#v: main [ joseph ]

[theunconcernedembalmer]

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 4.5 // Part 5 // Part 6 // Part 7 //

i haven't forgotten about this series just yet hopefully i'll finish it by this year. anyway this is titled "joseph is dramatic for about 20 minutes"

[peachylynnie]

i’m kinda new? anyways i saw this post and saw idv and OOOOH UR SOOO REAL ( was half expecting to see norton as one of the characters ) https://www.tumblr.com/peachylynnie/778747325227089920/you-have-a-crush-on-a-fictional-character

dude i was this close, THIS CLOSE 🤏 to having joseph or aesop as one of the characters. which is ironic since i'm a naib main. i get the expectation for norton tho since i always giggle like a maniac whenever i'm playing with one and they save me from getting chaired (did you mean prospector or fool's gold). N E WAYS it's cool to know you enjoyed the idv reference hehe it's always fun to interact with fellow players (i spent an obscene amount of money to get the nagito skin). thanks for the ask :3 it made my day and i'm always down to talk more about idv 🫡

[butterflies-and-mirrors]

my pookies <33

[gallery-piece]

i speedran this in like 30 minutes. no idea how idv's anatomy style works so its totally off. HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYY

[idv-confessions]

i'm new to idv but whenever i go into matches, it's almost always joseph as hunter and while he's super cool as a character, i find it nearly impossible to win against him ;w;

good for ppl who are great joseph mains tho, glad they're having fun!

.

[pmakuma]

01 / 13 / 24

LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!

[abricadabra]

name.  ethel lenora cain

alias/nickname.  tbd

dob. march 4th, 1970

dod. march 4th, 1991

age. 21

familial. vera cain — mother, joseph cain — father, ethel cain — grandmother.

notable relationships. janie — best friend, willoughby tucker — ex boyfriend, logan phelps — boyfriend (deceased), isaiah abram — killer.

species.  human (verse dependent)

occupation.  sex worker (formerly)

residence.  nomadic

powers/abilities.  tba (verse dependent)

about.  tw: csa/incest, religion, death, murder, domestic abuse, drugs, trafficking, cannibalism. tba!

[rivalsunraveled]

i will stand here, right outside your door. (dickjoey?)

It's been harder than he'd like to admit, coming back to life. The memories he has to push away to enjoy the second chance. The simultaneous loss in his family and joy of gaining a sister he'd never known about. It's a lot to manage, so he needed some time alone.

"Some" time turned into staying in his room an entire night and well into the day, painting.

Joey ignored Dick initially, but after a few minutes, he washes off his brushes and opens the door. "You didn't have to wait," he signs, smiling tiredly. Joe pushes his hair out of his face, getting some paint on his cheek as he does so. "But thank you..."

[ohthejealousy]

tracy is so fun to play with, i definitely need to use her more often! i miss the times when her bot’s energy wouldn’t deplete if she wasn’t actively using it though, she was so op back then :,)

[florxdexcerezos]

He laughed again. "This was not my own creation I assure you. Only the picture is mine." Still, he appreciated the misattributed credit. Joseph shook her hand, and turned his head to better hear her. "I'll be sure to stop by should I fancy a snack for the road. Lovely chatting with you Miss Alejandra." He dipped his head in sign off and watched her walk off. When she disappeared amongst the patrons, he finally stopped.

Without his camera, he felt naked, especially as he caught the eye of other ladies at the gala. Oh god. He just wanted to get back to his desk. Avoiding direct eye contact with anyone, he felt around the pockets in his suit jacket for his vibrating phone. Ananas . It must have been early hours in the morning for her, she should be in bed. Finding an exit out of the room to find somewhere private he took her call.

With Anna off to bed as directed, Joseph decided to call it quits. He decided to try his luck with Adan in the kitchen. In exchange for food, he asked for Adan to pass a message of congratulations and thanks to his cousin. He also thanked and offered to tip the gentleman. Not taking no for answer, he left $20 on a counter and wandering off before it could be handed back.

Time to crawl back into his hidey hole.

Alejandra wanted nothing more than to skirt the responsibility of talking to someone who didn’t understand why she did this, just donated because it was a big tax payoff, to continue talking with Joseph. Someone who she was actually enjoying talking to. But she did need the donations to keep things going.

Smiling, she reached out for his card. ❝ Que lindo! I'm going to need you to design my business card too! This is art. ❞ The fact that he was going to set some of his favorite snacks aside for her to try made her smile even wider. She was used to people wanting to talk to her just to get her number or expect something out of her. Having someone actually promise her something besides a 'good time' was nice. ❝ It was wonderful talking with you, Joseph.❞ She held out her free hand to shake his. ❝ And I look forward to seeing you at our other events, where I will definitely ask for that Lucozade. ❝ If you talk with my cousin Adan in the kitchen, he can give you some stuff to go if you like.❞ She leaned in closer to say under her breath. ❝ These people spare no expense to the food but tend to not eat it, so we usually give it away at the end of the night.❞ Pulling back, she smiled at him one more time. ❝Hope you enjoy the rest of the night.❞ Then went off to talk to more donors.

