#we could have seen him really grow and struggle in new ways and become a better person through that

[omgeto]

☆ WHEN YOU BREAK UP AND MAKE UP — NANAMI KENTO

summary: fed up with your stagnant marriage, you serve your husband divorce papers as a final cry to show you're tired of his behaviour. but you forget that, although he doesn't always show it, your husband never goes down without a fight.

w/c: 3.5k

cw: angst to fluff, nanami may come across as an asshole but he means it with love, plot with a dash of porn at the end, so mdni!!, semi-public sex (you fuck in an elevator) afab!reader

authors note: first fic on the new blog (wild) but I actually really fw this fic, hope you all do to. not fully proof read so ignore mistakes!!

nanami's footsteps echo through the dimly lit hallway as he approaches your apartment. his heart pounds against his ribs, a mixture of irritation, confusion, and hurt swirling within him. he had seen the divorce papers, his name scrawled across the top in bold letters, and the shock has left him simmering with resentment.

with a determined exhale, he raises his hand and knocks on your door. the door swings open, revealing his surprised expression. his eyes widen as he takes in your clenched jaw and the tension etched into your features.

"kento," your voice wavers, a mix of surprise and something he can't quite place.

"i didn't expect to find divorce papers on my desk at work," he bites out, his tone sharp and impatient.

your cheeks flush slightly, your gaze flickering away for a moment before returning to meet his stare. "it got your attention, didn't it?" you retort, your voice tinged with exasperation.

"attention?" nanami's voice drips with sarcasm. "you think serving me divorce papers at my job is the way to solve our problems?"

"you've been distant, nanami," your voice holds a trace of weariness. "we've been living separate lives for weeks. i needed you to know that something has to change."

nanami's irritation flares, his patience wearing thin. "dropping divorce papers on my desk is your way of communication now?"

"you've brushed me off every time i've tried to talk," your voice holds a hint of frustration, your eyes betraying a simmering anger. "maybe this is the only language you'll understand."

nanami's annoyance collides with a stubborn resistance, his grip on his emotions hardening. "you know i've been busy," he states curtly.

"busy ignoring me," your voice is edged with bitterness, your expression growing weary.

nanami's frustration deepens, and he steps closer, his gaze unwavering. "you could have talked to me."

you look away, your jaw clenched. "tried that." he reaches out to you but you brush him off, backing out of his space. 

you didn’t know what the exact turning point of your marriage was, but once it came it was overwhelming, swept you both up in a whirl of frustration. nanami didn’t feel like yours anymore – he was a shell of the guy you married. there were no more morning kisses, gentle touches, or late-night talks that once filled your lives. the silence in your shared space became a chasm, widening with each passing day. you pleaded for his attention, for a connection, but it was as if he was slipping away, becoming a stranger.

"you’ve taken this game of yours too far," he scoffs, disbelief and a hint of frustration in his voice. nanami had never imagined it would come to this – the thought of you leaving him was a reality he was struggling to accept. he wasn't blind to the shifts in your relationship, the growing distance, but he had convinced himself that it was a phase. a bad period that could be smoothed out with a little time and patience.

when you gathered your belongings and walked away, nearly a month ago now, he allowed you to go, certain that this was just a phase, a moment of frustration that would pass.

"i thought we were just going through a rough patch," he continues, his voice carrying a self-assured edge. "didn't think you'd take it to this extreme. you really tried to embarrass me at work with that shit, everybody saw y’know, my colleagues, my boss.”

your eyes narrow at his response, the frustration that had simmered inside you starting to boil over. "It's not a game, nanami. this isn't some ploy for attention."

“so you’ve given up on me then? on us?” he asks incredulously, stepping closer to you, studying your face.

your gaze holds his, determination mixing with the hurt that still lingers. "i didn't want to give up, but i can't keep holding on to something that's slipping away."

nanami's eyes search yours, a moment of vulnerability flickering across his features before he masks it with his trademark confidence. "you think i'll just let you go that easily?"

you meet his gaze head-on, the tension between you palpable. "it's not about whether you'll 'let' me. it's about whether we're both willing to put in the effort to fix what's broken."

his smirk fades, his gaze intense as he studies you. "and? are you willing?"

nanami didn’t realise how silent his home was without you in it. when he returned, he sat in silence, the weight of your ultimatum sinking in. ‘it’s not a game nanami’ your previous words repeatedly echo through his mind. he had always prided himself on his rationality, on his ability to see things logically, but when it came to you, it was an unfamiliar territory,

he had grown accustomed to the routine of his life, the predictable patterns that had lulled him into a sense of complacency. he had convinced himself that the distance between you two would eventually close on its own. and now, confronted with the reality of your departure, he couldn't deny the truth any longer.

“you’ve really fucked this up nanamin,” gojo lectures over the phone to nanami, “you deserved getting embarrassed at your job.”

“i didn’t call you to be told off,” nanami says, pinching his nose “i called for you to tell me what to do.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” gojo questions, “you know what she wants.”

“If i did, i wouldn’t be on the phone with you, would i?” nanami snaps, frustration brewing.

“she wants the guy she married.” gojo states, ignoring nanami’s tone.

“I am that guy,” there was a pause, as if nanami could see gojo’s pointed look through the phone, “well i thought i was that guy. but i know she doesn’t want to divorce me for real, she loves me.”

“does she though?” gojo questions, “remember nanamin, i was there when you guys got married, the way she looked at you then… isn’t how she looks at you now.”

nanami ends the call abruptly, pacing around his living room. gojo’s words sticking in his mind. he had reached out to his friend seeking guidance, but it’s becoming evident that the answers he’s seeking might not be as straightforward as he had hoped.

gojo’s words struck a nerve, he was right. nanami remembers the early days of your relationship, the excitement, the adoration - the way your eyes would light up when you looked at him. but now, the distance, the hurt, it was evident.

he was going to make things right, he had to. you were his wife - his soulmate. he’s known that from the day he laid eyes on you, and he doesn’t want to let you out of his grasp.

it had been months since you served nanami the divorce papers – he was stalling. you couldn’t deny that he was trying though, the daily flowers that you received, the take out that was delivered to your house without you asking, was a testament to that.

you got daily calls, texts and emails from him asking you about your day, about your wellbeing. he was showing you that he cared, and it  was as if he was courting you all over again. 

his efforts didn’t go unnoticed, your friends and family could see the subtle smiles you couldn’t suppress and the softening of your eyes when his name was mentioned. they hoped for your sake that nanami would keep consistent.

you felt hopeful, and that made you feel dumb. 

but you just needed one more push to feel secure, to feel like this would work – would last. which is why you were standing in the lobby of your lawyers office, your feet tapping nervously against the floor as you wait for your husband to arrive. 

“hi, my love,” he greets, the familiar pet name coming out like a whisper, but it doesn’t go unnoticed, “i guess we should head up there.”

“yeah, lead the way,” you say, your tone warmer than you expect as you take in his appearance. he was dressed in one of his signature crisp suits, in fact it was your favourite suit of his, and he was wearing the hell out of it.

you follow him to the elevator, the hallway stretching ahead as you both walk side by side. you haven’t felt like this in a long time, like a pair, a union. nanami’s presence beside you is both familiar and foreign, a reminder of the life you once shared and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.

“we don’t have to go this meeting you know,” nanami forces out, but you ignore him pushing the button of the floor you need to be at.

“love listen, it doesn’t have to be this way,” he persists.

“and what way is it kento?” you argue, “just because you’ve been sending me flowers, and asking me how i am each day, doesn’t mean you’ve magically became husband material again.”

“trust me, i know that.” he scoffs, “you’re a real piece of work bu-”

“and you’re a real piece of sh-” you start, stopping yourself as you realise that you were the one going too far.

“as i was saying,” he continues, “you’re a real piece of work, but you’re worth it. you always have been, from the moment i met you i knew you were going to cause me trouble but i ended up loving you for that.”

“well tell that to your actions for the past–” you pause, feeling the elevator coming to an abrupt stop, “why did the elevator just close… the last thing i need right now is to be trapped.”

nanami's gaze shifts to the control panel, his eyebrows furrowing. "looks like we're stuck."

you glance at him, your heart racing for a different reason now. "stuck?"

nanami's eyes meet yours, his smirk undeniably playful. "Seems like fate has its own plans for us," he remarks, his tone holding a hint of amusement.

you roll your eyes, unable to suppress a small smile despite the circumstances. "great, just what I needed today."

he chuckles, his fingers expertly unbuttoning his cuffs as he begins to roll up his sleeves. "well, at least we have some time to ourselves. might as well make the most of it."

your eyebrows raise at his nonchalant attitude, your surprise momentarily replacing the irritation. "are you serious right now? we're stuck in an elevator, and you're acting like it's a casual evening at home?"

nanami's grin widens, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "why not? it's not like we can do much about the situation. might as well enjoy each other's company."

you huff out a breath, torn between annoyance and amusement. as you observe him making himself comfortable on the elevator floor, you can't help but shake your head. "you're unbelievable."

he pats the spot next to him, his inviting gesture a silent challenge. "come on, it's not so bad. we can reminisce about old times, or argue about who's the better cook."

you find yourself hesitating, the absurdity of the situation sinking in. with a resigned sigh, you take a seat beside him, your shoulder brushing against his. "old times, huh? you mean the days when you used to bring me breakfast in bed?"

nanami's smile softens, a nostalgic gleam in his eyes. "yeah, and you'd always complain that the eggs were overcooked."

“because they always were.” you retort, with a chuckle. you missed this, being in his space without any of the extra noise.

“i can cook breakfast for you again,” he proposes, “if you just come home.”

“kento i don’t know if i-”

“do you remember our first date,” he interrupts, “my car broke down on the way home from the restaurant, so i put you on my back and carried you for 5 miles.”

“you carried my heels too,” you add, laughing softly to yourself at the memory. your first date with nanami solidified that he was the man for you, the way he shamelessly gave you a piggy back ride, heels and all.

nanami’s gaze locks with yours, his fingers gently grazing your hand “it was worth every step.”

a warmth spreads through your chest, a mix of nostalgia and a newfound vulnerability. "you used to be so sweet," you murmur, your voice laced with a bittersweet longing.

his fingers inch closer, your hands almost brushing against each other. "i can still be sweet, you know," he replies softly, his gaze never leaving yours.

your heart skips a beat, the air around you growing charged with unspoken emotions. "you have a funny way of showing it."

he tilts his head, his lips curving into a genuine smile. "maybe I've been out of practice."

as the silence settles between you, the confined space of the elevator seems to amplify the intensity of your connection. the past rushes back, the moments that you shared, the love that once flourished. but you're both here now, in the present, faced with the choice of whether to rebuild or let go.

nanami's fingers finally find yours, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through your veins. "i want to make it right, to fix us," he admits, vulnerability lacing his words.

you meet his gaze, the weight of his confession hanging in the air. "It's not that simple, kento. we can't just go back to the way things were."

his thumb traces a soothing pattern on the back of your hand. "i know. but maybe we can start anew. rediscover each other, learn from our mistakes."��

you study his face, the sincerity in his eyes making your heart ache. maybe he had changed, maybe he was willing to put in the effort to mend what was broken. maybe, just maybe, there was hope for your relationship after all.

the elevator's walls seem to fade away, leaving only the two of you in this suspended moment. The past and the present merge, and as you search his eyes for any signs of deceit, you find none. only a genuine desire to make things right.

"i've missed you," he whispers, his voice holding a vulnerability that resonates within you.

“you swallow the lump in your throat, your grip on his hand tightening. "i've missed you too."

nanami's fingers burned with a mixture of yearning and desperation as they reached out to trace the curve of your cheek. his touch was electric, sending a surge of heat through your veins. your breath hitched in response, your heart pounding against your ribs as his thumb brushed over your skin.

his touch was no longer tentative; it was a declaration, a silent proclamation of his desire. the air seemed to crackle with tension as his gaze bore into yours, his eyes dark and smouldering.

"i've wanted to do this for so long," he confesses, his voice a low growl sending a shiver down your spine.

his fingers slide from your cheek to your jawline, his touch igniting a fire within you. the space between you seemed to vanish as he closed in, his lips hovering just a breath away from yours. your eyes flutter closed as his thumb brushes over your lower lip, his touch setting your skin ablaze.

and then, his lips crash onto yours with a fierce hunger that leaves you breathless. it was a kiss that ignites a wildfire, a blaze of emotions that had been suppressed for far too long. his lips moved against yours with a fervour that matched the intensity of his touch, a dance of passion and longing.

his arms encircle you, pulling you flush against him as the kiss deepens. his mouth moves over yours with a possessive urgency, his tongue seeking entrance and igniting a fiery tangle of sensations. the taste of him was intoxicating, a heady mixture of desire and nostalgia.

your fingers claw at the fabric of his shirt, needing to feel him, to ground yourself in this moment. his body presses against yours, every contour and ridge igniting a cascade of sensations that pooled between your thighs.

his hands trail down your back, the touch leaving trails of fire in its wake. when he cups your hips and pulls you impossibly closer, a moan escaped your lips, swallowed by the intensity of the kiss.

as the kiss broke, your foreheads rest against each other, your breaths ragged and laboured. the air around you was thick with desire, the space between you charged with an unspoken promise.

"i need you," he murmurs against your lips, his voice laced with desperation.

your fingers tangle in his hair, pulling his head down for another searing kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of pent-up longing, of a love that refused to be extinguished. your bodies moulded together as if they were meant to fit perfectly, every touch a symphony of need and surrender.

“tell me you need me, love,” he gasps out, and you nod against him, “no i got to hear you say it.”

“i need you, i do,” you whimper against his lips, as his fingers slip below the waistline of your skirt, gently grazing your clit, “k-kento we can’t, have you forgotten where we are?”

