#that's not to say he's weak or a pushover obviously

[licorishh]

Woe, "Your favorite character who's probably just autistic and quiet and not very sociable and often speaks very plainly and in a more direct and blunt manner is now mischaracterized by the entire fandom as a sexy emo possessive no-nonsense 'I hate everyone and everything except for the weird quirky girl cause I'm the only person on Earth who knows she's super hot cause everyone else says she's ugly even though she's actually extremely conventially attractive' serial player who essentially treats every female character in the particular piece of media like his personal slave and is the subject of countless x reader fics, so much so that it makes you feel ashamed to tell people he's your favorite character because you don't view him like that in the slightest but literally everyone else in the fandom does so you're afraid you'll be lumped in with those people" be upon ye.

[pedropascallme]

Crush

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!Reader

Summary: “The door opened and you turned toward it out of impulse. The man that was suddenly in front of you was Tess’s age, you guessed. Dark hair greying, sleeves of his denim button down rolled up to the elbows, face…mean. Joel Miller in the flesh.”

Warnings: Smut (18+ MINORS DO NOT INTERACT), age gap (reader is late 20s/early 30s, Joel is canon typical age), p in v sex, fingering, oral (m and f receiving), kinda mean!Joel, degradation, praise kink, orgasm denial/edging, I will sprinkle in queer Tess. If I missed anything please let me know!

Soundtrack: Crush by Ethel Cain

Joel had a problem with saying no.

He knew it made him seem soft, but he just couldn’t get it out. There was something about becoming a father that increased the negative connotation of the word; using it as a response meant hampering the needs of someone who trusted you. Or the wants. And it was always the wants he fell victim to. Sarah knew his weaknesses—she was his biggest one. A goldfish, extra dessert, a slumber party— “Sure, darlin’.”

Sarah was all he cared about, and he’d give her everything she ever wanted, even when it meant looking like a pushover.

But his window had passed; all will to live drained and replaced by pure survivalism. He pretended to get over it out of instinct, willing himself to push everything down in order to keep going.

He didn’t mind saying no anymore. He had nobody to say it to, anyway.

Maybe that made him a bad man.

~~~

You had befriended Tess by chance. She frequented the same spots you did—speakeasies and back allies, surrounded by men she wanted nothing to do with. 

At least you had that much in common with her.

Tess was older than you by maybe twenty years, and you knew nearly nothing about her. You knew her name, you knew what she did to get the extra rations she kept in her front pocket, and you knew she lived with Joel Miller. You had never pried about their relationship, and all you knew of Joel was that he was as gorgeous as his reputation was mean.

She had the tendency to be hot headed, there was no doubt that she could be rough, although you felt her fire was what drew you to her in the first place. Another person who had lost everything obviously wasn’t inaccessible, but it helped that she was one of the few women that you had seen around. When she had thrown a punch so hard it nearly shattered her hand, you grabbed her and walked her home while she stumbled along with you.

No matter how watered down the whiskey in the QZ was, enough of it would do the trick.

“You ok?” You grabbed her by the waist, catching her before she fell, distracted by the blood on her knuckles. You didn’t know if it was hers or the man whose bottom tooth she had loosened.

“Guys here are as bad as fucking raiders…” She mumbled, looking down at her feet. “Could’a walked home myself.” You knew she could’ve, but the thought of letting her stagger home by herself so close to curfew made you uneasy. 

Some things never change. 

“Didn’t want you to,” You kept walking, one stride ahead of her at all times. “Could’ve been dangerous.”

“They know not to fuck with me,” she was giggling now, and she looked almost girlish with her features softened. “Living with Miller has its perks.”

“Wouldn’t want your boyfriend having to exact revenge just cause I let you walk home drunk.”

“What?” Tess stopped walking.

“Aren’t—sorry, are you and Joel not—?”

Tess snorted, “Joel and I are not an item. I don’t, y’know. He’s not my type.” She had sobered almost instantly. “I like my partners…feminine.”

Oh. Oops.

“Sorry.” 

“Don’t be. We get it a lot. Easy living with each other cause we’re the only two that know how to empathize with the other.” She started walking again, leaving you with space to catch up. You didn’t inquire further about what she meant, it wasn’t something anybody wanted to discuss, ever. Loss and death were everywhere, there was no need to reflect on past experiences. Especially with someone like Tess who, in all honesty, intimidated you mightily. You just jogged to meet her pace. 

You followed her into the building, not that you could really explain why.

She had pushed the door open and motioned to you, silently telling you to come into what once could’ve been passed off as a $3,000/month studio apartment. She dropped her belongings on the kitchen table, getting two glasses and pouring watered-down sambuca into each one. You hated the taste, but appreciated that she seemed to genuinely want to spend time with you.

“You remember anything?” She prompted after finishing her drink.

“What?” You had barely touched yours. The anise flavored booze had a different burn than whiskey.

“Before.”

“I was little. I remember seeing Attack of the Clones. And that Scooby Doo movie.”

“I was in my thirties when those came out,” she laughed, “I fucking loved Scooby Doo.” You found yourself laughing along with her. She deadpanned after a moment, examining you.

“You’re still young. Not fair to you to have seen all that as a kid.”

“I guess. But I didn’t think episode two was all that bad.” You tried to laugh through the sudden solemnity. Tess rolled her eyes and smiled, shaking her head as she reached for the bottle to refill her glass.“But it’s not fair that anybody had to see any of that. Ever.” You could hardly call yourself eloquent, but she knew what you meant.

“What are you doing here?” She took smaller sips of her drink this time.

“Same thing as you.”

“Why?”

You didn’t know. “Gotta do something.” 

She nodded, “I want you with me.”

“Tess, I’m flattered—I am, but I don’t, I mean—”

“I want you to work with me.” She smiled into her glass, amused by your flustered response.

Oh. Oops.

“Oh. I...mean, ok. Yeah, ok.”

The door opened and you turned toward it out of impulse. The man that was suddenly in front of you was Tess’s age, you guessed. Dark hair greying, sleeves of his denim shirt rolled up to his elbows, face…mean.

Joel Miller in the flesh.

“Joel.” Tess was stern.

“What’s this?” Joel’s voice sent a shiver down your spine. You realized you had never spoken to him, never been spoken to by him. You’d only ever gawked from across the room. You felt yourself straighten your posture.

“Business. New teammate.” Tess took another sip from her glass.

Joel walked across the room, grabbing the liquor bottle and taking a swig from it before placing it back into a cabinet. He looked at you, giving you the up-and-down from where he stood at the counter.

“No.” He turned, walking into the bedroom.

Wide-eyed with concern and embarrassment, you looked at Tess. 

“Be here at nine tomorrow. PM.” She said, finishing her drink and getting up to take her place on the couch.

You let yourself out.

~~~

It was obvious when you arrived the following night that Joel was still irked by your presence. Also obvious was that Tess had made him swallow his pride. She gave you your instructions at the kitchen table while you nodded along. Joel was statuesque and showed no signs of emotion or consideration towards her words. 

And when Tess had explained that it would be you and Joel and only you and Joel, your brows furrowed and he still hadn’t budged. 

“I’ve gotta be here,” she dictated, words coming out slowly as though she was speaking to children, “Don’t need all of us gone, it’d be too much attention. I’ll cover.”

“I can cover.” You blurted out, suddenly nervous about being alone with Joel.

“No.” Joel spoke for the first time all night. You shrunk back into yourself and kept listening.

“—Into the sewer, out to the east, all we need is booze, maybe some pharmaceutical shit if you can grab any.”

You probed, “Pharmaceuticals?” 

“For us.” Tess had finished giving you the rundown, getting up from the table and walking into the bedroom, leaving you alone with Joel.

Saying nothing, he immediately started towards the door, leaving you to follow.

~~~

Contrary to popular belief, the sewers were not your ideal hang out. No matter how many times you went down there, it took days to scrub the feel and smell off of your body. If Joel cared about the dank surrounding, he didn’t show it.

When you popped the grate to crawl out, he moved to lift you slightly, but that was the only interaction you’d had on your journey. You wanted to get this over with, desperately wanted to be back in the company of anybody you could converse with. You made quick work of collecting what you needed and making your way back into tunnels below. Joel hadn’t said a word since he had objected to you taking watch, and you didn’t know why that bothered you so much; plenty of people didn’t speak to you, and you relished in it. You could walk around the QZ and not a soul would approach you—it was safer that way. Easier, too. But Joel’s silence made your head spin almost as much as his voice did. You kept looking at the way his biceps flexed under his shirt, the stern look on his face and the scar on his right temple. 

Despite his cold exterior, you felt at ease in his presence. Sure, his domineering attitude was somewhat troubling to you, but his lack of emotions made you feel less paranoid. You weren’t as preoccupied with looking over your shoulder as you would’ve been otherwise thanks to his presence, and the gun slung over his shoulder acted as additional reassurance. If anything were to happen, you doubted he’d have any trouble dealing with it.

Maybe the smell of the sewer was making you delirious. Or maybe you were experiencing a genuine attraction to him—not that you expected a man that wouldn’t speak to you to feel any sort carnal desire for you. Even so, you found your mind wandering on the route back to the QZ; you could imagine him smoking the cigarettes your grandfather used to buy, Marlboro reds that he kept in a silver case. The thought of a cigarette hanging between Joel’s lips made you shiver, though you tried to tell yourself you were just cold from the clammy tunnels. You tried to hide the curious looks you shot at him, the way you studied his hands and thought up reasons as to why they would be so calloused. It could’ve been from the work he did now, but the thought of him pre-outbreak, working with his hands in the heat, wiping the sweat that dripped down his forehead...

You heard a clang somewhere along the route. Looking up, you could make out a shadow growing larger, then smaller. An unmistakable clicking followed. 

Perhaps it was due to the unexpected encounter, or the daydreams still playing in the back of your head, but you found yourself frozen. If you could think straight, it would be embarrassing, but every noise was deafening, and you could feel your heartbeat in your skull. 

And then you were on the floor. Joel’s full weight pinning you down before he rose up again and two shots rang out. You tried your best to regain your composure, blinking rapidly and staring into nothing. Joel looked down at you, face painted with his routine grimace only inches away from your own.

“This,” he breathed heavily, voice frayed, “is why I said no.” 

But he waited for you to get up and brush yourself off before he kept walking.

“You’re a fuckin’ amateur.” He continued homewards.

~~~

You went with Tess after that. Nobody gave you an explanation—you didn’t need one. You had fucked up, made more apparent by the dismay painted on Joel’s face at your continued appearances in the apartment. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him, let alone speak to him, maybe attempt to apologize. He didn’t want to hear it; you knew as much as he did. You couldn’t even crawl back like a guilty dog with your tail between your legs, because you knew you’d just get swatted by the morning paper. And, worse, despite the obvious friction, Joel was constantly on your mind. It was humiliating that a man who never spoke to you could be the focal point of your private moments. You thought of his hands entirely too often, his name slipping out between hushed gasps in the darkness of your bedroom.

