#the vet said it looked really weird

[mango-pup]

Snuggles with my best girl.

[youronlybean]

Rewarding myself for being productive by reading The Great Space Opera for like the 20th time. This is self care <333

[haku23]

i have enjoyed watching these movies because to me adam myoc is just like them ykwim. he's big, a freak, likes killing ppl, the only thing stopping him from wearing a mask is the fact that his face is so expressionless that it practically is one.

[singukieee]

—my all time favourite bts fics (pt. 1) ᯓᡣ𐭩

consists of my personal favourite bts fics that I've read countless of times. including those from other platforms, such as Wattpad, AO3, and Patreon.

For some works that are cross-posted between tumblr and wp/ao3, I'd only link them to the latters bcs I find it easier to read and navigate the stories on those. but I also tagged all the authors I know are here and linked the rest so you can check their blogs out yourself!

I'll also separate this list into several parts simply because there's too many... So it'd be easier for you guys to navigate!

red means unfinished

blue means finished

🗯️ editor's note

(sorted by alphabetical order)

A Place Called Home by @agustdakasuga

Having saved your own injured hybrid, you were determined to try and help any other hybrid that crossed your path who needed saving. But being a vet in a small hospital wasn’t enough for you. You wanted to do more, you wanted to make a difference. You wanted to give them a home.

Accidental Friends by Erakun06

Meet Bangtan, international superstars, the pride of South Korea, the love and hope in the dark of many lives, the role model and celebrity crush of so many people, and a group of people you often stumble across in your day to day life. You become acquaintances, slowly become friends, and- that's it. You are in a platonic friendship with Bangtan. Let me say it again. clears throat PLATONIC. Or One day, you meet a member of Bangtan, the next day, another, and another, and another, and one day, they become a group of people you often stumble across in your life. They become your acquaintances. Then your friends. Then your source of comfort, just like they are the source of comfort of millions of people in the world. What you didn't expect is that you become the same to them. It's inevitable. You are friends.

🗯️ a theme that I don't find much of, and this one was excecuted quite neatly I'd say

Ace For Hire by tokki-maknae

Who is Ace? Besides being the deadliest hitman on the market in the underground, whose really under the hood? The answers simple, well for you at least, because you are Ace. When you're not busy blurring yourself into the background noises of school, you were making a killing in the underground, both literally and figuratively. For years now Ace has become an infamous name among the other gangs and holds the reputation of being lethal and untouchable. But that all changes after a slip up that causes you to attract the unwanted attention of one persistent seven member gang. A gang that's been dying to know, who is Ace?

🗯️ badassss

At Your Service by @untaemedqueen

In which Yn is looking for an escort to accompany her to her nightmare ex and ex best friend's wedding, only to ended up falling in love with him.

Baby (you complete us) by @purpleyoonn

Soulmates were a common occurrence, so common, in fact, that the world sought an easier way to find your other half: A bracelet that would scan your mark and match you with those who shared your mark. Within recent years, soul groups were becoming normal, and your own bracelet said you have seven matches. Or where you wear your bracelet for ten years, and finally give up the hope you would find your soul group, only for BTS to put theirs on and see what they were missing.

Back Home by AlexLorchan / @alexlwrites

Secretly, he was selfishly hoping that you didn’t age well. Dealing with a small crush was easy enough when he was young and knew next to nothing about girls, when you were just a cute albeit slightly weird girl he had a soft spot for. But he wouldn’t know what to do with himself if his feelings came back with a vengeance while you were living together. God, he would probably lock himself with Jungkook until you went away. OR The one where, after living abroad for years, you move back to Korea and your old high school friend Namjoon offers you his place to stay while you get settled, casually forgetting to mention that: a) he still had a massive crush on you. b) he lived with six other guys.

🗯️ crack fic! my fave category and this one makes me giggle in both funny way and butterfly-in-my-stomach kinda way

Beauty of Love by @imnotlauriane

When you cross eyes with your soulmate, you get flashes of memories that have yet to happen. You can't see the same memory as the other and it can be either good or bad. It's not always terrible, but a thing is for sure. No matter what you do, it will happen. But are things always what they seem to be?

Between The Bloodshed series by @agustdakasuga

🗯️ this series... I just love. plot is super neat, relationship doesn't feel forced, etc etc

❶ Between The Bloodshed

Being a freelance doctor, this was just supposed to be any other job, helping a private client and taking care of him through his recovery. But you were not expecting to get caught in something so much darker that you would have to leave your life behind and build a new one.

❷ Everything Between Us

They left you hanging, they broke your heart. You didn’t get your happily ever after. But now they’re back and they’re searching for you to make things right. Could you look past the betrayal to take them back into your life and back into your heart?

Beyond The Stage by Alysheart

Alexis was going through the days simply. She was a college student in Florida, working towards her degree. When she scored tickets to the BTS concert in Korea, she didn't hesitate. She never expected to be soulmates with the seven idols.

Bound by Blood by PurpleQueenie

In a world where vampires and humans have to co-exist, where the line between tolerance and animosity blurs, how can you ever expect to get your happily ever after when your soulmates hate your very existence?

🗯️ love all the details, the slow burn, gosh just so good

Boyfriend For Hire by @remedyx

Unsatisfied with your life was an understatement. Being under the thumb of your father can have that effect. He wanted someone capable of running the company, but you wanted to pursue your passion. Countless unwanted blind dates and the threat of losing your freedom drives you to seek help from a group of individuals you'd least expected.

Breakthrough by Alphathyx

"My dreams haunt me like past memories that never existed" The Memory Dive, an invention that allows the user to dive into anyone's memories just from the collection of their DNA. Made by Professor Kim Seokjin, he created this device for the worlds secret service to solve mysteries that the ordinary field agents are unable to. With seven agents, ranging from ex military, to a university professor, college student and even a criminal, only these seven are able to use this machine to extract memories of others. They are also the only people that know how to escape it. Discover through their eyes of uncovering the darkest truths of the world, through the minds of victims.

🗯️ this one's super neat plot with complicated and technical world, just so good

Bright Colors and Loud Soulmates by Mostmouse

You resented soulmates, the whole damn concept. It just wasn't your thing, and you couldn't help but feel jealous of those who were born without soulmates, who could see the world as it was intended to be from birth. When you run into your soulmate, you're determined to stay in your own sphere of the world. Focusing on you. But, because nothing is simple in your life, it turns out he's one of seven - better yet, your seven soulmates are the globally famous band BTS. Because why wouldn't they be? OR you learn how to let your soulmates past your carefully crafted walls, and they’re more than happy to show you what a loving and supportive relationship should look like.

🗯️ a funny and cute one! (with extra h0rny characters lol)

BTS Office CEO AU by @jiminiesfavouritecolourisblue

You work for seven CEOs who have called you into their office due to a complaint

Can't Wait To See You Again by AlexLorchan / @alexlwrites

The one where Jungkook develops a huge crush on a Youtuber he found after falling into the rabbit hole of his recommended videos. Unbeknownst to him, you were also recommended to his hyungs. Unbeknownst to you, all across the world seven idols were slowly falling in love with you.

🗯️ I just love the concept of the boys being fanboys :3

Choco Bun by @nunchiimagines

When you moved to Korea after finishing college to continue pursuing latte art and baking, the last thing you were expecting was to open up your very own coffee shop under BTS Corp, Korea’s biggest entertainment service company for idols, models, singers, and more. Thanks to your hard work, creativity, and approachable personality you managed to become friendly with some pretty big named individuals as well as up and coming talent. As exciting and fun as it was for you, you slowly began to realize how much your 7 bosses weren’t particularly fond of this, acts of jealousy, pettiness, and aggression poking through in the most unsuspecting of ways. But what could 7 big named dragons want with a little foreign bunny?

Combined Beings by @numinousher

You are bullied on a constant because korea’s beauty standards do not fit girls on the heavier side. the bullying gets worse once a ceo is attracted to you and he mentioned you to the other 6.

🗯️ minus the bullying elements, this story is like a comforting sweet cloud

Comfort by http-lostforever

Hybrids have been introduced into society for a handful of years now, the fighting for their rights is still happening but doesn't look promising. But when one girl finds a hybrid in danger she jumps at the chance to help, yet what she didn't know was how upside down her life was about to become. But a word of advice, not everything is as it seems.

Could We Be Together Someday? series by BTS_Mommy / @babyboy-bangtan

🗯️ mann Idk what to write lol. this is another one that I've re-read thousand times, bcs some of the boys started as fanboys then became clingy friends. also yn's so supportive I just lovee.

❶ By Chance

A misunderstanding gone viral puts you on BTS's radar, which leads to a series of events that finally culminate with you meeting them for the first time.

❷ The Moments in Between

As you become close friends with BTS, you begin to realize that the feelings you have for them are slowly turning into something you're not ready to deal with. Unbeknownst to you, the same is happening to them.

Crave by sweetinsanityy

The boys don't do well with being controlled, but for their group, they'll bite their tongue and put on a smile for management. Yet when you, a new little rookie, stumble upon them, they're like a pack of hungry wolves. Or, the boys are all Doms and they want you to be their perfect little sub.

Cursed Fate by PurpleQueenie

The universe has designed soulmates- someone that completes you. But what happens when you don't have one but seven? And all you want to do is run in the opposite direction when you see them...

🗯️ queenie's stories are just so good, you should check them all out! this one also has such great details and writing.

Deep Down by sleepingbearandbunny

Jae, unlike everyone else, has nothing against the hybrid species. She likes being alone, where she is safe from ridicule and her controlling father. When a group of hybrids save her from some trouble, fate brings them together once more.

🗯️ a harsh and complecated world this one, so they went through a lot together and I love that!

PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | NAVI

[hope-you-brought-kneepads-bitch]

Pretty Demon

Summary: Nat keeps pestering you about not sleeping with someone you went on a date with and when you stormed off in a huff Nat tried to go to Wanda to read your mind, instead Wanda said she’d speak with you, hopefully she’d make you feel better

Warnings: 18+ minors DNI, talking about virginity, Nat being annoying and Wanda being sweet, demon Y/n is not the big bad demon she’s portrayed to be (she’s big and scary really, everyone should be scared of her)

A/n: I wrote this while waiting for the vet at work in like 40 minutes so any mistakes or anything blame on the horse trying to off himself 😂 he’s fine though don’t worry

****************************************************

“So why didn’t you want to sleep with her? She sounds great” you and Nat were sat on the couch watching some weird movie that neither of you were paying attention to really, just eating popcorn and talking nonsense

“I don’t know she just…I don’t think she’s my type” your mumbling intrigued Nat, were you nervous? She sat up staring at you “not your type? She was hot, tall, hot and really into you, like she really wanted you”

You shrugged “too desperate, I can’t sleep with someone like that I need someone who isn’t desperate”

Nat laughed out loud throwing popcorn at you “that makes no sense! Come on Y/n what’s really going on? Do demons need to be married or something? Need their blood as a sacrifice?”

You shoved your friend off the couch standing up “don’t be weird Nat I just didn’t want to sleep with her okay? No other issue, I’m going to my room okay?”

You stormed off out of the room ignoring Nat and shutting your door hard behind you falling onto your bed

Wanda was awoken from her after mission nap by Natasha barging into her room “Wanda I need you to read Y/n’s mind and tell me why she’s being so bitchy at the minute with me”

Wanda slowly sat up rubbing her eyes free from sleep “it’s inappropriate to read someone’s mind without their permission Natalia” she groaned

Nat rolled her eyes “okay but somethings wrong and she won’t tell me”

“Why don’t you ask her?” It was a good suggestion but Nat wasn’t looking for good suggestions she wanted a quick solution “if I wanted my head bitten off by the demon underground equivalent of a mob boss then yeah I’d ask her what’s wrong but I want to keep my head”

Wanda was too tired for any of this nonsense so she relented “fine I’ll go and talk to her and then maybe, just maybe I’ll peek into her mind and see what’s wrong okay?”

Nat grinned hugging the witch “perfect! Thanks Wands” she left the room and Wanda followed making her way down to your room where she knocked and waited for an answer “come in Wanda” you said from your bed

She opened the door seeing you face down on the bed not even attempting to move “how’d you know it was me?”

“Your perfume has always stayed the same, cinnamon and something rose smelling I can never guess but I know that’s your main scent pretty much” sitting up you faced the witch and gave her a small smile patting the space next to you for her to sit which she did

“So did Nat send you?”

