#then insulting a character because his looks

[rose24207]

You don’t deserve her

Summary: Lando steps in to defend a waitress being cruelly humiliated and insulted by her boss, leading to her being fired, while Lando ensures she knows she deserves better.

Genre: angst, fluff

TW: reader is being bullied and public humiliated

A/N: let me know if you recognise the character Amy ;) English is not my first language. I hope you enjoy it though! Requests are open and welcome!

Masterlist

The restaurant was buzzing with Friday night energy, packed with diners enjoying warm meals and lively conversations. In the corner, a table of familiar faces was in the middle of a rare evening together: Lando, Charles, Alex, Carlos and Rebecca. They laughed between bites, enjoying the easy camaraderie and the chance to unwind.

“Carlos, you’ve outdone yourself,” Alex said, gesturing to her empty plate. “This place is fantastic.”

Rebecca nodded in agreement. “The food is great, and the vibe is perfect.”

“See?” Carlos said with a smug grin. “I know how to pick a good restaurant.”

Lando chuckled, but his focus wasn’t entirely on the table. His gaze kept drifting toward you—a waitress moving quickly between tables with a tray balanced on one hand. Your face was drawn in a tight smile, the kind that hid the exhaustion and tension in your shoulders.

“She looks stressed,” Alex said softly, following Lando’s gaze.

Before anyone could reply, a piercing shout cut through the restaurant.

“Are you out of your mind?”

The voice, shrill and furious, silenced the entire room. Every head turned toward the counter, where Amy, the restaurant’s owner, stood with her arms crossed and a look of pure venom directed at you.

You froze, holding a notepad in your hand, your face pale. “I just wanted to—”

“You just wanted to what?” Amy snapped, her voice rising even higher. “Waste more of my time? Make this restaurant look like a joke? Because that’s exactly what you’re doing!”

Lando stiffened in his seat, his eyes narrowing as he watched the scene unfold.

“What the hell is her problem?” Carlos muttered, his easygoing demeanor replaced with a frown.

“She’s unhinged,” Rebecca said under her breath.

Amy wasn’t done. She marched toward you, her heels clicking against the floor with purpose. “How hard is it to take an order? How hard is it to use your brain for once in your miserable life?”

“I—I just wanted to double-check the allergy order for Table 3,” you stammered, your voice barely audible.

Amy threw her hands in the air, her face contorted with rage. “Double-check? Oh, how thoughtful of you. Maybe if you weren’t so incompetent, you wouldn’t need to double-check anything! Do you realize how behind we are because of you? You’re a walking disaster!”

At their table, Alex’s jaw dropped. “She’s completely crazy.”

Charles nodded, his brow furrowed. “This is way out of line.”

Lando leaned forward, his fists clenched under the table. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Amy wasn’t slowing down. Her voice grew louder, her insults sharper with each word.

“You’re an embarrassment,” Amy spat, her face inches from yours. “I don’t even know why I keep you around. You can’t take orders without screwing them up, you can’t carry plates without tripping over your own feet, and you sure as hell can’t handle even the simplest tasks without turning it into a catastrophe!”

Tears welled in your eyes, but you kept your head down, refusing to let them fall.

“Do you have any idea how many complaints I get because of you?” Amy continued, her voice dripping with venom. “Customers hate you. They don’t want to deal with your pathetic attitude or your slow service. You’re lucky I don’t fire you on the spot!”

“That’s enough,” Lando muttered, pushing back his chair.

“Don’t,” Charles said quickly, grabbing Lando’s arm.

“She’s humiliating her in front of everyone,” Lando shot back, his voice tight with anger.

Meanwhile, Amy leaned closer to you, her voice dropping to a low, menacing hiss. “You’re not just bad at your job. You’re a failure. And if you think anyone else would hire you after this, you’re delusional.”

At that, Lando stood abruptly, striding toward the counter. “Hey!” he called out, his voice ringing across the room.

Amy turned, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down. “What do you want?”

“I want you to stop screaming at her,” Lando said, his tone calm but firm.

Amy crossed her arms. “And who the hell are you to tell me how to run my business?”

“I’m someone who knows how to treat people with respect,” Lando said, his gaze steady.

Amy scoffed. “Respect? Don’t make me laugh. This girl doesn’t deserve respect. She can’t even do her job properly!”

Lando stepped closer, his voice hardening. “She’s doing her best, and all you’re doing is tearing her down. You’re not helping anyone. You’re just a bully.”

Amy’s face flushed red with anger. “You think you know how hard it is to run a business? You think you have any idea what I go through to keep this place afloat? She’s lucky to even have a job here!”

“No,” Lando said sharply. “She’s not lucky. She’s surviving, in spite of you.”

Amy let out a bitter laugh. “You don’t know anything about her. She’s useless. She’s always been useless. And if you think she’s worth defending, you’re just as stupid as she is.”

The room was deathly silent, all eyes on Lando and Amy.

“Here’s what I know,” Lando said, his voice steady and measured. “She’s been running around all night, trying to keep up, while you stand here and yell at her. She’s probably the reason half your customers haven’t walked out already. And instead of thanking her, you’re humiliating her in front of everyone.”

Amy opened her mouth to reply, but Lando cut her off.

“You don’t deserve employees like her,” he said. “And if this is how you treat people, you don’t deserve a business, either.”

Amy glared at him, her chest heaving with fury. “Get out of my restaurant,” she snarled.

Lando turned to you, his expression softening. “Come on,” he said gently. “You don’t need to stay here.”

Your eyes widened. “I—I can’t just leave,” you stammered.

“Yes, you can,” Lando said, his voice firm but kind. “You don’t owe her anything.”

Amy let out another bitter laugh. “Go ahead, leave. But don’t think for a second that you’ll find another job after this. No one wants a whiny, incompetent little—”

“Enough,” Lando snapped, his voice ringing with authority.

You hesitated, glancing between Amy and Lando. Finally, you took a deep breath and nodded.

Lando placed a reassuring hand on your back, guiding you toward the door. As you walked away, the restaurant erupted into applause, a show of support from the other diners who had witnessed the ordeal.

Outside, you finally let the tears fall, your shoulders shaking as you leaned against the wall.

“Hey,” Lando said softly, stepping in front of you. “You’re okay now. She can’t hurt you anymore.”

You looked up at him, your voice trembling. “Why did you do that?”

“Because you deserve better,” Lando said simply.

“Thank you,” you whispered.

Lando smiled back. “Anytime.”

Thank you for reading!

Taglist: @ipushhimback, @ladyoflynx, @lewishamiltonismybf, @cmleitora, @hxxi3, @same1995, @amatswimming

[clericofshadows]

Allow me to grab Garrus's racist rhetoric directly from the game files. Look how he trashes the "Cute engineer girl who dies if you sneeze on her" and the "Bounty hunter who becomes the greatest leader his people have ever known (if he doesn't die)". Very nice fellow, isn't he, this Garrus?

While Ashley has one line that's AMBIENT, mind you, not said directly to any squadmate about aliens and animals and has great operation security concerns about... checks notes... a turian who quit his job because he wants to murder people in pursuit of justice and a bounty hunter who's primarily loyal to a paycheck.

Got it. She's also completely right to distrust the council because... if you remember... ME3 has them abandoning humanity for themselves until the very end when everyone is fucked.

So where is she racist in many such cases? Perhaps one ambient line that's quite understandable and hell sounds exactly like marine/solider dialogue if she's never interacted with many aliens or been to the Citadel? And remember, Shepard can call Hanar "big stupid jellyfishes" but that's fine, because it's Shepard.

Also, Kaidan has far more depth than just three lines where his headaches are directly mentioned by him TWICE and ONCE by Chakwas. But sure, his character growth about becoming more comfortable with his biotic abilities and feeling more human is just nothing to you.

Maybe actually play these games. I could keep going but quite frankly it's insulting to see shit like this parroted around.

Ah yes, the mass effect trilogy squad members:

Cute blue scientist girl who inadvertently becomes a mafia boss

Former cop who can't WAIT to do vigilante justice but he's nice so it's hard to hate him

Bounty hunter who becomes the greatest leader his people have ever known (if he doesn't die)

Guy with psychic powers whose most interesting trait is that he gets headaches

Racist soldier lady (many such cases)

Cute engineer girl who dies if you sneeze on her

Genetically engineered super model genius

Guy with daddy issues whose most interesting trait is that he cheats on you if you romance him

Bald girl with tattoos who kills you

Unethical Science McGee but he's in denial that he feels bad about it and also he has ADHD

Basically Captain America if he was a klingon

Really Old Guy In A Profession Where Most Die Young

Lizard assassin who has a lot of flashbacks

Thief girl with barely any screentime

Hot paladin mommy who kills vampires but in space???

A bunch of computer programs in a single guy

Guy with muscles whose most interesting trait is that he's Spanish

Your ship's computer in a cool robot body (this is awesome)

Guy who went into cryo sleep during one war only to wake up in another war (this guy's life sucks ass)

[kkai-zen]

hihi ^^ can u pls write ab the bllk boys with a rlly tall reader! remember to drink water and take care of yourself ( ^ω^ )

hiii! love your request, and here’s my take on some of the bllk boys with a tall reader! thank you for being so so sweet, take care of yourself too! ♡ ‧₊˚

⤷ blue lock boys with a tall s/o!

⋆˙⟡ itoshi sae...

I feel like Sae would not care in the slightest if his s/o is tall. What he values in a partner has nothing to do with physical appearance, and much more to do with strength of character.

But regardless, he still loves admiring the length of your legs and arms, and finds your stature so elegant and picturesque. Sae’s masculinity isn’t fragile enough to be insulted by having a tall s/o, anyways.

You guys definitely make a badass couple, with your stature and Sae's countenance, and the paparazzi always has an absolute field day when they catch the two of you together.

⋆˙⟡ itoshi rin...

Rin realizes that he’s grown an appreciation for tallness after meeting you. He dislikes looking down at people when needing to talk, standing at 6’1”, so when you stand next to him for the first time without him needing to bend down, he realizes how nice it is.

In a way, it also makes Rin see you as an equal. Your height combined with your natural intellect, charm, and beauty captivates him, and he ends up falling head-over-heels for you.

You’re not ‘lukewarm’ like all the others, is what he thinks. You have a strong presence that comes from a perfect combination of strength, grace, and intelligence. You’re his equal, which makes you his perfect, ideal partner. 

⋆˙⟡ nagi seishiro...

