#there'd definitely be something worth saying...

[asimp4bee]

i’ve been wondering.

when bumblebee first got his voice back, would he ever struggle to pronounce some words due to having no voice box use for decades?

bro trying point something out but completely says a different word or make a weird ass noise. or even forgets he can talk and would just point

poor guy would be the laughing stock until he relearns pronunciation 🥲

I personally disagree with him being the 'laughing stock'. I don't think any of the bots would find the situation funny— especially in the context of how he lost his voice box (mainly due to Megatron). But yes, I'd agree with him struggling to relearn how to talk after years of being rendered mute and only being able to make beeping sounds equivalent to morse code.

Sure there'd be moments where they'd find it funny and maybe they'd tease Bee about it but they definitely wouldn't make him a laughing stock. Once they notice he's upset or uncomfortable about the teasing, they'd stop.

Bots like Ratchet and Optimus would definitely help Bee relearn his pronounciation again. It's a long, frustrating process but it's all worth it in the end.

[likesummerrainn]

AEW Dynamite | 10.02.24

[melon-official]

She wails as though a part of her has died.

oh man. i picked up the sidestory to @just-a-carrot's five-arc horror epic a couple days ago and i'm so glad i did. i'll probably be talking nonstop and/or drawing about it for days

there's a handful of whiteboard doodles with other characters under the cut, but rly i just wanted to pay a homage to the scene that hit me the hardest... enjoy

[hearts4golbach]

Get the Angles Right!

part 12.

pairing:

Johnnie Guilbert x Fem!Reader.

a/n:

GET EXCITED FOR KINKTOBER

proofread

warnings:

slight angst.

word count:

1.1k

your eyes fluttered open, and the feeling of another heart beating in sync with yours made you smile softly. it was early morning, and you figured you had slept for less than 7 hours. the smell of Johnnies cologne and hotel breakfast was present in the room, providing a comforting aroma. light was peeking through the blinds, slightly illuminating the dark room. you turned your gaze up at Johnnie, who was still fast asleep. his grip on you was loose, but very protective, as if he thought the boogie man was bound to get you. you giggled at the thought.

the buzzing of someone's phone caught you off guard. you gently turned your head to see it was Johnnies. you didn't mean to snoop, but it was a message from Jake. you couldn't read it from where you were laying, but the time was displayed perfectly. it was 6:57 in the morning. Jake definitely did not seem like the type to be up this early, but who were you to judge? you didn't bother getting out of the warm bed to find your phone. it wasn't like there'd be anything worth losing this moment, anyway.

you counted Johnnies breaths. 1, 2, 3, 4. they were slow and gentle and so very peaceful. you matched his breathing instinctively,  breathing in rhythm with him. 12, 13, 14.. his heartbeat was prominent, pounding against your ear as you rested your head on his bare chest. you felt pieces of hair still stuck to your head as dried sweat clung to all of your body. 27, 28, 29, 30.

Johnnies phone rang loudly, filling the room with a song that was a little too loud for the moment. of course, you had heard this ringtone before, but it was so aggravating in that moment. you felt Johnnie quickly stir awake, clearly disturbed by the loud, abrupt noise. you shut your eyes and pretended to still be asleep. you weren't too sure why that was a habit of yours. Johnnies arm moved further down your waist, holding you ever so slightly closer as he carefully leaned over you to grab his phone.

Johnnies tired, raspy voice answered, "Hello?" You couldn't hear what the person on the other side of the phone was saying. "Yeah, we'll meet you down there in, like, 45." The other person mumbled something in response before Johnnie hung up. he let out a deep sigh, gently rubbing your waist. "y/n, do you want to come to breakfast with us?" his voice was soft and comforting. You could've fallen back asleep just listening to it.

you took a deep breath and rubbed your eyes. you squinted up at Johnnie, his pretty blue eyes meeting yours. his smudged eyeliner was a large contrast compared to the color, and you couldn't help but admire him as you spoke. "Yeah." You snuggled closer to his chest. "Wish we could just stay like this all day."

he let out a low chuckle, which you could feel deep in his chest. "Me too. come take a shower with me?"

you agreed without hesitation. Johnnie tiredly climbed out of bed. you followed him to the bathroom, stumbling over your feet as a result of last night. he looked back at you, eyeing you with a mischievous smile. you wrapped your hand around his arm for stability. "What are you looking at?"

he shook his head. you rolled your eyes, a contradictory smile forming on your face. his messy raven hair and overall appearance made you smile. you wouldn't mind waking up like this every morning, especially if he was there. you wouldn't mind at all. you shook the thought away. it quickly ruined your mood, reminding you all of this was temporary.

you let out a soft sigh, sitting on the toilet seat as you watched Johnnie start the shower. he looked back at you quizzically. "You okay?"

you shrugged, trying to fake a smile. "Yeah," his eyebrows knitted together, clearly skeptical of your response.

"Talk to me. please, ma?" The nickname made your stomach do backflips. the leading look in his eyes quickly made you give in. "i know something's wrong. do you not want to go?"

you quickly shook your head. you felt bad starting this conversation. the last thing you wanted to do was ruin Johnnie's day this early. you truly didn't want to ruin it at all. "No, no. it's not that. i know i'm just a hookup, but i'm really going to fucking miss you when you leave." you hated to admit what you were truly thinking, but the truth always comes to light.

his gaze on you softened. "you're not 'just a hookup.'" he shook his head. you looked down at your feet, ashamed. you weren't sure what to think of that response. "hey, look at me." you did as he told, looking up into his watercolor eyes. "c'mere." he said softly, pulling you from your sitting position.

he began to take your clothes off for you. he was silent, thinking of how to explain his feelings for you in the correct way. truthfully, they were unexplainable.

"i think you were made for me, y/n." he blurted randomly. he began to take his clothes off as you stepped into the shower. "ever since i first saw you," he hesitated, stepping in after you. the words were on the tip of his tongue. "it just felt right. i really, really like you. i want this, i want us to work out no matter what happens."

his words made your heart jump. relief flushed your body, which was visible on your face. Johnnie noticed. he wrapped his arms around you, and you did the same in return. the warm water covered your bodies, a comforting sensation for the tense moment. he rubbed your back gently.

"it's you, y/n. and i'll make this work out. we'll figure it out, okay?" he leaned back to look at you, a smile forming on his face as you made eye contact with him. "fuck, i'll stuff you in my suitcase if i have to."

you laughed, burying your flushed face ack into his chest. "okay." you replied softly. if you said much more, you were sure you'd cry.

Johnnie had easily gotten to know you like the back of his hand. he didn't push you for a further response. your 'okay' was all he needed. the only other thing he needed was you by his side, and he had that. he felt like the luckiest guy in the world, as cheesy as it was. he knew if there was any further talk about him going home, it'd completely ruin your day if it hadn't already. he racked his brain, silently praying to the god he didn't believe in to make this work out. he had never wanted anything more.

[this-lovely-universe]

Dead Girls Walking

Chapter 1: The Basement and The Photos

TW: Child abuse and Applied SA

“Let me out, you dick!” Anastasia pounded on the door. "What the hell did I do?!"

She was confused on why her dad had even locked her in this time. She hadn't even said anything to set him off this time.

He hit the door back, making her jump and stop banging. "You'll be let out in the morning."

"You've got to be shitting me!"

She was met with silence.

She sighed, turning around to the stairs she nearly got pushed down.

He nearly broke my neck and killed me over something I don't even know I did.

She went to grab her phone, only to remember that it was on the ground of the living room

"Motherfucker...." She muttered, starting to feel around for the light switch.

She found it and started making her way down the stairs.

She coughed. There had to be enough dust to give her a lung

infection.

"Great."

The air was musty and smelt of mould. Shocking, I know.

Damn really need some Febreze in this bitch

She sighed. She definitely wasn't getting much sleep tonight.

She looked around, trying to find a sleeping bag or something. She'd doubts there'd be a good one but it was a worth a shot.

As she searched, different thoughts appeared in her head.

Would she ever get out of here? Sure, once she turned 18 she could legally leave, but where would she go?

Her grandma’s was the best option, but she lived 3 states away. How was she even going to get there?

It’s not like she could get a way out for herself. Her dad basically has her tracked, always on his leash of control.

He said it was for her safety, but Anastasia knew better.

She spotted a window. A small one, but anything was better than the smell of mould.

One issue. The window was definitely out of her reach.

"Fucks sake." She muttered. Time to pray she didn't break her ankles doing this.

She pulled the most structurally sound container to under the window, and gently stood on it for a second.

Seems good enough, I guess

She stood up on it, holding her breath.

"Don't break don't break don't break don't-" She mumbled as she fiddled with the window.

The window was built weirdly. She couldn't push it out, she had to pull it.

No wonder it smelt disgusting in here. The rain just got let in if the window was opened.

She pulled on the window. Unsurprisingly, it didn't really move.

She sighed once more, before it turned into a slight gag.

It was starting the smell like dead animal in there, and Anastasia felt sick smelling it.

She pulled harder, desperate to not smell that.

"Come on... come on!" She said with every yank. "Bitch, open!"

She managed to pull it open, tumbling backwards off the container, the container flipped with her.

"FUCK!" She hissed, the container landing about 3 inches from her face.

Well that's about three inches from an concussion

She slowly sat up, wincing slightly.

She looked down at her wrist. "Oh, that's bad..."

It was already starting to bruise.

As she stared down, a picture fluttered down into her lap. Her face paled as she saw it.

She flipped it over.

Jessica Baird. 1995

Where the hell did this come from? They made sure that everything was scrubbed from the face of the earth after the accident. Like Jessica never existed.

She let out a shaky breath as she heard the door unlock.

"Anastasia..." Her dad's voice boomed, his words drunkenly slurred.

She quickly shoved the photo in her pocket, feeling tears roll down her cheeks as she heard him walk down the stairs.

God, she hoped it would be over quickly.

***

It had been several months since that day, and Anastasia had pushed any memories of Jessica to the back of her mind.