“Yeah…yeah she did, she’s just worried-

You scoffed “she’s being nosy, she wants to know why I didn’t sleep with the girl I had a date with last night”

Wanda listened, okay so her powers were being used for gossip, great “sorry Y/n she said she was worried but I didn’t know it was her being nosy, do you want me to leave?” She began to get up but your hand held her wrist keeping her in place “no it’s okay I- I like having you here, you’re very calming”

She smiled grabbing a hold of your hand and holding it in her own “I didn’t know demons liked comfort”

You giggled “we all need a little comfort sometimes”

“I think I want to tell you what’s wrong” you said after a few minutes of silence

Wanda nodded “okay, you don’t have to you know but I promise to keep it a secret if you want”

You sighed “okay it’s silly but the reason I didn’t sleep with the girl is because I haven’t-haven’t ever been with a woman, I was burned at the stake at 26 and obviously in those times being gay was unheard of and you had to be married and I don’t like men so I didn’t want to marry them then they killed me so-

“Hey hey darling it’s okay breathe with me okay?” She started to breathe in and out to help you, you obviously didn’t breathe but it was still helping you to calm down “thank you” you whispered and Wanda smiled “you’re welcome”

Wanda waited for you to calm down and started again “so, you’re a virgin?” You sighed looking away from the witch but Wanda didn’t let you, she used her fingers to pull your face around and focus on her

“Don’t get all shy on me honey, you’re a very powerful demon you can talk about anything without embarrassment you know?”

“That’s the problem Wanda everyone thinks I’m this big bad demon who slaughters anything in sight and drinks their blood and takes their hearts as trophies, then you have the other side which is people thinking I have sex with every woman I see, I come back here and Tony is instantly asking me how many women I did which I think is a little disrespectful actually, women aren’t objects you know?”

Wanda thought you were adorable like this, she’d never seen you be so open and it warmed her heart “Wanda? Are you okay?”

She smiled “yeah I’m okay, thank you for telling me all this, I promise not to tell anyone if you don’t want me too”

“Thanks Wanda, yeah we’ll keep this between us for now, I don’t need anyone thinking I’m not cool or anything” you both laughed out loud and you started to feel better, Wanda really was great to talk too and a good listener.

“So” she started, placing a hand on your leg rubbing it softly “have you kissed someone before?”

You nodded “yeah I have, I like kissing women but anything more is a bit daunting like what do I do first? Where do I put my hands? Do I take her clothes off or does she do it instead? How do I know if she’s enjoying it, she could be faking it like women in porn do”

Wanda pulled you into a surprising hug holding you close “please don’t worry about any of that Y/n when the time comes you’ll be ready and you’ll know what to do okay? I promise it’ll be okay don’t worry about it”

You let yourself relax into the hug curling into the witch holding your head in her neck “thank you Wanda” you whispered and the witch smiled “such a cuddly little demon aren’t you?

You growled pulling your head away from her neck “I’m the scariest demon ever what are you talking about” you showed off your fangs and Wanda rolled her eyes “soooo scary, anyway have you eaten dinner yet?”

“No I haven’t been hungry recently, I didn’t even eat much of the popcorn Nat made earlier”

Wanda raised an eyebrow “how long haven’t you eaten for?”

You shrugged putting your head down but Wanda forced it up to look you dead in the eyes “when was the last time Y/n?” Her stern voice made you feel something but you weren’t sure of what is was, you think you wanted it to happen again though

“Erm I don’t-I don’t know maybe last week someti-

Wanda stood up dragging you with her “woah! Wanda where-

“No! You haven’t eaten in a week what’s wrong with you?”

“I mean I’m obviously dead Wanda I don’t really need to eat just every now and then” Wanda wasn’t listening she was dragging you to the kitchen and forcing you to sit down on one of the stools “you should’ve told me you hadn’t eaten I would’ve cooked you dinner every night you know that”

She was scrambling around the kitchen making something for you, you saw her pull out some container with her paprikash, your stomach rumbled now, that was an absolutely favourite of yours

“You’re hungry now aren’t you darling?” You didn’t notice Wanda placing the food in front of you and handing you some utensils “now eat this and I’m going stay here the whole time so I know you’ve eaten it”

You happily took the fork and dug into the meal, you didn’t realise how hungry you actually were, this was the best thing you’d ever eaten and will ever eat, when you finished Wanda was quick to your side again.

Picking up the finished plate Wanda placed a glass of orange down on the side and took the plate away to put in the dishwasher “good?” She asked smiling and you nodded “I’ve definitely missed your cooking, I’m never not eating ever again”

You downed the drink and Wanda took the glass also putting it into the dishwasher “maybe I need to baby you from now on” 

“Probably, I’d be happy to come home and your waiting for me with a home cooked meal” you laughed but Wanda wasn’t laughing, she was deep in thought, when she turned around and took her place behind you her hands rested on your shoulders “I would take such good care of you honey, you’d never have to want for anything again you know?”

You didn’t respond just going through in your mind what was happening, was she being nice? Was she hitting on you? No she wouldn’t right? This seemed like a complete 180 if true

While you were thinking through this Wanda moved her face closer to yours whispering in your ear “don’t think so hard princess, I think you’re just the sweetest thing in the whole world, I’d love to take care of you and be yours and you be mine”

You blinked out of your thoughts and registered just how close she was to you and you nearly jumped out of your skin “er…isn’t this a little sudden?”

Wanda shook her head “I don’t think so princess, you nearly always come to me for advice, when we get home late from missions you near enough always come to my room to sleep, you say it’s because Tony’s sheets that he buys are scratchy and you don’t like them but really it’s because you like the comfort my cuddles bring you especially in winter or the heat goes out”

She turned you around on the stool and grinned at your blushed expression “I thought you said demons couldn’t blush”

You shrugged “it seems you know how to make me do things I thought I couldn’t do today, blushing is one of them”

Wanda glanced down at your lips and back up to your eyes “can I do something?”

You nodded “do whatever you want Wanda”

Wanda didn’t need anymore encouragement and leant forward kissing your lips lightly and you couldn’t move or reciprocate, when your brain finally caught up with you Wanda pulled back making you whine

“No I was gonna kiss you back I promise I just got nervous”

Wanda kissed you on the nose “shh detka it’s okay if you want to kiss me more we’ll have plenty of time later”

Your eyes widened “later?”

“Of course princess, I have a lot to teach you don’t I?”

You registered what she said and blushed “oh? Oh okay erm yeah, wait you’ve slept with women??”

The witch winked at you “you really think I’ve only slept with Vision?”

You thought about it “well yeah because we’ve never seen you with anyone else, also how did that work? He’s a robot sooooo?”

“Let’s not talk about that honey, I just want to focus on my pretty demon from now on”

She gave you a small kiss again and you giggled “I’m the pretty demon”

“Yes you are pretty girl”

*******************************************************

“What are you doing?” Natasha flinched slightly at Maria’s voice from behind her but kept her eyes focused watching you and Wanda in the kitchen

“Shhh Mia there’s something happening here”

Maria glanced around Nat to you sat on the stool and Wanda stood way to close to you to just be friendly “you’re not much of a spy are you? Wandas hand is on her thigh, if we stand here any longer they’ll start kissing”

At that the women saw Wanda lean forward and kiss you and both of their mouths dropped “woahhhhh” Nat exclaimed “that’s why she didn’t sleep with that girl on their date, she was waiting for the witch!”

Maria pulled Nat out of the kitchen and to the gym leaving you both alone “what the hell was that??”

Nat laughed “the little demon wants the witch, that’s hilarious”

“Isn’t Wanda a bit older than Y/n?” Maria questioned but Nat rolled her eyes “Y/n was 26 when she died in the Salem witch trials, she’s like 526 years old, she’s a lot older than Wanda it’s fine”

Maria thought that made sense “okay well I guess tomorrow will be interesting”

“I can’t wait for the morning meeting”

[smolkooks]

incoming call... (part ii) - kenji sato

a/n: roughly 2k more words of kenji sato fluff! sequel to 'incoming call...' link to part i

ੈ✩‧₊˚ੈ✩‧₊˚ੈ✩‧₊˚ੈ✩‧₊˚ੈ✩‧₊˚ੈ✩‧₊˚ੈ✩‧₊˚

“ouch!”

you snickered, “ken, i told you not to get too close! she doesn’t like strangers,” you leant down to scratch the little kitten’s cheeks, and because she knew you and you were undoubtedly her best friend, she purred in contentment, all the while giving kenji sato an irritated glare.

the nickname—ken—slipped off your tongue smoothly, the same way you’d been saying it for the past few months that you’d been spending around your highschool sweetheart. even though you’d been apart for so many years and hadn’t seen each other for so long, it had been easy to slip back into an old rhythm.

“fuck, i didn’t know she’d actually bite me, she looks so tiny,” he hissed, shaking his reddened finger.

“size means nothing when it comes to animals,” you retorted, and despite the way you rolled your eyes, you still handed him an ice pack from your freezer, “take this, big baby.”

he huffed but took it anyway, pressing it to his injury.

it had become a bit of a routine—after his games, he’d come over to your clinic to visit you while you handled the late-night clean ups. the rest of the vet team headed home at closing, but with no kids or family to care for, you often spent your evenings here, keeping the animals company and handling some of the extra paper work. 

“how’s emi doing, by the way?” you said as you refilled some of the water bowls. most of the animals were sleeping at this time, but you still liked to make sure they were all fed and watered. in fact, it was better to do it while they were asleep—less whinging from the little babies for treats.

“she’s doing well,” he said, and it was his turn to roll his eyes as he leant against the bench, “attitude and all, as always.”

“she’s a teenage girl,” you said with a laugh, “it’s so normal. i was one, so i can affirm.”

“mhm,” he said, eyes gleaming, “i remember.”

it was weird, toeing this line with kenji sato. so long ago, you’d been each other’s universes and after separating to go to university, the two of you had been sucked into different orbits—him going into baseball in the states, and you pursuing veterinary medicine in australia. it almost felt like fate nudging you, having the two of you run into each other—back in japan all these years later.

saving you from responding, his phone rang at that very moment. being around kenji all these weeks had gotten you used to his late night calls—how he’d have to run off to take care of the city. but this call seemed to come from one of his teammates, with the familiar way he addressed the person on the other side of the line.

he’d told you that at first he didn’t have any friends here, too busy to do anything but work. but now, he’d grown close to plenty of his teammates and of course, he had you.

“yeah well, i’m kinda busy right now actually...why?” you overheard him say as you busied yourself with some clean up and tried not to look like you were eavesdropping, “oh...oh! yeah uh—what?! what the...” his change in tone piqued your interest.

“...right, thanks for telling me, i’ll call you back later, yuta. thanks...” he hung up, and turned sharply to you, meeting your awaiting gaze, “the press caught you, uh, getting into my car.”

you frowned, confused at the problem with that, considering it wasn’t at all illegal for kenji to have friends.

“they’re blowing it up,” he said, running a hand through his hair and messing it up again, “i...i don’t mind, but i don’t want it to hurt you, that’s all.”

you waved his concerns off, “it’s whatever, to me. as long as it doesn’t harm your reputation, i don’t really have a public image to maintain. my patients don’t care who i date or don’t date.”

date? you felt flustered the moment those words left your lips. even though the two of you had been getting closer again and flirting and doing things that one would do while dating, neither of you had clarified the boundary yet.

kenji seemed equally as flustered and didn’t address what you’d said, not wanting to embarrass you, “you’re right,” he smiled crookedly, and you returned one back despite your racing heart.

***

the moment you stepped into your mum’s house, you were bombarded.

“what’s this about you dating kenji again!” she exclaimed, shutting the door behind you and ushering you into your childhood living room, “i haven’t seen that boy in decades. and since when were you—,”

“what, mum?” you cut her off sharply, even as she shoved you into a chair and poured you hot tea, sitting down opposite you eagerly, “i’m not dating him? plus, where’d you even—,”

she shoved the article in your face before you could even finish the question, her phone screen so bright that it took your eyes a second to adjust. “mum, your phone’s so bright, it can’t be good for your eyes.”

“not important, y/n,” she snapped hurriedly, “look at it.”

blinking your eyes to focus, you finally saw the image clearly. it really did look like you were dating. the window of kenji’s porsche was wound down, and you were leant over towards him, pressed so close to him in a way you didn’t remember doing, even though you knew that you’d only been reaching over to grab the gum from his glovebox. the way he was looking at you, though—you hadn’t noticed in the moment. it was really full of adoration, eyes glittering with a love you remembered so clearly from your highschool days, and his arm was reached out around you in a way you also hadn’t noticed before.

