#they actually protect the kid with their life

[persevereforahappyending]

A Legacies Regret |6|

Pairing: Tara Carpenter x Reader

Summary: You were living in New York with your girlfriend, trying to forget about last year and just enjoy life, but that was easier said than done. (Sequel to A Legacies Secret)

Warnings: None?

Word Count: 1.8k+

Main Masterlist | Series Masterlist | A Legacies Secret Masterlist

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Tara laid with her head rested on your chest, just listening to your steady heartbeat. She knew she should be on edge, Ghostface was back, they didn’t have time to waste. As soon as the three of you got back to the apartment though, it seemed all three of you agreed to just take the rare moment and rest. Tara let you take a shower first and by the time she was done you were changed and sprawled out on the bed.

Tara only hesitated for a second to curl up next to you. The two of you were fine in a life-or-death situation but this was the first time either of you had a break since the attacks. As soon as you opened your eyes, you gave her that look, the despite being half sleepy you were still very aware of when she entered the room, that look. That’s all it took for Tara to lay down next to you. She would have jumped on the bed and tackled you with a hug, but you had a long night.

Tara glance up at you, you fell into a deep sleep almost as soon as your arm wrapped around Tara. She wasn’t sure how you did it, you endured so much, even before all the stuff with Ghostface. Tara’s life wasn’t great, at least in terms of family, but yours was just as bad. You actually had it worse in some ways. Tara had Chad, Mindy, their mom, then of course Wes and his mom, she even had Amber. You didn’t have anyone though, you sort of had Dewey, but it wasn’t in the same way, he wasn’t a parental figure to you at the time, he just saw a kid who needed help.

Then you learned the truth about your family, you practically found them and lost them in the same day. Gale was still around but Tara wasn’t sure how that relationship would evolve, if it ever did. Though her motives were selfish there was a part of Tara that saw what Gale did as protecting you. If people knew you were Gale and Dewey’s kid you would have been in danger, you probably would have been part of the attacks back in 2011, you were only in middle school then. And as if to prove her theory correctly as soon as the truth was discovered you were a target, it seemed that no matter what, you would have been dragged into this mess, whether it was because you were related to Dewey and Gale or because you were dating Tara, it seemed inevitable for you to become a target.

Despite everything though you still put Tara first. You didn’t care where the two of you moved as long as Tara was happy, that’s what you always told her. You said you wanted her to choose where she wanted to go to college, and you’d just happily follow along. Tara knew you didn’t particularly care about Woodsboro, besides her, you didn’t have anyone there, but you still didn’t seem to be bothered about having to uproot your life and start all over.

It wasn’t an excuse but one of the reason Tara missed the signs that you were hurting was because you simply didn’t let her see. You walked around the city with her, despite the obvious pain you had to have been in. You went to parties with her, even though you hated them. Tara was sure the main reason for the parties was to keep an eye on her, but you still tried to have fun, you let Tara drag you around, you danced with her, you did it all when Tara was sure you’d rather be back home, cuddled up watching a movie together.

“You’re thinking too loud,” your raspy voice came, breaking Tara out of her thoughts. Your eyes barely opened as you looked down at her. “What’s on your mind?”

“How amazing you are,” Tara whispered. You rolled your eyes as if you thought she was joking. “I’m serious,” she rolled over, so half her body was over you, but she was not able to look you in the eye. “You’re perfect.”

Your hand brushed the a few stray hair that fell into her eyes back behind her ear. “I’m hardly perfect.”

“Well, compared to me you are,” her eyes fell in shame.

When Tara found it in herself to look at you again you were frowning. “I’ve been a shitty girlfriend,” Tara whispered.

“You haven’t-”

“Yes,” she cut you off. “I have. I’ve been terrible to you.”

“You haven’t.” Tara rolled her eyes, you made it nearly impossible to argue with you, especially when it came to Tara trying to talk bad about herself. “We go on dates, we’ve seen the city,” you went from frowning to giving her a loving smile.

“I’ve been ignoring your problems.” Your frown was quick to return. It seemed as though the only thing Tara was good at lately was hurting you. “You’ve been hurting and all I’ve been is selfish.” Tara averted her gaze; she attempted to blink away her tears, but it was clear she failed when she felt your thumb brush against her cheek. “You deserve better.”

“It’s not your fault.” Tara closed her eyes; you still weren’t hearing her it seemed. She couldn’t help but lean into your touch. “A lot happened to you; you’ve been dealing with just as much shit.”

“No, I haven’t,” Tara shook her head.

As much as she said she was fine and refused to see someone, Tara wasn’t dealing with it. Tara hadn’t dealt with any of it since it happened. Her solution was just to pretend everything was fine, act as if her best friend didn’t try and kill her, act as if none of it happened as if everything were normal. Tara was sure she’d go to parties if the attack never happened, but she wouldn’t be doing it as much as she currently was. She saw parties as a way to escape and drink her problems away, if she drank enough then maybe she wouldn’t have nightmares. The only thing that seemed to stop the nightmares though, was you. Even if she still got woken up from one, nothing brought her more comfort then knowing you were right there holding her.

“You never talk about Dewey,” she said as soft as she could, though it still didn’t seem to be enough with the way your entire body went rigid at his name. “I never asked because I didn’t want to cause you anymore pain.”

She should have asked you about it. Maybe deep down the real reason she didn’t ask was because she knew it would involve talking about everything else that happened. She still should have asked, she shouldn’t have been selfish. You always put her first, the very least she could have done is ask how you were doing after everything that happened. Maybe you wanted to talk about it but because Tara didn’t ask and pretended everything was alright, you pushed everything down.

“You can talk about him,” she said, another tear rolling down her cheek. “I never want you to feel like you can’t, not with me. I know it hasn’t seemed like it, but I will be here for you.” She rested a hand on your chest, right over your heart. “You can even talk about Gale,” Tara added. “If you want.”

Her little joke seemed to work because you huffed out a laugh, but she could feel the vibrations through her body. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet,” you whispered but there was a soft smile on your face.

Your smile soon fell, and you furrowed your brow. Tara waited to see what it was you were thinking, you were clearly contemplating something important. “I’m,” you whispered, your voice much smaller than before. “I’m not sure if I’m ready to talk about…” you swallowed and began blinking rapidly.

“It’s okay,” Tara assured. “Whenever you are. Just know, I’m here.��

“Thanks.”

“You never have to thank me.” She reached up to caress your cheek “But I’m going to do better, I promise. I’m going to be the kind of girlfriend you deserve.”

“Things have been…” you sucked in a breath as you seemed to search for the word you wanted. “Off with us lately.” Tara couldn’t help but scoff, that was certainly putting it nicely, she had been horrible. If the roles were reversed and she was treating herself this way she would have certainly broken up with herself. “But never think you’re not good enough.”

Tara laid her head back down on your chest, closing her eyes as she focused on your heartbeat again. She couldn’t help but lightly brush her fingers across the bandage on your arm, making sure to avoid the area the cut was.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt because of me,” she whispered.

“I don’t intend to leave you any time soon,” you whispered, your grip around her tightening, as if you could somehow pull her even closer. “But I won’t let you get hurt again. I-I can’t,” your voice cracked. “I can’t see you like that again.”

“Lets just…” Tara sighed, she wasn’t sure what she could say to that, how she could comfort you. “Rest right now.”

That seemed to work because within minutes Tara noticed how your breathing evened out and your heartbeat became steady again. Sam was home, no one would get past her and Tara was in your arms right now, the safest place she could possibly be. Tara took the moment and closed her eyes, there was no telling how long this moment would last, Ghostface could attack at any time, and anyone could be lost in a moment.

Tara knew things weren’t completely back to normal with the two of you. The two of you talked but she still had a lot of work to do. She couldn’t just promise you she’d be better, she had to actually do it, she had to show you that she could be better. The first step would be surviving this new psycho. Then, when the two of you made it out of this, she would work every day to be the best girlfriend possible.

Finally, several minutes after you fell asleep Tara found herself drifting off. She tightened her grip around you, holding onto as tight as she could as if she were afraid, you’d slip away. Tara didn’t realize how long it had been since the two of you just laid together like this. You always slept next to each other and cuddled, but it had been a long time since either of you had been at ease like you currently were. Tara fell back into a comfort she didn’t know she had been missing, despite the current circumstances, Tara was somehow the most at ease she had been since last year.

Taglist: @mamas-evil-hag @thatshyboy1998 @btay3115 @idontliketoread2137 @nwestra

@honorarysimp @canyonyodeler @chxrry-lov3 @aceofspades190 @worstendingever

[ready-to-read7]

Prompt #11

Okay I have recently discovered the wonders that is the creepy Vlad misunderstandings teen dad Danny  whatever, I don’t know if there is a proper name for it or not but anyway I also like the idea of Constantine being Danny’s dad) (also I do not believe that Mattie would  cheat  on Jack so I’m going to say something else happened ) ( also to make this more dramatic say Danny is trans,) ( also I know this would not  make any sense  but I’m going to say Constantine cannot sense beings from the infinite realms more specifically the ghosts unless he tries very hard so imagine how much more difficult it would be to sense a ½ ghost, so a.k.a. he does not know Danny is half ghost, yet)

 John Constantine had never had kids as far as he believed and knew and if he did they would be like half demon kids that were immediately taken away and  used for something horrible like a sacrifice or something so he never got to watch them grow up or build a connection with them but there was one exception, John Constantine did not really know about the boys existence for the first 10 years of the boys  life but somehow he learned of Danny and despite never interacting with him personally only keeping an eye on him occasionally he felt a connection one  sided connection mostly but a connection, he would never admit it but he loved his son

So imagine his shock and absolute rage when he finds his son beaten, bloodied and clutching his stomach/chest like it was his last life line. John had not checked up on his son in slightly over two years last time he came to check on his son it was a few days after his 14th birthday ( a.k.a. before the accident) because things became too busy.