“don’t tell me you’ve become shy whilst we’ve been separated,” he chuckles, smirking as he continues to toy with your pussy “you don’t remember all the times i’d have you bent over my desk in my office?” 

you bite your lip at the memory, feeling yourself get wetter as nanami’s fingers enter you, his thumb pressing against your clit. nanami knew you inside and out, he knew how exactly where to touch, how to get you whine and writhe against him as you are now.

he took advantage of your exposed neck, biting and sucking against your collarbone as he continues to stroke your cunt. you were gushing over him, repeatedly clenching against his fingers, as he twists and pushes in and out of you. 

“you always get so wet for me,” he praises, pulling his fingers out of you, his digits glistening coated with you. you can smell your own arousal from his hand as he grabs your chin, forcing you to stare at his lust filled eyes. “ride me.”

you didn’t need to be asked twice, you discard your skirt off on the elevator floor, as he unzips his pants. he strokes his dick as it gets harder just at the sight of you. he was back was against the wall, his legs sprawled out widely, the perfect opening for you to climb right into his lap.

you slid right onto him, letting out an exhale as he fills you. he presses a sloppy kiss against your lips as your cunt grips onto him. your hands dig into his shoulder as you bounce up and down on him, his hands having your hips in a firm hold to keep you in place.

nanami couldn’t keep his eyes off of you, the way you were taking him in like you needed him, was a sight he could never get tired off. you were so pretty, all fucked out on his dick, your eyes glossed over in a daze, the only thing you were focused on was him. 

“d’you see now why i could never let you go?” he teases, thrusting upwards into you as one of his hands trails up to caress your cheek, his thumb parting your lips, “because this pussy’s mine.” 

he quickens his pace, eager to get you to come undone all over him, the way your movements became slower, lazier, he could tell you were nearly at your peak. you bite on his thumb, suppressing your moans, as his merciless thrust begin to become too much. 

“m’close kento, i-it’s too much,” 

“I know my love, you’re taking me so well,” he praises, pushing deeper into you, “just hold out for a bit longer.”

“i-i can’t i-” you couldn’t finish your sentence as you feel yourself release all over him. nanami groans out his head collapsing in your cleavage as he finishes inside of you, your juices mixing with his. 

the only sounds that can be heard are you both trying to catch your breath. nanami keeps his head pressed against your tits, still inside of you. you toy with his hair pushing his hair back to leave a gentle kiss against his head, his arms tighten around you and it was as if you could feel him smile against you. you knew from then that you and your husband was going to be okay.

“kento?” your voice wavers, a mixture of uncertainty and hope lacing your words.

“yes? my love,” he responds, his gaze locked onto yours.

your heart flutters as you gather your courage, the weight of the past and the possibilities of the future intertwining in your chest. "I think we can cancel that meeting with my lawyer."

nanami's smile broadens, but it's different this time – it's a smile that carries the weight of understanding and a newfound determination. he holds your gaze, and you can see the sincerity in his eyes, a silent promise of change and rediscovery.

you eventually got out of that elevator and you didn’t go home to your separate apartments, you went home, together. 

extra an: so guys what did you think?? first time writing for smut, and for nanami so if it’s shit spare me. but I love him and I’d never divorce him. DIVIDERS FROM @/CAFEKITSUNE !!

[ashwhowrites]

For a request, thinking about reader who is new in town. Meets Eddie then becomes his tutor for a specific subject. Eddie is infatuated and what starts as tutoring lessons turns into movie/pizza nights. He confesses about his crush on them, so does reader but they makes a proposition that they can go on a date if he passes their first exam. Until then, there is yearning, impatience, and SO much teasing but it all pays off when Eddie gets a C+ on the exam. As soon as the bell rings he sprints to reader in excitement and proudly shows off his exam. Reader knew he would pass and brings him a sweet treat they baked themselves and ends up asking him to dinner as a celebration as their date. Not sure of this is any good but it's my current daydream

I hope this is what you wanted and you enjoy it! Thank you for requesting 🫶🏻

Tutor Tutor

Y/N hated that she had to be the new kid during her senior year. The pressure to make new friends, join clubs, and do everything to make her college resume stand out. It didn't take long for teachers to realize how smart she was. Her math teacher, Mr. Miller, was impressed by how easy math seemed to be for her. He placed her in his higher class and offered an opportunity to grow her college resume.

And that's how she became a tutor for Eddie. Eddie always struggled with math and if continued to fail the tests, he would fail the class.

Eddie was slightly embarrassed to need a tutor, but if it helped him graduate on time he would do it.

He sat at a table in the library in the back. He drummed his fingers on his textbook as he looked around the room. He had no idea who his tutor was, he didn't recognize the name Mr. Miller gave.

"Are you Eddie?"

Eddie looked to his right to see a girl standing. Books in her arms as she smiled. Eddie was in awe of how gorgeous she was, and he knew he had never seen her before; he would have remembered her face.

"Yeah that's me," Eddie said, he got up and pulled out her seat. She blushed at the gesture and sat down.

Eddie sat next to her and tried to shake away his nerves.

"I'm Y/N, and I'm here to help you! Feel free to ask questions, ask me to stop and explain. We will go at your pace." She explained, Eddie watched her mouth move but he had no idea what she said.

The way the afternoon sun shined through the window and landed on her face. Highlighting her like an angel as she pushed her hair behind her ears.

Since then, Eddie has been smitten with her.

~~~

After a month of tutoring, Eddie and Y/N found themselves hanging out during their study sessions. They still focused on the math, but after about an hour they would get sidetracked. Eddie would order pizza and turn on a movie, claiming he needed a brain break.

It became something they always did, and each movie brought them closer together....on the couch.

Y/N and Eddie grew comfortable with each other and even snuggled sometimes. She'd yawn and lean her head on his shoulder as the final credits played. He'd tease her for being tired but always let her lay there until she was ready to go home.

Eddie started to really like her and it scared him. He focused as hard as he could during their lessons, but the smell of her perfume and her body against his as she leaned over his shoulder to help. She made his head spin.

"So x is?"

"7?"

"Yes!" Y/N cheered as she pressed a kiss against his cheek before she sat back down. She didn't realize what she did, but Eddie did. His cheeks instantly became warm and he still felt the ghost of her lips. He bit his lip as he tried to keep off a cheesy grin.""Yes!" Y/N cheered as she pressed a kiss against his cheek before she sat back down. She didn't realize what she did, but Eddie did. His cheeks instantly became warm and he still felt the ghost of her lips. He bit his lip as he tried to keep off a cheesy grin.

"Can I ask you something?" Eddie asked as he looked up at her. She made a humming sound and gave him all her attention.

"Can I take you out on a date?"

Y/N blushed as she bit back her excitement

Eddie was nervous as he waited for her reply but he could see a smile making its way on her lips.

"How about this? If you pass your next math test, I'll let you take me on a date." She smiled, her hand landing on his.

He smiled as he felt her skin on his.

"I'm passing that test," Eddie promised.

~~~

They had a week before the test, and keeping their feelings out of the way was difficult.

Eddie focused as much as he could on studying, but she enjoyed touching him and making him twitch. She'd rub his shoulders, run her hands down his arms, and draw circles on his hand.

He always teased back. His hand slipped into hers as he walked her to her car. He kissed her goodbye, inches away from her lips. He'd wrap her in his jacket when she shivered.

It was a game for both of them, racing to the finish line. Eddie needed to pass that test.

"Final score is a C-" Y/N said as she passed Eddie back his practice test.

"I passed!" Eddie cheered, and Y/N smiled in return. She wasn't tutoring him to get an A or even a B, just simply above an F.

"Do exactly what you did on Friday, and you'll have yourself a date," Y/N teased as she leaned in. Her lips were inches away from his lips. He felt a whimper in his throat that he refused to let out. He licked his lips and leaned in. He watched her eyes and lips as he went to close the gap between them.

"Nah uh, not until Friday." She whispered as she smirked, her fingers pushed against his lips to push him back in his seat.