“explain,” your mum demanded, although she didn’t seem annoyed, she seemed...quite excited, the way her eyes were suspiciously bright, “i miss seeing that lovely boy around.”

embarrassed, especially as your eyes scanned over the headline—baseball star kenji sato’s new sweetheart?!—you stuttered, “uh, i ran into him a few weeks ago and we’ve been hanging out, you know, at the clinic.”

“well, then, what are you doing in his car?” she rushed, waving her phone around again, “doesn’t look like the clinic to me. and look—,” she scrolled down a bit further to another picture, this one even more incriminating.

it was you, tucked in the audience of one of kenji’s baseball games, dressed in his team colours, cheering amongst the other vip guests sitting amongst you—friends and family of the players.

“well—,”

“i’m not hearing it,” she cut you off, a grin breaking out, “you’re bringing him over! i can’t believe it—my daughter and kenji, reunited,” she sighed happily, “i was worried you would never settle down, you know.”

flustered, you didn’t even bother to object, sagging in your seat at her insistence.

***

“y/n, i’m really sorry, i didn’t think it’d be that bad,” he said hurriedly as he followed you up the stairs to your apartment, “i’m really sorry. i’m trying to get them to take it down but you know how—,”

you whirled around as you shut the door to your apartment after letting him in, “my mum wants to see you.”

“huh?”

you sighed, switching on the lights and throwing yourself onto your couch, “she saw the article and couldn’t stop going on about how i was finally settling down and how she needed to see you again.”

he ran a hand through his hair, “you...don’t mind?”

“kenji,” you sat up straight, beckoning him over, “i don’t mind. and i wouldn’t mind...”

the silence was loud, the only sound in the room the quiet humming of your lights and the traffic outside, as he sat down beside you, sinking into the cushions.

you knew you didn’t have to finish your sentence. kenji sato knew you too well. he met your eyes and pulled you close, hugging you to his chest. you breathed in his scent—clean, and a little tinted with fish. you’d found out that he often had to go fishing—diving, more like—for emi’s dinners, and that was why he was so often around your apartment block...to fish in the river like a weirdo.

“y/n...”

you hummed, waiting for him to continue as you pressed your face into his chest.

“i really meant it when i said i missed you, back when we first saw each other again,” he began, and you smiled into his skin, “i was so lonely. drained, and it was like fate—seeing you that day saved me, i swear. you were all i could think about. i couldn’t...i couldn’t imagine never seeing you again.”

“kenji,” you murmured, leaning back to look at him earnestly, “i missed you, too.”

“what i’m trying to say is,” he swallowed, looking down before looking up to meet your gaze again, “i...i wanna date you, y/n. if you’ll have me,” suddenly shy, he flushed a bit at his own words.

you smiled at how sweet it was, how shy he seemed and also how your stomach fluttered with butterflies, “ken, of course i’ll have you. you’re all i want.”

you’d barely finished your sentence when his lips met yours in a gentle, soft kiss. you couldn’t really put it into words, how it felt to kiss kenji again after all these years. it felt like coming home. it felt like taking all the colours of the sunset and smearing it across a canvas. it felt like drinking warm milk tea. you hummed into the kiss as he deepened it, pulling you closer by the nape of your neck, and you reached up to tangle your hands in his dark locks, pulling him down towards you at the same time.

you were so close to him you could feel his heartbeat—almost hear it, and you hoped he couldn’t hear how quickly yours was racing. he tasted of caramel, and you couldn’t help but sigh as his hands slid down to your waist, pulling you onto his lap as you broke apart from the kiss, curling into him in a hug.

“y/n,” he murmured, keeping his arms wrapped around you, “i really, really missed you.”

you’d missed him too. his little habits, his dishevelled hair—fish smell, and all. you’d missed him more than anything.

finally, you’d come home.

[kedreeva]

After a month-long fight, Artemis' system finally threw in the towel. We put her to sleep this morning.

I am crushed, and I don't really know what else to say.

She started slowing down shortly after her last suprelorin implant, and the xrays showed something, a weird shadow or cross-peritoneal sac encompassing her heart and liver, but none of the three avian vets who saw it could interpret what it actually was or what to do about it. We started her on some painkillers and antibiotics, and tube feeding liquid chow so she would not lose condition if she was not feeling well. We changed up antibiotics, we gave her an antiemetic for nausea, we tried different pain meds...

For a little while, she seemed to be improving. Whatever it was, it wasn't as visible on the next xrays, and her bloodwork looked better. She was moving around more and sleeping less (she'd been sleeping all day at the start), she could get up and down to the big perch on her own.

And then last night, her crop was a little squishy when I gave her her evening meds. I hoped that it was just that she'd finally eaten a good meal before bed, but when I came out today to give her morning meds, the blueberries from the evening before were still in her crop. That's NOT good. Her urates were also stained yellow. I called the vet and got an emergency appt, but I knew before I left that I would probably have to make the call to end it. I gave her a little time out in the sunshine and grass while I got the car ready, and then we drove down. She sat quietly, and didn't complain during the exam, but ultimately the radiograph showed the problem was still present, and her kidneys were shining bright. Her GI tract had slowed to a stop, her heartbeat was slowed way down, and her urates were showing crystals.

So, I said my goodbyes, and the vet did as well. Everyone was fond of Artemis- she was always well behaved and sweet to everyone she ever met. She loved people, she loved cuddles. She was only 6. I knew she wasn't going to make it a full, normal lifespan, not with everything that was wrong from the get go, but I had hoped for a few more years. I got a few more than she'd have gotten with anyone else. It's never enough.

Artemis was my favorite, from the moment she hatched. She was never mean- not to humans, not to other birds. She is the ONLY bird I've ever owned that was like that. She loved Stan from the moment she met him, and tolerated his weird social habits to the end of his days. They were ALWAYS together, always sitting in the sun together, always following one another. I'm honestly not surprised she followed him to death- there are so many anecdotes from keepers who have birds that spend weeks, even months, grieving after losing a close flock mate. It wouldn't surprise me at all to find Artemis had been holding onto life with both hands for Stan, and with his passing she gave up.

I am going to miss painting with her so much. I have her first painting, and her last, in my bedroom, and I'm really glad I didn't let that last one go yet.

I don't really know what else to say, besides that she was my heart. I loved her, and I hate that she's gone. There will never, ever be another lady like her.

Sleep sweet, lovely. I'll miss you til the end of my days, and I look forward to joining you at the meadow when that comes.

[seeingivy]

vienna

ryomen sukuna x f!reader

**part of my best friends older brother fic

--

“you okay?” 

you look down to find sukuna’s hand outstretched on top of the glove box, gesturing for you to take his hand in yours. the motion makes you pale in the slightest, because it’s only now that you realize that you’ve been driving together for almost an hour and haven’t said a word to him, that you probably should have been talking to him this entire time instead of spacing out, as you slide your hand into his. 

for all you know, he could have had his hand open this entire time, waiting for you to take it, and you had no idea. 

“sorry. did you say something, sukuna?” you murmur. 

you look over to your left to find a quiet smile painted on his face, just barely visible through the reflected glow from the red light on the street. 

you’ve been with him long enough to know this expression – know too much about this expression – and that he’s treading very carefully right now. that at the very least, he knows that something is simmering in your head, that it’s probably not good, and he’s picking his words very deliberately because of it. 

and perhaps you spent too much time with him because you could almost hear the response in your head already. 

what are you apologizing for? you did nothing wrong. 

“i just asked you if you were okay, princess.” he responds. 

“i’m okay. i was just spaced out there for a second.” 

he looks over and offers you a smile, before lifting your interlocked hands and placing a swift kiss to the back of your hand. 

“i know that you were spaced out. i was just asking if you were okay. in your whole spaced out place or whatever.” he responds, a slight edge to his voice. 

you grin. only because you can tell that he’s trying – that he’s trying despite the fact that you’ve done nothing but chewed him out for the past few days – and that there would probably be nothing that would make him stop. not knowing things made him impatient, but he was trying his best to keep that to a minimum. because that was just the type of person that he was. 

“you really have a way with words.” you respond. 

sukuna rolls his eyes. 

“it worked on you, didn’t it?” he responds, shifting slightly in his seat. 

there’s a quiet pause when you don’t respond, only because you’re stuck in thought again – about how much he cared, about how he was probably more worried about you than he was letting on, that you weren’t making things easy for him when he was the one who was working all day – before he interjects again. 

“you can tell me about what’s going on when you’re spaced out. not that you have to, but you can.” he responds. 

you smile. if you were in a different mood, you were sure that he would have demanded you tell him. 

“i was just thinking about you.” you clarify. 

sukuna grins. 

“when are you not?” sukuna asks. 

“don’t get a big head. i was just appreciating you in my head. that you’re giving me time to think everything over. and not being….being pushy about it.” 

“you can appreciate me out loud too, you know?” he states. 

you roll your eyes. 

“i’ll show you my appreciation when we go home.” you respond. 

“you’re disgusting.” he deadpans. 

you both laugh. and the sound of him laughing eases the tense feeling that makes your chest feel tight, only for it to be immediately replaced with guilt. 

that you probably should have been talking to him this entire time, because it would have made you feel better. that he probably misses talking to you about stuff other than school too.

“i know. i just…i don’t know. it just feels weird to admit out loud because i know it’s wrong and i know how it looks and i just…it’s a lot to think about.” 

sukuna squeezes your hand once. 

“it’s not weird to think about quitting vet school. i’d actually be inclined to argue that it’s a good thing, that it’s probably something that people should do more. passion clearly has to be a driving force in your job, especially when it’s as hard and grueling as it is, and it’s not wrong to evaluate if you’re having doubts.” sukuna states. 

you smile. 

“so is that your opinion? that i should drop out because i could be saving time if i realize i don’t want to do it now? that i shouldn’t be continuing if if i’m conflicted to begin with?” 

sukuna rolls his eyes at you, before clicking his tongue in the side of his cheek. 

this was the exact subject of the argument, if he could even call it that, that transpired every few days since you had mentioned you wanted to drop out at the start of the month. 

he asserted that it couldn’t be an argument because he wasn’t necessarily fighting back and because you always agreed with him in the end. but the way you apologized hours later, without fail, clearly indicated that you thought otherwise. 

“sweetheart. i told you that i wasn’t going to tell you my opinion.” he states. 

“why not? you’re like…married to me. you’re my partner. your input is basically like the most valuable thing ever at this point. and this entire thing affects you too” you respond. 

“saying sweet things won’t make me tell you. not that i’m complaining. i just don’t want you to waste your breath.” he states. 

you groan. 

“i just don’t get why you won’t tell me. multiple opinions help.” 

sukuna grins. 

“that’s easy then. tell everyone at dinner tonight and ask them their opinion if multiple opinions are that important. they’ll all be more than happy to divulge what they think.” sukuna states. 

“ugh, god no.” you groan.

sukuna laughs. 

“i thought that multiple opinions were important.” sukuna retorts. 

“not from them. i already know what they’re all going to say. your mom and my mom are probably going to be super fucking disappointed. i mean, your mom wouldn’t say that to my face but the two of them would definitely fucking gossip about it when we left. about how i already put so much work in, that i had already sacrificed so much, so what if it was a little more? and i get that, it does seem stupid in retrospect to give up this late in the game when i’ve already missed out on so much and i’m not getting any older, but still. they can’t say that because they don’t know how hard it is.” 

“well, i think that-” sukuna starts. 

“and sammy and yuuji are going to get way too worked up about this. sometimes it feels like they’re too involved to give me real advice about the entire thing. yuuji’s going to bring up all those dumb stuffed animals in my room and how i’ve dreamed about this since i was a kid and busted my ass off all of college when i could have been having fun just to be in this spot. about how it’s just hard right now and that i’ll get better. but he can’t really guarantee that so what’s the point of saying it? and sammy. she’s going to throw the money in my face when you already told me not to think about it. and i try not to make the wasted loans a part of my decision because you told me not to but she’s going to remind me how hard it is to make ends meet, about how if i don’t have a job that you’ll be the only one would make ends meet and that’s not fair and i just…” 

“sammy just-” 

“i don’t need their opinions. they’re just going to make me feel like shit and tell me what i already know. they would just add to all the stuff that i already think about. about if i’m strong enough to do this, about our family. i’m not getting older, infertility is actually higher for people in our field because of how high stress it is – and i know we haven’t talked about kids but you might want them someday if you don’t already. i don’t need them to add to anything because they actually know nothing.” 

sukuna takes a beat. maybe just to make sure that he can actually get what he’s trying to say before you cut him off in the two attempts that he made to talk. 

