#thought • my only resolution is i'm allowed to change my mind.

[screamingforests]

This is a shoot off of the amazing @beloveds-embrace designationless!reader au! All credit for this A/B/O AU goes to her and go give her support!!!

Based on this specific scenario

Cw: Heavy angst, medical torture, inaccurate medical things, very little comfort

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe it was the way no one noticed you when you walked into the room that made you think you were normal. Maybe it was the way people around you edged away, put off by your lack of scent. The way everyone looked at you with pity.

You didn't want that. Your entire life you had just wanted to fit in. You wanted to be someone that someone else loved.

Maybe it was your family that was the root of the problem, the ones who separated you from your siblings who were all normal. The family that never let you into their mest, claiming your lack of scent, would destroy the atmosphere. That family ignored you, never responding to you. The ones who left to grasping for a relationship, only to realize you would never have one because you were less.

"I've noticed the way people edge away from me, the way they stare! I'm not normal, and this is my chance!" Desperation edged in your voice. "I just- it would be easier this way!"

Johnny chewed on his lip, "easier for who? We all accept you for you, lad."

"This procedure, it's downright inhumane," Simon adds, his brows furrowed as he looked at you, as if truly seeing /you/ for the first time. The scared child you were, wanting to be normal. "It changes you on a base level - I could kill you, dove. It's barely even out of its testing phase."

You sighed. Weren't you allowed to be selfish for once, to want?

"I know," Your voice is quiet but resolute, mind stuck in its decision. "But I want it."

John looks at you. Kyle looks between you and John, eyes full of nervousness. His arms were crossed, looking down his nose at you.

It reminds you so much of the look your dad would give you, the few times he was forced to interact with you.

"No - I won't allow you to get this procedure," John's voice almost rings in your ears. Out of all of them, you thought he might be able to understand.

Of course you were wrong.

You pull away from them, eyes burning. Your mind was made up, it had been since the moment the idea was out into you.

The pack just looks at you with sad eyes, as if understanding the pain you have lived with. As if they could ever understand the feeling of looking into a world, living in it for short amounts of time, but never really belonging.

~

It's weeks later, but you finally have your appointment. You hadn't told anyone about it, you didn't want them to worry.

It had to be fine, right?

~

It hurt, so bad. Pain sang throughout your body, needles sticking out of your skin, and probes stuck with adhesive. You screamed in pain but no one was coming.

You had checked in alone, even told the nurses you didn't want visitors.

No one soothed the pain like Simon did, no one cooed comforts into your ear like Kyle. John and Johnny weren't there to ground you. You were alone, packless.

And only had yourself to blame.

~

It started out small, the loss of sense in your fingers and toes. The doctors assured you it would come back, even if their voice was condescending. Like talking to a child.

(Simon and Kyle would've tag teamed together to massage feeling back into them - They had once, when you feel through ice on a frozen lake.)

You were constantly tired now, something you chalked up to the amount of tests you had been put through the few days you were checked in.

(John would always purr to help you sleep, a commodity you missed. You wished he was here.)

The hunger was easily explained, the staff did forget to bring you food but you didn't want to bother them. They probably forgot because you still had no scent and were easily overlooked. You didn't blame them.

(Johmny would've never forgot, he was always making sure your plate was piled high.)

~

Everything was blurry now, your sight starting to go. Another temporary side effect someone assured you. You couldn't remember whose voice it was.

But it didn't matter, a scent was starting to form. You were going to be normal soon. And even if your body was in constant flight or fight, you were going to fit in.

The way the doctors were seemingly cruel didn't matter. The way the nurses purposefully took more blood to keep you dizzy and compliant was suddenly okay.

You didn't need to know the more your pack pleaded to be with you, the crueler they were. You didn't need to know it was an enemy in disguise, slowly killing you to get back at your pack. The "scent" was just a chemical by-product of your body reacting to all the medications it was being put through.

It would stay, of-course, you might even present with a second gender if it went on long enough.

You didn't need to know so they didn't tell you.

~

Time was getting hard to keep track of. Your sight was nearly gone, and your wounds were slow to heal. Every day was pain. You started to forget why you checked in.

~

It was harder to move now. Your limbs refused to respond to your commands. They were heavy and your mind was too clouded to question it.

Your scent was turning sickly and almost sweet. As if prepping itself for a reactionary heat.

~

The next time you came to, you didn't know what was happening. You could hear shouting and a monotone sound. You felt like you were floating.

That should worry you, you think.

Eletricity rakes your body suddenly, and you're grounded again. Sightless and unable to move. Pain wracking every thought that appears.

You lose yourself to the inky darkness again. Unable to place the fact that you could smell other's scents now.

~

More shouting. These voices were more familiar. It almost sounded like your pack but that couldn't be right, could it?

Hadn't they left you? Or had you left them? You couldn't remember, your mind too slow. You wanted to know, though.

You're able to force a small whine to leave your throat, the first sound besides screaming you had made in what felt like months. There's loud footsteps as someone rushes to your side.

"It's okay, it's okay, we've got you, lad," a familiar voice says. He smells like the ocean and the smoke that comes after an explosion. You like it, it wraps around you like a blanket. "...christ- look at 'em- what've they done to them?"

"We'll figure it out later, for now, its time to go," Another voice says, roughened by what you can assume is years of smoking. He smells like high-quality cigars and soft cedar wood, like the ones surrounding your house when you grew up. "Guns up, we go out blazing."

A new person picks you up, your body immediately curling into him. He smells like petricor and bourbon, tinged with cigarette smoke. He doesn't say another but you decide you like both of the new scents.

A hand smoothes your hair. The last person, he smells like ozone and the forest. You can't describe it, but his voice is low and soothing when he says, "we'll get you home sweets."

And that's the last thing you know before you lose yourself again. Comforted by people you can't remember but you were obviously important to them.

~

It takes months to heal in a normal hospital. Your sight still hasn't fully returned, but glasses help.

So does your pack. While the procedure somewhat worked, your scent came and went. You were more normal than before and even if everything hurt now and you had to do physical therapy, you felt like you belonged.

When you were first admitted, your body had gone through a heat. It presented as an omega, but that was the only instance of it. The staff had you on regular blockers now until your new hormones stabled out. It felt okay, for now.

That didn't change the hurt and all you went through, but it would be okay.

Especially when you were curled up in a temporary nest with your pack in the hospital.

~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: HELLO PEOPLE! I wrote this on my phone in under an hour so I hope everyone enjoys <3

[emeritusemeritus]

I'm sorry but I don't know English and I'm using a translator to write you this

you could write (it's not mandatory) where Weasley twins are unfaithful to their girlfriend with another Gryffindor student and do everything to have their forgiveness, thank you🥺

My dear Anon, thank you so much for your incredible request. I hope you don’t mind that I changed a few things around whilst trying to stay true to your request. This idea came to me and I couldn’t leave it alone. Hope you enjoy! 🖤

Warnings: cheating!fic, themes of unfaithful behaviour and betrayal. Swearing. Sorry Angelina, I’m sure you’re lovely but I needed a villain. Amortentia, drugging using a love potion. Friends are lied to and used. Fuck you Marcus Flint.

Word count: 4.8k

Song for writing: Lachryma by Ghost🖤

Crying over someone like you [Weasley Twins x Reader]

If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, you'd have never believed it.

George Weasley, one half of the Weasley twin duo and one of your boyfriends of over three years. His figure, so tall and resolute lingered in the corridor adjacent to the great hall, his posture bent and his hair characteristically vibrant and messy. His clothes were oddly matched, a contrast of faded colour and interesting patterns and textures, snuggly fitted around the ankles. His freckled cheeks flushed with colour, his long eyelashes kissing those very cheeks as he stands with his eyes closer, his full pink lips pursed and kissing Daphne Greengrass.

You felt like you'd been cursed on the spot stumbling upon the pair locking lips in the corridor, neither of them even trying to hide their intimacy. If you hadn't been with Fred, your other boyfriend, you would have completely fallen apart in that moment, rendered silent and heartbroken by your discovery. Luckily for you, Fred had not frozen at seeing the scene but had instead leapt into action, dropping your hand and instantly lunging towards his twin, pulling him away from a seemingly unbothered Daphne.

You didn't know what followed Fred's initial reaction, despite the multitude of rumours floating around the school, as you had fled the scene in floods of tears, feeling sickened to your core.

The days following the incident you'd wanted to isolate yourself completely but your friends had not allowed that to happen and instead had remained by your side at all times with unwavering support. Fred had tried to help you, to put a smile of your face and assure you that he was still very much here and in love with you regardless of his idiot brother but he'd been put in an impossible position torn between his twin brother and his girlfriend.

George had been silent. He hadn't attempted to talk to you or make contact, neither did he acknowledge you at all in the days that followed. He couldn't even respect you enough to end the relationship in any way. After over three years together in what you thought was the kind of love that never faltered, he couldn't even explain himself or his actions. You'd expected a message passed along in some way with a half-hearted excuse of why he no longer loved you, if he ever had. Your thoughts spiralled when no communication came, your mind trying to process what had happened and beginning to try to understand how. Had he ever loved you? How had you not seen the signs that his eye was wandering?

The fact was that there were no signs. Only the day before he had been his usual self, as tactile and loving as he ever was. He'd told you that he loved you the day before you'd found him kissing Daphne Greengrass and you'd never questioned it, seeing nothing but honesty in his eyes. That's what hurt the most.

Rumours of what happened had reached nearly every corner of the school within hours, most notably the now infamous fight between the two twins which had never happened before. Following that, the brothers were no longer on speaking terms and they had not been spotted together once since their spat- the longest they had ever gone without speaking.

The other rumour circulating with just as much scandal was that Daphne Greengrass was feverishly denying that it had ever happened in the first place. Apparently the rumour of her kissing George, a Gryffindor and a Weasley no less was rather upsetting to her and she'd declared her truth loudly and tearfully to anyone that mentioned it; not that you cared in the slightest of her apparent upset.

Fred was a wreck, ghosted by his twin brother and alone for the first time in his life without his constant sidekick. George had disappeared on him, choosing to spend his time anywhere but around either you or Fred. It was like he'd disappeared completely.

That was until your second run in with George and Daphne, both of them walking up the path back from the Quidditch pitch, hand in hand and chuckling secretively to each other. Thankfully this time Fred wasn't with you but would have already been at the quidditch practice, an ominous thought if he'd seen the couple together already. You tried to keep your head down and avoid them, feeling sick to your stomach at the sight of them so evidently in love.

Not a word was spoken and though you tried to resist looking towards the boy you'd loved for years, you couldn't help but peak hopefully at him as you passed. There was nothing. Not even a single glance of recognition in his face and certainly no remorse. He couldn't even spare you the common courtesy of a glance or a greeting, never mind an apology.

Once they had passed you, you paused on the pathway. George looked different somehow, though you couldn't put your finger on it initially. His clothes did not fit in the same way they usually did and they looked different, more vibrant, newer. You frowned and vowed yourself to carry on walking, the notion perplexing you the whole way to the quidditch pitch where you had been meeting Fred after practice.

When you finally reached the pitch feeling shaken and your heartbreak renewed, all havoc had broken loose. Fred was prowling the pitch like a caged animal, anger evident in his face and his body, muscles tense and his fists clenching and unclenching. Katie, Alicia and Ron were all stood around trying to talk sense into Fred but it was clearly not working once bit. You didn't know where to start, what to say or do to make him calm down, assuming you knew where his anger had stemmed from.

Luckily, Iain Claverdon, the sweet and slightly dense resident benchwarmer of the Gryffindor quidditch team spotted you standing off to the side and strolled over, urging you to come help.

"He saw George and that girl, went mad at him but George didn't even look at him! I mean I know they're brothers and all but that's not right. I don't know what's got into George's head lately, I mean he's even misplaced his quidditch robes. Can you believe it? Luckily I had a spare set to lend him but after she turned up he just walked off! First Angelina's not here and then he just walks out, shocking! Guess I won't be seeing those robes again."

"Y/n!"

You heard your name called and flashed your eyes up, seeing Alicia ushering you over with much more urgency than Iain had. Your legs moved almost on autopilot as you walked towards your boyfriend and friends, your head spinning from the overload of information Iain had given you. George had left mid-practice and lost his robes? There's no way your George would have ever done that, he loved Quidditch more than anything.

"Y/n, we can't calm him down," Katie says, meeting you halfway and practically dragging you by the wrist as she jogs over to where Fred is still pacing.

"Maybe you could try," Alicia says once you get closer. "He won't listen to any of us, George was being a right prick."

Fred had practically crushed you when he saw you, pulling you into his chest, your face pressed against the leather ties of his robes. His goggles were practically suffocating you as they hung around his neck, long forgotten, his padded arms holding you tightly into his body. It had taken nearly five minutes to calm him down but he'd eventually relented. You could see how much this was all affecting him, the bomb that had been thrown into your life and the consequences you were both dealing with after too much for Fred to deal with whilst trying to keep his head above water. Though you had lost your boyfriend and your best friend, Fred had lost his literal other half. You could see the strain it put on him, how lost he was without George around and how hard it was to accept this new much less caring version of George you were seeing.

"Shut up Iain!" You heard Katie snip as you walked back to the group with a much calmed Fred by your side, his arm never leaving your body.

"I'm just saying!" Iain says with a shrug.

"What?" You asked once you reached the group, seeing Katie and Alicia shooting glares at Iain whilst struggling to shut away the box of equipment.

"Some slytherins have had their belongings go walkabouts. Between Luna's shoes going missing again, Ang missing practice, the Slytherin thief and all the rest of it, I'm starting to think there's something fishy happening around here."

"Don't be an idiot Iain," Katie said rolling her eyes.

"Hey guys, I'm really sorry I missed practice. Couldn't get out of detention this time, I swear Professor Sprout knows we're going to demolish Hufflepuff at the next match and shes playing dirty," Angelina said as she came into view, holding her hands up as she talked with a smile on her face. You frowned again, noticing that she wasn't actually remorseful despite her words, neither was she as furious as you would have expected her to be about the captain of the team being forced to miss practice, especially this close to a vital match.

"Oi Johnson! It's our time on the pitch so you lot'll have to scramble," Marcus Flint sneered as he walked onto to the pitch, his green quidditch robes billowing as he walked, holding his broom and flanked by the entire Slytherin quidditch team.

"Let's get going," Angelina said to her team, apparently listening to Flint for the first time ever.

"Fred, I need to borrow you." She gestures with her head, turning towards your boyfriend who simply nodded, both of them slipping behind the curtain so that they could talk in private.

Your interest piqued once again, feeling slightly on edge by how weird everything felt now. George's deceit had really played a number on your mind, making you question everything around you. Everything felt wrong somehow, out of place, like you couldn't trust anyone or see things clearly. Perhaps it was the torment of the heartbreak consuming you and creating a fog around you but everything just felt off, your life turning into a series of strange encounters.

