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teenidlegirl · 8 months ago

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⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ౨౿ ׅ ۟ ֪ 𝓓isneyland 𝓦ith 𝓜iguel ۪ ׂ 𓈒 ୭

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ miguel would wear a mickey cap with either a star wars or marvel shirt and pants. you’d wear classic minnie ears with a cute outfit. sometimes you two would wear matching mickey and minnie hats on other visits.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ miguel double checks if you two have everything you need. water bottles, sunscreen, wipes (that mf is a clean freak), hand sanitizer. he would ask a million times if you have the tickets, which is on the disneyland app on your phone. he just wants to make sure they don’t get lost and the day isn’t ruined because you two look forward to it very much.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ he hates the mickey and friends tram station because he feels so cramped due to his bulky figure. he has to slouch a little, trying not to bump his head on the roof (he has several times).

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ you secretly take pics of him when miguel isn’t looking. you can’t help it, he’s so cute especially in that mickey hat.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ you also take occasional selfies. of course you take a picture in front of the castle.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ miguel always has a hand on you. hand holding yours, on your waist, hip, or the small of your back. mainly hand holding or his hand on your waist.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ miguel is very protective of you, he already is, but especially when you’re walking through a sea of people. he shoots a glare at anyone who bumps into you, especially if they don’t apologize and keep on walking. he tries to be calm and civil, not wanting to cause an outburst and ruin your day.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ this dude HATES long lines. miguel would complain how stupidly long the lines are. moping and groaning but has to suck it up because he knows how much you want to go on those rides. to make it fun, you do the most cliche thing and play heads up on your phone. miguel would get pissed off when he doesn’t get the answer right, making you laugh.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ his favorite area is tomorrowland since it resembles a bit of neuva york. the futuristic scenery and aesthetic. such a nerd.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ he always gets caught off guard on space mountain because how fast it is. right after that right turn before taking off, he always get startled. he also forgets the camera towards the end of the ride. his eyes widen and mouth wide open in shock. he gets flustered and embarrassed when you take a picture of it.

“can’t you not.”

“too late, tonto.”

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ pizza planet is your guys’ go-to for either lunch or dinner because the pizza is bomb.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ miguel loves star tours and buzz lightyear ride. during buzz lightyear, you two get very competitive on who gets the most points. he freaks out and nearly falls out when you move the seat with the lever. you laugh and make fun of him.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ after star tours, miguel goes on full geek mode and ventures around the entire store that you enter right after the ride. a smile forms on your face as you watch your cute geeky boyfriend gazing at all the merchandise. if you’re a star wars fan (i am), you’ll geek out with him and babble about the merch. you never leave the store without miguel buying something. a simple shirt or hat.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ miguel HATES the teacups. he begs you to not go on it but obviously loses. you go on it just to purposefully mess with him. if you’re a crazy person (like me), you’ll spin that shit like crazy. poor miguel holds on for dear life, on the verge of trying not to puke while you’re laughing at his reaction. after getting of the ride, he has to take a minute to breathe before moving on. he hates spiny rides with a burning passion.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ he isn’t a fan of fantasyland since it’s mainly for kids and slow rides. but if you wanna go on some rides there, he’ll do it for you. will never admit but he does like alice in wonderland, probably the only ride he likes there. he feels squished in those rides since they’re so small and he’s too bulky.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ after much convincing and begging, miguel takes a shot at the sword in the stone. with rolled eyes and a light scowl in his face, he tries pulling the sword with some strength, not all. shockingly, the swords lifts up from the stone. the public and crew applaud him for successfully pulling the sword. you reward him with kisses over his face, making him a bashful mess but loves it.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ thunder mountain is definitely a favorite of his (mine too hehe). the line might be a pain, it varies most times, but it’s definitely worth it because the ride is amazing.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ matterhorn not so much because the seats are so small, he can barely fit in it. feels so cramped and uncomfortable. another reason he doesn’t like it as much is because it’s a single seat so he can’t sit next to you. before and after the ride, you two hold hands over each other’s seats, depends if you’re in front or behind him, because you know how clingy he is. it makes your heart flutter, he’s so cute.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ bro gets so excited when you head to galaxy’s edge. while holding your hand, he leads you around the area. stares in awe at the scenery and aesthetic. definitely buys merch from there because miguel would not miss the opportunity.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ remember how much he hates long lines? oh he almost lost it while waiting for rise of the resistance. playing heads up or just talking with you makes it better. but it’s all worth it in the end. definitely one of his favorite rides.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ definitely hates water rides. don’t even bother convincing him to go on splash mountain (the tiana ride now atp) because he ain’t getting on it. he hates being wet.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ miguel really likes the haunted mansion not only for the spooky atmosphere but because it’s so dark that you two cuddle in the fake coffin without anyone noticing. during the elevator, he holds you close so he doesn’t lose you in the sea of people. his strong beefy arms securely wrapped around you.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ he hates water rides but pirates is an exception because it’s that not bad. he forgets the three drops, especially the first one. a big pout settles on his face when he gets splashed.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ he makes fun of you for saying how much you love the smell of water in pirates.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ indiana jones is another favorite. besides the long tedious line, miguel loves it. he always makes sure you sit in the middle and him on the outside. shows how protective he is of you.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ definitely gets hungry after a long period of time. you two stop at the nearest restaurant.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ miguel tries out the shooting exposition just to impress you. unfortunately, he misses almost every target and is now embarrassed as hell. turns out you’re the one to impress him because you manage to get every target. bro was astonished.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ during the fireworks, miguel has his arms wrapped around you and chin resting on the top of your head as you two watch the fireworks. when it’s over, you two share a kiss as the final touch. a perfect ending for the day.

⠀♡ ˖ ࣪ ༘⠀ when your feet start to hurt, miguel doesn’t hesitate to carry you in his strong bulky arms despite your protests. he whispers, “just a man carrying his princess.”

‧ ִ ۫⠀♱ 𝓝𝐎𝐓𝐄. thinking about what it’d be like going to disneyland with miguelito. a little self indulgent since i’ve been to disneyland numerous times. enjoy some disney fluffiness. ♡

𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓. ♡ @yougavemeyourheartyouknow ( i kept my promise to tag you for this ! <3 )

#⠀⠀૮ ྀི ◞ ◟ ა⠀˚⠀.⠀ℋ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛⠀ ྀ⠀.⠀♡⠀#miguel o’hara x fem!reader #miguel o’hara x reader #miguel o'hara x fem!reader #miguel o'hara x reader #miguel o’hara x y/n #miguel o’hara x you #miguel o'hara #miguel o’hara headcanon #miguel o'hara headcanons #miguel o'hara fluff #miguel o’hara fluff #miguel o'hara fanfiction #across the spiderverse #disneyland

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lulublack90 · 8 months ago

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Prompt 16 - Fake Marriage

@wolfstarmicrofic May 16, word count 812

This is part two of Prompt 4 - Marriage of Convinience. There will be a part three, probably for prompt 26 but I'll see. I'll link everything together when it happens.

Remus settled into his new life relatively quickly. It had taken him a few weeks to get used to sleeping in a bed again. It hadn’t helped that the mattress was super soft, and he felt like he was sleeping on a marshmallow. But as with most things, you adjust.

The other thing he was still getting used to was having an allowance. Sirius hadn’t been kidding when he’d said it would be generous. Remus didn’t even know what to spend that amount of money on. The majority of his purchases came from the little bookshop a few streets over. The owner had always been kind to him. When he’d been homeless, sometimes he’d sneak in there just to smell the books. But now, he felt he could finally enjoy them again.

Sirius chuckled at him when he came flying through the door with his new purchases.

“Remus, I think we maybe need to get you a bookcase.” He’d tutted as he eyed the bulging bags. “Come over here, and we’ll find one you like.” Sirius patted the sofa seat next to him and opened his laptop. Remus quickly put the bags into his room and hung up his coat before going to sit next to Sirius.

He’d been in the flat for a few months now and their friendship had started back up as though there hadn’t been an eight-year gap when they’d lost contact.

Sirius shuffled closer and Remus felt those old butterflies spreading their wings. It was something he’d never told Sirius about and probably something he should have mentioned before agreeing to marry him. But he hadn’t felt anything while they’d been sorting out all the paperwork, it was only when they’d been in the registry office repeating their vows that Remus had realised his old feelings for Sirius were still there. He tried his best to keep everything platonic, but when Sirius was basically sitting in his lap, it was hard to ignore.

“I like the look of these ones. What do you think?” Sirius asked, bringing Remus back down to earth. He hadn’t been paying the least bit of attention. He glanced over at the screen and looked at the bookcases Sirius was talking about. They looked really nice. Dark wood and sturdy.

“It’s your flat, Sirius. Get whatever you like.” He mumbled, hoping that would be the end of it.

“It’s your room.” Sirius patted his knee and Remus tensed. “If you don’t like them, then we won’t get them.” Remus shook his head.

“No, they’re fine. I really like them.” He said as evenly as he could. Sirius grinned at him and started typing in the order details. Remus couldn’t help but follow his fingers and stare at the simple gold band adorning his ring finger on his left hand. He wondered if maybe one day it would be real for them.

He watched Sirius pick up his phone and open one of the many dating apps he had and begin scrolling through it. He sighed, probably not.

Sirius doom scrolled through the people who wanted to match with him and found no one he wanted to waste his energy on. If he was being honest with himself, the only person he wanted to take out was Remus.

He’d been flabbergasted when Remus had told him about Jeremy from marketing. He’d had to grip the table to stop himself from launching himself at the thin man and proclaiming his everlasting love for him. But he’d stopped himself and tried to find a way to help his friend.

He’d never in a million years thought that Remus would agree to marry him and had planned to just buy all the things for himself and rent them to Remus for pennies. But then he’d agreed with very little persuasion, his heart had soared.

He’d nearly called the whole thing off in the middle of the ceremony, when he’d stared into Remus’s eyes as he placed the ring on his finger and his knees had nearly buckled. But he hadn’t, and now they were married and Remus carefully kept his distance.

He sighed thinking about it. Remus had left for his room as soon as Sirius had turned his phone on. He wished he could find a way to tell him how he felt, but now that they were in this fake marriage, he didn’t know if Remus would see it as Sirius trapping him and not just an idiot in love that wanted to help.

He raked his hands though his hair as he tried to figure it out. Maybe Remus would buy so many books he’d have to move into Sirius’s room because he wouldn’t be able to sleep in his own. Sirius shook his head at the absurdity and deleted all the dating apps on his phone. They were useless to him now anyway.

#wolfstar #wolfstar microfic #wolfstar fic #wolfstar angst #wolfstar au #part 2 #remus lupin #sirius black #remus john lupin #sirius orion black #mary macdonald #sirius x remus #remus x sirius #sirius and remus #remus and sirius #guys sort it out #remus will always have books #fake marriage

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starbeltconstellation · 3 months ago

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Since you are a passionate jedi fan, I would be interested in your opinion on a thing I noticed on AO3. There is a fanon that is inspired by Ancient Greek scholars having had sex with their pupils. In the fics there is a special night in which the masters have to fuck their padawans because it is tradition. Sex and AO3, you ask? What's new, you ask? What is new is that the writers explicitely write in their notes that the institutionalized fucking of the padawans is their way to show how corrupt and morally bad the jedi are. But how is something that fanfic writers completely made up to get more readers (because sex sells) a critique of the jedi in canon? No matter what answer I come up with, it is weird. Are these fanfic writers fetishizing a law allowing teachers to fuck their students, feel bad for their own arousal and try to shrug it off by making themselves believe that they are just writing these sex scenes for a "good cause"? I mean, if they hated the jedi so much, why would they write about them? The MCU or DC would get them more readers, right? I simply can't come up with a satisfying answer to why this mental gymnastics exist. I know this is a very long ask, but please address it if it is of any interest to you as well!

Hi, anon! 👋💕✨

Sooooo deeply sorry for the long wait time. 😭😖💔 Things just got away from me, and I kept putting off my response because I wanted to make sure I had the time to give the nitty gritty of my thoughts on your ask.

And as a pro jedi fan and a SW fan in general… I just have to say… ew. 😭☹️🤢💔

And it’s not necessarily that I’m trying to SHAME people that write darker or more sexual stuff (even though there are some things that just genuinely baffle me why ANYONE would enjoy writing something so horrible, but then again, I’ve never been a fan of horror movies, sooo… 😂🤷‍♀️).

And look, I’m aware that fiction is separate from reality and not necessarily a show of a person’s morals (it’s FAKE, at the end of the day), but at the same TIME, I believe people on this app and just in fandom spaces in general sometimes purposely plug their ears and sing “lalalala” by pretending that how we interact with the world doesn’t shape our perception and psyche to SOME degree.

And this isn’t me saying that if someone writes something like “noncon” or “whump” that they’re going to go out and hurt anybody! That’s the EXTREME reaction that conservative panic tries to drum up by pretending that people have no self control and need to be shielded from “corruption 🙄” or something like that. But what I DO believe is that seeing stories (whether love stories or family stories in general) WILL affect how someone can come to view relationships. This is on a tier scale, obviously. Kids and teenagers will have a harder time grasping why “365 Days” is not a modern Beauty and the Beast movie. 😭🤦‍♀️ BUT… with ADULTS… it’s easier to separate fiction from reality… in a CONSCIOUS way. But for me, from a psychological standpoint, if a person grows up with a specific attraction to certain toxic love stories that are PRESENTED as healthy when they just aren’t—it’s POSSIBLE that they can unconsciously seek out someone who fits that mold. I don’t think this is the NORM—but it IS a possibility, and that’s why I think it’s so important to recognize yourself and your own wants and needs in the real world and ask yourself “Does this make me feel safe and happy? Or just obsessively DESIRED?” and other things such as that.