[vincentbriggs]

Hello! Transfem person here. I haven't started HRT yet, but want to procure a 1730s menswear suit (actually decided based on your video). I would prefer not to wait for it if possible, since I don't know when HRT is going to be possible. I am, however, a little concerned about my bust size changing and affecting the fit of the waistcoat. Is that decade usually pretty forgiving in it's tailoring? I am also considering having the upper back tie like some later waistcoats to accommodate if necessary (even if it's not entirely historical), but I figured I would ask you.

Thank you!

Hello! Ooh yay! Not enough people do early 18th century, so I'm delighted to hear that! (Link to the 1730's suit mentioned.)

I think the fit would be affected, yeah. The sides of the waistcoat are easy enough to let out (and we have extant examples of waistcoats with an extra strip of fabric added into the side seam) but the curve of the front is pretty important to how it sits on you. But then, it is fashionable in that era to leave quite a lot of the top portion unbuttoned, so maaaybe you could get away with it not fitting as well, depending on what changed and how much?

Regarding the adjustability of waistcoats, some of the earlier ones actually do have lacing in the back! This red one is an especially nice example, and it's separate all the way to the top.

(c. 1740's, V&A) (Though you also do see ones with the back hacked up and a bunch of ties that were likely added by Victorians for their fancy dress parties.)

The breeches also have adjustable waistbands, of course, so I think the hardest part to alter would be the coat. The back vent is edge to edge, so there's no overlap to sneak a bit more width out of, and letting out the side seams would require re-doing those massive pleats, which were the part I found the most difficult when making my coat. But fortunately those coats were worn open a lot of the time, so even if they're not quite right when buttoned, they should still look ok unbuttoned.

It's very difficult to predict how the fit will be affected, since HRT is different for everyone and things keep changing years down the line. (One comment on this post talks about suddenly getting more breast and hip growth after 7, 12, and 14 years.)

I only have experience from the transmasc side of things, and alas, I very much did outgrow all my old waistcoats and coats. My 1730's suit needs alterations, because the waistcoat is a bit too small, and the coat seams could use a bit of letting out too. (I made those the year after top surgery, but my ribcage kept expanding and my posture improving for quite a while.)

I've been putting it off because alterations are boring :/ My pre-top surgery waistcoats are all way too small across the chest even though material was removed, because my posture was kinda bad and I didn't even notice it, and I expect that the opposite could also lead to the same sort of better posture from more confidence & comfort.

But bodies keep changing forever anyways, even without transitioning. Plenty of cis people can't fit into the things they sewed when they were younger, so we may as well make things to fit us now. Perhaps you could make the suit now, but use a not-too-expensive fabric, and then maybe alter it later, or make a newer and better one with the experience you gained from the first one!

Also I know you specifically said menswear suit, but I want to add the fun fact that women's riding habits in this era looked extremely similar to men's suits!

(Left: Maria Amalia von Habsburg by Franz Joseph Winter, right: Member of the Van der Mersch Family by Cornelis Troost.)

As far as I can tell, the main differences are that the riding habits have a petticoat instead of breeches, and are made to fit over stays.

(Empress Elisabeth Christine in riding costume, unknown artist.)

So similar, in fact, that this portrait of a young lady in a riding habit was misidentified as a young man!

Most of the petticoat is out of frame, but you can still see that it's not beeches, and the stays shape is pretty obvious. Very silly of Sotheby's not to notice!

I have no idea if you're interested in wearing a riding habit, and I'm not sure how difficult it would be to alter the somewhat looser men's coat to fit over stays, but thought I ought to mention it.

[irlplasticlamb]

i was wondering if you could maybe post some old art of your i'm curious how your style evolved!

sure thing! i am so sorry for the TERRIBLE quality but my old laptop doesn’t want to boot up so i had to screenshot these off my instagram

omg this piece is from like 2018 — it’s cherry kills! an amazing drag artist, she noticed me and i literally cried that day LMAO i was so honoured

okay i’m cheating a little because it’s a painting (and a terrible one too) but i did a little series of elton paintings back in the day and recording my painting process got me like uhh around 20k followers on tiktok

will graham as the may queen :) can you imagine that i (a person who ADORES lineart now and struggles with colouring) used to do extremely limited lineart for a while???? INSANE but also shows you how crazy your art journey can get

2DOC!! i did a really fun lineart technique then when i would do a base sketch then refine it a little and then erase parts of it (i selected the background which would catch parts of the sketch as well! didn’t do it manually because i was too lazy lol) i actually love the colours in this one they’re so vibrant

one of the first pieces i did on procreate! (i previously used a wacom tablet and paint tool sai)

this is michael de santa from gta v except his design is super heavily influenced by my headcanons hahah

MY OCS!!!! i don’t draw my ocs often because i feel like no one gives a fuck about them but this was a big post with most of my ocs for this little story i have in my head! it’s about an 80s metal band! jeff is the main vocalist and bassist and richard is the band’s manager!!! they’re incredibly toxic and in obsessive love with each other i miss them

DREAM DADDY!!!!!!! ART!!!!! ATTACK!!!!! ok so real talk mary is one of my favourite female characters to ever exist and also robert/joseph robert/mary and mary/joseph is one of my most beloved toxic awful love concoction ever i have so many headcanons

uh yeah…… yeah i did do some among us fanart. listen to be free is to be cringe!!!! pandemic was an incredibly hard time for me and these two made me happy! it’s a black crewmate / pink impostor type of situation

oh yes i love danganronpa too….. junko is actually my fav character (fork found in kitchen) but i adore celesgami so much (especially aus in which they’re really EVIL and TERRIBLE)

