#which means gabe (no one calls him that) will be the third person from the agreste family* to either die or fall into a magic coma ^_^

[genderqueeradrien]

question can chat noirs cataclysm kill actual living things. like it can destroy metal and stuff but could it kill a human? and has it? curious 👍

omg ok so he Has cataclysmed a real person before (HIS FATHER GABRIEL AGRESTE BTW) (as hawkmoth but STILL) (also he was kinda bluffing but hawkmoth intentionally made him cataclysm him so chat noir wouldnt get the miraculous) and now his arm has. i think like a burn? or like its. disintegrating almost. but its slowly spreading over his body and is also very painful ^_^ iirc it also looked like his hand/arm were like. freezing up like becoming paralyzed almost at some points? but it mightve just been hurting and i made that up in my head. either way not very fun :D and at some point i think it's going to kill him completely probably. if he wasnt wearing a miraculous though i think he wouldve just crumbled into little pieces immediately

[queencaramilflinda]

Can I ask why you're a shriek week hater? Genuinely curious! I never watched it

Ok so I am putting this below a cut in case anyone doesn't want to look at discourse which is completely understandable. Also this got kinda long oops

Shriek week... where do I begin? Since you haven't seen the season, let me step back and explain the premise. Shriek Week was a season set at a university for monsters, DM'd by Gabe Hicks. It used a system made by Gabe called the Mythic System. Each PC (Ally Beardsley, Lily Du, Ify Nwadiwe and Dani Fernandez) plays a student at the school for monsters.

I should also preface by saying I havent seen the season since it came out years ago so this is all based on my best memory and posts about the situation

The plot. It is said in the adventuring party that the original premise for this season was for it to be a straight up and down dating sim style game, but that Gabe decided to go another direction between episodes 1&2, which means that the plot was clearly scraped together extremely last minute and is generally nonsensical. It involves clones and an evil plant and a bunch of other stuff, it's just kind of bad. The fact that the plot was shoe-horned in last minute also really effects the pacing of the season, because it was only 4 episodes long and only ever originally supposed to be a fun and quirky dating sim game.

The rail-roading. This problem is deeply connected to the previous point. I havent seen Gabe in literally anything else so in no way am I making any statement about his abilities as a DM, and I am not the type to throw the phrase rail-roading around willy-nilly. The thing is, that because the clones and evil plant monster plot got thrown in so last minute with so little time to be resolved, it a little bit took away player agency, with players consistently attempting/asking to do things only to be told no, and instead led down a very particular path. Usually I am very forgiving of this sort of behavior as DMing is very hard and it can be easy for players to get distracted from the plot at hand... however the players were brought into this game under the pretense that it would be rom-com in genre, not plot heavy. So it kind of makes sense for them to be confused and not on board with the plot that they didn't know to expect.

Terry Talbo. Ok this maybe a me thing, because I do not particularly like Ify Nwadiwe in general, but the way he plays his character Terry Talbo has always made me uncomfortable. To quote a post I made several months ago " Ify plays his character as being kind of pushy towards women, not taking no as an answer when asking them out, and generally being toxically masculine in a way that was not criticized by the narrative or even really the players at all." A scene that distinctly sticks out in my head as both bad manners and bad gameplay is when Terry attempts to ask out a woman at the gym, and rolls low on his check. As a result, the woman says no. Instead of backing off like a normal person Terry doubles down and insists on rolling at least one or two more times to try again, and eventually the lady relents and agrees to go on a date with him. It all just felt icky, and it was not just a one time occurrence.

The cast. (This may also just be a me thing). Each member of that cast individually are deeply funny and talented individuals. However the majority of them did not know each other and the chemistry of the group was way off and did not pass the vibe check to me. One of my favorite things about actual play shows is the secondhand feeling you get of being in a friend group and playing dnd. Shriek Week did not have this, which reduced my enjoyment.

The University Setting. I am putting this last because it's such a small complaint comparatively speaking, but the seasons that came immediately before Shriek Week were The Seven and Misfits and Magic. It was the third season in a row to take place in a school as one of its primary locations, and I think im not the only one who was feeling burned out of this premise by this point.

This is what I have off the top of my head without fact checking anything, so I apologize if I am missing something major or am incorrect about any of the details! I love d20, and while Shriek Week was not for me, it has in not in anyway impacted my devotion for the show.

[gabriel-corona]

500 june 16 2024 fathers day

es su padre, tienen el derecho de verlo

he is their father they have the right to see him

i am not his son so why was i not invited

in an abusive household there is no safe parent

their is the abuser, and the enabler

maybe we are rehashing old turf

maybe this is old subject matter

maybe the wound the had cauterized, mangled and scared /been open again

my mother in her own right is a victim, married to my father, daughter of an alcoholic who i once saw open my grandmothers flesh

but also my mother as person, speaking from the point of view of her son, is nitwit, devoid of understanding what being with that man for 25+ years has done to me and her daughters

i dont think she understand what it is to be with a good man, or i don't think she knows what a good father is, for herself or for her children

///

you are being shunned

your sister is continuing the abuse

she learned it from you father and it is using it again

people can choose to be different

i can choose to be different

instead we will continue in this silent dissatisfaction

if we are honest. you want to be part of this family so bad

you are so easy at creating a found family

you have seen it time and time again

you are so easy to love

and the great tragedy and irony of your life is that closest to you refuse to do so

///

i think i have made better progress at understanding the soul of rockford

mean mugging but like a lion with a thorn in its paws

brought down, by nothing more than small piece of pine

am i circe singing the lion to calm, soothing it into my lap, luring it to sleep

///

perhaps my fixation with dionysus the bacchanal and maenads is a sort of found kin

maybe i am a maenad born out of time, long past the time of the liberator, in a time where his vessel is sold in in the coolers of your local grocery store, and in 6 packs and the gas station

i knew i could feed from the frenzy, up until recently i did not know i could wield it, make it expand and wane, feed that drunkedness back into the crowd, watch as they smile and the end of their eyes turn curly

i know i get it from my mother, not quite an elfishness or a fairyness, maybe the word sprite is closer, this penchant for mischeavousness and toxicity in the blood stream

maybe my grandfather was a follower of dionysus aswell, long after his time

there is a reason alcohol as a drug is comunal in a way that other drugs are not,

the liberator, in the flashing lights of a dive bar, blue and violet, we seek to lower that which neon genesis evangelion calls the AT field/ the invisible psychic force that seperates your ego from mine.

alcohol so easily courses through our body, until we too become this warm sea of distilled orange liquid inseperable from one another

if the medicine i take dampens my psychotic potential, i suspect that schizoid gabe rests just below the surface, subdued, not asleep but drugged into an unconsious state

and alcohol along with any drug changes the terms in the contract of its containment, some portion of it manages to escape

so i am in the frenzied crowd , were we have lit the lights, sung his psalms and drank his vessel in order to invite him into the room

maenads ancients greece's first groupies

so i try and open my arms and blur my eyes and feed as the frenzy takes hold of the crowd, and i feel a block, my temples are pulsing, dehydration maybe

witches feed on the substance of the innocent to regain the potency, unbaptized baby butter or the heart of a fallen star like claire danes

maenads feed on frenzy, that warm sweaty steam coming off the girl whose is on her third Mai tai looking to devour her new boyfriend, and the guy dancing by himself in the middle of the dancefloor unaware or uncaring of the embarrassment, only entranced by the rhythm of the song

but i am unable. the gate wont open, the rive wont flow, the lord will not come to me, frustrated i try my will at the other talents

i can feel the frenzy flow, like a pulse through the dark, if i cant feed from it can i wield it? watch it encircle swarm and engulf others. can i tell it to move and come here

to wield it must be some kind of spell, like it is to feed from it, say the right thing, follow the proper ritual, offer up the ring sacrifice

the first progenitor and wielder of the frenzy was our lord, so then one must follow his teaching, not just listen to his sermon

what takes over a crowd of fans in a stadium, that if their venerated were to walk among them that person would be torn limb from limb, like the body of a white calf torn to shred by giants, with only the heart remaining.

then one is to surrender oneself to the crowd, separated into fragments here and there, a dance, and kiss, smelling her perfume on her wrist. with only your heart thats left exposed, only with the semblance of its core, can u wield the frenzy

then manipulating the flow is much easier, when you know the song, word for word, watch your smile become their smile, and your singing become their singing, we become a chorus in blue and yellow light

the walls of the ego depart, melt, dissolve, evaporate, the force of the ocean crashing into the shore, foam and bubbles, and a slice of lime resting in glass with nothing left but ice, diluted tequila and droplets of saliva

[wrestlingisfake]

Resurgence preview

Jon Moxley vs. Shota Umino - This is Moxley's third defense of the IWGP world title.

On June 5, 2019, Jon Moxley debuted for New Japan Pro Wrestling, destroying Juice Robinson for the US championship. Days later, on June 9, he was scheduled for an improbable bout against a young Shota Umino, who was still a Young Lion in the promotion's dojo. It wasn't clear why the mismatch was booked until Mox clobbered Shota, declared himself for the G1 Climax, and unilaterally decided to take the kid under his wing.

For the rest of 2019, the running gag was that Moxley would rant and rave about how he was teaching "Shooter" to be a cool badass, and Shota would just stand there with this blank look, since he probably didn't understand a word his "mentor" was saying. When he returned from excursion in 2022, Umino had a cool leather jacket and entrance like Moxley, but other than that he was every bit the white-meat prettyboy babyface you would've expected him to be before he ever met Mox. So there's always been a dissonance between what Moxley is trying to teach Shota to be, and what Shota has actually become.

When Moxley won the world title last month, he immediately called out Umino to challenge him. The idea is that Mox knows his protege will start wondering if he can take the gold, so better to get it out of the way up front. It's effectively a "final exam" for Shota's "apprenticeship"--he'll need everything he's learned from Mox, because the champ is going to show no mercy once the bell rings. Personally I don't think Shota has demonstrated the grit that a guy like Mox uses to get through a tough fight. But that may simply be part of the story--if Mox is disappointed by Shota's offense, he might slap the kid around until he awakens the monster I've always wanted to see.

It would be hella cool if Umino scored a big upset on his mentor to win the world title and usher in a new era of New Japan. However, if that was really the plan, I think they'd book it in Osaka or Tokyo, not Los Angeles. Whatever the endgame is for Moxley's title reign, we're not there yet. The champ is bound to retain--the only question is what his relationship with the Shooter will be after the match.

Eddie Kingston vs. Gabe Kidd - Kingston defends the STRONG men's championship in a "no ropes last man standing match." So I guess they're going to take down the ropes around the ring, which seems like a pain in the ass, since they'll have to put them back up for the main event. I'm not sure how that really adds to the concept of a last man standing match, though, where the whole idea is to brawl in and out of the ring until one man is down and unable to answer the referee's standing ten-count.

Kidd has been a loudmouth hooligan since he joined Bullet Club's War Dogs group, but in the past few months he's really shown me something, and I'm rooting for him to move up in the world. But realistically, this feud isn't too different from him challenging Shingo Takagi for the NEVER title last week, or his upcoming GHC title bout next month. His role is to be the big mean bully who makes a lot of noise but ultimately gets shut down every time by the babyfaces. I'd like to see him beat Eddie, but in a brawl where anything goes he has to be considered an underdog. Champ retains.

Shingo Takagi vs. Yuya Uemura - Takagi's NEVER title is on the line, but Uemura's KOPW title is not. I'm not really feeling this one, probably because I don't buy that Uemura has any chance to win and become a double champion. Maybe if the match is really good that won't matter, but that remains to be seen. Shingo wins.

Jeff Cobb vs. Lance Archer - Cobb won the NJPW World television title last week; this is his first defense. Unlike other New Japan title bouts, the time limit for the TV belt is fifteen minutes. During the press conference Cobb brought up the talking point that AEW/ROH guys keep jumping ahead in line for big opportunities in New Japan. I assume that's his actual legit feelings about it, because in kayfabe I don't know why it would matter to him, as long as he beats whoever is put in front of him. Anyway, this should be a good "big meaty men slappin' meat" match, and hopefully the LA crowd will chant "MEAT" where appropriate. Cobb is bound to keep his belt.

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. - This is a rematch from January 4, when Tana won the television title from Sabre. Since then, Tana dropped the belt, and Sabre won it back and lost it again...but Zack still needs to avenge that loss in the Tokyo Dome. In one-on-one matches, Tana currently leads 7-5 over Sabre, and I don't see him improving to 8-5. Zack has been talking like he's ready to move up to chasing the world title, and I think winning here will get him on that path.

David Finlay & KENTA vs. Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji - Finlay's War Dogs have been feuding with Naito's Los Ingobernables de Japon for a while now. On the last tour, Finlay defeated Tsuji in a big match, and NOAH's Jake Lee crashed a few shows to help the War Dogs out by targeting Naito. Kenta is not a War Dog; he's just a regular Bullet Club guy that seems to be here because nobody more important could make the town. That makes me thing he's the one who will lose the fall.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Alex Windsor - This is for the STRONG women's title, which Vaquer has held since March 10. Vaquer is also the CMLL women's world champion, and one of the CMLL women's world tag champions, but those belts aren't at stake. Windsor was in a prelim tag match last month, and I wrote that somebody in that match would probably be the next challenger, but I never even considered Windsor would be the one. I hope she does well, but I can't see Vaquer dropping the belt just yet.

Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. El Phantasmo & Hikuleo - Last month, ELP and Hiku lost the STRONG tag team title to Haste and Nicholls in a four-team match, so now they're getting a straight two-on-two rematch. I don't see any reason why'd switch the belts just to switch them back so soon. Haste and Nicholls are kind of looking past the challengers to chase the IWGP heavyweight tag champions, and something tells me that will end up being another four-team clusterfuck, perhaps with both sets of belts on the line. I figure this is another match where the champs retain.

Tom Lawlor & Fred Rosser vs. Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson - These two teams were a part of that four-team STRONG tag title match I mentioned above. The West Coast Wrecking Crew (Isaacs and Nelson) used to be aligned with Lawlor, but Lawlor's decision to enter the match with his longtime rival Rosser tested their loyalties. In the end Isaacs and Nelson turned on Lawlor, cutting his hair, eating his hair, and shoving some of it into Rosser's mouth. So that was different. I can't believe this is going to be the blowoff match for the feud. I'm picking the West Coast Wrecking Crew to win with shenanigans to set up something bigger.