“can i ask you one question?” sukuna asks, rather carefully. 

“of course you can, sukuna.” you murmur. he notes that your response is so soft, almost tired. 

“if you don’t want their opinion, why do you want mine?” he asks, rather softly. 

you sigh, before leaning against the back of the chair. 

“you’re not like them. and you’re probably the only one who could even understand that school has actually been really hard for me. and i just…i just think that you know me really well and that you care about me and want to pick what’s best for me. and not just what’s like objectively good for me – which would be to keep going when i’ve already invested so much time – but like actually good.” you respond. 

sukuna brings the car to a halting stop, maybe a little bit too harshly at the red light, before leaning over to press a kiss to your cheek. it catches you entirely off guard, sending a blooming warmth to your cheek as you raise your hand to rub at the skin, before looking at him. 

“what was that for?” you ask. 

“i can’t kiss my wife?” 

“not when you’re driving. it can wait twenty minutes.” 

“i was just flattered that you think that i know you the best. especially over yuuji.” sukuna jokes. 

you roll your eyes. 

“we’re married. it’s not that i trust you more than him, but you obviously know me in a different capacity than he does.” you respond, reaching down to fidget with the two silver rings on your hand. 

“it actually does mean that. i’m going to tell him that when we get there.” he responds. 

“sukuna.” you groan. 

he laughs. 

“i’m kidding. but really, i love that you have so much trust in me, but that’s exactly why i can’t tell you what i think. i want you to come to the decision on your own. you’re my wife, we are partners, but your career is something that’s just yours.” 

you sigh. 

“and i don’t want you to resent me if what i think isn’t actually what ends up working for you. if my opinion sways your decision one way over the other.” 

“i could never resent you.” you respond. 

“i know that. but i’m not going to start giving you reasons to resent me just because you won’t.” 

you smile, before leaning across the seats and placing your head against his bicep. 

“will you ever tell me what you think?” you murmur. 

“after you’re completely confident in your decision, i’ll tell you what i think would have been best. deal?” he asks. 

“you can’t just change your mind.. you have to tell me what you actually think.” 

sukuna rolls his eyes. 

“i’ll go home and seal it in an envelope that you can open.” he jokes. 

“can you actually?” 

he gives you a begrudging glare, knowing that it’s something you’ll hold him to when you get home, as he pulls into the neighborhood. he pulls to a soft stop right on the curb, everyone’s muffled voices in the kitchen pouring out of the open windows as you sigh. 

“by the way.” sukuna starts. 

“hm?” 

“of course i want kids.” he states, before opening his door and getting out of the car. 

--

dinner goes well. 

almost too well, until sammy pokes the one thing that sukuna hoped she wouldn’t touch. 

sammy going to therapy, in retrospect, was good.

of course it was good. but her unearthing all of the things that he had a penchant to ignore meant that she was more flighty than usual. and naturally, she asserted that it was her prerogative to bring up things that hurt her – which led to uncomfortable conversations, almost all the time. 

granted, he figured that it was almost impossible for her to not instigate something at big events 

like this one, that some part of it was just her nature, but he wished he could have chosen to pick on someone else instead. 

“how’s school going, y/n?” sammy asks. 

“it’s fine.” you respond. 

sukuna immediately looks up, the two of you locking eyes, before he watches you retreat your hands from your silverware to your lap. he absentmindedly reaches across the table underneath and taps on the top of your shoe, as he shoots you an encouraging smile. you give him a silent nod, responding to your gesture by tapping on the top of his foot back. 

a small signal that he was here. that you shouldn’t forget that he was here and let him handle it. 

“how’s work going, sammy?” you ask. 

sammy glares in response. 

“if school’s going fine, then why are you guys giving each other such weird fucking looks when i asked?” 

sukuna clears his throat. 

“i just smiled at her. how the fuck is that weird?” he asks. 

you can tell that he’s clearly irritated by her question, maybe more so that this ended up being the topic of conversation. you supposed that it was just your luck that this was what she chose to fixate on. 

“language.” 

sukuna shoots an apologetic look to his mom, before turning back to face sammy. 

“i know you guys. you always give each other looks when you’re trying to say something.” sammy states. 

“he smiles at her every time that he looks at her.” mai offers, shooting sukuna a polite smile. 

it doesn’t win her any points with sammy, who subsequently shoots her a glare, before turning back to you. 

“what happened at school?” she asks. 

you shrug. 

“nothing. it’s just school, sammy.” you repeat. 

“let me guess. you got the honor roll again and you’re waiting to tell everyone after dinner. or they decided that you should be the class president or something for your last year unanimously. or you –” 

sukuna watches as you slam your fork down onto your plate, making an unsavory noise against the ceramic, as yuuji finally wakes up from the conversation he’s having with megumi at his side, looking up to give him a confused look. it takes yuuji all but three seconds to realize that the two of you are about to have a meltdown and that it would probably be best if he intervened. 

“y/n, do you want to go get dessert with me?” yuuji asks. 

you give him a nod. 

“is this your way of humble bragging? trying to get us all to coax you into telling us all the great things that you’re doing at school?” 

“are you crazy, sammy?” you ask. 

yuuji offers an awkward laugh. 

“crazy fun, right?” yuuji adds. 

“i did make the honor roll, sammy. is that what you wanted to hear?” you seethe. 

“was it so hard to say that instead of giving each other weird looks? you should learn how to give a straight answer instead of faking being humble.” sammy responds. 

you heave a sigh. 

“i don’t fake being humble. i just don’t mention it because you always act like this.” 

“i’m not acting like anything. i just don’t understand why i had to wrestle that information out of you when you clearly wanted to share it.” 

“i didn’t want to share it. you were the one sitting there willingly asking me about it. mind you, all because sukuna and i just looked at each other.” 

sukuna watches it go back and forth. he can tell that sammy’s purposely trying to egg you on, the way that she always does. and he knew for a fact that if it was anyone else, you’d be able to move past it; it was the mere fact that it was her – that she was purposely trying to piss you off that made you more angry. 

angry in the way that only sammy could make you angry. and it takes all but three minutes of arguing, with futile attempts from everyone else to descalate, before it comes spilling out of you. 

“you know what? i’ve got the cherry on top of the fucking cake for you. you won’t have to worry about me making any more honor rolls or achievements since i’m probably going to drop out of vet school anyways.” you state. 

your admission leaves the room silent with seven pairs of eyes diligently staring at you. you note that sukuna slightly twitches his eyes, only in recognition of what you talked about in the car, and you can’t help but sigh. 

“are you happy now? is that what you wanted to hear?” you ask. 

“you’re going to what?” sammy repeats, this time her voice quieter. 

“sukuna, she’s not serious is she?” your mom asks, worried eyes almost drilling holes into his face. 

sukuna looks over at you, shooting an apologetic smile, before turning to reply. 

“she hasn’t decided but she’s thinking about it.” he states. 

that sends another wave of tension through the air. one that you didn’t expect. 

“are you serious, sukuna? you didn’t think to tell any of us so that we could intervene?” sammy asks. 

sukuna narrows his eyes at sammy. 

“do you really think that your input is helpful? like ever?” sukuna asks. 

“that was a low blow.” sammy defends. 

sukuna rolls his eyes. 

“you picking an argument basically he second we got here was a low blow, sammy.” sukuna retorts. 

“regardless of that,  all of us talking through could help y/n decide. you should have told us right away so that we could help her. we’re a family.” his mom emphasizes, dismissively shaking her head at him. 

“you should have told me. don’t loop me in the same category as them. how long has it been?” yuuji asks. 

“three weeks.” sukuna responds. 

“the longer you keep it all in your head without talking about it makes it more complicated. you should have said something.” yuuji adds. 

“that’s not my news to share. you all know where we live. if you wanted to see how she was doing and know what was going on, you could have shown up and asked her.” sukuna seethes. 

this time you’re the one watching it go back and forth. your relationship with sukuna changed your relationship with yuuji – that much was inevitable – but it also changed their relationship with each other. only because yuuji thought that their shared vested interest meant that he thought there were some things that sukuna should tell him as a prerogative. which is something that sukuna would never ever do. 

“well, you at least have been trying to convince her not to drop out of school, right?” yuuji asks. 

sukuna doesn’t respond. and the omission of response is an answer enough. enough to take everyone’s anger levels a whole octave higher. 

“are you insane? you can’t just let her quit her dream.” yuuji states. 

“i’m not letting her do anything. she’s her own person and she can decide on her own what she wants to do.” sukuna responds. 

“she’s clearly making a stress informed decision. are you saying that you’d let her run into a street while she was upset because she’s her own person?” 

“that’s an embarrassing analogy, sammy. those two things are in no way comparable. and i’m not giving her any advice about her career for one reason – because it’s her career. not mine. if you guys knew anything, you’d know that i didn’t tell you because she asked me not to.” 

you push out of your chair. 

“i’m going to the bathroom.” 

--

you get one whole minute of privacy when you retreat to the bathroom. because the second you sit down on the closed toilet seat, there’s a quiet knock on the door, accompanied by the shadow of someone’s feet you can see underneath the door. 

“i’m peeing.” you grate. 

“it’s just me.” sukuna responds. 

you push off of the seat to let him in before shutting the door closed behind you and retreating back to your seat on top of the toilet. sukuna locks the door behind him and is quick to close the distance, reaching down to place his hand on your cheek and soothing a circle into your skin. 

“you’re peeing on top of the toilet?” he asks. 

you give him a begrudging smile. 

“yeah. it’s your house so you’ll have to clean it up.” 

“well, it’s your pee so you’d have to clean it up.” 

“i’m a guest in this house. so you’d clean it up.” 

sukuna crouches to the ground, taking up residence in between your legs, as you reach forward to cup the sides of this face. 

“you’re not a guest in this house because you’re my wife. and also because you’re living the quintessential experience of living in this house right now..” 

“and what’s that?” 

“fighting with everyone who breathes.” 

the two of you quietly laugh, before you reach forward and press a kiss to his forehead. you can’t help but replay the entire ordeal back in your head – the fact that your imagined version of disappointment from the moms didn’t feel nearly as horrible as the real version, that sammy’s distaste towards you was probably never going away, and that yuuji was probably upset. again. 

“sorry you got roped into it.” you add. 

“stop apologizing for shit that other people do.” he murmurs. 

you give him a quiet nod before leaning forward to rest your forehead against his. he welcomes the touch, ghosting his lips over yours before quietly whispering. 

“it’s still your decision. if you decide to drop out, they’ll eventually get over it.” 

sukuna notes that you take a shaky breath and in the matter of seconds, there’s warm tears running down the side of your face. 

“no one’s opinion matters but yours. you know what’s best for you.” he adds. 

“do you really think they’d get over it?” you whisper back. 

sukuna can’t help but frown. 

“i’d make sure of it. i know if you go through with it, it’s because it’s what was best for you.”  

he leans back, cupping his hands around your neck and pulling you closer as you give him a halfhearted shrug. 

“i like how hard you work. but you’re not just working hard. you’re working yourself to the bone, which i’m not a fan of. i like it better when you have a normal sleeping schedule. and eat on time. and when you actually enjoy what you’re doing because it makes you happy, which is all that i care about.” 

sukuna pauses. 

“there’s a difference between working hard and being burned out. which is something they just won’t understand, so their opinions don't matter.” 

you give him a shaky nod, before reaching forward and closing the distance between the two of you. he has a lopsided smile when you pull back, his eyes narrowed with the slightest flush dusted on his cheeks. 

“what was that for?” he asks. 

“i can't kiss my husband?” 

“i mean, not when i give you a whole pep talk.” 

you shake your head. 

“just remembered that your opinion is kind of the only one that matters anyways.”  

he gives you a sweet smile, pressing one last lingering kiss to your cheek, before you walk hand in hand to brave the rest of the dinner together. 

--

“i’m sorry for what i said at the dinner the other day.” 

you get coffee with yuuji three days after the dinner. it’s enough time for you to put what everyone said at the dinner behind you – or what they tried to say with their eyes – and have a conversation with him. 

“you didn’t say anything. not to me at least.” 

yuuji groans. 

“i already apologized to him. and he explained where he’s coming from, which is…probably what i should have done in the first place anyways and i feel like shit about it already so keep it to yourself.” yuuji adds. 

you laugh. 