I think Nagi would really enjoy having a tall s/o! At 6’3", he’s a giant, and he finds that constantly craning his neck downwards just to talk to someone is bothersome. Having a tall s/o makes it much easier for him to have conversations with you (and makes it easier for him to admire your pretty face).

For Nagi, it’s just naturally easier for him (the notorious sloth of a man) to interact with you because of your height, which sets the foundation for the rest of your relationship.

He also loves how his clothes fit on you! You don’t drown in them, but still manage to look cute. To him, your height only adds to your attractiveness.

⋆˙⟡ mikage reo...

Reo, canonically being into older, more mature women, is naturally drawn to your height. He sees you breeze by, absolutely stunning with your long, graceful limbs, while he’s sitting in a cafe one day, and immediately knows that he wants you to be his.

He's utterly enchanted by your confident elegance, and finds himself replaying the moment he watched you walk by over and over in his head.

He loves watching you do damn near anything, finding your height so attractive, and sometimes he’ll buy a small fortune’s worth of clothes for you to try on just to admire you. 

⋆˙⟡ michael kaiser...

Kaiser is a master at appreciating beauty and after meeting you, he’s instantly charmed. He spends the next couple hours asking his manager to track down your information, intrigued by your captivating looks that come from your statuesque figure.

He loves how easily he can spot you in tight crowds or in the stands at one of his games, and the fact that you (both physically and metaphorically) stick out to him makes him all the more drawn to you.

Kaiser sees your height as a facet of your beauty, making you that much more unique. He’s not looking for some run-of-the-mill partner, after all—just like his trademark blue rose, he finds a special beauty in you that he just can’t find anywhere else. 

[donnadiddadog]

the reaper pt 1

Summary: Y/N is a member of the Inner Circle, and there is a decision to have a suicide mission that would help win the war against Hybern - and Y/N has to take charge of it. Azriel cannot let Y/N go just like that.

Word Count: 1.9K ish

Warnings: Mentions of death and soldiers being harmed in war, slight cursing (if any tbh i don't think so). If anything is left out, let me know below!

a/n: First Person (but I use Y/N as a character, not an OC), I am going to convert this into a series cuz I have an idea (this is going to be slightly based on Nesta’s whole spiral in ACOSF in the next few parts). All credit for the prompt and the inspiration of the first half (loosely based on the story part 1) to “Farewell my love” (written by @allthehopesforlove) - you should check it out, too. It's pretty well written (sending you much love @allthehopesforlove<3). Also, the concept of the Eight is based on Manon from the TOG series! I' 'll upload the next few parts by Jan end (I have finals in two days what am I doing here????)

14th Jan 2025, Writing 3

There is no way that the war can be won without this move. That was the consensus as we stood around the replica of the battleground - Rhys was motionless as he assessed the situation and Cassian kept pacing around the tent that swayed with the wind. Mor was leaning against the chair, her injuries preventing her from standing up straight. I looked at Azriel as he stared at the map and tried to figure out.

The move was simple - a 300 soldiers in a formation that would cleave the Hybern army at the centre, at the weakest point. With the seperation of the army into fragments, the Spring, Autumn and Day Court Armies could take over the upper flank and the Winter and Dawn Court Armies taking over the lower flank; the Night Court attacks from the back to prevent anyone else from escaping. The Summer Court would join the 300 soldiers after they had seperated the army and prevent them from joining again which would turn the tide of the war against Prythian.

All 300 would most likely die. A 95% chance according to me, Cassian agreed with that figure, if not implying that the danger was higher. Feyre was watching her mate, I think she was just scared that he would choose to be the one to lead the soldiers now nicknamed the Regiment 300. The final stand.

There were arguments made in favour and against, Rhys and Cassian at each others throats, Azriel trying to calm the whole situation down. I stood there watching them all fight and try to figure it out while the clock ticked. Hybern would not stop their planning, their tactics just because we couldnt get our shit together. The other High Lords were aware of this plan, it was Beron who had assigned the final duty of choosing the Regiment 300 from the Night Court rather than any other Court. He deemed it fair - that it was us who had to shed the final blood. Meant it as an insult but it was right.

I dont remember much because it was a blur. I had slammed my fists into the table, looked them dead in the eye and explained why it couldnt be any of them. How if Morrigan rode out, she wouldnt make it ten steps before falling dead from her horse. How Feyre could not go to war because she was not trained enough yet. How Rhysand cannot go to war because he is the High Lord and his death would mean a constitutional crisis. How Cassian and Azriel cannot go to war because they had to lead the Night Courts attack with Feyre assisting. How Amren was not going to since she had to figure out the Cauldron’s final secrets. And that only left me.

I wasn't exactly a military person, like Cassian was. I was a strategist, I knew the military tactics but nothing more. I wasn't interested in the training part of it. But I was a damn good leader, people listened to me and I could hold my weight for a while in battle if it came down to it. I could do it, I had to do it. It was the only option left and I knew that I would have to do it. If only to see my family, the Inner Circle, see the sunrise day after tomorrow.

Azriel spoke almost as a whisper, “You cannot possible think that I would allow you to go and do that. To go and kill yourself.” Before Rhys could agree with him and argue with me, I looked Azriel dead in the eye and asked him to find another individual to sacrifice then. And he had stopped breathing, his mind turning. But he wouldnt accept it, his eyes betryaed that he would have rather tied me down than let me go. That is the male I know, the one who cannot bear to accept my demise. Oh Azriel, if only you knew how much I hate this decision of mine. Sweetheart, we were supposed to have a lifetime together.

Further arguments were made but I turned to Rhys and spoke to him mind to mind. He turned to me, face to face, man to man. And I reminded him of that phrase that all good monarchs were supposed to live by. I bent the knee, bowed my head and waited for him. He took a sharp breath in and spoke in his regal voice, “Y/N, you have been given command of the Regiment 300. Ride in the name of the High Lord of the Night Court and make your last stand. Defend Prythian and may the Mother be with you.” I rose and bowed to my High Lord as I turned.

I left the tent before Azriel could grab my hand, before he could see the tears drop. Cassian held him against his will and I could hear Azriel bellowing out my name, cursing the gods for letting this happen, attempting to hurt Cassian to reach me in any way, in any form. Feyre held Mor as she mumbled about this not being fair.

The decision was made, I would lead the Regiment 300 tomorrow at dawn. I had summoned the Eight - my military advisors but more than that my closest friends, we had grown up together, seen each other do things that we thought weren't possible, reaching positions and training to higher levels. My most trusted souls. Pieces of my heart each of them. They were going to join me in the suicide mission and I had to see them all one last time before dawn.

I went to my tent to prepare my armor and set my affairs in order. I told my sentry to prepare my horse and get the men together, I would address them as Commander about their suicide mission. That I would join them in their deaths would be my greatest honor. The last stand would be made. And we would win.

I remember the taste of blood in my mouth, the feeling of sweat dripping, the tightening of my hands on the spear. I remember the feeling of my horse running forward, looking to my right and my left to see my friends, my chosen few, surging forward through the mud. I remember it all.

And I remember waking up in that godforsaken tent with that male looking at me with hazel eyes full of concern and I knew what had happened. I had forsaken my soldiers, the regiment had been abandoned. I led them into war and I deserted them to die.

Slapping his arms away and throwing it off me, I ran out of the tent. Running to see that the sun was almost setting. We had set out at sunrise, it was now sunset. No, this cannot be true. Where are they? Please don't let it be true. I gasped at the sudden pain in my side, noticing that I had an injury to my left flank. The arrow hit me when we first made contact with the army.'

The battleground was barely half a kilometer away, clutching my side to prevent any bandages from falling, I ran the distance trying to see what had happened. I heard Azriel calling out to Rhys and the rest. They were alive but I didn't care about that right now, I had to check on the Eight, my regiment. It was mostly a downhill journey, with a few slips due to loose rocks. I kept my head down to not see what was ahead, I didn't want to lose hope, and I didn't want to accept what had surely happened.

I smelt it before I saw it. I didn't hear it because they were all dead with spears and arrows jutting out of their bodies. No, that is a lie - I did hear it. I listened to the vultures and crows in the sky and on the ground. Feasting. I reached the base of the slope and I looked up at the battleground. A crematorium. A graveyard. The site of my greatest failure.

And I tried catching my breath, looking at the bodies, at the mangled flesh and bone, at the blood that soaked the mud as my bare feet made contact with it, at the horses whose legs had been twisted and intestines hanging out, at the soldiers with cracked skulls, one with his leg blown off, and another completely impaled on a spear.

I couldn't feel anything, my face was numb, and my hands were numb. I was numb. I trudged along because I had found my entire regiment dead but I had to check on the Eight. I had to see their dead eyes so I could tell them that I would join them soon. That is my punishment, that is the price for this mistake. Blood will appease blood.

So I walked to the start of the bloodshed, the site where the regiment hit the Hybern army for the first time. Where I was supposed to lay dead and broken. I was the leader of that regiment, the commander who had told them that this was our last stand. Yet I was alive and they were dead. I stepped on something and I heard a crunching noise. I took a second, hyperventilating before I looked down and saw it. I saw her.

I had found what I was looking for - the Eight lay together in a small circle, almost as if they were trying to hold each other’s hands in their last moments. It seemed that they had tried to create a triangle to penetrate the defense. It had worked but it worked because they fought to the death. The rest of the regiment must have gone through breaking the army from the inside out and the move worked. The Summer Court must have shortly followed. And they didn't stop until they had won the war.

I fell onto my knees, into the mud, and I was shaking, with grief, loss, and despair. And I picked up her body to try to bring it close to mine, to try and hold her one last time. She was long gone but it seemed as if this would help, somehow reduce her pain and make it easier for her to go. I can only imagine what it was like when she had to go, how alone she felt, how betrayed and disgusted she felt that the Commander had been saved, not them.

If I could I would have saved you, I am sorry, it should have been me, I should have died. I don't deserve to live, I will join you.

I screamed those words into the air as I held her and crawled to the rest, begging for them to wake up, to not forgive me but to punish me, telling them that I would join them. That I was the betrayer, the reason for their deaths. That they should never forgive me.

I cried into the mud with their bodies next to me. My wound had already been bleeding profusely and I thought it to be poetic justice that I, too die next to them from a wound I received at the battle that they died in. Except they would die a warrior’s death and I would die a coward’s death. Right next to them.

This is what I deserve. And there was only one person to blame for this.

Azriel.

[faelorelia]

It’s more unrealistic for Will to get over Mike than for Mike to reciprocate Will’s feelings.

