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zivazivc · 3 years ago

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Pinocchio AU

Okay people want the explanation for this comic so here it goes. It’s long and complicated and MESSED UP because of course it is, this is me. I’m going to write in points because my small tired brain can’t handle good english atm but basically to sum up the Adrien was a sentimonster theory or Pinocchio AU as I like to call it:

Young married Emilie and Gabriel can’t have kids. Gabriel reluctantly accepts this fate and even brings up adoption as a possibility once, but Emilie doesn’t want to hear any of that. She’s a bit of a Marinette in the sense that she pictures this romanticized ideal life for herself and a child—her flesh and blood—HAS to be in it.

They keep trying to get a baby while other young families Emilie knows keep growing. She feels left out and hurt and depressed, then her newlywed twin sister announces she’s expecting a baby too and something within Emilie just unhinges.

She eventually lies to some of her friends, who she was out for coffee with, that she’s pregnant too. She mostly does it just to see their reaction and feel what it would be like but it quickly spirals out of control where she just starts pretending she’s pregnant until you can’t even tell if she believes it herself.

Gabriel is confused at first because he hears the news second hand (a friend/family member congratulating him) so he’s apprehensive when he approaches his wife but she convinces him that they really are getting a baby and Gabriel is ecstatic.

It’s only later at a doctor’s check up that Gabriel learns that she indeed is not pregnant. The doctor even speaks to him alone explaining that his wife is in denial and that he should make sure she goes to see a psychiatrist, something she definitely wouldn’t do alone.

Gabriel is unsuccessful with that because he’s not entirely persistent, doesn’t want to be the guy with the crazy wife having to tell everyone she lied about being pregnant, and hopelessly believes she’ll just get over it eventually.

That is until her “pregnancy is near due”—her sister already had Félix in England a few months ago—and he stumbles on her transformed with her peacock miraculous (they already have both of them) creating a sentimonster newborn.

They have a huge fight about it but because Emilie refuses to destroy it, won’t tell Gabriel where the amok is, and Gabriel can’t just hurt the baby with his hands, Emilie just… wins. Fucked up, yeah?

Now she tried creating kids before this one, using her imagination to try and blend her and Gabriel’s looks but it just wasn’t working. So she decided to copy of photos of baby Félix because he already looked almost like a copy of his mother, and Amélie and Emilie already looked alike so it’s not so weird?—is what her mind was telling her.

She didn’t dare alter his looks but she decided to give the baby Gabriel’s eye color to include the “father” in some way. (Yes in that comic I made I gave Adrien a mix of green and gray but that was mainly to get the point across to the perceptive readers)

Now we got Adrien, a normal baby boy to the whole world except for Gabriel who’s forced into his wife’s fantasy through social expectations.

Why are we only at this point and this post is already so long AAAAAAAA!!!

Adrien physically basically grows in a way where Emilie just keeps changing his appearance to match what Félix looked like a few months prior.

Mentally he’s like a robot just taking in information without really needing to learn it. So Emilie decides when he says his first word, she decides when he learns to walk,… He knows how to walk, he just wasn’t given the command to do so yet.

But even so he does develop a personality over time, just slower, because unlike a normal child who’s always testing his boundaries, how far they’re allowed to go until they’re in real trouble, Adrien just can’t misbehave. At all.

But he does have his favorite foods and favorite toys, and jokes that make him laugh the most. The problem is just that Emilie could just decide that his favorite food is strawberries and he’d just start acting accordingly, rewiring his belief.

He also isn’t allowed to argue or be mean to others which is why Félix thinks he’s a goody two-shoes weirdo while Chloé the brat adores him.

This behavior isn’t so hard to hide with a toddler who’s fickle but it’s harder and harder as the kid grows. Which is why the family becomes very secluded over time.

Gabriel always keeps distance with his “son”. He’s not Dad, he’s Father, he doesn’t do hugs and cuddles, he doesn’t say I love you. But Adrien knows he loves him because his mom told him so and he loves him back unconditionally because Mom said that’s what families do.

Now even though Gabriel is traumatized by this whole ordeal and knowing Adrien “isn’t real” freaks him out he does soften a bit over time. I’m going to give an awful example but like someone who hates cats softening for a cat that their partner/roommate decided to get/had from before. Continuing with this example: But still becoming appalled when the cat starts acting odd/unusually.

Okay I think you get the gist. Let’s move on…

Emilie loves her son more and more as he grows and his sentimonster behaviours start bothering her more and more too. She hates being reminded that he’s not a real boy by people mentioning he looks young for his age because Emilie forgot to make him grow for a while. She hates when he does everything like he’s told. She hates that he has no real friends because they’re afraid to expose him to the outside too much and without supervision. She hates to think about his future.

Her desire for him to be real keeps growing and is what drives her to search for a solution in the miraculous spellbook.

She cracks the script after years, when Adrien is nearly a teen, and finds a way to transfer the creators soul into a sentimonster.

It’s a long process that takes time and while she falls ill to everyone around her, Adrien becomes more real.

Gabriel starts realizing what’s happening when he notices Adrien hesitate for a second when he’s playing a video game and Gabriel wants him to do something, groan when he gets bothered watching TV, huff, complain, have slightly opposing opinions to his and Emilie’s, when he argues with his mother when she tells him she’s feeling fine; when he notices his son’s eyes are greener. Or is it all in his head?

He confronts his wife too late, when she’s extremely ill already, her normally vibrant eyes dulled match Adrien’s bluish gray, and he pieces together in his head what she’s doing.

Before Gabriel could properly think what to do to stop the love of his life from turning into a lifeless doll, in a fit of panic he tries to take her wedding band (where he knows Adrien’s amok is) to get rid of Adrien instead, but is unsuccessful in getting it off her so he snatches her peacock brooch instead (which she needs to complete the spell obvs) and breaks it. (Heyoo! broken peacock miraculous. things are coming together)

Because the spell was almost complete anyway it’s Emilie who falls unconscious. But she doesn’t disappear because she’s not a real sentimonster, she just becomes dormant like one.

This is the point in the story where Gabriel makes it seem like Emilie ran away or something like that—basically disappear. Now he’s living knowing he has an almost sentimonster wife in the basement, knowing he almost killed his son (or her), and having to care for a son that suddenly became much more alive, questioning, arguing, angry, screaming, not accepting, crying, grieving, staring at him with Emilie’s eyes.

Instead of becoming a real parent, Gabriel shuts him out.

Soon Adrien evolves desires for socializing, company, getting away from the suffocating home which eventually leads to him going to a public school.

He slowly starts to live life freely without the restrictions that were put around his thoughts.

Gabriel has an even stranger relationship with Adrien now because he still loves him in a way but also holds resentment toward him. But mostly he sees him as something valuable.

The show happens here… And now finally we get to the comic…

Gabriel gets a hold of the ladybug and black cat miraculouses. (There’s no epic fight in his lair as you see there’s no Ladybug in the comic but that’s not really important)

What’s important is that Gabriel had deciphered the miraculous spellbook with the help of Emilie’s notes and had decided to use the unification’s “wish” power to awaken Emilie.

He’s aware he’ll need to sacrifice something for the wish to come true and he’s certain Adrien should be enough because the soul inside him is literally the one thing Emilie is missing.

✨Adrien (poor boy just lost his miraculous) is taken to Gabriel’s lair, where he finds out his father is Hawk Moth, sees his mother, learns he’s a sentimonster, and that he’s going to become a sacrifice ✨

Of course the last part is not what happens. It’s Gabriel who ends up being sacrificed.

I can’t decide if Gabriel ends up sacrificing himself because he changed his mind in the last moment while Adrien was screaming for him to stop, OR because he didn’t love Adrien enough for him to be considered an equal exchange for his wife… O.O

But anyhow…

Emilie wakes up with Gabriel’s soul within her (hence the bluish gray eyes in the comic).

Adrien is traumatized for life.

This took me hours to write… I knew there was a reason why I didn’t want to do it. I hope I didn’t forget anything and my brain made sense of it all

Well there you have it, peeps. The Pinocchio AU. It’s as messed up as my sleep schedule. Good night.

#and they all lived happily ever after. the end #ml #miraculous ladybug #sentimonster adrien theory #sentimonster!adrien #adrien agreste #emilie agreste #gabriel agreste #pinocchio au #answered #my art

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spencersawkward · 4 years ago

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*house call // wes (Dollface)*

ssummary: when her pet cat gives her a scare, Reader decides to call the vet to make sure everything is going to be okay.

pairing: Fem!Reader x Wes

word count: 5.4k

content warnings: discussion of cannabis/cannabis consumption, unprotected penetrative sex, use of nicknames (baby, sweetheart), SoftDom!Wes, breeding kink, creampie.

request: can you do a wes smutty one shot if you’re down?!

A/N: to be fair, i haven’t watched Dollface in a minute, but i’m obsessed with the domestic vibes that Matthew gives off when he plays Wes and i just thought it would be super cute. anyway, this was super fun also i wanna fuck Wes. ok enjoy!

masterlist

the absolute best part of your day is when the package arrives at your doorstep. you impulse-purchased it about two weeks ago while you were hanging out with one of your close friends, and you've been looking forward to trying it every day since.

or, really, for your cat to try it.

you've read reviews and been extremely diligent to make sure the stuff is completely safe, and everything you've seen or read was singing the praises of this cat weed (which isn't actually cannabis at all, but catnip made to look like it).

as you take the cardboard box to the kitchen table and pry open the top with the help of a Swiss army knife, you're grinning. Klimt comes scampering into the room to see what all the fuss is about, sitting at your feet with his tail curled around his legs.

"no peeking." you scold him gently. your kitten, the friendliest little rescue tabby around, simply stares blankly back. when you remove the wrapping from the glass jar and stare at it up close, you're impressed by how realistic it looks. the label shows cat-friendly ingredients only, but you unscrew the top and get a whiff of catnip.

Klimt begins to weave in between your legs, nudging them affectionately and beginning to purr. you giggle and bend down to give him a few pets. his nose twitches; he tries to sniff at the foreign object, but you put it back on the table.

"don't be greedy, babe." you scratch between his pointed ears and he lets out a whiny meow.

it's about his dinner time, and you were hoping to give him his treat tonight after he finishes his dry food. so you make yourself something simple with the leftovers in your fridge and do some more work on your laptop while you two eat together.

you've had Klimt for a while, now. you call him a kitten even though he's a full-grown cat-- he's just as playful and enthusiastic as any newborn. his eyes are the color of meadow grass, and his nose is scattered with tiny freckles. it makes him look like he's just come from digging around the backyard, but it really just adds to his charm.

not to mention his ceaselessly social tendencies: Klimt is always around when your friends come over, worming his way in between you or sitting on one of the free chair cushions to listen. you wonder if he knows what you're saying sometimes, because when you talk about the embarrassing things you've done that day or the failed interactions you've had, he always lifts his head to give you something of a judgmental stare.

once you've settled down for the evening and turned on the TV, you decide that now is the time. Klimt is aimlessly poking at a few of his toys. he bats at a fake mouse between his paws.

"kitten," you click your tongue and get up to grab the jar. "are you ready to try this stuff?"

as if he's going to answer. he hears your footsteps coming back his way and watches patiently. it's only when you pour out a little bit in front of him that he gets curious about the stuff. you admire his movements as he bends down and examines.

although you keep an eye on him while watching your show, you don't notice much of a change in him. he starts to roll about on the floor, which is to be expected, but it's only when he starts to chase around his fake mouse that things get interesting.

you laugh as Klimt goes nuts, jumping back and attacking the thing like he's ready to come in for the kill. it's really funny, but you're interrupted by your phone buzzing. you told your friend that you were doing this tonight.

"hi!" you answer the FaceTime call right away.

"how is he?" you can hear the smile in Andi's voice as you turn the camera.

"he's loving it."

"oh my god," she laughs. Klimt arches his back, leaping so highly in the air, you raise your eyebrows. "I wonder how long it'll last." she muses.

"I'm guessing we'll get about an hour more of this before he passes out for the next two days." you joke. he gets strong bursts of energy usually, but they only last so long until he's curled up on the window sill or in your bed.