Your breaking point was the night you walked into the apartment, opening the door to barking laughter that ceased on his end the moment you crossed the threshold. It was purposeful, the way he drew his mouth into a frown as soon as your line of sight had connected. Scowling, his eyes followed you. You felt heat rise in your face and pool in your stomach.

You scowled back. You wouldn’t endure his attitude anymore. 

It went on like that for weeks. You figured that if you got under his skin he’d crack, forcing him to interact with you on a higher level—even if it was shouting at you. 

Joel Miller was a bad man, a mean man. You knew as well as anybody, and it pissed you off as much as it turned you on. 

~~~

You had let yourself into the apartment, flipping through an old magazine to pass the time you spent waiting for Tess.

When the door opened, your gaze met Joel’s. You turned back to skimming a story about Ewan McGregor, brows furrowed as you internally questioned what had happened to him in all this. 

You started the countdown for the game you were playing: Who would break first? You glanced up once or twice to see where Joel was, and he remained in the same spot in front of the doorway, dark eyes fixed on you. You crossed your legs.

“Tess isn’t here.” He spoke, and you stopped your countdown, congratulating yourself as tonight’s winner.

“I know.”

“She’s not coming.”

“I’m reading.” You turned the page, eager to read about who was dating who in August of 2000. 

Joel stayed in his spot by the door before making his way to the liquor cabinet—which you had discovered were most of the cabinets in this house. He put a glass in front of you and sat across, a glass of his own in his hand as he leaned forward to put his weight on the table.

“Jared Leto and Cameron Diaz.” You mused. Joel tipped back his glass, glaring at you. “Do you ever wonder if any of these people are still out there somewhere?”

“No.”

“Imagine killing some infected schmuck and realizing it was Ryan Gosling.” You smiled, enjoying your one-sided conversation. “I’d feel kinda bad…”

“’Least you’d be puttin’ him out of his misery.”

You looked up, surveying Joel, trying to find a trace of anything that could’ve prompted his sudden embrace of your goading. “Uhuh,” you raised an eyebrow, “just don’t think I could do it.”

“You scared?”

“Of you?”

“Of surviving.”

“No. Just of an infected Ryan Gosling.” You put down the magazine. “What’s your problem, Miller?”

“What’s yours?”

“I don’t have a problem.”

“Then neither do I.” He got up to refill his glass, and you had déjà vu, recalling how Tess had sat you down at the table months earlier to invite you into their professional lives. She had been much friendlier even then than Joel ever was. 

“You can’t fight for shit.” You turned to see Joel leaning against the counter, a bottle of whiskey in hand. You tried not to let your frustration at him show. “Hard to get good at this shit when you freeze at the first sign of trouble.”

“Shut up.” You brushed him off. You picked up the magazine again, trying to find your place.

“You know I’m right.” He drank from the bottle. For some reason you couldn’t stop yourself from standing up and facing him.

“What?” 

“Y’know you can’t fight for shit. Couldn’t to save your own life. You know that. I know that. Why’d’ya think Tess always goes with you?” He put the bottle down and crossed his arms. Wrath boiled in your chest; you wanted to rationalize, tell yourself that he was mad you were winning the game he made you start playing so he opted to hit below the belt; but, Jesus, he had gotten you where it hurt. You had long prided yourself in having the ability to survive, taking care of yourself and doing whatever it took for you to see the next day. For him to waltz into the space you had found some form of comfort in, where Tess drank with and felt for you, to imply that you were a failure—just some fucking kid with a knife?

You put as much weight behind the punch you threw towards him as you could muster, aiming at for his face in the hopes that a black eye might help him register your dedication to staying alive. He barely moved, grabbing your wrist to stop any real strength your blow might’ve had.

“You can do better.” Joel provoked you further. You were breathing hard but not heavy, staring into the eyes of the man you wished you could see for the evil everybody said he was. “Do better.” He continued. You grabbed him by the collar, nose to nose; you could smell the liquor on his breath, and you were sure he could smell it on yours. You were far from drunk, and the seething anger sobered you more than a cold shower ever could.

So you had no excuse for kissing him, which is probably why it was a quick peck, testing the waters and feeling as though you owed it to yourself as much as to him to see if this was one-sided. 

“That’s better.” He snaked an arm around your waist and cupped the opposite hand over the back of your head. You didn’t say a word, barely breathed at his response, before you attached yourself to him again. You forgot all about testing the waters and immediately dove in; you kissed him with an open mouth, tongue, teeth and all. He licked into you, pulling you in closer. He separated from you to speak.

“Bed.” Forever and always a man of few words. You stumbled over each other as he pulled you towards the bedroom, neither of you bothering to say anything else as you were pushed onto the bed. Joel straddled your chest, looking down at you and undoing his belt, brown eyes blown out with complete exasperation and lust. 

“Y’been botherin’ me since day one,” he pulled his cock from the confines of his jeans, “bad fuckin’ attitude.” He stroked himself, still looking at you.

“Doesn’t seem to be bothering you now.” You taunted him, reaching up to wrap both hands around him and sitting up as best you could to lick across the tip of his cock. He pushed his hips forward and you took the initiative to swallow as much of him as you could; no small feat, considering his size. You managed half before you gagged. He just laughed. 

“Gonna be quiet ‘round me, might as well put yourself to good use while you’re doin’ it.” He threw his head back as you licked circles over the head of his cock, hand working every inch you couldn’t push past your gag reflex. You made a noise in response to his words, though it was unclear if you meant it as an agreement or a rebuttal. You pulled yourself off of him, placing a kiss on the vein that ran up the underside of his cock. You looked up at Joel, content with your work, his breathing heavy. His hand came up to your jaw, prying your mouth open and sliding his thumb inside. You closed your lips around it and sucked, you heard him groan. He took his thumb out after a few more seconds.

“Open.” He placed his wet thumb on your chin. You opened wide, sticking out your tongue slightly, expecting him to give you his cock again. Instead, he spit directly into your mouth, before pressing on your lower jaw to force it closed. “Swallow.” You did as you were told. He shuffled himself further down your body, leaning down to kiss you, pushing his tongue between your lips before he continued moving downwards; he pulled the buttons of your flannel apart, kissing and sucking on the skin he revealed before licking over the burgeoning bruises. You thanked whatever God was out there that you had given up bras so long ago, as if it was all in anticipation of this moment. Joel’s mouth reached the waistband of your jeans, and he continued placing open mouthed kisses over your stomach as he undid your button and fly, pulling the fabric down your legs and revealing your panties. He bent forward into you, pressing his face into your clothed core, his nose and open mouth fanning hot breath across you. 

“Need a good lay.” You weren’t sure if he was talking about you or himself, though he answered your silent question soon after; “That’ll keep you from bitchin’ over everythin’.” He licked a straight line over your folds, tasting the tangy wet that seeped through the fabric of your underwear. You let out a shrill whine when his tongue danced over your clit, and reached down to shed yourself of the final layer of clothing that covered your bottom half. He caught your wrist and pushed it aside. “No,” He looked up at you as he licked over you again, “been playin’ your fuckin’ game for weeks. S’my turn. Don’t get greedy, now.”

You moaned when he released your wrist from his grasp, only to begin rubbing circles over you. “Pl—ease, Joel!” You arched your back, lifting yourself up to him in an attempt to gain more friction.

“Say it again.”

“Please,” it was barely audible, “please, Joel. Please, please…” Your eyes were hooded as you begged for more. Either he was satisfied by your attempt or took pity on you for coming undone over practically nothing, but he slid the panties down your thighs and threw them over his shoulder. He admired your naked cunt, ghosting a finger over your slit and collecting what you’d already released. He leaned back down and attached his lips to your clit, pushing his finger into you and bending it upwards. You gasped, grabbing a fistful of his hair and tugging, earning a satisfied grunt from him. He rhythmically sucked your clit in time with the movements of his finger, adding another slowly and then increasing the pace. Over and over, he brushed the spongey spot inside of you that made you clench around him, tugging his hair tighter. 

“Go—ing to, Joel, fuck! Joel—!” You were panting, fist gripping his hair.

“No.”

“Please!” You were trembling.

“No.” He was unforgiving, absolutely ruthless as he fucked his fingers into you faster, licking tight and fast over your clit. You were close to tears now, grabbing onto the pillow underneath you to stabilize yourself. You were sweating, and he was the one doing all the work, but, Christ, it took effort to hold off on cumming when he was knuckle deep in your pussy like that.

“Now.” He said, pushing up against the spot you needed him to touch most, sucking hard on your swollen clit. You all but yelled, body turning to jelly, your eyes screwed tight—all while Joel continued his ministrations. He stared at you open mouthed as you trembled. He slowed once you stopped shaking, sliding his fingers out of you and licking them clean. 

“Still gonna act like a bitch now?” He peppered kisses over your thighs.

“F…fuck y—ou, Joel Miller.” You wheezed out. He laughed, standing up to remove his shirt and trousers. 

“’F’I’d known you wanted it I’d’ve done it a month ago.” He crawled over you, pressing kisses into your neck.

“Fuck you.” You finally caught your breath, and he pushed himself up enough to meet you face to face. “You’re a bad person. Everybody in the QZ knows you’re a bad man.”

“Then why are you in my bed?” He was half sincere.

“You tell me.”

“Can see the way you look at me. Terrible at keepin’ secrets. ‘Nother reason you need someone to protect you out there.” He scoffed, and you pulled him down for a kiss. Though bruising in force, you were gentler with each other. Neither of you felt inclined to use teeth this time around.

Joel pushed himself up and onto his knees, sliding his cock over your clit and pushing his tip into you slightly. You whimpered, trying to wordlessly urge him to sink into you. 

“Ask me.”

“Please.”

“More.”

“Please, Joel, need it…”

“Need what, sweet thing?” You closed your eyes, savoring the nickname as it rolled off his tongue. 

“Need your cock. Joel, please, I need you to fu—” He cut you off with one sharp thrust, pushing his full length into you and bottoming out. You felt your eyes roll back in your head, and Joel brought a hand down to rest on the side of your face.

“Atta girl,” his mouth hung open as he began shallowly thrusting into you, “take it all, darlin’.”

You whined, hands scrambling to touch him wherever you could reach; his shoulders, his chest, his thigh if you stretched down a bit further. It only spurred him on.

“Fuckin’ pathetic.” He pushed his hips into yours, attempting to get even deeper inside of your warm, inviting pussy. “Been such a bitch with me ‘nd now you’re so eager, huh? Li’l slut, needed t’get fucked s’all?” All you could do was let out a wonton moan, loving how he stretched you. “Gonna be nice from now on?” You couldn’t respond, could only think the word no as he sped up, sliding all the way out and all the way back into your cunt. “Answer me, girl.”

“F—uck, n—no!” You stammered. 

He brought a hand down harsh on your clit, pulling out so just the tip of his cock was seated shallowly inside of you. You squeezed around it. “Don’t be a bitch,” he spanked your pussy again, “tell me the truth.”

Tears pricked your eyes in frustration, and you nodded your head yes.

“Words.”

“Yes! I’ll be good, I’ll be so good, wo—won’t give you attitude, Joel, I—I won’t be such a bitch, I pr—omise.”

