#they have interesting conversations and interactions

[ere-the-sun-rises]

Bonus Social Lifehack (and honestly, a rule to live by): It is often infinitely more important to avoid being rude than it is to be actively pleasant. It is okay and sometimes even preferable to be neutral, and that does not make you "less authentic".

Most social interaction works on scripts (taught through the norms of manners, etiquette and pleasantries), and these are the grease that makes the mechanics of interaction smoother. We often don't need to "be/express our true selves", and it can be unwelcome - the retail employee doesn't care if you don't like this shirt, they want do their job and move on. Expressing your true thoughts is often unnecessary, especially to strangers.

Following social scripts gets you into, through, and out of social interactions in an expected, acceptable and fluid way.

In gathering-type situations where you are expected to mingle with people you don't know (/well) or are meeting for the first time, this also applies. Follow the flow of Greet -> Trade Pleasantries -> Give Time/Small Talk -> Acknowledge -> Move On.

Greet -> "Hi, how are you?"

Trade Pleasantries -> "Yeah, I'm doing good. Work always keeps me busy, y'know?"

Give Time/Small Talk -> "My drive in was bad too. Four accidents or something, pushed thr traffic way back." | "Oh, I have a frienx who lives there! He lives it."

Acknowledge -> "It was really nice to see/meet you!"

Move On -> "I've taken up enough of your time, though. I'll let you get back to your conversation. I'll see you around!"

(P.S. This is a great formula for meeting a partner's family/friends. Good impressions are made by the absence of rudeness and a gentle confidence in handling social interaction, not necessarily how "nice/good" you are as a person - that judgment comes later, from your actions and the way you hold yourself. First impressions allow people to judge whether they want to let you in further, not a litmus test for your whole personality.)

Bonus Bonus Social Lifehack: People like to talk about themselves, so if you have nothing to say or are nervous af, encourage them to talk about themselves/something they're interested in. You don't have to genuinely be interested - even polite/neutral encouragements will be positively received.

when you're autistic and you learn how to smalltalk it literally feels like you started hacking real life

[oldsoul007]

oh, baby

joel miller x reader

summary: joel and y/n connect over being a single parent

a/n: i don’t really know what this is but i thought it was cute

joel miller masterlist

It was a quiet afternoon when Joel decided to take Sarah out to a local café for lunch. They’d been cooped up at home for days, and he figured a little outing would do them both good. Sarah, as usual, was full of energy, chattering nonstop about everything she’d learned in her preschool class. Joel half-listened, half-watching her with a soft smile as he sipped his coffee.

As they sat at their booth, a young woman with a baby in tow walked past their table, heading toward the counter. The baby—Joel couldn’t have been more than six months old—was bundled up in a soft blue blanket. The woman, with her beautiful hair and easy smile, caught Joel’s eye for a moment as she passed. She seemed familiar, but he couldn’t place where he’d seen her before.

She settled into a booth across the room, a little distance away, but something in the way her baby was looking at him caught Joel’s attention. The infant, a chubby-cheeked little boy, was staring directly at Joel. And not just looking—staring, like he was trying to figure something out. His big eyes were wide with curiosity, and as Joel shifted in his seat, the baby’s face broke into a small, soft smile.

Joel blinked in surprise, unsure how to react. Babies didn’t usually single him out like that. He gave a small, instinctive wave, half-embarrassed by the attention, but the baby only smiled more, his eyes locked onto Joel with an intensity that was almost too much. Joel let out a quiet chuckle and leaned back in his chair, feeling his own cheeks warm under the scrutiny.

“Dad, look!” Sarah exclaimed, pointing toward the baby. “That baby’s staring at you!”

Joel glanced down at his daughter, who had noticed the same thing. He gave her a shrug, trying to keep his tone casual. “Yeah, I think he likes my face.”

Sarah giggled. “I think he wants to be friends!”

The baby’s gaze never wavered. Joel looked across the room again and caught the mother’s eye this time. She smiled warmly at him, and that’s when it hit him—she looked vaguely familiar, though he still couldn’t quite place where he’d seen her.

I was noticing his lingering gaze on my son, raised an eyebrow and gave him a sheepish grin. “Sorry about that,” I called out, my voice soft but friendly. “He’s just really fixated on you for some reason. I promise he’s not usually so… intense.”

Joel smiled back, feeling both awkward and charmed by the exchange. “It’s no trouble,” he said, trying to sound at ease, even though the little boy’s stare was starting to make him feel like he was being examined. “He’s got a good eye.”

I laughed lightly as I shifted my baby in my arms, the boy still keeping his focus on Joel like he was some kind of magnet. “I’m y/n, by the way. And this little guy is Luke.”

Joel nodded, feeling a little embarrassed at the odd connection he was having with this woman and her baby. “I’m Joel, and this is Sarah.” He gestured to his daughter, who was happily busy coloring on the kids’ menu.

My eyes flickered briefly to Sarah, then back to Joel. “It’s nice to meet you both. Looks like Sarah and Luke could be buddies if they ever got the chance.”

Joel chuckled and shifted his gaze back to his daughter, who was now enthusiastically showing Luke her drawings from across the room. “She’s pretty good at making new friends,” he said, his voice softening as he watched Sarah interact. There was something so natural about her kindness—it always reminded him that despite the chaos of his life, he’d done something right raising her.

I followed his gaze, a faint smile playing on my lips. “She seems like a sweet girl.” My tone was warm, almost affectionate, but there was something else in my eyes—something that made Joel pause. Was that a flicker of interest?

For a moment, the conversation lapsed into comfortable silence. The soft clinking of cups and cutlery from the other tables filled the air, and the babies’ quiet babbles and giggles blended into the background. Joel felt a tug of something—something he hadn’t felt in a while. An interest, an attraction, maybe? But as quickly as the thought crossed his mind, he pushed it aside.

“I’m sure you’ve got your hands full,” he said, trying to steer the conversation away from anything too personal. “Raising a little one, especially with… everything that’s going on.” He let the last part trail off, not wanting to assume too much, but still curious about my situation.

I met his eyes, and for a brief moment, there was a softness in my expression, a quiet strength. “Actually, it’s just me and Luke. No husband.” I smiled, but there was something almost wistful in my eyes. “Not that I mind. It’s just the two of us.”

Joel blinked, surprised. He’d assumed, based on the way she spoke, that there was a husband or some kind of support in the picture. “I didn’t know,” he said, almost apologetically.

I laughed softly, as if it wasn’t something I minded sharing. “It’s not something I usually bring up, but I don’t really mind being open about it. It’s just how things are, you know? But enough about me. What about you?”

Joel shifted, unsure how to respond, the sudden shift in the conversation leaving him both intrigued and a little nervous. “It’s just me and Sarah. I’ve been doing the solo thing for a while now.”

I nodded, my gaze warm and understanding. “It’s not always easy, is it? Doing it on your own.”

“No,” Joel said, his voice a little quieter. “It’s not. But I’ve got Sarah, and that makes everything else a lot more manageable.”

I smiled at that, my gaze softening as I looked at him—really looked at him—and for a moment, the air between us seemed to thrum with an unspoken understanding. We both knew the challenges of raising kids on our own, and we both knew the weight of that responsibility.

It was at that moment that Luke gave a small gurgle, and Joel realized the baby had finally broken his intense gaze, now more interested in the rattle his mother was shaking for him.

Joel exhaled a quiet breath, his heart still unexpectedly racing from the interaction. “I think he’s finally looking at something else,” he said with a laugh, his nervous energy easing a little.

I smiled again, but this time, it wasn’t just a polite smile. It was a real one—a smile that seemed to carry the possibility of something more. “Well, if it makes you feel better,” I said with a wink, “you’ve got Luke’s approval.”

Joel’s lips quirked into a half-smile as our eyes met, a spark of something more—something tentative but unmistakable—passing between us.

He wasn’t sure where this might go, if anywhere at all, but in that moment, it felt like the start of something new. And for the first time in a long while, that thought didn’t feel so scary.

[vqmprxz]

ticci toby moodboard + hcs

toby’s playlist

(face claim: alexander arnold)

basics (in my au)

🪓 age: 19

🪓 nationality: german + italian

🪓 height: 5’6

interests, habits, etc

🪓 such an awkward and shy person it’s unreal

🪓 unintentionally funny. if he’s comfortable around you he just says what comes to mind and it just makes people giggle

🪓 chews an INSANE amount of gum to stop himself from literally eating his hands

🪓 was terrified of drugs before but tim and brian got him into smoking unfortunately

🪓 weirdly really good at singing. you couldn’t waterboard the words “i like to sing” out of him, but sometimes if you listen closely outside his room, he’s singing along softly to the nirvana song playing on his speakers

🪓 if he’s in modern day, hes the type of person to always have an airpod in one of his ears and tune everyone else out

“toby are you listening?”

“h-huh.”

🪓 always FREEZING. he can’t feel it of course but if anyone were to touch him they always gasp at how cold he is

🪓 crazy sleeper build. he looks skinny and frail but he can LIFT.

🪓 on the spectrum (autism, adhd, bipolar)

🪓 sometimes when he’s stuttering badly he just gives up and walks away and leaves people confused. (i do this.)

“c-can- can- can y- c-can you- f-fuck, nevermind”

“???”

relationships with others

🪓 i feel like he’s only really close with tim, brian, and kate. he’ll make small talk with the others but that’s about it.

🪓 liu has made it clear that toby can come to him whenever he needs and look at him as an older brother figure if he wants (BUT toby’s a little reluctant)

🪓 poor kid is always the target of jeff’s jokes. (jeff gave him the nickname “stutters” and “twitch” and toby threatened to behead him)

🪓 toby is the operator’s favorite proxy, he’s the least rebellious out of the four and uses that to piss them off

🪓 he really just keeps interaction to a minimum, i don’t know what else to say

a relationship with him

(sfw)

🪓 it takes a lot of time and trust to build up a relationship with toby, so if you’ve came that far then good job

🪓 he’s never been in a relationship before, too awkward and shy to ever make a move on anyone he was interested in

🪓 you’ll notice fast that he’s very clingy and needs constant reassurance, but you’re willing to give that to him

🪓 sometimes though, he’s snappy and cold and wants nothing to do with you (he’ll always cuddle up to you and apologize after one of those days though)

🪓 your dates usually consist of walking through the woods together, holding hands and just having deep conversations

🪓 he loves everything about you, even if he doesn’t know how to communicate it. silently admiring your features, mannerisms, and personality is one of his favorite things to do.

(nsfw)

🪓 VIRGIN before you. absolutely no experience. it took a lot of reassurance and “am i doing this right?”s, but he eventually learned exactly how to please you

🪓 puts on a front that he’s all tough and dominant until you guys actually do it. he’s whining and apologizing in between each thrust, he just can’t stop himself

🪓 doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or guy, he’ll BEG for you to be on top

🪓 tits guy 100%. no matter what size. needs them in his palms or in his mouth any chance he can get.

🪓 NEEDS praise. just wants to know that he’s making you feel good. (don’t degrade him he’s sensitive.)

🪓 loud. put your hand over this mfs mouth or people will be knocking on the door.

🪓 weirdly talented at oral (whether you’re a girl or guy). doesn’t have a gag reflex & can move his tongue fast.

[stranger-theory]

i dont think people (the ga) realize how crucial that scene is to establish a romantic undertone for the rest of their interactions and previous ones.

we've said this time and time again but if that scene was between Mike and El or Lucas and Max, everyone would be screaming how romantic it is. because it is.

not to mention that Lucas and Max have basically same conversation with the same music playing in the background and people do call it romantic. remember in s2 when they're on the bus and Max apologizes for being a jerk? yeah, the music there is the same music in the bedroom scene, its literally called "On the Bus", you can't miss it.

so why the flip is one scene romantic and not the other. hm???? at the time we only knew Lucas was interested in Max but after that scene there was no doubt there was something there. not just through their actions but through the amount of care that goes into making romantic scenes.

if mike not gay EXPLAIN the bedroom scene in 4x04.

you can’t. because WHAT the FUCK

[tanadrin]

I am sorry for the anon but I feel too vulnerable to come off due to the nature of my question.

I am slowly losing friends due to my refusal to engage in negative/nihilistic/doomer views of the future. My friends are 1000% convinced Trump and Republicans are going to crash the economy on purpose, leading to a depression, and carry out a Gilead situation. I told one of my friends the other day how, despite everything and the political situation, I am trying to be as positive as possible - or at least neutral. Her response to me was, "Why? I don't understand your optimism. You know they're going to enslave us all like in The Handmaid's Tale, right?" and it has become so dreadful now to interact with them. Anytime I disagree, they try to intellectually dominate me or put me under them in a way where I have no choice but to just leave the conversation.