Andi and you talk for a while as Klimt tires himself out and plays with all of his favorite toys. you dangle a string in front of him for a decent amount of time, too, just to make him get up on his hindquarters. he's a natural entertainer, a lithe little thing who lets out a few irritated meows to demonstrate his impertinence.

after about forty-five minutes, however, you notice your cat's behavior change. he keeps raising his hackles and rolling about, and something about it makes you nervous. he doesn't usually act like this, not even when he plays with the other catnip toys he's accumulated.

"what's wrong?" Andi notes your furrowed brow as you look past the camera of your phone and at your pet.

"he's just acting really weird," you pat the couch cushion to call him over, but he doesn't even glance up. "I don't know why."

"maybe it's the cat weed." she suggests. you purse your lips and try to think.

"yeah, but nobody in the reviews ever mentioned anything like this."

"I'm sure he's fine, Y/N."

"yeah, I know..." but you're worried. Klimt is your pal, your cuddle buddy. as he rubs his cheek against the wooden floor, you feel guilt pool in your stomach. if he's hurt because of some dumb online purchase, you're never going to forgive yourself. "I'm gonna call the vet just to be sure."

"oh, okay," she sounds surprised, but doesn't try to stop you. "let me know what they say."

"I will." you hang up the phone and stare at your companion for a few seconds. he leaps into the air and does a somersault before letting out some deeply disturbing whine that reminds you to call the vet. better safe than sorry.

...

when the doorbell rings, you're practically twiddling your thumbs anxiously. Klimt hasn't settled at all, and you haven't even bothered to change out of your lounging ensemble. you're pretty sure you look a mess, but hopefully the person won't care too much.

you don't know who to expect-- your usual vet is an older woman who is friends with your mom, but her receptionist said she was out tonight and would send over another vet to check it out.

when you swing open the door, you immediately regret the decision to stay in sweatpants.

"hi, I'm Wes." the guy gives you a friendly smile and holds up his bag. it's almost comically old-fashioned, something out of an old movie, and you half-expect him to be wearing a stethoscope around his neck.

he's gorgeous, though. definitely a good amount older than you, tall with brown curls and stubble. his features stand out to you even under the porch light, and your mouth guppies idiotically.

"hi," you manage. his eyes flicker to your hand, which is seemingly blocking him from coming inside the house, and you jolt back a little to let him in. you clear your throat. "sorry."

as he steps inside and you close the door behind him, getting one tiny moment to yourself, your eyes widen. way to make yourself look like a bumbling fool.

"I heard that there's a tabby who got into some catnip?" you catch him looking around the front of your house, eyes catching on the framed photos before finding yours again. you can feel the heat creeping up your cheeks, but nod confidently.

"yeah, Klimt. he should still be in the living room."

"Klimt? like the artist?" he chuckles and follows you into the rest of the home. his voice has a nice timbre to it, something low and gentle that fits well with his occupation.

"yeah, exactly." you turn to smile at him.

you hear the cat before you see him. he's climbed to the top of his cat tree and leaps down onto the ground, paws hitting the surface in a way that can't have been comfortable. he chirps and looks up at Wes, whose lips are turned up with amusement.

"are you the man of the hour?" he asks, approaching the cat. Klimt's pupils get enormous and he prepares to pounce on the newcomer.

"careful--" you start to warn him, but the cat launches himself right into Wes' arms. the vet turns to you, holding him to his chest, and grins. warmth spreads over your skin with embarrassment. "sorry."

"no need to apologize," he starts to pet Klimt, who is only slightly struggling to escape. he wants to go wild again, but Wes isn't going to let go. "they call me the Cat Wrangler at the office."

"really?" you snort. he brings your pet over to the couch and sets him on the cushions, careful to keep him in place.

"no way." he shoots you a dazzling smile. the joke makes you giggle, and you feel yourself become even more self-conscious about the outfit you're wearing. this is just your luck, having hot guys come over when you distinctly look your worst.

Wes scratches between Klimt's ears and glances up at you again. "is there any reason in particular you're worried about the catnip?"

"yeah, actually," you nod, brought back to reality. "I know it's supposed to make them more playful, but he's just been acting weird and I got worried that there was something in it that messed with his head."

"can I see the container for it?" he asks. you go to grab the jar, only to remember that it proudly announces itself as cannabis for cats. profound embarrassment causes you to hesitate with the stuff in your hands.

it's not like he's here for you to flirt with, but you're still thinking about how stupid and young you're going to look with this stuff in front of him, a hot older guy who seems to have his life under control. you peek at him once more from the kitchen, at the way he smiles and starts to talk softly to Klimt as if he were a peer.

he's kinda crazy, and it makes you smile.

"it's cat weed." you hand him the glass container, and Wes breaks into a grin as he looks at the front.

"oh my gosh, I've heard about this!" his eyes move quickly over the label. you're in shock.

"really?"

"yeah, it's hilarious. here, can you make sure our friend here doesn't move while I read the ingredients?" he gestures. the knot of anxiety within you loosens a bit. you nod obediently, going to scoop up your pet and sit him on your lap. he's still squirmy, but he doesn't look ready to attack either of you, thankfully.

"hey, you." you greet your pal affectionately. his tail is wagging impatiently while Wes kneels on the ground beside the couch. there's a silver ring on his finger, but you notice with relief that it's not on his fourth one.

when he sets the jar down on the coffee table with the kind of smile that hints at some secret amusement, you frown. "what?"

"nothing," he shakes his head. "Klimt is gonna be totally fine."

"are you sure?" you pet the feline's smooth coat.

"definitely. you know how drugs affect people differently?" he asks. you want to say no, you don't know that because why would you, but then you remember that there is quite literally a glass-blown bowl sitting on your kitchen table.

"sure." you reply honestly.

"it's the same with cats: some just feel the effects a little more." he shrugs. you think this over for a second.

"that makes sense."

"yeah, I'd estimate about an hour more of this wildcat behavior before he takes a ten-hour nap." he cracks another joke and you find yourself totally charmed by him. something about the way he talks just makes your heart beat like crazy.

"that's a relief."

he chuckles and stands up, grabbing the bag (which he never even had to use) and starting to walk out of the living room. you can smell his delicious cologne as he moves past you.

"sorry for making you come out here so late." you apologize from the couch. Wes turns to look at you with an easygoing expression. his free hand is tucked into his pocket.

"no worries. you have a lovely home." he gestures to the kitchen, and then at the bowl sitting there in the open. you have to fight the smile on your face.

"thanks." you're smirking. right before he's about to head back out, you ask a question that's been wriggling around in your mind since he arrived. "why no title?"

"you mean, like, Doctor or something?" he stops in the threshold. one hand leans against it while he answers your question. you still can't get over how tall he is.

"sure. I mean, you are a doctor, right?" it comes out more dubious than you intended, but he doesn't get offended, only smiles.

"yes, I'm a doctor. I went to Davis." he points like the school is right outside your door. you nod.

"cool."

there's a silence where you just look at each other, and you forget that you look like you just rolled out of bed. he clears his throat.

"to answer your question, I just go by Wes because you're not my patient-- Klimt is." he points to the kitten, who is now chasing his own tail like a dog. you snort at the sight.

"how humble of you."

"I know, right?" he's joking. you find yourself not wanting him to leave, even though you've really just met. he's so sweet and funny and handsome... your stomach is flipping over and over like a schoolgirl.

and it's stupid that you can't think of one plausible reason for him to stay, but every step he takes shortens your time to think. so you just blurt, instead.

"would you want a beer?"

Wes pauses and looks at you, an unreadable expression on his face. "a beer?"

"yeah, I mean... you came all the way out here and I just feel bad for causing a fuss over nothing." you scramble slightly to justify your words. you don't ever drink beer-- do you even have any? god, this is embarrassing.

the vet checks the watch on his wrist, then smiles at you with a halting kind of enjoyment, before nodding. "sure."

"okay, great." you turn on your heel to hide the grin on your face. he follows you again to the kitchen area and leans against the counter while you open the fridge. the best form of flirting you can manage right now is bending over shamelessly and taking your time to poke around.

thankfully, there are three cold bottles left towards the back. you take out two and use the tool in one of your drawers to pop the tops off. he watches patiently, takes a sip when you hand the drink to him. your eyes meet.

"so, what prompted the cat weed purchase?" he starts the conversation effortlessly, and you try to keep your eyes from wandering over the shape of him. now that he's just standing in front of you, you're noticing the way his sweater sits against his frame, his long legs and the way his head rests on an elegantly-proportioned neck.

"I just saw it and thought it would be fun." you shrug honestly. he smiles.

"do you think you're gonna let him try it again another time?"

"I don't know," you cross your arms over your chest. "I'm a little nervous, but he also was having a lot of fun until I made him sit still."

"fair enough." you both turn your gazes to the cat. he's nudging a little toy ball with his nose and watching it roll across the floor. there are tiny bells inside that jingle. Wes turns back to you. "what do you do?"

"graphic designer."

"an artist." he raises his brows, impressed.

"not exactly saving animal lives, but I get by." you take another sip of your drink.

"it's not like that, mostly." he rolls his eyes playfully.

"then what's it like?"

"I just see and talk to people's pets all day. it's a pretty great job, even when it's not. you know?" he's optimistic about it. you're drawn to his positive energy, to the way he smiles when he speaks like he's preparing to deliver a witty joke.

you're hopelessly attracted to him, and the space between you is becoming unbearable. even though he's a guy you just met, you can feel in your gut that something about this is just right. you want his body against yours.

"you okay?" he breaks what you only now realize is a silence, and you blink to clear the dirty images from your mind.

"yeah." only thinking about you fucking me against a countertop. it must be the fact that you haven't gotten laid in a while or something, because you usually aren't this attracted to people within the first hour. it takes longer for you to even want to kiss them.

"what kind of stuff do you design?" he seems genuinely interested as he shifts and continues to nurse his drink.

"I work for a tech startup downtown, so it's a lot of website work to make sure it's navigable and pretty." you try to sum up your duties, but it's hard when his hazel eyes are so intent. he listens to every word.

"do you do personal work, too? like, just for you?"

"actually, yeah!" this sparks your excitement.

"can I see?" his smile widens. "only if you're comfortable, of course."

"sure." you're beaming.

he stays put as you start to go out of the kitchen, but then you smile. "you can come with."

"oh." he sets his beer down on the counter and follows you, slightly surprised. but you don't care; you were nervous before, but he's stayed for this long. maybe he wants you, too.

once you get to your bedroom, you're grateful that it's been freshly cleaned. there's even a bouquet from the flower's market sitting on your dresser, and you head over to the desk to sift through the drawers for what you want.

"cool room." he compliments from the threshold. he's careful not to make you uncomfortable, but also can't resist the curiosity that draws his gaze from wall to wall. you find the stack of papers and smile.

"thanks," you place the folder in his hands. "these are some printed versions of stuff I did last year."

Wes immediately begins to flip through the art. him seeing your stuff makes you nervous, so you pretend to focus on straightening up the few items that sit on your desk. you wipe your fingertip over a nonexistent film of dust.

"these are amazing," he says, holding a card stock copy in between his index and middle fingers. "holy shit."

"thank you." you're trying to keep from smiling too hard. you can tell that he's being genuine with his compliments, and it makes your heart swell.

"definitely. are you showing anywhere?"

"at an exhibit downtown a couple months back, but I've been so busy with work that personal stuff hasn't really been on the table, you know?"

he nods in understanding and continues to go through until the end. when he's finished, he looks up and sees you, his eyes concentrated. he doesn't speak at first, and an undercurrent ripples across the room. there are about three feet between you, and you have no excuse to lessen it.

he licks his lips slowly. you purse yours, unsure of what to say.

"I'm glad you called tonight." his voice is lower, slightly uncertain, like he's testing the boundaries. except you don't want boundaries right now. you want to go wild on him.