Anyway, I got a little off topic (which I often do 😭😅), but my POINT is my disgust isn’t necessarily about these writers’s choices on exploring such darker themes in their work if they truly want to—it’s THEIR fic, at the end of the day. But what DOES disgust me is (yes, dear anon, you guessed it! 🙃🙃) that apparently writers are USING this trope to create even MORE anti Jedi rhetoric when there is already SO much of it in the community in general (and that god awful ‘The Acolyte’ show only made the hatred and genocide apologia worse, even though I do acknowledge the show wasn’t given as much of a chance as Ahsoka and The Mandolrian shows were).

Just as The Acolyte had to INVENT an entire scenario where the “EMPATHETIC SPACE MONKS 😭🤦‍♀️” of the galaxy apparently cover up a massacre which DIRECTLY parallels Anakin Skywalker’s descent to the Dark Side—which makes NO goddamn sense that it’s truly LAUGHABLE—you have brought to me a fic trope scenario where the writer has apparently INVENTED something that was NEVER canon to show how “corrupt 🙄” the Jedi Order is—before they stand back and go “haha! 😌 See? SUCHHH horrible people.”, as if they didn’t just invent that scenario in THEIR own head to justify their bias against the Jedi and their way of life.

It’s very similar to the uncharitable views that certain parts of the SW fandom (specifically the Anidala and the radical Anakin fans) have towards the Jedi in regards to NONCANON info that we do NOT truly know (such as why Anakin never visited Shimi all that time), before just CHOOSING the most uncharitable and mean spirited view of the Jedi that they can, which is saying—“Well, the Jedi Order must have a strict policy on NEVER seeing your birth family again, or they’ll be kicked out! 🤪🤪”, when there is NOTHING in canon to ever give any indication of that. It’s literally fanon that has somehow all but become canon in the eyes of the fandom, and I haven’t the foggiest clue how it happened (yes I do. 🙄🫠 It’s because SW fans LIKE Anakin, so of COURSE they don’t want to admit he was in the wrong or that he could’ve taken things too personally or the wrong way—so they settle on, “Those mean Jedi must’ve bullied him and kept him from his mom! 😡🤪”🙄🤦‍♀️).

Fans will make something up out of thin air—literally twisting themselves into KNOTS to try and excuse Anakin’s choices while blaming everyone else to pretend it’s not his fault and he didn’t truly have a choice (COMPLETELY untrue)—while at the very same TIME, giving absolutely NONE of that courtesy to the Jedi Order themselves. The Jedi’s actions are nitpicked to DEATH. Everything they do—choosing to fight in the war to save lives instead of sitting on the sidelines to watch the galaxy burn, not worshiping the ground Anakin walked on to try and teach him humility and grace and respect, literally putting their LIVES on the line RIGHT BESIDE THE CLONES each day on the battlefield, Mace going to arrest Palpatine before realizing the man would never be convicted at a corrupt trial—NONE of it is ever enough.

They are 10,000 strong (NOT taking into consideration how some are younglings or retired Jedi), and yet they are judged with the sharpness of a knife that they cannot solve every damn trillions of problems in the galaxy.

They are a literal DROP in the ocean. It is LAUGHABLE to expect them to somehow be able to end slavery throughout the galaxy in the Outer Rim without the backing of the Republic’s help (which they definitely would NOT choose to help the Jedi, and even if somehow they DID, it would STILL be a long and tedious thing that would take DECADES to fully accomplish), and it is even MORE ludicrous to BLAME the JEDI FUCKING ORDER of all people for the Clones’s situation, like they could just stroll into the Senate building and wave their lightsabers around to suddenly give the clones their (deserved) rights, or to expect them to somehow—what? Kidnap all the clones (because a lot of clones would sadly NOT go willingly because of their brainwashing indoctrination that this is what they were ‘made for’) and run from fighting in the war? Where the hell do people expect them to GO? How do people expect the Jedi to be able to take CARE of all those people (INCLUDING their own) in such a situation without the Republic backing or the Temple walls?—be able to just magically give the clones rights or to just magically be able to say no to fighting in the war as if that would somehow do ANYTHING for the clones instead of just placing them under the rule of men like Tarkin.

The one thing I will concede is that (WHILE being in the war, because YES, despite what some people believe, it was UNAVOIDABLE. Palpatine definitely made sure of that) the Jedi probably needed to learn to get more into politics to control their image in the eyes of the public (ironic, considering how many people blame them for their own genocide by saying they were ‘too involved in politics 🙄’ when the TRUTH is that they did everything to AVOID being in the political sphere because they heavily disliked it). There is a bit of (gentle-hearted) naïveté here, because they all assume that the citizens of the galaxy will just SEE that the Jedi are trying to protect them. But people get selfish and greedy REAL fast when their lives become affected badly by things happening around them. And the more the war dragged on, the more citizens of the galaxy (disgustingly) latched onto Palpatine’s slowly growing propaganda that the Jedi were somehow the big bad villains of the war and not like—oh, I don’t know—the fucking SENATE. 😭🙄🤦‍♀️

My POINT is that—you’re RIGHT, anon. This fic trope you’ve brought up is (while HEAVILY ew in my eyes 😭🤢) just one part of a growing infection of the SW fandom where it’s becoming the “edgy” take to blame the Jedi (the VICTIMS) for their own genocide, instead of placing the blame at the politicians’s feet, where it belongs. Palpatine wasn’t able to gain this power ALONE. The Senate makes it EASY for him. Because they’re all out for themselves at the end of the day (YES, even Padmé, who would’ve taken Anakin’s tusken massacre to the grave if she’d had the chance), and even the ones that DO care about the bills they’re trying to push to help change things STILL are in such a position of privilege (ironic, considering fandom pretends the Jedi Order is ‘privileged’, when they are anything but and are more of a ‘model minority’ group struggling desperately to keep the soft power they have to at the very LEAST have a place at the Senate’s side to TRY and make them see reason sometimes) that they forget about the little people suffering underneath them (Padmé has to be REMINDED of this by one of her handmaidens at one point).

The point is that George Lucas intended the SENATE to be the corruption of the Prequels that brought about their own doom. Not the fucking JEDI. 😭🤦‍♀️ But somehow, SW fandom has rewritten their memories to somehow believe this to be true. But if they’d watch ANY George Lucas interview, they’d see this is not the case. And people are allowed to have different interpretations of stories at the end of the day—but what IS ridiculous is how certain anti Jedi fans SHAMELESSLY try to rewrite history by outright STATING that it WAS GL’s original intent to portray the Jedi as ‘corrupt 🙄’, which is just… SO far from accurate that it’s laughable.

But yeah, at the end of the day, the REAL ‘villain’ (besides the Sith) of the prequels is the SENATE, because THEY are the ones who should be doing their jobs, but who are INSTEAD lining their pockets or kissing up to the clueless citizens of the galaxy come election time, while apathetically expecting the Jedi Order to solve all the problems that the SENATE is too damn lazy and selfish to solve.

The one conclusion I can make is that if the Jedi HAD realized they’d need to play the game of politics to keep in the public’s good graces—then you bet your ASS they would have been on intergalactic interview after intergalactic interview subtly “hinting” at the clones’s lack of rights and plight to try and stir up public outcry—because THAT is how you get true change. By changing things from WITHIN the very public itself. Because THAT is the only thing that will make the Senate LISTEN—is if they’re at risk of losing votes later on down the line.

Anyway, I of course went on the longest of rants once again. Lol. 😂😅 But I hope the long wait time was worth this response! 😊❤️💕

To any readers that stumble across this and are curious enough to check out my fic:

Tags:

@ensomnia

@heartfairy

@fangirlteallie

@shoniwake

@lemons-2-limes

@lexskiss

@spidersaye

@selenaftmarvel

@silverwoodj

@ajtaals

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prolix-yuy · 1 year ago

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The Reason for the Season

Pairing: Joel Miller x F!Reader

Summary: What does Christmas mean after the world falls apart? Ellie sure doesn't know, but Joel knows who might.

Word Count: 6.6k

Warnings: T, some suggestive thoughts, one steamy kiss, teen angst and a whole lot of yearning! Our reader is given the following attributes: a history of Christmas celebrations, a father, and while not stated in the fic, she was old enough to be a teacher when the outbreak happened. While this story is not explicit, my blog and the content shared on it is 18+ MINORS DNI.

Notes: Hello to my sweet Sil @psychedelic-ink! I'm your not-so-secret Santa and I'm here to deliver your holiday fic! And doubly, your birthday present! I’m so glad we got to meet on this wild app, and may your holidays and your birthday be as amazing as you!

You asked for something very Christmas-y with some friends to lovers romance, and boy did this get out of hand! I hope you enjoy Joel finding a little Christmas spirit.

Cross-posted on AO3

There’s little sacred in the world anymore, but making the morning cup of coffee might be as close as Joel gets. The early rising, his bedtime vestments crumpled and stretched across tired muscles. The soothing routine: the mug, the pour over coffee dripper, and the Holy Beans. Every movement is seamless, practiced and almost sightless for those mornings when he can’t peel his eyes open. All in service to the first sip, and the glorious awakening it will bring.

Though with the clattering of Doc Martens and teen angst coming down the stairs, it’s not necessarily needed.

“Mornin’,” Joel rumbles over the mug, eyebrows raised at Ellie’s earlier-than-usual scowl. She opens the fridge, every movement thrown to the extremes of her small frame. Bowl clattering, spoon chiming against stoneware, a worrisome glug of milk, and she returns to flop into her seat across from Joel. He takes another sip, maybe a little louder than usual.

“Sounds the same going in as coming out,” she grumbles, but the half smile she allows is a triumph.

“Told you not to listen in on a man’s morning movements.” Ellie scrunches her nose up at that, jabbing her spoon into some granola. She’s only moving it around, not partaking, and Joel sets his cup down on the table. Crossing his arms over his chest, he looks down his nose at her.

“Something on your mind?”

Joel was never much for beating around the bush with Sarah’s moods, and he certainly hasn’t changed much with Ellie. She sighs and lets the spoon clatter back into the bowl.

“What the hell is up with Christmas?”

The question works better than the coffee, brain scrambling into overdrive in much the same way as when he caught Ellie holding a beat-up Bearskin magazine.

“Well…” he starts pensively, but Ellie bowls right through his low hum.

“Like some of the kids celebrate it and others don’t, but neither of them know why. Everyone’s arguing about something called Santa. And they’re bringing trees inside!” She tosses her hands, giving him a weird am I right look that butts against his confused expression.

“FEDRA didn’t teach you kids about Christmas?”

Ellie shrugs, folding her legs up into the kitchen chair.

“I’ve heard of it, but y’know…not exactly high on their list of priorities.” She starts worrying at a small rip in her jeans until Joel snaps a warning look. He just bartered for those, he won’t have her hurrying them back to scrap.

“I’ve kinda been…pretending I get it.” She trails off, face closing back up and Joel recognizes the outburst for what it is. Embarrassment.

“Well, Christmas is something that, uh…that lots of families celebrated before. It’s, uh…it’s a time at the end of the year to be…you know, to be together and thankful. That sort of thing.”

He can practically hear her eyes roll.

“But what the hell’s a Santa, and trees, and all the baking?�� Her finger shoots up, angled directly at Joel. “I know there are presents!”

Joel scoffs, taking another sip and ruminating on how to tackle a tradition he’s barely paid attention to since the outbreak. It all felt so insignificant in the winters following, only a counter for how long he’s suffered so far. Then, when things calmed a fraction, the idea of opening his heart to anything remotely like thankfulness made him want to bloody every knuckle.

So he tucked his chin and paid no attention to parents trying their best to give their children something bright in the darkest days of winter. Tess never mentioned it, the shine in her eyes at candles lit in windows hard to distinguish from tears. And now, twenty-odd years later, he can barely fathom where to start.

“There’s a lot of traditions, variations. I don’t remember half of ‘em, but…” A sudden spark of an idea, a way to cheat out of this conversation and not get sulked to death over it, catches the corner of his mouth. “But I think that teacher you like might have some books about it.”

Ellie’s face lights up, abandoning her bowl to go galloping back up the stairs to her room. “Eat something first, then we’ll go,” trails up behind her. Joel savors the last bit of coffee before rising to rinse the cup, his own smile tugging at his lips. Shouldering his heavy winter jacket, Ellie wolfs down four bites of her granola while still in motion. Wiping her chin with the cuff of her jacket, she shoots a shit-eating grin at Joel as she heads to the door.

“Don’t think I didn’t catch that, old man,” she sing-songs as they move into the bracing Wyoming air. “Always looking for an excuse.”

“Whaddya mean?” he asks with as much nonchalance as he can muster, but Ellie’s raised brown and carefree shrug clearly don’t buy it.

“You’re a lousy liar, Joel.”

Not as bad as you think.

The schoolhouse is not much more than a converted home, the ground floor filled with bookshelves and improvised desks and controlled chaos. By the time Joel and Ellie came to Jackson it was well established, but Maria explained how it changed hands and struggled for years before the current teacher.

“It’s hard to prioritize learning over survival, but it’s the only way we move on as a community,” she said as she led the pair through their Jackson orientation. Ellie had been sighing heavily and dragging her feet - “school is boring, Joel, why can’t I go on patrol?” - before Maria led them into the kitchen.

“And here’s who we have to thank for dealing with our wild ones,” Maria said, and you looked up from your work.

The first thing Joel noticed was your smile. It spread so easily across your face, unselfconscious and radiant. You extended a hand to Ellie first, who suppressed enough of her ennui to act pleasant. Joel was next, enveloping her cool fingers with his large palm. He blanked on your name that time, needing to ask Maria privately for it, but the warmth and lightness of your presence could be blamed for that.

Joel didn’t believe in love at first sight, but that meeting sure as hell paved the way for the private and closely guarded crush he had on you now.

Ellie took a liking to you almost as quickly, and Joel could see why you were successful when others might have failed. You assessed her mood with ease, redirecting her dread to a section of the schoolhouse that held instruments. She moved immediately to an old guitar, cross-legged on the floor with the too-large instrument in her lap.

“Can you teach me how to play this?” she asked, and you admitted to only knowing a few chords.

“I can,” Joel piped up, his own voice surprising him. “I know how to play.”

Twin bright eyes danced on his face, and he struggled to keep the flush from creeping past his collar.