“i know. he told me that you were very distraught. so distraught that you walked into a pole mid-conversation, which was enough of a reparation for me.” 

he shoves you in your side, as you absentmindedly swing your legs on the bench, and watch all of the people walk past in the park. everyone’s wrapped up in colorful scarves, the frigid chill in the air marking the start of the colder seasons. a sea of pink, green, and blue. 

“you know. i actually would appreciate what you have to say about the entire thing. just try to make your delivery non-judgemental. i mean, knowing you that’s basically impossible, but still.” you respond. 

yuuji gives you a laugh – one that makes you smile – as you lean your head against his shoulder. 

“can you just tell me why you want to drop out before? i’d like to make an informed decision.” yuuji offers. 

you give him a nod and the three seconds that he gives you to think have the words spilling out of you. 

“grad school is hard. and objectively, i knew that it was going to be hard when i applied, i know that these things can be hard, but it’s taking me out in a way that i didn’t expect. high school was hard because things were complicated. college was hard because i was juggling the jobs that i had with the school work. but this is….this is next level.” 

“every test that i study for feels impossible. like quite literally, impossible. every person that i get advice from is saying that it actually literally for me to know everything, that i should just try to study and hope for the best. and no matter how much work i do, it’s not enough. i’m still barely scraping by. i spend the entire day commuting to the hospital on the other side of town, to an understaffed hospital where i have to pick up the slack, and deal with people who are upset from sick animals, who tell me how much their pets means to them and have to respond with the fact that i can’t do anything for them.” 

you hike up the sleeve of your sweater. 

“everyone else is living their lives. you’re traveling, sukuna’s picking up hobbies and watching movies, and i can barely find time to shower. the cats at work scratch me basically everyday. i spend every morning covering up the scabs that are still bleeding and putting creams to fade the scars that are basically indented into my arm at this point. i come home exhausted and still have to study. and when i do come home, sukuna’s making me dinner and he’s doing my laundry and sometimes he even has to help me shower because of how tired i am.” 

“ew.” yuuji responds. 

“i know!” you groan, earning you a laugh from him. 

yuuji gives you a comforting pat on the head before you continue. 

“i feel bad because it’s been this way since we were married. i want to do nice things with him, i want to travel, i want to see you and megumi, i want to just go out and drink sometimes. i miss spending time with all of you and sometimes it just feels like too much to sacrifice. i want to help people but i still want to spend time with my family. god, sukuna and i haven’t even talked about starting our own family and i don’t know how he feels about it.  i still have to apply for training after, i could get rejected from training, and training is supposed to be a bigger time commitment than this.” 

you sigh. 

“i don’t want to spend my entire life working. i want to help people, i know i have to make money, but this feels too much that i’m giving up. granted, i could have a heart attack tomorrow and be dead so what’s the point of spending all of my time working so hard?” 

“it feels like i’m prioritizing the wrong thing.” you finish. 

you’re panting by the time that he lets you finish. yuuji leans back, taking a heavy swig of his drink, before turning back to look at you. 

“well, that’s a lot.” he states. 

“tell me about it.” 

“i gathered that much from what sukuna told me. he’s definitely more worried about you than he lets on.” 

“i know. what do you think i should do?” 

yuuji sighs, before tapping on the top of your thigh. 

“after a very long conversation with sukuna, i realized that i can’t give you any input. it really is a decision that you have to make on your own.” 

you groan. 

“ugh. why are you guys like this?” you complain, before lightly shoving him in the side. 

yuuji smiles. 

“we just want what’s best for you.” 

you glare at him. 

“well, let me in on what you think is best for me.” 

“i think what’s best for you is something that only you would know. how long do you have to decide?” 

“nice cop out. my meeting with the dean is the day after tomorrow.” 

yuuji lifts his arm to point at the crowd of people across the cobblestone path. there’s an elderly couple with a poodle on the leash, smiling brightly at the little girl – barely four if you were going to guess – who is excitedly petting the dog in between her legs. 

“the only advice i would have is to not let recency bias inform your decision. i would hate to see you quit just for you to realize that you made the wrong decision when you were…emotionally exhausted.” 

 you frown. 

“i’m not emotionally exhausted.” 

“okay.” he responds. you can tell that he doesn’t believe it. 

“i’m not.” you defend. 

yuuji sighs. 

“you’re not emotionally exhausted. but you’ve been through a lot. a lot of things that i think that you ignore. it was bound to catch up with you at some point.” 

“what the hell are you talking about? just say it straight up.” 

yuuji turns to look at you. 

“you have shit coping mechanisms.” 

“okay?” 

“you have shit coping mechanisms and a lot happened. my dad died. your dad looked at you dead in the eyes and didn’t know who you were. you realized that for a whole year and a half, sukuna was for all intents and purposes planning his own death while you were sleeping twenty feet away. hell, you even thought that he was going right back to that state of mind when my dad passed away. that this time sukuna wouldn’t come back to you.” 

you feel your mouth dry. only because you forgot that had even happened – that you had admitted it to yuuji – in the first plac.e 

“there’s a lot that you haven’t processed that happened in the past two years. things that would stop any sane person in their tracks. it’s just catching up to you now.” 

you swallow hard. 

“i don’t care that your dad died. if you guys moved on, that’s…that’s all that i care about.” 

yuuji frowns. 

“the mere fact that you picked that out of everything i said tells me that you do care about it. and it's valid. it would be fine and well if you didn’t know him. but you did. and he was an asshole, god knows that in the grand scheme of things there was nothing redeemable about him, but it doesn’t change the fact that you had a relationship with him.” 

“he treated you guys like shit.” you defend. 

“and yet he still came to all of your dance recitals. he was the one who, albeit very begrudgingly, helped your mom move you guys into college. moved your heavy furniture around. took the trash out so none of you had to.” 

you swallow hard. 

“he’s an asshole. doesn’t mean you can’t miss him. pretending like he was just our dad, that you just hate him because of what he did to us, does nothing for you because you had a relationship with him too.” 

you frown. 

“you have shit coping mechanisms. and it’s interfering with something that you’ve dreamed about since you were a kid.” 

“is that what you think? that i’m too…too tired to be thinking straight?” 

yuuji smiles, before placing a hand on your shoulder and squeezing hard. 

“i just don’t want something that’s holding you back to stop you from moving forward.” 

--

“have you decided what you’re going to do?” 

masamichi yaga is a serious man. it’s the first impression that you had of him on the very first day of orientation, when he very clearly told us that it was probable that some of us wouldn’t make it to the end of the program if we weren’t serious. it feels like an ironic memory to come to the forefront of your mind at this very moment, but you push it away for the time being. 

“thank you for taking the time to meet with me, mr. yaga. i think i have.” 

he reaches for his pen on his notebook, making a stark motion across his page – like he was crossing something out – before looking back up at you. 

“i’d like to take a leave of absence for the remainder of the year. i’ll tentatively return at the start of next year to finish the last half of my second year and finish off strong.” you respond. 

he gives you a thoughtful nod, before leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest. 

“can i ask why?” 

“i just don’t think i’m performing at my best right now. and i take my studies very seriously and….and i wouldn’t consider this if it wasn’t something that i thought i desperately needed.” 

he nods. 

“granted, the things that i’ve since found out about you tell me that you should have taken this break a long time ago. i’m very pleased this is what you ended up deciding.” 

you can feel your throat dry. 

“sorry, what?” 

he looks up at you, almost like he’s perplexed, as he drops his pen and leans forward. 

“you’re a stellar student; i’ve basically been hearing about how bright and brilliant you are since your very first trimester. your teachers, your peers – they all have nothing but great things to say about you. i would have had no idea you had been going through so much if it wasn’t for your husband coming down here and telling me.” 

you pinch your lips into a line. 

“what are you talking about?” 

“he came down to see me a few weeks ago. didn’t really take no for an answer when i told him i wasn’t free for a meeting. in hindsight, his relentlessness was very warranted. grief is very hard. grieving a parent is very hard. especially, when you have a complicated relationship with them. speaking from experience, it takes someone very special to pull you out of that – which is clearly what you did for your husband when it happened to him. and that can take a toll on you too, even if you don’t realize it. he came down here around three weeks ago and was asking me for all the options that you’d have if you wanted to take a break or drop out. making sure that i understood, fully understood, that this was something that was out of your control, that you were just a person who needed a break.” 

“he did that?” you ask. 

“he wanted to know what resources we could give you, because he very plainly stated, that you were made to be a vet and he could never in good faith let you quit something you’re made to do.” 

you can feel the burning sensation in the back of your eyes again. the conviction in his voice sends a shiver down your spine.

“providing emotional support for a partner who is grieving is very difficult. from what he shared, i’ve come to understand that you’ve had a relationship with your husband’s father for years, and in some ways, he was a stand-in father for you as well. leave behind the normal burnout of school, dealing with something as sensitive as the loss of someone you won’t ever see again is something we would obviously make an exception for.” 

you breathe out. 

“we’ll see you again next winter. take the time that you need to process. and tell sukuna i say hello.” 

you give him a nod before exiting out the door, barely processing the entirety of the conversation, only to see sukuna exactly where you left him, scrolling on his phone in the waiting room. it makes your chest hurt – that he had already called weeks in advance, drove all the way down here on your behalf and didn't mention it at all – as you clear your throat to get his attention. he gives you an innocent smile, jumping out of the chair as he extends his arm out to you.  

“ready to go, pretty girl?” he asks.

you give him a nod, welcoming yourself into his open arm and clinging to his side as you walk out of the building together, to where the car is parked on the curb. you’re barely able to process the fact – on what you’re supposed to do in response, how you’re ever supposed to thank him – as you duck into the car. 

sukuna pulls out of the spot and merges into the street. 

“so can i know what you decided?” sukuna asks. 

you nod. 

“i’m taking a break for a year. i just think that i’m burned out from going straight into graduate school without taking a break. mo….most people in my class took almost two or three years in between and i didn’t…and i just think that i’m tired.” you state. 

you pause. 

“but i do want to go back. i’ve always wanted to be a vet. and i’m still going to be one.” you whisper. 

“that’s my girl.” 

you can see that sukuna’s smiling – smiling extremely brightly in your peripheral vision – before he reaches for the side door. as promised, he produces an envelope with his handwriting scribbled across the top. you slide the slit open and pull out the paper to read what he wrote at the start of the week. 

Dear Elphaba,  Per your request, I’ve decided to write down what I would have done if I was in your position. However, to actually ignore your request, I’m actually just going to write down my prediction for what you’re going to do instead, because you’re a smart girl. And you always end up doing the right thing.  You’re going to take a leave of absence for a year. You’re going to take a leave with the intention of returning back to school because this is your dream, it’s always been your dream, and you don’t give up on anything. Not on me when my dad dies or on yourself when you’re burnt out.   Best,  Fiyero  P.S. if you didn’t end up doing that, I’m driving back and you’re retracting your withdrawal. 

"wicked?" you ask.

"i was going to do glinda. because the whole pink ribbons thing. but then i found out that fiyero doesn't even like her like that so i switched it."

you snort.

“also not to say i told you so. but i told you so.” sukuna adds, as you fold the paper back up into the envelope. 

you roll your eyes. 

“he told me what you did. that you drove all the way down there and talked to him.” you state. 

sukuna shrugs. 

“could have guessed that much. he's kind of a romantic.” 

“why didn’t you say anything?” you ask. 

“because i figured that he’d tell you. and i wanted you to figure it out on your own, which true to my word, you did.” 

you slouch back into the chair. 

“he says hi. i think he likes you.” you state. 

you lean across the glovebox and rest your head against his bicep. 

“is that right?” 

“would be pretty hard not to. you’re kind of the best.” you murmur.

--

an: a classic best friends older brother sukuna blurb as promised. this took me five days to write and was so hard and just be nice to me please 😭

taglist: @porridgesblog @k0z3me @sugu-love @yihona-san06 @bsenpai @sweetenertea @skzismyhome @mykyoon @violetmatcha @rebeccawinters @shotenvinsoot @itzmeme @gojoswifeyyys-world @cutiejg @chilichopsticks @ghostreadersthings @charlie-xo @whoami-72 @heijihattorisgf @megu-meow @complexivelovely @multiplefandomthings @hoebuns @lzaj19 @glossygreene @ramluvr @sureconfused @najaemism @manduse @imhorn1help @gamergirl5125 @r0ckst4rjk @invisible-mori @isaacdaknight @wishmemel @gyros-cum-sock @suftsunshine @i0099 @cowgirlikets @haitanibros0007 @stuffeddeer @yoontaedotin @ec3lipsy @armani78 @awkwardaardvarkforever @kereseth @leave-rae-alone @ruruvia @princess-ackerman @jjkwritingss @lilkiwikiara @opchara @telepathicheartss @starriesworlds @raechu11 @exprimidordefresas @nxxrxm @aalloochaat @strangehuman101 @tzutology

[selineram3421]

*new version of Alastor takes over the Internet* Hehe.