“I like you a li’l bitchy,” he slid his cock back into you, resuming the punishing pace, punching up into you. “Like my pretty li’l bitch. Like this tight fuckin’ pussy.” He flattened himself on top of you, chest pressing into yours with every breath he took and every rough shove of his cock against your cervix. The slight pain was worth the abounding pleasure. He reached under your midriff, sliding his hands between the flannel you still half-wore to meet your skin, wrapping his arms around you and pressing you into him further. You wrapped your own arms around his waist, completely lost in him. 

“Y’needed this as much as I did,” he groaned into your ear, “tell me, sweet thing.”

“Needed—oh, fuck, I needed it.” You whispered against the skin of his shoulder. He managed to reach a hand down between you, fingers finding your clit. You buried your face into him, suddenly very aware of what was happening; your daydreams coming to fruition, winning the game in a manner leagues above what you had hoped for. The attention was staggering. The tears you had held back during his earlier taunting escaped, spilling over your cheeks and smudging into the sweat on Joel’s skin. It was overwhelming in the best way. Anxiety inducing in the worst. 

“So good, being so—so fuckin’ good, darlin’.” He was getting sloppy with his thrusts, rhythm failing as he neared his own high. He pulled away from you, shifting positions to hold you so that you could be face to face. You couldn’t count how many times today you had found yourself staring at Joel Miller. “You’re so good.” A fully earnest sentiment, punctuated by every inch of his cock. “Want you to cum, need you to cum for me again.” He was practically begging, words coming out in moaned whispers. He kissed the tear streaks over your cheek and down to your lips, the wiry hair of his short mustache rubbing against your top lip in a manner that made your skin instantly sore, but it felt too good to be connected to him like this to complain at all. He continued his movements, fingers running over your clit at a heightened pace and cock throbbing inside of you. You squeezed around his cock, arms squeezing his torso, and you felt yourself coming undone. 

“There you go. Feel you fuckin’ squeezin’ me. Gimme one more, sweetheart.” You were pushed over the edge, once again cumming for Joel Miller in a way you had only ever imagined. He held you tight, letting you wrap yourself around him while you came, whispering his name and tangling your fingers in his hair. He managed a few more deep thrusts before pulling out and spilling across your stomach, chanting your name. Your breathing was labored, and Joel admired how he had painted you with his spend.

He stood up, walking out of the room, and you felt the urge to cry again, feeling suddenly abandoned after something so new and intimate. But he walked back in with a threadbare towel, wiping down your stomach and the wet between your thighs. You were both silent as he finished cleaning you up. He exited once more to rid himself of the towel before reuniting with you in bed. He lay beside you for a moment before turning to hold you. You turned to face him.

“It’s a shame you wiped me clean. Wanted a taste.” You failed to keep your tone even and unbothered, the crack in your voice apparent as you tried your hand at humor.

“Next time.” You looked up to find him staring at you once again. His usual scowl replaced by something softer. You fell back into a semi-comfortable silence.

“I am a bad man.” He spread his fingers out between your shoulder blades.

“Joel—”

“I am,” the words came out harsher than he had meant them to, “I’ve done bad shit just to get by. It’s fuckin’ embarrassin’ to kill someone just to see another day of this. Bad’s an understatement.” He took a deep, shaky breath. “I’m hard on you cause I don’t want you gettin’ hurt. Don’t wanna be out with you if somethin’ happens. Don’t wanna be away from you if somethin’ happens. Wouldn’t be able to—”

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know. S’fuckin’ awful. Shouldn’t have’ta fend for yourself.” He swallowed.

“Have to to survive, Joel. Made it this far.”

“No,” he countered, “shouldn’t have to survive. You should be livin’. Shouldn’t need’a run with a crowd like me ‘nd Tess.”

“Don’t you think we’re a little past that? I’d be doin’ the same thing even if I didn’t have you two to do it with.”

“I’ve seen how you freeze up.”

“I knew you’d be there.” You nearly snapped, astonished that after all this he was still hung up over the first run you did with him, despite the effortless shots he had taken. Even more astonished that he hadn’t realized that despite the external bitterness he had fashioned and the constant stream of “no” that left his mouth, you knew even then that he’d keep you protected. He looked away from you, and you nuzzled your face into the crook of his neck, trying to show him that for all your bite you were capable of being docile when the moment called for it.

“Shouldn’t wanna hang around bad people.” Joel’s eyes looked into the nothing of the distance as he muttered. “Shouldn’t have to risk everything just to do bad things.”

“Good men die, too, Joel,” You were firm, “I wanna be…” You trailed off. He looked back to you and traced a finger over your collar bone, admiring the marks that had formed from his kisses. “Wanna be around you. With you.” You saw a faint smile creep across his face.

“Not a good man?”

You scoffed, “Never a good man. Wouldn’t know how to handle me.” He laughed softly. You allowed his hands to roam over your body while you mirrored his movements, tracing your fingers over the scars that littered his chest. “Come with me on the next run.” You weren’t asking.

For the first time in 20-odd years, Joel was unable to say no.

[yourheart-inmyhands]

Hi! I dunno If this has been done already, but can I request yandere archons, with a reader who straight up jolts when they try to touch reader? (Honestly just like a side hug type of thing.) Bcz they’re obviously scared of what the archons might do or say to them (could be that they got hurt or really scared from a past argument/action)… Tysm for your work!

ah this one was really interesting to write, i love to think about the different ways the archons would react to different scenarios because they're such complex characters, tysm for the request! :D

Warning: this post contains yandere-themes, including mentions of violence, mentions of cursing, delusional behaviors, obsessive behaviors, and other potential topics. Please read at your own risk!

Yandere!Venti simply ignores your flinching, pretending that there’s nothing wrong as he hugs and cradles you. He’s incredibly affectionate with you, always holding you or touching you in some way so any negative reaction is like brushing dirt off his shoulder. He simply doesn’t care, he’s gonna love on you whether you like it or not.

Yandere!Zhongli would be a bit heartbroken at first, believing for a brief moment that perhaps you hate him. He quickly gets over himself though, giving you some space to warm up to him again before he slowly starts to become more affectionate again. He does his best to give you space and allow you to slowly adjust but sometimes he simply can’t hold himself back, hugging you as close to him as he can physically manage.

Yandere!Raiden is gonna curse at you everytime you flinch. She’ll call you weak, telling you how you’re pathetic for being such a pushover, and other things which only make the situation worse. Unfortunately, she really only knows tough love, continuing to be hard on you until you either force yourself to stop flinching or finally just become desensitized to it and she can go back to touching you without problem. She’s not an overly touchy partner in general, preferring to exist in the same space rather than be touching, but occasionally she likes it, especially late at night. Yandere!Furina would scream and stop her feet like a child every time it happens. She’ll stand there with a pout and her arms crossed much like a young kid does and glare at you. She waits a moment for you to calm down before trying again, only huffing about more when you give her the same reaction. She has no idea why you’re behaving like this! It totally wasn’t because of the lamp she threw at you last night, or the way she stabbed her fork into the table during breakfast because you wouldn’t eat, or any other time she throws a tantrum around you.

[dragonridernoobie]

HOW UF SANS ACTS WHEN HE MEETS SOMONE HE LIKES/LOVE

My request are still open!

Enjoy!

💫Friend Faze💫

ok, first things first, we all know how underfell is.

So I can imagine being friends with him will be really FUCKING hard to do.

Once you are able to gain a bit of his trust, not that he will still be an ass to you.

Like, pranking you with harmful ones, calling you mean ass names, etc.

If you are able to get pass his first wall, then you can see he is actually a sweetheart

In his own twisted way.

Once you guys start you're friendship started to bloom, he would hang with you full time.

You are the first person he actually enjoys to be around.

So expect him to stalk you. Not in a yender type of way, but more of wanting you to be safe.

Expect him to run off to you're place to get away from work, his brother, or when he is stressed.

He is still a asshole but he does it in a flirty and nice way......if that makes sense.

He is definitely a flirt once you guys start to get your friendship going.

He will flirt and make comments on how you are wearing.

His brother is a asshole and a pain to you but papyrus is willing to know you, since he saw how his brother seems happier.

Hell, he will even lend you his coat on rare occasions.

Like I said before, he shows his own way of saying or acting as you're friend. One of them is being at you're side when in a fight.

Can let his favorite drinking body get hurt now.

Expect mustard to go missing

💘Crush Faze💘

He realized he had a crush on you when you defended him against someone who was being a asshole to him.

Watching you mouthing off the dude and actually fist fighting the dude (and wining).

(Ofcorse this turned him on)

Seeing you all beaten up and defending him made him a blushing mess.

Expect him to make pickup lines and flirt with you.

And alot of dirty, and I mean dirty jokes.

He would hint that he had a crush on you but he will never tell you out right.

Fuck that, he ain't showing he's weak.

His brother saw his change in behavior and pressured him to tell him what happened.

Once papyrus finds out, obviously, papyrus is grossed out that his brother fell for a human.

Tho, he won't say it to you but he will slowly come to terms with it.

He would actually encourage his brother to confess to you.

He didn't and won't.

He would telaport away when you flirt back

He was a blushing and stuttering mess.

Frisk would make fun of him.

While in this crush faze he will be at you're mercy. He loves you, and he will give you everything.

I can imagine him being really fucking aggressive when he sees somone trying to hit on you.

Even tho they are ok doing so since you aren't in a relationship. (Yet)

Expect him to randomly give you you're jacket. Even inside.

He wants his scent on you

Makes his instics calm down, knowing that his scent is on you.

💕Dating Faze💕

He got drunk and confessed his feelings to you.

You brought it up the next day, and he had no choice but to emit it.

At first, he would be proud of having you.

To the point he will show off his pretty and tough DateMate.

HE LOVES when you draw patterns on him.

He thinks it's so sweet and it helps him calm down.

total simp.

Like, if you wanted him to do something, all you needed to do was flirt and kiss him all over his skull.

He was at your mercy.

He would always be around you, to make sure you where safe.

He is absolutely horrifying if he sees a person flirting with you.

He threats them and scares him off.

This is where I am 50/50.

I don't know if he was into collars or not.

So I don't know if he would make you wear one or not.

His brother would be proud of his brother to finally have somone...and that somone who wasn't 24/7 lazy.

Papyrus would finally except you fully.

Expect alot of cooking lessons.

Even tho this man is a simp, he isn't a pushover.

He is a giant cuddle bear.

Like, snuggling him you would disappear.

He is that big and his jacket dosent help.

Tho who are you to complain about, you love this giant fat teddy bear.

Expect alot cuddles.

Like I said, cuddling with him is great, but he trust you fully now so he will drag you away to cuddle.

Surprisingly this man is romantic.

Not like fancy dinners or stuff.

More like he is willing to dress you up, go to a restaurant, or try to make a nice dinner.

Hint at the word try.

He is just buying grilbbys.

He ain't no cook.

🚫NSFW Faze🚫

OK, first things first.

This man has a WHOLE list of kinks.

