#what does being cruel to those of us who are literally on the edge of losing basic rights do

[softenedsunbeams]

seeing so many posts making fun of us being anxious over the election. it's not for you. can we be scared are we allowed to be scared. for one fucking night can we have that or is that funny to you too IT'S NOT FOR YOU isnt that what you always say alll the time its not for you it isnt

[roseykat]

TITLE: Calling him ‘daddy’

SYNOPSIS: An OT8 blurb of what happens when you call each of the members ‘daddy’.

WARNING: minors DNI with this post or my blog. I create NSFW SKZ related content and I know I won't be able to regulate/monitor every single potential interaction with these posts so please do not engage with my work and page whatsoever.

TAGS: mentions of sex, orgasms, choking, using the name ‘daddy’, spitting, public sex, degradation, use of names such as ‘slut’, swearing, dirty talk, edging, bondage.

MASTERLIST

A/N: Last blurb upload before I post my Hyunjin one shot for Shutterfly Butterfly. Thank you so much for reading. ily xox (Rose)

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BANG CHAN

Call him daddy. Just do it, because he will fuck you into next month. He already exudes that ‘daddy’ energy anyway and boy does he live up to it. He’s not always a mean top or dom. In most instances, he’s polite, subtle and unassuming. What he says in bed, goes. You know when to get on your knees and take all of him in your mouth until it’s full with his cum.

You know when to use your words wisely in bed, no matter how frustrated you get with him when he edges you for the fifth time. It’s that type of daddy energy - the ‘say something once and you bow’ type. But, be obedient, and he will reward you for being good. Be disobedient and you won’t see his dick for the next two weeks.

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MINHO

It’s literally a ‘fuck around and find out’ if you want to call him daddy. If so, he’s dragging you to the nearest surface and fucking you on it. That name to him, drives him nuts - in the best way though. He can be one of those mean daddies who won’t give you what you want, but only on special occasions and only if you truly deserve it.

The times where you don’t deserve it are usually the times where you call him daddy in public just to rile him up. If public indecency wasn’t a crime, Minho would be fucking you in front of everyone who walks past on the street. Or ripping your clothes off with his teeth on the table in the middle of a restaurant. He’d want people to know who your daddy is, and he’s sure one person would at least enjoy the show.

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CHANGBIN

The name ‘daddy’ flew over his head once, but it’s okay, he was just trying to understand it. The second time he hears you call him it was just as a joke, even then he laughed. But when you’re whining it out for him in bed, that man gets it and he’s done for. When Changbin is about to make you cum, and you’re repetitively calling him daddy, he’ll be fucking you harder into the mattress.

There’s an aspect of the word ‘daddy’ that makes him feel more dominant than usual. It’s like you’re relying on him for something - usually sexual favours, which he loves to uphold. But there’s also the soft requests like hugs, kisses, sometimes but not always, material thing. He’ll do them only for you and loves seeing the satisfaction on your face when he fulfills them.

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HYUNJIN

Folds when you call him daddy. If he’s pounding into you at such a rough pace, you won’t even be able to get the word out past your lips. The same goes for when he’s choking you. So if your mouth isn’t stuffed with a ball gag or his cock and you’re able to call him daddy, Hyunjin will nearly combust. He needs to hear ‘how good daddy feels’, and ‘how much daddy is making me cum’.

It fuels the hell out of his ego but doesn’t get too cocky about it. He’ll adhere to that title by rewarding you if you’ve been good or punish you if you’ve been misbehaving. Usually his punishments are intense and cruel. Hyunjin has no trouble fixing a collar around your throat, binding your body until you can’t move, edging you until you cry, but would never let you orgasm.

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JISUNG

The beauty of Jisung is that he’s the ultimate switch who cannot sit in the middle of the top/bottom and dom/sub spectrum. He’s a top or dom one day then flies straight over to the other side as a sub or bottom the next. In saying that when he’s not acting like a whiny, little sub, calling Jisung ‘daddy’ will expand the dominant side of his personality. Hearing that name in his ear will make him fuck you harder, make you cum harder, make you moan louder, all of the above.

He’ll say things like ‘what a gem taking all of daddy’s cock.’ Or, ‘you love it when daddy fucks you like this huh? Look at that, creaming around me like a good little slut.’ It’s insane how much he enjoys that slice of power. He just gets so into the moment that he could easily slip into a top or dom high depending on the situation. Regardless, that is his name to you whenever he’s not being a sub or bottom and he won’t settle for anything less.

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FELIX

Felix has the personality of an angel - someone who literally cannot do wrong in the eyes of a religious goer. But in bed, he’s the son of Satan himself. The day the word ‘daddy’ accidentally slipped out of your mouth, was the day his innocence was stripped back. He fucks you differently now. It’s harsher, hand around your throat, degrading, wanting to spit in your mouth type of fucking.

He’s become so accustomed to hearing you call him daddy in bed that sometimes it’s weird if you don’t. That being said, if you call him that name outside of the bedroom too, it easily gets him horny enough to fuck you. Be it in a dressing room, the back of his car, or in a club. He could never get enough of hearing that word from you.

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SEUNGMIN

Isn’t entirely fazed when you call him daddy. He knows he could most definitely be one, but isn’t conceited about it either. It’s the cool, calm, and collected aura around him which is a little bit unpredictable that could make him a ‘daddy’. But that’s what most ‘daddies’ emulate anyway. He needs to be able to make sure you can’t predict what he brings to the bedroom.

That way, he’ll have you screaming out ‘daddy, please’, ‘daddy fuck me’, ‘daddy you’re gonna make me cum’, whenever his cock is buried inside of you. In contrast to that, Seungmin is a master of aftercare. Since he’s harsh, he needs to make up for it afterwards by fully attending to whatever it is that you need. It’s also an unspoken aspect under the umbrella term ‘daddy.’ Either way, he lives up to it well.

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JEONGIN

At first, Jeongin didn’t understand what the hype was when he heard about people calling their significant others ‘daddy’. It wasn’t until it slipped out of your mouth once in bed which got him hard enough again to fuck you twice. Since then, he’s never looked back. He asked, only if you were comfortable with it, for you to keep calling him that. He could melt into the mattress at the sound of your strained voice, hearing that name when he’s eating you out or taking you from behind.

So on the surface, he’s a seemingly innocent looking person but you know that underneath there is a man who’s been blessed by the gods with the ability to fuck. It’s the same person who likes to hear the word ‘daddy’ fall from your lips the same way that his cum does whenever he uses your mouth.

[queenofallimagines]

Blue Lock boys and having a S/O who has a sex toy collection

A/N: This is extremely self indulgent and came to me while browsing the internet. Part one of 2 and These are also all real toys so if you know exactly what I’m talking about lmao kudos to you✌🏿

Isagi:

- lmao oh boy

- Brand new to this world

- Only has the blue flesh light you got him as a joke for Christmas

- He uses it more often than he’d like to admit…

- So when he comes to your place and he’s in the mood to get nasty

- You gotta hold his hand bc he’s gunna be a little nervous

- You ask him if he’s cool with toys and he’s like ofc

- Very excited to see what you use to make yourself feel good

- Then he is taken aback to see a box of sex toys ORGANIZED BY COLOR

- “We in for a more rough mood today or like a quick thing?”

- “YOU USE THEM FOR DIFFERENT SCENES??”

- Let him take a look through your treasure chest(pun intended)

- And he’s like 🙂 bc how does he use that

- “So whats this?? It’s like flat but it has silicone flowers on the top??”

- “Oh that’s a grinder you strap it to a pillow”

- “….and it’s supposed to be green and blue?”

- “The colors on this one were pretty 😤 aesthetic matters too!”

- Best way is to just dive in and let him test out each one

- His favorite so far is this pretty little one called CLAUDETTE and he likes grinding on it while he kisses you and fucking into it

- Likes how the colors look all funky and fun

- “Is that-“

- “A football colored one yes it is.”

- “…..you didn’t have this before you met me did you?”

- “Listen it’s not MY fault that you be away on games a lot and this just so happened to be in your girth!”

- He will indulge you and do those dick mold cast things and will demand to see videos of you fucking yourself with it when he’s away

- Nothing would make him rush home faster than seeing a video of you moaning all pretty in nothing but a spare jersey of his bounding up and down on an exact replica of his cock begging him to hurry home

- Fuck the game he’s on the first fight back to Japan IMMEDIATELY

- LOVES to use them in punishments!

- When you’re acting all bratty he’ll pretend he’s not on his very last nerve

- Not super good at controlling his true emotions but when he’s calling you pet names making you feel all flustered can you really tell he’s upset?

- So when he flips a switch and tells you to “hold fucking still or I’ll tie your hands to the headboard” and he’s in between your legs holding you down it’s definitely a surprise

- Has one of the vibes that are controlled by phone

- He’s not so cruel as take you for a stroll in public

- (Also he really doesn’t want to get slammed with a public indecency charge because you can’t keep quiet)

- He’ll make you wear it as he goes about his business in the house

- Ignoring you without a care in the world as he’s relaxing on the couch and you’re begging him to bend you over anything

- “Hm? I didn’t hear a ‘I’m sorry for being a brat Yoichi’ so all that crying ain’t doing nothing”

- He has really good control when he’s pissed

- Usually that glassy eyed look while begging him to ruin you would be enough to have him on you like a dog in heat

- Buuuuuy unfortunate for you upset yoichi is some cold

- He’s literally not even flinching as you grind in his thigh making a mess all over his pants

- Rolling his eyes before shooting you the most annoyed look

- “You gunna keep making a mess on my pants or you going to fucking apologize already?”

- “I-I’m sorry Yoichi… please I need you so bad.”

- “Fucking finally.”