EVIL & Jack Perry & Ren Narita vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Rocky Romero & The DKC - I think everyone assumed Jack Perry had finished up with New Japan (and the House of Torture) when he returned to AEW and joined the Elite. Apparently not. Whereas Chicago was dangerous territory for him last month, Los Angeles is his backyard, so it'll be interesting to see if that plays into the crowd reaction. I think DKC is the only LA Dojo graduate who hasn't joined Bullet Club or signed with another promotion, so I'd like to see him step up, but I suspect he's just here to lose the fall.

Mustafa Ali vs. Lio Rush - This is a pre-show match. Ali is the TNA X division champion, but the title is not at stake here. This is Lio's first New Japan match since a medical issue forced him to withdraw from an IWGP junior title match on October 9. He's been wrestling since then, just not for New Japan, which seems odd to me. I'm not sure why it took so long to bring him back, or why you'd bring him back on a pre-show that most people won't watch. For that matter, I don't get why you'd follow up Ali's big win last month with a pre-show match. In any event, I think Ali has to win.

Matt Vandagriff vs. Adrian Quest - Another pre-show match. I think this is another one of those "strong survivor" matches, like the one they did in Chicago. But after I spent some time trying to figure out what the hell that means, I got to the building and found out the pre-show happened before the advertised bell time, so I missed the match altogether. It's like New Japan doesn't want me to see these pre-show matches, so I'm starting to wonder why I bother covering them. I guess Vandagriff wins all of these, so he'll probably win again.

[comphy-and-cozy]

Note: I try to tag triggers as bet I can, but ultimately you as the reader are responsible for your own media consumption. If any of my content bothers you, please do not continue reading. If I am missing a tag, please feel free to shoot me a message. * = smut (18+ ONLY)! players I do not write for | tv/movie masterlist | eras tour masterlist

ANDREI SVECHNIKOV - full masterlist here

ANTHONY BEAUVILLIER

One Night Standards (Anthony Beauvillier x country star!OC) - 9K Country music sensation and Nashville sweetheart Harper Mitchell just got out of a very public, very messy breakup. She doesn't want a relationship, and, fortunately for her, Anthony Beauvillier won't be around long enough to start one. All of the makings of a perfect arrangement... right?

I Almost Do (Anthony Beauvillier x OFC) - 2.4K They say you never forget your first love, and Amelie and Anthony still cross each other's mind years after their breakup.

BRADY SKJEI

Adore You (Brady Skjei x POC fem!OC) - 8.3K Freshly shipped from New York, Brady is new to the city of Raleigh and the Carolina Hurricanes. While he’s learning the city, he meets someone that just might change his life forever. Four times Brady thought he loved her, and one time he actually did.

The After Party* (Andrei Svechnikov x Reader x Brady Skjei) - 6.3K When your new fling Andrei invites you to his joint birthday party, you’re surprised to learn that it’s a past flame who shares his birthday. And surely a double birthday calls for a double celebration — even if that means that you are the gift. The After Party II* (Andrei Svechnikov x Reader x Brady Skjei) - 6.3K A year after your illicit tryst with your current fling and your ex-fling, you meet again.

Blurbs ✿Midnight Rain* ✿Picnic in the Park

BROCK BOESER

You Got What I Need (Brock Boeser x Reader) - 5.5K When Brock says something horrible in the midst of an argument, you take off and leave him alone to face the consequences of his actions. Will he be able to win you back, or are you gone forever? Chronicling the aftermath of a fight, featuring big brother Anders Lee.

Blurbs ✿A Jealous Distraction ✿Secrets ✿"Send. Pic. Of. Dog. Now."

CHRIS KREIDER

✿“I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice.” ✿"I'm pregnant." ✿"Why would I stop when it gets me what I want?"*

CONNOR MCDAVID

Work For It* (Connor McDavid x Reader) - 4.2K After a road trip, Connor is determined to show you how much he missed you, but only if you work for it.

GABE LANDESKOG

✿Date Night at the Drive-In* ✿Blood Drive ✿Mystery Machine

JEREMY SWAYMAN

Blurbs ✿"Don't mind me, just enjoying the view." / "I won't bite, unless you're into that sort of thing."

JT COMPHER - full masterlist here

MAT BARZAL

Love It If We Made It* (Mat Barzal x OFC) - 9.3K Aurora Foster and Mat Barzal are friends. Sometimes with benefits, sometimes with unspoken feelings, but always with a little something extra. When they have the opportunity to close the cross-country gap between them, will they be able to overcome the skinny love and take their relationship to the next level?

down bad* (Mat Barzal x OFC) - 5.2K Mat takes a late night booty call to the next level.

MATT MARTIN

Chaptered Fics/Series Sugar Daddy Marty Masterlist (Matt Martin x sugar baby!Reader)

MIKKO RANTANEN

Bad for Business* (Mikko Rantanen x Reader) - 4.2K Mikko has a crush on his massage therapist.

Bad for Business II* (Mikko Rantanen x Reader) - 2.5K Mikko learns to accept that his teammates are your clients, too.

MITCH MARNER

✿“My friends get annoyed by how much I talk about you sometimes”

NOLAN PATRICK

✿“There is no way this much stupid can fit inside one person.” / “Take my jacket, it’s cold” ✿Cheek kisses

TYSON JOST

Third Time’s the Charm* (Tyson Jost x plus sized!Reader) - 11.1K Tyson Jost has been your best friend since you were kids. After a drunken hookup, you thought you’d lost him forever - that is, until he gets traded to the Minnesota Wild, conveniently the city in which you now reside. Will the former flame return when you reunite, or has the time changed everything forever?

A Night in Paris* (JT Compher x Reader x Tyson Jost) - 10.6K Anything can happen on a Friday night at the Hard Deck. When you run into some old friends in search of a night to remember, you just might end up getting exactly what you wished for.

Playing Pretend (Tyson Jost x OFC) - 9.8K When Delaney Taylor needs a date to her family reunion, Tyson Jost volunteers his services. As they navigate their fake relationship, the line between what’s real and what isn’t begins to blur. Blurbs ✿“Wait a minute. Are you jealous?” / “You’re pretty.” “You’re drunk.” ✿Wedding Day ✿Jost Family Reunion ✿Disaster Strikes ✿Trade Angst ✿"It feels like torture but I don't want it to stop."* ✿Pre-Wedding Festivities

[queer-and-dear-books]

Title: One Last Stop

Author: Casey McQuiston

Genre: Fiction | Drama | Romance | Friendship | Sci-fi | Mystery | LGBTQ+

Content Warnings: Implied Homophobia/Racism

Overall Rating: 10/10

Personal Opinion: I love this book. I don’t read a lot of WLW stories (which needs to change) but I love all the unique personalities and the humor and the mystery surrounding Jane Su. I expected this to be a very slice of life story but it turned out to be so much more than that. August Landry had an unusual upbringing that made her feel like she couldn’t trust others. But then she ends up rooming together with the nicest, coolest people on Earth. And on the Q train, she meets the nicest, coolest girl on Earth. And as August opens up over the course of the book, you will end up falling in love like she does.

Couple Classification: August Landry X Biyu “Jane” Su = Nerd X Punk

Do I Own This Book? No but it’s definitely on my wishlist.

Spoilers Below For My Likes & Dislikes:

Likes:

- First and foremost, Jane is legit the coolest person ever. I love her. I mean, she was out there fighting for civil rights in the 70s! She was in the thick of it! She protested against the Vietnam War, she beat up anti-semites, and she gave one of her pride pins to a 15 year old boy that just came out. She is so cool and the true meaning of punk. I’m not even sexually attracted to women and I kid you not, I am in love with her. August hit the jackpot is what I’m saying. Plus, Jane is Asian! That appeals to me directly. I love her.

- Second, August is a nerd and she’s adorable. She’s relatable too. Well, not her childhood of searching for a long-lost uncle but the part about her being alone and not knowing where she wants to go with her life is. She was anxious about graduating college because it meant she would lose that structure. Before New York, she never had people that she considered friends. I felt all of that in my soul. But she’s a truly nice person despite her loneliness. She helped Jane try to get unstuck from the Q line, she encouraged Wes to go for Isaiah, and she went with Myla to meet Gabe, just in case, to protect her. She also takes notes on everything, including the things Jane likes in sex, and that is also somehow adorable? I don’t know, August just felt like the perfect blank slate protagonist while also having enough personality to separate herself from the reader. It was just really well done and I respect it.

- August called her New York friends her family! Niko is a legit psychic—which, so cool. He’s also trans and Hispanic and he’s got tattoos and he’s overall super chill and cool. He didn’t get jealous when Myla was fake-flirting with Gabe and he always seemed to know things he shouldn't, which I thought was super cool. I’ve described him as cool three times but that’s honestly the best descriptor for him. Then we got his Black girlfriend Myla who graduated as an engineer from Columbia but is actually an artist who welds a bunch of random shit together to create giant nerves. She is just so impressive and again, I think she is so cool. Finally, we have the third roommate, Wes! He’s a disaster gay but he bakes for his roommates and he has a dog. That in itself makes him cool in my book. Plus, his little romance with Isaiah is so cute. I’m sure I would’ve been really frustrated with him had he been the protagonist but since he’s not, I get to enjoy their love story for what it is. When he said, “I am in love with you,” at the party, I was screaming.

- Outside of their apartment, we have Isaiah who is also a drag queen named Annie Depressant. Firstly, that name is brilliant and I imagine she lives up to it. The way he just easily went along with August’s perceived weirdness concerning Jane was so cool of him. Okay, honestly, there’s no other way to describe him than cool. Legit, I’m being vague and all but it’s because there’s so much context that I can’t just put into these sections. He is just so cool! 

- Lucie is cool too! And she’s with a pansexual drag queen, Winfield, and it is adorable! And Winfield is cool too! And Jerry is cool too! Everyone who works at Billy’s Pancakes is so cool! That includes Jane!

- Listen, there are just so many unique personalities in this book but the fact that they’re all so cool means something. It probably means McQuiston is a great writer. I just, ugh, I’m at a loss for words for how cool everyone is and how enjoyable this book is.

- The mystery of Jane is part of the allure of the book. The first hint that she wasn’t normal was their very first meeting. The lights flickered and she just vanished. As someone who lives in New York, people do not vanish on the subway. It doesn’t matter how crowded it is. And then there’s the fact that she said she “can’t” when August asked her out. It was right after the train had stalled so in my mind, it felt like she had a free schedule. To me, that meant the only reason she “can’t” go is because she literally can’t leave the train. I don’t know how my brain went there but it did. And then in the following chapter, there was a Craigslist missed connection post dated 10-12 years ago. That would’ve made Jane 13 or so which makes no sense. Which means, she was on the train for years! Oh my god, it was just so fascinating and I loved learning new things about Jane. And I love that she stayed! Oh my god, I would’ve been fine with either outcome. Whether she went back to 1977 or stayed in 2020. But the fact that she stayed and wrote about the UpStairs Lounge arson attack (something I knew about already because I researched it for a poem I wrote) so that queer youth can know about it is just inspiring. She stayed and she meshed with everyone in the apartment so well and she’s the record holder of Rolly Bangs and she works at Billy’s again and I love her.

- A lot of this is very much a stream of consciousness rambling and that is because I love these characters. I love this book. I love that they live above a Popeyes and August says she trusts chicken. I want to live above a Popeyes and have cool queer roommates and meet the hot love of my life on the subway. She is living my dream.

- They had sex on the train! That’s not the important part though. The actual important part was everything leading up to it. August brought Jane a feast and she found music that would appeal to Jane and she made it so romantic even though they’re on a subway! I felt my heartbeat quicken with every word in that chapter.

- The comedy in this book is on point. Everything from their reactions to Gabe to Jane saying she befriended a train rat. I loved it. But the best joke, to me, when August met Jane again and her brain went for “Hi” while her mouth went for “Morning” and out came “Horny.” Like, that is, exactly my kind of humor.

Dislikes:

- Nothing comes to mind. I was originally going to be upset that Jane never reconnected with her family but then August went and found her family. It’s crazy. And also really sweet. And I’m glad Jane will have a chance at some closure with them. And she also has a gay nephew and that just makes me so happy because, as we all know, at this point, I love Gaysian men.

- Actually, one thing does bother me. The POV choice. It’s third person limited omniscient. It’s not a bad choice. I just wondered half the time why it wasn’t in first person when the narratorial voice had so much personality. And it felt like August’s personality. Sometimes, I’d see August’s name and I’d be momentarily confused because I would forget this wasn’t in first person. Again, it’s not a bad thing that this is in third person. I just wonder why first person couldn’t do the job just as well if not better.

[princesstillyenna]

I am in need of two alignment charts that I feel you would be well suited for:

One for the nhl mascots

One for the group chat boys (TK and EJ can tie for chaotic good)

Wait you mean like... trad style DnD alignment charts??? This is going to be so fucking contraversial so I wanna make sure y'all know BEFORE you see this THIS IS THEIR GROUP CHAT PERSONAS OK???? This does NOT reflect their On Ice personas (although some are influenced by their On Ice Personas)

OK because I know you're mad about some of those Cale is Lawful Good, because he is a good boy who follows all the rules and will follow the spirit of the rules just to make you happy and hates making people sad Dylan is Neutral Good, because he wants everyone to be happy but also he will break the rules if it's funny enough and he does have a tendency to take a joke too far Matty is Chaotic Good, he will do whatever it takes to make the people in his life happy, possibly to the detriment of others, but if you're one of his people, he will fight tooth and nail for you. The rules do not apply to Matthew ESPECIALLY when it comes to making the people in his life happy. Sid is Lawful Neutral which to me has always been the embodiment of "I will follow your rules to the LETTER which includes finding any loopholes which may or may not benefit me" he won't outright BREAK the rules but if he feels they don't apply to him, he'll find a really clever way around them and then end up being the reason the rules have to be rewritten. Connor is True Neutral - sorry Connor, I KNOW YOU HAVE A PERSONALITY I just thought this was too funny not to. He's the middle man in every single argument ever. Eddie is Chaotic Neutral, no explanation needed. I challenge any of you to argue with that one tbh. Carter Is Lawful Evil - ok, hear me out on this one, Carter will always follow the rules, but if he can follow the rules in such a way that makes the people around him deeply uncomfortable... he absolutely will. I'll do you a snippet to follow this to explain why. But he just is. On the rare occasions he DOES break the rules, he will flirt with the refs (or whoever is in charge of the rules) until they eventually admit that the rules were probably wrong and Carter is definitely not a bad person.... 100% lawful evil there. Gabe is Neutral Evil: Gabe has his OWN AGENDA ok, and nothing matters except HIS AGENDA. His agenda includes (but is not limited to), Jeff and Eric getting married and letting him be best man, Tyson NEVER HAVING A RELATIONSHIP because Gabe doesn't like the idea that Tyson could love someone more than he loves Gabe but at the same time, Gabe is well aware he doesn't love Tyson back, Sid never retiring and moving to Denver because then he would get less Nate time and probably less EJ time too... Basically, in Gabe's world it is Gabe Landeskog first, and everybody else second. EVIL. (Please note, this is group chat Gabe not real life Gabe, I'm sure real life Gabe is a sweetheart... also I'm not sure WHY gc gabe is Evil, he just is) And finally, Chaotic Evil is EJ, obviously, because he lives by the mantra of "Is it Funny and Horny, if so, DO IT" because... EJ. I honestly think that one is pretty sound also... OK finally, before I go, a snippet from the GC that happened some time in the past Hartsy: Behave!