I know this was a lot. But is there any advice you might have for someone like me? Because I sometimes feel like I am being painted as crazy. I know things will be hard but they genuinely want me to believe I have no future and I can't stand that.

Also, would it be too much to ask if you maybe mind sharing some of the other people/blogs you follow?

I once heard advice on dealing with Qanon family members who had fallen down the rabbit hole and only ever wanted to talk about conspiracy theories or the outrage bait they'd seen on Fox News or OANN or whatever, about not challenging them on their views but basically saying "I don't want to talk about this; let's talk about our plans for the weekend, or what movie we wanna go see later, or what interesting books you've read lately." The idea being, arguing with someone can only further entrench their beliefs, and if you really want to shake someone out of their dismal universe of conspiracism, it helps to remind them of all the things that aren't the fear-and-anger-activating content they're stuffing their brains with for hours every day.

Maybe something like this could help? I have a hard time imagining that someone really believes The Handmaid's Tale really is just around the corner--if you really believed that, surely you would be trying to flee to Canada or doing some political volunteer work or something--and sometimes doomer stuff can be kind of reflexive or phatic, like making a crack about how your retirement plan is to die in the water wars or something. But even if it isn't, I don't think there's any point in trying to argue about this stuff in the moment. Instead try to build on the things you still find fulfilling in that friendship, the conversations and interests and activities with those friends that caused you to become friends in the first place.

If you can't do that--if hanging out with them is always a constant grind of full-throttle doomerism, and they express no interest in actually trying to do something with their feelings of anger and frustration--you are perfectly within your rights to spend less time around them. You could, if you wanted to and you felt that you owed them at least that, give them a heads up as to why. If a close friend of mine or a family member was doing this, I would certainly talk to them about it. But your obligation to subject yourself to someone else's self-destructive idee fixe is not bottomless. Even with a partner you are within your rights to eventually say "I'm not going to talk about this with you anymore."

(And that's not only true of politics or conspiracy theories, by the way! If you have a close friend or family member or partner who--for example--has severe depression but refuses to seek treatment for it, you are not obligated to be the sponge for their misery forever every time they need someone to talk to. If someone in your life is in a relationship or a job that is making them miserable, and won't do anything to leave that relationship or find a new job, and just wants a friend to complain to, you are within your rights to eventually shut that down. Lots of people fall into a holding pattern in their life where they are unhappy but unable to do anything about it, and they will make this their friends' or loved ones' problem. That doesn't make them bad people: lord knows I have found myself doing this before. It's a very human thing to do. But sometimes the Good Friend Thing is to say "I love you, and will support you if you want to actually *do something* about your situation, but otherwise, oh my god shut the fuck up." But, you know, nicely.)

But if your friends want to make themselves miserable because hanging on to an endless stream of toxicity and doomerism from social media (and I will bet this is primarily coming from social media) is more important to them than your friendship, and they can't handle you not agreeing with them, you may lose them as friends. If you do, I'm sorry. That sucks. It's hard to lose friends, and it's even harder later in life when making new friends is more difficult, and I don't want to pretend like that's not a big deal.

[youhavethesun]

saw a tiktok on pinterest (because I don’t have tiktok lol) about how annoyed someone was that Rory had given up all her hopes and dreams ‘because of one comment from a man’. and I know this was meant as a joke but honestly I wonder if this is how a lot of people view this plot line. I’ve seen so many people talking about Rory’s ‘downfall’ and how she was so unable to handle criticism/that she fell apart from a single comment etc.. and I just honestly can’t see how people continue to view it this way.

I think there are honestly a lot of factors that influenced Rory’s breakdown after Mitchum’s comment, but first of all I quickly want to say that (I know this is controversial but I genuinely do not care) I don’t think her leaving Yale was a bad thing!!! It was treated as this ultimate sin, (maybe this is for another post idk) but honestly I think Rory made the right decision. I don’t think the right decision was obviously her giving in to the lifestyle Emily wanted for her/joining the dar and so on, but actually taking a break from formal education I think could have been positive, all through season 4 we see how much of a toll college is taking on Rory, and I think taking a year out if she knew she was going back and using that year to rest and learn more about herself could have been really beneficial.

anyway sorry for the tangent, okay so the first thing is that a lot of people seem to view Rory’s conversation with Mitchum as a single interaction which caused her ‘downfall’, and everything was a domino effect from then on, instead of looking at it as the straw that broke the camels back. like I said, Rory was not in a good place at Yale even during s4, she had a terrible breakdown when she was slipping in her grades, and the impact of having to drop a single class was huge for her, she was desperately anxious about disappointing especially her grandfather’s expectations, but she was also at risk of at least somewhat disappointing all her immediate family. In season 2 (in my beloved car scene in teach me tonight) we can see hints of it too! Jess is just chatting casually when he says he didn’t expect her to dream about becoming an overseas correspondent, but this immediately rattles Rory, with direct dialogue being:

“well, it's not a little too rough for me. I hope it's not a little too rough for me, I've been talking about this forever. I mean, I don't even know what I would do if –-“

and this is in response to a comment from a friend.

the prospect of failing at her goal but also very importantly what Rory has ‘talked about forever’ is incredibly frightening. I think it’s so interesting that she doesn’t say ‘I’ve wanted this forever’, but rather implies that the expectations of those who have watched her grow up, who have heard her talk about this for so long, would be shattered because she has shared this with them. so much of Rory as a character is someone who is afraid to disappoint in every way possible, I think that is such a core element of her personality, and as the child prodigy who was (to some extent) raised to achieve what lorelai couldn’t, the pressure she is under not to disappoint is massive.

anyway, back to Mitchum. I think honestly to some degree it could have been anyone to criticise Rory’s capability and she would be considerably affected, seen not just when talking to Jess but even in season 1 after getting lower grades when she transferred to Chilton - Rory immediately questions whether she is even good enough to be at private school, whether she could just be disappointing those around her if she stays.

The fact that it’s Mitchum Huntzberger who says she ‘doesn’t have it’ in my opinion is kind of just the icing on the cake. Whether or not Rory had even taken the internship I think the pressure of it all would have led to a larger breakdown at some point or other, this was really just the final straw for what Rory could take at the time. Imagine one of the most successful people in the world in your chosen field telling you that everything you’ve worked for isn’t enough, that in three short words every expectation you’ve set for yourself (and more importantly every expectation everyone around you has held you accountable to) has been torn apart. Imagine believing you had let down everyone who had sacrificed something for you, who had put their faith in you, and tell me you could just bounce back from that.

Anyway the tiktok was not that serious but my thoughts just kind of spun out from there so if you read all of this I love you <3 and also I love you later season Rory you’re flawed and you’re lovely<33

[claramelooo]

CRIMSON REVERIE

Guys, I beg for patience hahaha

Long before Wanda and R's relationship, there is an extremely complex universe, so this needs to be built to make sense. I promise the kiss is comin and it will be surprising, in the meantime, enjoy the slow burn <3

Pairing: Dark!Witch Wanda x Fem Reader

MINORS DO NOT MUST INTERACT

Summary: the arrival of a well-known figure is what the witch in Wanda needed to take over the reins.

Hey! Now I've a masterlist

FIRE

In an open field in space, a spacecraft glided smoothly through the infinite darkness. Inside, Carol Danvers was adjusting the settings on the main panel.

“Danvers,” Strange’s voice echoed in her communicator.

Carol rolled her eyes, but a smile curved her lips. “Sorcerer Supreme. Long time, no see. I hope this is important because I was in the middle of—”

“We need you,” Strange interrupted, the urgency in his voice cutting off any attempt at casual conversation.

Carol’s smile disappeared. “What’s going on?”

Strange appeared as a holographic projection in front of her, the Eye of Agamotto glowing on his chest. “The Scarlet Witch. Wanda Maximoff. I’ve located her.”

Carol crossed her arms, her face hardening. “Wasn’t she... dealt with at Mount Wundagore?”

“Not exactly,” Strange replied, his voice serious. “She survived. She’s in an alternate universe, without full powers for now, but that won’t last. If she remembers who she is—or worse, if another version of her intervenes—she could destroy reality again.”

Carol nodded slowly, the weight of the mission beginning to take shape in her mind. “And you want me to bring her in. Why? Seems more like your area of expertise.”

Strange sighed. “I can’t get involved directly. She has ties to the Darkhold that could interfere with my magic, even in a different universe. You, on the other hand, are practically indestructible.”

A sarcastic smile returned to Carol’s face. “Practically?”

Strange ignored the remark. “Your strength is what we need. But be careful, Carol. She may be weakened, but that doesn’t make her any less dangerous. Wanda is unpredictable. And, above all, she’s emotional.”

Carol tilted her head, her gaze narrowing. “So it’s a search-and-capture mission. Only this time, the target might destroy me if I make a mistake. Perfect.”

Strange opened a portal, his expression even darker. “Remember: she’s not the same Wanda we knew. Proceed with caution.”

[...]

Carol stepped through the portal into a world that seemed almost idyllic. The city's urbanization was a near-perfect blend of Westview and New York. The Captain took a deep breath, taking a moment to absorb the atmosphere. The place was surprisingly ordinary, but the small details buzzed in her mind with distrust. Impeccable lawns, vibrant flowers adorning windows, streets too clean, and yet… something felt off.

As she walked, her attention was drawn to a university at the city's center, surrounded by tall trees and an open field. This was where Strange had detected the core of Wanda's residual energy.

Bizarrely intriguing.

Carol found Wanda an interesting woman. As much as she wanted to deny it, she couldn’t help but admire Wanda—not just as the powerful Scarlet Witch, but as a woman. A woman seemingly burdened with sorrow and mystery, a walking paradox of strength and vulnerability.

“This doesn’t look like the kind of place you’d find a dark sorceress,” she murmured to herself, adjusting her communicator.

Strange responded in her ear. “She’s hidden herself in a universe that doesn’t attract attention. The problem is, that means the people here have no idea who she is... or what she’s capable of.”

As Carol walked the streets, she felt something—a subtle pulse in the air, almost like static electricity.

“She’s close,” Strange warned.

Entering the university, Carol tried to blend in with the students rushing out of their classes. Suddenly, someone bumped into her. Carol barely moved from the impact, but she looked down to see you had stumbled and fallen. It was unusual for her to be caught off guard, especially by something as mundane as an accidental encounter.

“Sorry,” you murmured, hurrying to gather the books and papers scattered on the ground.

Carol crouched to help, her eyes lingering on you longer than necessary. There was something about your presence that gave her pause—a strange magnetism, as if you carried something she couldn’t quite identify.

“It’s fine,” Carol replied, her voice calm. “Are you okay?”

You looked up, meeting her blue eyes. For a moment, time seemed to slow. There was an intensity there, as if Carol was seeing something deeper in you.

“Yes, I’m fine,” you replied, a bit flustered. “Sorry about that.”

Carol handed you the papers she’d picked up but didn’t step away immediately. She tilted her head slightly, studying you.

“You’re different,” she said without thinking.

You frowned, a little defensive. “What?”

Carol hesitated, realizing she’d spoken too much. “I don’t know. You just seem... special.”

You let out a short, nervous laugh. “If that’s your attempt at flirting, you need more practice.”

Carol smirked, surprised by your response. “It wasn’t that,” she said. “But I’ll take the tip.”

The moment was interrupted by a familiar sensation that passed through Carol like a wave. Energy. Red. Unstable. She immediately went on high alert, her eyes scanning for the source.

You noticed the change in her expression and followed her gaze. “Are you looking for someone?”

Carol glanced back at you, debating whether to be honest. “Maybe,” she said finally. “Do you study here?”

“Yes,” you replied, still intrigued. “Why?”

Before Carol could answer, a group of students passed between you, forcing her to step back. When she looked again, you were already walking away, heading into the main building.

She stood there for a moment, thinking. Something about you unsettled her in a way she couldn’t explain. It wasn’t just the energy she’d sensed. It was the way you seemed completely normal and yet... something more.

“Interesting,” Carol murmured to herself before continuing her search, now with you in mind.

As Carol moved through the corridors, she couldn’t stop thinking about you. That brief interaction had left a mark. There was something in your eyes, something that seemed to carry a weight heavier than it should for someone so young.