Bitting, breeding, toys, ropes, licking, body worship, praising, edging, marking, oral, face sitting, 69, magic use???, public sex, etc.

Pretty much this man is FUCKING horny.

He will fuck you anywhere and anytime.

He also has HEAVY instincts.

Meaning he will make nest for fuckie time.

Tho, if he's in heat, wowie, be prepared.

You ain't leaving that nest for a few days to weeks.

He dose knots, almost all monsters do.

Tho, it hurts to have his knot since his dick size is big. Maybe not by length but by gurth.

He is a lovable bug while you guys are linked.

Once you are done being linked, it's time for round 2, 3, 4-

Pretty much intel both of you are knocked out.

You have been yelled at by his brother for making noise.

He needs work on after care but he tries.

He brings you some food and water before another round.

Expect to wear and show you're marks proudly

He wants everyone to know you are taken and his.

[hypocriticaltypwriter]

Hello wifey!😚 I am hear to ask about Chrsyta and her boys!✨🍒🦇

What was their first “I love yous”??? Where were they when they said it, WHO said it first? Were they all together when said or was it just chrysta alone with one of the guys???👀 ((saying I love you seperated))

PLEASE I WANT MORE OF DEM AND JUST THE THOUGHT OF DEM SAYING THE ✨THREE MAGICAL WORDS✨ TO HER MAKES ME ALL GIDDY N STUFF🤭

YALL

GET YOU A WIFE WHO WILL LET YOU GO ON AND IN ABOUT YOUR WEIRD LITTLE GOOBERS AND STILL STICK AROUND AFTER 57 PARAGRAPHS!!! 😫🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

GET YALL A GIRL LIKE MJ (Oh wait, you can't caUSE SHES MINE/j)

Babes is a strong one for sticking around this long MWAH 🩷🩷 you have NO idea what the boys being softies so rarely does to me it makes me WEAK

NOW, into questions hehehe... >:]

First 'I Love You?'

Starting this one off strong with Dwayne! I know, shocker that it isn't (*COUGH* Cherry's favorite *COUGH*) David, but our tall brunette was actually the first one to get a confession of feelings. 👀

It was after Chrysta decided to split off from the rest of the boys to take Laddie off and see some street performers and Dwayne decided he was the only who'd be able to keep his childish coven member and girlfriend in check.

Now, Chrysta had always used silly little excuses to (get spoiled 🙄) get Dwayne wrapped up in something she either wanted to do or wanted to have.

Example: "cause I'm too pretty to say no to?" "Cause I'm your favorite?" And it either made the two giggle or it worked enough Dwayne couldn't say no and was pulled into her mischief making. He doesn't look it, but he can be a pushover. 😉

🦇🍒🦇

"Dwayne? Can we please go get matching piercings?" Chrysta hurried over to the tall males side, Laddie tagging along her her hand was interlocked with his much smaller one, the boy looking just as excited, glancing between the two.

"No. Why do you want one anyway? Wanna get caught?" He had asked almost mocking, like a scolding parent, while he hooked a finger around one of Chrysta's hoop earrings, tugging on it gently to emphasize his point.

Chrysta studded put her bottom lip into a pout, giving a small huff turning her head from his hand and craning her neck up enough to look at him, before taking his hand into both her own, bringing it up to her lips to hide the little grin forming on her face.

"...Cause I love you?"

That did the trick. Dwayne fell silent for a second, obviously fighting every fiber of his being, keeping him from making a decision he'd regret.

"... Fuck..." He hissed through his teeth with a smirk he tried so hard to fight from showing. "You know how to get what you want with those big eyes, don't ya, babes?"

Chrysta didn't verbally answer, she just nodded with a small giggle, as her heart raced both relived and nervous about waiting for a reaction from the dark brunette to her silly little proclamation.

"How about we wait till Laddie's a little older for those. Can you do that for me, baby?" Dwayne spoke in a tender voice, getting closer to Chrysta's face, gently setting the pad of his thumb against her bottom lip while he spoke.

"Okay." She replied quietly, giving a little nod in case he hadn't seen her mouth the word, her gaze felt shy but she never looked away from him.

He kissed the tip of her nose in response, his thumb leaving her lip and his pointer finger gently ran down the bridge of her nose, tapping the end of it where his lips still lingered.

"I love you too."

---

Now David... He's a man who has been in immortality for a long time, and many days, and many years, he's heard 'I love you' from everyone and all. And everytime, that's all it's ever been. Words. Words from people who merely saw him as something he made himself appear to be, and never the thing he was- and I don't mean a vampire thing. But he was a man, for hells sake, a man with feelings.

So after a while, the meaning of such a confession was something he'd never take seriously, and some part of him almost made a promise to stay to that opinion, and stick to it for the rest of his immortality.

That was... Until she showed up.

🦇🍒🦇

"I love you."

The words left in a soft whisper against his skin, causing his eyes to open and look at the young woman who had made herself comfortable in what she considered safety, nestled against his side his one arm around her figure, the other resting behind the back of his head against her bedframe, while both of her own pale limbs were folded atop his shoulder, resting her chin atop them, her face so close to the side of his, he could feel her thick lashes brush against his jaw.

Her emerald eyes gleamed in the dim light of the lamp at her beside, sleep heavy on her eyelids as she fought sleeping just yet, the late night hour ticking by on the clock echoing in the empty hallway.

"You don't mean that." He responded simply, no malice or teasing in his voice, no heartbreak or longing, he spoke as though it was passing conversation. He turned his head to look back up at the ceiling, an ache where his heart used to beat strumming low in his bare chest. "None of them do."

It was quiet for a while, but there was no tension or awkward filler in it. It was almost.cknsidered peaceful, if Davud couldn't hear the furious beating of her heart thumping in his ears and the rushing blood deep in the veins on her wrists.

She exhaled a breath he supposed she was holding for a second, before he felt her fingertips brush against cheek gently grazing along the stubble etched down his jaw. "That's fine. You don’t need to believe me."

Her head lolling to the side, going limp against the comfort of pillows as she continued to stare at him while he fought even a single glance at her. "You don't need to love me right now, or ever. Just know that's how I feel."

Her warmth never left his side, even if he was expecting it, and to be left in the cold, hollow husk of his own comfort and body. But it never came, just like a response on the tip of his tongue he felt unable to say. It was only then, he cosidered to look back at her, only to see her eyes had finally closed, her heart slowing as she began to fall asleep, her lips slowly parting as soft breathing followed, rolling down is collarbone. She slept blissfully unaware of how up till this point, how much she'd truly captivated David.

He'd have to leave soon. Before the sun began to show in only a few hours, before he'd have his boys looking for him for running off into the night much longer than he expected. But... He didn't feel like leaving. He didn't want to leave. And he knew why. She'd know why too.

Yet she didn't pry it from his lips or demand him to say it. She'd wait, and she'd wait as long as her life could handle. He wondered if she already knew while he wouldn't be able to vocalize it, something deep down in his lost soul, could tell her, whisper to her in a moment of passion that he did love her. Maybe. Just maybe...

---

NOW breaking from the sappy and dramatics LMAO were going to Paul who had may or may not have been under the influence of... Um... A very likeable weed. 👁👁 And Chrysta was put on babysitting watching duty of the goofy rocker who was... High off his rocker.

Sort of like Dwayne, Paul's confession was spoken in a playful banter, but the words did the job. It started when Chrysta decided to tease her loopy boyfriend after he had cotinuesly confirmed he 'liked her so much' to which, she challenged him 'What if I like you more?'

So the banter continued and escalated until Paul had finally said "I like you sooooo much that I love you~"

Chrysta had a hard time keeping it together after that, and gladly accepted his offer in a kiss and hugs.

🦇🍒🦇

"Are you sure you're not just saying that cause your high, Pauly?" Chrysta asked, her chin perched on top of his head, blowing away a few strands of his crazy hair tickling her nose.

"Mnm, nope. S'all true, Dime-Piece. Knew you had be mine the minute I saw you." Paul responded, sighing content as can be as he inhaled the scent of weed and cherry perfume intoxicating his lungs. A dopey grin spreading across his face when he felt her soft lips press against his forehead.

---

And finally, Marko... Who was the toughest one to crack when it came to him actually saying the three words. Marko isn't one to get very lovey dovey unless it's very special, rare moments shared between him and one of his significant others. I mean, why waste time on words when he could express or share his love in so many other, better ways?

And much like David, Chrysta never really tried to get him to say it, and it didn't bother her. She knew if her boys loved her or not, and she knew Marko loved her, even if he didn't say it as kuch as she did. She could say it enough for the both of them, LOL.

He didn't actually say it to her for a long time- it was actually very far into their relationship- after the birth of three out of four of the girls (Annie, Jenny, and Tiff.) When he and her were trying to have a baby... But things weren't going as planned.

Marko and her were even supposed to have a baby before she and Paul were going to have one... So you can imagine the salt in the wound when things turned out how they did. It stung a lot.

It had gotten to a point the curly haired vampire was almost nervous that having a kid of his own was going be impossible- or very little chance of happening...

Until one night Chrysta had almost casually slipped in how they should be expecting a new member of the coven really soon.

It took a few seconds of denial as he bolted upright to look at her and ask 'Are you serious?' About twenty times, before he immediately scooped her up into his arms, holding her as tight as he possibly could as though he was terrified it was all dream, while repeatedly saying "I love you" muffled into her shoulder as she excitedly laughed in her lovers embrace.

Now it seems a day doesn't go by she doesn't hear the words from Marko. ❤️❤️❤️

[pocketramblr]

5 gc game: au where Izuku is Iida's cousin

1- Hiromi Midoriya, Inko's older sister, marries Tenari Iida, and has a son Tensei, who's the pride of the family. When Tensei is six, and Inko is sixteen, her and Hiromi's parents die, leading her to move in with her older sister's family while she finishes high school and gets started in college. That's when Inko decides she wants to have a kid one day too.

2- Inko marries Hisashi and has Izuku, and is delighted when her sister has another kid around the same time too. Little Izuku and Tenya are practically raised together for the first few years with how often they visit each other. But the Iidas... Don't quite love that, not exactly approving of Hisashi, and the gets worse after Izuku is found too be quirkless. They pressure Tenari to pull his family away, and he is convinced and Hiromi unsure if she can stop it- but Tensei, now the star debut hero Ingenium and the future of the family, puts his foot down in defense of his aunt and cousin.

3- Tenya and Izuku do end up around each other less anyway as they end up attending different primary schools- Tenya is sent to an expensive private one that Inko and Hisashi can't afford (and won't let Tensei pay for). But still, they are close, and see each other weekly at least. Tenya was honestly unsure and nervous about Izuku being a hero at first, but Tensei smiled and said that he knows Izuku can do it because he's kind, cool, and smart, and he's seen plenty of different types of heroes at Idaten. Tenya knows Tensei can never be wrong, so obviously Izuku and he can be heroes together!

(and if Tensei was just saying that to make a five year old kid not cry, well. That's his business)

4- Izuku doesn't tell Tenya about the bullying. Tenya doesn't tell Izuku that he wants to be an Idaten hero even if that means they don't work together. That puts some stress on them, but that's mostly what they worry about when on their own, forgetting their troubles when they train together.