So John  would immediately take him to the house of mysteries to heal him and one of his cursed/possessed/living objects told john  that there was more than one person that he brought into the house, John will be confused by this and would then use a bit of magic to search for the other person only to realize that the other person was a baby inside of his son.

John obviously knew his son was trance and he really did not care, Once again he would never admit it but he loved him and based on the amount of bruising cuts and probably a few other things John Constantine would come to the conclusion that his son was assaulted and this would truly make his blood boil.

(what actually happened was Elly was destabilizing and she needed to be incubated to save her life so Danny took her core into himself and because she is still technically have human a small body started forming inside of him making him technically pregnant, but due to his parents figuring out about his ghost half and not having a very good reaction to it they captured him and kind of tortured him they didn’t get to a vivisection yet because he was too scared they would destroy Ellys core, so he used his remaining power to create an explosion of some kind and escape and then pass out a couple few kilometres away from town.)

After Danny woke up John would explain who he was and that Danny was now safe, obviously his life would be a bit weird now but John would try his best to protect him.

John  would obviously ask Danny if he wants to keep the baby and Danny would say yes, and John would leave it at that not really happy that his son will have to become a teen dad but he wasn’t going to push it.

[prettytoxicrevolver]

Protector | Matt Rempe

wc. 2.1k

You decide to go on a first date on Valentine's Day but what happens when the date goes beyond horrible? You call your best friend to help save you from it.

warnings: really really mean date, mentions a concern for being drugged but nothing actually happens

So maybe going on a first date with a guy you’ve never met before on Valentine’s Day was not your best idea. 

The fomo of Valentine's day has been weighing on you ever since you were a teenager. You were far from the most popular kid in school and had little luck in the love department as you worked through college. Now freshly out of college, living in Manhattan and kicking off your career, you figured now was the time to start getting out there and going on dates. 

To say you have hated online dating ever since trying it would be an extreme understatement. It felt like you had been on hundreds of dates with zero success and tonight was no exception. 

Your date Paul was a bit older than you, unemployed at the moment and looking for a new relationship after just leaving his ex. He met up with you at this fancy restaurant you have never been to and has so far criticized everything about you. 

“Why would you order seafood?” Paul sneers, looking down at your dish. “It’s gonna make your breath smell and I don’t want to have to deal with that later.” 

You’re shocked at how you’re able to keep your face neutral, at least long enough to cough out some excuse that you needed to use the restroom. You grab your purse and your phone, excusing yourself before speed walking over to the bathroom. Once safely inside, you open your phone but pause directly afterwards. 

Who were you supposed to call? 

You were still fairly new to the city, your best friend still lives back home, college friends were either out with their partners or out at a bar, there didn’t seem like anyone could come to your rescue. You started to think through excuses to make to Paul but fall flat. 

Then, you do something you shouldn’t. You call him. 

Matt was just settling into his short break from the NHL. Granted he hasn’t played a ton of games, he still reveled in a break from the grueling schedule of hockey life in general. He knew he was due back to the rangers in less than a week but for now he was content in catching up on some reading and relaxing. 

Just as he’s settled into his couch, fantasy novel in hand, his phone goes off. He looks down, spotting your contact flashing on his screen and he sighs quietly. He remembers you mentioning a date for today but he can’t remember much past that. 

You and Matt have been friends for about a year now and Matt has had a crush on you for even longer than that. Damn near since he got drafted to the Rangers back in 2020. You had done some on and off work for the Rangers for a while now, a side hustle job that Matt wished was your full time one so he could see you more often. 

You were there the day he was drafted, stepping in for media/photos for the day and he had beat himself up for years following for not getting your number that day. When he saw you during his NHL debut it felt like fate was on his side and he made sure to introduce himself better this time. 

You’ve been close friends ever since but that only made Matt’s crush on you grow stronger. He always tried to play it off but time and time again of saving you, protecting you, was hurting his heart more and more. He promised he’d always be there for you but at what cost? His heart? 

Still, he picks up anyway. 

“Hello?” 

Your heart floods in relief at Matt’s familiar voice, a jump of butterflies adding to the mixture as well. 

“Oh thank god,” you release in a breath. “I really need your help.” 

Matt’s heart clenches at your words and he can’t help the way he’s already standing from his seat, walking over to where he keeps his keys. 

“This guy I’m on a date with is a total creep and now that I think about it I left my drink uncovered just now and I’m scared and he keeps making weird comments and-” 

“I’m on my way,” Matt interjects, anger flaring his words and you visibly relax at his response. 

You hang up the phone, shooting Matt a text with the address you were at and he tells you he’ll only be five minutes. You make your way back to the table where Paul is clearly unamused. 

“What? You have an emergency? You suddenly need to leave right this minute?” he asks sarcastically and you shake your head. 

“No I just-” you start but he’s quick to cut you off. 

“You know, a decent person would just tell someone that the date isn’t going well instead of making excuses. This is the worst date I’ve ever been on.” 

“Excuse me?” you snap, anger rising in your chest. You had been nothing but kind and polite this entire time and all he’s done is rip into you and you were done playing the sweet and demure girl. 

“Firstly, you pick this horrible restaurant. Then, you catfish me, lying about your weight and showing up looking like you just rolled out of bed. God and your personality! You-” 

His rant sends you into a spiral that causes you to freeze, unable to react in any way. Your brain blocks out his next words, not sure what to do next when the decision is taken out of your hands. You watch as someone steps up, grabbing Paul by the shirt and hauling him up from his chair. 

The minute Matt steps into the restaurant he spots you, your posture stiff and unwelcoming, something that sets him on edge instantly. He starts to walk over, his long strides making short work of the distance but when he hears your date's words it takes all of him not to start sprinting at him. 

“You are such an obnoxious little-“ Paul continues but Matt has him by the collar of his shirt and is pulling him out of his seat before he can finish the words. 

“Don’t you ever,” Matt’s voice snaps you out of your state and you stare as he pushes Paul backwards, effectively blocking him from you. “Speak to her or fuck even look at her again, or it will be the last thing you do.” 

Matt is breathing heavily like he just completed a 3 minute shift on the ice and is still staring down his opponent. He’s trying to tamp down his anger but he never realized what people meant about seeing red until this moment. This rat faced looking dick was saying these things to you? Oh Matt was gonna kill him. 

The restaurant is deafeningly silent after Matt’s words and you watch as Paul analyzes the situation before holding his hands up in surrender. Matt stares him down for another moment or two before turning towards you. 

Matt wants nothing more than to turn and lunge at Paul and beat him senseless but he knows you and your safety are the priority. He grabs your purse and jacket before taking your hand in his other free one and pulling you out of the restaurant. 

Matt drags you down the block before you finally pull him to a stop, the intensity of the moment still thrumming in your veins. Matt turns to face you, waiting for you to do or say something and you take a deep breath, running a hand through your hair. His heart leaps looking at you, wanting to pull you into his chest and hold you close so you know you’re safe but wanting to give you space to process what just happened. 

“Fuck darling you’re shaking,” Matt says finally and when you look at him you realize the adrenaline mixed with the cold February weather has you shaking like a leaf. He steps forward, wrapping you up in your jacket and his proximity makes you finally take a breath of relief. 

“Thank you for helping me,” you murmur quietly. Matt’s heart pounds at the words, a mix of anger, jealousy, and sadness rushing around inside of him. 

Matt lets out a heavy sigh and steps back with a curt nod of his head. His warmth leaves and you’re shivering again causing you to frown. 

“I’m glad you’re okay,” he says, “Let’s get you home.” 

It’s the only thing he can say at the moment, his heart and mind in turmoil. He would do anything to protect you, he knew that truth for the rest of his life. But he hates that that’s all he is to you. A protector. He needed it to stop before his heart gave out. He turns away from you and you can’t help but step back up next to him, wrapping your hands around his arm as he starts to walk. 

Matt wants to shake you off but the feeling of you next to him settles his heart in an instant and he steps closer to you as you make your way back to your apartment. The journey is short and your heart seems to have settled almost to a normal rhythm now that you’re home safe with Matt next to you. 

When you get to your door you unlock it and let Matt in without a word. He follows you slowly into the kitchen where you pour yourself a glass of water and just as you’re about to offer something to Matt as well, he starts to speak. 

“I should go,” he mutters awkwardly and you frown at his words. 

Matt knew that if he stayed here, comforted you, went as far as staying the night, the pattern would continue and his heart would stay stuck in this endless loop of hope and heartbreak. He had to get out now for the best. Even when everything else in him was screaming at him to stay. 

“Please stay?” 

“Why?” he cuts you off, stepping closer with an intensity that wasn’t there before. 

“Why?” you repeat, confused by his question. 

“I promised to keep you safe, and I kept my promise,” he snaps and your face twists to confusion. “I’m done here.”

Your heart splinters at each word, falling apart at the seams as he talks. Tears threaten to spill over, you watch as Matt takes in your expression, something unfamiliar flickering over his features before he turns away. 

Matt can feel that each movement in his body is beyond forced. He has to tell himself to turn, to take a step, take another step, not look back at you and so on. He can’t handle it. 

“Excuse me?” you snap and he pauses. “I’m not done with you.” 

You march over to him, grabbing his arm and pulling him to face you. He towers over you, his six foot nine inch frame should be intimidating but right now it’s just frustrating. He stands in front of you, motionless, his eyes finding purchase on something behind you. 

“Look at me,” you demand and his eyes flicker for a moment and you repeat yourself. Finally his chocolate brown eyes land on you and you instinctively take a breath. 

“You may think you’re keeping me safe and that you’ve done your job as my protector or whatever so now you get to leave,” you start and Matt stares at you with a blank expression. “But I only ever feel safe when you’re around.” 

“What?” he asks, shell shocked by your words. 

“I need you Matt,” you tell him quietly. “I need you here. I need you to keep me safe. I need you to help me I just, I fucking need you.” 