Things only got weirder once Thursday rolled around, five days after you'd seen George kiss Daphne for the first time and your heart had been stamped on.

It was around 8pm and whilst most of the school was beginning to wind down from their activities and settle in for the night, Marcus Flint had other plans. The note he'd acquired earlier that day had given him such a rush of fresh excitement that he knew there would be no way he could settle down until well after midnight. He'd dutifully slipped out of the Slytherin common room and had weaved his way around the school without any detection, traipsing the long walk to the quidditch pitch alone, carrying his singular bag. There's a spring in his step at the very thought of what was to come, these little meetings the highlights of his week as he walks to the rendezvous spot. He steps into the tent at the rear of the quidditch stadium, the near darkness making it harder to locate as he stumbles around the laid out benches. He's in enemy territory here, looking at the chalkboard with a plan of the pitch, a few defensive notes and names of the Gryffindor team written across the board haphazardly, pleased he had managed to find the Gryffindor tent so easily. If his head were in the right place, he'd consider taking notes of their defensive strategies and double down on them during the next match but he can't bring himself to care enough. Lately, he'd found himself unable to concentrate on his school work or even Quidditch at all, his mind fixated upon a single thought. And so what if he lost a few matches this season? She was worth it.

Daphne Greengrass was a goddess amongst women. The type of girl any man would be proud to have e hanging on his arm. To look at her was to see a constellation of stars, so blinding in their beauty it rendered everything around them insignificant. He was in love with her, body and soul and he'd do anything for a chance with her.

"Marcus," the voice called out to him softly, that beautiful feminine voice that he could only compare to the sound of an angel's own song.

He whipped around at the sound, desperate to know that it wasn't just his imagination, legs quaking when he realised that it wasn't all in his head. Daphne Greengrass was truly stood in front of him, speaking his name, looking directly at him as she steps aside from the tent opening. By Salazar she was beautiful, ethereal almost, heavenly.

"Marcus," she repeats, just as softly as before, her arousing voice beckoning him like a siren calling out to an unfortunate sailor. She flashes him a smile of perfectly white teeth, beckoning him further whilst he remains frozen, his mind whirling dangerously to try to bring him back to reality, praying that this Angel would still be here when he did.

"I've been looking for you," she says with a coy smile, biting her lip between her teeth. Marcus is fixated on the slight movement, the alluring way her plump pink lip boss appears between her perfect teeth, so teasing and innocent and yet so sinful.

"Me?" He manages to squeak out, his voice sounding much less majestic than hers. She nods, gliding forward towards him.

"I was told a little secret earlier today, can you guess what that might be?" She asks, reaching up with her perfectly manicured fingers to reach for the scruffy collar of his shirt. He clears his throat at the contact, barely able to get a word out and so he shakes his head in reply. She smiles again, giggling slightly at his actions.

"I was told you had a little crush on me," she leans down and whispers in his ear, her hot breath and her melodic voice forcing his eyes closed at the intimacy of the action.

"Yes," he says, sounding tranquillised, willingly giving up the information as if under her spell, desperately hoping her hands would remain on him in anyway they would.

"That's fortunate," she says with a girlish giggle, "because I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."

His eyes flash open, wider than a cauldron lid as her words repeat in his mind.

"Me, me? What about umm... George?"

"George Weasley? Now now Marcus, did you really think I'd believe it was George I was kissing?"

Marcus looks dazed, his eyes glazed over as he looks into hers. The hope in his eyes is evident, a look of sheer desperation on every inch of his face.

"You.. you knew it was me?"

"Of course I did silly," she giggles again, her sing like laughter making his heart soar. "I think I'd know if I was kissing George Weasley."

"Don't say his name," Marcus bites back angrily with a frown, the illusion he's holding onto in his mind of the perfect moment slightly fracturing from the sound of another man's name falling from her lips.

"I'm sorry Marcus," she says quickly, meekly. He hates the sound of it initially, cursing himself for his anger and for breaking the moment. But underneath he secretly loves the way she begs for his forgiveness, her subservient tone strangely arousing.

"It was such a clever plan," she continues. He can hardly concentrate with how her warm hand strokes against his arm, the path of her touch making his skin tingle. "Why wasn't it just you all along? It could have been your lips I've been kissing all week."

The very notion of her words makes him weak. No longer would be have to pretend to be that filthy Weasley boy but instead he could dream that his lips would be the one to touch hers, those perfect lips that he'd be happy to suffocate against.

"Angelina," he gasps out as her hand brushes his neck, having moved across his shoulder and up his arms, his trousers suddenly feeling uncomfortably tight.

"What?" She says, sounding hurt. He'd ruined it all, said another girl's name and broken her trust in him. He had to fix it right now.

"Angelina Johnson, it was all her idea. She had me drink Polyjuice to turn into George, said you'd never want me for me. Now I know how you feel, trust me I'll deal with her."

"No need," she says, her tone suddenly much harsher, the ethereal tone to her voice fading away. He looks up at her with wide eyes, an ominous feeling of dread beginning to seep into him. "She's been dealt with."

"What?" He begins to say, confused and concerned as he hears her voice change in tone.

He stumbles back when he watches her perfect face begin to distort, like something from a horror film, skin stretching and moving upon its own accord. Her features alter before his eyes, the face and body he'd spent weeks memorising and committing to his memory distorting before him.

Suddenly, he's no longer faced by the girl of his dreams but rather one of his more recent nightmares, you.

"You, you!" He begins to say, startled and frightened under the weight of your hateful gaze. "What is this?"

His head whips around when another figure appears, though this one he had certainly not intended to see tonight.

"Angelina?" He stutters, the pair of them gazing at each other in alarm upon seeing you stood there. You take the opportunity of their distracted gazes and pull out your wand, locking the panelled curtain door with a swish of your wrist, securing the tent.

The noise of the canvas being secured echoes like a whip in the small space and startles both of the non suspecting people inside the tent.

"Y/n," Angelina begins to say, her face screwed up with a frown despite her smile, clearly thinking you were joking.

"Tell him," you say, prompting her to do the right thing.

"What?" She asks with a chuckle, still feigning ignorance. That is until she sees the clothes that you were wearing, the green accents and emblem of the uniform so foreign against your body. You watch as her eyes widen in panic, clearly realising that this was not a joke at all. I'm that moment, she realised that you knew everything.

"Y/n," she says again, trying to defend herself but you silence her with a single look of hatred.

"Tell. Him."

"Tell me what?" Marcus says, suddenly frustrated by the lack of sharing happening, his disappointment making his anger shine through.

"Tell him." You raise your wand towards her, your face expressionless and your eyes piercing.

"Alright!" She turns to Marcus, wavering in her confidence. "It hasn't been Daphne Greengrass you've been kissing."

"What?!"

Angelina recoils, all pretence of confidence having slipped away. It takes one shift of your wand-wielding hand for her to begins again.

"It was me," Angelina confesses, shrinking in on herself. "I pretended to be Daphne so that you would  keep being George! If you thought you were kissing Daphne then I knew you'd keep doing it!"

Marcus is stunned and horrified by her words, his face contorting into a look of severe distaste, like the thought alone was sour.

"And?" You say, breaking the silence. Her eyes whip around to you, realising once again that you knew more than she thought. Suddenly, she's turning her vitriol upon you, eyes blazing as she squares her shoulders.

"This is all your fault! You already had Fred, why did you need George too?! If you'd just been happy with one you little slut none of this would have happened!"

She reaches for her wand as her shouts echo through the tent but you're too quick, blasting her wand away from her with a simple spell and catching it mid air as it falls to you.

"Tell. Him."

She's silent, alarmed by your ability to disarm her to effortlessly. You take it upon yourself to look at Marcus who looks frightened for his life.

"That's not all though is it Angie?" You snark, using the nickname you knew she hated before turning your attention to Flint. You rifle through your pocket and pull out a single sweet wrapped up in an orange wrapper.

"Look familiar?" You ask, holding it up between your fingers.

"Bitch," you hear Angelina mutter under her breath, but rather than infuriate you further, it fuels you.

"Those sweets you gave me," he says to Angelina in shock, "how do you have one? She said they were limited edition!"

You have to fight to not roll your eyes in that moment, realising how painfully dim the Slytherin captain was.

"You mean the melon drops you stole from Fred and laced with Amortentia?"

"What?" Marcus says, his head whipping around towards Angelina who has taken a seat in one of the benches, averting her gaze entirely.

"She's been lacing you with love potion! I knew it was odd that the Slytherin thief had suddenly stopped. You 'talking' with Fred at practice was just a ploy to get more of his sweet creations from him because you wanted to carry on lying to Marcus! How did you manage it? Have someone else on the inside did you?"

"You stupid bitch!" She begins to lunge, only to be stopped as Marcus brandishes his wand in her direction, his eyes livid and his face bright red with anger. His wand goes flying through the air as you disarm him too, leaving them both defenceless without their wands.

"Well, there's nothing you can do now! George will hate you when he finds out, you'll be lucky to even keep Fred! You don't deserve them and you never did!" She's manic, eyes glassy as she snarls at you.

"I wouldn't be so sure," a voice says from the sidelines, two near identical figures stepping around the curtains to reveal themselves.

"George," she says breathlessly, saying his name like a prayer. Her face is full of hope, eyes pleading with his as she smiles up at him like he'll be her salvation. Her smile fades quickly when George walks over to you and wraps his arm around your waist, pressing a kiss to the side of your head. Fred mirrors his actions and you stand united as a trio against the two that had wronged you.

"Please Georgie, I love you," she pleads one final time. George remains stoic, unwavering and unbothered by her confession.

"I love my girl."

"Did you hear about Marcus Flint and Angelina? Who'd have thought!" One of the younger Gryffindors says scandalously as they tuck in to their evening meal. You'd tried to avoid the inevitable gossip but no matter where you went it seemed to follow you. It was Monday evening and you were sat in the great hall between your boyfriends, all of you tucking in to the food with little restraint. George's hand rested on your thigh underneath the table as Fred's left hand absently rubbed your lower back intermittently. Everything was perfect again, as if nothing had ever been any different.

"I know! I heard they both went missing over the weekend," Dean says from slightly higher up the table, never one to miss out of the circulating gossip.

"Well I didn't see it but I heard that they were caught sneaking onto the quidditch pitch after hours, something about rigging the next match apparently!"

"Oh bull, we all know why they were there together late and night and it's got nothing to do with quidditch," another girl giggles. A few people snigger and you simply bite down on your lip to stop yourself from joining, feeling George's hand squeezing your upper thigh.

"They got caught by Snape fooling around apparently, couldn't imagine a worse way to go to be honest," Lee interjects with a grin.

"No you've got it wrong," Ron says, from across the table, still chewing on a chicken leg. Your gaze flicks to Hermione sat beside him who grimaces at his lack of table manners and you chuckle.

"I heard they went up in a puff of black smoke and disappeared! Apparently then didn't find them until midday Sunday in the shrieking shack!"

He's waving his potato covered fork wildly as he speaks, his arms swaying back and forth with his words. Hermione reaches for his hand and slams it on the table, keeping the sharp cutlery firmly in one place and away from her face where he was wielding it previously.

"Really?" You hear Fred say, a tone of wonder in his voice.

"Yeah!" Ron replies animatedly, his gaze flicking to his fork as if he's scared to raise his arm again to bring it to his mouth.

"Weird," George replies, taking a bite of his own food as he nudges you secretly. You smirk behind your goblet, knowing exactly the reason for the rumours, the crystals of Peruvian instant darkness powder in George's pocket faintly clinking together with his movement.

"So George, what's it like to know that kissing you is  a Slytherin girls worst nightmare?" Lee says with a boyish giggle, the rest of the table following suit.

Fred had been brilliant in orchestrating a coverup for what had happened with George and Daphne. Fred had let it slip to Seamus that one of his and George's prototype daydream charms had disappeared along with their freshly made melon drops, only it hadn't been the daydream one but rather the misery charm they'd been working on but couldn't get right. If the incantation has been used correctly, it would torment the user, showing them a vivid nightmare of their deepest fears. Kind of like a charm version of a boggart, only the magic wasn't yet perfected and it had led to fake George appearing on and off in his boggart form until the real one returned, clinging on to everyone's misery like a dementor.

The story was that Flint had stolen the items from Fred and George and had used it upon Daphne, leading to the strange occurrences. She'd have no memory of it of course, it was virtually undetectable but the consequences of what happened were enough for the twins to cancel making the item, seeing what hurt it could cause.

Seamus, being the worst secret keeper in all of Hogwarts, told Dean, who told Parvati, who told Cho and Pansy, which meant that the entire school had found out within hours of what Daphne had seen when Marcus had charmed her.

"You know what mate, it's a relief," George replies to Lee, smiling widely with pink cheeks. "Only one girl I want kissing me anyway."

He squeezes your leg under the table again and you beam at him. Ron pretends to gag at the sweetness, earning a swift kick to the shin from Hermione whilst Lee holds up an uneaten chicken drumstick as a somewhat toast to George's words.

"Bet it was nice to get away from school for a few days eh? Though you couldn't have chosen a worse time," Dean says, gesturing to you who had been upset for most of the week, believing the rumours. "What did Mcgonagall want anyway?"

"The academy of broom flying needed a beater for their teaching course. Five days of nothing but Quidditch, absolute bliss if you ask me. It was between me and Fred but she thought I was the safer option," he beamed at the words, clearly taking great pride in what she had said, though really he was probably just the lesser of two evils.

"The quidditch robes," you say under your breath, the finally puzzle piece slipping in place, remembering how they had been missing from his room and that Flint had borrowed Iain's.

"Which reminds me, George I'm going to need those robes back you borrowed," Iain says from down the table, clearly having been listening to the conversation. George looks confused and begins to open his mouth to question Iain but you slip your hand onto his under the table to gently silence him.

"Don't worry Iain, you'll get them back," you say with a smile. He nods, smiling, before tucking back into his food.

"Eventually."

[love-hatred-stuff]

mostly hating you

tags: college/jock!bucky, introvert!reader, female pronouns for reader, slow burn, she obviously hates him, he’s quite interested tho, enemies to lovers

not proof-read

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

»Need a ride, doll?« He slowed his car to match my walking pace and looked up at me, slightly bending down to make out my face.

As I had already heard him approach by the all too familiar sound of the engine roaring, I didn’t need to look at him to know who was asking me. Not to mention the pet name he’d given me in that sentence.

I scoffed, clearly annoyed.

»No thanks. I hate your guts, remember?« I walked straight ahead.

»Come on, doll. You’re gonna get cold or kidnapped if you don’t sit your precious butt on my passenger seat and bless me with your company.«

He pushed all the buttons.

»Do you want me to list you all the things I’d rather do than that?« Still no eye contact.