- Throws your legs over his shoulders but he’s still mad so he’s gunna edge and then overstimulate you before he even pulls his cock out

Nagi:

- oh he’s so silly

- Like he’s definitely like??

- Probably accidentally finds your stash before YOU show him

- “Oi, what’s this thing over here?”

- And you walk in and he’s messing w a silicone octopus cockring

- Boy if you don’t stay out my mf closet-

- Wants you to show him all the cool weird stuff you have

- “How do you even use this?”

- “Like any other toy???”

- “This tentacle is NOT like a regular sex toy.”

- Does it again by laying down on some of your stuffies and sees one w a obvious zipper

- Opens it to see a dildo inside

- “Why is this IN here?”

- “So nosey mfs like YOU don’t just come in my room and find my shit.”

- “…..that’s fair.”

- His fav for you to use on him is this gold and grey silicone stroker that has skin like texture

- When he’s too lazy to move he likes you being on top of him kissing and biting his neck while you slowly move the toy on his cock

- Will have him squirming and moaning loud as hell like you’ve never seen before

- Nagi isn’t the most vocal but he’s moaning like a pornstar

- “Ohhhh fuuuck pretty keep stroking me like that.”

- No better way to get him to fuck you like you want then to slow stroke him with a fleshlight or stroker

- Asks you to make a cast of your pussy

- When you actually make him one it’s like never brought up again until one night you get a text around 2am a few hours before nagi is set to touchdown back in Japan

- Of him fucking it like it’s the last thing he’ll ever do

- Not sure who the fuck recorded that for him🤨 bc it’s too good and so are the angles to be a shaky one handed quick video

- Moans about how he can’t wait to feel you cream on his cock

- As the most obscene noises play from your speakers with the image of seishiro fucking into a fleshlight of your likeness all messy with lube and cum

- From the way the video starts off he had to have been at it for a while already

- You catch a glimpse of his hazy eyes as he’s mercilessly pounding into the toy

- When the video ends you get another text from him

- ‘Just got out the airport be home in 25’

Hiori:

- you’d think he’d be like weirded out

- Or confused

- Nah

- He’s seen all the gamer porn there is to see

- Monster and fantasy themed sex toys are a walk in the park

- “Woah, they like make dragon dicks that you can actually ride?”

- Favorites are Ophiuchus the Forgotten, Spyro Slim, and the twilight Moon

- He likes textures so anything with more ridges and bumps the better!

- Likes ones that seem normal. He’s a sneaky fucker so hidden in plain sight is great

- Like oh you thought this was a regular lipstick? Nope! A bullet vibe

- Has like 6 of these in your purse at all times

- Annoying as will pull a “hey can I talk to ya for a sec?”

- And then lead you into a secluded area and shove a toy in you while having his mouth do the heavy lifting

- “Mmm~ taste better when you’re this scared.”

- Someone get his ass 🙄😒

- Let’s you fuck him but like you’re a service top at most

- Not very try willing to give up power because that means he looses the game

- Will tie you up and ride you

- Puts on his most slutty performance and really lets himself get whiny

- As soon as he unties you it’s a chance to get him

- Like oh so anyway we’re not done🥰 now you can’t touch

- Will send you links to stores asking you what you think

- “Check out this dark souls one”

- “Yo, baby who the FUCK is that going to fit inside”

- “:((( but it glows in the dark”

[altocat]

I know there's a lot of talk of genesis attitude pre and post degradation, but what are the main differences in your opinion? How much does his attitude actually change?

I definitely think his degradation warped him, or at least took the more negative aspects of his personality and increased them tenfold, or influenced him into doing things he normally would have never done, whether out of desperation or the fact that he's actually receiving literal brain damage from his sickness.

Before his degradation, I think Genesis was definitely arrogant, hotheaded, and occasionally kind of rough around the edges towards strangers. He certainly had a lot of messy aspects to his personality, whether that was his jealousy for Sephiroth or his occasionally spicy attitude towards other people. This was mostly born from a sense of insecurity, wanting to impress people, to be recognized and valued. More than anything, Genesis wanted people to acknowledge him, to see him as someone whose existence mattered. He was terrified of being alone, or being seen as a burden.

For all his negative traits pre-degradation, Genesis had twice as many positives. Genesis could be kind, even sweet, especially towards the younger soldiers who had yet to prove themselves (Genesis heavily related to the feeling). When he wasn't focused on his rivalry with Sephiroth, he was a loyal comrade and a courageous fighter. He could be teasing and mischievous, but never to the point where he'd take things too far, at least not intentionally. He loved pranks and contests, still viewed the world with some lingering sense of innocence. He believed in storybook heroes and fables. He wanted to BECOME one someday. He could be practical, borderline chivalrous when it suited him. He could even be ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of his friends. Genesis had many flaws, but beneath his fiery exterior, there was a good-natured person who wanted to connect with others, wanted to be the hero they deserved.

After his sickness, Genesis throws a lot of his better traits away. He becomes overly spiteful, openly provocative, completely willing to hit someone where it hurts. His feelings towards Sephiroth warp from a competitive friendship to genuine malice, wanting revenge. He still never meant for Sephiroth to DIE (or Angeal for that matter), but he DID want to show him up somehow. And no longer had the restraint to care about the methods used to do it. Genesis also became hyper aggressive, his temper explosive, his thoughts constantly clouded. He acted on impulse even worse than he ever had before. He just did what FELT good in the moment and didn't think about the consequences....

....Until he was cured. After being healed by Minerva, the full weight of Genesis' actions falls upon him all at once, reliving every ugly moment, every thoughtless, cruel, violent action. SEVEN YEARS' worth of sins to atone for. Seven years' worth of brutality and loss. Genesis is crippled, body and soul. He seals himself in his watery tomb not just for the sake of the planet, but out of regret. He remembers his friends, the things he said and did to them. He remembers everything. He loved them. He never wished to harm them. WHY did he do it? Was it the sickness? Or was it really him this whole time? He can't bear to live with those thoughts. It's eating him alive. He grants himself the mercy of sleep as a means of temporarily escaping them, letting them haunt his dreams as he surrenders himself to oblivion.

The Genesis that emerges years later is cynical, jaded, world-weary, but ultimately wiser and more subdued. He still has his sharp wit and poetic personality, but it's a lot more muted now. Mostly, he's just tired, going through the motions. He seems a lot quieter, gentler around people. Through his altered genetics, he will live an exceedingly long extended life, surviving long after all the others (except for Vincent) are gone. In that time, Genesis travels the planet alone, doing good where he can, but never forgetting what was lost.

[hannah-h-pleb]

HANNAH PLEASEEEEEEE

Eric bragging to his friends about how loud you are in bed and how pretty you look when you’re crying from just his tongue. Literally none of them believe him, even Kenny is skeptical 💀💀

Because like, Cartman? Eric Cartman who’s not shit in bed??? Eric Cartman who’s slept with his gf??? They simply don’t believe it and it’s just him desperately trying to convince them for a sec

Harley you’re a genius. I’m sorry it took so long to get to this. But since I’m feeling extra silly let’s really talk about it

Gonna write these as headcanons but who knows, maybe I’ll write a blurb about it 🤭

Eric Cartman x Reader: Bragging to His Friends About You

Content Advisory: Smut (18+), minors DNI, aged up characters (think “college AU”)

When you and Eric first got together, everyone immediately assumed he was going to be abusive towards you the same way he was with Heidi back in the day. Miraculously this claim was proven to be false as they watched Eric treat you with actual respect, although there were some that still claimed it was “fake” or that he was just “manipulating you”. Therefore another claim was made about you and Eric…”Their sex life must be horrible!” “There’s no way she actually sleeps with him” “I bet he has a tiny dick”

Even Eric’s closest friends, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, all had their doubts about Eric’s performance in bed. They pinned him as one of those guys who brags about the size of his dick when in reality, it’s not that big. Therefore, they found it really hard to believe that Eric could actually successfully please his girlfriend in bed

Plot twist….he really does…and nobody believes it. But you on the other hand, you’ve experienced it…..

Eric was never one to coddle you in bed. He wasn’t one of those “soft and sweet” boys in the bedroom. When you guys do it, it’s rough, primal, and downright kinky. Eric was pleasantly surprised to find out that you actually enjoyed how rough he was and it only agged him on to give it to you harder. He could be kind to you of course, but when he gets you alone it’s a completely different story

He’s mean. He does one of two things while eating you out: He edges you on his tongue, or he continues to eat you out after you orgasm to overstimulate you. No matter which option he chooses, he aims to make you cry on his tongue whether it be by begging him to let you cum or begging him to stop because “it’s too much”

He would also make you ride his face as he eats you out. This way he could grip your thighs and hold you down on his face while he edges or overstimulates you to his hearts content

Eric is almost always in control and he wants you to know that. He controls your orgasms, he owns your body, he will fuck you as hard he was wants, use whatever toys he wants, and you don’t get a say in any of it. To some, this seems cruel, but to you the feeling of being utterly powerless under Eric and letting him hold all the cards is just so hot. Plus this man loves control so he thrives on making you a needy mess for him

He wants you to beg for what you want. In fact, he wants you to prove how much you want his cock by making you ride one of his dildos before giving you his cock. “Prove it. Prove to me how bad you want this cock. Go on, show me that you’re a good whore and maybe I’ll give it to you”

And when he finally fucks you he shows no mercy. He manhandles you, forcing you down into a mating press and fucking you as hard as he wants. Or, he bends you over and fucks you into the mattress while pulling on your hair, smacking your ass, or digging his nails into your skin. Even if you’ve came for him once or twice already, it’s not over until he says it is or until he gets tired

He has surprisingly good stamina though. The adrenaline rush he gets from the control he holds over you is enough motivation for him to keep going until he can’t. Once again, if he’s not making you cry, he’s far from finished