Why? Because this is a fictional story. In real life, it’s common for someone to have to move on from their first love, no matter how painful it is – that’s reality, and no one argues with that.

But this doesn’t apply to a fictional setting where the creators have deliberately emphasized a unique, deep bond between two characters. They’ve singled them out from the group, placed them in heartfelt, romantically coded one-on-one scenes, had them say incredibly sweet things to each other, and shown them going above and beyond for one another. On top of that, one of them has been confirmed to be in love with the other – and that person is one of the most traumatized characters in the show, someone who never seems to catch a break.

How can anyone argue that it would be good for Will to end up with a random NPC he hasn’t even interacted with yet, just to give him “someone”? What would that mean? “Poor gay boy, you can’t have the love of your life, the person you sacrificed your feelings for to make him happy – that’s too good for you. Here, take this character we introduced last-minute to avoid queerbaiting allegations and prove we haven’t forgotten about you.” Is that really what people want for Will? For him to not be rewarded for everything he’s endured?

I’m not claiming to know what the writers have planned or how the show will end. But if they give Will a last-minute love interest just to avoid leaving him single, it will be a complete disservice to his character and an insult to fans who resonate with his experiences.

And it’s not like it’s clear that Mike doesn’t feel the same. In fact, there are countless moments where Mike looks just as in love with Will as Will is with him. Here are just a few examples.

There are also moments of Mike acting “weird” that don’t add up when considered together:

• His lack of response to El’s kiss at the end of S3, along with how he seemed distant and not fully invested during their S4 reunion and their Rink-O-Mania “date”.

• His inability to say “I love you” to El, and his visible struggle with the topic throughout S4, suggesting there’s more to it than meets the eye.

• His inability to balance his relationships with El and Will.

• His constant feelings of inferiority with El, contrasted with how uplifted and himself he feels with Will.

• Him clearly viewing Will differently from his other friends – saying things with romantic undertones, acting differently with him (like one might act with their love interest). And yes, he’s looked at Will’s lips a few times (more than Will has).

To dismiss the possibility of Byler and get mad at those who connect these dots is ignorant and narrow-minded. To call us crazy and delusional is disrespectful. And to claim that “Stranger Things” – a show about nerds and outcasts – would never give us a touching gay love story because it’s “too mainstream” is to completely misunderstand its themes and core message.

[maxdibert]

1- A classist excuse that ignores the social and economic conditions of a person in a situation of vulnerability and danger of social exclusion. The typical discourse comparable to that used by the neoliberal right to say that “whoever is poor is because they want to be.” You blatantly disregard all the material conditions surrounding a person from an extremely poor environment with no family support, only to find themselves in a school environment where they are constantly persecuted and harassed. You also overlook what it means to be embraced by a specific group of people promising to help them out of the misery if they follow them. Basically, you disregard all the international analyses and statistics linking young people at risk of exclusion as prime targets for sectarian and far-right political groups precisely because of their social conditions. But well, one can overcome classism too, especially when one reads books and not just fanfics and Tumblr posts.

2- He called Petunia a Muggle in a derogatory way after Petunia insulted him first for being poor. Lily basically ignored him when he shared his concerns about his group of bullies and even justified them. And no, an 11-year-old child raised in a Muggle neighborhood is not a DE from the start; he is simply someone who sees joining a particular house as an opportunity to leave his past behind. Villainizing that is, once again, internalized classism, but okay.

3- In fact, it is canon that he did not kill anyone. When Dumbledore talks about saving Draco’s soul, Severus retorts by asking if his soul is worth nothing. That is narratively designed to let the reader know that Severus did not commit such crimes during the war, otherwise his soul would already be condemned. Read the damn books and stop with the fanfics.

Moreover, yes, he is pardoned. And he is pardoned because any criminal who belongs to an organization but then actively collaborates with law enforcement to dismantle that organization, and provides crucial information to stop their plans, is usually pardoned for collaboration. You would know this if you didn’t live in the fantasy world of cheap fanfiction.

4- No, the reason was Voldemort as the murderer and Wormtail as an accomplice for betrayal. Severus warned Dumbledore months before the tragedy that the Potters were foolish to believe Sirius when he suspected Remus was the traitor, but that was their decision. Anyway, this does not negate the fact that, indeed, without Snape, it would have been literally impossible to defeat Voldemort, nor that he was the most relevant and competent agent of the Order, nor that thanks to him, Harry survived year after year. This is part of the books, and if it bothers you, tough luck.

5 and 6- What the colleague was trying to tell you is that double agents need to maintain a cover, and his cover was making it clear that he was still loyal to Voldemort despite working under Dumbledore’s leadership. In fact, in GoF, Voldemort himself considers Severus a traitor, so obviously, if he had known that, besides avoiding Azkaban, Severus was being friendly with Gryffindor kids, he would have hit him with an Avada the moment he saw him. Part of Severus’s survival method and having a convincing cover was indeed acting like a jerk to anyone who wasn’t a DE puppy. But given that you can’t follow a simple narrative, it’s not surprising you didn’t understand it. In fact, I have the feeling you probably still won’t understand it. Maybe you need drawings or perhaps to see this in one of those fanfics with OCs named after canon characters on AO3, because apparently, that’s the only way some of you can process messages.

And now, if all you’re going to do is keep throwing dirt on the most complex character of his generation, someone who came from a poor background and was marginalized for his appearance and poverty by a bunch of rich, white, aristocratic kids, I would recommend you save your social justice warrior posts for your friends because honestly, it’s embarrassing that some of you pretend to be progressive lovers of minorities when your fanaticism is based on whitewashing rich bully kids and justifying their abuse and mistreatment of a classmate in a socially and economically inferior position.

And yes, Severus was ugly, but I find it quite funny that you say this while claiming to be part of a fandom that advocates for inclusion. Are we adding body shaming to the classism and victim blaming? It seems so. Honestly, what a lousy education you must have had; maybe you have more in common with those DEs than Snape himself.

Severus Snape is an ugly loser who pushed away the only person he truly loved because he hated himself so damn much that when he was put in the most humiliating situation of his life his first reaction was anger and hatred. And honestly. I feel that. Still doesn’t justify being a racist piece of shit who signed up to a terror organisation the first opportunity he got and bullied literal kids for a living for over a decade. Sorry

[hurlumerlu]

i feel like i’m missing something about the ashtray that you’re seeing, so i must ask, what do you find so fascinating about it?

Well this is probably going to end up being a bit embarassing for me, but no, I don't think you're missing anything about the ashtray. I think it's meant to add just a touch of unease and not much else.

The reason I'm so obsessed with it - my neuroses aside - is because of how gratuitous it feels.

As a transition shot (which I'm using to mean "first shot we get to signify we cut from one scene to another", my apologies if it's not the right technical term) it's kind of a jarring one: a simple, abrupt cut from a relatively colorful shot of Kant in his home to this close up of an object in predominently dark and sepia tones. It's also not the most informative one.

All the clues as to where we are (the computer, the notebook, the chair, the lamp) are background things, out of focus. The one thing that is in focus is something that's never really been brought to our attention: yes, the captain is the only character we've seen smoking so far, and yes, the ashtray is technically present in his office when we're introduced to him, but I had to look for it to find it and would have never noticed it otherwise:

So we've got all those rather discreet, almost subliminal informations about our location, and smack in the middle of it the figure of a naked woman tits up, laying under one of tv's most beloved phallic symbols, and it's just... why? Why put that shot in? What's the point? They very well could have just put a shot of the office through one of its doors, they even did it in the cut version.

(informative, very easy to read, but does not set any particular tone)

But they didn't want to, so it has to be purposeful. My thoughts on its purpose below. It turns into me trying to analyse the captain and Kant's relationship, so it gets kinda long, and just as a heads-up, I discuss sexual coercion down the line.

So, like I said in the begining of my post, I think it's meant to add just a touch of unease and not much else. I stand by it, but I am very interested in that unease. Frankly, even if it was the most tasteful sculpture of a bare lady I had ever seen, I would still question its presence in Christ's office (where he works as a police captain.) But it's pretty far from tasteful, isn't it? Regardless of aesthetic considerations (I think it's fugly), it's an ashtray. The captain stubs his cigarettes and drops their ashes on the figure of an arched, naked body. There's inarguarbly an element of sleaze to that choice of prop, or as my wife would put it "yeah, it's here to tell us that cap's kind of a creep."

And it's not the first time the subtext got sleazy around these two either. They had one of their talk in a bathhouse (probably a universal spot for gay hookups, but certifiably a thai spot for gay hookups) in a steam room (even if there wasn't a long history or eroticising those places, Style almost jerked off/blew Fadel in one last episode). Of course, it's also an hommage to spy stories, spies sure love their saunas, but I don't believe it's only that. Because 1/again, that FadelStyle scene one episode prior. 2/I will not do JoJo Tichakorn Phukhaotong the insult of implying he does not know his gay porn and 3/

they didn't have to touch. They could have exchanged informations and gone their separate ways without touching even once. If they had to touch it could have been a hand on the shoulder or a handshake. (That's what I thought would happen! When we got a glimpse of that scene in the trailer, and I wrote my very first fic for this fandom, I genuinely thought the scene would only be an hommage to spy stories, and that all the potential sleaziness I was seeing there was just, well, me being me. I wrote the fic because I thought the show wouldn't go there!) But instead we got the captain following Kant to a bathhouse, the both of them meeting in a sweat room (something made explicitely sexual in the previous episode), Christ telling Kant he has to "up his game" and to not "tell anyone about this" and then slapping his thigh in a manner very reminiscent of another thigh grab we saw in episode 2, this one definitely sensual.

I'm calling that subtext, and I'd say whoever did the cut for the tv version agreed with me, since they completely removed that damn ashtray. Now, it could simply be a matter of female-presenting-nipples, but I'm willing to bet the thigh grab was also cut (if I'm wrong, feel free to point and laugh). EDIT: @deliriousblue checked, and I was in fact wrong! They kept the thigh slap. I don't think it detracts from my point too much, though, as it doesn't negate anything I said before about sexual subtext/coding. (but If anything, it makes the switch from ashtray close-up to wide office shot stands out even more)

So there's something sexual lurking in the outskirt of Kant & Christ's relationship. It's implied, it's light, but it's there.

I think part of the purpose is just a little playful nod to porn clichés, but I would argue that there's a bit more to it, because Kant and the captain's relationship actually has a very clear sexual component.