Things had been better now. She was at camp, got adopted by a 17 year old (don't ask it's a long story) and had actually make some friends. All while she was out of her dad's grip of control.

"See you around , Cameron!" She called, having finished training with the Ares kids. Perks of having no siblings, you might say.

She walked (more like jogged) to back to her cabin. Perfect way to finish training. A long ass walk back to her cabin.

There were plenty of people around, either heading to or from people’s cabins.

It was a regular thing to see around camp. Unless it was lights out, there were always people everywhere.

When Anastasia finally arrived to her cabin, two girls were out the front.

“What’s up?” She walked up them.

“Look.” Brook pointed to the door.

“That’s a door.”

She sighed and pulled off something stuck to it. “I meant this.”

Anastasia took it from her. It was the same photo she had found in the basement that day. Along with it was a note.

BURIED AT MASON'S POINT

"Wait-"

"So, it's the same for you, right?" Finley spoke, pulling out her own photo and note. "It says they're buried were they weren't, or for me, I assume they weren't."

Brook pulled out hers as well. All three of them had the same note, BURIED AT MASON'S POINT scribbled on it.

"We asked around, mainly with Mum's other kids, but it seems we're the common denominator." Brook explained.

"These important people to you?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's my dad." Finley said.

"And my sister." Brook added.

"And this is my aunt." Anastasia sighed. "And I'm figuring they're all... you know..."

"Dead? Yeah." Brook said dryly.

"That can't be it, right? There has to be more then we're just friends that all have dead family members. Everyone here fits into that category at this point." Finley ran a hand through her hand.

Brook nodded, and Anastasia agreed. "It's way to board of a thing to pick us."

"I swear if there's a prophecy-"

"Don't. Don't even think about it." Anastasia cut Finley off.

"It's a little hard not to, Annie." Brook pointed out.

"I know. Sorry. Just-"

"It's a prophecy. And prophecy's come with sacrifices. Who knows what we could lose if there is one."

All of them fell silent. That sentence echoed in Anastasia's head. Who knows what we could lose if there is one. It was less of a what and more of a who at this point.

"Look," Finley broke the silence. "Clearly, the answers are at Mason's Point.'

"Yeah, but how on earth would we be able to leave camp?" Anastasia asked.

"We'd need a quest, which means-" Brook spoke.

"A prophecy." The other two groaned.

"Bingo." She sighed.

"Maybe we should just ignore it? It could be a trap." Brook suggested, although she didn't seem to sure of her words.

"Everything is a trap at this point..." Anastasia said quietly.

"I don't know what to do." Finley groaned.

"None of us do." Brook looked to both of them anxiously. "It's not like we have to find the answer. There's no prophecy, or quest or anything. It might just be best to ignore it for now."

Anastasia knew she had a point, and it was a point she really wanted to believe.

"Yeah." She agreed. "There's no stakes to this. Just creepy photos."

"I still think there's more to it." Finley voiced. "But, you are right about there being no oblations."

"So, just pretend this never happened?" Anastasia asked.

"What happened on the porch, stays on the porch." Finley agreed.

Brook looked at her photo. "Oh, shit. I gotta go to the infirmary." She shoved the photo and noted in her pocket. "See you later!"

"Bye!" Finley called, before turning to Anastasia. "I'm really hoping that's nothing..."

"Same here, Fin. Same here."

Notes:

Accounts/oc's mentioned:

@number-one-ares-kid

and jack's kids (You know who you are, I ain't tagging all of you)

PLEASE GIVE ME FEEDBACK I LOVE FEEDBACK, EVEN IF IT'S YOU SAYING YOU DIDN'T LIKE (IF YOU GIVE REASONS)

@arisdaughter @childofthewargod @dianedantedominic @kaiaalwayswins

@that-girl-cupid @delilah-isnt-dead-yett @daonedaonlyskh

@aria-pane @poseidons-hyperactive-kid @wine-cooper @i-am-persephones-daughter @unhinged-waterlilly

@demigod-jack-hearth @seed-of-the-pomegranate @you-know-you-want-me @istglevi-gotmesimping

@if-chaos-was-a-boy @ariathemortal @i-was-never-sane @gaygirldoodles @superbstarlightsheep

If you want to be added, removed or if I forgot to tag you, let me know :)

[oscconfessions]

i wonder what algebraliens taste like

i'd imagine depending on who/what they are they'd taste different

four most likely tastes really gamey because he most definitely is a wild animal. if we go on the headcanon that algebraliens are more animal-like than other objects, it's possible he'd taste like venison (deer), because i see him as thin and gangly but still has enough muscle on him for meat.

x is probably mostly fatty. say what you want to say, but his shape even in canon, is, for lack of a better term, rounded. it's not worth it to eat x unless you want to fry him up like chicharonnes (fried pork skins[god i am hoping i spelled that correctly i am a hopeless gringo i apologize]). otherwise if you cook him normally he'd taste like rabbit but there'd be little to no meat on this dude. personally i think of him like this because x is passive and would need a thick blubber layer (like a real life whale, the animal, no i am not calling fat people whales, even if i was i would be calling myself a whale because i AM fat fuck you) to protect himself. i mean how else does this little guy take a beating from others? additionally, i think x is really fuzzy, maybe he's like a seal??????? do people eat seals?????

2. what does two taste like. personally i think they're different from the other algebraliens in makeup- they have an affinity for cake and other sweet foods, so maybe their diet consists of sugars, not too unlike some insects. maybe they're insect-like? bee? bee. that being said, they wouldn't have too much flavor on their own. say if you fried them up like a cricket, and put some seasonings on him, you could get something that tastes good.

yes i am continuing with xfohv algebraliens.

seven and one (what we have seen of one at least) i think follows two in 'is insect' category. mayyyybe 14 is also insect? but i also don't wanna find out what 14 tastes like. i really don't.

six and nine both inexplicably taste of mint toothpaste and wintergreens respectively. that being said, i am allergic to mint toothpaste, so six is safe from being eaten by me.

8 tastes like tofu. following six and nine, idk how this would happen, but 8 probably would be good in a stew or soup. miso soup

i don't wanna find out what five tastes like. i know they're probably meaty but the purple color reminds me too much of grape flavored candies and i'd be too disgusted. also i don't think 5 has ever taken a shower

i would never eat 10. never in a million years. i like 10 wayyy too much. but if i absolutely had to guess what 10 tastes like, i think 10 is the porky-mutton contender. probably leans more towards a rack of lamb. i say this with the most absolute affection. 10 is my favorite idk why

15 tastes like 15. if we are talking fusion 15, mint overload, i am not touching it. if we are talking red 15, they taste like beef. and the number 15. you take a bite and you see the number 15 appear before your eyes before you swallow. i guess

does 3 exist? idk

i think this is the end of the algebraliens- no wait i gotta do exclamation mark who i will shorten the name to ! bc i am not typing that over and over again

! unlike 5 has a lighter lavender color. since they exist in a different universe and is much more kooky than beefydie algebraliens, i think they'd exist on a different logic. ! probably tastes whatever that juice tastes like, and i think that juice is probably really herbal tasting, with mostly floral lavender notes. what i am saying is ! tastes like if you were to eat a spa. i do not want to eat a spa.

this has been; super technical analysis of what numbers and variables and punctuation tastes like

.

[redflagshipwriter]

Reassembly 6

Masterpost is here.

Peter woke up on the library sofa that he was beginning to think of as his and hefted his bag over his shoulder.

He was doing okay. Really, he was fine. Considering that he was a minor with no resources or adults to help him, his life wasn't so bad.

Last night he'd gone to the gym early and thought about washing his dirty clothes in the shower. He hadn't, but he figured he would have to eventually. He could wear everything at least twice before it was an issue, right?

He chewed on that thought on his way to get breakfast. Today's hotel buffet had boiled eggs, which was new and exciting hotel fare. He made buttery whole grain toast and tried to calculate how many calories he was probably getting on this breakfast buffet lifestyle. ….on the good buffet days 1000 per day, at least.

There was no chance that it was enough to fuel Spider-Man. He had whole fat milk and juice to bulk it up, instead of water, but he knew it really wasn't enough.

‘Maybe I should be going to two buffets per day. They'd notice if I took a day's worth of meals from any one place, but they're open for hours.’

This place was one of the ones that had little plastic tubs of peanut butter with the peel off lid. With a guilty look over at the inattentive desk worker, Peter pocketed a couple for a snack later in the day. The only other non-refrigerated thing that looked small enough to pocket were rolls, and there weren't a ton of those. He took one.

He still had most of the cash from the wallet, but the idea of spending it seemed like a bad one. He might need it a lot more in the future.

‘I should look into food banks?’ That seemed right. There'd been a time after Uncle Ben died that Aunt May had gotten help that way.

Hopefully not for long. Maybe that potential client would hire him today. And them-

….how would they pay him? Peter put his face in his hands and breathed into his fingers for a bit. He didn't have a bank account. Could he open a bank account using only his birth certificate? Probably not! He definitely needed to figure out the social security number thing. Fast.

Peter didn't cry but it was a close thing. It was just… it was all so overwhelming. Nothing was just easy. He couldn't even just work and get paid because there were a billion steps needed before you could get money you'd earned.

Grimly, he wondered if there was something else. There was probably a way to get paid under the table, same day. Manual labor? Some kind of bottom barrel criminal stuff like smuggling or whatever it was people did with drugs?

He wouldn't mind the manual labor, except that it would be a very big problem for his under-fueled metabolism. But he probably had to choose hunger over small time crime. Didn't he? Peter bit his lip and wondered what Aunt May would say. She'd never broken the law, he was pretty sure. But she was a huge proponent of children getting to eat. Maybe she'd forgive him.

That was probably all beside the point. Peter didn’t know how to do any of that. He couldn’t survive by doing crime if he tried. He was kind of relieved to dismiss the idea that way.

