#sorry this is just me letting my thoughts and struggles out

[verstappenverse]

The Price of the Podium

Pairing: Max Verstappen x Reader

Summary: In the relentless pursuit of racing glory, Max faces the emotional fallout of missing an important weekend in his relationship, leaving your future uncertain.

1.5k words / Masterlist

Max's heart raced as the engine of his RedBull roared beneath him. The familiar hum had become a source of comfort, a steady rhythm that guided him through countless laps and countless victories. But today it felt different—a harbinger of an approaching storm that threatened to dismantle everything he held dear.

The season had been merciless. Each race had been a relentless pursuit of perfection, each lap a battle against time and competitors. Max understood that this world demanded sacrifices but lately the weight of those sacrifices had become different.

When Max glanced at his phone during a fleeting moment of respite his stomach dropped as a surge of guilt swept over him. A string of missed calls and urgent messages from you filled the screen, each one more desperate than the last.

Hey, can you please call me when you get a chance? I need to talk to you.

Max, you’re really starting to worry me. I don’t understand what's going on?

It’s been three days since we spoke properly. Can you at least let me know you’re okay?

Max’s gaze fell on the calendar, he had promised again to visit your extended family this weekend a significant step for you both that had been previously filled with excitement and anticipation. Your family were eager to meet him, and Max had been looking forward to it as well. But now, with the punishing schedule of the season, he was struggling to find even a moment to breathe, let alone make the trip.

He knew he was being a coward, but it was easier to avoid the situation than confront it directly and risk letting down the person who mattered most.

As Max approached the racetrack for another testing session, the weight of his choices hit him like a sledgehammer. He was about to miss an important milestone in your life together and he didn't think you'd be so forgiving this time.

His mind was full of conflicting emotions. He wanted to be there for you, to prove to your family that he was serious about your relationship. But the world of racing had a way of consuming everything in its path leaving no room for personal commitments.

The testing session was a blur. Max’s driving was flawless, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The track blurred into an endless ribbon of asphalt. He pushed himself to the limit, hoping that the adrenaline would drown out the guilt gnawing at his conscience.

Finally, the session ended. Max’s team were in high spirits celebrating the improved performance. He barely registered their enthusiasm, his mind was occupied with the image of you waiting for him in a small town, wondering why he had not shown up. He could picture you there, waiting for him, checking the clock, wondering if he’d even bothered to leave. And it wasn’t just about this weekend—it was about every missed call, every text he hadn’t answered, every promise he’d let slide.

The moment Max stepped out of the car he took a deep breath and pulled out his phone. He dialed your number hoping against hope that you would answer. After a few rings your voice came through the line tinged with weariness and frustration.

“Max?”

“Hey, I’m so sorry. I know I’ve been out of touch.”

“Out of touch? You’ve been completely absent! I was supposed to introduce you to my family this weekend. It was important to me.”

“I know. I wanted to be there, but things just got out of hand here. I’ve been trying to make time, but…”

“But what Max? You keep saying you’re trying, but you’re never here. There's always an excuse.”

“I’m really sorry, I’ve been working so hard this season...I thought I could make it work, I just…”

“You know what? I don’t want to hear more excuses right now. You’ve missed something important to me again, and it hurts. I needed you here, and you weren’t.”

The silence on the other end of the line was heavy, almost unbearable. Max could feel the pain that you were struggling to mask, like a knife twisting in his gut. It cut him deeper than any criticism he’d ever faced on the track.

“Please. I know I messed up, I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”

“Make it up to me? I don’t even know if that’s possible anymore. This wasn’t like the other times when you just forgot or lost track of time; you made the choice not to come. I’ve tried to be understanding—I know how hard this season has been, and I know how much time and dedication it takes. I never wanted to undermine that. But I don’t know how much longer we can do this. I get it, you have to make tough choices sometimes, and I’ve done my best to support you, to step back and let you focus on your goals. But it’s happening too often now, and it feels like every time, you’re choosing this..this life over us. Over me. Every single time.”

Max’s throat tightened. He wanted to argue, to explain more, but he also knew that he couldn't keep making excuse for his absence, and he couldn’t bear to hurt you anymore. He’d run out of explanations, out of promises he knew he couldn’t keep. He wanted to say something, anything to fix it, but he could hear the finality in your voice. You’d reached a breaking point, one he’d seen coming but had been too afraid to acknowledge.

“I don’t know what to say,” he finally whispered, the words feeling hollow even as he spoke them.

The silence stretched on.

“I understand if you need space.” he murmured, barely able to get the words out, blinking back tears.

Your voice was barely a whisper throat locking up, it felt like he was giving up. Was this even worth fighting for if he wasn't?

Then, in a voice so small it broke his heart all over again, you whispered,“You’re right. Maybe space is what we need right now.'

The line went dead, leaving Max alone in the garage. The celebration of the session’s success felt hollow. The echoes of the track still rang in his ears mingling with the ache of your absence.

In the days that followed Max tried to bury himself in the upcoming races, hoping that the endless rush would drown out the regret gnawing at him. He avoided reaching out to you honouring your request for space. Each day felt like an endless rotation of driving, media commitments, and sleepless nights. The thrill of racing was overshadowed by the growing distance between you and him.

You had always been patient and understanding of the demands of Max’s career. You had supported him through the highs and lows, celebrating his victories and comforting him through the losses, but it hadn’t been enough. Each missed call and unanswered message chipped away at your resolve. You couldn’t keep repeating the same cycles and expecting a different result. The weekend you had planned for Max to meet your family was meant to be a milestone, a step toward a future together. Instead, it felt like a crushing disappointment.

You replayed the conversations you had with Max in your mind, trying to reconcile the man you loved with the absence he had become. You had pictured this weekend as a chance for Max to understand the importance of your family, to see the life you had outside of his world. The hurt and frustration you felt were compounded by a growing sense of doubt—doubt that maybe this life of constant motion had created a rift too wide to bridge.

You needed time to process the hurt, to focus on yourself and figure out where to go from here. The support you had hoped for seemed distant and unreliable, and the future you had envisioned together felt uncertain.

Loving him had been a beautiful dream, but you knew it was time, you hesitated just a moment before hitting send.

Max,

I need you to know that I’m not angry anymore. I’m just… tired. I need to focus on myself right now.

You

Max read the message over and over, his hands trembling. The message was brief and seemingly final. The reality of your words sank in, there was no dramatic declarations, no harsh accusations, just a simple statement of exhaustion, a quiet resignation that tore through him. He wanted to call, to beg you to come back, but he knew it was too late.

As the season drew to a close, Max stood on the podium, the roar of the crowd a distant echo, his gaze searching as if somehow he’d see you there. The trophy was in his hands, but it didn't feel like he had expected. He looked out over the crowd searching for a sense of fulfilment that seemed to elude him, it all felt like ashes without you beside him.

Max only thought of you as he stood amidst the celebrations, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that in the pursuit of his dreams he had sacrificed something far more precious, and wondered if there was a path back to what he had lost.

[blackenedsnow]

I was the one who made reader have a you her sibling they take care of, just saying, it was so amazing. I love it:D. I have another request. This one was a bit weird and rushed cause like I'm a sleepover with two of my cousins so

Billy Loomis, Bubba Sawyer, Art the Clown, Stu Matcher, Thomas Hewitt, Jason, Michael, Billy Lenz, Pinhead, Tiffany (if you write for her) Charles/Chucky, Bo, Vincent, Lester, Brahms. If you want to add more or get rid of some it's okay. But you can either have it platonic of them being a younger sibling or child (adopted or not) going to a sleepover. Maybe sneaking out to it. They go to find out where they are and find them in a house and they are being loud, laughing, and just being kids

If you don't do platonic (cause I can't remember if you do or don't) then do it romantically and just like the same thing. You can change things if you that helps and sorry about this. But, the request I first made and you did, it was a great and made me smile cause I didn't expect it so thanks for that

slashers reactions to their younger sibling reader sneaking out to a sleepover ; headcanons

WARNING: None

PAIRING: Billy Loomis & Sibling! Reader, Bubba Sawyer & Sibling! Reader, Art the Clown & Sibling! Reader, Stu Macher & Sibling! Reader, Thomas Hewitt & Sibling! Reader, Jason Voorhees & Sibling! Reader, Michael Myers & Sibling! Reader, Billy Lenz & Sibling! Reader, Pinhead & Sibling! Reader, Tiffany Valentine & Sibling! Reader, Charles Lee Ray/Chucky & Sibling! Reader, Bo Sinclair & Sibling! Reader, Vincent Sinclair & Sibling! Reader, Lester Sinclair & Sibling! Reader, Brahms Heelshire & Sibling! Reader

NOTE: Hope you enjoyed this! I could imagine so many of them struggling to hold back but ultimately wanting to let you just be a kid and have fun. Thank you so much for this request; it was a blast to write!