“If you have some time, I have other students who would love to learn.”

And that’s how on some afternoons Joel found himself showing a handful of teens on the cusp of adulthood how to strum chord progressions. He viewed it as a duty to the community…or at least that’s what he said when Maria and Tommy asked. It was also the perfect excuse to stop by early and chat with you, or scrutinize a leaky window or dripping faucet. Anything to keep him in the same room as you taught simple math or reading comprehension.

“Any time you want to bring that handiness by my place you’re welcome,” Tommy teased when he caught Joel waving you goodbye on the well-trodden path home.

“You take better care of your place, you won’t need help,” he spat back with no fire. Tommy shrugged, hands stuffed into his jeans pockets.

“Just sayin’, that schoolhouse might withstand another apocalypse with all the work you’ve done on it. I hope its proprietor is…appreciative.” The cheeky wink eggs on a shoulder punch that almost becomes a wrestling match between two men who should know better. Instead Joel calls Tommy a name and Tommy laughs and Joel stares at the ceiling that night wondering if you would be…appreciative of what he’d like to give you.

Only some of those thoughts are pure in nature.

But the years, even the kind ones, have choked up his tongue and made him a coward. You’re clearly eligible, no other men sniffing around much to Joel’s surprise. He doesn’t think it’s completely one-sided either. You smile at him and put your hand on his shoulder and stand close enough that he can smell your soap and gentle musk. And what’s worse is you’re something rare to him, something miraculously unsullied by twenty years of hell. He didn’t think it was possible for someone to survive without hardening, without breaking and mending over and over until the repair is the whole self. But you are still kind, and understanding, and gentle, and open. There’s only one reason Joel can attribute to this rarity.

Someone loved you.

Someone loved you so very much that they protected you, let you be open-hearted and trusting even with the world crashing down. And if that someone is no longer here, that’s a hole he can never fill. But every day he spends in Jackson shedding years of plate armor and barbed wire, he contemplates if he might be getting closer to someone who could at least try.

In the meantime he makes his excuses, much like now, and suppresses the little smiles and giddy feeling in his stomach.

“Been meaning to check on that plumbing issue she had last week,” he says breezily, snow crunching underfoot and the chill air nipping at his nose.

“Suuuure, I bet you’d love to see her plumbing,” Ellie snarks, sprinting away as Joel’s face heats up.

��Watch your fucking language, kid,” he growls, the irony not lost on him, as the schoolhouse comes into view.

You can always tell when Ellie arrives. The kids born after the outbreak have a peculiar set of social norms and rules. You’re not sure if she even knows that she should knock before entering, or take her boots off. Then again, it’s an exercise in contemplation when you consider why those societal norms would return when their framework’s been shattered.

Keep your boots on in case you have to run.

Don’t announce your entrance in case something’s lurking.

A whole other etiquette you watch like a zookeeper behind glass.

“Good morning Ellie,” you call from the kitchen. Your heart flutters briefly wondering if…

“Morning, ma’am.”

Joel ambles into the kitchen, massaging heat back into his palms. His cheeks are ruddy with windburn, and you bite the inside of your lip considering how your own hot palms could warm them.

“Good morning Joel, didn’t expect you in so early.” Dusting your hands off, you round the counter to step into his space. A little game you like to play: how much more obvious must you be before he’ll notice you’re flirting with him? Another brushed shoulder, squeeze of the forearm, eyes connecting a second too long. Thrilling yes - it’s been a long time since you’ve had a crush - but at this rate you’ll both be ninety before either of you admit it.

“Ellie has something to ask you,” he says, turning to look for his ward. The strange wording patters your heartbeat into an uneasy rhythm.

“Should I be worried?” you laugh, Joel’s deep brown eyes coming back to your face with a sheepish smile. Oh god, when he smiles your knees can barely handle it.

“I might have passed the buck on a conversation.”

Before you can ask Ellie slips into the kitchen, weaving around Joel’s wider frame and hopping up on one of the barstools surrounding the kitchen island. The ones Joel made with those strong hands and thick fingers.

“What’s the deal with Christmas?”

The question catches you off guard no matter the preamble.

“Um. Huh. Well, I guess…what do you want to know?” you ask, sidling around to lean across the counter from her. Joel is still in your peripheral, practically filling the door frame.

“Everybody’s talking about it,” she bemoans, taking a dried apple slice you’d laid out and turning it on the countertop. “And I keep pretending it’s like, so awesome, but I just don’t…get it.” Her thumbnails pick at the leathery edge of the fruit, and the child you’ve watched pressure girls twice her age into shenanigans softens around the edges.

“It’s all, ‘my family does this, my family does that,’ and it’s like…I never had anyone to celebrate with before. FEDRA did some stuff with us, but it was…” A shrug, accepted without comment. “And they all seem to love it, and I maybe want to…feel that.” The hedging makes you lean further over, grabbing your own apple slice and turning it between your fingers.

“Well, Joel must have told you there are a lot of ways people celebrate the holidays.” Looking up to Joel he grimaces slightly, raising one shoulder in apology. “And there are lots of different traditions. I’m not surprised you’re confused.”

“Yes! Is Jesus like, Santa’s kid or something?”

The stifled laugh comes straight out of your nose and you have to clear your throat to keep from snorting further.

“Okay, there’s a lot to unpack here but tell you what, I’ve got a plan.” Ellie looks up at you with a guarded sparkle in her eyes, and it only widens your smile. “Let me do some research first. There are things I don’t know either. So how about you come back next week and I’ll tell you what I’ve learned during the tree decorating.”

Ellie raises an eyebrow. “Tree decorating?”

You must be glowing by now. “Oh, you are in for a treat.”

Leaning against the doorway, Joel takes in the scene. Ellie’s moment of vulnerability, buried back under her feigned indifference. The excitement bubbling under the surface of your smile.

The way you lean over the counter, the curve of your back only accentuating your shapely ass as you sway slightly.

Fuck, maybe he should just come out and confess his crush so he can at least feel awkward when he sees you instead of embarrassingly horny.

He’s relieved Ellie suggested coming to you. Your solution to his problem is simple and brilliant, a weight lifting off his chest. Sometimes Ellie is no different than his child, and other times Sarah’s memory makes the smallest endearing unbearable.

Sarah’s mom had taken care of the holiday explanation, navigating the unique customs of their little household. She explained why they had a tree and a menorah, and who’s Santa and the Festival of Lights. When Sarah got older and started asking more pointed questions, they both sat down and explained all their traditions and why they were important. Joel had, admittedly, been more of a supporting role, but for their family it worked.

Then Ellie had to pitch that question at him, looking up like Sarah had, though so much smaller, and his throat closed up. He knew she needed it. Hell, maybe even he could use some holiday cheer, but Ellie was too no-nonsense and Joel was too out of practice, ripe for bungling it up.

He’ll have to thank you in some way. Though there’s not much to fix nowadays, and if he spends much more time here volunteering he might get roped into actually being a teacher.

“...and since it’s your first time, you get to add your own ornament to the tree. It can be anything you want, and at the end of the holidays we pack it up with the others for next year.”

That’s it, he thinks. A small way to repay your kindness. He has some scrap wood in the communal woodshop, and most evenings are quiet there. There must be a coping saw in some toolbox, a few rasps and awls.

“That does sound pretty cool,” Ellie says, and where you might have thought it to be begrudging, Joel can clearly hear her excitement.

“I think you’ll love it.”

That week was one of the busiest - and sneakiest - that Joel could recall in recent years. It seemed to be the same for you, watching you flit around town with a battered notebook and chewed-up pencil. You were talking to people, smiling, laughing. Whatever the conversation was made everyone else smile too, throwing fond looks at each other. Sometimes playful bickering, or conspiratorial whispers followed, and you gathered up all those words into that well-worn notepad.

Joel, on the other hand, was making himself more scarce than usual. He kept up appearances, not slacking on patrols and showing up when he’s expected, but every free moment is spent in the woodshop.

He could have gone the simple route, cutting slices out of some nice quality wood, something with a live edge, but it was too simple. He wanted something that would make you light up, your mouth drop open and your eyes sparkle.

Further back than he’s willing to count, he remembered a fellow contractor showing him gifts he made for his daughters each year. Beautiful wooden snowflakes, carved in geometric shapes that would reveal tessellations and patterns when glued together.

The idea seemed simple enough, but it had been a long time since his hands had done anything delicate. The pattern was easy to make, but as he dragged the coping saw along the curves and points his hand would cramp, or the blade would zig when he wanted it to zag. He’d get up and walk around the shop to shake out the frustration, telling himself it’s only four more pieces…for this ornament.

When he feels like giving up and tossing the whole project in the trash, he thinks of the feeling he’ll get when you hang them on the branches, the way you might touch his arm or look into his eyes when you thank him.

And then he thinks that forget the mistletoe, he’ll kiss you whenever and wherever you’ll let him.

On the fourth day of hiding in the woodshop Ellie bursts in, halfway through a sentence before she even gets in the door.

“...and I haven’t gotten her anything and I know she’ll get me something so like, what should I…” Her entrance startles him, yanking a rag over a freshly glued ornament.

Too slow, old man, he thinks as her eyes snap to his attempt at deception.

“What’cha got there, Joel?” she asks, sly smile matching her embellished cadence.

“Just workin’ on things, what were you talking about?” he deflects, leaning on one elbow to hide the mess behind his shoulder. Ellie nods, understanding stark on her face as she ambles up.

“Oh sure, since when have you ever cared what I’m talking about?”

Joel can’t stop the hurt look dashing across his face, leaning forward. “I care…”

Tricked! Ellie’s hands dart under his arm and yank the cloth away, exposing the half-assembled ornaments and lengths of twine.

“You’re so fucking easy…” she starts to say, but the words stop when she sees the mess underneath.

“What are those?” she asks, and for a moment Joel wants to snark something back at her - none of your goddamn business or don’t make fun of me - but then he realizes she probably doesn’t have any idea what they are. What would she have seen adorning a tree? Maybe dried fruit, popcorn, little trinkets that people saved hoping one day they could have Christmas again?

So he clears his throat and makes himself vulnerable. To a teenager. Easily one of the scariest things on this earth, cordyceps included.

“They’re for the tree lighting. Had a buddy who used to make ‘em, and I thought it’d be a nice gift for…to the schoolhouse. For being so helpful and all that.” He can feel his ears reddening but Ellie hasn’t taken her eyes off the snowflakes. She traces one of the finished ones, pointer finger running along the edge he dulled with an ancient rust-filled rasp. “You hang them on the tree.”

Ellie’s quiet for a moment, inspecting and nudging the pieces around, before she finally speaks.

“They’re cool. I didn’t know contractors could make pretty things too.”

Joel snorts, raising an eyebrow.

“I’ll let you know I’m a man of multitudes.”

She snorts, the tension breaking, as Joel moves pieces around to show how they fit together to form the abstract snowflake shape. As he’s explaining the process she’s shockingly quiet, but everything is open - eyes, ears, half-parted mouth. If he’d known this was something they shared he would have built things with her ages ago.

“Is one of these mine? The one I can bring?”

Joel mulls for a moment, tapping fingers on the workbench, before he hauls himself up to stand.

“Nah, I’ve got something better for you.”

It takes a few minutes of searching for a suitable wood piece not being used for something important. Then a few more to saw off a round, sweat beading on the edge of his hairline and biceps tensing. Ellie’s eyes widen when he hands her the wood circle, ushering her back to the workbench.

“I think somethin’ more personal would be good to bring. How about you write your name on it?”

Ellie’s eyes narrow, playfully mistrusting.

“Just my name?”

“You’ll see.”

As she writes and erases about six times, Joel hunts through the workshop for the little woodburning kit he spied weeks ago. It’s janky, but it doesn’t electrocute him when he plugs it in. He waves Ellie over and takes the wood, admiring her no-nonsense script.

“They ever teach you woodburning at school?” Ellie shakes her head, and Joel’s smile turns lopsided. “Then you’re gonna love this.”

Using the hot metal tip of the fat pencil-like tool, he meticulously traces her lettering, burning it permanently into the wood.

“Holy shit, that’s so cool!” she exclaims, getting close enough that he has to shoo her back so she doesn’t get wisps of woodsmoke right up her nose. He lets her finish the last E, warning her to go slow so the line doesn’t chatter. It’s not perfect, but she’s so excited he can’t find fault.

“Now for a little holiday decoration,” he mumbles, and with stiff joints and too-big hands he burns in a border of holly leaves and berries, even dotting the I in her name with one.

“All finished,” he says, and before he can even blow on the final product it’s in her hands, tracing the lines and practically thrumming with excitement.

“Can I keep it?” she asks, spinning it in her palm.

“Just until this weekend, but I can show you how to make…” His sentence trails off as she’s already heading for the door.

“Awesome, thanks Joel!” she calls over her shoulder. He chuckles to himself, ambling back to his own little project. Ellie turns in the doorway, silhouetted by the sun dipping low.

“She’ll love those too,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows and disappearing before he can retort. Sighing, he turns back to the last few pieces he needs to assemble.

He hopes she does.

Joel finishes the ornaments just in time for the tree decorating, timed perfectly with Jackson’s town square lighting. Joel saw Tommy drag the tree into your schoolhouse, conversing with you and Maria as he brushed stray needles from your front porch. The way you smiled when someone did kind things for you warmed Joel even from afar.

“Planning on helping out with the festivities tonight?” Tommy asked as the day wound down, putting boxes on the bar as Joel enjoyed a whiskey.

“Ellie wants to go to the tree decoratin’, figured I’d make myself useful.”

Tommy’s half smile hovers in his periphery. He tries to ignore it.

“You got something to hang on that nice teacher’s tree?” Joel rolls his eyes and throws back the drink. He’s not going to sit by and tolerate romance advice from his baby brother. “C’mon, you know she’s into you, right? Looks at you like you hung the moon.” Tommy leans on the bar, turning something small between his fingers. “See you looking at her like that too. Practically Hallmark shit by now.”