»In fact I’d rather get cold and kidnapped.«

Bucky chuckled. »I can’t be that bad. Besides, Nat asked me to.«

I almost whip my head to look at him.

»She said you were going home but too stubborn to pay a cab.« He explained.

I groaned in response.

»Guess she forgot to mention that I’m also too stubborn to let you drive me home. You’ll end up wanting something from me, too.« I looked ahead again.

Bucky's silver tongue and charming smile did nothing to sway me. I rolled my eyes and continued walking, refusing to give him the acknowledgment he craved. His ego was already inflated enough without me feeding into his delusions of grandeur.

»Doll, don't be like that,« he whined, his car crawling alongside me. »I'm just trying to help. And Nat's worried about you walking home alone at night.«

I scoffed. »I don't need your heroics, Barnes. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself.« The mere thought of being indebted to him made my skin crawl.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed him studying me intently, his gaze lingering a bit too long for my liking. »You know, you're even more gorgeous when you're angry.«

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, cursing myself for allowing his words to affect me. I laughed to cover it up. »Save your flattery for your mindless admirers. I'm not interested.«

Bucky chuckled, undeterred by my sharp rebuke. »We'll see about that, doll.«

I couldn't help but feel the weight of Bucky's persistent gaze burning into my back as I walked ahead. As much as I loathed the idea of accepting his offer, the chill of the night air was starting to seep through my thin jacket. And deep down, I knew Natasha would have my head if she found out I had refused his help.

Stifling a sigh, I turned back to face Bucky, who perked up instantly at the sight of me approaching his car again.

»Changed your mind?« he asked smugly, a roguish grin spreading across his face.

I leveled him with a stern glare. »Don't get any ideas, Barnes. I'm only doing this because Nat asked you to, not because I want to.«

His smile only widened as he leaned over to push open the passenger door. »Whatever you say, sweetheart.«

Resigning myself to my fate, I slid into the seat, doing my best to maintain as much distance between us as possible. The lingering scent of his cologne was already making my head spin, and I had to fight the sudden urge to lean in closer.

As Bucky drove off, I kept my gaze fixed resolutely out the window, determined not to give him the satisfaction of my attention. But I couldn't ignore the furtive glances he kept throwing my way, or the way his fingers tapped restlessly against the steering wheel.

»You know, I'm actually surprised you agreed to let me drive you.« he said conversationally, breaking the awkward silence.

I grimaced in response. »Don't read too much into it. This doesn't change anything between us.«

»Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that, doll.« His voice dropped to a low, almost seductive rumble. »I have a feeling this is the start of something special.«

I felt my pulse quicken at his words, and I silently cursed my traitorous body for reacting this way. Bucky was the last person I should be entertaining any kind of feelings for. And yet, a tiny part of me couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was more to him than his cocky, womanizing facade.

I quickly shook off the brief moment of weakness, reminding myself sternly of Bucky's well-known reputation around campus. The last thing I needed was to get caught up in his web of charm and false promises.

»Don't flatter yourself.« I scoffed, turning my head to fix him with a pointed glare. »I have zero interest in you and your games.«

Bucky's brows furrowed slightly at my sharp tone, but the confident smirk never left his lips. »Ouch, doll. You wound me with your harsh words.« He placed a hand dramatically over his heart. »But I happen to know there's more to you than this prickly exterior you insist on maintaining.«

I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress my growing annoyance. »You don't know anything about me, I made sure of that. And I have no intention of letting you find out.«

»We'll see about that,« he murmured, his gaze flickering briefly to my lips before returning to the road ahead.

The rest of the short drive passed in tense silence, save for the occasional attempt from Bucky to engage me in conversation. I steadfastly ignored his efforts, staring out the window and willing myself to remain indifferent to his presence.

As we pulled up to the curb outside my dorm, I wasted no time in hastily unbuckling my seatbelt and making a beeline for the door. But just as I reached for the handle, Bucky's voice stopped me in my tracks.

»You know, Y/n, I'm not going to give up that easily.« His tone was low and sincere, lacking the usual playful bravado. »There's something about you that intrigues me, and I'm determined to find out what it is.«

I froze, a strange fluttering in my chest at the unexpected use of my name. Cursing myself for the involuntary reaction, I steeled my resolve and turned to fix him with a cold stare.

»Well, you can save your efforts, Barnes. I have no interest in being another notch on your bedpost.« Without waiting for a response, I yanked open the door and stepped out, hurrying towards the safety of my dorm room, Bucky's lingering gaze burning into my back.

—————————————————

As the weekend approached, I had been blissfully free from any unwanted encounters with Bucky. But of course, that reprieve couldn't last forever.

Natasha had been relentless in her efforts to get me to join the group for a party on campus, and despite my better judgment, I eventually caved. After all, it had been ages since I'd let loose and socialized outside of our usual tight-knit friend circle.

So with a heavy sigh, I begrudgingly allowed Natasha to help me get ready, knowing full well that my run-ins with Bucky were inevitable. As we made our way to the frat house, my stomach twisted with a mix of reluctance and dreaded anticipation.

Sure enough, the moment we stepped through the crowded doorway, I spotted Bucky holding court in the center of the room, a gaggle of giggling girls hanging on his every word. His eyes immediately found mine, and a roguish grin spread across his face as he excused himself from his adoring entourage and sauntered over to where Natasha and I stood.

»Well, well, if it isn't the most breathtaking woman in the room,« he purred, his gaze blatantly raking over my form. I resisted the urge to squirm under his intense scrutiny, cursing the heat that crept up my neck.

»Bucky,« I replied coolly, nodding in greeting. »Fancy seeing you here.«

His chuckle sent a shiver down my spine. »Where else would I be, doll? This is my domain, after all.«

He leaned in, his breath ghosting across my cheek. »And I've been waiting all week to see that pretty face of yours.«

I bristled at his audacity, taking a subtle step back to put some much-needed distance between us. »Well, you've seen it. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go mingle with people who actually interest me.«

Bucky's expression darkened momentarily, but he quickly recovered, the arrogant grin returning to his lips. »I'll be right here, doll, when you change your mind.«

Ignoring the flutter of irritation in my chest, I turned on my heel and headed deeper into the party, determined to put as much space between Bucky and myself as possible. But try as I might, I couldn't shake the persistent feeling of his gaze following my every move.

Eager to distance myself from Bucky's overwhelming presence, I quickly sought out my friends, gravitating towards the familiar comfort of their company. Natasha greeted me with a warm smile, immediately engaging me in lively conversation.

I felt myself starting to relax, allowing the pulsing music and chatter of the party to wash over me.

However, my brief respite was soon shattered as an unfamiliar guy, slightly inebriated, approached and inserted himself into our group.

His gaze lingered a bit too long on me, and before I could react, he reached out and placed his hand on the small of my back, leaning in closer than I would have liked.

»Hey there, gorgeous,« he murmured, his breath laced with the stench of alcohol. »You look like you could use some company.«

I stiffened, shooting him a sharp glare and subtly attempting to shift away from his touch. »I'm quite content with the company I have, thanks,« I replied, my voice laced with a hint of warning.

But the guy seemed undeterred, his hand sliding down to graze my hip. »Aw, come on, sweetheart. Don't be like that. I just wanna show you a good time.«

Just then, a firm hand clamped down on the man's shoulder, yanking him away from me. I whirled around to find Bucky standing there, his normally playful features twisted into a menacing scowl.

»I believe the lady made it clear she's not interested,« he growled, his grip tightening on the other man's shirt. »I suggest you keep your hands to yourself.«

The guy's eyes widened in alarm, and he quickly raised his hands in surrender. »Whoa, hey man, no need to get all aggressive. I was just—«

»I don't care what you were doing,« Bucky interrupted, his voice low and dangerous.

»If I see you touch her again, I'll break every bone in your body. Got it?«

The man nodded frantically, practically scurrying away in terror. Bucky's gaze followed him until he disappeared into the crowd, and then, to my surprise, his eyes softened as they settled on me.

»You okay, doll?« he asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the genuine concern etched on his features. »I... yes, I'm fine,« I stammered, cursing myself for the slight tremor in my voice. »I had the situation under control, you know.«

Bucky chuckled, the corner of his lips quirking up in a half-smile. »I'm sure you did, doll. But a guy can't help but want to protect the people he cares about, now can he?«

Before I could respond, he winked and sauntered off, leaving me standing there, utterly bewildered by the sudden shift in his demeanor.

————

As the night wore on, the initial discomfort I'd felt in Bucky's presence began to dissipate, thanks in no small part to the steady flow of alcohol. Wanda, ever the reliable wingwoman, had insisted on keeping my glass full, and I found myself gradually letting my guard down and embracing the carefree atmosphere of the party.

At some point, I found myself chatting with a guy from one of my literature classes – Michael, if I remembered correctly. Unlike Bucky's brash and overbearing advances, Michael's approach was refreshingly subtle and respectful. We exchanged playful banter, our laughter mingling with the pulsing beats of the music.

I couldn't help but notice Bucky hovering nearby, his brow furrowed in a deep frown as he watched our interaction. Whenever Michael would lean in a little closer or gently brush his hand against mine, Bucky's jaw would visibly tighten, his fingers curling into fists at his sides.

Part of me couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction at the visible display of his jealousy. After all, he had done nothing but annoy and infuriate me with his relentless attempts to win me over. Now, it seemed, the tables had turned.

As the conversation with Michael grew more animated, I found myself subconsciously gravitating towards him, my body language becoming more open and inviting.

I could feel Bucky's intense gaze burning into me, and when our eyes finally met, the raw emotion I saw there sent a shiver down my spine.

Without a word, Bucky abruptly turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me feeling a strange mix of triumph and – dare I admit it – a hint of regret. I shook off the unsettling sensation, refocusing my attention on Michael and the growing warmth of his companionship.

Perhaps this was the opportunity I needed to move on from the relentless pursuit of one James Buchanan Barnes. As the night wore on, I found myself leaning in closer to Michael, our laughter and flirtatious banter picking up in intensity. If Bucky wanted to play the jealousy game, then so be it. I was more than willing to show him that I had no qualms about exploring other avenues.

As the evening wore on, my flirtations with Michael grew increasingly bold, fueled by the hazy euphoria of alcohol. But just as I was about to lean in for what I hoped would be a promising kiss, a familiar voice cut through the pulsing music.

»Alright, Y/n, time to call it a night.«

I turned to find Natasha standing there, her arms crossed over her chest and a stern expression on her face. Behind her, Bucky hovered awkwardly, his gaze firmly fixed on the ground.

»What? No, I'm fine,« I protested, my words slightly slurred. »I'm having a great time with Michael.«

Natasha's eyes narrowed as she glanced over at my would-be suitor. »I'm sure you are. But I think it's best if we head out. Come on, Y/n.«

I opened my mouth to argue further, but the look on Natasha's face told me it would be a futile endeavor. Sighing in resignation, I turned to face Michael, who was watching the exchange with a puzzled expression.

»I'm really sorry about this,« I murmured, offering him an apologetic smile. »My friend can be a little... overbearing sometimes.«

Michael chuckled, reaching out to give my hand a gentle squeeze. »No worries. Maybe we can pick this up another time?«

I nodded, my heart fluttering with a hint of excitement at the prospect. But before I could say anything else, Bucky's voice cut in, low and gruff.

»I'll take her home,« he muttered, his gaze still averted.

Natasha shot him a pointed look. »Thank you, Bucky. I'd appreciate that.«

I opened my mouth to protest, but Natasha silenced me with a firm shake of her head. Reluctantly, I allowed Bucky to guide me through the crowded party and out the door, his hand hovering just above the small of my back.

The walk to my dorm was shrouded in an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the occasional glance I stole in Bucky's direction. He seemed uncharacteristically subdued, his usual bravado and confidence nowhere to be found.

As we approached the entrance to my building, I finally found the courage to speak up. »You know, I didn't need your help back there. I was perfectly fine with Michael.«

Bucky's jaw tightened, and he finally met my gaze, his eyes reflecting a swirl of emotions I couldn't quite decipher. »Yeah, well, maybe I just wanted to make sure you got home safe, doll.« he murmured, the nickname slipping out almost involuntarily.

I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. »Since when do you care about my wellbeing, Barnes? Last I checked, you were probably just interested in adding me to your list of conquests.«

Bucky's expression faltered, and for a brief moment, he looked almost... hurt. »Maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do, Y/n.«

Before I could respond, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, thoroughly perplexed by the unexpected shift in his demeanor.

[christopher-bangnaldoskzz]

Pairing: Minho x Reader 

Genre: Romance

Word count: 0.8k  

Warnings: none

A/N : honestly I’ve been looking at some of my old posts and thinking, God this is horrible 🤣😂🤣 expect more rewrites while I work my life out.

"We need to stop doing this, Minho," you said, your voice tinged with an unsteady blend of determination and vulnerability. As you spoke, Minho's warm lips pressed against the delicate curve of your shoulder blades, sending a shiver down your spine. His touch was tender and lingering, filling the air between you with a heavy tension that made it hard to breathe.

“I don’t understand what you’re referring to,” he says, his breath warm against the sensitive skin near the crook of your neck. The proximity sends a cascade of shivers racing down your spine, and you feel a flush creeping up your cheeks. You close your eyes, trying to steady your breathing while the world around you seems to fade, leaving only the intensity of his gase and the electric tension between you. The space between you is charged, and for a moment, you find it hard to focus on anything but the way his presence envelops you.

You take a deep breath, allowing the air to fill your lungs as you try to gather the courage needed for what you're about to say. The weight of your decision presses heavily on your chest, each heartbeat amplifying your anxiety. You can feel the tension in the air, a quiet anticipation hanging between you like an unspoken truth. With a trembling voice, you finally manage to utter the words that have been echoing in your mind. “We need to stop seeing each other,” you say, watching for his reaction.

You can feel your heart shattering into a million pieces as you witness the shock and betrayal wash over his face like a tidal wave. His eyes widen in disbelief, and for a moment, it seems as if time stands still. He stumbles backward, the weight of your words crashing down on him, leaving him momentarily speechless. You can see the internal struggle etched across his features—a mixture of hurt, confusion, and anger battling for dominance. As he processes the reality of what you’ve just said, the vulnerability in his expression pulls at your heartstrings. The air around you feels heavy, charged with unspoken emotions, and you can't help but feel a pang of regret as you observe the many emotions flickering in his eyes, each one deepening the chasm that now stretches between you.

Why are you saying this?" His voice trembles as he raises his gaze to meet yours, his eyes shimmering with vulnerability and a hint of desperation. You can feel the weight of the moment hanging heavily in the air. Taking a deep, steadying breath, you gather your thoughts, bracing yourself for the words that are about to come. "I’m sorry," you begin, your heart aching with every syllable, "but I can’t do this anymore.”

