barely ate in the past 4 days.” You finish and she’s just staring at you. After about 10 seconds she gets up and walks to the kitchen with her mac n’ cheese and you follow after her. She puts the bowl on the counter without much thought and she puts her hands in her hair. “Melissa?” You say to get her attention and she turns around looking scared and concerned. “What’s going on with you?”

“With me? It’s the fact that you weren’t supposed to know anything that I told you.” She tells you and she’s breathing hard like she’s on the verge of either a breakdown or lots of tears.

“Why? Because I’m just supposed to be happy with someone else as you suffer?” You tell her.

“YES!” She shouts and then looks surprised when she catches up with what you told her and what she confessed. “Since I already told you then I might as well say it. All those things that you want, you won’t get with me. But you will with someone else, someone else who wants to get married, have a family with you, wants to go out and be young and stupid with you. I don’t want those things anymore, and yes I do love you very much and do want you back. But I’m willing to put aside my happiness, if it means you get everything you want.” She tells you and you burst into tears, she immediately wraps her arms around you and hugs you. Your knees buckle and she guides you both to the floor gently and she keeps her arms around you the whole time. When you get to the floor, you place your head on her chest and she brings a hand to your head and strokes it soothingly.

You slow your crying down and sniffle a few times before you speak. “I don’t deserve you. You’re willing to give me everything at the expense of your own happiness. I really don’t deserve you.” You tell her.

“No, it’s me who doesn’t deserve you. You have been the bestest friend to me for 2 years before we got together, and after we got together you have shown me the best of love and care that I could ever ask for.” She tells you, and you look up at her and immediately kiss her. She automatically kisses you back before she has time to think. Once her brain catches up to what she’s doing, she doesn’t have the willpower to pull away, she used it all trying to stay away from you. Before she can register what she’s doing, she leans forward, bringing you back until you hit the floor of the kitchen. You make out on the kitchen floor for a good minute until you both pull away for air and you look at each other. Melissa suddenly is aware of what she did and she gets up before you could stop her and she scurries to the living room, you run after her.

“Melissa, would you stop running away from me!” You tell her and she’s turned away from you with her head down.

“You should leave y/n.” Is all she says and you walk up to her and spin her around.

“If you want me to leave then tell me while looking at me.” You say and she raises her eyes to your face and she’s crying.

“I can’t.” She says and you put your hands on her cheeks and wipe the tears away.

“Melissa, I want to be with you. If being with you means that I don’t get married, have kids or go to the bar every now and then with you then so be it. Because I’m only wanting to marry the right person, and that person is you. So if I’m with you or not, I’m not getting married. I don’t need kids to feel fulfilled, or to be able to say I have a family. I mean we can always get a pet like a dog, but you’re all the family I need. And I can go to the bars with my friends and be young and stupid with them from time to time if I really want.” You tell her and she starts crying even more.

“You shouldn’t have to sacrifice everything just to be with me.”

“Melissa, it’s not a sacrifice if what I’m getting is a life with you.” You tell her and you kiss her. Melissa immediately pulls back and looks at you, her hands on your head.

“Are you sure? You have to be 100% sure y/n.” She tells you and you think it over for all of 2 seconds and you nod your head.

“I’m 100% sure, I want to be with you Melissa.” You tell her and she smiles.

“I want to be with you too.” She says and this time she goes to kiss you. The kiss deepens and you start putting your hands all over her and you think you want to touch her skin and she’s wearing too much clothes, so you put your hands under her shirt. Melissa immediately pulls her shirt off so you can touch her and you unclip her bra and take it off. She’s always been the dominant one but at this moment, all you want to do is kiss her all over, so you walk forward until her back hits a wall and you go down to her neck and kiss and suck all over and she’s gasping under you. You then travel down to her chest and leave kisses all over until you attach your mouth to her nipples and start to suck and lick them. 

She’s bucking her hips under you and you know she’s not far away from pulling all her clothes off herself and guiding you inside of her. You’re working on her second nipple when she pushes you off and guides you to your knees. You go immediately into submissive like always and you pull her pants and underwear off. Melissa leans back against the wall and spreads her legs a little further so you can put your mouth there.

You attach your mouth to her clit and she starts bucking her hips right away and you pin her to the wall. Her hands go to your hair and she’s gasping and moaning at your touch. “Oh god, Y/n, that feels so good baby.” She says and when you know she’s getting close, you pull away and stand up. You push your body into hers and immediately insert two fingers in her and put your thumb on her clit. “God Y/N, I missed you so much.” She says and kisses you. She’s so close as she starts shaking but she doesn’t pull away from your lips like she usually does, you aren’t complaining though, you missed her as well and you’re enjoying kissing her again.

She comes not long after she starts shaking but you don’t stop, you keep fingering her and circling her clit and she lets out a high pitched gasp. “Oh god baby, yes, omg, don’t stop.” She says as she pulls away from your lips and gives into the over sensitivity.

She comes again not too long after the first and then you withdraw your fingers and put them in your mouth to lick them. She looks at you as you lick your fingers and you moan and that’s when she takes action. She picks you up and brings you to the couch, you’re so glad that she decided to remove the plastic as this wouldn’t be comfortable. She put you so you’re sitting in the middle with your back resting on the back of the couch. She starts kissing and sucking your neck and pulls your shirt off. She unclips your bra and yanks it off  right after then immediately brings her mouth to a nipple. You’re moaning and gasping under her and she smiles as she’s so happy that she’s back with you, she’s fully aware of how lucky she is right now and she won’t take it for granted. She takes more time on your nipples then she usually does and your patience is running thin as you’re dripping wet and you have a strong ache between your legs. 

“Melissa, please, I need you inside of me, please.” You tell her and she pulls back from your chest and smiles at you. She gives a quick kiss on your lips then leaves a trail of kisses from your chest all the way to the top of your pants. She quickly removes your pants and underwear, spreads your legs, leaves a few kisses on each thigh and then attaches her mouth to your entrance. You gasp as soon as her hot wet tongue is where you need her the most and she starts moving her tongue all over your entrance before entering her tongue in you. You moan as she starts sliding her tongue in and out of you and you're holding onto her hair for dear life. You start grinding into her mouth to try and get more friction so you can come and for once she lets you keep doing it, normally she would pin you down when you start grinding. Even in the middle of amazing pleasure, that fact is not lost on you, you notice it immediately then start to think of everything else she’s done differently. 

She kept kissing you when she was about to come and even when she came, when she usually pulls away as you love to hear her when she comes. She let you keep fingering her after she came and it seemed like she needed it as well, she only lets you make her come once as she usually ends up grinding your thigh when fingering you as she loves to watch you and it turns her on. She spent more time on your nipples then she usually does, to the point that you begged her to continue, and now letting you grind against her mouth. You put it all together and came to the conclusion, she’s letting you do whatever you want and making sure you feel good as she feels guilty. You reluctantly pull her mouth away and she looks at you confused,

“What is it baby?” She asks and her lips and chin is covered in your juices.

“Stop doing things differently, you don’t have to feel guilty ok. I feel really special about why you did what you did. No one has ever been willing to sacrifice their own happiness for mine.” You tell her and she smiles shyly.

“Of course, I’d do anything for you.” She tells you and you lean in closer to her.

“Then stop fucking me differently and start being yourself again.” You tell her and something flickers in her eyes before she pushes your head back to lean on the back of the couch then dives down to your clit and starts licking and sucking on it. Your fingers are still in her hair and you start grinding against her again, but this time she does pin your hips down. Then she does something she’s never done before, she snakes her hands around your hips and hooks her hands on your ass then pulls you up a bit and that gives her a perfect angle with your clit and you gasp her name out as you come.

She then immediately comes up and positions herself so her clit is on your thigh and she slides a finger in you and you moan as she starts sliding it in and out of you slowly. She then adds two more fingers and starts going faster while her thumb is on your clit and she brings her mouth near your ear.

“Unfortunately the strap is upstairs and I don’t have the patience to go get it, so we’ll have to make do with my fingers.” she says then adds a fourth and you cry out.

“OH MY GOD!!” You cry out as she fills you up with her fingers then her mouth goes to your neck and so much pleasure is coursing through you right now and you feel like moving but her grinding on your thigh is preventing you from doing that. So you do something else that will help stabilise you, you put your hands on her boobs and squeeze them. You don’t feel like that’s enough so you wrap an arm around her back and pull her into you more.

“Ooo” She says as she’s caught off guard by your actions. You come again about 5 seconds later and she doesn’t stop, she just keeps going until you come again and again and then you pull her away.

“Melissa, I can’t take anymore.” You tell her and she nods and gently pulls each finger out at a time. 

“Sorry I got lost in the moment.” She tells you and you smile but your body is shaking from the amount of times you came. She notices and then goes to your side and brings you both to lay down while she cuddles you to give your body the chance to calm down. You turn around in her arms then nuzzle your head on her neck and chest and she holds you tighter. “It’s ok baby, I got you, and I don’t plan on going anywhere again.” She tells you and you only nod as you’re falling asleep. She notices that you fell asleep and she gently strokes your hair. “I promise I won’t leave you again.” She whispers to you. “I won’t make that mistake again.” She says and presses a kiss to your forehead.

*3 years later*

You and Melissa are both standing in front of the house as you unlock it then Melissa grabs your waist before you walk in and she pushes the door open.

“What are you doing Mel?” You ask her as you’re smiling at her and she smiles at you.

“Well shouldn’t I carry my bride across the threshold?” She asks you and then picks you up bridal style and you let out a small squeal and then she carries you inside then gently puts you down. She wraps her arms around your waist and you lean into her touch and she puts lays her chin on your shoulder. You both then hold out your left hands and smile at the ring on both your third finger.