“See ya, Tommy,” Joel sighs, getting up from his chair while rolling his eyes.

“Well, at least you can bring this too,” he says, and holds out what he’s been fiddling with.

Joel looks down, and his heart stops.

“...Where did you…”

Tommy’s face softens, placing the item between them on the bar.

“Went home before I ended up in Jackson. Not a lot left there, but I found the Christmas box in the basement. It was one of the few things I could carry with me.” Tommy’s face fights an emotion welling up, forcing a smile even as his eyes shine. “Thought she could be part of a new tradition too.”

A small wooden ornament fashioned to look like a Christmas ball, the name “Sarah” painted in the center and surrounded by red and green patterns. She brought it home from school and it had a prominent place on their tree, even as she got older and complained about how ugly it was.

Joel’s throat is so tight his breath whistles out, chest pounding and eyes stinging, but he picks up the ornament and cradles it in his work-worn hands. Then, a lightness eases his breathing, and a soft smile plays across his face. He clears his throat preemptively, pocketing the treasure.

“Yeah, I will. I’ll put it next to Ellie’s. Thank…thank you,” he stumbles, and the brothers share a moment of memory.

“And you know, everyone’s gonna be out looking at the lights tonight in case you need some privacy,” Tommy suggests, breaking the tension with all the finesse of a sledgehammer.

“Bye, Tommy,” Joel calls over his shoulder, Tommy’s chuckle ushering him out.

You must have done this many times before, because when Joel and Ellie walk into the schoolhouse it’s like something off a holiday card. The school supplies are tucked away in favor of soft seating areas. The tree Tommy brought in is tucked in a corner, lights already wound around the thick boughs. Something apple and spiced wafts through the air, and the chatter of children and adults alike is at the comfortable level that it blankets everything in a festive glow.

Ellie’s face is glowing too, taking in the drastic shift in decor. She hangs back a little, eyes roaming and waving to friends but shyly tucked behind Joel’s elbow. Her hand is in her pocket, and Joel would put money on her ornament being in the palm of her hand. Joel’s not much better, Sarah’s in his own and a paper packet tucked under his arm.

Before either of them can feel too out of place, you weave through the growing crowd with a wave.

“I’m so glad you could come!” you call out, squeezing Joel’s arm and beaming down at Ellie. She shifts on her feet, a small smile appearing at a familiar face.

“This is wild, is like the whole town here?” she asks, and you shrug with your hands on your hips. Some of your hair is out of place, and perspiration clings to your throat. Joel swallows, eyes darting away.

“Well I did say I had a special surprise for tonight, and you inspired it!” you say, motioning to a series of little dioramas tucked into an empty bookshelf. Ellie weaves around Joel to get a closer look as you point out one of the shelves.

“You asked me about Christmas and I didn’t know what to tell you because I don’t know all that much about how it came to be, or the traditions around it. But then I realized we’re all building a new world together, and the holidays are what we bring with us.” You slide a piece of paper out and hand it to Ellie, and she reads it with a growing smile. Joel leans over to catch a glimpse at your prim handwriting.

Christmas was very traditional in my house. Santa was supposed to come by and bring us presents for being good girls and boys. We would write letters to him about things we wanted, and our parents were supposed to deliver them to him. On Christmas Eve we baked cookies and left them out for Santa because he had a lot of houses to deliver to and needed snacks. I left out carrots for the reindeer too, because they were doing all the work. And then on Christmas morning dad made pancakes and we weren’t allowed to open anything until mom was up. I believed in Santa until I was about 12, when I asked how he could get into houses without chimneys. My parents told me that Santa was an idea, not a real person, and the spirit of the season was to show people you appreciate them and give back to the community around you. I was more worried that I would get less presents if Santa wasn’t giving them to me anymore.

“I gathered up all these stories from everyone in Jackson, of all faiths and beliefs, and you can read through them and see how everyone celebrates.” You lean down now, speaking quieter. “There’s no right way, and no one person celebrates the same as everyone else. The one thing that does stay the same is that it’s a time to show love to the people around you.”

Joel’s eyes roam the shelves, spotting a Hanukkah-themed scene and something with bright colors he doesn’t recognize. Pages of script torn from your notepad tuck behind Santa figurines and menorahs and little wooden shoes. Ellie picks up another slip of paper.

“Wait, there are elves?”

You shrug, straightening up and catching Joel’s eye. He gives a lopsided smile as you’re pulled away by someone else entering, a twinkling light in the night surrounding Jackson.

A time to show love to the people around you? Maybe he can finally pluck up the courage to do that.

“Okay, everyone with an ornament please come up to the tree! Not too many at one time!” you call out, and Joel’s heart jumps into his throat. He pulls the packet from under his arm, hoping that maybe a bunch of kids would rush to the front, but everyone is reluctant to be the first. You stand by the tree, a shimmer of trepidation on your face, and Joel takes the first step.

“Brought these for…for the tree,” he says, handing the rough package to her. He should have put a bow on it, but he already wrestled with the packaging too long, he didn’t think he had the nerve to make it look any more like a gift. All eyes are on you as you unfold the wrapping, eyes darting up to Joel like he’s playing a trick, but when six delicate snowflakes are revealed a murmur of chatter fills the room. Your eyebrows lift, eyes lighting up and he wishes he’d given it to you alone. He wants your appreciation and surprise and happiness all for himself, even as the whispers, “oh wows,” and “good job, Joels,” waft to his ears.

“Joel, these are amazing,” you breathe, lifting one of the snowflakes out to dangle on your fingers. A smattering of applause he doesn’t deserve deepens his blush, but he takes the praises as graciously as possible. “I’m…thank you so much. I’m going to put them on, please everyone! Bring your ornaments up!” The snap into something much cheerier and brighter flutters Joel’s heart, catching a brief shine in your eye as you busy yourself adding his ornaments to the tree.

Could he go to you in the hubbub of people now approaching, lay a hand on your shoulder and envelope you in his arms? The ache to do so is close to a real animal in his chest begging to be touched. Instead he hangs back as kids hang dried apples and garland, painted baubles and all varieties of crafts. Wooden birds with real plumage, tiny knitted mittens, worn pictures encased in resin. His eyes draw to Ellie, sidling up next to you to hang her name ornament. You help her pick a spot, and Joel can see how you praise the design, and add some reassuring words. Standing back from the tree Ellie leans against you, and you wrap an arm around her shoulders.

The world slows around them, frozen in time under Joel’s watchful eye. He blinks, capturing a mental photo of this moment. He’ll look back on it often, the way Ellie both looks so much like a child but also so grown. How you give her kindness and support in as quiet of a way as she’ll accept, rewarded with her ease. And the feeling in his own chest, expanding and swelling like his heart could never fit his body again.

“Look outside!” calls one of the younger children, and the crush of people move from the tree to the windows at the front of the schoolhouse. Craning his neck, Joel catches the lights strung around town starting to click on, brilliant bubbles of amber light dissipating the darkness. A murmur kicks up, and the tree sparkles to life with colorful pops illuminating every memory adorning its branches. There’s cheering and clapping again, this time well deserved, and Ellie’s face brightens as her name sways gently with all of the others.

“There’s more!” someone cheers, and the front door opens to guide the group out and onto the frigid streets. Ellie’s head whips around, eyes pleading, and Joel can only nod with feigned annoyance as she rushes out.

“Put on your hat…” he calls after her, but if she hears she gives no indication. In a moment the schoolhouse is empty of all but you and him. Joel glimpses more lights leading the people of Jackson through the town center, noise dulling to a comforting hum.

You’re still in front of the tree, admiring the final product. Joel takes a deep breath and slowly approaches, standing beside you in comfortable silence. You take in a big breath of your own and blow it out, satisfaction painting your features.

“Every year it seems like it’ll never get done, and yet it always comes together,” you say, bumping shoulders with Joel. He snorts and smiles, taking in all of the chaotic beauty of the decorations.

“Meant a lot to Ellie that you did all this,” he says, tossing his head back at the written history you compiled. You cock your head at him thoughtfully.

“It got me thinking, you know. What’s important to everyone, now that we’re here after everything?” Your eyes search the tree, Joel’s following. “For me, it was my dad. We called him Father Christmas. Loved the holidays, was excited for them every year.” Your fingers find a red plastic boot nestled in the boughs. “When we got to Jackson he was so excited to be around people again, to feel that community. He brought Christmas back for lots of people.” A watery sigh signals Joel to lean closer, fitting his arm snugly around your waist. It’s never felt more right to hold someone. “The years since he’s passed have been hard to keep this all up, but it’s also the closest I feel to him.”

Joel reaches into his pocket, Sarah’s ornament in the palm of his hand. Ellie’s has a perfect spot next to it, and he tucks them together amongst the lights. Fresh spruce tickles his nostrils as he arranges them just so.

“My daughter,” Joel says, and it may be the first time he’s offered this part of himself up willingly. “Lost her on the day it all went to hell. She loved the holidays too, always wanted to see real snow. You know, like something out of a Norman Rockwell.” The rest of the words he wants to say stick in his throat, but it’s enough. You turn to him, sliding a hand up his arm to squeeze it gently. A knowing smile curves your lips, tempting as hot cocoa after a cold day.

“Thank you, Joel. For the ornaments, for being here. For everything.”

His body steps into yours, pulling you close. Your eyes widen briefly, then your expression becomes hopeful.

“Thought maybe I was being obvious, around all the time looking for a reason to be where you are,” Joel muses, finally bold enough to cup your cheek. Leaning into it, you fit your body into his.

“Maybe I thought it was too good to be true,” you say, a tiny brush of his thumb over your lips startling a breath out.

“Pretty sure it’s me who’s been feelin’ that way, darlin’,” Joel teases, but the yearning in your eyes tells him he’s got to say it now. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for…so goddamn long.”

Then your hand winds into his nape, and your lips meet.

You’re as soft as he hoped, yielding to his firmer press but bold when he parts his lips and your tongue begs entrance. A choked moan dies in his throat as cinnamon and apple dances on his palate, cradling your head so he can deepen the kiss. The grip on his hair tightens, your other hand fisted in his flannel. He wraps around you, protector, devotee, your body and soul safe with him.

Your lips part regretfully, foreheads pressed together as you catch your breath. Beating him to composure, you tilt your chin to press a kiss to a spot on his jaw where his beard is a little thin.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you here for so long,” you repeat, breathy giggles rippling through you both. Joel dips in to claim your lips again, softer, slower. Your arms wind around his neck, and if he wasn’t keenly aware that at any moment someone could wander back in he would have laid you out to explore with his lips and teeth and tongue. His calmer head prevailed.

“Darlin’, I wouldn’t ask you for a single other thing, Christmas or not, if you’d say you’ll be mine,” he asks, heart on the line as he hopes you feel the magic of this moment just as much. Your eyes crinkle, fingers stroking through his hair.

“Joel Miller, nothing would make me happier,” you answer, earning another sweetly spicy kiss. When you part again, you say, “Well, except…”

Joel’s heart hammers, eyebrows knitting up in concern.

“...I could use help putting the star on my tree tonight. The one in my bedroom?”

A mischievous smile darts onto Joel’s face, playfully squeezing your ass.

“And how tall is this tree? Should I bring my ladder?”

You tap your chin thoughtfully.

“Maybe two, three feet?”

Joel nods with understanding.

“Of course, we should take care of that immediately.”

“Immediately.”

Hand in hand, you exit the schoolhouse, leaving it unlocked in case anyone wants to come bask in the holiday cheer later in the evening. Looking down the main street, Jackson is lit like a beacon of hope. Children toss snowballs at each other while parents watch on and laugh. Ellie is talking to a girl her age, shyly extending a paper-wrapped gift. A beautiful, kind woman is holding his hand and if his back were better he’d throw her over his shoulder in his haste to get her alone.

And in the darkest of times, when the days are short and cold and hope runs thin, there is still so much love to share.

END

A/N: the ornaments Joel makes were inspired by a gift I got a few years back. These handmade ornaments are some of my favorites every year!

#joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x female reader #tlou fanfiction #tlou fic #pedrostoriesgift23 #pedrostories #prolix fics

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yoongiseesawmp3 · 2 years ago

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paradigm - seonghwa (m)

summary: bored, at work, you start to realize your fellow bartender seonghwa is hot. like really hot. after talking, you find out you’re both having dating trouble. how bad would it be if you helped each other out, just a little bit?

word count: 4.4k

warnings: smut!!!!! switch!seonghwa (leaning bottom), switch!reader (leading top), afab reader, oral (m receiving), cumplay, penetrative sex (unprotected), mentions of alcohol

masterlist

dating sucks, and lately your roster has been disappointing you exponentially. you need new blood, but you’re not sure where to go to find it. you’re tired of apps, bored with shitty conversations and no follow through, and if you have to waste another night out at an expensive restaurant just for the most mediocre sex of your life then you might start to consider celibacy.

you’re griping about all of this to your friend from work, seonghwa, when a customer comes in and ruins the mood. you’re technically off the clock, just here to bug hwa while the dinner rush trickles in, but you decide to do some prep for your shift tomorrow while you wait. you’re not a sommelier by any means, but in an attempt to class up the joint, the owner wanted to hire someone who could pose as a wine snob to make the place seem nicer. enter you, a self proclaimed connoiseur (you drank a lot in college). seonghwa is the night bartending lead, and also the most attractive man in the world, no competition. you’re staying late today to make a house sangria out of some poorly selling wines, but you also wanted to linger and make eyes at seonghwa with his newly bleached hair.

speaking of the object of your desires, seonghwa turns back to you after pouring a round of shots for a guy who barely looks 18 let alone 21, and he jumps back into your previous conversation.

“sorry, what was i saying?” he asks you, wiping his hands on a bar towel.

“did you card that kid?” you ask back, watching the customer struggle to balance the heavy tray of shots back to his table.

“yeah,” seonghwa shrugs. “it didn’t look like a fake but he’s definitely twelve.”

“you’re very ethical,” you point out, struggling to cut the orange in front of you, tongue poking out between your lips in concentration. seonghwa watches on, intrigued by the shock of pink poking your lips, but you interrupt his staring by saying “you were about to solve all my relationship problems before squarepants showed up.”