He locks his gase on you for a fleeting moment before diverting his eyes, his face a mask of neutrality. The air is thick with unspoken tension, yet deep down, you’re convinced this is the right decision to make.

He inhales deeply, his chest rising as he gathers air, then slowly exhales, releasing a shaky breath that seems to carry the weight of unspoken thoughts. The atmosphere feels heavy, laden with the gravity of the moment, and you can sense his hesitation, as if each second is stretching into eternity. "No," he finally utters, his voice barely above a whisper, reflecting an inner conflict that is palpable in the silence surrounding him., I don't agree" you are so confused. He looks away, avoiding your gaze. Your heart sinks as you realise he isn't going to change his mind. 

"Minho" before you can finish your sentence. He cuts off your words. 

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you go," he declares, his voice steady and resolute. The weight of his words hangs in the air as he furrows his brow, a deep crease forming in the middle of his forehead. His eyes, filled with a powerful determination, lock onto yours, revealing the conflict churning within him. The tension between you thickens as his posture grows rigid, making it clear that he won't back down easily from this decision. in his eyes shows he won't back down.

"Minho please.... my heart is already braking" 

"No, I love you," Minho declared, his voice steady yet filled with emotion. He gazed deeply into your eyes, as if searching for any sign of doubt. "I know we promised that once feelings began to develop between us, we would take a step back. But the truth is, I can't walk away from what we have. I love you too much for that."

With a passionate sincerity, he leaned in closer, his heart racing as he brushed his lips against yours. The kiss was soft, tender, and lingering; it felt like the world around you faded away. In that moment, nothing mattered except the deep connection that enveloped you both, fueling a determination to fight for your love, no matter what happens.

Taglist : @daceydeath @armystay89 @krishastumblernow @bakedlilgoonie

[fangsforiris]

Hiiii!!! I really like your blog because it coincides with my favourites from DL (I'm talking about Sakamaki mothers). It's honestly such a strange and rare thing in this fandom that someone is so interested in them. I've always been afraid to express any interest in these women, afraid that I would get a lot of hate. So I am incredibly happy that you write about them so freely and sensibly. Thank you for that ❤️ I wanted to know what motivated you to start writing about them? Because as I understand from your posts, you used to be indifferent to them, I would be glad to hear your answer. Have a nice day, talented girl 💖

Admin: Ah thank you!! I rlly appreciate that omg 😭!! Honestly I’ve been in this fandom for some time and admittedly I’ve always been interested in the mothers. In fact, Cordelia has always been a top 5 fav character slot for me!! Despite her being a villain—her actions obviously unconscionable—no one can deny her being well written.

I think I’ve only started writing about them since I’ve made it a New Year’s resolution of mine to not allow stigma/attack of the persons fallacy affect my creative output. For me, despite (at times) writing certain taboo or controversial—if not triggering—content, I use it as a way to bring recognition towards topics and reconcile my own troubles/experiences through it.

Writing is that medium for me to let it out, I suppose. And since I’ve been writing for YEARS (since I was 6 I believe?) I’ve always been passionate about it—and knowing others enjoy the works primarily made for me (at the start at least—), feels good knowing others can rejoice in the same topics I’ve found myself immersed in!!

Especially for the wives—they, along with the rest of the diaboys/cast—are MADE to be controversial. They are NOT good people. Even Yui. That’s the entire point of Diabolik Lovers. All characters walk the fine line between “good” and “bad.” Specifically, morally “good/white,” “bad/black,” & “grey.”

So I always find it weird how certain characters are attacked when…character development and certain framing from Rejet is the reason as to HOW we as a fandom can ENJOY/LIKE characters. They evolve, they CHANGE. And sure some relationships—even starring Yui—started out as horrible, we realize that soon after, Yui is content and appreciative of everything and her position. It’s bittersweet to us as a reader, but once we can escape a “victim” mindset and realize there’s no “perfect” idea of a victim, we as a society can better from it.

Since—Cordelia and Christa are actually victims themselves!! And that explains the CYCLE OF ABUSE shown in Diabolik Lovers.

Christa: the obvious, sexual assault resulting in the birth of a child of rape and incest. —However she was emotionally manipulated into sleeping with Karlheinz, as proven later on in MB and HDB—she has conflicting thoughts about Karlheinz due to it—and states she “knew what she was getting into” while also still holding the major principals for the consequences of those actions affecting her later on. Hence her broken, fragile state of mind.

Cordelia: she was groomed by Karlheinz, instantly marrying her when she became “of age/a lady of the court” when she was 18. Karlheinz would be the one to impose the ideals of how “love truly is” and how sexual exploits was normal—and the “correct way.” This lead to how she would influence Laito’s ideology in love and sex. Affecting how he’d have treated any woman—specifically Yui.

So I suppose with that, the wives have always been such a fun trio/dynamic to write and indulge in—especially since it’s such a grey area towards the fans.

Thanks for the question <33

[cofeedaifuku]

Tony is in fact, not a fool.

Summary:

Tony's New Year’s resolutions did not include sharing his house with the God of Mischief, but he is used to getting into all kinds of crazy situations, so he goes along with it. He ends up not regretting his choice.

Why does he always get the short end of the stick? At this point he is sure that the universe has a beef with him.

"No can do" he says to Thor and watches as the other sighs.

"I know that what I'm asking is a huge favor my friend, but he changed" The god tries to argue with him.

The brunette rolls his eyes "Did you forget that he trew me out of the window and almost destroyed New York?" because he certanly didn't.

Thor clenches his jaw for only a second, it's frustrating to hear these words, even if they are true, at least to a certain point "You know that he was under the influence of an infinity stone at the time" just thinking about it makes the god's blood boil.

Tony looks at his friend with the corner of his eyes, annoyed that he can't contest "Even so, we know that your brother has never been a ray of sunshine".

Thor's eyes shine, because like in the so many battles he has been in, he found the beginning of a weakness in the opponent "What you say is indeed the truth, but this time he even went to talk with the AllFather about his wish of staying in Midgard, our mother managed to convince him to let Loki follow his own path" his voice is full of pride.

Tony mumbles something under his breath and goes to the bar to pour himself a drink "And why he would have to be here in my house from all places? I'm many things, but babysitter is not one of them" his New Year's resolutions did not include to live with the God of Mischief.

The blond follows him with wide steps "Because S.H.I.E.L.D said that the only way that they will allow Loki's stay is if he stays in a place where he would be under strong surveillance"

Tony stares at the God of Thunder for a long moment "And they suggested my house?" he will definitely have a little talk with Fury later.

Thor cleans his throat, sligthly embarassed "No, I was the one that suggested for him to stay with you".

The hero almost drops his cup, his eyes widening "Did I hear it right? You gave the ideia for your brother to stay in my house, and not only that, but the S.H.I.E.L.D agreeded?!"

"Yes!" Thor says with enthusiasm, proud of himself for have thought of such a good idea, but he cleans his throat once again by seeing that like expected, his friend doesn't think the same as him "I couldn't allow my brother to be put somewhere that would seem more like a prison than any other thing, and you were the first person that came to my mind" the god places a firm hand on one of his friend's shoulders "I know that I'm asking for a lot and that after all that happened Loki does not deserve to be trusted" the always so firm and confident voice of Thor shakes slightly and Tony almost widen his eyes at it "But he is my brother and I love him, if you do not believe in him, believe in me Tony, please".

The man doesn't turns his gaze away from Thor's, rare were the times when he saw such fragility in his blue orbs and it makes something inside him tightens and he closes his eyes.

Tony is starting to think that having a heart is not that worthwhile.

He runs his fingers through his hairs in an agitated manner "I know I'm going to regret this" the man grumbles and once again raises his gaze to meet the full of expectations and uncertainty of Thor's "I swear that if he throw me out of my window again-" Tony doesn't have the time to finish his sentence because Thor's mouth blooms in a huge smile before the god lets out one of his thunderous and warm laughters, promptly hugging the smaller man and raising him from the ground.

"Thank you my friend, you have my eternal gratitude" Thor says with all the sincerity of the world, no matter how much he expected a positive answer when he came to talk with Stark, he wasn't certain that it would truly happen and he wouldn't blame his friend from refusing his request. Moments like this are the ones where the god truly sees how lucky he is to have found a family like Tony and the rest of the Avengers.

Forget being killed by Reindeer Games, if Thor continues to hug him like this he won't last the next minute "Thor, I can't breath" he says with the last remains of air in his body.

Immediately the God of Thunder releases him from his arms and Tony takes deep breaths, some color coming back to his face. Thor looks at him with a somewhat guilty expression "I apologize".

"Yeah yeah, just hurry and bring your brother before I change my mind".

--------------------------------------------------

To his surprise, there weren't any attempts against his life from his guest, actually he barely saw Loki during the first week, but there were a lot of times where he could have sworn he was being watched. The man knows that he is a naturally paranoic person, however, taking into account the abillities of the God of Mischief it's justifiable.

The turning point was in the middle of the second week when Tony was in the kitchen, important files in one hand and a cheeseburger in another. He almost choked on his food when a familiar voice from behind him caught him by surprise.

"What are you eating?" it was what the god asked him while wearing a neutral expression with a hint of curiosity.

That was the day that Tony Stark found out that the God of Mischief, Loki Laufeyson didn't know what a cheeseburger was. He didn't know which feeling inside him were stronger - the shock of knowing that someone doesn't know what a cheeseburger is or the raw indignation of such a fact.

The inventor made a point of ordering cheeseburgers for dinner. As expected Loki didn't show up, so he left the food on the kitchen's table before going to sleep.

In the next morning when he went to make his coffee, Tony got pleasantly surprised, even smug, to see that the food on top of the table was gone. Later he came across Loki in the living room, the other was laying on a couch reading a book about whatever the subject might be and only raised an eyebrow before proceeding to continue his way to his workshop before the god's voice stops him on his tracks.

"It's repugnant, the cheeseburger"

Tony's lips turn into grin "It doesn't surprise me for you to think like this, it's well known that Asgardians have extremely dubious tastes".

His smile widens when he hears the god scoff.

---------------------------------------------------

Unexpectedly, Tony got used to the god's presence in his workshop while he worked on his new projects fairly quickly, Loki didn't disturb him with small talk or useless questions, instead they were very pertinent and for once Tony had someone that could keep up with his quick mind. Well, he knew the god was smart.

---------------------------------------------------

Tony Stark always has a plan B, always manages to create a solution to whatever the problem might be, and even when caught off guard he is quick to analyze the new situation and figure it out the best way to deal with it.

None of that applied when he noticed that he started to count with the god's presence in the nights he spent working, that he got impacient when Loki took too long to show up and that he looked forward to their talks and exchanges of snarky comments and witty remarks.

But it was when he caught himself flashing a smile that almost never blooms on his lips to the god that the realization hits him like lightning, he might have fallen into one of Loki's spells.

--------------------------------------------------

"I just think you should try it again" Tony says while making sure that the new system of his suit comes out perfect.

Loki rolls his eyes and places his book aside "I refuse to let that disgusting thing anywhere near my mouth again".

"But maybe now your palate got fixed so it can appreciate a cheeseburger".

"You are an idiot Anthony".

Tony grins "But I'm your idiot".

A small smile blooms on Loki's face, one that Tony learned that carries way more feelings than what it shows, and it's reserved only for him.

"Yes, I think you are" Loki says with a soft voice that is rarely used, and when Tony brightly smiles at him, his heart is invaded with everything that is Tony Stark and he feels complete, hoping to forever bask in the warmth of it.

--------------------------------------------------

A little more than a year passed since Loki Laufeyson started living with Tony Stark, and it has been a little more than four months since the day they announced that they were in a relationship, to the surprise and horror of many, and to Thor's delight.

[pancake-stack]

Stuck with you: Chapter 3 WIP

Summary: When Vox gets trapped inside a virtual reality that grants his every desire, Alastor is sent in after him. Forced to play the role of devoted partner, Alastor must figure out how to get them both out of the program while learning how deep Vox's obsession for him goes and how he can use it to his advantage.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Charlie looked different.

Not completely, of course, she was still very much recognisable. But as he observed her closely, he picked up on the inconsistencies. The heavy bags under her eyes, her messy plait- not to mention her clothes, more rumpled than Vagatha would have ever have allowed her to wear outside the hotel.

It seems that Vox viewed the dear princess as an unprofessional and frazzled joke.

"Sir?"

Pulled out of his thoughts, he realised that he had been staring for slightly too long without responding to her and he was quick to rectify.

"Why, terribly sorry there, I was lost in my thoughts for a moment! How very rude of me. Would you care to repeat yourself, dear?"

Brightening at his non-dismissal, to which she was no doubt used to, she transferred the posters into the crook of her right elbow and offered her free hand for a handshake.

"Oh, it's no problem at all, I'm always getting lost in my own head." She chuckled and Alastor took her hand, still thoroughly charmed at her cheerful naivety.

"Um, let me try this again: I'm Charlie Morningstar and I run a rehabilitation hotel in the northern part of the city. We help sinners better themselves so they can ascend to heaven, which will stop our overpopulation problem!"

Waiting patiently for her to finish reciting the opening that Vaggie had probably helped her rehearse to reduce her rambling nature, Alastor gently but firmly removed his hand from her own.

Now, how to respond here? Vox had clearly removed his presence from the Hotel, so responding familiarly to her would only raise Vox's suspicions. On the other hand, if she was here then she had to have been in the public eye, if only to add to her humiliation, so he would know who she was. Taking a chance, he chuckled and leaned forward slightly into her personal space.

"Why no need to introduce yourself, everyone here knows who you are!"

He had barely finished his sentence before the television shop next to him, which he hadn't taken much notice of, coincidently changed their channels to showcase Charlie's disastrously hilarious interview with Katie Killjoy on every screen.

Well maybe not so coincidently, Alastor thought, taking note of a CCTV camera trained on him.

Charlie gave a nervous chuckle as her past self tackled Killjoy harshly to the floor and looked down at her posters in shame. Still, he had to give her credit when she raised her head after a few seconds and resolutely ignored the screens.

"So, um, would you like to try our redemption program yourself?"

Still hilarious to hear, even after all this time!

Unfortunately, he couldn't even get in a disguised jab at her proposition before Vaggie appeared and yanked her girlfriend behind her to shield her from Alastor's gaze.

Pointing her spear at his chest in a way that was very reminiscent of their first meeting, she spoke to Charlie without taking her eye off him.

"Charlie, what are you thinking? You can't just approach the Radio Demon of all people!" She hissed, eye betraying her frantic feelings that he was here at all.

Now that was a sentiment he liked to hear.

"Do you want Vox to hunt us down for fucking with his partner?"

Never mind.

His ears flickered down in response to his agitation at the implication he was only intimidating because he was associated with Vox. How dare she. To suggest that his reign of terror could be outclassed and overshadowed by new-fangled technology?