Melissa kisses your neck and then your puppy comes running in and Kristen Marie running after her. You and Melissa decided to adopt a little puppy a few months ago and you both are really happy with your lives now. Melissa re-thought her decision about getting married and proposed to you a year and a half ago, much to your surprise. Then you both agreed on adopting a dog and Melissa named her Bella. Kristen Marie takes Bella out one more time before leaving her with you guys. 

“Are you still alright with the fact that we got married?” You ask her.

“Oh, it’s more than alright baby. Cause I got to marry you, my happily ever after.” She tells you and you both kiss.

Taglist: @esposadejoyhuerta

@imaginesmultifandoms

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@sexysapphicshopowner

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@unicorniusfallapatorius

Let me know if you want to be added!

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

I just read a bunch of Owl House Criticism and have to say… a lot does make sense. I still rate the show very high and honestly I blame the pacing for a lot of the issues we DO have with the show. I also think people are taking this way more seriously then they should and some do the complaints feel nitpicky.

One thing a lot of people brought up is Luz’s character and how the first episode showed her casual dismissal of others and their safety occurs. Then there was a few comments on how Vee is right to call her out on running away and other things.

I don’t fully disagree. Luz fucked up big time her first episode where she brought live animals and fireworks to school. It’s just… no. I don’t deny people should have punished her for it. I vote that the Shakespeare play and the cheerleading thing aren’t worth punishment though. Because both are honestly just quirky kid things. She wanted to be cool so she did something she liked to try and impress others. They thought it was creepy and reacted to it. Good reasons for her to be kind of shoved aside by some people. The spiders and snakes though? Yikes.

But to just call her a bad character puts a nasty taste in my mouth because I think she is one that is a good character and whom I think would have been fun to explore. It’s just… she’s kind of a concept that was tried but fell flat.

I think the summer camp thing was handled badly and I would have liked to be explained why they never tried to talk to her about what a reasonable amount of creativity is in her school work. If it turns out they had attempted to do so multiple times but she never listened: the camp is probably a better idea then not. More so given her actions could have gotten her arrested. Honeslty leaning on that idea would have been interesting. Luz being told she had to go to camp or face probation or something would have been an interesting hook.

My friend said she felt therapy would have been better and yeah that’s a good point: but what if they did try and it didn’t work? What if they felt a camp was less expensive ? (Which it probably was.)

I would have liked more evidence that Luz was an outcast. I saw a lot of criticism on this because if you just look at the show face value: Luz does seem like she’s whining about a lot of stuff. Her mom turned out to be like her and only wanted her to not get bullied as Camila did in school. She could have made friends at camp. There’s just so much there that does make Luz seem like a bad person for being upset. And honestly it would be interesting to explore that to, to really pick apart the dramatic ‘me against the world’ mindset of teenagers who see themselves as outcasts. But the show is supposed to be about weirdos and found family.

So: I would actually nix Camila being a nerd. Manny was the nerdy one who loved fantasy, encouraging it in Luz. I would have had him be the one who was more open about Luz’s everything while Camila was more wary and put off. Sure, she could still laugh at the snake skin incident, but I would want her to be less accepting of the other stuff. I said that the first episode reminded me of my mom when I got my diagnosis of autism and she didn’t understand it. I would want to lean in.

Manny and Luz should have been canonly neurodivergent. Camila is neurotypical and she constantly compared her two family members because Manny could mask very well. Luz couldn’t. But I would have Camila struggle to understand that her daughter’s own brand of autism/ADHD is vastly different then her husband’s because it’s so common. I can’t tell you how many time people are like: oh you’re lying about being this cause you don’t act like BLANK.

Camila and Luz then have a conflict which makes it more understandable why Luz is willing to lie to her mother about not being at camp. Because Camila is set up to not understand Luz and possibly she would be pushing her daughter to act ‘normal’ because she doesn’t understand. Again this is inspired by my mom. I have vivid memories of her worrying about appearances and how others think of us, with her pushing me towards things I didn’t like. Some of it was out of concern for me, but there was a huge lack of understanding that drove a wedge between us for a while.

I would then have the idea that Luz is bullied be obvious. Luz would reference it or recall incidents. And I would have them be unpleasent. Being ditched by so called ‘friends’, name calling and mocking. Maybe having her things stolen or random crap dumped in her locker. I would have her be the outcast from the start. I would also address her being a POC person in a small town. Luz could have met Masha or the other two kids: I want a reason why she didn’t connect.

I grew up with almost no friends but people generally didn’t hate me. I got bullied a bit but most of the time I was ignored and happy about it. When I was a kid I was very particular and drove people off due to this. When I made friends I was with other weirdos: some of whom were alone because they were just… I can only call them very weird and slightly disturbing. One of whom was a girl who’d flip on a dime if she liked you or not.

Masha in canon is goth and is there to be the ‘cool goth kid’. I would have had them be dismissive of Liz’s fondness for the Azura series and possibly the type to mock her for liking a ‘gushy girly book’ because take it from this enby: a lot of us go through the phase of shunning anything feminine and romantic to be ‘cool’. I would have a reason why two people who could have totally been friends weren’t.

Luz would be an outcast among outcasts. Just that shade of different.

I want her to have suffered in school. I want her to have to explain that it’s true no one understood her. I want her to be able to look Vee in the face to go: you know nothing. Because Vee only sees a surface and not the full sum of it. Vee who isn’t into Azura and thus gets Masha being: oh you matured cool. I want to hang now. Who goes to Camila who is thankful her baby seems able to mask now.

I want Camila to be able to mistake Vee for her own kid because ‘oh god yes she’s finally normal’. And I want Luz to point this out. I want Luz to point out to Vee the other kids said camp was prison. And that ‘you might have liked it for some reason but can you say I would have? Masha thinks I’m a freak for liking Azura. They told me I was a loser for it.’

I want there to have been a damn good reason more then we got for WHY Luz stayed in the isles.

Not to say I don’t want Luz to feel bad about lying or anything. I just want the whole outcast thing to be more apparent. Luz feeling awful about lying and about resenting her mom who does love her versus the fact she never felt safe in the human realm is an idea worth exploring!!

[sarahwroteathing]

Maple Latte

A Continuation of Coffee and Cinnamon

Word Count: 1419

Summary: You make a special delivery to the bakery next door.

Warnings: Fluff and foolishness

A/N: The winner of this week’s poll! Thank you to everyone who voted! I hope you enjoy it

“We got a package while you were out,” Natasha calls to you as you enter the shop after your lunch break. “Should I be offended that it only has your name on it and not both of ours?”

You scoffed, moving quickly to hang your coat and scarf on the rack, a spark of excitement flaring to life in your chest. You knew exactly what that package was.

“Apologies, my dearest darling, I ordered something for a customer and forgot to add your name to the shipping label. It won’t happen again.” 

She was leaning in the doorway of the back office, small box in hand, eyeing you speculatively.

“Where did you write down their information? I’ll call them and let them know their order is ready.” 

“Uh…” Your voice went up two octaves despite your best efforts, and you cleared your throat, schooling your face into a thoughtful expression. “You know, I don’t remember. I’ll have to look. You mind manning the desk while I take care of it?”

Just as Natasha was about to answer, the bells over the door gave a loud ring, announcing the entrance of a small family. Her mouth closed into a pleasant smile as she gave a wave. 

“Sure thing. I’ll just open the box and get the order bagged and ready for you.”

Her voice was nonchalant, but her smile was entirely too self-satisfied as she moved past you to reach the desk. You caught the edge of the box in your hand as she passed, bringing her to a stop.

“I don’t know how you know…” you said slowly, “but you obviously do know. So give me the box.”

She let you wiggle it out of her hands, her smile growing into a full grin.

“You know, you could try buying him a book he’d actually like.” 

“Where’s the fun in that?” you laughed, turning towards the front door.

“Acting like a grown woman with a romantic interest in someone can be very fun, actually!”

“What was that? I can’t hear you!” you called over your shoulder.

You regretted leaving your coat behind almost instantly, the cold wind cutting right through your thin sweater, but you weren’t interested in returning to the lion’s den that was Natasha’s “I know your secrets” smile. It was a quick trip anyway, less than a dozen steps to the bakery door. 

Sam was behind the counter when you walked in, the overhead speakers stuttering out fragments of songs as he tapped impatiently at his phone, searching for the music he wanted. 

He glanced up at you, eyes catching on the box in your hand before rolling dramatically.

“Again?”

“Well, hello to you too. It’s lovely to see you,” you said pointedly.

“Mhmm, but you’re not here to see me, now are you?” 

“Take it as a compliment. I choose not to irritate you because I like you.”

“And yet there’s still no customers allowed behind the counter. And definitely none in the kitchen,” he said, following you to the edge of the counter to block your path.

“I’m not a customer, I’m a -”

“I can't let angry mobs into the kitchen either. There are knives back there.”

“Well, I promise not to stab him.”

He raised his eyebrows at you, clearly unimpressed.

You sighed, narrowed your eyes.

“What kind of bribe would you like today?”

“For access to the kitchen? The works.”

You looked down at the package in your hand again. Was it worth it? Probably. Earning the Steve Rogers Bitch Face was the height of entertainment. 

“Fine,” you said with a frown. “Box me a slice of your most expensive cake, and come get a free book any time before I close today. With a sticker price less than $20.” 

Sam smiled, slow and wide, reaching his hand out to shake yours.

“Pleasure doing business with you.”

“You’re a menace. Why do I like you?” You grumbled, squeezing past him towards the kitchen door.

“Because I’m cute.” 

You grimaced, and Sam’s laugh followed you through to the kitchen, where Steve was huddled at a small table in the corner, reading and eating his lunch.

He stood immediately on noticing you, confusion clearing from his eyes when he noticed what you were carrying.

“Again? Do you have a list somewhere? Of books you want to inflict on me when you get bored?” 