"me, too." you reply. it's in your eyes, that begging for him to do what you're scared to initiate.

your tongue is pressed to the back of your teeth in anticipation. and when he sets the art back on your desk and comes closer, you feel yourself give in. bubbles of excitement travel up your body as he grabs your face and bends down to kiss you.

it's full, passionate, not the kind of kiss you give someone you've just met. laced with desire and longing, you respond immediately. hands immediately run to his forearms, over his shoulders as he imposes beautifully on your form. it's so hard, you lean back slightly. your torso presses against his until he pushes you against the wall.

the slight gasp that escapes your lips causes him to smile, followed by your moan and clutching fingers. the material of his sweater, the taste of him mingled with that sophisticated, gentle smell of cologne that you want printed all over your skin.

"come here." he murmurs against your mouth and reaches down to the back of your thigh so you can hook your leg around his waist. you whine at the easy access he has to grind against your core, both of you desperate.

"Wes." you pant into his open mouth. he sucks on your bottom lip before finding your cheek and jaw. his fingertips tighten around your flesh.

"this feel good, sweetheart?" he checks in. coincidentally, his jeans grind against your panties at exactly the right spot and your hips jump. you release a pleasured yelp.

"mhmm."

"sounds like it." he latches onto your throat with a possessive excitement. you can feel him sucking and biting at the skin until you're positive there'll be marks tomorrow. you hope there are; purpled evidence of his touch. he digs his nails into your thighs. "you like it when older men touch you, baby?"

he blows over your tender throat before attacking it again. you sigh contentedly at the way he mingles sensations for your pleasure. "yes."

he grunts and nips at your collarbone, sliding the strap of your top down your shoulder so that he can effortlessly flutter his lips over the skin. you grip at him and toss your head back against the wall. his weight on yours is divine. it makes you weak, but that doesn't matter. he's practically holding you up at this point.

when his hand pushes under the hem of your shirt and dances over your stomach, you arch your back for more. he's gentle yet firm, pulling you close like he wants to breathe your oxygen. he's tracing over your ribcage, all the way up to the valley of your breasts, before cupping one and moaning into your shoulder.

he kisses you again with an aching hunger that can't be satiated. your tongues meet and Wes finds your hardened nipples beneath the thin fabric of your bralette. you sigh while he starts to circle one with his thumb.

"you're perfect." he breathes.

you want to bask in this moment, to enjoy the shock across your skin when he reaches his hand back down between your bodies to dip below the waistband of your sweatpants, but you're just so greedy. he could make you cum over and over and it would never be enough.

"what do you want me to do to you?" Wes is hovering over your lower stomach, dangerously close to where you need him most. he's teasing. the warmth of his skin drives you mad. his breath brushes over the shell of your ear.

"fuck me." it's the only response you can fathom. every other instinct in your body flies out the window and is replaced by a craving to sink your proverbial (and literal) teeth into him.

but he loves it, apparently, because he pushes you back against the wall with a nearly bruising force. "I can do that."

with those words, he quickly grabs your other leg and lifts you into his arms, bringing you to the bed and laying you delicately on the mattress while you giggle. you stare up at him with an almost daydreamy lust. his cheeks are flushed.

you only get a second of that heavenly sight, though, before he dips down and pushes your shirt up to see your tits and kiss up the chasm between your ribs. his stubble tickles your skin, which causes you to smile.

by the time he's pulled your sweatpants off and tossed them to the side, you're whining for him to strip down as well.

"what is it, pretty girl?" he murmurs against your tummy. when you try to squeeze your thighs, he pushes them apart.

"I wanna see you." your fingertips touch at his sweater. he chuckles and pulls the garment over his head. it messes up his perfect hair even more and you love it, tangling your fingers in it. he bites his lip.

"do you want me to taste you first?" he keeps stroking the inside of your thighs and staring down at the skimpy lace that you're positive that you've already soaked. you're making him crazy with the way you roll your hips against air, against nothing, seeking any kind of stimulation.

"I can't wait." you shake your head. as nice as it would be, you're going to implode if he doesn't fill you up soon. he drags his fingers down your clothed slit and groans when he feels just how ready you are for him.

"let's take these off then, okay, sweetheart?" he hooks his fingers in the panties and waits for you to nod before tugging them down your legs. you whimper at the cool air that hits your core, soaked and needy. Wes stares at your body on display for him.

as he gets back up from the floor to kiss you again, you both work to remove the rest of his clothes. his skin is perfect under your hands. his chest is warm, solid, and when he climbs on top of you, his arms rest on either side of your head.

one hand comes down to grab his own cock and stroke it a few times before lowering himself to rub it against your throbbing clit. you whimper at the pressure; he's mindless when he feels how easily you cover him in your essence.

"so fucking wet..." he groans while rutting against you.

"Wes, please--" your breath hitches. "put it in."

"begging?" he teases your entrance with the head and smirks. "good girl."

"mhmm." you're smiling, but your mouth drops open when he pushes himself inside.

it's a heavy feeling, him filling you up. he's thick and the stretching of your walls makes him groan and rest his head on your shoulder. he kisses the skin there while diving deeper into your body.

you're shaking slightly from the mixture of pain and pleasure, his size forcing your body to work quickly to accommodate. your eyes are squeezed shut, but you run your hands over his back and shoulders to stay grounded. it feels like a dream.

he starts to pull out, coated in your wetness while you whimper below him, and he grabs your face with one hand in a dominant, soft gesture. "okay?"

"yeah."

he pushes back in. the air in your lungs is practically gone at this point, he's so deep inside. your eyes roll back and push your hips up to take him at a new angle. Wes finds his pace easily, rocking into your body at a manageable pace to let you get used to the sensation.

every time his hips roll down and he buries himself in you, he presses on your clit and sends a new shock through your body. he leans on his elbows to get closer and feel every undulation of your body. you love how his thrusts force your legs apart, how he moans your name and causes the headboard to repeatedly hit the wall while maintaining eye contact. hazel irises that rake over your features with lust.

"you feel so good." he speeds up a little when he hits a certain spot. you can feel him deep and hard, causing a small bump to rise in your stomach with each stroke. his voice is husky and dark. like a man starved.

"fuck..." you drag your nails down his back. he groans at the red marks that you will no doubt leave for him.

"clingy thing, huh?" he sucks at your throat affectionately. "I come over for one thing and you can't help yourself."

hearing Wes speak through his own panting is like listening to a secret, and you never want it to stop. he's reveling in the sordid crush of his own wants, and the way he shoves into you shows you that he has no intention of slowing down for a while.

"I'm impatient." you smirk. he pulls away to admire your expression.

"so am I." he kisses your lips and starts to pound into you. the juxtaposition of his tenderness and the sharp snap of his hips to yours fills you with butterflies. you love how much he wants to ruin you.

"Wes-- oh my god!" you whimper. he grabs your hips and yanks them closer to him so he can go as deep as possible, so he can hit your cervix.

"that's right, sweetheart," he pants. you can tell that he's starting to lose control. "say my name. I want everyone to know what a good little slut you are for me."

the commanding tone makes your body shake. "I- I'm cumming, Wes, please--"

"please what, baby?" he taunts. his index finger is tracing over your jaw.

you don't know what it is that you're wanting, except more. as your form shudders and tightens, walls fluttering around his cock, you lose the capacity to speak. you grind your hips against him and cry out pathetically while he pushes you back down and slams ruthlessly into your pussy.

"cum inside-- please, I need it--" you writhe. he groans at the request.

"fuck, yes..." he sheathes himself. "take it."

you gasp as he repeatedly hits your weakest point and spills hot ropes of his cum inside you, still thrusting in and out and whimpering into your shoulder at the clenching sensation you give his cock. it's warm, strangely delightful, nearly sending you into another orgasm sheerly from the sight.

he mutters unintelligibly as he empties himself in your pussy, but you catch a growled "so needy," between deep moans. you're clinging to him like you'll never have it again. you might not.

he slows down, giving shallower thrusts while riding out his high and shoving his cum deeper inside. it turns lazy and messy, both of you panting, before he finally pulls out and rolls over next to you.

you press the back of your hand to your forehead. it's sweaty from all the work he just put you through, but you feel amazing at the same time. your eyes keep flickering from the ceiling above to his rising and falling chest beside you. his nose twitches; he turns his head to look at your face.

although you expect him to say something, he doesn't. instead, you just stare at each other. the air conditioner rattles gently in the background. you're not sure how long this lasts, this soaking in, but he's the first to break it.

"hey."

you find the corners of your lips turning up. "hi."

"do you mind if I go get something to clean you up?" he asks softly, his fingertips finding your forearm with ease and drifting over it.

"sure. bathroom is the first door on the left."

he gets up and you watch him gather his clothes, eyes glued to his perfect form. you can't believe you just had sex with your veterinarian. you don't regret it at all.

he wanders out of the room and your eyes follow, only to see Klimt sitting patiently by the door.

"what are you doing, perv?" you tease as he comes over and leaps up onto the bed. his kitten paws pad over the blankets and settle into the crook of your arm. you smile to yourself, recalling how sweet the vet was with him. "hey, Wes?" you call out.

"yeah?" he comes back into the room with a warm washcloth and a small smile on his face.

"would you wanna get coffee or something sometime?" you bite your lip. maybe he doesn't want to go on a date, but it's worth a shot.

"sure." he breaks into a grin that makes you giddy. thank god, because you really were hoping to see him again.

you can't wait.

taglist (lmk about adding/removal or add yourself to the list here!): @jareids @reidsconverse @xoxomgg @may-b-a-u-shewritestoo @la-vie-en-amour1 @g0lden-cth @treat-winchesterswith-kindness @kisseslikecoffee @spenxerslut @slutforthegubes @spookydrreid @depressedgothgrl @flipper-kisses @multixfandomwriter @willowrose99 @gingeraleluke @chasemoonlight @spencerreid9

#matthew gray gubler #mgg #mgg x reader #wes x reader #wes dollface #mgg smut #mgg fluff #mgg character smut #mgg characters #dollface

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itsclydebitches · 2 years ago

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Sandman, Slightly to the Left: A Netflix Review

WARNING: This review contains MAJOR spoilers for the new Netflix Sandman series as well as the original Sandman comics. I do not recommend reading this if you haven’t already read the comics, or unless you don’t mind me spoiling a great deal, including the end of the series.

I’m of the opinion that television adaptations should be both faithful representations of the original story, while simultaneously looking nothing like it. They should embody a paradox of sorts which, in this case, is quite fitting given the themes of The Sandman. Throughout its 75-issue run, Morpheus—and the reader—grapple with the concept of change in a static (or endless) existence. What does character growth look like in a being who, in some fundamental respects, cannot (or will not) adapt? At its core, Sandman is a story about stories, with our title character, the Prince of Stories, acting as a personification of the very questions we apply to all storytelling: When should stories change? How can we be faithful to them? Should we be? How will they serve a new generation? And as Morpheus himself claims, will their original endings always return? Recently, in an attempt to get my mother to watch the Netflix adaptation (fun fact: I succeeded), I admitted that as a teenager first reading the comics, I bawled like a baby throughout the final arc. “I assume someone dies then?” she asked and... yes. But also no. The answer to the above questions is indeed a bit like a paradox. Morpheus undergoes great change throughout the course of the series and yet at the same time, it is his unwillingness (or inability) to change that is his doom. Morpheus dies, but Dream does not. Dream is Daniel, but Daniel is not Morpheus and he stands in his castle as others mourn his passing, despite the fact that he’s still here. How can you ever kill a story? Yet at the same time, stories undoubtedly die. Alongside fantasy creatures, supernatural forces, and the personification of sentient qualities, The Sandman encourages the reader to accept things that we’ll never quite wrap our heads around—and it’s the ambiguity of that understanding that’s precisely the point. This is a world made up of dreams, after all.

As said, I was thinking about these themes because The Sandman’s Netflix adaptation, as my title suggests, is indeed Sandman... just slightly to the left. It is undeniably The Sandman of my youth, as faithful a translation of the comics that I think anyone can charitably expect, and yet it is simultaneously so different that it feels nothing like the comics at all. For a majority of the runtime, my initial thought was continually that this was a radically different version of the tale, yet as the story continued, those changes inevitably succeeded in fulfilling the same roles as the originals. Is it truly different then? Yes. And no. It depends on which facet of the emerald you’re looking at.