He was half-tempted to find a busy street and start his radio show early to release some of this building anger. He might have done so if he had been back in reality and not in Vox's blasted fantasy world.

Seeing Vaggie eye him wearily and tightening her grip on her spear, Alastor recognised he was getting angry. Such a reaction would only alert Vox that their little liasion was not what it seemed, which would make all of this shit had been a waste of time. Taking time to slow his breathing to calm himself down, he forced himself to raise his ears and soften his posture to regain his earlier relaxed appearance. And if his smile bared his teeth more than usual, that was no one's business but his own.

Dematerialising into the shadows and rematerialising behind the two women, he slung his arms around their shoulders, revelling in their panicked flinches and yelps.

"Now, now dearies, let's not cause a scene in such a quaint area." he exclaimed, nodding at the neon nightmare with as little distate as possible, "Come, let us continue our civil conversation from earlier. I'd love to hear what you've heard about me. Perhaps over a nice dessert?"

He wouldn't let the two leave, not when it was so suspicious that they of all people had approached him in the first place. There was a chance he could get information from them, no matter how irritated he was with their mannerisms.

Vaggie gave a low growl but Charlie's eyes sparkled at his hospitality. "Oh yes, that's a great idea! C'mon Vaggie, you love sweets."

Faced with the eager grins of both her girlfriend and the Radio demon, Vaggie reluctantly relaxed her grip on the spear and gave a reluctant nod. She cast a concerned look in the direction of V Tower before following them into the bakery with a deep sigh.

The inside was still far too modern for Alastor's tastes, but it wasn't as outrageous as the outside had been, so he made do. However, he did have to wonder if a bakery even needed this many cameras. At least the wait time was none nonexistent- the staff practically fell over themselves to sit the group down.

He told the girls to order anything they wanted, ignoring Vaggie's mumbling about how it was free for him anyway, and placed his own order for the fruit tart he saw in the window and a coffee with cream. Charlie and Vaggie soon followed suit and ordered a chocolate and strawberry cake with matching glasses of juice.

Once their food arrived, he purposefully ignored the two's idol chatter to enjoy his first bite of the delightful dessert. The sweetness of the custard mixed well with the juiciness of the fruit and he let loose a small hum of appreciativeness, his shadow twirling contently around his chair.

His ears twitched as they caught the sound of the cameras whirling as they zoomed in on his figure. He winked at the camera closest to him and took great joy in watching it spark slightly.

Predictable as always, he thought, almost fond.

Reluctantly turning back to the girls, he took another bite of his food before asking, "So, what else have you heard about me?" Seeing their reluctance, he pointed his fork at them playfully, "Come now, I do so love to hear theories from others."

Naturally, Charlie was the one to talk first, "Well, I don't actually know that much about your past. But! I do know that you have power over the Radio and you're part of the AVs."

Well, that's not very helpful, he knows all of that. Though Vox changing the name of the group to the original name he had pitched to him seven years ago, that was certainly new.

"How do you not know their past, hun? It's common knowledge." Vaggie asked incredulously, turning in her seat slightly to properly look at her partner. "You've been around longer than I have."

"Yeah, I know but Dad never let me out of the castle much growing up. Plus other demons are a bit... um, shy around me I guess, so I don't get to hear much gossip." Charlie admitted, playing with the ends of her hair as she often did when discussing subjects that were unpleasant to her. Not willing to admit that her own subjects thought of her as a fool to be avoided and mocked.

It seems Vaggie picked up on that piece of information regardless, as she bit her tongue to repress thoughts of those who had interacted with Charlie to that degree.

Taking a soothing breath, she patted Charlie on her back and gave her a soft smile once she met her eyes, "Don't worry, Hun. I'll always be here to help you out. I've picked up a lot of information since falling down here."

Sensing an opening, Alastor wasted no time butting into the touching scene that was blooming. "That may be true, but, you still have not said what you know about my story. Surely you aren't all prattle?"

Charlie quickly answered before Vaggie could do something impulsive with her irritation; such as take her half-eaten cake and aim it at his head.

"Vaggie knows all sorts of things, i'm sure she'd be happy to tell you!" Vaggie settled back in her seat at the words but still gave him a vicious glare as Charlie continued, "Besides, it'd do me good to hear about Hell's history."

Though still looking far from pleased at the request, Vaggie still caved at her girlfriend's appeal, as Alastor knew she would. He couldn't recall a single time that she didn't go along with her schemes.

Nonetheless, he leaned back in his chair as Vaggie reluctantly began her tale, encouraged by Charlie's own smile.

"It started seven years ago. Before they were together, the tales of the rivalry between the Media demons for control of Hell were legendary. Their brawls would level cities, destroy businesses and massacre anyone in the vicinity."

She paused for breath and dramatic effect before continuing, "That was until one day, when Vox asked Alastor to become his partner. He refused, and the ensuing battle levelled the entire South Ring's residential district."

Well, she sure knew how to paint a picture- then again, he had always found her to be overly dramatic when recounting hell's history. The fight in the south ring was true, though, they hadn't fought to that extent before that.

He did have to wonder why this version of himself didn't simply accept Vox's invitation in this reality. After all, it was clear his cooperation was what Vox truly wanted. It must have badly wounded his pride for Alastor to have been able to so easily reject him.

He didn't have time to ponder this query further as Vaggie continued her tale, "Of course, Alastor was defeated." At that statement, her eyes took on a sadistic glee.

Bitch.

"He was then dragged off by Vox and wasn't seen again until two months later at a press coverage, where their new alliance as partners was announced to Hell."

Oh my, only two months for Vox to get bored of besetting him? With all that man's boasting, he would have expected to have been tortured for half a year at the very least.

Then again, being forced to be part of an ever-growing, ever-changing brand that keeps up with modern times is frankly worse than torture to him.

[entomolog-t]

Ohh we’re being evaluated huh?

My favorite scenarios are ones involving curious giants and tinies that desperately want to run away but can’t

A tiny is trapped and a giant finds them, helping them out of the trap and offering safety, food, even letting them go. The tiny is suspicious— what could this giant possibly want? There’s no way that they’re just being kind for the sake of it, everything they’d ever been told suggested that all giants were evil and they should be dead or in a jar right now. The tentative curiosity and choice to stay of the tiny toasts my eggs and scrambles my bread. The initial terror turned confusion turned curiosity turned delight. Mwah, chef’s kiss.

Also the reverse, where a giant who hates tinies gets stuck with one and slowly comes to realize that they absolutely adore them. I love those equally as much.

Dying to know if this says anything about me, assuming you’re still doing these ^^ /nf

BACK IN OFFICE BABY

This is quite the interesting scenario to discect.

So the main theme of note would be subverted expectations- interestingly, this tends to crop up quite frequently in G/t media.

Typically, this can imply some sort of projection of the self, or some reframing of another.

The main thing I would suggest to consider are the traits associated with the giant, as well as what the tiny/and possibly others think of the giant.

Even if you are more tiny aligned, I would still take the time to consider what traits are shown, and ask yourself if any of those reflect personal feelings.

A regularly occurring theme is to project ones own attributes that we see as misunderstood or overlooked onto the giant. Being shy, or intimidating can lead to us feeling unapproachable, and plant that seed in our subconscious that "If only someone got to know me, they would see that I'm [Defining Trait]"

Though that is certainly not the only route. There is another common trend in G/t, and fantasy as a whole, to reframe negative emotions- even fantasizing a different resolution. Do the "scary" traits of the giant remind you of a time you were wronged by someone? It might be that your brain is trying to reframe it to help with coping. The reframing allows for fantastical leeway to suggest they were not actually wronging you- their intentions were just misunderstood. Those thoughts help the mind to feel more in control because it shifts the blame from someone not liking you or intentionally hurting you to being a misunderstanding- a far more comforting concept that being malicious.

Reframing doesn't have to just occur with the giant archetype either. The tiny holds bias and preconceived notions of how they anticipate someone "dangerous" to act. Does the tiny remind you of anyone? perhaps someone that judged you over something you could not change?

As weird as it may be to say, the brain likes metaphors. There is a great deal of meaning within our subconscious imagery. Peeling back the layers and trying to determine what each character represent is quite the peak into the inner workings of our psyches.

Theres also another very interesting projection that could be occurring on the tiny. Do they share any negative or mistaken traits? Are these traits mirroring traits of your own?

The fact the tiny cannot comprehend why someone would be nice for the sake of being nice to them could be very telling about our own internal self reflection- and its important to analyze what traits of our own we might see of as unworthy of unconditional love/kindness.

I hope this breakdown could offer you some insight into the inner workings of this dynamic trope!

Thank you for attending this session, please see my secretary on the way out to book any follow up appointments.

[suchine-toki]

hello! I read your Tae meta from last year and just wanted to say it was great and really gets to the bottom of the problems with how Sorachi handled Otae. My (unasked for ;)) two cents is that I think he was going for GinTae endgame but then changed his mind somewhere before Lesson 238 which I read as his way of giving a 'this is how it would happen but I'm not going to do it' resolution for GinTae. And it's fine to drop the romance but knowing he's not going to make any couples endgame and 1/2

Hi! First of all, thanks for reading and taking your time to send this to me, I really like hearing other people's thoughts! I hope you don't mind that I combined both asks, given that they've points in common and I already had a draft of the one I received a while ago 🙈 This made me realize that I hadn't thought about it too much before… Even if I've talked about this topic with other people before, usually, the conversation ends with us agreeing and moving on to other topics lol so I think this is the first time I'm analyzing it. I'll try to do it from both the characters' perspective and Sorachi's intentions as the story's author. Before continuing, I want to clarify that my intention isn't to convince anyone to stop liking it, I just wanted to explore this topic and wow, did I explore it, because it ended up being much longer than expected 😂

That said, I think one of the biggest reasons why many of us thought Tae was going to be Gintoki's main love interest is because of the setup. Tae is the first woman from the main cast to appear in the series, and her dilemma kickstarts the story and allows for the formation of the Yorozuya as we know it. Moreover, she's Shinpachi's older sister and also develops a strong bond with Kagura, so it was expected that she would also develop a strong romantic bond with Gintoki, connecting her to the main trio of Gintama.

However, as I mentioned in the previous post, things started to change with the introduction of Kyuubei, which solidified the Kondo-Tae-Kyuubei love triangle, and then with the introduction of Tsukuyo. I watched a video by Abbie Emmons titled "7 Deadly Romance MISTAKES Writers Make ❌ avoid these chemistry killers!" to help identify some points in the relationship between Gintoki and Tae, although I must mention that I don't think these were mistakes on Sorachi's part, quite the opposite, they were very conscious decisions. I won't go point by point; instead, I'll summarize the intent of the message.

Half of the video is about the development of intimacy between two characters. I think most of us can appreciate that at least until the Benizakura arc, it was clear that Sorachi still had in mind to develop the relationship between Gintoki and Tae romantically because they'd a scene where they were alone, had time to talk, and showed that they cared a lot for each other. However, as the series progresses, we stop seeing these kinds of scenes between them, as well as scenes where they're seen thinking about each other or having physical contact.

And although at the beginning of the series Tae participated more actively in the Yorozuya dynamics, after the introduction of Kyuubei, they're seen spending most of their time together, even when they're with the others. Tae remains an honorary member of the Yorozuya until the end, but it's clear that Sorachi wanted her to represent stability, emotional support, the place they can return to that will welcome them with a smile. So, even though Gintoki and Tae still care a lot for each other, their interactions will continue to be framed within the context of the Yorozuya for the rest of the series.

That said, I couldn't say exactly when Sorachi stopped considering a romantic relationship between them. I'd to look up chapter 238 because I didn't remember what it was about lol (for reference, it's the one where they're at a stall and there're only speech bubbles, in which other characters who look like Gintoki and Tae confess they're in love), and I think your interpretation is certainly interesting. The placement also makes sense, which is shortly after the arc introducing Tsukuyo, and it also follows the trend of other characters being the ones who tease them, and not themselves.

The other half of the video is about how the characters' relationships with the rest of the cast are shown. It's highlighted that there needs to be an emotional reaction from a character to the idea of the other being interested in someone else, something Sorachi showed in many different ways but not with Gintoki and Tae. In her case, at most, she was shown getting annoyed at Sacchan, but only when she was provoked first. When it came to Tsukuyo, there was no reaction. Similarly, Gintoki has no reaction when Kyuubei or Kondo demonstrate their love interest.

The last point of the video, but not less important, is when characters have more romantic chemistry with other characters. In Tsukuyo's case, I think Sorachi was already a more experienced writer who knew his characters better and knew what his story needed. In particular, I think he wanted Gintoki to have someone close with whom he could relate but who wasn't directly connected to his past, among other things. And as I mentioned before, most of Tae's emotional energy in the series is with Kyuubei, followed by Kondo.

But why Sorachi didn't continue developing Gintoki and Tae's relationship romantically? The most obvious reason is simply because he didn't want to lol, but the explanation behind this, I think, is due to two main reasons. The first is that he wanted to keep the relationships within the Yorozuya platonic, and since Tae is an honorary member of the Yorozuya, it felt wrong to establish that there were romantic feelings involved. By comparison, it would be like confirming a relationship between Kagura and Shinpachi. And yes, Sorachi did some ship-teasing more than once between them too, but at the end of the day, he chose not to pursue it, and I think maintaining the familiarity is a cause.

The other reason is that as he wrote the story, he realized that Gintoki and Tae didn't fit well together. Tae can give Gintoki a sense of stability, but what can he offer her? Tae clearly values stability as well, hard work, having money. But Gintoki, due to his circumstances, doesn't meet those standards. If you think about it, the only two occasions when Tae unequivocally showed interest in Gintoki were when he lost his memory (Memory Loss arc) and when Hijikata was in his body (Soul Switch arc). Two occasions where Gintoki wasn't himself. But she liked that he seemed more serious and diligent, which implies that Tae's type is different.

It's also worth mentioning that Gintoki isn't shown making the same gestures towards Tae that Kondo or Kyuubei, the other two characters who are canonically in love with her (which is why I think they're a good benchmark) do. For example, while Sorachi chooses to show Gintoki teasing Tae about her breast size, in contrast, he shows Kondo buying her a kimono that will look good on her regardless, you know, like a supportive partner would. Even with all this, I understand that het shippers might've felt uncomfortable with the idea of pairing Tae with Kondo, and the other viable option was Gintoki. I think Sorachi was also aware of this, which is why he decided to develop Kondo and Tae's relationship in the final arcs.

While we're at it, I prefer kyuutae by faaar. As I've also expressed before, although I think Kondo is a great character, his persistence doesn't sit well with me. But whether it was due to heteronormativity or because Sorachi identified with him as a fellow gorilla, it's clear to me that he decided to emphasize Kondo and Tae's relationship much more. Even when gintsu and kyuutae were stagnating, he continued developing kontae as much as he could (probably because he'd already done the heavy lifting with the other two ships, tbf).