Your crying and sobbing only turns him on more. It’s the POWER he loves. Knowing he’s the one who can bring you so much pleasure that you start to cry is nearly enough to make him cum on the spot

Oh, and then there’s the name calling and the mocking. He WILL call you names, he will mock you for being a “needy little slut” for him, and he just loves it

Now imagine him sitting at lunch bragging about all of this to his friends. He doesn’t spare any details either. He tell them everything, how you cry and beg him to fuck you, how he licks the tears off your face, the marks he leaves on your ass, everything

And do his friends believe him….of course not. Because why would CARTMAN of all people actually be good at sex? Not to mention Kyle would be the one to speak up and say “You’re not supposed to hit girls or make them cry in bed”, and Kenny would chime in with, “Maybe she cries because of how bad you are”. While the table erupts with laughter, Eric goes “You guys are probably just jealous because I’ve got a hot girlfriend who lets me fuck her however I want and you assholes can’t even get a girls number”. Stan rolled his eyes, “Just keep telling yourself that dude”

Despite his desperate attempts to convince them, they simply don’t believe him and that angers him beyond belief. So just be ready to have some dark hickies all over your neck. This way, everyone will know who you belong to and who makes you feel good

Who knows. Maybe he’ll “accidentally” leave his phone lying around on record well you guys fuck. This way, he’ll have irrefutable proof that you enjoy how cruel he is to you, and that he and he alone makes you cry and cum on his cock over and over again

[fatuismooches]

I'm in love with the "Traveler finding fragile reader" scenario I've seen floating around your blog because this scenario is super interesting for Dottore specifically. Actually caring about someone else, perhaps even more than he does himself and his ambitions, not having the upper hand, and being almost wholly at someone else's mercy in a meaningful way are all probably very foreign things to Dottore. Since I suck at writing proper stories, here are some scattered thoughts.

After all the times they've encountered and clashed with the Second Fatui Harbinger, the Traveler had subconsciously realized that they would have to be just as ruthless, just as cruel as he is to neutralize him. They'd truly come to terms with this after learning about your existence, and muster the will to act upon this knowledge as the doors to the location you were being hidden in slammed open. Paimon's gaze snapped to the source of the sound, and in that split second the Traveler summoned their blade and held its edge against your throat. (As an aside, imo the Traveler would totally do something like this if they had to. We saw how they were willing to coldly execute you-know-who in the Aranyaka quest.)

As he burst through the doors, Dottore was greeted with the sight of the accursed Traveler's determination-filled glare, their white floating imp's wide-eyed stare… and the lab's dim lights gleaming off the blade held over your throat. Their surprisingly calm voice grates against his ears. "Paimon, keep your eyes on Dottore. There's no telling what he might try."

The only other time Dottore had ever felt this alarmed in his centuries of existence was when you just didn't wake up one day, reduced to barely clinging to life with the support of his modified Akasha terminal. This was a new first for Dottore - the first time he lost his rationality. Objectively, this was a favourable scenario - he knew the terrain here like the back of his hand, which would be a major advantage against an opponent as powerful as the Traveler. With this, he had a decent chance of permanently removing possibly the biggest obstacle to the Fatui.

The above should have been what went through Dottore's brilliant mind, devising scenarios to bring it to fruition. Instead, every cell in Zandik's brain was working in overdrive, trying to find a way to somehow get the Traveler away from you, to keep you safe. He knows the kind of person the Traveler is - if it were anyone else, he'd have no problem calling their bluff and striking at the slightest hesitation, but this was you, the only life he couldn't afford to gamble with.

(How the actual confrontation goes down is anyone's guess, since I don't have any concrete ideas. A proper fight is likely out of the question because a clash between two of the strongest beings in Teyvat is going to be incredibly destructive - you're almost definitely getting caught in the crossfire somehow, and Zandik can't have that.)

oh MY GOSHHHHH I AM LITERALLY DEVOURING EATING THIS UPPP

Anon. Im. I have no words. Your writing IS SUPERBBB. ITS AMAZING. All those things you said are so true. Even to this day sometimes Dottore is surprised he cares about you this much. He would have never thought he had the capacity for that previously. He always thought he had the situation and his emotions always under control, yet his love for you still blossomed. That was the one time he felt as though he could not predict something. The Doctor was known for his meticulous plans and actions, with no room for counterattacks or opposition. He was used to the cowered figures, terrified expressions of the people beneath him.

Until now. 

Dottore doesn’t have much regrets in his life. He doesn’t regret his countless experiments or people he hurt. That didn’t really matter to him. But right now, he was thinking that he should have killed the Traveler when he had the chance. Then you wouldn’t be stuck in this situation, the Traveler’s blade held dangerously close to your throat, hanging you on the thin line between life and death. (Traveler’s dull blade never seems to disappoint ig…)

The sight has him slowly losing his normal composed, rational train of thought. The tone the Traveler takes with him only worsens his thoughts, and he can’t help but think back to the time when he nearly lost you. From then he swore to never put you in more harm than you already were. But it seems like that was a broken oath now.

Scholars must plan for every possible situation and take everything into account. And now, he has to consider the possibility you may… 

There are innumerable amounts of plans and actions unfolding in his head, but each of them leaves you at risk, the one thing he has to avoid at all costs. He simply cannot risk your life. You still have a life ahead of you, the one that you deserve, one when he finally cures you. And he shall not let this Traveler stop him, no matter what he has to do.

Even as this goes on, the Traveler still can’t help but be fascinated by the fact they have the Doctor in a chokehold, not by sheer power, blackmail, knowledge, or anything along those lines. But rather from a person who didn’t seem to be anything special. If the situation was different, they would have liked to see the kind of person you were to be able to change the normally ruthless, unfaltering Doctor into a hesitant one.

I enjoyed this tremendously infinity/10, I loved how u described Paimon as an imp 😭 Traveler better watch themselves after that because when he gets you to safety, he ain’t holding back 🚶‍♀️LIKE I WISH I HAD MORE TO ADD BUT THIS IS PERFECT. I can only imagine maybe the Omega clone stepping in somehow, or a very tense verbal confrontation between the two of them where he has to give up some secrets in exchange for you. Or a crash/explosion from somewhere else distracting the Traveler enough to be able for Dottore to retrieve you.

[dustteller]

Reading He Who Drowned the World and honestly Baoxiang has no right to be as bitchy as he is about Ouyang squandering Esen's love or whatever. Baoxiang is genuinely convinced that Esen loathes him. No you dumb bitch, your brother loves you and the reason he's giving you a hard time is because he wants you to be safe and happy and healthy. Yeah, he sucks at expressing it, and his efforts are misguided (bc the toxic masculinity gender rolesis fucking up Esen as much as it's fucking up everyone else), but Esen very much does love Baoxiang deeply. Every time Baoxiang remembers a time when Esen "enjoyed his fear" or whatever, I can only think of these parts of Esen's POV from the first book:

Esen's first instinct is to defend his brother. The only reason he doesn't is bc Baoxiang leaves before he can. And Baoxiang glares at him bc he assumes that Esen agrees with Altan and won't defend him, but no, Esen WANTED to defend him and it's Baoxiang that took away his oportunity to do so.

And a bit later, we have this interaction. Baoxiang assumes (again) that Esen would hate him if he was gay, and immediately goes on the defensive. Meanwhile, Esen literally does not care about this except for how it would affect his brother's reputation. He's just WORRIED. He doesn't care if Baoxiang is gay or whatever, but he's deeply aware that if he IS it would put him in more danger. Because, again, he cares about his brother, and he hates seeing what he assumes is Baoxiang making his own life harder.

And it's heartbreaking bc Baoxiang will probably never realize how much Esen adores him. He's so jealous of Ouyang for having his brother's heart without realizing that Esen sees him as his beloved baby brother and is desperately trying to protect him from a world that he KNOWS is cruel to him. Baoxiang will never know that his greatest supporter and the only person that loved him unconditionally was Esen. And maybe it would be WORSE if he realized how dear he was to Esen, because the realization that all thise things that caused him pain were borne out of a deep, unconditional LOVE and not the disdain he's convinced himself Esen felt for him might break him. Baoxiang has deluded himself into simplifying Esen's feelings for him into those of hate and disdain because its so much harder to accept that the person you love the most has destroyed you out of love. Baoxiang is doing the exact same thing Ouyang does in convincing himself that he's unlovable and relishing in the world's response as a form of self-harm. And Esen, who is genuinely trying (and floundering horribly) is a great tool for Baoxiang to use to tear himself apart.

And, on the other hand, Esen will never realize how much damage his attempts to help Baoxiang caused. He loves him so much, bc that's his baby brother! It's his job to protect him! But Esen has been raised as the golden poster child of a Mongol Warrior Man, a perfect pinacle of masculinity, and is thus doomed to only being able to express his love and acceptance for Baoxiang through a tough love, lets sand down all the edges to remove friction approach. For him, pushing Baoxiang into a box IS an act of love. It's the act of saying I love and accept you, and so I will help you succeed in all the things you're bad at so that everyone will love you too. Except by doing this, he doesn't realize how awful he's being and how he's asking someone that CANT ever fit the mold to break himself in the attempt. He's a perfect Mongol Warrior Man after all, and as such he has never been given the tools to express his affection in a healthy way. He will never truly understand how much he's an asshole, not because he is lacking in love (as Baoxiang assumes) or because he is incapable of sympathizing (as ouyang thinks), but because understanding is not something allowed of him and his role in society. At the end of the day, Esen is as much a slave to his role as all the other characters are, and now he's dead he will never be able to break free of the assumptions people have made of him. He went to his grave having destroyed the people he loved most, and now he will never have the chance to prove their assumptions wrong as be better.