Then she heard it—a low laugh and a murmur unmistakable in its tone. Following the sound, Carol found you again, talking with a group of classmates. You seemed relaxed, but your eyes betrayed you. They held the same intensity she had seen in Wanda.

Carol’s heart raced. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but she now knew her mission had just become much more complicated.

She entered the university office with decisive steps, the air charged with the familiar tension of magic. The space looked normal, but there was a latent energy that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Wanda stood near the window, her gaze lost on the horizon, but her posture rigid, as if ready to strike.

Wanda raised her eyes, and for a moment, her gaze met Carol’s. There was something almost unsettling in her expression, as if she were bracing for the worst and yet completely indifferent to it.

“Captain Marvel,” Wanda said, her tone disdainful but laced with exhaustion. “Come to take me back?”

Carol stopped a few steps away, her arms relaxed at her sides. “Depends,” she said, tilting her head. “Are you going to cooperate?”

Wanda let out a short, humorless laugh. “Cooperate? Do you think I’m some escaped prisoner?”

Carol didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she sat down on the floor, crossing her legs as if she were there for a casual chat. The gesture made Wanda frown.

“Why are you here, Carol?” Wanda finally asked, her tone impatient.

“I’m here because you’re hurt, Wanda,” Carol said bluntly. “And when someone like you is hurting, the whole world feels it.”

Wanda looked away, as if the words had struck a sensitive nerve. “I’m not a danger to anyone here.”

“For now,” Carol replied softly. “But that’s not what this is about, is it? You’re not hiding because you want to hurt anyone. You’re hiding because you don’t know how to stop hurting yourself.”

Silence fell between them, heavy with unspoken emotions.

Wanda finally broke the silence, her voice lower, almost a whisper. “You don’t know what it’s like, Carol. To lose everything. Absolutely everything. And still be expected to exist as if nothing happened.”

Carol tilted her head. “No, I don’t know what it’s like to lose everything,” she admitted. “But I know what it’s like to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. To feel like you have to be strong all the time because if you break, everything else breaks with you.”

Wanda looked at her, her eyes shining with something Carol couldn’t quite identify. “And can you handle it?”

Carol gave a sad smile. “I do my best. But I won’t pretend it’s easy. And neither should you.”

The red glow in Wanda’s eyes flickered for a moment before being replaced by an expression of doubt. “I don’t know how to fix this,” she admitted.

“Maybe you don’t need to fix it,” Carol said. “Maybe you just need to accept that you’re not alone.”

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Wanda seemed to consider the idea. But then, like a barrier being raised, her expression hardened again.

“You don’t understand,” she said, standing up. “I’m not just me. I’m her. I’m chaos. I’m destruction.”

Carol stood up as well, her eyes fixed on Wanda’s. “And I’m Carol Danvers,” she said firmly. “I’m a woman who’s faced gods and monsters. If you think I’m going to give up on you just because it’s easier, you’re wrong.”

For a moment, the silence returned, but this time, it felt different. A palpable tension hung in the air. Wanda finally looked away, her expression conflicted and contradictory.

“Leave, Carol,” she said weakly. “Before it’s too late.”

The conversation seemed to be nearing an end until Carol brought you up.

“Is it her? Is she the girl?” Carol asked, her voice laden with curiosity.

The weight of Carol's words hung in the air like distant thunder, but Wanda remained quiet, unmoving like a statue. Inside, however, she was a battlefield.

"She's right, you know," the Witch whispered in her mind, her voice dripping with venom and truth. "This girl is different. But you'll never have anything if you keep hiding."

Wanda clenched her fists, the red in her hands flickering between brightness and shadow. "I’m not hiding," she replied internally, her tone full of desperation and denial.

"Yes, you are. Hiding behind an idea of normalcy that was never yours. If you wanted your family, you should've fought for them. If you want this girl, you must fight now. Before it's too late."

The effect was immediate. Wanda faltered, her body trembling for a moment. The red glow Carol knew so well began emanating from Wanda’s hands, faint at first, but rapidly intensifying. Wanda closed her eyes, trying to contain the surge, but it was already too late.

"Don’t talk about her," Wanda whispered, her voice low but laden with threat. When she opened her eyes, the deep red glimmered within them, and Carol instinctively stepped back, raising an energy barrier.

"I knew it," Carol murmured, more to herself. "It’s her. She’s awakening something in you, something you can’t control."

"You don’t understand," Wanda growled, her voice now a blend of the woman Carol knew and something more primal. "She’s not just a girl. She... she completes me. She makes me feel alive in a way nothing else can."

Carol clenched her fists, struggling to maintain her composure. "It’s not her awakening this, Wanda. It’s the Witch within you. She’s using your feelings to gain strength."

Within Wanda's mind, the battle raged on. Carol's voice and the reality around her faded, replaced by an increasingly tumultuous internal dialogue.

"You see it, don’t you?" the Witch taunted, her voice echoing through Wanda's mind. "She understands, even if she tries to deny it. She knows I’m a part of you. I always have been."

"You’re just a part I never wanted," Wanda retorted, fighting to keep control of her thoughts. "You’re pain, chaos, destruction. I’ve tried... I’ve tried to get rid of you."

"And where has that led you?" the Witch shot back, sharp. "To loneliness. To emptiness. To the endless nights you spent crying over everything you’ve lost. But now... now you have something. Her. And you want to tell me you don’t feel the power growing because she’s here?"

Wanda hesitated, and the pause was enough for the Witch to press harder.

Wanda let out a bitter laugh, and the power around her intensified. "You think you can separate me from her? From myself? You have no idea what it’s like to live with this pain, this emptiness. She’s the only thing that fills it."

"The girl sees you, Wanda. All of you. Not just the mother, the teacher, the broken woman. She sees the strength The power. She sees... me."

As Carol continued speaking, trying to reach Wanda, the primal side of the Scarlet Witch began fully emerging. Wanda’s movements became more fluid, almost as if she were floating, and the crimson aura surrounding her grew nearly suffocating.

"I don’t want her to see this," Wanda whispered, the weight of the truth choking her. "I don’t want to be this. I don’t want to hurt her."

"You can’t hurt what’s meant for you," the Witch said, her voice dripping with certainty. "She’s here for a reason. You feel it, don’t you? She’s the thread connecting you to what you’re meant to be. Not the teacher. Not the mother. But the Scarlet Witch. Me."

Wanda shut her eyes, trying to push the words away, but they were like a constant drumbeat in her mind. Outside, she could feel Carol’s presence, the tension in the air, but she was too far gone to act.

"And if I lose everything again?" Wanda asked, her voice trembling.

"You only lose when you resist," the Witch replied, now soft, almost gentle. "Let me take over, Wanda. Just this once. You don’t have to bear this alone."

"I can’t..."

"You can," the voice interrupted firmly. "I am you, Wanda. We’re not enemies. We’re two sides of the same coin. And together... we’re unstoppable."

"Wanda," Carol tried once more. "You don’t have to do this. We can find a solution together."

But it was no longer Wanda in control.

"Don’t underestimate me, Captain," the Scarlet Witch said, her voice brimming with a confidence and cruelty that made Carol shudder. "I’m not the woman you think you know. Not anymore."

Carol felt the impact before the attack landed. Red energy slammed into her barrier, nearly knocking her backward. She countered, but she realized that, no matter how powerful she was, she was up against something far greater than just magic: it was a broken heart, a divided soul, and a passion that had turned into something dangerous and overwhelming.

Wanda’s internal struggle between her human side and the Scarlet Witch was palpable, but now, standing before Carol, the primal, wild side had taken control.

"She’s mine!" the Witch murmured, as if it were both a promise and a threat.

The air in the room thickened, charged with the energy of two titans on the brink of collision. Carol clenched her fists, golden energy beginning to radiate from her body, illuminating the space. Wanda, in turn, was entirely enveloped in her crimson aura, her eyes glowing with a dangerous intensity.

"If you won’t stand down willingly," Carol said gravely, "then I’ll use force."

Wanda tilted her head, a cruel smile curling her lips. "Fine."

Without another word, Carol struck first, surging forward at supersonic speed. Her golden energy tore through the air like a comet, aiming straight for Wanda’s chest. But the Scarlet Witch raised a hand casually, creating a crimson barrier that absorbed the blow as if it were nothing.

"You’re predictable," Wanda taunted before unleashing a wave of energy that sent Carol hurtling backward, smashing through the walls of the university office and landing in the courtyard.

Students fled in panic as the two titans clashed. Carol stood, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth. She charged at Wanda again, this time surrounding her with an explosion of energy that fractured the ground beneath them.

"Is that all you’ve got?" Wanda mocked, before vanishing in a red mist and reappearing behind Carol, grabbing her by the neck with supernatural strength.

"You think you can stop me, Carol? Everything in this universe belongs to me, Captain... even you."

With a roar of rage, Carol channeled all her energy into a concentrated attack, exploding outward. The impact was so powerful that it tore a rift in the multiverse, exposing glimpses of parallel realities. But Wanda only laughed.

"You’re playing with forces you don’t understand," she said, extending her hands. Her red magic enveloped the rift, sealing it effortlessly.

Carol, panting, fell to her knees. But before she could react, Wanda whispered a spell, and magical chains wrapped around Carol’s body, binding her in place.

"You’re strong," Wanda admitted, circling Carol like a predator. "But brute strength is nothing against the power of chaos."

With an elegant gesture, Wanda conjured an orb of crimson energy filled with glowing runes. She sent it toward Carol like a breath, and though Carol tried to resist, the spell was irresistible. The Captain Marvel’s golden light faded, and her gaze turned vacant.

Carol rose slowly, but she was no longer herself. Her body was a vessel, now controlled by Wanda’s will.

"Welcome to my world, Captain," Wanda said, approaching Carol and caressing the ex-heroine’s face as if she were a masterpiece. "Perfect. Submissive. Mine."

Wanda smiled triumphantly, her eyes still glowing red. She raised her arms, and the universe around her seemed to bend to her will. The sky turned a pulsating crimson, and the air vibrated with raw energy.

Every star on the horizon flickered, as if fearing her presence.

"I warned you," she murmured, a victorious smile gracing her lips, her eyes blazing like fire. "Queens aren’t dethroned. They take what’s theirs."

And in that moment, the multiverse knelt before the Scarlet Witch as she rose above all, invincible, relentless, supreme.

[...]

The environment was in absolute chaos when you opened Wanda's office door. Papers were scattered across the floor, furniture was overturned, and the air carried the sharp tang of ozone and magic that made your hair stand on end. In the middle of it all, Wanda stood motionless, arms crossed, and her face etched with an unfriendly expression.

"What the hell happened here?!" you asked, eyes wide as you took in the wreckage.

Wanda raised an eyebrow, looking more irritated than usual. "None of your business, girl. Just clean it up."

You stopped surveying the mess and shot her an incredulous look. "Clean it? Me? Do you have any idea how bad this room is? It looks like a hurricane came through—or worse, like someone fought here. Alone, it'll take me hours!"

Wanda leaned forward slightly, her gaze sharp. "I don't recall asking for your opinion. Just do it."

You let out a dramatic sigh, placing your hands on your hips. "Fine, but if you want me to clean all this up, maybe you should use those red fireballs you have. It’d make things easier, you know? Instead of just standing there barking orders like a tyrant."

The silence that followed was almost palpable. Wanda remained still, her eyes narrowing slowly as you, apparently fearless, kept your gaze fixed on her. Then something unexpected happened.

Wanda laughed. Not a free or kind laugh, but a low, dangerously sarcastic one. She stepped toward you, her heels echoing on the cluttered floor. Each step felt like a threat, but you stood your ground, even as your heart raced.

"You have a special talent for irritating me, don’t you?" she said, her voice low and controlled, though her eyes glowed with that red hue you were starting to recognize. "And no, those 'red fireballs,' as you call them, aren’t here to make your life easier."

You raised an eyebrow, crossing your arms. "So what are they for? Boosting your ego? Because honestly, I think it's already big enough."

Wanda gave a crooked smile, stepping so close she was dangerously near. The heat of her presence was almost tangible. "You like testing limits, don’t you? Maybe I should show you what those 'fireballs' can really do."

Your heart raced, but you didn’t let it show. Instead, you stepped back, stumbling slightly over some debris.

"Yeah, well, maybe I overstepped a little," you admitted, trying to sound indifferent as your mind screamed that getting out of this room alive would be a miracle.