……. YEAH I WAS A CORPSE HUSBAND STANNIE

AND I STILL DO MISS HIS STREAMS

+ continued in a reblog

[gothic-thoughts]

Under Her Influence

(Jojo one chance plz, I swear 😩😊)

Joseph Joestar x Black Fem Reader Smut

MDNI, Best Friend's SisterAU, RoommatesAU, Enemies2LoversAU

CW: Caesar's younger sis (adopted ig cuz like 🤷🏾‍♀️), afab parts mentioned, she/her pronouns, secret relationship, male and fem masturbating, voyeurism, quiet/secret sex, eating 😻, P in V smashing, unprotected smashing

TW: Jojo's britshness (he's so cute wtf 😍)

Word Count: 1961 (give or take)

I had a little crush on Caesar's sister, (Y/n) since we met, but of course, before I could speak, the bastard threatened me about even trying. My love for her only grew when she moved in, but I was always side-eyed by Caesar for even making her laugh. Then outta nowhere, she started to avoid me for no reason! Even going as far as to ignore me when I spoke!

When (Y/n) was out of the house, I stormed up to Caesar's room and knocked on the door heavily. I wait for him to open it with a scowl on my face and my arms folded in front of my chest, ready to confront him. I just know he spread rumors about me! And I can't ask her cuz she'll just ignore me! As I raise my fist to pound on the door again, the blonde Italian opens the door with his arms crossed with an unimpressed expression.

“What is it, Jojo?” He asked, leaning on the doorway.

I poke him in the chest, “What the hell did you say to (Y/n) to make her hate me so much, you pompous prick?!”

“What are you talking about?!”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about! (Y/n)’s been ignoring me and treating me like trash outta nowhere for days!”

“Heh, maybe she’s finally seeing what I see; nothing but an annoying idiot.”

“So you did say something!” I grab his shirt, pulling him close, “You son of a bitch, you’re ruining my chances!”

“I knew this was about that!” He angrily pushes me away, “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from my sister!?”

“Well, it’s kinda hard to do that when we live in the same house, you dunce! And besides, she’s a grown woman; you can’t control who she likes!”

“I can if it’s you! I don’t want her anywhere near you!”

I groan and punch the wall, “And who are you to say that; you may be her brother, but not her father!”

“I’m the one protecting my baby sister from a broken heart after a useless 6-month fling with an idiot like you! So forget it, Jojo."

“Fling?! Dammit, Caesar, I wouldn't be acting like this for some stupid affair!"

"This is my last warning!"

He steps back and slams the door in my face leaving me in the hallway to groan loudly and angrily before punching the wall beside the door.

"I just want to talk to her! Is that so wrong to get to properly know my other roommate?!”

No response. Groaning, I punch the wall as lightly as I can despite my anger so I don’t give myself a new problem to deal with later. Ugh, I get that (Y/n)’s his only sister, but this is ridiculous! It's not fair to me! Or her! With one last loud groan, I storm downstairs and leave the house with a slam of the front door.

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

I only came home from the bar soaking wet from the rain became hard, I arrived home from the bar a little drunk and still pissed at the argument earlier. I liked it better when she would try not to giggle at my flirts. I open the front door and go, inside striding up the main stairs to my bedroom as the house creaks from the storm. 

Ugh! Maybe if that bastard hadn’t banned me from talking to her, my feelings wouldn’t have gotten stronger! Stupid ass... I shuffle past Caesar’s room and grab my door handle, only to hear soft gasps of my name from behind me between the rumbles of thunder. Was that...? I hold my breath, listening for the hushed sounds again. Is she alright?

“Jojo~”

“(Y/n)?” I push the door open slightly, “Is every—?”  

My breathing caught in my throat, eyes widening at (Y/n)'s contorted face through the small space between the door and the frame. Those lovely dark eyes squeezed shut, those legs parted and trembling to keep her underwear at her knees while her fingers thrust in and out at knuckle depth. Her top was pulled up to her chest, leaving her big breasts on display while she gently twists and tugs on her hardened nipples.

...Oh...my...god... 

I couldn't move—I just stood there in shocked silence as she fought for her orgasm, feverish movements begging me for help, causing my pants to grow tighter and tighter thanks to the adrenaline and alcohol rushing through my veins. Goddamn, she....looks so nice... (Y/n)'s eyes fluttered open for a second, and it was too late to leave. 

She yanks her hand from between her legs with a loud gasp as her skin dawns an undertone of deep red as her knees snap shut, allowing her underwear to loosely slide down to her ankles. Shit, shit, shit, how am I gonna explain this?! And why was that so hot?

"Jojo, what the hell?!" She snapped, still heaving slightly, "Were you spying on me, you pervert?!

I stammer. "Perv?! Me?!"

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

"You were calling me! I thought you-- you...were...."

I pause, refocusing my attention on how I found her: moaning my name while she battled desperately for her climax. The moment replayed over and over in my head until I smirked a little and began ogling knowingly.