She was going to be the death of him.

~~~

Eddie shook the table as he waited for the teacher to pass out the tests. He felt like he knew enough to not fail, and would secure that date. But he was also terrified because if he failed, he failed her.

"Munson, nice job." Mr. Miller said as he handed over the paper. A big C+ written in red ink with a huge circle.

"No fucking way, I did it." Eddie breathed out in disbelief. The bell rang and Eddie yanked his backpack off the chair and ran.

He ran straight to her locker, he didn't care how many people he ran into and all the annoyed comments sent his way. His focus was on her and that was all he cared about.

Y/N was digging inside her locker when Eddie popped up behind her. He grabbed her arm and turned her around, she gasped as he captured her lips in a kiss. A kiss that had been brewing for weeks. She kissed back as she smiled. It was even better than she imagined. He held her waist and controlled every aspect of the kiss.

He pulled away with a huge smile as he showed her the test, she needed a second to snap back into reality.

"I passed!" He cheered, the paper in her face.

"I knew you could do it!" Y/N praised as she pulled him into a tight hug. "I have a gift for you."

"My date?" Eddie asked, but Y/N just laughed and turned around.

She grabbed a container and placed it in his hands.

"Chocolate chip, your favorite." She smiled as Eddie was in awe.

"You made me cookies?" Eddie was shocked, he never had someone do something so sweet for him.

"I'm proud of you. You worked very hard and it paid off."

"I think I might love you," Eddie joked, but a part of it felt like the truth.

"Let's go on that date first, Munson." She laughed, ignoring how the comment made her heart race and her palms sweat.

"M'lady," Eddie said as he offered his arm, Y/N smiled as she hooked her arm with his.

Math might have become Eddie's favorite subject.

Tags!

@bmunson86 @mxcheese @ladymunson @michaelfuckinglangdon @z0mbie-blah @biittersweet @mirrorsstuff @somethingvicked @micheledawn1975 @ago-godance @magnificantmermaid @tlclick73 @hargrovesswifee @cityofidek @silky-luxe @lokiofasgard616 @loving-and-dreaming @eddiemunsonsbitch69 @thegemaqua @ashlynnkennedy @strangerthingsstories5255 @harringt8ns @pleasinghellfire @whoscamila @stusdollface93 @gretavankleep37 @bellaisswagger @arlxt

[ben-talks-art]

Okay... This episode of Digital Circus almost made me cry... almost!

When I saw the first episode of this show I knew I was going to really like it, but I wasn't prepared for how much I was going to love it. This reminds me of when X-Men 97 premiered and even though we were only two episodes in I could already tell this was going to be something special.

I know it's super, super early to say this, but this might become one of my favorite shows. The way they handled this episode really worked for me in a way I haven't felt in a while.

From the very first scene things already start on a really strong note, with our main lead, Pomni, having nightmares about the worst-case scenario from the new situation she's in where she imagines herself being affected by the circus glitch and being abandoned by the rest of the cast.

This does a great job setting up her sense of isolation and how she thinks she's on her own even though they all should be on the same boat together.

This gets highlighted even more as another member of the circus, Ragatha, is seen constantly trying to show her support and getting Pomni to cheer up despite the dreadful situation they're in while Pomni herself just acts indifferent as if she had already given up on everything and everyone.

I found this characterization of hers so relatable because I also used to think for a while that my problems were mine and mine alone and that everyone trying to help me were doing that just out of obligation and not because they really cared.

For some reason it felt "safer" to just assume I couldn't count on anyone because then I wouldn't have to worry about being disappointed in anyone, after all, you can't get disappointed if you don't get your hopes up.

So imagine how hyped I got when I saw that they indirectly made Pomni realize why it's important to rely on people when they switched the roles and placed her on the position where she needed to be there for someone.

I wanted to jump and slam my desk while shouting "Perfect! Perfect! This is just perfect!!"

Everything that needed to be said was being said just in the right way, just at the right time, and with the right amount of emotion, just the right amount of seriousness and levity.

Cause here's the thing, the media often has this obnoxious tendency of portraying antisocial characters as people that need to just "Get over it."

A lot of writers enjoy lumping grumpy characters, and reserved characters, depressed characters, angry characters and all these stuff as people who just need someone to cheer them up and have them forget about their problems, as if they were babies that just need to grow up and learn to be less grumpy so they can join in with the fun alongside everyone else.

You notice that it's always a person in a bad mood + someone who's always cheerful, happy, and with a child-like joyful attitude to be their contrast or someone to call them out on their "grumpyness."

And that always bothers me because it makes it seem like they're downplaying someone's struggle or inner turmoil as if they were minor things that they latch onto to just because nobody has told them to let it go yet.

I like when stories showcase why people struggle so much to let go of this mindset, why they struggle to open up to others and find themselves cheering to their day-to-day lives again.

But I'm also aware that this is not an easy task cause it's basically asking to show someone being depressed for a good portion of your story, and if that goes on for too long or it starts diving into a too heavy of a territory, it can make it a challenge just to watch.

So yeah, I get it, it's hard to find the right balance.

To show why someone needs to overcome their personal demons, while also making it an enjoyable experience to go through.

You don't want a case like Legend Of Korra where Lin Beifong's issues were pretty much treated as a joke, but you also don't want something like the Beast Boy segments from Young Justice where every scene with him just felt the same thing for 5 or 6 episodes, even though they were realistic scenes depicting someone going through what he was dealing with and they all built up to an amazing conclusion with Black Canary... But it was still draining to go through that.

You need to find the right balance and I felt like this episode really succeeded in that. You get why Pomni feels the way she does and you get why Ragatha tries so hard to help her out and why it's important that she keeps trying even when it seems like there is no point.

I really like how Ragtha isn't just "Cheer up, Pomni! Let me show you the secret to enjoying life!", she's actually trying to be sensitive of her situation, giving her the space and time she needs, and being there for her but not forcing herself on her.

She validates Pomni's pain but also knows it's a pain that she needs to learn how to deal with, otherwise, she's just gonna miss out on her own life.

The final scene was the thing that really got me.

When Pomni finally realized that the same way she tried to help out that NPC when they were stuck, she also needs to let others help her out.

It took me so long to realize in life that I don't need to deal with everything on my own, that I had people there for me, that I'm allowed to be vulnerable and make mistakes and that the people around me who love and care about me would still be there for me.

It took way, way too long for me to realize all that, so to see that final shot of Pomni imagining herself falling just like in her dream, but this time she had trust that her friends would be there to catch her, it really hit me good.

I'm not sure how to explain it but for some reason I was really proud of her for learning such an important lesson so quickly that it took me so long to learn myself. Like, I know she's not real, she's a fictional character, but I felt an immense relief while thinking people would watch this, and learn from this, and not make the same mistakes I did.

I have no idea where this show is going, but I feel like I'm in safe hands and can't wait to see what else they're going to do and where they're going to go.

I'm very very hyped for this series!

Also, I know this makes me a monster, but this scene made me laugh. :)

[elrieldreamer]

I just read the BC and feel so sad. Maybe I’m not paying attention, but what was the reason for including so much Gwyn and conflicting things in a single chapter? I specially don’t understand that last part. Does Azriel really like Gwyn? Did he forget about Elain so quickly? I don’t know what SJM was thinking. Was her objective to end the book in an ambiguous way to start a ship war? I don’t get it.

Hey, Anon. Don’t feel sad! This is a pretty common question, BUT Elriels have EVERY reason to be confident, even after (and even BECAUSE OF) the infamous bonus chapter.

I’d like to start with a little setup for Elriel leading up to the ACOSF Solstice. We see across multiple books that Elriel have a special relationship. Azriel seeks out physical touch from Elain, which is unusual for him. He spends time with her, sitting in the garden while she works, talking late into the night on Solstice, watching her through windows, etc... He actively helps her discover her gift (when Madja said a mate would know), trusts her with the prized weapon that he’s never let another soul touch, is protective of her physically (insists that he WILL save her from Hybern’s camp), and even peacocks for her, sunning his wings in her presence. By the end of ACOFAS it’s pretty clear that there is something special building between these two.

In ACOSF, we see more development for Elain and Azriel’s feelings, though it is more subtle since Nesta and Cassian are front and center. We see Cassian notice that Azriel has moved on from Mor, Elain and Azriel sharing shy smiles, Azriel becoming agitated and protective of Elain when Nesta verbally lashes out at her, and worrying about her offer to attempt scrying. He’s staying at the House of Wind to chaperone Nesta and Cass, but also to put some distance between himself and Elain. Because he knows that she’s considered a female off limits to him. At the Solstice celebration, Azriel struggles to be in the same room as Elain and Lucien, and Nesta is sympathetic as she realizes that Azriel has feelings for Elain.

Which brings us to the bonus chapter. Bonuses are meant to reinforce what we’ve already seen in the main text, but because they have a limited release (and this one had a very limited printing), they generally don’t introduce new concepts. In this BC, we learn that:

- Azriel and Elain have mutual feelings and attraction for each other.

- If Az and Elain were to pursue each other, it could start an inter-court war.

- The priestesses have powers that we should be cognizant of.

So - confirmation of the feelings that we knew were growing between Az and Elain, to the point that Azriel bought her a gift usually given to mates (ACOFAS) and Elain drives a sexually charged encounter forward. The language in this portion is soft and romantic.

Rhys stepping in set up conflict that we will likely see play out in an Elriel story. Elain is a female mated to an Autumn Court (well, Day, but Autumn for this purpose) male. If Az is found pursuing her, a Blood Duel could be called, with the potential for massive, inter-court drama. Additionally, we have to remember that Rhys was under incredible pressure at this point, his mortality tied to Feyre who was in the middle of a potentially life threatening pregnancy.

An example of what we’ve already seen in the main text - that Gwyn has latent powers that she may or may not be cognizant of. In this portion, we start to see use of power and siren language. Azriel’s shadows don’t alert him to Gwyn’s presence (which is unusual). They dance in her breath “like it heard some silent music”. Her hair goes from “coppery brown” to “shining like molten metal” as she starts asking him questions, after he’s already made it clear that he wants to limit the interaction as much as possible. He hears music as he leaves the ring. In a book where we’ve been introduced to lightsingers, it’s interesting that she seems to both light up and emit music.

Then, the interaction with Clotho again hits home that the priestesses have magic that we shouldn’t ignore, and we see more siren type language. Azriel has been meaning to return the necklace to the Palace of Thread and Jewels all day, but “finds himself” at the library. Coincidentally, it’s 7 bells, so it’s likely that the priestesses are singing in their evening service (much like they were when Nesta was lured into her vision of the Harp). It had been previously conjectured that Clotho could possess some form of daemati powers. Nesta mentions when she first meets her that it felt like she could sense her thoughts/emotions. Rhys has also told us that the priestesses are not all trustworthy, and that they’ve “burrowed” their way into multiple courts. We know that Koschei has been “receiving information on the wind”, and Merrill has power over wind. I’m not saying that Gwyn, Clotho, and every other priestess in the library is villainous, but I am saying that SJM seems to be reminding us that we should pay attention to them.

The final portion of this chapter is often misconstrued as a romantic moment between Az and Gwyn, but when we look at it a little deeper, this scene isn’t romantic at all. Azriel isn’t even in Gwyn’s presence, but Clotho’s. Clotho, who likely has daemati powers. The image is of Gwyn (who he said he wouldn’t even consider a friend) wearing a necklace that was clearly chosen especially for Elain. It’s important to note the language here - the image of Gwyn wearing the second-hand necklace is said to “glow quietly” after that spark. “Glow” being a measure of LIGHT and “quietly” being a measure of SOUND. Azriel CONCIOUSLY tucks the thought away (as if it had happened UNCONSCIOUSLY). Suspicious, no?

I saved the “spark” in Azriel’s chest for last because it gets brought up time and time again as a “mate” moment by antis. “Spark” is often used by SJM in relation to power. We see multiple examples of its use throughout the three series (Tamlin/Feyre, Rhys/Bryce/Amren, etc …), but this example is the most compelling in comparison to what we see in this particular BC, because the wording is even very similar:

Lorcan barely tolerates Aelin. There is absolutely nothing romantic between them. Lorcan is describing the interaction of POWER when taking the blood oath. In a BC that is already hinting at hidden powers, it makes much more sense that the spark Azriel feels is related to interaction of power, not love.

Finally, what happens between Azriel and Gwyn after the Solstice?

Nothing.

If Azriel had a “mate moment” in that BC or realized that he was attracted to her, wouldn’t we expect more interaction? A sweet moment or two as noticed by Nesta or Cassian? You’d think so. Instead, we know that Azriel is still upset after Solstice. He won’t even give Nesta a smile. SJM herself said that Azriel was throwing snowballs full of rocks at Rhys in anger and frustration. When the ladies are taken for the Blood Rite Cassian is losing his mind with worry because his mate is in danger. What about Az? He tells Cassian to trust in their training and heads off to deal with Eris. He’s not having a big, emotional reaction. If SJM wanted to set Az and Gwyn up as a “thing” this would’ve been the PERFECT moment for her to add in a little aggression/emotion. But … there’s nothing. No “I’m getting her back”. No churning eyes. Nothing that we saw when it was Elain in danger.

That ended up being way longer than anticipated, and I apologize if it is disjointed. 😂 I wrote it in multiple sittings, so I’m sure it got away from me. Have a great day, anon!

[epigstolary]

Big Deal

TW: Medical treatment and discussion of health issues.

Look, I get that you think I need to lose weight. I’m not oblivious. I’ve seen the worried looks you think you’re hiding when I ask you to bring me a fourth portion, or when you have to tell me you couldn’t find the shirt I wanted in a 9xl. I get it. But I really do think you’re making way too big a deal out of it.

Especially when you’re the one who helped me get to this size. I remember a lot of messages from you, back when I was still under 300, about how big you were going to make me, how you didn’t have any limits, how you’d love to see me get immobile and have nothing to do but eat and get even fatter. You pushed more than your fair share of cookies and doughnuts down my throat while you were fondling my growing belly; and you were perfectly happy to explore the rolls and folds spreading over my lap while you were making sure I had chips and soda and plenty of empty calories within reach to grow them even more.

And I’m sure you’ll remember, you certainly didn’t seem to worry about me or my health during my early gains. Where were your objections to me picking up the gainer shake habit, lounging on the couch drinking a two liter of the stuff for an entire weekend? I definitely don’t recall any. In fact, all I remember is how horny you were to see me starting to struggle under my new weight, carrying around a paunch that was hanging lower down my bulging thighs by the day, hauling around a growing ass that was straining my jeans more and more as time went on. I think you even told me how sexy it was when I started getting red-faced doing minor chores around the house, how your chubby little piggy didn’t need to worry about getting out of breath — that all it meant was I’d been doing my job of eating and resting very well.