‘School really might be my way out,’ Peter thought longingly. ‘If I get a scholarship and housing, that’s a ton of my problems solved right there. I’d be able to get a legit job a lot easier with an address and maybe a student ID.’

That was a longer term plan, then. For now, he had to figure out how to eat until that panned out.

Unbidden, he remembered Kon’s unused kitchen and endless credit cards.

Peter instantly felt a deep well of shame. He wasn’t going to use Kon like that. He wasn’t befriending Kon to benefit. That would be majorly messed up.

He was really looking forward to their planned hangout today, though. He didn’t feel guilty at the thought that he’d probably get to eat there if he cooked. That was normal, that was the kind of thing that friends did. It would be weirder to invite him over and not eat together.

They hadn’t exactly picked a time. Peter figured he would kill time until the library opened at 10, check his email, maybe study a little, and then head over. He didn’t want to go over there so early that Kon fed him both lunch and dinner. It had been fine last time, but it would be tacky to orchestrate that on purpose.

Social Security numbers. Peter mentally reframed the day’s mission to that. He’d check the email, sure, but rather than studying coding he was going to figure out how to get a social security number.

Well. Two. One for his real name, and one for his office workersona.

Peter cleared out of the hotel lobby when he heard an employee start to move around in the office behind the desk. He went to another hotel, got a piece of toast, fruit, and coffee, and then killed time by walking around for a couple of hours.

He wound through the morning crowds with an easy grace and enjoyed the pretense that he was one of them, a regular guy headed to work or something. It felt good to be lost in a crowd and have absolutely no one look at him like he was sticking out. He was having a terrible time but honestly, for a homeless jobless teenager, he was doing a really good job. He didn’t look weird or smell bad, and he’d figured out at least a short term survival strategy and a long term plan that he was working towards.

Oh. Peter felt a twist in his gut. He didn’t stop walking but he felt guilty about it. He probably shouldn’t be mindlessly burning energy by walking around, not when he was eating maybe half of what an average human should eat per day. Mr. Stark had put his ideal intake around 3500 calories, more if he was active. He had a lot of muscle that he really didn’t want his body to cannibalize for fuel.

…There were still a couple hours until the library opened. Peter really, really wished he at least had a library card. If he’d been able to take out a book he could sit on a bench somewhere and kill time without looking too weird. He could even go to a diner and get like, a one dollar black coffee and hang out. Since this was a fantasy, he went ahead and mentally added a cinnamon roll to the imaginary order. Wow, luxury!

Peter laughed to himself. No one looked at him, because this was New York City and a kid laughing on the sidewalk was banal.

It was a weird little goal, but it made him smile. He’d fix his life. He’d have a legal identity, and a place to sleep, and be able to go to school and work. When he got to that point he’d be able to go to a restaurant and order a cinnamon roll and not worry about anything, except how he was going to get back to his universe or whatever. You know, just the normal concerns, not survival.

He killed time in a park, watching ducks bob around and groom each other. The sunshine did something for his mood. When he felt it had been long enough he went to the library and followed through on his plan. He didn’t have any emails yet, except a notification from the job site saying that employers were looking at his profile and he could see who, for a nominal fee!

Peter deleted the email, disgruntled. Seemed kinda predatory.

He went on to learn about the social security system. Apparently they were assigned randomly, and there were multiple physical addresses that issued cards. There were more of them than he’d expected. He found one in a 3rd floor address nearby that was open from 7am to 4 pm and figured out how to get there and what the building looked like. Then he did more reading, brow furrowed, trying to figure out what to do.

It might be more secure to make it look like he was an immigrant who got a social security number assigned as an adult. If he claimed to be from out of the country, then it would be harder to research where he supposedly came from.

On the other hand, he didn’t want to lose his identity as a New Yorker. That was important to him. Peter bit his lower lip and thought it over.

Actually. You didn’t have to be born in the states to be a real New Yorker. He made up imaginary back stories for both of his IDs. The worksona was a born citizen, because Peter didn’t think that was likely to get looked into much. Since that person didn’t really exist, he was going to abandon it as soon as he didn’t need it.

His real ID for the universe was going to be from overseas. He decided that he’d been born in… Moldova.

Peter took a moment to look up Moldova to be sure it still existed in this universe. It did, and it seemed about the same. No travel restrictions to the United States, but not much economic power. It was not a common place to come from, but that fit his purposes. He didn’t want someone to ask why he didn’t speak whatever his supposed native language was.

…Peter made a mental note to look up language resources. Even if he’d supposedly emigrated at a young age, it would be more convincing if he knew at least a little. And it would be a good way to spend some time.

Huh. That was an idea. He probably couldn’t take books out of the library, but he could get a notebook and a pencil for like, 2 dollars, and take notes here. Then he’d have something to study in the hours he was outside with nothing to do. He’d look a lot less weird just sitting around if he looked like a student.

He took a minute to look up their flag and a few trivia points. Then Peter called it good enough for now and started off towards Kon’s apartment.

It would be a lie to say that it was convenient. It could have been worse, but it was far enough that Peter would have used the subway if he had the money to spend.

…He made a note to look into subway hopping. That wasn’t a real crime. It shouldn’t cost anything to use public transportation, it was literally built for public use. But right now, on the way to see a friend, seemed like a bad time to possibly get held up for a misdemeanor.

So he walked. It took him 40 minutes to get to the apartment block. He ducked into a dollar store that he passed on the way to get the notebook and pencil he had decided on, feeling good about it. His stomach grumbled when he passed the cooler with sandwiches and drinks. He ignored it as best as he could and directed his gaze elsewhere. It was easier to be hungry when there wasn’t food nearby.

Peter knocked on the door with his knuckles.

The door opened before he could call out. Kon grinned down at him and then whooshed back to let him in.

“Thanks,” he said. “Have a good day so far?”

Kon shrugged. The light caught on the metal spikes on his jacket with the movement. He turned around and walked ahead of Peter. “I was out of town ‘til this morning, sleepover with some friends,” he said.

Somehow the sight of his absurd muscles peeking out the mesh window startled a cough out of Peter, even though he’d been there when Kon modified the jacket.

“How about you?”

Peter’s brain took a moment to come online. “Uh, I was at the library this morning,” he said. At the weird look Kon gave him, he shrugged self consciously and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’m looking into college stuff,” he justified. That was really normal.

“...College, huh.” Now Kon looked uncomfortable. “You must be smart.”

Peter’s face burnt red. “In some ways,” he dodged. “Are you gonna go?”

Kon blinked at him. “I mean….” He gestured at himself with one hand. “I’m not exactly the type, am I?”

“Because you’re hot?” Peter asked, confused. What else was that gesture at his pecs supposed to illustrate?

They stared at each other. Then Kon broke out into snickers. “Because I’m not that smart,” Kon said, like it was a fact of life. “It’s just not for me.”

Kon was laughing, but Peter felt… he felt kind of angry, actually. “Who told you that?” he demanded. He curled his hands into fists in his pockets. “Why don’t you think you’re smart? Eff that. You could go to college. Maybe you should go with me,” he added impulsively. He could help Kon figure it out. Honestly, Kon probably needed help if his parents weren’t talking to him about school or a job.

“Where are you going?” Kon asked. He cocked his head to the side.

Ah. Well. “I’m not very far in the process yet, but I was thinking about Gotham U for engineering,” Peter admitted.

Kon started laughing for real. “Gotham,” he gasped. “Gotham? Me, in Gotham?”

Peter felt his shoulders hunch up. “They have a good program,” he said stiffly. He hadn’t thought Kon would laugh at him. His throat felt tight. He took a step backwards without thinking about it. Maybe this was a mistake.

Somehow Kon tuned into his mood even without looking. He held up a hand, flustered through the remnants of his snickers. “No– no, I mean, I have a friend in Gotham,” he said. “I didn’t expect you to bring that up as a possibility.”

Oh. The stiffness in his shoulders relaxed, just a bit.

“Maybe I should go,” Kon mused. “And surprise him. That would be really funny.”

Peter shrugged.

[chaifootsteps]

Media Illiteracy anon here.

Onto the dreaded episode 4... Warning for SA and all that, of course.

I would like to start by saying that by Definition I am a CSA survivor (I was sexually exploited from age 10 to 16, made to produce CP). But I don't really consider myself to be one since I am not... traumatized by it? I just don't care that it happened. So I don't think I can say much in the way the episode handles SA or even how it might trigger someone who was also exploited for the making of pornography.

That being said. Yikes. I think this episode is the best one so far, as much as it pains me to say that. It's the best paced and it sticks to one plot and the plot... has Some good moments. I really liked the scene where Valentino yells at Angel that he should get rid of Charlie and how he physically abuses him. I think that scene is The best scene in the entire show because of how terrifying it is and how well it shows the damage he causes to Angel as well as his relationships with other people.

I think that scene should've literally been it. It shows physical abuse, it shows Angel's fear, how Valentino owns him (literally) and even implies the SA to come when he says he's going to make him work all day. Overworking is already a horrible thing to put someone through, but as a sex worker there'd be a point where it's no longer enjoyable and you want to stop, which is where it then also becomes rape. That line was Terrifying and made you feel dread with just the Implications of what was gonna happen to Angel, as if This wasn't already bad enough.

Then they ruined it with that stupid song.

Now Poison is not a bad song, in my opinion. I think it sounds nice, and even looking at the lyrics (which is not something I usually focus on, due to the Illiteracy I mentioned), I don't think it's awful. But putting That over a scene where Angel Dust is getting raped On Screen is a bit Very tasteless. That whole scene was Awful, you could easily tell that whoever made it clearly had a thing for it. I'd seen the leaked clip before and that was enough for me to realize how fetishized it was, but seeing there was more was just. Augh. Do they have no shame? It's so blatantly obvious I felt like I was looking at a NSFW Twitter animation.