Steve held his hands out impatiently, and you laughed as you tossed the box to him.

“Inflict? Seems a little harsh. They’re books, not gunshot wounds.”

“Still,” he mumbled, finding an untaped edge to wiggle his fingers under. “You’d save so much money if you stopped buying me books I don’t want.”

“Don’t want?” you repeated with a smile, dropping into his recently vacated chair as you watched him. “That would be so much more believable if you weren’t trying to rip that box open with your bare hands.”

He looked up at you, blue eyes alight with challenge as the tape gave way with a loud pop. You raised your hands in surrender but made no attempt to hide your laughter as he refocused on the book now in his hands.

Latte Art for Beginners

And there was the expression you were waiting for, in all its glory. Clenched jaw, pursed lips, eyes with a vaguely dangerous shine. 

“Just trying to support a fellow small business owner,” you said innocently.

“I don’t do latte art because I don’t want to, not because I don’t know how.”

“Sure,” you said with a light shrug, patting his arm condescendingly as you stood again.

“I can do it,” he said insistently. 

You smiled, but just as you were about to use the coffee cup on the table to make your point, your stomach gave a little flip.

Because that wasn’t one of the bakery cups. It was one of yours. 

Your to-go cup, your cardboard sleeve, stamped with your logo. 

… Interesting.

“Steve,” you said slowly, reaching to pick up the cup. His face went blank as you did, and he eased half a step back.

“Probably from one of our customers. I dragged this table from the front.”

“And you decided to eat lunch beside a stranger’s coffee cup instead of throwing it away?” you asked, popping the lid off of it. The steam still rising from the surface carried a very familiar scent.

You took a small sip just to be sure.

“This…” you said, “is a maple latte.”

He wasn’t even looking at you anymore, eyes fixed somewhere above your head as he shrugged.

“Mystery solved, I guess.”

“I’ve only sold one of these today. To Bucky.” 

“Must have left it here.”

You raised an eyebrow, looking back down at the cup. Still over halfway full. 

“You know… I make one of these for him every single day. But now that I think about it, I’ve never actually seen him drink them.”

“Well, he gets them to-go, and then comes here to visit me and Sam,” Steve said defensively. “He doesn’t stay in your shop long enough for you to see him drink them.”

“Not even a taste though? Most customers take at least one sip before walking away.”

Steve sighed, his eyes dropping closed for a moment before settling on you.

“This isn’t gonna go away, is it?”

A confirmation if you’d ever heard one. 

If you smiled any bigger, your cheeks were going to start hurting.

“No, no it isn’t. Do you have something you’d like to tell me, Steve?”

The muscle in his jaw jumped.

“Can I have my coffee back, please?”

“Of course,” you said smoothly. “Anything for a loyal customer.”

He grumbled something unintelligible as he took the cup back from you, draining at least a quarter of the coffee left inside before setting it down on the table again. 

“It’s good,” he said stiffly. 

“I agree,” you said, softening your smile a little. “It’s a very cozy flavor combination.” 

“Are you going to cut me off?” Steve asked, finally meeting your eyes again.

“No. You’re welcome in any time you’d like. Bucky, however…”

He sighed.

“I know. Seeing me every morning will be a terrible burden.”

You finally caught a smile at that, a tiny one. The slightest curl at the corner of his lips.

“I’ll find a way to cope.”

“Good. Because I enjoy making coffee. But if you want one, you’ll have to come in and buy it yourself. Deal?”

The smile grew a little as he took your outstretched hand. 

“Deal.”

------------------

Oooooooooo boy

Two more pieces to come, my friends, and they’re both super fun! Who’s excited?

Replies, reblogs, and asks make my heart happy! I’d love to hear from you <3

Part 3: Apples and Cherries

------------------

Tags: @shifutheshihtzu​ @internalbullshit​ @lilasiannerd-blog​ @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory​ @iwillbeinmynest​ @scotlandasshole​ @netflixa​ @hardcorehippos​ @singingprincessstudent​ @sophiealiice​ @blue1928​ @tinuviel015​ @a-book-pressed-rose​ @bbparker​ @battlebunnyteardropsinthesun​ @feelmyroarrrr​ @orangespocks​ @multifandomgirl-us​  @buckybarneshairpullingkink​ @patzammit​ @pato-el-cerdito​ @my-fabulousness-has-arrived​

[redisaid]

Sylvaina Poll #2 Results

The spam subsides, for now, and my delicious suffering begins. Poll #2 is now closed.

If you missed the results of the first poll, check them out here!

For poll #2, we got 127 responses, and everyone voted in all the multiple choice categories. Nice!

Our winning scenario, pulling away at the end, is Mid-BFA!

The summary I gave for this one is:

“The terrifying truth was that Lord Admiral Jaina Proudmoore always knew who her soulmate was. The problem she faces now is that she’s pretty sure that woman hasn’t had a soul in over a decade, and they now stand against one another as enemies. So why has she started to feel a connection over that age old bond again?”

I did enjoy your write-ins, so thanks for submitting those. I’m still going to go with the popular choice, but might incorporate some things if I can.

Also you guys do realize that this means we now have a fifth major trope in the fic: Exes Getting Back Together...

You are all very mean to poor Jaina, by the way. You’re making the secret meeting place be the Ruins of Theramore!

Again thank you for the write-ins! Cape Cod AU anon, I want to read this, so you should write it!

Only this third option was never a contest. Our winner for what soulmate marks do once soulmates connect is that...They Glow!

However, Shiny/Metallic gang, I have your back. The chosen scenario is going to give me some opportunities, which I still have to think about. Also I’m biased because I liked this option, so we’ll work it in too.

I also already had plans to incorporate a couple of ideas from the write-ins, so you guys are in for a treat too.

I’ve already listened to a ton of your song suggestions. Thank you so much for including those! I won’t mention all of them, but here’s some that were highlights:

I love this song, but we’re gonna use the OTHER moon song from the Crane Wives, along with a bunch of non-moon songs.

I was not prepared for 00′s pop country. Thank you making me spit out my water at this one.

Somehow I had no awareness of this song, became utterly obsessed with it, and then looked it up to see if meant what I thought it did, and was delighted to be correct. Thank you for that journey, whoever you are.

So, you’re probably wondering why I asked for moon songs. Well, our fic will be called: Beneath the Blue Moon

And I now have a lot of work to do! 

Thank you again for everyone who participated in the polls. Watch this space for the first two chapters of this fic to come out, and then I’ll be offering some additional polls to ask for help again!

[riverstardis]

the best day of my life:

this episode🙄

“the camera is not my friend, it tends to give me the look of an undertaker. hardly a vote of confidence for prospective patients” the wording “prospective patients” is funny to me bc yknow i’m not sure the patients tend to shop around a&es prior to needing one sjdkfkf

aww david baked a lemon drizzle cake and called it “lemon misery”

SJDKFKKF lily comes in saying “man with a 12 inch—“ and max interrupts to say “guilty” 😭😭 but she just carries on “—laceration”

how did hanssen know elle again?

charlie’s still got the pills in his locker😬

ah there’s glen!

cal saying he’s due a hair of the dog and ethan’s like noo can we just have a quiet one and cal goes “what? no. where’s your stamina ethan?” he doesn’t have any because his body is NOT used to the amount of drinking he’s suddenly started doing😭😭

oh look there’s the delicatessen lady🙄

cal tries to convince ethan to ask her out but he says she’s a patient and cal goes “well that’s never stopped me” soo effie was just ethan being more cal? i don’t think this ethan would like 2018/19 ethan very much

“try not to be yourself. channel that knight magic. and don’t do anything i wouldn’t do” “…so anything?”

top 10 moments before disaster

i can’t watch this🫣

“anyone ever tell you you look like the milkybar kid?” “er my brother used to make me wear a neckerchief to school. which probably explains why i got beaten up so often.” poor ethan :((

i really don’t understand how anyone thought this was okay…

what gets me is that ethan sounds genuinely terrified which means that either that was written in the script and the writer somehow managed to justify ethan being terrified and playing it as a joke or it was an acting choice and george was trying to change the tone of the scene to what it should have been. not that it not being in the script would make it any better, it would be bad enough even without the fear in his voice😭

it’s funny how some of the background nurses seem to literally just be there for the male staff to flirt with. like there is absolutely no overlap between the ones we see actually working like tash and the ones who we see flirting

elle going snooping in charlie’s locker

she lured ethan in there to be a sperm donor🤬 who tf approved this

ethan saying “you don’t know anything about me” makes me think they did this just to highlight that if she had gotten pregnant the child could have hd without her knowing???? could they really not think of a better way to do that wtf😭😭

she apologised to him as if that makes it all fine wtf😭😭

“do you know how hard it is to make friends when you’re made to gallop into school pretending to be a cowboy?” 😭😭

sometimes it just hits me that cal’s dead😥

hitchhikers guide to the galaxy reference sjskfkk

max beating dylan at chess sjdkfk

on one hand it was weird that elle went looking in charlie’s locker but on the other connie saying she went on a witch hunt against him is a little dramatic and i do feel bad for her because she genuinely believed she was doing the right thing

rita’s tyres have been slashed :/

[japhan2024]

THE ISLAND

Chapter 6: The debate

Amanda interviews Ian before he has to go and debate the big guy.

Author's note: This fanfiction is not endorsing any candidate for president of the USA :o) not even Ian x) maybe especially not Ian... he seems more preoccupied with how hot Amanda is. I mean, who can blame him amirite.

Chapter word count: 1.700

Rating: general

Ian felt claustrophobic. He tried to control his breathing, which wanted to ramp up to a pant. It took a lot out of him to keep up a cool demeanor.

Of course, Courtney knew what was up.

“Hey, Ian. You’re okay. You’re gonna be fine. We’ve rehearsed a thousand times. You’ve got this.”