But I could tell you were getting worried once my hips and thighs were too wide, the fat covering them too thick and bulbous, to fit in the passenger side of your car anymore. Once it started to become genuinely hard to find any clothes I could literally fit into, let alone look good in. Suddenly, there was a lot less food around a lot more of the time, and a lot less talk about how wonderful I’d be as an immobile blob. Instead, you started talking about going on walks together — walks! As if you were actually interested in my fitness all of a sudden. And as if there’s any chance of me hauling these hundreds of pounds of blubber and cellulite, this belly hanging down to my knees and crowned with two plump tits, any further than the driveway. We both know I’m not walking anywhere — waddling, more like — unless there’s a buffet at the end of the trip. Someplace I can settle down on a couple chairs, pull down my elastic waistband to give my belly overhang some desperately needed relief, and have you bring me about ten plates of food so I’ll have the energy to haul all this thickness back to the car.

And yeah, I know what the doctor said. I need to exercise more and eat way less. “All the weight puts you at high risk. Heart attack and stroke is only a matter of time. Blah, blah, blah.” He’s been saying all that since I was 250 and he wanted me to get a gastric bypass to cure my sinus infection. You know these doctors are all fatphobic and won’t even think about anything else once someone’s the least bit overweight. You never hear him talking about how my bad cholesterol hasn’t gone up hardly at all since I broke 400, or how my blood sugar is still barely prediabetic, do you? Nah, he just can’t stand to see a fat person prove him wrong by not being on the verge of having a coronary. He’s probably disappointed that I’m still able to get around at this size, instead of stuck in a hospital bed getting lectured by someone like him about my poor choices every day.

What’s the matter, are you uncomfortable now that you have to deal with the reality of a partner who’s over 700 pounds? Now that you have to grasp my forearm flab and heave backward to help me get up any time I need to get out of bed or off the couch? Does it make you self-conscious that whenever I walk or move or stand, I can’t help but breathe in raspy heaves with the effort of maneuvering more bulk than most people could ever hope to carry? That I’m going to make us the center of attention wherever we go? That the same people judging me for going out in public with fat hanging out of the biggest clothes I can find are probably judging you too for allowing it to happen? If I can handle strangers staring at me and whispering to each other about how a person like me can “let themselves go” so badly, you can sure as hell suck it up and help me get around.

So skip the lectures, the hand-wringing, and the bullshit about being concerned about my health that’s probably in the back of your mind. This is what you signed up for. You wanted a fuckable lardpile of your very own to keep blowing up, and that’s exactly what you got. Sorry it’s not the consequence-free orgy that I guess you were expecting, but it takes a little work to maintain a body like mine. And anyway, deep down under whatever angst you have about our situation, I know you still want me ballooning over a half-ton. Splayed out in bed, arms and legs too swollen with fat to move, belly flowing out past my knees, anchored in place by a massive ass with nothing to do but gorge and try to keep myself entertained. You can’t help wanting it, can you? Whatever worries you may have about where things are going with me — I can see your eyes light up just at the thought of it.

Now, how about you clean up those McDonald’s wrappers, get me a refill of my Coke, and pop a couple of those frozen pizzas in the oven so I can get started on lunch. Sound good? And bring me a couple aspirin, too — I think I pulled the muscle in my shoulder again…

[flightfoot]

got any fic focusing on marinette's trauma? all i can find are adrien trama fics

That makes sense. All Hawk Moth related trauma is stuff that Adrien would also have, and who it would be ten times worse for. Still, I'll see what I can do. I'm gonna stick to ones where the trauma Marinette suffers is derived at least somewhat from canon, and not like, from being captured and tortured, or having a fatal illness, or her mom dying, or anything like that. I'm assuming you want ones that are at least close-ish to canon, instead of just "Marinette angst" fics.

---

A Small but Stubborn Fire by @cardiac-agreste

What if you were the parent of a teenage superhero, but didn't know they were? All you know is the nightmares, the panic attacks, and the bruises. She's missing school, she's disappearing on you, and she's not telling you anything. So you assume the worst: Assault. Depression. A permanent rift in the family. And what do you do when you realize you weren't thinking dark enough? Because your fourteen-year old daughter is the hero who flirts with death on the nightly news. -- Come inside and read about one mother's struggles to raise her daughter in a dangerous world while avoiding the mistakes her own mother made with her.

This is a more serious take on the consequences of Hawk Moth's war on Paris, with actual bloody, painful deaths as a consequence of many akumas, and Parisians developing PTSD because of what they've gone through. Ladybug can fix all the physical scars, but not the mental ones, including her own.

I love the focus on Sabine here. She's not just presented as being a mom - though of course that IS an important role she has. But she's explored as a character in her own right, one with a lot of emotional baggage as a result of her abusive mother, and trying to not fall into her mistakes, but sometimes doing so anyway out of fear for Marinette's safety. She's a really fleshed out, humanly flawed character, sometimes admitting that she would do something selfish if it means protecting the people she cares most about, like her daughter, even if its at others expense. She grows and changes a lot throughout the course of the story, her perspective on many matters changing multiple times as a result of getting new information or seeing the consequences of her previous approaches, and adjusting as a result.

If you want a fic that more realistically explores the dark consequences of Miraculous's setting, that fleshes out Sabine, or just develops a character in a complex way, then I highly recommend you check "A Small but Stubborn Fire" out!

---

In Pursuit of the Uneatable by @nemaliwrites

Who do you trust when your own reflection becomes a stranger? In a Paris where Lila weaves tales that blind the city, Marinette stands accused, isolated. Her parents' trust is shattered, her friends distant, and in battle, illusions blur the line between ally and enemy. As the shadows and uncertainty threaten to close in, Marinette finds herself turning to the last person who claims to be on her side: a boy in a white mask who calls himself a fox hunter.

THIS IS NOT A BASHING FIC. Well, Lila bashing, I guess, but even then she gets a lot more consideration than usual. Anyway, there's no animosity towards Marinette's friends and family here. Instead, the fic has more of this melancholy, contemplative tone, with Marinette feeling boxed in by Lila, and trying to figure out how to navigate her circumstances, especially being around Lila. Even when there isn't any particular threat against her, just having Lila around, knowing that she could pull something else to make Marinette's life worse, and thinking that there's no way to counter her, that she always wins... you can feel how suffocating it is. But she does have a way out, a mysterious boy who she's seen around, who completely has her back as far as Lila's concerned... but she might not want him to, to the extent that he goes.

By the way, this IS a Lovesquare fic, the thing with the boy... well, that'll make sense once you read the fic. But it's not romantic, I can tell you that.

Anyway, it's this interesting psychological, low-key sort of fic. If you want a look at the more emotional consequences of Lila's brand of bullying and isolation WITHOUT any sort of demonization or bashing towards anyone else, but just exploring the effects on Marinette and how to respond to it, then this fic is worth a look.

Oh, also, this is rated M, though I'm honestly not sure why. Marinette's not in the best headspace, but it's not a "this isn't appropriate for teens" headspace, there's nothing sexual, and the most that is present in the story as far as violence and gore goes are some bruises that were acquired under indeterminate (though probably abusive) circumstances, and the breaking of an arm and being bludgeoned in the head, and neither of them are described particularly graphically. So long as you're 13+, this fic's probably fine.

---

Stop Time by @liiinerle

— she put her hand on the page, blocking it so the words wouldn’t scream so loudly at her. They had screamed more than enough already. Gritting her teeth, she pulled her fingers together, crumpling the paper slightly — just enough that it didn’t look so pristine and mocking. It needed to be full of despair, in every possible way. “Marinette —” started Mullo. “No! Never again. Marinette is… gone, forever.” She let go of the paper. Now it lay alone in the light, as the last thing she could ever tell them. That she loved them, that she’d miss them, that she would never talk to them again. A suicide note. Of sorts. ----- Fu accidentally names Marinette as the new guardian, and not Ladybug. She's forced to fake her own death and go into hiding in order to get away from Hawk Moth. She finds a hiding spot in the Louvre, but there she's forced to face the effects of her going away by a very unexpected source: her friend Alix.

Definitely mind the tags on this one! But if it ain't triggering to you, then I highly recommend reading it. You can really feel Marinette's struggles here, with basically making herself homeless, unable to reach out to her friends and family, needing to steal just to feed herself and the kwamis, and then dealing with everyone in her life grieving... and then moving on. Except for a few people who don't...

It's just... it's really good, really heart-wrenching.

---

Bend the World Around It by @kasienda

“Tell me it was real." She can’t look at him. She can barely stand the pain in his voice. She definitely can’t face it. “It wasn’t.” He shakes his head, and turns to her - his eyes swirling in their intensity. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. Tell me that you were there. We were there together, having the same dream.” She squeezes her eyes shut. She wants to lie to him. She needs to lie to him. But she can’t. Lying would be like it never happened. But it did happen. And if it’s all they get to have, she wants him to know it. “I think we were having the same dream,” she whispers, unable to meet his eyes.

So this is an adorable Jubilation aftermath fic, with Ladybug and Chat Noir both mourning the loss of what only they remember, of a dream that never was. And them deciding that screw it, it may not have been real to anyone else, but it was real to them. They remember those years together, and they want to live together, if only during the times when they can afford to be missing from home. They remember being happily married, and crave that life.

---

I (Wish I) Knew You by @buggachat

University has been hard on Marinette. Making new friends and maintaining her grades is a lot easier said than done when she has to disappear at odd times to fight akumas. She's struggling, and with Alya away with family and Adrien painfully out of reach, she's never felt lonelier.

If only she could talk to someone who really understood her struggles... but it's not like Chat Noir would know anything about loneliness. Right?

Nice aged-up Ladynoir fic here! Marinette’s struggling with losing friends and lovers because of her flakiness due to her superhero activities, until at last she breaks down. Thankfully, Chat Noir’s there at least - and it soon turns out he’s got problems of his own that he’s been hiding.

There’s some fluff and angst, it’s mostly just the two of them navigating life, dealing with their feelings and talking things out.

---

Accidents Are Also Miracles by @liiinerle

After a few turbulent days where four new people discover her secret identity, Marinette loses faith in her ability to keep the secret hidden. Wracked with doubts and insecurities, she pleads with Alya to take over as Scarabella, but she still can't let those worries go. Especially not once Monarch starts taking a particular, and personal, interest in her.

Along the way, she also starts to date Kagami, and has to deal with changing feelings about herself, Adrien, Alya, Kagami, and the idea of being Ladybug. At the same time, Alya works to uncover Monarch's secret identity, while Kagami struggles against a controlling parent, and a girlfriend who seems bent on destroying herself - with or without Monarch's involvement.

Fantastic Marigami fic here! You’ve got three major POVs in this fic: Marinette, Kagami, and to my delight, Alya. I loved getting to see Alya cope with taking over as Scarabella especially.

But of course, this fic centers more around Marinette and Kagami, with Marinette struggling with Monarch targeting her, and Kagami struggling against her abusive parent, as well as both of them trying to navigate their relationship together when they know that not everyone will approve. 

There’s also some other plots going on in here, like Sabrina breaking away from Chloe and becoming more independent (and closer to Adrien in fact), as well as a Lila takedown plot, though thankfully not one that involves demonizing other characters. While there are conversations about people believing Lila and siding with her, no one’s actually attacked for it except for Lila herself.

Oh yeah, and while this fic may not have much focus on Adrien, he’s still treated fairly and with respect, even when he messes up. He can make mistakes, but people understand where he’s coming from, and are still kind to him and want things to be okay, and to help him escape his abusive circumstances.

[tea-earl-grey]

Prodigy s2 thoughts/review (spoilers under cut)

my spoilerfree tdlr: this was almost certainly the best season of Star Trek and i love it so dearly. while i have a couple of nitpicks, there really was not a single bad episode in the whole season and i think this is the only bit of new Trek that's managed to be serialized while still pacing the series well, keeping up with pretty much all the character arcs (and there are a lot), and including lighthearted and heartwarming moments without sacrificing plot. it's a solid 9/10 for me.

i'll start with nitpicks/critique first since it's a much shorter list:

i think Solum was still a bit underdeveloped as a setting and it might have done better to explore a bit more of Ascensia's motivations for going to war but this could also be the result of me having not seen s1 of Prodigy in a few months and forgetting some things.

i'm someone who really really likes time travel stories and has written complex time travel stories before and even i thought some of the time travel logic was a bit convoluted and confusing. they brush it off in the beginning but i still don't really get how preventing the Solum Civil War (and thus preventing the Diviner from being at Tars Lamora and creating Gwyn) wouldn't make Gwyn and all of the Protostar kids paradoxes? if anyone has an answer here, i'd genuinely love an explanation because i want to like it but i can't work it out.

related a bit to this point ^ i really like including Ilthuran/the Diviner as a sympathetic character this season but i feel like we needed to see a bit more of him to really understand him and why he was so corrupted in s2 and see the Protostar kids (not just Gwyn) deal with how a guy who formerly enslaved them is now a good guy.

i think the set up to a potential season 3 hit the emotions perfectly with the Protostar kids serving as a bright beacon of hope and outreach in a time when the Federation is becoming withdrawn and insular (and that Janeway would facilitate that dream of exploration) but on a plot level.... i just don't buy that Starfleet would let seven kids and a single hologram have one of the fastest & most powerful ships in Starfleet just to train on when Starfleet had just lost so much of their Fleet in the Mars attack.

i think most of the characters had really good clear arcs this season except for Jankom Pog who was just kind of... there. this is a pretty minor critique because i'm probably attached to Pog the least out of all the Protostar kids and again it could also be because i wasn't paying attention to him that much but i wish we could have a bit of a more serious storyline with his character.

but all in all – those are pretty minor critiques because i don't mind if the plot gets a bit wishy washy as long as the emotional and character beats hit.

now things i really liked:

Dal's arc this season was so so good. i heard others talking about how he's great ADHD representation (especially for BIPOC kids) as someone who's intelligent and extremely skilled but really struggles in traditional education and despite seeming cocky/confident is often acting out of insecurity that he isn't really good enough or that the adults around him don't really care about him.

and i love how both Janeway and Chakotay serve as such great mentors!! Janeway for actually looking for ways to support him and show that she trusts Dal (and the rest of the Protostar kids) instead of punishing them for misbehaving. and Chakotay for that wonderful scene where he explains how there can feel like a push to always be at the top and be the best but the best thing in life is to find a place where you belong and can grow in healthy ways even if it means waiting to fulfill your ambitions (and what a good representation of healthy masculinity that is!)

and on that front. pretty much all of the scenes with Janeway and Chakotay were so lovingly crafted with how they both existed as mentors for the main characters but also had their own arcs and their mentorship reflected back on their own characters. i'm also not a huge j/c shipper (i like it theoretically, i'm just not that committed) but the loving glances they shared were Noticed.

i also like to think that the reason Janeway and Chakotay were so could at dealing with the Protostar kids was their command of Voyager's mixed Starfleet-Maquis crew and how they both know that despite Starfleet's ideals they often let down people who aren't Perfect enough (whether because of mental health, species, neurodiversity, etc). i'm specifically thinking about Tom and B'Elanna but i'm sure it also goes for Voyager's other crew that we don't see onscreen.