"You were calling my name." I tease, "One may even say you were moaning it."

"No, I wasn’t. I was...”

“Let me guess..." I step into the room before lightly kicking her door shut, "You were just trying to 'relax' after work?”

"Shut up! You're not even supposed to be home; Caesar said you were out for the rest of the night!"

“Well, I would be if it wasn’t raining cats and dogs."

"Tch." 

"Anyway, what'd he tell you about me that was so bad? Cuz, uh, I get the feeling none of it was true."

"Yeah, right."

"Well, honestly, it depends on what he said, but I bet it was just some bullshit just to get you to hate me. But I guess it didn't stop you from having moments like...this. But hey, don't stop on my account.”

"Wha--"

"You heard me. You've obviously had a long day so....continue."

I could practically hear her heart hammering on her ribcage, but I couldn't help but continue to stare at her body, wondering what she was imagining me doing to her. After the longest 30 seconds ever, (Y/n) finally looks at me, her gaze trailing up and down my body, most likely noticing the bulge in my pants before curling a finger to gesture me over.

I take slow steps to give her time to speak out and protest but manage to get to the foot of her bed without our eye contact breaking. My gaze moves down to observe the way her thighs shivered from her incomplete climax. The sight makes me moan softly as I grab her ankle and drag her to the edge, watching her thighs separate as her hand slowly slips back to her shiny clit.

"Mmh, you look as delicious as you sound." I groan, caressing her soft thigh, “C’mon, touch yourself to me like you were...before I do.”

She strokes it in small circles, fingers swirling her sensitive bud until she shivers, plush thighs tensing in front of me. I kneel at the edge of the bed for a closer look at how her opening twitches around nothing, pouring her juices down her butt to the bedsheets. Fuck, I want it. I want her. I...I... I undo my pants, letting my girth spring free before wrapping my fingers around it tightly.

"Ngh, Jojo."

"Don't call me like that, (Y/n)." I groan, stroking faster, "You're gonna drive me nuts."

Her hand stops and she smirks down at me, "You're already down there, aren't you?"

I instantly latch my mouth onto her rosebud, causing (Y/n)'s head to drop back into the mattress while she plays with my hair. Mewls and whimpers leave her lips along with my own moans as my tongue wiggles past her folds. I grab her thighs and hold her open for me while I slurp and lick until a mixture of slick and spit coated my lips and chin.

I reluctantly pull my tongue from her and stand, licking her essence from my lips with a devious smirk before slowly pushing my cock into her, groaning in disbelief at the snugness. I press my hands into the bed, plowing my body between her thighs to keep them open to my harsh strokes. Her nails sink into my shoulders and her teeth into her lip as my pace grows harder.

"~ah, my god." She gasps, "Holy shit~"

"Shhh, we still gotta be quiet."

"You're not ~ngh, making it easy."

"I know." I let out a breathless giggle, speeding up my hips, "You just feel so good, I-I can't.”

"Y-yes, oh my god~"

Moaning, I grip the sheets at the way she squeezes around me. I swirl my hips as I drive a little deeper, her hands tugging on my shirt while her legs wobble from the weight of me hammering against her cervix. 

"Oh my god~" She groans, legs wrapping around me, "You're gonna make me loud, J-Jojo."

"Heh, I knew you couldn't hate me; how could you when I'm so funny?"

"He talks s-so much shit about you, ngh, it's like a hobby."

"I don't care what that meathead thinks; I just care what his sister thinks."

Her legs pull me closer while her back arches under me with every drag along her sweet spots as her orgasm rushes through her. Her climax made her even wetter, turning the sound of every stroke into her inviting pussy into a soft squelch. Pure carnal need boils in my stomach at the feeling of her juices squelching out of her as I cover her mouth and start pounding into her with reckless abandon.

"Oh...sh-shit~" I moan, "Goddammit, you feel s-so...good."

"Don't stop, hah, baby, please. Jojo, please"

"You keep talking like that and I won't. Heh, your brother...would absolutely....kill me~"

My hips stutter out of rhythm as I huff out breathless groans every time my hips move before quickly pulling out despite the warmth. I stroke myself until warm seed shoots along her pelvis and stomach while I grunt out curses, hips jerking forward with each one. I press my clean hand into the mattress next to her side to catch myself.

"This don't have to be the only time we do this."

"I sure hope so, I've been wanting a normal conversation with you since you got here."

She chuckles, "So it's not just about you wanting to sleep with me?"

"It's not, even when it is." I laugh, "I just want to be close to you, and if this is the only way I can do it then...."

"We can be close another way."

"Closer than what we did? How's--"

She pulls me down by the collar of my shirt and hotly links her lips with mine. I moan in surprise, eyes widened before they flutter shut as her other hand slides up my chest to my shoulders. I take my turn to surprise then surprise her by slipping my tongue into her mouth, making her moan under me again. She tries to pull my body closer but I pull away with a giggle, breaking our forbidden kiss. Our eyes open while we pant heavily on each other's swollen, reddened lips.

"Sorry.” I whisper, “As much as I'd love to be pressed against your breasts again, we should get cleaned up before....uh.."