Cursed Cat Headcanons

Curse Cat Alastor & Human Reader

Warnings ⚠

⚠ mentions of death, "normal" cat stuff ⚠

You find a strange looking cat at the shelter.

The red creature was separated from the other cats and behind a heavy duty glass with multiple scratch marks.

"Can I interact with this one?", you asked.

"I don't think we are allowed to let that one out...", the worker says. "We're not even sure if its a cat."

You were also not sure as the little creature had antlers.

"Might have been dead this morning.", they mumbled but you caught it.

"Uh...ok.", you say, feeling a little put off how calmly the employee said that. "I'll take them."

And that's how you got a cat.

Once having the necessary items and a cat tower order placed, you bring the red cat home.

It sounds a bit angry. Growling, hissing, scratching and biting the inside of the cat carrier.

Maybe they didn't like small spaces..

Their first day was...something.

You ended up having to fix or toss out a lot of furniture.

They seemed to like sitting on top of your bookshelf. Often watching as you cleaned around the room or when you slept.

Kinda creepy. And you swore you saw their eyes glow once.

But other than the strange shadows and weird noises, you didn't have problems. In fact, they took care of the spiders and other pesky bugs that managed to get into your home.

Eventually, you tried to call them by names from a list that you made but they mostly ignored you whenever you tried.

It wasn't until you were watching Hazbin Hotel that the red cat perked up.

"I'm Alastor!", your favorite character introduced himself.

The red creature then hopped onto your coffee table and stared at you, effectively grabbing your attention.

"What is it?", you asked before noticing your T.V. glitch and loop.

"I'm Alastor!", it said again. "¡'m Al@$tør!", it started to distort. "Ĭ̢̜͝'m̬̟̑͗ Á̘͉̉l͈̯̾̀á̘͉̉s͚͈̭̦̈́̈̄͒t͙́ó͎̥͡ṙ̻!", the audio was getting worse and worse as it repeated. "ł'₥ ₳Ⱡ₳₴₮ØⱤ."

Glancing at your cat, you noticed it was grinning like the oh so famous cheshire cat.

"Uh..Alastor?", you said.

As soon as you called them the name, the episode continued to play regularly and your cat had its normal happy demeanor.

"Ok...", you paused the show and went to the kitchen for snacks. "I might have picked up a cursed cat."

After that, Alastor actually seemed to like you. No longer hissing or scratching you when you tried to pet them and sought you out for some cuddles.

Hehehehe..

You had to take him to the vet for a check up and well.. It turned out exactly how you expected it to. Also, you found out they were a he.

He was number one..of the worsts cats in the vet hospital's care. They had to order new gloves meant for hawks.

After that, you got him a little bow to match the character Alastor and he seemed to really enjoy it. Of course, the red cat was quite fluffy and only the bow part was visible.

The cat tower finally arrived and you set it up. It was mostly black, coming with a feather toy as well.

"Done!", you stepped back and smiled at the finished cat tower.

Of course, like any cat, Alastor was not amused. Sitting in the packaging box comfortably.

"You know what? I'm not even mad. I used to sit in boxes as a kid.", you said and cleaned up the bubble wrap.

Things were turning out pretty well. That is until your neighbor got a weird looking pet. Now you knew Alastor was strange but he looked like a cat. Whatever the neighbor has was something else.

It was black with blue and some red. Flat looking face and a strange tail.

Maybe it was an exotic animal?

You weren't sure but Alastor hated, HATED, them.

And you made sure not to walk your little furball when the other pet was out. Making that mistake once. Once being enough.

I bestow upon ye cat Alastor!

~Seline, the person.

Taglist@

@c4rved-pumpk1n @scary-noodlesblog @stolas-thebirb @naelys-the-aster @biromanticboba @lbcreations-blog @ducky-died-inside @kiraisastay @pooplyface1423 @line-viper @117s-girl @spiderlegsling @alastorsgoldie @repentant-repeller @kcsketches @lofasofabread @kotaleee @im-coolrat @superzombiewho @speckle-meow-meow @jammcookie @dilucragnvindr-my-beloved @trashbin-nie @koioli @fatherlesschild2 @mmik3yy @just-here-reading @nealeart @hudiexiaoying @crystal-multiplefandomlover @glowinggoldfish0 @tiredgamerhere @fluffy-koalala @valenfawkes @willowshadenox @aria-tempest @alastor-simp @willowaudreykeyes @+?

ML II for Alastor🎙️

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

What did you think about Jade's role in the latest book 7 chapter? I found it hilarious how between the tweel's dreams his was more chaotic. It was also funny how they brought up Jade's motion sickness since I think the only moments it's been shown was in flight class and I think in Vil's playful land vignette after a rollercoaster ride. I'm really curious about your own highlights ^~^

Honestly, I felt pretty meh about Jade’s involvement in the Octavinelle update 😅

***Book 7 part 10 spoilers below the cut!!***

His own dream segment was alright, it got a few chuckles out of me (though as expected, we didn’t really learn anything significantly new about Jade because of the shallow nature of the dream). Jade’s crybaby dream!Azul was about what I expected, but his dream!Floyd certainly wasn’t. The goofy face on his twin… It made me wonder how Jade truly sees Floyd. Does that weird face mean Jade sees his brother—who comes off as imposing to many others—as cute and harmless? Or does that mean Jade actually looks down on Floyd and thinks of him as a simpleton who likes to eat…? It’s hard to tell (personally I like the former interpretation), but it’s been fun looking at the different perspectives of the same information.

Something I find interesting is that the twins’ moments of waking mirror each other’s usual approaches to a task. Floyd usually foregoes a plan and prefers to use his fists to get the job done. However, he is slowly roused by reminiscing about his memories at NRC and the promise of being presented with a challenge. The final blow that shocks him awake is the presentation of a dream!Azul and dream!Jade who attempt to lure him deeper into the dream. Floyd doesn’t fall for it; in fact, he gets mad instead, and that fury, so biting and clear, snaps him awake. The opposite is true for Jade. He is someone who meticulously plans before acting, and would rather control the circumstances and use other roundabout methods before resorting to violence. But ironically, the master manipulator Jade is the one who falls for his own dream’s manipulations—all because he trusts himself above all else. He only wakes up because of a very strong physical force (ie Sebek’s UM) striking him. Prior to this, Jade was putting up a very good fight and the blows be was taking were not sufficient to wake fully him. So… Floyd, the brother who prefers brawns, woke up after reflecting and experiencing strong cognitive dissonance between his fake reality and bis true reality. Jade, the brother who prefers brains, woke up after being smacked the right amount. They woke up after experiencing an intense shock related to what is essentially the opposite of their preferred problem solving strategies.

I liked seeing Jade and Floyd fight! Book 7 is showing us a lot of things that were brief off-handed mentions elsewhere (like how Rook used to be in Savanaclaw, how Lilia is a war vet, etc.). The twins having violent brawls was previously brought up in Floyd’s Beach Wear vignettes, and it’s nice to be able to view the full extent of it ourselves. Floyd was NOT joking when he said they got into serious fights…

I have mixed feelings about Jade’s behavior within Azul’s dream. I’m NOT saying any of this is out of character or that all of his moments were bad. There were lots of little standouts (like Jade’s motion sickness, the passive aggressive “Azul-san”, smashing up the restaurant, and, of course, him and Floyd grabbing onto Azul and then trusting him to make it out on his own before choosing to let him go). Unfortunately, there were just as many examples of Jade wasting time and meandering, which I was a little annoyed about. The world might be done for if y’all don’t hurry it up 😭 You do NOT have the time to casually smash plant pots or to sit idly by and go “…………” while you watch Azul act like an idiot. I know you have a bigger brain than THAT, Jade. If you already knew what Azul’s weak point was, then you should be acting on it much sooner, not wasting my time like this.

I can see the reasoning for some of this to an extent. Jade is the type of person to drag things out; he wants to enjoy the show as others struggle to attain what they desire. The problem is that this segment still feels… forced or artificially drawn out simply because of the already established pattern of “well we gotta dedicate more time to the OB boy, we have so many other novel assets and scenarios to show off!!” There continues to be so little urgency while prioritizing showing off new assets or even things that seem cool in concept but may be lacking in execution because of how fast new stuff is being thrown at us. It’s just so frustrating because it creates this domino effect where the implication is that Jade doesn’t seem to be taking the situation seriously even though he, as an individual who is skilled in reading others + pinpointing their weaknesses AND as one of Azul’s close aide, should automatically clock what would reasonably wake him. But nooooo, Jade doesn’t do it right away because HEY, we need to create contrived scenarios where he, Floyd, and Azul have to use their UMs once each. Why? Because we have to follow the patterns we’ve already established in the updates before theirs! No other reason, we’re not allowed to stray from the formula! This is even worse when you think about how Jade was somehow unable to deduce that Azul would have moved the contracts to his own room… Like shouldn’t that be the FIRST place you think of, Jade????? No??? Is this an excuse so you can waste time using your Mouse mandated UM on dream!Jade to get the location??? 🤡 Okay, I guess…

The one last thing I have to note is that I’m so glad his and Floyd’s Groovies don’t show them crying. I feel like a lot of people were anticipating that because we previously had Kalim and Rook breaking down… However, it would be remiss to equate all the characters as being as emotional as those latter two are. (Lilia, Sebek, and Ortho were also limited story cards and none of them featured crying.) That’s not to say that I think the twins are incapable of expressing intense sadness, it’s that I don’t think they’d shed tears while attacking each other or Azul. Not crying doesn’t make Jade and Floyd “worse” or “less emotionally available”. It, in fact, alludes to the strength of the trio’s bond. It means they trust the others to be strong enough to take the hits, to fight back and to survive. The same thing is demonstrated when Jade and Floyd willingly let go of Azul and allow him to sink into the darkness, even wishing him well before they do. And to that, Azul just says the same to them (in a smug tone). These three trust each other, and that is why the twins don’t shed tears; how can they cry when they fully believe the ones they’ve chosen to spend their time with are strong enough to make it out on their own?

Overall, I just 💦 do not like the rigid skeleton of these dreams… (which I’ve already expressed before here!) I’m so tired of the same thing back to back, and no matter how many details they try to change to make it cool or feel unique, it always comes at the cost of pacing or, in this case, some character integrity being removed. xbjsvskwjekw Maybe I’m just more sensitive about this since I hate it when a smart character has to actively be dumbed down in order to progress the plot in a certain way. This is a much more subtler of a dumbing down than what book 2 did with Leona, but… It still doesn’t leave me feeling very good 😔 If anyone has played the first Ace Attorney game, this feels a LOT like that part in case 2 where Phoenix is too dumb to check the back of a receipt until Mia literally tells him to. The character has to actively be made stupider because the scenario calls for it, and that really rubs me the wrong way.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

Wibta if I told my mom she loves a cat more than her own children.

I do feel like an asshole for this. I’m 17f and I have a younger sister 15F. My parents are married and for the most part good. When have a 12 year old cat that my mom just adores.

This part is all speculation, but when I very young like I was 5 or something my mom had an event that changed a lot. She stayed with her parents and would visits us. My grandparents would help out and no one really ever explained what happened to her but she lived there for like a year, she did move back in with us. My dad got her a cat to cope while she was away. The speculation is she had really bad post partum depression and had a break down. The reason I believe this/and this is my own theory, was when I was struggling mentally, my mom encouraged me to go to a therapist and they asked family history and she said she had struggled with depression/episodes and had tried medication but never stayed on. She just said when she was younger she had a hard time regulating emotions, and she wants me to worry about me and my own emotions. The post patrum comes from the fact that I asked my dad why did you two have kids and he admitted he wanted kids and my mom was more on the fence. I also find it weird she gets really nervous around Mother’s Day and will often try to not celebrate. (She always says she could be a better mom)

My mom is a good mom don’t get me wrong. She’s always encouraged my sister and I to try and do our hobbies. She’ll drive us where we gotta go. I know she works overtime when she wants to make sure we can do stuff for the family. It’s just sometimes, she seems more like a distant mom. She’ll listen to us, do anything asked, but idk how to put it into words.