I kind of hated the aftermath, too. Angel going back to the hotel and drinking was good, but I hated him coming onto Husk like that and then pulling a "a nice guy like me is too good for you anyway". I feel like I had never fully realized before that the Angel and Husk thing was sexual harassment, cause you grow up with movies and shows where like. A female character coming onto a male one is just. Normal, and the result would be them getting into a relationship Anyway, so it was harder for me to recognize that it qualified as Harassment. I think Angel saying that shit made me realize it was and then it was just. Weird. Also the way the line is worded and delivered, it sounds less like that's something Angel is parroting back from what Valentino usually tells him, and more like he wholeheartedly believes it, which certainly didn't help.

Following scene I also kind of like. The bar scene. I liked that even if Husk was reluctant in going, since he doesn't like Angel, and was stalling for time so he wouldn't have to talk to him, he Still stepped in when he saw someone putting something in his drink. I think if this show was written better that could've been a way to show that even those who think they've hit rock bottom are still humans with morals at the core of their beings, and that they still have the ability to care and do good even with years worth of bad decisions and an environment that encourages depravity.

I also liked him getting him out of there and trying to care for him, in his own grumpy old man way. I liked the dark revelation that Angel knows when he's being drugged, and that he just let's it happen because he thinks it gives him some control and that if he's broken enough by this random men, Valentino will finally let him go. That was really messed up.

Then Loser Baby comes on and fucking.

Okay so, I Really like Loser Baby. It's the best show in the show so far. The instrumentals are nice, it's catchy, the lyrics are a little silly and fun, and Keith David carries it, though Blake Roman is not half bad. It's the context in which is used that makes this song just flop HARD.

I think everyone understands what the song was meant to be, and I think it doesn't do Too horribly at connecting both of their situations and how they're not alone because they have each other. It fails at everything else though, because beyond "both are owned by Overlords", Angel's and Husk's situations have Nothing to do with each other, they are Not comparable.

Also calling Angel, a rape victim, a loser is not. Good, even as lighthearted as it is. The song is "suck it up, slut", and while kind of in character for someone in Hell or as grumpy/harsh as Husk, it's still. Yikes? It minimizes the situation way too much, this is not an "Oopsie, made the wrong choices in life" moment. He's getting actually abused and that's not his fault.

Also Alastor fucked off for 7 years and all he makes Husk do now is man a bar where he does nothing all day except drink alcohol. Angel is going through the worst Alastor could've done to Husk, on a Daily Basis, and even if Alastor could be cruel, it would be extremely out of character for him to straight up Rape Husk too. Or torture him without killing him, even torture doesn't seem like something he would do, at least not to Husk specifically.

Husk's lines are tone deaf and kind of offensive, but I think they're passable since it's at least Trying to say something positive, even if they're doing it poorly. Angel's though... Again, you can just Tell someone with a fetish is writing him. I hate how he says "I've got an appetite for samplin'" and "I've got no holes left to deflower". That's super insensitive, it doesn't even feel as an Hypersexuality thing, especially that second line. It doesn't feel like it's "i love being a slut because it's reclaiming my stolen sexuality", it feels like. Shock? Value? like "i'm a big whore", and that's it. It's hard to put into words, because the message comes across in every bad possible way, I have Nothing positive to say about it.

The only good thing about Loser Baby that I like, aside from the sound of the song itself, is the little dancing bits between Husk and Angel. They're kind of cute, I like how he's trying to cheer him up by pulling him up and making him dance with him a little bit.

Augh. After that there's this bit where Husk says Angel needs to learn to respect his boundaries. I Like this scene but the context diminishes the impact it could've had by a lot. It's trying to acknowledge that Angel's sexual harassment is Bad, whether it's a trauma response or not, and that he needs to Stop. And Husk is willing to start from zero with him and become friends if they start like that.

I kind of Like that they're acknowledging that it's bad, and i Would've liked Husk telling him they can be friends if he learns to respect his boundaries but like. Do we Really want to be like that about someone who sexually harassed someone else? That they can be friends? I feel like that is a bit insensitive and offensive to victims. I myself would Not like to be friends with my abuser even if he begged on his knees to be my friend.

It's also implied that Husk and Angel end up romantically involved. If you could excuse the befriending thing, saying that maybe it's not the same since Angel never Touched Husk sexually, i still think that going and making them Lovers is harmful. A "he yanks on your ponytails because he likes you" kind of situation. I like them as friends, hate them as lovers.

Another big problem I have is Charlie. She's a cardboard cut out in her own show. She's a background character in the episode where she causes the main conflict.

She's a bit of a pushover, cause she's nice. Even with pilot Charlie I don't think she's too OOC since calling the news reporter a bitch and defending yourself against her is not really comparable to being face to face with a rapist who is actively harming your friend. She can't just kill him, sinners reform eventually, and then be would be even angrier. Not at her but at Angel, because it's his fault Charlie even got to lay a hand on him in the first place. I think it's a more complex situation than "why didn't she just kill him".

But for as complex as the situation could be, Charlie is extremely. Simple. She barely appears and it's just "I'm sorry" and it's all fixed. I feel like there could've been a bigger emphasis on Charlie's and Angel's relationship (even while still keeping Husk's involvement in it all). I also kind of hate the treatment of her? Like how when Angel says he forgives her, she Cries and is carried away by Vaggie. Idk, that scene made me a bit uncomfortable. They treated her as if she was a child and it was Weird.

I think this episode had a lot of potential to be good and fumbled the bag catastrophically. Husk and Charlie are Worse characters because of it.

That's all. I can only hope the plot twist leaks aren't true, because this story is barely salvageable and that "Rosie is actually Lilith" bullshit will just ruin my experience from how stupid it is. You can be as painfully oblivious as me and this show will still find a way to make itself as dreadful as possible. I really don't understand why so many fans are so aggressive about criticism, I think they also see the disappointing bits but are far too committed to back down and admit they were wrong, so they just double down. I liked Most of the show, even though it's mostly because i already had Some attachment, curiosity and knowledge from before. But it's not as good as it had the potential to be, nor is it the single best show to have ever existed. It's honestly sad that many people, such as myself, have to go on anon on a poor person's blog to lightly criticize the show, because they're too afraid to be harassed or sent their literal house address on a direct message.

Thank you and goodnight, Chai!

You see, this is what I get out of running this blog. You guys write up these fabulous essays taking all the words out of my mouth, and it's deeply cathartic.

Try to hang in there. Vivzie's fandom will probably never go away completely, but I really do think their reign of terror is coming to an end.

[batsplat]

casey saw this as patronizing or whatever bc he grew up pretty isolated and physical affection was not something he was used to past a certain point in childhood……

https://www.tumblr.com/batsplat/764372520458715136/qatar-2007-cheek-caress-arm-around-the-shoulder-as

(here, also here) I am always careful not to get TOO deep into making assumptions about the non-motogp relationships of these guys, especially when it's anything related to parental dynamics... have seen some interactions with his father on screen provide evidence for this thesis, but also don't want to read too much into those. but, well. in any case. there definitely is something to this idea that casey is just like... missing out on forms of socialisation that are basically second nature to valentino, to the extent valentino isn't even thinking about them that much. which probably gives us two rather contrasting experiences of that particular moment

we know for a fact that casey was a bit bewildered by how his competitors reacted after winning races... not that he necessarily has a PROBLEM with it but what's up with all these elaborate pre-planned celebrations when you haven't even won a title... and it's so telling that he frames it as a european thing. because it's not!! it's a valentino thing that then a bunch of other riders (including obviously jorge, one of casey's peers) adopted for themselves. but fundamentally casey has this tendency to interpret a lot of his general isolation and loneliness through the lens of cultural alienation, as a way of explaining to himself why he feels so separate from the rest of the paddock, and then he uses valentino as his primary frame of reference for what europeans are like, and there's just a lot of conflating going on here... and suddenly we're getting to the point where valentino becomes very relevant to casey's general feelings of isolation

and I do have like. a hot take about 2007. which I can't fully substantiate, but it's just where I'm at with the evidence and the vibes right now. and it's that valentino really isn't particularly hostile towards casey that year. casey does talk about valentino making some remarks about him in the press that he doesn't like - but it really isn't easy to find what those remarks actually were. like, actual substantial criticisms. if valentino made some remarks with nebulously bad vibes, sure, they might have gotten lost in the mists of time - but if he'd said anything more dramatic than some mildly snide remarks, surely there'd be some record of it. there's only really reporting of casey feeling that valentino's tone towards him in the press has gotten less friendly... which is probably true! but it's also worth pointing out that casey is... uh. a sensitive character. that season, he was reacting with rather a lot of hostility to any suggestion that the tyre difference between bridgestone and michelin might be helping casey out. which valentino did say! but he was consistently framing it not as casey winning because of the tyres, but the tyre different not allowing valentino to compete with him. and valentino does switch tyres at the end of the year, so crucially he does put his money where his mouth is - he's not just complaining for the hell of it, and it's also worth pointing out that subsequent events 100% vindicate that decision. it's completely understandable that casey will have been annoyed by that... and yes, plenty of fans will have gone further in suggesting casey really only was champion due to the bridgestones and some corners of the press were definitely very annoying... but like. in the grand scheme of things, this is still pretty restrained rhetoric on valentino's part, right? it's stuff you can take offence to, but you are setting the bar rather low there

which leads us to the next issue... valentino doesn't completely blank casey like he does some of his rivals at the height of those feuds, he's still willing to engage in small talk and all of that. yes, it's entirely plausible valentino cooled off a little interpersonally towards casey, but. well. they were title rivals. that's kind of... fine? controversial opinion alert, I suppose. it's at the very least expected, surely. obviously valentino had just gone through an unusually warm title fight with nicky hayden et al - but for the most part, consensus opinion is that you're not really going to be friends with the guy you're competing with for the highest prize in the sport. and you sort of wonder how many interactions they could possibly have had before 2007 for casey even to use as a baseline. like, sure, they'll have known each other a little bit... casey's spoken about how valentino would chat to him about stuff not related to motorcycle racing, which is very sweet and all. but presumably we're talking a few pressers and paddock run-ins, right? nothing all that substantial

and if you take those facts together, add in that casey had considered valentino one of his idols... you've got valentino not opting for open hostility in 2007. the lack of any valentino comments memorable enough to still be available today. casey's sensitivity towards criticism. valentino's tendency to cool off towards direct rivals. that they were still friendly enough towards each other at the end of 2007. how there probably weren't many significant pre-2007 interactions. casey repeatedly complaining about how valentino had cooled off towards him in 2007. and of course, casey's long-standing isolation... well, it does leave you with an interesting picture. at a certain point, I do feel like all of this raises an obvious question: if valentino isn't actively insulting casey and isn't just completely blanking him, then why does casey even care if things have gotten a little more interpersonally chillier between them? why does it bother casey that valentino isn't speaking as much to him as before?