Not in that I think they fucked (in canon. i don't think they fucked in canon. i do think it should be explored in fics.), but the plain fact is that Christ is whoring Kant out. It probably didn't start that way, the begining of their partnership was probably more "you have names and contacts and I want them" but how could it stay like that? Once Kant gave all the name he already had, once the captain started to assign him to cases he had no previous contacts with, no point of entry, do we really believe Kant wasn't expected to exploit a sexual angle? I think the people who say Kant didn't have to make Bison fall for him are kidding themselves, and not only because there would be no story if he hadn't. Our societies are far less suspicious of the idea of a stranger suddenly getting close to you because they're hoping for sex than it is of a total stranger getting close to you with hopes of friendship. That's just how it is! You make friends in the circles you already run in, and with the general understanding that real intimacy will be slowly built overtime. Meanwhile a random hookup can have access to your bedroom the very night they met you. There's just no contest: for the kind of missions Kant seems to be sent on, with absolutely no backup or cover story or anything, seduction is pretty much the only trick up his sleeve, especially if the captain presses him for fast results like he did in the show. (not to mention that, on an almost "meta" aspect, the captain chose a young man who's Thai BLs level of conventionally attractive to do his dirty work) The captain may not have said "I need you to have sex with dangerous people", if only to have a layer of legal plausible denial, but he certainly expected it, and even if - a big if - Kant got the idea himself for expediency the first time, Christ kept placing him in situations where he would have to do that again. The captain's a pimp, the currency is intel, and the show said "you don't have to face it if you don't want to, that might be a bit much for a romcom, but we are not shying away from it." Or at least that's where my reading currently lands.

And I do think it's interesting that the two times we were reminded of this aspect of sexual coercion, it was followed first by the KantBison mutual dubcon of episode 3, and second by the captain actually bothering to look physically threatening to Kant for the very first time. Because as you pointed out in the tag under this post, the show plays super interestingly on First Kanaphan's actual height and how often Kant is dwarfed by others, but the captain almost never bothers to use his own considerable height. He sits. He lounges. When he gets up it's never into Kant's space. He can turn his back on him without fear. He doesn't threaten, he reminds. Until Kant himself threatens not just to quit but to bite back and suddenly the confrontation is physical, even though they're not touching. A reminder not just of the consequences, but of their respective place. Then it passes, and here's the nonchalance again: Christ goes back to his ashtray.

And if I may abandon sincere media analysis for just a second and be a little cheeky? Here's a picture of the captain in his sofa, knee slightly parted, Kant coming toward him. And the cigarette I called one of tv's most beloved phallic symbols?

yeah, it's pointing up.

[askhezureviews]

Thoughts on Helluva Boss s2 ep11 Mastermind?

This entire episode is very backwards and almost completely relies on circumstance to get to where it wanted to go which was wild to witness in real time

Stella is ecstatic Stolas's heart was broken by Blitz.  “He’ll finally see that imp was using him to get to the grimoire!” Stella never knew this information before. She never brought it up to Stolas, even though it would have been one of the most solid arguments for why Stolas shouldn't have slept with Blitz, because it was true. This was never shown to the audience.

Andrealphus says Stella "is stupid for not bringing this up earlier, she's lucky she's hot." 1. Incest , why was this necessary 2. Stella never had this information, using it now to make her look like a dumb bimbo continues to insult and belittle her character 3. "You're lucky you're hot" continues to insult and belittle her character as well, because Stella's entire purpose was to produce a child; poking fun at her attractiveness as the only redeeming quality of hers in any way shape or form is, disappointing, to say the least, if not gross disrespect to a woman character IMP is arrested for breaking the law. They try to leave in the van. I think the writers forgot they gave Blitz an asmodean crystal. They could have easily escaped and actually have saved most of their office supplies- hiding out in the human world until things blow over.

Strangely, Andrealphus tries to pin all the blame of divorce & grimoire scandal onto Blitz... all for the sake of drawing Stolas out to confess in the trial himself. Which doesn't make sense. 1. They were supposed to blame everything on Stolas to gain rights to his money, power, and artifacts. Blaming the imp gains them nothing, they had no intention of manipulating Stolas into staying with Stella 2. They didn't bother inviting Stolas to the trial, so Stolas has no clue any of this is going on to even show up like they want. 3. Stolas and Blitz aren't on good terms. Stolas realized Blitz doesn't care about him and is ready to try something new after going to Verosika's party. Blitz has no need of Stolas now that he has a crystal.

4.Blitz could have blamed it on Stolas, instead he takes the blame. However, instead of explaining he only wanted to use it for his business, he claims he wanted to use it to take down the upperclass rulers(?????) which comes out of no where, I don't even know how you could use the book for that 4. Satan suddenly decides to broadcast the trial's execution live, in which Stolas just so happens to see as he's watching TV, and rushes to the courtroom to come take blame. The entire outcome of this trial is hinged on a GAMBLE for all scenarios: For Blitz to defend Stolas- and for Stolas to defend Blitz, for Blitz to confess use of the Grimoire for nefarious purposes outside of his business, for Satan to broadcast this live, and for Stolas to be watching tv at this exact moment. This is convoluted. It is too high a risk. It doesn't make any sense, and it all could have been avoided if Andrealphus had quite simply just... invited Stolas to the trial.

A random Goetia parrot is extremely defensive of Stolas. The audience has not been introduced to him before. We have no idea how he knows Stolas or why he's bothering to defend him, because thus far it's been shown Stolas has no friends nor allies in the Goetia family.

Bee & Asmodeous's relationships with the lowerclass is brought up, but then entirely brushed over, despite the fact that in season 1 it was treated like it'd be a total scandal.

IMP acts like a loving family, when we do not have enough scenes for that to be believable. (Moxie just said "I fucking hate you so much, Blitz". Just a few min earlier)

Now that Blitz has (weirdly) confessed to using the Grimoire to take down higher society, Stolas claims if they kill Blitz, the imps will use him as a martyr and rise up. Stolas is stripped of his power for 100 years, a slap on the wrist. Weirdly, when they leave the trial, Blitz is treated like a hero and Stolas is treated like a criminal. Which doesn't make sense, because as far as the crowd is aware, Stolas merely hired Blitz in a bid for power against the upperclassman. Blitz has no business being worshipped for that, and Stolas has no business being hated for that- because aside from his classist attitude as well as merely benefitting from the oppressive system, Stolas has not done anything to warrant the hatred of Imps- especially now that he has been stripped of all his possessions and money. And equally, Blitz was just... an imp hired by a Goetia for a cover-up job, in Hell's eyes.