Cale:😳😳 Sorry sir ☹

EJ: OK, new GC rule, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CALL YOU BOYFRIEND SIR IN THE GROUP CHAT

TBeauts: SECONDED

Gabe: THIRDED FOURTHED AND FIFTHED

TK: Yeah I’m with the Avs on this one. Nope

Cale: IT WAS AN ACCIDENT 😭😭😭😭

Cale: I am sorry ☹ I didn’t mean to make you guys feel uncomfortable

Hartsy: It’s ok bb, I know it was an accident

Hartsy: And not calling me Sir in the gc is a perfectly reasonable rule to set 😊

Hartsy: … I’ve never had a problem with you calling me Daddy instead 😉

EJ: CLAUDE GIROUX COME GET YOUR BOY

Claude: If you think I’m not eating popcorn while I read this you’re wrong

Claude: Hartsy I’m so fucking proud of you

Danny: Hey Clo…..

Claude: Yeah?

Danny: That’s our boy that is :D

Danny: #TeamProudDad

Claude: 🤣🤣🤣 (OH P.S. I HAVE A MASCOT PHOBIA I'M NOT DOING THE MASCOT ONE)

[ageoldamateur]

Introduction to my OC (Full story release!)

I think I should at least try to post the entire story now that I finished writing it.

While this is my first story posted here and my very first G/T story I have ever written, I have to apologize anyway for the way this story is set out as I do not know enough about Tumblr to formulate them into the same style as other writers here (Canadian policy, I must apologize to keep my citizenship). I don’t know how to bold letters or put symbols up, so I will just write as I would normally.

Also, while this is the first introduction of my Tinysona until Pixie draws me, this does not mean that I will not change anything later when I grow more comfortable with my Tinysona.

TW: Pre-vore, Safe/Soft Vore

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

I guess I need to introduce myself, should I?

You can call me Spartan and 2 months ago, I was a normal person. Just about to turn 22, I was thin and healthy and should have been happy with my life.Then I meddled with magic and ended up as small as the average finger. However, that spell also granted me strength, agility, and endurance many times that of my previous self, which I believe is a good enough trade off. Still, I needed food and safety, so I went looking for a place before getting taken in by Rose, another human who seemed to be completely fine with having a tiny living with her. I will later find out why later...

Rose sat at the table, a large hardcover book sitting in front of her. One hand held her chin while the other lightly wrapped around Spartan, who was using her fingers as hand holds so that he could see the pages. This was the third book of the series and both of them were concentrating, leaving the air still in the morning rays.

Standing on Rose’s shoulder with one of her fingers pressing against his collarbone, Spartan finished the page and set his head down on the finger. He had only known Rose for 2 months now, but it felt like a lifetime. He only had to live a life alone and shrunken for a few days before he found comfort in Rose. Of course, he had scared the daylights out of her when he first got her attention, but the bruise faded the next day and he was able to talk to her as an equal after that.

Now, they lived as a couple, or as much as you can when one of the people was the size of a finger and thus couldn’t work a job or around the house. It infuriated him, but Spartan tried to make it up by working on her computer and organizing everything there while Rose did her job. There were only sparse moments where she would read with him, so he treasured them and hoped that she didn’t mind that he couldn’t handle the books she owned.

Spartan spared a glance towards Rose, her green eyes steadily following each line on the page. If he was regular size, he highly doubted he would have landed anyone like her and even now still wondered why she let him stay. Sure, he did some tasks around the house, but nothing she couldn’t do faster and more effectively than him. Maybe there was something he wasn’t seeing.

Looking back down, his eyes focused on the finger that was closest to his head. Spartan was no stranger to the weird impulses that he got (autism never made anyone normal), but he took some time to ponder what the impulse was before acting on it.

Rose just finished the last paragraph of the page when she felt a soft pressure on her finger that held Spartan. Confused, she glanced down, using her freed hand (the one not holding Spartan) to brush aside her hair. Sure enough, Spartan was gently biting the side of her finger; in no way close to hurt, but much life how a dog holds something in his mouth. Rose was close enough to notice how Spartan’s eyes were unfocused, a sign that he was dissociated from the world around him.

“Are you biting me?” Rose asked skeptically. Snapping back into the real world, Spartan quickly let go.

“No! No, I wasn't biting you. I was just resting my mouth on …” His excuse died on his lips as he realized that he really did not have one other than an impulse, which sounded as hollow as the one he just said. Rose just stared at him for a moment longer, Spartan blushing and looking away, then slightly shrugged and turned the page.

***later that same day***

Spartan woke up the phone and checked the time.

7:37. He still has over half an hour until he expects Rose to leave work. Perfect.

Spartan quickly unlocked it and picked his playlist: a collection of sea shanties and folk songs. While Rose knew about the playlist, he never played it for her; different music tastes were perfectly fine in a relationship as long as they understood what the other wanted to listen to. Spartan usually listened to the playlist while working or in this case when he was finished and wanted to belt out songs.

As he picked out a song to start the playlist on, he mentally checked the list again, even though the physical copy was lying on the table in the kitchen, marked by himself. He did all the preparations for Rose’s taxes, organized the cabinet and the food within, and made sure Rose’s makeup was up to date. He had also given Chilly some exercise even though that wasn’t part of his list; though the cat understood Spartan’s place in the household, it still didn’t stop the kitten from chasing him around the house whenever she got the zoomies.

Spartan finally settled on a classic; “Home Boys Home,” by the Skullduggers. Pressing play, the music blared out of the bluetooth speakers; not loud enough to cause a noise complaint, but probably too loud for his ears health. Spartan sprang onto the coffee table and began to sing at the same level of the music, arms singing by his side as he paced around and followed the music.

As the song changed, Spartan would take a moment to recall the lyrics, then bounced to the beat. He didn’t know how long he sang for (he knew almost all of them by heart), but he had eventually grown tired enough to sit on the table, hands behind him and legs outstretched. He couldn’t see the clock, but suspected Rose to arrive home at any moment. When he heard the door open, he would turn off his music.

Spartan felt the warmth before the teeth met his chest. He flinched out of fear, letting out a manly squeak as they gripped his torso and lifted him off the table. Rose held Spartan sideways in her mouth much like a cat would a fish she caught and flopped down on the couch, turning off the music with a tap on the phone.

“Jeepers, Rose! I didn’t hear you come home!” Spartan said, his free left arm keeping Rose’s lips from suffocating him. He wasn’t necessarily stuck, he was much stronger than he appeared to be, but he still didn’t know how much his augmented endurance could endure should Rose bite down. “When did you arrive?”

Rose loosened her mouth, letting go of Spartan so that he tumbled off her chin and landed on her chest. “About an hour ago, before you began to sing your songs. I had a short day today, but decided to climb in through the window cause I didn’t want to deal with Gabe’s smoking in the hallway again.

“You really didn’t notice me gathering snacks and getting ready for movie night?” She asked. Spartan blushed, noticing now that Rose’s arms and hands were full of treats. That would explain why he ended up in her mouth, though the way she did grab him (sideways so that his head wasn’t in her mouth) meant she would have had to have craned her neck at an awkward angle in order to grab him.

“Sorry Rose, I guess I was quite invested in my music.” Spartan said, stepping a little closer to her collarbone, if only to get away from the potential awkwardness of being sandwiched in her breasts. “What movie did you pick?”

Rose grinned and pointed towards the TV where the DVD was sitting. Spartan bounded over and took a glance. “A Sizable Matter”, directed by Rogers Phill <fictional, don’t need to look it up>. It was advertised as ‘safe and fun for the whole family with stunning action and a romance of unusual proportions’. Ratings appeared good, but Spartan knew not to trust those. Before he shrunk, he had seen the critically acclaimed “5th Element” and thought it was terrible and sexist in a modern standard.

But, this was another one of those times where he could hang out with Rose, so he popped it out and slid it into the player. He hopped back as Rose began working on some gummies. Spartan chose one for himself and began munching; he wasn’t much into sweets on the regular but hey, he could treat himself if he wanted to.

The movie was actually really good, alternating perspectives between the race of Giants and humans. The main character was known as a Shifter, which meant they could alternate between the size of a giant or a human. It was their duty to solve the conflict between the two races with the help of several side characters.

Both Spartan and Rose were invested, Spartan resting on Rose’s throat, only slightly distracted by her swallowing. Eventually, the movie reached a close, the Shifter and their friends having almost finalized a treaty before a full fledged war happened. However, the main villain triggered a trap that sparked the war to happen in earnest. Just as the Shifter and their allies were about to head off again, the movie ended.

“Oh, are you kidding me?!” Spartan shouted, falling off of Rose in the process of reacting to the abrupt ending of the movie. Rose didn’t react to the same effect, she wasn't as invested in films like Spartan; yet she did utter a grunt of annoyance.

Rose watched as Spartan fell off the couch, thudding onto the ground and lying there splayed right beside some fallen Gummy bears. “I don’t know about you, I really enjoyed the movie.”

“Same here, but my goodness, there needs to be a sequel made immediately!” Spartan said, grabbing one of the gummies and hugging it to his chest. “The Shifter was the best character! They were so wholesome and adorable; the moments where the movie decides to slow down and let us watch them just cuddle their friends were perfect breaks in between all of the combat scenes!”

“I agree,” Rose said, reaching down to grab the gummies around Spartan, “they were the ideal hero. Though if I am to be honest, I grabbed the movie because of one scene shown in the trailer.”

“What scene was that?” Spartan extended his arms towards Rose with the Gummy in hand.

Rose smiled. From the floor, Spartan suddenly got worried as he saw his friend from a very different perspective. “This one.” She said.

Her fingers reached past the extended Gummy and grabbed Spartan’s chest, wrapping gently around him. Popping the other Gummy bears into her mouth, she raised Spartan over her head and gave him a good view of the inside of throat. She swallows, Spartan watching as they disappear down her gullet. He dropped the one he was holding, it landing on her tongue and then joining the others in her stomach.

Spartan knew the scene of which she was referring to. A giant monster had nearly eaten one of the Shifters' friends much like the predicament he was in currently. However, Spartan assumed that no hero was going to be saving him from this maw.

With no more gummies to eat in her mouth, Rose closed her mouth and locked eyes with Spartan. She smiled at him and Spartan returned it, though a bit confused as to what was happening. She lowered him down towards her mouth, still smiling. Spartan closed his eyes.

And Rose gave him a kiss, her lips almost sucking his face off before she pulled him back. “Oh, don’t worry yourself, I won’t be doing anything to you. After all, you are the only man who has ever cared about me.” She set him down on the coffee table and let her arm hang off the couch.

Spartan, still a little confused at the sequence of events that had just happened, sat up and watched Rose settle down and cover her eyes with her right hand. He crossed his legs and listened as Rose spoke.

“Before you scared the living daylights out of me, I hated my life. My job felt like it was draining me of energy and there was only Chilly at my home which felt more like a burden than a blessing. I had no one who I felt like cared about my interests, checked to make sure I ate, and accompanied me when I went out. I honestly felt like there was no reason for my life.

“Then you appeared, asking for my help. And once I got over my shock of your appearance, I realized that I could help you, I had a purpose again. Now whenever I get home, I can look forward to hanging out with you to read my favourite book or play chess or just talk and chill. It was like having a boyfriend that never demanded sex or asked for favors. It was like a dream come true.

“In more ways than one…” Rose mumbled.

“You are into vore?”

Judging by the silence of Rose, Spartan thought right, though her example kind of gave it away as well. Spartan stood up and hopped back onto the couch, crawling onto Rose’s stomach. Rose raised her arm to look at him.

“Rose, I have been so blessed to have been able to meet you. It boggles me to think that if I didn’t cast this spell I would not have met you or even be able to get to know you. I wouldn’t have been able to know that you enjoy mystery and steampunk stories, or that your favourite colour to wear is red because it reminds you of Autumn. I wouldn’t know that you were mistaken for a boy all the way up till grade 11 and you learned how to cook from your older brother.” Spartan said, walking up towards her head.

“You said your life got a purpose once I entered it. Well, I didn’t know what I was missing until I began to live with you. I found that I was capable of love and was worthy of affection. I was allowed to be weird and helpful and now that I have learned that I have helped you? I feel like I have actually done something for you now.” Spartan allowed himself to fall forward onto Rose’s cheek, giving his giant friend a hug to the best of his abilities.

Rose closed her eyes, feeling the closure of her tiny friend. She allowed her mind to wander and thought about a scenario where she could have met Spartan when he was the same size as her. Rose probably would not have spared him a second glance at a man just going through the motions. But because of a happy little accident, she had a person who shared feelings with her sitting on her face.

“Soooo… this vore thing.”

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing! Forget about it!” Rose said quickly, picking up Spartan and setting him down on the couch, sitting up as well.

“No, no, I am sorry if it is too awkward to talk about it!” Spartan said as he was set down. ‘It’s just… I also might be into it.”