“right,” he laughs, gently taking the knife from your hands. “let me do this, you’re gonna chop a finger off. you shouldn’t be doing this with a paring knife anyway.”

“that’s all we have back here!” you complain. then, you watch in shock as seonghwa produces a utility knife from thin air. “you a magician?”

“no,” he laughs with that strained smile of his. “i’ve got a couple hidden back here-”

“safe,” you interrupt.

“-face down, in this jar, as safe as can be, thank you,” he continues, pointing to the jar he’s talking about.

“how’d you get those?”

“i asked wooyoung,” he shrugs. “they’ve got plenty in the kitchen so he said i could have some spares.”

“so helpful, that kid,” you say as you swipe an orange slice seonghwa just cut.

“hey!”

“cut em into rounds,” you instruct, taking little nibbles out of the slice in your hands. “they’re going into sangria, so make it pretty.”

“now i’m starting to understand why you can’t land a man,” hwa grumbles as he follows your request.

“what’s that supposed to mean?” you ask in mock hurt.

“you’re high maintenance!”

“i didn’t ask you to do this for me,” you chuckle, taking the knife back from him. “go back to your job, the less we bother each other the earlier i’ll leave.”

“but then who’s gonna get on my nerves?” seonghwa asks with a pout.

“wooyoung?”

“probably.”

“oh, right, i was saying,” he starts again, messing with some of the quick pours, “if you can’t meet anyone on an app then you might have to, gasp, meet someone in person y/n.”

“i know that,” you groan. “but how? where? just start going up to strangers?”

“basically,” hwa nods. “you could start with boy wonder over there.”

“ok, if you’re not gonna be serious about this then we can talk about something else,” you say as you slide the completed slices from your cutting board and into the large sangria pitcher. “how’s your life? any problems we can solve there?”

“hm,” he thinks, “well, hongjoong pointed out yesterday that i haven’t brought anyone back to the apartment in six months, so that’s a new record i think.”

“six months?” you scoff. “i don’t believe you.”

“why not?”

“looking the way you do?” you ask. “no way you don’t get boned on the regular.”

“what do you mean looking the way i do?” seonghwa asks with a smile.

“never mind.”

“no, tell me in detail.”

“i need to grab an apple from the kitchen,” you say, trying to scoot past seonghwa to find your escape. unfortunately, he cages you in, arms enclosing around you and resting on the bar behind you.

“you like the way i look?” he asks with a smirk, and you decide to take the bait.

“um, yeah? especially with your hair like this, it’s kinda sexy,” you admit, not letting seonghwa get the best of you.

“oh?” he asks, quirking an eyebrow at your response. he holds your gaze for a moment, and briefly, very briefly, you think he might kiss you. the sound of the bell above the door distracts seonghwa ever so slightly, and you’re able to slip from his trap before he can stop you again. you scurry to the back of house, hiding in the walk in for just a minute before you head back to the bar.

seonghwa is busy with some of the regulars at the bar, doing his best to relate to these old men and make their disgusting drinks without batting an eye. you’re able to take up your spot at the end of the bar, happily chopping fruit until you’ve got enough for two big pitchers of sangria tomorrow. you start pulling the low bottles from the wine rack behind you, and in your focused state you don’t notice seonghwa finishing up with the men and turning back to watch you. he’s leaning against the bar drying some glasses, his eyes sweeping up and down your body, noticing (not for the first time) how good you look in the uniform. he’s so focused on staring at your ass that he almost doesn’t notice you struggling to reach a wine bottle at the top of the rack, but he steps in and places his hand at the small of your back while he easily grabs the wine you were reaching for, handing it to you with a wink.

“thanks,” you blush, not expecting this small act of kindness from him. his hand lingers for a moment, and when he finally removes it, you can feel the warmth it left in its wake. “how long with you be here tonight?”

“till close, why?” seonghwa asks, hopeful.

“i’m putting this in the walk in, do you mind tasting it before you leave? that should be enough time for it to set, and just let me know if needs anything else?” you ask, not noticing how seonghwa’s face falls once he hears what you need.

“yeah, sure,” he replies. “so you’re heading out?”

“yeah,” you nod. “been here too long, i’m not getting paid overtime for this.”

“i can share some of my tips,” seonghwa offers, but you shake your head.

“i haven’t contributed, those are your tips m’dear.”

“but you did?” seonghwa says, confused.

“how?”

“looking beautiful,” he sighs, making you laugh at the way his face changes from serious to dreamy so quick.

“seonghwa if i didn’t know any better i’d say you’re coming onto me,” you joke, looking for any fruit scraps you might have missed in your clean up.

“and what if i am?” he comes back, and you stop. you look up at him and he just quirks that damn eyebrow again as if to challenge you to respond.

“i’ll see you tomorrow, hwa.”

“i’m just saying, we could help each other out!” he half shouts as you walk away, and you swat in his direction and tell him to quiet down. “think about it!” he calls after you one last time, and then you’re too close to the kitchen to hear what he might try to convince you with next.

you make it home just fine, warming up your dinner before you take a short shower. the whole time you go about your routine though, you keep thinking back to what seonghwa said. he was flirting with you, he made that clear. and when he said you could help each other out? your subconscious needs to hear more about that before it runs wild in your imagination. but you can’t just text him and say hey wanna come fuck?...right?

you decide to distract yourself with a show, doing your best to focus on their drama and not your own. you start dozing off a couple episodes in, the exhaustion from your day finally catching up with you. when your phone buzzing wakes you up, you notice how late it is. your first thought is about the restaurant, this is usually closing time, and then your next thought it seonghwa. did he try your sangria like you asked? that’s when you realize the reason for you phone buzzing was the man himself. you check the message and it’s a simple “hey” which makes you scoff. you sit up, pausing your show before you respond.

“hey,” you send. then, “did you try my sangria?”

“yeah,” he replies immediately. you watch as the three dots pop up for a moment, and disappear again.

“and?” you prompt, wanting an answer about your concoction before you go in tomorrow.

“i have thoughts,” he texts back. is he always this dry over text?

“what are your thoughts.”

a few seconds go by, but it feels like hours as you watch him type, and type.

“let me tell you in person ? :)”

seonghwa gets to your house in less than 20 minutes, so either he sped all the way here, or he was already on the way when he was texting you. sneaky bastard either way. he knocked quietly, and you opened the door quickly to find him standing there looking delectable as ever despite just working a closing shift. you open your mouth to say something when seonghwa speaks first.

“it needs sugar,” he says quickly, grabbing your face and kissing you after. it’s hungry, but meditated, like he’d been waiting for this. you weren’t the only one with occupied thoughts the past few hours, because seonghwa couldn’t stop thinking about all the things he wanted to do with you. the things he wanted you to do to him. while he’s got you by the mouth, you wrap your arms around his waist and fully pull him into your apartment, his foot catching the door to close it for you. you push him against it, hands itching to touch his skin as his hands settle at your neck. you grab wildly at his shirt, pulling him even closer to you so your breaths are becoming one and your lips stay locked together. seonghwa nips at your bottom lip, and you yelp, the pause letting his tongue explore your mouth. you moan at the taste of him, and he feels his cock stirring in his pants at the sound. with your hands still grabbing his shirt firmly, you tug him toward your couch, hoping you don’t back into anything as you walk. hwa’s hands fall from your neck to your waist, his eyes peeking open to make sure you don’t hurt yourself.

you make it to the couch and pull seonghwa down on top of you, your hands sliding down his chest, memorizing every line and every dip, until your hands stop at his waist, trying to untuck his shirt so you can slip your hands underneath it and run your fingers over his skin. when he feels you make contact, he shudders, and you smile into the kiss, finally pulling back for a minute to catch your breath.

“sensitive?” you ask with a teasing glint in your eye, and seonghwa grinds down into you, earning a shocked moan from you.

“no, you?” he asks mockingly, brushing the hair from your face as he hovers over you. the way he’s looking at you is too sincere for your liking, but you can’t help admiring him in return. you’ve never been this close to him, and you’ve never noticed how deep his dark brown eyes are, or the way his sharp features get more delicate the closer you look. your gaze trails back down to his plump lips, reddened from your prior make out, and you nip at his lips to entice him to kiss you again. he’s easy to convince, because he’s diving in again, kissing you deeper this time. your hands continue exploring his soft skin, but you trail them lower to his belt and work at getting it undone. you don’t bother taking it out, you just undo it and his pants, letting your hand dip down to cup him over his boxers. the touch has seonghwa bucking his hips, his breath fanning over your cheeks as he pants at the contact. you can tell he’s trying to get more friction by moving his hips, but you’re not having that.

“ah ah,” you say, pulling back from the kiss and smirking when seonghwa chases your lips. “if we’re gonna do this you gotta be good for me. keep your hips still.”

“who said i have to listen to you?” he boldly quips, and a firm squeeze to the bulge in his pants has him caving quickly.

“my house, my rules,” you tease, tracing the outline of his cock lightly. “so? can you be good for me, sweet boy?” he eagerly nods, trying not to buck into your hand again as you cup him tighter.

“tell me how you want me,” he says in a voice that’s just barely above a whisper, and if his lips weren’t ghosting over yours as he spoke you might’ve missed it. you smile at him and peck his lips sweetly, removing your hands from him completely to cup his cheeks.

“on my bed? take your shirt off, and i’ll meet you in there.” he kisses you one more time, tongue dipping in to hold you there longer, but a quick pinch to his cheek has him pulling back sadly, sticking his tongue out at you as he untangles himself from your hold. you watch as he wanders toward the hallway, his hand reaching back to pull his shirt over his head. you could write sonnets about the way his back muscles contract as he moves, almost drooling as your eyes follow his every move. “second door on the right,” you call out to him, and then he disappears down the hall.

you want to make him wait a minute, so you take your time getting up and taking your own shirt off, discarding it on the couch before tugging your sleep shorts up high enough to accentuate your ass (since you know seonghwa loves staring at it so much). you walk toward your room, heart racing at what you’re about to do, but a quiet cry pulls you out of your thoughts. you slide to your door, catching yourself on the door frame as you look on in shock at seonghwa palming himself and tweaking one of his nipples. you’d keep enjoying the show, but your dramatic entrance and the gasp you let out at what you found distracts him, and he blushes but smirks anyway, motioning for you to join him.

“you took too long,” he sighs, grabbing your hand to pull you on top of him as soon as you’re close enough. you slot yourself over his crotch, careful not to make direct contact with his cock just yet. you drape your arms over his shoulders, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck while you speak.

“before we keep going,” you start, “can i ask something?”

“am i harder than i’ve ever been right now? yes,” he replies, and you laugh.

“no, but thank you for the insight,” you giggle, the motion grazing you over his lap. he contracts at the contact, and you sit further up into his lap before continuing. “i just wanna be sure, you’re clean right?”

“y/n, i told you, it’s been months,” he deadpans. “and i was plenty clean before that. so yes.”

“ok, well, i was asking, because, um, i don’t think i have any condoms?” you say sheepishly, and the color drains from seonghwa’s face. “so either we just do oral or you can come on my stomach.”

“stomach please,” he says quickly, and you smile at how eager he is.

“yeah?” and he nods again. “lay back for me then.”

“what, already?” he asks, and you shake your head.

“no baby, i’m gonna take it slow,” you say as you lift yourself from his lap so he can lay back on your bed. you crawl down his body, leaving kisses across his chest and down between the soft lines of his abdomen. “you’re really soft.”

“thanks,” he whispers, watching you intently. “new lotion.”

“hm, really?” you ask, kissing along the waistband of his pants. “what kind?”

“i’m not really sure babe, i’ll have to get back to you on that,” he says as he rolls his eyes, and you work on pulling his pants down. he helps you by kicking them off the rest of the way, and he keeps his hips raised, thinking you’ll take his boxers off next. you simply just press his hips back into the mattress and go back to sprinkling kisses across his waist, down his thigh, along the seam of his briefs, ignoring his cock completely as you move to the other side to repeat your motions. seonghwa groans above you, and it stokes your ego to know he’s affected by such meager attention.

“you sure you’re not sensitive?” you ask tauntingly, looking up at seonghwa but leaving your lips hovering over his cock. his eyes fall to yours and he whines at the sight of you so close to him but still separated, and you decide he’s had enough teasing for now.

“if i say yes will you just take these off?” he asks, but you’re already moving to free his cock from his final layer. his cock bobs as hwa lifts himself up to remove his boxers fully, and you feel proud at how red and swollen it is just from a few touches. you softly grasp it, earning a gasp from the beautiful man above you. you spit on it before twisting your hand to work him up a little more, and the whines leaving his pouted lips reminds you of what he said earlier.

“does it feel good, or am i hurting you?” you ask, wanting to make sure this is good for both of you.

“feels so good,” he breathes out, teeth clenched. “but i need to come soon.”

“really? couldn’t tell,” you tease, stroking him a few more times before leaning down to lick his tip. his precum coats your tongue, and you’re addicted to him and the sounds he’s making above you. you suck on the head, pulling back and spitting on your hand before you stroke him again, steadying him in front of you so you can swallow him in one go. when hwa feels his head hit the back of your throat, he cries out, shaking above you beautifully. you’re mesmerized by him, and you can’t help but watch as you bob up and down on his cock, stroking what you can’t fit. you flatten your tongue beneath him as you lick all the way back up, sucking on his tip again to get his attention. in his hazy state he stares down at you, eyes glazed over and mouth open slightly. he watches entranced as you go down on him again, and this time when you feel him at the back of your throat you suck, bobbing up and down messily, and you get to watch as seonghwa comes undone above you. his body jerks as he comes, shooting his load down your throat in spurts, but it’s such a strong orgasm you’re almost afraid he’ll never stop coming. you keep watching him even after he’s done, breathing heavily and sweat dripping from his forehead. you slowly remove yourself from his cock, holding the rest of his release that was sitting on your tongue in your mouth.