[light-end-dragon]

Cloth Waltz-En lyrics

✦✦Valkyrie ✦✦Enstars ✦✦

**This is not an official translation. All rights to the lyrics and characters etc. are property of Happy Elements. The only thing that is my own is the translation**

Note: I suggest reading/listening to these lyrics along with Mika's solo, as they have many moments that relate to each other.

~Cloth Waltz~

名も��き人形達 時間を止めたドレス

 I gaze upon the forms of these nameless dolls / time for you halted within these walls

今再び生を授けよう

Once more I reach to you / let me grant you life anew

縫い込む絹の糸で  /   夢幻を手繰り寄せる

With this silk thread I can build a seam /  I’ll draw in that vision and make a dream 

硝子の瞳が笑みを取り戻し

To bring you back the smile I know /  to those glass eyes again

さあ、時間だ

Now come with me, it’s time. 

✦✦✦✦✦

自由に揺れるフリル 光と跳ねるレース

The frills are free to dance in the air / alongside light-woven lace with care 

魂は時を越えて 輝く舞台へ

I can see your soul as it leaps through time / to join that shining stage 

ひと針愛らしさを ひと針華やかさを

each stitch of beauty the needle takes  / and each stitch of gold  thread it makes

優美に流れるフォルム

Your form flow through with an artist’s grace 

通わせた温もりよ 僕と踊ろうか

I had let that warmth of yours pass me by / so now, I'll ask; won’t you dance with me? 

✦✦✦✦✦

世界は残酷だね それでも夢が似合う

This world is cruel, wouldn’t you say it’s so?  / And yet that’s what sets all our dreams aglow

美しい人、君を守ろう (1)

How beautiful you are, I shall protect you, dear.

✦✦✦✦✦

ほつれたままでいつか 破れてしまう前に

Before your edges get frayed someday /  Before a part of you is torn some way 

綺麗なリボンと無数のビーズで

With beautiful ribbons and countless beads / I’ll fix you until you are whole 

もう、平気さ My Doll (2)

Don’t worry, it’ll be fine, my doll 

✦✦✦✦✦

情熱を指先に 物語を宿して

Your fingers weave passion into your tale / a story that’s painted your heart to bare 

創造は泉のように 煌めきを描く

This creation flows like a gift divine  / from a fountain of stars 

オーロラを纏うタフタ 柔らかなベルベット

With taffeta clad in auroral light / and velvet soft as the silvery night 

織り成す奇跡の先へ

It weaves into the miracle we make  

僕達の芸術を さあ、魅せてごらん

So, Let us show the world / what our art shall hold 

Come…one and all!

✦✦✦✦✦

縫い込む絹の糸が 生み出す躍動感

With this silk thread I bring forth anew /  the rhythm of life and its motion too 

止まないワルツと世界の果てまで

Forever we will waltz on through / the whole time I will be with you

ずっと一緒さ

Until the end of the world 

✦✦✦✦✦

自由に揺れるフリル 光と跳ねるレース

The frills are free to dance in the air / alongside light-woven lace with care 

魂は時を越えて 輝く舞台へ

I can see your soul as it leaps through time / to join that shining stage 

ひと針愛らしさを ひと針華やかさを

With each stitch of beauty the needle takes  / and each stitch of gold thread it makes

優美に流れるフォルム

Your form flow through with an artist’s grace 

通わせた温もりよ 僕と踊ろうか

I had let that warmth of yours pass me by / so this time, I'll ask; will you dance with me?

✦✦✦✦✦

(1). What Shu says here more literally is "Beautiful person (living), let me protect you." I did however, think it was important to note here that while his whole song is essentially about him repairing a doll (which is connected to Mika's song, but that's for later), he says "美しい人" in which as far as I know 人 is only really ever used for living beings or humans. Contrasted with the fact that he does even use the term for dolls "人形達" in the first line, I think its pretty safe to say that while of course, the song has Layers, he is talking to a living person throughout all this.

(2). This too is also probably 'you been know already' but also me being a nerd, but I felt like noting here, this is a point which goes along with the first translation note; him saying "my doll" ESPECIALLY in English is kind of a play on words regarding human/doll. In at least American English, referring to someone as 'my doll' like that is a kind of old-fashioned (or i've mostly heard it in old movies) way of referring to your partner in an affectionate way. Or saying someone 'is a doll' as a compliment. (usu. meaning someone who is very pretty and kind/pleasant person)

✦✦✦✦✦

Oddly enough, Shu's song is kind of more simple than Mika's so I don't have as much to say right now other than that. Going along with the imagery of the glass eyes and referring to the "rhythm of life", there are a lot of parallels between this and Rondo in Amber and Lapis. I think its definitely important to keep this in mind when you read through the lyrics of that song, and vice versa, as it adds a lot of meaning.

The only other note I have is that like in Mika's as well, a waltz can both refer to a dance and a type of music, usually in 3/4 time. Though that's changed in modern days, waltzes often used to be something only nobility or those who could afford teachers could learn, and today still had a sort of elegant and high-class imagery attached to it. Shu's song here is also set to a waltz beat because I wouldn't expect anything less.

These lyrics are not a word for word translation, and are an adaptation of the original song's message, made to (pretty much) fit in with the original vocals. It's my interpretation, but I wanted to keep the meaning close to what it was in Jp while coming across as what one would write in an En song.

[gaykarstaagforever]

Part 1

Fine. You want Fat Superman? Here is Fat Superman.

PART 2: FAT SUPERMAN

Spoiler warning: he gets fat from drinking expired champagne on an alien planet.

No I'm not joking.

And while he has to exercise to get thinner, faster, it was always going to wear off and he'd go back to normal.

Those are the stakes of this idiot story.

You see this? You see Lois being a bitch about it, and all the cruel fat-related puns?

10 and a half pages of that. That's basically it.

This is a joke that isn't funny, that eventually just...stops.

They made this the cover feature.

...A cover feature with a scene that doesn't even happen. Superman just says, "Man. What if I got fat in a phone booth, instead of a space capsule? (He was in a space capsule when he got fat. A FAKE space capsule. Look. It doesn't matter.)

Yeah. God forbid any actual dramatic story beats come out of this, you fat bastard.

Great. Now I'm doing it.

The only mildly amusing thing he does while fat is use his giant butt to plug a hole in a dam.

Speaking as a man with a giant butt...you use what you have, you know?

But even that isn't fun, because he has to make some comment about how he can't fly right, because of temporary obesity.

Yes. Because Superman's flying ability before now was totally a matter of real-world aerodynamics and particle physics.

Having him complain that his thighs are generating 10 million kilojoules of heat as they rub together when he walks would have been cruel garbage, but I would have accepted and even laughed at that. But FLYING? He is too fat to fly? Give me a break!

The blimp jokes were right there, you hacks!

Also, look back at that first dam panel. The people on the dam call him a hippo and wonder how he can still be a hero when he's fat.

It is well-established in the comics at this point that Superman can do anything, all the time, and also has super-hearing. Mostly because he tells everyone any time he does anything. And these jackasses have the nerve to stand well-within even NORMAL hearing range, and make fun of a LIVING GOD WITH LASER EYES for suddenly having man-tits?? He should have blown them over the edge, just to make a point.

Granted, this is Superman, and he's a goody-two-shoes. And they also no doubt know that. Plus he himself is currently whining about how he's TOO FAT TO FLY PROPERLY.

I've been mad for three days about this. Let's pause for an ad break.

Intriguing. I'll have to look up this 'Sesame Street' thing later, see if it went anywhere.

Back to hell.

Speaking of weird physics, I can't imagine how people on a plane flying at like 700 mph, passing even a fat Superman going at least as fast, can recognize anything, let alone have enough time to accurately guess his real Fat Superman weight.

But they do. Because this story is awful.

Okay this panel is pretty dense so let's talk about it.

1) He built that scale super-fast out of NOTHING, just to weigh himself. Looks to me like his super-abilities are just fine, even if he can't see his own penis.

2) ...I mean, okay, he is literally two tons. I admit, that's kind of really goddamn heavy. Maybe he should worry about this a little bit.

3) That last sentence is the greatest sentence in any Silver Age comic, ever. "Why ask questions?" Who gives a shit, right? It doesn't matter. None of this matters. Why did you buy this? Fuck you for reading this, kid. Go outside, nerd.

They didn't call him a blimp, but they DID have him call himself a parade balloon.

And then make him real sad about it.

...Did the Government pay DC to do a comic bullying fat children, because it was the height of the Cold War and they were afraid the next generation would be too porky to battle the Russians on their home tundra? Was someone on DC's editorial staff mad at his overweight mother-in-law? This is reaching frightening levels of antagonizing people who like donuts.

I've lost the thread, here. There is slightly more stupid story, but I've hit the "pictures of Fat Superman" limit, so this will need to continue in a Part 3.

[missingn000]

hi yes this is incredibly late b/c work is shit tm but better late than never amirite

anyway, something about this chapter that leapt out at me immediately was Maki’s “uh, we are kids.” because i’m pretty sure something similar was said a couple chapters back (i can’t remember the exact instance though) and it seems to be a recurring theme in tpg: people being put into roles they don’t quite fill, not through any fault of their own, but simply because they cannot. gojo’s deification by jujutsu society is one such example, but it wasn’t something he had a say in, while nobara by comparison appears to have voluntarily taken on the task of acting(!) like an adult. she does, thankfully, end up joining maki & gang on the playground, but her conversation with higuruma undoes some of that progress:

“You treat me like a kid!”

“You are a kid!”