Uh. Izuku also does not tell Tenya about OfA, which means the exam goes from excitement that they were in the same zone together to panicked as Tenya's cousin apparently explodes himself

5- the two of them don't hide that they're cousins in class, though neither bring up Tensei or Idaten except with each other. That changes very suddenly after the SF, both flooded with condolences. Izuku's grieving a lot himself, and he's furious at Stain, but he's spent too many years being told he's weak to have the misguided belief that he's strong enough to take him down himself. He knows what Tenya is thinking though, and as soon as he sees him put down "Manual", he panics.

Izuku doesn't even have an offer from Idaten with Tensei in the hospital, but he knows he has to stop Tenya. So he contacts Manual, apologizes, and asks if he could have an internship with his cousin. Manual, somewhere between pushover and people pleaser that he is, agrees.

All Might then shows up with the letter from Gran, and Izuku knows he should focus on OFA but... His cousin needs him. And he already agreed to go to Manual. All Might isn't sure if he feels relief or more stress, and passes that on to Torino.

This has the effect of:

Tenya very upset at his cousin not leaving him alone

Manual relieved that Izuku is not also there for vengeance, which lasts about half an hour until an old hero, Gran Torino, walks into his agency and announces he's here to help train both boys

Manual drags Gran out after the first hour of training to ask him what the hell he's doing, and Gran explains two things: one, he is the single most qualified person to teach Izuku to not blow up his bones, and two, he might also be the single most qualified person to keep Tenya from running out on a suicide vengeance quest, since he had to do that before with an even stronger, pissed off and broken hearted hero student. Manual throws his hands up and decides to roll with it, especially as they can hear Izuku in the other room trying to physically stop Tenya from escaping.

[anarchyspider]

Out of curiosity, how would you portray Damian’s growth? Both in skill and character.

Hello! I'm really glad you asked! <- Loves every moment to talk about Damian

Personally, I would portray him, current Damian, as someone who is very headstrong and sassy but also highly empathetic and caring. If I had to describe early Damian, I would say something pretty similar as well, but there are so many changes he's gone through that just really make the difference so obviously clear. He still cares about Bruce now, he's his father, but he doesn't put him on that high pedestal like he used to at all. He can still be snappy and blunt, that's always gonna be Damian, but he's in no way a bad person or someone that simply just doesn't care for those around him. I still think the same thing of early Damian myself, considering how he was brought up and his environment. It just simply gets showcased more and more as the years go by. He used to want Bruce's approval so badly in the past but now, while he still does want to make Bruce happy and proud, he doesn't believe that it's the highest goal above all else and knows his worth by now already. He has a stronger connection with the family now in these past few years way more than before. He has a soft spot for animals, he cares for all his friends, he's just grown SO SO much. I never believed that Damian was ever a bad kid, just one that was still growing, learning and in the midst of learning who he is and what he's here for. I think Damian now may still be learning too, but he has a far better, stronger grip on who he believes he is and who he wants to be. He's a hero, simply put. That's where I think so many comics get him messed up. They revert him all the way back to how he was when he was younger and still learning and then some. Make him a brat that needs to be humbled or a kid that's way in over his head and cares for no one else but himself. And above all, the worst offense to me, make him weak and unable to fight at all, never having the ability to back up what he says. I don't think Damian needs to be this all powerful being of nature at all, but he was trained in the league for the longest and then some with Bruce. He should be showcased as way stronger and more skilled than some comics do him. Why even put him in fights and such if he can't hold his own at all? It feels like they either just want him to lose or really just can't imagine him winning. Putting him as the big villain in so many comics too as well as someone another family member has to fight (and of course lose to) again and again despite all this ability he should have... it's just insulting. Feels like so many writers never know what to do with him or how to handle him and yet they continuously want to use him anyway, which really just makes things worse. Damian can be so many things that some people may dislike but there really is so much more to him than just those few traits he gets characterized as over and over again. He's a good kid and a great character and this got way too long but I just think overall he should be someone who has strong beliefs on what the right thing to do is, have a lot of empathy, emotional and physical strength, and tries their best to do what they can to constantly improve and be better. Not a pushover or a lapdog or villain or some evil that needs to be controlled. Hopefully this makes some kinda sense hdhdk

[juniperhillpatient]

Bitter Work Re-Watch

This is a fantastic episode not just because we learn more about earth-bending, but because we learn more about all the elements through Iroh's lessons with Zuko. Toph teaching Aang earth-bending & Iroh attempting to teach Zuko lightning-bending allowed the show to continue to lean into the theme of Aang & Zuko's journeys paralleling one another. (The show said Zukaang rights yet again!)

Toph already revealed herself to be a little bratty & selfish last episode when she was unwilling to help with chores & in this episode, she showed that brash asshole side that I associate most strongly with her character. These aren't insults btw, I was delighted by the new splash of personality that Toph brought to the show on my first viewing, & I feel that way again re-watching. Toph is a very entertaining character. Her bluntness, pushiness, & delight in violence & chaos make her fun. But, if it ended there, she'd be an ultimately funny cartoon character but not a compelling or complex character among the other nuanced characters of ATLA. Luckily, it does not end there, or I don't think it does. Why does Toph behave the way she does in this episode? What's making her boss Aang around & insult him & push him to his limits? The obvious answer is to force him to face things head-on with his feet on the ground so he can become a strong earth-bender. However, I do think there's more to it.

The previous couple of episodes illustrate that Toph is always treated as weak & helpless & she hates it. In 'The Blind Bandit,' Toph's earth-bending teacher, Yu, insists on keeping her at the basic level & is shocked when she shows talent. In 'The Chase,' Toph says this to Iroh: "People see me and think I'm weak. They want to take care of me, but I can take care of myself, by myself." In 'Bitter Work,' Toph says this to Aang when he messes up: "Yeah, you are sorry! If you're not tough enough to stop the rock, then you can at least give it the pleasure of smashing you instead of jumping out of the way like a jelly-boned wimp! Now, do you have what it takes to face that rock like an earth-bender?" (I'm also convinced that later when she calls him a "pushover" that's the censored version. We all know she called him something else that starts with "pus" offscreen lol.)

What I'm trying to say is - Toph treats Aang with her own form of respect. Toph is used to being coddled & treated as weak, so teaching Aang without any of that is her way of showing him respect - I'm not saying it's nice, or that anyone would enjoy that teaching method in real life, but I don't think it comes purely from a mean-spirited place. And she did, in the end, compliment him & cheer him on. There is something to be said for people who only cheer you on & compliment you when it's truly deserved tbh, I've always thought so.

I don't have much to say about Aang or Katara in this episode because there's not much to deep-dive into or overanalyze. Aang's reasons for struggling with earth-bending are pretty obvious & self-explanatory & obviously, Katara is going to worry about her friend being mistreated. I also don't have much to say about Sokka other than that the saber-toothed-moose lion was cute but I'm tired of the "Sokka is always the butt of the joke" theme this season. Sokka got a lot of development & badass moments last season & so far he hasn't gotten to do much other than B-plot goofiness this season, which is a bit disappointing.

Iroh & Zuko's scenes in this episode were some of my favorites from them so far. Iroh saying "good" about Zuko's tea while clearly dramatically choking & Zuko's cute little smile when he said "I hope I made it the way you like it" -- that was a great scene. It was funny but also genuinely touching after their time apart. Also, I loved Iroh's discussion of the four elements.

I think that this quote right here is pretty much integral to the entire show:

Fire is the element of power. [Draws the firebending insignia in the dirt.] The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy to drive and achieve what they want. Earth is the element of substance. [Draws the earthbending insignia.] The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring. Air is the element of freedom. [Draws the airbending insignia.] The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also, they apparently had pretty good senses of humor! [Smiles broadly but returns to a more serious demeanor when Zuko doesn't react at all.] Water is the element of change. [Draws the waterbending insignia.] The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything.

I really enjoy the discussion of all the different elements & what they bring to the table.

Zuko wants to learn lightning bending in case he has to face Azula again. I can no longer find the post that I'm thinking of, but I read a meta once forever ago about how important it was thematically that Iroh actually taught Zuko to redirect lightning rather than create it in the context of his narrative journey away from the Fire Nation & his toxic family. I wish I could just find the post because it went into more detail, but I thought that was an interesting way of looking at it.

Anyway, the last thing I'll say is that Zuko running off to find lightning, in the end, is pretty depressing. The memes about how Zuko runs into a storm & yells at God to strike him down are darkly funny to a point but also in the context of the actual episode....oof. Also, ouch for Iroh. He just had a flashback about his only son who died & then the person he sees as a son in the present asked him to shoot lightning at him. That's....ow.

"You've always thrown everything you could at me! Well, I can take it, and now I can give it back! [Yelling as loud as he can at the storm.] Come on, strike me! You've never held back before!"

I don't know, that's pretty fucking sad. Zuko literally feels like the universe is out to get him, & why shouldn't he? His entire life so far has been about being abandoned & unwanted. I just....ouch.

On a lighter note.

Funny fact: I remember the first time that I watched this episode, I was super confused about what Zuko's actual goal was & I thought that he was literally looking for Azula & it was her that he was yelling at, not the universe. I was so confused about how he thought she could hear him. I have no idea why I took it so literally upon first viewing (I didn't watch this show as a kid btw, this was as an adult) but I did & I was just sitting there like "she's literally probably super far away maybe even asleep & definitely not outside in the storm, babe..." I have no idea what was wrong with me but it's still so funny to me that I thought that. I was so stuck on it afterward too & I tried to talk to my family about it & they were like "girl....I think he was yelling at God not Azula..." & I was like "what? no." It took them forever to make me realize I was being an idiot xD

Oh yes, Iconic Behavior points for this episode: Toph gets 1000 for teaching Aang earth-bending. Aang gets 500 for finally learning, even if it took him forever. Sorry but Katara & Sokka didn't get to do much this episode, so none for them. Zuko gets 1000 for yelling at God to kill him. I'm too lazy to add up points for the season right now but Toph & Zuko made some major strides toward catching up with Azula (don't worry guys, this is me, no one will even come remotely close to competing with her highness for the winner.)

[rosenecklaces]

Elain and Azriel for the ask game