Sorachi didn't plan many things in his story, which I think is both a strength and a weakness. One of the things that reflect this is, for example, that Hasegawa was originally going to be part of the Yorozuya, an idea he later abandoned, but the remnant of Hasegawa's presence in the series remained. In the same way, I think his initial idea was to pair Gintoki with Tae, but eventually, he didn't. It seems that he also had the idea at the beginning to end the series with certain couples, but later decided to leave an open ending in that sense, although some of his inclinations were clearer than others.

I've seen people say there're subtle hints throughout Gintama that they fell in love, and while I don't want to say those interpretations are wrong, I think Sorachi is quite straightforward when it comes to these kinds of things. Even with unrequited loves, like (apparently) in the case of Katsura and Ikumatsu, he showed that there was love. However, in the case of Gintoki and Tae, during the 15 years he wrote the manga, he didn't, probably because he felt it no longer fit the story after a certain point. That said, I think their relationship works just fine without the need for any labels.

Thank you again for stopping by, if you've another point that you would like to discuss feel free to message me or send another ask 🤗

[psychics4unet]

Hello there,

Id like to ask please for a reading regarding my situation right now.

I wish to know the reason why my friend A deleted our chat and left me abruptly without informing me first. We have been good online friends for almost 7 months and his last message to me was that I am free to text him anytime I want. Our conversations do not necessarily need to be replied eveyday as its alright for us to respond like once a week during weekends because of our worklife and personal lives. I ended up not replying to him almost 2 weeks as I had busy rollercoaster weeks and my mind is disorganized and unsettled. I wanted to reply to him when my mind is at ease so I can give him my full attention while reading his messages and taking time to reply. Then it happened. I was about to reply to him the 2nd Saturday but our chat got deleted.

It seems he left a message for me but he deleted it too so I was not able to see it. I wonder what his reason was as his sudden disappearance does not coincide with his last message for me.

I hope he doesn't have negative feelings for me.

He's friendly and affectionate in our chats and he sometimes would joke about stuff. I wish to know what his true feelings are and why he ended up severing our connection. He told me many times that he wanted his presence to be here with me so we can spend some quality time together. I tried reaching out to him so I can tell him about my feelings and thoughts as I finally accepted our parting but he only responded with a quote about the inevitability of goodbyes and how the pain lingers. And sometimes the more we interact with each other, the harder it will be to bid each other farewell. But there is still the hope of crossing our paths again.

Sorry for the long message, i just want to clarify the situation so perhaps you can give me some clarity about this. Thank you!

MLA ♎

Free Cloud Divination (7$ PAID READINGS ARE ALSO OPENED!)

Hello,

As I gaze upon the clouds, I see a formation that is initially light and flowing, but then it starts to twist and grow darker 🌥️. This represents the connection you once shared - light, easygoing, and comfortable - but something shifted, perhaps unexpectedly. The twisting motion of the cloud suggests that there were internal or external pressures that caused this abrupt change. It seems there was an emotional cloud of confusion or uncertainty that your friend might have been dealing with, which led to this sudden departure.

A second cloud comes into focus - it's small but dense 🌫️. This cloud reflects the weight of emotions and the difficulty of handling feelings that were perhaps too overwhelming to confront or share. It suggests that your friend might have been feeling emotionally conflicted, and maybe the distance created was a way for them to process their own emotions or protect themselves. It’s not necessarily about you, but more about their internal struggles that led to this decision.

The third cloud I see is a clear sky 🌤️. This signifies hope and the potential for resolution in the future. The cloud opening up to a calm space represents the possibility that, in time, the emotional fog will clear. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve lost this connection forever, but the timing might not be right for the two of you to reconnect just yet. Your friend may need time to navigate their own feelings, and this moment of silence could be part of their personal journey.

Overall, the message from the clouds is that while there may have been feelings of hurt or misunderstanding, the future holds the possibility for both clarity and healing. You may not have all the answers now, but there is still space for potential reconnection, even if it takes time. Trust in the flow of things, and allow both you and your friend the space to grow and reflect.

Got questions or need some insight into your life? I'm here to help with personal psychic readings! For just $7, you can get answers to up to 7 questions! More info at:

In case anyone else here on tumblr would like a free psychic reading (cloud divination), Click the link and follow the instructions (I answer only to those who follow the instructions, thank you):

[saphig-iawn]

Day 14 & 15 of Turning me into Me

I skipped a day, and I needed it. Not that this journaling process is hard or expends a lot of energy, it just kinda giving myself a bit of space yesterday kinda allowed me to reflect on something.

In my plan to turn me into Me, I'm walking every single day. I aim to walk for an hour, and to make sure I don't make it overly toxic and competitive I try not to focus on the distance or steps taken. I'm doing this with some friends too and we write about our walks to keep us motivated in a way that doesn't feel like we're creating an obligation. But yesterday I didn't walk.

I didn't want to but if I did I would've caused myself damage to my leg. And even though it was the right thing to do, I felt guilt. I felt guilt because I could've walked, and taken my time and made adjustments, but then I realised that my guilt was actually fear. I was scared that if I stopped then I wouldn't start again. While the moment that drove me to undertake this transformation before I start HRT was powerful, it felt far enough away that the power was waning a bit. I think I'm in that space between where a chosen action becomes a habit or ritual. It feels good to do it, but it is still a chosen thing. And then my mum began to creep into my mind... that because I didn't walk I would be actively reversing progress, that I would be betraying myself. That I would begin sliding down a slippery slope of cop outs until I was worse off than when I started.

But today I walked. I felt those feelings of wanting to not walk like I did on Day 1. You know that feeling after the joy of deciding to something for yourself, like a New Year's Resolution, but putting it off to the next day. Or promising to eat better, but after you have this night of takeaway food. I felt those whispers roil and bubble, but I still went and walked. My leg still hurts a little bit, but I walked. I stopped when I needed to and when I did I needed to just banish my mum from my head and be present on the journey I'm taking.

God I want to tell her what she's done to me. I want her to know how she has affected my thoughts and my perception of myself. But I know how much that would hurt. I know how she would feel. And despite of all the shit she has put me through, I couldn't bring myself to willingly hurt someone like that. If only she could do the same for me.

She actually visited a few days ago, with my sister and niece. It was my sister's first time seeing me without a beard. All they could focus on was my weight... the looks, the changes, where I'm thinning out. Not how I am, or what I've been up to, or why I'm losing body fat in the first place. No. Its good to know that's all I am for them right now, their own personal weight loss show. But then my mum was quite clear in how she wanted to get back to "normal".

Tomorrow is another day. I'll be better than I was today, even if I don't see it or feel it, and I'll be even better the next day.

[readingtoinfinity]

Arcane updated thoughts

Spoilers for the end of season 2! I won't discuss much more than vaguely but you've been warned.

I've been seeing a criticism a lot of the end of the show, specifically that the conflict between Zaun and Piltover isn't resolved by the conclusion of the show, beyond Sevika getting a seat on the council.

And I had to think about it for a bit; I thought there was something missing in the finale and couldn't think of what, but that criticism put into words what I'd been thinking about.

There's two ways I can think of this: the show failed and did a bad job, or we're supposed to look at the events and themes and draw our own conclusions. For the benefit of the doubt (and to have something to think about in the shower) I went with the second thought. And I think I did come up with something.

Season 2, episode 7 is one of if not the best episode in the show, detailing what happens to Jayce, Ekko and Heimerdinger when they vanished from the Hextech tower. Jayce goes through his own Elden Ring/Dark Souls experience and Jayce and Heimerdinger get to experience a better timeline where Hextech doesn't exist and everything has improved.

And I stuck on this. A lot of the problems between Zaun and Piltover existed prior to Hextech but were made worse by it. The first Zaun rebellion happened and was put down with the original technology, and in the better timeline these feelings wouldn't have gone away, either. Silco and Vander's breakup also happened, but in the better timeline they've patched things up to become friends again.

That's interesting. That things improve so much in six or seven years after alt!Vi dies. As if the show is telling us "Without Hextech things would have gotten better", to the point that the bridge becomes a market when it was a boundary in the original timeline.

We can see this bear out in the show: Ambessa only came to Piltover because they had tech she wanted. The Gray was a by-product of Hextech. The wealth that Hextech brought went only to the wealthy and made them rely less on Zaun for labor. I think episode 7 wasn't just a look back at how things could have been, it was a glance forward at how things will be.

Finally, two themes about the show stick out: trusting again despite past experiences and preventing things from getting worse. A lot of season 1 is about scrambling to keep things steady so they can be improved, but outside forces (mostly Ambessa, TBH) stirring the pot and making things worse. And the resolution of the show is about reaching out your hand one last time, to risk being hurt to help an old friend.

I think a lot of this could have been said explicitly. Maybe an epilogue where we show work being done to improve the two cities' relationship. We know there'll be a bond of comradery that wasn't there before, because they all fought together against Ambessa's forces, and that the Enforcer population has dwindled and the wealthy have lost their cash cow with Hextech that means the labor of Zaun will become more valuable, which will give them a bargaining chip, and Sevika has a seat at the table to entreat as their voice. The pieces are there, but the finale didn't weave them together.

But ultimately, I think this criticism isn't fully-fleshed out. The show told us numerous times that, if you only reach out your hand and work with somebody, things can only get better. It's not explicitly hopeful or happy, but it could be.

I may end up changing my mind on this. I dunno; I'm very emotional about the show and I'm still in the defensive stage over it. But I do appreciate seeing the original criticism and giving it a mulling-over; it allows me to think more about one of my favorite shows of the past few years.

[ashbrat488]

Foul Play - Chapter 4

Henry quietly walked into class the next week, his eyes immediately drawn to Millicent and Ben engaged in a conversation near her desk. Slipping in unnoticed beside her, he discreetly listened to their exchange, trying to gauge the nature of their interaction.

"So, are you coming to the game this Saturday?" Ben asked eagerly, a hopeful expression on his face. Meanwhile, Millicent nervously fiddled with her pencil in her hand, contemplating her response.

"I haven't decided yet..." she replied, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Ben chuckled, understanding her hesitation. Leaning over the desk, he placed both palms flat on the surface, his eyes fixed on her. "Fair enough. If you do come, I'll take that as you agreeing to let me take you out to dinner afterward..."

A soft giggle escaped Millicent's lips as she shrugged slightly, mirroring his words. "Fair enough."

"Okay," Ben said, his hand reaching up to gently tuck a strand of Millicent's hair behind her ear, leaving a lingering touch before he departed. He shot a wink in Henry's direction, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by him.

As Henry watched Ben's interaction with Millicent, a pang of jealousy coursed through him, seeing another man making physical contact with her. Unable to contain his emotions, he leaned toward Millicent, unable to mask the irritation in his voice. "You're really going to go out with him?"

"It's none of your business," she mumbled, her gaze shifting to the front of the classroom as the teacher began the lesson, signaling the start of the class.

Henry's heart sank at her response, realizing that his attempt to voice his concerns had only pushed her away further. He knew he had no right to interfere, but he couldn't help but feel a mix of regret and frustration over the situation. Throughout the class, his attention wavered, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Millicent and the budding connection she seemed to be forming with Ben.

***

Henry hurriedly chased after Millicent as she walked away from class, reaching out to grab her arm gently in an attempt to make her stop. However, she held up her hand, cutting off any potential conversation before it could even begin. "Unless it has something to do with school or homework, do not speak to me."

Letting out a frustrated groan, Henry took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words. "I just want to try and be friends, Milly."

A scoff escaped Millicent's lips, accompanied by a dismissive shake of her head. "Friends? You mean when it's just the two of us, secretly hiding our connection? Only until one of your teammates teases you? Are you so immature that you can't even stand up for yourself and make your own decisions? No, we can't be friends. Because you're not the type of guy I'd want to be friends with."

"Milly..." Henry mumbled, feeling the weight of her words hitting him. He watched as she turned and walked away, her figure growing distant. He couldn't deny that her assessment of him was accurate. He had acted immaturely and allowed others' opinions to influence his choices. How could he become someone she actually wanted to be friends with? Someone who deserved her friendship?

Deep in thought, Henry walked away from the encounter with Millicent, a resolute expression on his face. He realized that he couldn't simply expect Millicent to change her opinion of him without actively working on himself. He needed to prove that he could be good enough to be her friend and, perhaps, even more.

***

"So, you have both Henry Cavill and Ben Walker vying for your attention and you're saying no to both?"

Millicent and Abby's playful banter filled the room as they sat comfortably on the couch. Despite the lighthearted atmosphere, Millicent's inner turmoil weighed heavily on her. With a soft chuckle, Millicent responded, "Yeah, it's quite a situation, isn't it? I haven't made up my mind about Ben yet. I'm still considering it." Her voice carried a hint of uncertainty, revealing the internal struggle she grappled with.

Abby, always the supportive friend, offered her perspective, nudging Millicent's shoulder gently. "I think you should give it a shot. If you don't want to go alone, I'll gladly accompany you. Who can resist watching men in tight shorts tackling each other, right?" Her playful tone aimed to lighten the mood.

Millicent couldn't help but laugh, appreciating Abby's carefree nature. She handed her friend a bag of crisps, grateful for the small gesture. "You're too good at this, Abby. Talking to guys comes so naturally to you. It's not as easy for me," Millicent confessed, her voice tinged with a touch of self-doubt.

Comfortingly, Abby patted Millicent's leg before resting her head on her friend's shoulder. "You underestimate yourself, Milly. You're gorgeous, and men love that accent of yours. You have so much to offer. Don't let past experiences define your future."

Millicent rolled her eyes affectionately, acknowledging Abby's words. "I know, I know. But it feels like I've only attracted more trouble than anything else."

Understanding the weight of Millicent's struggles, Abby sighed empathetically. "I understand why you feel that way. But Ben seems genuinely nice, and he's undeniably cute. At least give him a chance by accepting dinner."

"We'll see," Millicent responded with a sigh, sinking deeper into the couch. She contemplated her choices, her thoughts drifting to Henry, thinking once that he was different than he is. The painful memories of their past came flooding back, reminding her of the hurt she had endured.

Abby's words echoed in Millicent's mind, reminding her that not all men were the same. Ben's consistent kindness and respect stood in stark contrast to the way Henry had changed over time.

Resting her head on the couch, Millicent resolved to take her time and weigh her options carefully. She would trust her instincts and not rush into a decision. Whether it meant giving Henry an opportunity to redeem himself or exploring the possibilities with Ben, she would prioritize her own happiness and well-being.