“And that’s enough reason to shut me out?!”

oh, higuruma… your intentions are kind, but your lack of tact is almost cruel. i think nobara’s response, coupled with the next line (“…brought a cannon and she’s not afraid to swim”) are very telling of her true feelings: even though she hates the fact that higuruma’s a murderer excluding the fact that his boss is worse, she is aware that he’s her parental figure now, and seeks (as all children do, especially those who were denied of it) emotional validation from him. higuruma really tried to pull the “being a child is not a sin” card but nobara didn’t hear the ‘not’ part lol. i find it depressingly ironic that his attempt at shielding her from the ugly truth of humanity & the entire mess with the sheriff end up widening the rift between them—it’s not… a terrible idea, in theory, but their circumstances are unique: nobara’s trying to understand & rationalise why the person she’s stuck with as a father did what he did, but she can’t do that if she’s missing some of the puzzle pieces. more accurately, higuruma won’t give them to her because the picture they complete is bleak, but she doesn’t know that!!!!

“I don’t know, Nobara. You deserve better than this.”

“You’re right, I do! But you won’t even try!”

… yeah sure kugisaki “you’re not my dad” nobara. and then, as if on cue, her phone rings with a call from her actual dad. the way she has to fight the urge to answer the call is nothing short of heartbreaking. she has to quash her own hopes, before her dad does it for her.

AAANDD THEN THEY HUGGED. THANK YOU FOR THIS. the part where higuruma wonders whether he’s about to be socked in the face reminded me of toji and maki’s hug in ch4 (yes i remembered), cus toji thought the exact same question. is this intentional please say yes. nevermind your answer is irrelevant i’m gonna start drawing parallels anyway /lh. toji & higuruma both start out extremely rough around the edges and knowing fuck all about parenting; maki & nobara both grew up with parents that didn’t love them. at least maki & toji had something to bond over (beating the shit out of other people. uh, curses. i mean curses.) nobara and higuruma on the other hand…….. lol

Also I didn’t miss the way Nobara was saved from a curse!!!! again!!!!! but the group shrugs it off, you know, as kids who literally just exorcised a curse by themselves do, and nobara’s too preoccupied with her crush on maki to feel all that offended. okay all jokes aside i think it really helps that they’re her age + she’s already interacted with them prior to this; she’s in a much better mental state than when higuruma first found her. i think it’s really cool that nobara has even more people fighting for her, which is exactly what she wants; she just hasn’t realised it, and i hope she does someday. (on an unrelated note: gotta love how maki takes centre stage and cleaves the curse in half though… her using yuuji’s sword as a platform to power herself thru the air is just 👌)

Does Nobara have anyone like that?

Yes. Yes, she does. Chi you’re drawing so many parallels here and I’m gonna throttle you. please don’t pit higuruma against a special grade…unless it’s toji, that’d be funny. who lets their kid bring a sword to school anyway?? tbf, it’s Phantom Guardian; i adore the idea that yuki’s cursed energy is with her, at all times…

btw yuuji is my fave if the pfp wasn’t obvious enough, and i cherish every crumb of his characterisation i get. i love the way he’s able to de-escalate any social situation because of how emotionally perceptive he is. kinda want to put him in a room with yuuta and maki and see what happens lmfao 💀💀

okay that concludes my horrendously long ramble. thank you for making it this far if u did. cheers

HIII KAY OH MY GOD??? THIS ANALYSIS IS SOOOO i put it into a word counter out of curiosity and the website said the reading level was college graduate so. 100000/10 analytical skills the curtains were indeed not just blue

response below cut this got long as hell

you're totally right that "uh, we are kids" was said in an earlier chapter! maki says it to megumi when toji gives the kiddos the stuffed animals he got for them at the zoo, and maki suggests they play with them:

--

Megumi turns up his nose. “Playing with stuffed animals is for kids.”

Come on. Maki slants an eyebrow. “Uh, we are kids.”

--

megumi is another child who had to grow up way too fast before gojo took him in, and now has to make up for lost time that he doesn't know quite yet how to reclaim. it's so cool you noticed this parallel between them, because it's gonna be super important in the upcoming chapter!!

it's so true that all of the tpg kids (and initial teenagers that are now in their low twenties) had some aspect of childhood taken away from them. isolated from the villagers, nobara tried to shed her own childlike qualities because she thought she had no choice but to take care of herself, especially because of the yet-to-be-revealed circumstances of her parents' disappearance.

and god....yeah, higuruma really has no idea how to handle that. i've said it before and i'll say it again: it's so, so important to me that he's genuinely terrible at this. he's the pinnacle of right idea, wrong execution: he wants to fix the ills of society but does it in the worst possible way, and he wants to shield nobara from how dark and terrible the world is by telling her she's just incapable of understanding it altogether. he doesn't want her to know all the pointless cruelty in the world. he doesn't want her to know he killed the sheriff to free her from the countryside. higuruma shutting her out is his way of protecting her, but the way he carries out his protection almost does more harm than good. almost.

PLEASE THEIR HUG....you're not delusional to draw that parallel between nobara & higuruma and maki & toji!! nobara and maki are the two tpg kids that have the most on-screen clashes with their parents, yet despite their initial doubts towards their parental figures, they still crave that emotional validation. after a lifetime of being shunned, finally, someone cares about them -- only nobara is half-convinced higuruma doesn't. i think some part of her does know he cares, but it's a part she refuses to acknowledge because she doesn't want to be let down by her father. not again.

nobara's confrontation with the curse was so!!!!! i really wanted to follow up with yuuta telling maki that nobara cares more about actions than words, so maki demonstrates her sorcery abilities rather than just saying it. maki's words post-fight, however, do end up having an impact on nobara: she's able to correct any misconceptions before nobara even has the chance to draw them. this will also be important as nobara's character develops!!

maki carrying the phantom guardian with her stems a lot from toji's desire for her to be able to protect herself, even in his absence. especially after the kids meet mahito in shibuya back in ch12, both nanami and toji don't want their kiddos to be unarmed, hence why yuuji also has playful cloud stuffed into his backpack.

YUUJI MY CHILD. MY SON. his emotional intelligence + crumbs that he blames himself for his family's doom even though it hasn't even happened yet. the first yuuji angst moment of many, many, MANY more

as for higuruma vs some special grade where he'd have to hurt himself in order to protect nobara...huh. yeah. sure would be interesting if that happened someday

alright, i'll conclude my horrendously long reply here. also sorry for the sukuna rant in DMs last night i think i was on something else

[kryptonitecore]

Re-Read: Megatron: Origin

I came into this having read Megatron: Origin during a past attempt a full read-through, the one that was felled by the Costa run and the looming menace of Heart of Darkness. I remembered this book quite fondly as, following all the Furman stuff, I think I appreciated something a little longer and more decisive in its characterisation.

I can see why I remembered it fondly - it’s a fairly quick and brutal introduction to one of the franchise’s major characters, not prone to the subtlest characterisation, but at least it’s there. It’s much more sparsely written than the later stuff from IDW1, but that makes sense, considering this comic goes about a mile a minute. Seriously, my big issues with this mini-series are the art (dark and sometimes confusing) and the pacing (so, so fast). I suspect some of my issues with the art are made worse by the pacing and probably vice versa. I had to rely on the wiki to help me work out what was going on in some of the gladiator scenes.

If our Lord and Saviour TFwiki is to be believed, this was originally intended to be 6 issues long, then was shortened to 4, plus was punted over from Dreamwave to IDW, which might explain why the pacing and breaking up of the issues sometimes feels a bit odd. Similarly, there was once going to be a mentor character (à la Terminus, supposedly), which could have been useful in smoothing Megatron’s character development over, but alas, the cruel hands of editing.

The comic plays very deliberately on your expectations for characters (Starscream’s probably the most obvious example), so that’s an interesting feature, but it could probably have done with those few more issues or even being a more extended mini-series. That, or it needed a laser-focus on Megatron’s perspective in order to give it a natural limit within which to work. The big, glaring elephant in the room here is the jump from Megatron as frustrated Miner who accidentally kills a Senator’s guard to hesitant gladiator to insurgency leader who kills unrepentantly and is openly motivated by a desire for revenge. Those… are some pretty big leaps in character, but most of the transition between them takes place off-panel, which is a pity, because I like what the author does overall.

On the other hand, I appreciated the way the Decepticon cause is introduced here, specifically in that it is shaped by its early leadership - not just Megatron, but Soundwave, and Starscream, too. I also like Sentinel’s set up here, where he has that ‘when all you’ve got is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail’ mindset - he literally compares his security forces to a hammer at one point. Although the series leans quite hard on edge it still sets up some important parts of the continuity going forward, such as the attention paid to Megatron’s perspective and the idea of functionism, with the Senator Decimus’ comments about all having their role or being a cog in a larger machine.

 A long-standing bugbear of mine, however: how do they have ‘Houses’? As in the House of Decimus, which is referred to here, but later series do the same, like Minimus talking about him and Dominus being part of the ‘House of Ambus’. I mean, Minimus and Dominus are brothers, but how else do you have ‘Houses’ when there is no generational aspect, unless there is some kind of adult adoption or vassal position? Ah, it just always drove me up the wall.

Overall, though, not a bad way to start this read-through!

[romanoffsbish]

Maybe this isn’t the appropriate thought but

“but, if I kms, whoever will you bully, sir? 👉🏼🥹👈🏼”

That’s a pretty good comeback in my humble opinion.

Like this poor pathetic anon. What will you do? Go bully someone else? That’s just as pathetic as telling someone to die.

Honestly do you think you’re special anon? I genuinely don’t understand. Seemingly everyone tells everyone to die these days. I see it all the time. Sometimes the word loses meaning because of it.

You could tell me, “someone just told me to die because I said Batman is a bottom” and I would believe it!

Anyway, you don’t have to post this. I’m just sorry this hate anon is pathetically banging on your door & probably getting off on any scrap of attention.

