#sorry it got left behind

[ryanlockheart]

— ₊ ° . ☆ where fletcher might have had it hard growing up, beau had been handed everything on a silver platter. his parents were happily married — at least to everyone on the outside — in their east coast mansion... but beau had ran far, far away from them, opting to do something he loved and suffer through the student loans. things were stressful without a safety net, but beau at least had fletcher. when things were too much for him and forgot the basics — like doing laundry or cooking for himself — fletcher would pick up his slack without even being asked. no one had ever cared for him in that way before, and beau was starting to feel a complex rush of emotions blossoming for the boy with the wavy curls. "it is when y'know 'm gonna look at'cha," beau replied with a grin. "and y'know i'm horny as hell, and you still parade around here practically naked. c'mon, now, princess. y'know what you're doing." he wasn't playing games with fletcher. everything he'd said, he meant. it was fletcher that beau thought of as of late — not his girlfriend, not the girls he tried to get off to on his phone. "don't change, baby girl. i love it," he whispered, fingers brushing away a strand of curls from fletcher's forehead. "gonna wanna keep you to myself. might share you every now and then, but you'll always be mine," beau explained. he was possessive, and he might have a jealous streak that fletcher hadn't learned about yet. he wanted to be the one who could please fletcher like no other, that he'd be addicted to his kiss and his touch. they were off to a good start, it seemed as fletcher went in for another sloppy kiss just seconds after their first. beau welcomed it; his lips moved in tandem with fletcher's, letting their tongues massage against each other. he moaned into the smaller boy's mouth, hands grasping at fletcher's ass. "don't apologize, baby. i love it," he assured him softly. "gonna take care of you too. promise." he could be soft and sweet but downright dirty the next moment. he was sure fletcher's head was spinning, but that was what he wanted. beau wanted to overwhelm him with pleasure. "you're catchin' on. you're gonna be a natural on camera, baby," beau went on. "that ass was made to get wrecked. can't even imagine how many boys are gonna be beatin' their meat to it, wishin' they were me 'cause you're mine." soon enough, that pretty face was looking up at beau, feet pressed firmly against his nose. his toes wiggled against his skin, a smug grin ever-present on his lips. he could tell fletcher was enjoying himself, and it was pretty obvious beau was too by how he palmed himself through the fabric of his grey sweatpants. "yeah, you do, baby. 's fuckin' hot watchin' you down there. you're already addicted to daddy's feet, just from kissin' 'em," beau said with a soft groan. "nah, baby, she doesn't. think you were made to take her place. bet you'd love that. bet you've been thinkin' about this whole time — how you could treat me better than her. she thinks my feet are gross, but you're such a little slut y'want 'em all the time. no matter how rank they are." he'd never seen someone so attracted to himself before, and that just thrilled beau to his core. he wanted every part of fletcher, needed it even. fletcher paid each inch of his foot attention; it impressed beau. he could tell this wasn't just a fluke, that this was something fletcher had craved for a long time. beau certainly wasn't going to disappoint his little princess. "y'look like such a whore down there, fletchy. want you to go stupid on 'em. don'tcha ever think about holding back. show me why you're better than her. show me why you need daddy's sweaty feet," beau instructed. he fished his cock out of his sweats, that massive length smacking against his abdomen. his hand wrapped around the base, gliding slowly upward. "cum from daddy's feet. ruin those pants. you're my little 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙛𝙖𝙜 aren't you fletchy? say it to me."