[stilledlife]

"no, no—i believe we have everything we need here," stefano interjects, backing away from the mannequin to take a long look at it himself, holding his hands up to make a photo frame.

personally, he doesn't want to waste the time looking for clues he thinks (knows) aren't there.

"you already placed the stone, so i think all that is left is posing her correctly and giving her the right flowers." if the statement is phrased in such a way that it's light, simple enough, perhaps joseph won't prod too hard at what follows it.

he moves towards the mannequin again, adjusting her pose with a hand on one shoulder, leaning her torso slightly forwards; moving on to changing the position of the arms so the hands are turned inwards, close together, getting it ready to hold something. his movements are quick, sure of himself, but with a gentle pressure, as if the mannequin is a living thing.

with that prepared, he walks over to the flowers, pretending to deliberate for a moment before plucking the bouquet and carrying it back to the model. he meticulously settles her hands around the stems, attention even on how one hand sits on top of the other. stefano takes a step back for a moment to observe his work, before returning to adjust her arms slightly.

there is another loud click, but nothing happens.

stefano deflates slightly with a sigh, putting a hand to his forehead. "of course. there's something else." there would be one more thing whoever designed this mockery would expect him to do.

"now, listen to me." he directs his words to joseph, looking over at him. "this is going to look...strange. but you have to trust me. all right?"

he doesn't wait for an answer, lest the impulse for what he's about to do next leaves him entirely, before stepping behind the mannequin and putting a hand on either side of its head.

in a series of brusque motions, he snaps the head to the side. crack. then forwards. crack. the sounds of the neck joint straining break the silence of the room. then, when he lifts the head back toward him, he's able to lift it smoothly away from the neck entirely.

click.

with that, a panel in the wall behind him shifts, sliding away to reveal a dark, narrow passageway.

"there. easy. problem solved," he says, as if he was not still holding a head in his hands.

joseph follows stefano into the room, immediately noting the difference in atmosphere. stefano notices it too — or something, joseph observes as the other man freezes, however briefly. it's a passive thing, and the former detective lets the moment go without addressing it.

besides the atmosphere being different, the room is strikingly similar to the others in its artificiality; the curtains painted on the wall stick out as rushed, the red of the paint slightly too vibrant for what he can only assume is the desired effect.

the roses, too, he notices as he approaches the three vases, are fake. they're nice fakes (silk?), but fakes nonetheless. "besides that, what else are we supposed to do?" joseph asks as he turns to face the mannequin. stefano is right about the emerald, that much seems certain — the size and shape are an exact match, he's fairly certain as he crosses the small room and pulls the gem from his pocket.

that certainty is confirmed as the emerald slots into place with a click that's slightly too loud for stone on wood.

silence settles as joseph's eyes bore into the mannequin, like staring at it hard enough will make it reveal its secrets. but, of course, it's just a mannequin. "hmm." he paces away from the wooden figure, flipping open the notebook. "seven is a weird number of roses," he thinks aloud, quickly jotting down 'roses: 1 / 3 / 7' for future reference. "bouquets are usually in full or half dozens." it certainly makes that number stick out more than the others, but that isn't a definitive answer and could be a misdirection altogether.

"but that doesn't tell us what to do with them, even if that's right." talking to himself, he writes down a quick note about the contents of this room by the door on his hastily-drawn map and closes the notebook. "there are two more doors we haven't checked," he says, now speaking directly to stefano. "if we're lucky, they'll be open and we might find more clues. maybe we missed something by passing them by."

[xoxorealitygalore]

Nasty Dancer V

Summary: Due to her unyielding confidence, Aphrodite earns her spot on the main roster, becoming The Bloodline's manager — or rather, Sefa's Special Counsel. His Wisewoman. But can she maintain her bold, unapologetic style when faced with her greatest challenge yet: working alongside her ex-boyfriend?

Taglist: @xbriexx @christinabae

Previous: Chapter Four

Today was Aphrodite’s nephew slash Godson’s Orion’s fourth birthday and the backyard of Aphrodite's family home was transformed into an extravagant, dinosaur-themed wonderland. A gathering of close friends and family filled the vast lawn, each one drawn in by the vivid displays that captured the essence of a prehistoric jungle.

The air was filled with a chorus of laughter, clinking glasses, and the soft rustle of children’s excited chatter. It was a celebration befitting the second-oldest son of Aphrodite’s older sister, Tiasa, and her husband Hector. Orion, a curious and energetic boy, had a fascination with dinosaurs that none in the family could ignore. It was clear that this party had been organized with love, care, and an uncanny attention to detail that spoke volumes about the bond they all shared.

Aphrodite stood by the entrance to the backyard, her gaze drifting over the elaborate decorations. Everything was carefully designed to capture the imagination of both the young and the old.

Massive inflatable dinosaurs towered above the guests, each one more lifelike than the last. A long table stretched across one corner, piled high with treats: cupcakes decorated with tiny dinosaur claws, cookies in the shape of fossilized eggs, and fruit carved into prehistoric shapes. The smells of grilled food and freshly prepared snacks lingered in the air as people milled about, taking in the whimsical atmosphere.

Tiasa, with her trademark smile, stood beside her, clearly enjoying every moment of the event. "How cute is everything?" she asked Aphrodite, gesturing to the party in general.