Wanda tilted her head, as if assessing you. Then, with a quick gesture, she used her magic to lift a pile of papers and organize them neatly on the desk—just to prove she could.

"See?" you said, pointing at the magical movement. "Effortless. You could do this in two minutes. Why are you making me clean?"

Wanda sighed, rolling her eyes almost theatrically. "Because, girl, you need to learn that things in life don’t come for free. And, frankly, watching you complain is one of the few entertaining things in my day."

You huffed, but there was an unexpected warmth in your belly—a confusing mix of frustration and something else you didn’t want to admit. "Entertaining, huh? Great. I’ll clean. But know that I’m going to complain every second."

Wanda gave a slow, dangerous smile. "Do that, and I might add more tasks to your list. Who knows? Maybe I'll even use my 'fireballs'... just not in the way you’d like."

Her tone was a mix of threat and provocation, and you couldn’t decide if you wanted to punch her or... something else. Muttering under your breath, you started picking up the wreckage while Wanda settled into her chair, watching you like you were live entertainment.

It was a power game, a dance of provocations and resistance, and deep down, you hated—or maybe loved—that Wanda Maximoff always seemed to have the last word.

You were at your wit's end by the time you finished cleaning the office. Every corner, every piece of paper, every bit of furniture had been meticulously attended to. Sweaty and exhausted, you looked around and let out a satisfied sigh. "Finally."

That’s when Wanda walked back in. She looked completely refreshed, as if she’d just returned from an exclusive spa. The contrast with your disheveled state was ridiculous.

She glanced around, hands on her hips, and made a face. "This is terrible! Do you have any idea how to clean?"

You blinked, incredulous. "Terrible? I spent HOURS cleaning this!"

Wanda merely snapped her fingers, and in the blink of an eye, the office became immaculate. The papers were stacked neatly, the furniture was back in place, and even the air felt fresher.

Your jaw dropped. "You’re telling me you could’ve done that the entire time?!"

Wanda shrugged, a small, teasing smile playing on her lips. "Of course. But where’s the fun in that?"

The blood rushed to your head, and you saw red. "You’re impossible! Arrogant, egotistical, tyrannical—"

Before you could finish your list of insults, you took a step forward, then another. Before you knew it, you were practically nose-to-nose with her, finger pointing like a dagger. Wanda simply raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

"Oh. The baby’s angry," she teased, tilting her head slightly. "I really do love seeing you like this. It makes my day."

You growled, patience completely gone, and tried to push her, but Wanda was quicker. In a movement almost casual, she grabbed your hair with one hand and held your neck with the other, pulling you close with enough force to make it clear who was in control.

"Just because I find you adorable when you’re angry," she said, her tone low and laced with something almost dangerous, "and I go out of my way to see that little face turn red, doesn’t mean I’ll let you forget who’s in charge here. Got it?"

Your heart raced, but you kept your gaze locked on hers, even as your skin tingled where her fingers touched.

"Got it?" she repeated, tightening her grip on your hair slightly.

You swallowed hard, unsure whether you hated or loved the sensation. "Yes, ma’am," you murmured, your voice slightly shaky.

Wanda’s eyes flicked down to your lips for a brief moment, and you saw something change in her expression. She was tempted. Tempted to do something she knew she shouldn’t.

Wanda watched you, her gaze fixed on yours as if seeing something that made her burn inside. The fire of anger and determination radiating from you was intoxicating. Every time your voice rose, every insult hurled her way, it drew a slow, dangerous smile to her lips. It wasn’t just the challenge that drew her; it was the raw force of your youth, your conviction.

The witch within her began to whisper. "Look at how she glows, how she resists. She’s like a storm waiting to be tamed. We could shape her, drink her in, consume every drop of that fire. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to feel that running through our veins?"

Wanda tried to ignore it, but she couldn’t. Not when every move you made felt like a veiled invitation. "She provokes me," Wanda thought, the heat rising through her body. "Without even realizing it, she makes me vulnerable. But at the same time… she makes me feel alive."

"Touch her," the voice whispered. "Make her understand the power you hold. Kiss her, taste her. She belongs to us."

In that moment, Wanda reached out firmly, pulling you closer. There was no hesitation, only raw desire that seemed to overpower everything around her. She held you, her gaze burning with a mix of need and fascination.

"You have no idea what you’re provoking," Wanda murmured, but there was something inevitable in the way her voice wavered, as if she were on the verge of surrendering to everything she felt.

But before she could act, a knock at the door echoed through the room.

Wanda released you abruptly, stepping back with an exasperated sigh. "Come in," she said, her tone impatient, though her posture remained composed as if nothing had happened.

You took a step back, discreetly massaging your neck while glancing at the door. The tension in the air was almost unbearable, but no one seemed to notice—except the two of you.

The sound of the door closing behind whoever had entered was just a distant echo in your ears. Your focus was locked on Wanda, on her eyes burning like embers, as if the interruption had only fueled what was about to erupt between you.

The space around you seemed tighter, hotter, as if the very air was conspiring to pull you together again.

The tension wasn’t a thread anymore; it was a blazing cord wrapping around you both, tightening, scorching. There was something destructive in the energy flowing between you, a force threatening to consume anything in its path. Every exchanged glance, every shared breath felt like a step closer to the edge. It wasn’t simple desire, nor just anger—it was a ravenous hunger that wouldn’t settle for halves.

"She’s fire," Wanda thought, but the witch within her laughed, dark and satisfied. "And we are the gasoline."

If you touched again, it would be the end of control, of rationality. It would be the beginning of something deeper, wilder. A kiss wouldn’t be enough; it would only be the first crack in a dam ready to burst. You could feel it, as if every fiber of your being screamed to give in to the chaos, to the heat, to the inevitable.

Wanda averted her gaze for just a moment, as if trying to hold onto a shred of reason, but it was useless. You were there, a pulsing paradox of strength and vulnerability, and she wanted to devour every piece of it. Bites and kisses, skin against skin until the boundaries between you both were reduced to ashes. The thought was so visceral it made the air around her hum with untamed magic.

"We’ll burn together," the witch whispered, like a promise, like a sentence. "And it will be glorious."

And when Wanda’s eyes met yours again, she knew. It didn’t matter how many doors knocked or how many minutes she tried to buy with interruptions. The fire had already begun.

~*~

Call 911! A lesbian is having tachycardia longing for a Wanda like this!!

Tag list <3

@vyvvycg @rosekjsses @3liyuh @trindad2k

@indentity0018 @beggingonmykneesforher

@idkwhatever580 @valentine585

@reginassecretlover @trying-to-do-good

@imjustvibingsworld @mbxoxo @jazzyxqzl @eternallyconfuzed @ctrlaltedits @sheriffhaughtearp

@lesbiansweet @i-luv-w1men @sheriffswan-blog @htinha157 @syssmin @wandasslut3000

[mandarinmoons]

omg i love ur account soo bad, i would rlly like to read about Spencer being jealous of Derek, for the reader to comfort him and try to help with his insecurities, lowk sad ik but pleaseee 🙇🏻‍♀️

Spencer sighed as he watched Derek from afar, talking to a group of women. Each of the girls seemed to be entranced with what the man in front of them was talking about, one of them playing with her hair while the other one kept biting her lip which turned into a not so subtle smirk over time.

Spencer hadn’t had the best luck with women, he had a few take interest in him over time, but it never grew into something serious. He blamed himself for not being the archetype of a man girls would usually want from what he saw and no matter how hard he would try to be more appealing, it just wasn’t him and he wouldn’t be able to keep up the facade for too long.

“What’s on your mind, boy wonder?”

Spencer blinked his eyes as you walked over to him and brought him out of his thoughts. Spencer wondered if he should tell you what’s on his mind or would it be something he would eventually get over after some time. It was hard to hide anything from you though, the sparkle in your eyes made Spencer crack and he’d always tell you whatever it was he was thinking of, you had never judged him for it as well, so he had his answer.

“Y/N, be honest, is there anything about me that’s… unattractive?”

“What do you mean? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you.”

“Really?”

You nodded as you took a seat next to Spencer, your hand reaching out and thumb running across the back of his hand. Spencer wasn’t one for physical touch, but whenever you showed it it put him at ease.

“Where is all of this coming from?”

“I look at Morgan at times, the way he talks to women, how he presents himself, the way he is basically and I don’t know I just… wish I could be that way.”

“I’ve always liked the way that you are. Men similar to Derek put me off at first, it makes me feel like they have other intentions, but when we first met only minutes in and you were talking about the differences between plant and human cells and I thought that it was really fascinating.”

Spencer chuckled as he remembered the day you both had met. He was scared that he had messed up his first interaction with you and that you would stay clear of him whenever you would come across in the bullpen, but you did the exact opposite. You’d always take time out of your day to go talk to Spencer, even if it was the most random subject someone could think of, but you never regretted it and kept coming back for more.

“There are people out there that adore people like you Spencer and I’m proud to say that I’m one of them. Plus, I think you’re cuter than Derek.”

Pressing a kiss to Spencer’s cheek, his eyes went wide as you waved goodbye and he watched you return to your desk, a slight bounce in your step as you strode across the room.

Spencer chuckled as his eyes met the floor, somehow your words set him at ease during times he needed it the most. He didn’t know what he had done to deserve someone like you in his life, but whatever it was he was sure he’d do it a thousand times again to have even one more conversation like this.

You can find my masterlist here!

Let me know your thoughts in the comments and like & reblog to support <3

[just-dreaming-marvel]

Love That Burns ~ Ending 2 ~ 54

LOVE THAT BURNS MASTERLIST

< previous chapter

Word Count: 2,355ish

Summary: You and Logan struggle interacting with each other.

Notes: Please share reactions! Please remember to review the timeline posted here.

Reminder: I DO NOT do taglists. Please don’t ask. Please follow and interact! I appreciate any reblogs, likes, comments, and asks!

Your healing factor decided to kick into high gear while you were sleeping, which you were grateful for. Your hands were scarred now, but that didn’t matter as long as the burns were gone. Though you knew that it would probably happen again. You worked again today, but not until later, so you decided to go out and run a few errands. As you were locking up the apartment, you heard heavy footsteps coming down the hall. Looking over, you saw Logan with his head down and hands stuffed in his pockets. Having felt someone staring, he looked up and stopped. The two of you just stared at each other for a moment before you decided to speak up.

“Hi,” your voice was quiet, nervous. 

“Hey,” he responded, voice low. “You, uh, you heading to work?”

“Not yet,” you shook your head. “I’m off to run some errands.” Logan nodded. “Where are you coming back from?”

“A walk… needed to clear my head and smoke a cigar in peace.”

Your lips turned up at his words. “I get it.” You walked his way, stopping as you reached his side. “Well, I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah… see you.”

You continued heading down the hallway. You were almost to the stairs when you heard Logan again.

“Hey, Y/N, wait.” You turned around to see him coming towards you. He stopped a few feet away from you. “Mind if I tag along?”

His words took you by surprise and, in all honesty, a part of you wanted to say no. You didn’t know if you could handle running errands with the man who shared your husbands face. But then you looked at him. You could see the nervousness and the war behind his eyes. Logan was struggling too.

“I don’t mind,” you said quietly. “I could… use the company.”

You wanted as Logan’s shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. After a moment, he moved to where you were and allowed you to led him down the stairs and out to the street. The two of you walked in silence, enough space away from one another to prevent from bumping into each other. 

You headed into the first store and grabbed a cart. Logan walked off to the side, grabbing the items you asked him to. It quickly became a comfortable routine from this store to the next. Logan carried your bought items around with ease. After the two stores, you decided that you were done for now and the two of you headed back to the apartment complex. 

“You can place everything on the table,” you told Logan as you opened the door to your apartment. “I’ll put everything away.”

“I can help,” Logan said, heading to the table.

“You’ve already helped. I’m sure that you—“

“Please.”

Your head tilted in curiosity at the tone Logan used. He was practically begging for you to let him help. He turned around and looked at you, eyes shining with something you were very familiar with seeing. Guilt. Something in Logan’s mind was eating away at him and he was trying to do something to take his mind off of it.

“Okay,” you whispered.

The two of you began working together to put items away.

“Where’s Laura?” Logan wondered, having not seen her yet today.

“She’s at a high school down the street. I signed her up for summer classes so that she could finish high school.”

Logan nodded. “That will be good for her. She interested in college?”

“She was, before we were sent to The Void. It hasn’t been a conversation that we’ve had since. I won’t force her into anything. I just want her to be happy. She’ll most likely have her father’s ability to live long, so a long and happy—a fulfilled life is all I want for her. Whatever that may look like.”