fletcher reid had a babyface and a checkered past. his parents split before he was born, and his father never bothered coming around. his therapist seemed to connect that abandonment to his undying need for heterosexual male validation, but fletcher had gotten over that a long time ago. at least he thought he did, until beau came into his life. his new roommate was hot, charismatic, sweet, and completely unavailable — which, coincidentally, was precisely his type. fletcher was hesitant to get involved with someone so similar to the men in his past, but beau had brought down his guard so easily. it would have been pathetic, if it wasn't so hot. "walking around in my own home isn't showing off, you doofus!" fletcher groaned. "it is not my fault that you're too horny for your own good." guys like beau were a total mystery to fletcher. fletcher's head was spinning, trying desperately to make sense of everything the boy was saying. he could hardly believe beau had actual feelings for him — he could understand wanting to make a bit of extra money, but the idea that it could lead to something real was mind-boggling. "what can i say, daddy? 's just what you do to me," he replied, lips curled into a smirk. "you can keep me to yourself, or you can whore me out to whoever you want — 's all up to you, daddy." fletcher's hazel eyes were wide as beau's lips met his own, a whimper slipping past his lips. the last thing he expected from beau was a kiss, but he relaxed into it. just as beau was going to pull away, something carnal took over fletcher's body and pulled him back in. he dug his fingers into the boy's hair, tongue slipping past his lips as he deepened the kiss. "s-sorry... wasn't ready for it to end," fletcher breathed out. "uh, yeah. waffles and eggs is fine w-with me." he couldn't figure out what the hell was going on. the moment was sweeter than any candy fletcher ever consumed, but filth still dripped from beau's lips. fletcher could not yet tell what he'd gotten himself into, but he didn't care. "don't care about anyone but you, daddy. everybody else is just for fun, for views — but i'm your little slut," he assured. "'m all yours, my little pussy is all yours." before he knew it, beau's sinful little game was taken one step further. fletcher was down on his knees, flushed face pressed between the other's sweaty feet. he nuzzled into beau's soles, inhaling his masculine scent with every breath. "but she's not me, daddy. i know what a man like you needs," fletcher teased, pressing a soft kiss to each of his toes. "she wouldn't know what to do with these big, sweaty feet, would she? she wouldn't be willing to get down on her knees and clean them for you after the gym. but me? i want 'em as filthy as i can get them — and i want you to tell me how nasty i am while i worship them." without a second thought, fletcher gave beau his cellphone and turned his attention back to those feet. he lathered his sweaty soles with his tongue, keeping his eyes fixed on beau. fletcher took each toe into his mouth before slipping his tongue between each of them, moaning softly at the taste. "i don't just love your feet, daddy — i'm obsessed with them," fletcher said with a smirk. "been wanting them for weeks, but you know that already. it's ashley that needs to know that there's always someone willing to do what you want — a dirty fucking slut who will worship your boyfriend's feet whenever he wants."

[fluffypotatey]

To be honest I am a huge Nalu shipper. But the thing is I want to know the difference between the way Natsu cares about his guildmates and Lucy. Like what is the obvious difference since that boy sees every as Nakama so how can we say that the wag he cares about Lucy is different?

Like even when Erza passed away? (All the way back in first season there was a segment where the guild was gathered at her grave and all) Natsu was still very reactive. Plus he was also said to be depressed even when Lisanna passed.

What's the difference between all of them and Lucy?

the fact that he stayed. the fact that before he met Lucy, Natsu wasn't one to stay in a group or even want to work with anyone besides Happy at the start of the story. hell, he was ready to just file Lucy down as "New Guildmate" once they reached Fairy Tail

but then, Lucy doesn't leave. she follows him on his mission to save Macao despite her not needing to or even really understanding everything about it. she stays and then fights with him and saves him. it's no secret that Natsu is strong and can take care of himself really well. he's been going on solo missions for years now, and no one has really stopped him, but that means he's been in a lot of sticky situations where he and Happy are on their own and have no backup. and yet, without asking, Lucy offers it

and i think this is the moment when Natsu considers that maybe it's okay to have someone there to have his back (sans Happy)

"but Natsu only needed Lucy for the next quest because of the requirements," well, Natsu also wouldn't have taken or even considered that quest if it weren't for Lucy, yeah? he was not a team player (in the picking job's sense) or really wanted other people to help him on his quests sans Happy. and then he goes and picks a job that caters to their team whilst ensuring that Lucy can't say no

or maybe i'm reading too much into it 🤷🏻‍♀️

or maybe Natsu's got horrible abandonment issues that he will latch onto people so fast (Igneel & Lisanna) but also cause him to distance himself so far when left behind (his 1st time at the guild, Lisanna's death). Erza and Gray are Natsu's closet friends after Lisanna and yet they cannot reach him when he closes himself off. and then we have Lucy, who stuck by and had his back, so who is to say Natsu didn't make some contingencies to ensure whether or not she'd join him?

but maybe it's the rose, colored ship glasses i have on

because yeah, Natsu cares for all of his guildmates. the power of friendship is his biggest motivator. when we meet Natsu, our first introductions of him is defending his guild's reputation from Bora (who was using it as a guise for human trafficking) and saving Macao. and our 1st big arc (Galuna Island), where Natsu adamantly refuses to allow Gray to use Ice Shell and sacrifice himself despite how antagonistic they've been to each other. we get Natsu 100% at Erza's defense throughout the Tower of Heaven and he is even ready to defend Wendy though they only met hours ago

Natsu is a character with a bleeding heart and cannot help but wear it on his sleeve, but we don't really see him allow others to fight his battles or have his back until Lucy comes in. to be honest, i don't even think he had his heart on his sleeve until Lucy. he still has a bleeding heart (i don't think anything could stop that), but he was not ready to be open in receiving company because he was so used to it being ripped away from him

that being said: of all the characters he interacts with, he finds Lucy to be someone compatible enough for him to start going on team missions and inviting her on them (for example, his 1st S-class mission, which he stole, he went to her house to show it to her. the fact that part of the reward was a celestial key might be a coincidence, but i wouldn't doubt it as Natsu and Happy's trump card in case she refused)

but yeah, the difference is that he stayed and didn't push her away at the beginning, but instead continued to invite her along with him to the point that doing a mission without Lucy wasn't his regular anymore. compared to the rest of the guild, of whom he spent most of his childhood with, even if he spoke to no one, they would still be around and talk to him anyway. he might not invite them on job and only challenge them to fights, but the guild is his home and a constant in his life, a constant he needs (bc heavy abandonment issues).