i love Gwyn. so much. i love how this season turned around expectations a little with Gwyn getting to have her Captain-y moments more so than Dal (through the series too, not just at the end) and her confronting her fear over her responsibility for an entire planet of her people who she's never even met before and insecurity that she's not really One Of Them.

i was also a little wary of Zero's arc this season at first because of how Star Trek tends to have "this autistic coded character is missing a fundamental part of existence and that's sad" narratives but i honestly think it was a pretty fresh portrayal of disability in that Zero in their normal metal body is missing senses that other people have and they enjoyed experiencing them in an organic body but going back to their metal containment suit wasn't sad, it was just a part of their life. and they even added a disability aid to their suit so they can still experience touch without all the "they're getting closer to being human" ableist shit that scifi tends to do. also their organic body using a mobility aid for a few episodes was Very Important to me. i might make a bigger analysis post of this portrayal later but i have to think on it.

i don't have much to say about her right now but i love Rok-Tahk so dearly and was overjoyed that she just got to be happy this season. every scene of her getting excited over science or another character commenting on how she's a genius was just so good.

Ma'Jel was also a fun addition and much needed to add a bit of common sense to the extremely chaotic dynamics going on. her and Zero Vulcan kissing at the end was extremely cute.

also every time either the Voyager-A crew would start saying "it's okay. we'll mutiny with you." to Janeway or Janeway got an order from Jellico (hey nice to see him btw! he's played by the same actor too!) that she immediately ignored, i was so happy. now that's my Captain!

i also have mixed opinions on the EMH in Voyager (mostly due to the last two seasons) but i thought he was great in here with a good balance of comedic scenes and some more serious moments. i did chuckle every time he started talking about his awful holonovels.

WESLEY CRUSHER!!!!! i'll be honest, i had a few ideas of characters that might make cameo appearances (i was banking on Harry Kim tbh) but for some reason Wesley never crossed my mind even though it makes SO MUCH SENSE given how his story in tng paralleled/was an inverse of the Protostar kids. instead of being a kid far away from the Federation who dreamt of of belonging somewhere safe, he was a genius kid on track to be a great captain and fulfill the Starfleet Dream TM but became lost and burnt out when he started to question if that was ever what he really wanted. both Wes and the Protostar kids dealt with self doubt and were dismissed at various points as Just Kids but they went in opposite directions.

i also just really love chaotic Time Lord Wes who's kind of forgotten how to be a person but is just doing this emoji 🤠 in every scene. the vibes were so impeccable.

also BEVERLY!!!!! as soon as Wes showed up i immediately made a post about how funny Janeway explaining All Of This to Beverly would be and then i was SHOCKED when it actually happened??? this show quite literally predicts my every want.

just everything about The Devourer of All Things was written specifically for me. the Loom were such good monsters (it's been forever since Star Trek did a straight up Scary Monster story). the explanation of all the different universes and timelines set my nerd brain on fire. the return of Janeway in a tank top. the snappy writing that also had some great character moments. the Doctor Who-ness of it all. i need to rewatch it asap.

the other episode highlight for me was Cracked Mirror for fun parallel universe exploits and getting to see Mirrorverse versions of Janeway and Chakotay. (there was even a Disco reference with the Agonizer!) it was predictable but the throwaway line to "Captain Tuvix" in whatever reality Rok and Zero ended up in almost made me do a spit take.

as someone who does genuinely love Picard (the show) despite its flaws, i am really happy how much was integrated into this season of Prodigy both with showing Beverly with a young Jack Crusher and with the attack on Mars being shown at the very end.

all in all – VERY GOOD SEASON. it gave me everything i wanted and more with only some minor nitpicks. and most importantly, i had fun in pretty much every single episode. i cleared my schedule on Monday because i thought i would be able to binge it all in one day but i simply had too much fun and only got through half of it. if season 1 of Prodigy was the best ever first season of a Star Trek show then this is maybe the best ever season of any Star Trek show.

[myobsessionsspace]

The Evolution of Park Jimin?

⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣ ⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣

I had these thoughts in my head and to be honest I wasn’t intending to put them down.

However after a lovely anon I just had to, for them, for myself and for anyone else interested.

I’ve covered my thoughts on Jimin’s statements that I interpret to mean something vulnerable, brave and very important to who Jimin himself is.

I think there are lots of people that agree or share similar sentiments

I feel like these new visuals follow that pattern Jimin started years ago, not just with his solo career in ‘chapter 2’

It feels to me that Jimin went through several journeys of different kinds but through each there has been an undercurrent of something core to him, core to his identity, his expression etc.

I feel like Jimin has really thought this through and each time he’s had creative control of displaying himself he has used the opportunity to give us further glimpses into his ‘truth untold’.

It doesn’t feel new to me though, that this started from recent years, it feels to me this is something that started after they were able to drop the pre-debut imposed concepts that couldn’t stick with any of the members because they just can’t be inauthentic. Also through growing older them learning that they are allowed to change, be who they feel comfortable with and not just what others want them to be

It’s not just about aesthetics, we all know that there were certain concepts/characters assigned to the members pre-debut that was assigned to each of them to maintain.

It really started becoming louder and in your face (at least in my face) after their ‘Love Yourself’ era began, when Jimin maybe took that sentiment to heart for himself? It’s one thing growing up and doing away with teen trends, young adult interests, it’s another thing accepting the person and loving all sides of yourself that don’t fit the way of the majority.

I could write it all out but to be honest with you the thoughts are so so jumbled and I keep struggle on starting points, keeping it on track and also not writing a War & Peace level post.

I thought I’d rather let the visuals do the talking.

*Also check out my two previous posts on Jimin and his statements he’s made both with visuals and his words.💜

Yes Jimin has been in the public eye for over 10 years, so we have seen him grow from a boy in his late teens to a man in his late twenties, approaching his thirties. He carries himself differently but even from pictures we can see how it’s more than the outside which has evolved or should I say bloomed

Pictures worth more than a thousand words

click picture to see full layout ↯

The evolution of Jimin before his solo albums, with his solo albums and the wonder we’re waiting to see of Jimin post enlistment

click picture to see full layout ↯

My view on the evolution of Jimin from his solo career

💜

[hopelesswrites]

‼️OBSCURE JOE PLOT ALERT ‼️

i see a lot of similar things being written under the joe tag, and i don’t always like how much miscommunication there is between the reader and joe because of reader’s insecurities. imagine joe dating a woman who is very secure in herself and the relationship. you have a career and while it isn’t as decadent as joe’s, you’re happy with it. however, joe sometimes worries that his lifestyle is too different from you because of how normal yours is. you’re not constantly flying to conventions and promoting new shows and worrying about being seen out in public. he’s nervous that you feel he isn’t committed enough to you or that he’s unreliable. while you take a direct communication approach, he pretends like everything is fine until the night he gets a call when he’s about to take you out. he had planned the reservation months in advance, but his agent called to see if he could do a last minute zoom interview that evening. he didn’t feel like he could turn it down, and when he turns around to tell you, he thinks that you just look so stunning that he starts to cry. you’re confused, and he’s just apologizing over and over. you comfort him, and after listening to him explain his worries, you pull him in and kiss his neck as you whisper exactly how wrong he is. after fifteen minutes of you embracing him and helping him clean up, he does his interview. your night out becomes a night in, and you give him the best head of his life. his thighs and tummy end up covered in marks before he pulls you off of him and you let him regain control, with him flipping you over into an incredibly intimate take on missionary. he wants to go slow, to really savor it, but god he just loves you so much that as you moan out his name and praises, he loses his ability to speak and just goes harder and deeper into you. sorry if this ask makes no sense i am running on not a lot of sleep sbshsvagabbssbbsb

Thank you for sending this in!! I really loved the idea and agree, we need more emotional Joe x secure reader. Hope it's alright, i went in guns blazing at first but lost my mojo at the smut (im not in a smutty mood atm apparently)

-

You were just putting the finishing touches on your makeup when Joes phone rang, and he dismissed himself to the living room to take the call.

Joe had been sitting on the bed not so subtly checking you out from behind (The mirror exposing him) while he waited for you to finish getting ready for your date. It was something that came rare in your relationship with Joe since his schedule filled up last year, so you were extra excited to just go out and have a good meal with your boyfriend.

You were applying the deep red lipstick you knew drove Joe crazy when you heard his voice raise from the other room. You had noticed how more flustered and irritated Joe was getting recently due to his work, but you were so proud of him for all his achievements.

Heavy footsteps made their way back to you and you turned around offering Joe a warm smile.

“Everything alright?”

His face could tell you everything was in fact not alright. The stern look in his eyes and the way his brows were furrowed, the emotion Joe struggled to hide from his face, failing to let him lie to you every single time.

The second Joe laid eyes on you the anger in his face vanished and the tension in his eyes softened as tears welled up.

‘I’m so sorry” was all Joe got out before the tears fell and you were rushing over to your boyfriend, taking his face into your hands and pulling him into your chest, the angle awkward but Joe embraced you around your waist and cried, spilling out all his pent-up emotions.

You stroked his hair, pushing it back and behind his ears to free his face, since he had been growing it for a role and it had become a bit unruly.

 Once the sobs subsided and he lifted his head up to speak, Joe stared down at you with the saddest eyes “I just wanted one night, one single night so I could prove I was all in, that I’m not distracted and I’m serious about us”.

This took you by surprise because you had no doubt in your mind Joe was serious, he hadn’t given you any indication to. Your relationship with Joe was perfect, he had his thing going, you had your thing going, you came together had a great thing going and you loved each other so much, what more could you want?

“Baby, where is this coming from? I know you’re serious about us, do you have a work thing?”

Joe looked away from you for a moment as more tears well up in his eyes.

“I feel like I’m too busy, I can’t be as present as you need, I can’t even take you out to dinner”. Joe looked down at your face, “And you’re dressed up so nice, I’m such a dick, you’re even wearing that god damn lipstick, you’re so fucking perfect I’m so sorry”.

“No, no, Joe, you’re amazing, everything’s perfect, please don’t stress yourself out” You comforted your boyfriend, wiping the stray tears off his cheeks as they fell. “Go do your work, I’m okay, we can order in and watch a movie when you’re done, okay?”

Joe nodded like a kid sniffling away after a tantrum, “I won’t be long, I love you”. He punctuated his confession with a big wet kiss to your forehead before sulking all the way to the study where he did most of his online interviews.

You migrated to the couch and put on a rerun of your current binge while Joe worked, before long he was creeping back out of the study.

“Done already?” You beamed, watching his own face light up. “Come sit and we can properly talk about how you’re feeling”.

“I was just frustrated don’t worry about me” Joe dismissed, plonking down on the sofa next to you, knees touching.

“My Love, I’m always worrying about you, I care so much I can’t help it”.

Joes’ eyes drifted over to you, softening once they landed on your face, full of love.

“I just feel sometimes life gets in the way and you’re going to leave me”.

You raked your fingers through Joes hair, brushing out some tangles while he savoured in your touch.

“I just don’t want to fail you”. He confessed to this much softer, more insecure about this particular part.

It broke your heart he thought that way, and you were upset at yourself for not seeing this sooner, Joe had been struggling with his insecurities for so long and you thought everything had been perfect.

“Hey, you haven’t failed me, I don’t think you even could, and I’m not going anywhere”.

“I love you” Joe whispered, smiling softly.

“I love you too” you whispered back. “Now lay back, let me show you how much I love you”.

“You don’t have to”.

You dismissed Joe, “You’re tense, I do”.

You got up off the couch and slid down between Joes legs, rubbing up his thighs lovingly as he adjusted to be more comfortable.

Without hesitation you began unbuttoning Joes shirt from the bottom while he worked from the top, meeting in the middle. Underneath was the holy grail, you loved Joes body, specifically, marking joes body.

Starting just below his belly button you began to pepper gentle kisses along his skin, dotting that red lipstick in your path. Joe groaned at the realisation of your intentions, knowing he’s going to hate washing off your work later. As you went further down your lips got firmer, stamping more prominent kiss marks over and around his happy trail.

Once the unmarked skin ran out you worked on removing Joes pants, him helping more hastily, pulling his boxers down with them.

You continued your descent, leaving little red reminders with every touch, making sure to stay as soft as possible, leaving Joe a heaving groaning mess.

“Darling please” he whined as your mouth alternated from hip to hip only a wisp of breath where Joe really wanted you, needed you.

You couldn’t bare to watch him suffer for too long before placing a series of kisses up the base of his cock, watching his muscles tense up as he refrained from taking charge, letting you have your way with him, as agonising as it was. The remainder of your lipstick smudged over his skin before you wrapped your lips loosely around the tip and sucked, eliciting the most pornographic moan from your boyfriend.

“Fuck, baby you have no idea what a sight this is”. Joe groaned, while gently tucking a fallen piece of hair behind your ear that was obstructing his view.

Your head bobbed in a rhythm that had Joes stomach muscles tensing in overdrive, you knew he wouldn’t last too long. Before you could send him over the edge Joe was gently pulling you up, a firm hand on the back of your neck, and guiding you back on the couch where he started undressing you, just as hastily as he was with his own clothes.

“Eager, are we?” You joked as Joe fiddled with the zipper on your skirt.

“That lipstick move was cruel, I need you now” Joe grumbled, finally getting the zipper to cooperate and pulling down your skirt as you worked on your top, leaving you in just your bra and underwear.

Joe groaned as he soaked in the sight of you, far too worked up at this point.

“Fuck I love you so much” he got out before devouring you in a heated, passionate kiss, all tongues and teeth.

Clumsily you wrapped your arms around Joes shoulders, pulling him impossibly close, needing to feel all of him. His lips trailed down your jaw and sucked along your neck in an animalistic fashion, marking you his own way.

Impatiently you reached down to stroke your boyfriend, silently telling him to hurry. Needing no more indication he was moving your underwear enough to slip himself inside and began a slow agonising pace.

“Joe, please” you whined, missing the fervour he had earlier.

His hips moved in a mellow rhythm, grinding once they met yours, causing heat to rise in your belly quicker than it normally would. This was slow, but fuck was it good.

“Need it slow tonight” Joe whispered, goosebumps rising over your neck when one particular thrust hit a spot that had you seeing stars.

You let out an embarrassingly loud moan as he picked up more force, “Yeah baby? There?” He teased, running his fingers through your hair and tugging at the crown, sending electricity through your body.

Joe’s movements got harder, little grunts escaping his lips as he chased his own orgasm, the animalistic atmosphere slowly returning. You lost all ability to breathe as Joes pace quickened and his cock hit that spot that had your eyes rolling back.

“There you are, my love, let go” Joe encouraged, movements getting harder and faster as he reached his own high.

It felt like an explosion as your orgasm hit and Joes followed after, his moan so loud it echoed through the still house.

You relaxed back into the couch as you caught your breath, feeling the weight of your boyfriend drop ontop of you, comfortingly, much like a sweaty weighted blanket that you loved so much.