Aphrodite chuckled, taking in the scene with a mixture of amusement and slight concern. "I didn’t realize that Orion was obsessed with dinosaurs to this point, but it’s a cute party."

“And those dinosaurs are way too realistic,” Aphrodite added, eyeing the giant inflatable creatures with a bemused frown. Their eyes seemed to glisten with a strange, almost predatory gleam.

Tiasa glanced over at the creatures with a knowing smile. "That’s Dad and Hector’s doing. You know how they are when it comes to putting on a show."

Aphrodite shook her head, her eyes narrowing slightly as she inspected the larger-than-life Tyrannosaurus Rex that loomed in the corner of the yard. "Of course," she muttered, half under her breath. There was no surprise there. Aphrodite’s father, Jason, and her brother-in-law, Hector, had always been involved in the grandiose, larger-than-life aspects of family events. No detail ever escaped their attention.

A brief silence settled between the sisters as they surveyed the yard. Then, with a knowing look, Tiasa spoke again, her voice a little quieter, more probing. “So, I noticed Sefa has been staring at you since he arrived at the party. How is everything between you two?”

Aphrodite’s stomach did a small, involuntary flip at the mention of Joseph, or as most people knew him—Sefa. The man who had once held her heart before abandoning her for a life with someone else. Aphrodite had managed to keep her distance from Joseph since their breakup years ago. She had walked away, patched up the wounds he left, and moved on with her life. Now, working with him at WWE, it seemed impossible to avoid him. They had spoken, they had cleared the air to some degree, and she had shared with him the heartbreak of losing their child, a loss that still haunted her.

But that didn’t mean she could forget what had happened or how it had felt to be left behind. The idea of Joseph trying to worm his way back into her life, however, was something Aphrodite wasn’t ready to accept.

“He can stare all he wants,” Aphrodite replied curtly, her tone a little sharper than she intended. "We’re co-workers. There’s nothing between us."

Tiasa didn’t seem convinced, however. She leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing as she probed further. “You know he was the love of your life at one point, right? I don’t know how you can be so cold towards him.”

Aphrodite’s breath hitched as the words landed. She hadn’t expected Tiasa to press the issue so directly. “You know he broke my heart, right?” Aphrodite responded, her voice thick with emotion.

Her sister’s expression softened, but she was unwavering. “We both know you still love him, or else you wouldn’t be acting like this.”

Aphrodite rolled her eyes, her frustration mounting. "Why are we even talking about him?" she asked, as though the mere mention of Joseph could sour her mood further.

Tiasa was persistent. She shrugged, a teasing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Because I know he’s trying to win you back, and I want you to give him a chance.”

Aphrodite's gaze flickered toward her sister with a look of disbelief. “No way,” she said, her voice laced with finality.

“Seriously, Dottie,” Tiasa pressed, using her childhood nickname for her. “You and him, it’s going to work this time around, trust me.”

Aphrodite sighed deeply, feeling the weight of her sister’s words, but there was no room in her heart for what Tiasa was suggesting. She couldn’t shake the memories of how Joseph had abandoned her when she needed him most. Now, he was back, but only after everything had fallen apart. Aphrodite couldn’t simply erase the past.

Without responding, Aphrodite turned and walked away from her sister. There was no point in engaging with her right now. Tiasa meant well, but she didn’t understand. She didn’t know how much the pain of their breakup still stung—how much of herself Aphrodite had lost in the process.

As Aphrodite made her way toward the house, her thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of crying. She paused, her attention drawn to a small figure hunched in the corner of the kitchen. The child was crying softly, his small body trembling as he sat on the floor, hands wiping at his eyes.

Aphrodite’s heart went out to him immediately. She recognized the little boy. It was Zamir, one of Joseph’s sons. He was only three years old, but his wide, dark eyes seemed to carry the weight of the world on his tiny shoulders. She knelt beside him, her gentle voice cutting through the sadness in his eyes.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Aphrodite asked, her voice soothing.

Zamir sniffled, hiccupping as he looked up at her. "I want to jump in the bounce house, but I'm scared," he confessed, his small lip trembling.

Aphrodite smiled softly, leaning down closer to his level. “You don’t need to be scared,” she reassured him. “I’ll go in with you, okay?”

Zamir’s eyes brightened, and without hesitation, he climbed into her arms, wrapping his little hands tightly around her neck. Aphrodite rose with ease.

As she walked towards the backyard, she didn’t notice Joseph standing just behind her, observing the exchange with a soft, appreciative smile. It was a look she had seen before, one that carried a silent message. A message that said she would be a wonderful mother.

She moved past him, her eyes avoiding his gaze, but the moment still hung in the air.

Outside, the laughter of the children filled the air as she stepped into the bouncy house. Zamir let out a delighted shriek and immediately began to bounce, his fear forgotten. Zev, his older brother, joined in, along with a handful of other children. Aphrodite laughed along with them, her worries momentarily forgotten in the chaos of the bouncing fun.

Joseph, standing at the edge of the bounce house with his youngest son, Zion, in his arms, watched with a soft smile as Aphrodite interacted with his boys. His brother Joshua stood beside him, and with a knowing glance, he murmured, “She looks good with them.”