"okay, but he still pushed her away after he watched Igneel die right in front of him. and he left the guild for a whole year, too. so what's the difference there?" you may ask.

so 1) Natsu never thought the guild would disband. he returns to Fiore after a year and is the last to know that they disbanded. he assumed, like all the other times before and while he and others were sealed for 7 years, that Fairy Tail would still be there when he returned. he assumed that his disappearance would not impact so hard because the guild would still be around and Lucy would have the others with her

which, did not happen :)

and like, so many guild members go off on jobs, quests, or even just leave for an indiscriminate amount of time (which i, personally, believe was his rationality for leaving), so him being gone for a year was nothing! right? no harm, eh? his plan was never to be gone forever :))))

2) he just watched his father die and lose any chance of having some semblance of a long term reunion with Igneel. he literally lost one of his main driving motivations for getting stronger and taking jobs. before Fairy Tail, before anyone, it was Igneel. and to learn that a) Igneel was always with him to begin with and b) he only got to see him for less than a day after 14 years of nothing......i would feel lost too ngl

man's needed space from everybody. and he also needed comfort, but Natsu has been shown not to really be the character who asks to receive comfort (and when he does receive it, it's usually when he's already emotionally compromised). he is in the habit of shutting people out after being abandoned or losing someone close to him, with his next rationale being to "get stronger" in order to prevent what happened in the past to ever happen in the future.

anyway

what makes this different? well for one, he sent the letter only to Lucy (or it's implied since no one else is shown getting one) because of how the two spend most of their time together. even the line that goes with the panel makes it sound like Natsu is unsure on how the note will be received (maybe even hesitant? but that could be my own hopes)

and one of the 1st people he reunites with after a year is Lucy and we get such a similar parallel to the first chapter of Fairy Tail between the two as if the narrative itself is slotting them together to say "ah yes, now everything is back to normal and new journeys can begin"

but yeah, this is just a long way of saying, that Natsu does love his friends and guildmates but even when he is close to them, he kept to himself (and Happy) and sort of stayed in their orbit but always with some emotional distance because of his fear of abandonment. and then you have Lucy where he will stay for and allow her to orbit around him and he will invite to new adventures no questions asked

that's the difference

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

Thinking of the end of Zelda Twilight Princess and TP Link again

Since the start of your journey, all you've tried to do is keep your home and your loved ones safe. You hardly understood your own destiny at first, the major role you were to play in this world. Though you could never have refused the future that lay before you, it remains that it's this wish to protect your home, your loved ones, and to bring everything back to normalcy that drove you in the beginning. And it, too, remains that even though you found others to care for and had accepted your destiny (that there became a point where you embraced your role in fixing everything), that original goal still remained. After all, you, the people you care about, none of you can go home or live in safety until the threat is defeated.

What if you'd started out as a boy from a small, rural town, one who'd hardly dreamed large, but couldn't shake his curiosity in the world outside. You never wanted to leave your village for long, but you were interested in getting a chance to see Hyrule's capital, meet those people your older friend had told stories of. And then, when the monkey's paw curled and the goddesses gave you a grand adventure, all you wanted was to pave the way for everyone to be able to go home, including yourself. Once it was all over, you and everyone else could finally relax, right? Things would finally go back to normal, wouldn't they? And the children could forget the horrors they'd seen, like none of it ever happened.

But after all that... Even after shedding the hero's tunic, returning the sword of evil's bane to its resting place, and finally returning home with everyone...home is not the same anymore. You were supposed to feel safe again, comforted by the sounds of the nearby wood, the smell of the goats, and the rough texture of the pumpkins that grow in the village, but even lying in your own bed makes you restless and feel on edge. Sometimes, the children still run around the village like they used to, playing pranks on each other and playing hero, but each one of them has an air of...maturity that wasn't there before.

Colin is more confident. He doesn't follow you around or spend as much of his time watching the other kids play. He spends time telling his baby sister stories and training with his father (like you once had) to learn the way of the sword. The other kids don't pick on him as much anymore either.