This circular, paradoxical experience is seen most prominently in Morpheus himself, who is both far more emotionally mature than his comic counterpart, and yet just as deeply flawed in precisely the same ways. Putting the confusing thematics aside, The Sandman is also just about a king, specifically an arrogant, duty-bound king who must learn to change for the benefit of others. And, as established, he either succeeds remarkably, or fails when it most matters. From which angle are you approaching the jewel? Nevertheless this Morpheus, Netflix’s Morpheus, starts out showing a level of care that his counterpart needed 50+ issues to reach. Whereas the Morpheus of the comics takes a whole series to figure out how to say “please” to his raven (with prompting, no less) and only ever divulges a kind word during extreme situations, or does so in sudden, thoroughly unexpected bursts—“Is he okay?” the guardians of his door ask, when Morpheus suddenly praises them for their eons of work—this Morpheus’ love for his subjects, specifically his displays of that love (because it existed in comics Morpheus the whole time too, even if he couldn’t always show it) is what drives the entire show. Take, for example, Jessamy.

In the comics, Jessamy was Morpheus’ raven during the late 1700s, long before he was ever captured by Burgess. There is no rescue attempt in the original, certainly nothing as badass as her setting a fire as a distraction and then beating herself against the glass in a futile effort to free her master. Yes, this scene made me stupidly emotional. More importantly, it made Morpheus emotional too. Tom Sturridge makes for a wonderful Lord of Dreams, capable of conveying so much through his eyes alone that we don’t need anything so OOC as Morpheus shedding an actual tear. It’s clear to anyone watching that Jessamy’s attempts to save him—and her sudden, bloody death—have moved him greatly, to the point where decades later he’ll resist replacing her with Matthew, despite the fact that the Ruler of the Nightmare Realm always has a raven. This is a Morpheus who is willing to change tradition, the rules, for the sake of her memory. Just try running that past comics Morpheus and see where it gets you! However, more shocking than Morpheus changing the rules is, perhaps, how Jessamy’s death drives his continued imprisonment. Originally, there’s no test of Morpheus’ forgiveness. Alex Burgess is much changed in this adaptation, giving us a second son who has never approved of his father’s actions and, with the exception of one horrific decision, has shown Morpheus as much empathy as another abused captive is capable of. He wants to free him... just not at the expense of his own safety. For a time, that means avoiding his father’s wrath—hence why he shoots Jessamy, to gain favor—but once Roderick has died, Alex wants nothing that his father demanded. No immortality. No riches. None of the gifts that humanity never had a right to in the first place. All he asks is that Morpheus not seek vengeance on him for his father’s actions, nor on the gardener who’s only sin was to fall in love with Alex. In the original, Morpheus truly has no choice in his captivity. He cannot fulfill his kidnapper’s wishes even if he wanted to. But here? Morpheus could have been out decades earlier, but he explicitly rejects his freedom due to love for Jessamy:

“Should I have believed him this time? Should I have forgiven him for murdering my raven? Perhaps... but in the end, I could not.”

As Alex says, all he ever wanted was freedom from Morpheus; freedom from his father’s cruel, world-altering decisions. They’re both looking to be free, but Morpheus rejects that because he cannot bring himself to trust the man who killed Jessamy. When I first watched this, I was wary, to say the least. Because the Morpheus of Preludes & Nocturnes NEVER would have bypassed such an opportunity, especially for the memory of (from his perspective) a mere servant. He certainly would not have stood in his cage, reaching out to the son of his kidnapper in a moment of genuine connection. The entire point of his five-hundred years with Hob and Matthew’s incessant grumblings is to teach him that yes, he needs friends and yes, he’s already got a few of them—so treat them better, dammit. To paraphrase Death, didn’t it ever occur to this fool that people might be worried about him? That kind of emotional work is far from Morpheus’ strong suit though. This is the guy who needs his older sister to tell him hey, imprisoning a woman in hell for 10,000 years because she dumped you is kinda not okay.

So, Morpheus appears at first glance to be in a remarkably different place than his comic counterpart and yet, as I explained at the start, he’s managed to maintain his primary flaws despite acting so differently. After all, is his mistrust of Alex not a thoroughly selfish act? Morpheus condemns himself, the waking world, and his realm to decades of additional hardship all because he was unable to forgive a young, abused man for what he would see as the killing of ‘just’ a bird. And though yes, we can quibble about how this decision might undercut Morpheus’ devotion to responsibility, at the end of the day this choice still highlights his most damning characteristic: pride. Morpheus is, first and foremost, a prideful individual. Netflix has merely tweaked how that pride is expressed. This might be a version of the character who more explicitly cares about his ravens, but the rest of the Dreaming are right to point out that he abandoned them, at least for the second half of his imprisonment. That moment between Lucien and Morpheus in the comics during the vortex arc never sat quite right with me, the one where, in looking for the escaped nightmares, Morpheus asks if it’s not his fault that all this happened, then whose? “Burgess’!” I always want to shout at him. “It’s the fault of the man who kidnapped you! You’re not responsible for being held captive in a crazy man’s fishbowl, you stupid, traumatized meow meow!” But here, that moment rings at least partly true. Morpheus could have come back earlier, but anger and pride kept him imprisoned as surely as the binding circle did.

We see this same sort of emotional work with Lucienne herself—formerly the male Lucien. It always struck me, even as a kid, that he was introduced through kneeling.

After decades of guarding the Dreaming while nearly everyone else fled, Lucien spares Morpheus only the briefest of greetings before he’s dropping to his knees, formally welcoming his master back to his realm. This is who Lucien is: rigidity, tradition, organization, courtesy. He is the one who constantly sneers at Merv’s casual criticism of their Lord, up until Morpheus’ inaction gets Merv killed, that is. But that’s the point. It isn’t until the very end of the series that Lucien is able to say something as straightforwardly pointed as, “How dare you?” to his creator. Until then, his suggestions are couched in hesitance, overblown respect, and the immediate acceptance of Morpheus’ will once he (almost inevitably) disagrees with him. Though the reader knows how much Lucien cares for Morpheus, that’s shown to us primarily through his interactions with other characters, such as worrying about him with Nuala post-breakup. The kneeling encapsulates the formality of their relationship and the changes Morpheus undergoes as a result of his captivity are only obvious when compared to the extreme of how they used to interact before. You think they appear formal and somewhat distant with each other now? Matthew points out that in the past Morpheus would rarely say more than a few words to Lucien every hundred years.

The Netflix adaptation strips most of this away. Acheampong does an excellent job of bringing Lucienne’s long-suffering rigidity to the small screen, but the writing turns her into a far warmer presence in Morpheus’ life, as well as more of a challenge. Gone is the kneeling—which, putting aside the fact that technically most of these characters can look however they please, was probably a good call, just so we didn’t have a black woman kneeling before a white man—and in its place Lucienne is the one to find Morpheus passed out in the sands of his realm, their reunion now carrying both a care-taking vibe and a far more intimate familiarity.

Changing Morpheus from the cold monarch generously allowing his servant to stand into a passed-out mess in desperate need of a hand up (a role originally given to Cain and Abel) in turn changes their dynamic. This Lucienne isn’t afraid to speak up about how boneheaded her boss is being and though she does back down when necessary, it’s almost always with a sarcastic quip. “What could go wrong?” Morpheus of the comics asks, displaying that frustrating arrogance even as things are still falling down around his ears. Neftlix gives the line to Lucienne instead, right after watching her idiot lord go off on another dangerous quest he’s not ready for.

It reaches the point where Matthew is essentially telling Lucienne to get over herself (whether she’s at fault or not) because their spat is threatening the Dreaming. She’s a librarian doubling as a very done BFF to the King of Bad Choices, though despite it all she still shares her counterpart’s devotion: “I never felt abandoned.” In thinking about the ways in which the show lessens that divide between master and servant, “Playing House” goes so far as to imply that Morpheus may even fear for his throne. Following on the heels of his now inaccurate accusation that Gault wished to rule a Dreaming of her own, he acknowledges that Lucienne essentially had to fulfill his function to the best of her ability while he was gone, a sentiment echoed by Merv when he says she’s the one who really runs this place. Following this acknowledgement, Morpheus sternly and pointedly sends her back to the library. It’s a moment of cruelty—compounded by Gault’s horrifying punishment for a well-meant act, for merely wanting some agency and the freedom to grow, this entire scene contrasting how gentle Morpheus has been with Rose throughout the episode, but only because he wants something from her—but it’s also a moment that puts Lucienne on fairly equal footing with her creator.

That is, until Morpheus forcefully reminds her of her place, kick-starting this subplot of Lucienne nurturing her anger, Morpheus kinda apologizing, and the two of them essentially agreeing to run the Dreaming together. If, at this point post-binge, I have any outright gripes with the adaptation, it’s the heavy-handed way the show explains character development to the viewer. Ultimately, I have no real issue with this Morpheus being more developed than the original—especially when the result is a far better plot-line for a black actress—or even with the story being more overt about its themes. It’s not my preference, but I understand completely why that would go over better with a world-wide audience looking for some Friday night fun. However, like many shows I’ve come across, Sandman seems to doubt the intelligence of its audience at times, doubling down on the same message to ensure it's not missed, them outright stating it in dialogue because hell, let’s cover all our bases. By the time we reached Morpheus asking Lucienne if she would “mind taking care of things while I work?” in the finale, I had resigned myself both to the fact that not only is Netflix’s Sandman establishing dynamics not seen in the comics, but that the writing was going to be super duper sure we understood what those new dynamics were. A Morpheus all but agreeing to share leadership with Lucienne is a new one, even if yeah, Merv was right in the comics too: he does do a ton of the work. But Morpheus’ admittance of that is the real change.

All of this intimacy (whether it’s producing warm fuzzies, or making me want to smack Morpheus upside the head), echoes out towards the other characters. In particular, these close bonds make Matthew’s theme of refusing to leave Morpheus’ side all the more meaningful. While reading the comics, him sticking around is presented primarily as a kindhearted quirk: the former human recognizing when his boss needs a silent, supportive presence and providing him with that, whether he asked for it or not. Then, this gesture is flipped and Matthew is forced to help Morpheus most by leaving him and allowing him to die. It’s a trend that only hits you at the very end of the series, when you think back on how much of an influence his friendship has had on Morpheus and how the simplest acts (like those seen with Hob too) have helped change him for the better. Here though, Matthew isn’t just battling the Dream Lord’s several billion years of static personality and a hefty dose of stubbornness to boot, he’s also fighting the recent (for an Endless) death of Jessamy which, as established, has made Morpheus resistant to a new raven. Realistically, Matthew’s inclusion in additional scenes was probably so Morpheus would have someone to talk to. It’s a whole lot easier to explain what’s going on and streamline some worldbuilding for the viewer if he has a “new guy” to explain things to. However, the end result is still the same: Matthew disobeys a direct order to go back to the Dreaming and weasels his way into a trip to Hell—which, we later learn, Morpheus only allows because he wants to ensure that Lucienne knows what happened to him this time. Rather considerate, huh? Surprisingly so. It’s Matthew who gives Morpheus a pep-talk during the battle with Lucifer, highlighting that losing will also mean failure to another raven, leaving him stranded in hell. I can’t help but feel like Morpheus’ final answer of “hope” is no longer just a philosophy that he believes in, but a specific response to Matthew’s worries. He already cares about him enough to fight for him, not just for his helm.

(Note: this takes place seven issues before the series finishes and Morpheus’ response is still, “Friend?”)