Octavia tries to save her father in the trial, but Stella blocks her way, and hugs her, which is the first ever "affection" , or even frankly, interaction between these two this entire series. The hug was only meant as a capture, to prevent her from leaving, but even if she had gone, knowing Octavia, she probably would have tried to pin it on Blitz to save her dad, and Stolas wouldn't let her do that.

~~~

Season 1 hyped up the threat of the scandal. They even implied that the human agents, with their camera systems, may be the ones to reveal Blitz and Stolas's relationship, their deal, as well as the fact that they've illegally shown their demon forms to humans. That is completely tossed aside and instead revealed by Stella of all characters, who has never known this information until now. And now that this show has addressed this extreme point of contention, this looming stake that hyped up the fandom for years for what was to come- the end result is a mere slap on the wrist that only affects Stolas, who, as far as we're concerned, is completely fine, because he finally gets Blitz, whom is all he's ever wanted (aside from his weird indecision about his daughter, whom I'll talk about next episode) The last real threat of season 1 is no more. All there is, is Andrealphus. (And spoiler alert for next episode: he's defeated too.) Helluva Boss now, has no outstanding stakes. No outstanding threats or problems. Season 3 will have to make stuff up on the spot with new characters to appear threatening, but if literal angel cherubs, the human american government, and Satan's government himself aren't threats to our main characters anymore, then anything new will be pathetic in comparison)

All in all, nonsensical episode that has me feeling too tired to feel the full depth of disappointment for one of the most important plot points' climax in the show, now come to end.

[blanceyblance]

A study on Lance's underrated role on the team. Pt 3

Allura pt 2

We continue with how Lance was a support to Allura after Keith left.

First we got the scene where Lance finally unlocks his sword. Allura says that Lance has "greatness in him" and Lance makes a comment about how Shiro has not noticed it.

Allura agrees that Shiro has been difficult lately, and Lance immediately forgets his own disappointment to assure Allura about Shiro's good intentions and how its normal to disagree since both are under a lot of pressure.

Again, another show of Lance putting the team's needs ( the need to have both leaders as an united front) over his own discontent, while also reassuring Allura, something she acknowledges.

Lance also has shown how much he trusts Allura's abilities in Naxzela, when he reaches to Allura because he believes she is capable of powering Voltron.

And he is right.

But he doesn't take any credit. For Lance this was Allura's doing completely, and he looks very proud of that fact.

Finally, we have this moment, after the truth of Lotor is revealed and Allura feels betrayed.

Lance is quick to check on her and Allura also easily talks to Lance about how she feels, and while Allura's distress was high here, we also have seen her push her feelings down and put on a brave face before, the fact that she can show herself vulnerable with him does show how she has grow to trust him.

She is also the one that initiates the hug.

The fact that he later scoffs at the idea that Allura may like him to Veronica does indicates that this was just a moment of him supporting a friend, his feelings for her had little to do with what he did.

At last I wanted to mention this moment in the episode where they drift through space.

In this instance, Keith and Allura start to argue but Lance doesn't say something until Keith makes a low blow and mentions Allura's relationship with Lotor and insults her death father.

This is after Lance still was carrying out Keith's orders to sound off and helped Keith calm down.

He seems angry and jumps to defend Allura.

Like I mentioned before, Lance takes Allura's safety very seriously and is constantly anxious and worried about her when she has to go through dangerous missions.

A lot may see this as Lance being "controlling" but is actually very in line with his character, Lance doesn't like to see his loved ones risking themselves.

I didn't want to add comments on s8 since they were dating at that time so one could argue their relationship played a heavy role onto Lance's actions, but Lance's relationship with Allura lets us see more of this side of Lance, a very fussy and doting one.

Aside of the feelings one may have of the ship, Lance did try to support her and kept her safe as best as he could (and as best as he understood)

It may come in another post but the AL relationship is interesting in the way the roles of "Valiant Hero" and "Doting Love Interest" is gender reversed, with Allura as kind of a Messiah figure and Lance as a moral and emotional support. I can see why many see the similitudes they have with Katara and Aang from ATLA.

Ok, kind of went out of topic here but I wanted to comment on that

Next time is Pidge's turn!

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]

[blitheringmcgonagall]

Well the problems starts with JKR…

Snape is, in canon:

More knowledgeable about Dark Magic when starting school than many 7th Years - this is largely ignored

Invents multiple dodgy/dangerous spells (eg from the vicious Sectumsempra to the dodgy Levicorpus) - this is largely ignored, including the fact that for Levicorpus to be popular means lots of people using it because they heard Snape and probably pals using it

Joins the Death Eaters of his own free will ie the people who want to murder and torture muggleborns like Lily

Was friends with wannabe Death Eaters and Lucius Malfoy - ignored, in favour of “poor Snape, he had a hard life, bless”

Tells Voldy about a prophecy regarding a random baby, meaning baby & parents now going to be killed, is ok with this and only repents when finds out it’s Lily (not concerned re her husband and baby dying; Dumbledore is disgusted - for once)

Feels guilty after Lily is killed anyway (as he should) and agrees to spy for Dumbledore (not any actual threat bro about what if anything he did in first war aside from warning of prophecy) in second wizarding war etc as we know

Is depicted as overall one of the great heroes hence Harry gives one of his poor children the name of Severus 😳

The fact his behaviour towards Lily is weird and (attempted) controlling is ignored

This is looked on as “love” by JKR

JKR attitude to minorities/marginalised communities:

I know it was 1990s etc but not much representation/all white and no attempt to look up real names eg Cho Chang; the info regarding other Wix schools across the world, including in the USA etc is insulting I am told in how little info she sought regarding local customs/culture/native peoples

Very much against idea of Wolfstar - again 1990s, publishers probably wouldn’t have allowed a gay character in a kids book because homophobia ++ but to tear down that idea completely 🤷‍♀️?

TERF views - worse and worse

Misogyny: internalised misogyny regarding female characters in the HP books (perfect mother, “not like other girls” main girl character etc)

When you take all that into account, the source material and the author…

Not surprisingly many people don’t care about Lily very much or the dynamic of that forbidden love. I hope this makes sense? (Despite her writing it as a kind of “allegory” of the Naxis etc, a lot of the content/her ideas etc doesn’t sound liberal etc? In fact by the end of the series Harry has become an embodiment of the Old Order - an Auror upholding the law, nothing much has changed aside from Voldy being dead, the house systems etc are still there, etc see CC for reference- ugh, don’t, it’s shite!)

Just need to rant a bit.

In the fictional world, Lily and James Potter fight and die in a war simply to create a safer and more accepting world. In this fictional universe they’re battling purebloods who think James should only marry a pureblood because Lily is a muggleborn and, therefore, "unacceptable." They’re fighting so that Lily has a right to wield her wand, has a right to have her family, and has a right to hold a job.

Doesn’t this struggle sound familiar with current events in our world? Yet, in OUR real world, within this very fandom, James is often separated from Lily to fulfill a romantic pairing with another Pureblood.

So in every universe, even this very real one, their characters face the same dilemma: Lily’s struggle and experience is dismissed. This dismissal erases the complex and imperative dynamic of Lily and James Potter quite literally changing the state of their world by loving each other unabashedly and loudly despite the constant threats and oppression Lily faced.

Okay done.

For now.

[li-an-nie]

The origin of Isagi’s talent and a message for us (ft. Naruhaya & Kaiser)

I've been thinking about this for quite a long while... and today I finally want to share with you my theory – or rather explanation – for Isagi Yoichi's character and where his talent for adaptability comes from, as well as our own takeaways we can draw from Kaneshiro's characters.

This is a lot, but I think it shows how powerful the story of Blue Lock really can be!

Transformation

People often like to joke about Slursagi - how this ordinary guy with the seemingly most ordinariest of parents has so far spit out some of the wildest insults on the field haha. Well, sadly I don’t have an explanation for all of that, but I do have one for his incredibly fast and exponential progress in Blue Lock. I mean, we all know by now, as Naruhaya has said before and as was kinda picked up in the most recent chapters – it's his innate aptitude for adaptability, learning and change. Destroying yourself and then rebuilding your best version. Abandoning everything else and thinking of yourself as just a means to an end. While everyone else in Blue Lock had good enough soccer skills to manage just fine on their own so far, this is the method Isagi had to use in order to keep up with all the other players.

(see Ch. 53)

The question is just, where did this amazing talent come from? Is this a learned skill or a mutation, as Ego talked about? Is it nurture or nature?

If we look at it, the other guys in Blue Lock have all these sad backstories, traumas and toxic family relationships and whatnot. Yet Isagi has come so far, despite his ordinary background. Or rather... because of it. Or rather... only someone with a background like him could actually pull this off..! Why? Because Isagi has something that many of us don’t – unconditional love and support.

Again, this is just my own interpretation, but think about the term ‘destroying yourself’ first – what the hell does that even mean (if we ignore the edginess in that statement)?

(This is going to get super abstract, and even I don’t 100% know what I’m talking about, but hear me out first.)

It can mean so much – destroying your personality, your preconceptions of the world or a field, your prejudices, your obsessions, your pride, your fears, your regrets, basically anything that is capable of holding you back. Most people can’t simply do that. Naruhaya couldn’t. We all have inhibitions about certain things, no matter how hard we try, it often feels impossible to let go of certain thoughts and emotions. We're tethered to the past, afraid of losing our ‘self’ we’ve built in the process. There’s always a fear – if we fail, if we slip up, we might genuinely end up with nothing but our own ruin and failures, and that’s why we can never really go 100% of the way.

But Isagi can.

(see Ch. 55)

Origin

Isagi grew up in an ordinary household. But I'd say his family, his parents are actually far from ordinary.

We see it in the spin-off novel first, where Isagi’s incredible spatial awareness was apparent from a young age, making him very timid and much like a scaredy-cat in the beginning. But instead of scolding or condemning him, his parents always tried to understand and support him. And the same applied when Isagi first expressed his desire for a soccer ball.

(see BL Spin-Off - Isagi Yoichi Ch.2)

It doesn't matter if he's a crybaby, as long as he grows up healthy. For the first time, their timid, only son showed them what he wanted to do with his own will. That alone was enough to satisfy them completely.

With that out the way, this scene you probably remember from the manga is more than enough to illustrate everything (Ch. 152).

"You’re still our son, whether you’re special or average. What makes me happy is that you’re doing what you want, and giving your best at it."

"Whether you win or lose, no matter what… we’ll always be there for you, Yocchan."

"So live your life as you want."

Jesus Christ. If that’s not the most loving and supportive parents in the world, then what is?

Isagi’s parents have simply no expectations of him. They love and support him so unconditionally. They encourage and adore him, and they will always think of him their precious son, no matter if he wins or loses, if he chooses to live an average person’s life or risk everything to become the best striker in the world. Isagi knows this, and he grew up like this, he grew up with a certainty that no matter what you will still be loved. That’s why he can sacrifice everything of himself – because ultimately, under that everything is something that will never leave, and this certainty is what enables him to push so far in the first place. He developed a mindset that could push itself to its limits, and it directly impacted not only his life decisions but his evolution on the soccer field as well.

(see Ch. 55)