And Talo. Talo thinks the village is much too defenseless now, especially after everything he's been through. He never really left the rooftops of Kakariko Village, the village lookout who was trying to protect everyone the only way he could. He's even confided in you before that he's trying to learn a weapon too, and trying to convince Colin to join forces with him as village protectors. According to Talo, Colin says there's no need to worry with you and his dad around. No better protection than a hero, right? But Talo says he knows you and Rusl won't always be around. And...maybe that's true. One day, you too will grow old with time, but something about the way Talo says it makes you feel...uneasy. As if he was seeing right through you. Was he seeing something you were ignoring, or was he really truly talking about the day in which you are no longer able to protect anyone?

Beth is still a bit boy crazy, still fancies herself more mature than the others as she had before, but there's some respect there now when she interacts with them. She refuses to tell you what she's been up to, but you've seen her working in her mother's shop, talking to Uli as she feeds her baby, reading with her father, and helping Ilia wash Epona in the spirit's spring. Ilia seems to know more than she lets on when telling you that it's a casual hangout, but you have an inkling of what it's about. Given the others, it's no surprise if Beth, too, is trying to find her place here, trying to help in some way.

Malo is perhaps the one who'd changed most obviously. While everyone had been happy to go home after the defeat of Ganondorf, Malo couldn’t simply stay the same quiet kid who'd followed his brother around. He'd built a growing business back in Kakariko, dedicated to making goods affordable to the common person and raising funds to fix up local infrastructure. He couldn’t continue to run it from Ordon (though Sera's told you that he'd made an offer on her shop). You've even been able to hear him muttering under his breath about the state of Malo Mart management, and plotting to skip town (after all, young as he is, and after everything that's happened, there's no way his parents would just let him go back on his own). As before, Malo doesn't speak to you often, but he had...said something that shook you not long ago. He'd not so subtly "hinted" that you could make an excuse to leave, and that it wouldn't be hard for him to stow away as you went on your trip. You didn't know quite what to say, but when you began to mention his parents he'd cut you off. "So you're too scared to leave."

(Are you too scared? No, of course you could leave if you wanted to. And you don't want to, do you? You're home again, which is the only place you've wanted to be since the world went to shit. It'll just take...time for you to feel okay again. No better place than home to heal, right?)

But it's...not just the kids who've changed. Fado was happy to have you back, of course (he's always said no one wrangles the goats quite like you), but he’d... Well, even though he was the one who extended the offer, he seems to fear this is beneath you, that he's tying you down, keeping you from a grander life. No matter how much you assure him this is exactly where you want to be, that you just want things to return to normal, he doesn't seem convinced.

Not to mention the rumors in the village of your feats, all the talking behind your back. You'd been celebrated as a hero when you and Rusl returned back with the missing children, and now, since you've been trying to return to normalcy, others continue to be weird around you. You're a hero (were at least), yes, but are you not the same Link the villagers have known as long as you've lived here? Do you not occasionally assist with their troubles. Do you not try to make occasional small talk as before? So why do they seem to have trouble talking to you? Why do they have so much to say, and yet none of it said to your face?

Home has changed. And even that which has stayed the same doesn't feel...correct. That which is still familiar feels like nostalgia slipping through your fingers, not the reality before you.

But then again, when you spend weeks following your old routine, trying to act as you did before, and nothing seems to get better. When you lay in a bed (your bed) that's the same as it was when you first left it, you wake up sweaty and fearful from nightmares, and you feel exposed when you should feel safe, is it home that's the problem? What about when you look at the sunset and dream of places faraway, of the people you met and the things you've seen, and it feels like something's missing (something, perhaps, not wholly unrelated to the person people you'll probably never see again)?

Ilia was the one who first assured you that this path was the right one. When she finally had a chance to relax, deal with her amnesia head on, it was reminders of home and her past which comforted her, allowed her to get better. Of course, you know she'd never just forget everything she'd been through before, and she wouldn't expect you to either, but she'd agreed that being home would allow you to heal too. That's...that's what you've been hoping.

On many occasions you think about confiding it all in her, telling her what you've been going through, but you can't go through with it. Not when she seems...happy again.

So, after weeks of letting bits and pieces slip, you finally confide in Rusl. It's a day similar to all those months ago. The sun is setting as you and he sit at the spirit's spring after a long day, and he tells you about his week. You tell him that even as things get better, they don't really get better. When you don't have nightmares of tragedy and never ending battles and failure, you're dreaming of the people and places you met during your journey. No matter how much time you spend there, or how much furniture you move around to your liking, or decorations you add to the walls, the idea of your home being home feels like you and the feeling are separated by an impenetrable wall of glass. You can see that feeling of comfort, of home, of familiarity, but you just can't quite touch it. Your house is yours, and yet you can't seem to fit in it anymore. You've gone back to normal, and yet everyone is treating you differently. You try to relax, and you just can't quite sit still, feeling like...