Hii bestie tsm for the ask 💓

- For elain

First impression: she was just like me fr LMAO No but in all seriousness, I don't know if sjm intended to write a typical young girl with no job that just isn't fan of doing stuff but... that's me? I have getting better tho but when I started acotar almost two years ago I don't particularly hated her because I am just as lazy and kind of "in the clouds" ( tho we don't know if she and nesta took care of the house/cleaning so there's that)

Impression now: Azriel better square the fuck up or I make her my wife. I love the gradually little glimpses of who she is that we had been given, I am delighted by her grow and who she had become since the first book to acosf. I am glad I didn't gave up to read the rest of the series because GOD I needed an unapologetically soft and kind character that isn't a pushover and actually haves narrative relevance, is surprising to find (for me) esp. in a fantasy book series

Favorite moment: All? Lol genuinely practically all she does and says I'm like "yes queen get into it". But if I have to choose 100% the killing of hybern and "don't you touch my sister", the headache powder scene and the "come find me when you wish to begin" it was hot as hell + omg "and that makes him entitled of my attention?" The way I GASPED I was clapping and screaming like crazy I swear, also when she confronted lucien and called him out for his betrayal and left him GAGGED god I was smiling like crazy

Idea for a story: I'm into creepy shit and I think seer elain have potential for some spooky and gothic kind of stuff. "mother nature" elain is also an idea I'm interested in. Would love if she haves some weird extra connection to the cauldron/the mother too

Unpopular opinion: OH fuck I have a lot of those but gonna try keep it basic= She wouldn't have kids on her own but she would adopt, I see she+ az are more of the adopting side. She's morr chubby than her sisters and her arm are way stronger that you would think (this woman is a gardener full time c'mon) and I feel, in her mind, she is way more "rude" and the only think stopping her from insulting someone in their face is her self control and education, she is big lover of nature and animals but insects is a no no for her ( especially when they eat her flowers!) She likes parties and knowing new people but her social battery can get drained easily

Favorite relationship: Tamlain :)... could you imagine LOL, obviously elriel they are my 4 lifers. I also like some morlain and vasslain and casslain on the side,nice and cute. I like the archeron sisters messiness and their moments, little but good for my heart

Favorite headcanon: she's bi but tbh half the characters i like I see them as bi sowrry. I like the dusk theory a lot and I'll forever be a believer of it. I think her seer powers are just the tip of the iceberg and she actually haves mind powers (Jean Grey type of powerful) and I think she knows of her charms/how people views her and use it as an advantage she definetely could kill a person and get away with it ( gaslight gatekeep girlboss 💅)

- Azriel

F.I : 100% tought he was gonna be the typical "mysterious bad boy that doesn't give a shit and is cold as ice" I was so ready to ignore his ass, then he started to talk and do some stuff in his first pages and I was like "hmm, maybe your just like me fr.." and OH. MY .GOD I was RIGHT

I.N: He couldn't get over his crush of allegedly 500+ years? he didn't like to lost his breath in meaningless convos? he loves knifes and daggers and doesn't like to be touched by sweaty people? he hides his emotions because God forbid people realize you can FEEL? he's honest but also polite? his touch starved? like-, the online fandom tricked me... he isn't some sexy mysterious god he's just me but more baddass and a hot emo 🤷🏽‍♀️. He's everything to me now, he's like a brother to me he's my lost twin he's an emotional represed emo too weak for a woman's touch and I love him so much if sjm ruins him if someone speak ill of him if anything (more) bad happens to him I'm going to kill everyone in this room and then myself — I'm very normal about him yes.

F.M: as with elain love them all. In my top there's his moments with the archeron sisters, defending feyre and understanding nesta, the seeing and befriending elain slowly. The "im getting her back" whole scene, fucking hell that was awesome. carrying elain while injured and gotta ad the putting the necklace in elain, man's hands where SHAKING love that for him. Bonus the "I don't know what your talking about" to rhys when he knew damn well he catched him in the act, "what if the cauldron was wrong"+ knowing he would win in the BR, Slayyyyyyyyyyyy king

IFAS: hmm, gonna go with him finding his his step bros and killing them for what they did 🤷🏽‍♀️ give me vengeful azriel the bastards deserves it. As with elain, him as a high lord of dusk could be so nice. I also wish SJM didn't had ruined his+ rhys and cass relationship with the illyrians, she did awful making him hate his own people it could had been interesting exploring his illyrian blood more

Unpopular opinion: OH BOYYY AHAH. I don't believe he's a crazy sex casanova that had lovers left and right 24/7, just don't see him this much sex drived as cass/rhys, I do think he has various lovers but the number is exaggerated/no one really knows if those where different people or a same group he trust on. I REFUSE, you heard me, REFUSE to believe he has decades pining for Mor, that was 100% exaggerated and the way he felt for elain so naturally and kinda quick makes me think he has not being that crushing in mor for a good while (he also knew she likes women there's no way the spymaster couldn't know, of course he wouldn't tell anyone something so private of mor). He's older than cass and a little bit older than rhysand/same age (he gives me oldest daughter syndrome is all). For me shadowsinger is some kind of person that can literally heard and feel stuff others can't, I do think he can heard messages from the wind/any elements with vibration (like a BAT :) ) of course the shadows are a plus to detect stuff and protection but shadowsinger seems like a more highly sensorial power of a fae. He's an introvert and hate loudlyness ( sensible to big noises) except if is a family gathering

FAV.R: ELAINNN, elriel 4lifers friendship and romance and sluttyness in one package mwahh Delicious. I also like his dinamic with Cass and Rhys (AS BROTHERS AND BESTIES don't get it twisted), I kind of have a crackship of him and Varian yah, he seems like his type for some reason. I also think azriel could had a crush on Helion (well who wouldn't is the real question) and yeah bi azriel all the way idc

FAV.H: His shadows being from Hel and maybe he's connected to it so that's why they came to him ( maybe koschei knows and sees him as worth having by his side?). I like to think he is indeed into poetry, his mom likes it a lot and he picked it up from her, which gets me in the next point that is about him being a fae nerd lol, I feel he would had read a lot about bodies functions and anatomy for his torturer job, a lot about the other courts and stations, temperatures all that stuff, survival stuff for rough missions, how to cook without much resources, rosehall must be a place with a big garden so I love thinking he even gave elain advice when they talked about her plans, overall this guy reads a lot and loves to do so but mostly about practical stuff/poems and philosophy ( he's a workaholic but that's canon I think). I see him as more slim in body than cassian and rhys, kind of a little waist & big shoulders like rhysand but his arm and legs are more thick (since training) also larger, he's taller than Cass. I'm an azriel with big nose and curly emo haircut truther all the way. He doesn't know how to sing and haves a BIG sweet tooth

[xx-completely-in-ur-car-xx-blog]

I've been waiting on an excuse to do this analysis since 2012. Buckle up, folks!

So I think it's fair to say that it's made pretty clear that Benny is bad at magic at various points in the show. What he's not, however, is weak at magic.

What I mean by this is that, whilst many of the spells he attempts throughout the show (and the one in the movie) go slightly awry, they all work to some degree. This is best explained by example:

Though he fails to make the vampires disappear, he does successfully cast a 'disappearing spell'

In failing to reveal David to be a werewolf, he instead manages to cure Ethan with lycanthropy— an arguably more extreme feat. Beyond that, it's my personal headcanon that the reason the spell rebounds is that the spell he's using is to turn someone into a werewolf, and David already is one; Benny's reading this as 'a werewolf will change form if I cast this (turn into a werewolf)', when it is in fact 'curse someone to be a werewolf (turn into a werewolf)'. The argument stands without this interpretation, but it's worth mentioning, as it implies that his spells are powerful enough to automatically seek eligible targets.

There are other examples, of course (EG/ 'summon chicks'), but you probably get the point by now; S1 Benny isn't exactly an arcane pushover. He's also got a higher magical success rate than we see on-screen...

Betty jinxes the cheer hopefuls and, perhaps more significantly

Benny turns a goldfish inside-out, in what is implied to be a gory, lethal affair.

Again, there are more examples (S2 Benny apparently removes someone's eyebrows with lightning), but the point I'm getting at here is one I've made before: when Benny dismisses Evil Benny's threat to 'cook [him], turn [him] inside-out, maybe' (we'll come back to that first part) by saying he's not better at magic than him, one of two things are true:

Benny is trying to undermine him because he's aware that his ego might be a weakness, or

Benny is implying that he (and therefore his opponent) can mount both an arcane offensive and counter.

Why? Because we know it's not an empty threat: he really can— and has— turned a living creature inside-out!

...But he's never tried to do this against a monster of the week.

Let's pause for a bit to talk about S2 Benny.

From the get-go, it looks like Benny's majorly improved as a spell-caster— the first episode sees, for the first time, the 'monster of the week' (green mist) handled by Benny's magic alone. We also see (and hear of) him doing a lot more successful magic, but that's not his only development.

It's a bit more subtle but, between the lines, S2 Benny knows a lot more supernatural Lore: he knows facts about creatures they've yet to encounter (Siren Song), he can correct some of his own spellcasting mistakes (Halloweird), he's able to invent his own potions (Flushed), and he frequently casts spells without his spellbook (Welcome Back Dusker, Fanged and Furious, Mirror/Rorrim... there are so many). Additionally, his 'failed spells' play out a little differently:

For the first time, we see Benny attempt spells that actually do nothing— not 'the wrong thing,' or 'half of the thing,' but nothing at all.

Why is this significant? Because this seems like an unlikely change to occur after an increase in power. Logically (to me, at least), it's because he's not actually any more powerful. Rather, he's more controlled, and able to dismiss spells that would otherwise go awry.

Overall, everything we've talked about has suggested that S2 Benny seems to have a greater level of magical understanding and control— factors which, yes, allow more of his magic to work as intended, but also embolden him to use his powers more often.

Why do I say this?

For one, there's way more magic in Season Two; he's obviously trying more spells more often.

For two, we know that there's a degree of something— be it fear or uncertainty— that makes him hesitant to use his powers. Why do I think that? There are spells that he can cast which he avoids:

Turning something inside-out (Mentioned: Blood Drive, Use: physical monsters, but most obviously the gators in Flushed),

Conjured lightning (Mentioned: Mirror/rorriM, Use: he explicitly says he's not powerful enough to do this in Halloweird),

Fireball— I told you we'd get back to this— (Mentioned: Double Negative— 'What if I cook ya?', Use: physical monsters, Significance: he only ever uses this spell under Stern's influence).

Sure, these might be the only fireballs we see him throw, but there are plenty of throwaway lines that suggest there's much more magic occurring than the episode length, show budget, and— frankly— age rating allowed for. If we accept that Benny's shortcoming's as a mage are a question of control rather than power, and consider that the other half of Evil Benny's threat was unquestionably real within canon, it's easy to deduce that Evil Benny could 100% throw a fireball at you. If he wanted.