Chapter 5

[theunmarkedtombstone]

Part 2 | Part 3 Hello hello! today I will be teaching you how to make GIFS, from scratch, and some other stuff. I've been doing this on this platform for the past 10 years (yay!). I've seen gifs morph and change, seen tumblr up their image size by a considerable amount (in 2015 you had to maintain your gifs UNDER 2MB. 2MB!!!!) and all the sizing changes, PSD changes, etc. So, idk, I decided to do this too cause I thought it might be fun!

I am going to go through a few different GIF types in this:

GIFS that are straightforward, take your frames, turn it into a gif and go. I'll be teaching everything here: How to grab frames, how to organize it, how to open it on photoshop, how to do the thing (except for coloring, at least here), etc. (Half in part 1, half in part 2).

The BITMAP gif, how much faster it is (despite the slightly lower quality) and how it enables you to make gifs on potato computers. (Part 2).

GIFS that need a little more finessing, like GIFS that contain two different angles you have to make work in one. (Part 3).

GIFS that have text, which are 90% of my GIFsets, and how I make the text look crispier (this is still a work in progress, though, would love some tips <33). (Part 3).

Now, I'm not saying that this is gonna be such a different gif tutorial from all the others, or that I'm an actual expert (I'm bad a synchronizing gifs, for example). I'll try to make it comprehensive, but I think all the other ones are really solid, I'll just go through my own process, the program I use and have been using for years (as someone who's tried GOMPlayer and didn't like it) what I do for individual gifs, and all that. I will NOT go into coloring, because I am BAD at it, never been too good, but everything else should be covered here pretty neatly! Keep in mind I don't do insane edits, though I find them BEAUTIFUL, or anything overtly complicated cause I am, hmmm, lazy. Sorry. I CAN make them because I've learned, but my heart is not in it and there are hundreds of talented GIF and edit makers here on this webbed site that would provide a more solid base.

Also, this is a pretty wordy tutorial, because it goes from frame capturing all the way to the end result, but I hope it helps peeps. So, let's get to it. (divider used in this tutorial by @e-resources)

INTRO:

Before this year, I used to make all of my gifs on my Dell Inspiron 2012, with 6GB of RAM, rolling on Photoshop CS5 and praying. Each gif took 5 minutes to load, ten minutes total to complete. Believe it or not, I've seen Hell.

I also do all my gifs, from a young age, using the KMPlayer. The KMPlayer doesn't open pop ups on your browser (which on my old computer would mean CHAOS and UPRISE and I'd probably have to turn it off because it only actually did one process at a time, believe it or not) and it allows you TO CAPTURE FRAMES WHILE THE MOVIE OR SHOW IS PAUSED which GOMPlayer DOESN'T LET YOU. In general, KMP's advantage is also that the PNG frames it takes are higher resolution than GOMPlayer. A GOMPlayer PNG frame will always have 96ppi whereas a KMPlayer frame will have an 120ppi:

A higher resolution image has more ppi, and though anywhere between 92 and 125 is good, KMPlayer is better. Now, idk if KMPlayer was outed as being spyware, of being bad, because everyone on this platform used it and then stopped for some reason, but unfortunately IMO it's still the best program to do it. Yeah. If it sucks, I'm sorry :(( I can't stop using it cause I am spoiled, and it never did anything on my computer as someone who has used it for YEARS (and who has gotten probably every single virus out there, including computer ending ones. Twice. Thankfully they were close calls, but the fear was there). (Later in the tutorial, I 'll do a pros and cons of each program).

Ok, intro done, let's begin the segmented portion of the tutorial.

INDEX:

Frame capturing 101: Frame organizing, and how I personally do it (part 1).

Basic GIFS (including resources I use for sharpening) (half in part 1, half in part 2).

GIFS with Text (part 2).

GIFS with two angles, and what to do to center them (part 2).

How to make lower quality GIFS look acceptable (or SOMEWHAT acceptable) (for older PCs and lower quality releases) (BITMAP instead of PNG).

FRAME CAPTURING 101

This is gonna be pretty straightforward. Open your movie with KMPlayer, or your program of choice. Now, KMPlayer doesn't allow me to record its screen for some reason, at least OBS doesn't let me, so I'll make do with prints. CTRL+G opens the capture window. You can pause your frame and start from this point without releasing the movie, cause like I said the KMPlayer allows you to do so, and to me this is important cause I like to capture as many frames as possible, and be as perfectionistic as I can be.

Now, if you have a potato of a computer like I had, both KMPlayer and GOMPlayer offer a few formats on your capture (CTRL + G) window. On KMP, there's BITMAP, JPEG and PNG. My program is in Portuguese, but basically it says BITMAP is fast, JPEG is medium and PNG is slow.

I used to take my frames in BITMAP from 2014 til very recently. It sucks, it doesn't have a high quality, but it allows you to have SOMETHING to work with. If you are an aspiring GIFmaker and you don't have the equipment, you can still make stuff with this setting (I say this because my other computer used to turn off when I captured frames in PNG so, uh… Try it at your own risk on old machines. I never tried JPEG, might do you a solid. probably better than BMP, but like I said, I never tested it).

Here are some examples of gifs I made with BITMAP quality:

As you can see, they're not bad, just a bit grainy (I did the sharpening myself, so my bad. Later in the tutorial, I'll put better examples, and you'll see they're not bad.). When I upgraded my laptop, I started taking frames in PNG. The gifs now look like this:

Sometimes, I still struggle with quality, like on my Bedazzled gifsets. This is due to me being an obscure, old film lover, and those often not having 4K or real 1080 quality (Most of my BITMAPs were taken from YTS releases, though. It helps on old machines and it looks ok. Real 1080 is over 2GB and 4K is way more than that, so that's the difference, and it looks better. YTS releases are very compressed, but real 1080 never rolled on my old PC (nothing over 3GB did) so I still used them for basically everything. Not many complaints here).

Now, to go back to how I capture the frames: Depending on how familiar I am with the scene, I allow the frames to capture continuously until the scene is over. That being said, if it is a scene with dialogue that I am not 100% familiar with, I usually capture it gif by gif. It really depends on your specific style.

The KMPlayer, like GOM, will capture these to the CAPTURE folder. This folder is located inside of your disk (local disk? is that the name in eng. too?) inside of the program's folder. I then divide these captured frames into other folders, for ease of maneuvering.

I usually use 48 frames per gif, especially because I make gifs that are 540px (by either 405 or 540px). If you are doing a gif that is smaller, like 268x268, etc, you'll be able to get away with 60+ frames, up until 10MB. You have no idea how much 10MB is a Godsend. It was the trenches in the olden times. Unlike GOM, KMP captures all frames, regardless of movie or show, on the same folder and it is your job to organize it. I think GOM got this specific point right, but I'm used to the heavy lifting, so I don't mind. Still, be mindful of KMPlayer eating older frames. If you have important frames on the main folder, make sure you organize them into smaller ones, because KMP will replace these unorganized frames with newer ones. I hope I made this easy to understand. Bottomline is: Make sure all your important frames are as organized as possible to prevent mistakes and accidents.

Kind of left field tangent but there is nowhere else here to put it, so here you are: For my Peter Cook in Bedazzled, Matt Bennett in M&E&TDG, and my Nightmare on Elm Street gifsets, I made A LOT MORE GIFS THAN I USED. I made up to 11, 12 gifs for both my Nightmare and Bedazzled gifsets. Sometimes you have to make a lot of them to decide later what you want, so don't be sad if your process is extremely chaotic. From chaos comes beauty in the form of tumblr.com the website and the app GIFsets.

Ok, now that this is done, let's get to the gifmaking portion of this mess.

BASIC GIFS (no text, just frames and sharpening):

You have to have a Photoshop that allows you to have the timeline function. CS5 worked for me for years, 2020 also has it, and I'm assuming 2024 does too (but that one didn't roll with my system). I use Photoshop 2020, I got it from Pirate Bay, first result, because the one we have rolling around here DID NOT PASS ANY VIRUSTOTAL SCANS I PUT IT THROUGH, though I'm sure the person didn't know. Always put stuff like this through virus total to be sure. My Photoshop never gave me any issue.

Anyway, if you don't have your timeline enabled, go to window> timeline, like so right there at the bottom:

There you have it. Now you can load up your frames. For that, you'll go to to file> scripts> load files into stack:

You click on browse:

Get your frames and load them. Yep. That simple. Nothing to it.

PNG FRAME GIFS:

(I will be using Capitu (2008) as the examples for this tutorial)

Now, different from GOM Player, KMP will not name your frames automatically, for some reason when its PNG, so your images will flash on screen as Photoshop renames each individual frame. On a potato computer, this takes 30 minutes to do and it's undoable. I know cause I tried. Anyway, it takes a little longer to open, but it should be done in less than a minute or a minute or so on good computers, probably a few seconds on state of the art ones. Just make sure that if you don't like or are sensitive to anything flashy that you either don't look or don't do this using KMP. Ok, now that you opened the frames, you create video timeline by clicking on the middle right here:

Then, you click there, nvm if my timeline is not loaded. Just click and it'll create one of your frames for you. Now click here on the corner and on "make frames from layers, to create the rest.

This will make your actual frames for you, in a nice neat line. Now, keep in mind that these frames are reversed at this point, so you have to click on the "reverse frames" option, right there on the panel (it's unclickable on my example photo up there, but it'll be available once all your frames are loaded). Still on the same panel, you click on select all frames, cause you basically do everything from here, and once the frames are all selected, you input your delay.

In my time, we used 0,07. Now that's too slow. Some people use 0,04, I use 0,05, I think it depends on what you want. Once the gif is all loaded up you'll be able to see if the frames are too fast better (In my Goodbye Again gifset, I struggled with frame velocity as 0,04 was too fast and 0,05 too slow for example), but if you are not a perfectionist like me and you don't feel like backtracking every time, 0,05 is your best bet for most gifsets.

After this I usually crop the gifs. I use the pre-crop thing here:

And input the size I want. Usually it is 540x540 or 540x405. In this case, though, it'll be 540x304, which is the native usually (unless your movie is widescreen. I hate those). This tool will not actually resize your image, it will just leave it ready for when you do resize, here:

Remember, tumblr dimensions are 540px by 540px for square gifs, 540px by 405px for medium sized gifs and usually 540px by 304px for rectangular gifs (usually it is the size of the screen, unless your movie is widescreen. I hate those). For gifsets that are two gifs per row, the dimensions are 268px per whatever you want, better if it's square though. 177px by whatever is the three gifs per line one, also better if square. You can still leave it 540 on the pre-crop tool, though, because it'll just do the 1:1 square ratio. When you do resize it to 268 or 177, it'll work, it'll be square, or whatever other size you want. Anyway, when you do resize, you'll be taken to this screen:

These are my settings. I also use bicubic sharper, but it's holistic for me, tbh. I usually resize it to 540px right away, some people like to do it in increments, and I respect it, but I have no patience for it. If you want to do it in increments, you can take image size little by little (from 1920px, for example, to 1400px, then 1200px, etc, until you get to 540). It works. But I'm lazy. Anyway, here's what the gif looks like as it is:

Ok, so you cropped and resized your gif. What now? Well, now I do coloring, but like I said I will not teach PSDs here, cause I think there are more talented people than I out there for it. If you wanna make your own, just go here:

And add brightness, levels, curves, etc. holistically, like I do cause I GENUINELY don't know what I'm doing and just play it by ear. I don't use PSDs often cause I love doing this part, I just suck at it, but feel free to do as you must in these trying coloring times. I do have to say though, in Photoshop 2020, you can edit your coloring in whatever frame you want (for example adjust brightness and contrast settings while frame 40 is clicked) whereas in Photoshop CS5 this is not possible. You have to make sure you do all your edits on the first frame, which is still a good general rule of thumb, imo. Ok, cool, now what what? You go here:

Same tab as usual, select all frames, then you make sure the frames on the left are also selected, like so:

Usually, when there are gif malfunctions (for example, you open the save for web screen to save the gif in its entirety and the gif is only a few kb big with all the frames being the same image), it's because you didn't select every single frame, or you forgot to hit "make video timeline," which is the next step. Make sure you DON'T select your PSD, whatever it is, or text. I mean, to be completely honest, the text one might work, but here is a gifset in which I merged text and image together:

I think the text looks odd, too sharpened, which is why I sharpen it afterwards, but it's a matter of taste, no big deal. I'll teach how to do it both ways in my text gifset portion of the tutorial, so more on this later. Anyway, after you do all this, you click, on the same panel as the select all frames, etc, in "convert to video timeline." Once that is done, you go here:

Convert for smart filters, don't forget to do this otherwise it won't work, all that. Now, for the true meat of the tutorial, the sharpening:

(continued on part 2, because I exceeded the image limit. Oops.)

[stepfordgoth]

I keep trying to make goals/resolutions for the new year but I'm stuck. I've never been very good at making goals. Last year I think I kept it completely abstract like "in 2024 I want to continue improving myself in every possible healthy way", which is, of course, not really a goal. Goals have to be specific and have to have a time limit to achieve them and a way to measure your progress. Among other things. Im referring to the SMART goals system right now btw:

However I will say, despite it not being a goal set scientifically, I do think I did improve vastly in the last 12 months and I certainly wouldn't call that goal a failure! Compared to where I was last year, here are some of the things Ive achieved:

I am drinking way less frequently (and way less in general) now since this time last year (I was becoming messy tbh)

I joined a gym for the first time ever in my life in august, and I fell in love with it fast. What a confidence boost to not only be going to the gym regularly at all, but to commit to it after the idea of it has scared you for so long. And then to fall in love with the gym too! I'm giving myself lots of praise right now, thats a brand new set of several skills I acquired when I decided to walk into the gym! Compare that to the girl I was a year ago who was drinking way too much and not eating healthily and getting enough exercise and gaining weight because of all of these things. I've definitely lost a little bit of weight and I look a lot better/sexier/healthier now too

I've got my chronic physical issues more or less under control. Some weeks/months are better than others. I spent a lot of time this year trying to understand and fix my gut health and I can proudly say that a year ago I kinda thought I was going to die because of the terrible flare up I was experiencing, and today I have a pretty decent handle on it. January 2024 was the worst flare-up I've had in my life, and it has never approached that level since then. And it still flares up and it's awful when it does, but they're fewer and further between now, and they aren't nearly as painful or damaging. I'm really proud of how I've done the research and tried things until I found something that helps.

I have been strong and supportive and helpful as much as possible for my husband while he's been going through a lot of changes in his (and our!) life. I am so proud of him! It's been a crazy ride but it feels so good and I know he's got this, he's a fucking rockstar.

I have given so many new things chances this year. Specifically, new music. I've really allowed myself to be more open minded musically this year than I have in a very long time.

I have persevered this year. In so many ways. I have navigated lots of situations and always come out of it okay.

I have stuck up for myself. I have spoken up and stuck to my guns for what's right for me while also being proactive and trying new techniques and ideas to deal with my life issues. I have been assertive and I've spoken my thoughts and wants and feelings. Somtimes I have made big choices or changes and stuck to them even when others around me weren't huge fans of it.