You finally admit that feeling you've been stuffing down to him as you ramble (something rare for you to begin with). It's not just that you can't feel safe at home, that healing is a tough process, but that you feel like there's something yet you need to do. It doesn't feel right trying to be the person you were before. The routine which should be great for its simplicity and famliliarity feels wrong, almost stifling.

Did you really think you could just go home after all you'd seen and been through, go back to that small world and cut off the rest of it, just so things could be like they were before?

Maybe it's you who's wrong. Maybe you're broken and your edges dulled and chipped so the old pieces don't fit back together anymore–

But Rusl, ever a comforting presence in your life, just hugs you. He says he cannot even begin to comprehend the things you've been through. He acknowledges how hard it is to heal. Both things you already knew.

Then...he tells you his story, that he knows how hard it is to return to all of this after such an ordeal. You are not the only person who must deal with it now. You're not alone.

And then, as you consider telling him that if everyone is dealing with this, then surely they're handling it better than you, he tells you something that causes you to freeze.

"If you need to leave, you can."

"Of course," Rusl continues, "if you want to stay, we'll support you. You don't have to pretend everything is normal. And even if you go, it's not like you'll be banished. You can always come back here, even if you can't stay."

And so you speak the words you've thought every time someone suggests leaving here, or suggests that you won't stay. "Do I have to go? Is...does everyone just want me gone?"

Rusl shakes his head. "Of course not. We all love and care about you like we always have, hero or not."

Then...why do I feel like...this around everyone? you think.

"The question is...it's not whether anyone wants to you go or thinks you should go." Then, Rusl places a hand on your shoulder, face deeply serious as his eyes lock onto yours.

"The question is: Do you want to go? Do you need to go?"

For a moment...you're speechless. You know what you want, you think. You've wanted to return home all along, haven't you? That's...all You've been trying to do since you defeated Ganondorf, lost bid Midna farewell, shed the garb of the hero and returned the master sword to its grove. But...what do you need?

"I don't...I don't know what I need," is all you say.

"...Well," Rusl says, after a moment of contemplation. "I can't tell you what you want any more than I can accurately guess what you need. And I can't make your decision for you."

"...Right." So that's it then. Either you go, admit that there's no fixing you, no point trying to fit a misshapen puzzle piece in an old hole, or you stay, keep trying to move on and get things as close to normal as you can as you have been for weeks.

"Hey," Rusl says after a moment. "Hey, listen to me for a second."

You raise your head, shift your eyes from where you'd cast them at your sandals.

"You'll be okay, Link. You've been through a lot, and it's changed you—like it's changed all of us. But, you have your whole life ahead of you, and I suspect you have more choices than you even believe."

"...Yeah."

"I may not be able to tell you what you need, but I can tell you to follow your heart. If you listen to it, it'll lead you where you need to go."

"My heart?" You sound a bit skeptical.

"I mean...isn't it your heart that got you here? You didn't undertake the journey and save your loved ones by being weak of heart did you?"

And that...that's true. With everything that was at stake (especially that which you cared about most), it was your heart that wouldn't allow you to back down, wasn't it?

In the end, you nod.

Rusl smiles. "Then why ignore it now?"

"Why ignore it now?"

The rest of what Rusl has to say goes unsaid, but...you think you get it anyways.

"Why ignore it now? Has it ever lead you astray?"

"...Thanks, Rusl," you say, finally. You don't tell him that you feel a bit better now, but his smile grows regardless.

"It's no problem, Link. Anytime you need."

And so the sunset passes into night passes into morning, and there's a weight on you when you wake up. You know, somehow, in this moment, that a decision has to be made, a potential path chosen. There's no ignoring it.

And you find her—Ilia—in the spring.

"You're...leaving, aren't you."

"I..." You haven't even put on any gear, nor unearthed that special tunic tucked in your basement, nor have you saddled Epona up yet. When you woke up, you still didn't know what it is you need.

"...I am," you say finally.

There's a moment of silence.

"I...some part of me knew you would." Then, she adds, "One day."

"...Why?"

She shakes her head. "I can't explain it. You just...you haven't seemed...quite right lately."

I haven't?

You thought you must've seemed at least fairly normal, must have with all the effort you put in.

"You're... You weren’t..." Ilia hesitates for a moment, as if afraid to say the words at the edge of her tongue. But then, she sighs.

"You don't seem happy here."

"I-I've...I've tried to–"

"I know," she says, cutting you off. "I know. I have..."