...But that's where this fight gets interesting. Because, as much as Stern-hypnotised Benny isn't necessarily the more powerful of the two, as one might initially assume, there's a more interesting factor at play here: Evil Benny's desire for Ethan's companionship.

In this hypothetical, where (somehow), normal Benny is irreversibly under Stern's control and Evil Benny is kicking about, I think Evil Benny wins.

Evil Benny wins because he works with Ethan against Stern— Ethan's already willing to work with one villain to take out another, and Evil Benny's more than happy to work with his best friend.

Evil Benny wins because he's all-out fighting himself— evenly matched on power, and control doesn't matter when you don't care who gets hurt.

Evil Benny wins because he's in his own head— planning in real time, not just moving on autopilot.

But, more importantly, Evil Benny wins because he could 100% dispel the magic on his other self, and choses not to.

He wins because Ethan's only choices are to accept his best friend has gone, or accept the next closest thing... even if he's wearing a leather jacket.

Need a s1 evil benny vs s2 lucifractor benny fight rn

who is gonna win

my vote is evil benny cuz he says he doesnt like when people tell him what to do while lucifractor benny was getting controlled af

it's true lucifractor benny's magic actually worked when being controlled by the vp

but consider S1 benny choosing to follow through and stick to touching spells that normal benny would never think of using whereas S2 benny was only doing what the vp wanted him to do

but then i wonder cuz evil benny didnt really have a plan vs lucifractor benny who def had one laid out by the vp and was only foiled by normal benny but then again evil benny was more chaotic and unpredictable so...

that would actually be crazy to see like an evil mastermind vs unbridled chaos

idk i like both ways winning and losing

if you saw this in the discord shhhh no you didnt || also shout out to betty weir for noting that s2 benny's magic actually worked with more efficiency, potency and danger

[princeseerow]

after trying to work out some character details for an entirely unrelated au i got caught up thinking about that fucking starfish book again, and it finally really occurred to me why i have such an issue with it. a lot of rambling and proposed edits below

i mean, obviously its all down to how weirdly written the rachels are, but like, i finally managed to articulate why instead of just rolling my eyes and moving on lol

Mean Rachel is... fine, i guess? in theory its a good vehicle to explore the more bloodthirsty and violence-craving aspects of rachel's personality, although i truly dont believe she'd just magically turn into a giant dickhead. in my opinion Mean Rachel should be more like No-Filter Rachel. doesnt go out of her way to, like, physically threaten random mean girls at the mall with knives, but also doesnt bite her tongue and isnt afraid to say what she really thinks

and Mean Rachel's stance on weakness and strength is weird. rachel has never looked down on anyone for being weak. maybe it's a trait she wouldnt want applied to her own self, but to me it seems more like she resents other people for being allowed to be "weak", for lack of a better word. a lot of rachel's internal conflict in other books is that she seems to almost envy the people that dont have to shoulder the mental and emotional burden that she does by being the team's berserker. one of the very first things we see rachel do after meeting elfangor is physically shield cassie from having to watch him get eaten. that says... a lot, that rachel views herself as a protector, and that its her job to shield people like cassie from having to witness true horrors

so in my opinion Mean Rachel should keep the protector mindset that rachel already has, but with a much more pronounced attitude of contempt. maybe Mean Rachel is finally able to confront the others (jake and cassie in particular) about how they view her as a necessary evil while still embracing her own bloodthirst. (well, maybe she does actually do this in the book because i dont 100% remember, but in my hypothetical rewrite she'd do it in a way that doesnt turn her into a cartoon villain and actually gets the audience to sympathize with her a little)

and Nice Rachel..... oh Nice Rachel.....

Nice Rachel is like completely antithetical to everything we know about rachel as a character. okay yeah she likes shopping, but to distill this side of her to a vapid boy crazy pushover mallrat is kind of sad actually. rachel is such a cool character because she's not that, shes written to intentionally subvert that trope. so my proposal here is that if the other one is No-Filter Rachel, this one should be Too-Much-Filter Rachel. the rachel that actively wants a chance at a normal life, who wants a boyfriend she can hold hands with in public, who keeps up with her grades and her gymnastics practice and looks after her sisters without worrying about screaming trauma nightmares or facing death every other day. the side of rachel that bubbles up during her internal crises that's acutely terrified of the person she's becoming.

also, since Mean Rachel is about as subtle as a truck, new Nice Rachel should include the part of her that knows how to bat her eyelashes and twirl her hair enough that people think she's a vapid mallrat, because it's better that than one of the other animorphs catch onto her emotions. this would probably pretty easily work on marco, as he already sees her that way, and i think it would be fun to see cassie flustered by a pretty girl. tobias and jake would see through it easier i think, but it isnt like she cant find other tactics to prolong their inevitable questioning as long as possible. (and ax and rachel dont like each other so who knows). i mean, the girl is smart. plus this would give us a pretty clear brains vs brawn dichotomy to explore, instead of... whatever that was in the book. brawn vs complete and utter spinelessness i guess

i also think Nice Rachel being actually afraid of morphing is silly so i think Filtered Rachel should either choose not to use it specifically to distance herself from the war effort or only use it for fun purposes, because she hopes (wants, needs) Unfiltered Rachel to handle the dirty jobs. so then the two rachels' conflicts with each other is less that Mean Rachel hates Nice Rachel for existing, but that Filtered Rachel treats Unfiltered Rachel the exact same way that she accuses the others of treating her, which i feel like is more indicative of rachel's character arc..... even if itd make later entries more redundant in that regard. oh well cant win 'em all

also the mean = wears leather and nice = wears pretty dresses thing is really stupid

[venomous-with-headphones]

OK K.O! Let's Rewrite the Show - Headcanons #2

More headcanons!!

Professor Venomous + Voxman

- Venn always had a great fascination with rats (even though he is literally part snake), and after separating from his brother and joining the villainy, he rescued a little rat girl who was lost in the sewers and named her Fink.

- Professor Venomous obviously HAS a tail AND HE LOVES IT! (Snake man, yuss)

- Fink is his minion, but she's also a scientist that has made alot of inventions with Venomous. And yes, she's adopted by PV (we actually get this confirmed) and refers him as boss or dad.

- I think Boxman is older than Venomous, at least by about ten years, and it's the same with Cosma, Billiam William and even Vormulax, so that makes PV the youngest villain in the whole community (he’s almost 30-34, I guess ?).

- Venomous meets Boxman formally at an important villain gala (to which he did not obviously snuck in uninvited), and although Venn doesn't make any impression on him at first, he eventually takes an interest in Boxman and his peculiar style of committing crimes. 'Cause ya know, Boxy IS actually much more of a threat, but he's still a pushover to other villains.

- Boxman has always had trouble relating to people (thanks to his shitty parents but that’s another story to tell), and has long avoided opening up and being honest with others, much like Venomous, although his story is much darker.

- During their dating time, Boxman worries alot about Venny and his emotional problems (nightmares, mood swings, paranoia). Venomous also worries about Boxy anger issues. This almost sounds like a toxic relationship (which it’s true), but eventually they find a better way to solve their issues, and surprisingly Boxy suggests going to couples therapy.

- (+18!) Venomous and Boxman have been dating for almost a year and they try to *cough* have sex for the first time, and when Boxy takes off his clothes, he says a surprised "oh". Venny starts to feel really insecure and gets defensive and talks about he doesn't need a dick to be a great villain or a real man, but then Boxman shuts him up with a kiss and explains he doesn't think Venn is less of a man or villain and is still just as attracted to him.

- Yeah, they totally switch, but Boxman likes more to be in full control, and PV really feels comfortable with that... he can be vulnerable knowing that there will be someone who wouldn't take advantage of his weakness.

[illusionsofdreaming]

hc/imagina about dad! cale. I really don't see him having a son, I feel like he thinks he has enough with Raon, hong and on (etc, he has a lot of children). But maybe, in the back of his mind, his chest gets hot at the thought of having a child with s/o but I don't think he will say anything until s/o make the question.( i don't know much english but i enjoyed reading your writing, makes me happy💖💖)

Notes: Everyone feeling real soft lately ❤️here's an interesting fact: I've actually worked on this "How many kids would they want" headcanons back when I first started writing for TCF - I never got to posting it because then I got flooded with other requests, so all personal works just got set aside. I'm pleased to receive this ask that reminded me of this old WIP. Dusted it off, edited it here and there - I hope you'll like the final product nonny!

Fem s/o because it mentions pregnancy!

Ft: Cale, Choi Han, Alberu

Cale Henituse

He’s already got 15+ kids to take care of

He doesn’t hate the idea, but at the same time he never really planned on having kids either

But if you want kids, let’s sit down and talk about it

Truthfully, he’s already happy with what he has but if you come to him with news of pregnancy he’s not going to be mad or anything - it’ll take some time for him to process but he’ll roll with it

One child, that’s it. Because it’s actually 1 + 15 adopted others.

You know he’s going to be a good dad. No biases too.

He’s the tired dad. Always tired for no reason. The little ones are constantly threatening his slacker time but you know deep down he doesn’t mind one bit, no matter how much he whines about it to you afterwards

Choi Han

Yes, the idea of starting a family with you makes him so soft inside

Surprise him with news of pregnancy and he’ll pick you up and swing you around

He’ll take as many children as you’re willing to have

He came from a big family and was pretty close with them before he transmigrated so the thought of having his own family makes him so happy

The kids will have a blast learning swordarts with him - obviously only the defensive moves and only wooden swords allowed but seeing his kids practicing his family’s sword style makes him very nostalgic and proud

Absolutely weak against his daughters. They would get him wrapped around their pinkies with just one sad little glance. Done. He’s finished.

You’ll be in charge of being strict because he’s a literal pushover when it comes to the little ones

Alberu Crossman

Let’s be responsible adults and talk and plan for it

Especially since responsibilities in raising royal kids is nothing to scoff at.

Everything has to settle - his and your authority and positions secured, the kingdom stable before he even starts entertaining ideas of raising kids

Because you both would understand most than others that your kids will not live a normal life

But also let’s talk because succession and the complications that might arise from having more than one kid

He’s had enough of succession battles and he’d not want his kids to experience that as well

Because of that, he’d prefer having one child but you can convince him that one would be too lonely and having siblings is not the worst thing that can happen (you can use Cale as an example and he’d roll his eyes and tell you that’s your worst argument yet - but inside, you know you’ve convinced him already)

He’s new and awkward to this parenting thing but he’ll quickly warm up to the role

In the years to come, the strong bond of the Crossman royal family will be known far and wide

[dragontummy]

FINALLY got around to finishing this

spoiler warning for paper mario: the thousand year door