BILLY LOOMIS

You’ve managed to sneak out quietly, thinking Billy won’t notice because he’s engrossed in a movie marathon.

But within half an hour, he realizes you’re gone and his “big sibling” instincts kick in.

He shows up at the house with that intense, unblinking stare that could stop anyone mid-laugh.

Who do you think you are, sneaking out like this?

He’s relieved (and slightly embarrassed) to see you just goofing off with friends.

Pretends to be unimpressed when you’re caught off guard.

He’ll let you stay—for now—

With the most deadpan expression, muttering,

“You could’ve just told me.”

But he’s not about to let you get away with it.

Once you’re back home, he’s the silent-but-deadly type. Just know you’re grounded.

BUBBA SAWYER

Bubba panics the minute he realizes you’re gone, running through the house and making distressed sounds as he searches for you.

He's going to family members and pointing to where your things should be.

The whole family tries to calm him down, but he’s inconsolable until he finds a clue leading him to the sleepover house.

When he tracks you down, he’s so relieved he doesn’t know what to do.

Seeing you safe and having fun brings tears to his eyes.

He’ll probably sit outside the house, just quietly waiting for you to finish.

If you notice him, he might wave shyly or even try to make himself “invisible.”

ART THE CLOWN

Oh, Art knows you’ve snuck out, and he’s amused.

He’s both delighted to have a reason to check in and irritated that you thought you could get away with this.

Appears at the sleepover out of nowhere, scaring the life out of anyone who notices him lurking outside.

Watches silently, only making himself known to you with that twisted grin of his, waving as if to say, “Caught you!”

Doesn't stop you from having fun but does make it clear that he knows—and will remember.

Expect creepy antics as payback when you get home.

STU MACHER

Stu probably wasn’t paying enough attention to notice you sneaking out right away, but once he does..

He's MAD.

Once he finds the house, he’s too tempted not to sneak around and scare the shit out of all of you.

Might throw a pebble at the window to get your attention and then give you a dramatic pout, mouthing,

“How could you leave me out?”

When you get home, he’ll give you a long (and playful) guilt trip about how you left him to "suffer".

THOMAS HEWITT

Notices you’re missing right away.

Thomas doesn’t like you out of his sight, so he feels uneasy, imagining the worst.

He follows you quietly, not wanting to interrupt.

When he spots you through the window, safe and laughing, he stops, taking a deep breath of relief.

Watches you with a slight smile, just relieved to see you having fun.

He’s happy that you’re being a normal kid and knows better than to interrupt that.

Will probably leave you alone and probably won't bring it up, ever.

He would definitely prefer if you let him know though.

JASON VOORHEES

Jason’s heart drops when he notices you’re not in your usual spot, and he’s anxious as he starts tracking you down.

He’s relieved to see you laughing and safe with friends.

Stays outside or hidden, keeping a protective eye.

He doesn’t want to interrupt but also doesn’t want anything sneaking up on you.

Plus, who knows if these kids don't mean any harm?

Might leave little signs outside (like stacked stones) to let you know he was there, just to make sure you’re safe.

MICHAEL MYERS

He’s annoyed.

Why would you leave his protection?

Michael doesn’t even try to blend in; he’s the shadow at the window.

Once you see his white mask peeking in, you know the jig is up.

He won’t cause a scene, but he just stares until you get the message.

When you sneak out to meet him, he’ll give you a tiny “you-know-better” look, but he’s not mad—he just wants you safe.

Doesn’t reveal himself to anyone else, but he’ll stay there the entire time.

When you get home, expect a long, silent stare, reminding you that you’re not as sneaky as you think.

BILLY LENZ

He notices right away.

Billy has a keen eye for your whereabouts, and he’s instantly on the move, tracking you down.

Peers through the window, watching you play with a pout.

He feels oddly betrayed but finds your happiness too endearing to be angry.

He won’t disrupt the fun, but you might catch a glimpse of him outside, holding his hands up in an “I’m watching you” gesture.

When you get home, he’ll tease you nonstop about “abandoning him.”

PINHEAD

This is completely out of the ordinary, and he is both confused and a bit annoyed that you snuck out without informing him.

Appears in his signature, intimidating way, silently observing from outside.

He finds the concept of a “sleepover” curious.

He’s more contemplative about it, watching as if studying some strange new human ritual.

He waits until you’re ready to return and then accompanies you back without a word.

You can expect a very stern lecture when you get home about the importance of communication…

TIFFANY VALENTINE

She realizes quickly that you’re gone and storms out to find you, though her anger’s more worried than anything.

When she spots you through the window, laughing and having fun, her irritation fades into a soft smile.

She won’t interrupt, just stands outside and watches for a bit.

She loves seeing you like this, happy and unbothered.

When you get back, she’ll playfully scold you but then pull you into a hug, reminding you to tell her next time.

CHUCKY (CHARLES LEE RAY)

Chucky’s annoyed at first, muttering to himself,

“What does this kid think they’re doing?”

He’s irritated you’d sneak off, especially without his “permission,” and tracks you down, grumbling the entire way.

When he finds you, he feels an odd mix of pride and annoyance.

He likes your independence but also doesn’t like feeling “left out.”

Gives you a wicked grin through the window, mouthing, “We’re talking later.”

He’ll grumble that “next time, you should let him know,” but he’s proud you managed to sneak out without him noticing.

BO SINCLAIR

Bo is mad and lets you know it.

He’s worried you’re in danger, and when he finds you, he’s that overprotective brother with his arms crossed.

He pulls you aside, lecturing you on safety and probably embarrassing you in front of your friends.

But once he knows you’re okay, he lets up a bit and waits outside for you, a little softer.

At home, he pretends he’s still mad but lets you off the hook pretty easily.

VINCENT SINCLAIR

Vincent’s used to you being close by, so when you’re not there, he’s unnerved and worried.

Tracks you down and watches quietly, almost touched to see you carefree with your friends.

Leaves a little note or sketch somewhere you’ll find it later, a reminder of his presence even when you’re far away.

He’s quiet when you get home, but there’s a warmth to his gaze.

You should him next time..

LESTER SINCLAIR

Lester’s both amused and concerned when he finds you missing.

He tracks you down quickly, not one for letting you go unguarded.

When he finds you through the window, he watches with a fond smile, chuckling at your carefree attitude.

Might knock on the door and make up an excuse to check on you if you notice him, but he’ll mostly just let you have your fun.

Gives you a playful nudge and a “don’t think you’re getting away that easy next time” when you get back.

BRAHMS HEELSHIRE

Brahms does not take this well, feeling abandoned and maybe a bit betrayed.

When he tracks you down, he watches from the shadows, arms crossed, grumpy but protective.

Might stare until you feel his gaze and look over at him, just so you know he found you.

When you return, expect a big fuss, with Brahms grumbling about how much he “suffered” in your absence.

[bengiyo]

Ben’s Big BL Blurb 2: Fall is Finally Here

I am simply too busy with worth, family, other hobbies, and life to write about every show in real time anymore. I’m sorry to all the Stray Thoughts readers who’ve reached out about whether I would pick that back up, and I simply just do not have the time to do them anymore. Instead, I’ll try to do one of these as often as I can to catch up on things.

First, let’s go over some shows I finished recently that I don’t think I wrote much about.

First Note of Love

I was so happy to see Michael back on screen, and I was glad to see that he’s still able to get great chemistry with his co-star. Unfortunately, I don’t think this show was very coherent, so I didn’t get a lot out of it emotionally. It was a pretty inoffensive watch overall, and thus an easy show to put on without having to work through too much. I liked the work between everyone, and Mei Lei was such a fun character. Probably won’t return to this one, though. 

Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo

This is probably the show of the year for me. There’s so much I loved about this show. I loved that the characters had sex, but were neither rewarded nor punished for it; their sex didn’t solve any problems. I also really love how this show explored how childhood trauma expresses in two different kinds of boys, and I love that we got to see a bully reckon with his actions and get closure. I love that this show ended with them being kinda poor, but happy together. I love how messed up they both were about everything. I loved that Juyeong wasn’t stupid, and could read what was going on.

I clearly need to write a separate post to unpack everything I felt in this show.

Let’s move on to what I’m watching currently, in no particular order…starting with the lesbians, and then the worst BLs.

Apple My Love

Genuinely having fun with this GL. I like how quickly most of the drama plays out. It’s giving me quite a bit of secondhand embarrassment, but I like the characterizations in this show. This new production house brought us Knock Knock, Boys! and Monster Next Door this year. We need to keep an eyes on them. 

Haunted Hearts

I’m so fascinated by Oxin Films teaming up with Regal Entertainment. The leads are very attractive, but the cinematography is really boring. I’m trying to stay invested, but it’s kind of a sleepy watch. Also amused that they started airing a ghost romance right after Halloween ended. I’ve kind of moved on emotionally from the season.

My Damn Business

This show could be good, but it’s not. I struggled with episode 5 because our lead looked more relaxed and happier with his senior than the guy he’s getting into a romance with. There’s something missing here in this one, but I can’t exactly put my finger on it. I think it’s primarily a side effect of the short run time, but I think the boss’s interest isn’t landing properly for the employee to respond to. 

Eccentric Romance

This show could be good, but it’s not. Still, I am obsessed with a murder mystery being the primary source of confusion between our leads. I was willing to forgive this show a lot of its rough edges, but it failed to handle the turn from friendship to sexual/romance really well. I feel like our guys just started dating and having sex, and I’m a bit frustrated that they didn’t talk about it really at all, particularly since this show features two different languages spoken on screen. Genuinely looking forward to seeing how this one finishes. 

See Your Love

I’m not sure this show is exactly working that well, but everyone is very pretty and I’m having a decent time watching it. I like the way Shao Peng stands up for himself, and I like that nothing that’s happened has been totally unbelievable or unreasonable (at least with the mains). I’ll be curious how the hard of hearing and deaf viewers respond to this one once it’s complete. 

Love is Like a Poison

This show is actually so funny. I love that Shiba is in his own lawyer genre separate from everyone else, and I really like how the two of these guys have become a team. I’m curious how they manage to resolve the scamming next week, but this has been the most unexpected dynamic of the year. 

Love in the Air: Koi no Yukon

MAME won this year, y’all. We all have complicated feelings about her, but she’s secured a loving adaptation from a Japanese team that’s put solid effort into bringing her characters to life. Every character feels correct compared to their Thai counterpart we saw on screen, and that’s a strong sign that the writing behind MAME’s work is strong, even if we all have issues with the way she tackles certain themes. I’m really impressed with this adaptation, and really like this version of Rain.I also feel like this show is doing a better job blending the forthcoming couple focus shift.

Our Youth

We just got this show, but damn does it feel sharp! I’m always going to be a sucker for a cinephile character, and I’m so compelled by the way Minase is drawn to Hirukawa. The scene in episode 2 where Minase has to leave Hirukawa’s house might be one of the most impressive sequences we’ve had in a while, requiring a great deal of choreography and effort from the actors and the camera crew to pull off, and I’m excited to see how these characters split and then come back together. 

Smells Like Green Spirit

Let me just say that I need another Abe Alan appearance when he isn’t playing a character doing horrible things to his students. I’ve enjoyed meditating on the 90s with this show and what that era felt like. I’ve liked how the show has tried to focus on how different parents (especially the moms) have responded to their kids coming to terms with themselves. I’ve also really enjoyed the friendship that’s grown between Mishima and Kirino. I’m struggling with Yumeno a lot, because I’m really not a friend of bully romances. Still, I feel like this is one of those shows I’ll remember for a long time because of its focus on the 90s. 

Blue Canvas of Youthful Days

I think @lurkingshan covered reactions to episode 5 and episode 6 better than I could, and I loved @twig-tea giving context for the film history moment in episode 6. I remember screaming into the chat for friends to show up for this when I got to that moment. This show has two great pairs of dynamics going on that mirror well. It’s got such a strong handle on its characters’ motivations and how they would respond to the actions from each other. It’s probably the tightest thing I’m watching now, backed by extremely dialed-in performances. I will be thinking about Qi Lu organizing his potential first kiss with Qin Xiao, and how unapologetic he’s been about the entire affair. He’s being selfish here, but I kinda like it. I’m so thankful that we are somehow still getting this show, because goddamn do the Chinese actors deliver on chemistry sometimes.

Interview With the Vampire Season 2

I finished this with a friend last week, and holy fuck is this show still so, so good. We watch a lot of gay romance because of BL, and I am having so much fun watching the show about gay divorce. I loved the time we spent in Paris, Daniel’s shifting role in the narrative, and the new insights we got into Lestat this season. I will miss Claudia so much, and I have to give a standing ovation to Delainey Hayles stepping into the role of Claudia and doing the damn thing this season. I just love seeing my little fucked up gay people torment each other on screen.

I'm still thinking about Louis and Lestat reuniting in a hurricane after Claudia derided this as yet another chapter in their stormy romance.

Dropped Shows

Unfortunately, everyone can’t win. Some of these shows are just too long for me to keep up with them, and oftentimes I get bored. I’ve currently dropped:

Lovesick 2024 - I may go back. We’ll see

Jack & Joker - It’s just too long, and they just killed Jennie and a kid. I’m good.

Fourever You - I’m bored with Earth always playing this character type.

Pluto - Namtam and Film are beautiful, but this looks too messy right now.

Every You, Every Me - Wasn’t intrigued after episode 1, but the commentary may draw me back.

Kidnap - Ohm is not enough to keep me invested in this show. 

Uncle Unknown - How did they make a 6 minute show feel slow?

I’m genuinely not trying to be harsh to Thai shows out here, but I just do not have the time to keep up with all of them when they’re this long and dragging.

Thanks for stopping by, and let me know if there’s something I missed that I should check out.

[shuafiles]

lie to girls [l.jn] preview

SUMMARY | it was hard watching jeno struggle with his relationship, but it was even harder when he ran to you for comfort every time. especially when you, his long-time best friend, have been in love with him for the longest time. but when jeno starts lying about where he’s going and who he’s with, you realize the biggest lie might be the one you’re telling yourself—that he’ll ever choose you. or girls will cry, and girls will lie, and girls will lose their goddamn minds for you.

PAIRING | nonidol!jeno x afab!reader

CONTENT | university au, angst, best friends to ?, aespa members included, cheating, swearing, drinking, smut (not everything is included in the teaser yet but just so you know whats in store)

WORDS | 855 (just this teaser)

A/N | sneak peek of what im working on! im planning on making this a looong one but i was too excited so i decided to share without spoiling too much. let me know if you like it! total wc is still unknown and the release date will hopefully be before november ends. also its my birthday today so heres my gift to you :D

“hey.” jeno greeted you, standing at your front door, which only meant one thing. they fought again.

you pushed the door wider, letting him inside. he looked like a mess, his shoulders slumped, dark bags around his eyes, hair disheveled. even from afar, you could tell he was going through something. his phone was in his hand, checking for notifications, but he let out a huge sigh when the home screen was empty.

“do i even want to know?” you prodded, eyes watching him as he plopped down on the couch. his head tilting back on the headrest, head filled with thoughts.

“you know how she is.” jeno mumbled, rubbing his face with his hands. “said she needed some space.”

unfortunately, i do know how she is. jeno’s girlfriend, karina. they’ve been together since first year of college when jeno met her at some random party. they were the kind of couple on campus that, at first glance, seemed perfect, but you knew all too well what kind of chaos haunted them in private. you were too familiar with how she behaved with jeno; most of the time, you couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

jeno didn’t even have to say anything when you saw him at your front door. you have grown accustomed to this pattern: the same heartache, apologies, and cycle of hope and disappointment. and every time it occurred, jeno ended up here—at your door, at your couch, sulking.

you wanted nothing more than to scold jeno for letting himself get run over by her, but you kept your lips sealed. deciding that giving him comfort and support was probably what he needed right now.

“again, huh?” you sat down on the opposite side of him, tucking your legs beneath you.