“so good to me,” he says breathlessly, watching you crawl back up to sit on his lap again. you give him a kiss, dipping your tongue past his lips so you can push the rest of his come into his mouth, and he moans when he realizes what you’re doing. his hands grip your hips, grinding you down into him, and you’re shocked to feel him hard again. you let hwa keep grinding you into his cock like that, making out with him slowly, until you can’t take it anymore.

“can i ride you?” you ask after detaching yourself from his mouth.

“do you even have to ask?”

“help me get undressed then,” you reply, and seonghwa quickly grabs the elastic of your sports bra and helps you pull it over your head. his hands carefully trail over your chest, taking time to pinch at your nipples which makes you buck into him for once. his hands keep going, tracing down your back to dip into your shorts and squeeze your ass. he pushes your shorts off then, leaving you in your panties, a wet patch almost dripping over his cock. you grind down into him to let him feel how wet you are, and his head falls back as he groans.

“you’re gonna be the death of me,” he says, tracing his fingers over your waistband before he dips a finger past the elastic to slowly pull those down too.

“death by pussy?” you joke as you help him take your panties off. “not a bad way to go.”

“yeah now that i think about it that might be a sweet deal,” he smiles. hands going wild trying to find purchase on your thighs, your ass, your waist. seonghwa watches with stars in his eyes as you grab his cock, lining him up at your entrance, and as you try to get him at the right angle he sees your arousal literally drip from you core, and you feel his cock twitch in your hand. “you are so sexy, y/n.”

“not as sexy as-ugh-you,” you grunt, feeling him at your entrance. you brace yourself on his strong shoulders, making eye contact with him before you sink down on his cock. “oh, fuck.”

“shit,” he hisses, feeling you clench around him. “maybe i did die. maybe this is what heaven feels like.”

“what’s it feel like?”

“soft,” he starts off, and then his face contorts as you grind down. “and warm. like you.”

“god, hwa, you feel so good stretching me out,” you tell him. “i’m gonna move now.” he nods, and you take that as enough encouragement to bounce on his lap, setting a fast rhythm to chase your own high. he shifts beneath you, trying to help you find the right angle, and when he moves just right and hits your g-spot you literally collapse on top of him, moaning straight into his ear as he bucks up to keep fucking you right where you need it.

“you good baby?” he whispers in your ear, and you just moan in response, thighs struggling to hold you up because hwa has managed to turn your legs to jelly. you regain some control by bracing yourself on his chest, rubbing your thumbs over his nipples as you try to pick your pace back up. you’re already close, and you clench down on hwa to test the waters, seeing how much more it’ll take before he comes too. “aw fuck, do that again, feels so good y/n.”

“you gotta tell me,” you huff out, squeezing him between your walls, “you gotta tell me when you’re close, remember?”

“i know,” he nods. “not yet though. loving your pussy too much, don’t wanna leave it.” his hands at your waist start to move, one circling around to cup your ass, the other sliding down to find your clit. hwa starts just by tapping it slowly, sending jolt after jolt through your core. your moans turn into high pitched cries, tears pricking at your eyes, and hwa slows to rub your clit with a determination to get you to finish before him. “look at me,” he says, and your eyes meet his. he takes in your fucked out state, bucking up to meet your hips again. you watch him as you crash into your release, almost yelling at how good it feels to have him fuck you through your orgasm. you’re quickly oversensitive though, so you bounce on him a couple more times before pulling off his cock, and the release from your warm walls has him coming as soon as the cold air hits his dick. you watch in awe as he jerks again, eyes rolling to the back of his head as he finishes on himself, come spurting up his stomach and even landing on your thighs still pressed up against his. you keep watching as he comes down, swiping a finger through the come that managed to land on you, and he sucks it clean off his fingers. he’s pulling you in for a kiss before you can do anything else, and then you feel his tongue pressing past your lips to deposit his release into your mouth. you pull back from him, spit and come connecting your lips, but you swallow and show him, a cocky smile growing over his face.

“that was hot,” you say, still trying to breath normally.

“yeah, we need to do that again,” hwa replies.

“again? now?”

“no, not now, unless you want to,” he says with a smirk. “but i was thinking more like another day. when we need it again.”

“that’d be nice,” you agree, and seonghwa slowly pulls you down to lay against his chest. he presses a kiss to the top of your head before he speaks again.

“and i was thinking...if we did this again..we could do it at my place, and do it by my rules. what do you say?”

#seonghwa #park seonghwa #seonghwa smut #park seonghwa smut #seonghwa imagine #seonghwa one shot #park seonghwa imagine #park seonghwa one shot #ateez #ateez fic #seonghwa fanfic #seonghwa fic #seonghwa x reader #ateez x reader #ateez imagine #ateez smut #ateez one shot

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chuckfinnlypwrmadness · 2 months ago

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OK, I’ve heard this enough times and it seems like everybody on here has a misunderstanding about tweakers partying with other tweakers.

Hooking up with someone; that is where two people meet with the soul intention of fucking each other and having a good time doing that with each other. Neither one of them is paying the other. If there’s money involved, you’re a hooker. Nobody wants to hire a hooker to hook up with.

PNP; means party and play, not play & pay. When two people PNP normally the guy will rent a motel room for one to three nights, by the party favors and pretty much pay for the whole weekend. I myself or give the lady that I spent the weekend with a little sack to take with her so she doesn’t have to come down so hard. I’m not going to pay someone to show up to do that with me. That’s not how that works. You talk to somebody online or you’ve already know them you meet at the motel room I don’t pay for your gas to get there. I don’t have to cash app you money because you’re a broke ass bum you can’t drive across town probably cause of course you don’t live nowhere near where I’m at. And the funny thing is, y’all try to run that game all the time and it’s bullshit. I need gas money. I need a card all that dumb shit everybody’s hip to it. Meet someone across town at a motel walk in the door. Take all your clothes off. Get in the shower come out. Sit on the bed. Sit next to each other, talk get high fool around kiss watch TV whatever play game listen to music. But in no time does anybody exchange money? Nobody gets paid to be there. Another thing is who wants to send somebody some money so they can watch them on a video blowing clouds? That’s the most pathetic thing I’ve heard in a long time. I assure you there are plenty of women out here that you don’t have to pay at all to party with.

I have had girls that I was going to PNP with who did not wish to have sex and I told them that was fine. We don’t have to. I’ll pay for half of everything you pay for the other half the stuff, the motel, blah blah, blah blah blah, blah blah blah. And they were like why do I have to pay because usually when you PNP with someone whoever’s paying decides on what the activities will be most guys wanna have sex or fool around or whatever and if you don’t wanna do that then we can split the bill right in half. Anyways, I just wanted to clarify that if you’re on here trying to meet someone and hook up or PNP or blow clouds and you want to do it over a video chat or they have to send you money you’re fucking the game up and 90% of these girls on here talking about, I’ll deliver to you and fuck you they are full of shit. I’m not gonna buy shit online so just give it up. I’m not going to send you money for gas or your sisters kids to watch a video or whatever that other dumb shit y’all talk about. I’m not doing it. Don’t ask me. I have women out here that want to party and play just to party and play and they want to hook up because they wanna get fucked and they are not asking for any money! Something else gentlemen, the majority of these girls on here are not girls. There’s some freaking Asian in a treehouse trying to scam you or some Indian in India trying to get your money. They’ll never show up. You lose all your shit. They are worthless spineless pieces of shit ! They’re not real.

If you want to meet in PNP or hook up or SK8 and you don’t require any kind of money to get you to show up to have this fun then come on. If you’re broke ass needs money get a job suck dick do something quit trying to cheat everybody on here out of their money. It’s pathetic!!

ONE OTHER THING. PEOPLE WHO GET SPUN OUT EVERY DAY PEOPLE WHO DO THIS LIFESTYLE AND LIVE IT THEY CAN TELL BY LOOKING AT YOU IF YOU REALLY GET SPUN OUT EVERY DAY OR YOU’RE DOING ANYTHING A LOT OF Y’ALL SAY Y’ALL WANNA DO ALL THESE THINGS BUT Y’ALL DON’T LOOK LIKE A TRUE PLAYER!

SOMEONE THAT GEEKS EVERY DAY AND LOOK AT A WOMAN TELL IF SHE’S REALLY GEEKING IF SHE GEEKS AT ALL. SO JUST KNOW THAT YOU’RE NOT FOOLING NOBODY!

⚡️⚡️

#lets get high and fuck #pnp spun #scammers #fake women

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scooburst · 3 months ago

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Ok so this isn’t a normal post at all

But

I don’t think screentime limits should exist

Now I know I sound like a teenager who wants to spend all day on their phone, but I actually have reasons

1. Work

As kids get older, they get apps such as Remind or just log into their email for easier access. Then their job or school club can reach them easier and they’ll see it. But imagine if that gets sent when they’re limit is on. They may never see it.

2. Responsibilities

Most of the time screen time is considered a helper in managing screen time and teaching a kid to be responsible, but I disagree. If a kid instead now tries to learn the code and hope their parents approve a request, when they’re older they’ll see “no limit” and be up all night with it. Instead, what should be done is just plain teaching a kid how to limit themselves instead of forcing it and making them only want it more.

3. Disconnected

This one is from experience. Without access to be able to see what their friends are up to all the time or share their own experiences when they want too, it can cause a feeling of disassociation and confusion, which can lead to drastic measures from self harm to full on suicide. It may sound fake, but it’s true.

4. Mental health issues

Having this kind of disconnected feeing or being cut off so quickly can lead to many mental health issues, namely depression. This then impacts their social life, mental state, schoolwork, etc

5. Strained relationships

Without the ability to contact friends when they need to and that disconnection, the child may quickly lose friends and cut themselves off as a response. Along with this, their relationship with their family can get worse. They’ll blame their parents for this problem and growing up may go no contact or run away just to escape.

So whole many claim screen time limits are good for kids and will teach them time management, it won’t. It will lead to mental health issues and strained relationships.

If you need more, I looked at my friends without screen time limits phone usage and it was significantly less then those with limits. The ones with wanted to get it out of the way quickly so they didn’t worry about forgetting to do something after their limit is on. As for the ones without, they weren’t worried about not getting to say something since they would always have a chance.

#this is from experience #not my usual content #but this was important to talk about #mental health #screen time #please read this #tw suicide mention #tw self harm mention #long text

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daffi-990 · 1 year ago

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✨ Inspiration Saturday ✨

Tagged by @jesuisici33 and @911-on-abc. Thank you lovelies for the tag 😘

Today’s snippet is from the Rival Firefighters 🚒 fic and I’ve been having so much fun writing the chapter it’s in. I couldn’t resist making a moodboard for it either cos you know I love a good moodboard.

It’s been a long and hectic week and Eddie is extremely grateful it’s Shannon’s weekend with Chris. He loves his son and loves spending time with him, but Eddie is feeling so wound tight and needs to let off some stream in a not suitable for children kind of way. Halfway through the week he’d caved and opened up Grindr (he doesn’t usually use the app, preferring to make connections in person) and had matched with someone called Firehose. The name was a bit odd, but the guy was flirty and seemed fun and Eddie needed some fun. So they’d agreed to meet up Saturday night for drinks at a local club.

Eddie’s been to this particular club before so finding it isn’t a problem. It’s still early according to club going times, a little past 9:30 pm, so getting a car park is stress free which Eddie is grateful for. He hates not knowing a parking situation beforehand. He parks alongside a dark green jeep (or is it grey? He can’t tell in the crappy car park lighting and why is he focusing on the car’s colour anyway?) and does a quick check of his reflection in the rear view mirror before hoping out and making his way inside.

Firehose said he’d be at the bar and that he’d be wearing a dark grey short sleeved button down and that he was tall. Eddie hopes the guy isn’t one of those guys that says they’re 6 foot two but in reality are only 5 foot seven or something. Not that he’s opposed to short men, it’s just he prefers them tall and with enough muscle that he knows they could man handle him if he asked.

Eddie scans the bar and sees a guy that matches the description Firehose gave him. He can only see him from behind as the guy is turned in his seat watching a boisterous game of pool, but he’s very tall and his shirt is grey and stretching over a well muscled back. The guy’s hair is a dirty blond and looks to have been styled with something that has tamed his curls but has left his hair still looking soft. He has a sudden urge to run his hands through it. Maybe later. Eddie begins to move towards him and just as he’s about 3 feet away, the guy turns back to the bar and Eddie gets a side on view of his face.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Firehose, no, Buckley, turns in his seat at Eddie’s remark, a wicked grin lighting up his stupid smug face as realisation of the situation dawns on him. Firehose. The name suddenly makes so much more sense. Of course the guy Eddie was supposed to be meeting up with tonight was Buckley.

No pressure tagging: @callmenewbie @hippolotamus @lover-of-mine @wikiangela @thewolvesof1998 @exhuastedpigeon @fortheloveofbuddie @eddiediaztho @forthewolves @athenagranted @callaplums @captain-hen @wildlife4life @eddiebabygirldiaz @loserdiaz @ladydorian05 @rainbow-nerdss @try-set-me-on-fire @spotsandsocks @devirnis @disasterbuckdiaz @giddyupbuck @hoodie-buck @honestlydarkprincess @monsterrae1 and anyone who wants to play and has something they want to share -> consider this your tag ☺️

#rival firefighters fic #buddie #buddie wip #daffi writes #also I have no idea how people on dating apps talk so the Grindr convo in the moodboard is me winging it haha

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feng-shui71 · 14 days ago

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resident evil oc headcanons because they’ve been rotting in my notes app for the past week and I need somewhere to dump it:

Jordan Manalang:

• Is the older twin by around 10 minutes, Jordan holds this over Jaiden’s head a ton. I like to think they’re both really mischievous and cause a ton of trouble at RPD with the Chris, Joseph and Forest troupe, they’re often spotted arguing or making fun of eachother.

• Insert that one Boondocks clip of Huey getting Riley to say that he’s gay. Jordan is Huey coded and Jaiden is Riley coded.

• Very superstitious and just loves anything related to the morbid or the macabre.