Naruhaya, on the other hand, had the same talent for adaptability, but he wasn't able to go as far as Isagi. Because unlike Isagi, there were things he had to protect, the stakes were too high – his sisters, and their precarious financial situation. Even though a dire situation like this should enable him to push himself even further, that stake is also exactly what held him back in the end. In his case, it matters so much whether he wins or loses. When it starts to matter, you ultimately become afraid of what will happen if you do lose, and for him that meant so much more than just the end of his dreams. Isn’t it natural to feel more under stress when the stakes are higher?

Opposites

So because of this foundation that Isagi has, he is different than the rest. This would kind of speak against the assumption I had at the beginning of Blue Lock, that his ordinariness is meant to represent all of us. With basically the message that anyone can evolve and transform themselves for the better, just like Isagi. But to be honest that was already thrown out of the window through the spin-off, where you see that Isagi was already gifted as a child. And I’m not even sure if this was supposed to be Kaneshiro’s intended takeaway to begin with, but there’s another way this message can fit together. The missing piece lies in Kaiser.

Because yeah, we all saw what Isagi realized in Ch. 282 was basically following the same thing Kaiser did 20 chapters before (discard everything but your original ego).

If we take into account what we know Isagi, it becomes all the more heartbreaking and ironic when we actually see Kaiser do the same type of evolution in Ch. 262 for the first time – I quote, “past achievements, pride, everything he ever won”, literally the joy he felt about becoming human, he was willing to destroy and throw it all away, he became zero, despite knowing that if he fails that’s all there would be left – zero.

(see Ch. 262)

He’s always had zero, and the soccer ball is the first thing he ever truly ‘gains’. After his career takes off, he slowly acquired more and more, fame, money, achievements, you name it. This would be the first time he possesses so much, but he doesn’t know the pain of losing something yet, because he never had anything before to begin with. Kaiser built himself a high mountain out of things he never had, but then was willing to risk the pain of losing everything and roll back down into that pit of nothing again, all for the sake of his goal. If that's not strength, then what is?

And it’s also a direct contrast to Isagi.

Isagi and Kaiser are opposites, they’re extremes coming from completely opposite worlds and family backgrounds. And yet they are also exactly the same, because they had the same strengths and resolves and were able to undergo the same kind of evolution. One has all the love and one has none of it, one never questioned being human and one never believed to be one, yet they both were able to discard everything of themselves and rebuild a better version – all for the sake of their goals.

Takeaway

So coming back to the message, how does that apply to us, the average person? Isagi and Kaiser represent a spectrum, and if you ever feel stuck somewhere in life, then remember – you are somewhere in between those two worlds. Doesn't that mean that you're capable of the same kind of change too? I also don’t think it matters whether you’re a genius or talented learner, because in real life there’s no clear line between those things anyway. Every one of us excels at something and every one of us has to learn and adapt in other areas. But what Blue Lock ultimately shows, is that no matter what background, age or ambition, in the end, the thing that can push us forward the most is our own dreams and ego. We are all capable of change.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk!

[divorcedwife]

hi! i was wondering what exactly you mean by characters that are kind on purpose? i have an idea but im curious about the details. could you give some examples?

i was also wondering how you like the characters in tevinter nights compared to how you like them in game, just your opinion on them. oh and did you read the book before you played the game or the other way around?

oh of course!! i meant characters who are extremely kind and selfless and never take things personally, but are written this nicely on purpose, to make a point. like the idiot in dostoevsky's book - the prince is kind and sweet and doesn't hold a grudge, he's disarmingly sincere and always compassionate, he has great insight into other people and why they behave the way they do. and it's on purpose in that this makes him extremely singular, a mystery to other people, cause every other character is held back by social conventions or pragmatic desires or cruel impulsions, and the prince simply doesn't have those. i think this idea also applies to hareton in wuthering heights to some level, he's not saint like and doesn't talk people through their issues, but he is patient and willing to endure cruelty, to take violence inward and not look for revenge. everyone else is thinking about revenge and who they can torment as proxy for revenge (like heathcliff taking revenge on hindley by mistreating hareton, little cathy is mean to hareton because heathcliff makes her miserable) but he is willing to defend little cathy from heathcliff and to defend heathcliff from little cathy, even thought that puts him at risk. he's very selfless in a book where everyone else is pretty selfish, so it stands out

i really love both of these characters, i just don't like it if someone is meant to be a normal regular person but they're a saint in social interactions anyway, or if everyone is also like that - i dont remember for sure what prompted me to make that post in the first place but i was probably vaguing veilguard, i imagine. that's just my personal bias but i cant imagine someone insulting me to my face and responding by trying to coach them through their feelings, and it doesn't feel like a natural human response to me, even less so when everyone else is also like that. i wouldn't mind kindness if there was one character who was a ray of sunshine and always selfless, but we have TOO much sunshine in this beautiful guard of the veil for it to feel like a trait specific to anyone

i read tevinter nights after playing dav! i went in dav with zero info on the companions aside from very very basic things, like i saw some gifs. that's about it i ended up not finishing tevinter nights because of the eight little talons story - i disliked that one SO thoroughly that i needed a break after. but that's so weird, because i only realized recently that the author for that also wrote the lucanis story that i really enjoyed?? so idk what happened there, i don't get why courtney woods would do that to me. i hesitate to call anything objectively bad, but i found that story painfully sexist in how it handled the characters of teia and viago, and also not very good as a murder mystery (i guessed the killer based on the fact that the character spoke ominously and had otherwise nothing to do). i liked teia and viago way more before i read this, i will never look at them the same again </3

but i did still like the lucanis story, and it has made me sympathize with illario way more lol. it's a shame he's written with zero subtlety in the game, because i do like their dynamic in this one! if i had to help my cousin on a special mission and he kept changing objectives and getting us in danger by being too kind and sweet, i would also want him mega dead tbh. i'd think about it at least. looking back though, i think the issues with lucanis do start in this story ; in that he's an assassin with a moral code who doesn't kill innocent witnesses and will draw out a killing to make the target suffer more - i think that's 1) unprofessional 2) contradictory? for example, in this story, he kills a bunch of guards. were they all guilty? to the level of deserving death? i wouldn't think so. the idea that someone can be a good & moral assassin who only kills bad guys is a total dead end, it's not possible. especially if he's not a vigilante, but a hired mercenary. it shows in his banter in dav, his sense of morality made him sound more deluded and sinister to me than if he'd said "i kill people for money, whatever" i still think this story is fun in itself, and i enjoyed it. i think this contradiction in lucanis could have been interesting if it had been on purpose and explored in the game, but i think the writers really thought they found the loophole to have an assassin who is morally unquestionable....... too bad i liked neve's story, i thought her bitterness and the way she assumes the worst outcomes and the worst of everyone, but still never gives up, that was fun. if neve was written by the same person who wrote the story (and i think so?), then she was written by the same woman who wrote evka, which i think is amazing because i thought multiple times that they were pretty similar, but i like how it works for evka more. i think it's because evka is balanced by antoine, the optimist to her pessimism, who knows her deeply and allows her to show a softer side without it feeling jarring or contradictory like it did for me with neve

i also liked the first story, the one that had strife, thought i felt VERY unprepared for the first named character in the book to be extremely elf racist. it's not bad, it's definitely on purpose, it's just that since you never see anything like that in da:v, i didn't think it would be on the table. i liked the action scenes and the little twists and reveals, which i think may what weekes is best at writing tbh... my favorite dragon age book i read is probably still the masked empire, and i remember liking that about it, the action and the suspense and the twists

i like the story with antoine and evka, who are great and i love that we get to see them before they fall in love. i think this story benefits from the fact that i know they will come back later and their relationship will grow - on its own, i probably would have found it just ok, but the book and game feel very complementary and work together well in my opinion :-)

other stories have already slipped out of my mind for the most part, i just remember liking the one with emmrich and really disliking the one with dorian. maybe i'll finish it at some point, there probably arent that many stories left anyway... just for completion's sake

[enemiestolovershoe]

Fighting the Truth

Chris Sturniolo x enemy!reader

Summary: Chris and Y/N have fought for years, but after another heated argument, their feelings change, leading to unexpected love and a complicated new beginning.

Words: 4.7k

Warnings: fighting, cursing, drinking, making out, let me know if I missed something

Disclaimer: While the characters in this story are inspired by real people, the events and interactions are purely fictional and not reflective of reality.

You’d known the Sturniolo triplets quite literally since the day you were born. Your moms had met in the hospital, sharing the same room as they brought you and the boys into the world. From that moment on, your lives had been intertwined, your families becoming an unshakable unit.

Growing up, you, Matt, and Nick were inseparable. As soon as you could walk, you were a team: climbing trees, building pillow forts, and getting into all kinds of trouble together. But with Chris, it was different. It had always been different.

Your first argument with him happened when you were barely old enough to form complete sentences. He’d stolen the red crayon from your hand mid-drawing, insisting that he “needed it more,” and from then on, it was like a switch had flipped. If there was something to fight over, you and Chris would find it. Toys, art supplies, video games—nothing was off-limits.

As you grew older, the arguments evolved. What started as petty squabbles turned into full-blown shouting matches. Snarky remarks became cutting insults, and any room you two occupied was guaranteed to become a battleground. Now, at 21, it felt like the fighting had reached a breaking point.

You hated it.

You hated the way Chris could get under your skin with just one look. You hated how you couldn’t stop yourself from snapping back at him, no matter how hard you tried. Most of all, you hated how your constant arguing was starting to strain your friendship with Matt and Nick. The thought of losing them because of your inability to get along with their brother kept you up at night.

You wouldn’t dare tell anyone, but the stress of it all had you crying yourself to sleep more nights than not.

And now, here you were, sitting in an airport at 5 a.m., dreading the hours-long flight to Boston for your dad’s birthday grill party. It was supposed to be a happy occasion—a family celebration. Instead, you were bracing yourself for yetanother long weekend of biting your tongue and avoiding unnecessary fights.

The airport was unusually quiet for 5 a.m., the soft hum of vending machines and the occasional overhead announcement the only sounds breaking the stillness. You sat cross-legged in an uncomfortable plastic chair, scrolling through your phone while Matt and Nick argued over snacks a few seats down. Chris was leaning against a column, staring blankly out the window at the planes on the tarmac.

It wasn’t like him to be this quiet, but you chalked it up to the early hour. No one was particularly chipper at this time of day.

“Okay, so… do I go with the peanut butter crackers or the pretzels?” Nick turned to you, holding up both options. “Help me out here.”

You barely looked up. “The pretzels. Peanut butter crackers are just sad at 5 a.m.”

“Thank you!” Nick grinned, shoving the crackers into Matt’s hand. “You’re officially outvoted, Matt.”

Matt rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smirking. “You’re both tasteless. Peanut butter crackers are elite.”

“Elite in what, choking hazards?” you shot back, earning a laugh from Nick and a mock offended gasp from Matt.

Chris hadn’t said a word, which felt… odd. Normally, he’d have jumped in with some snarky comment by now, and the two of you would be trading barbs before the conversation even had a chance to breathe. You glanced at him out of the corner of your eye, but his expression was unreadable, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.