“i don’t even know what that means, y/n.” jeno sighed, running his hand through his hair. he lifted his head to face you, gaze soft as he held eye contact with you. “one minute, everything’s perfect, and we’re fine, but suddenly, i’ve apparently done something wrong, and she won't even tell me.” his voice cracked, hopelessness evident in his tone. it pained you to see him like this. how many times is he going to let her do this to him?

“well, did you do something wrong?” you asked, but you knew jeno too well, he wouldn’t do anything to sabotage his relationship. sure, he has made mistakes in the past, but he was a good person, a good friend, and a good lover, you suppose.

jeno stayed silent for a moment, recalling if he had done something to make his girlfriend upset. “i–no, at least i don’t think so.” he shook his head, “i’ve just been busy with classes, but i always make time for her. and everything we’re together, i always try to make it special. you know?”

you nodded along to his words, resisting the urge to roll your eyes. you have heard this story countless times, so you could probably recite it to him. it wasn’t unusual for karina to act like this; she’d get upset over something vague, and then jeno would beat himself up for it, but he’d still bend over backward to get her back.

“maybe she’s just going through something?” you said, trying to think of what to say to ease his mind.

you and karina were acquaintances at best. it’s not like you didn’t try to be her friend, but something about her attitude just seems so off-putting to you. you weren’t entirely sure if karina was fond of you either. of course, you never told jeno any of these. you knew he wouldn’t listen, not when it comes to her. he loves her. he’d return to her every time, like a moth to a flame. and you’d be there, picking up the pieces when he got burned.

“i wish she’d just tell me what’s on her mind instead of leaving me wondering what i did wrong.” his face twisted into frustration with a mix of confusion.

“jen, you know i can’t help you if you don’t tell her what you’re feeling.” this time, you couldn’t hold back. “you’re supposed to tell her these, not me.”

jeno flinched at your words, somehow unsatisfied with your advice. “yeah… you’re right.”

you watched his expression, his eyebrows furrowed while he was deep in thought. “i’m sorry if it’s not what you wanted to hear.” you hesitated, knowing you were treading dangerous waters. “i just think… you deserve someone who actually appreciates you.”

jeno stayed silent, processing your words as if he hadn’t told himself that a million times. but for some stupid reason, he couldn’t keep it in his head. he looked down at his phone, tapping the screen once more, but to his disappointment, there was still nothing. “i know you’re just looking out for me, y/n. but… i just can’t give up on her. not yet.”

and just like that, you could feel him slipping away, back into her orbit, leaving you alone with all the things you couldn’t say, wondering when he would run back to you again.

[maybanksprincess]

no nut november ❀

warnings: sort of smut, jj cumming with minimal touch, sexy lingerie, cursing, mature themes, pet names, cliffhanger (again) 🤗, sub jj.

summary: it had just turned november, and jj was trying to get through the whole month without cumming.

pairings: boyfriend!jj x girlfriend!reader

requested by this ask, sorry this is kinda shit. thank you for the request babydoll ᥫ᭡

when jj told you he was gonna get through the whole november without cumming or jerking off once, you almost laughed out loud at him.

"baby, what do you mean the whole month? you can't even last a week." you state bluntly, raising an eyebrow at him.

he crosses his arms and stares at you in disbelief, "what do you mean I can't last a week? I totally can." he huffs exaggeratedly

you roll your eyes, and then suddenly an idea popped into your head. you turn to your boyfriend and grin "okay, let's make a deal. If you can last a week in November without cumming, I'll let you do whatever you want to me for the whole month of December."

"pshh- deal." he says immediately, not even giving himself time to think about what you said.

-

not even a week into November, jj found himself starting to struggle. he finally realized just how much he jerked off a month. and it didn't help that you would walk around in the house with just underwear and a t-shirt on.

he would often come so close to cumming just based off the thought of you. its like he didnt even have to touch himself anymore.

you knew what you were doing, you were trying to make him crack. you purposely walked around in lacy underwear, and lingerie sets that you know would send jj into a frenzy.

november 3rd, 11:37 pm.

"mmph..baby please." jj whimpers out, as he's on the verge of tears. he was so painfully hard that his boner was starting to physically hurt.

"baby please touch me..." he moans, his cock standing almost on its own, begging for some sort of release as sticky precum leaks from his tip.

you hold back a fit of giggles from escaping, as your fingers graze his inner thighs, teasing him. "should i touch you baby? didn't you say you were gonna last all November?" you tease

he whines loudly at you denying his pleas, "sweetheart, please—i promise ill be good for you, jus' touch me."

you look down at him with lustful eyes, moving your face down to level with his girthy cock, licking a slow stripe up his vein on the side, eliciting a loud whimper, that is disguised as a groan from him.

you bring your head up, swirling your tongue around his pink tip a few times, feeling the soft texture on your tongue.

before you can pull away, you feel the sensation of thick white ropes of his sticky essence coat your tongue, "m-mama...feels s' good." he moans loudly

you greedily swallow the remaints of his cum, the warm sensation causing a pooling between your legs. "guess you have to tell john b you already lost, huh?" you add with a laugh

he chuckles weakly from his position on the bed, "they know how horny i am all the time, they wont be surprised."

you giggle and climb up onto his lap, straddling him, and dipping your head down to his neck, leaving butterfly kisses in their wake "wanna return the favor?"

a/n: im sorry babes, my work has been so shitty and short recently, i promise its gonna be better soon :) but enjoy this blurb!!

[t3ag3rs]

g e n s o. - 1 6

(A/N: sorry about the long haitus, i was grounded for awhile 😓)

you glance at bakugou quickly as you take your seat.

you cant help but let a small smile etch across your face. you grab your phone out your backpack and open messages, 

"katsukiiii"

you glance up to see him furrow his brows and open up his phone.

"yeah?”

"so to be clear we're keeping this a secret right?" "since we have exactly started dating yet and all.."

"yep. i dont want all these extras bothering us anyways"

"hey dont be rude theyre our friends kats😋"

"says who?"

"nvm then. ig theyre js my friends.." "but im your friend right??" "you have no other choice sooo 🤗"

"ur annoying as shit."

"dw ik u love it😙"

you smile at your phone and glance at bakugou only to find him staring at you. you give him a quick grin before pretending not to notice him so no one would notice the interaction between the two of you.

"admiring my beauty i see"

"stfu" "was not."

"awwww... r u flustereddd?"

you chuckle to yourself before hearing the bell ring, and put your phone away to prepare for the start of class.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

you sigh packing up your notes back in your bag slowly. you wait for the class to empty out for lunch before walking up to bakugou with a smile, "ready?"

he nods, "yeah lets go" he walks beside you as you both walk to the training room for lunch again.

"so..." you start, feeling the quiet to be awkward. you glance at him, "uh.. you feel any better now compared to yesterday..?"

he nods, "yeah im not staying up all night anymore thinking of a certain pestering face" he quips playfully. 

you make a sound of fake hurt, "rude..! i am a very entertaining and comforting thought to many!" you say with a slight giggle.

"damn right you are.." he says with a tiny smirk. your lips curve into a genuine smile and you knock your shoulder against his.

"okay softie.." you tease softly. he chuckles before opening the door for you, "oh how chivalrous of you" you grin as you step in.

he rolls his eyes, "here step back out and ill let you open the door for me if thats what you want" he smirks.

"no thanks kats" you say with a wink. you turn and head to the locker room, "give me 5- imma change" he makes a sound of agreement and sets his stuff down.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

you step back into the room and walk up to bakugou. "you stretched already?" you ask as you start to do so yourself. 

he nods, "yeah i did.. imma go to the bench press, call me if you need anything aight?" he says walking off with a water bottle and towel.

he nod before quickly glancing at his body, "gyatttt damn..." you mutter lowly.

"i heard that you damn perv!" he yells, flipping you off over his shoulder. you let out a loud bark of laughter that was soon followed by his.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

you grunt as you work on your last set of rdls. you breathe in deeply looking at your feet to distract yourself from the feeling of your tensing muscles. "cmon genso- you got a good 5 more left in you." you hear bakugou say from behind you.

"h-huh?" you gasp from between breaths, "im literally- struggling..!" you grunt.

"nahnah.. cmon" he places his hand on the flat of your back and stomach, "3 more.."

you feel your face flush as you feel his touch on you. you quickly finish the set and drop the weights before stumbling to regain your balance.