“Don’t doubt my love for you again” You sighed once you had both calmed down enough.

“Or what? I get this again?” Joe joked.

“This was an exception”.

[qqueenofhades]

hello, it's youngin anon once again. i need advice and i have no one to ask, so i figured i could ask you. it's a lot and long, so if you don't want to answer, feel free to ignore.

idk how familiar you are with immigrant child guilt, but it weighs on me immensely. my parents work very hard and i can see the way they struggle. i remember when i was young we didn't even have a bed! me and my siblings slept on cushions. i've seen the insane hours my dad has worked so as to afford me and my siblings a better and more comfortable life. both of my parents have put in a lot of work to give us good opportunities, starting with their immigration to the US.

in nigerian culture, education is extremely important, so as i grew up, my parents have always told me to focus on my education, telling me not to work and it did pay off bc i did end up as valedictorian. college, however is presenting a new set of problems.

my dad, who i am financially dependent on (and who is paying the tuition for the state uni where i'm enrolled) has made it abundantly clear that he thinks med school is the only valid career path. i told him that my roommate was studying comms and he said that she could become a lawyer or something, before looking me dead in the eyes and that wasn't an option for me. with him, it's med school or bust.

as long as i could remember, my parents have been telling me i was going to become a doctor. every time i asked my dad to get me something, he say, i'll do it and in the future, you'll become a doctor, right? and i would agree and that was that. i've answered to all the adults who asked me that i was was going to med school and they would all give me smiles of approval. if i mentioned any other career growing up i'd be ruthlessly shot down or gently persuaded about how much more security there was in medicine.

i was aware in high school that i didn't really want to be a doctor so i sort of set myself up, enrolling under my college's science school so as to cut off my own retreat path. i figured that if i was able to bear it during high school, i could bear it during college. but i can see my own behavior and i know that i don't really like STEM. not that it's a bad field! i just don't have any interest in it. i read the textbooks to learn enough to pass the test and that's it. i don't interact with my classmates or the professors or the material beyond what's needed to get an A. this is in sharp contrast to my history classes which i have been enthralled with. I took a world history class in the first semester enjoyed it immensely. last semester i took a war and violence in africa class and LOVED it. it made me want to become an African historian/Africanist. i talk to my professors, enjoy the readings, the assignments, all the new info i'm getting on the continent where my family originates. i go to my history classes and i want to be there. i want to learn.

i don't know if i could survive academia as a profession because i've seen you posting about the struggles from working in academia and there was a large strike at my school last semester because professors weren't earning enough. if it were a perfect world or if i had lots of money i would love to get my Ph.D focusing on West African history and be a history professor, but it's not, so. i've been thinking about law school as a happy compromise. i could go to law school with a undergrad history degree and if i went to law school i could also pursue JD/MA in History. i'm trying out some law classes next semester to see how i like them.

i'm now scared that if i were to transfer to a different school in my college my scholarship might be reduced. i'm also afraid that i would lose my parents' financial support if i chose to pursue a different career path and i have no actual work experience.

and i understand my parents' very valid concerns! both of them grew up poor in Nigeria and it was their STEM educations that afforded them better lives. they don't want me to experience that level of crushing poverty that heavily defined their youth. my mom tells me about her younger brother in Nigeria who struggles to get work with his masters. my dad tells me about co-workers' children who can't get jobs in their field of profession and have to work whatever jobs come their way. from what i've seen on the news, the future job market looks bad for the young people (around the world!). millennials are having problems and my generation isn't set to do much better.

is it fair to my parents to just disregard that and pursue work in the humanities? i want to do what i want, to just live my life, but it feels like it's not just my life. it would feel so selfish to just risk that all. whenever i talk to my parents about their journey in the US i feel like i should just suck it all up and go to med school. if my parents could suffer all of that, who i am to complain? do my struggles compare?

i feel like my sense of pragmatism and idealism are warring against each other. I don't like STEM, I'm good at it, good enough to get good grades in the classes, but it's not something i enjoy doing, but there's more job security. i love history and the humanities as a whole, but i might struggle with employment.

i'm semi-familiar with the path i would need to take to become a doctor. i would have to make it into med school (high GPA, experience in science research/labs, shadowing healthcare professionals, good recommendations, etc.), survive med school, survive residency (during which residents are worked like dogs), complete fellowships, and then i would be able to practice independently. and that would probably occupy the majority of my time. people have told me that med school is hard even for people that like medicine. for me who is just tolerating it, can i do it? and what about any future patients? is it fair to them?

my mom has always said that i could just get my second degree in whatever i wanted after i became a doctor, but i don't know if i would have the mental strength/energy/free time to go back to school after med school. i feel like if i grit my teeth and bared it for all my twenties i would lose the drive to do it my thirties. it feels like i've been putting off my living my life for my entire life. in middle school i thought about high school, in high school about college, and in college about post-graduate life. i'm tired of this constant look towards the future, but it's the only thing i know how to do. my brain is constantly asking "okay, and then what?"

if i go to med school and realize that i really can't do it, then i'll be trapped. it'll be too much debt to walk away from, too many years of my life dedicated towards that end goal of becoming a doctor. i feel like if i'm going to change my future plans, i should do it before sooner rather than later. 19 isn't too late to walk back but 26 might be.

but it's not like pursuing a career closer to what i want would be easier.

there's always this big fear in the background of, what if i fail? what if i risk it all to go to law school and i don't make it in? or i end up in a low-paying law job saddled with hundreds of thousands in student debt? or even if i make it to biglaw, i still end up burned out from all the hours that they work? wouldn't i still be miserable? i'm not super familiar with how law school works but i've done some lurking around @artielu's blog and law seems like something i should also go into in only if i'm sure.

(i'm not. i'm not sure of anything really.)

it feels like no matter what i'm going to be unhappy in the future. maybe everyone feels this way, maybe a certain level of unhappiness is normal in adult life. it just makes me feel so frustrated because i'm struggling so hard for what? idk. i'm also so desperately scared. i'm scared that one day i'll wake up in the my forties/fifties and realize that i hate my life. maybe i'll look back on this and lament how spoiled/whiny i was. idk. idk.

i'm not looking for an answer to this dilemma, i know this is a decision i'll have to make for myself, but i would appreciate any advice or even words of encouragement. thank you.

Welp. Okay, first of all, I am giving you a big virtual hug and sitting you down at your coffeeshop of choice. So imagine us talking there.

Second, thanks for pouring out your heart to me about this and your various other comments and chats over the years. I only know you as one of my favorite (shh) Tumblr anons on the internet, but I have always seen how thoughtful, smart, and hard-working you are, and I don't take it lightly that you trust me to listen to you and to give you good advice. (Or uh, let's hope, at least not bad advice? Jury's out.) Likewise, I'm absolutely sure that immigrant-child guilt is something to which a lot of my followers can very much relate, and would be happy to talk with you about. So if you are one of said followers and you'd like to encourage anon to reach out to you, please drop a note in the replies! I can't speak to this from personal experience, but I'd love to help connect you to others in your situation. Because yes, it IS absolutely a universal struggle for first- or second-gen immigrant kids: balancing cultural expectations of parents, American opportunities, feeling guilty if you do what you want, etc etc.

Third, and this is just me talking: if you absolutely feel this way, then no, I don't think you should go to medical school. I realize that this is far easier said than done, but if you continue to feel this strongly about it, then... you shouldn't be expected to do it, and that's just something that everyone in your family will have to come to terms with. After all, your parents came to America so you could be raised as an American, and there would be multiple pathways to success -- not whatever just they themselves had to do in order to get here in the first place. I'm afraid that you'll eventually have to bite the bullet and have an honest talk with your parents about this, but it may help if you present this as both your own success and THEIR success. After all, you're smart, talented, you have so many options, and you'll clearly succeed at whatever you choose to do. And that means THEY did their job right: they worked hard, they raised you right, they brought you to a place where there ISN'T just one narrow pathway to having a fulfilling and prestigious career. It doesn't mean they "failed" to make you a doctor. It means they succeeded in making YOU, and opening up so many more things for you to do.

Obviously: that's going to be hard either way, your parents are probably going to be upset, and that's very tough to deal with, especially if you're a close family unit and if you're financially dependent on them. You're the only one who can choose when to have the conversation and what might come of it, but it's still something that you do have the right to do. If you want to research other aid options or scholarship packages, or reach out to financial aid/admissions officers at other schools to see what it might take to transfer (that is, if you need to transfer), that's your right to do. You're an adult now and you have the right to take legal and personal responsibility for your own life. If you know what you want to do and how you want to do it: then again, isn't that why your parents came here? Isn't that what they were working to achieve?

Yes, academia is hard. No, there's no guarantee of getting a job. But there isn't the guarantee of getting a job in medicine either, especially if it's something you're forcing yourself to do and which (as you note) would impact negatively on you, your colleagues, and the patients you would be expected to serve. Especially post-Covid and in the American healthcare system: being a doctor/nurse/healthcare professional SUCKS! Even if you like it and feel called to do it, it still sucks, and the only people earning a lot of money from it are the senior/career/specialist types (as is the case in every field). Of course your parents have expectations and dreams for you, but they also don't get the right to control/dictate your entire adult life just by virtue of deciding to bring you into the world. After all, they did that, and that means embracing you as a person with your own choices. (And this goes for all people with controlling/bossy parents, regardless of immigrant or non-immigrant background). So again: this is what they wanted for you, and you've paid that off already.

I absolutely feel the "I spend all my time thinking/worrying about the future and being scared that I'll end up wasting my life" thing, which I think is common to a lot of high-achieving smart people (we are terminal overthinkers to a one). I can tell you now that life has a way of surprising you, and when you get a little older, you start becoming more comfortable with yourself, your accomplishments, your talents, and knowing what you're good at. So I don't think you will find that you've wasted anything. Likewise, when it comes to studying for advanced degrees in history: do you think it might help with your parents if you agreed to pursue a name-brand school? It's still not guaranteed, but trust me, going to a place like Harvard or Yale makes it tremendously easier to get a job or a future opportunity just by virtue of having that name on your CV and the people you will meet, and I have no doubt that you would be able to get in. As well, I don't really think your parents could argue with you going to an Ivy League, or think that you weren't applying yourself.

Likewise, if there is anything I can do to support you in this, please feel free to message me privately/off anon. I will write a letter of recommendation for you, I will see if I know a person who knows a person, I will help look at application materials, so forth and etc. I mean it: I WILL help you in the real world if I possibly can. I'm sure you have tons of other enthusiastic recommenders, but still. Also, I will say that despite the current (terrible) academic job market, I have seen quite a few openings for professors of African history/African studies/African-American literature and culture, and that's just in the US. There are also lots of opportunities around the world.

Anyway: I hope that's helpful to start with. I am giving you all the hugs. Please reach out to me again (especially via private message) if I can help with this in more tangible ways. And likewise, if any of my followers would like anon to reach out to them: please make a note in the replies. We can do this together.

<3

[gcthvile]

Spider-boy, King of Thieves.

summary: the lines blur as rei stark, the king of thieves, and his archenemy, peter parker or spider-man, join forces against a new threat. their alliance sparks forbidden desires challenging longtime roles. as loyalties shift amid the shadows of a power struggle, will a deception unravel or ignite something far more dangerous in the city that never sleeps?

couple: rei stark (oc) x peter parker

warnings: slightly suggestive content towards the end

fandom: marvel

the streets of new york echoed with the sounds of conflict once more. web and repulsor blasts lit up the night as the familiar figures of spideran and the king danced their waltz of evasion and attack.

"giving up yet, your highness?" taunted spider-man as he flipped out of the way of a repulsor beam.

rei chuckled darkly as his armor hovered nearby. "not a chance, bug. i've only just begun!"

they launched back into the fray, exchanging blows both physical and verbal. over time, their fights had fallen into a practiced ritual - testing skills and wits without intent to seriously harm. the adrenaline rush and challenge was what kept drawing them together, time and again.

tonight, it seemed their dance was drawing to a close once peter disarmed rei with a well-placed web shot. "nice try, stark. i'd say your little heist attempt is a failure."

rei scowled up at him from the ground, but it lacked venom. a glint of amusement shone in his eyes. "you win this round, bug. though I'll be back to try again, so don't get too comfortable."

peter smirked behind his mask. "i look forward to it, your majesty." he shot a web and swung off into the night.

their little games were becoming dangerously entertaining. but neither could have predicted the high stakes clash just over the horizon that would force them to work as a team. and uncover hidden dynamics neither expected...

rumblings of unrest had been stirring in the underbelly of the city for weeks. a new power was rising, one far more ruthless and reckless than even the king. at first, it was little things - businesses "sold" under duress, territories quietly seized.

but then the corpses started appearing, bearing signs of savage brutality. anyone who dared resist this mysterious new force met grisly ends. word on the streets hinted at a shadow organization flooding the streets with highly dangerous weapons.

for rei, it represented the first real threat to his authority since taking the throne. spies reported this new gang, led by a man only known as vulture, aimed to topple all established powers to rule unchallenged through fear.

peter, meanwhile, began encountering vulture's weapons during nightly patrols. powerful, unregulated explosives and firearms unlike anything he'd seen before. bodies left in his wake told of a viciousness that made even seasoned criminals blanch.

both started piecing the clues together. they realized this was bigger than a simple turf war, and neither could hope to defeat such a relentless enemy acting alone. for the sake of the city, a temporary alliance may be the only way to ensure its survival...and theirs.

but first, they'd need to overcome their pride and distrust. a meeting would need to be arranged, despite the personal animosity between them. the fate of new york demanded it - if they didn't unite to stop vulture, he would destroy them all.

"to what do i owe the displeasure, spider-man?" rei drawled as peter swung into the deserted warehouse.

peter pushed back his growing annoyance. this was important. "we need to talk, stark. there's a new threat-"

"so I've heard," interrupted rei lazily from where he lounged. "this vulture seems to be moving in on my operations. quite rude of him, really."

"this is serious," insisted peter. "he's already killed dozens. we can't keep butting heads with each other if he means to destroy everything."