The look in your eyes is so vulnerable, so intense Matt can’t look away. He knows the underlying meaning to your words but he’s too scared to take the leap. He doesn’t want to be wrong. He can’t ruin this. 

“Matt,” you say, breaking his train of thought. “My love, you’re all I want.” 

That’s all Matt needs to hear before he’s finally stepping up to you, wrapping you up in his arms and hauling you to him so you’re face to face. His lips meet yours in a desperate kiss that has warmth spilling throughout you. 

Matt felt like he was flying. He knew he was always going to protect you, take care of you, keep you safe, love you. He never realized you depended on that truth as much as he depended on living it out. He was nothing if you weren’t safe. 

“I love you,” you whimper out quietly when you break apart. 

“I love you,” he responds, pressing his forehead against yours. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” 

His promise is everything to the two of you and your heart settles gently in his hands, him handing over his as well. 

[bi-planeandsimple]

I see so many posts worrying about boys and men, and their mental health and their body image issues and be kind to men and men are good and men are hot and it’s okay and good to like men and if you’re really a feminist you can’t hate men and don’t worry men we don’t hate you …and vanishingly few posts about how feminism is actually about freeing women from the hell we exist in. It’s about liberating all women from patriarchy. Vanishingly few about if you are a feminist these are the things killing and hurting women and here is what men can do to stop this. Putting any responsibility on men for the system created by for and of men is too far, I guess.

Like yes, all that is true about men, men are not inherently evil and body positivity is for men too. Sure all that is correct. But can we talk about men as beneficiaries of misogyny and the patriarchy? Women still do the majority of childcare and cleaning/keeping the house while also working full time - and that’s just in America. In other countries it’s even worse. And there are absolutely not enough legal protections for domestic violence victims globally. In America Republicans want to remove no fault divorce which was one small protection for victims of domestic violence. And there is not gender parity in the perpetration of domestic and sexual violence. And It’s not biological - it’s 100% cultural. Rape culture is perpetuated by women too, yes, but that’s likely because we see what happens when we don’t toe the line. At best it’s pointless and at worst we lose our entire world and even life for daring to suggest a man should choose to behave better.

Like so many women came forward for me too. We did our part. We did the scary thing, the brave thing, the right thing. And what happened? Not a lot. A few individuals got charged, but man more women got yelled at for daring to speak up. For daring to tarnish a man’s reputation for “only” for doing xyz. something every man does (which is the problem) or it’s not a big deal or you’re lying for attention etc etc. and there has not been a larger cultural shift for the better I have seen. Andrew Tate got more popular after me too. and many many women are still routinely abused and raped and routinely not believed when they come forward and talk about being abused or raped. We saw amber heard ignored and mocked and belittled by tons of men and women online who fell for the smear campaign Depp paid for. Roe v Wade is gone and now in some states it’s a crime to seek an abortion. And those who rat you out for even wanting one can be rewarded for their trouble. (Which of course means as taxpayers we are paying men to rape women - rape a woman repeatedly until she gets pregnant, call in her desire to get an abortion, get $10,000 - easy peasy for any one who thinks women aren’t human - which is too many men)

Ending patriarchy needs to be the goal. Not passively “believing men and women are equal” that’s not feminism. That’s not an action. You aren’t doing anything. a belief is nothing. Men need to highlight women coworkers who are talked over, give them credit for their ideas publicly, push them forward for raises and promotions, do more around the house, take care of their own kids, provide transport to and pay for abortions, not stalk or attack women who reject them, not spread rumors lies or personal information shared with them in private, not share nudes, not send dick pics unprompted, not create deepfake porn of their exes, and stop perpetuating and supporting rapists and abusers and rape culture.

Stop defending Andrew Tate and Louis CK and Johny Depp and Woody Allen and R Kelly and P Diddy and Cosby and Roman Polanski and Neil Gaiman and and. The list is so long and it’s not even the half of it. Stop defending your cousin your uncle your father your brother your friend. Cause these perpetrators are not all loners born fully formed out of the ether - they have families and friends. Who don’t listen to the wives the girlfriends the sisters the daughters the friends. And so they continue to harm. For years and years and years. Traumatizing dozens of people, or the same people over and over. children too often included. with no consequences and no one to stop them.

This is what it means to be a woman. It’s not about genitals or chromosomes. Of course trans women are women. There are many ways to be a woman. But something we all share is being an ignored inconvenience to larger society. It’s about our harm being expected and accepted. As the cost of doing business. We are An afterthought. For no one to act on our behalf. Most rape victims are women and most rapists are serial rapists. So one individual is hurting lots of women. And is never caught. Or stopped. Or even slowed. But saying “I hate men” because of their collective inaction on liberating women from the hell they benefit from is the real crime. That’s what’s really keeping so many male feminists away from the cause, from doing the work. If we were just slightly nicer then maybe they wouldn’t hurt us would help us.

So I will say to all men: Stop minimizing what abusers and rapists did, listen to women, and take action. Women cannot end the patriarchy on our own. We have been trying, believe me, since so few men join us, and those that do are chased off by other men. But we need all men to step up and take action. Take accountability and make change happen. Stop asking for our sexual histories, stop forcing your creepy friend on us, stop telling women to give him a chance, stop ratting us out for wanting an abortion or otherwise keeping us from getting medical care, whether abortions or hysterectomies, or vaccines or anything else. stop commenting on our weight stop expecting sex ever, start learning more about menstruation start carrying tampons and pads start cleaning up after yourself and cooking your own meals and parenting your own kids and making your own appointments and believing women who say they are being abused or were raped. And then help them. Ask them what they need. Do that.

When the patriarchy ends, everyone benefits, yes even men. When there is no more rape culture male victims will be believed about their rapes too, and treated with the care and respect that all victims/survivors deserve. When there is no more patriarchy and ppl’s worth and rights are not determined based on looks, or passing, this will help cis and trans fat balding men as well as cis and trans fat women to not be discriminated against.

until we seriously address these cultural pitfalls, and until men and boys seriously address their failings in themselves and and in fellow men and boys around them, and until men realize our toxic misogynistic culture is the problem and permanently change the culture, and change their own behavior, we won’t get anywhere. And women globally will remain in hell.

Men shouldn’t feel bad for being men - they should feel bad only if they don’t actively work to destroy the patriarchy every single day. Action vs inaction. That’s what matters. A little perspective is what I would like to see on this site.

The toxic masculinity epidemic and machoization of America is why I'm even less willing to entertain a lot of niceness and cordiality to the "we need to be nicer to and understanding of men these days!" argument because the problem is that these men think they don't need to experience negative consequences for their behavior and I'm tired of it.

As a trans woman who struggled with my identity and experienced a lot of this up close while closeted (and veered from very masculine to somewhat androgynous), and continued to experience it from the other side now that I'm out and actively embracing it (and have been for years now, actively and very feminine-presenting) a lot of this is bullshit and the same pleas for understanding the challenges of women, or of non-binary or intersex people are not extended in the same way, to the same level, with the same fervency.

Why isn't it an alarm bell for society and culture that women aren't being understood or listened to or regarded? There's no movement calling for the reorganization of education and employment on behalf of women who might not be succeeding or progressing as there is with the fucking Richard Reeves motherfuckers and their Men and Boys Crisis invocation.

I'm not saying I'm perfect, or have everything figured out, but I've had to work on myself and grapple with myself to be comfortable and present in society, and I don't see why a lot of men can't be told they should do the same.

[hopefully-helpful-daemon]

I've been doing nothing but playing Marvel rivals for weeks now, so I thought I'd do the Batboy's (and co) mains!

Dick is Black Panther. The worst (in a good way) Panther main you'll ever meet. He takes out the enemy supports so fast that you'd think he was cheating. He gets yelled at by the enemy team every game he plays. He does get target banned in higher ranks, but that doesn’t stop him, he's just as good on Spiderman

Cassandra plays vanguards and only vanguards. She'll play whichever one they need in that game, but has the most time on Hulk and Doctor Strange. When asked why she doesn't switch, she said that she doesn't take up a lot of space irl, so she likes being the one to protect people in the game :)

Jason is either Punisher or Bucky. He will not switch, and to be fair, he's so good with them that he doesn't need to. That doesn't stop the rest of the fam from dragging his ass with how much they make fun of him. Real creative, playing a superhero game and picking the ones that have guns.

Tim will switch depending on what they need. He has Lord on so many characters that they start questioning if he's blowing off hero work to play. He likes playing Magik the most, but if the other team is triple healer, then he'll switch to Psylocke and absolutely demolish them. He's the dude that switched characters 12 times but still had the most kills and lest deaths.

Damian tried to play Hela his first game, realized that none of the others were playing strategists, and hasn’t switched from them since. Mantis is his best, he's insane on her and is somehow always keeping the others healed still.

Steph is a Moonknight truther through and through. Yes she's sitting in a corner shooting her ankhs, it's part of his kit! That's how he's supposed to be used! She isn't useless on him and doesn't need her ankhs to do damage, but she'll still be using them thank you very much!

They have not, and will not, convince Babs to play with them. She was an Overwatch playing for a time, broke three computers and 7 keyboards. She knows how a game like that will end for her and she's not doing it again.

Harper is a Hela main. She ends most matches with 0 deaths and almost double the kills of the next best on her team. No one knows where she's at during the game but she's terrifying and they’ve seen people actually run from her before. they banned her and Dick playing together after the first time when all of the enemy team left on second point.

They try and get Bruce to play with them, but he tells them that he's not good at the game. This is a dirty lie and he holds the highest rank in the family. He just finds it embarrassing to play with them because he gets really into the game and has said shit on vc before that he'd never want his children to hear. The day he got put on the enemy team as some of his kids was the best day of his life (B won but it was a tight match)

[rottenpumpkin13]

In honour of the menstrual pad question- how would ASGZC (+the Turks) react if they had to help deliver a baby? 😁

Sephiroth: Calm, precise, and surprisingly knowledgable while everyone panics. "Labor can last anywhere from a few hours to over a day, but based on her current dilation—" *Everyone stares* "…What? Hojo made me study reproduction extensively. I've assisted in three live births. Of course, they were all lab specimens, but I assure you the baby will not be taken away to be dissected."