Rose froze, mouth slightly opened. Spartan continued, “Of course, I have only used my imagination, so I have no clue if I would actually enjoy being swallowed, feeling the warmth of someone I love surrounding me.”

Spartan looked up at Rose, a flush creeping across his cheeks. “I never thought there would be a chance for me to make it a reality. Actually, that sounds quite selfish. I never thought I would be given the opportunity to experience it. Er, or that you would offer. Wait, you didn’t offer, I was just rambling, or am rambling, or just talking to myself-”

Rose poked him in the chest, pinning him down with her hand and her finger covering his mouth. It covered most of his face, leaving just one eye to lock in on hers as she leaned down towards him.

“You’re so lucky you are cute,” Rose said softly, “or else I would never be able to stand you.” Rose smiled and Spartan could see the warmth in it; despite the teasing, she really did care for him. Adjusting her grip, she picked up Spartan, holding him up towards her face.

She sighed, “I am actually going to do this, aren’t I?” she said more to herself, looking Spartan up and down. “Do you consent to being swallowed up by a hot and beautiful girl?”

Spartan looked around. “I don’t see one around, is she hiding?” He smiled at his joke as Rose scoffed. “I consent to be swallowed up by a hot, beautiful, intelligent, and amazing girl.” Spartan said slowly and clearly, locking eyes with Rose.

“Well, since I’m the only girl in the room, I hope that means me.” Rose said nonchalantly. Taking a steadying breath, she put Spartan into her mouth feet first. He fit without too much difficulty, squishing comfortably past her teeth as he was pushed all the way in.

Rose didn’t know what she expected to taste, but it certainly didn’t taste as exhilarating as the fics she had read led her to believe. Also, he was quite large now that he was in her mouth; normally she wouldn’t notice but because she didn’t dare chew, all she really did was move Spartan back and forth in her mouth.

Spartan was holding his breath just in case he realized that he couldn’t breath in there. Other than that, he absolutely enjoyed his time, rolling over and over again across the sticky surface, occasionally bumping into the teeth. He could feel that Rose was trying her best to get comfortable with him, but was struggling.

“Ugh, ‘ow ‘o ‘hey ‘ake it ‘ook so easy?” Rose said, opening her mouth to speak and give Spartan some fresh air. She let her tongue rest and felt her throat relax as well. Getting a spike of courage, she started to tilt her head back.

“That’s the same question I would expect some newly weds would ask.” Spartan said, his voice barely making it out of her mouth.

Rose snorted, then gagged as Spartan’s bare feet hit her tonsils. Still chuckling and coughing, Rose spat out Spartan into her hand and turned away to cough into her elbow. Spartan sat on Rose’s hand, curled up with his knees to his chest now that he was out of the warm environment.

“*cough* You really said that at the *cough* worst time, Spartan.” Rose said, starting to recover. She looked back at Spartan sitting in her hand, worrying that she had hurt him when she convulsed. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

“I’m fine, though I feel like I just got out of a nice warm hot tub.” Spartan said honestly. “I don’t know if you are comfortable with this yet, though. I might be too big for you to go all the way with, no offence.”

Spartan stood up on Rose’s hand, eyes towards the ground to hide his disappointment. “I did enjoy being in your mouth, though. It was exactly as I imagined it to be; warm, comfortable, and the closest I’ve been to you bef-”

Rose, in a surge of frustration, shoved Spartan not too gently up and then down, effectively overriding her natural gag reflex through sheer speed. She swallowed hard, feeling Spartan slide down with ease before catching her breath. Then she realized what she had just done.

“Oh heck… I really did just eat him,” Rose said softly, looking down at her stomach. She jumped up, rushing over towards the bathroom. Just as she opened the door, she heard Spartan.

“Rose? You sound panicked, is everything okay?” His voice was muffled, but clear enough to understand. The voice was definitely coming from her stomach and Rose could feel Spartan shifting around to get comfortable. Rose sighed, leaning up against the sink and looking at herself in the mirror.

“Yeah, I am feeling better now that I can hear you.” Rose paused. “How do you feel?”

Silence. “Like I am safe and secure. I feel like I am getting a full body hug. Though, the Gummy bears in here kind of ruin the moment…” Spartan said.

Rose laughed. “Sorry about that. Next time, I will make sure your cuddle buddies aren’t as sticky and sweet. I wasn��t exactly planning for this when I got home from work today.”

Rose closed her eyes, feeling Spartan’s movements and a surge of parental protection. She could feel his limbs against her abs and could picture him in her stomach. She had been looking at the entire idea of vore the wrong way; She felt more protector than predator and it was amazing.

“As much as I would love to stay like this forever, I feel like we should think about how I will be getting out; I don’t know how safe this is. I think it’s because of my heightened endurance from the spell that has allowed me to breath so far, but I don’t want to press it.”

“Well, I think there is only one way for you to exit,” Rose stated, leaning back over the sink.

“Technically, there are two…”

“Shut up.” Rose said, then tried to trigger her gag reflex. After a while of trying, Rose felt Spartan shift around and reach up and suddenly it became a lot easier. She deposited Spartan into the sink and turned on the faucet for him.

“That was an amazing experience, Rose,” Spartan said, sticking his head in the water. “I just hope that you enjoyed it as well.”

Rose rolled her eyes. “Just got out of me and already jumped to the initiative in taking care of me.” She reached into the drawer beside the sink and pulled out a washcloth. She set it down next to Spartan, then stepped out of the room to give him some privacy.

“Well, did you? You asked me how I felt when I was in you.” Spartan said. There was a moment of silence as Rose thought about her answer. “I just realized how much of an innuendo this can be seen as. Should we pick a name for this experience? Something tamer?” Spartan added.

“Maybe later,” Rose sighed, putting her back on the wall and letting herself slide down until she was sitting on the floor. She rubbed her eyes, the memory of the experience still quite vivid in her mind. “To answer your question, I don’t really know yet.

“I went into it with an expectation, as most people do, and had those expectations quite subverted by reality. It was scary and surprising, but after I committed to it, it felt… comforting. I liked the feeling you gave me; it was as if I had hidden you away from the entirety of the world, all of the harm and hardships couldn’t reach you anymore.”

Rose rested her hands on her stomach, remembering Spartan cradled within her. “I already miss it, even though it hasn’t even been 2 minutes since you were there.”

“Well, you can always look forward to the next time those cravings hit.” Spartan said, strolling past the door wrapped up in the washcloth and viciously rubbing his hair. “Though, maybe without having eaten a ton of gummies beforehand. I think I have turned permanently sticky!”

Rose laughed, then scooped him up. “Come on, sticky boy, it’s almost 12. I need to get to sleep so that I can make it to work tomorrow.” She put him in his alcove, then disappeared into her room with Chilly.

Spartan got settled down and thought back on his day. He smiled. It was a pretty good day.

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

I think I need a break from vore, I don't know how I will top this for a while. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed my… interesting writing style compared to the other writers on this website.

[whenimgoodandready]

🎈🎊(party horn blows🥳) Hello everyone! Welcome to the 💯th episode of “Miraculous Ladybug”! (cheers and applause as marching band music plays)🎊🎈We’ve come a long long LONG way to see what they had cooked up for us as this ep was the grand daddy of all epic proportions that was a “must see” for everybody to-Oh f**k this sh*t! (cheers, applause and music dies out) It’s really nothing special! We’re almost to the season finale and is this really gonna change anything!? NO! Do you know why!? Read this:

*Ephemeral-Bob Roth is akumatized as a flying money stealing gold safe named Moolak (huh, I was hoping for a more King Midas theme) and Ladybugs got Team Miraculous on her side with Viperion, Vesperia, Pigella, Ryuko, Purple Tigeress, Pegasus-Hey! Wait a minute! Where’s Cat Noir!? Oh he’s at a press conference interview in place of his father? Why can’t he just make an excuse and leave? Hmmm, Gabe was doin’ that ring twisting thing again (“Mega Leech”) and he gave Adrien specific orders which he obeyed without complaint. Suspicious🤨.

Ladybug (miraculously) defeats the villain anyway without Cat Noir, even if it did take forever, and Su-Han, the celestial guardian whom we last saw way back in “Furious Fu”, was outraged that Ladybug used up nine miraculouses for the mission when all she really needed was Cat Noir! She explains again how she doesn’t know Cats identity to call him up since it’s too dangerous for both of them to know each other’s identities cuz theirs are the most important miraculouses, but Su-Han doesn’t give a f**k and says to find out or there’ll be a new black cat miraculous holder.

I’d go on and say what happens next, but I’ll leave that in the end, so I’ll just say how I usually end with these things by saying who the villain-of-the-week was and in this case, it was Ephemeral. What does Ephemeral mean? Sounds like a medical term. It however means, “short lived”. What kind of power would that be? Ah! Yes! Speeding up time to shorten it and get the job done! Like how they did with using up Ladybugs miraculous timer and having her revert back as Marinette! Damn! That’s scary! Oh! By the way, the akumatized victim was Adrien! Don! Don! Don!

Bomb #22………..can I really say there was a “bomb”!? I mean, as ecstatic as we were for this ep, it didn’t really do much (makes a horse sigh). You guys remember “Oblivio”? With the memory loss reveal? You remember “Cat Blanc”? With the time traveling reveal too? Well, this ep was their baby! Both had the same concept:identity reveals, time traveling, the apocalypse! The yoozh. I know how that song goes, it’s the same thing: the dynamic duo would be happily dating if they found out their identities and loving both sides of one another, but the down side is the villain is related to one of them and Gabe/Shadow Moth disregards his own sons feelings for his own personal benefit and cuz Adriens (possibly) a sentimonster he (Shadow Moth) can control and the world would go💥Kaboom!💥, so everything goes back to normal and thus we can’t have a reveal yet until the villain is no more! What the Hell was I getting hyped about!? We got back to status quo FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A ROW! WHERE THE REVEAL DID NOT STICK! :P. It’s like-like, like those false blow out candles! No matter how many times you blow, it won’t, AND WILL NEVER, go out! UGH! (groans, but calms down) However, there were certain things that reminded me of its good qualities of the identity reveal. For starters, we know that the love square is endgame and that both halves of the heroes will still love one another’s halves and be happy ⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ ♡ ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹. Marinette/Ladybug was at first conflicted over which side of her secret crush she loved first:flirty, goofy and pun making Cat Noir or calm, cool and collected Adrien (she never ever thought in her right mind that Party Animal Cat Noir could ever be Saint Adrien Agreste!), but with advice from Luka (who secretly knows both their identities), still accepted him as Adrien/Cat Noir did when she revealed herself and to her joy, there was no rejection💖. Second, as sucky as it is that Gabe/Shadow Moth will eventually find out about their identities, it was brilliant how he figured it out by overhearing Adrien calling Marinette “M’lady”. Nobody, but Cat Noir says that to nobody, but Ladybug! The sad part is, just like from “Cat Blanc”, Gabe/Shadow Moth puts his needs over his own sons and isn’t afraid to use him for his advantage! Worst. Dad. Ever! What’s scarier is if Adrien is in fact a sentimonster, and maybe that ring is an amok, Adrien can’t fight back to save himself or anyone else cuz his father is his string master! Not to mention, like before, preventing Armageddon is futile! Don! Don! Don! Lastly, as annoying as it is that everything goes back to square one (what with the whole time traveling and that satellite thing I didn’t understand cuz I’m not so into science, but props to those of you that got it), Marinette, in her most desperate hour of need, contacted the only other boy she trusts with her life:Luka Couffaine💙. Thanks to him, he ended up saving the whole world!👏👏👏. All in all, we’re lectured on the pros and cons of the identity reveal again and all the creative ways to destroy and fix it, but next time, for the love of God! LET IT BE CONSISTENT!!! Thank you!😊.

[youcouldmakealife]

Outtake: Jared, Dmitry, Gabe/Stephen; Jared meeting Stephen

This was originally part of today’s Jared update, but didn’t work for pacing reasons and the like. But sharing it so we can all point and laugh at Jared’s oblivious ass. 

“Hey,” Gabe says before Jared’s third practice. “You want to have lunch with me and Dmitry today?”

“Sure?” Jared says.

“Sushi good for you?” Gabe asks.

“Uh,” Jared says. “I’m allergic to shellfish.”

“I don’t eat it either,” Gabe says. “But we don’t have to do sushi. You good with banh mi, Dima?”

Dmitry gives him a thumbs up from Jared’s other side.

“You cool with Vietnamese?” Gabe asks. “There’s a really great restaurant by my house.”

“Sure,” Jared says.

Jared was expecting to eat there, but they do takeout instead, Gabe taking their orders in the locker room and giving Jared his address. Somehow Gabe beats Jared there, even with the food, is waiting on the porch to let him and Dmitry in. 

His place looks like, well — a place. Like, a proper house, with nice furniture and art on the walls and everything. An adult place. Not that Jared isn’t staying at an adult place right now, but it’s still weird to see the difference compared to his apartment back in Edmonton, or Julius’, or his place with Bryce.

There’s a guy sitting in the dining room on a laptop, which is also a little weird.

“Hey, you’re home,” Gabe says.

“Have to drive out to Kelowna for the game,” Stephen says. “So did a half-day.”

“Forgot about that,” Gabe says. “Stephen, Jared, my new liney.”

“Enjoying the cursed line?” Stephen asks.

People really need to stop telling Jared his line is cursed, it’s starting to have a psychological impact.

“So far no curse?” Jared says.

“Don’t talk about the curse,” Dmitry tells Stephen. “It makes it more powerful.”

Stephen rolls his eyes. “On that note, enjoy your curse,” he says, closing the laptop and standing up. “Nice to meet you, Jared.”

“You too,” Jared says.

“Stephen’s my—” Gabriel says.

He’s interrupted by Stephen yelling from the kitchen.

“Gabriel if you’re going to leave dishes in the sink at least rinse them first!”

“Those are literally yours, Stephen,” Gabe calls back. “I loaded the dishwasher after dinner and I got breakfast on the way to practice.”

“Family from out of town?” Jared guesses. Jared can picture Erin doing the exact same thing if she ever stayed over. Well, not with Elaine, she’d probably be sweet with Elaine, but if she was just visiting Jared? Dish slander would be the least of it.

“Nah, not family — well, not biologically,” Gabe says. “And Stephen lives here. And by here I mean ‘here’, not Vancouver. He’s an agent.”