“You are a good mother.”

The compliment had you lose your breath for a moment. Once you gathered yourself, you turned away from Logan and focused back on the task. The two of you put the rest of the items away in silence. When everything was put away, Logan stuffed his hands back in his pockets and you finally fully faced him.

“Thanks for all your help,” you said, your lips pulling to a small smile.

“Anytime,” he responded with a nod. He turned to leave.

“Would you… I can make lunch.”

Logan stopped and looked back. “You don’t have to.”

“I think you deserve it after I made you carry everything around for me. Come. Sit.”

He fully turned around. “I can help. Put me to work.”

You shook your head. “No. But maybe I’ll let you do dishes when we’re done.”

“Deal.”

Logan sat down at the table as you got to work in the kitchen. His eyes carefully watched your every moment, lingering on your hands ever so often to check on them and to catch the sight of the wedding ring still on your finger.

“How are your hands?” Logan eventually broke the silence.

You paused, glancing at them. “They’re fine.”

“From, uh… From what I’ve picked up, I thought that you were only in pain when you’ve used your powers. Are you still in pain from The Void? Or was it something else?”

“Something else… I… I don’t really want to talk about it.” Logan let out an understanding grunt as he nodded. “How have you been handling all this? I think that everyone knows it’s not easy for me, but… this has to be really hard for you.”

“Yeah, it’s strange… I’m trying to make the most of it. I… well, you heard, I turned my whole world on the X-Men. I… I failed my friends… my family. And I killed many people… This is a fresh start. I don’t want to mess it up.”

“Well, I think you’re off to a good start, if that means anything.”

“It does… thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” you shot him a smile. “Are you planning on getting a job?”

“I want to, just to keep my mind busy, but it’ll be hard… The Wolverine is, uh, popular.”

“I’m sure you’ll fine something… I can help if you want.”

“I’ll let you know if I need any.”

You nodded and brought two plates over to the table. “Lunch is served.”

“Looks great. Thanks, princess.”

Princess. Now that was a nickname you hadn’t heard in a lot time. It had your mind reeling. Reliving all the times your Logan had called you that. Your hands began trembling as your lungs felt tight, like you couldn’t breathe. Logan immediately noticed the sudden change in you.

“Y/N?” He called. “Are you alright?” He reached for you but you stumbled back, your breaths coming out in labored pants. 

“I— He—You—“ You couldn’t complete a thought without your breathing getting in the way.

It suddenly clicked. Your husband—Your Logan had called you that. “Y/N, I’m so sorry. I overstepped. It just slipped out.” 

Logan stood up and held out his arms like he was calming a timid animal. Your hands were growing hotter, making the whole scenario worse. Logan could see small trails of smoke begin to come from your hands. 

“Y/N, tell me what I can do to help,” he pled. 

“I’m—fine,” you clearly lied.

Logan shook his head. “Tell me what you need.”

“I… Leave… Just… go…”

“Y/N, I can’t—“

“Please! Go!”

Logan stood there and watched as you used the wall to support yourself as you headed down the hall. He didn’t miss the burn marks your hands left on the walls as he watched you disappeared into the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind you. Logan sighed, shoulders sagging. He couldn’t leave you like this, at least not with your kitchen like this. Logan found food storage containers and placed the lunch in them before placing the containers in the fridge and quickly cleaning up the kitchen. He headed for the door, pausing to look back at the hallway before slipping out.

~~~

You ignored the pain in your gloved hands as you worked. Even sneaking in a few drinks to try to dull the pain and the memory of what happened. You were so embarrassed that a simple nickname sent you into an anxiety attack. After all this time since your husband’s death, you thought that you were more healed than this. But these last few weeks have proven otherwise.

“Buttercup!” Wade yelled across the bar as he entered. He sauntered over to where you were, sitting on a barstool across from you.

“Wade,” you greeted, remaining neutral. “What brings you in?”

“Can’t I visit my favorite fire starter at work?”

“Ssh!! Wade. No one can know. Remember?”

He held his hands up. “Alright. Grumpy. What’s got you all wound up? It’s it the lack of a sex life? Have you not had sex since your husband? How was that by the way? Did you have to do all the work since he was so old?”

“Just shut up, Wade! I’m trying to work.”

He reached over the bar and grabbed your wrist before you could walk away. “Hey. I’m sorry. Seriously. I came to check on you. Apparently it’s something I do now, Savior Of The Universe and all.”

“I’m fine.”

“Yeah, not really buying it. Especially when Logan came back from your place in a mood. He’s finished all the alcohol in the apartment and trust me, Blind Al had a lot of hiding spots that even I couldn’t find. And then there was the fact that Little Wolf came home and freaked when she saw the burn marks on the walls.”

You sighed. “I have a break in ten minutes. Just wait for me in the booth over there.”

~~~

You rolled the beer bottle around on the table, eyes focused on it. Wade sat across from you, watching you silently like he might be able to read your mind.

“It’s not his fault,” you whispered. “I know Logan is feeling guilty. I know it because they’re so similar… He called me a name that Logan—that my husband used to call me. It triggered me. I know he meant nothing by it, but my mind freaked… My powers…” your eyes fell to the gloves. “I’m losing control over them and the pain is getting worse… I shouldn’t have kicked him out the way I did, but I couldn’t help it.”

Wade sighed, pushing down a majority of the inappropriate comments. He could tell that a lot was weighing on you. “Honestly, I probably would have completely combusted.” You laughed, causing Wade to smile. “Logan will get over it. Peanut has his own shit that he’s dealing with while you’re dealing with yours.”

“I owe him an apology.”

Wade scoffed, waving his hand around before taking a sip of his own beer. “Trust me. I’ve read enough Emberine fanfics to know that you never need to apologize to him. No matter where your relationship is at.”

“You weren’t joking when you said you were my biggest fan.”

“I would never lie about something like that, Buttercup. Oh! Maybe when you get home, we can cuddle up and I can read the latest one I found. It’s called, Love That Burns, and a lot of it is eerily familiar to your story. Besides the ending. You died and then Logan went back in time and—“

“Maybe another time. Thanks for coming, Wade.”

“Big Brother Wade to the rescue.”

“I’m a lot older than you.”