"woah there genso..." he says steadying you, "why are you so dizzy? have you eaten anything today?" he asks slightly concerned.

"nah i just need my water.. had a protien shake this morning so im fine.." you manage to gasp out, "dont get too hungry anyways.." you say gulping down your water.

"woahwoahwoah.. you havent ate anything all day?" he repeats, "genso you gotta eat- especially if your working out. here- i have an extra snack bar.." he says grabbing one from his backpack. "your not leaving till you eat it."

"b-but.. what are you gonna eat..?" you say not accepting the bar. 

"i have lunch, ill give you some too.. i made some spicy curry.." he says sitting down and taking out his utensils. "what are you doing just standing there? sit down" he states, patting the space beside him.

you nod slightly sitting down quietly.

"i dont have an extra utensil, so you can eat first" he say pushing the container in front of you. you glance down at it before looking at him and hugging him, "thanks kats.. it means a lot to see you care so much about me.."

he freezes shocked but returns the hug awkwardly at first, but melts into it soon after. "course dumbass.. you need anything im here for you.." he mumbles into your neck softly.

you smile before pulling away and taking a bite of his food. your eyes widen in shock, "kats this is so good..!" you say smiling. you take another scoop and hold it up to his lips, "here have some!" you say excitedly.

he widens his eyes, "b-but- you just-" he stammers.

you wave your hand dismissively, "who cares- ahhhhh" you mimic, opening your mouth. he opens it slightly and you put the spoon in his mouth softly.

"my god- i dont know what i did to get so lucky and get someone who can cook and workout well too..!" you say between bites. "eat some more or else i will" you warn.

"um first of all- hell no. second of all- slow down woman!" he chuckles grabbing the spoon from you. "gonna choke yourself at that rate.." he scoops some curry and brings it to your lips, "open wide.." he mutters quietly.

you widen your eyes but open your mouth nonetheless.

you smile as u chew and swallow, "sooooo.... whats up with u and izu?" you ask as casually as possible. you glance up to see his mouth form a frown, "oh cmon katsss..."

"he just pisses me off. we knew him since forever- he told us he couldnt get a quirk and then out of nowhere he manifests this strong ass quirk!" he runs his hand throigh his hair frustratingly, "i didnt have to worry about the damn nerd before but now- i cant let him beat me, he cant look stronger than me." He stresses looking at his palms.

you sigh pursing your lips, "oh kats... thats what this is all about..?" you rub ur thumb over the back of his hand softly, "i dont care if you were the 197th hero ranked out of 50- i would still be here for you. i dont like you because of how youre  better then everyone else and never lose... i like you because your the most attractive, smart, strong, determined, and hard working guy i met. and thats all that matters okay?"

he glances up at you with widened eyes. he opens his mouth to talk but instead shuts it and scoops you into a tight hug.

"Oh-" you freeze slightly before relaxing into the warmth of his body against yours. "i know dont wanna say thank you, but ill say your welcome nonetheless" you giggle playfully.

Bakugou tightened his grip on you and said a silent prayer,

Please god let me keep this one..

previous parts: pt. 0 0 / pt. 0 1 / pt. 02 / pt. 03 / pt. 04 / pt. 05 / pt. 06 / pt. 07 / pt. 08 / pt. 09 / pt. 10 / pt. 11 / pt. 12 / pt. 13 / pt. 14 / pt. 15 next part: your all caught up for now!

☆taglist! @katszumi @coolgirl458 @niktwazny303 @twinnintwink @froggybich @friedmagazineprincess @itztaki @aikojwhpa

[bokettochild]

Hey, Uncle Anon again--Okay but say this happens after Yuga attacks...the image of his uncle seeing that hey, someone is home, and meeting Ravio.

Does Ravio have his hood up? Is there any recognition there? Does Ravio know his Lorule counterpart, has he heard the story from Legend? It could go So Many Ways. Ranging from 'awkward' to 'sorry-not-sorry, Mr. Hero, but it was instinct to hit him with the nearest chair'.

Okay, this ask actually inspired me a bit, and this is only part of a bigger project, but have it anyways!

  The cottage hadn’t changed a bit. Standing on the path, apple trees shivering in a slight breeze, he’d almost felt a decade younger, almost tricked himself into thinking he’d need only open the old wood door, the door whose key still sat heavy in his pocket, and a bright little face would whip around to meet him, gap-toothed grin his welcome home as feet would pit-patter across the worn out floors. Maybe it was that image that tricked his feet into walking, following a path altered only by shade of trees grown taller in his absence, their fruit hanging heavy but not yet ready to be plucked.     It’d be cider making season soon, he’d mused to himself, hand digging through his pocket for a key he couldn’t name why he still carried. Absently, he wondered if the old press was still down in the basement, if Link- because it must be Link- had minded to keep it oiled and tended, or if he’d left off using it. After all, the former knight chuckled, the boy couldn’t even turn the handle fully on his own, now could he?    His mind had been so caught in his thoughts he hadn’t been minding his surroundings, pushing the door open after a moment’s struggle (the key stuck more than it once used to) and moving to enter his old home. He hadn’t expected to be immediately whacked over the head, nor, when he’d picked himself up again, to find himself face to… face(?) with a masked figure.    “We aren’t open!” The purple clad individual had declared, mallet in hand, and a small creature with wings- which could in no ways be considered a bird- fluttering about at his shoulders, squawking and hissing something terrible. “And if you thought you could break in, you’re dead wrong!”    Aflon had blinked, slowly, and then started, gaze flying about the house briefly.    It wasn’t changed, not really. Pictures were all taken down and boxes were tucked against the walls, but the couch, the rocking chair, the china cabinet, it was all still there, still in the same places, now with new stains and scuffs, but he could recognize them all the same. Really, the only major difference was the desk near the door scattered over with glittering items and objects, little price tags set before them in poor mimicry of a shop.    He wasn’t sure if the purple clad figure was meant to be here or not, but given that the house still technically belonged to him, he’d been more than slightly caught off guard.    “I’m not here for a shop, I- who are you?”    “Who are you?” The apparent merchant had demanded in answer, face shielded behind a hood that looked like it was meant to resemble a very, very odd face. “And why are you here?” Their voice was trembling slightly, but they stood firm despite.    “I live- or, well…” he’d paused, picking himself up and dusting himself off, “I used to live here. This was my house- still is actually, I’ve just been away.”    Despite not being able to see the merchant’s eyes, he could feel the apprehension in their gaze, weighty as it was as they looked up at him, one hand on their hip and the other holding fast to their oversized mallet. “You must have the wrong house, this one belongs to Mister Hero.”    Oh.    “You mean Link?”    “You know him?” Their head cocked on one side, hood following with a flap of long ear-like attachments.    Aflon had nodded briefly. “Do you?”    “Of course!” And suddenly the mallet was gone, the figure gesturing about with a cheery chirp now entering their tone. “He’s my housemate! Lets me stay here, keep up the shop while he’s gone and all that lovely sort of thing. Didn’t realize he had a landlord himself though! So terribly sorry if he’s been stiffing you on rent, he’s been out of town for forever now, you see.”    He’d nodded. He hadn’t known what better to do.    The stranger had introduced themselves as Ravio, offered to show him their wares, but when asked about Link had firmly insisted that he knew nothing more than that the hero was off on some mission for the crown or something and that he was just keeping the house in order for him. 

[gothamite-rambler]

Spoiler (Stephanie Brown) getting her first rogues gallery member... and it's flipping Kite-Man

Context: Stephanie Brown, known as Spoiler, has navigated the challenges of being a Gotham hero and a member of the Batfamily, facing death, heartbreak, and personal struggles that have defined her journey. Now, Kite Man wants to be her nemesis, dubbing it a rivalry. As she juggles her responsibilities, the last thing she needs is a villain in a kite suit. This series will be ongoing, though updates will be irregular. Notes at the bottom for anyone curious why I'm making this a series :)

Spoiler Meets Kite-Man:

As Spoiler sang "Plastic Love," she takes on two thieves attempting to rob a teenage boy.

Spoiler: I'm just playing games, I know that's plastic love. Dance to the plastic beat. Another morning comes, I'm just playing games.