Joseph nodded silently, his gaze never leaving Aphrodite as she continued to laugh and play with his sons. A sense of longing simmered beneath the surface, and he couldn’t help but wonder if this could be their second chance. Maybe, just maybe, he could convince her to give him another chance.

But Aphrodite wasn’t ready for that. Not yet. She was still guarding her heart, still wary of the man who had once broken it. And though Joseph’s intentions had changed, the road to rebuilding their relationship would not be an easy one. But as he watched her laugh with his sons, a glimmer of hope flickered in his chest.

Maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance for them.

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The day after Orion’s fourth birthday party, Zev, Joseph’s six-year-old, sat on the couch, legs crossed beneath him, his eyes bright as he talked animatedly about the party. Beside him, Zamir, just three, looked up with innocent eyes, his fingers absentmindedly tapping on the table.

Joseph's youngest son, Zion, sat in his high chair, playing with a small toy, occasionally glancing up at his father. Joseph stood over him, spooning mashed carrots into his son’s mouth. The soft, rhythmic sound of the spoon tapping against the bowl seemed to complement the quiet hum of the morning.

“I want to play with her again,” Zamir said, his voice small but earnest, a serious tone in his tiny voice that made Joseph smile. It wasn’t lost on him that both of his sons were still talking about the same thing: Aphrodite.

“And she’s pretty,” Zev added, his voice laced with the same admiration. He wasn’t usually so open with his feelings, but the mention of Aphrodite always seemed to bring a rare softness to his words.

Joseph wiped Zion’s chin with a napkin, his mind drifting for a moment. Was he really about to do this? Use his kids to worm his way back into Aphrodite’s life? He didn’t have to think too long before the answer came: Yes, absolutely.

Aphrodite had been part of his life once. Her smile, her laughter, the way she made everything seem brighter. He missed her in ways he hadn't fully acknowledged. The break-up, and the reasons behind it, felt distant now. Was it foolish to want to rekindle something? Especially after years apart, and especially when he hadn’t exactly been the model ex-boyfriend. But seeing her with his kids yesterday and seeing the way she interacted with them made him realize something. She was still a part of him, whether they both liked it or not.

Joseph quickly picked up his phone, an idea forming in his mind. The little ones would be his conduit. He needed to take advantage of their affection for her, and there was no harm in using their innocent longing for a reunion.

He cleared his throat, trying to put on his best fatherly voice as he spoke to Zev and Zamir. “Hey, boys, let’s do something special. I want you to say something to Aphrodite on the camera.” They both looked at him with curious eyes, but neither hesitated. Zev’s expression was serious, his young mind already following the logic Joseph had in mind.

“Say, ‘Aphrodite, come play with us,’” Joseph instructed, the words coming more easily than he expected.

Zev, always eager to please, immediately repeated the words into the camera. “Aphrodite, come play with us,” he said, his voice just shy of being too excited, but there was a sweetness in his tone that Joseph couldn't ignore. He caught Zamir’s attention, who repeated the phrase in his adorable toddler voice. “Aph-wodite, come play.”

Joseph’s smile widened. With a quick tap of his finger, he sent the video to Aphrodite. Now all he had to do was wait.

Aphrodite sat in her living room, the afternoon sun filtering through the sheer curtains. She sipped her tea, the coolness of the ceramic mug grounding her as her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen. It was a video from Joseph.

She hesitated. Her finger hovered over the play button, and then, with a small sigh, she pressed it. The video opened to reveal Zev’s earnest face, his little brother’s voice chiming in the background.

“Aphrodite, come play with us,” Zev said, his tone sweet but matter-of-fact, as though the request was something she had no choice but to honor.

Aphrodite set the phone down, her mind racing. There was something so endearing about their innocence and their openness to affection. They had bonded with her in a way she hadn’t expected. The thought of seeing them again, playing with them again, stirred something inside her. But then, just as quickly, the familiar tension rose within her.

Her relationship with Joseph was complicated. Despite the chemistry and the pain that still lingered in her memory, the thought of reopening that chapter felt like a step she wasn’t sure she wanted to take.

Her phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Joseph: Zev and Zamir keep talking about you. They really want to see you again. It meant a lot to them, you know?

Aphrodite sighed, rubbing her temples. She texted Mona, her best friend, her confidante.

What should I do? He’s asking me to hang out with the kids.

Mona, as usual, was quick with a response: Aphrodite, you know you love kids. If you want to go, go. Or you can just invite them over. It doesn’t have to be about Joseph. Just think about the boys.

Aphrodite stared at the message. She knew Mona was right. But the thought of being around Joseph made her stomach churn.

Still, Mona had a point. This wasn’t about Joseph. This was about the kids.

She let out a deep breath and texted Joseph back: The boys can come over. My address is...

Less than twenty minutes later, Joseph found himself standing in front of Aphrodite’s door, three kids in tow. Zev and Zamir were practically vibrating with excitement, and Zion, content as ever, was tucked comfortably in his arms, his little eyes taking in the surroundings. Joseph hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. This felt like a step he hadn’t fully thought through.

Aphrodite opened the door with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Hey,” Joseph said, offering a sheepish grin.

“Hi,” Aphrodite replied. Her eyes flickered to the boys, then back to him.