• I like to think Jordan’s natural hair is more curly like Jaiden’s. Unfortunately she straightens her hair every day, it’s just easier for her. Wesker hates this and likes playing with her waves.

• Loves music a ton and can play guitar, I like to think her and Wesker sing a lot together in their spare time, only she’ll ever be able to hear that from him, his singing voice is very similar to Frank Sinatra’s. Junior knows how to play guitar because of her and she hogs the mic during karaoke. I like to think she can dance too.

• I headcanon her voice to be akin to the likes of Uma Thurman, very raspy and sultry, you can hear the maturity in her voice.

• I forgot to put this in the Jordsker headcanon post, but I think another one of their pasttimes would be stargazing. Jordan points out the constellations she thinks are pretty while Wesker goes on a huge ramble about whichever myth or story corresponds to said constellation. Her freckles remind him of the stars.

• Practicing Christian, prays before every case that Alpha Team is sent out to investigate.

• I’m still on the fence of her whereabouts during Re2-3 but for now I think she moved out of Raccoon City after the Arklay Incident and after her recovery. I think she cleaned out whatever was in Wesker’s desk at the S.T.A.R.S. office and cussed Irons out before taking her leave. Wesker was no longer there with them and I think after S.T.A.R.S. disband she had no more incentive to stay, it would’ve made her grieving process harder anyway.

• I think I brought it up once or twice in my past artworks but Jordan was shot by Wesker while inside of the mansion, she was getting in the way. She has a metal plate installed near her right temple as a result and experiences chronic headaches.

• Besides Jackie, Chris and Barry are Jordan’s best friends at S.T.A.R.S. Wesker hates this and does not like how close she is with Chris, subtly tries to control her by making remarks about him in an attempt to make her see Chris in a different light.

• I think she’s close with Jill and Rebecca too as a trio, women in male-dominated fields stick together. However unlike the latter friendships Jordan sees Rebecca as her third kid whereas she sees Jill as a bad ass little sister who needs to get smacked sometimes.

• Campaign wise during Re1 I think she’d be with Wesker obviously but spend most of her time alone in the mansion since he’s off “investigating”, nothing suspicious here.

• MBTI is ENTP

Jaiden Manalang:

• Very much a playboy and is every woman’s nightmare. Is very superficial and takes care of himself a ton, he’s very keen on self-discipline and plans his day accordingly, including things such as a very strict workout regiment or a 12 step skin-care routine. He has no issue getting dates with women, however his behaviour is what drives them away, Jaiden is by no means a bad guy, he’s very loving and sweet however he is an extremely clingy and jealous person, this attitude causing many girls to take their leave. He longs for a relationship and a family for himself and is somewhat envious of his sister’s “success” with her relationship. Filipino men are EVIL.

• Speaking of women, Jaiden has been trying to chase Jill ever since they met and so far has been extremely unsuccessful, he also flirts with the RPD Secretary. Human Resources hates him.

• Prior to the Arklay Incident, I think Jaiden tried to form a brotherly bond with Wesker, the two having more of a love/hate relationship. He thought Wesker was a good fit for Jordan, he was rich, treated Jordan well and was overall a gentleman. I think initially Wesker put up with him for the sake of Jordan but then started to grow fond of the man, you’ll never get this out of him though. Matter of fact, you won’t get either of them to acknowledge their mutual respect for each other. On more boring days at the S.T.A.R.S. office, you can spot the two throwing a football back and forth in the RPD parking lot. After Arklay, Jaiden absolutely hates his guts and shittalks Wesker at any opportunity.

• Toronto-man accent. Will not elaborate I’m just projecting onto him.

• I am horrible at drawing it but Jaiden’s hair is on the curly side, parts of his hair range from 2a to 2c.

• Like Jordan, Jaiden sees Rebecca as his child and assumes the role of an “Uncle” for her. I like to think they cross paths at some point during the mansion incident and Jaiden tries to protect her. Takes the brunt of any attacks from the undead, by the end of it he’s all scuffed and cut up.

• During Re2-3, He’s with Jill. Absolutely hates Carlos’ guts (sorry Jaiden unfortunately you’re the dollar store version of him)

• I think campaign-wise during Re1 he’d be paired with Forest or Enrico. Within the Bravo team I like to think him and Enrico are like how Chris is with Wesker, a Captain and his right-hand man. Enrico keeps Jaiden grounded whereas Jaiden’s laid-back presence helps to ease Enrico’s tension when it comes to missions.

• He’s actually much much smarter than he looks and actually exceeds Jordan in intelligence, unfortunately nobody takes him seriously because of his rambunctious attitude so everyone thinks hes the local idiot. Everyone referred to him and Jordan as “Dumb and Dumber” at the S.T.A.R.S. office, guess who was referred to as “dumber”. (Other nicknames for the twins included things like “Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum”, etc.)

• MBTI is ESTP

Alvina Wesker:

• HUGE daddy’s girl. As the first-born, she was spoiled a ton by Wesker growing up and he’d get her anything her little heart wanted, they’d have to sneak around Jordan and promise eachother not to tell her otherwise she’d get pissed.

• Prefrontal cortex started developing wayyy too early. After Wesker left them, Jordan had to take on extra work to provide for the family, leaving Alvina to basically help raise Junior, the stress of it all making her brain mature much, much faster and take on responsibilities a kid her age really shouldn’t have.

• As a result of this, I like to think Alvina and Junior are extremely close despite the age gap between them, she’s always looking out for her little brother.

• Suffers from Golden-Child Syndrome, she’s seen as the “good” one and is held at a much higher standard than Junior. Alvina is very much an overachiever because of this however it takes a massive toll on her psyche, if she fails to be the “best” at something it causes her to breakdown and question her worth, what if she can’t really do this? you won’t amount to anything with a 4.5 gpa. Self-loathing thoughts like these are common and she fears having to face her parents when their expectations aren’t met. Deep, deep respect towards parental figures is a huge Asian ideology that is ingrained into Alvina and she tries her best to honour their wishes, despite some of them being theirs and not her personal wants.

• Valedictorian of course!

• I like to think her voice is a mix of Marceline’s from Adventure time and Maya Hawke’s if that makes sense.

• When she was younger, her and Junior were enrolled into a ton of activities to make them as skilled as possible. They were both enrolled into dance, Junior Hiphop with Alvina doing ballet, as she got older I think she switched to Hip-hop and it’s one of her favourite activities, Junior on the other hand stopped going when Jordan stopped forcing them to go and only retained some fundementals.

• Lanky as fuck, I think she’s pretty tall because of Wesker’s genes standing at around like 5’10-5’11.

• As for sports she plays basketball obviously every Filipino got that superpower, however I also think she’d be a soccer kid, just a feeling.

• Junior’s a cultured skater kid but Alvina’s vibe is more of like a down-town girl/clean girl aesthetic. Definitely makes you turn your head when you walk past her on the street, someone you’d compliment their outfit on when sitting next to on the bus or in the girls washroom.

• Like Junior, she can play an instrument but only Bass. She’s very average at it and can only really play some songs from memory, the rest you gotta pull up tabs or sheet music for.

• MBTI is ISTJ

“Junior” Raphael Wesker:

• Although he pursued film, he loves music and dabbles in it as a hobby. Can freestyle, sing and plays several instruments. (Guitar, Piano, Drums.) I think what contributed to it was the fact that Jordan picked up on this when he was still really young, did what every single Filipino parent did and enrolled him into singing and piano lessons in hopes of transforming him into like the next Beyoncé or something. Pulling a 6 year old Junior into every single karaoke motive at family functions is Jordan’s favourite party trick.

• Absolutely smitten with Sherry it’s not even funny, I think growing up she had like the “girl next door” vibe since she was older, being Alvina’s age.

• Alvina and Sherry are the only people that refer to Junior as “Raphael”, (“Rafa” or “Raf” as nicknames) completely breaking off the tie that he has to Wesker due to their shared first names, an act that is done in respect of Junior’s wishes. He hates his first name and the fact that he’s forever tied to the evil deadbeat, so he’d rather be called anything else besides Albert. “Junior” as a nickname still ties him to Wesker, so the use of his middle name gives him his own sense of self.

• Takes after Jordan, he reminds her of her when she was younger, it’s scary how much he mirrors her. It’s not a surprise though, Junior has always looked up to her.

• Since Jordan and Barry are close friends, it’s only natural for their children to be close too. Junior and Moira are friends and like to go run around disturbing the peace, activities like graffiti, lighting things on fire, typical stupid teenager things. They both bond over their shared feelings on father figures however every so often, Junior gets annoyed. He understands her feelings about Barry but is somewhat envious of her situation, atleast she still has a father.

• Like I said before, I imagine his voice headcanon to be like Tyler, the Creators. Very deep like Wesker’s crooning voice, however lacking the posh sound, being a much more rougher and juvenile tone.

• Just as smart as Alvina, was going to pursue Comp-Sci prior to film but decided against it last minute as he believed he would regret his decision of passing up pursuing a passion he loved. Also he’s just a huge burn-out and doesn’t like to work. Bare minimum kind of guy.

• MBTI is INFP, however I think he’s an Ambivert. When he’s with fellow introverts he becomes the extrovert of the group and vice versa.

#ok so the takeaway is they all play ball #i have more i think these are just what came to mind #resident evil #resident evil oc #oc x canon #fengshuioc #fengshuispeaks #can you tell im a bit too inspired by kill bill #jackie steele mentioned because i cant go a stars post without mentioning her heheuuhehheuehe

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evangelineshifts · 11 months ago

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I need to tell someone this at least.

So this new pjo show is a complete joke, especially to some of the oj book fans(like me) who are so disappointed by how it turned out. The acting was stale(actors weren’t given anything to work with so fair), the visuals weren’t anything to speak of, the plot was nonexistent, everything was going too fast or too slow at all the wrong times, there was so much telling and almost no showing it felt like a voiceover or something, not only did they completely change what happened in half of the original book but they also added new and completely unnecessary scenes, to top it off the episodes were 30-40 minutes long with each episode having a budget of FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS. From the start of this they already messed it up, they promised a book accurate series but they’d be better off calling it loosely based (Percy is supposed to have black hair but his actor has blond hair and they expect me to like it??) they changed everything that didn’t need to be changed and the quality was so bad it makes me sick, and everyone is defending it and they’re all saying how good it is and yet there’s almost nothing good about it at all. And everyone’s defending the actors ‘oh they’re just kids’ they’re also getting paid to do this why aren’t they showing any emotion??? So it completely ruined any chances of this show being good and now I’m getting it practically shoved down my throat by every app and site I visit so it’s just sickening me even more and I’m trying to leave it alone but nobody is letting me because they’re saying how ‘good’ and ‘accurate’ it is. And rick(the book author) said he chose the cast because they were the best for the characters but none of the cast was actually good in this series(they were more in character out of it and that’s a whole nother slap in the face), the best thing I have to say about them is that their best performance was when they weren’t in the scene over explaining(which was almost never) the show never gave us any time to figure things out or be interested because it’s just so badly written it drags down everyone else involved. So now not only at i waiting for the ‘real’ pjo fans to realize that this show sucks but I’m also waiting for this show to get cancelled because it know it will. It sucks, and after waiting almost a decade this feels like a slap to the face. Why? Why would they completely change almost everything that made the books good? And I feel like what’s worse is that whenever anyone puts out any valid criticism on how little they stick to the book(making Percy blond, making clarisse skinny and not masculine) they get harassed into silence as if that’s a good argument? Is it so hard to put on a wig or some eye contacts or smth? You’re telling me these bland script writers are all they could find with a 15 million dollar budget? And where are the new faces? Everyone in that show is some kind of nepo baby or well known celebrity so that doesn’t work either. And it hurts so bad how they butchered the books to make this knockoff barely well thought out show. I hope this show never gets a season two because I’m actually sick thinking about how they’re gonna butcher that book.

I agree with some of the stuff said here except for the things to do with the actors. I think with the material given they did an excellent job with what they had. Their emotions were more in micro expressions which is really all they could do cause the setting was so serious and not in an action type way (which is when actors usually get to use big facials) through out the majority of the show. As a viewer I can understand why you think they’re acting was stale or emotionless but as an actress myself I can see it was anything but. They did really well considering the circumstances. And as for looks I really don’t see the point of making a big fuss cause that’s one thing I do agree with Rick about (one of the only things) as long as they embody the characters they can play them. And you can tell that from the way they act at the very least outside of the show that they do embody their characters amazingly. There’s no doubt in my mind about why they were casted. I do think that RR was a bit in over his head when trying to be so involved with the making of the show. I feel like overseeing the writing process just to make sure that they’re getting it right would’ve been enough but I think he got a bit too excited to try and make this something memorable and to his liking that he sort of overshot it. I wish there was a way that they could like redo season 1 or make some sort of redemption in season 2 but I’m a bit skeptical. These kids deserve a shot though, I’ve been following them all since the casting announcement and they’ve been working their ASSES off. They all read and reread the source material, they made an effort to interact with the fans and give as much insight as possible to the filming process, the kids themselves made an effort to become good friends with one another which really they just had to be friends at the least but they have frequent sleepovers and hangouts all the time from what I can see. They really care about this project and I think that in and of itself means that it’s worth fighting for. If not for Rick, for them and for the fans who DO like the show. They deserve their chance.

I do appreciate you feeling comfortable enough to share your thoughts with me!! Your opinion is completely valid and understandable!!

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maxdibert · 1 month ago

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Ngl, we need your analyses and posts on TikTok. The amount of brainless people (Marauders fans) spewing such immense shit on this app is crazy. I need more balance on my fyp and they need to be educated about classism and racism

Honestly, I’m not on TikTok at all; I only use it to watch meme videos and stay updated on political news from my country. But I avoid exploring fandoms because I know it’ll just piss me off. I mean, I already get annoyed watching random videos unrelated to that because of the sheer amount of nonsense people spout, so for my mental health, I’ve completely banned myself from watching opinion videos on any topic. The problem nowadays is that people think that just because they have a microphone and a camera, they’re automatically qualified to share opinions about anything, even if they haven’t got the slightest clue what they’re talking about. You hear so much idiocy that your brain feels like it’s going to explode.