“Your agent?” Jared asks. He — could not think of a weirder living set-up. Now he’s imagining Bryce and Summers bunking together. There’d be bloodshed by the end of the first day. Probably before that, honestly.

Gabe laughs. “Nah.”

“Stephen played hockey,” Dmitry says. “Moved to Vancouver and became agent after he got injured. He and Gabe have known one another for, what, thirty years?”

“Fuck off, Kurms, you’re the only one over thirty here,” Gabe says, and Dmitry being the oldest person in the room is about as much as a mind-fuck as the fact Dmitry has sired multiple children.

Gabe could afford to live alone, even in a house this nice, but then, Vancouver’s an expensive as hell city, and Jared doesn’t know what agents make. Well, Summers probably makes more than Jared and Bryce combined, but Stephen looks like he’s still in his twenties — presumably he’s around Gabe’s age — so he’s probably not a senior agent. 

And Jared, who’s been looking at places to rent lately, is now completely aware how far a dollar does not go in Vancouver. Elaine has made it very clear that Jared is welcome to stay with her as long as he wants, which is good, because Jared thinks it’s going to take awhile to find somewhere that costs anywhere near what he paid for his place in Edmonton, but isn’t like — a hovel. He’s still faintly in shock at what a million dollar house looks like here versus back home.

There’s clattering from the kitchen. If Jared had to guess at what it was, he’d go for very aggressive loading of a dishwasher.

“Gabriel’s in trouble,” Dmitry sing-songs.

“They’re his dishes,” Gabe mutters.

“Still in trouble,” Dmitry says.

“I’ll get us plates,” Gabe says, putting the food down on the table.

There’s a particularly loud clatter from the kitchen, and they collectively wince.

“If there are any,” Gabe says.

[edorazzi]

It’s the post everyone’s been waiting for! 

It’s taken a little while for me to get around to this, but it’s worth it for being able to make a full reaction post. This is really long so I’ll put it under a cut, but check it out for my complete scene-by-scene reaction of Miraculous’ “Felix” episode! (´∀｀)♡

Okay, I’ve been putting this off for days now so it’s time to finally get to it. I’m comfy and undisturbed and have my supplies ready to go.

I know next to nothing about what I’m going into. I’ve seen a little bit here and there because some people haven’t tagged their content properly, but I haven’t watched either of the trailers. I haven’t even looked directly at the images of Felix which have been going around. I’ve tried to stay as blind as possible, so as a result I’m pretty excited but also very anxious. I’ve taken two beta blockers today and I’m considering taking a third.

I usually liveblog episodes on our Ladybug PV Discord server (message me for an invite!) but this time I’m making a proper post out of it. I’ll be typing up my reactions as I go then cleaning everything up a little bit afterwards. I think it’s the first time I’ve done something like this on my blog so here goes!

- “Script: Thomas Astruc” NO. HE REALLY COULDN’T JUST STEP AWAY FROM THIS EPISODE GRACEFULLY, COULD HE. HE HAD TO GET HIS HANDS DIRTY. I’m not going to say “fuck this man” but, you know, identical sentiments. I’m opening my chocolate bar.

- God, Emilie looks more like ET every time I see her. Such an awkward model.

- Oh but wait, Sébastien Thibaudeau was on the script? That does actually give me some hope! Next to Zag himself he’s the only writer on this mess of a show I trust. HE FIXED WAYHEM, CAN HE DO FELIX A SOLID TOO? PLEASE. PLEASE SÉBASTIEN OL BUDDY OL PAL OL FRIENDA MINE

- Does Gabe have anything else to say to his wife other than monologuing his Miraculous plan over and over? They say people in comas can still hear things but Emilie’s probably double unconscious from how boring her husband is.

- DON’T LIKE THAT KNIFE SOUND EFFECT FROM THOSE RINGS. Am I supposed to find it sweet that Gabe’s taking such good care of their wedding bands or is he about to use them for evil? Also where’s Felix.

- ADRIEN SWEETHEART. I maintain that it’s weird to have a statue of your wife/mother/self in your own garden but it kills me that he’s just sitting there in front of it like a lost kitten.

- “Of course, someone will get you right away.” IS THAT FELIX. WAS SHE ON THE PHONE TO FELIX. WHERE’S MY SON, NATHALIE HAVE YOU SEEN MY SON

- That wide-eyed look Adrien turns up towards the window is killing me even more. I’M SO SAD. I see he also hasn’t noticed he’s sitting in the middle of a giant butterfly circle, unless he’s so used to it being Gabe’s logo that he’s just not paying it any mind. When was this all built? Has Gabe always used a butterfly motif even before he got his Miraculous and it was just a great coincidence, or did he commission this whole garden area after Emilie went missing? I guess you could pass it off as eccentricity but in the real world that would be a HUGE red flag that Gabe murdered her. I dunno man.

- DON’T WAVE AT HIM LIKE THAT, NATHALIE. YOU RATTED HIM OUT IN 5 SECONDS IN THAT THEORETICAL FUTURE WHERE YOU DISCOVERED HE WAS CHAT NOIR. YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT THIS BOY. >:V

- “It’s been one year.” HAS IT? Hasn’t Adrien been at school for at least a year now? Didn’t his mom vanish two years prior to that?! Maybe she’s talking about how long Gabe has been fighting Ladybug and Chat Noir but knowing this show’s messy timeline it could be anything. WHERE’S FELIX.

- That’s the song from Chat Blanc! Was that something his mom taught him? OH NO, I’M EVEN SADDER NOW. This is what I mean about Sébastien’s writing, we’d never get this kind of focus on Adrien from Garbage Man Astruc. This kind of character exploration does wonders for ML whenever it’s brought up so I hope this is consistent.

- SHIT, GABRIEL’S OUT OF THE HOUSE. SOMETHING’S WRONG. THOSE EXPENSIVE LEATHER SHOES HAVEN’T TOUCHED ACTUAL GROUND IN YEARS. ADRIEN GET OUT OF THERE.

- I do like that Adrien doesn’t get up when his dad comes to stand right next to him like that. It’s just informal enough. He’s waiting for Gabe to make the first move this time and that’s nice development considering how stiff and cold their relationship was in S1.

- OOOOH GABE THAT’S AN AWKWARD CROUCH. Any lower down and his back is going to go. He’ll be stuck there. I do LOVE that he’s trying though, I don’t even know what he’s going to say to Adrien but this is already SO good.

- “There’s something important I have to talk to you about.” Finally time for The Talk, huh.

- GABE PLEASE. ADRIEN’S WAY TOO CHIRPY TO HAVE ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON TO WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY. HE THINKS YOU’RE TRYING TO SAY YOU LOVE HIM OR SOMETHING ELSE RIDICULOUS

- “I’ve noticed how close you and Nathalie have become!” CLOSE ENOUGH. Still in the ballpark of Adrien thinking his dad has real human feelings! 

- “HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY THINK SUCH A THING??” I GENUINELY LAUGHED OUT LOUD AT HOW ANGRY GABE WAS ABOUT THAT. I’m not sure what to think of the “Nathalie replacing Emilie when Emilie’s technically still alive” plot either but GABE’S DECIDED FOR ME. Also good job yelling in your son’s face when you were JUST having a moment, good luck getting back up off your knees in order to storm away, old man.

- Oh alright, he did get up, but it was with a strange angry bow-legged prance. I think he still had trouble.

- I love the way Adrien just kinda wide-eye-blinks at him, like Gabe’s emotional outburst is going totally over his head. He’s been dealing with akuma FAR too long to be bothered by this.

- Guests, plural? I’m guessing Felix is one of them but is he with someone else? That makes sense given he’s (as far as I’ve gathered) the same age as Adrien so he wouldn’t be running around far from home unchaperoned, but OHHH this is so interesting.

- So they ARE claiming it’s been one year since Emilie vanished! This just doesn’t work as a Season 3 episode, especially with Nathalie and Gabe’s romantic development being as far along as it is. Emilie’s been gone for at LEAST three years by this point! Read your show bible once in a while you horrible garbage man!!! Also ADRIEN SWEETHEART THAT’S A LITTLE PREMATURE. You can say “went away forever” when you’re three years into her disappearance, the anniversary of one year really isn’t long enough to claim she’s never coming back!

- OH NO, IT’S THE GIRLS. I’m already bored. Unless Luka is here I really just do not care what they’re all up to. I haven’t missed Marinette at ALL in the first two-and-a-half minutes and I don’t want to see her now. WHERE’S FELIX.

- I’m sorry, how are Lila, Chloé AND Kagami all on a video call together without any blood being drawn? Also for god’s sake PLEASE leave Adrien alone, you want to ask first if he’d LIKE some company or if he’d prefer a quiet personal day to think about his mom? OF COURSE NOT MARINETTE, YOU WOULDN’T WOULD YOU. 

- Okay, a video message is definitely a better idea than trying to break into his house AGAIN. At least then he can watch it whenever he feels up to it. The first good, safe, noninvasive idea Mari’s had for SEVERAL episodes when it comes to Adrien.

- I’M REALLY TORN WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENGLISH DUB. On one hand I hate how little screentime Nino has when he’s not just being Alya’s fashion accessory, but on the other hand I’m so glad they switched scenes the moment Nino started his video because I CANNOT handle his dub voice. Nino just deserves better in general really.

- HE WAS CRYING. MY BOY WAS CRYING AGAIN. I’M NOT COOL WITH THIS. IT’S NOT ABOVE YOUR PAYGRADE TO GIVE HIM A HUG, NATHALIE.

- ALRIGHT HI ELSA. IS THIS HIS AUNT? THAT’S SPOOKY. 

- Her name is Amelie? So their parents had twins and named them Amelie and Emilie, and they turned out the same right down to the over-the-shoulder Dead Anime Mom hairstyles? That’s lazy parenting down to a tee, can’t mix your twins up if you never have to learn the difference between them in the first place! But that’s INTERESTING that Felix is (I assume, still haven’t seen him yet) from Emilie’s side of the family, I’ve always had the impression he was a petit Gabriel.

- OHHH THAT’S MY BOY! I CAN SEE MY BOY IN THE DOORWAY!!! OH MY GOD GIVE HIM TO ME. GIVE ME FELIX. GIVE ME MY SON.

- ADRIEN IMMEDIATELY JUMPING ON HIM IN A HUG IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. WHILE FELIX’S HAND IS STILL OUTSTRETCHED FOR A HANDSHAKE. I know this episode is going to go downhill because there’s no way it won’t, but this one single moment is EVERYTHING I WANTED. I should just close the tab now and leave it at this, I really should.

- “Do you remember when they used to have so much fun pretending to be each other? Once they had you and Emilie fooled for a whole weekend!” WHERE HAS THIS BEEN FOR MY ENTIRE ORDEAL GETTING THROUGH THIS SERIES. I don’t even care if this Felix is a stone cold bitch, it’s enough to know he and Adrien were besties when they were kids and Adrien still wanted to hug him the second he walked through the door. AMAZING.

- “I WON’T BE FOOLED A SECOND TIME.” WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, GABE. THEY WERE PROBABLY TODDLERS. ARE YOU JUST SO USED TO GETTING YOUR ASS HANDED TO YOU BY CHILDREN THAT YOU’RE SUSPICIOUS OF EVERY SINGLE ONE NOW

- Aww, Felix is American (dubbed, anyway). I was really hoping he’d be British with all the references to London over the last season. He does have a nice voice though! I can tell he shares Adrien’s actor but he’s got the softness I’d have expected from his character. There’s kind of an interesting look about his face though, I wish they’d tweaked it a bit to give him a sharper look but I guess he IS like 14, he can afford to still have a bit of baby-cheeked roundness. I’m going to find the positives in every part of this because I will NOT give Garbage Man Astruc the satisfaction of being disappointed like I know he wants me to be. It’s been a fucking war from the moment I saw his name in the writing credits and my best weapon is being pleased about everything in this episode.

- Okay, he looks a little better in the following closeup where his eyes are slightly narrowed. I think it’s the slightly-below-the-chin angle which doesn’t really work for his character model with his soft cheeks and high collar. FELIX IS A BABY.

- WHY WILL NOBODY SHAKE HIS HAND. Adrien hugged him instead and Gabe is ignoring him completely, Felix is clearly so perplexed and I love it. He’s fourteen! He’s fourteen and doing his best with social graces but NOBODY WILL HELP HIM.

- “Felix, you know your uncle’s never been the physical sort!” HE KICKED HIS OWN SON RIGHT ACROSS PARIS IN THE LAST EPISODE BUT SURE, IF YOU SAY SO.

- “Oh, how sweet! You’re still wearing your wedding band!” YEAH? IT’S BEEN LIKE A YEAR?? Again this would make more sense if it had been around three years like we KNOW Emilie’s been gone for, but picking someone out for still wearing their ring after 12 months?! And why isn’t Amelie more emotional about this anyway, isn’t it her sister who’s missing? I wouldn’t be poking fun at MY sister’s husband for keeping his ring if SHE went missing. No wonder Felix seems like he turned out weird.

- I CAN’T MAKE OUT THE NAME OF HER BRANCH OF THE FAMILY AND IT’S KILLING ME. SOMEONE LET ME KNOW WHAT THAT WAS. Graham de Vanily? I can’t place the words. I mean I’m going to keep calling Felix “Agreste” no matter what but I’d like to know what canon is trying to get at.

- “It’s been a long journey from London” I KNEW IT, I FFFFFFFFFUCKING KNEW IT. SO THEY ARE BRITISH?! BUT THEY HAVE AMERICAN ACCENTS?! I mean I guess they’re French first and foremost, but what the fuck is with the American accents if you’re making a POINT about them being from London?! I can’t wait for the French audio to be released, I really want to know what Felix sounds like there. Regardless AAAH MY SON IS FROM MY CITY, I’M SO PLEASED.

- “TakeFelixtoyourbedroom.” EASY GABE THEY JUST MET, ALSO THEY’RE COUSINS

- Poor Felix looks so depressed being saddled with Adrien. Sweetie it’s okay, think positive! You could be stuck with Marinette and THAT would be a true nightmare.

- Now why does Felix keep glancing at Gabe? Is there something going on there? Is he suspicious about what happened to his aunt? I can’t imagine he knows anything about the Miraculous so what’s the deal here?