She stepped aside to let them in, her gaze lingering just a moment longer than necessary. She had clearly been debating whether or not to go through with this, but now that they were here, there was no turning back.

Joseph was relieved when she didn’t shut the door in his face. She didn’t look happy to see him—not exactly—but she didn’t seem angry either. At that moment, he wondered if maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something new. Something he hadn’t anticipated but was willing to explore.

Aphrodite led them to the playroom, a bright, colorful space full of toys and games. It was clear that it had been designed with her nieces and nephews in mind. Joseph looked around, his eyes catching on a few old stuffed animals, remnants of a time when he and Aphrodite were close. His chest tightened, but he quickly pushed the feeling aside.

“I’m just doing this for your boys,” Aphrodite said, looking over her shoulder at Joseph, as though explaining her actions. “Don’t think too much about this.”

Joseph nodded, hiding the smile that tugged at his lips. She was doing it for the boys. She didn’t have to explain herself, but he understood. This wasn’t about him. It was about them about the connection that had briefly existed between them and the bond that still lingered, unspoken.

They played for an hour, the sounds of laughter and joy filling the room. Aphrodite’s gentle voice mixed with the boys’ excited chatter, creating a symphony of warmth that made Joseph feel like he was witnessing something beautiful. He had forgotten how much he missed this, how much he missed her.

Eventually, they moved to the kitchen. Aphrodite cooked dinner, and Joseph, surprisingly, found himself helping. He had forgotten how much he enjoyed the simple act of sharing a meal with her, how her cooking had always been something that made him feel at home.

Zev, always the polite one, offered a prayer before they ate, his small hands folded in prayer. The moment felt intimate, almost sacred. Aphrodite looked down at him, her eyes softening as she watched him.

After dinner, as the evening drew to a close, Zev surprised everyone. He turned to Aphrodite with a serious expression and said, “I remember you from when I was younger. I’m happy you’re back in my life.”

Aphrodite’s breath caught in her throat. The words felt like a punch to the chest, and before she could stop herself, tears welled up in her eyes. She knelt down and pulled Zev into a tight hug, her hands trembling slightly. Joseph hadn’t expected Zev to remember anything from when they had dated. He hadn’t even realized Zev had any memories of Aphrodite.

“I’m happy to see you again,” Zev whispered, his small voice laced with sincerity.

Aphrodite pulled away, wiping her eyes quickly. “Good night,” she said softly, leading them to the door.

“Good night,” Joseph replied, his voice softer than he intended. He paused for a moment as though wanting to say something more, but the words didn’t come. There was so much left unspoken between them, but for now, he was content to let the silence hang in the air.

As they stepped out into the evening, Joseph felt something shift within him. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. They were on their way back to something, he just wasn’t sure what yet.

[rollercoasterwords]

heyyy do you have any recs for where i could read more about ideas similar to those you discussed in your post abt representation of s*xual violence?

sorry the censoring of one single letter in sexual violence is taking me out lmao but yeah sure! not sure if you’re asking for fiction or nonfiction recs but i can give a few for both. obviously blanket trigger warning for sexual violence in all of these

nonfiction:

screw consent: a better politics of sexual justice, by joseph j. fischel - it’s been a few years since i read this now, but it was the first text that really explicitly introduced me to alternative ways of thinking about sexual justice & helped me understand and think through some of the issues i had with the dominant models i was seeing

king kong theory, by virginie despentes - this is a pretty controversial text largely because of the way despentes treats sexual violence and sex work, but i found her analysis of sex work pretty useful. my main issue with this book is that even as despentes tries to develop a critique of the ways gender is socially constructed she herself falls back into bioessentialism quite a bit, which weakens her arguments significantly

texts after terror: rape, sexual violence, and the hebrew bible by rhiannon graybill - again been a few years since i read this & the topic is pretty specific, but i def recommend reading the intro & conclusion if u want another example of alternative models for thinking about sexual violence & justice

reading up on prison abolition also really changed the way i think about sexual justice; some starter texts on that topic i’d recommend are are prisons obsolete? by angela y. davis and the end of policing by alex s. vitale

fiction:

the feverwake duology, by victoria lee - i think this one is pretty easy to fit into a straightforward evil perpetrator/innocent victim model by the end if that’s how you read it, but the way lee explores some of the nuances and messiness of sexual violence really resonated with me and i personally think one of the strongest parts of this series is the fact that lee humanizes the ‘bad guy’ in many ways and pushes the reader to sympathize with him at various points while still forcing the reader to confront the harm he’s clearly doing

mysterious skin, by scott heim - really excellent & gut-wrenching story about the aftermath of csa in which none of the victims fit neatly into narratives of innocence

a history of glitter and blood by hannah moskowitz - one of my fave books of all time about teenage sex workers trying to survive a war. v messy webs of sexuality & violence although i wouldn’t say sexual violence is quite as explicit thematically, it definitely undergirds the story

the captive prince series by c.s. pacat - heavy on the sexual violence in this one especially in the first book. but one of my fave fantasy series of all time largely bc i found the series as a whole to be a really lovely exploration of how/whether we can forgive forms of harm that are usually deemed unforgivable

bloodchild by octavia butler - this one is a short story with a very poignant exploration of sexual harm & family dynamics