After delivering the baby and ensuring everything is stable, he looks down at the mother and says "You will need to maintain your attachment to the child. Do not leave it unattended. Do not die mysteriously and leave it to be raised by someone else."

Angeal: Absolutely glowing. More emotional than the mother. "You're doing amazing, just breathe, you've got this!" Then the baby crowns. He starts crying tears of joy. The mother is screaming. The moment the baby is born, Angeal grabs the kid and insists on holding them for way longer than is probably acceptable. If you try to take the baby from him, he gets very defensive.

Genesis: Acts like he knows what he's doing. "Ah, the miracle of life. A creation more profound than any verse, a testament to the enduring will of—" *the baby crowns* *genesis violently faints* He does not get up until the baby is already in someone else's arms.

Zack: Wild mix of enthusiasm and sheer panic. "Okay! Okay! We got this! You’re doing great—oh man, that's a lot of blood—okay, breathing, right, we're breathing!" *tries to help but is mostly bouncing around like an overexcited puppy* Then the baby actually starts coming. Zack freezes. His hands shoot up like he's trying to surrender to the situation itself. "OH. OH WOW. THAT'S A WHOLE—THAT'S—THAT'S HAPPENING—WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FUCKING STORK??"

Reno: "I did NOT sign up for this. Wait, did I sign up for this? Is this kid mine? NO IT'S NOT." *Halfheartedly fans the laboring person with a magazine while mostly looking like he wants to escape* "Where is the doctor? Shouldn't a doctor be here? No? Okay, cool, yeah, let's just deliver a whole-ass human today." By the time the baby arrives, Reno is in full panic mode and has 8 cigarettes in his mouth at once.

Rufus: Has never been this close to childbirth and is visibly displeased about it. "There are hospitals for this. Surely one of you has a phone?" Watches Tseng do everything.

Tseng: Rolls up sleeves. "Very well." *Delivers the baby with expertise, ensuring minimal distress for both parent and child* When asked where he learned this: "I've delivered many children in my time." Refuses to elaborate further.

Cloud: The second things start happening, Cloud surprisingly is the calmest person in the room. "Alright, someone get me hot water, towels, and a sturdy knife."

*Everyone stares at him*

Zack: WHY do you need a knife?

Cloud: For the umbilical cord. Or for protection in case a spirit tries to steal the baby. You know, standard birth precautions.

Zack: WHERE? Standard birth precautions WHERE?

Cloud: In Nibelheim? My mom was a midwife at one point. I know what I'm doing.

Cloud, to the mother: You're doing great. Deep breaths. Just like we do in the fields. If the baby's born under the full moon, they'll have the be rich. If it's storming, they'll be a warrior. If a crow caws three times, you have to name them after your grandmother or risk a bad harvest.

Zack: That doesn't even make sense!

Cloud, ignoring him: But if it's born with spiky hair, they're destined to be a hero.

Zack, fist pumping: Oh yeah!

[reflectionsofacreator]

[takes a long drink from my Arizona iced tea] so like one of the central themes for FFXV is like, growing up, sure. You know that, I know that, whatever. Coming of age, coming into your own, taking the mantle of king, whatever you wanna call it. Cool, awesome, we love a good coming of age story!

But I find the sub theme of that one to be probably the most fascinating? By and large, all the chocobros have to deal with the fallout of being lied to by the adult figures in their lives, and it's the most prevalent with Noctis and Gladio. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of it in Ignis and Prompto too, but the particularly insidious way that Noctis and especially Gladio were lied to sometimes gets me.

See I don't even really think it was actually all that intentional. Not really a conscious act by Regis and Clarus, or the society around them? More like... I dunno, the lies that you get told by your parents as a little kid and you grow up to realize that the world is a lot different than you thought.

That being said, Noctis was absolutely lied to by his father; both about the nature of the King of Light and the idea that he'd succeed Regis as reigning monarch. Regis did it out of love, knowing that Noctis would die young, and reasoned that Noctis should get to have a relatively normal life, but it was still a lie. Gladio, likewise, was lied to by his father and Regis, told that he would be the next monarch's Shield, that he would fulfill a role that's got a pretty set expectation in their society.

See, Gladio expects Noctis to act a certain way, to act as King, and he gets increasingly frustrated when Noctis doesn't, or can't live up to that. He's not precisely wrong to expect it either, given their roles and their statues, and knowing that they're taking the throne during a full blown war. The problem is that Noctis was never taught how to be the thing that Gladio was told Noctis was going to be? And that's what causes friction with them all the time. It's fascinating, watching it play out and realizing the underlying issues with their relationships actually have very little to do with them as people and instead because of what they were told to expect from each other.

Gladio is also his own kettle of fish that I don't think the narrative is quite self aware enough to articulate properly, or even get into. Gladio falls into the trap of toxic masculinity very often -- struggling to articulate his feelings, expressing most of his feelings as anger, picking fights rather than talking about what's going on, using his strength as both a character aspect and bonus, etc. The list goes on. There's also the fact that he's sort of portrayed as a bit of a womanizer and the masculine ideal; tall, rugged, strong, etc which plays into all of that. XV plays him very straight (and straight) with these concepts, and just sort of ... expects it to be fine? Which is at odds with how the other three bros interact and are more emotionally available towards each other, leaving Gladio as one of the weaker bros in canon.

It kind of sucks too, because like, there's so much to unpack with him? His DLC is about wanting to have the strength to protect Noctis on the surface, but really when you look at it... you could also argue that the DLC is about Gladio's fears that he'll end up as dead as his dad did (ha, try that for alliteration) and the crushing weight of failure. Gladio has every right to fear his mortality, fear the fact that he is, nominally, the first in line on the battlefield and the the last defense for Noctis. If Noctis is to die, they will go through him first, and that's! Scary! But the game doesn't really get into that, hardly at all, and it makes picking up the pieces for Gladio kind of frustrating. Out of all the bros, he's the one I have to dig the most to find any kind of depth despite being prime real estate for it.

Anyways Gladio and Noctis' dynamic is fascinating if you actually start to unpack it, especially because it's built on the lies that their fathers fed them as children (that they themselves also bought into). I'd go so far to argue that between the two pairs, Noct/Gladio is in much more of a dire need to sit down and actually hash out what they are to each other, outside of their king/shield dynamic. Noct/Iggy certainly has shades of that, but Ignis has decided that they are friends and that he will defy fate if he must, let the world burn if he must, to save Noct's life. That has some depth beyond king/retainer that they're presented as. Noct/Gladio are sort of just... falling into the king/shield dynamic because they're expected to, and it sort of hampers their relationship and their communication.

I'm gonna scramble them both like eggs, probably into an omelette. They make me Think you know

[lordmartiya]

Again on Epic: The Musical... Incidentally. Specifically on the Sirens, and on why I refer to the ones met by Odysseus as the western FLOCK.

According to the myth, the Sirens are NOT mermaids (even if some languages, like my native Italian, use the word from Greek myth to refer both to the mythical creatures and mermaids) - no idea why Jorge portrays them as such. Rather, they are creatures whose bodies are bird in the lower half and beautiful women in the upper half, that use their singing to lure sailors to their shoal and then kill them - hence why I refer to them as a flock, as they are bird women of unspecified type. The myth mentions them by name, with the western flock, residing near Sorrento in Italy, having the most developed story.

These three, Parthenope, Ligeia, and Leucosia, were born as the daughters of the river god Achelous and served as the maids of Persephone until they failed to prevent her kidnapping at the hands of Hades, or even see what happened. For that Persephone's mother, Demeter, turned them into Sirens as punishment. From that day onward they preyed on sailors passing near the site of modern day Sorrento, until Odysseus' ship passed by with the crew protected by Circe's warnings, the crew having the ears covered by beeswax and Odysseus tied to the mast because he wanted to hear their song but wasn't stupid enough to actually risk his life. At the sheer embarrassment of this defeat, the Sirens drowned themselves, with Parthenope's body washing ashore on Megaride's island near modern day Naples (originally called Parthenope), Ligeia's where Terina would be later built, and Leucosia on the future site of Poseidonia (now Pesto, after the Roman name Paestum).

Now, why do I refer to them as the WESTERN flock? Because there was at least another flock in the Black Sea. The Argonauts ran into them on their way to Colchis... And since one of the Argonauts was Orpheus, it was the Sirens to be charmed by the beautiful music. These ones took their defeat much better, and since the Argonauts took a different route while coming back with the deadly Medea on board their ultimate fate is unknown. Epic alludes to this incident indirectly: Odysseus' father Laertes was one of the Argonauts, and Ody would have heard of that encounter and be able to prepare in case he met another flock or had to go in the Black Sea for whatever reason.

EDIT: This post got a lot of comments now missing. It's the result of a kid trying to pick a fight only to run in the fact I know Classical Mythology better than him and have literally nothing to do as I'm in the hospital, leading to over 50 replies before the staff disappeared everything.

[cursedcanon]

JJK men as dads.

Characters: Gojo, Choso , Sakuna, Geto , Toji and Nanami.

Gojo Satoru – The Ridiculously Over-the-Top Dad

Gojo as a father would be chaotic good. He’s the kind of dad who shows up at parent-teacher meetings in designer sunglasses and acts like a celebrity. His kid? Spoiled beyond belief. Need a new toy? Boom, you have the entire toy store. Want dessert before dinner? He’s already handing you ice cream.

He’d be super playful, letting his kid ride on his shoulders at high speeds (terrifying for bystanders), randomly teleporting them places, and making everything a game. But when it comes to protecting them? No one is touching his kid. Ever.