- UuuuuUUUUGH we’re back with the rest of the gang. I’M NOT INTERESTED, SHOW ME MORE FELIX.

- “Help me Tikki! What would you tell a Kwami friend who’s lost their mom?!” You’re talking to a 5000-year-old demigoddess, Mari, I don’t think she’s gonna relate.

- MARI YOU CAN’T CONFESS TO ADRIEN. NOT AFTER CHAT BLANC. GABE WILL LOSE ALL HIS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT TO WRECK THE LOVE SQUARE AND ALSO THE MOON’S GOING TO EXPLODE. WHY ISN’T BUNNIX HERE TO SLAP THE TABLET OUT OF YOUR HANDS

- Should Tikki really be encouraging this?! I have no idea where in the timeline this is supposed to be. Maybe this is at a stage where she doesn’t know Adrien is Plagg’s chosen so there’s no reason to steer Marinette away from bonding with him. Or maybe every episode just plays by its own rules and there’s really no such thing as continuity in this series. I want to see Felix again.

- YANKING AT AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE ON THE OUTER EDGE OF A BOAT ISN’T GOING TO END WELL. DON’T. I do love how :D Alya is about it though, if nothing else I love what a supportive friend she is.

- Oh, the tablet didn’t go into the water! I’m genuinely surprised by that. Though I imagine Felix is going to fuck things up in some way so he’ll probably be the one to destroy the video somehow. We all know the relationship development isn’t allowed to move forward so SOMETHING’S going to happen to it.

- Thank god we’re back to the mansion. I��m surprised and pleased that (for now at least) we’re only getting the girls in small doses and the plot is mainly focused around the Agrestes. Gorizilla is my favourite episode to date and it did a similar thing with allowing Marinette to be a side character for once along an Adrien-centric plotline, so hopefully this episode will be similar. I’m liking its odds so far but who knows what Horrible Garbage Man Astruc has up his sleeve.

- “I’m really sorry I didn’t come to your dad’s funeral.” I’M SORRY WHAT? PARDON ME? THAT’S AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM I DIDN’T EXPECT. As a side note I love Felix being killer at basketball for some reason, he doesn’t look like the athletic type at ALL but he still made that net over his shoulder without even LOOKING. Goddamn. Can everyone please appreciate how cool my son is!!!

- “My father thought it would be too hard on me, considering everything that’s happened this year.” So Felix lost his dad VERY RECENTLY. OUCH. DON’T LIKE THAT. Or I DO like that because it’s already giving his character some extra depth when we’re still only just getting to know him, but on an emotional level I don’t like that. 

- “He’s very... protective of me.” CHAT BLANC REALLY WAS A HOT MESS OF AN EPISODE WASN’T IT. 

- Now Felix is giving Adrien a hug?! I didn’t see that one coming. My canon Felix would mean it but I don’t quite trust this new Felix yet, he’s probably up to something.

- WHAT A JARRING PIANO TRANSITION. Also why?! What does he have to gain from swiping Adrien’s phone? He’s probably got a terrible roaming plan on his own mobile, that’s always my problem when I go to France. If you truly loved your cousin you’d let him browse Reddit on your phone, Adrien. This is worse than not coming to his dad’s funeral.

- PLAGG KNOWS SOMETHING’S UP. He ought to, in another life he and Felix are STILL dealing with each other.

- Okay I take back what I said about Felix’s voice. Bryce Whatshisface isn’t doing a very good job separating the tones. I can buy that Adrien and Felix sound very similar but their delivery should be completely different! I really do want to watch this in French, I get the feeling it’ll sound much better.

- AH YES, HERE WE GO. I’m getting the feeling this is Garbage Man’s part of the episode. Squished cheese aside, I do like the implication Felix does (or did) card magic and karate. I’m thinking of that Mickey Mouse episode where he vanishes Donald’s car keys with a hand trick except it’s Felix vanishing Marinette’s phone when she’s about to text Adrien or something. I’ve got to draw that.

- “Mind if I take a shower?” WHY, FELIX. I mean I’d probably want to shower too after the London-Paris commute (and I’m sure he’s only going in there to wreak havoc, put food colouring in Adrien’s shampoo bottles or something) but what a weird time to ask!

- I mean Plagg has a point about difficult home situations not justifying bad behaviour (and I feel like that’s not what’s going on, with how he was glaring at Gabe I think he’s behaving like this for some other reason), but Felix’s dad LITERALLY DIED. Like they had a funeral and everything. Emilie is just “missing”. They’re SIMILAR but that’s still a false equivalence because Adrien’s got hope to hold on to and Felix doesn’t.

- So we’re not going to talk about how Felix got into Adrien’s passcode-protected phone? I guess he could have done the fogging-up-the-screen trick from Oblivio. Standing around in a steamy bathroom in three layers of clothing is a great way to sweat yourself out and ruin your hair though, way to get even more gross than a five-hour commute between countries.

- “Of course that idiot has a crush on a superhero!” EASY THERE, MR HOWLING-ON-A-ROOFTOP-BECAUSE-HE-SAW-THE-GIRL-HE-LIKED. WE’VE ALL SEEN THE PV.

- I’ve just noticed Felix has a ring too! I don’t know how I missed that before this scene! That’s NICE. He’s still not allowed to have it on his middle finger (LET HIM SWEAR) but that’s a nod back to Chat Noir which I really appreciate!

- ROSE HAS BEEN ON THE HELIUM. SOMETHING’S NOT RIGHT THERE.

- FELIX KNOWS CHLOÉ! THAT’S NICE, THAT’S GOOD. I LIKE THAT. That’s also a really nice little video from her, I love the few small moments we’ve had that affirm she and Adrien really ARE friends, whether she wants to date him or not. 

- OOOH HE DELETED THE VIDEOS. I’m curious about him borrowing Adrien’s clothes too, are they going to dress the same? You’d think Adrien wouldn’t give someone an exact copy of the outfit he’s currently wearing but I genuinely don’t know if he owns anything different. I hope they don’t just use two Adrien models for the rest of the episode, please let me see Felix properly :/

- WHY. HONESTLY, WHY. CAN I PLEASE GET AN EXPLANATION FOR WHY FELIX IS DOING THIS.

- OOOH MARI YOU’RE NOT GONNA LIKE THIS. I can imagine Felix is going to say something nasty and that’ll set the girls off and bring about the akuma of the week. I’m mildly entertained but I’m still not engaged with this idea without any proper explanation. We’d better get something by the end of the episode which justifies what’s made Felix do this, because “he’s just evil lol” would be a reeeeally low move from Garbage Man Astruc. 

- MARI SWEETIE. YOU’VE GOTTA LEARN TO CHECK A ROOM IS EMPTY BEFORE YOU RUN INSIDE AND START FREAKING OUT VERY LOUDLY. LUKA’S HEARD ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. 

- Luka is such a nice character. Why does he get to be so high quality when Felix has been turned into a cheese-smashing phone-stealing gremlin? I mean I KNOW why, but I’d like to think the showwriters are better than this. They’re not, but I’d like to think they are.

- WHAT A VIDEO MESSAGE. I love how Luka’s just sitting there grimacing while Mari speeds off into battle, he doesn’t know what she’s about to do but he knows better than to try stopping her.

- Back with Gabe and Nathalie. Is this what was being foreshadowed when Gabe claimed he wouldn’t be fooled by the boys’ identity switch twice? Is he GOING to be fooled again or will he be the one person who can tell immediately that this isn’t his son? 

- “FELIX.” WOW, HE REALLY WASN’T FOOLED TWICE. RESPECT. He may have trouble getting up off the ground if he sits down too low but he can at least identify his child in a difficult situation like this, props to Gabe this week.

- “All this disappointment might just help us get rid of our unwanted guests!” SHUT YOUR MOUTH, FELIX IS A DELIGHT. The only unwanted guest here is Astruc on the writing team.

- “Felix... I told you that you couldn’t fool me twice.” Way to blow your identity in five seconds Gabe. I guess he hasn’t sent out the akuma yet so this might just be a personal monologue, but he starts addressing his victims directly so often at this stage that I’m really not sure what they can or can’t hear. SHIT’S RISKY.

- OH OKAY, SO HE’S SENDING THIS TRIPLE AKUMA AFTER FELIX? AND/OR ADRIEN, DEPENDING ON HOW HARD IT IS TO TELL THEM APART? I guess that’s what he means by getting rid of their guests, if the house is attacked by a monster (or monsters?) they aren’t going to want to stick around, but I REALLY HOPE YOU’RE TAKING ADRIEN’S WELLBEING INTO ACCOUNT HERE GABE OL BUDDY :/

- “TIKKI, SPOTS ON! MNUURGH” ME TOO MARINETTE. I’M REALLY ONLY 12 MINUTES INTO THIS.

- I’m gonna be honest, I’m not really interested in the girls. I was hoping for a real triple akuma (like Oblivio was apparently Alya and Nino together) but they’re all just villains we’ve seen before. There’s stuff I could comment on here but I just want to see more of Felix, that’s what I’m here for.

- “Nathalie, get Adrien to a safe place far from his cousin!” YOU’RE REALLY JUST GONNA SACRIFICE FELIX LIKE THIS. I guess that makes sense, I WAS complaining during Chat Blanc that Adrien is Gabriel’s weak point, so all things considered I’m not surprised that he’ll protect Adrien but just flat-out wants Felix dead. Fair enough.

- WOW. I THOUGHT ADRIEN WAS GOING TO BE HEROIC AND DEFEND FELIX BUT HE WANTS HIM DEAD TOO. Or was that a double bluff to make the akuma think he MUST be Felix so he can lead them away and keep his cousin safe? He’s just run off with a wild cackle so I’m thinking it’s the latter. HE’S A GOOD BOY AND A TRUE HERO.

- I also find it kind of funny how Nathalie will jump in harm’s way to defend him when there have been INNUMERABLE other episodes of Gabe just setting an akuma directly on Adrien for the hell of it. Maybe because there isn’t really any ‘harm’ here to start with; the three girls’ powers are probably the least violent of all the akuma we’ve seen so far.

- AM I REALLY ABOUT TO SEE FELIX DRESSED AS ADRIEN DOING KARATE. I HOPE HE’S GOOD AT IT.

- OH MY GOD HE IS GOOD AT IT. That’s cool! I was expecting him to totally flop considering how badly his imposter trick went down a few minutes ago, but it’s nice to see he’s as capable at fighting as he is at basketball. When do I get to see his magic card tricks?

- YEAH I FEEL THE SAME PLAGG. WHAT’S EVEN HAPPENING. Not that I think Adrien shouldn’t save Felix, I just want to know WHY Felix felt like he had to do this in the first place! I feel like “can I PLEASE get a waffle” except instead of watching the employees fight I’m watching this episode careening away with no pauses to explain what’s going on.

- FELIX C’MON. STOP CAUSING PROBLEMS ON PURPOSE. I can tell Garbage Man Astruc still has the reins here because causing even MORE trouble even AFTER Adrien saved his ass is a completely illogical course of action. PUT SÉBASTIEN BACK IN THE WRITERS CHAIR.

- “WHICH PART OF THE WORD ‘NO’ DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!” Oh perfect, great, can’t let this episode end without accusing Felix of not respecting consent! That’s a hot button issue and if Garbage Man Astruc can get him on that bandwagon then fans HAVE to hate this character! Great move! Fucking pillock!

- WOW CHAT THAT’S MEAN. I guess accusing Felix of having no friends is justified in the context of the episode but yikes :(

- Was that a flash of humiliation from Felix there? God will one of the writers PLEASE save this character, PLEASE don’t let this episode end without someone getting him out of the Garbage Man’s big meaty claws.

- Excuse me WHAT? Felix is talking directly to Papillon?! So he knows about all the Miraculous stuff?! Oh NO, is this about getting his dad back? I don’t know whether the One Wish is common knowledge (I don’t think it is?) but maybe Felix put the pieces together on his own back home, so all his behaviour here has been trying to incite an akuma that he can take advantage of to appeal to Papillon?! Or he could just be a bitch all on his own, which is probably what the Garbage Man would prefer, but this makes a lot of sense all of a sudden.

- BRO HE NEARLY DIED. BRO. BROOO.

- “I hope you’ve learned your lesson!” YOU’RE NOT EVEN GONNA ASK ABOUT THE PAPILLON THING? YOU CAN’T JUST TREAT THIS AS A REGULAR DISTURBANCE, FELIX KNOWS SHIT ABOUT THE MIRACULOUS YOU GUYS--

- FELIX’S MOM IS REALLY GOING TO BLAME HIS DEAD DAD FOR THIS? HARD YIKES. NO WONDER FELIX IS WEIRD.

- I’m expecting this isn’t over, because Felix still clearly wants something specific that he didn’t get, but I’ll take this cute hug for what it is. He didn’t have an evil expression behind Adrien’s back this time either and the music is all soft and nice, plus he FINALLY got a handshake from Gabe, but I absolutely do NOT imagine this episode will end without getting an extra shot in at the PV fans somehow. We’re not getting off this easy.

- Why doesn’t Gabriel want Adrien to go after Felix? Is he scared he’ll try to run off, or ask them to stay longer when he really wants to get rid of them?

- AHAHA FELIX STOLE GABE’S RING. WHAT A BRAT. Was that the “jewelry” he mentioned wanting in return for helping Papillon? I figured it was a Miraculous thing but maybe not.

- OHHH, look how much Felix loves his mom! This is such a sweet scene. I particularly like the idea that Amelie was trying to get the rings back to give one to Felix because the way she was speaking to Gabe made it sound like she wanted them Just Because. But you can’t mention some wild story connected to the rings and then not explain it! I want to know what that is, I want to know why Felix is so fascinated with it!!!

- ALSO, FELIX GETTING A BIG KISS RIGHT ON THE FOREHEAD. EXCELLENT. I’ll fucking BET this is another scene Sébastien sneaked in because it’s such an emotional quality shift from the whole clone mess. Like what the fuck even WAS that.

- Yep, Felix is still evil! WHY THOUGH. WHAT’S GOING ON. CAN I PLEASE GET A WAFFLE

- I was expecting a worse ending, but “Felix can’t ever come back to Paris because Gabriel will kill him with his bare hands if he does” is decent enough. If there’s no further confirmation (and NO, anything Garbage Man Astruc tweets later on does NOT fucking count so don’t try me) I’m going to take it that he WAS actually sorry for what he did to Adrien. That’s better than nothing.