Again, I’d feel as if the show were failing to establish the emotional growth Morpheus needs to undergo if these changes weren’t offset by additional changes of equal value—as well as a number of other faithful inclusions. As said, the entire Gault debacle is pretty devastating to watch now. Yeah, Morpheus, I think your punishment was a little harsh. We’ve still got Nada which is its own, horrifying situation. Morpheus doesn’t give two shits that Matthew just died and is suddenly stuck being a raven. He still has no desire to help Rachel until Johanna points out his cruelty. “I’m not the one who left her with [the pouch]” was a damn low blow. The promise of Johanna having no more nightmares is now first presented as a bribe, not just a thankful gesture (though Morpheus still gets there in the end). He’s willing to keep a demon in the waking world just to gain a lead on his helm. He chews out Matthew for “spying” on him despite having just gotten a compliment. “But I don’t get the sense that you’re listening, so fuck it! Let’s go to hell!” fantastically summarizes how well Morpheus tends to take advice. (And, as said, the show is extra sure we understand that he’s changed by having him outright say that he’s listening now in the finale. There’s little subtlety here.) He requires an entire episode of Death showing him the joys and worth of humanity—a recreation of “The Sound of her Wings” that is, I believe, as close to perfection as any adaptation can get—and just a little over a hundred years ago, he was still having a hissy fit over the idea that he and Hob might be friends.

Basically, Netflix’s Morpheus remains a mess. He’s an arrogant, prideful, dramatic asshole and if you take a moment to look past the sad boy pouts, tumblr was right to warn newcomers that hey, your future blorbo is kinda morally gray. If anything though, Morpheus’ new moments of compassion make his inevitable indifference all the more cutting. I particularly like the emotional back-and-forth I experienced during Gregory’s story. Rather than simply absorbing the contracts he gave Cain and Able, Morpheus now comes for their gargoyle instead (perhaps WB couldn’t afford to CGI two pets?) and the entire sequence is a tug-of-war between Morpheus’ love of his subjects and his unintentional cruelty. Cain is understandably furious over their “abandonment,” Morpheus is emphasizing that this act will save all the Dreaming, we highlight the horror of unmaking Gregory to achieve that goal, Morpheus is nevertheless asking Gregory’s permission to undergo that sacrifice (although, as a side-note, I wonder how the implication that unmade creations can’t simply be re-made once Morpheus has power again might hinder the final arc...), he walks away without a backwards glace at the brothers’ grief, yet takes the time to gift them with a new gargoyle. Abel’s “He feels just as bad about losing Gregory as we do” directly challenges the Corinthian’s “He doesn’t give a fuck about you or me,” allowing the viewer to see that really, both statements are true at different times, with Morpheus leaning more and more towards the former as time goes on. That’s the growth. That’s the kind of incremental, arguably subpar development you can expect from someone who has barely changed in literal eons. For me though, the show presents a wonderful push-and-pull that helps demonstrate the multitudes that Morpheus has within him, someone capable of great honor, pragmatism, kindness, and harm. “Do my own subjects not know me?” he asks Lucienne and it’s a great line because no, they don’t. Or, they arguably very much do. We the viewer are easily able to see how much Morpheus cares, but to the majority of the Dreaming he remains a cold, distant monarch who left one day and never returned, damning them to their various, horrific fates. Then he comes back and oh look, now he’s personally condemning one of them to a couple thousand years of darkness for daring to want something new. So which is it, oh Dream Lord? Do they need to fend for themselves, or do you dictate their every action? Though it's not emphasized in the comics, Netflix is highlighting the fact that in Morpheus’ absence, the Dreaming had to become their own masters—learn agency and free will—only to suddenly have that ripped away when their creator returned. Is it any wonder they’re feeling conflicted? Most of Morpheus’ subjects don’t know him at all when it comes to his kindness and yet they know him completely when it comes to his cruelty. As Gault points out once she has nothing left to lose, they returned out of fear, not love, because how can you love something if you’re not given the freedom and agency to make that choice in the first place?

So we’ve got a Morpheus who is, somewhat contradictorily, just as cruel as the original, and yet so much kinder too. In some ways, this is a version of The Sandman where everyone is kinder, at least a little bit. I really was struck by how many side characters I suddenly gave a damn about, or whose stories were modified to invite sympathy where before there was none. Alex, despite his inevitable failure, originally didn’t want to keep Morpheus captive. It’s implied that Paul deliberately broke the binding circle—or at least, that look back says he noticed the mistake and decided not to do anything about it. John Dee, while still dangerously insane, has far more of a purpose now that better explains why he’d want to hurt people in such a way, beyond his own crazed boredom, that is. The foster worker reconsiders helping Rose and goes to check up on Jed. The aunt is no longer in on the scheme, but another abuse victim of her husband. And Gault, replacing Brute and Glob from the comics, never actually wanted to rule a Dreaming of her own, only to “Inspire rather than frighten.” Everyone feels a little more human in this, a little more understandable and relatable, despite maintaining their canonical failings, which is probably inevitable when you’ve got a live action cast.

The flip-side of that though is that a great deal is lost by translating this story to real, blood and flesh actors, particularly the sense of supernatural, cosmic awe that only the freedom of artwork can convey. As good as Sturridge’s acting is (and he is very, very good), he can’t fully convince me that he’s an ancient personification and not just Some Guy having an emo crisis.

But I think that’s a good thing in some respects. It was nice to see a version of The Sandman where I could wrap my head around Morpheus a bit better; where I wasn’t questioning how a guy who looked Like That could sit in the park feeding pigeons without garnering a second glance. Alongside storytelling, The Sandman is arguably a tale about a non-human’s humanity and though yes, stripping away that inhuman appearance lessens the impact of that message a bit, it also helps to highlight the very emotions Morpheus is working to strengthen. I am, at all times, literally, looking at a human being pretending to be an entity, which is, for obvious reasons, just a little more relatable than the picture of an entity showing the slightest hint that he’s maybe, possibly, a little like us. Seeing actors embody these characters brought many of The Sandman’s themes to the forefront for me and though I understand why some fans remains disappointed in the lack of special effects, I personally don’t think this was a loss for the series as a whole. It’s a different way to experience Sandman, certainly, but the heart of the story remains the same. We’re simply looking at it from a different angle.

There are other changes, of course, many of which exist simply to help new viewers follow a pretty complex plot. In the end, I found myself agreeing with the majority of the tweaks. It makes sense that Morpheus might be more vulnerable in the waking world when he’s called by Burgess and having the Corinthian escape early gives him a more compelling motivation than, ‘I left because I suddenly could.’ It also helps establish him as a season-long antagonist (useful in the television medium) and, frankly, the adaptation doesn’t need any vague gestures towards Overture; things that wouldn’t be explained in this run anyway. I’m more persuaded by the Corinthian helping all these humans than I am by the assumption that they just happened to figure out how to contain/avoid one of the Endless. We get frequent references to the term “Endless” itself and mention of the other siblings helps the viewer get a sense of the world-building right from the start, even if we won’t meet them until the next season at the earliest. And then there are the numerous ways in which the plot was usefully streamlined. Why introduce the additional thread of Sykes when you can just have John be Burgess’ son? Why write the protective amulet out—something that might look like a plot-hole in a TV show—when he can give it to Rosemary and bypass killing her instead? (Though I’m particularly interested now to see if she’ll return to the story with it.) As these plot changes piled up, Sandman felt less and less like the comics and more like an AU of them, a reality just slightly off the original where everything reaches the same, basic end-goal, but the characters have gone about the journey in new ways. Whether that works for you is a personal preference, but given the necessity of an adaptation being, you know, adaptive, I think generating that feeling of, “Sandman, slightly to the left” is the best you can hope for. A damn good achievement, actually.

Indeed, the only time I found myself disappointed in these changes (beyond the heavy-handed thematic preaching, as discussed above) was when episodes continually dropped the humorous aspects of the comics. There is admittedly still a great deal of humor in the show. Though I’m unable to find the tweet anymore, I remember coming across a comment from Gaiman about how the lovely people making Netflix’s Sandman trailers had found all the “serious bits” to compile together, so don’t worry: this isn’t an accurate representation of the show as a whole. I’d say he was mostly speaking true there. Between the wonderful scenes adapted almost word-for-word—Death throwing bread at her idiot younger brother—and new scenes designed to break the tension—as a comics reader, Johanna’s “Do you have any ex-girlfriends?” made me YELL—Sandman is definitely not a 100% dark show, despite the gore and dramatics. That being said, I think it still suffers from the curse of many TV adaptations. That is, taking itself too seriously. Which isn’t to say that the comics aren’t serious literature—there’s a whole, decades long debate about that—but rather that modern television as a whole is often afraid to cut loose, leaving us with plot-stuffed series because the episodic character work is just oh so boring (/s) and anything that’s too lighthearted for too long risks getting a thumbs down from the critics. I have a lot to say about how viewing culture that was once Game of Thrones obsessed is now—happily, to my mind—turning towards shows like Our Flag Means Death instead, and what that means for changing tastes, but for now I’ll say only that although The Sandman isn’t the worst offender in this regard, it’s definitely been cleaned up in a way that feels disingenuous to the original. A lot of the comics’ quirkiness was cut to, I would presume, be palatable for the average viewer and simply to save time. But bluntly put, the comics are weird. And silly. And grungy. And hard-hitting. And downright ridiculous in places. Though I do think Netflix found a decent balance in some respects, there’s nevertheless a sense that the story has been dutifully tidied up for the everyday viewer. To illustrate what I mean, I’m going to photo-dump for a minute and show you all—but particularly any Netflix-only viewers—some of my favorite details from the first volume, Preludes & Nocturnes, that didn’t make it into the show:

The physicality of Cain and Abel, including Cain’s strange way of walking, Abel coming out of a painting, and them lounging around with Gregory, complete with a soda and straw. Also yes, Abel stutters in the comics.

Morpheus being a little shit and transforming his supernatural cape into an exact copy of Constantine’s coat.

Gregory carting Morpheus around like a sack of potatoes.

Morpheus running naked through people’s dreams, raiding buffets because he’s starving after his imprisonment.

Rachel’s father becoming living wallpaper due to the sand she’s been using.

Morpheus bowling the demon who dared question his visit to hell.

The battle for his helm taking place not in Lucifer’s castle, but the Hellfire Club.

(Which includes Morpheus dressing up for the occasion.)

The particular insanity that is “24 Hours.” Netflix might have kept much of the violence, but little of the creep factor remains, stemming from the strange and humiliating things Dee forces the diners to do. Netflix’s version, though an excellent hour of television all on its own, ultimately felt like any other horror story I’ve watched lately (and can browse social media through because eh, I’m desensitized). The comic issue though? It still makes my skin crawl.

The simplicity of a naked man scratching his ass.

Death not just liking Mary Poppins, but teaching Morpheus about supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and giving her classic line, “Peachy keen!” Also, note the pigeon on Morpheus’ head.

I could go on and it is important to note that this is just a small sampling. I’m not really talking about specifics I just HAD to see for this to be a “good” adaptation, but rather the overall vibe that Netflix failed to capture. The humor of these moments aside, I think it’s worth emphasizing that dreams are weird. Thus, the story of the Lord of Dreams is weird too. For however beautiful Netflix’s Dreaming is and however faithful they were in adapting Merv, Matthew, Lucien, and the like, I never quite got that sense that things were off like I did in the comics. Like this is truly a place—and a collection of characters—who don’t follow the rules of reality. Yes, a part of that stems from the very human cast I praised above, but I think just as much comes from an unwillingness to include all those ridiculous details that make the fantasy world feel lived in. Netflix’s Sandman, like so many other adaptations I’ve come across, feels sanitized to a certain degree; stripped of much that wouldn’t land with the broadest audience possible.