“Alright, we’re boarding in twenty minutes,” Matt announced, checking his watch. “Everyone got everything? Chargers? Neck pillows? Emotional stability?”

“I left that at home,” you said dryly, tucking your phone into your bag.

“Shocker,” Chris muttered under his breath, just loud enough for you to hear.

There he was.

You shot him a glare, but before you could respond, Nick clapped his hands together. “Okay, truce! No fighting until we land in Boston. That’s the rule.”

“Since when?” you and Chris said in unison, both turning to Nick with identical looks of disbelief.

“Since now,” Nick said firmly. “Matt, back me up here.”

Matt shrugged. “I mean, it’d be nice if we could make it through one trip without you two trying to kill each other.”

“Fine,” you said through gritted teeth, glaring at Chris. “I’m perfectly capable of keeping the peace.”

“Same,” Chris said, matching your tone.

The four of you made your way to the gate as the boarding announcement echoed through the terminal. Chris ended up directly behind you in line, and you could feel his presence like an itch you couldn’t scratch.

When you finally found your row on the plane, you froze.

“No. No, no, no,” Chris groaned, stopping just behind you.

“What?” you asked, turning to face him.

“My seat.” He pointed to the one beside yours, his face twisted in a mix of disbelief and frustration. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“What’s the problem?” Matt asked from across the aisle, already settling into his seat.

Chris gestured dramatically between you and himself. “I’m stuck next to her for a six-hour flight. Six. Hours.”

“Oh, for god’s sake,” you snapped, shoving your bag into the overhead compartment. “Sit down and stop complaining. It’s not like either of us has a choice.”

Chris muttered something under his breath but slid into the seat next to you, his movements stiff and exaggerated as if to emphasize just how put out he was.

Nick leaned over from his seat behind you, grinning. “You two gonna hold hands and sing kumbaya now, or should we prep for turbulence in more ways than one?”

“Shut up, Nick,” you and Chris said at the same time, glaring at him.

“See? You’re already bonding,” Nick said with a laugh, retreating back into his seat.

You sighed heavily, pulling out your AirPods Max and slipping them over your ears. Maybe, just maybe, you could get through this flight without losing your mind.

The flight was tense but manageable. A few arguments broke out between you and Chris, mostly about trivial things like him invading your space or you hogging the armrest.

“Can you stop elbowing me every two seconds?” you hissed, shooting him an annoyed look as he shifted in his seat.

“Maybe if you didn’t claim the entire armrest like it’s your personal property,” Chris shot back.

“It’s called sharing, ever heard of it?”

“Not with you.”

“Children,” Matt interrupted from across the aisle, leaning over. “The flight is almost over. Can we not do this right now?”

You both huffed but fell silent, turning your attention elsewhere.

When the plane finally landed, you exhaled in relief. The four of you grabbed your bags, picked up the rental car, and began the drive to your childhood homes. The plan was to stop at your house first since the party had already begun, and the Sturniolo parents were eager to see you.

In the car, the mood was mostly light. Matt and Nick were recounting funny stories from past flights, trying to keep the energy up. But you couldn’t shake the heaviness in your chest. The constant fighting with Chris was wearing you down more than you wanted to admit. You leaned your head against the window, your eyes unfocused as the scenery blurred past.

Nick, ever perceptive, noticed your quietness and nudged you gently. “Hey, you good? What’s up?”

You shook your head, not trusting yourself to speak. The lump in your throat was already forming.

Unfortunately, Chris caught the interaction. “What now? Lost your voice?” he quipped, his tone laced with irritation.

That was the breaking point.

“Chris, just shut the fuck up once in your life. Please.” Your voice cracked as frustration bubbled over, and the car fell silent.

Matt cleared his throat awkwardly. “Okay, so… uh, let’s put on some music, yeah?” He fiddled with the radio, trying to diffuse the tension.

You stayed silent for the rest of the drive, staring out the window as tears pricked your eyes.

When you arrived at your parents’ house, the party was already in full swing. The smell of grilled food filled the air, and the sound of laughter drifted from the backyard. You plastered on a smile as you greeted your parents, giving your dad a quick hug and wishing him a happy birthday. But the tightness in your chest hadn’t gone away, and the moment you were inside, you excused yourself to the bathroom.

Locking the door behind you, you let the tears fall freely. The combination of exhaustion, frustration, and Chris’s constant jabs was too much to handle. You slid down to the floor, your knees pulled to your chest as you tried to muffle your sobs.

A soft knock at the door startled you. “It’s me, Y/N,” Nick’s voice came through, calm and gentle. “Let me in, please. I know something’s bothering you.”

You hesitated for a moment before sighing deeply and unlocking the door.

Nick opened it slowly, his face falling when he saw you curled up on the floor, tears streaming down your face. “Oh, dear, what’s wrong?” He crouched down and pulled you into a tight hug.

The dam broke.

“I don’t know why Chris hates me so fucking much,” you cried, your voice shaking. “I can’t do this fighting anymore, Nick. I’m so scared I’m going to lose you and Matt, too, if this shit keeps up.”

Nick pulled back slightly, his hands resting on your shoulders. “Y/N, listen to me. You’re not going to lose us, okay? Matt and I—we’re not going anywhere. And as for Chris…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “I know he can be a pain in the ass, but he doesn’t hate you. He really doesn’t.”

“Sure feels like it,” you muttered, wiping your eyes with the sleeve of your sweater.

Nick gave you a small smile. “You and Chris have been at each other’s throats since we were kids. But there’s more to it than just hating each other. I think you know that, too.”

You shook your head, not wanting to unpack whatever Nick was implying. “I just want it to stop, Nick. I can’t keep doing this.”

“I know.” He pulled you into another hug. “We’ll figure it out, okay? But for now, let’s get you cleaned up and back outside. Your parents missed you, and I’m pretty sure Matt’s already raided the dessert table.”

You let out a weak laugh. “Okay.”

Nick helped you to your feet and handed you a tissue from the counter. “Freshen up, and I’ll meet you out there.”

Once you’d composed yourself, you headed back to the backyard with Nick by your side. The party was in full swing, with neighbors and family chatting around the grill and kids running through the garden.

Chris’s eyes landed on you almost immediately. He noticed your red-rimmed eyes, the way your smile didn’t quite reach your eyes, and the faint tension in your shoulders. For a brief moment, his expression softened, but he didn’t say anything.

The rest of the evening passed in a haze. You had a few glasses of wine to calm your nerves, letting the alcohol take the edge off your emotions. Meanwhile, the triplets stuck to White Claws, Nick and Matt laughing as they attempted to shotgun them.

Chris, however, seemed quieter than usual, his gaze flickering to you now and then as if trying to figure out what was really going on.

The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting a golden glow across the backyard. You were sprawled out on a deck chair, sipping your who-knows-how-many-th glass of wine. The sunset was stunning, painting the sky in hues of orange, pink, and purple, but your focus was starting to blur from the alcohol coursing through your system.

Grill parties like this always had a way of loosening you up, and tonight was no different. The mix of family, nostalgia, and endless wine was a comforting escape from the tension that seemed to follow you and Chris wherever you went.

Nearby, Nick and Matt were sitting at the outdoor table with your parents, sharing stories and laughing loudly. Their contagious giggles drifted through the warm evening air, adding to the lighthearted atmosphere. Chris was off to the side, perched on the armrest of a chair with a half-empty White Claw in hand. He wasn’t completely sober anymore, either; you could tell by the slight sway in his movements and the lazy smirk that seemed permanently etched on his face.

Despite the cheerful scene, everyone had noticed you weren’t quite yourself tonight. Your usual energy was dulled, your laughter softer, and your smiles fleeting. But no one pushed you to explain—they seemed to sense that tonight wasn’t the time.

You tipped back the last sip of your wine, the familiar warmth spreading through your chest. Deciding you needed a refill, you swung your legs off the deck chair and tried to stand. Big mistake.

The world tilted beneath you, and before you could steady yourself, you stumbled forward and fell unceremoniously onto the grass.

A burst of laughter erupted from you as you lay there, and it only grew louder when Chris, of all people, joined in.

“Did you see that?” you managed to wheeze between giggles, pointing at absolutely nothing. “Hahaha, I just—” You dissolved into another fit of laughter.

Chris was laughing, too, his cheeks flushed from the alcohol. “Yeah, you fell over like a wet bag,” he slurred, his words a little too drawn out.

Nick and Matt exchanged wide-eyed glances, clearly bracing for the inevitable argument that usually followed any interaction between you and Chris. But to their surprise—and relief—it didn’t happen.

Instead, you laughed even harder, clutching your stomach. “A wet bag! That’s so—hahaha—accurate!”

Chris chuckled, taking another sip of his drink. “Glad my pain is your entertainment.”

Your mom, who had been watching from the table, raised an eyebrow. “Sweetie, are you okay?” she called, her voice tinged with amusement.

“Mom!” you yelled back, still giggling uncontrollably. “Where’s the wine?”

“In the kitchen, honey, but don’t you think you’ve had enough?” she asked, her concern evident.

You waved her off, stumbling to your feet. “Nah, I want one more, then I’m heading to bed!” You walked over to her, planting a kiss on her cheek before making your way toward the house.

As you crossed the threshold into the kitchen, you tripped over the door’s metal threshold but managed to catch yourself at the last second. “Whoops!” you giggled to yourself, continuing your unsteady journey to the counter where the wine bottles were neatly lined up.

Back outside, Nick frowned as he watched you disappear into the house. “I’m gonna go check on her,” he said, starting to rise from his seat.

Chris stopped him, placing a hand on his arm. “No, let me.”

Nick and Matt both turned to him with raised eyebrows, their expressions a mix of confusion and suspicion.

“You?” Nick asked, his tone dripping with doubt.

“Yes, me.” Chris sighed, running a hand through his hair. “She’s already pissed at me. If you go in there and she thinks you’re babysitting her, she’ll probably be even more upset.”

Nick narrowed his eyes. “Okay, but if you hurt her or upset her even more, I will literally break your face, Christopher.”

“Nicolas!” MaryLou’s voice cut through the tension, scandalized by her son’s words.

“What, Mom?” Nick said defensively, gesturing toward Chris. “They’ve been fighting for twenty years. Twenty. I’m not about to let him go in there and make things worse.”

“Oh, dear god,” your mom muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Same,” MaryLou agreed, shaking her head as if exhausted by the ongoing saga between you and Chris.

Chris rolled his eyes but didn’t respond to Nick’s threat. Instead, he set his White Claw down on the table and stood, his movements unsteady as he made his way toward the house.

You made your way to the counter where the wine bottles stood neatly arranged. Deciding to skip the usual half-glass rule, you poured your glass completely full, concentrating hard to avoid spilling. The red liquid swirled dangerously close to the rim as you steadied the bottle and placed it back on the counter.

“Perfect,” you muttered, lifting the glass to your lips for a sip. You barely had time to savor it when a voice startled you from behind.

“Hey, can we talk?” Chris’s voice broke the silence.

You jumped, spilling half the glass of wine down the front of your white top. The cold liquid seeped into the fabric, staining it a deep red as it clung to your skin.

“Are you fucking serious right now, Chris?” you snapped, your tone sharp and filled with frustration.

Chris held his hands up in surrender, his expression genuine. “Oh shit, I didn’t mean to scare you! Please don’t be mad. That wasn’t my intention.”

You groaned, setting the now-wine-slick glass on the counter before tugging your shirt over your head. “Why are you even here?” you demanded, moving to the sink to run the stained shirt under water.

Standing there in just your bra and skirt, you didn’t think twice about it. The Sturniolos had seen you in bikinis countless times over the years. This wasn’t any different, right? But Chris, on the other hand, suddenly looked... different. His eyes widened slightly before darting to the side, as if trying to respect your space.

“Uh, I—uh—wanted to talk?” he stammered, clearly nervous now.

“About what?” you asked, your words slurring slightly from the wine, but your tone carried the same sharp edge as before.

Chris shifted uncomfortably, running a hand through his hair. “Can you please just talk to me normally? This is serious.”

You turned to face him, eyebrows raised in disbelief. “Seriously?” you scoffed, rolling your eyes. “Chris, I’ve been trying to have a normal conversation with you for the last ten years, but you always find some way to insult me or start a fight. Every. Single. Time.”