They patted his shoulder encouragingly. Ian took another controlled, slow and deep breath. His eyes were closed, that’s why he didn’t see her coming.

“Mister Hecox! Thank you yet again for gracing us with an interview on this exciting afternoon.”

Ian gasped without sound. Amanda looked absolutely stunning in a red bodycon dress and high, red heels. Her makeup was done to a t, her hair was loose, and her long, wavy strands were bobbing up and down as she animatedly interviewed the candidate.

Her photographer had apparently been promoted to video-crew. He filmed her and Ian as they sat down in a sweaty studio in DC.

“The polls have you neck and neck with your opponent, after that brief spur ahead because of your speech last month. But lately your campaign has been plagued with a, well, questionable social media campaign. The, ah, talking giraffe was not well-received. Will you sway the audience back to your side tonight?”

Ian wore a black and white suit with a blue tie that really didn’t suit him at all. He kept trying to fix his cuffs while stress-burping.

“Miss Lehan-Canto, I should thank you. No, really. You’re one of the fairest reporters and one of the few people I really trust to paint a realistic picture of this debate…”

Amanda fixed one of her manes behind her ear and shot Ian her widest smile.

“So, I feel comfortable in telling you, that yeah. Those videos were a bit cringe. And I can’t control what a superPAC does, after all. However, we ARE talking about it right now, so it works in a way.”

Ian involuntarily glanced at the clock. Still an hour to go. He felt sick.

“Your opponent has been mocking your campaign relentlessly. Are you worried about your ability to stand up to such a bully on the debate stage?”

Ian scoffed. “Please. I will show America clearly what a clown he is and why they should vote for me instead.”

“What is your opinion of his nickname for you, ‘Eeny Weeny Hecox’?”

Ian snorted. “It’s actually really funny and I appreciate it.”

Amanda raised an eyebrow. “That’s surprising.”

“I don’t think so. Don’t I have a track record of telling the truth and calling things how I see them?”

“You do, mister Hecox. You’re right. Do you think you’ll get to the topics of policy, or do you fear it will just be another mud-slinging contest?”

“I mean, realistically, it’s probably going to be the latter. But that doesn't mean I won’t try.”

“Well, mister Hecox, thank you for your time and good luck!”

“Thank you very much.”

The interview was over. Amanda gave Ian a tight hug. He enjoyed that a lot.

“I mean it, Ian. Good luck out there. It’s all fun and games until you’re swimming with the big fish. I’ve seen it happen before…”

Ian smirked and playfully raised his brows. “Are you concerned for me, Amanda?”

“Oh, shut up! You know I am…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be okay.”

“God, your eyes are blue.”

“Bye, Amanda.”

“Bye…”

~

Ian had some time alone before he went on stage.

“Let’s put on a show,” he told himself. If he could actually win this, not the debate but the election, he’d finally be able to change the course that his beloved country, the United States, was heading for.

But for that to happen, he couldn’t be honest. He had blended in quite well with all the gatekeepers and power players. And he hated each and every one of them. They way they cared about themselves and not their country or fellow countrymen. It made him sick.

He took a few breaths, in and out. Then he walked out to meet the crowd.

~

“Welcome everyone! My name is Grace Helbig, your host and moderator. With the stakes higher than ever, we’re expecting the ratings to be high as well, as America and the world are watching this debate tonight. Please everyone at home, remember to check your air-conditioning settings: the temperature should be as warm as possible at night so we can cool more during the day.”

They went to commercial. Ian and his opponent got mic-checked and shot each other a few glares already.

Then, it was finally time.

“Good evening, everyone. You’re watching the presidential debate and it’s looking to be a heated one, although not as heated as the weather in California right now!”

Mild laughter.

“So, gentlemen, let’s start. Please begin with your opening statements. Why don’t you go first, mister Hecox.”

“Thank you, miss Helbig. Well, this year officially marks the death of half the species on our planet in the last ten years...”

Ian’s opponent cut him off. “Can you believe this? He opens with a statement about animals. He doesn’t care about people, he’s a dangerous eco-freak.”

“Please, mister Trump, we’re still in the opening statements.”

“Yes, Grace, I know but I have to call BS when I hear it. They all try to sell you this green horror show, while most normal Americans like it hot!”

Some boos and some cheers.

Ian continued, a bit distracted, though. “And worse, people all over the world are fighting to hang on for dear life. But are we doing anything at all to try and stop this freefall into hell?”

“Eeny’s party are a bunch of Satanists, they would love it if the gates of hell opened…”

“All I’m seeing the current administration do, and yes, I’m talking about my own party, is lie and fearmonger about other countries and wars. And the guy over there? He’s trying to convince you that your neighbor is the source of all your problems. Great uniting sentiment. Stop the madness, I say.”

Trump stayed on the offence. “Stop the madness? Has he looked in a mirror? A little, tiny man in a suit two sizes to big for him. Who seriously thinks the American voters want to vote for a little man like that?”

“SHORT KING!” someone in the audience shouted. Of course, Ian could count on his campaign team. And Shayne had a booming voice. The audience laughed loudly.

Grace tried to regain her grip on the debate. “A very surprising opening statement, mister Hecox. Are you not in support of the current administration?”

Ian shrugged. “Have you tried to walk outside lately? It’s near impossible. I can’t pretend that it’s all fine. It’s not.”

“Thank you, mister Hecox. And now for mister Trump.”

“Well, I don’t think I have to say anything really, after listening to that disgrace of an opening statement, not once mentioning normal Americans’ problems. This guy is a worse joke than the loony memes he posts online.”

“Do you, do you have an opening statement?” Grace desperately tried to keep on track.

“The American voters want this administration gone!”

Some cheers.

“And there is just one person in this room who can really get America back on track, and that person is me. When I was last president, we were thriving. The economy was flourishing, people were happy. And look at us now! It’s a disgrace, it’s horrible really what they have done to us. No more!”

“Do you have a response to that, mister Hecox?”

“Yeah. Are you serious? Your presidency set much of our current misery in mo-”

“All I can hear is a small child nagging, he can’t even respond to a simple question.”

“Please let mister Hecox speak,” Grace tried her best, but she was no match for Trump. And neither was Ian if he was being honest with himself. But he wasn’t trying to beat him in the debate. He was trying to relate to the viewer.

“You didn’t stop any wars, you didn’t help the American people. And now you want them to give you a second chance?”

“A vote for a strong, powerful America is a vote for Trump.”

“A vote for a little guy who is genuinely trying to help is a vote for Hecox.”

“He wants open borders!”

“What? I didn’t even say that.”

“A vote for this country to be forgotten and taken over by China and India is a vote for Hecox.”

Trump was getting on Ian’s last nerve.

“Weren’t you responsible for making us all less safe with your drone murders all over the world?”

“You don’t know the first thing about war.”

“And I’d like to know as little about it as possible!”

“See, he’s ignorant and wants to stay ignorant. Eeny-Weeny Ignorant Hecox.”

“Thank you, gentlemen, we will be right back!”

The rest of the debate went much the same. It was a mud-slinging fest, just like Amanda had predicted.

~

Ian was back in the campaign bus with Courtney and Shayne. They were watching the ratings and first polling after the debate.

“Wow, that is incredible,” Courtney commented on the sky-high ratings. “Grace was right.”

“It seems like you’ve performed well, Ian, congratulations!” Shayne patted Ian on the shoulder.

Ian smiled at the ground. “Thanks. I don’t know, it’s getting really close to the election, and I don’t know if I like it.”

Courtney took Ian’s hand in theirs and rubbed it. “It’s normal to feel anxious about this, buddy. It’s a big job you’re auditioning for.”

“Yeah, I’m proud of you, Ian,” Shayne added. “I loved how you took the wind out of Trump’s sails bashing our administration before he could. It’s a bold move but they kind of deserve it.”

“I loved your ‘short king’ moment, dude. That was awesome. You won the debate in my opinion.”

Shayne glowed. His phone rang.

“Yes, hi Kiana! Oh, you already put it on t-shirts and mugs huh. We were just talking about it. You’re a real one. Haha, yeah. Bye.”

Ian fondly shook his head. “Guess I have a new nickname!”

Courtney and Shayne chanted “short king! Short king!” at him.

[heather-chandlers-weirder-cousin]

How’s your DC guy die again and why is this the second time

well. I had a whole explanation typed out but I lost it. Approximation below:

I should disclaim that I know very very little about his most recent death, but I can catch you up to speed on the whole… thing that is Jason Todd.

So, there are five Robins, but only three of them will be relevant here: Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake. (The other two are Stephanie Brown and Damian Wayne/Al Ghul. Do not ask me about Duke Thomas.)

So, Dick Grayson is the first Robin. You probably know at least a little about him but even if you don’t it’s not really necessary for this explanation, so don’t worry about it. Really the only thing you need to know about him is that he was fired from the mantle of Robin. (But that’s a whole other story.)

So by the time our story begins, there is currently no operating Robin. Dick is off being Nightwing with the Teen Titans. Enter: Jason Todd.

Jason was born to Catherine and Willis Todd. You don’t need to know who that is. Put a pin in them, though. Catherine was addicted to [nebulous stuff, it changes from writer to writer I think] and overdosed a while before this. Willis is in jail. Jason is left on the streets of a neighborhood in Gotham called… I want you to take a minute to guess the name because I promise you you cannot predict just how ridiculous it is:

Crime Alley. The worst neighborhood in Gotham is called Crime Alley. You didn’t guess something outrageous enough, did you?

So the thing is, Crime Alley lives up to its name. It’s to the point where Batman himself doesn’t go there often. He hasn’t abandoned the place, but he… avoids it.