Pros: Funniest and most entertaining dad, will literally bend reality to make his kid smile.

Cons: Probably lets them get away with way too much, so discipline? Who’s she?

Overall: The "best friend" type of dad but still a powerhouse of protection when needed.

Choso – The Overprotective, Gentle Dad

Choso would be so soft with his kid. He’s been through so much loss that once he has a child of his own, they become his entire world. He’d always make sure they feel loved and protected, constantly checking if they ate, if they’re warm, if they’re happy. If they so much as get a scratch, he’s holding them like they’ve been mortally wounded.

His bedtime stories? Legendary. He’s the kind of dad who will sit for hours telling stories and making shadow puppets on the wall. But if someone dares to harm his child? They’re dead. No hesitation.

Pros: Incredibly caring, super protective, and patient.

Cons: Might be too overprotective (his kid is not allowed to climb trees, ever).

Overall: A soft, warm dad who will also commit a crime for his child.

Sukuna – The “I’m Not a Softie” Dad (But He Is)

Sukuna as a dad would pretend he doesn’t care, but deep down, he’s got that soft spot. He’d be the dad that grumbles about how kids are annoying, but the moment his child looks sad? He’s casually placing their favorite snacks next to them and acting like it was always there.

His parenting style would be strict, though. No nonsense, no whining. But the second someone else tries to be mean to his kid? Immediate execution.

Pros: Will make sure his child is the strongest, and no one will ever mess with them.

Cons: Tough love to the max. “Crying? Weak. You can fight a bear, I believe in you.”

Overall: The dad who acts like he doesn’t care but would burn the world for his child.

Geto Suguru – The “Cool But Protective” Dad

Geto would be the cool dad—the one who’s got that chill vibe and never raises his voice unless he needs to. He’s the type to have deep conversations with his kid, teaching them about the world, strength, and how to handle things with grace.

But if someone messes with his child? He will destroy them. Effortlessly.

Pros: Wise, calm, and genuinely wants the best for his child.

Cons: Might be a bit too hands-off sometimes.

Overall: The dad who gives solid advice and will make sure his child is respected.

Toji Fushiguro – The “Tough but Soft” Dad

Toji would be a dad who tries to act like he doesn’t care much, but deep down, he’s so soft when no one’s looking. He’d teach his kid how to defend themselves from a young age and make sure they know how to survive.

He’s rough around the edges, but he’d do anything to give his child a better life than he had. If his kid ever got bullied? That bully would mysteriously disappear (coincidence? I think not).

Pros: Teaches survival skills, fiercely protective, secretly affectionate.

Cons: Struggles with showing emotions, might be distant at times.

Overall: The "tough-love" dad who is actually a big softie.

Nanami Kento – The Reliable, Best-Dad Material

Nanami is the perfect balance. He’s the dad who provides everything his child needs—stability, warmth, and love, but also discipline when necessary. His kid will grow up knowing their worth because Nanami will always be there to remind them.

He’s the kind of dad who comes home tired from work but still helps with homework, reads bedtime stories, and makes pancakes on weekends. If his child cries? He’s holding them and reassuring them with that deep, soothing voice.

Pros: Responsible, loving, and will always put his child first.

Cons: Might worry too much about their future.

Overall: The ultimate “Dad of the Year” type.

[aenor-llelo]

amitoufo he is carbondated

It's the Year of the Snake. Destiny 2's Heresy just came out. But this ain't about her. I sit on your shoulder, I am your xiaoren.

I'm Taiwanese! Let's carbon date The Drifter!

Lightbearers retain their semantic memory (facts, concepts, ideas) and procedural memory (memory of how to do things) of their original life before death. This is implied from game/lore instances of Guardians with unique accents, ethnic coding, memory of languages that are obscure post-Collapse, even cases of Guardians retaining pre-rez war PTSD. It is outright confirmed by Sen-Aret, a Guardian who- due to the sheer age of her remains or some error by her Ghost- was raised with only the knowledge she had in life, and had to learn about modern weapons/language from other Guardians.

Why does this mean anything? It means that the way a Guardian prefers to dress, talk, and generally behave tells you where they came from pre-rez!

Aside from his voice actor being Vietnamese, his entry in the official cookbook is banh mi, a Vietnamese dish, and his clothes are Chinese, which would point to him being Hoa, the Han people of Vietnam. (He also wraps his clothes in an orientation specific to corpses, because he doesn't count Lightbearers as truly alive humans.)

Behavior-wise, though, have you noticed how obsessed he is with jade? The coins, the necklace. Jade is a very precious stone in the Sinosphere, and jade jewelry is for giving luck or protection to the wielder- what you will hear less commonly is that it is meant to work by breaking instead of you when something happens. We give them to kids and elderly for this reason.

(You can wonder, for a second, the jade coins he always plays with before Gambit rounds, wraps around certain weapons for you, and the Red String of Fate ornament for Malfeasance. Is this a man perpetually deeply terrified for everyone or himself, or is he every middle aging ah-yi who just got back into religion while you were in school?)

So he's Vietnamese and the Chinese influence means his pre-rez life had to have been after Chinese imperial interference with Vietnam. Unfortunately, four different historical periods between 111 BC and the 1400s isn't good carbon dating. KE SHI NI HUI KANDAO THE SANDWICH,

banh mi is a baguette sandwich. this kind of bread comes to vietnam in the mid-19th century from French colonizers, and only during WWI did a mixed flour version make this bread accessible outside luxury. Early 1900s le. But "post-1900s" isn't a better narrowing down than "BCs to 1400s" in a future setting like Destiny.

Except that Drifter's banh mi recipe specifically uses pâté. This was only a common banh mi filling before the 1950s, when the partition of Vietnam sent an influx of northerners to Saigon and led to the Saigon sandwich that is modern banh mi. So, 1910s to 1950s. And the fact that he defaults to hanfu rather than Western dress or more modern standard Vietnamese ethnic clothing like ao dai skews him having been an adult on the earlier end of this time frame or living in a more rural area where colonization ideas were not as enforced. (One could explore him having other Vietnamese forms of cultural expression like lacquered teeth, actually.)

Ain't that something? He could have lived through WWI or even saw the beginning of the Communist revolution. The possibility that his first life was a survivor of colonization, war draft, and/or violent civil war could add a lot to readings of his character, especially his C-PTSD, but that's a whole other post if the people demand it. It's a neat thing to explore, huh?

And don't call him a rat le! Bad enough already the game think that is cute! White people calling East Asians rats is generally a slur in reference (from my collection) to immigrant "infestation" and part of general stereotypes about their uncleanliness (they cook with gutter oil, they eat rats, they cheap they scam they lie dadadada). You want source bigger than I grow up with white people shout in my face and their children pull their eyes to squint like a "jap"? Look up WWI propaganda posters about Japan. They did not invent that out of nowhere, they make Japanese people into rats because that's something they already say.

"It's just about Japanese-" what if I told you a large part of Western racism about Asians is that they can't tell the difference and don't care. and they're making fun of similar cultures and features.

"My Asian friend said it was okay-" the asian friend values your friendship and your comfort more than what they feel when you say slurs, dude. sorry i had to be the one to tell you that. one friend (or stranger online) giving you the pass to say it in front of them doesn't mean you're allowed to say it to everyone.

"it's fictional-" Real East Asian people getting beat down by Sinophobia matters a little more than how cute you think it is to call a Vietnamese man an animal that your culture associates with filth and plague.

"Chinese zodiac animal-" The snake is right there. The game won't shut up about how snake he is. We're having a Drifter-heavy episode right in the beginning of the snake lunar year. His personality matches the charm, mystery, and wisdom associated with the sign. He is never thematically associated with rats. He is never respectfully associated with rats.

It would be one thing if it was another asian character calling him that in the context of the rat's folkloric characteristics, but this is an American game by an American studio writing someone voiced by a non-asian to call him a rat as an insult about his cleanliness and food choices. Good for you if that doesn't hurt your feelings! Hurt many more people than you! They more real than him!

Good game story. Mistakes happen! Doesn't mean you have special privilege to repeat it.

He is snake! Viper! Asp! Cost zero dollar to say that instead! Don't keep a pet slur in your pocket!

[maxdibert]

I wished lily wasn't the reason for Severus' loyalty. The revelation of his love for her (platonically or romantically) was truly important. You have the incident that kickstarted the prophecy. Severus' switch to the order. Voldemort giving Lily a chance to choose. Severus playing an important role in the second wizarding war. All because of a friendship of two people from spinner's end.

JKR should have developed it more. I understand that she went for the twist, but when the thrill of the discovery is gone there are so many questions that are unanswered.

first, I do not like Lily as a friend. She forgives the marauders for the years of bullying, see her 'best friend' being hanged upside down and threatened to have his genitals exposed. Who the fuck does that ? Also when Harry asked if his mother knew that James still bullying Severus in the seventh year, remus answered with "she did not know too much." so she knew something...

I do not like Lily as a sister, why did she not let James know that vernon probably doesn't know anything about the wizarding world before they went on dinner. I mean wth is Petunia supposed to say to Vernon ? "Oh yeah my sister is a witch and she went to this magical school". Not the best way to make a men fall in love with you. Is Petunia even allowed to tell Vernon all of this under the secrecy law? (I'm aware that restaurant scene is not canon, but that's what I thought when I read it on the website).

I don't like the way she uses her other friends opinion of Severus and their friendship, who clearly don't like Severus, as an argument to why Severus should stop hanging out with his Slytherin friends. Why are your friends even discussing Severus?

Also, I don't like the way she idolize Albus Dumbledore. Severus' got bullied for years, and Dumbledore did nothing. Severus was nearly killed by a werewolf and Dumbledore made Severus swear to never talk about it. What did he do, he made James head boy. Yeah if that happened to me and this man was the leader of the order, I might have asked for the death eater sign up too. Ridiculous.