.

.

WELL THAT WAS AN EPISODE. That actually wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be - it could have been a lot better but it could have been a lot worse too. The beginning and end were nice enough even if the middle part was Garbage Man Astruc’s usual atrocious mess of self-service, though I do particularly despise the hamfisted consent issue shoved in there just to generate extra reasons to hate the character. WE GET IT, YOU DON’T LIKE FELIX. OFF YOU FUCK. 

I’ve slept on this next paragraph to give myself time to formulate some concrete thoughts about the plot, so... Well, it was a mess, that’s for sure. They spent way too much time establishing how oH sO eViL Felix was and not nearly enough time actually explaining his character. 

Why is he acting out like this? What has he got against Adrien in particular? Is he really sore about Adrien not supporting him at his dad’s funeral or is that just what Adrien thinks is his problem? What was his relationship with his dad before he died? Was his troublemaking all about trying to provoke an akuma and ask Papillon to help him get his family rings back (which he was clearly trying to steal from the moment he walked through the door, only Gabe wouldn’t shake his hand the first time), or was that just a side effect of causing shit for no reason? Did he mean his apology to Adrien at the end? WHAT was the deal with the rings and the story attached to them? There’s a whole interesting story buried in here which just got completely overlooked by the emphasis on how terrible he was and that’s really disappointing. 

I did like his damaged-but-still-good relationship with Adrien though, there’s still hope there and maybe Felix (if he ever shows up again, which I only hope he does if it’s NOT another excuse for Garbage Man Astruc to shit on the PV fandom again, for the love of FUCK don’t give this guy multiple opportunities) will start coming around and making the effort to be a better cousin since Adrien’s given him a second chance. I don’t know. What I liked just as much was Marinette actually barely being in this episode at all, for the first time since Gorizilla she’s ALLOWED to be the supporting character again and that’s GREAT.

I don’t really know what else to say. I’m exhausted. Adrien’s a darling and I think I prefer my Twin AU, though canon Felix being a delightful little gremlin who causes problems-on-purpose is something I can work with in the future too. 

Thanks for coming on this... interesting journey with me! I posted a set of tweets last night which I’ll leave here to finish up:

[arcticdementor]

I love NYC. When I first moved to NYC it was a dream come true. Every corner was like a theater production happening right in front of me. So much personality, so many stories.

Every subculture I loved was in NYC. I could play chess all day and night. I could go to comedy clubs. I could start any type of business. I could meet people. I had family, friends, opportunities. No matter what happened to me, NYC was a net I could fall back on and bounce back up.

Now it's completely dead. "But NYC always always bounces back." No. Not this time. "But NYC is the center of the financial universe. Opportunities will flourish here again." Not this time.

"NYC has experienced worse". No it hasn't.

…

Three of the most important reasons to move to NYC:

- business opportunities

- culture

- food

…

Midtown Manhattan, the center of business in NYC, is empty. Even though people can go back to work, famous office buildings like the Time Life skyscraper is still 90% empty. Businesses realized that they don't need their employees at the office.

In fact, they realize they are even more productive without everyone back to the office. The Time Life building can handle 8,000 workers. Now it maybe has 500 workers back.

…

"What do you mean?" a friend of mine said to me when I told him 'Midtown should be called 'Ghost Town', "I'm in my office right now!"

"What are you doing there?"

"Packing up," he said and laughed, "I'm shutting it down." He works in the entertainment business.

Another friend of mine works at a major investment bank as a managing director. Before the pandemic he was at the office every day, sometimes working from 6am to 10pm.

Now he lives in Phoenix, Arizona. "As of June," he told me, "I had never even been to Phoenix." And then he moved there. He does all his meetings on Zoom.

I was talking to a book editor who has been out of the city since early March. "We've been all working fine. I'm not sure why we would need to go back to the office."

One friend of mine, Derek Halpern, was convinced he'd stay. He put up a Facebook post the other day saying he might be changing his mind.

…

People say, "NYC has been through worse" or "NYC has always come back."

No and no.

First, when has NYC been through worse?

Even in the 1970s, and through the 80s, when NYC was going bankrupt, and even when it was the crime capital of the US or close to it, it was still the capital of the business world (meaning: it was the primary place young people would go to build wealth and find opportunity), it was culturally on top of its game - home to artists, theater, media, advertising, publishing, and it was probably the food capital of the US.

…

In early March, many people (not me), left NYC when they felt it would provide safety from the virus and they no longer needed to go to work and all the restaurants were closed. People figured, "I'll get out for a month or two and then come back."

They are all still gone.

And then in June, during rioting and looting a second wave of NYC-ers (this time me) left. I have kids. Nothing was wrong with the protests but I was a little nervous when I saw videos of rioters after curfew trying to break into my building.

…

…

Summary: Businesses are remote and they aren't returning to the office. And it's a death spiral: the longer offices remain empty, the longer they will remain empty.

In 2005, a hedge fund manager was visiting my office and said, "In Manhattan you practically trip over opportunities in the street."

Now the streets are empty.

…

I co-own a comedy club, Standup NY, on 78th and Broadway. I'm very very proud of the club and grateful to my fellow owners Dani Zoldan and Gabe Waldman and our manager Jon Boreamayo. It's a great club. It's been around since 1986 and before that it was a theater.

One time, Henry Winkler stopped by to come on my podcast. He was the one who told me it had been a theater.

He said, "I grew up two doors down from here and used to perform in here as a kid. Then I went out to LA to be the Fonz and now I'm back here, full circle, to be on your podcast. This place has history." Things like that happen in NYC.

…

I love the club. Before the pandemic I would perform there throughout the week in addition to many other clubs around the city and in the past few months, clubs in: Chicago, Denver, San Jose, LA, Cincinnati, all over the Netherlands, and other places.

I miss it.

…

That said, we have no idea when we will open. Nobody has any idea. And the longer we close, the less chance we will ever reopen profitably.

Broadway is closed until at least the Spring. Lincoln Center is closed. All the museums are closed.

Forget about the tens of thousands of jobs lost in these cultural centers. Forget even about the millions of dollars of tourist and tourist-generated revenues lost by the closing of these centers.

There are thousands of performers, producers, artists, and the entire ecosystem of art, theater, production, curation, that surrounds these cultural centers. People who have worked all of their lives for the right to be able to perform even once on Broadway whose lives and careers have been put on hold.

I get it. There was a pandemic.

But the question now is: what happens next? And, given the uncertainty (since there is no known answer), and given the fact that people, cities, economies, loathe uncertainty, we simply don't know the answer and that's a bad thing for New York City.

…

My favorite restaurant is closed for good. Ok, let's go to my second favorite. Closed for good. Third favorite, closed for good.

I thought the PPP was supposed to help. No? What about emergency relief? No. Stimulus checks? Unemployment? No and no. Ok, my fourth favorite, or what about that place I always ordered delivery from? No and no.

Around Late May I took walks and saw that many places were boarded up. Ok, I thought, because the protesting was leading to looting and the restaurants were protecting themselves. They'll be ok.

Looking closer I'd see the signs. For Lease. For Rent. For whatever.

Before the pandemic, the average restaurant had only 16 days of cash on hand. Some had more (McDonalds), and some had less (the local mom-and-pop Greek diner).

Yelp estimates that 60% of restaurants around the United States have closed.

My guess is more than 60% will be closed in New York City but who knows.

Someone said to me, "Well, people will want to come in now and start their own restaurants! There is less competition."

I don't think you understand how restaurants work.

…

If the restaurants are no longer clustered, fewer people go out to eat (they are on the fence about where so they elect to stay home). Restaurants breed more restaurants.

And again, what happens to all the employees who work at these restaurants? They are gone. They left New York City. Where did they go? I know a lot of people who went to Maine, Vermont, Tennessee, upstate, Indiana, etc - back to live with their parents or live with friends or live cheaper. They are gone and gone for good.

And what person wakes up today and says, "I can't wait to set up a pizza place in the location where 100,000 other pizza places just closed down." People are going to wait awhile and see. They want to make sure the virus is gone, or there's a vaccine, or there's a profitable business model.

Or...even worse.

…

If building owners and landlords lose their prime tenants (the store fronts on the bottom floor, the offices on the middle floors, the well-to-do on the top floors, etc) then they go out of business.

And what happens when they go out of business?

Nothing actually. And that's the bad news.

People who would have rented or bought say, "Hmmm, everyone is saying NYC is heading back to the 1970s, so even though prices might be 50% lower than they were a year ago, I think I will wait a bit more. Better safe than sorry!"

And then with everyone waiting... prices go down. So people see prices go down and they say, "Good thing I waited. But what happens if I wait even more!" And they wait and then prices go down more.

This is called a deflationary spiral. People wait. Prices go down. Nobody really wins. Because the landlords or owners go broke. Less money gets spent on the city. Nobody moves in so there is no motion in the markets. And people already owning in the area and can afford to hang on, have to wait longer for a return of restaurants, services, etc that they were used to.

Well, will prices go down low enough everyone buys?

Answer: Maybe. Maybe not. Some people can afford to hang on but not afford to sell. So they wait. Other people will go bankrupt and there will be litigation, which creates other problems for real estate in the area. And the big borrowers and lenders may need a bailout of some sort or face mass bankruptcy. Who knows what will happen?

…

I lived three blocks from Ground Zero on 9/11. Downtown, where I lived, was destroyed, but it came roaring back within two years. Such sadness and hardship and then quickly that area became the most attractive area in New York.

And in 2008/2009, much suffering during the Great Recession, again much hardship, but things came roaring back.

But...this time it's different. You're never supposed to say that but this time it's true. If you believe this time is no different, that NYC is resilient, etc I hope you're right.

I don't benefit from saying any of this. I love NYC. I was born there. I've lived there forever. I STILL live there. I love everything about NYC. I want 2019 back.

But this time it's different.

One reason: bandwidth.

In 2008, average bandwidth speeds were 3 megabits per second. That's not enough for a Zoom meeting with reliable video quality. Now, it's over 20 megabits per second. That's more than enough for high quality video.

There's a before and after. BEFORE: no remote work. AFTER: everyone can remote work.

…

Everyone has spent the past five months adapting to a new lifestyle. Nobody wants to fly across the country for a two hour meeting when you can do it just as well on Zoom. I can go see "live comedy" on Zoom. I can take classes from the best teachers in the world for almost free online as opposed to paying $70,000 a year for a limited number of teachers who may or may not be good.

Everyone has choices now. You can live in the music capital of Nashville, you can live in the "next Silicon Valley" of Austin. You can live in your hometown in the middle of wherever. And you can be just as productive, make the same salary, have higher quality of life with a cheaper cost to live.

…

Wait for events and conferences and even meetings and maybe even office spaces to start happening in virtual realities once everyone is spread out from midtown Manhattan to all over the country.

The quality of restaurants will start to go up in all the second and then third tier cities as talent and skill flow to the places that can quickly make use of them.

Ditto for cultural events.

And then people will ask, "wait a second - I was paying over 16% in state and city taxes and these other states and cities have little to no taxes? And I don't have to deal with all the other headaches of NYC?"

Because there are headaches in NYC. Lots of them. It's just we sweep them under the table because so much else has been good there.

NYC has a $9 billion deficit. A billion more than the Mayor thought they were going to have. How does a city pay back its debts? The main way is aid from the state. But the state deficit just went bonkers. Then is taxes. But if 900,000 estimated jobs are lost in NYC and tens of thousands of businesses, then that means less taxes unless taxes are raised.

…

What reason will people have to go back to NYC? 

[fillingthescrapbook]

On Series Finales, Shenanigans, and Sabotage

In this post, I talk about the end of Superstore and WandaVision, the finale of Call Me Kat, the shenanigans of RuPaul's Drag Race, and what feels like sabotage to Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist.

Let's start with the good;

WandaVision delivered a great opening for Marvel's "Phase 4." While it was an amazing exploration of what it means to grieve, the series was also a great essay on what the medium of television means for so many of us who watch: an escape, and a way to process our real-life problems through characters who can have happy endings.

Of course, the show wasn't perfect. While the first half of the series took its time to set the milieu, the characters and their goals, and the tension of things not being what they seem--an impressive juggling act up until the fifth episode--the second half felt a little rushed with no room to let the supporting characters react and breathe. Which, sure, I get that the show called WandaVision would focus on characters named Wanda and Vision, but I felt like they could've given the others more to do?

Like when Wanda was fighting [redacted] and Vision tried to help out, [redacted] was just standing there. Watching. Like, [redacted] had powers too. And they didn't even attempt to do something? Really?

And that's not to mention set-ups for plots that were eventually dropped.

Although, according to interviews, the blame for some of this this falls on the pandemic. In their original timeline, the show would've finished filming and would have been editing the finale before the show premiered. In reality, by the time they started cutting the finale episode, they had already aired four episodes. Which meant they've already planted and aired a few scenes for a certain character to pay off in later episodes. Pay-off that they then decided to cut out because it ultimately felt like filler. Had the pandemic not happened, they might have had time to cut out the foreshadowing from the earlier episodes too.

But even with the faults, and the lack of accountability for certain actions done, WandaVision was ultimately a good show. One that was clearly made with love.

And speaking of shows made with love, let's talk about Superstore and its final act.

I've seen a lot of online feedback that Superstore wasn't as good with Amy gone. I don't agree. Amy (and actress America Ferrera) was the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae--or the sprinkles. She's a great part of a whole, but the product was still great without her. But I have to say: seeing her back in the last two episodes? It made the ending all the more bittersweet.

I will miss this show. I will miss its laughs, its hi-jinx, its resilience...and most of all, its heart. I've said before that if a show could survive without a proper wrap-up it would be Superstore; because it's such a perfect snapshot of real life for many of us. But I'm glad that the people behind the camera, the current show runners Jonathan Green and Gabe Miller, show creator Justin Spitzer, and returning director Ruben Fleischer, came together and gave the shows' fans a bow-tied finale that was full of hope and happiness.

I loved every single thing about the finale except the part that it was the last episode. Because even though I was satisfied with what they gave us? I still wanted more time with the staff of Cloud 9.

Now, let's move on to Call Me Kat.