So, where our story starts, Batman is going on the rare patrol of Crime Alley. And he just. Leaves the Batmobile. Parked. In the open. And this would be a bad idea even if you weren’t in Crime Alley because A) you’re probably still in Gotham and B) it’s the goddamn Batmobile, but! It works out for us.

So, Jason Todd, bright kid that he is, takes a look at the vehicle of the man who is notorious for routinely beating up criminals, and decides it’s a totally good idea to steal the tires.

This, shockingly, does not end horribly for him!

Batman catches him, of course. Otherwise we’d just have an issue of him having to walk home and then figure out how to get the Batmobile towed without compromising his identity. I would read that. But anyway. He finds Jason trying to steal the tires. Jason immediately, without hesitation, denies he was stealing them and then hits Batman in the gut with a tire iron. (Foreshadowing!)

This, shockingly, does not end horribly for him!

So Batman finds this really funny. He decides he likes this kid, and after a failed attempt to get him off the streets, (Crime kindergarten. Long story.) he decides to take him on as Robin (Dick Grayson was understandably upset about this. That’s another story, though.)

So, skip ahead a few years, Jason is twelve now. (Did I mention he was ten when all that happened?) it’s mostly been typical Robin stuff, comic book things, Etc.

Now, remember that pin we put in Catherine and Willis Todd? Yeah. So, Jason finds out Catherine isn’t his biological mom! Surprise!

Now, being down a few parents, he understandably wants to meet his birth mom. So he tracks her down: her name is Sheila Haywood, she’s an aid worker in Ethiopia.

Sheila Haywood, unbeknownst to Jason here, is working for the Joker. He’s blackmailing her for medical supplies, she’s embezzling, you get the picture.

She sells him out, of course. He’s Robin, it’s a comic book, these things happen. He gets tortured half to death by the Joker with a crowbar. The building he’s in blows up. He dies, of course.

Now, this isn’t quite part of the story, but I feel it should be mentioned: Jason’s death was very much a toss-up. There were two endings to this issue written beforehand: one where he died, and one where he didn’t. Readers were allowed to phone a number, and vote on whether he would die in the next issue.

He lost by a mere seven votes.

So, he’s dead. And listen- every DC character and their grandma has died at some point. It’s practically a common cold, they’re usually fine by the end of the week.

But most DC characters, when they die, can return to the status quo once they get back and have a little chicken noodle soup. Jason can’t, because a little after he dies, Tim Drake comes along.

Saying he comes along is a bit of a misnomer- he’s been here the whole time. Tim Drake is a bit of a freak- I mean that complimentary, of course. He’s been stalking Batman and Robin since Dick Grayson’s run in the mantle. He allegedly saw the flying Graysons perform before they died (this is a lie. He is lying about this, he is too young to have seen them perform, and his character is also a massive liar who would make that up, but. Not the point. The point is he's been here a while.)

So Batman has been understandably depressed since Jason's death. More violent, more reckless, and Tim notices this. He's worried. So he essentially shows up at the front door of the manor and demands to be made Robin. And. He is. And then actually succeeds in fixing Batman. He's. Idk. He's insane.

So Jason Stays dead for twenty years, our time. Stephanie becomes Robin, 'dies', (Stephanie is a great example of a character that was treated horribly as Robin and tortured by the Joker and didn't pull all the shit Jason did once she got back, by the way, it's literally not that hard,) Tim is Robin again, and then Jason... wakes up.

He's been gone for about three years, in universe, and he wakes up in his grave.

So he claws his way out, and for a while he wanders around Gotham as a sort of shell, not quite knowing who or what he is, until he's found by a woman named Talia Al Ghul. (Mother of Damian. That's not relevant to this story.)

She dumps him in something called a Lazarus Pit, which is basically a really good bath that fixes all your problems. So Jason is properly back! Yay! One thing, though: he’s angry.

So, Batman, as you may recall, has a pretty strict rule against killing. It’s kinda a whole thing. So when the Joker murdered Jason, he… didn’t avenge him, of course. (In fact, Jason doesn’t know about this I think, but he actively protected him- Dick Grayson beat the Joker to death after he found out and Batman resuscitated him. It was a whole thing.)

So Jason is angry that Batman won’t even bend on his killing policy for the person that murdered him. He gets doubly angry when he finds out about Tim Drake. And, to be fair, it doesn’t paint a very pretty picture. I would also be mad if I came back from the dead and saw that someone else was walking around in my clothes.

Now, here’s where we get a little less understandable: Jason, mad that Batman is seemingly just employing children to be good, replaceable soldiers, (I could go on a whole rant about this. I will not right now but I could) decides that the best course of action to teach him a lesson is to… drumroll please… murder the child sidekick!

You may immediately notice several leaps of logic there. Unfortunately for Tim, Jason did not.

So Jason, now armed with the knowledge of how to shoot a gun, (Talia taught him that. It was a questionable choice but I have faith she had a good reason,) tracks down Tim Drake, several times, and tries to murder him, several times.

At some point, through events I am not privy to, he cools off. Maybe he just got bored. But he settles down, probably due to realizing that he’s never gonna manage to kill this kid. He becomes a regular Batman villain known as the Red Hood, who is a crime lord running… guess what neighborhood… that’s right! Crime Alley! Who woulda guessed. They didn’t even change the stupid name.

There’s a lot of reasons Red Hood and Batman don’t get along, Red Hood is very fond of murder, all that stuff I just rehashed to you, etc. But yeah. That’s about where we are now. Jason has become more of a fickle ally of the Bats than an antagonist lately, so I’ve heard, which is. Probably not great for his character but fine.

And then he dies again. I’m gonna be honest, I have no idea what that’s about.

[oblivious-aro]

I once heard somebody say that ‘the inability of the left to distinguish between an imperfect ally and an enemy is the height of privilege and will be our downfall’. I’ve completely forgotten where I heard it from, but I really think that it could help with your whole mercilessly harassing and shitting on an Terrace and her incredibly diverse, LGBTQ+ show here. Seriously, this isn’t JKR retroactively calling Dumbledore gay. This is somebody who’s proven that the gay rep can be there. They’ve put the work in (Lumity exists, Raine Whispers exists AND they plays an important role in the story, Hunter has a bi patch on a jacket he made, etc.), and sometimes LGBTQ+ and trans characters should also just be ALLOWED to exist, you know. What we have with The Owl House is just about the most exact, polar OPPOSITE of “CrUmBs” that you could possibly fucking get for LGBTQ+ representation in a cartoon.

Have you ever considered that maybe you’re just an incredibly bigoted person, and THAT’S why you find yourself so often hating the LGBTQ+ rep that you see in the shows that you watch, no matter how good and positive that it is?

First off, I have not harassed Terrace in any way. Harassment is a serious issue, and you shouldn't trivialize others experiences by calling benign critisism harassment.

Second, LGBTQ+ and trans? Hmm...

Now, you're saying you agree that Terrace is imperfect, but we just shouldn't criticize her? Because that would be... the downfall of the left? A little overdramatic, but I suppose that's what happens when you interpret a quote that's supposed to mean "the lesser of two evils is objectively the best option, go vote" as "don't criticize the show I like".

Terrace didn't "prove" anything, either. Sixteen and Brace Face were amungst the first cartoons with gay rep over a decade ago, but if you needed it proved that gay rep in cartoons was possible in the first place, then your probably not very smart. Or disingenuous. I'll let you figure out which one I think you are.

Also weird how the only rep you didn't defend was the aroace rep, ya know, the main one I was criticizing? It's almost like you don't actually care what I say and are just having a knee-jerk reaction to seeing something you like being criticized.

You see kids, this is what happens when you get to emotionally invested in a show. Anon saw me complain about one character and decided that painting me as some kind of raging demon that hates all lgbt+ rep ever (just ignore all the rep I praise in this blog) was a more rational course of action then maybe asking if Dana Terrace wasn't 100% perfect like God just because she made a show that gave them some serotonin one time.

No show is perfect. Speaking from experience, the sooner you accept that fact and diversify your media diet a bit more, the happier you'll be. If you ever find yourself wanting to rage in someone's inbox like anon here, maybe try taking a moment to self reflect.

[vellichordragon]

I’m gonna be honest with y’all.

If you choose not to buy or play Hogwarts Legacy, the worst thing that happens is you don’t play a TERF’s video game. That’s the absolute worst case scenario here; missing out on a lousy game that you probably won’t remember in five years when the next batch of AAA games launch.

The best thing that happens if you don’t play the game is you don’t give JKR the satisfaction, money, and endorsement she has stated she takes from any sale or public support for any of her IPs. You voted with your wallet and kept your moral backbone. Best case scenario for not engaging looks pretty good so far.

Conversely if you chose to buy/play the game anyway, the best case scenario is the trans people around you now realize you have, and likely will continue to, prioritize your entertainment over standing up for a marginalized community during an active genocide against them, which is being participated in by the very creator of the entertainment you’re consuming. That’s the least awful outcome. If you have a conscience then this should frankly be bad enough. The worst case scenario is you never cared enough to contemplate this and you aren’t reading this post anyway.

You need to start introspecting and working out why you continue to allow a poorly-written children’s franchise have a death grip on you. It is not magically innocent when you take JKR out of the equation. (You cannot take JKR out of the equation anyway. The books are representative of her worldviews. She has expressed as much.)

With how much of Harry Potter is heavily laced with antisemitic and racist caricatures, and with JKR being very much in the public eye calling for us to be wiped out like a plague, I don’t see how anyone with good intentions could give some childhood nostalgia such priority over any basic sense of morality.

Evaluate why exactly you need a video game so badly that even active ongoing trans genocide takes a backseat in your mind. It’s time to do some soul searching.