By making his love for her so pure and selfless, it makes me wonder why he loves her so much. We know nothing, and the things we know just make me go "bruh really.... her ? .... she would not spare a thought for you if your funeral was announced in the papers".

Listen I was never part of the cool kids, so perhaps I don't understand her. But then again, for a Gryffindor, she really is a social coward.

It makes everything so bloody tragic. I sometimes wonder if I'd wished Severus stayed a death eater in the story but then one with guilt because he started caring about the professors and children through the years of working there.

It was honestly funny to read all of this because it feels like listening to myself when I was 16 or 17. I mean, even before I was a fan of Severus—because that came with time���I had a pretty neutral opinion of the character. I didn’t dislike him because I understood his motivations, but I wasn’t particularly a fan either. And if I wasn’t a fan, it was precisely because of everything you’re talking about.

A lot of people say Severus was an obsessive incel who spent 24/7 thinking about Lily, but I never saw it that way—I just thought he was an idiot. I thought, Wow, what an absolute moron. Like, did he really sacrifice his entire life for a woman who was actually kind of a piece of shit? Did he really give up everything to protect the son of his bully and the woman who married said bully? Could you be a bigger loser? No, seriously, could you be more pathetic? Because that woman not only let him be bullied for years, she almost smiled at his bully while he was publicly stripping him. She practically blamed him for her lack of popularity because she was seen with him, and somehow, he was supposed to be grateful. She gaslit him when he tried to tell her about what his abusers were doing to him. She literally told him he should be grateful to one of his abusers. Like, this woman was a piece of shit who was just looking to climb the social ladder. She loved being Gryffindor’s golden girl, just like she was the golden girl back home, and she hated that she had a weird, ugly, nerdy friend with questionable associations who tainted her image. On top of that, she loved having Gryffindor’s rich, pureblood king fawning over her because it was yet another symbol of status—but, of course, she had to play hard to get because good girls always resist bad boys.

That’s how I saw Lily Evans (and honestly, how I still see her), and it seemed absurd to me that Severus would have given so much for her when, honestly, I would have told her to fuck off. Like, if I were Severus, I would’ve dropped her the first time she gaslit me about my abusers. But if for some reason I had still stuck around after that, the moment I saw her almost smiling at my main abuser while he was stripping me in public, I would’ve beaten her so hard she’d have lost all her teeth.

That was my mindset when I was younger, before I learned a lot of things. Back then, I didn’t know what toxic friendships were or how easy it was to fall into them. I had no idea what codependency was, nor did I understand what an attachment figure was. At the time, I grasped some of these concepts vaguely, but over the years, I not only understood them more deeply but also experienced them—both personally and through people around me.

As I got older, I realized that the fact that Severus came from a home where he felt terribly unsafe, and that Lily represented his first safe place as a child, played a huge role in his cognitive development and psyche. In some way, he was always going to be grateful to her for probably being the only good thing in his childhood. And those childhood attachments are some of the strongest and hardest to break because they’re so deeply ingrained in a person. On top of that, Lily was his friend for years, during key developmental stages, and he probably didn’t see all of her flaws—he had her idealized. He grew up in a house where violence was the norm, and his classmates at Hogwarts also treated violence as normal. Lily was different, so he simply wasn’t capable of recognizing problematic behaviors that anyone with a healthy upbringing and healthy role models would have seen immediately. Because he didn’t have those things.

We’re not talking about a character who had examples of healthy behavior, affection, or attachments—we’re talking about someone who had the opposite. So, of course, he wasn’t capable of seeing anything bad in Lily. To him, she was the good in his environment. She was his moral compass, a kind of lighthouse to guide him when he wanted to know if he was heading in the right direction. It’s even possible that he never blamed her for marrying James, and instead, just thought it was normal that she gave in—because she was so good that she could see the good in even horrible people like James. Or maybe he believed James had somehow deceived her.

Severus’s attachment to Lily is kind of like a child who idolizes their mother and is completely unable to see her flaws—even when she acts like a complete asshole—because she’s their mother. And if she does something bad, well, it’s probably the fault of the people around her, not her. That’s exactly how Severus saw Lily.

When I understood all of this, I felt like I finally understood the character and his motivations better. I think it’s important to look at it not from our perspective as outsiders forming opinions, but from his perspective as someone inside the situation—someone who was emotionally dependent on her and either didn’t see the truth or didn’t want to see it.

Over the years, I’ve toned down my discourse about Lily, but my opinion of her hasn’t changed all that much from when I was a teenager. The only difference is that now I rationalize it better. But I still think she was a self-centered social climber. The only thing that’s changed is that before, I just thought she was a shallow, frivolous person—now I give her a little more credit and think her behavior was based on an inferiority complex stemming from her working-class background and her Muggle heritage.

But that doesn’t change the core of the issue. And honestly? I think she and James Potter were a perfect match—two absolute assholes who deserved each other. In fact, I’ve never been bothered by Jily because I’ve always thought they belonged together. Equally insufferable.

[oh-no-its-bird]

This comment on the recent One Step Three Steps chapter possessed me and I ended up doodling Ichigo in one of those cute bo-peep dresses

This whole thing is made cuter by the fact that Ichigo's mother, Keiko, is in fact one of the clans sheep headers.

I am obsessed w the idea of the Hatake having sheep. I need it in my life. The Hatake wolves and their little known sheep,,, They are quite possibly the best protected sheep in all of the elemental nations, constantly surrounded by wolves (some summons, some normal wolves) who know to keep them safe

I can feel myself starting to itch with the urge for a Hatake lore dump so actually, that is what we are doing now. Sorry not sorry, I have too many thoughts and opinions to not take this opportunity to ramble now that I've found myself here

In the warring states, the Hatake were farmers-- they interacted with other clans very little because in general, everything they needed, they made or grew for themselves, Including wool products.

They would collect the wool in the summer, spend spring and fall preparing it to spin-- cleaning it, sorting it, dying it, etc. Then in winter, when there was little work to do compared to the rest of the year, they'd begin to weave. Blankets, tapestries, clothes, etc.

The wool is distributed among those who wish to weave based on a mix of merit and favor. The Hatake themselves are a very communal bunch, sharing pretty much all of their tools and resources, and their small size only makes them closer.

So, when it's time to hand out wool, the finer wool goes to those with the skill to make something truly great out of it. Then the slightly less as good wool goes to the next in line, and so on.

There's a whole weaving hierarchy within the clan, with some doing it just for fun and to kill time (and thus being given the more bottom of the barrel yarn) while others spend all year planning to make things intending to sell for the clan to earn coin (and then those people are given the better quality yarn)

I'm actually going to expose myself here, take something I wrote for a possible far in the future Here Before and After Me chapter, from what is supposed to be the Hatake's introduction:

Instead, Haruka was busy poking through the thick blankets presented to her. Piled up high on a wheelbarrow, the labor of love of so many hands over the winter. "Hoo, the weaving this year really is spectacular. I'm almost tempted to say we shouldn't sell them." She ran her hand across the thick pelt of a blanket lined with rabbit fur. Keiko's work, she recognized instantly. 'Good shit,' as the kids say. Besides her, Tetsuo, her young chosen heir, pet a blue and brown quilt thoughtfully.   "They could make for an impressive gift, if we're ever in the position to have to give one." "As good an excuse as any to keep one or three." Haruka chuckled, picking a more intricate blanket out of the pile and holding it up to admire its pattern.

^ When winter is done, everyone who made something will donate at least one thing they've made to an overall collection, which is then sorted through and (usually) sold.

(With occasional exceptions to save more impressive works to keep as a clan treasure, or future gift or bribe if they need one)

He sorted through them, trying to separate by quality and method of craft. But, seeing as they all shared space on the same wheelbarrow, there was really only so much separation he could do. "Ugh, Tsuki." Tetsuo cursed under his breath, picking out a tapestry carefully embroidered with near hypnotic spirals that seemed to go on forever. "We can't sell this, it'll end up cursing someone." He tossed the supposedly cursed tapestry over a shoulder, burrowing through more thick sheets before he paused. A disgruntled expression passed over his face as he plucked out an already tattered blanket, more bundle of half-burnt rope loosely woven together than anything. "Who let Sora donate to the pile again? She was supposed to be banned, after last year's disaster." When he examined it closer, it seemed like it was made only from scraps of the thick wool they'd spun specifically for their winter weaving. At least no one had given her anything valuable to destroy then. It joined the spiral tapestry slung across his shoulder. "Daisuke, at least, as good as always." He noted, picking up a thick weave of color. Seeing how brightly colored this year's project was, suddenly he understood why the man's hands had been dyed so thoroughly for most of the winter months. Although... Tetsuo brought the blanket up to sniff and then made a face. "Ugh, we'll need to wash out the tobacco smell. His nose really must be failing him, to have left it this strong."

^ quality will vary, and so you'll also have different works that get disqualified from being sold. (And, inevitably, some people who have been told to stop putting their disaster creations into the pile.)

The Hatake's weaving being really high regarded and high quality,,,, them doing something to the wool when they treat it that makes it extra good,,, I need it,,

Anyways, just. The Hatake and their sheep. I need it. There's so much potential there, like. From aesthetics to references of the relationships between sheep and wolves, and beyond.

I love it !!! Give those wolf people some sheep to protect.

[thatgenericwriter]

Womp || Gregory House

Gregory House x fem!reader

your sub for the day is hot but that's not gonna stop you from fucking with him

0.7k words

contains swearing

p.s. takes place during the Three Stories ep and based on a request by anonymous

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶༶•┈┈•༶

"Wrong snake?"

"We tried every other antivenin we had."

"We’re too late?"

"Yep. He’s dying. His wife’s here, finally found a babysitter. Who wants to let him know? Actually, I’m kidding."

"He’s not dying?"