But she really loves this cat. And I do love our cat too, but this cat and my mom are bonded. The second my mom comes home and the cat greets her and my mom picks her up and kisses her. She calls the cat her pretty princess and a hundred other nicknames. She calls me my dad and sister honey, bunny, and sunny. I know the cat actually makes my mom happy. Her eyes light up when she sees the cat. I know she looks forward to coming home to the cat. When we go on vacations she’ll miss the cat, or if she goes on a work trip she’ll always ask for pictures of the cat or ask to see the cat on FaceTime. She throws a small birthday party for the cat every year and makes a cake. For our birthdays she’ll ask what we want and sometimes she resorts to store bought desserts.

So this is where it gets bad. Our cat is now sick and probably has a year left to live. The vet told my mom she’s a good cat owner and has always done right for her, but with her age, treatment isn’t really the route because it’s not gonna prevent death, so just focus on making the cat happy and comfortable (this vet appointment was her 6 month check up.) My mom hasn’t been doing well mentally. She’s always struggled with mental health. She just seems to have a shakey mind at times if that makes sense. She very much before would hide her struggles, but we knew she’d have them. Before she would like stand still just gripping the counter with one hand. Now my mom is definetly depressed. She will come home be greeted by the cat, and go to her room and cry with the cat. She’s been just not happy.

My sister and I kinda decided to see if telling her we got good grades would cheer her up, and she’ll say good job and will sometimes offer to cook something or get something for us, but her eyes are just like very tired. (There is also an app she can use to check out grades but she never once used it and will just take our word face value) We’ve talked to my dad about this and he basically said that our mom has always loved animals (she use to work with her grandpa at a pet store he owned, but apparently her grandpa wasn’t a good person to most people in the family except her, so that was hard on her). I asked my dad what he thinks and says it’s normal for someone to be sad about this and that he’s gonna work hard or make sure we get all our needs handled. Which is nice, but I kinda wish it was my mom. I don’t feel dire need of anything, I’m just annoyed/jealous a cat can destroy my mom mentally.

My mom has gone over load for the cat. She cooks for her, makes her dinner buys the best food and mixes then. She often cries while cooking, and asks the cat if she likes the food.The cat doesn’t even know what’s happening.

I was looking at prom dresses online and asked my mom to look with me and she was just out of it. She would just say she’d like one or she’s not a fan but don’t let that discourage me. She’s just kinda lifeless. I try talking to her about it and she’ll aplogize and says she’ll get better. (It’s been like a week)

It boiled over when my mom’s sisters came over. (She’s the youngest. One sister has kids and one doesn’t) My mom tried to be happy and perky but ended up crying about the cat. Her sisters kinda said that she’s gotta be strong for her family and my mom just cried saying everything’s gonna be so much harder without the cat. I wasn’t in the room, they were in the basement, and there’s a vent where you can hear everything down there. My sister and I do easedrop to see what they say (her sisters are loud but we can never hear what my mom is saying without the vent. Normally we do it because my mom is a more different interesting person and again we don’t know our mom well. Away from us she kinda puts down the facade and actually talks). I was just angry. Her life isn’t hard. We’re middle class, if she wants to go to therepy she can afford it. We all deal with grief and loss. Yes I’m gonna be sad when our cat passes, but she is an older cat. I don’t imagine my life becoming “harder” other than my mom being depressed, but she is an adult who will heal from this.

After her sisters left and she was doing her night routine, I asked her if she loves the cat more than my sister and I. She said that’s not true and if she could do something more for my sister and I please name it. I told her that that’s the problem is that she does stuff for the cat without thinking, but for us it’s all asking us and she’s the adult she should know. She’s said she’s not a mind reader and she’s gonna rely on the information I give her to help me out where she can. I went to my room because ovbiosuly that conversation wasn’t going anywhere. I feel like my mom understands a cat more than her own daughter.

My dad came in a little while after and we talked. He assured me my mom loves me and this cat has been like an emotional support animal through the years. He mentioned my one friend who has an emotional support dog and compared them and told me that the cat has helped my mom emotionally with emotional regulation and just helps her steady herself. I asked if we were enough, or if my mom regrets having a family and she would just be happier if she just left us for the cat and lived by herself. My dad told me she loves all of us, but depression can be hard to navigate. I asked him about how he wanted us more than our mom and he just said that he was more excited, but my mom wouldn’t have had us unless she wanted us (which I don’t think is totally true.)

I went into my parents room and my mom was there with the cat. Again going to the cat for comfort. I told her I was sorry for saying she loved the cat more than us and she apologized for how her treatment towards the cat can seem that way and if I ever need anything please ask. It made me mad because she again is relying on me to know what’s wrong/ or ask, instead of her just idk taking initiative. I didn’t say that.

I get people can be mentally ill, but she’s also my mom. I do feel bad about telling my mom she loves a cat more than me, but I also don’t feel too reassured.

[nikibogwater]

Everybody sit down and strap in, 'cause I have a doozy of a tale to share.

I've had anxiety for literally as long as I can remember. I've had periods of my life where it was so intense it became legitimately life-threatening (don't worry I promise this is going somewhere funny). And this was really bizarre because I have zero childhood trauma. Like, my family life is so idyllic it's almost comical. Therapists would do abuse screenings on me and look utterly baffled when I told them everything was fine at home. They'd interrogate my parents just to make sure I wasn't lying. I have one friend who I'm fairly sure believed I was just severely gaslighting myself when I said my family was great, school wasn't too stressful, and I've never lived in a dangerous neighborhood or experienced poverty.

Anyways, despite no one being able to figure out where my disorder was coming from, my doctors were able to help me manage the symptoms so that I would like, not die, and actually be able to finish high school. Which was awesome. Now fast forward to late 2021. My big sister (who has also had intense anxiety her whole life which no one could figure out why) is finishing up her doctorate and getting her physical therapist's license. Somehow, during all her studying and schooling, she finds out about this thing called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which explains literally everything that was going on with us. EDS is a connective tissue disorder that kinda fudges up your body in a whole bunch of little ways, including dysautonomia (episodes of very fast heart-rate that kick your body into fight-or-flight mode), and hypermobility (unusual flexibility). It's a spectrum disorder, so the severity of symptoms vary from person to person, but we definitely checked almost every box on the diagnostic list. My sister went to see a specialist, and yep, she was diagnosed EDS positive. She immediately calls my mom and goes "I know what's wrong with Niki" (thanks, sis, that's real encouraging lol). Initially we're like "okay Katie, that's nice" because honestly this kind of sounds like jumping at shadows, but I go in to see the specialist anyways just to make sure.

One consultation and diagnosis later, and suddenly my entire life makes perfect sense.

Now we get to the funny part. See, the diagnosis stuff happened in early 2022. So by the time late 2023 comes around and we're looking for a new dog (I promise this is relevant), we've been riding that chronic illness diagnosis for a while. Once again, my sister, ever the proactive one, decides she's going to help us get a new dog. She scours the adoption website, sends us photos of the cutest dogs available, and helps us make a decision. This is how we got Beverly, who has been an unstoppable force of chaos in our lives ever since we signed the papers (but she's also really cute so she can get away with it). Now on top of being a very excitable and anxious pupper, Beverly's got a weird little gimp in her hindquarters, which makes her sit all splayed-out and funny-looking, and while it doesn't seem to be causing her pain, we take her to a vet to get it checked out. Vet finds absolutely nothing. X-rays are taken and examined. Still nothing. At this point, they go "well, we could try a CT scan of her brain, which would run about $5,000, and maybe we could find something--" but my parents are already packing this dog into the car like "well that is a HARD nope." So we decide, look, Beverly seems happy and healthy, and those gimpy legs don't seem to bother her, so we'll just leave it be until it becomes clearer what's wrong with her because we do NOT have a cool $5,000 to throw around here.

Readers more astute than my family and I will likely have already figured out where this is going.

This morning, my mom is looking at Beverly sitting in her funny sprawled-out way, and something in her brain goes "wait...weird physical symptoms with no tracible cause that vets can see..." She does a bit of googling. Can dogs have EDS/Hypermobility? Yes. Yes they can. And the listed symptoms describe Beverly to a T.

So not only is my sister the one to finally figure out what's wrong with me, she also unknowingly got us a dog who has the exact same chronic condition as us. Meanwhile my poor dad, who is the only Normal Person in our house, is coming to terms with the fact that he is apparently just fated to always love chronically ill people and animals, and there's absolutely nothing he can do about it.

[mafiatsunafish]

The daggers were surprised to see a man that looks like a younger version of Rooster walking into the Hard Deck.

He had the pilot starter pack, Hawaiian floral print shirt, sunglasses hanging on his inner white shirt and all that jazz.

But there was something just so wrong with him, the daggers couldn’t seems to wrap their head on what exactly was wrong.

And then they saw Hangman trailing behind the said man looking weirdly worried and awkward.

“Roo, I’m sorryyyyyy.”

The blond’s apology spooked the entire squad cause the know he DOES NOT say sorry to anyone, except when he really screwed up.

Another thing, so that man was Rooster but apparently just missing something?

Ah

A small cartoonish light bulb appeared on Phoenix head. She shouted:

“Hey Rooster, where the hell is your mustache!?”

It has been years since the last time she saw his bare face like that, ever since their orientation at flight school. Therefore, this creeped the fuck out of her.

Now the other daggers took a few seconds to reboot their brain and updated on the situation, started to boom bard the tall brunet with many questions.

To be fair, none of them NONE OF THEM ever see Rooster without his infamous porntasche, so oh my my for them.

Then Halo seemed to find out another thing that just out of place on Rooster point out.

“Rooster, that is one nasty black eyes you have there man, alright?”

The pair, Hangman and Rooster now sat with their squad, the blond still looked weird and the brunet looked so done but still somehow amused.

“Just feels like I want to shave it.”

Rooster shrugged easily.

“And the black eye in on me.”

Hangman suddenly answered and that take their friend out.

“Uhmmm.. what happened? May I asked? Should I even know?” Coyote asked wearily.

“This bastard, decided to shave his face, bare, without saying anything. Then acted like nothing happened, hugged me from behind when I was cooking. I turned around to see a fucking stranger standing in my kitchen so I punch him.”

“What!?” Their friends shouted

“It’s not my fault that I’ve never see him without damn thing on his face!”

Hangman shouted back while Rooster just laughing beside him.

“I vetted him for that, the last time I saw our chicken’s bare face was in our first week of flight school and that was years before Hangman meet him.” Phoenix was also laughing now.

“I’m alright now, just a punch. He screamed bloody murder when he saw my face like this too.” Rooster added

“Roooooo!” Hangman hid his face behind his hands and Rooster just kissed him softly on his side, still laughing of course.

“It’s ok darling.” Rooster said to his lover.

“Damn, but I understand what Hangman did cause you looked so weird” Bob said while giggling.

“Please put it back.” Fanboy distress mumbling get drowned among his squad mate various noise of amusement.

(The first time Mav and Ice saw Rooster with his mustache through a picture Slider sent them.

Slider was stationed at Rooster based then, he had to call the husbands to warned them first, before sending the picture.

But still.

Mav almost have a panic attack and Ice was so shocked, they then just crying that whole evening. Nothing can prepare them to see how much their godson looks like his father. To the point they almost believe that was Goose, standing there in his flight suit, smiling brightly at them.)

(The autocorrect had me rolling fr )

[thevoidstaredback]

Week two started off with the RSVPs coming in like a flood. Every single One Percenter that had been invited had accepted the invitation, stating that they'd be there. The heroes that had been invited had yet to respond, though they won't be marked as 'not coming' until the weeks end.

Week Two

Diana had been staring at the invitation for quite some time. She'd apparently been invited to a private Wayne Gala, a charity to raise funds to donate to the Justice League. It was an amusing premis, seeing as Batman somehow funded most of what they did when the U.S. Government fell short, but then she wondered if this was how he did it.

It made sense. He's one man, so he shouldn't have the money to fund the heroes of the world out of pocket. Then again, she didn't know anything about him. The tour of the Bat Cave - a hilarious name, by the way - only proved that point further.

The charity gala is a private event, tighter security than normal, invitations sent out only four weeks in advance, invitation check at the door, no press. But, why was she invited? By random, apparently.

She doubted the odds. 'Random' isn't a thing in Gotham.

Batman probably had something to do with this.

***

Clark was having a hard time believing what he was seeing. He and Lois, as well as Kon and Jon, had been invited to a Wayne Gala? Not even as press. They were going to be actual guests? It was so weird.