[sylviakent]

How Hinge Disrupted Online Dating with Data

The sites below cater to an older demographic and make it easier for seniors to try online dating. Action Step: If you’re looking for love, make sure to mention it on your profile. They're just looking to hook up. You can specify the age range of people you're looking to meet in your profile, and you can even see when potential dates were last active on the site, saving you from messaging dead accounts. It depends on how long the long-distance thing is going to last. Which of the following romance movies are you going to watch? For sure, but it's much more practical than romance movies would have you believe. How much jealousy are we talking about here? Too much drama to keep straight. נערות ליווי במרכז Yes, I keep in contact with all of them. No, I don't keep in contact with any of them. Since November 2014, contact and interaction beyond the first message per person requires a premium (i.e., paid) subscription. So if you're curious about what type of person you should be dating, then take our romantic relationship quiz right now!

If you don't sense this kind of "fireworks" feeling after the first few dates, then they're probably not the ideal person for you. Then we agreed to meet for happy hour drinks that weekend. Signing up to the service is pretty easy, all you need is an Android or an iOS device and the app itself. Users typically reach out to the company, often through Support, when they need to fix an issue. What stood out about them? It's out there, but most people will never find it. The next time you find yourself engaging in one of the following behaviors, consider how you could turn the situation around and approach it from a more mindful perspective. I could have drawn them separately, but it will turn out that presenting them as overlapping bars makes it easier to think about the overall fraction of Democrats voting for the Civil Rights Act. Well, think about someone that you may have been attracted to in the past. These types of people will not only grab your attention, but they may be the key to making your ideal relationship an everlasting one. Nora DeKeyser is a professional matchmaker and relationship coach and has helped over 20,000 singles.

This is referred to as "romantic chemistry," which is the spark between two people in a relationship. Sometimes, this spark is ignited through mutual interests and in-depth conversations, but some people can simply feel this through their instincts. If you’re an active blogger (i.e. at least once a month) yet don’t feel like you would call yourself a creator, it would still be great to have you participate in IndieWebCamp. ’ or ‘Would you feel comfortable if I kiss you? Yes, but I don't take it that seriously. But understanding what the heart and mind require to work through the process can help when figuring out the next steps and finding the courage to take them. Maybe you're a geek in the streets and a freak in the sheets - there are plenty of apps where geeks can just find a hookup, too. We have a lot of options and lists from which you can choose from, you are welcome to click here and find out why we are the best dating service in town. Vangelis himself was absent, due to influenza, but the doors eventually opened and the guests were welcomed in with champaign and delightful little snacks including little balls of chocolate that were so good they're actually worth mentioning here.

A good profile also increases your chances of meeting someone special sooner than you thought. Would you classify them as a nerd, athlete or someone who is just plain popular? But, have BTS had any girlfriends and if so, who were, or are, they dating? So, what do we mean by "types" of people? Dua's boyfriend is a professional model, so, what better excuse to get him in her music video? Which of these would you call your famous boyfriend? Yes, I'm so ready for this. Yes, a few times. It's really nice, but I wouldn't say it's phenomenal. He went on to say that Filipina girls are not materialistic and were only concerned that their partner be truthful, responsible and devoted. Flamingoes because their mating dances are lit. When it comes to the dating world, guys and gals are often spending time with people who aren't their type. Who knows what happened. It depends on who I'm around. It depends on why they aren't family-oriented. Q: Why does this cost $25?

[zanyfestnerd]

How Hinge Disrupted Online Dating with Data

The sites below cater to an older demographic and make it easier for seniors to try online dating. Action Step: If you’re looking for love, make sure to mention it on your profile. They're just looking to hook up. You can specify the age range of people you're looking to meet in your profile, and you can even see when potential dates were last active on the site, saving you from messaging dead accounts. It depends on how long the long-distance thing is going to last. Which of the following romance movies are you going to watch? For sure, but it's much more practical than romance movies would have you believe. How much jealousy are we talking about here? Too much drama to keep straight. Yes, I keep in contact with all of them. No, I don't keep in contact with any of them. Since November 2014, contact and interaction beyond the first message per person requires a premium (i.e., paid) subscription. So if you're curious about what type of person you should be dating, then take our romantic relationship quiz right now!

If you don't sense this kind of "fireworks" feeling after the first few dates, then they're probably not the ideal person for you. Then we agreed to meet for happy hour drinks that weekend. Signing up to the service is pretty easy, all you need is an Android or an iOS device and the app itself. Users typically reach out to the company, often through Support, when they need to fix an issue. What stood out about them? It's out there, but most people will never find it. The next time you find yourself engaging in one of the following behaviors, consider how you could turn the situation around and approach it from a more mindful perspective. I could have drawn them separately, but it will turn out that presenting them as overlapping bars makes it easier to think about the overall fraction of Democrats voting for the Civil Rights Act. נערות ליווי בהרצליה  Well, think about someone that you may have been attracted to in the past. These types of people will not only grab your attention, but they may be the key to making your ideal relationship an everlasting one. Nora DeKeyser is a professional matchmaker and relationship coach and has helped over 20,000 singles.

This is referred to as "romantic chemistry," which is the spark between two people in a relationship. Sometimes, this spark is ignited through mutual interests and in-depth conversations, but some people can simply feel this through their instincts. If you’re an active blogger (i.e. at least once a month) yet don’t feel like you would call yourself a creator, it would still be great to have you participate in IndieWebCamp. ’ or ‘Would you feel comfortable if I kiss you? Yes, but I don't take it that seriously. But understanding what the heart and mind require to work through the process can help when figuring out the next steps and finding the courage to take them. Maybe you're a geek in the streets and a freak in the sheets - there are plenty of apps where geeks can just find a hookup, too. We have a lot of options and lists from which you can choose from, you are welcome to click here and find out why we are the best dating service in town. Vangelis himself was absent, due to influenza, but the doors eventually opened and the guests were welcomed in with champaign and delightful little snacks including little balls of chocolate that were so good they're actually worth mentioning here.

A good profile also increases your chances of meeting someone special sooner than you thought. Would you classify them as a nerd, athlete or someone who is just plain popular? But, have BTS had any girlfriends and if so, who were, or are, they dating? So, what do we mean by "types" of people? Dua's boyfriend is a professional model, so, what better excuse to get him in her music video? Which of these would you call your famous boyfriend? Yes, I'm so ready for this. Yes, a few times. It's really nice, but I wouldn't say it's phenomenal. He went on to say that Filipina girls are not materialistic and were only concerned that their partner be truthful, responsible and devoted. Flamingoes because their mating dances are lit. When it comes to the dating world, guys and gals are often spending time with people who aren't their type. Who knows what happened. It depends on who I'm around. It depends on why they aren't family-oriented. Q: Why does this cost $25?

[jaypturnerbhm]

Top 10 Reasons to Date a Gay Dad

Originally published to GayswithKids.com by Jay Turner

We’re gay dads. Many of us were married to women, and for various reasons we eventually found ourselves single and looking for companionship from another man.  Life is a little more complicated for us because we have kids. But that shouldn’t deter you from seeking a relationship with a gay dad.  In fact, there are many reasons why we make better partners than men without children.  We are generally more mature, responsible, and emotionally available.  We are also better communicators.

Here are the top ten reasons why you should date a gay dad:

We know how to plan play dates

We know how to juggle schedules to keep everyone happy, and that would include you. Picky about where we’re having dinner? Can’t decide whether to go to the club or the party? Trying to make plans for that weekend getaway?  Love theme parks and playing dress up?

We’ve become experts at dealing with small minds with short attention spans, so we can handle even the pickiest guys!  We know how to have fun, and we’re more adventurous than you would imagine.  We have an arsenal of creative ideas at the ready.  Even when it comes to planning group activities, we’re going to make sure we please all comers.

And we’re experts at picking out the right toys!

We do drama on a different level

Ever dealt with a teenager having a meltdown?  How about a case of the terrible two’s?  Broken up fights between siblings?  We’ve probably seen more drama than the cat fights that occur at your local gay bar, and we handle it with aplomb.  We also don’t bother being passive aggressive about it or spreading the news of our latest spat all over social media.  What happens at home is dealt with swiftly and fairly and just between us.  We’ve seen it all, but there’s no reason the rest of the world should see it too.

We know how to compromise

As dads, we’ve become skilled negotiators.  My younger daughter is a fashion diva, and when she was very little she demanded the right to pick out her own clothes.  Every morning we were met with a meltdown.  As a compromise, we instituted “Me Mondays.” On Mondays, she could choose what she wanted to wear, so long as it was weather appropriate.  That led to some… questionable fashion choices.  She may have looked like a destitute queen voted off the first episode of Drag Race, but she felt empowered, and that’s what mattered.  The rest of the week, we called the shots.

We know how to compromise, because that’s how our life works.  Sometimes, we really just don’t care.  We’ve learned to pick our battles.  You’re having a meltdown because you really wanted the Range Rover, but we have a Ford budget?  We see the big picture.

We don’t sweat the small stuff.  Things that would cause a hissy fit with some guys just roll off us.  It’s not that we don’t care about you, but we know that it’s just not worth arguing about some details.

Nothing scares us

Before coming out, I remember being so scared of anyone learning my big, dark secret.  I was terrified that anyone would discover I was gay.  Certainly as gay men, we’ve endured our fair share of discrimination, and in some parts of the world we even fear for our safety.  But nothing can prepare you to face the world like having kids.  

If you’ve raised kids, you’ve seen it all.  From dirty diapers to the stomach bug, we’ve seen and cleaned up our share of messes.  Bloody noses and all sorts of cuts and bruises have probably been endured.  Have you ever seen childbirth? Yikes!

From accidents to terrifying displays of defiance, we are unfazed.  We’ve probably been yelled at and assaulted more than most, and yet we still stand our ground.  These little ones have been placed in our care, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to protect and care for them.  We don’t back down.

We’re willing to fight for what we believe in and for those we love.