and that leads us back to qatar 2007. because my best guess is that valentino wasn't deliberately buttering casey up as much as he just sort of overshot on his default charm and left a little bit too much of an impression on this lonely kid who was having things go his way at last. valentino wasn't being patronising... he just acts that way when he loses races, whether that's his personality or an awareness that charming your opponents can be a healthy approach or a combination of the two. and yes, whether you want to attribute that to his european inclinations or having had a healthy social life - valentino isn't a stranger to a caressed cheek here or there to show his appreciation. and... well, I reckon initially casey was just extremely charmed by the whole thing. by one of his heroes chatting to him as an equal, by the god of the sport warmly congratulating him for his victory - the full force of valentino's charisma crashing into this undersocialised kid who'd been written off as a surly crash-prone loner who was a bit of a handful to work with... all the while, the commentary is informing us that casey doesn't smile a lot. that he isn't known for his drinking prowess, even! we're being actively encouraged to read the moments in parc fermé in terms of how casey doesn't tend to be either particularly sociable or particularly happy. and, well, if you don't have any friends in the paddock, if you're not close to anyone, if you're kind of short on chemistry with other riders... it does take on added significance if the valentino rossi of all people turns on the charm in your direction. and it makes it all the more painful if valentino later creates a little bit of distance in response to your budding rivalry

there's an element of casey overthinking things because he can't quite reconcile the idea that valentino can be so vicious towards him with all the friendly interactions they've had, so he ends up retroactively assigning valentino ulterior motives for all the time valentino was perfectly pleasant towards him. but that's precisely BECAUSE these interactions held a little too much significance for him... more, certainly, than they did for valentino. what european hasn't caressed the cheek of a few of their future nemeses, right. valentino practically tackled toni elias in parc fermé two races earlier at estoril 2006, like he's all over the guy all the way to the podium. (elias is actually cradling his cheek on the podium, so valentino's certainly no stranger to the sensation.) valentino certainly can be a... tactile bloke, let's say. whereas there's a serious possibility that this is the first time casey has gotten his cheek stroked by one of his fellow riders in parc fermé

so yeah. my theory is that casey did take valentino's chilliness to him exceedingly poorly in part because of how those early interactions actually meant quite a lot to him. so to casey, valentino's behaviour towards him stood out in a positive sense... he wasn't necessarily suspicious of the qatar 2007 interaction while it was happening - but casey's a suspicious character, and he did quickly grow wary of valentino. and valentino was still charming towards him at times, and a little colder on other occasions... just playing the game, really, no complex or thorny emotions for valentino to deal with in this particular rivalry. and casey never quite managed to reconcile these different sides of valentino - and it made him revisit all of valentino's behaviour towards him in an attempt to try and establish some sort of consistency. it's easier to believe that valentino was only nice to casey because he didn't take casey seriously as a threat, rather than accept that valentino might still be able to warmly congratulate casey even while plotting to destroy him. if you caress casey's cheek, you'd better not be planning to be mean about him later

[sweaterkittensahoy]

thinking about bucky who is used to taking care of everyone (because he loves it! he really does!) and then when he marries buck and marge they absolutely dote on him and spoil him rotten and it takes him awhile to adjust but he loves it (and them) sooooo much

[This was supposed to not be smutty but it went smutty. Not mad about it, and also fucking John is definitely a way to take care of him. Anyway. I hope you enjoy!]

It's late when John makes it home for leave. He's been up since before dawn to take one of his more nervous new pilots up for an unofficial training session, and then he'd gotten on the train, planning to nap. But there'd been too much noise, people in high spirits all around him, even when he switched cars. When he finally gets off the train, he's tired to his bones and staying upright mostly through force of will. 

Marge is waiting on the platform, neatly pressed in a light pink dress Bucky recognizes as one he sent her for her birthday. Her hair's up, and he desperately wants to bury his face in her neck and just hold her close. 

But not quite yet. 

"There you are!" she chirps and wraps him in a tight hug. He hugs her just as tight in return. Marge has made a point of always hugging him tight when she sees him. "I'll do a lot of things to keep things subtle, but I'm not missing the chance you hug you, John Egan," she'd scolded him once, years ago.

Bucky kisses her cheek as they pull away from each other, then makes a show of offering Marge his arm. She giggles and wraps both hands around his bicep, bumping against him. 

"Let's get your bag," she says. "I'm sure you'd like to get to the house and get to sleep."

"I look that bad?" Bucky asks.

"I know a little something about how tired pilots can look," Marge replies. "I married one, you know."

"Did you now?" Bucky loves the way she grins, always up to joke with him. "Did he beat me here?"

"Nope," Marge says as they step over to the baggage car. "Got delayed two whole days because of some sort of mix-up on base. I can show you his letter. He went into detail, but honestly, I refuse to remember any of it."

Bucky chuckles. "Not worth your time if your man isn't coming?"

Marge's gaze goes sharp and teasing for a single moment. "You know me so well, John," she says, and her nails dig into his arm for just a moment. "You know I always prefer my man to come on time."

Bucky is glad they're at the back of the crowd so no one can hear him sputter. "Marge!" he hisses.

She laughs and steps forward, looking for Bucky's duffel. He watches her move, catches the way she sways her hips then glances back at him with a knowing smirk on her mouth. 

"Found it!" Marge says. 

Bucky cuts into the crowd and picks up his duffel. "Lead the way," he says, and in the push and pull of the crowd, he manages a quick caress of Marge's hip. 

She's parked in the middle of the lot. Bucky puts his duffel in the trunk, and she holds up the keys. "Do you want to drive, or are you too tired?" she asks. 

Bucky yawns like he's trying to make a joke, but he really is just that tired. "You go ahead," he says. 

Marge glances around, then leans against him and stretches up on her toes. "Kiss me quick," she says. 

"We'll be home in fifteen minutes," Bucky replies, even as he glances around himself.

"I love when you're home," Marge murmurs.

Warmth laps through Bucky likes waves. He confirms one more time they're alone, then steals the kiss Marge wants to give him. She hums in pleasure, and he has to force himself to pull away. 

"Okay, come on," Marge says, turning on her heel, making her skirt flare. Bucky catches a glimpse of the backs of her thighs, and he wants to drop to his knees and bury his face in that spot, smell her inner thighs and kiss just above the lace tops he knows she prefers.

He gets into the car instead, and Marge starts it up and backs them out. The town is dark and quiet, and three blocks from the station, Marge reaches for his hand and pulls. Bucky scoots across the seat and sighs when Marge slips his hand between her legs, just above her knees. "You're trouble tonight," he says.

"I've missed you," Marge replies. "I always miss you."

"You've got a whole other fella," Bucky teases. 

Marge cuts him a look he can read even in the dark. "I've got two whole fellas I love, John. You know that." 

"I know," he says. He presses his lips into her hair. There's no one else on the road. "Sorry. I'm just tired. I've been up since four."

"Oh, you poor man," Marge says. She rubs her hand on his cheek, then puts it back on the steering wheel. "Let me take care of you a little," she says. "You can take a quick nap while I run you a bath, then you can have a good soak while I lay out your pajamas. I can make you a snack, too."

"You don't need to go through the trouble, sweetheart. I can handle it."

"I like taking care of you," Marge says as she takes the turn that'll take them out of town to the house. "Let me." 

Bucky wants to argue, but her hair smells like flowers, and her thigh is warm under his hand, and she's missed him so much she'd chanced a kiss in the parking lot. "Starting to think you might like me, Margie."

"I love you to absolute pieces, John," she replies. 

Buck closes his eyes as Marge turns into the drive and hums a little of Blue Skies. Marge sings a few bars as she parks the car and cuts the engine. 

"Come on," she says. "We're home."

Bucky lies down while Marge runs the bath, but he doesn't sleep. The rest is nice, though. Marge makes it nicer by coming in a few minutes before the bath is ready and lying with him, kissing his cheeks and his nose and his mouth. They're soft, easy kisses, and Bucky drinks them up. He misses her so much when he's gone, even more than he misses Buck sometimes. But it's easy to cross the state line and visit his old war buddy. It's harder to just show up on the doorstep of the respected Mr. and Mrs. Cleven without raising eyebrows.

"Come on," Marge says. "Get in the tub."

"Join me?" John asks. 

Marge grins. "Okay," she says. "But you get in first. I'll be there in a minute."

Bucky strips and walks into the bathroom. The water is wonderfully hot, and he sinks in with a happy sigh. When Marge walks in a few minutes later, she's wearing a silk robe, and Bucky stares in unabashed want at the way it frames her hips and waist and shows the lovely peaks of her nipples. 

She gives him a mischievous grin and reaches for the tie, slowly pulling it loose, then holding the sides of the robe together as she shimmies it off her shoulders. 

"Oh, you're killing me," Bucky groans. 

Marge laughs and throws the robe off, leaving it on the floor as she walks to the tub and steps in. She sits on Bucky's lap, facing him, and holds his head as she kisses him hard. 

Bucky gets his hands on her back, then trails his fingers up and down before cupping her ass and pressing her closer, trapping his half-hard cock between them. Marge scratches into his hair, and he gasps into her mouth. 