When he showed Lois, she'd spent a solid thirty minutes scrutinizing the thing, looking for any sign it was a fake. When she saw the seal, she'd laughed so hard that she fell over, then declared that it was real and that they were going.

He didn't get the joke. She didn't explain.

***

Getting invitations to galas wasn't a new thing for Oliver. He went to at least one in every major city every year. But, getting an invitation to a Wayne Gala that he'd never heard about before? That was a whole new surprise.

Dinah was also surprised by the invitation, but happy to attend. The information on the back said it was a semi-formal dress, and that the theme was Hero.

Ironic.

A charity gala for the Justice League hosted by Gotham's White Prince. Did Batman know anything about this? Probably. He seems to know everything. Honestly, Oliver wouldn't be surprised if the man knew who Green Arrow was behind the mask.

Actually, is Batman even human? He claims he is, and so does Nightwing and Robin, but then they turn around and do things that are decidedly not human-like.

But, who is he to judge?

Dinah was already picking out their outfits. She was going to theme herself after Green Arrow, so Oliver thought it fair to theme his own outfit after Black Canary.

Roy would be laughing his ass off at them. Maybe they could convince him to come with them? The invitation said to invite family... He should have him bring Lian, too. Brucie won't mind. He's a family man, after all.

Actually, that's probably exactly why the invite addresses the Queen Family, instead of just Oliver Queen and his plus one.

Also, why does Bruce want him to give a speech? Yeah, he'll do it, and yeah, he's a better public speaker than Bruce, but why? Was it a spur of the moment thing? Probably.

***

Hal stared at the paper suspiciously. Not once had he been to a fancy gala like a Wayne Gala. In fact, the fanciest party he'd been to were the parties thrown for the military vets.

Okay, so, bad example. Those parties are actually pretty fancy and fairly private, but still! A One Percent Party? Why would Hal get invited to one of those? He's perfectly middle-class, thank you very much.

He toyed with the thought of not going, the idea of Batman catching him in Gotham making him even more reluctant to go, but his curiosity was getting the better of him.

What was it like at one of these things? Would Batman really bust in and ruin the thing if he caught wind of Hal being there? What was Gotham's One Percent like? What was the Wayne Family like?

All very good questions that he wanted answers to.

He filled out the RSVP. He doesn't have anyone to bring with him, but maybe he could ask another hero? Maybe the other Green Lanterns will wanna be there. He's sure the Waynes won't mind. What'll they do, throw him out?

Well....they might, but they probably won't. That'll look bad.

He's got some calls to make before sending this back.

***

Wally had been the one to find the invitation. He'd been over to visit and stopped to bring the mail in for Iris. He knew that crest like the back of his hand because Dick's the one who introduced it to him.

That's right, he knows who Nightwing is. And he is very upset that he was left out of what's obviously a prank on the Justice League! He was gonna have to give his bestie a call. Tsk.

"We're going to this!" he declared loudly the second the door closed behind him.

"What is it?" Bart asked, meeting him in the entryway.

Wally was quick to hide the seal in his pocket. A room full of geniuses would figure it out in a second and he wanted to see this through completely. "Wayne charity gala in Gotham."

"Oh?" Iris asked from her place on the couch, putting her book down. Wally handed her the mail. "You just want to see Nightwing."

His grin was goofy. "Yeah, but don't go telling people that."

Barry plucked the invitation from his hands. "'Charity for Justice'," he read, "'for Justice League and associates'." He flipped it over. "It's addressed to the whole family, though we'll need to RSVP."

Bart set off in a fast repeat of "Please, please, please!" on 3x speed while Barry and Iris shared a silent conversation. Wally's grin grew. He knew they'd say yes.

***

Arthur didn't know how to react. Well, he did, but it was weird. He's a lighthouse keeper. Why's he getting invitations to some fancy party? He'd understand if he got the invite as Aquaman, but as Arthur? It's so weird.

He was going to accept. Mera was gonna make him accept. Probably on the grounds of 'just because'. But she's scary, so he's not gonna say no. At least they can bring Andy? Probably a bad decision. Like, a really bad decision.

Who'd watch over Atlantis while they were gone, though? Someone's gonna have to stay behind!

Mera won't stand for that.

Kaldur'ahm. They'll bring Kaldur with them. He'll be responsible enough to keep Andy in check when she inevitably slips away.

This is a bad idea.

He's going to regret this.

He sends off the RSVP anyway.

Part 11 Part 13

[three--rings]

You Should Watch The Spirealm/致命游戏

What is it?

A 2024 cdrama based on the danmei webnovel Kaleidoscope of Death. It's a censored version of a BL novel, with thriller, mystery, and horror aspects, 38 45-minute episodes.

What's it about?

A young man accidentally gets drawn into a virtual reality video game that involves passing tests in a series of doors. Once you start playing, you cannot stop and if you die in the game, you die in real life. He meets a frustratingly mysterious, competent, and attractive man in the doors who recruits him to be part of his game solving team. Well, specifically to be his partner. Lots of gay subtext ensues as they fight through door after door seeking to get to the final door in order to end the evils of the game. (The book is a little different, as it's more supernatural.)

So basically it's a infinite flow deadly game situation, with m/m romance.

Main Characters:

Lin Quishi/Ling Juishi (novel/drama versions of his name)- Our protagonist. A smart graduate in computer science, good at games. Well meaning but a little naive to start out.

Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Lanzhu - Our love interest. In the novel he crossdresses often and he presents as a woman for the whole first arc. Super intelligent, expert at the game, extremely flirty but reserved at the same time. Got one look at Lin Quishi and said That One.

Other Characters, aka the Found Family:

Ruan Nanzhu's team consists of a pair of twin brothers (one young and dumb and one uptight), a hot doctor vet, a woman whose main job seems to be cooking dinner, and a not-so-stable dude.

Then there's Li Dong Yuan, a rival player who becomes reluctantly-tolerated friend, and his cute female assistant. And Tan Zao Zao, an actress who hires the team to help her in the games and also sticks around persistently.

They're pretty much all delightful and some may start off silly/annoying and end up breaking the hell out of your heart.

Okay, but what's the VIBE?

Big Guardian vibes. The team of lovable scamps investigating weird supernatural (?) type mysteries? While the boss and the guy he fell for have a situationship? Totally. This definitely has more of a horror feel than Guardian, though, even though they tone things down from the novel.

Each door is its own setting, and some are more scary than others. So one is a mental hospital, one is a traditional village, one is a gothic manor, etc. Lots of tragic female ghosts who have been wronged and are getting revenge. The one that really creeped me out was the one with the children with the eggs. It does a lot of creepy rather than really horror. It's not truly gory at all, as it was made to air on Chinese TV and they have strict limits to violence.

The camerawork and set decor is really nice, actually. It looks great most of the time and a lot of the effects seem to be practical. It looks a lot better than Guardian is what I'm saying, if not quite to a film level.

How Gay is It?

Oh MY GOD. Okay look, this show was NOT supposed to be released, but thank whoever put it up for that two hours. It's really incredibly blatant, like really as much as Word of Honor was, although because the plot is focused elsewhere it's maybe not quite as in your face. But the actors UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT and there's so much longing and SO much implication. After a while, everyone basically just treats the main couple as a couple even thought it's never talked about.

I mean episode one there's Only One Bed and at the end of their first meeting Ruan Nanzhu gives Lin Quishi a RING. I mean, the flirting is also BLATANT. I also just find this a really romantic show, despite the Not Talking About It thing.

Is it a Happy Ending?

So, It's Complicated. I'm trying not to spoil anything and this show is pretty easy to have spoiled for you. There's definitely a good bit of tragedy in this show in general. Characters die and it's really sad. Like, this is a plot with stakes and if no one we liked ever died, it wouldn't be the same.

I will say I consider this show to have a happy ending, but you do go through some pain first. Essentially the main couple does have a separation, but there is a reunion before the end. There's also a scene that will give Guardian fans fucking PTSD, but the show does a fix-it on its own, okay? I do feel that I have to warn for that, though.

Where can I watch it?

The show is legally available on Viki with a subscription. Obviously there are other ways to find it as well, and links went around before it was picked up by Viki so check tags if you need those.

I really hope this encourages some people to watch this show, as it's really well made and a great time. It's one of a very small number of danmei adaptations we've gotten, but a lot less people have watched it since it's modern and had a weird release. Honestly, it's well written and acted and filmed and you should give it a shot.

(All gifs by @ruanbaijie, thank you very much for allowing me to use them. Check out their blog, there's such gorgeous stuff there!)

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 76 (A Happy Harvestfest With One Greedy Little Genius)

Despite their busy schedules with work, Heather and Conrad hosted most of her family in Brindleton Bay for Harvestfest dinner. Ash would start school soon, and Heather could scarcely believe how fast time had gone. It seemed only yesterday she brought him home from the hospital in Henford where he was born.

Heavily pregnant herself, Heather's sister Holly spent most of the night napping in the upstairs guestroom, while her husband Kris and daughter Tetra hid out in the bathroom when the number of strange people made the infant uncomfortable. But otherwise the house was full of love and celebration, just as Harvestfest was meant to be.

Everyone ate so much there were no turkey leftovers! And though Heather was an incredible chef who had mastered gourmet cooking in their quest for ambrosia, Conrad stepped up to make this year's grand meal. Not only would it help him with his own cooking skill in their quest, it let very-pregnant Heather rest and enjoy the day with her family.

By the time everyone left, they were exhausted but content that nothing had spontaneously caught fire this time, unlike their last Spooky Day party.

A few weeks after his birthday, Ash lost his first tooth. A little genius with perhaps a hint of Landgraab greed, he was so excited for the Tooth Fairy's visit, Heather worried he'd try to pull the rest of his teeth before they were ready to fall out!

"Are you going to put that tooth under your pillow tonight?" asked Conrad.

Ash shook his head. "No, I'm gonna save it and take it to Daddy's! He told me when he was a kid, his Tooth Fairy gave him ten whole simoleons - per tooth!" Heather and Conrad exchanged wry looks. "With inflation, who knows how rich she is now!"

Conrad laughed as Heather balked. "How do you know about inflation? You're five."

"Gramma Nancy taught me about inflation," he said with a shrug. "She said when I run the company one day, I'll have to know a lot."

Heather forced a smile, but later that night she texted Malcolm.

So this is weird. I heard your Tooth Fairy got caught in the last recession and the going rate for our son's teeth is still ten simoleons.

Malcolm: ...Did he bring up inflation?

Ten! (Which is still outrageous) No more! And don't let your mother make him feel like he has to run Landgraab Corp. one day!

Malcolm: Alright, I'll tell him. I swear.

And your mother...?

He didn't respond. Even if Malcolm couldn't or wouldn't pick this battle with his mother, Heather wanted her son to work harder for whatever he wanted in life than his father ever had. She wanted him to understand responsibility despite the privileges he'd been born into.

He took out the trash, cleaned the litter boxes, fed the animals - even the beetles in the insect farm, and always did his homework. He even loved to help Conrad rake the leaves as long as he could jump and play in them when they were done!

Just as outgoing as he was as a toddler, he spent as much time as he could with his friends. He loved playing on the pirate ship by the wharf with Scotti Holiday, whose parents, Summer and Travis, had befriended Heather over numerous trips to the vet with the Holidays' dog, Kona.

"Be glad there's only going to be one at home," Scotti said. "Mateo is annoying and all Courtney does is make messes." She was about a year older than Ash. Even though he was a genius, he thought six-year-old Scotti knew more about life than he ever could.

"I'll have another one soon too, but that brother or sister will live in San Myshuno with my dad."

"Do you see your dad a lot?"

Ash shrugged. "Not as much as you see yours. I see Conrad all the time, though."

"But Detective Gordon's not even your stepdad. He can't even discipline you when you do something bad."

"I don't really do bad things..."

Scotti laughed. "You're so funny, Ash Landgraab."

Even as Heather and Conrad marveled at how fast Ash had grown, the days passed at a snail's pace as they waited for his little brother or sister to be born. ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 1 Summary | Gen 1 Start

NOTE: The pose before the cut is from the Us 3 pose pack by @katverse. I used the all-in-one version (there are 5 poses) and caught them between pose flips, but I also caught Gord breaking into the shot! So this is now one of my favourite family portraits on the walls of their home. 🥰

NOTE 2: I'm itching to post Saturday's post early. Should I do it or is Saturday fine? It's a really good episode. 👀