We’re all about comfort 

Yes, it’s fun to go out for an amazing dinner, followed by drinks and dancing until the wee hours of the morning. But have you ever snuggled up under a blanket with popcorn and chocolates and watched Disney movies for hours? How about spreading a blanket out in the park and taking a nap in the sunshine? Yes, we know how to have fun, but we also enjoy sleeping late and just snuggling.

Every day doesn’t have to be spent running ourselves ragged to keep up with the party circuit.  Sometimes, we’re content to just take it easy.  This takes the pressure off of you to keep another man constantly entertained.

Endurance

Up at 6:00am, getting kids ready for school, packing lunches, commuting, homework, practices, play dates, gym time, getting in a run, and more makes for busy days.  We juggle and stretch to get it all done.  

We’re all in.  We know how to go for a long time, and we know how to make it fun.  We don’t back down, even in the toughest of situations, and we can literally go all night.

You’ll never be first

You will never be first, but you’ll strangely be okay with that.  You see how much we love our littles.  You’ll see us sacrifice and compromise in ways that most men would never consider.  We are always going to put our children first, and when you see that kind of selfless love and devotion to the wellbeing of another, you’ll know that a gay dad is the kind of man you want in your life. 

I know the world doesn’t revolve around me.  That gives me a different perspective from many gay men.  Ever bothered by how selfish and self-centered some men can be? Gay dads have learned to give of themselves in ways that many men have never had to face, and we have our priorities in order.  Sometimes that means I don’t get my way, but it helps me grow as a person and become a better human.

We take a long view of time

We only have these kids in our care for about 18 years.  After that, they leave the nest.  We have to take a long view of time, because we are planning not just this week’s activities but what we’re going to be doing with our lives after our kids are grown.  Who will we be? What will we do with our lives? 

This perspective helps us reach our goals and plan for our dreams.  We’re focused on long-term happiness and success.

We listen and know how to meet your needs

One of the most important things a gay dad does is listen.  We’ve become skilled communicators out of necessity.  How are you feeling? What do you like? No, what do you REALLY like?

Do you have any idea how picky kids can be? No, wait – do you have any idea how picky a gay man can be? We have become experts at reading between the lines.  We know what you’re thinking when you first wake up in the morning.  After all, we’re men too.  We understand those midday urges, and we’re all for a little wrestling match and maybe some cookies before bedtime.  

We understand true love

What is true love?  I think we’re all aware that it isn’t that 1:00am Grindr booty call.  It’s not even the butterflies in your stomach you get when he’s showing off that latest package from Andrew Christian.  We know that true love is a lot more.

I like to define true love as a choice.  I’m all for some fun, but for those of us who want more than a one-night-stand, feeling chosen takes a relationship to another level.  True love is choosing the very best for the beloved.  It’s choosing what is best for the beloved, sometimes even at a cost to myself.  It’s putting another person before yourself.  It’s considering their needs and the outcomes of your own choices.

We know what’s important.  We have our priorities in order. We take care of our own.

[softxsuki]

Have you ever been compared to someone before? If it was intentional or unintentional?

It honestly hurts because as a shy/introverted person, I've been told that I should be more social and adventurous or outgoing with people. I should go outside more because I'm always inside because I like my peace and quiet.

I'm not proud of it and I want to go beyond my comfort zone but it's difficult even if it's one step at a time.

Now, it feels nice to let that out but sorry for that rant. </3

So have you?

I’m sorry you had to be told that :( there’s nothing wrong with being shy or introverted. Some of us like to keep to ourselves, no everyone wi enjoy social situations with tons of people. If we did, we’d all be the same and that’s not fun! I’m the same way! I love being indoors and when I do go out it’s usually with 1-2 friends and we go somewhere in nature where it’s quiet like a park or a bookstore! The only loud, crowded places I like are concerts and amusement parks! Other than that I prefer being at home on my own too. So don’t let anyone make you feel guilty or pressured to change that. There is NOTHING wrong with being that way.

If you do want to step out of your comfort zone, then you can push yourself a little. I hated going to doctors appointments and other things on my own before. I’d have panic attacks because my mom would pressure me saying I’m an adult and I can go myself. Or even making phone calls “you’re already 23, hurry up and speak for yourself” I found it SO difficult but I think having my job helped a little. I went to my eye appointment on my own, I went to my job interview on my own, taking the initiative to sign up for things on my own too! Like I signed up to vote bymself and even applied for a library card in my town (I moved here like 2 years ago and never had the chance to get one). And at work I’m constantly answering the phone (I still get nervous when I have to call a customer, but it gets better the more I do it)

So yeah, it won’t be easy to push yourself out of your comfort zone, but it definitely does work with practice. But take things at your own pace. You’re doing perfectly well as you are!

And hmm yes I have been compared to people before. This probably won’t come as a shocker, but it was my mom who compared me to everyone. I had this cousin in Puerto Rico who I always internally compared myself to. She was gorgeous! Perfect body, nice skin, beautiful hair, amazing personality, awesome fashion sense. I wanted to be her when I was younger. I think that’s where my bad body image started tbh and my mom didn’t really help that. My cousin was very smart, listened to classical music, was very organized, and studied very hard for her courses. My mom compared everything she did to me bc I wasn’t ‘good enough’.

“All you do is watch TV, why don’t you listen to music like your cousin” — said to me when I was 8 years old

“Oh your cousin gives me the best massages. If she were my daughter I’d be so grateful” —said to me at 10 years old bc I didn’t want to massage her feet…

“Why don’t you study more like your cousin. She’s organized with your notes, and look at you! You don’t even study!”—said to me throughout high school.

But then my cousin ran off at 19, for pregnant, disrespected her own mother, and married an abusing man SO, o guess she regrets comparing me to her now.

Aside from that thought she’s compared me through high school and college bc I didn’t have a job. Saying all these kids go to school and work! But I knew k wouldn’t be able to handle working PLUS doing classes and completing assignments. Especially not in college. In high school though she forced me into this summer bridge program for a summer job. It gave me the worst anxiety and it was a stressful experience. But thankfully it was only for a summer.

She compares me to herself. Saying my job now is nothing and how I should put myself in her shoes. YEAH. so I definitely understand! And no one deserves to be compared to anyone. We’re all unique and shouldn’t have to meet anyone standards of what we should be. Sorry I ended up venting too HDJDJDJ.

[mademoisellehypergamy]

✨ CREATING A PERSONA FOR HYPERGAMY & SOCIAL CLIMBING  ✨

The votes are in and “Persona” won! Ladies, get the notebooks out. Class is in session. And this is gonna be a long one.

Be honest with me: Are you currently your ideal woman? The majority of you will probably answer honestly and say no. And there’s nothing wrong with admitting that. The harsh reality is most women on their hypergamous journey aren’t even close to being the ideal woman they aspire to be. Hell, the average woman (hypergamous or not) will probably live her life never being able to become that woman, if we’re being completely honest here.

I believe every hypergamous woman should create and adopt a persona. You are who you believe to be. When I was younger, my teachers and parents told me I was academically gifted. So guess what? I believed the same! That pushed me to work even harder in school. Same concept applies here. You are who you believe to be. A persona isn’t a “fake” version of you. It is you. Your ideal person. It is malleable, so it can change at anytime. Just like you changed throughout your life.

STEP 0 - WHY YOU SHOULD ADOPT A PERSONA

✨Not Everyone Will Win the Birth Lottery. But that doesn’t mean you can’t rewrite your past, and repave your future path. Let’s face it: some of you were born into bad circumstances; abusive families, poverty, toxic relationships, obstacles and barriers, etc. And some of you are living lives currently that you aren’t satisfied with: stressful job, health issues, bad environment, *insert sob story here*, blah, blah, blah, woe is me!  But should your current and past conditions get in the way of your hypergamous journey? No! Absolutely not. 

✨You Can’t Be the Same Basic B*tch Forever. Okay b*tch, when you were being “true to yourself” in the past, look where it got you. Probably in a less than favorable situation. Congratulations for being an authentic basic b*tch! 🥳😊

Ladies, change is necessary. When you started your hypergamous journey, you underwent a change. Are you saying your hypergamous self is fake? Of course it isn’t! It’s still you, just an “elevated you”. One that is more aware and knows what she wants. 

✨ Most People Don’t Even Know Who TF They Are. It’s sad, but true. Most people are lost and suppressing their true desires and personality. I’m here encouraging you ladies to create your ideal persona and to become this woman. Because this woman is who you are deep inside, who you want to be. Stop hiding her! Create her, and become her! As long as this person isn’t harming anyone, there is no reason you shouldn’t chase your dream self.

STEP 1 - CHOOSE & CREATE YOUR PERSONA

This is the fun part ladies! Time to choose and create your new persona!

✨ What Kind of Woman Do You Aspire to Be?  Have fun with this ladies! What kind of woman have you always dreamt of becoming? Is she wildly intelligent and beautiful? Or perhaps she has a heart of gold and is adored by all?  Nothing is off limits. This is you.

For those of you who are truly struggling, below I have included a few examples of common personas. If you don’t know where to begin, choose one as the “foundation” and build on it. Make it your own!

*Disclaimer: Anyone that I mentioned/included below is simply for inspiration. Not all of these women are hypergamous. This is just for inspiration*

1. The Socialite/ The “It” Girl: This is the girl that everyone knows. She’s always at a party with a glass of champagne, wearing the latest styles, and living the BEST life. She’s glamorously unattainable and few have access to her, but somehow she’s a part of every social circle.

Inspiration: Jamie Chua (https://www.instagram.com/ec24m/)

2. The Traveler: This is the girl that travels constantly. Whether it’s across the globe or to a different state/town, she’s always on the go! No one seems to know how she funds her lifestyle because she always appears to be traveling and never working. Her pictures are always on point and high quality, with a combination of bikini pictures, relaxing scenery, exotic foods, and endless hotels.