Admittedly, that’s not an entirely accurate claim given the amount of wonderful rep Sandman includes—we’ve sadly all seen the backlash Howell-Baptiste and others have gotten—but daring to keep the queer characters and diverse cast doesn’t erase my feeling that Netflix wants The Sandman to be a neater, more palatable, generic story than it actually is. So much of it adapted extraordinarily well.. and so much of it looks like it came out of any 21st century fantasy series. While watching, I couldn’t help but wonder if Sandman should have gone the Spider-Verse route and been an animated show, allowing for the artistic variety seen in the comics, as well as the voice acting of the already stellar cast. Because for me, The Sandman isn’t just an epic about a badass monarch reclaiming his throne, it’s also the story of that monarch going through weird shit and mostly being awkward about it. Eventually, Morpheus should be handed a red balloon by the child representation of chaos, then he’ll give that balloon to Matthew because why the hell not? Will we see Morpheus with his balloon then, or is that too inconsequential a detail for an adaptation? Is it too silly an image for a very expensive show that works pretty damn hard to keep Morpheus looking like that respectable, powerful king? Frankly, I don’t want him in a leather fighter’s outfit to face down Lucifer, I want him in his stupid suit and hat. I don’t want Lyta rolling out of bed with artfully styled hair and jewelry on (seriously, who the fuck sleeps like that?), I want her dirty and crazed in a basement, screaming that she’ll kill anyone who comes after her child, Dream Lords included. I don’t want Lucienne always looking polished and put together all the time, I want her to be the same drowned rat that Lucien becomes when his boss is being dramatic. So much of big budget shows nowadays are pretty and perfect and entirely unpersuasive when it comes to convincing me that this is a real place, warts and all. The warts are important, dammit. It’s certainly no great argument to claim that the art, including all its quirks, is a HUGE part of what makes The Sandman great, but losing that is indeed... well, a loss.

Of course, what this really comes down to saying is that the show is not the comics, to which everyone is entitled to reply, “No shit, Clyde.” So, I suppose I mean this less as a Sandman criticism—though it is a criticism for fantasy adaptations as a whole—and more of a hopeful acknowledgment. For however faithful the adaptation is, by its very nature it can never be the original, and yet I love the original enough to hope that this show encourages others to seek it out. Just as there’s a wealth of lovely decisions that one can now only find in the show—even more queer rep than we got in the 80’s, the deliberate use of Morpheus’ eyes, Howell-Baptiste as Death, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, her battle with Morpheus causing them both physical pain, modern technology that allows the story to streamline character connections such as seeing Rose via Face-Time, etc.—there are an equal number of lovely decisions that exist only in the comics too. Netflix’s The Sandman, like any adaptation, is just one small facet of the overall whole; one perspective and one way to tell the story. It’s a good story, arguably an excellent one (when I’m done this Very Serious review, I fully intend to join tumblr is flailing about everything from Sturridge’s voice to Christie in that robe), but I still hope that new fans will decide to turn their hand and glimpse other parts of the gem too.

~Fin

(P.S.

All you fans going on about how you never saw the sexual tension between Morpheus and Hob in the comics well SORRY YOU DIDN’T LOOK HARD ENOUGH. I’ve been shipping these two assholes for over fifteen years and now I might finally get some more fic of them. I’m ready. I’ve been in rarepair hell for so long, folks. Someone free me. Please 😭)

#Sandman #The Sandman #Netflix Sandman #Sandman spoilers #Sandman review #mymetas

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just-some-random-blogger · 4 years ago

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Bootylicious

Stray Kids Bang Chan x Idol!Reader Summary: You're known as the gym rat in your group, and quite frankly, you only have two moods: shredding or chilling. This was why when you're not asleep in between schedules, you're spotted with a male idol you happened to meet in the gym you were at that day. It's a known fact though, that you and Bang Chan are gym buddies and each other's spotter. Word Count: 2k+ Warnings: Internet toxicity, sasaengs, vulgar language, sexism, misogyny, pining, fluff, mentions of Pentagon because why not <3, etc.

A/N: Girl, i shouldn't do this but I did. It's so funny to me someone requested this cause I have recently become an exercise junkie lol. Also, if you can't tell, there is a pov shift after the cut so yeah. I also wanted to keep the reader gender neutral but I want to write about how psychotically different people treat male and female idols because that stuff aint it. It's most definitely not what anon was expecting me to write but I hope they enjoy it nonetheless.

There's compilation in YT with growing parts centered around you flexing your physical fitness and prowess. It ranges from you affectionally touring your fans, which really meant the cameraman, through the gym, introducing your trainer, and doing your routine on camera, to your group (and others) both fawning and bragging about how strong and how hot you are.

CLIP #1: A scene from an interview of your group in Japan, struggling to talk about how you can do 40 straight push ups.

There was a male interviewer in a suit you could all faintly recognize was talking about your recent Instagram post of a gym mirror selfie.

One of your youngest members smirked and in broken Japanese, cutely said, "Wah, she does 100 push ups! Everyday, every night."

You snap your head to the maknae and raise your brows, "nani?" You begin to shake your hands in protest and begin to explain your truth, "absolutely not 100. Maybe around 40, but nooooo, not 100."

The interviewer and your group comically react in awe. The man in the suit urges, "can you show us?"

You give a face, "Excuse me, but I'm not getting paid to do that in this miniskirt."

Everyone, including the film crew, break into laughter.

CLIP #2: A scene from a variety show where you had to prove you were, in fact, yourself, by doing a shortened version of your exercise routine.

One of the hosts of the show asks, "Wait, do you honestly do all of this in your workout? Like you can do all of it?"

The list of your exercises were written on a colourful cardboard, held by the one who just spoke. It was a range of exercises in 10 sets, from jumping jacks to sit ups, to vague sounding exercises like crab pinches and robot arms.

You purse your lips at the last question asked of you, not really liking the tone in which it was asked. You answer quickly and nod proudly, "I actually do more, cause when I get in the zone and I'm already really sweaty, I feel like I should keep going until my whole body burns." You chuckle.

The older hosts, tilt their head and mutter lowly under their breath something along the lines of, "I'd rather die."

You finally do the routine, quickly, continuously, earning impressed reactions from everyone.

"That's hot," one of the hosts note.

"Ya, for some reason it looks easy to do."

The hosts begin to clamour at that statement, and force whoever said to do the exact thing you did. Clearly, they don't work out as much as you do and cannot even get halfway through it without stopping.

You break out into a breathless laugh in amusement of the comical attempt but then protest, explaining how bad it is to force yourself to do more than you can

CLIP #3: Pentagon, Hongseok especially, fawns over how fit you are

Trailing a conversation about how your group is close with Pentagon because your companies are situated closely to each other and you wind up eating together a lot, there is an anecdote about how there was a jar no one could open, no one but you, that is.

The interviewer asks no one in particular, "wah, none of you could open the jar? Really? Or did you all just pretend so she could open it?"

There is a chorus of answers concluding with, "no really, she was the only one that was able to open it."

The story is backed up by how the jar had a really small lid and some hands were too big. Then came an explanation how you were recently into the new rock climbing machine in your gym.

Hongseok speaks up, "I was invited to go to rock climbing in, like, an actual rock climbing place and I was honestly so surprised when she began to climb. She said she never actually tried rock climbing on a wall, but it seemed like she had been doing it for years."

Shinwon agrees, "Right, right. I was also really curious about what they did that day," he points to Hongseok, "that I joined them one time. I never felt so out of shape in my life. I just stayed back and filmed everything."

Pentagon laughs, and then agrees that you were exceptionally fast and just super fit in all honesty.

The interviewer catches Hongseok's expression then suddenly asks, "do you like a woman like that?"

"Yeah, I like my women strong."

Then came a lot of teasing remarks from Pentagon, and a plethora of complaints from delusional fans who did not want Hongseok to ever breathe in your direction again.

With all that's been said about that, in all the parts of this series floating around in the internet, one thing remained, there was a slightly larger population of impressed fans than the still large portion of antifans who wanted nothing to do with it and only came around to hate.

It's hard not to think about it, but even the slightest back handed compliment can sometimes linger in one's mind.

And right now, as much as I kept my mind on my counting as I finished my set high knees, I couldn't help but think of how much backlash I got from posting a post workout photo with my midriff exposed.

Apparently that was not only enough to merit hate for being both a whore and an attention whore, but people baselessly began to hate on my groupmates simply for being associated with me.

It's kind of sad really, how, say Wonho, can post a fairly exposed photo of himself and get so much praise for it, and yet I couldn't even do anything remotely close to that.

And I don't even mean to come at Wonho, we all know he's a beast at the gym and should be able to show as much of his hard work as he is comfortable in showing, but why can't I?

"Hey trooper. I thought you said you were only doing 80 counts?" a voice cracks me out of my train of thought.

I turn to whom spoke and chuckle at myself as I stop my leg raises, "ah yeah, I got lost in thought, and your really good song."

I pull on my earphones and give a lopside smile, "I love working out to God's Menu."

He gives a soft, "he he, thanks."

"No need for a thank you when I'm only giving my honest opinion, Chan."

"Yeah, well still, it makes my kokoro go doki-doki," he sniggers, crossing his arms and flashing a dimpled smile. I raise my upper lip and reel back, "EWWW!"

I playfully shove him. He acts hurt, "this is violence against children."

"Chan, you're literally older than me."

"That doesn't mean I'm not a child at heart."

"You mean, it doesn't mean you're not a drama queen."

"Hey, I have no interest in having a throne, my only interest is," he leans in and whispers, "you."

I feel my soul leave my body as he snorts to himself and runs away. I regurgitate in surprise, "YA!"

"You better do your next set properly," Chan says heading off to a cable row machine, "I'm always watching."

I try to ignore the blood rushing up your neck, "creep."

He shrugs, "rather that or have you get injured, sweet heart."

Yeah, Chan has saved me from a lot of injuries I could have had. It was a bad habit. It stemmed from the same thing that made me mess up my count a while ago, my overthinking.

Sometimes I thought of rather harmless things, but sometimes I began to fixate on the hate I received for simply being. I do a lot to get my mind to realize that they hated me simply because they could and because it was easy. Exercising helped tremendously, especially when I had someone fun to work out with, especially when I was with Chan. He just... made me feel safe, y'know.

But when the news of us being work out buddies surfaced, a lot of sasaengs came for me. Of course, a lot of Stays and my own fans were really kind about, speaking out that we were our own people and exercising together did not mean anything in particular really.

But some really went for it, and made it a hobby to comment on everything I was in that I was a slut for 'working out' with different men every day."

I let out a breath as I finish my routine. I catch my breath and go for a swig of my water. I take a moment then sit down by the mirror, which was near where Chan was currently working out.

"You're doing it again."

I turn from where I was blankly staring at turn to Chan who gave me a soft look, "you good?"

I release a sigh then purse my lips, "maybe."

He pouts, "what happened?"

I shrug and stand from where I sat, "you know, the usual."

Chan then comes up to me and takes my water bottle from me, "you know, no matter how much people say you don't need water to live, you can never change the fact that you are extremely dependent on water to live."

I look at him and half- heartedly point, "are you calling me thirsty?"

He begrudgingly groans and releases a chuckle. He calls my name out in a scolding tone. I feel myself relax, "I know what you're getting at Chan."

He nods, "good. I'll always be here to remind you of that."

I smile and feel an urge to hug him, "if you weren't so sweaty, I would totally hug you right now."

Chan then gives me a look then does not hesitate to crush me into his arms. I groan and whine in protest. He chuckles, "you literally just said you wanted a hug!"

"YOU'RE LITERALLY SO SWEATY. NO ONE WANTS THIS TORTURE."

Chan huffs and gives a wounded look, "hmp. You better spot me while I lift or else I'm unfriending you."

"Hmm... I think I'll be good without you as a friend."

I half expect Chan to whine about it, but he instead smirks, "ahhhh, you must want me to be your boyfriends so badly huh."

I- I mean...

CLIP #4: A crack edit of Chan when he gets asked about his gym relationship with me in Chan's Room.

He was looking through the questions and suddenly chuckles, his ears noticeably began to redden. Cue a zoom in of his face and his red ears. Cue a clip of Cardi B saying, "that's suspicious."

He says my name then continues, "am I close with her? Yeah. I would say I'm close with her-- and her whole group actually."

Captioned: Nice save, Chris.

"The kids and I are close with her group," he says, clearing his throat.

A clip of him clearing his throat is repeated about ten times.

Chan adjust the beanie he was wearing as he thinks of what he was going to say next, "we actually do work out together a lot because she's under a trainer that works with my trainer."

Captioned: Sure, Chan. That's the only reason, right?

Chan catches another question, "Is she a beast in the gym like Hongseok says?" He breaks into a laugh. He then rubs his cheek and grits his teeth.