With a swift kick, Spoiler sent the last goon sprawling to the ground. She reached out to help the teenager who had fallen during the botched robbery, grateful to have witnessed the villains being taken down. He smiled in relief, but then noticed an irritating figure before Spoiler did. Kite-Man, on his way to commit a petty crime, abruptly stopped, impressed by the hero's singing.

Kite-Man: Dang, you sing really well!

Spoiler spotted him and grinned beneath her mask. As she flipped her hair back, her long blonde locks brushed against the teen's face, causing him to rub his eye in irritation.

Spoiler (with pride): Well, you see, I’m classically trained.

Kite-Man: In choir?

Spoiler (beaming): No, karaoke!

Kite-Man (sincerely): That’s awesome, it really shows!

Spoiler: Aw, thanks! By the way, aren’t you the kite guy?

Kite-Man (laughing): That’s right! Kite-Man’s the name, and I’m quite popular in Gotham.

The teenage boy standing next to Spoiler shook his head in disbelief at Kite-Man's ostentatious claims.

Spoiler: Okay, okay, you're not about to break the law tonight are you?

Kite-Man (lying): Just on a nightly stroll, not committing any crimes.

Spoiler: Huh, um, well you complimented my masterful singing skills... you can't be that bad. I’ll let you go this time. Consider yourself pardoned.

Kite-Man (smiling): Thanks! What’s your hero name?

Spoiler: Spoiler. Former Robin. Current girl boss.

The boy beside her rolled his eyes, genuinely perplexed that this was happening right in front of him.

Kite-Man: I like it! Thanks, Spoiler. See ya!

Spoiler waved as Kite-Man pressed a button his suit and flew away.

Spoiler (shaking her head with a chuckle): What a goofy guy.

Teen: He’s pretty dumb too, but aren’t you supposed to arrest him? He breaks the law all the time.

Spoiler (shrugging): Eh, he’s mostly harmless. I doubt I’ll be seeing him again.

Kite-Man’s Antics Continue

She was not correct about the not seeing him again. Over the next few weeks, Chuck—aka Kite-Man—continued his sporadic crime spree around Gotham.

Purse snatching

Stealing from stores and gas stations

Robbing the same three banks

Swiping prizes from an arcade because the ticket prices were “totally criminal.”

And while she agreed with that last part, Spoiler just couldn’t catch a break; she always ended up confronting him, no matter the time or the weather. It wasn’t just that she was encountering him; she was the only one actually arresting him. Here she was once more, stepping in during an active robbery at Bill’s Gold and Pawn, a place Stephanie thought of as a hub for taking advantage of others.

Spoiler: Don’t be him, don’t be him, don’t be him! Don’t be robbing this pawn shop—

Spoiler kicked the door to the shop open and rushed inside, spotting Kite-Man holding a sack for cash and aiming what was unmistakably a prop gun at the frustrated worker.

Spoiler (exhausted): God damn it- Oop!

She swiftly covered her mouth, mortified at her mistake.

Spoiler (frustrated): You just made me swear! Thanks a lot!

Kite-Man: Oh… sorry! How you been, Spoiler?

Spoiler: Not great; my ex-boyfriend stole my car and crashed it—why are you robbing a pawn shop?!

Kite-Man: These people rob customers! They’re selling an iPad for $250, which I bet someone traded for cash and only got half that back.

Worker (sheepishly): She… got a hundred dollars back.

Kite-Man shot a glance at Spoiler, as if he believed she completely grasped his reasoning. She somewhat did, but she wasn’t about to let him off the hook, especially since Batman had been suspicious of her for a while, given how consistently he managed to evade her.

Spoiler (annoyed): Kite-Man!

Kite-Man: Come on, I need the money!

Worker: You’re stealing Pokémon cards and cash, dude.

Kite-Man: Can’t a guy have hobbies?

Spoiler covered her eyes with a hand, perplexed by how she had ended up with this relentless crook on her hands. He wasn't a cool villain or even insane enough to fear for her. At this point, he was just an annoyance.

Spoiler: Why is this my life?

Oracle (over comms): Spoiler, don’t waste time; you need to arrest Kite-Man.

Spoiler (into her comm): Oracle, butt out of this!

Oracle (annoyed): Oh, well ex-freaking-scuse me. I’ll just stay quiet while you deal with your “friend.”

Spoiler: He’s not my friend! Oracle, focus on someone else!

Kite-Man (confused): Oracle?

Spoiler: Um, it’s Bluetooth with my… mom, who also happens to be psychic.

Regret washed over her as she realized her mistake in labeling her highly catholic mother as a psychic. At least she was there to hear it, but Kite-Man nodded understanding.

Kite-Man: My aunt was a psychic. She predicted her husband would die… she left out the part about her stabbing him to death. You know, Spoiler… we’re kind of in sync today.

Spoiler (stunned, whimpering): What?

Kite-Man turned his attention back to Spoiler with a grin.

Kite-Man: You’ve stopped my crimes more than any other hero in Gotham! You don’t mop the floor with me like Batman, Nightwing, or Red Hood. You even let me escape a few times!

Spoiler (frantically pressing her comm): That happened one time!

Oracle (scolding tone): Spoiler, be honest.

Spoiler: Okay, rule of threes! Three times, and I have reasons for all of them!

Oracle (with a mocking tone): I'll make sure Batman gets those reasons. I'm texting him as we speak. You can continue bantering with your friend.

Spoiler heard Oracle chuckling with amusement causing the hero to clench her fist in anger.

Spoiler (replacing all curse words): Son of—glip glop meep top slot pot! Dang it! Batman is going to chew me out!

Kite-Man: Oh my God, same dude! Hell yeah, we’re still in sync! This has got to mean something.

Spoiler's eyes widened as she processed where this conversation was heading.

Worker (joining in with a smile): Dude, she’s like your… rival. The one you battle with the most. Like if you're committing crimes, she shows up!

Kite-Man (excited): Yes! Joker and Batman, me and her, him or them- no judgment, I respect the pronouns you go by.

Spoiler (squeaky voice): Why are you respecting my possible pronouns? This is not happening!

Kite-Man (snapping his fingers and lowering his prop gun): I know this is crazy right, but that means I have my first rival who isn’t a six-foot-tall man in a bat costume! We’re rivals! And look at you—you’re young too, so thank you for making me your first rival. Hell yeah, high five!

Kite-Man held up a hand, waiting for a high five. The disinterested worker shrugged and slapped Kite-Man's hand as Spoiler seethed, her left eye twitching.

Spoiler: Okay, hold up—I’ll take the young compliment, thanks, but that’s not—this is not—

Spoiler's rant is interrupted by a cackle from Oracle, which quickly escalated into a laugh that seems to last forever. Spoiler groaned in frustration. She had to squash this before it became permanent then she would arrest Kite-Man and go about her day.

Spoiler (waving her hands to end the conversation): No, no, no! That’s not even the right word. You’d be my nemesis.

Oracle (between laughs): Oh yeah, give it a different word. That’ll fix it! I told you just to arrest him—nope, you just kept it going! Karma!

Spoiler (ignoring Oracle): “Nemesis” is the word if we were that, but we’re not!

Kite-Man (missing the point): Nah “rivals” sounds better and it works for us. We have good banter and you let me go that first time we met—

Spoiler (irate whispering): Would you stop saying that out loud?! Oracle, you did NOT hear that!

Oracle (gleefully): I already sent the text, girlfriend. You two continue your chat. I’m just enjoying my water.

Growing furious, Spoiler stormed over to Kite-Man and snatched the prop gun from him. She started punching him in the nose until he collapsed on the floor, groaning in pain.

Spoiler (to the worker): We’re not rivals—I mean, nemeses!

Worker: Kind of seems like you are.

Spoiler: Whatever! Your opinion means nothing, because you resell people’s valuables for outrageous prices after giving them a quarter of the value!

Kite-Man (weakly lifting a finger): That's what I’m saying! They’re the true villains!

Spoiler (dropping the fake gun onto Kite-Man's head): Shut the frack up!

After the chaos, she escorted Kite-Man out of the pawn shop and toward the Gotham police station. Just before the cops took him away, he cheerfully addressed one of the officers with some great news.

Kite-Man: Just keep an eye on her—she's my rival, and I'll see her again.

Spoiler: Stop manifesting this it's not happening! I'm not your rival or nemesis! I'm just the one who saves your sorry self more than any of the other fifty heroes in Gotham!