I've gotten closer to truly loving myself. I'm still working on it though, but I made some big breakthroughs this year. I've put conscious effort into being more feminine and attracting more feminine energy to myself this year, and I've done a lot of reading/changing experimenting with different hair and makeup techniques and products and clothes this year!

I went to a Caribbean island (that alone is a first) and I saw so many more stars than I've ever seen in my life and I learned to boogie board and i started to realize that it's time to let go of that "I was raised as a prisoner" mentality that makes me forget that I'm a free, grown adult and I can do whatever I want. And I got the cutest little whale tail tan line! And I learned that my husband is more in tune with "the cosmos" (so to speak) than I gave him credit for.

I finally put some things into motion regarding some stuff around the house that has been bugging me for a while but I kept getting put off for whatever reason.

I was finally able to recognize the root of an issue I've had in my life on and off since I was 14, and accept it for what it is and make peace with it. It no longer obsessively plagues my thoughts as it did for many years, thank god!

I shyed away from fewer social engagements this year than I did last year (i think?) and I tried a little bit harder to make friends, or at the very least build some sort of personal familiarity with a few new people.

I was not perfect with it, but I made HUGE strides in my not abusing my stimulant meds journey. Yes I did indeed have slipup moments but I think overall I probably took the least total amount of stimulants in 2024, that I have since 2018.

[canichangemyblogname]

A collection of some of my favorite tags so far:

By @bucksboobs

9-1-1 is usually fairly heavy-handed in its telling of moral lessons. It's not a show that is hard to grasp, but people fall into one of two traps: making the show more complex (see: clothing color theory) than it is or complaining because the show doesn't approach moral resolution like a Disney Channel TV show. Y'know... something like: "Sorry I snapped at you earlier; I'm still upset over Dad leaving and took it out on you." << NO. As the featured poster said, Tommy is not going to come right out and say, "I was rude and insecure because I was closeted, and I utilized the privileges at my disposal, like being a man and white, to shield myself from homophobia." That's not going to happen, partly because it doesn't make good dialogue and partly because even those people who recognize these things don't really speak like that unless it's an academic setting. Like... that'd be something someone would write in an essay about identity in the closet, not say in casual conversation. But Tommy may say some variation of "I was insecure and afraid, and that brought out the worst in me," because he *does* say things like that, see: the conversation about how working under Gerrard did not make him a better person.

By @elizaisthetruehero

500%. I don't know how many times I want to scream from the rooftops, "YOU ARE NOT THE TARGET AUDIENCE." You know who is part of the target audience? My 80-year-old grandfather. He was one of the first coaches for a girl's high school team in the US following the introduction of Title IX. He believed in those girls and he aspired to train them to be able to keep up with any other team out there. I was his eldest granddaughter for most of my childhood, as well as the only grandchild willing to help him around the farm when his back got bad. I did a lot of heavy lifting, carrying, and pulling for him. He's aware that people a-f-a-b are plenty capable. But you know what he said to me about 9-1-1? "It's real cool they've got a lady fireman on the show. I never thought whether there are lady firemen." << That's the GA.

I feel like a lot of people don't remember what it was like in '05. That's not an excuse; it's an explanation. My grandfather was 62 in '05, around the same age Brian Earl Thompson (the man who plays Vincent Gerrard) is now. He was working in '05 when the country was in the midst of several huge cultural shifts, including many regarding LGBTQ+ rights. Even by 2010, things had improved, even if marginally so. The GA lived through these shifts.

So, not only does the GA remember working under those "old" conditions, but they also remember the changes characters like Hen, Athena, and Chim led. They remember the introduction of DEI programs. They remember the reaction their colleagues had to broader inclusion. Hell, maybe they had a less-than-stellar reaction. Some members of the GA have maybe come around, or maybe they've decided to stake everything on the past. I reckon that most members of the GA understand that not everyone is the same person their whole life and that 20 years makes a hell of a difference in who a person is.

Related to this point are the next tags I'm featuring:

By @unfuckablebogtroll

Another 500%. Hen and Chim have undeniably been a positive influence on the 118 and the work culture there. It's almost like... allowing deviation from a "norm" and empathy for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own leads to... conditions that allow people to thrive. A diverse perspective is also crucial when it comes to saving lives. One's upbringing may provide them with more tact and understanding in certain circumstances that may be absent from others. It's important if we want to build an empathetic society.

There's a reason Gerrard is returning NOW, in 2024, as opposed to 2018 when the show aired. 1.) The character probably didn't exist in the writers' and producers' minds in 2018, but 2.) we are in the midst of another political, right-wing pushback to an inclusive and diverse society. There is a reactionary "anti-woke" movement sweeping through the US, led primarily by men like Gerrard who don't like the changes they've witnessed in schools or the workplace. The difference is? The landscape is very different now than nearly 20 YEARS AGO. Black people, immigrants, queer people, people of different religious and cultural backgrounds, etc... are far more common in the general workplace than in '05. These programs have worked, and they have filled every corner of the workplace with incredibly competent, capable people from varying backgrounds. We're now seeing very effective attempts to claw this back.

Stories do not exist in a vacuum. Gerrard doesn't just highlight how conditions and people have changed in the last 20 years, but who hasn't and why. This isn't the same 118, even if it is the same Gerrard.

By @disasterbisafespace

It would! Because you can grow and change, but that doesn't mean the people you hurt have an obligation to forgive you or let you into their lives. It seems Hen and Chim are both willing to break bread with him, so it would be interesting if they brought someone in to provide that example. Maybe an excuse to bring back Gino Anthony Pesi?

That's just fanon hope... nothing tangible.

I do want to add to a separate point about forgiveness:

It is clear who the fandom is willing to forgive and extend grace to and who they aren't. For example, they've been far more willing to extend Shannon grace for "mistakes" as a mother than Athena. They're also far more willing to extend Eddie grace for cheating on Marisol than Hen on Karen. They're more willing to extend Buck grace for his anger than Chim. They're more willing to forgive Bobby for the people he hurts when he's hurting than Tommy.

I've seen fans do a 180 on how they talk about Buck and his anger and rejection sensitivity following his coming out. @evansboyfriend can confirm that I got an anon who claimed that Buck having a crush on a man has made him more violent, re: Basketball game.

By @hiriaeth

Sir, a second "sassy" has hit the fandom.

Actually, no. The shippers in the 911 fandom who primarily complain about Tommy and his past don't actually care about Tommy's past or his actions that contributed to the previous toxic workplace environment and harassment at the 118. Not everything is about a fucking ship, believe it or not, yet the only time they bring up his behavior is in relation to shipping. And because the only time they bring up a valid critique of Tommy's character is during shipping "discourse," I'm convinced it's not brought forth in good faith. Finding a way to tie everything to a ship—especially things like racism and misogyny—is cheap and tasteless. Not everything is about "shipping;" shut up about the shipping.

I don't think they actually want to discuss how white queers contribute to the marginalization of others, including other queer people, by weaponizing the patriarchy and/or white supremacy in their favor because so many of them are fellow white queers themselves. They don't care about how Tommy inadvertently, because of his past, provides a realistic portrayal of how white queers divide or hurt the larger community because of an inability to find solidarity with people of a different background, culture, or race (especially if it would "inconvenience" them or if it does not directly benefit them, like Chim saving Tommy's life). White people would rather choose misery and isolation over standing with or up for non-white people. White people are generally not willing to put in the work to build community; they'd rather contribute to the system or fly under the radar to avoid being shunned by the structures they, and the Ol' Boys Club, benefit from, like white supremacy or the patriarchy. Most white queers would rather be complaisant, complacent, and complicit. It's the white queer's adherence to oppressive systems that divide the community, not people's calls to tear those systems down. And it's only the white queer who can change their perspective on this.

Tommy only has himself to blame for his jealousy and alienation from a supportive and familial community, and only he can take the steps to ameliorate the situation. Tommy was an absolute fucking dick to Chim and Hen, and that has had long-term consequences on his life. Only he can correct for his behavior. He contributed to a toxic work environment, referring to Chim as a Chinese takeout delivery man, actively participating in Chim's hazing, and telling Chim that he did not like the man (mostly because he didn't know him). He would later call Hen "bitchy," and the men of the 118 would leave the "domestic work" to her as they did Chim, actively contributing to her hazing. He did not (verbally) stand up for her, iced her out, and also contributed to a homophobic work culture that made same-sex attraction the butt of jokes. He contributed to this toxic culture to fly under the radar, and that directly hurt people he should have extended a hand to.

Unfortunately for most of the fandom, this is, ultimately, a show that loves stories about redemption and resolution. And there is actual, explicit (meaning, non-subtextual) evidence that Tommy has put in some work to remedy what he did and who he was (including being able to 1.] own up to his past actions, 2.] understand how he hurt others, 3.] recognize why he did what he did and how that it is an explanation, not an excuse, and 4.] begin to make amends or rectify the situation, like reporting Gerrard and changing his mind about Hen and Chim). Hen and Chim would not have invited him for drinks regularly if they thought he was "irredeemable." The 118 would not have thrown him a going away party if they disliked him. Chim would not call in favors from Tommy on more than one occasion or even describe him as "so cool" if they weren't—well—cool. Eddie wouldn't enjoy ring-side fights and basketball games with Tommy if he didn't enjoy the man's company. Tommy also clearly refers to the type of man he was in the past tense, implying change over time. It can be argued that he has not put in enough work, but that's not what's being argued. We're getting bad faith arguments that Hen, Chim, and Eddie hate Tommy or bad faith arguments where Tommy's past actions are only brought forth as some sort of "gotcha" when a fan prefers canon representation over homophobic fan fiction tropes. You don't have to like Tommy, but making up non-textual reasons to dislike him is absurd.

Tommy, as a character in a narrative, provides a lesson for the general audience (GA), the majority of whom are white. It's not just important to see queer people on screen; it's important to see white people learn and change and admit they were wrong. It's also important that the show—well—shows the GA that whiteness and man-ness affect people's perception, position, and treatment. Tommy isn't just a gay man; he is a white gay man, and this has had a direct impact on how he navigates the world and how the world interacts with him. Gerrard treats men like Sal and Tommy differently than men like Chim or women like Hen, and staying in Gerrard's good graces—like the good graces of oppressive power structures—requires one to conform to a very narrow definition of a "real man," like being straight, white, palatable (like... not kinky, not risqué, not queer, all the things the fandom seems to actually hate Tommy for), and not helping oust regressive figures from positions of authority for the way they treat your coworkers. The audience got to see how Tommy went from being the prodigal son to being openly mocked by men like Gerrard. And it's important to show the GA that someone can and will be happier if they go against the grain and that admiration from men like Gerrard means very little in the grand scheme. Tommy is happier now after having been "rebuked" by men like Gerrard than he was when he strove for their praise and acceptance.

It's also important to show that men like Gerrard and his beliefs belong in the past, even though they exist in the present. This is a network TV show. A non-zero number of men like Gerrard catch this show weekly. It is still important to show that Gerrard is not the "type" of man anyone should aspire to be. His beliefs and actions are not commendable, and the show is very heavy-handed about this. The show is going to once again compare Gerrard ("bad captain") and Bobby ("good captain") to show how Bobby has created a good legacy at the 118. It began this parallel with Bobby Begins Again, continued to reinforce Bobby's good legacy in Buck's coma arc, and then revisited how Bobby has had a positive influence on the lives of the 118 in his season 7 montage. Now, the show is going to compare and contrast him and Gerrard to reinforce how important Bobby is to those around him. The show will also continue its inadvertent parallels between Buck and Tommy, showing how Buck is a different man under similar circumstances because he has had good influences (re: Bobby, Hen, and Chim) in his life. Buck and Eddie's relationship was shaping up to be very similar to Tommy and Chim's relationship: oppositional because of one-sided disregard and dislike, but it didn't because they had a good influence: Bobby (given the rather... fucked timeline, Tommy was likely newer to the 118 when Chim joined and, like Buck, his hostility and posturing were also likely influenced by insecurity and a desire to secure his position at the table).

Most unfortunately for many, the show is also going to show how Tommy has changed due to the same influences (re: Bobby, Hen, and Chim). They wouldn't have re-introduced both Tommy and Gerrard and mentioned their dynamic on more than one occasion if they weren't going to do something with that. Season 7 set up Tommy's upcoming arc very nicely. He knows the man he was, he knows the man who shaped him into that, and he knows how and why that was wrong. We'll get Tommy confronting his obvious daddy issues, jealousy, and desire for community (and why he didn't get a family-like dynamic at the 118, re: Gerrard *and* Tommy's own behavior). Tommy has been explicit about this, literally telling Buck that he envies the relationship the people at the 118 have and mentioning that he was not a good person, and this played a part in why he didn't have the same rapport.

9-1-1 is not a perfect show, but it does reflect some of the positive changes of our time. It's important to see representations of comp-het—like Buck, Tommy, and Michael—and how it negatively impacts people's character or relationships, and then how they—the character—can amend that. It's important to see stories that depict how silence is complicity and how refusing to be silent—as Hen refused to be—makes change and changes minds. It's important that the show reminds the audience that Hen is a black lesbian and that this has impacted how people see her and treat her, but that she is just as capable, if not more so. This includes men like Chim. Because I see nearly none of the people who "critique" Tommy in the name of "shipping" ever bring up how Chim has leaned on the patriarchy for support and a position at the table. He may have been the kindest to Hen, but he was by no means normal about women. And it is important to see how non-white men benefit from the patriarchy even as they are victimized by white supremacy. It's also important that the show shows the GA that non-white men are not affected by white supremacy equally, as Michael and Harry have had discussions about blackness and police brutality, a conversation that Chim is never going to have to have with his children, but that doesn't mean that Chim won't have to one day have a discussion with Jee-Yun about how and why some people treat her differently.

But the fandom approaches everything in a very... Catholic way. They don't approach this from the view that people can change and should be pushed to change; rather, they shun people like they've been marked by original sin. The structures we live under have deeply affected each and every one of our worldviews. "You are not immune to the propaganda" includes your personal philosophies and ideologies as well as the things you were taught since you were a child, consciously and "subconsciously." But, people would rather condemn everyone else as "irredeemable" than look critically at their own behavior out of fear of being "one of the bad ones." They'd rather *not* accept the fact that everyone has learning and changing to do as that would reflect upon them, too. This leads to being very resistant to being told that you're mistaken, you've hurt others, or that your behavior and beliefs contribute to repressive, dangerous, or toxic ideas (and we've seen a lot of that; y'all do not create safe online spaces). This leads to a lack of personal change as well as a lack of change at the interpersonal level because rather than teach or challenge, they stick up their nose and turn the other way. "Their barbaric bigotry; my enlightened neglect."

So, really, they've learned nothing from a character like Tommy.