A clip of someone saying, "Oh he's jealous," flashes on screen.

"Yeah," Chan finally says, "she's got a really high stamina."

Cue the clip, WHAT DID HE SAY?

Chan continues, "she can go between exercises without stopping. she doesn't even take that much time to catch her breath. In fact, she sings while exercising sometimes, which helps make her vocals stable."

Captioned: Queen Tingz.

The next thing that happens is Chan breaks into a laugh and begins to chuckle. He says, "Sorry I saw a funny comment."

Captioned: WHAT HE MEANS IS HE SAW A COMMENT SAYING 'SHUT UP CHRIS, YOU'RE WHIPPED."

Then came these comments:

LITERALLY LOOK AT HOW FLUFFY BANG CHAN GETS WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT HER DONT FUCKING TOUCH ME MY SHIP IS ALIVE

They are dating period. prove me wrong. you cant

Chan literally blushes over anything, buT HE TURNED INTO A TOMATO WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT HER BYE

if you hate on your faves loving each other, you most definitely need Jesus (:

PLEASE CAN YOU SEE HOW WHIPPED THEY ARE FOR EACH OTHER

Yeah... it's not been confirmed to this day.

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catwithangerissues · 4 years ago

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Haikyuu Polyship hc’s!

♚ Hey hey hey! Welcome to a little collab that @tetsurocking and I have been working on for a few weeks now! Like two but still. We each chose three different couples and wrote headcanons about a poly relationship with them!

♚ My three!: Suna x Osamu x Reader! Tendo x Ushijima x Reader! And Futakuchi x Shirabu x Reader!

♚ Make sure to check out the three couples J wrote about over on her page! I promise you’ll find some stuff ya like😉 ‘I think about polyships too much for a monogamous bitch’ -J 😂 Anyways, enjoy!

♚ Warnings: Should be none! Although I reference high school in the past, everyone involved is aged up!

Suna x Osamu x Reader Poly!

✧ When you guys were in high school, Rinta would always send you videos of Osamu and him at practice; sometimes they were videos of the twins fighting, some were of them doing little tricks with the ball to get your praise, and some were just of them waving/saying they missed you

✧ They tend to spam your little group chat with memes while you’re at work or school, and sometimes they just spam you for attention <3

✧ They both really like it when you wear their clothing. Sometimes they get pouty if you wear one shirt or the other, but they never genuinely mind. In addition to this, they basically share a wardrobe. Is that Suna’s shirt or Samu’s? They don’t even know 🤷🏻‍♀️

✧ Suna probably sends you two pictures of the ugliest things he sees in a day and and puts a caption like « haha that’s you two. » that’s it. He probably doesn’t even bother to put a period at the end (Thanks for this one, Alma!)

✧ Suna takes tons of pictures with/of the two of you, and he changes his lockscreen background pretty often because of it. His favorite pictures are the ones he takes without you two noticing, hehehe

✧ These two are both really great drivers and they’re very smug about it. Food for thought 😌

✧ When you’re grocery shopping, they probably start eating what’s in the cart before you’re even out of the store.

✧ In addition to grocery shopping, don’t even TRY to tell Osamu one brand of a certain ingredient or food is better than another, he will throw a Miya Twin hissy fit™️ lmao

✧ They both keep extras of anything any of you may need in their cars. Period stuff if you’re someone who has one, hygiene products like deodorant and an extra shirt for Suna after practice, snacks for Osamu cause the poor boy always wants to eat in the car, etc.

✧ They both like to tease, but in reality they’re big softies for you. Want cuddles? Rinta is always flopping down on top of you once you sit on the couch. Need a back or shoulder massage? You don’t even have to ask Osamu at this point, he does it subconsciously.

✧ Suna prefers dates at home, lounging around and cuddled up, movie nights, dinner dates, etc. Osamu prefers lazy errand days. Going grocery shopping, cleaning the house together, dropping something off to Atsumu or grabbing lunch on the way home, he enjoys the domesticity of life with the two of you.

✧ DOING THEIR HAIR. Styling Suna’s hair for him in the morning or helping Osamu touch up his color before he goes back to brown.

✧ Holiday decorating, birthdays, and anniversaries are always fun with these two. To others, they’re relatively reserved, with a few sarcastic comments to spare *cough cough* we all know who I mean- But to you, they’re rambunctious and sweet. Making stupid jokes to see you laugh, babying you, all the like.

✧ Someone picking on you or getting a little too friendly? No need to worry, your two tall ass, intimidating boyfriends have your back. Suna is more of the- glare daggers at them until they get the hint- kinda person, but Osamu is definitely the- throw my arm around my partner and tell the other person to back off- one.

✧ Going to Suna’s games with Osamu to support him! Osamu once pretended to be a fan and asked for his autograph, and when Suna just looked him dead in the face and kisses him everyone around lost their minds.

✧ You and Suna visiting Osamu at work and bringing him lunch so he doesn’t have to make it himself! He has pictures of you three in his office too <3

✧ The boys visiting you at work/school saying it’s to playfully embarrass you, but usually it’s something like; bringing you lunch, coming to pick you up for a spontaneous date/adventure after you clock out, or just coming to sit in your office and bug you for a little while to get your mind off of work.

✧ They are both pretty possessive, but aren’t controlling. They just like to hold you, though Suna is the more reserved one of the boys when it comes to pda.

✧ ^That said, they like to show you off- a lot. Showing pictures of you or the other boy to their coworkers and teammates is a favorite of theirs.

✧ Whatever hobbies you’re into, they like to sit and watch you do. Reading, cooking (with Osamu?😌), baking, art, music, video games, etc. They just love to watch you do your craft! You’re so supportive of them and their dreams, the things they love, they try to repay the favor any chance they get.

✧ Suna is definitely one to just sit his head on your lap or shoulder and listen to you talk all day about something you love <3

Tendo x Ushijima x Reader Poly!

✧ Tendo has a massive collection of hoodies and he loves it when you two wear them. It makes him so happy to see you guys in something that’s his, a physical symbol that you two want people to know you’re with him.

✧ Both very affectionate partners, in their own ways. vv

✧ ^Tendo wasn’t very fond of pda at first, more so he wasn’t comfortable with it because he thought you two would be embarrassed to be seen with him. Once he found out you two weren’t embarrassed of him and wanted to show others your relationship, he was all for it! Usually likes to hold your hands or lean on one of you.

✧ ^Ushijima is more subtle with his affection, not because he’s scared or embarrassed, just that he prefers to do it in private. He knows you two know he loves you, so he doesn’t really see the need to be all over you in public. But in private? That man is always hugging you or nuzzling into your shoulder- he’s like a giant teddy bear.

✧ Ushijima loves to do all the domestic shit with you two. Cooking, cleaning the house, running errands. He’s just a sucker for feeling like a lil family with his two cuties.

✧ Tendo loves to plan the dates! Though if you want to, he’ll gladly let you! He likes to plan little day adventures for the three of you, whenever Toshi doesn’t have practice or training!

✧ Tendo likes to have his nails painted by you, and Ushijima likes to watch you two <3

✧ Matching nails with Tendo??? Mhm😌

✧ Protective boyfies! Let’s be honest here, it’s unlikely you’re gonna have too many problems with these two giants standing next to you. But if there ever is one, they definitely scare off whoever is bugging you quickly.

✧ These two are some of the most comforting people on here. They both had their share of not so great things happen to them growing up, Tendo being bullied and Ushijima basically being treated like a brute. The two of them became really good at comforting people, knowing how it feels to not have someone there to comfort you when you needed it.

✧ They’re big on cuddling to begin with, but if you’re ever sad or stressed? Prepare for Tendo making a pillow fort and Ushijima baking your favorite treats. These two are incredibly supportive and comforting when you need them <3

✧ Ushijima once got so fed up with Tendo being a little brat, he threw him onto his shoulder and walked around the house like that for a good half hour. Tendo thought it was hilarious and so did you

✧ Speaking of, he seems to really enjoy carrying the two of you around at random times. Piggyback rides, bridal style, or just like a koala clinging to him, he loves it.

✧ Tendo can sense a mood change in the two of you like it’s nothin. Seriously, the guy just knows when something is bugging either of you.

✧ The boys definitely ask if they can get a pet when you move in together. Tendo has a long list of crazy animals and Ushijima keeps suggesting a hedgehog for some reason.

✧ Regardless of what you decide on, you know these two are going to treat your pet like their baby. They’re going to spoil tf outta that little fella. 100% Tendo takes a million photos of them everyday. Ushijima doesn’t baby talk, he just talks to them normally about random things like volleyball and it’s pretty comical.

✧ Visiting Tendo at his chocolatier shop! He usually has very long days, and gets extremely happy when you two pop in to see him. Please bring this baby some lunch or dinner, he’s not a big eater and often forgets too. He has pictures of the three of you in his office too <3

✧ Watching Ushijima’s games and practices! This boy can’t get enough of the praise you and Tendo offer him! He loves seeing you sport his jersey with his name on the back, and he says seeing you two in the stands at practice or during a game really helps his focus?

✧ If you’re someone who has a period, these two are so sweet and thoughtful to ya. Tendo always makes the best chocolate, and Ushijima is basically a walking heater, he runs you hot baths too! Both handle mood swings very well and always make sure the pain meds are stocked in the house. 10/10 boyfies

✧ Please let Ushijima have as many house plants as he wants. He loves them and names each of them, he’s let you and Tendo name some before too! Catch this big teddy bear talking to his plants while he repots or waters them and your heart will melt </3

Futakuchi x Shirabu x Reader Poly!

✧ Salty, sarcastic, teasy boyfies- if you’re easily flustered, prepare yourself, they are going to use it against you. Calling you nicknames and saying things they know will make you start to stutter at any chance they get. (Lookin at you, Futakuchi) (please don’t think I’m making fun of people with a stutter, I have one myself.)

✧ Very protective, though they may not show it as often as some others do. Someone messing with you? You bet they’re next to you in an instant- offering several sarcastic remarks and a menacing glare from Shirabu, Futakuchi throwing an arm around you and bending down to the creeps level to further the intimidation.

✧ Both very comforting partners, if you’re feeling anxious or upset they’ll gladly take you into a big cuddle pile. Petting your hair or cheek, and telling you all the sweet things they can think of to see you smile.

✧ ^ Shirabu picks up on your insecurities very easily, especially if they’re similar to his own, and helps you learn to cope with and improve your mental health. Futakuchi has a gift for comforting people, always knowing what to say to make you feel 100x better about yourself or anything that’s bugging you <3

✧ Let’s not even get into what they’d say or do to the person if someone hurt your feelings, let alone made you cry. We’ll leave that to your imagination.

✧ Very competitive with each other. They constantly play fight for your attention, making comments about who’s shirt you wore today or who you ate lunch with- but it’s all in good fun.

✧ Futakuchi is a sly bastard, he really loves to fluster and tease tf outta you and Shirabae. For example: When Jirou gets mad at Kenji, Futakuchi just calls him his pretty boy or compliments how cute he looks when he’s angry and Shirabu becomes a complete flustered, stuttering mess.

✧ Going to visit Shirabu at work and/or bring him lunch! He doesn’t like to admit it, but he really does appreciate when you two come to visit and eat with him, especially during long shifts where he doesn’t get to see or talk to you two very much. He always becomes a blushy mess, waving off his coworkers with a glare when they comment on it- or when Futakuchi points it out

✧ Going to watch Futakuchi’s games! He’s very open with his appreciation for the two of you coming to watch his games! Either of you wear an extra jersey of his and it’s game on. He’s mindful to ask if you’re okay with hugs after, since he’s usually pretty sweaty, though.

✧ Of the two of them, Shirabu is the more perceptive one. He can easily pick up on any of the changes in mood the two of you may have, and it makes it easier to solve any issues you may have, rather quickly.

✧ In your relationship, Shirabu also gets frustrated the easiest. Whether it be with himself or the stresses of work and school, he finds himself getting frustrated and overwhelmed rather easily.

✧ You and Futakuchi are masters at calming him down by now, pulling him into a cuddle with lots of affirmation and he feels better in no time, offering to help with his work and take a bit of the load off cheers him up quite a bit too.