You wait for her to finish her thought, but she never does.

"Hey, Link, before...before you go... Come back to this spring. I'll wash Epona for you."

There's a bit of strain in the smile Ilia gives you, but you nod, smiling back.

It's...it's not easy to leave. It never is, and it never gets easier, no matter how many times you have to do it. And so, as you gather some final supplies, thank Rusl for his advice, and put on your gear (finally unearth the tunic you'd hidden away), you remind yourself that this isn't truly goodbye. You're just...going on a little trip, chasing your heart. You'll visit sometimes, right? It's just a little trip.

And eventually, geared up, you make your way to the spring. As expected, Ilia is there, grooming Epona when you arrive.

Out of everyone, you feel Ilia has been both the easiest and the hardest to read. Ever since everyone returned to Ordon, it made sense the way she stuck right back to the comforts of home and her old routine. She's...not all okay, but it's seemed to make her happy. And yet...there's something else about her. There's a bit of weirdness there you can't parse out, and there's something in the way she speaks that always feels like there's something going unsaid. You feel it more than ever as she turns to face you in the spring, seems hesitant about giving Epona over, even as she says that Epona is washed and ready.

Although, then again, there's something nostalgic about this moment. As you mount up Epona and Ilia asks you to take care of her, and not to take on more than you can handle.

You know the moment is here. You can feel it. It's time to go.

And yet, there's one last thing holding you back. You look down at Ilia as she begins to speak again.

"...Link, I–"

"Hm?"

Silence.

"I...never mind." Ilia waves you off, mustering up a smile. "You should... You should go. Don't let me hold you back."

You nod in response. Her expression is a bit bittersweet, although perhaps the smile you return her is just the same.

And so you take off with Epona, galloping across the bridge between Ordon and Faron. You leave her standing outside the spring, and you make a beeline for Hyrule Field, craving to feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face.

Your wants, your desires...those deep down ones may be impossible. But it's something. Traveling, following where your heart leads, it feels familiar. It feels...right.

And once your journey begins, you think it's almost laughable that you thought that you could just go back home after all that you'd seen and experienced and...lost. At least now, though your future is uncertain, though you still can't quite feel safe, though you still can't banish the nightmares, at least you no longer feel...stifled.

At least you can be free now.

[swinging-stars-from-satellites]

I just had a whole actual married, mother of two adult woman be the first person older than about 21 to actually accept the fact that I don't want to get married and be willing to talk through what that means for me, instead of trying to convince me that I'll change my mind as I get older. I'm going to fucking cry

[fisheito]

Something about dark nova yakumo makes me want to bully him. Every time I see him I want to shove him in a locker or pour mop water on his head. I'm not sure why; I don't feel that strongly about his other alts but for some reason just thinking of him in a school setting turns me into a generic high school bully.

you're so right nonsy i could be standing under my angelic umbrella with the utmost compassion and empathy for the rough life of a high schooler but if yakumo walks by in his stupid oversized untucked shirt i'm gon na

[starflared-arrow]

i only watched the charcadet poketoon on a whim cuz i had nothing to do but what the hell dude thats sghrcoded

[survivalxofxthexfittest]

Who: @hannahxinterrupted

When: April 1st

Where: Atrium

Oscar had been struggling to get his tie right with only one hand, his nerves exacerbating his frustration as he yanked it off for the thousandth time with a huffed grumble. Emily couldn't help but smile to herself as she watched him. He was acting just like he had when he and Liz first started dating. For all his worldliness, he sure was inexperienced when it came to women. But it was endearing to see. She was quietly happy he found someone who brought this side back out though.

"Who is it?" Em asked knowingly as she walked over and took the tie from him, draping it around his neck and starting to knot it - the scene reminiscent of their parents. Oscar shot her a look of confusion and shook off her question, going back to his reflection as her fingers looped the fabric around itself.

"Come on," she urged, glancing up at him with a smirk. "You never get nervous unless there a girl involved," she teased him gently, finishing up. She stepped aside and behind him, straightening his tie a bit more in his reflection. She smoothed out his jacket and moved back in front of him, leaning against the wall by the mirror. "So, who is it?" she asked again.

Oscar glanced her way as he fidgeted with his appearnace a bit more, trying to hide the arm brace as best he could. Em gave a gently demanding look in return. He sighed and rolled his eyes a bit, letting his gaze find himself in the mirror again. "Hannah," he admitted, with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Really?" she asked rhetorically, her excitement showing as a wide smile spread across her face. "She's cute," Em said approvingly. "Don't take this the wrong way Oscar, but how did that happen? I didn't even know you guys knew each other."