He waved you off. “Tis just a number, Buttercup.”

~~~

You were exhausted by the time your shift was over and you got back to your apartment. When you entered, Laura was sitting on the couch working on homework. Her head immediately snapped up to look at you.

“Hey,” you greeted with a small smile, coming over to collapse beside her. “How was school?”

“Fine,” she responded with a huff. “Already have homework.”

“Need any help?”

“Do you?”

You sighed. “Laura—“

“I came home to burn marks on the wall. Do you know how scary that is? I thought… Well, I thought… the worst.”

“Oh, kiddo, I’m so sorry.” You reached over to her but she flinched away, breaking your head. “Laura—“

“I’m just going to go to my room.” She stood quickly gathering all her stuff.

“Laura, please.”

“I’ll see you in the morning. Good night, mom.”

You sighed as she disappeared into her room. You were really killing it today. Leaning forward, your head fell into your hands. You have no idea how long you were like that before there was a knock at the door. Cautious because it was so late, you peeked through the peep whole to see Logan standing there. You could tell that he was nervous and weighed down, emotionally and mentally. You opened the door, causing Logan to breathe a small sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry,” you both said at the same time. 

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” you quickly said before Logan could speak up. 

“But I do. The nickname just slipped.”

“You couldn’t know that it would trigger me. Hell, I didn’t until it did. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have kicked you out the way I did.”

“I deserved it.”

You chuckled. “We are not going to agree on this, are we?”

“Nope… I’m sorry again. Goodnight, Y/N.” He turned away and headed towards his apartment.

“Hey, Logan,” you called. He paused, turning to face you. “Can we have a redo of lunch tomorrow? I still owe you for carrying everything today.”

He nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

“Great. Goodnight, Logan. And don’t be too hard on yourself.”

You shut the door, leaving Logan in the hallway feeling exposed. Of course you knew that he was eating himself alive. You had married this universe’s version of him. You basically knew him already, yet his universe’s version of you and this version were different in so many ways that he felt you had an unfair advantage over him. But he would allow this to take its time. The strongest friendships always do.

next chapter >

[cometzonefawks]

Ooo I wanna do this

By 2 months

Cry to get needs met

Occasionally self-soothe by sucking on hands and fingers ✅

Start to smile and look directly at you ✅

By 4 months

Cry in different ways to show hunger, pain, or being tired ✅

Smile in response to caregiver’s smile ✅

Play with toys by shaking them ❌

By 6 months

Are more aware of which people are familiar and which are strangers ✅

Can respond to other people’s emotions by crying, smiling, or laughing ✅

Enjoy looking at themselves in the mirror ✅

By 9 months

Start to show stranger anxiety ❌

May cry when familiar faces aren’t around ❌

Start to prefer some toys over others ✅

By 12 months

Play favorites with familiar people ✅

Are more interactive (like handing over a toy or a book, or making a specific noise to get a caregiver’s attention) ✅

Enjoy simple interactive games, like patty-cake and peekaboo ❌

Toddlers and preschoolers

Ages 18 months–2 years

Have more temper tantrums and become more defiant as they try to communicate and be independent ✅

Start simple pretend play, like imitating what adults or other kids are doing ✅

Become interested in having other kids around, but are more likely to play alongside them (parallel play) than with them (cooperative play) ✅

Ages 3–4 years

Start to show and verbalize a wider range of emotion ✅

Are interested in pretend play, but may confuse real and “make believe” ✅

Are spontaneously kind and caring ✅

Start playing with other kids and separate from caregivers more easily ✅

May still have tantrums because of changes in routine or not getting what they want ❌

Grade-schoolers

Ages 5–6 years

Enjoy playing with other kids and are more conversational and independent ✅

Test boundaries but are still eager to please and help out ✅

Begin to understand what it means to feel embarrassed ✅

Ages 7–8 years

Are more aware of others’ perceptions ✅

May complain about friendships and other kids��� reactions ✅

Want to behave well, but aren’t as attentive to directions ✅

Try to express feelings with words, but may resort to aggression when upset ✅

Ages 9–10 years

Share secrets and jokes with friends ✅

May start to develop own identity by withdrawing from family activities and conversations✅

Are affectionate, silly, and curious, but can also be selfish, rude, and argumentative✅

Middle-schoolers and high-schoolers

Ages 11–15 years

Start thinking more logically ✅

Are introspective and moody and need privacy ✅

Value friends’ and others’ opinions more and more ✅

May test out new ideas, clothing styles, and mannerisms while figuring out where/how to fit in ✅

Ages 16–18 years

Strive to be independent and may start emotionally distancing from caregivers

Start trying to discover strengths and weaknesses, at times seeming self-centered, impulsive, or moody

Show pride in successes

Spend a lot of time with friends and may be interested in dating

Social-Emotional Checklist for Age Regressors

This checklist can help you figure out a specific age that you, an OC, or your little one regress to, based on how they communicate, express emotions, interact with their caregivers, and socialize with other littles.

To complete it, highlight or check off any of the descriptions that apply to you or your little one. If you highlight ALL or the vast majority of the traits in one category, then your little is OLDER than that and is past that phase. If you highlight about HALF of the descriptions, then that is exactly where your little one is at when regressed. If nothing in that category applies to your little one, they are younger than that given age. Some littles may have a mix of multiple developmental ages, especially if they're neurodivergent, and that's okay!

I'm gonna do this for my age-regressing OC Rhea, and feel free to copy/paste this wherever you'd like, or just use it for your own reference! [original source]

You'll see that for Rhea, I could check off almost everything in the infant category. She has her favorite caregiver, she's anxious around strangers, and she's aware of other people's emotions and tries to respond!

Once I got to the toddler category however, things got a little more shaky. She throws tantrums and has some complexity to her emotions, however she's not playing with peers at all and doesn't care for pretend play. Once I reached the gradeschool level, nothing really applied to her so I stopped there.

This tells me that Rhea is about 2 years old, although this can shift a bit because age regression has its own natural ebbs and flows. Try it out with yourself or your little one, and see if it helps you understand them or help them out a little bit better!

Infants and babies

By 2 months

• Cry to get needs met ✅️

• Occasionally self-soothe by sucking on hands and fingers ✅️

• Start to smile and look directly at you ✅️

By 4 months

• Cry in different ways to show hunger, pain, or being tired ✅️

• Smile in response to caregiver’s smile ✅️

• Play with toys by shaking them✅️

By 6 months

• Are more aware of which people are familiar and which are strangers ✅️

• Can respond to other people’s emotions by crying, smiling, or laughing✅️

• Enjoy looking at themselves in the mirror❌️

By 9 months

• Start to show stranger anxiety✅️

• May cry when familiar faces aren’t around✅️

• Start to prefer some toys over others✅️

By 12 months

• Play favorites with familiar people✅️

• Are more interactive (like handing over a toy or a book, or making a specific noise to get a caregiver’s attention)✅️

• Enjoy simple interactive games, like patty-cake and peekaboo❌️

Toddlers and preschoolers

Ages 18 months–2 years

• Have more temper tantrums and become more defiant as they try to communicate and be independent✅️

• Start simple pretend play, like imitating what adults or other kids are doing❌️

• Become interested in having other kids around, but are more likely to play alongside them (parallel play) than with them (cooperative play)❌️

Ages 3–4 years

• Start to show and verbalize a wider range of emotion ✅️

• Are interested in pretend play, but may confuse real and “make believe”❌️

• Are spontaneously kind and caring❌️

• Start playing with other kids and separate from caregivers more easily❌️

• May still have tantrums because of changes in routine or not getting what they want✅️

Grade-schoolers

Ages 5–6 years

• Enjoy playing with other kids and are more conversational and independent

• Test boundaries but are still eager to please and help out

• Begin to understand what it means to feel embarrassed

Ages 7–8 years

• Are more aware of others’ perceptions

• May complain about friendships and other kids’ reactions

• Want to behave well, but aren’t as attentive to directions

• Try to express feelings with words, but may resort to aggression when upset

Ages 9–10 years

• Share secrets and jokes with friends

• May start to develop own identity by withdrawing from family activities and conversations

• Are affectionate, silly, and curious, but can also be selfish, rude, and argumentative

Middle-schoolers and high-schoolers

Ages 11–15 years

• Start thinking more logically

• Are introspective and moody and need privacy

• Value friends’ and others’ opinions more and more

• May test out new ideas, clothing styles, and mannerisms while figuring out where/how to fit in

Ages 16–18 years

• Strive to be independent and may start emotionally distancing from caregivers

• Start trying to discover strengths and weaknesses, at times seeming self-centered, impulsive, or moody

• Show pride in successes

• Spend a lot of time with friends and may be interested in dating

[manonsmartini]

Maniac: We Had Magic But You Made It Tragic

Daniela Avanzini x fem!reader

3.3k words | established relationship | story starts with predebut daniela | predebut friends are fictional

angst, fluff, homophobia, closeted, suggestive(ish) joke

In all honesty, it is truly dreadful to walk these halls, and you'd rather be anywhere than here at the moment. Opening the door to your locker though, you couldn't help the smile that crept to your lips at the sight of a little brown teddy bear, already having an idea of how it ended up in your locker.

"Hi cutie, I'll meet you up at your place tonight @ 10," a small handwritten letter said.

You stifle a chuckle, remembering that you once told Daniela that you valued handwritten letters, and although this is not the type of handwritten letter you had in mind, knowing that it came from the blonde made it a hundred times better.

After getting your stuff from the locker, you headed to your next class.

As you sat in your chair, you couldn't help but let your mind wander to the girl that has been taking over your thoughts for the past three months. You didn't even know why someone like Daniela would give you the time of day—heck, she's literally THE Daniela Avanzini. It is especially shocking because prior to her taking an interest in you, you would have sworn that she is exclusively a boy kisser.

It still baffles you every time you think about your first interaction. It was at the parking lot near the campus grounds, it’s already dark and you had been standing there alone, waiting for someone you barely knew.

“Your date stood you up?” You visibly jolted, shocked at the sudden voice behind you. Turning around, you were surprised to see Daniela Avanzini staring right at you, a smirk visible on her lips, her arms crossed over her chest while her hands held her car keys.

“What, you see a loser in the wild and you immediately assume that she got stood up by a date? That’s very judgemental of you,” You replied, light-heartedly.

Although you meant it as a joke, you could see the shift in the girl’s demeanor, scratching her loose blond curls, looking slightly embarrassed, “Oh— I… I didn’t—”

“It’s alright, I was messing with you,” You cut her off. Daniela nodded before regaining her composure, “So what are you doing here all alone?”

Studying her face, it took you a hot minute to answer because first of all, you did not expect her to engage in an actual conversation with you; sure you expected a snarky remark about getting ditched by a date, but you didn’t expect her to actually talk to you. You immediately convinced yourself that she probably still feels guilty about her assumption which you called her out for.

“I mean if you don’t mind me asking,” Daniela added, “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound like a creep, especially not in an empty parking lot.”

You realized that while you were overthinking, you were simply staring at the blonde’s face, probably making her feel more tense than she already was, “No, I don’t mind at all, sorry,” You started, “My mind went blank all of a sudden, it’s just that Hailey borrowed my notes yesterday and she asked me to meet her here so that she could return them.”

The blonde clicked her tongue before replying, “Well damn, I guess you’re not getting it tonight though.”

You look at her in question, “Why not?”

“She and her boyfriend had an argument earlier so now she’s at his place because he’s trying to make it up to her,” Daniela says.

“Oh, wow. Thanks for the heads up, god I hope she told me that herself so that I didn’t have to wait here all night thinking she had dance practice or something,” You said, obviously pissed, but your foul mood was not directed towards the blonde in front of you, rather it was for the blonde that ditched you.

“Look, I’m sure Hailey just forgot, she tends to do that when she’s stressed by her boyfriend, and maybe she couldn’t text you because she didn’t have your number,” Daniela tried to reason.

Now you felt bad because although she’s not the person you’re pissed at, she’s definitely in the receiving end of your attitude so you straightened up and said, “Yeah you’re right, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be a bitch towards you, I really do appreciate you telling me all this.”

Daniela flashes you a bright smile, her dimple showing, and you swore your heart bursted at the sight, “No worries at all, god knows what I would’ve said and done if I were in your position,” She wraps her hand around your arm, caressing it, “It’s all good, don’t worry, you weren’t a bitch at all.”

You could feel goosebumps all over the arm that the dancer held, especially with her eyes locked onto yours, it felt like you were suffocating but in the best way possible.

“Well, since we have established that you wouldn’t be seeing Hailey tonight, do you have any other plans?”

“Other than going home?” You asked, shocked that she would even ask such a question.

Daniela flashed you another smile, her dimple once again making an appearance, "I'd seriously kill for an unhealthily greasy burger right now," You could see the girl studying your face before continuing, "I was wondering if you'd like to join me?"

"I–" You honestly fell silent, not knowing how to respond to a really pretty girl asking you to eat with her, "Sure, I'd love to."

The dancer's smile widens, her eyes practically glowing in the dimly lit parking lot, "Great, I know a really good place. My car's just over there," The girl turns around, pointing towards her red car.

You nodded, and followed her when she started making her way towards the vehicle, "Oh shit, I forgot to ask," She turns back to face you, "Do you have a ride? Sorry, I just assumed that you'd ride with me…"

Daniela laughs awkwardly, scratching her head before adding, "God, I should really stop assuming things about you."

You gave the blonde a genuine smile of your own, finding the whole interaction adorable, "It's fine, Daniela, I don't mind, and no, I don't have a ride."

The girl's eyes visibly widened at the mention of her name, "Oh god," she said.

You look at her in curiosity, "Why? Is there something wrong?" You asked as the both of you approached the car.

"I just remembered, I didn't even introduce myself to you," The blonde said, a look of utter disbelief painted on her face. You couldn't help but chuckle at the girl.

"Daniela," you started, emphasizing her name, "I highly doubt that you even have to; you're like one of the most well-known students in our batch," you gave her a kind smile before adding, "If anything, I should be the one worried that I haven't introduced myself."

The dancer shakes her head in disagreement, "No," She starts, "Well, I already know you, I mean, I've seen you perform at some of your gigs," You could feel your cheeks heating up as the girl opens the car door for you, her eyes steady on your frame. You never would have thought that she'd be hanging out at the cafes that you played in, other than the fact that you'd never seen her, it just doesn't seem like her vibe.

"Oh, well, I'd hardly call it a performance," You replied as she finally enters her car, getting ready to drive off, "I just go up the stage with a guitar and sing," You could see the girl about to disagree with you when you added, "You on the other hand, wow, you are a performer."

Despite her focus being trained on the road, you could see the pink tint coloring the girl's cheeks, "That is not true," was all she could say.

"Oh come on, Daniela," You started, "You're a dance prodigy—you know for a fact that I'm right."

That night was the start of something unexpected; a vicious and feisty force that was Daniela just waltz into your life without any warning, and ever since then, the girl kept finding ways to bump into you and spark a conversation with you.