✧ Your boys are both very loving and cuddly when sleepy.

✧ Both getting overwhelming soft when you’re being cute, they just start to overload. Whenever you do anything remotely adorable, they can’t help but dote on you. SOFT BOI HOURS

✧ HEAD PATS! That is all. :)

✧ Futakuchi is the type to kiss you hard during an argument while Shirabu is the type to sulk and then come over to you later that night asking to cuddle.

✧ Random hc, but Futakuchi’s car is a fucking mess, I just know it.

✧ Saw this somewhere else, but it fits him! Futakuchi says yes ma’am/sir with a huge shit eating grin.

✧ You three have a good system when it comes to planning dates, taking turns every week or so, although Shirabu tends to prefer slow days/nights at home, given his busy(er) schedule.

✧ Another random hc, but I think Futakuchi has some sort of energy drink addiction and Shirabu is constantly nagging him about cutting it out of his diet because he aggressively cares for that boy.

✧ “Stop drinking that, idiot. It’s bad for you.” “Aww, Jirou~ are you worried about me?” “Shut up,,”

♚ Hope you enjoyed our little collab! Go check out @tetsurocking ’s part on her page! Believe me- it’s good😭 be warned! It does have nsfw content! Mine was gonna but some of you can’t follow rules😤

Taglist: @sunalma @toworuu @lovie-and-co (for your boys😌)

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aks3raao1 · 3 years ago

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So I saw a weirdass dream—

1. First I saw that I was in some facility or sth and had discovered something important but then I was back in my home, getting ready to go outside for some play and by ICSE

2. But lo and behold, I wound up sneezing and my family thought that I had Corona and said that I would have to stay back since health before exams, ofc <3. But I threw a fit because I wanted to go and meet Chiaki and give exams at school but they still wouldn't listen so I mistakenly dropped porridge on Kaito out of pure spite.

3. Either way, his clothes got ruined and he had to stay back too.

4. For whatever reason, we actually got along pretty well (okay realistically I *would* get along with him, which is...pretty hilarious) and everything and then I asked my mom to buy me some MHA X BSD X Tintin light novel which covers some portion from the comics (though that was a lie I told her...I think. Kaito helped me to persuade her™) and she agreed and then I went to take a bath or sth.

5. Wherein the setting changed slightly to SDR2 and I became a mix of Romila and Nagito because ofc <3 (technically Nagito but yeah, he was looking like Romila for some reason) Either way, I turned on all the taps in my bathroom and apparently I somehow had to figure out the traitor ™ with that. Either way, my triggers had amplified apparently and I ran out of the bathroom as soon as I saw the showerhead (apparently due to dream logic, it was because of the ICSEs) but I had figured out the traitor. (Yk. Nagito's SHSL Luck. Still no clue about the gender but eh)

6. Now, the POV went to the actual traitor who was the slightly evil mixture of Chiaki Nanami, Junko Enoshima and myself and they thought that I (as in Nagito) had got the wrong person wherein the POV shifted to Nagito again who went, "....and that's what the traitor would think" while splashing water onto her face (because Nagito was presenting as female here for some reason) because they felt weak.

7. Either way, then I (as in myself) went to see stuff about the comics and found a Tintin comic wherein Captain Haddock gets hit by a cloning beam and splits to multiple clones who are Captain Haddocks but from various ethnicities. There was also one with dreadlocks for some reason.

8. I commented that it was an extremely weird thing and felt it was slightly disrespectful but then I was somehow at some warehouse with this woman who was showing us some "vintage" clips and asking us whether we had ever seen those before because they were very old.

9. Kaito (who was still there......yk what, he's the most peaceful person to go about making me like them in my dreams) then proceeded to stare at me (dude I might have dark hair but I am NOT Shuichi) expecting something while I remembered that I had seen one in my grandparents' ancestral home (no one else had ever seen the clip before) and I said that and the lady was trying to interrogate me about it and I was trying to remember when I woke up.

10. There was also a part where I tagged you in some meme-y post about dreams and you went on a rant about how it's high-key disrespectful or whatever and that it's just making people distressed or sth.

11. There was a part about me texting a friend (who HATES horror irl) about a really scary tragedy and she was excitedly listening to it......and we were chatting on the dark web Instagram for whatever reason. I think I was telling her about Mieruko-chan (yk the horror anime I was watching), so that's for one.....

12. .... it's extremely hilarious how Kaito was behaving like a more enthusiastic version of my male cousin on my mom's side in this dream......................not that it was OOC, no, both of us were just surprised by how much we actually had in common and chatted about astronomy. But he also decidedly kept a watch on me so that I actually ate something. And there was also an implication that if I went to school (well that would explain the tap Russian Roulette with Nagito but eh), my luck would have been horrid and if I stayed home alone, it wouldn't have been better either, so thanks Mr. Horrible Fashion sense, ig? I mean, he also did stand there are emotional support when I asked my mom for the comics......everyone was surprised because they had expected us to strangle each other within three seconds.....peak irony

13. Dazai and Mikan: You don't like us, bitch? We will make you suffer :)

Kaito: Oh, you don't like me? Eh, okay, I will try to keep company when I can in peaceful parts <3

There are...two kinds of people.

......Kaito Momota is always showing up when needed...*sniffs* ARE YOU FINALLY STARTING TO LIKE HIM NOW?????

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thankskenpenders · 4 years ago

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And so that’s it... nearly 200 issues deep, we’re done with the contributions of original writer Michael Gallagher. I’ve been asked in the past about the possibility of writing an article going over Gallagher’s run, like what I did with Penders. And I might still do that. But for now, here’s a shorter postmortem summarizing my feelings on the work of the original writer for history’s longest-running video game comic

I think it’s easy to look back on Gallagher’s silly old stories with a lot of nostalgia, especially after seeing what the series would become in its Dark Age. I can’t blame anyone who feels this way. I feel that way sometimes, too. It was a simpler time, with short, self-contained stories and a ton of puns, and it was a lot more easily digestible than a lot of the teen melodrama and half-baked sci-fi that followed. But the thing is... that doesn’t mean that Gallagher’s writing was good

Gallagher was always an odd fit for Sonic. I can’t really blame the man for introducing lame concepts like Cal and Al that didn’t fit in with Sonic early on because it’s not like he had much to work with in the early days. The guy was expected to write a monthly comic series based on a couple 16-bit platformers with very little story and some snippets from a cartoon that wasn’t out yet. He also had no way of knowing that his work here would lay the foundation for the longest video game comic ever made. I don’t envy his job. Of course he’d do a goofball story where Sonic travels back to caveman times. It’s not like he had much else to do

But as the series progressed and the cartoons and games gave the comic writers more material to work with, Gallagher didn’t really play along. He gave us a few solid, fun stories like Mecha Madness, but for the most part he was off in his own world, trying to sell us on shoehorned characters like the Forty Fathom Freedom Fighters or the Downunda Freedom Fighters who existed almost exclusively to deliver new flavors of lame pun. One time he even worked with Jim Valentino to make a naval-gazing parody of classic Guardians of the Galaxy so they could make lame puns about a comic they used to write (that very few children in 2001 reading Archie Sonic would be familiar with)

People generally pinpoint Penders as the guy who became obsessed with his own pet characters over the main cast as time went on, but really, Gallagher was just as guilty. And honestly, sometimes Gallagher doing it bugged me more. At least Penders had some prominent characters people actually liked, like Elias, Lara-Su, and Julie-Su, as well as some semblance of an overarching plot to work with. Meanwhile Gallagher was over here trying desperately to get people to care about a group of characters he had created exclusively as a vehicle for trite Australia jokes

Gallagher did introduce a few characters who stuck around, but he doesn’t really deserve much of the credit for that. Most notable would probably be Fiona Fox, who would become a major recurring character under later writers... except Gallagher only really invented her robotic doppelganger that Robotnik tricked Tails into falling in love with that one time. He created Knuckles’ grandfather Athair, the one comic character to somehow make it into a cartoon, but Penders helped out with that lore and did more with the character, meaning most people just assume he’s another Penders echidna. He created Tails’ parents, but Karl and Ian were the ones who actually did stuff with them. And he created the Ancient Walkers, who were kind of neat at first but quickly devolved into a tired plot device, only to be killed off by Ian almost immediately to cut down on the deus ex machinas. If you look at the list of characters Gallagher created, it’s mostly just randos he created for the sake of puns

And that’s really what most of it comes down to. Lame puns. I’m totally down for Sonic stories that go for a silly tone. I love Sonic Boom as much as the next fan, and I’ve been having a blast with the extremely goofy Sonic X comics. I’m not a cartoon snob who won’t watch a show that doesn’t have action and drama and lore, I’m out here watching shows like Apple & Onion. But while Gallagher could write good jokes sometimes, he mostly relied on groanworthy newspaper strip-level puns. (I guess it’s fitting, considering he’s related to both the guy who created Heathcliff AND his successor who makes those comics about the Garbage Ape.) I love me a good pun from time to time, and a lot of Gallagher’s are funnier when shared out of context, but when a story is just wall to wall puns it becomes agonizing. Puns should be a spice, not a main ingredient. And when Gallagher got a chance to follow an ACTUAL newspaper comic strip format in the Off Panel, he fared even worse. It was so rare for the Off Panels he wrote to actually be any funny

He WAS genuinely funny at times, though. I’ll give him credit for that. I don’t want it to seem like I hated ALL of his stories. (He did impress me with at least one political joke that’s sadly still relevant today, and in hindsight there’s something really funny on a meta level about the dark and gritty return of Cal and Al.) I think his best work came when he was paired with better artists. Scott Shaw’s more energetic Sonics really helped sell the cartoony comedy in the original miniseries, and obviously Spaziante’s work on Mecha Madness made that story legendary. When he was stuck with the less exciting Manak or Mawhinney, though, not so much

Beyond the puns, there was also this undercurrent of nastiness, meanness, and general grossness in his stories that I don’t see as many fans pick up on. This was mainly evident in the many odd decisions he made with the female cast

We had his take on Sally, who was treated as little more than Sonic’s annoying, moody, bossy girlfriend who bickered with him, sat on a big throne, and occasionally got to be a damsel in distress. He added Bunnie to the cast early on, but it felt like he didn’t have many ideas for what to do with her except make her the butt of jokes about her being a southern belle, including literally making her say ��the South shall rise again!” We had Barby Koala’s extremely creepy flirting with Tails, who was half her age. We had that tone deaf Off-Panel joke about turning the special dedicated to the female readers into a swimsuit special (which isn’t far off from what everyone else actually did). And we also had that baffling story where Dulcy killed her mother. I have NO idea what the fuck he thought he was going for with that one.

It wasn’t just the girls, though--Antoine was somehow even more of a punching bag in Gallagher’s early stories than he was on SatAM. At least in the cartoon Sonic was responding to Antoine’s’ massive ego when he poked fun at him. In the early comics, Sonic would constantly rag on Antoine at any opportunity he got. It was VERY distracting in the early issues, and it made his Sonic come off as way more of a jerk

Later writers would often talk about needing to fix certain characters. Penders, for all his countless insufferable faults, used his early stories to steer Sally towards the version of the character fans knew from SatAM. (He then ruined Sally in his own special way, but, you know.) Just about every writer who touched him spent years and years trying to fix Antoine and make readers stop hating him. The unspoken part here is that the original incarnations of these characters that everyone had to work so hard to fix... were Gallagher’s

Again, Gallagher didn’t have an easy job as the first writer on this series, and most of his stories were... fine. Nothing I’d recommend to non-fans, but they had their moments. They make for an amusing read for their sheer absurdity. But a lot of it ranged from not very good to outright bad. We’ll always cut him some slack for having so little to work off of when he started and for writing stories that were, in hindsight, better (or at least less grating) than a lot of the melodramatic schlock that came later. I’ll always have some nostalgia for those simpler times. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Gallagher’s stuff was ever all that good

But I can’t hate the guy too much, because he gave me the greatest Sonic character of all time

#StH 185 #tkp post

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