Just in case you need reminding: you are an amazing person! You put up with a lot of shit! And you care so damn much! I truly hope good things happen for you! I wish your pillow is the temperature you want it. I’m sure you will achieve what you desire. Look how far you’ve come! If no one else has said it, I’m proud of you! You’ve reached 27 long fucking years & I hope you keeping going in life.

Lol, thank you! The comment genuinely did make me laugh, because my daily life hasn’t pushed me over the edge yet, so I promise their “creative” use of my page header isn’t going to lead to their desired outcome. They used to get to me back when I responded to the hate religiously, but I am already so low there is no dropping me any further, I only replied to this because I found it funny (in terms of me). I don’t care about a blank faced stranger on the internet’s perception of me* when I have more than enough tangible people irl telling me they love me as I am / find me to be a good person-friend-associate-etc. I am a giving person, it is why I continue to post content onto this app for those who enjoy it even though it’s also full of bored ingrates.

With that being said though, I do hope they find peace within themselves because at this moment they are nothing more than a pathetic bunch of losers. Anyone who hides behind anonymity to quite literally tell someone else to kill themselves (without a reason—newsflash, unless the person does something abhorrent / deplorable then there isn’t a reason) doesn’t deserve to even have a platform to talk on. They need an outlet for their hate because they know it is wrong, and could very well ruin their life if it ever got out that they’re online bullying people for just existing.

** I do want to say I appreciate your kind words at the end though, you too are blank faced but not cruel, and I think you are very sweet. Have a lovely day, ❤️

[mlmxreader]

Hiya!! Hope you're doing well!

Worse Places | Max Rockatansky x gn!reader

If you didn't have Max, you had nothing. Absolutely nothing. If Max was not with you, beside you, then nothing could keep you living. Fuck.

🥺🥺🥺 The pain reader felt at the loss of Max was truly heartbreaking. Having found the one thing that kept their humanity, kept them breathing, and to have that snatched so easily by the world that only seems to take and take .... 😭. The soft whispering of Max's name, a calling to his spirit, his memory, begging against all hope and all odds that this reality not be so cruel, to afford them some reprieve to hear him call back.... you're gonna make me cry. My heart is breaking at the utter anguish you've painted within those few paragraphs. So powerful.

THEIR FUCKING HEART RETURNED TO THEM 😫😫!! HE FUCKING DID AND NOT EVEN ACTUAL DEATH WOULD EVER KEEP HIM AWAY!

An Unwelcome Distraction | Max Rockatansky x gn!reader

You looked him up and down, taking note of his face; his plush lips and his blue eyes. You hummed, appreciative. "Y'know, if Furiosa had told me I'd be working with someone so handsome, I would've come sooner."

AHAHAHAH! THEY'RE A LITTLE SHIT! I FUCKING LOVE IT!!!

He had a hard time not leaning into it. He couldn't deny, now he got a good look at you, that he was rather enjoying the view; rough and rugged, frayed at the edges. Like him. He nodded slowly, but knew that nothing could ever happen; Max was far too broken, and you were far too respected.

👀👀👀👀 We're looking, eh? Hmm. Interesting that we're looking at 'em... 😏 AND MAX GRABBED THEIR FUCKING WAIST?!?! For *security* .... uhm. Yup. For "security" sure thang Max, dear, sure fuckibg thang.

Were you seriously flirting with him? In the middle of a fucking gunfight?

Yes. We. Are. Always.

Oh shit!!! Max when he spots reader in his jacket : 😳😳😳

Fuck! I love them. Such a tease.

Mutual Protection | Eddie Brock x gn!reader

"It was pretty hot," Eddie mused with a soft laugh. "Seeing you square up to him like that and try to choke him." You laughed for a second, nodding. "Now you know how I feel when you get all possessive."

First, yes. Very hot. Second, 🥹🥹🥹🥹. They'd protect the other no matter what. They're the other's rock and will always be there because that's how much love they have for one another. No matter what. Eddie having to see just how much pain Logan put reader through, fully understandable that he would get uber protective and possessive if them. He already hurt them enough and Eddie doesn't want Logan, nor anyone else, to cause his love any more pain. Reader getting in Logan's face 👀👀👀 YES!! PROTECT OUR MANS!! AND YES WE DEFEND HIM BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY LOVES US, FUCK OFF!

The Imperfect Couple | Eddie Brock x gn!reader

"Please?"

Stop. Stop it. Stop. This man and his sad little face with his puppy dog eyes....... he can literally get anything with those sweet eyes and his tired little voice 😫. I too would immediately cave. Also, love that Matt was mentioned!!

He was far from perfect - but you loved him that way. You loved him for being a bit of a dick, for being selfish. Never in spite of it. 

🥹🥹🥹🥹 Fuck. They're lovely. We love them, thank you very much. They love him for HIM, Eddie, the imperfect man that he is. 🥰🥰

Fire | Forrest Bonduraunt x gn!reader

Nobody would risk that unless they were stupid [...] When his hand was forced. Forrest's violence was unlike yours; you were uncontrollable and fierce - a red hot fire. Forrest was methodical and cold - a predator lurking in shadows.

I love the paralleling this two have. The description of reader's rage as a fire, quick, burning and all consuming but Forrest's as an earthquake, seismic, building up pressure until finally it cracks and once it does, nothing will remain standing for it will wipe all within its path. Their love for one another knows no bounds and the vengeance that will be wrought upon those who even think to hurt the other, will know the boundlessness of their wrath. I love how Forrest inspected reader's knuckles and pressed a kiss into them when he ensured it wasn't their blood. Something tells me that if they had even a little cut, he would make sure the fucker y/n beat on had something to cry about.

Even If I Could | Forrest Bondurant x gn!reader

But even still, Forrest knew that he wouldn't be able to go back to bed with you; he didn't want to risk waking you up the next time he saw, heard, tasted, smelled and felt things in his dreams that he was convinced he could also sense when he was awake. He didn't want to trouble you.

🥺🥺🥺🥺 FORREST!!!! My sweet darling. Poor man is fully traumatized by the events of that night and he'll always have that scar to remind him. But the fact that he thinks he'd be a bother to y/n? 😭 stop.....

He was thankful that he had you, someone who didn't force him to talk too much, someone who understood that what he wanted at the time was the best thing for him; he was thankful that he had you.

His partner just reading to him, Forrest being able to feel the warmth radiating off of them as a grounding force for his mind to settle, if even for a little bit, to provide him with some peace..... lovely 🥰. Poor poor man. I'm glad he can gain solace in y/n and that they understand one another well enough to just be. Even if they can't give voice to what's happening, being together is more than enough. Love. Love. Love.

Something Is Always Better Than Nothing | Tommy Conlon x gn!reader

He never raised his voice at you, never withdrew his affection, never turned you away except for the time he had the flu and didn't want to kiss you for fear that you would get it, too. He would never. Tommy loved you, and you loved him just as much. He couldn't believe that someone had been allowed to hurt you and no one had done anything about it.

😶😶😶😶😶😶😶 Why do you seek to hurt me? OMG😭😭😭😭 poor y/n. Poor hon, who ever the hell caused them to be this fearful that they're scared while with Tommy.... forget about Tommy, I'm gonna go fight 'em. But how insecure they felt about asking tk stay with him? And the look of fear in their eyes..... 🥺🥺🥺 But they were able to fall asleep. They feel safe enough for that and sometimes you just have to take it one step at a time, even if that step is just a shuffle.

Protection | James Keziah Delaney x gn!reader

Poor reader. They were literally whimpering into James' back. They were so fucking scared and not only for themself but for James. For the potential harm that could befall the man that they'd come to love. A heartbreaking piece but now they'll be surrounded by people who genuinely care about them. And James won't leave them, not again.

Still There | Tommy Conlon x gn!reader

He sniffled, trying to wriggle closer despite knowing that he couldn’t, even if he tried; you weren’t surprised, Tommy rarely had any sort of physical affection unless it came from you, and your heart shattered every time you thought about it for more than two minutes.

JSKJSKSJSKSJSK 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 MY SWEET DARLING TOUCH STARVED PUPPY DOG MANS!!!!! Fuck. My heart is always on the verge of shattering when I think about Tommy and how fully denied of love and affection he is. But despite this, he still provided the man his mother was married to comfort because he himself understands the type of pain there is in being alone. He may have a rough exterior but on the inside, he truly is so sensitive and is clearly attuned to the feelings of others as well (I think this was a survival mechanism he developed from when he was a child). But yeah, heartbreaking.

Above all else, Tommy knew that you were still there. 

🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 stop. My heart. My wee heart can only take so much. TOMMY!!!!

..........

EHEHEHEH!!! Thank you so much for writing all of these!! I loved them ever so much and what a welcome surprise right after my first round of exams. Thank you again, my friend, I really truly appreciate you always writing my requests, it means the world.

Until next time, be safe and I'll talk to you soon!!

🖤🖤🖤

🐍anon

sorry this took so long for me to get around to answering!!! long, long day, admittedly. but I'm okay!!! I hope everything is well on your end and that uni is going well for you and you're enjoying your course!!!

right, let's crack on!

Worse Places

idk if it makes it better or worse that I actually based this around the trenches of WW1 ngl 💀 like, Max is willing to commit the ultimate sacrifice for his s/o who, in turn, is willing to commit very much the same for him - but they're both stuck in this situation where the ultimate sacrifice isn't worth the cost to the other person. the reader's humanity, their heart, even their soul is trusted to Max bc they know that no matter what, Max will keep it safe - so for him to "die", for him to abandon them and leave them heartless, soulless, inhuman is for him to break that in very much the same way that war breaks everything around it. the reader's calling is very much a sign of just how MUCH they need Max with them, and how the two compliment each other and make one another have strength when everything else seems to be making them the opposite. without Max, the reader would just give up; without the reader, Max would give up.