"That's it, sweetheart," she murmurs. "Let me welcome you home."

They go back to kissing, and Bucky slips a hand between them to drag his thumb up and down Marge's clit. She giggles and shivers and reaches down to hold his cock, rubbing her thumb around the flared edge of his cock head. 

"I haven't had anyone at home for a few months, John," she murmurs. "I hope you'll still fit."

"Jesus, Marge, your mouth," he says with a grunt, and Marge laughs as he grabs her hips and helps her stand. She rests one knee on the edge of the tub and bites her bottom lip when Bucky breathes against her cunt. Bucky lifts his head so he can kiss her slit, then drag his tongue just inside her folds. 

"Oh, John," Marge sighs. She has both hands on the wall, and she rolls her hips, grunting when Bucky's grip holds her in place. "Tease," she says. 

Bucky licks into her again, then trails his mouth up so he can suck her clit. She shivers and drops one hand to grab his hair. She doesn't try to direct him, just holds on. Bucky loves when she does that, just holds on so he can taste her. He presses his nose into her and sucks hard, then drops his jaw so he can drag his mouth closed with her cunt framing his lips. 

"Oh," Marge whimpers. "Oh. Oh." 

He licks and sucks and nuzzles, dragging one hand from her hip so he can slide a finger inside of her. She groans and slumps forward a little. Bucky pauses to make sure she's not going to fall, and then he slides in another finger just as he hums right on her clit. 

"JOHN!"

Bucky chuckles against her, and he rubs his face back and forth as he keeps pushing his fingers in and pulling them out, crooking them because he knows she loves the drag of it. 

"Oh, god. Oh, god. Let me. John. I'm gonna fall if you keep–"

He feels her knees start to bend and kisses her belly and ribs and chest as she sinks back into the water. She moves slowly enough he can keep his fingers inside of her as she sits. She clenches around him when they're eye to eye, and she nips his bottom lip as he rubs his thumb on her clit again. 

"I'm supposed to be taking care of you," she says. 

"You are," Bucky replies because it's true.

Marge grabs his wrist and pulls his fingers free. She takes his cock and pushes up on her knees. Bucky sucks her nipples as she angles his cock, then slowly starts to slide down into his lap. When she's firm against him, she clenches again, and Bucky groans loudly against her breast. 

"That's it," Marge says. "Just like that." She rocks back and forth, making tiny waves as she drives Bucky slowly crazy with the rhythm. He buries his face in her neck and drags his mouth along her shoulder as she grips his shoulders and starts to move a little faster, taking what she wants. 

"You're perfect," Bucky murmurs into her skin. "You're so beautiful."

Marge kisses him, tongue dragging slowly against his own. She dips a hand down and rubs her clit while Bucky grabs her ass in both hands and adds a bit more force to each thrust. Marge's breasts bounce in the water, and he pulls a nipple into his mouth, nibbling to make her squeak. 

Marge comes a few minutes later, gasping with a high-pitched noise as Bucky holds her still on his cock and thrusts up again and again until he comes too. She presses their foreheads together, and they breathe each other's air. 

They get out of the tub a few minutes later, and Marge pushes Bucky onto the closed lid of the toilet so she can wrap a towel around his shoulders and dry him all over. Bucky watches her as she pats his chest and feels so loved he aches. 

"How do you put up with us?" he asks Marge. "Me so tired when I get here, and that other fella running late?"

"It's easy," she says, draping the towel over his lap, then taking his head in her hands so she can kiss his forehead. "I love you," she says. "And I like taking care of you."

"Lucky me," Bucky says. He dries his legs while Marge gets herself toweled off. She's halfway back into her robe when they both hear the front door unlock. 

Bucky stands, immediately ready to defend, but then Buck's voice, tired but cheerful, carries through the house. "Marge? Bucky?" he calls. 

Marge runs from the bathroom, robe fluttering behind her. Bucky's on her heels, towel around his hips. He comes into the living room just in time to catch the stunned look on Buck's face as Marge flings herself into his arms, completely naked on her front. 

"You're here!" Marge shouts and kisses him, wrapping her legs around his waist as Buck gets his hands under her thighs and takes her weight. 

Bucky walks around Buck and closes the front door. "Thank goodness we live out of town," he says. 

Buck chuckles against Marge's mouth as John kisses the back of his neck, cupping Buck's hip in one hand. "I believe that was your idea, John," he says. 

"Well, I'm sometimes the brains of this operation," John replies. Buck turns his head, and they meet for a proper kiss as Marge pets Buck's hair and shoulders and nuzzles his cheek. 

"Seems I interrupted something," Buck says after another moment. He sets Marge on her feet, then traces his hands up and down her torso, drinking her in. "Can't say I mind."

"I'd hope not," Marge replies. She knots her robe loosely and takes Buck's hands. "We just finished, actually. I was just making sure our fella was taken care of."

"Oh, I'm sure you did great," Buck replies. He touches Marge's chin, then turns to John, looking him over. "You look exhausted," Buck says. 

"No worse than you," John says. Buck's face is bright with happiness, but John can see the fatigue in his eyes. "How the hell you'd get here so quick?"

"Unfucking the situation took a lot less time than we expected," Buck says. He reaches for Marge and tucks her under his arm. He reaches for Bucky and pulls him close, too. "My CO thinks I had some good incentive in wanting to come home."

"If I'd known you were so close, I could have been more patient before I took care of John," Marge says. 

Buck grins and kisses Marge on the top of the head. "Oh, honey, I doubt that. You've been looking forward to it too much."

"What?" Bucky asks as Marge and Buck laugh. 

"You always show up and immediately take care of us in some way or another," Marge says to Bucky. "Gale and I were going to try and beat you at your own game and take care of you first for once."

Bucky grins, loving the way they're both looking at him like they're quite pleased they'd had a plan. "Well, you definitely did your part, Mrs. Cleven," he says. "But I'll let Mr. Cleven get some rest before he shows me what he's got up his sleeve."

"Just my arms," Buck says, and wraps one against Bucky's waist, skimming his hand up and down Bucky's bare back. "If you two don't mind, I'm ready for bed."

"Me, too," Bucky says. "Marge made sure."

"I sure did," she agrees and tugs on Buck's hand to lead him to the bedroom. 

They fall asleep in a warm cuddle, Buck between Marge and Bucky, who both drape across him. When Bucky wakes up in the morning, Buck's kissing his lower belly and kneading his thighs while Marge sits up by the headboard and strokes Bucky's hair. 

"Well, good morning to me," Bucky murmurs. He turns his head, prepared to press his face between Marge's legs, but she's situated so he can't get his mouth on her. 

"Uh-uh," Marge says. "I told you last night, Gale and I had plans to take care of you first, so stay put and enjoy yourself."

"I'd enjoy myself more with my tongue inside you."

Buck bites hard on Bucky's hip, drawing his attention. "Down here, big boy," he says. "You can make Marge scream once I'm done with you."

"Oh, it's like that?" Bucky tries to roll his hips upward, but Buck presses his hands hard into Bucky's thighs, making movement impossible. Bucky grunts at his strength, going limp against the sheets without any more fight. "Okay, okay," he says. "I will accept this violent need to suck my dick."

"Jerk," Buck mutters, and Bucky's laugh is cut off as Buck lowers his head and licks Bucky from root to tip. He sucks the head of Bucky's cock into his mouth and pulls lightly on Bucky's balls. 

Bucky tips his head back, and Marge leans down, kissing him lightly as she slides her hands up and down his chest. She scrapes her nails on his nipples, and he twitches with pleasure. It's added to when Buck takes more of Bucky's cock into his mouth and drools down his shaft. 

"We just want to love you a little," Marge says, pressing her thumbs into the tendons on Bucky's neck. "Just want to take care of you like you always take care of us."

"I like taking care of you two," Bucky replies. He gasps when Buck sucks harder, then drags his mouth off Bucky with a loud, wet sound. He drops his head and sucks on Bucky's balls, jerking him as he slides his other hand over Bucky's belly.

"And we like taking care of you," Marge says.

Bucky groans as Buck's hand meets Marge's over his pec. They lace their fingers together, and Bucky raises one hand to lay over the top of theirs. "I know," he says. "I know," he repeats as Buck goes back to sucking his dick. He moans when Buck twists his hand up and down from his lips to the base of Bucky's cock. "Oh, god," he says. "Shit."

Marge kisses his forehead and his nose, then fits their mouths together again, swallowing down Bucky's swearing and moans as Buck sucks and strokes and makes a mess of Bucky's dick. 

"I'm–" Bucky grunts when Buck pulls back until only the head of Bucky's cock is in his mouth. He suckles hard, and Bucky comes in his mouth. Bucky flails and grabs Buck's shoulder. "Come here. I wanna–"

"Too late, John," Marge murmurs. "I took care of him in the bathroom before we climbed back into bed. You'll have to wait your turn."

Bucky squeezes his eyes shut. "You're mean, Marge. Why would you do this to me?"

"You love to tease us," she says. "And now you can spend the whole morning driving Gale wild."

"And what about you?"

"Took care of her first," Buck says, chuckling at John's broken moan. "So, you have to tease both of us."

"Was this part of your plan to take care of me?" he asks. "Set me up so I can make you both horny all day?"

"It's one of your favorite hobbies," Buck says.

Bucky laughs and cups Buck's cheek. Buck turns his head to kiss his palm. Marge drops another kiss on his forehead. "Can't argue with that," he says, and he pulls them both as close as he can for the sheer enjoyment of being able to.