"She, uh, she was at the beach, and was also who helped me find your sketchbook and that copy of Alice in Wonderland," he continued with another glance her way. "She brought us some gifts and there was a note saying she'd see me at the party," he further explained, clearing his throat of his rising nerves.

"Well you look amazing," she complimented her brother. "I think she'll be very happy to see you," she teased with insinuation.

Oscar chuckled freely, finishing up his last few adjustments. "I could say the same about Zach," he volleyed back, finally giving her his full attention. Emily could only smile in return knowingly. That had been her plan. "Be careful," he warned lovingly.

Be careful? It's Zach, O.G. Not some random Tinder date," she joked, linking her arm with his and leading him out of the apartment. "I'm safe as can be with him," she assured him as they walked to the elevator, although he hardly needed it - he had no doubt Zach would protect Emily should the need arise.

"Good luck," she wished her brother as she left the elevator for the W and Hannah could be seen setting up her caricature station. The world seemed to slow and drift out of focus until only Hannah remained. Insecurity seemed to quickly drown out what little conifdence he'd had back at the apartment. His heart started to beat faster. What was he doing? This was too soon. Right? He should just go back upstairs and blame his arm for not attending the festivities. There was still time to get out of this.

And he very well may have if Liz's voice hadn't drifted through his thoughts telling him to find his new happy, followed by the focus breaking movement of the doors starting to close. He shot a hand out and stopped them, finally taking the step and heading over to her.

"Need any help?" he offered once he got to her as she worked.

[feroluce]

I'm still not done with chapter three but oh my God 😭😭😭 oh my God

As much as he wants to say Boothill’s name, to see how it feels dripping from his tongue, he will keep it cradled in his mouth. He is well aware of the damage caused by dishonoring such a request.

OH MY GODDDDDDDD!!!! if this was a book I'd have to sit here and hit myself with it to lessen the pain 😭😭😭

I KNOW I KNOW OH MY GOD OH MY GOD. I was laying on my couch reading that part and I had to like flail and kick around and got tangled up in my blankets because AUGH

I LOVE that Boothill's true name came up in this chapter, and Dan Heng's reaction to it? That's so wonderful. That's so perfect for them. Because of course Dan Heng would know a thing or two about not having your name or identity respected. Of course he would honor Boothill's wish even above his desire to feel how his birth name fits in his mouth, how his tongue could curl around it. He doesn't push, doesn't question it even once. He gets it!!

(the fic this is about is my favorite, room in the mouth by minorly_inconvenient on Ao3, please go read, it is INCREDIBLE-)

Anyway speaking of which, I actually have this post in my queue, about Boothill's birth name and what he would be called in Apache! And I also have my own name I'd come up for him in Hymmnos, since that's my default whenever I need a different language (Ar Tonelico series ftw!!!!): Boh Basilic!

Basilic is the noun for "gun." And Hymmnos has no word specifically for "loaded" or even for "ammunition," but! They do have boh, an adjective used to describe something as explosive, and I think that's a pretty good equivalent. So! Loaded gun! Boh Basilic, and Nick and Graey and some of his siblings would call him Bazzy for short. <3

(Bonus gay thoughts: Basilic came to mean gun, but it was originally actually a word for a giant snake or serpent. And boh can also be used to describe something as supernatural. So, somehow, by some beautiful coincidence... The name Boh Basilic perfectly describes Boothill, but also includes Dan Heng. His fate really was just in his birth name all along... uwu)

[20001541]

instead of blasting away machia with his quirk for disobeying him, afo should've done this instead to him along with an apology

[sunnibits]

also. also. (quickly putting on my beekeepers outfit to protect from the hive that I’m potentially whacking). thinking about izzy saying “blackbeard. it was us.” izzy telling ed that he fed his darkness on purpose, that he maintained blackbeard on purpose, because he needed him. thinking about how ed begs izzy not to go, tells him he can’t leave him. (he needs him). thinking about how ed could never truly heal until he left blackbeard behind. thinking about how blackbeard is really two people, not one. thinking about how izzy tells stede in season 1, “it’s my job is to make sure that edward is content”. how it’s been his purpose from the very beginning to protect edward, to help him be blackbeard, to be his right hand man. thinking about izzy saying “I wanna go”. thinking about all the meta from season 1 about ed keeping izzy in episode four on purpose, because he still needed him. thinking about izzy telling ed that he’s ready. ed is ready. (and it’s not just ed. izzy is ready too. I want to go. ed, I’m ready. I don’t need you anymore. I don’t need blackbeard anymore. you can let go). thinking about izzy looking up, seeing ed’s face, and softly saying “there he is”. (when was the last time izzy truly saw ed and felt at peace with it? when was the last time he didn’t search for something darker underneath? how soft were there faces then? how young, how unscarred was their skin?). thinking about izzy telling stede that he thinks he’s good for ed, that it took him a long time but that he sees it now. (he trusts stede now. he trusts him to take care of his eddie. he couldn’t trust him before, couldn’t see it, but he knows now. he knows he’ll be okay with stede). thinking about izzy using his last words to tell ed that he’s loved, that he’s surrounded by family. (you’re safe now. you’ll be safe without me. you’ll be safe without blackbeard). thinking about how blackbeard has always been a form of protection, of defense - now unneeded. but blackbeard was always two people knitted together. two scrappy boys in a costume, like a prey animal fluffed up to twice it’s size. a skin that can’t be shed without splitting them both apart. stitches that can’t be undone without bleeding.