Inspiration: Jennifer Tuffen (https://www.instagram.com/izkiz/)

3. The Influencer: Think of the ultimate Instagram Baddie; perfect body (usually because of surgery), full lips, carefully applied makeup, nails always done, hair on point. She is sponsored by all the clothes brands, and lives lavishly. She’s always out at a restaurant and traveling. Typically dresses in more revealing clothes/lots of bikinis.  What differentiates her from the Socialite? The degree of elegance and class. While the Socialite gives you an “heiress” vibe, the Influencer is more on the “flashy celebrity” side.

Inspiration: Kaylar Will (https://www.instagram.com/kaylarwill/)

4. Femme Fatale: She rarely posts on social media, but when she does, it only makes you question her existence more. This girl is beautifully sensual, and her social media only reveals bits and pieces of her life. She is an entire mystery, no one knows about her private life. One day she’ll be flying from London, the next she’ll be visiting an art gallery  She’ll sometimes post images of gifted roses with poetry captions. She oozes seduction and dark mystery. 

Inspiration: Dita Von Teese (https://www.instagram.com/ditavonteese) Now I thought long and hard about who to choose for this one, and if you take a moment to look at Dita’s IG account, you will understand why. You will notice that the ONLY thing she posts about is her clothes/lingerie brand or things relating to business. She reveals nothing about her personal life. Every post is promotion about her business. In fact, the last time she posted something about her “life” was on October 8th when she posted her CAT modeling another designer’s scarf. She’s a very discreet woman, and it works in her favor.

5. Girl Next Door: You know that basic b*tch that’s SUPER popular for no reason? This is her. From her Starbucks to her Tiktoks, she’s just your average girl living her life. In a way, she isn’t a threat because she seems approachable, relatable, and friendly enough through social media. Something about her aspires others that they can achieve a similar lifestyle. She’s terribly basic, but somehow, it works. 

Inspiration: Loren Gray (https://www.instagram.com/loren/)

6. Exotica: *This persona is best suited for women of color* She is exotically beautiful and unique. She is a trendsetter, not a follower. She has an air of heightened sexuality, with a touch of grounded-spirituality. Something about her is wild and untamed, and she oozes excitement and adventure. 

Inspiration: Monica Leon, or “Danger”. Now if you’re in my generation, you may remember the reality show “For the Love of Ray J” (which was ghetto btw💀). To this day, one girl that I will NEVER forget on that show, was “Danger”, the girl with the tiger tattoo on her face and that NO ONE liked, but Ray J was obsessed with. Although she no longer is on Instagram (and has since legally changed her name), I still believe she naturally embodied that exotic and mysterious woman persona. I recommend watching the show for free on Youtube just to observe her (and only her because the other women were pickme’s  💀)

7. The Luxurious Diamond: This woman is the epitome of class and elegance. She exudes femininity and grace, and holds an air of mystery by only showing us bits and pieces of her life. What we see is soft luxuries, wineries, beautiful clothes/scenery, and a life of comfort. She balances a mature, elegant, ladylike presence, with subtle girly-youthfulness. 

Inspiration: Г-жа Анисимова   https://www.instagram.com/creme_de.la_femme/

✨How Does She Look Like? From her hair to how she wears her makeup, be able to create a vivid description of her appearance. Being able to do this will show you where to work on with your current appearance.

✨Personality We all have traits about ourselves that we don’t like. This is your chance to identify your traits that you love and maximize them, while also working on the aspects of your personality that are a bit more problematic.

It’s important to recognize that some “negative” traits are not really negative. Society just shames us for them. For example, “The Socialite” persona may be polite, but that doesn’t mean she’s super open and friendly with everyone. Not everyone is her friend, and she is naturally unattainable. So why would she be super friendly to everyone? Some may call her “standoffish”, but I call it “selective”.

✨Past Self? Not a Problem.  So let’s say you had a less than perfect childhood and endured a lot of trauma. Not a problem, just reinvent your past! Now I’m not saying to straight up lie and make up a crazy story about how you grew up with billionaire parents and traveled the globe. I’m saying adopt a realistic story that’ll help you on your journey. 

For example, if your date were to ask about your past, instead of telling him how tragic your childhood was and how you were homeless and abused by your parents, and no longer have a relationship with them, you can say: “I moved around a lot as a child (“homelessness”), so I really enjoyed being able to interact with a lot of different people (make the negative seem positive). My parents still move around a lot, so it’s hard for us to meet (explains why you aren’t in contact with your parents). 

Reword and reframe, ladies. Not everyone needs to know everything.

STEP 2 - BRING HER TO LIFE

✨Remove. You cannot embrace your new persona, your new IDENTITY, if you are still stuck in the past. And that includes past connections that do not serve you. Some of your old friends (college friends, childhood friends, etc.) are not meant to accompany you on this journey. And that’s OKAY. Same with other toxic relationships in your life, family included. You will have to decide who to keep, and who to distance yourself from.

✨ Social Media! I’ve mentioned this in an earlier post, but social media is the easiest way for you to push your new persona. You control the content that goes on your social media, so even if you haven’t fully embodied your new persona, you can sure as hell fake it on social media. 

- Unless your persona is a socialite/influencer type, avoid posting too often. - Be consistent; if you retouch your images, make sure its consistent with all your photos. - Be mindful of what people tag you in/post about you. You know that “friend” who always posts the ugliest pictures of you? Yeah. They’re not your friend, hun. 

✨Dress. The. Part. Okay, sis. You can have the personality down perfectly, but if the look doesn’t match, no one will buy it. Your look is the first thing people notice, so invest in it. It doesn’t cost a lot, especially with fast fashion sites like Shein that sells clothes for $5. Just be able to keep up the appearance.

✨ Immerse Yourself in the Environment.  Looking the part and having the right personality is not enough, ladies! It wouldn’t make sense for you to be a “Socialite” sharing pictures of you eating at Red Lobster and Olive Garden every night. It wouldn’t make sense for the “Traveler” persona to share only bathroom selfies in her apartment. You have to live like the woman you aspire to be, and that includes placing yourself in those environments.

If you are not in the place financially to do so, learn to project the image without spending money. Ex: If you can’t afford to go to Hawaii, go to your local beach and take bomb ass pictures. Don’t tag the location. People will automatically see a beach in your picture and assume you are on vacation traveling. Get creative, ladies. 

✨You Owe Them Nothing. Ladies! Remember you don’t owe anyone anything. Not an explanation, not your time, nothing. So if you are living this new persona and people are asking questions you don’t want to answer: don’t. This is your life. 

STEP 3 - YOUR PERSONA WHILE DATING HYPERGAMOUSLY & SOCIAL CLIMBING

So now that you have created your ideal persona, and taken the steps to incorporate it into your life, how can you use your newfound persona to aid you on your hypergamous journey and while social climbing?

✨Infiltrate New Circles. Your persona should be someone exciting and enticing. People love befriending people who are happy and adventurous. Use your persona to befriend others and enter new social circles. You can do this through: - Social media; follow similar accounts to yours and interact with them. - Activities related to your persona; Let’s say you adopted the “The Luxurious Diamond” persona and started visiting wineries. You may notice when you go that there are regulars; identify the regulars and use your common interest of wine to strike a conversation. -Interest groups; join clubs/groups that help you reach your goals. For example, “The Traveler” may have always wanted to travel to Bali, but didn’t want to go alone. She joins a travel group to meet other likeminded inviduals and meets a travel buddy. This person ends up introducing her to others who also enjoy traveling.

✨ Be a Chameleon. You should  never be set on just one persona. Like I said earlier, your persona should always be malleable. You should be able to change yourself to your benefit, and always be open to expansion. When it comes to dating, a man may “want” a certain type of woman, but the secret is that most men just want a woman who is open to possibilities.  I remember a man who used to be on my roster who loved music. This man was always insisting on taking me to operas and symphonies. And he too was a musician (I really don’t like dating musicians, but that’s a topic for another day), so whenever he was performing he would have me sitting in the box so I’d have an “undisturbed” experience.  Now ladies, I’m not into music AT ALL.  But I was open and willing, and guess what? The man adored it, and he adored me even more! He spoiled me like crazy and would serenade me with music he wrote about me because I was his “muse”. Although I ended up ghosting him, I definitely appreciate a good opera now! 

✨Be Larger than Life to Entice. The attractive part about these personas is the fact that it feels almost fake. The image that is portrayed is almost mythical, like something out of a fantasy. You can’t believe this girl is traveling so much, or you can’t believe this girl still has a social life in the middle of a pandemic! It’s unbelievable, but that’s what makes us so intrigued. Men especially love fantasy. That’s why many men have a “dream girl”, a woman that embodies their physical and emotional fantasies. They love the impossible. It’s also important to remember that you are always being watched. People see you, whether in person or on social media, and when they see someone or something more interesting than their mundane life, curiosity will get the best of them. They’ll be drawn to you and want to know you.

✨ The Persona Advantage. Creating a persona is supposed to help your journey. The purpose is to reinvent yourself into someone who will help you better navigate your hypergamous life.  For example, if you are trying to get into more exclusive, affluent circles, creating a persona who is skilled in social and dining etiquette would be more beneficial than a persona that’s an Instagram Influencer. Being an Instagram Baddie that wears Fashion Nova won’t help you at a Charity Gala. So be sure to think of what you desire in life to shape yourself into that. Don’t just become someone who won’t get you to where you want to be. 

This post will definitely have a Part 2 in the future, but in conclusion: You can be whoever you want to be as long as you play the role. Be an actress in your own life, and live the life you desire.

Well ladies, I’ll be away for Valentine’s day weekend. Wishing you all a wonderful and safe weekend ❤️ Lots of love.

Follow my IG for more: @mademoisellehypergamy