And of course, you did not even try to avoid it; in fact, you loved the attention that Daniela gave you—she's such an addictive person and the more you saw her, the more you wanted to bask in her presence.

It didn't even take the dancer long before she finally asked you out on a real date, which ended successfully, causing the both of you to finally have a mutual understanding of dating each other in private, mostly because she is not ready to come out of the closet.

You were lying on your bed, scrolling through twitter when you received a text from your girlfriend, telling you that she's right outside. You send her a quick response before quietly rushing out of your bedroom to sneak her into your house.

Daniela never fails to look amazing whenever she meets up with you. Sure, the latina always looks absolutely stunning even without much effort, but there's certainly something different every time she goes out to see you, and in a way, it gives you a sense of pride knowing that only you get to see her this way, and that maybe, just maybe, she puts in the effort to look good for you.

"Are you doing anything this Saturday?" The dancer looks at you expectantly as she laid on your lap, both of you resting comfortably on your bed. You had an exam on Monday that you really had to prepare for, but you decided to ask the dancer, "Do you have any plans in mind?"

"Mhm," She nods adorably, sitting up straight facing you, "I was wondering if you'd like to go to the movies with me," Daniela basically pleads with her eyes, "My friends have been raving about this one horror film, and I really really want to watch it. Please?"

Now seriously, how do you say no to that? Exactly, you don't.

After making plans with her, both of you cuddled on your bed with the latina being the small spoon. You spoke into her exposed neck, feeling the goosebumps immediately form around the area, "Dani, baby, it's midnight."

The blonde sighs before turning around to face you. She stares into your eyes before she wraps her arm on your waist holding you closer, and buries her face on your chest.

“I don’t care,” Daniela says, squeezing your body closer which you didn’t even think was possible. As much as you didn’t want her to go, you replied, “Tomorrow’s a school day, Dani, you have to go back home.”

The girl only grumbled in response so you continued, “Besides, my parents would freak out if they see a stranger’s car outside our house.”

Daniela finally separates her face from your chest, looking at you sheepishly, “But I’m not a stranger now, am I? Not with all the things I’m doing to their little princess,” she says, a smirk evident on her lips.

Your cheeks heat up at her words, choosing to ignore her insinuation, you said, “To them, you are a stranger, and I can’t exactly introduce you to them as my friend because that just feels wrong.”

You could see the pout forming on the latina’s lips and you wanted nothing more than to kiss it away. It seems as though Daniela read your thoughts because not even a minute later her hand brushes your cheeks before leaning into you, taking your lips in a slow kiss.

“Alright, I’ll go,” Daniela says, her lips still on yours, “I’ll miss you,” she utters.

You bite her bottom lip, urging her to kiss you once again, “Don’t be silly, we’ll see each other on campus.”

Daniela Avanzini is truly addictive—a girl like her is hard to let go of and you are certain that you are the luckiest person alive knowing that you get to call her your girlfriend, albeit not publicly. The mere knowledge that she likes you is enough.

However, it would be a lie if you said that it didn’t bother you: keeping your relationship secret. You were a private person yourself, but lov—liking Daniela feels like it isn’t enough; you feel the need to tell the world that you are hers.

You couldn’t help but compare yourself to her ex boyfriend, a famous jock in your highschool, and how public their relationship was. It wasn’t that you were jealous. No—but you sure feel envious of what they had.

How freely he could visit Daniela at her home, her family welcoming him with open arms. How he could easily tag along with Daniela’s friends when they hangout. How he was able to tell the whole school how much Daniela meant to him.

You weren’t jealous of him, but you envied what he had with Daniela. Because as much as the latina makes an effort to see you, it feels like the effort to hide you from her life was bigger.

Like how she barely acknowledges you at school, the way she makes an effort to go to campus at a ridiculously early hour just to slip a note in your locker so that no one would see her, how she would visit your home late at night and having to sneak her in. Although it hasn’t been long, she already means the world to you, and whenever your mind touches these thoughts, you can’t avoid the bitter feeling that grows in your chest.

But deep inside, you knew that Daniela was worth the wait. You don't know how much time she needs before she feels comfortable enough to let this secret out, but until then, you would settle for anything that the girl was ready to give.

Saturday rolls around and you could barely contain your excitement. It has been a while since you actually went out with Daniela; she only either sneaked into your room or she’d pick you up to sneak you into hers.

You find yourself overthinking about what to wear to your date with the blonde, not wanting to go overboard but also wanting to look pretty for the girl. You settled with a casual outfit that you were comfortable in, but tried to make an effort in your appearance by putting on some makeup.

Not long after getting ready, you received a text message from your girlfriend. You smiled at her words before typing in your response.

Double checking whether everything is in place, you gathered your stuff and headed out the house. As much as you were pretty introverted, your parents don't exactly question you as much when you leave because for the most part, they assume that you’ll be out singing at cafes.

When you arrived at the gas station, you could already see the striking red car of your girlfriend. Daniela spots you from the driver’s seat and immediately vacates her vehicle to greet you.

The blonde carefully studies your frame from your shoes til her eyes slowly reach yours, taking in your appearance, “You look amazing,” She said, seemingly breathless.

You’re sure that a pink tint has appeared on your cheeks as you feel them heat up at your girlfriend’s compliment mixed with her intense stare, “And you look beautiful, Dani, as always.”

The blonde steps into your personal space and wraps her arms around you, a hand reaching the back of your head, urging you to bury your face onto the crook of her neck.

“I missed you,” Daniela says as she plants a soft kiss on your temple, still holding onto you. You were grateful that she was practically shielding you from the world because it meant that you could hide the stupidly big smile on your lips, feeling both joyful and perplexed at the public display of affection coming from the latina. You truly prayed for times like this.

The mere action made you hopeful; perhaps things are finally about to change.

Little did you know, you were right—things were about to change, but not for the better.

The film that you watched was great. Sure, it was scary and you had a few jumps and shrieks which were embarrassing to say the least, but every time you did so, Daniela held you as close as possible, so you still considered it as a win.

As the movie ended, both of you made your way out of the cinema, “Dani,” you called out to the blonde, “I’ll just go to the bathroom real quick,” you informed her.

She nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll be waiting for you outside.”

As Daniela exited the cinema, she heard a familiar voice calling her, “Dani?” The latina freezed at her spot, trying to calm her nerves before turning around to face the girl who was already smiling widely at her.

“Hey Hailey,” the latina greeted her friend, feeling uncomfortable but trying her hardest not to let it show, “You watched the movie?”

The other blonde shook her head no, “We’re just about to watch it, but I thought I saw you leaving the cinema so I followed you just to be sure.”

“Why didn’t you say that you were going to go to the movies? We could’ve gone together!” Hailey said, then suddenly she squints her eyes at the latina, “Or are you here on a date? Oh my god Daniela, who are you with?”

Daniela tried to act nonchalantly, rolling her eyes at her friend’s excitement with a smirk on her face. She knew that you could come out any minute, and that there’s probably no way out of this situation so she tried her best to save her face.

“Oh god, you won’t even believe me if I told you,” Daniela said, a laugh laced with her tone, “I went with Y/N.”

“What?” Hailey looks surprised, “I didn’t know you two were friends?”

“We’re not,” Daniela laughs lightly, “It’s a bit of a long story so I’ll text you the details later, but yeah…” the girl trailed off, “She seems to admire me so I went with it, and in return I get free booze and food from her,” Daniela laughs.

Her friend widens her eyes before she laughs with her friend, “Oh my god, Daniela! You must be so bored with your life! That’s so funny though,” the girl laughs, “And really smart, damn.”

“Yeah,” The latina agrees, “You know how she sings at some cafes and bars?” Her friend nods, urging her to continue, “Well, let’s just say that I can confirm that the foods and drinks from those places are pretty good.”

Hailey was just about to reply to the other dancer when the pair spotted you exiting the cinema, cutting their conversation to a sudden end. You raised your gaze and your eyes met your girlfriend’s, then her friend’s who was looking at you with amusement in her eyes.

You almost stopped in your tracks knowing that Daniela never told her friends that she even knows you, but seeing the girl’s smile, you felt at ease and decided to approach the pair.

“Hey,” you said, nervously. “Oh my god,” Hailey says, “I have to go, the movie’s about to start.”

She locks eyes with the other blonde before saying, “I’ll catch up with you later, alright? Tell me everything.”

Both you and Daniela watched as the girl entered the cinema, and as she was no longer in sight, the blonde broke the silence, “Hey, you ready to go home?”

You met your girlfriend’s gaze, studying her face, unsure of whether you should ask her about Hailey or not, but decided against it, thinking that if she wants to talk about it, she’ll bring it up.

A small smile appears on your lips before you reply, “Yeah, let’s go.”

part 2 coming soon | main

[shiny-jr]

What a New Year’s treat to read the Ignihyde chapter!!! Love Imp! MC, they’re such a different flavor of scaredy cat compared to King! MC and genuinely seem torn up by their decisions to go along with changing the plot out of self-interest.

And the way Ortho just unnerves them by knowing they’re an imposter, blackmailing and enjoying their company because they actually do their job despite their fear. Idia also revealing he knew midway is so good too! He acts like he doesn’t care but the subtle changes to his actions.

AND WHEN ITS IMP!READER USED TO TRICK HERACLEA!!! They must be blue screening mentally as they calculate just what made the heroine so focused on them when Meg’s right there. Just those tiny glimpses of them escaping time after time as she defeats the threat, slowly focusing less on the cheering crowds unless it’s to scan it for those shy, terrified eyes, and slim horns. Idia’s right, Imp!Reader just accidentally captivates people with their shivering cat energy; his fast talking was probably due to all three and the fact he gets to have them completely at their weakest.

Idia is going to keep them right by his side during the whole conquest, keeping them safe from any harm from a stray arrow to just them tripping over themselves and getting a scraped knee. Casually reminding them he wouldn’t dare let harm befall his most valuable asset, propping them on his leg as he slouches on Zeus’s chest throne atop Olympus, letting them have a front row seat to the devastation unleashed onto the world with Ortho gleefully narrating everything.

This was worth the wait and I adored every scene and interaction~!

Okay, okay, finally getting around to the asks that have spoilers and talk about the Ignihyde part of Damnation. I've been waiting for a few days, there's a few other asks like this one, but I was saving them and waiting to make sure some time passed so hopefully most people read it already if they wanted to and got no spoilers. It's been nearly a week since I first uploaded it, so I think it's safe to address it now in conversations.

So far, I've seen some asks that mostly like the MC? Which is a relief. As I know sometimes anxious MCs can come off as annoying, and I'm glad that it wasn't the case for a majority of the comments and messages I've gotten about them. So I'm really glad that they've been well received!

I know Ignihyde isn't really a popular dorm compared to the others, so I was sort of concerned when uploading that it wouldn't get that much attention. But it did. Maybe not as much as say, Pomefiore, which was to be expected, but I'm glad my expectations were exceeded and the overall feedback seems to be positive!

[quirekey]

MATCHUP FOR @indecisiveoverthinking

[ transformers x cybertronian!reader ] + [ yandere ]

You have got D16 TFONE!

HEADCANONS

- You two were familiar with each other but were not in the same shifts or mines. D16 heard about you from Orion since you were known for being ‘unfriendly’. Orion thinks it’s just how your face is but this caught D16’s interest. When Orion started describing you D16 realised how similar you both were personality wise and became more… invasive.

- D16 asked everybot and looked everywhere for you, wanting to have some sort of interaction. All he found was your doodles on the wall that had your name under them. He would stare at these drawings to points where he forgets shifts, thinking the doodles are cute or just good company. He doesn’t even know what you look like and he’s already obsessed.

- When you guys do become friends, you and D16 enjoy just spending one-on-one time. Giving each other your full attention and showing the other all of your ‘platonic affection’. To you it’s merely friendly but for him it feels like you guys are lovers, talking all about your interests, dreams and thoughts.

- The relationship between you two is pretty strange. You show trust and care while he shows his obsessive love. He doesn’t care if you don’t love him because he loves you. He is known of your boundaries and respects them, he only pushes when the time is right.

- You are pretty obedient when it comes to your shifts, reckless but trusting with your time. D16 has been watching you come and go, counting every second and marking them in his head. He can predict when you come out and when you leave without thinking twice.

- D16 is the type of bot to get ‘Miner of the month’ every month, but your presence has changed that. He now skips shifts to talk to you when you're on break or breaks protocol to stare at you from afar. He skips his shifts to go to yours and doesn’t care how much it takes, he just wants to be in your presence.

- D16 isn’t the type to be the best at comforting, only being able to be there to be a shoulder for somebody to cry on. If you are sad though, he will do everything to make you feel better. He’d skip shifts, steal extra energon for you and just do stupid things that could get him fired or even offlined. Anything to make you smile.

- You love to doodle in your stasis pod, scratching the metal to make little faces that remind you of your happy place. D16’s pod isn’t far from yours so he keeps an optic open to watch you draw instead of staying in stasis. He sometimes watches you while you're in stasis to ‘keep you safe’.

- Once D16 listened to your whole conversation you and Orion had, this one gave him a lot of information about you unlike the other unneeded conversations. He found out about your love of arts and comfiness and wanted to make a gift. When you were gone on a shift, he made your stasis pod cozy with soft metals and colourful decorations and ornaments. He kept himself anonymous but did see your reaction.

You seem awesome, pretend i gave you a cat bro – to Mia

[genderqueerdykes]

this is prob silly but i appreciate you being so candid about not interacting with much media (like film/tv/pop culture stuff). it's kind of hard to be on tumblr or really even exist if you're not able to interact with media but it's a big trigger for me so i just... can't. like, i've never had anyone understand that it's not a choice i'm making to be special/different/lazy i just have extreme and unhealthly reactions to most media, except some books and comics. which idk if that's how it is for you (its not my business or anything) but i've never felt seen/represented about it before so im thankful, yk?

i appreciate you for sending this! i don't find it silly at all

i think it's very good for you to acknowledge that you have an unhealthy relationship with most forms of media. i'm sorry that you're going through this, but consuming media is not a requirement nor is it something that you genuinely need for your mental health, so it's okay that that's how you feel. i appreciate this because it gives me a chance to talk about something that is important to me, but people struggle to understand why that is

my parents used to make fun of whatever i was watching or playing as a kid over my shoulder. i used to get relentlessly mocked every time i put on a show i liked or played a game in front of either of them. it caused me to have severe trauma for years where i couldn't watch or play anything around other people at all. i still don't like when people ask me to put on things that i do like for a big group. the stress i feel when other people don't enjoy it is not worth it. i'm still very uncomfortable doing this to this day