rei inspected his nails disinterestedly. "and why should I care what happens to you and this city? as long as my empire remains intact, what do I owe these people?"

peter balled his fists, struggling to remain calm. "we both know you don't really mean that. deep down you do have a code, as twisted as it is." he took a slow breath. "we need to team up, like it or not. It's our only chance."

rei arched a sculpted brow, finally deigning to look at him fully. "work with the itsy bitsy spider? I think not. give me one good reason I shouldn't leave you for the vultures, hmm?"

"because together we stand a chance," said peter, meeting that flinty gaze steadily. "but divided, we both fall. your call, stark. what's it going to be - ally or enemy?"

rei tapped his chin thoughtfully, making a show of considering peter's proposal.

"you make a fair point, as loathe as I am to admit it," he conceded at last. "very well, it seems we have no other choice. an alliance - for now."

"wonderful," said peter dryly. "now what's our next move against vulture?"

"patience, bug. strategizing takes time, not that a simpleton like you would understand." rei smirked, earning a glare. "vulture has been frustratingly elusive so far. we'll need to draw him out."

"any ideas how?" challenged peter.

a wicked gleam entered rei's eyes. "as a matter of fact, I believe I have the perfect bait...you."

peter blinked in surprise. "me? why would he be interested in-"

"you're the lone thorn in his side so far, spider. taking you out of the picture would clear a major obstacle." rei circled lazily, scanning leter up and down in a way that made him feel distinctly prey-like.

"and how do you propose using me as bait, exactly?" asked peter suspiciously.

rei's smile was all sharp teeth. "leave the details to me, bugaboo. all you need to do is play your part when the time comes. unless you'd rather I find...alternative motivation?"

peter repressed a shiver. working with rei stark was sure to be a dangerous game indeed.

the time for planning had passed. rei's elaborate scheme was primed, and now it was time for peter to play his part as bait.

"you're sure this will work?" asked peter, not for the first time. a lingering shred of self-preservation made him hesitant.

rei rolled his eyes as he fitted a tracer to peter's suit. "for the last time, yes. now stop fidgeting." his touch lingered on peter's hip, smirking at the sharp inhale it drew.

peter scowled, slapping his hand away. "focus, stark."

"oh, i am." rei's gaze gleamed with intention as he stepped back. "ready when you are, bug. go make yourself a tantalizing target for our feathered friend."

with an uneasy glance at rei, peter swung off into the dusk. he wasn't sure which role made him more nervous - bait, or whatever game rei seemed determined to drag him into. pushing those thoughts aside, he started stirring up trouble, making himself a noisy target.

it didn't take long before he sensed eyes upon him. a looming figure swooped down and attacks rained - but these he barely had to dodge. vulture had taken the bait, and rei was no doubt tracking their movement.

sure enough, when peter faked capture to lure vulture to a secluded spot, rei was waiting with weapons primed. their unlikely alliance sprang into coordinated attack, catching vulture utterly off guard between spider and thief.

in minutes, the fearsome villain lay defeated at their feet. peter grinned at rei in flushed triumph, surprised by how natural their teamwork had felt. but the king of thieves seemed far more interested in claiming his reward...

rei stepped closer to peter, a triumphant smirk curving his lips. "well done, spider. it seems our partnership was fruitful after all."

"yeah, i suppose teaming up wasn't so bad." peter felt a nervous flutter as rei's hand came up to grasp his arm. "so...i guess our business is concluded?"

"concluded?" rei laughed softly. "sweetheart, the night is young. and I believe a reward is in order for my invaluable bait."

before peter could react, rei tugged him into a kiss. his lips were firm yet surprisingly gentle against peter's astonished mouth. electric heat shot through peter's veins as he kissed back without thinking.

when they parted, peter stared wide-eyed. "rei, i...we can't. you're a criminal, i'm a hero."

rei only smiled wickedly. "and yet, did we not just work marvelously as a team? your morals seem rather flexible when it suits you, little spider." He nuzzled peter's jaw, drawing a shiver.

"maybe..." peter wavered, torn between duty and the undeniable spark between them. could he allow himself this, even if just for one night? rei made a compelling case, as always.

rei sensed his surrender. "come home with me, sweetheart. i'll show you pleasures unlike any good girl or boy could offer." his voice dropped to a sinful purr. "let's see how far that flexibility can take you..."

against all better judgment, peter found himself saying "okay." just for one night...

what began as a one night encounter blossomed into something deeper for peter and rei against all odds. somehow, their partnership in defeating vulture had unlocked an undeniable connection between them.

where once they were enemies, now they fell into an intricate dance - fighting crime during the day as their alter egos, only to come together under cover of darkness in heated embraces. rei continued his schemes, but turned his ambition towards less harmful targets at peter's insistence.

their relationship defied definition. they were allies in some ways, antagonists in others, and something altogether softer and needier when alone. rei's lust for challenge and thrill now extended to pleasing peter as much as himself.

peter knew he should end this dance with the king of thieves. but there was solace and pleasure in rei's arms unlike anything he found elsewhere. and for all his notorious deeds, rei proved fiercely devoted and protective of what was his behind closed doors.

somehow, against every expectation, their partnership worked. they pushed and challenged one another in turn, inspiring each to explore grey areas of their natures neither knew existed. new york's protector and its most cunning criminal formed an unlikely balance.

and so the dance continued between spider-man and his king, weaving a delicate equilibrium through the streets of their city by night while keeping up appearances as adversaries by day. their relationship survived through want and compromise - a testament to what could emerge when unexpected pieces aligned.

there we go, hope you'll like it!

@jackiequick @missstrawbs2001 @blueboirick @meiramel @cherrysft

[fxoye2]

I love your little analysis on SNW Spock! I do think people have an issue with his characterization more than say, AOS Spock, who is also much different than his counterpart (I mean, he’s definitely angrier, bitchier, more fragmented and more lost, I think—and he basically hates Kirk for a good chunk of 2009 while TOS Spock literally would not accept Kirk’s guilt in the Court Martial episode because of how much he valued Kirk), because SNW Spock is meant to be the younger version of TOS Spock, and Leonard Nimoy’s performance is like, super iconic — not only as a Trek thing, but because he embodied Spock so beautifully and the performance in general is so iconic — there’s a reason he shows up in 2009 trek! Quinto Spock was free from the burden of having to live up to that, as that movie made it very clear (hell, with having the two Spocks meet!) that while they are the same character, the two beings they become are inherently divergent to each other — allowing AOS Spock to be interesting in ways different than TOS Spock. I feel like if we weren’t expected to believe that SNW Spock would eventually develop into TOS Spock, that version would be disliked less and kind of allowed to breathe. And maybe it also has to do with the fact that we haven’t seen him that much with Kirk yet—even with how much AOS Spock different from portrayal, that chemistry and relationship with AOS Kirk was made central off the bat anyway — even though there were differences, that stayed the same.

Oh, I love this take, and I think you’ve hit on something so crucial about why people struggle more with SNW Spock than, say, AOS Spock. The weight of expectation with SNW Spock is much heavier, and you’re totally right—Leonard Nimoy’s portrayal of Spock is iconic beyond Star Trek. It’s not just about him being a great character; it’s that Nimoy’s Spock has this almost untouchable status in pop culture. He embodied Spock in such a way that it feels like anyone stepping into that role has these massive shoes to fill, and when SNW introduces a younger version of that Spock, it’s inevitable that comparisons are going to be tough for some fans.

With AOS Spock, like you said, there was this very clear narrative permission to let him diverge from TOS Spock. Having Nimoy’s Spock literally show up in Star Trek (2009) and interact with Quinto’s Spock gave that version a kind of freedom that SNW Spock doesn’t have. It said, “Yes, these are technically the same person, but they’ve been shaped by different events and can evolve differently.” That blessed AOS Spock with more leeway to be angry, fragmented, and emotionally volatile, because we knew from the outset that his timeline was different. The fact that AOS Spock could hate Kirk for a good chunk of 2009 (which is almost unimaginable for TOS Spock) worked because it wasn’t supposed to lead back to the Spock we know in TOS—it was meant to show us a version of Spock who’s still dealing with loss, who’s still fractured, and who’s building something new with his version of Kirk.

But SNW Spock? He’s expected to eventually become the Spock we know and love from TOS. That’s where the tension lies. Fans are seeing him as this unfinished version of a character who’s already been perfectly portrayed, and the struggle comes from wanting him to already be there. We’re watching Ethan Peck’s Spock, who is purposefully rough around the edges, awkward, and emotionally unsettled, but in our minds, we’re comparing him to the calm, controlled Spock that Nimoy gave us. The disconnect is jarring because there’s an expectation that SNW Spock will grow into that iconic version, and any deviation from that feels like a misstep.

And honestly, I think part of why SNW Spock feels more difficult for people to accept is because of what you mentioned: we haven’t really seen him with Kirk yet. That relationship is so central to how we understand Spock in both TOS and AOS. Even though AOS Spock is very different—angrier, more fragmented, as you said—that chemistry with Kirk is front and center from the get-go. We’re introduced to their dynamic right away, and even if it’s combative at first, it’s undeniable. We know that Spock and Kirk are on a path to becoming this iconic duo, and that’s comforting, even if AOS Spock behaves in ways we don’t expect.

SNW, on the other hand, is showing us Spock in a context where Kirk isn’t really there yet. Without that anchor, Spock feels like he’s drifting. We’re seeing him navigate his relationships with other people, like Pike, or in his romantic entanglements, and those don’t quite give us the same sense of familiarity that we get from the Spock-Kirk dynamic. So, there’s this sense of waiting—waiting for the Spock we know to emerge, waiting for that central relationship to solidify, and that waiting can make it feel like something’s missing.

I also want to touch on something truly important—the writers are trying to make SNW Spock relatable in ways that sometimes strip him of his alienness, and that’s a big part of the discomfort too. TOS Spock is relatable because he isn’t relatable, as odd as that sounds. His isolation, his outsider status, his constant struggle to balance his two identities—those things made him deeply relatable to fans, especially queer folks and people who feel like they don’t fit in. SNW Spock, with his more human-like emotions and his awkwardness, feels like an attempt to humanize him too much, which can make him feel less special—less of the unique, strange figure that Nimoy’s Spock embodied.

I think that’s why I’m so insistent on giving SNW Spock more of a psychological background, even if it feels like a reach sometimes. The writers may not be consciously thinking of all the depth I’ve tried to pull out of him, but I want to believe that there’s more to him than what we see on the surface. If we’re going to watch this version of Spock struggle to find his footing, then I want that struggle to mean something, to be leading him toward becoming the Spock we know. And while the show may not always succeed in showing that transition clearly, I like to think of SNW Spock as still being in the middle of a really tough personal journey—one that hasn’t been resolved yet because he hasn’t had that relationship with Kirk to ground him.

In short, I think you’re absolutely right—if SNW Spock didn’t have the expectation of becoming TOS Spock, people might be more willing to let him breathe and grow in his own time. The weight of living up to Nimoy’s portrayal is enormous, and it makes it harder for people to accept a version of Spock who’s messier, more insecure, and still figuring things out. But I think that messiness has the potential to be interesting if we give it space to evolve—especially once we start seeing more of Spock’s dynamic with Kirk. That’s where we might really see him come into his own.

[jasontoddiefor]

okay so, i realize that's probably not your current fandom, but i'm (once again) in a pjo content binge and i when i checked your pjo tags (Trading Tomorrow fan here) the first post was "no mist au". Which sounds really, really awesome. would you be willing to share some ideas about it or something?

I am always willing to talk about my AUs!!! And I'm glad you like Trading Tomorrow! That fic is still very dear to me!

Right, as the name says, the "no mist AU" is essentially an AU where the mist ceases existing when Percy is still like toddler age and the world is thrown into chaos. We end in some sorta post apocalyptic state where we see the return of the old worship mixed with new ways because demigods are still pretty much the only ones who can kill monsters. But now, well, normal people are praying to the gods as well again.

Some plot points include

Sally taking Percy and running and establishing herself as a person who knows what's up, and more than that, has a kid. She ends running a city alongside the coast as Poseidon's priestess.

The Roman Empire makes a return. Ne Rome adapts quickly to these new circumstances and they do it really well, expanding territory. Thalia and Jason both grow up in New Rome!

On that note, there is kind of a constant power struggle going on between various territories and gods and Kronos is also Awake And Having Some Thoughts

Camp Halfblood is the other big player. I'm not sure which name it'll get but it'll definitely will be renamed. I like New Alexandria (as opposed to New Athen as I've seen in a couple fics) because of Alexander the Great kicking off the Hellenism (just bear with this phrasing I know that's not how history works) and PJO seeming to rely more on late stages of ancient greek history.

But here are plenty of other bigger settlements with their own leader, goals and protections. Though being a demigod guarantees having kind of a higher status in society and people that are/would have been born clear-sighted have a sort of sense for when monsters are near, opposed to normal people.

But yeah, mostly this is post apocalypse meets ancient greek civilization?

And Sally doing everything she can to keep her kid safe and being very badass in turn.

Uuuh take a snippet?

Sally had devoured entire volumes about Greek mythology and the gods’ worship during her pregnancy. She’d never breathed a word of it to Percy, choosing ignorance as protection, but in their changed world, her knowledge needn’t be summoned. It was already there.

“Does anyone have sweets on them or alcohol?” Sally asked.

The people in her group only stared at her in confusion, some even in mistrust.

“It’s important.”

“What are you doing?”

“Prayer,” Sally said. She hadn’t ever been religious, meeting Poseidon hadn’t changed that. But could this really still be religion if she knew it to be truth?

Sally tossed the chocolate bar and the vodka from the flask into the fire.

“To our Lord Poseidon, for protection and safety of this commune.”

Actually take two snippets:

Leo does not like to admit that they might be in trouble, but he’s so nervous he can’t think of a weapon to aid him, never mind focus on making any fire. He glances to the right where Bryce’s body was already cooling, and nearly threw up. The scorpion’s sting had ripped right through his stomach, leaving behind an ugly, revolting wound. Luke is still holding onto his sword, but he can’t even stand properly, never mind fight.

The realization that they are utterly fucked hits like a brick to the face.

He’s survived the end of the world, myth becoming reality and this is what kills him: a regular patrol in an area that should be free of monsters. Leo hadn’t even been scheduled to go on this patrol, only volunteered at the last minute. He’d hoped to impress Luke, maybe see if he could secure permission to move outside the safe perimeters to get more parts to work with.

How stupid, not even their base is truly safe.

With an ugly roar, the scorpion turns around, aiming straight for Leo. Behind it, Luke struggles to get on his feet.

That’s it, Leo’s done for.

He tries to smile so Luke won’t blame himself and maybe do the smart thing and get away. Optimistic last thoughts so that Leo can rest peacefully in the underworld, having died a hero’s death. Phrased like this, dying doesn’t even sound that horrible.

The thought does not make the scorpion look any less terrifying and just when Leo decided to scream, he is cut off.

“Hold this for me.”

Instinctually, Leo holds out his arms and a bag gets dropped into them. The bag is warm and soft and has bright green eyes and oh, gods, that’s a baby.

Leo looks up and there’s a blur of black and blue standing in front of him. His brain is a bit slow on the upkeep, still reeling with the realization that he is holding a baby, and in the seconds it takes him to realize a stranger had come to their aid, the man has already drawn his blade. It’s made from pure celestial bronze, which is enough to make Leo’s jaw go slack. He’s only seen pure celestial bronze or imperial gold only a handful of times. The metals are incredibly scarce and Leo wants to touch that sword right now.