One of the things that irritates me the most about the Marauders fandom and Marauders stans is their blatant double standards. They legitimize themselves by claiming to hate JK Rowling and adopt this false progressive mask that capitalizes on the LGBTQ+ community to justify distorting canon. But in reality, it’s just a cheap pinkwashing tactic to trivialize the actions of characters who were, at best, bullies, and, in some cases, outright psychopaths (like some of the Slytherins, who are forgiven simply because they fit neatly into their Pinterest boards). Then they turn around and claim they can’t extend the same leniency to Severus, using completely fallacious and decontextualized arguments that, to top it off, don’t even align with the story’s foundations.

Take the topic of racism, for example. Equating blood purity with racism is an astronomically absurd socio-cultural leap. Racism is a political system established by colonialism and perpetuated by capitalist dynamics. It literally objectifies a portion of the population, dehumanizing them to the point where they aren’t even considered people, but beasts of burden. It’s rooted in the exploitation and expropriation of entire cultures, leading to the enslavement of their people, who were reduced to being property—mere objects of trade and consumption. Starting from that, even mentioning racism in this story feels like a massive insult. There’s no historical precedent of wizards colonizing Muggles, no record of wizards enslaving Muggles, no apartheid against Muggles. Muggle-borns haven’t been excluded from magical institutions due to segregation, haven’t had to attend separate schools, and haven’t been barred from working in magical government. They’ve always had the same rights as pure-blood or half-blood wizards. They’ve had the same opportunities, the same educational foundations, and the same access to jobs and social resources. Claiming that “blood purity = racism” not only reveals a complete lack of basic knowledge about how systems of oppression work (particularly race), but also a crude and pathetic attempt to use a serious and real societal issue as a frivolous token to prop up an argument based on fallacies. I genuinely hope that those who constantly throw around the term “racism” in this context are just kids who haven’t come out of their shells yet because any adult with some life experience and common sense should feel utterly ashamed. And I say this as someone who isn’t racialized—I don’t think you need to be to have some basic common sense or even a minimum level of general knowledge.

Moreover, the racism angle doesn’t hold water because it wasn’t Rowling’s intention. If anything, her intention was to create an analogy with 20th-century fascism, which is basically the big trauma of any standard white European person. And even then, she did a terrible job of it. While Voldemort might initially seem to parallel Hitler, the social reality of the wizarding world as presented by Rowling diverges significantly from the factors that facilitated the rise of fascism in certain countries during the first half of the last century.

For starters, in this case, pure-blood wizards—or even Voldemort’s non-pure-blood followers—aren’t a majority but a minority. This alone is a fundamental variation in the dynamics of events because in countries where fascist dictatorships were established, or at least attempted, the acceptance rate of radical ideas was majority-based or at least had a substantial popular backing. It’s not Muggles who’ve had to hide for centuries, not Muggles who’ve chosen to create their own communities separate from wizards, not Muggles who’ve opted to remain in the shadows. It’s the wizards. Another key difference.

The anti-Semitic rhetoric that gained traction in Nazi Germany was based on the perception of certain minorities (minorities—and this is crucial) as “the other.” This “other” was dehumanized to the point of creating a narrative that turned them into not just enemies but a threat to the general population. This was achieved through relentless propaganda campaigns, aided by an economic crisis and resentment towards the rest of Europe after the sanctions imposed following World War I.

In the case of blood purity, the minority is pure-blood wizards, and the issue stems from their disdain for the idea of Muggle-borns freely participating in their world. Ironically, they fear this could begin to dismantle the insular world they’ve created for themselves and lead to social advancements and changes in their traditions. Voldemort exploits this and directly appeals to the upper classes and powerful families (unlike traditional fascism, which appeals to the masses, not small elite groups) who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. He doesn’t need a smear campaign against Muggle-borns because he’s already capitalizing on the prejudices of the elites he’s targeting. Nor does he need to mobilize the entire wizarding population because, as far as we know, the vast majority either oppose him or remain neutral. Voldemort wouldn’t have won an election; he imposes everything through sheer force.

Even with the parallels Rowling attempts to draw, albeit clumsily, they don’t hold up.

What really bothers me is that both racism and fascism are incredibly serious and complex issues that people in this fandom casually throw around as buzzwords to give themselves an air of importance while engaging in hateful discourse. Ironically, they treat these topics with the same frivolity, lack of depth, and ignorance as Rowling herself did when she tried to shoehorn them into her plot. The very same people who pride themselves on hating JK Rowling fall into the same oversimplifications, the same lack of perspective, and the same privileged, narrow view of social issues as she does. It’s pathetic.

What’s even more pathetic is that this behavior reveals that everything about them and their fandom isn’t progressive at all—it’s just empty performativity, built on shaky foundations, reeking of classism and body-shaming.

And I don’t even know why I’ve written this whole essay—I’ve been drafting an official document on the side, and I got carried away lol.

Anyway, you get what I mean—these people are idiots. That’s the summary. xD

#marauders fandom #marauders stans #dead gay wizards from the 70s #marauders era #jk rowling #harry potter analysis #harry potter fandom #marauders fandom meta #harry potter meta #social issues #don't use the fascism and racism car if you don't know how those issues work #shit #so damn annoying #severus snape #severus snape defense #snaters

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sw33tsuccubus · 1 year ago

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Oikawa fic, and it's Oikawa having a rivalry with reader, who is the captain of the basketball team. They end up needing to kind of share the same sports court since the volleyball one is going through maintenance, so they have to agree on schedules to use it

Oikawa and reader don't hit it off at first, but they end up needing to be stuck with each other to make reports about the court usage to the school's council

Oikawa starts to crack a bit and buys reader a soda, then they start to get warmer to each other, and it's that sweet hand holding while they still can't admit their feelings for each other

Rival Captain

tooru oikawa x male reader

summary: the basketball team shares their court with the volleyball team while their court is in maintenance.

genre: fluff

requested by anon

word count: 1k

A/N: this request was a pain, i wrote it wrong the first time

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I groan, gripping my hair and turning to our teams’ co captain.

“They can’t go to a sports center or anything?”

He shakes his head, glancing around.

“It’s a big court, Y/n. It won’t be too bad sharing. Besides, we could make friends!”

I scowl at him.

“This isn’t a kids show, Soma. We aren’t making any friends.”

He sighs.

“Would it hurt you to loosen up a little? If you go to university and you see any of those volleyball members, you’ll know someone!”

“I don’t care! They’re all so weird, I don’t want to see them in my court or anywhere else.”

“It’s not even your court, it’s the coaches. Shut up and deal with it, Y/n.”

Soma slapped the back of my head and I groaned. He can be annoying sometimes, but he always has reason on his mind.

I roll my eyes, playfully shoving him back.

“Fine. But if I see them on my court during our practices, I’ll blow a fuse.”

Soma rolled his eyes.

“You’re so dramatic.”

~~~

After classes that day, I had scheduled to meet with the volleyball team captain, Tooru Oikawa. I knew who he was, sure. He was some annoying lady’s man who was probably gay and was really good at volleyball. His best friend, Hajime Iwaizumi, was alright. We had some classes together in second year and we got along.

Oikawa is a whole different story, though. He has a fake nice aura about him, like he’s secretly some evil person. Walking to where we agreed to meet, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

I appeared in front of the gardening club shed and leaned against the wall, waiting patiently for the volleyball captain. After a while, I checked my watch and scowled.

Seven minutes past when he agreed to show up.

I gave him some more time, and just as I was about to leave, he came jogging over.

“Sorry for being late, some girls wanted to chat.”

He smiled, and I gave him a look of disdain.

“Don’t care, didn’t ask. You’re late.”

He blinks at me and crosses his arms defensively.

“Ladies first, man. I had to chat with them.”

“Why, so you can keep up your high school Q? Pathetic.”

He gave me an offended look and scowled at me.

“I’m sorry, okay? Can we plan this thing?”

I roll my eyes and nod, pulling out my phone.

“Do you guys do morning practices?”

“Yeah. Afternoon too. You?”

“Same.”

I grimace, writing some things in my notes app.

“Hmm.. what are your practice days?”

“Monday, Wednesday, Friday.”

“Yeah, that won’t work.”

He huffs, shifting his weight to one leg and placing his hand on his hip.

“And why not?”

“Those are our days too. We’ll have to split things up.”

He nods in understanding.

“Sure. One team takes Monday and Thursday and the other gets Tuesday and Friday?”

“That works.”

I tap at the keyboard on my phone, writing it down.

“As for Wednesday, one team can take the court during the afternoon and the other during the morning.”

He hums in agreement.

“My team can take Tuesday and Friday, as well as afternoon practice on Wednesday.”

“It’s my court, Oikawa. Don’t get greedy.”

I eye the boy, before typing on my phone again. I was perfectly fine with my team going Monday and Thursday. He sighs.

“Then we can go M-“

“It’s fine. Now.”

I put my phone into my pocket and glare at Oikawa.

“If I see any volleyballs or any of your equipment on my court on any of our days, we’ll have problems. Got it?”

He rolls his eyes.

“Fine.”

~~~

Telling the school how the usage of the court was going was strange. I was used to doing it by myself, or occasionally with Soma. Doing it with Oikawa was weird.

“Nobody is doing drugs.”

I glare at Oikawa. That came out of nowhere.

“We clean up after ourselves after each practice. It’s just the basketball team and the volleyball team.”

The council nods.

“The teams are getting along?”

I shrug.

“Yeah. We don’t fight at all, but we don’t talk much.”

“The basketball team is very hospitable towards us. It’s quite nice.”

The council nods again, taking in our facial expressions and body language.

“Are the captains getting along?”

“For the most part.”

Oikawa smiled nervously and I roll my eyes.

“We don’t talk much. It’s normally nice banter.”

I could tell the council knew we weren’t being completely truthful, but they didn’t seem to care.

Leaving the room, Oikawa sighed. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and rolled my eyes.

“You would say we weren’t doing drugs why?”

“It’s a genuine response!”

He clicks his tongue.

“It’s dumb to say, they’ll think the opposite.”

“They know me, L/n. They know I make jokes.”

He shrugs, walking to a vending machine. I have half the mind to stay with him and half the mind to walk away.

I walk away.

“Hey, L/n, wait up!”

Oikawa walks over, handing me a soda while holding one for himself. I raise an eyebrow at him and he looks away.

“Just enjoy it. You were here and I didn’t want to be rude.”

I sigh, cracking open the can and taking a swig. Strangely, he knew one of my favorites. I looked at him curiously, and he was sipping at the same kind. Maybe he just liked the flavor.

“What are you doing after this?”

“Going home and then something’ll happen. Why?”

“It’s just something to talk about.”

He shrugs.

“How’s the team doing?”

“We’re alright. Kyotani gets out down by Iwa-chan whenever he tries to start something. Or by Yahaba, he listens to him too, strangely.”

I think back to the volleyball club members. Iwaizumi, the ace and co captain. Kyotani is a second year with anger issues Oikawa likes to call Mad Dog. Yahaba was a second year who didn’t contribute much but was a good player nonetheless.

“You could try practicing with us, if you wanted.”

“I don’t play volleyball.”

He scoffs.

“So? You could just join us. Doesn’t matter if you’re any good.”

“Why do you want me there so bad?”

His face turns red and he looks at the floor.

“Forget it.”

He walks away, presumably to try e basketball court. I shrug, watching his back.

~~~

A few days after that, Oikawa and I got stuck in the rain. He had come to watch basketball practice, saying the sport could be interesting to learn about, and then stayed behind to help Soma and I clean up.

Soma left, since he had an umbrella, but here I was with Oikawa. The chocolate haired boy grabbed an umbrella from his bag and opened it up.

“Walk with me?”

I sighed, taking it from him and walking with him to my home. It was kind of peaceful. The rain sounds above and around us, the smell.

He would occasionally look at me but wouldn’t say anything. He’s very strange.

Sometimes he would step in a puddle and curse, but then would quiet down and we would be silent again.

We got to my house, and he said a silent goodbye before leaving. Normally he would chat with me, tell me some things, but he’s been awfully quiet today.

~~~

Oikawa would shy away whenever he saw me. Weird, since we still report to the council and I have to unlock the gun every morning the volleyball team practices.

Once, I tried striking up a conversation with him and he walked away like I hadn’t said a thing.

Today, I entered the gym and found him cleaning up after their afternoon practice with Iwaizumi.

I walked over to the volleyball captain.

“Hey, Oikawa. What’s up?”

He looked at me, but didn’t say anything. I sighed.

“What’s up with you, man? You seem to dislike me even more.”

He shakes his head.

“Never disliked you.”

“Then what’s up? Tell me.”

“After I finish cleaning.”

I roll my eyes but agree, going outside the gym and leaning against the wall. Iwaizumi leaves first, saying bye to me and going on his way.

I zero in on Oikawa when he steps out, and he groans.

“I’ll get right to it, okay?”

I nod, staring blankly into his eyes.

“I’ve got a crush on you.”

I furrow my brows. Not what I was expecting.

“No way.”

“Yes way! And, that time I got you a soda, i thought I could ask you out then, but you were being weird, like you didn’t like me at all, so I chickened out!”

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Ignoring someone isn’t the way to go. Should have told me, Tooru.”

He looks at his feet, and I rolled my eyes.

“I guess I can give you a chance.”

He looked up, his eyes full of hope.

“Really?”

“Yeah…”

~~~

Dating Oikawa was quite interesting. He was sweet to you, very nice. Always offered to pay for your things and opened doors for you, although he acted like a princess.

You could feel yourself falling for him, having the urge to pamper him and kiss his cheeks. Maybe he wasn’t ready for that.

You cleared your throat, handing Oikawa a bento box. He swooned at you, thanking you and taking your hand as he put it safely into his locker.

He walked you to your class before leaving to go to his.

You sighed as you watched him walk away. What a sweetheart.

#oikawa x reader #oikawa tooru #haikyuu fic #male reader

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