they’re both ready. they’re letting go.

“there he is.”

[reamed]

coworker was mean to me today so fun!

[aro-problems]

Having to play wingman for all of your friends and then pretend you're ok with it when they get into relationships and distance themselves from you. Like I understand you don't get to make choices for other people and they are free to do whatever they want, I just wish they would stop making me complicit in something that's gonna end up hurting me. And maybe just once I wish people would put friendship first.

.

[crazy-fangirl2524]

Right where you left me

As usual, the first thing Jean felt when he woke up was pain. The bruised ribs that made him gasped for breath as quietly as he could, a pounding headache from his concussion, throbbing pain in way too many areas of his body to even differentiate where it was from. Jean felt all of that before he even opened his eyes.

He didn’t even noticed that he was still on the floor, the same spot he was where Riko had left him.

This was one of the worst beatings Riko had ever given him. And what else had he expected?

Kevin Day had left the Riko, he had left the Nest, the Ravens.

Kevin Day had left Jean Moreau.

And it wasn’t really anyone’s fault now is it? Jean was the one that gave Kevin the opportunity to slip away. Because Kevin Day asked, he begged, “If you were ever friends with me, get him out of my room. I can’t see him right now.” After Riko had stomped the shit out of his hands.

Jean should have known that sentiments and feelings are what would get him killed in the Nest. He should have known better. But Kevin had always been a blurry hazardous warning that he should have known better about. Jean had known better than to befriend Kevin because there were no such things as friends in the Nest. Jean should have known better than to care for Kevin.

And now Kevin Day had left Jean behind. Jean should have seen it coming. He just never expected Kevin of all people to grow a spine. Jean’s had been broken by the Master and Riko a long time ago. Its splinters sometimes protruding and those were the rare moments where Jean taught Kevin French, sneaked a cake for Kevin’s birthday, and now this. The last time Jean would ever help anyone. He couldn’t afford anymore of this, physically and emotionally.

Nothing had changed. Everything had changed. Jean was still where he knew he would always be, behind and beneath Riko with no one to ever hand him a first aid kit or rough hands to pull him off the floor.

So Jean pulled himself up, arms shaking and sweat dripping down his face. With an agonisingly slow pace, Jean pulled himself up and onto his bed, wondering how he was supposed to go to practice later. He laid on his bed, every inch of his body aching and burning and screaming but none of it hurt as bad as his heart did. Jean thought it had been dead for years but Kevin Day had always been an exception. Jean never thought they could escaped. Jean never even dreamed of himself escaping except through death. Kevin Day was once again an exception.

[tigerinkangel]

Handy hint for anyone;

Comparing trans mascs talking about the oppression we face to incels, especially with the antisemitic term "transandrophobia truthers" is still fucking transphobic.

Like I get yall might be taking babies first steps in talking about giving a shit about men but like 1) ACTUALLY read Bell Hooks, not just cropped sections of her writing

2) trans people, intersex people, PoC (especially MoC), disabled men; hi we've all been talking about this for a long ass time and I get the idea that divorcing yourself from the idea that All The Worlds Problems Would Be Solved If All Men Died feminism is hard, and that giving two shits about people who dont like you is hard, but literally nothing will get better unless men are also on board and those who already are here are treated as allies and not The Enemy.

Like sorry your lesbian sepratism sounds like it will fix shit but its literally unhealthy brainrot and inherently transphobic, classist, and racist. Hope that helps ✌️

Build communities, and YES even with those people you dont like, YES even with people who dont like you. You dont have to be their friend but you HAVE to do the bare minimum if you want change. Like people cannot learn to love others if everyone hates them in their community. Like thats understanding how Cults Recruit 101.

Not everyone can do that work, which I understand; but if you dont do the work, don't help Others do the work, you dont get to bitch about how the world is 💙

[humming-pokemon-helpers]

I think sidon is the least hybrid person ever

[deartouya]

10000% back in my touya phase too