[allthatmay]

(about the smoker/ace ask) i see the same in their dynamic !! theyre both very passionate, stubborn people. whereas shanks is the ~suave guy who knows how to play ace, smokers the typa to add fuel to fire in an argument (whether he means it or not). i can easily see them ignoring the other other for weeks and then angrily hate fucking when they stumble against each other at a random place.

lots of miscommunication and lack of trust are guaranteed (more on the ace side with his self–esteem and roger issues, methinks); its the type of relationship where both make mistakes even when they genuinely want it to work. again, theyre on the same side of the coin personality wise, so things end up pretty heated without someone to balance it out. great for one night stands, not so good when these stands end piled up into something more intimate.

theres also the secret relationship thing, with one being a pirate and the other a marine ... (it has been quite the open secret for a while now, but no one really talks about it cause of the garp factor). on the side, theres almost everyone furiously recommending each of them to give up already (“that kids not good for you, smoker, just look how he has you...” “i get that you love him, ace, but the guy ain't worth all your tears”).

this has ended in more of a ramble than i had expected, and i also added some of my own hcs ... apologies for that !!

Hahaha, I read this whole thing while nodding, like, "This person gets it!! We're on the same level!!"

Yes, Shanks can work with and around Ace's insecurities and proclivities, whereas Smoker would butt heads with him. There'd definitely be a lot of hate fucking, like you say! (But we love a good hate fuck.) I totally agree that they'd be making mistakes even when they want things to work; that they'd make more mistakes trying to fix the last. There would definitely be moments of intimacy and tenderness, but ultimately, things would be hard for them. And that's certainly in part because of the secret relationship stuff!

That aspect of their relationship is what I enjoy most about it, probably. "Forbidden love" is always enjoyable. I also like the idea that their friends would be trying to convince them to give the relationship up. You just know Tashigi and Thatch would be leading the charge on their respective sides. Thatch would use food to his advantage; Tashigi would just be insufferable. Maybe she'd buy Smoker a real nice set of cigars before sitting him down for a chat.

I think their relationship would culminate in a battle—a draw, obviously. And they'd break up right there, on the floor, tired and fucking defeated. The bad end. (But we like those too, sometimes.)

In general, I think toxic relationships can be super fun to explore in fanfiction. Just because a relationship is bad for you in the long run doesn't mean there isn't still value to be found in it (and the lessons you learn from it). Smoker and Ace are a prime example, in my eyes.

Thanks for your thoughts! Loved hearing them! Very much agreed.

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Hey mod did you see the hundred of last line of defense academy what your thought

//Honestly, at this point I'm exhausted trying to keep up with all of these games. Kodaka won't rest until he puts a Danganronpa spin on every genre out there.

//My face definitely lit up the moment I saw Komatsuzaki's art style, and I'm glad that they're opting to go back to the more visual novel aspect of it.

//It makes me laugh because Last Defense Academy looks like it SHOULD be a Danganronpa spinoff. They're trapped in a school, they have a mascot character overseeing them.

//Rain Code didn't really have this problem (I say problem, but it's not really a problem, just something worth noting) because even if there were some stark similarities between it and Danganronpa, Kanai Ward as a setting, the interactions between the characters, the supernatural element of the story, as well as the overall theme and style of that game made it stand out as its own thing that could be loosely linked to Danganronpa.

//You could legit replace the main cast of this new game with the cast of Danganronpa, and have Monokuma fill in the role of that mascot, and I don't think there'd be much difference.

//In fact, do you know what this feels like? This genuinely feels like what could have happened during the two years before the first killing game, when Class 78 holed themselves up in the school and are defending it from the Despair outside while they board it up and cut them off. It really just does feel like it should be a Danganronpa title, but Kodaka didn't want to slap the name on it anymore.

//I mean, it's not like he can. He doesn't really own the series anymore. But it's clear he loves Danganronpa dearly, and so he should, it's his pride and joy, and there's no shame in basing most of his games off of it. That's what put him on the map in the first place.

//This is the closest thing I have to a gripe. The characters look plenty interesting, and the idea of a strategy RPG-style game coming from Kodaka is cool, and I really want to see where he takes it.

//Narratively, from what I can understand of the plot, Kodaka is taking the stuff he wrote with the Danganronpa series and Rain Code, and he's giving it more of an Assassination Classroom spin. And if you remember some of the discussions I had during the Mukuro Vs Kayano phase of the Death Battle even, I think that sort of twist works really well.

//Not only that, but when I went back and listened to what they were saying in the trailer, it also seems like the team is re-using a really old concept that they first came up with with Distrust; Danganronpa's Beta Version. And that's the idea that your choices can affect which of the main characters die and which one's live.

//Like the typical DR setting, there are 16 students including the protagonist, and the trailer states that you need to defend the school from the unknown assailants for 100 days. This makes me think that the game is taking a Fire Emblem/Until Dawn route, and there will be multiple endings to it, like one where all the students die, one where they all live, one where certain students die and it affects the others, etc.

//If that IS the case, then that's pretty stellar for what Kodaka and his team have put out so far. Danganronpa may be a sensation, but it's simple in practice and execution. It's the character writing that carries it; not the gameplay.

//Rain Code improved upon the gameplay aspect a lot, but even then, it never went as far as this.

//Unfortunately, despite all I've said I can't give a full opinion of it until the game actually comes out, and/or we see more gameplay footage and information of it. The stuff that they showed in the teasers isn't an awful lot to go off of.

//Also, whenever this comes out, there's a chance that, depending on whether I like it enough, I MIGHT add the characters to the blog. HOWEVER, if I DO, then it's probably only going to happen if I decide to do a Phase 4.

//Originally, I only planned to have Phase 3 be the end of the blog's main story, but for all we know, depending on how far this goes, it could very well just serve as the end of the Zetsubou saga. I don't really like dragging these sorts of things out, but this blog and it's story got way more popular than even I was expecting, and I'm always happy to deliver for you guys.

//But again, I can't write promises that my mouth can't cache, so don't quote me on this.

-Mod

[sopuu]

So you know how Radar said something about Aiden wanting to redeem himself and how there was another letter saying "WATCH OUT" or something like that and it had the initials of W.P. On it?

Well 2 questions

1, If Aiden, Maya and Gill showed up to Beacontown to redeem themselves, how do you think everyone would react?

2, How do you think Cassie managed to get out of the hole she was in?

(in my opinion, I feel like Mevia and Hadrian had something to do with Cassie escaping.)

honestly? i don't think aiden and his gang would head back to beacontown, not on their own terms at least. as someone who's been tormenting jesse for god knows how long, to the point where he's willing to terrorise a city and commit murder if it means getting jesse out of the frame, i don't think it's his place to determine when he should show his face in front of him again (and i feel like aiden would understand that after he's done some growing and thinking of his own). redeeming can come in different ways- and he's definitely got a city's worth of mistakes to fix and atone for before heading home.

despite that, i imagine he'd occasionally send letters to jesse throughout the years post sky city, giving updates on the city's development on new land, how isa and milo are doing, complaining (jokingly) about how much of a bother community service is and most importantly assuring that they're working hard to redeem themselves there. he'd also make sure to drop in a subtle message saying he'd be willing to talk if jesse ever decides to come visit.

but if we do follow the hypothetical scenario, uhh i mean they probably wouldn't be getting much of a warm welcome considering where they all last left off lol. jesse, olivia and axel would definitely be more...skeptical, but if aiden and his gang were really genuine with their apology jesse would be the type to give them a second chance. after all these years he'd have matured himself too- he's seen the rise, falls, guilt and redemptions of even the most corrupted so he'd know if they're sincere about wanting to better themselves.

and lukas? oh this can be a whole post on its own bc i have so much to say on this. to shorten it though, he would not want to talk to them, especially aiden. ever. and rightfully so imo. it's a lot more personal to him than anyone else, because in my eyes they were once the best of friends, maybe even grew up together, and had genuinely great memories. if even after YEARS of that, aiden's jealousy of jesse grew to the point where he was willing (and even eager) to throw all that away -- was that really all their friendship meant to him? sure, he and the gang are more than apologetic for what they've done now. but if there hadn't been any water when lukas fell, or if he didn't make it into the lake, that's...it. there'd be no one to apologise to. and aiden kicked him off there knowing that full well. so yeah, lukas gets to not forgive in my book

as for cassie! tbh i don't have many thoughts on this lol, and i do like the idea that hadrian and mevia helped her out since it's implied she's an old builder too, plus they all have some sort of vendetta against jesse. or if we're going the more technical minecraft route she could've just. done a skyblock strat?? take the block behind the one she's on, place it in front, stand on that block, rinse and repeat till she's outta there fhdgks

[alexandersimpleton]

Hello, I suddenly have HC that not fleshing out yet that I wonder what your personal thought is.. What if time travel exist in CPC AU, and if Frederick get chance to rewind time (I love time fix troupe) - what exact time that he could back to the past, and how he'll do differently?? Personally I think to make it happen we'll have curse of time rewind, and I find it'll interesting if Frederick turning back in time when he wakes up after the day he's meeting the Pastel Princesses for the first time.

(Time fix troupe is one of popular AU troupe but I haven't see CPC with that theme yet!)

Well, I think it'd be neat for him to wake up the morning of, rather than after. That way he could do it all over again, and there'd be a lot more divergence of cannon and potential for interesting plotlines. One thing that's been kinda squirming in my mind lately is what Frederick thinks he should have done instead of calling Gwen ugly. The CPC likely doesn't think this, but the could have accidently implied that Frederick shouldn't have done anything, despite the fact the Prez actively regrets doing so. Frederick more likely than not agrees with that notion too.

Especially if time rewound in the dungeon, it'd be cool to explore Frederick's extremely fragile mental state in this sort of situation where he can actually do it all again, and do the self-destructive things that he wished he had done for people.

Also, in the discord, you were talking about drawbacks. One cool one would be that Frederick felt all the emotions that he was feeling at the time, rather than the ones he would now. At the start of the rewind, he's still terrified of Gwen, and wants to get away from her. But still, he hunkers down, and for es himself to suck it up. To do all these romantic things with someone who he wants with all his heart to get away from, not to be left alone with, not to touch him. When Frederick ends up telling one of the CPC them about these feeling (eventually) Frederick has a long talk about consent.