So first things first, I'm gonna go ahead and assume there are people reading this that don't know shit about Paper Mario ttyd chapter 4. So here's what it's all about in the game.

Before the chapter even properly STARTS, you already get a bit of a taste of what's to come. You're informed the next crystal star (funny powerful objects you need to collect to open the titular door) is located outside a place called Twilight Town, which you can get to through a pipe in the sewers underneath Rogueport (hub town). This pipe is in the sewers on the opposite side of town, so you go there, enter the room it's in and try to go down the pipe. You are spit back out right where you went in. In order to actually get through the pipe you must exit the sewers and return to the side of town that you were JUST at so that you can have someone in an alley scribble your name on your ass. Now that that's done, go back through the pipe and you are met with the chapter 4 intro screen!

The second you're in Twilight town you learn that a mysterious bell tower in the distance is turning the villagers into pigs one by one each time it tolls. You go back and forth within the town a couple times before being allowed into the outskirts, where you must retrieve a key and go back into town to unlock a powerup to get further into the outskirts. From here, after a long, narrow path full of enemies that can put you to sleep mid-battle, you reach the tower. You fight the pushover of a boss and beat the chapter! Except during the battle this boss, Doopliss, copied Mario's form, becoming a ghost of him, and using his abilities.

After the fakeout end chapter screen you are immediately brought back to the scene of the crime. A passed out shade of Mario is all that's there. Press a button and it jumps to life, revealing that YOU, Mario, are now the shade, and that Doopliss must have stolen your body. Time to go back to town! Down the same path! With no partners cause they're all with Fake Mario! Makes you feel weak which is honestly a really nice touch, but upon reaching town you partner up with someone, learn a secret from some birds, and go back to the tower! You unlock your P (Doopliss stole it and locked it in the tower depths) and go back to town, finally able to confront Doopliss and say his name so his curse loses power! He freaks out and runs back to the Tower. Time to go back! Again! Upon reaching the tower, you fight Doopliss, who is STILL a pretty big pushover even with your partners fighting for him, get your body back, and end chapter! So basically to sum it up, you backtrack once before the chapter starts (not so bad), twice in/near twilight town, and then THREE MORE TIMES down a much longer and more annoying path to and from the Steeple (aforementioned tower).

Now here's what I'd do about it.

So first thing's first, I'd actually leave a large chunk of the start of this chapter alone. Sure it's not ideal but there's only so much one can do without basically making an entirely different thing. The area within the town, while not completely ideal, IS interesting on a first playthrough, I think. The path up to Doopliss is even okay, I think.

The only difference within the Steeple itself at this point in the chapter is a locked door in the back room with the moving staircase, and a couple windows on either side. Everything else is the same. The first gameplay thing I'd actually modify is on the way back to town. obviously this is the part where you're supposed to feel weaker. You lost your partners, you're a shadow now, you need some time to stew on this. But going back the way you came isn't the way to do that, I think.

First I'd probably put a gap that requires Yoshi in front of the original way back to keep the player from going that way. I'd then make a second path going down from the Steeple's front yard, to a screen with a locked gate. In order to unlock the gate you need to reach the other side. In order to that you need to take a side path.

This sidepath would be maybe 2 or 3 screens long, involving puzzles put in place by some mischievous boos. These puzzles wouldn't even be an obstacle if you had your partners, but because you don't you have to find a way to solve them. During these puzzles, there are of course occasional enemies. The same ones you've already seen in the other parts of the forest. At the end of these puzzles, you would have a short mandatory fight with the boos, after which you would finally reach other side of the gate. You press a switch to unlock it, which also unlocks a path back to the pipe that initially leads into the forest.

From here you go back to town, get ambushed and pick up a new partner as per usual, and then use the shortcut to get back to the Steeple. After obtaining the missing letter P and reaching the front door in the main room of the Steeple, the main boo confronts you, declaring that he and his friends are bored and initiating a mandatory mid-boss. I am undecided as to whether you could fight them before this point and then this wouldn't happen, or if you have to wait until this point of the chapter in this version of events.

Anyway, you still have to go back to the normal Doopliss ambush point, but after this and once again going down the much faster route back, you find a dropped key in the main room of the mansion. Using it on the locked door, which is next to a now broken window, leads you to the backyard of the Steeple, which is overgrown with dead trees.

This is a relatively small area, maybe with one or two very small puzzles, and a fair few enemies. The enemy pool in this new area would be a little different, primarily containing boos, hyperclefts, and swoopers (the hp-sucking bats in the outdoor Steeple halls).

At one point somewhere around or after the halfway point you are confronted by Goombella and Koops, who initiate an unskippable battle with you, still thinking you're Doopliss. They might comment on Mario acting stranger than usual, but don't really think anything of it. They also notice Vivian of course. They each fight with their second abilities as well. Goombella uses a modified version of tattle that gives them both an attack buff. Koops uses power shell.

After this and a bit more forest you reach the pre-boss room, and then the fight room. This room is at the edge of the forest, and is located at the edge of a rather precarious cliff. Dialog goes about as normal, Vivian realizes you're Mario and leaves before coming back about 1 turn into the fight. For the fight itself, Doopliss has a bit more hp, and isn't afraid to use somewhat more powerful attacks. He actually jumps twice, for instance. That sort of thing. He also has a charge-up attack, which actually gives you a reason to use Vivian's hide ability. Because you already fought Goombella and Koops earlier, they aren't in this fight. He starts with Flurry and moves to baby Yoshi, who both use their second abilities. Flurry's ability however, instead of instantly blowing you out of the arena, instead applies dizzy for this fight. At about 10hp and less Doopliss would, assuming this does not make the fight too difficult (this IS a kids game), use two supershrooms. Basically, Doopliss is NOT a pushover in this one.

Everything after the fight goes roughly as normal, except Doopliss jumps off a cliff.

I should infodump about how I'd fix paper mario ttyd chapter 4 on here sometime

[taki118]

SuyaLight Master Post 2

I really like these two there’s not a lot of content for the fandom as a whole soooo her’s my submission as I get every moment of these two royals who literally share a braincell (and I love them for it) First up this is just on the manga if you are anime only its going to have stuff you havent seen yes even with what the anime covers (so read it) and there will be spoilers so beware. If you prefer Demon Monk/Cleric/Leo (which I don’t really get) I am sorry this isnt for you. Lets go! Part 1 is here

Suya shows up at meeting to talk about her nightmare after trying to get rid of her Twilight relents.

Suya needs a bathroom knowing Twilight has similar needs in that area to her she follows him to his.

Too prideful or embarrassed to just say she needs to pee she says something way worse and confusing. So she uses violence to get her way.

After doing what she needs she falls asleep leaving Twilight in pain.

I just find it funny he finds her fiendish

Suya doesn’t like it though, and to stop her kicks he’s willing to make some changes.

Which leads to the weapons downfall cause he’s such a pushover.

Suya used magic to make herself big and well Twilight is the most observant to catch on.

She decides to carry them and its kinda cute.

Again Twilight tries to see the best in Suya believing she was just as lonely as him growing up (which is later proven true) so he lets her join a schools trip to the demon castle to join in fun she missed out on.

But the chapter makes his belief had to justify. 

Though He was wrong in the end she just wanted to play and have nap time, she wasnt as malicious as the other demons feared. Still its a misunderstanding between the two.

They get the princess to act like a proper hostage and its too much for Twilights conscious to bear.

Twilight recognizes that they probably caused more problems for themselves in the long run meanwhile Suya starts a real arc for her, countering the notions she’d be taught about Demons with her experiences and wondering just why they hate each other?

So Suya is trying to escape and no one can stop her so Twilight lays a trap.

No one thinks it’d work but obviously he gets her just a little better than most.

After getting her to tell them the reason for her escape (being she wants to buy something) they try to dissuade her before she says this.

It catches them off guard especially Twilight who’s weak to compliments. 

After following Suya around the human town all day and dealing with her nonsense they win tickets to a fireworks show where Twilight lays some lore on us. 

He reveals a bit why he does what he does and I do think Suya is taking it all to heart. 

They think she wants to leave but instead she shows what she would prefer, offering them alternate designs to the less than demon friendly ones on display. This also shows what her long term goals likely are, to bridge the gap between humans and demons. 

But its undercut by Suya falling asleep on the way back and Twilight having to carry her with her new vibrating pillow in high.

Suya shows up unexpectedly in his room. 

Suya’s logic is unflappable. 

Twilight is so scared though its adorable.

Suya wants to know what will happen at a slumber party and Twilight does his best to explain to the best of his knowledge. He’s so cute in this chapter.

(part of me thinks Suya might be Asexual or Aromantic but thats another post) 

Anyway after nearly bombing the room cause she doesnt want to think of the hero Suya has Twilight look more into the party but mostly ignores him.

Suya proves that she does actually pay attention and wants to know more about Twilight.

He tries to dodge and it leads to his downfall.

Suya asks an interesting question that leads to pain for Twilight.

At the actual party Suya recalls Twilights explanation.

It’s Halloween and Suya is shown to be pretty face blind though she mostly recognizes them.

Twilight is pretty numb to Suya’s nonsense, but this prompts them to start their own tournament. 

It blows up in his face when Suya joins.

However Twilight has learnt how to deal with Suya pretty well. 

He offers her a special item for the hero knowing she’d immediately fall asleep. Thus avoiding being stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

 This still takes place during the anime though there’s segments it didnt adapt.

[whitworth-waldo]

I just wanna say how much I actually love Ranboo's character.

Like, this may be me just reading into it, but I feel like he's waiting for a chance to do something big. He seems like he's just presenting himself as measly and "someone with no backbone" but he's not.

I mean, he's one of the few character ego's not in Sleepy Bois Inc who got Techno to kinda trust him really quickly. He stood up for Tommy to the president as well.

Like, not a "hey, maybe we shouldn't do this" but instead a "hey, you're wrong. This is a mistake, and here's why."

He's obviously not this pushover that people in the smp think he is, or what he's presenting as. No pushover would be able to go behind peoples backs like what he's doing.

He's committing treason, even if you think that he's doing the right thing. Personally, O agree with that, Ranboo should help Techno, Tommy, and Phil, but no pushover/weak person would be able to do that.

Sure, he gave Techno his Armour back pretty quick, but he's also shown that he helps people even if their not an ally of his nation, he even said he's more loyal to people than any country.

I can't wait for Ranboo to do something big, if I'm right that is.