An Unwelcome Distraction

reader is a little bit of a slut, just taking one look at Max and going "right. gotta flirt. gotta be a little bit cheeky." fjgldkfkskg slut behaviour!!!

"security" Max is just doing everything he can to DENY that he thinks they're attractive bc even tho they don't see it, Max feels like he's too broken, too far gone to even entertain the idea of flirting back; he likes them, sure, he doesn't want to admit it but he's entertained by their advances and flirting - but in his mind, they're too GOOD for him. the tactician is too respected, too whole, too good.

we've gone from having the slutty button pop to the slutty unzipped jacket and we'll sure enough see both again soon enough 💀💀💀 Max knows what they're doing, that's why he's not being TOO much of an ass about it - he does find it entertaining and he does like the tactician. but he just needs to understand that they're looking at him DIFFERENTLY to how he sees himself; he's not broken and jaded and too far gone, not in their eyes. he needs to give himself a little credit.

Mutual Protection

we normally see Eddie being the possessive and protective one, but reader came out SWINGING and GUNNING in Eddie's defence bc at the end of the stay, Eddie was the one who stayed. he was the one who was there for them and he was the one who routinely showed up the way that a significant other SHOULD. Eddie knows EXACTLY what Logan did to them, and he isn't happy about it bc why should he be? Logan treated them like shit! but the reader is over it... until Logan chats shit about Eddie and then suddenly, it's a different story altogether. reader is literally squaring up to a guy who is named after one of the most vicious animals on the planet and has fucking metal bones - LIKE IT'S NOTHING!!!! reader is gonna kick ass... or at least would, if Eddie wasn't there to stop them going too far.

The Imperfect Couple

DAMN EDDIE AND HIS IRRESISTIBLE PUPPY DOG EYES 😭 he just goes 🥺 and suddenly reader will give him whatever the fuck he wants, no questions asked. ultimate weapon. but reader loves him for that, as well as everything else, they really do absolutely adore and love him as much as he adores and loves them in return; they're happy together, and they want to be together even if being together means sitting on opposite sides of the room doing two different things - even if it means sitting right next to each other but not talking or even focusing on each other. just existing around each other. they really, really do love each other.

Fire

reader and Forrest compliment each other quite naturally; reader's temper is brash and quick, it's the snap of a finger. the bite of a dog. it's the slash of a blade. but Forrest's is subtle and slow, it's the hidden whisper of a tiger's growl. the circling of a shark's dorsal fin. it's the rumble of the earth before an earthquake. yet, all the same - they have this incredibly deep and passionate affection, respect, and love for each other; they compliment each other at every turn, not necessarily making the other a whole person, but certainly complimenting what's best about their personalities and themselves overall. they really, really, love each other and Forrest would 1000000% put anyone through the wringer and then some if they so much as split an end of a singular heart strand.

Even If I Could

Forrest really, really traumatised by what happened, but who wouldn't be? dissociation and flashbacks and anxiety is probably the most tame experiences stemming from that amount of trauma, tbh. but he still just can't find it in himself to be honest and open about what he's going through w his s/o bc he's just... not that type of guy, even tho it's causing him more damage to be like that. they're very much in sync though, they really do go together really well bc the reader doesn't expect Forrest to be 100% happy and fine all the time and doesn't force him to speak - and in return, Forrest is just grateful that they continue to stick around and give him someone to listen to, someone whose heartbeat and breath he can feel when he needs a reminder of what's real. they go together like... jam and cheese!

Something Is Always Better Than Nothing

they're so scared and so anxious, like, they don't really feel like they can be safe ANYWHERE, but it's once they actually realise that, "oh, wait, I'm with Tommy - I'm okay", that's when they kinda settle down. they know Tommy's protective, that he's supportive and he's affectionate towards them. they know that he's a safe person to be around. Tommy also recognises what they're going through, and he knows that the best way to deal w it is to allow the reader to just take things in their own time; to just let them do things when they feel up to it, and he's willing to give them that patience and that time as much as he can. he's willing to keep being a safe person.

Protection

James has 100% been in that situation w the reader before, Brace has already provided them w some sort of familial and platonic love to rely on and to keep themselves propped up a bit, so James has definitely been there as well. the only difference is that, this time? he's not going anywhere. he's got Brace and Lorna to back him up and to help him keep his s/o safe and secure and he KNOWS that bc he's not stupid. he knows that the reader is better off with them, regardless. and he's willing to do ANYTHING for them.

Still There

PUPPY DOG 😭😭😭 he's been through so much and been denied so much basic human touch and kindness, but he KNOWS that he can get it regularly from the person he loves most in the world and he's aware that he can get it whenever and that the reader is more than happy to give him an endless supply. he definitely picks up more on the feelings of others bc of what he's been through, he's learned how to read moods and demeanours better than most people bc of the things he's been through, so he can read his s/o like an open book without even thinking about it ESPECIALLY bc he trusts and loves them.

and again!!!! you're so welcome!!!!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

[persephoneflouwers]

You don’t have to explain to me. Everything you said in your tags resonated so much with me. If there was one thing you could name (besides the recent Niall shit) that pushed you over the edge, what would it be? AOTV? For me - and this isn’t even anything big but it made me say enough is enough - is the coffee/pap walk with S. It was so benign comparatively to other stunts but it was so unnecessary and such a blatant shrug to what his fans were feeling at the time, that it pushed me over the edge. I kind of went numb after that.

Yeah, I guess it’s a lot of things happening at once you know? I used to find comfort in him, but when Granma died at the beginning of the year I couldn’t find a safe space around me here because they kept doing stupid shit and It was (still is somehow) a very dark moment where I don’t have the emotional and mental strength to deal with their things.

I for once didn’t watch the doc. I have nothing against those who did, of course. It just didn’t feel right for me and honestly I don’t feel the pressure to support him against the big cruel blacklisted propaganda or whatever. And to be quite frankly, they have stopped caring of what us fans think very long time lol especially when every dumb thing they do ends up being defended by fans like their life depends on it. I imagine them inside this unbreakable bubble shielded by fans that praise them for the bare minimum (literally the bare minimum kinda makes me wonder what fucking people yall hang out with irl) and this gives them manoeuvre space to make many mistakes without noticing if they’re hurting themself or not. Personally I feel Louis had a career stonk in the pandemic, because 1D became big again (probably thanks to Harry’s promo). They work as a chain if one gets the biggest the other follow in some measure you know what I mean? They are bounded career wise forever lol but since then, Louis hasn’t grown much. But I stopped questioning honestly, he’s still a millionaire and still does what he likes I suppose, so at the end of the day it’s not just about fame or popularity. It’s about doing what you love and I truly hope he enjoys what he’s doing more than how much he hates what it takes to do it, because if not that’s when you know you failed.

[fzzr]

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten and Actual Nice Guys

Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsunomanika Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken (The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, henceforth "Angel Next Door") is the latest entry in the Impossibly Perfect Girlfriend microgenre (see Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie for another of the type). Mahiru Shiina, the titular Angel, is unapproachably beautiful, outwardly flawless, universally popular and very, very alone. The formula says male protagonist Amane Fujimiya is a nice guy who will, by virtue of being nice, turn this alone girl into a not alone girl because she is with him.

So, let's get to that. When Amane finds Mahiru sitting out in the rain with tears in her eyes, he pulls his first nice guy move, the most basic - he loans her his umbrella. This results in him being exposed to the extremely hazardous Japanese rain, which as expected gives him a cold. They turn out to be neighbors, so she takes care of him, and finds out he lives and eats like a slob. Her concern for his health leads to her sharing her leftovers with him and demanding to be allowed to clean his apartment.

From here they develop a relationship where Mahiru cooks for them both (using his equipment and sharing food costs) and generally helps him keep his space in order. He in turn is... very appreciative. It's not exactly an even trade, as Amane is well aware, but Mahiru increasingly insists that he does more for her than he knows. All along they are both very clear that this is a platonic relationship. Literally every other character looks at this and finds it baffling, and for good reason. Before the halfway point of the series Amane and Mahiru are doing things like pushing each other's bangs aside and getting lost in each other's eyes.

"Nice Guys"

It is common for the protagonist of romcom and romcom-adjacent anime to be a misunderstood or under-appreciated nice guy. It's unfortunately almost as common for him to be a "nice guy" but actually a huge asshole to everyone around him, especially prospective love interests. Sometimes he will have some informed core or offscreen history of not being an asshole. At best he will be superficially nice, handing out thoughtless compliments or sharing lunchboxes in a way that inspires more jealousy that appreciation.

In lesser shows, this serves to justify why he has an increasingly inflated harem of extremely thirsty busty bombshells. In better examples of the type he really does have those rough edges sanded down, or even experiences backlash for his behavior and learns a thing or two. Nonetheless, they give the impression that it's ok to be unknowingly cruel to others as long as you get better before Christmas, and doing that will get you a girlfriend before the end of the school year. I'm willing to forgive these sometimes (my Saekano review is exhibit A) but there is a fundamental wrongness to that premise.

A Different Setup

Amane is not unpopular for any particular reason, but rather because he doesn't stand out and doesn't have any ambition to do so. His big flaw is his lifestyle. He lives alone in what can only be described as squalor. He exclusively eats convenience store or fast food. He leaves his apartment full of scattered laundry, stacked up trash and recyclables, and generally just doesn't keep the place clean.

It's not quite clear why Amane lives this way. He has a very supportive family, who care about him and wish him only the best. At first we can only infer a certain lack of self-regard. We do eventually get some measure of explanation for why he lives apart from his loving family, and the show allows us to make the connection to his emotional state on our own. In any case, I appreciate the combination of having an actual reason for the main guy to Be Like That and not just spelling it out up front.