Another thing is, Frederick seeing that his brothers maybe weren't that nice. If you see the world through rose-tinted glasses, red flags will just look like flags and a that. Now that he's separated from their gaslighting and not craving their affection anymore, Frederick sees how cruel they really were. Or, well, how cruel Blaine really was. He kinda opens up to Lance early because he notices his brother's (singular) genuine love for him. But anyways, how Blaine was treating him kind of reminded him of how Prez described Whitney. While Frederick knew that Whitney got redeemed, what he did was still talked about like it was horrible. And, Frederick realized, it was horrible. His emotions weren't entitlement, they were just self worth that had been slowly broken down by everyone.

And then, he confronts CPC about it, and they completely agree. Frederick is.. quite surprised. Not even a grumbling or a protest.

They agreed that, hearing what Frederick said, he was most definitely being gaslit, and what they said in that timeline was awful. Even if that timeline had him doing something awful to Gwen, gaslighting him into going back to an abuser, no matter the type of relationship, is awful.

Oh yeah, and the CPC and Frederick all go confront Leland at some point. As cool as it would be to see this, I more prefer character driven plots (especially ones I've been brain-rotting about for like a year), so I don't have much to say on it. Seeing Frederick's confront his father would be cool tho.

Also, maybe Frederick ends up telling the CPC (or just Whitney) about his trauma. He hasn't told anyone, and at this rate isn't going to. I don't know much about this stuff, but I feel like having a trigger word for trauma so bad that just seeing an object associated with the trigger word can cause flashbacks, and then not telling anyone about it, can only lead to bad things. But yeah, Whitney talks to Frederick about his trauma,and how he's not the only one having these feelings, and he's not alone, yada yada. He has a bonding moment with Nell, Saffron moves the sunflowers in his garden to a more out-of-the-way location, etc.

So yeh. Time travel

[flowerpotmage]

Hello flowerpot! I'm glad that your ask box is open.

What sort of close friend do you think Aemond, Aegon and/or would Daemon be?

Hiii!! This is very interesting to think about tbh! I was thinking about it, and obviously we aren't reeeally shown any of them having non-familial based friendships.

This got long because I'm sooooooo normal, so headcanons below the cut

Daemon is particularly interesting in my mind, because I don't think he's ever had a real friendship of any sort. The closest I think he's gotten to having a friend is probably when he was in charge of the gold cloaks and when he was off at the stepstones. But even then I think it only went as far as camaraderie: these were men he was in charge of, working with, fighting alongside. There might be a bond there for sure, but I don't think it was ever something I'd call friendship. I see Daemon as exceptionally hierarchical, he sees everyone inseparably from their place on the hierarchy, and I think that would carry into any start of true friendship he might encounter. I think the start of any friendship worth its salt with Daemon might have a perplexing start.

He definitely wouldn't be the sort of friend that would pull figurative punches, he's definitely the sort to be brutally honest - but in a close friendship he wouldn't be needlessly cruel. He might say shit that'd hurt your feelings, and he might apologize for the delivery (rarely, more likely if called out on saying something shitty), but never for the content of what he's said. I do think he'd be pretty loyal to anyone he deemed worthy of being a close friend - until he had something major, and i mean major to gain. That aside, I think he'd be decently trustworthy and do his very best to keep his word to a close friend. There'd always be a little bit of a power imbalance in the friendship, what with him being a Targ prince and all, but I think there'd be respect regardless. Show him loyalty in the friendship and he'll do the same.

Now, have you ever had that friend that texts you 30 minutes to 9pm and tells you they're gonna be there at 9 to pick you up and go to bars with three other people until 2am? That's Aegon. Any close friend of his is probably constantly being dragged into his party boy antics (Aemond voice: depravity), or he's at least attempting to drag them into it. You have to be down to drink with him, or else there's no way he's spending enough time around you for any real friendship to start. Honestly I see a close friendship with him starting because he got a little too sad!drunk and whoever was around that was nice ended up taking care of his messy weepy pathetic little meow meow ass (affectionate)(derogatory) and they had some sort of heart to heart bonding moment.

I see Aegon doing silly things to express his platonic affection: kind gestures or gifts wrapped in the shape of a joke or a prank to cover up the sincerity ("hashtag no homo" vibes). He'd help you cover up any fuck ups you get anxious about with a casual wave of his hand, a pouch of coin, and pushing you to sit and join him for a drink in his solar type vibes.

Aemond, shockingly, I think would be the healthiest close friend. Loyal, serious af, wants to just talk about princely Targaryen nonsense like his studies, his training, he'd vent about Aegon, and he'd be interested in his friend's life in return. He'd be a more tactful about his opinions than Daemon, but he wouldn't coddle your feelings either and he'd be honest about pretty much everything. This is the friend you play board games with and talk about like, your feelings about god with and how you feel about how your life is going. A little pretentious, but takes you seriously too. I do think there would be like... Similar to Daemon, even with a close friend the power imbalance is always under the surface but he's chill about it 99% of the time

[featherlouise]

I ask this like every person who's into HK that I follow so I'm also dropping this question off at your feet too;

How do you think Hollow's reunion with White Lady would go after the whole Radiance/sealing fiasco? Perhaps Pale King too if the fucker's alive?

FUCK ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE U ASKED THIS HUH

(I'm gonna put this under read more bc it's kinda long (and all over the place so I apologise in advance))

OK SO

I think, with the state she's in during the game, she'd probably be pretty dismissive?? Like, she'd likely comment on how they're free and the infection's gone, but as much as I'd love to say it'd be a tearful reunion, I don't really think that'd be the case ://

PK on the other hand!!! There'd be A LOT of tearful apologies, ESPECIALLY once he sees their missing arm and other scars, bc HE did that to them, HE put them in the position to get hurt and HE convinced himself and them that they'd be able to forever contain a wrathful goddess with thousands of years of experience on them. The fact that they're even alive in the first place is a miracle in itself, nevermind the fact that they're able to walk around.

He'd probably claim them as his child and try to "make up" for their shitty childhood in any way he can. Which. Isn't much considering the kingdom is in shambles. Whereas before the fall of Hallownest he'd be able to shower them with presents and build a statue in their honour or name a stag station after them or something, the most he can do at this point is like. Hunt for them. And do they even need to eat?? With the whole technically not alive thing?? Eh it's the thought that counts.

On the other hand!! I think the outcome of the reunion entirely depends on where Hollow is in their recovery.

If they're barely healed and only just starting to confront the horror that was their upbringing, they'd still be battling with A LOT of guilt. As far as they're concerned, it's their fault for not being hollow that the kingdom fell. They're broken, and they were too selfish to admit that before it was too late, and now everyone is either dead or EXTREMELY traumatised.

The WL reunion would probably set back any progress they make if it's early on enough, bc they were honestly probably looking forward to the reunion. They know how much she wished for them to have been a real child, and now she can have that!! Sure it's a little late, but any relationship with their mother would be better than the cold dismissal they faced while growing up.

And then they walk into her chamber and she's nothing like the woman they remember, and they know it was childish and silly to believe she'd be exactly the same, but after coming across Dryya's body (something they will file away and confront much later, because Dryya is dead wtf how) they'd foolishly hoped that maybe their mother would take them into her arms like she saw her do so often for Hornet and their father.

But instead she barely acknowledges their presence, and dismisses them outright. As if they're a pest, not her child who has been locked away for centuries. And maybe she's right. Who are they to claim her as their mother when she's never wanted anything to do with them. So they leave.

If Hollow is later on in their recovery, like they've built up a support system, they've found themselves, figured out who they are outside of the Pure Vessel persona, I think they'd be able to recognise that their mother isn't well, and be able to stomach the dismissal and off handed insults in favour of trying to get her help. They'd definitely make use of that support system, but I think knowing their own worth would go a long way towards whether or not they let WL's comments get to them. And I think eventually, they'd be able to have afternoon tea and chat or something. But that would take A WHILE.

PK TIME OK

So I think the outcome of the PK reunion wouldn't change a TON, but there'd be a few key differences:

If Hollow is early in their recovery, they'd be VERY confused as to why their father is apologising to THEM. Bc they should be the one apologising right??? It's their failure to be what they were supposed to that led to the fall of the kingdom right?? Why is their father bringing them food??? He's never done this before?? And holy shit is he crying??!?!

Also hc that Hollow is the type of person to start crying if someone they care about is crying. So. Make of that what you will.

Overall, it'd be a mix of guilt and confusion and also relief?? Bc wow my father doesn't hate me that's a shock. I imagine the Radiance would use their wish for PK's approval against them A LOT so it's not unlikely that they've got a scenario in their head where their father proclaims that he despises them and then fortnite dances on their body after smiting them.

Later on in their recovery however, they'd be at a point where they can acknowledge that the way they were brought up was cruel, and they didn't deserve to be treated like an object, but I also don't think they'd be able to bring themselves to be angry at PK.

As the Pure Vessel, they were around PK in a lot of private moments, and it's not unlikely that he'd vent to them in the same way a person would vent to their favourite teddy bear. He'd vent about his guilt, his worries, sometimes even directly addressing them about how he wished things could be different. And bc I also headcannon Hollow to be EXTREMELY empathetic, they can UNDERSTAND why he made the decisions he did, and how he genuinely believed that he had no choice.

Honestly though?? I don't think the actual reunion would go much differently here. Maybe they'd be a bit quicker to hug back, maybe the tears would come sooner, maybe they'd be far less stiff and finally allow themselves to collapse against PK and let him hold them for the first time since they were tiny, but overall?? He'd still bring them presents out of guilt, and they'd still be confused as to why tf their father is trying to feed them so much.

OH ALSO PK would definitely go through a period of being ridiculously overprotective, like someone goes to pat Hollow on the shoulder and suddenly they've got a bitey Wyrm hanging off their arm. (Someone's overcompensating for 2 decades worth of protective instincts methinks)

Hollow's response to that would probably be a mix of embarassed and pleased, bc holy shit father wants to protect me but also nooo that's my friend he needs his arm get off