"Oh, yeah, he’s dying, but there’s no wife and kid. Which is great. Makes the “breaking the news” thing way easier. Oh, yeah, one mor-"

"Womp fucking womp."

You watch as the whole group turns towards your seat. The shocked looks on their faces are priceless. You were tired of listening to your idiot classmates go back and forth with your sub and needed to intervene before you died of boredom.

"Well, class it looks like someone here has their own enlightening opinions about these cases." House leans back against your teacher's desk and looks at you expectantly. "Care to share with the group?"

Sitting up straight in your desk you give him a small smirk before stating said opinions. "Its obvious that the drug addicted, sad sack of shit is you. And that those leg pains were the cause of what I'm guessing to be an aneurysm that clotted, leading to an infarction."

You watch as House's cocky demeanor slowly evaporates from him leaving him and the whole class speechless.

"Am I right, or am I right?"

Your shit eating grin causes House to limp over to your desk. He leans over it moving closer to your face. You can't help but glance at his lips hoping he doesn't notice, but of course he does. He returns you that same shit eating grin as he leans in even closer.

Your noses are practically touching before he leans back and turns to the class. "Class! Let's see if little miss know it all can tell us what is wrong with our other two patients!" He glances behind you briefly before turning his attention back to you expectantly.

"I'm guessing by your pathetic attempt to intimidate me I was right about the patient being you." You hear snickering behind you and you turn slightly to see three doctors in lab coats sitting in the back row of the lecture hall, you're guessing their House's fellows. You turn back to House, now with an even bigger crowd filled with actual doctors it's time to make your knowledge known.

"It's obvious by this point that it was not a snake that bit the first patient. I'm guessing that if he was willing to go through life threating treatments that he must be protecting something or someone. And since you made it clear that he was a sad, lonely man it must be man's best friend."

You look around the room at your classmates' confused faces and let out a sigh of disappointment. "His dog guys. His dog bit him."

A round of "oh" goes around the room as you look to House for confirmation. He slightly nods his head in agreement and for you to continue.

"Finally the volleyball player. The simplest one honestly. Cancer. She has an osteosarcoma, a cancerous tumor in her femur."

You sit back and look at House waiting for him to tell you your right. Instead, he shakes his head at you and limps back to your teacher's desk. "You're wrong!"

"No, I'm not."

He sits down on your teacher's chair behind the desk and you can see him rubbing his thigh aggressively. "Yes, you are." You're about to argue back when you hear another voice chime in behind you.

"She's right House."

"Yeah, you're just jealous that she's smarter than you."

"It's about time someone put you in your place."

House's fellows surround your desk and start asking you questions about how you knew the answer to each case. You happily chatted along with them, answering and asking your own questions until House's voice interrupted you.

"Are you busy Monday?"

Everyone turns to look at him confused.

"No?"

He gives you another cocky smile and leans his arms against the desk.

"Great I'll see you in my office at 8 am sharp for your first day."

And with that, he stands up and leaves the room throwing a quick 'class dismissed' over his shoulder.

You stare at his back, jaw slack, before turning to his fellows who all share the same dumbstruck look.

I guess you'll be seeing a lot more of your hot sub from now on.

[laniemae]

I would absolutely adore to learn more about Takeshi's brothers. I just know they hold unnecessary guilt for how Takeshi has turned out and wondering if they failed him.

Oh absolutely. I’m also really interested to learn more about Ojima’s brothers. From what we know Ojima’s brothers are the only real people he has close to him especially that his parents have been arrested.

It’s sad after bruise knowing that they were the only ones who actually cared about what he was going through when he was really young. Unfortunately as much his brothers were also kids growing up under an abusive household whomst all the adults in their life failed them. I like to think that even with everything horrible that was happening they really did try their best to keep Ojima safe if anything. He says they’re the best people he has in his life and care about him so it’s good he has some support.

Although one thing I’ve been thinking about forever that has CONSTANTLY been bugging my mind is that it seems Ojima’s brothers left their household while Ojima was still a kid. Think about it, in the secret logs it said after the arrest of his parents Ojima moved in with his older brothers house, basically saying they had already left at that time. And all the way back in Ojima in Wonderland he said that he has two older brothers, but they’ve moved out by now. Which we know is a lie because he lives with them but I feel like it could hold some truth to it. That at some point when Ojima was still a kid, they both moved out and left Ojima behind. It makes me think what could’ve happened where they couldn’t bring Ojima along with them and was forced to leave him behind with all the abuse he was facing. I wonder if his brothers moved out in a way that they escaped, or were old enough to move out and how old Ojima was when it happened. And maybe it could be the reason why Takeshi is the specific one to be chosen to be the heir despite being the youngest. Either way I can imagine they feel really guilty over leaving Ojima behind like this and especially how in the secret logs it’s mentioned they’re super protective over him.

Another thing I also think about a lot with his brothers is that since they’re part of the Ojima family they probably went through abuse as well. Especially how it’s mentioned they have a social worker. It’s likely they experienced physical and emotional abuse from their father from what we know he’s like. But I’m not sure if they also experienced sexual abuse from their uncle like Takeshi did. I really don’t know but there’s a part of me that thinks probably not as one of Takeshi’s brothers told their father what was happening after he told them which lead to the gaslighting. And I feel like maybe if they did go through it as well they would’ve known how their father would’ve treated them? I’m not sure on this it’s just what I’m thinking.

I just have a lot to think about Ojima’s brothers and especially how they relate to his story so much. I find it fun how even though they grew up to an insurance company Tetsuya (the oldest brother) is an utatite and the other brother (Toshi I think?) is an influencer. Like they chose the most wildly different careers and since Tetsuya is an utatite there’s an almost 100% chance that Takeshi may be a fan of vocaloid which I absolutely love.

But man it just makes me sad knowing that Ojima has been kidnapped and is likely never coming back. Like I said I can imagine how bad his brothers felt leaving him behind with his family and in the secret logs there was one entry where they got extremely paranoid over Ojima disappearing for a while, which turned out to be him zoning out at school. And now that he’s actually gone and from how protective they are over him that must be incredibly painful. And just I always think that right before Ojima disappeared it said that him and his brothers were talking about getting a cat and they were all in favour of the idea. I wonder if they ever did end up adopting that cat, perhaps in memory of Takeshi.

[aeneia-art]

I have an uncomfortable and very personal connection to Lucanis, Illario & Caterina's (and Taash & Shathan relationship tbh, they're honestly a flip side of the same trauma) family dynamic, and it's sadly "neurospicey with high expectation caretaker (that is tbh, also Neurospicey)" that I want to shed a bunch of headcanons that I don't see brought up but OH BOY, I KNOW SOME THINGS.

It's unfortunately the "woman who lost all her children and now there is just one survivor" because my mother had six kids before me, they all died in infancy or early childhood, and there are things that I just feel about their upbringing. Bonus, my mother is Italian-Australian, if you want that extra cultural relevance I guess. But it made me very much appreciate their writing of her - because I recognised that hollowed out woman so well that watching her felt like a gut punch of familiarity.

SLAPPING A BIG OLD WARNING ON THIS AND UNDER A CUT because yeah, a lot of discussions of child death, intergenerational trauma, child abuse and family trauma. Seriously please mind those warnings!!

( and if you read these and go... OP are you okay,,,,?? its okay, I am told its called "intergenerational trauma"! and the therapist gave me pills about it! I kid, but also - yes i do therapy about it, don't sweat it, I also find these things kind of therapeutic because instead of just having these life experience rolling around I can use them to help others write good or understand character beats that might not be apparent straight away and honestly this kind of trauma is not written often or well, which is far more frustrating and upsetting, because often there is a lot of shame around failed motherhood, but also no one ever wants to talk about what its like to have dead children. Even if high infant mortality rates and loss of even up to age 15 children has dominated much of human history, but outside of horror movies, it's seldom actually discussed what that does to a family or the women involved over the long term. Weirdly outside of horror I can find it more readily about men than I can about women. )

Illario and Lucanis are often called the wrong name as children, when they are children especially, but even sometimes into adulthood. The exhausted moments when Caterina turns to Lucanis and goes "Giovanni, go get your brother." Then she stops, he stops, and then just get on with it.

The correction at them in training: "Maria- how many times have I told you not to-" then she swallows, their child eyes stare up, Illario wants to ask, Lucanis jerks his head to stop. Caterina swallows and taps a foot back into position.

They do things sometimes, training, talking, and especially gesturing, that Caterina's eyes just close and a pain falls over her face and there is no asking what it's about, but its clear, for a moment, just one or two, they were the same: they moved the same, acted the same, and the times and places blur.

Lucanis and Illario grow up without a sense of ever being completely alone in any room, especially when Caterina is present. The are ghosts in House Dellamorte, they do not know them particularly, but they know they wear their faces often.

There are anniversaries that they do not understand the importance of, moments that for some reason they will never be privy too, they must be present. They will seem sometimes so innocuous and unimportant, no one ELSE around them will ever understand it, but they know they can never miss it.

My immigrant kids will know this one well, but over protective parenting? It's turned up to 11. Imagine every stereotype about Asian / Eastern European / African / Latino / Mediterranean parents, but on HIGH BLAST. It's more akin to stories I have heard about parents who had to live through a war-zone and what their kids grow up with. You can't go anywhere, do anything, say anything, no one outside of your family is to be trusted. Friends? Keep them at arm's length, if they're allowed at all. Activities are limited to what can be supervised. And what's worse? There is no arguing that it's just them being paranoid. The proof is there. It happened. There is no saying that it's anxiety, it's over the top, because the worst has happened and they know it. You can't say it's "just paranoia talking" because it happened over, and over, and over again.

They wake up with Caterina walking in to check their breathing. I am 30+. My mother still does this, and every time I hear her take a relieved breathe. Life will never be taken for granted. Survival will never be taken for granted. She checks on them constantly, and it probably felt strange and spooky to feel her hovering as a child, but some point around 16, it probably started to make sense.