i've felt pretty alienated all my life due to this. it seems like now more than ever, media, especially fictional media, is so important to general modern culture that it creates a barrier between people who do and don't engage. and it's not like it's a passive thing, i have people get offended at me when i say i haven't seen a movie or TV show. not talking about anyone on here, or any anons i've answered about media! people have been kind and respectful here. but in my real life and in conversations with other people, i have genuinely been mocked or insulted because i don't engage with most television, movies, books and comics.

i've had people question my autism over this. when i've told people in the past that i do not engage with pop culture, fictional media and so on, i've had people actually say "but i thought you were autistic????" like it's genuinely frustrating that it seems like people have shifted to thinking that autistic people's special interests are always cartoons, games and TV shows. it worries me because at times it feels like people are turning the common definition of autism into Media Consumption Disorder. my special interests are queer history & culture, animals & nature, and medicine & psychology. i genuinely enjoy research, it's something i happily do for hours because it stimulates my brain and motivates me. it excites me just as much as i think fiction excites people who can enjoy it. it's more than okay for autistic people to have a piece of media as their special interest, i'm not saying that its not! but it frightens me that people seem to conflate "autistic" with "loves fictional media".

due to my DID, i can't remember plots. like at all. plots confuse the ever loving hell out of me because i can't keep track of what's going on. real life doesn't have a plot. science doesn't have a plot. i don't know if fully understand the point of a plot, honestly. expecting people to be able to remember such an absurd amount of information in order to figure out something that happens down the road or at the very end feels like a herculean task to me. i can't remember what happened to me 10 minutes ago, there's no way i'm remembering a tiny event that happened hours and hours and hours ago. scripted interactions feel so stiff and unnatural to me

people tell me i'm saying i don't know what they're talking about to "be an asshole". i used to have a best friend who got really into dungeons&dragons and it traumatized me for years because i got into at first, then quickly lost interest once i realized how boring actually playing the game is for me. my friend did NOT take it well. he continued to force me to play. if i would ask him to please change the conversation topic he would start insulting and berating me and telling me that i was pretending to not be interested anymore to be mean to him. he couldn't understand that i grew out of it. he never got any better with this, as he was obsessed with marvel films and would get super pissed off if i told him i had no interest or didn't know what to say to him. it was frustrating because i didn't have a choice whether or not i could like something. it was "if you don't like this, you're an asshole."

and it's not just him that's treated me that way. it's been most of my friends. for whatever reason, when you tell the average person that you haven't seen, or god forbid don't like a piece of media, they take it personally for... some reason. as if i said "no i don't watch that because that's bad" as opposed to what i actually say is "i don't know what that is" or "i haven't seen that". you would not believe how insecure people get when you tell them you don't like a piece of media they like. i'm not sure why people feel like their favorite media is an extension of themselves, but it's an unhealthy relationship. it's not healthy to get offended if your friend tells you they haven't seen a piece of media that you have.

i have aphantasia, which is the inability to picture things in my head. i don't get "sucked into" media like people with clearer mind's eyes do. i don't picture anything cool or epic or fun happening in my head because i can't. as a result, i don't get pulled into shows, i don't get invested in tabletop games, i don't really get that affected by the media that i watch because i am painfully aware that i'm staring at a pre-recorded and scripted show the entire time. i'm painfully aware that i'm staring at an actor in a costume i just cannot get immersed in most forms of media save for very rare video games but even then, i immediately stop thinking about it the second i'm done interacting with it

i just don't listen to music and that one baffles people as i'm punk. most music is just straight up overstimulating to me due to my autism. i'm not saying that music is bad, it just overstimulates the everloving hell out of me. most of the time it just hurts my ears or gives me a headache or triggers my misophonia, which results in me getting irrationally pissed off. it's not something i can control. i prefer to listen to nature sounds, very simple meditation music that is a few simple tones, or nothing at all. i actually enjoy silence. i enjoy not overloading my ears. i enjoy being alone with my own thoughts. i can't think when there's too much noise happening

video games are more enjoyable than anything else due to the interactive element, but that does not mean i am paying attention to the characters or the story. it's very rare that a game can actually make me get interested in the characters themselves. i'm just there for the gameplay. generally i prefer games like rollercoaster tycoon, tower unite and other games that don't have a plot at all and are strictly focused on gameplay. i have no idea how people memorize all the different characters and interactions and story beats in games that have an overarching plot.

it's a personal choice. you're allowed to choose what your hobbies and interests are. if pop culture stresses you out, you do not have to engage. i just straight up do not get pop culture references at all and i've had people laugh at me for it but i just really don't care, it's not what i'm interested in as a person. i feel like a lot of people aren't quite realizing that most popular media is made for profit, not to be something genuinely well written or entertaining. i'm not saying those things are bad but what i am saying is that it's a product meant to be consumed in order for you to help a generally huge company profit. there's very little soul and whimsy when it comes to most AAA games and big box office films. the artistic integrity is severely lacking

anyway, thank you for giving me a chance to talk about this more at length! it's why i'm just very honest about it because i'm not going to force myself to change my interests because some people find how i approach life strange, or take it personally. you're allowed to choose what you interact with and don't. you're allowed to define your own interests and hobbies. and i think you're doing a great thing by acknowledging that you have an unhealthy relationship with pop culture. a LOT of people do right now. it's manufactured to be addicting on purpose. binge watching things is encouraged and is becoming seen as a new norm. i don't think people like you or i deserve to be mocked for approaching life in ways that make sense to us. take care of yourself, i appreciate you!

[themalhambird]

Considering Celebrimbor is the ONLY one of the main elves we never saw Adar interact with, my brain is doing a really good job of locking onto the idea of a Celebrimbor x Adar Political Marriage AU.

No, I don't know exactly how that would come about - something something elves and uruks united against The Shadowy Threat of Sauron whatever. Celebrimbor looks *hard* at Gil-galad when he asks if he would agree to it and is just...."If I say yes do you promise to give me Many Forge Supplies for a wedding present?"

Adar, for his part, isn't exactly interested in having a husband so much as the PRINCIPLE of it being openly acknowledged he's good enough for an Elf-Lord. Anyway they get married, discover over the course of the wedding dinner that they actually find each other interesting company, and proceed to have a cordial acquaintence with Adar staying at Eregion far more than he anticipated, like he'll stomp up to the forge with a really big sack over his shoulder and all the elves are eyeing him warily and he just dumps it at Celebrimbor's feet like: "here's a load of old and broken armour for you to play with only some of it was stolen directly from corpses" and Celebrimbor's all "Lovely now come and look at this, I've was thinking about the whole sunshine problem your children have and what started out as a thought exercise accidently became detailed schematics for enormous mobile rooftops you can extend before making camp so that the shade covers you even in daylight. "

Anyway. It takes them far too long to realise that they're actually into each other. Adar's letting Celibrimbor braid his hair and Celibrimbor's letting Adar make him go to bed if he's been working for too many hours straight and they're still referring to eachother as "possibly something of a friend" Eregion elves and the Uruks who set up base in Eregion's vicinity whenever Adar goes to see Celebrimbor are actually starting to interact with each other by virtue of having "how are they this oblivious about it?????" as a conversation starter.

Eventually Adar has an "oh no he's hot" moment and promptly flees Eregion because he's convinced Celebrimbor would be repulsed If he actually tried anything romantic and /or sexual. Celebrimbor is puzzled and hurt, but a stranger comes to Eregion and affords a little distraction.

This Annatar fellow is so very interested in the mithrael rings Celebrimbor made to reflect the light of the Valar, though Celebrimbor's not sure he follows his reasoning for sets to be made for either dwarves or men. Still, pleasent company. Until he starts suggesting that Gil-Galad debased Celebrimbor and his authority by forcing him into marriage with an orc, at which point Celebrimbor punches him in the face without thinking...

Merdarnia and the other smiths are very exasperated that "I think I'm in love with Adar" is somehow a bigger revelation to the Lord of Eregion than "I punched Annatar in the face and he turned out to be Sauron, he has now taken over the city and is holding us hostage."

[brionysea]

#i'm never getting over Max being the only one defending Mike in early S3#even his best friends since childhood are fed up but she's still defending him and saying it's not that bad#max wants to be his friend so bad#and then.#she met El and got on a feminist side quest because she convinced herself he's actually a raging misogynist#i love them<3#they're so fucking stupid#sometimes you need that sidequest to become truly close friends and it's beautiful#also yes to the caption (I got sidetracked)#people need to stop putting words in Mike's mouth and just stay on his level#platonic madwheeler#mike wheeler#max mayfield

you get me @stranger-feathers. I also got distracted by max's feminist side quest in my tags before going 'no, stay on topic' and deleting them, but it's interesting, actually!

the only context s2 max had was how sad mike was (which these two have their own understanding of, while the rest of the group seems to struggle with knowing how to deal with them) and how it was because of el - survivor's guilt, the trauma from seeing a girl turn to dust in front of you to save you, whatever

that, combined with the wheelers home life being - while not like max's, Not Fun - is how mike ended up driving hopper nuts by hanging out in the cabin for 6 months straight. mike missing el + mike not wanting to be at home + mike feeling comfortable talking back to hopper the way he isn't with his parents + mike feeling the pressure to be in a romantic relationship with el but not knowing how to do that = mike and el making out for months on end and only rarely having a real conversation

el, as always, doesn't really have the context to know how things work and is just going along with it until max tells her she gets a say. when el was living with hopper, she missed mike so much it became a point of conflict (as a cover for el's lack of autonomy, which mike never really did to her; when el was living in mike's basement, she wandered around all the time, and in s3 mike was only repeating HOPPER'S words of el not being 'allowed' to go shopping; hopper recently locked mike in a car and went off on him, of course mike thinks max is insane for breaking his rules), so el would listen to mike more than hopper during a petty disagreement. mike treated her better; he never sold her out to brenner, for a start. even when el DID listen to hopper and stay hidden, she ended up hitchhiking to new york or wherever to go against his rules, because she didn't think breaking them made her stupid

so the set up is a whole lot of mike's feelings crashing together and influencing his actions. hopper, by virtue of mike's talent for being so annoying, forgets about that (despite the s2 scene where hopper saw mike's feelings finally explode, precluded by the two of them arguing over el) until hopper interacts with mike's parents at the end of s3 and sees that they have NO IDEA where their son is, in contrast to joyce freaking out trying to find the kids while hopper made fun of her. then the whole time the kids actually were in danger and joyce was right, as usual, which seems to make hopper chill out. max, who spent s2 trying to get mike to talk about his feelings so they could be friends, also seems to forget that he has any the second el gets involved

which, let me be clear: el definitely needed feminism. her friendship with max, which el initially refused because of jealousy over mike, was so needed. el keeps getting hidden away and controlled by men (brenner, mike, the boys, hopper); sometimes for her safety, sometimes that's just a thing they say while not realising or caring about how they're also suppressing her autonomy, and not questioning their patriarchal need to control women and girls, but in s3 that doesn't seem to be an issue anymore. because of the tone shift, it's not really addressed, but the best I can figure is that el's safety was no longer a problem because nancy burned down the lab and ran them out of hawkins (look at that! legitimate feminism! solidarity among girls - barb's justice - improving el's quality of life!!! I love it here)

I think mike, by virtue of living in a sexist society, WAS sexist. not to the extent that the fandom makes it out where he's the bane of all evil, but he was so caught up in the emotion and fear of losing el again that he wasn't questioning whether his need to keep el tucked away and safe from the world was fair to her until max raised the issue. before that, while mike was trying to be straight, he was kind of infected with the more blatant heterosexism, because that's 'normal' (think billy being such a ladies man that max knows what happy screams are, but also calling women 'cows' and 'bitches'; lucas and mike calling women 'a different species' is like Baby's First Dehumanization)

before that, when it actually seemed like an organic character flaw rather than mike conforming, you see it the most with max - 'this is the boys room' 'yeah, so?' 'so you should go home' comes to mind. max was probably making it a bigger issue than it is, the way mike's SHE'S CONSPIRING AGAINST ME comes across (she kind of was though lmao - like, sexism is definitely a real problem that max isn't making up and people taking that kind of challenge as a personal attack when it's not is really common, but max DID seem to be making Girls vs. Sexist Mike a whole thing), but it wasn't a baseless accusation. probably, max just can't stand up for herself when people are sexist towards her and was using el as a buffer. in s2 max only asked lucas if they weren't including her because she's a girl, even though mike was the one to make the weird boys room comment and max argued with him about other stuff 2 seconds later, and she didn't do more than roll her eyes at billy

remember how mike mouthed off to hopper because he can't mouth off to his parents? max does the same thing to mike because she can't with billy. hopper and mike are emotionally and physically safe to engage with, and the show spending a lot of time trying to convince you otherwise (hopper is legitimately scary at times, like when he threw the door of el's room open thinking mike was in there again but it was really MAX, the girl with a violent home life, which must include things like violently slamming doors open as a precursor to more direct violence) without anything actually HAPPENING proves it. they're not safe because they were born with no moral impurities, they're safe because they put the active effort in to be safe. they could be just like everyone else, which s3 puts a lot of emphasis on, but they ultimately choose not to be. nobody is born a feminist. women tend to get there faster because we're directly harmed by misogyny, but after their argument, both mike and max do listen to each other. mike apologises to el for acting so controlling and jealous, and max works with mike to protect el (from flayed!billy) in starcourt

mike could so easily be Not Our Mike. his family has money and a nice house, unlike will. mike has white privilege and never has to deal with racism, unlike lucas. mike doesn't have a visible disability like dustin. he's not a girl like max and el. mike could EASILY slide under the radar as that wheeler kid with the big house without having to deal with any of this, but he feels more at home with the outcasts of society instead. the mike we initially meet is so lovable because he'd been choosing to be true to himself rather than taking the easy route for years. or in mike's words, I guess, asking will to be his friend was the best thing he's ever done

max defending mike and choosing the words he uses to defends himself with is actually something that can be so personal