Your voice rose with each word as you grew angrier, slapping the damp shirt onto the counter. Chris opened his mouth to say something, but you cut him off.

“I am so done with this shit,” you continued, your voice trembling slightly as the frustration bubbled over. “I don’t even know what your problem is with me, but I’m sick of it. I don’t want to lose Nick and Matt because you decided, for whatever reason, that you can’t stand me.”

Chris flinched at your words, his jaw tightening, but he stayed quiet.

“Grow a pair of balls and grow up already,” you snapped, your voice shaking now from a mix of anger and suppressed emotions. “I am done here.”

Your last words echoed in the kitchen, hanging heavy in the tense silence that followed. Your outburst was loud enough that you were certain everyone outside had heard it. Even the faint sound of Nick’s laughter had gone quiet.

Chris’s face was unreadable as he took a step closer, his eyes locked on yours. “Fucking shut the fuck up already,” he muttered under his breath.

Before you could even process his words, Chris leaned in, closing the distance between you. His lips crashed against yours in a deep, heated kiss, silencing any retort you might have had.

You pulled back almost instantly, your wide eyes meeting Chris’s. “What the fuck are you doing, Chris?”

Chris’s chest rose and fell as he caught his breath, his gaze intense and unwavering. “The one thing I’ve been too scared to do—and too scared to admit—for the last couple of years.”

Before you could even formulate a response, Chris leaned in again, his lips capturing yours with renewed urgency. This time, you didn’t pull away. You kissed him back, your anger and confusion melting into the background as the warmth of the moment overtook you.

The sound of laughter drifted in from outside, faint through the kitchen walls. It grounded you for a second, reminding you that your family and friends were just outside. But you shoved the thought aside, too lost in the way Chris’s hands held your face like you were something fragile and precious.

Your tongues clashed in a heated rhythm, each of you unwilling to back down, a continuation of your endless battles—but this time, it was something else entirely. Chris’s hand slid down to yours, his fingers intertwining with yours firmly as he stepped back.

“Come with me,” he said, his voice low and breathless.

You didn’t even question it. Nodding slightly, you let him lead you upstairs to your old bedroom. Chris pushed the door open with his free hand before pulling you inside and shutting it behind you.

The second the door clicked shut, Chris was on you again, his hands on your waist as he backed you against the wall. The cool surface of the wall sent a shiver down your spine, but it was nothing compared to the fire in Chris’s kiss.

It felt like hours had passed as you made out, the intensity of it all-consuming you both.

As his fingers brushed the edge of your bra, Chris broke the kiss, his lips hovering inches from yours. His voice was unsteady when he spoke, his breath mingling with yours.

“Do you have any idea what you do to me?” Chris asked, his tone laced with frustration and longing.

You blinked up at him, your thoughts still hazy from the kiss. “I don’t—Chris, what are we even doing? This doesn’t make sense—”

“Doesn’t make sense?” Chris interrupted, his forehead resting against yours. “The only thing that hasn’t made sense is me pretending like I don’t want you. I’ve spent years acting like an idiot, fighting with you just to get your attention. And yeah, I was scared—scared you’d never feel the same.”

Your heart skipped a beat as you processed his words. “So all this time... you’ve been picking fights with me because you—because you liked me?”

“Liked you?” Chris laughed softly, the sound almost self-deprecating. “No, Y/N. I didn’t just like you. I’ve been in love with you for years. I just didn’t know how to handle it.”

You stared at him, speechless, your mind racing to catch up with what he’d just admitted.

“Say something,” Chris murmured, his vulnerability showing through the cracks in his voice.

“I—” Your voice faltered as you searched for the right words. “I don’t know what to say, Chris. I never thought—I mean, I just assumed you hated me.”

Chris’s lips curled into a small, almost sad smile. “Hate you? God, no. I hated that I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I hated that every time you smiled or laughed, it made me want you even more.”

Your breath caught in your throat, your chest tightening as the weight of his confession settled over you. “Chris, I—”

Whatever you were about to say was interrupted by the sound of the door flying open.

You and Chris jumped apart like teenagers caught by a parent, both of you turning to see Matt and Nick standing in the doorway, their eyes wide with shock.

“Okay,” Matt said slowly, breaking the silence. “I did not see that one coming.”

Nick, however, didn’t look as surprised. He crossed his arms over his chest, a smirk playing on his lips. “I did,” he admitted.

“What?” Chris asked, his cheeks flushing.

Nick shrugged. “I mean, after twenty years of you two bickering like an old married couple, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. Honestly, I’m just glad you didn’t kill each other after that shouting match in the kitchen.”

“Wait, what are you two doing up here, anyway?” you asked, your voice still slightly slurred from the wine.

Nick raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Damn, girl, are you still drunk?”

“Yeah, I’m still drunk,” you admitted, your tone sharp but flustered. “Now answer my question, please.”

Nick leaned casually against the doorframe, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. “Matt and I want to play Mario Kartdownstairs in the living room. Your old Wii is still hooked up,” he explained, his tone light and teasing.

You blinked, your brain struggling to process his words through the haze of wine and adrenaline. “The Wii? That thing still works?”

“Apparently,” Matt chimed in, stepping into view. “We were going through some of the old stuff in the cabinets, and Nick found it. Figured it’d be fun to see if we’ve still got it.”

Nick’s grin widened. “I’m gonna crush all of you, just saying.”

You rolled your eyes, still pressed against the wall as you tried to gather yourself. “Uh, yeah. Sure. Give us five minutes—I need a shirt.” Your voice came out flustered and a little slurred, the weight of the situation catching up to you.

“Good idea,” Nick said with a chuckle, his gaze bouncing between you and Chris. “Wouldn’t want to scare anyone with all that... passion you’ve got going on here.”

Your face burned, and you were about to snap back when Matt clapped his hands together. “Alright, alright, let’s give them a minute. But don’t take too long, or we’re starting without you.”

The two of them turned and disappeared back down the hall, their footsteps fading as they headed toward the stairs.

The moment they were out of earshot, you let out a long breath, your back sliding against the wall until you were sitting on the floor. “Oh my God,” you muttered, burying your face in your hands.

Chris crouched down in front of you, his expression soft but uncertain. “Hey,” he said quietly, reaching out to touch your arm. “Are you okay?”

You peeked at him through your fingers, your emotions a jumble of embarrassment, frustration, and something else you couldn’t quite name. “I don’t know, Chris,” you admitted, your voice muffled. “This is just... a lot.”

Chris nodded, sitting back on his heels. “Yeah. It is. But... I meant everything I said earlier. I know I was an ass—hell, I’ve been an ass for years—but I wasn’t lying about how I feel.”

You dropped your hands, looking up at him with tired eyes. “And you think this”—you gestured between the two of you—“is going to magically fix everything? Chris, we’ve been at each other’s throats since we were kids. I don’t even know how to wrap my head around this.”

“I don’t either,” Chris admitted, his voice quiet but steady. “But I know I want to try. I don’t want to keep fighting with you, Y/N. I’m tired of pretending I don’t care when I do.”

His words hit you harder than you expected, and for a moment, you were too stunned to respond. Finally, you sighed, shaking your head. “Chris... I don’t know.”

Chris reached out, tucking a stray piece of hair behind your ear. “I’ll take ‘I don’t know’ over ‘I hate you’ any day,” he said with a small, hopeful smile.

You couldn’t help but laugh, the sound soft and a little shaky. “Okay,” you said finally. “Let’s just... see where this goes. No promises.”

Chris nodded, his smile growing. “Fair enough.”

Standing up, he extended a hand to help you to your feet. You hesitated, then took it, letting him pull you up. “Now, let’s get you a shirt before Matt and Nick start a full-blown tournament without us.”

You snorted. “Fine. But I’m still drunk, so if I lose, I’m blaming the wine.”

Chris smirked. “Deal.”

Together, the two of you rummaged through your old dresser until you found a shirt. Pulling it on quickly, you tried to ignore the way Chris’s eyes lingered on you for just a moment too long.

“Ready?” he asked, his tone casual but his expression warm.

“Yeah,” you said, brushing past him and heading toward the door. “Let’s go show those idiots who’s boss.”

As you both made your way downstairs, you couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of nervousness and excitement. Things weren’t perfect, but for the first time in years, it felt like you and Chris were on the same page.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

Taglist: @courta13 @sophand4n4

[letoscrawls]

biggest red flag in a star wars fan is when they say they can't stand ezra

[cosmics-beings]

I think another thing I like about starscream, yet hate that the fandom fails to acknowledge about starscream is that, a lot of his rotten personality and his nastiness comes from way before he meets megatron and way before he was a deception.

That’s not to say that a lot of the ways he acts doesn't mirror megatron and the mistreatment he went through. and that impacts how starscream heals, makes friends, etc., idw - like what megatron did still badly affects him and that's not something to be ignored, and it's still not fair that he doesn't get the same happiness megatron did.

But, I think that people do tend to act as if Starscream was perfect and uncorrupt before Megatron.

That's not true...starscream was also a rotten, manipulative and bad person before that. and a lot of that was in response to how he was treated and hating his own body/existence, and the caste system, etc. We see how a lot of people in transformers react to oppression and I think starscream is such an interesting case of someone who is so angry and furious at the system he was created in that he takes it out on others yet still fights for himself and only himself. It is sad, and it’s awful to see how his own existence and the caste system does destroy him, but I think its important to note and to understand to just see how oppressed people still have to fight through their own oppression and sometimes, because of that, because of the trauma they go through, turn rotten. And Starscream did terrible, sneaky, and awful things. He did shitty things to climb to the top and he hurt those around him, he hurt people he trusted him, and he was happy to be that way. No one made him evil, manipulative, or untrustworthy, he did that on his own.

I don’t like that a lot of the fandom tends to tie Starsream’s negative and problematic behavior and personality to megatron because it also takes away from a lot of growth, agency and discussion about starscream’s personality and why he is the way he is.

He wasn’t a perfect, innocent and shy person before he met megatron, or before he became a deception. He still did awful things and while becoming a deception was a way he could grow past the system that created him, he still did very much do so for power. Starscream was an ambitious yet a morally ambiguous person before megatron and he had to be to survive in his own mind. His life wasn’t perfect and happy before megatron, he was still fighting and he was still scheming to survive.

I really don’t like how people kind of take that away from him, and act like everything he does and every shitty way he acts is *because* of megatron. I know it’s not fun to have to admit that he wasn’t a good person before megatron met him, but I think it’s necessary to understand his character, and not a lot of people do. And when you don’t do that, you have people misinterpreting his character and being genuinely shocked when he does villainous things. Like for instance, sky bound starscream’s actions shock a lot of people because they don’t think that he is a villain - I remember a lot of ES critique is that earthspark starscream doesn’t need a redemption act- he just needs people to love and accept him. And I think you guys forgot that he was also a space fascist and enjoyed killing people on his own accord. And while megatron himself does impact how starscream acts and treats others - starscream still was an extremely problematic person eons before he met megatron.

I don’t think this negates just how badly Megatron’s treatment fucked him up, and made it so that it was difficult for him to form relationships even after, or find happiness. And I think that’s just something that cannot be ignored. But I also think starscream is more interesting as a character if the fandom acknowledged that he was this way before, that he wasn’t perfect or innocent, and that he reacted that way because he was unhappy with is life, his station, his caste, etc.

this also isn't a chance to come and try to excuse how megatron treated him, so pls don't do that on here.

[mr-payjay]

watching the nickel apology scene from the great bluish bakery over and over going completely insane. i could rewrite this to actually sound like nickel.