As children, they want to ask, they need to understand, they want to know why they have to live this way when others don't. It's frustrating too because others seem to know all the details when they don't and they're fed it in pieces. Then by adulthood, they understand and the pain is theirs too, now, whether they wanted it or not.

Teia must have been a breathe of fresh air to the entire household when she visited, the soul person that can banish the ghosts. Because Teia is an elf, there can be no confusing her for any of the other children, some confused creeping despair. She's Teia and she's only Teia, and it's probably in part why Caterina enjoys her company, because she's clearly no afraid of the old woman, but that there can be no mistaking there here and now of it.

Speaking of creeping despair: probably thank the Maker there are no mages in the family, if demons are born out of human emotion twisted??? What in the fuck must the Fade look like just the other side of House Dellamorte? IT'S A GOOD THING NO ONE IN THE FAMILY CAN GET POSSESSED RIGHT [stares directly into the camera like the Office]

The long nights of despair are palpable when alone in House Dellamorte after the servants are gone to bed and Illario and Lucanis sit doing study nearby. They watch her at times stare into the hollow depths, and at times when conversations veer about survival, choices, making assessments, she speaks candidly of crawling out of that place with her own two hands, not for pity, but on how one learns to live and go on. She says it's that or death, Illario asks if that means because the enemies of House Dellamorte will kill them? She says no and leaves it at that. They only realise in adulthood how often their grandmother sits and contemplates death, and not from another assassin's blade. It is only that it is completely unacceptable for her to ever give up that made her drag herself out. It's not grand declaration, it is a simple contemplation, she'd never want your pity. Even if therapists did exist in Thedas, what would they even say? Or do? There aren't enough therapists and drugs in the world. Everyone understands that no parent should bury their child, but to do it over and over and over? After awhile, there is only the quiet shuffling and exhaustion.

Of course Lucanis attracted a Spirit of Determination that became a Spirit of Spite, that is exactly what he has had shaped to him. Welcome to the other side of despair. Welcome to how you live through the worst days of your life. The first funerals of the Dellamorte House were probably the typical big wailing Mediterranean-type funerals. You scream, you cry, your rip your hair, you throw yourself at the coffin and wail. She thinks there is nothing worse in the world, and then - she finds out - there is worse. The last Dellamorte funerals are silent. There is no more grief to tear out. What is left is only determination, only resilience, only spite that drives the will to go on.

Likewise, it doesn't surprise me that he could calm himself even in the depths of torture, to make a deal with Spite. The Ossuary was hell, shut off and shut down as he says. But he and his family are a long won lesson on survival even when survival cannot feel worth it, anymore, a test of endurance that not even Zara would be able to scratch the surface of. When submission to pain would be so much easier. That is a resilience that didn't come from Caterina's torture, it comes from growing up in a graveyard that ebbs around you, that everyone sees when they look at you, and yet finding a way through, for good and bad. Perhaps not even well, but they have, they did, they continue to do so.

Caterina is past grief and it makes the woman before and the woman afterward, like two seperate lives. Which makes it so odd for Lucanis and Illario when... you know that moment when you find out that your parents were whole people that did wild shit before you ever existed that have just been sitting in the back? It's like that but worse. They hear stories and learn deeds, and it's hearing about a completely different person. Caterina that other people remember likely used to smile, and laugh, danced, did hijinks. They find old letters, portraits, commemorations, to this woman that seems to be as much as a ghost as all the other dead aunts and uncles. They have been robbed, not just of their family, and yes a peaceful childhood, but of that woman who could have been Nonnina, and now is just La Signora Dellamorte.

The apple never falls far from the tree, and I imagine that Caterina-before-the-deaths was some split of Lucanis and Illario. Which comes to something that I am sure might be contentious because I imagine it's hard to hear and see for someone who became so outright abusive as Caterina was to her grandchildren when we all love the boys dearly, but in a game about how good intentions and the best wishes and parts of us can be twisted I feel this isn't a far leap. You think you end up with five kids for someone as savvy as she was because she was an unpassionate, unloving woman? She was likely as fierce and devoted and passionate as the boys are now. (Which if you think all of this is to excuse her abuse, no, being broken by the world does give excuses to visit upon the next generation, that is the big difference between my mother and Caterina, my mother took her grief and shoved it fiercely into reminding me every day that I am loved). I understand it's easy to say abusers just woke up mean one day to hate the world, but the reality is probably way muddier than that, as often is in Dragon Age especially, this is a world where everyone has reasons they became what they are, and often did not start that way - and I think the unfortunate truth is that Caterina was once like Lucanis and Illario: passionate, driven, full of life and interest, hope and ambition to be the best she could be, and never dreamed of what it would all become.

So, yes, if you want to know what Illario and Lucanis look like after they have been actually, truly, soul-crushingly broken in a way that can never be repaired, look no further than Caterina. You can already see the shades of it in the Hardened Lucanis run, he turns himself away from remorse, redemption, love. The way Illario is trying to goad Lucanis into killing him. There but for the grace of the Maker, go her grandsons.

In that vein, I suspect she saw the traits that failed her most in Illario, and the ones that helped her survive in Lucanis, which in part lead to the divide in her treatment of the two of them.

There is probably some moment when someone is an edgelord at her, as dramatic mediterraneans are wont to do, spouted off about torture and pain and suffering. Caterina probably laughed in their face about it. It has big "you cannot hurt me in any way that matters" and "you can't hate me more than I hate myself" energy. She has stared into the abyss, she knows the darkest parts of herself, and some rat thinks they can frighten her back?

The only threat that hangs is someone hurting Illario and Lucanis. Nothing is too far, nothing is too much, when it comes to protecting what she has left. Caterina is both impassive to them, unknowable at times, frustrating at others, but then she throws down in broad daylight even as she enters true old age. I shudder to think about the torture she now inflicts in the name of her family.

[xaviesstarlight]

Valentine's Day - Xavier

I wrote a Rafayel Valentine's story, but I have to remain true to my main LI and write one for Xavier too. I hope you enjoy, and happy Valentine's Day!

Aside from the elementary school parties with pizza and store-bought valentines, you have never celebrated Valentine’s Day before. Each year as the day of love came around, you would watch other couples exchange large bouquets of roses, boxes of chocolates, and heart balloons with a soft tightening in your chest. You longed for someone to put you first, to love you with all their heart, but each year seemed to give you the confirmation that you would remain alone forever. That is until Xavier appeared in your life, granting your wish like a shooting star. 

You quickly complete your end-of-day reports at the Hunter’s Association before clocking out. Today is Valentine’s Day. Xavier had not hinted at any plans he has for the evening, but you know him well enough to trust that he has a special date set up for the two of you. The other hunters are gossiping at their desks that Xavier completed all his missions early today and took off without a second glance. Some call him a show-off while others admire his dedication to protecting Linkon. You smile to yourself knowing that if Xavier left work early then he has a special surprise waiting for you once you return home. This is your first Valentine’s Day, and Xavier’s too. You don’t have your expectations too high, but with Xavier, any expression of love is enough to make you giddy for days. 

As you enter your apartment building, you text Xavier that you made it home before getting into the elevator. You want to let him know you’re back safe, but the message is also a ploy to determine which apartment to meet him at. Xavier texts back immediately, asking you to change into something warm, and he will pick you up at your place. Squealing to yourself, you quickly change into your red sweater and white puffer jacket and wait by the door, opening it the moment you hear the first knock. 

Xavier stands before you dressed in his best button-down shirt and white pants while holding a beautiful bouquet of forget-me-nots and baby’s breath. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” he tells you before offering the bouquet. Your heart flutters not minding they’re not roses. This choice in flowers is uniquely Xavier, perfectly matching both his personality and love for you. You also know that he probably spent hours with Jeremiah at Philo Flower Shop putting together this arrangement. 

You happily accept the flowers and give Xavier a kiss. “Thank you,” you say against his lips. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“I thought we could have dinner and watch the stars. There’s a meteor shower tonight. You could make a wish… or several.” Xavier laughs. 

“Okay.”

Xavier leads you by the hand back to his apartment where he has take-out from your favorite restaurant already placed on the dining room table. “No hot pot?” you ask. You know Xavier loves eating hot pot for every occasion. It’s his favorite meal.

“We always have hot pot,” he answers. “I wanted to give you a meal you prefer today.” 

After enjoying the hot meal, you wrap up in a blanket with Xavier on his balcony as you watch the stars. Luckily, it’s a clear night, so you can see the meteor shower easily despite being in the middle of the city. You rest your head on Xavier’s shoulder while his arms are wrapped around you. You could spend every night with him like this, wrapped in his warmth and enjoying the quiet calm of each other’s company. 

“I wish to spend every night with you like this,” you say quietly, unaware that you spoke out loud.

“I thought that if you share your wishes they don’t come true,” Xavier teases. You pretend to frown and lightly hit his chest. “I’m just kidding. I made the same wish.” Xavier meets your gaze. His eyes shine like the stars as he looks at you. His expression is soft, full of affection. You can feel the heat rising to your cheeks. “I actually got you another gift,” he says as he reaches into his pocket.

Xavier presents you a jewelry box. You know immediately it’s not a ring based on the shape of the box, but your heart still leaps in your chest. He opens it to show you a beautiful necklace with a blue star pendant. The star is the same deep azure as his eyes. 

“Xavier,” you breathe. The necklace is beautiful. You never imagined he would gift you something like this. 

“Do you like it?” 

“Yes, I love it.” Xavier grins as he takes the necklace and puts it on you. “This has been the perfect Valentine’s Day. I don’t deserve you.”

Xavier looks you over as you wear his necklace. He raises his hand to your cheek and slowly rubs it with his thumb. You can’t help but notice that Xavier’s body is also glowing. “It’s I who don’t deserve you. Thank you for being my star who fulfills all my wishes. I love you.” With that, the two of you kiss under the starlight.