A drug dealer sitting in a nearby cell clutched the bars and chimed in, echoing the disbelief of everyone nearby.

Dealer: You just confirmed what he said, but you twisted the definition.

Jim Gordon (sitting at the front desk): Pretty much. He’s an idiot, but he’s not wrong—you're rivals.

Spoiler (yelling): We are not!

Oracle (laughing): Would you just leave? I'm about to pee myself, this is hilarious.

Spoiler pivoted on her heel and marched toward the door, but Kite-Man's next words stopped her in her tracks.

Kite-Man: Sorry about your crappy boyfriend stealing your car, Spoiler. Crazy exes are the worst; I totally get it.

Dealer: Oh yeah, he’s definitely your rival.

Spoiler refused to continue the conversation and walked out of the precinct grumbling under her breath. 

Int. Stephanie Brown's apartment - Midafternoon

In her apartment, Stephanie sat across from her mother, Crystal Brown, as they talked about Kite-Man. Crystal, an Irish immigrant who moved to America in her twenties, had been married to Clue Master for a time before thankfully leaving him.

She struggled with a prescription pill addiction for a while, which strained her relationship with Stephanie, but she'd since recovered and found faith. A small silver cross necklace hung around her neck at all times. Today, even though, Stephanie wasn't in the mood for her mother’s often annoying religious musings, she needed to vent to someone free for the day after Bruce had scolded her for letting Kite-Man escape three times and throwing a fit at the police station.

Stephanie: I can’t stand him! He'll be there with a goofy weapon or bungling and just when I think I can handle it, he starts talking. He sounds like a total douche from California!

Crystal: Sort of like that one man ya dated in college?

Stephanie nodded, burying her head in her hands.

Stephanie: He is so annoying! His whole schtick is wearing a kite suit! Not flying a kite, which would actually be cool—his suit is the kite, and somehow he knows how to fly it!

Crystal (placing a hand on her chest): My word, I thought your father had a stupid schtick.

Stephanie: Right?! I was so frazzled during that pawn shop robbery that I lied and said Oracle was you, and that you were a psychic! I even cursed!

Crystal (bothered by one detail): All right, I can understand the cursin' with a man like that—I was married to Clue Master after all—but don’t drag me into ya lil charade as a charlatan. I’m many things, but I’m not into mysticism. God knows all, not me—

Stephanie groaned, having expected her mother missing the point.

Stephanie: Ma, focus! He keeps saying I’m his rival, which is totally not the right term, but at the same time, he’s not wrong. He’s messing with me, and I can’t shake him off! Bruce is already mad that I let him get away! How was I supposed to know he’d rob all those places right after?

Crystal: Aye, well, first off, Arthur has met this Kite-Man and said he was a goofy nuisance in prison but considers himself the best bad guy in Gotham… so there’s that. And as much as it pains me to say it, Bruce was right it wasn’t smart to let him go.

Stephanie (monotone): I don’t know what scares me more: that you’re agreeing with Bruce or that now I find myself agreeing with Arthur. Oh God, he’s making me see eye to eye with my father!

Crystal: You won’t like this next part then… from the way you’ve been describing him, I hate to say it, sweetie, but he’s—

Stephanie (covering her eyes): Don't say it.

Crystal placed a supportive hand over her daughter’s.

Crystal: I'm sorry, love, but he's your nemesis - or the rival thing.

Stephanie whimpered, lowering her head in shame. Her mother patted her hand with a plaintive smile. She just wanted this day to end, but with Kite-Man potentially joining her rogue gallery, it seemed this wouldn’t be the last time they crossed paths, nor would it be the last time she’d have to arrest him or let him go.

A/N: I chose to write this because I love the trope of bumbling villains who mistakenly thinks they’re a hero’s main adversary. Kite Man believes he’s Spoiler’s (Stephanie) ‘rival’—a word I used when I forgot the word 'nemesis.' Although Spoiler doesn’t like him, he sees her as a cool hero who doesn't beat him up as badly as Batman has. This dynamic is reminiscent of the Flash’s interactions with his villains. It's inspired by jokes from Kite Man, Hell Yeah!

[daily-jin-madebygenius]

Jin let out a soft gasp.

Tears were now flowing down the blue cheeks like a waterfall. The light in the azure eyes almost gone. The shine of the little star becoming all the less bright, succumbing into the darkness of the space.

No! Keep shining. You need to keep shining. The world will become dark without you. It'll be cold without you. Please keep shining.

Pols, I...

Little sparks were growing. Soon forming into a weak light, slowly turning brighter. It brought a weird warmth in her chest. Warmth that was taking over her.

You're not pathetic. Not in my eyes at least... You saved me. Gave me shelter. Made me feel... Wanted. I-I never thought I'd experience this thing in my entire life.

And.. I'm sorry that it happened to you.

Soon the said warmth was taking control of her entire body. Only one though in mind. Comfort. The light begged to get closer to the star. Fight though meteors and black holes. Get through thick clouds and vines. Just to help the star shine.

I mean, I don't know what happened, but I'm sorry that it did. You don't have to say sorry to me. Maybe to yourself. But I can see how much you struggle and it's unfair,

Unconsciously, her hand moved. Her mind gave in the pleads without her realising it. Her palm soon found itself on top of Poli's, warming his cold fingers.

Because you deserve so much better.

@daily-rcp-poli

Worriness is a trait that could cause doom to some.

The rookie always worried. About everything. About everyone. But he seemed to cast a blind eye when it came to himself. He was a functioning adult of society, Poli did have the image that he could take care of himself just fine.

The inner child that dreamed upon the stars disagreed, however. He didn't like it whenever the adult on the outside left trash bags rot inside the complex. He hated when food was not an important fuel to the officer.

The child cried when the thoughts of reaching the galaxy came around.

Poli rests his head against his desk, filled with paperwork to the brim. It had about been a week or so since the teenager found a place in his home.

Some time from the incident, too.

The academy forced Jin back into the system, up and working. Poli despised it. A young girl, so brutally brought to look at the injury a wilted rose caused, an injury that engraved itself into her.

Painful reminder, is what they say.

Now that the girl lived here, obvious changes twisted his home around. Trash to machinery that still needed to be worked on in his room, bags that found themselves in the corner.

Jin still hasn't warmed up to the star, so she sustained to making her own little corner in the apartment. He didn't mind. Poli did state several times that the inventor didn't feel the need to speak to him, just to paint him as a ghost he views himself as on the canvas.

The girl still made some attempts, and he certainly did find these attempts grateful. It was hard. Hard for her to cope. Poli was angry when the academy discarded her injury, only batting an eye to her studies.

Threatening her with failing grades if she wanted to rest. His academy was familiar, but for a reason that he, himself found unknown too;

He cared for her more than himself.

Poli sighs. He had been dreaming again while dozing off from the big binder of English he had been teaching himself with. He couldn't focus–

His focus regrains when he notices books that weren't his onto the bed. Weren't those–

Jin's books! She forgot to take them with her!

He jolts out from his chair, clumsily stumbling onto his knees. The rookie groans, picking himself up and practically crawling to the pile of unforgotten books.

Jin just left. He still has time.

Shoving the books into a navy blue shoulder bag, he faces the door.

And save her from a failing grade. Poli heads out, a duty to start his day off.

@daily-jin-madebygenius

[greglow03]

I don't know why I'm in this fandom anymore, if more than half of it's people are filtered out...

Why am I here and have to suffer having my favourite character, my sweet baby boy, get picked on by so many...

And then also have him plastered and ruined with a stupid freaking non-canon thing...

Why... just why...

And why is it so fucking popular?... And all the bigger blog people take him from me and give me back a version- a version that's not my baby boy...

And say it is him and to just fuck off and block me for not accepting the not real version... and go crazy convincing others that it is real...

Do I really need to leave this fandom to save my sanity, and keep my baby boy not fucked up?...

And I'm the only person who feels this way and is considered to be absolutely wrong and bad for it...

I just wish there were others like me, but alas that is too much to ask...

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

The whole discourse about the privacy/secrecy/support thing has been sitting with me for a few days (I mean other than it always does to a certain degree) thanks to all the excellent discussion happening and I know I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said a million times before, but I think what we're seeing and what we're going to learn (e.g. from TTPD) is that it wasn't just the support issue, but how it was shown/handled.