Relationship Goals?

The romcom formula demands a Bro character who knows the main guy isn't just a sadsack no one should talk to. Itsuki Akazawa fills the slot, with a twist - unlike the vast majority of his ilk, he's in a long-term relationship of his own, fully predating the events of the show and not subsidiary to it. He and his girlfriend, Chitose Shirakawa, are very publicly together, not so much as to be all PDA all the time but still very much in couple mode. Their relationship serves as a sort of foil to Amane and Mahiru's.

When it comes to Chitose and Itsuki, everything is open book. They're together loud and proud, they compliment and tease each other and so on. By contrast, Amane and Mahiru keep everything under wraps. They continue to not interact at school, since any hint of closeness would subject them to considerable unwanted attention. In private, Amane is vocally grateful, but he stomps non-platonic feelings down as flat as he can. Likewise, Mahiru is increasingly open about her respect for Amane, but she always avoids giving specifics about why. This doubly self imposed restraint is the central pillar of the show, and it ties into what makes Amane special.

Actual Nice Guys

Amane has all the standard issue nice guy features, but he has unusual ones that I want to highlight. In everything he does, he seeks to understand what the other person actually wants. Giving someone an umbrella is easy - who likes getting rained on? What's not easy is having someone reject your compliments and respond by learning what kind of compliments they actually want. It's vanishingly rare in real life for someone to genuinely appreciate someone's hard work over their inherent skill, let alone in fiction. Amane even goes so far as to stand up for Mahiru when others make the same mistakes he did. Don't call her "Angel". Don't treat her like an inherently perfect artifact. Approach her as a person, with her own needs and desires.

He is also deeply respectful of Mahiru's boundaries. She doesn't want anyone to know that they have any connection to each other, and he agrees absolutely. This is something he does with active effort, not just passive compliance. When he is carrying her home with an injury, he first makes sure to bring her clothes to disguise herself. She is also explicitly disinterested in any sort of romantic relationship. When he does start to recognize budding feelings for her, he suppresses them from developing further because accepting them would just lead to temptation to go places where she isn't planning to go. Obviously what they each want changes as the show goes on, but this starting position really establishes that Amane is not simply planning to take maximum advantage of the charity of others.

The thing that makes Amane special is he understands that kindness is not unilateral. It's not "I will help you, even though this will also inconvenience you in some way". This even extends to how he gives compliments. He approaches from the perspective of how to fit into the other person's life, with full regard for their boundaries. He recognizes when people help him and openly expresses his appreciation. There are entire shows about learning those lessons (looking at you Oregairu). When it comes to defining what an actual nice person looks like, I can't think of much else that does it better, regardless of medium.

Conclusion

Score: 8/10. Angel Next Door is well constructed, evenly paced, and funny when it wants to be. More importantly, it provides actionable examples of how to be good to other people. While this is not exactly a "something to say" anime, I appreciate the position it takes on what actual as opposed to performative kindness looks like.

Recommendation: Impossibly Perfect Girlfriend shows have a very specific target audience. If you're not into the fantasy of being a high school guy who lucks into a relationship (however irregular) with a girl who is just super into doing everything to make you happy, you know that and this is not for you. After all, it still makes that last imperfect assumption that being a nice guy is sufficient to have a magical girlfriend fall into your lap. If you are into that or at least don't mind it, do give this show a shot. If nothing else, it's a good comfy time.

Comparisons

Amane and Mahiru's relationship in Angel Next Door shares some notable features of the central relationship in Toradora! In that case, it's the male protagonist Ryuuji who takes care of female protagonist Taiga, in all the same ways - cooking, cleaning, medical care, and emotional support in the face of family problems. This along with Ryuuji's gentle nature and care for his mother are what establish the nice guy part of his misunderstood nice guy characterization. It also has the advantage of mitigating the stereotypical gender roles problem Angel Next Door can't avoid. In another difference, Toradora! has a better-justified "how do they not see it" in their respective crushes on other characters, which only fully fall apart in the third act and clear the way for them to see their true feelings clearly. In Angel Next Door, Amane's active efforts to reject his feelings out of respect for Mahiru's boundaries end up reinforcing his nice guy status, at the cost of making the lack of progress less plausible. Toradora! works better overall, but I appreciate a show with such similarities carving out space of its own.

Working!! also makes use of relationships as foils rather than just characters. It goes all in with three foil pairs. The big difference between it and Angel Next Door is what sorts of foils Working!! uses. In each case, the relationships are mostly similar with the highlights on the small differences. The foil relationships in Angel Next Door are very different, with the focus being on the small similarities. No better/worse here, I just found the two ways of approaching the same technique to be interesting.

Saekano is one of the shows that starts with the guy being shitty to people and needing to learn to treat people the way they want to be treated. This makes his development more dramatic, but whether you consider it more satisfying is up to whether you can connect to him from the beginning. Personally I find the additional theme of artistic fulfillment makes Saekano a more well-rounded show, despite the "why does anyone like him (at first)" factor. Nonetheless, I acknowledge that even to the end, Tomoya could learn a thing or two from Amane.

Final Thoughts

Angel Next Door got to me in a very personal way. I have had very similar habits to Amane's lifestyle at the beginning of the show, so I found him more relatable than I might have otherwise. Separately I had a relationship that started similarly to the one in the show. We were sharing food and taking care of each other emotionally and medically before ever dating. Even our respective family circumstances had certain superficial similarities to those in the show. Alas, things ended poorly. Watching Angel Next Door, I couldn't help but think about what might have been, and what things were like when they were good.

[silver-heller]

Since canon inspires you, I would like to give you the floor to explain where your soft Mordecai headcanons come from, please! /pos

Obviously all interpretations are valid but I wanna hear more about yours specifically!

Ooo this is a fun one! Thank you for the ask, sorry it took me so long to get to it. Putting this under the cut cause I know I'm gonna ramble.

So, I'll be honest, a lot of it comes from the side comics, since we get to see what Mordecai is like outside of work and with those he's closest to.

However, I do think Mordecai's treatment of Freckle within what we've seen in the comic so far is notable. So, let's start there!

Mordecai's Treatment of Freckle

Freckle is...easy pickings, to say the least. He's a skittish lad who isn't used to being face to face with people like Mordecai. Mordecai could, quite easily, scare someone like Freckle into submission if he wanted to, whether it be for his own gain or satisfaction. Yet, during the lunch, mostly between Asa and Mitzi, and even after Mordecai just leaves Freckle alone. Freckle orders literal chocolate milk in front of the man and the most Mordecai does is give Asa a look (which is later implied to be because Asa mentioned "warning Atlas) and leave the table instead of teasing him lol. Aka, Mordecai doesn't appear mean to me for no reason or even out of a sadistic or malicious drive.

Mordecai is only down right antagonistic to Rocky (in this specific scene), but this is only after Rocky gets in his personal space and calls him "ol' serious face". Rocky was definitely being affectionate but, I think to Mordecai it just came off as rude. Poor guy has to deal with people commenting on his "serious demeaner" constantly within the comic and he's clearly pretty fed up with it. Yet, at the same time, his insult to Rocky also serves as a double edge sword of insulting Mitzi as well, his real target.

Which is to say he is quite cruel to Mitzi, but, he believes her to be complacent in Atlas' death. Mordecai's meanness appears to come from either the stressed state he's in or because he's cagey and feels he has a reason to attack. Doesn't mean it's justified, just that, again, it's not coming from an overly mean spirited place.

So let's look at those side comics when Mordecai isn't as stressed, shall we?

The Side Comics

The side comics showcase Mordecai in a more relaxed environment and we get to see him actually show genuine care and interest in people. Tannenbaum is one example. Yes Mordecai claims the reason he gave Viktor the tie is because he wants to "encourage better wardrobe choices", but despite his uncaring and icy demeaner, the fact he went out of his way to either buy or select a tie specifically for Viktor can't be overlooked.

In Valentino he attempts to give a woman making eyes at him a smolder. He doesn't appear attracted to her, the only reason he does it seems to be because she was expecting and waiting for it, potentially to make her stop staring. He seems to have a thing about that.

The result is terrifying, but, Mordecai was trying his best and wasn't genuinely trying to scare her.

In Wassail we see Mordecai and Viktor accidentally scare some carol singers. Mordecai doesn't yell at them for interrupting. He just politely says the equivalent of "not now please". Meaning his default is polite unless he's given a reason not to be/something about someone rubs him the wrong way.

In Sophistry, Mordecai playfully has a conversation with Rocky about what is best, pancakes or waffles. It's just a lot of fun babble, showing Mordecai is capable of that despite being dead serious about his job.

In Flirting we see Mordecai be very cold and dismissive to a woman flirting with him...only to realize Mordecai just completely misunderstood he question and spends the rest of the comic attempting to rectify his mistake.

Even when he's accused he isn't mean to either of the women he is speaking to, he just attempts to redirect the conversation.

Mordecai also does dance with her at the end! Probably because he just got tired of the staring but, I like to think a part of him did feel a little bad for the mix up.

In Expedition Mordecai, as he usually does, criticizes Viktor for his uncleanly look. But he's only criticizing Viktor for it because of how it might make them look, rather than just being a bully and calling Viktor "ugly" due to a personal opinion.

Conclusion

So, really it all just comes down to "whenever Mordecai is mean it's because he feels attacked, sees himself as serving some kind of purpose through his harshness, or doesn't realize how harsh he sounds". This doesn't mean I write him as being soft all the time. He still loves to argue with Viktor and it did take him some time to understand Silver's sensitivities, plus there's specific reasons why Mordecai ended up being so gentle with Silver, but that's another post (that I am definitely making after this lol). This is a very good set up for how I view Mordecai's motivations when it comes to niceness and meanness though.