But he can’t.

Because he’s holding a baby and the sword is in its wielder’s hand, who is using it to systematically decimate the scorpion without ever breaking a sweat.

The monster surges up on more time, and the man simply adjust his hold on the sword and drops low, piercing the beast from below.

And just like that, it’s over and the clearing is silent.

[notwarriorswiki]

I really loved reading the HoneyXLion scenes in your AU! :) Love those two! <3 Especially since Honeyfern has always been my favorite. Got any Honeypaw fun-facts/headcanons you could share?

Updated designs for the two of them as well for this!

Honeyfern is a big daddy’s girl. She loves her dad so much and has a lot of fun spending time with him. In my rewrite Brackenfur is Lionblaze’s mentor rather than Ashfur, so Honeypaw enjoyed tagging along specifically to see her dad, though Lionpaw never complained.

She’s a talented fighter amongst her fellow apprentices, something not many expect when they see her. She seems to have picked up on this and likes to use it to her advantage.

Related to the above point, she can pin Lionblaze, even with his bigger size compared to her. She just knows him and how he fights well, and her adaptability has her always finding new ways to get him back on the ground.

She was definitely seen as little Miss Perfect - beautiful, kind, smart, talented - it was no wonder both Lionpaw and Berrypaw crushed on her growing up.

Honestly though, it was a lot of pressure, and though she had so much to offer, she was often swept aside because she’d get teased about having a mate as soon as she was able since she had two obvious admirers. Many would ask her “who she would pick” when she was older, when really that wasn’t even crossing her mind.

Honeypaw believed if she continued to excel, she’d be able to stand out on her own and not keep being seen as this frail little beauty. Despite her fellow she-cat apprentices not receiving the same treatment, it didn’t let up. It seemed the more “perfect” she was, the more others saw her as something to be taken care of.

Lionpaw was once one of these cats. He liked her for much of the same reasons Berrypaw liked her - she was absolutely beautiful and her skills weren’t anything to scoff at. However, it took Honeypaw telling him off and losing that sweet and kind persona she always had for him to see she wasn’t the perfect princess he idolized. It was at this point (narrative-wise) that Lionpaw stops pursuing her, admittedly becoming more focused on things related to his brother and the other clans with their prophecy evolving.

Honeypaw feels bad, thinking she really upset him with her words, even if he did totally deserve it. They keep running into each other since her father, Brackenfur, is Lionpaw’s mentor, and she likes to tag along. In a shocking turn of events, Lionpaw ends up apologizing to her for his behavior, and asking if they could be friends, to which she responded “good to know we weren’t already.”Officially Lionpaw is not just the guy who crushes on her, rather they’re mutuals, and that’s... admittedly rather new for Honeypaw.

A lot of time there was a disconnect between her and the others because she was “on another level”, one that only seemed to grow as they got further in their apprenticeship and Honeypaw became the clear stand out. She loves her sisters, but they were all quite different and seemed to go in different directions. Unbeknownst to Lionpaw, he had become Honeypaw’s closest friend like that...

Curious to know more about Lionpaw as friends, Honeypaw ends up poking her nose in places she shouldn’t, noticing Lionpaw’s weird behavior, the scratches he wakes up with in the morning, and the way he hurries off to sit with Tigerpaw and Harepaw from ShadowClan and WindClan respectively. When she asks him, he insists it’s nothing, something the sweet Honeypaw struggles to be pushy on considering how used to her kind nature she’s gotten with others in the clan.

Jump to warriorhood. Honeyfern is nosy, something she’s not proud of, but it’s undeniable. She’s picked up medicine from Jaypaw so she can treat the scratches Lionblaze keeps waking up with, and her agitation with the tom is growing as he continues to brush her off. Eventually she’s just about had it and begins giving him a rather immature silent treatment.

Lionblaze truthfully does value Honeyfern. While he can’t be honest with her about the prophecy, they are close friends who hunt together, train together, know each other’s favorite freshkill. Before everything started blowing up drama wise for Lionblaze, he honestly did just love the days they’d hang out and joke about having apprentices to train alongside each other. When she stops hanging around him, it’s noticed immediately, I’m talking things stop, he can’t focus, he’s stumbling, like he just feels really off when she’s suddenly not hanging out with him.

To get her back he goes behind Jayfeather and Hollyleaf’s backs and tells her about things, to which she... believes him right away. Yeah Lionblaze is just as shocked. She reminds him she knows when he’s lying because his tail tip starts to twitch up and down.

Unlike Cinderheart in the books who pushes Lionblaze away believing he’s above her and his destiny is beyond her, Honeyfern basically becomes his righthand. She’s there to cover him when he needs to sneak off, back up his excuses, help with the apprentices, whatever it may be. At this point they still haven’t even acknowledged feelings, just close friends who lowkey both know this is something but don’t talk about it.

This annoys the shit out of Jayfeather who on one hand doesn’t think there is time for this, and on the other thinks it’s exhausting having to feel the overwhelming affection radiating off them whenever they walk by.

To make a long story short, they become mates going into the final battle, wanting to make sure that if they die, they die having known they loved each other. Neither die though, so that’s good.

Post-battle, Honeyfern gives birth to their two kits - Leafkit and Bramblekit, named after two important cats who perished in the final battle that they want to remember. Leafkit replaces Sorrelstripe and becomes Leafstripe. Bramblekit replaces Fernsong and becomes Bramblesong.

[bonesandthebees]

ch 5 is so good in showing crimeboys' opinions of each other through how that changes in this chapter

wilbur judges tommy with the standards he and niki with q, the throne candidates, were held up too and its frustrating to him that tommy can act more childish and still be considered at the heir

and its not that wilbur doesnt know, that tommy is unaware of the reason of his stay in pandorinne, to me it seems like hes almost looking for a reason to be critical of tommy (not that tommy makes that hard) bc niki (and he) and even quackity have been working hard to be good candidates for the throne and now tommy gets to just join in

also tommy insulting wilbur and phil forcing wil to spend more time with him isnt helping that

what wilbur fails to realise, that while tommy is still royalty, the manners standards arent the only different thing about tommys upbringing

as could be seen at the market, but even before, with tubbo, jack and even puffy, tommy is much less detached from servants and other people in the kingdom, where the people in the castle, while not necessarily evil, are very secluded in the castle and detached from the common people, even tho many make important decisions about their lives

and we get to see tommy disprove this prejudice in wilbur

and wilbur also learns that tommy isnt completely stupid in terms of strategy

now what is more interesting to me is how tommy sees wilbur

taking it from the start, while tommy recognises that wilbur doesnt like him all too much, for tommy hes the first new person he talks with in a less formal setting, wilbur doesnt scold him for cursing and generally they managed to have a chill pretty casual conversation before wilbur got pissy about tommy insulting him

and even after that wilbur will slip into banter with tommy (I love their urge to keep insulting each other lol), tommy doesnt know wilbur is kinda being forced to hang out with him on all the occasions they do so he quickly becomes a familiar person

theres never any punishment for what he says to wilbur, apart from wilbur himself and even niki encourages his making fun of wilbur

also I dont think tommy really realises the status imbalance between them

they did have the talk about wilbur not official having any status, but tommy doesnt see himself as anything more than wilbur

so to tommy wilbur is a stuck up guy who acts like the adults in criticising basically everything tommy does, but also he will go and insult tommy back and he keeps spending time with him (unknowingly to tommy very unwillingly) so I dont think tommy actually hates wilbur, he just enjoys making fun of him and knows he can afford it

as someone who spends a lot of time with boys rose!tommys age (scouting, also its not like im that much older) i adore how accurately he acts

any touristic tips if I want to visit pandorinne?

I love the city so much, the canals system sounds super sick and I absolutely adore markets they just have such a cool atmosphere

yeah the thing is wilbur understands that it's not exactly tommy's fault he's acting the way he is, because he isn't even aware of the position he's in. but it's still frustrating to witness. it's frustrating to listen to sam and phil both consider tommy a viable heir when tommy isn't even trying to get their approval, unlike what quackity and niki have gone through their entire childhoods.

but yes what's more interesting is the difference in upbringing between the pandorinne trio (quackity niki wilbur) and tommy. although valbroek is a fairly wealthy city and tommy still lived a very lavish noble lifestyle, he had a lot more freedom there than he has in pandorinne. he was able to go out on his own and interact with the people of his city. he's seen their struggles firsthand. his people aren't just theoreticals to him, they all have faces. which contrasts with quackity, niki, and wilbur who were rarely allowed to leave the palace without armed escorts growing up. and along with that, while tommy goofs off, he's not completely stupid when it comes to strategy. he's just untrained.

meanwhile, yes, tommy can definitely recognize that wilbur doesn't like him all that much but he thinks it's more of a game than it actually is. he thinks that the bickering is something they both enjoy. while he obviously knows his relationship with wilbur is nothing like his relationship with tubbo, there's the familiarity of a friendship where the two of you just insult each other all the time and pretend you can't stand each other when you're actually close. and the fact that wilbur keeps playing into the bickering, and there's never any punishment for what he says to wilbur like you pointed out, only affirms this belief.

not only does tommy not see himself as better than wilbur, he actually looks up to wilbur. it's not obvious and he's not even that aware of it himself, but wilbur is the son of the Consil. he's older than tommy and seems to know so much about what's going on in the palace, but he's less intimidating than niki and quackity since they're the potential heirs. tommy would rather die than admit it, but yknow when you have a 12-13 year old who interacts with a 17-18 year old and they think the older teen is so cool? yeah, that's tommy with wilbur.

lol I'm glad tommy is an accurate 13 year old boy. I did no research for how to write 13 year old boys I'm just going off of how tommy acted in the early days of dsmp along with my own distant memories of being in middle school

I'm glad you like the city!! Hmm tourist tips for Pandorinne... well the Lavender Market is one of the best parts of the city, as Wilbur told Tommy in that chapter. Canals are mainly used for the transport of goods and supplies, but later in the evenings you might find a man with a small boat willing to give you a scenic ride, if you have the right coin of course. There's also a few temples dedicated to the different gods littered throughout the city, which are always worth visiting to get a blessing or two. And make sure to go down to the docks directly to get fish so fresh it's practically still blinking! Of course, you can't miss the cookshops. If you bring your own meat or fish, they'll cook it up for you for a fraction of the cost you'd pay if you didn't provide they ingredients. They can even bake it in some pastry dough for a savory pie if you request it! Wealthier nobles tend to avoid cookshops though, since there's not a lot of heavy regulation on food distribution in the city...

[the-astrophel-system]

do you have a list of your fave to least fave sanders sides episodes? ive seen your ts crit and i agree with most of it, but it surprised me that you didn't like svs redux? so which episodes do you like, or dont you like and why?

-🦇

Thanks so much for the question!!! I may go on another rant on specific episodes another time, but I hope this is a satisfying answer! Remember that it is okay to have different opinions, and if you like, share your rankings!

Season One Favourites:

1. Accepting Anxiety 1 & 2. How could I not rank these as my favourites from season one. The messages are getting deeper, the absolute angst and comfort, learning Virgil's name. The importance of accepting your anxiety as a part of yourself. It was honestly so beautiful.

2. My Negative Thinking. I still think this is one of my favourite early episodes. As someone with really bad anxiety, I think of this episode whenever I've having a cognitive distortion. It has helped me calm myself down, rationalise my thoughts, and please, the 'your mum' bit was funny as fuck.

3. Making Some Changes. Thomas' friends portray the sides. Enough said.

4. Alone On Valentine's Day. This one was funny, I like the Sims bit, and again the 'first you take her by the hand' bit. Little weird looking back and seeing Thomas try to woo a girl, but it was funny and it reminds me that friendship and self love is important.

5. A New Year Of Lying To Myself, In Song. First song of the series and boy is it good. Its catchy, it reminds us to be kind on yourself and set yourself up for success. Lovely.

Season One Least Favourites:

1. I'm In A Disney Show. I always, always, always skip this one. Doesn't interest me.

2. Becoming A Cartoon. Again, skip this one. I'm bored.

3. Way Too Adult. This one makes me feel bad because I cannot be an adult, and I feel like a failure! The adultery bit is funny tho, only early on, later in the series, we know Patton is smarter than this.

4. Growing Up. Again, making me feel scared and unsuccessful in my life! Stop calling me out for not having my life sorted or making the most of my potential. Also I cried for Patton in this video.

5. My True Identity. While it was a beautiful introduction, its not one I go back to or rewatch.

Season Two Favourites:

1. Selfishness vs Selflessness. I adore this episode. I absolutely adore it. I agree with everyone else that going to the wedding was terrible, but I love love love this episode. The banter, the one liners, it was so fucking funny, the change of scenery, the plot. I adore it. Favourite episode by far.

2. Dealing With Intrusive Thoughts. Gotta be honest, didn't love Remus at first, but this episode is so important. It's helped me with accepting my own intrusive thoughts.

3. 12 Days Of Christmas. Another beautiful song and I loved it. Adored it, all of them are so silly and funny, and just I loved it. Also the sweaters were adorable, I wish I had Virgil's.

4. Can Lying Be Good. Can an introduction be any more iconic??? I still get shivers when I watch Janus be introduced.

5. Fitting In. Now, I heavily dislike that Thomas STILL supports the Harry Potter franchise, but this episode was so cruicial in Virgil's character arc. Immediately after he is recognised for his importance, he struggles to point out to not put him in a box. And he is listened to. Chef's kiss, love this episode.

Season Two Least Favourites:

1. Working Through Intrusive Thoughts. Disliked it, heavily disliked it. I didn't personally relate to how they portrayed this. I just didn't connect to it and probably won't watch it again.

2. Moving On 1 & 2. I just really disliked these episodes. I don't really know how to explain it. Whenever I watch them, I feel like Virgil in them the entire time (ha, irony). I'm not a nostalgic person, so I relate too heavily to this and it makes me sad when I think about it.

3. Crofter's The Musical. Its cute, maybe because it was just a filler / ad, is the reason why I dislike it. I just always skip it lmao.

4. Why Do We Get Out Of Bed. Existentialism, enough said.

5. Putting Others First, SvS Redux. Now, I know I said I didn't like it, so why is it only 5th in this list? I loved the concept, I really did. But what I didn't like was how certain things were portrayed. Maybe its a mix of me questioning my own morality, but gosh it was hard to watch at points. I don't know how else Thomas could have portrayed certain things, but I didn't like the whole giant Patton Frog thing at all. I loved Janus' arguements, but near the end of the episode (pretty much after he shares his name) I feel like his personality switched up so quickly, it gave me whiplash. I understand that Janus isn't evil, he is just part of Thomas' self preservation. It was just such a dramatic and sudden change, it almost felt like I had missed a season of growth. Janus had only been in 2 episodes previously, its wild to think about. I believe he would've shared his name, but then afterwards immediately joking around with Thomas after being insulted? Why would self protection just allow that mask to stay down? Why wouldn't Janus go instantly back to that mysteriousness and then we need to later encourage Janus to open up again? Maybe Roman apologises and we have a bigger and more in depth discussion in what it means in accepting a "dark side". Maybe all of this will be addressed in the season two finale, but after over 4 years of no episodes, POF just seems rushed and unfinished.

Again! Its okay to have different opinions, feel free to share them below