We've all gone out of our way to show that introversion =/= lack of support. Someone can be shy, reserved, etc. and still show up for their partner, whether in public or at home. To chalk any of the differences up to the clash between introversion and extroversion is unfair to folks who count themselves among either tbh.

@thisisctrying said something the other day that hit the nail on the head about how if that support had been offered in private, there very well may not have been a Joever to begin with, or at least not at this point in time. (Sorry for loosely paraphrasing, and for namedropping you! Long time listener, first time poster.)

If this were a case where the "shy" partner said, "I am really uncomfortable with the spotlight personally and do not want to court it, but I will support you in your ambitions and offer you whatever you need to make them happen and make the glare bearable," I suspect that would have gone a long way to making Taylor feel seen and comfortable in pursuing her goals in the way that she now has. Again, that might have been more akin to the balance that seemed to have been struck around 2019 from what we can see, but even speaking in a general sense, there are lots of couples out there, celebrity or not, that have similar approaches where there are highly driven people and busy careers involved.

(A famous example being Dolly Parton's marriage. Tbh I know next to nothing about her and Carl, but she's always heralded as an example in this regard, because her husband is famously uncomfortable with the spotlight and hasn't accompanied her to public events in decades, but she's said that she never minded that because that was always work to her, and what was important was that he supported her in pursuing all her career goals and basically ensured she had a place to call home to return to at the end of the day.)

We're kind of in a brave new world with her current relationship because it felt like, at least at the start, we were maybe watching her figure out her boundaries in real time as to what she was comfortable with or not and adjust accordingly. Like so many have said, I fully believe the extreme privacy thing was initially driven by herself and her experiences in 2016, and she needed that quiet time to recover from all of the things and figure out how to exist in the world again.

Stating the obvious, it seemed like eventually privacy was equated with secrecy, turning the relationship and the celebrity into the elephant in the room and something to never be spoken of to the outside world. People are free to choose whatever works best for themselves and their relationships, and for some the separate public lives might work, but the “kept me like a secret but I kept you like an oath” theme is all over her work and it’s clear that it’s a sore spot for her, because she’s been made to feel shame just for the life she leads so many times in the past.

What I’m trying to say is that it’s pretty obvious something Not Great was happening behind the scenes, which didn’t just amount to “she wanted to be a public celebrity and he wanted to be a private hermit.” (Also, in case anyone forgot, this is a person who also chose a public-facing career who also has to engage in press for it, but I digress.) As her career reached new heights post-folklore, if she had the support at home to do all the things without judgment and with encouragement, and in turn offer the same support to her partner, she may have very well lived just fine with that, not unlike Dolly Parton’s case.

By reading between the lines in all the press since, as well as comments on tour and general ~vibes~ with TTPD teasers, it seems like one of the issues was that that was likely not the case. There was all the stuff that we saw — the reticence to acknowledge each other in the media (particularly on one side), the lack of public support even at events at which they were both in attendance for their respective jobs, the great lengths they went to not to be photographed together at events they attended yet no problem taking pictures with other friends and coworkers, the jobs that separated them, the withdrawing from the public even for work accomplishments, etc. Which could all be manageable if a couple chooses to do so together and are not inherently a sign of trouble in themselves.

But what we’re seeing now I think is a reflection of the things we weren’t seeing then, and it seems to indicate some very deep hurt. (I know, call me Captain Obvious.) And like so many have been saying, it feels likely that that part of that hurt is rooted in that very lack of private support where a person would expect it from their partner. Obviously as a Taylor fan blog I’m going to be more inclined to understand her side of a story, but tbh, it’s also because… this is sooooooo common, and something I’ve experienced in my friend group. (@taylortruther is right when she says most breakups are the same one way or another lol.)

One partner is resentful of the other’s success, or resentful that the other’s priorities begin to evolve as new experiences unlock new goals, or feels the other’s ambitions are not worthy of pursuit, and coupled with perhaps their own struggles in the same domain, it’s easy to see where that can chip away at the other partner’s morale and faith in the relationship. I know I’m just speculating here, but I also don’t think it’s totally unfounded. (Again, because a) I’m picking up what she’s putting down and b) it happens to sooooooo many women even among us dull normals.)

With all the pointed mentions about how much Taylor feels supported in her current relationship and how she in turn loves to offer the same show of support to not only her partner but other loved ones, how she’s stepped out more in the last year to a whole host of events, how she’s mentioned feeling like she locked herself away for years and she’s just proud of her partner and happy she can show up for him even if the chaos around it is unsettling, it paints a picture of what perhaps was happening before last year.

To feel like you’re all alone in carrying the weight of the relationship (or burden of it), of twisting yourself into knots to accommodate the other person’s boundaries (or insecurities) but not feeling reciprocity for your own has to be so painful. (The idea that it may have been even darker and to have a partner not only be unreceptive to your own needs but even perhaps resentful/dismissive/belittling of them is even more painful to think of. I guess we’ll find out when TTPD comes out if that was the case, too.)

At a certain point, that lack of acknowledgement will force your hand to be able to reclaim yourself. And it feels like the further removed Taylor in particular is from it, the more she moves from being sad about the life she felt she gave up by leaving, to angry at the life she felt she was giving up by staying. Especially being in a relationship now where it seems like everything comes much easier, where she can be open about the person she’s with and show up for them, all the stuff that seemed as challenging as climbing Mount Everest in her past is nothing more than a molehill at best in her current life.

TL;DR: I don’t think it’s privacy that inherently spells doom for a celebrity relationship like this; it’s the mutual support and respect that does. If Taylor had felt that in the later years of her previous relationship, I think we could be seeing a different, though not necessarily unfulfilled, person right now in 2024, who’d be happy on tour but whose personal life would look a little different. But it seems like by losing that support she lost parts of herself, and we’ve seen her reclaim that in spades in the last year, and perhaps to degrees she didn’t even realize she could from before all the Bad Stuff started happening in her young adulthood.

I know this was extremely long-winded and unnecessary, especially about total strangers we only know through scraps fed through the media, but I just always bristle at this idea that issues like these boil down to “personality differences,” as though one person wants to live in a city and the other on a remote island, or some shit like that. The whole support (and gender tbh) issue is one that’s just very close to my heart because again, I have seen it play out with so many of my friends in long term relationships and marriages and I just think people in relationships (and women in particular in some circles) deserve better than to feel like they’re being, well, tolerated.

[welcometogrouchland]

Hello, another doodle compilation post of everything I haven't posted since the period of May to now that I didn't hate but didn't like enough to post on its own + fanart i made of @catboymoments's fankids Azura and Hyacinth! I'm not normally a fankid person but these guys are a whole moment unto themselves I love them sm. ID in alt text bc it was getting lengthy! Let me know if there's any issues

[pekoeboo]

ugh. some thoughts.

really been trying to find the joy in drawing/writing again and honestly it's been such a challenge. friends have told me it's most likely depression that's making it hard to feel motivated and tbh they're probably right.

hoping to get back into being creative in the way I Want to be at some point tho. I miss it. there's still so much with my stories and characters that I haven't been able to share or explain and I wish I knew how without it feeling like this daunting, impossible task.

I don't know when I'll get around to actually sharing art again (or writing, if ever). was hoping that I'd manage to get some of my mental and physical issues in check recently for just long enough to get back into the swing of being creative, but that hasn't seemed to work. everything feels bad, both artistically and physically. I'm struggling to keep up with the frantic pace at which my brain comes up with story concepts and intriguing character interactions, even tho everything in me wishes I could turn it into tangible artistic expression so I can get it out of my head and share it. it used to be easy. I don't know why it's not now.

I'm just . tired, I guess.

[cherry-treelane]

everytime i feel bad and stressed about my life i remember that i might be in a troubling situation and having a bad time but im not season 4 fiona gallagher in the clink after leaving crack on the counter which my 3 year old baby brother happened to ingest resulting in a fatal near-death experience thats wracked me with never-ending guilt and forever altered my life

[triglycercule]

i want to headcanon the mtt having absolutely terrible hygiene and struggling to keep themselves clean (this MAY... just QUITE POSSIBLY.... only in the SLIGHTEST bit be projection) but i think it would be too gross and man EVEN I dont wanna think about that

also killer canonically smells good and i actually really LIKE that idea so oh shit there goes that idea out the window. horror and dust youre my only hope please let me make you smell bad for reasons you won't understand

[rosicheeks]

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