I was a little iffy about the show when it started. It had some good bits, but it was also peppered with so many not-so-great ones. The pros: Mayim Bialik really made the character her own even in scenes lifted from the show it was based on; Kyla Pratt became a more and more engaging presence as the show went on; episodes that were original to Call Me Kat were both very fun and heartwarming; and it was a show that was unapologetically camp.

As the season went on, I started forgiving the show for things I didn't like (the closing goodbyes, and the imagined Brigitte) and even looked forward to new episodes. But then the season finale happened. And the show brought back one of the things I really didn't like in the first few episodes: the Kat-Max romance.

I do not have a problem with Cheyenne Jackson's acting nor his character. I think Max is great. But only as a friend. Because I just do not see any romantic chemistry between him and Mayim Bialik's Kat. I was happy that the show introduced a new love interest for Kat because I really didn't want her pining for Max the whole series. Sadly, the show switched gears and made Max pine for Kat instead.

It's still not working for me. And I really hate how it came back. Because the first time Max started to see Kat in a different way was when she started dating the new love interest, Oscar. It came off like he was threatened that his back-up plan is now desirable to someone else. And then he doubled down on his "love" for ex-girlfriend Brigitte. Which was initially played earnestly and then became a cover for Max fighting his feelings for Kat. And then the obvious deus-ex-machina in the finale where Kat had no choice but to entertain her crush on Max again.

If Call Me Kat gets a second season--which I hope it does--I hope the show runners realize that Kat and Max don't have to end up together. That they can remain friends and still have that fun dynamic with each other. Because not every friendship need to evolve into romance. (That goes for Kyla Pratt's Randi and Julian Gant's Carter too.)

Now, since we're already on the topic of plot lines being forced into being, let's talk about RuPaul's Drag Race. I started watching this show in its 8th season. It was a reality competition that was fun, funny, colorful, entertaining, and revolves around art. I got hooked. I then watched the two seasons that came after, lost interest in Season 11, and then came back for the twelfth season because of the pandemic and found it a little fun again. And then Season 13 happened. And I can't believe the show I started watching because I enjoyed the laughs became a show I now hate-watch.

I don't know what happened behind the scenes after Season 9, but there is something terribly off with how RuPaul's Drag Race has been produced since then. There's more emphasis on drama that isn't really dealt with properly, there's obvious favoritism, and there's a great disconnect between what the judges are seeing and what is being presented to television viewers. And yet I continue to watch.

Let's just say: I'm hoping either Symone or Rosé wins. But let's be honest: the producers of RuPaul's Drag Race is setting Gottmik up for the win as the first transman to compete. Which I feel is unfair. Because while Gottmik is great, Rosé has more nerve and talent while Symone has the charisma and uniqueness.

And finally: Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and the sabotage, self-inflicted and otherwise, that's ringing the death knell for the show.

The first season was lightning in a bottle. While it was by no means perfect, it had so much heart that it didn't matter. We wanted to root for Zoey even when we knew that she couldn't realistically have it all. The core of the show was that Zoey cared. Too much as some characters would say. But because she cared, we cared. In comparison, Season two Zoey feels like a completely different person when her plot line has nothing to do with her father.

I can't help but feel that the show sabotaged itself by splitting the show into two: the one that's about Zoey, and the other one that's about Mo and Max's business venture. Zoey's plot lines, while not all stellar, still felt like it had the DNA of the first season. Mo and Max's feels like a completely different show that's airing simultaneously with Zoey's--with the occasional crossover when Zoey needs to talk with either one of them.

It didn't feel that way when it started though. But episode by episode, the business venture just started to separate more and more. And instead of drawing Mo and Max back to Zoey's show, the writers just kept pushing Zoey to visit their world instead.

The recent episode, where Zoey wanted to recapture the feeling she had when watching a celestial event with her dad, was the first time the show felt anything remotely like the one I watched last year. We see Zoey caring about other people, we see her struggling to balance her own needs with others--and we see her actually trying to process her emotions again. And it just had to happen in the first episode on a new time slot that's barely been promoted.

So after Zoey’s self-sabotaged, now it's their network's turn to sabotage the show by putting it in a time slot with stronger competition--while not bothering to promote the heck out of the move. This feels like the network has already made a decision not to renew the show for a third season, and the episodes left to air are the last ones we're getting. And that Zoey's not gonna get a second chance to go back to the show that it once was.

I can't even feel sad though. Because I feel like I already saw the show I loved last year slowly die right in front of my eyes.

[nickelkeep]

Find a Little Fire

Pairing: Dean/Cas, other background pairings Rating: Teen+ Word Count: 6.3K Warnings: John Winchester. Written For: nickel’s storytime, and part 3 of the Runaway Series On Ao3

Dean never realized how slow two weeks could actually move. Granted, the say was that time is a construct, not a set thing. He could measure it in different ways, just like they did in that one song from that one musical. All Dean knew was that the time, until Cas would be cleared from bed rest, was too damn long.

And it wasn't as though they didn't talk. Dean made a point of exchanging numbers, so they texted, they spoke on the phone. Dean may have also made his way to the homestead a couple times after getting off of his shift, under the pretense of giving Cas a house call.

No one ever believed him.

Dean sat back at his desk, kicking his feet up as he watched the monitors mounted above his desk. Only room two and room five were occupied, and both patients were resting. Dean let his eyes drift shut slowly in anticipation of climbing home and getting into his bed.

"Is Dr. Vaugier in?" Dean's feet slipped off of the desk, thanks to the sudden voice in the relative quiet of the nurse's station. A deep, hearty chuckle sent chills down his back, and he looked up to a wolfish grin. "I'm sorry. That shouldn't be as funny as it was."

"Hiya, Cas." Dean smiled, for once not caring who saw his excitement at his... something?... being at his place of employment. "What brings you in today?"

"I'd like to say that I'm here to visit you, which I am, but I do need to see Madison. It's been two weeks, and although I was would be clear after two weeks, Gabe has decided that I still can't do anything without the doc clearing it." Cas leaned forward on the pony wall and smirked. "Plus, there's something I want to ask you after I see her."

Dean raised an eyebrow out of curiosity. "You can ask now."

"And kill the suspense? Wouldn't dream of it." Cas winked, albeit poorly, and stood back up straighter. "She hasn't gone home yet, has she? I know it's getting close to shift change."

"Nope. If I'm still here, that means she's probably still here." Dean picked up the phone and called the lunchroom, assuming that was where Maddie was still hiding. The phone rang, and the doctor picked up on the third ring. "What's up, Dean? I haven't heard anything about someone coming in."

"Walk-in, specifically asking for you, Doctor Vaugier. I can go set them up in room six if you'd like." Dean cracked a smile.

"Let me finish chugging this coffee, and I'll be right there." The phone disconnected, and Dean stared at it in feigned shock and disgust.

Cas waved his hand in front of Dean's face. "Uh, you alright there?"

"Madison has coffee, and isn't sharing." Dean frowned when Cas' face twisted, clearly holding back laughter. "Yuck it up, furball. Let's go. Room six." Cas' resolve broke, and he burst into laughter.

Together, they walked down to the examination room. Once inside, Cas slid off his shirt and hopped onto the bed. "Do you think she's going to ask me to shift?"

"It's always a possibility." Dean swallowed, quickly taking the conversation to hide the fact he was staring at the Were. "So, how are you feeling, honestly? And I just don't mean physically."

"Are you asking about..." Cas' finger wiggled back and forth between the two of them. "Whatever this is?"

"Yeah–" Dean started to comment as Maddie wrapped on the door. It swung open, and all five-foot-seven of the doctor came striding in.

"Castiel! It's good to see you, I hope." She stole a glance at Dean before crossing over to Cas. "To what do I owe the honor?"

"I look good, I feel good, I know my strength is back, and I'm restless. Gabriel won't let me do anything around the homestead unless you clear me." Maddie started to speak up, and Cas held up his hand. "And he specifically said it had to be a doctor clearing me. Otherwise, he'd figure that I was using Dean."

"Would he not have accepted it from Bess?" Madison shook her head. "Or is he just sick of Dean coming by the homestead all the time?"

"Hey!" Dean cut in. "I resent that remark."

Maddie tried her best to put on a severe face and stared at Cas. "I think he means resemble, right Cas?"

"Absolutely." Cas nodded enthusiastically.

"Traitors. Both of you." Dean shook his head and handed the doc a stethoscope. "Do I need to go step outside?"

"Why, so you can just text Cas from out there? Don't think I don't know what you're doing on your phone at night, Dean." Maddie shook her head and laughed. "I need Cas here to stay calm, so I can read his vitals right. While I know you think that you and your texts are funny, I'm not sure he thinks they are."

Dean scoffed. "I think I'm adorable."

"Keep telling yourself that, Dean." Cas took in a deep breath as Maddie instructed him to do. "You may just believe it." He exhaled slowly, winking - yet again - as he caught Dean staring.

"I don't know how, with all the texting and talking you two do, you haven't scared the other off yet. Granted, it is the first thing in the morning." Maddie's nose scrunched up in amusement as she finished checking Cas' lungs. "Hold this one for as long as you can."

Dean watched in wonder as Cas inhaled deeply and sat calmly for almost a minute. As Cas breathed out slowly, Dean found Cas staring at him, and the pair locked eyes. Dean still couldn't get over how blue Cas' eyes were, and the color had become prominent in his dreams over the past two weeks.

"Alright, Cas. I just need to check your temperature, but as long as you're honest and not having problems shifting or walking, I'm fine with feeding you to the wolves," Maddie smirked. "Pun entirely intended."

"Thank goodness. Can I get it in writing? Or do you mind calling him?" Cas' eyes had turned hopeful. "I need to do something other than just mope in my room."

Maddie nodded. "I have his number. I'll go call him real quick." She pointed at Dean. "No funny business."

"Right. What am I going to do?" Dean rolled his eyes as Maddie left. He turned to Cas. "Ready to actually do things?"

"You have no idea." Cas slid his shirt back on, and Dean fought to keep himself from frowning. "So, I do remember having a conversation with you about two weeks ago."

"I may vaguely remember that conversation." Dean fought against smiling. "Perhaps you could remind me."

"Of course." Cas pushed himself off the examination table and stepped into Dean's personal space. "You had mentioned wanting to get to know me, and I mentioned wanting to discover Sioux Falls." Cas pulled playfully on Dean's badge. "I know we can't do much today, you're about to get off work, so I know you're tired, but I thought - maybe - you could show me a good place to get some breakfast?"

Dean suddenly found himself famished. "I know just the place, Cas." A cough caused Dean to jump, and he turned to shoot daggers at the person who walked in. "Hello, Garth."

"So, this is why Madison sent me in." Garth laughed. "She's on the phone with your brother, Cas. But you're good to go."

"Thank you, Dr. Fitzgerald."

"And Dean, Bess is ready for you to pass off your report." Garth turned and walked out of the exam room.

Dean waited until Garth left and ran his hand down his face. "So. You drive here, Cas?"

…

Cas' mind was set. He was going to have a great day. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. He got Madison to clear him, personally calling Gabe herself. Dean was excited to see him, and they were going on their first date. Well, Cas hoped that Dean would consider it a date. Breakfast after a long shift wasn't necessarily the most romantic of venues.

Dean had taken his phone and plugged in the address for a place called Andrea's Diner into his GPS. As Dean had handed the phone back to Cas, Cas watched as Dean's eyes moved, traveling down to his lips, and briefly pausing there before moving back to look Cas in the eyes.

Cas had wanted nothing more than to kiss Dean while still in the exam room. However, he refrained, knowing that Dean needed some sort of decorum to keep intact, especially after Garth had walked in on them, practically pressed together.

He let out a sigh as he pulled into the parking lot of the diner. It looked like it was straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, the chromed exterior, and the blood-red neon sign flashing Andrea's out front. Cas stepped out of the car and walked up to the door. Entering the diner, he was hit with the scents of fresh baked goods, deep-fried treats, and even some things that would probably be on a special menu for creatures like him.

Cas walked up to the hostess stand and asked for a booth before being led to one tucked back in a corner. He made mention to the hostess that he was waiting for someone, and she promised to keep an eye out. As he leaned back in his seat, finding the section of the menu that catered to Weres, Cas found himself surprised when he heard people - not a person - slide onto the bench across from him.

"Well, if it ain't Castiel." A warm Cajun drawl caused him to put his menu down.

"Benny, Sam." Cas offered his hand across the table, taking their hands and shaking them. "It's nice to see you both in more pleasant circumstances."

"I was just at the homestead with Maddie like two days ago." Sam shot Cas a look that he couldn't quite discern. "That wasn't pleasant?"

"Lay off him, brotha." Benny gently shoved Sam. "Clearly he's up and about which means he's gone and got himself off of bed rest. That's gotta be better than just laying around all day."

"Thank you, Benny." Cas relaxed a little. "That's what I meant. I went to the hospital this morning to get Madison to clear me. Gabe insisted."

Sam shook his head. "Had nothing to do with Dean being there also?"

"Well, that was clearly an added benefit." Cas tilted his head in confusion. "Am I not supposed to go and say hello?"

"No, of course you can." Sam sputtered slightly before pushing forward. "What I mean is that you know. I, uh. He and I live together."

"I'm aware." Cas had to hold back a chuckle as Benny smacked his forehead. "I also know that Madison has come to stay with you a couple times this past week."

"Woohoo, this is gettin' spicy." Benny turned in his seat and looked at Sam. "You seriously gonna have this talk with our wolf pal here, considering he's got your number?"

Sam glared at Benny before looking at Cas again. "I'm assuming that Dean told you."

"As you're clearly aware, we've been talking." Cas closed the menu and rested his elbows on top of it, before resting his chin on his knuckles. "What's your concern, Sam?"

"Dean. I mean, I guess that part is obvious, but it's about how Dean's been acting." Sam ran his hand through his hair. "Have you done any research into witch bonding?"

"I understand that in order for a witch to cast a spell on a living, breathing, being, they must create a bond with said being. The bond passes magic through. In Dean's case, and I'm assuming yours, it's healing magic." Cas raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "I know there are concerns about the two of us being bonded more permanently because of how much magic he used to heal me."

"That's only part of it. Are you aware of the equivalent exchange aspect?" Sam questions.

Cas sat up straighter in his seat. "And what do you know about Werewolves, Sam? I understand you're an EMT, and you're able to treat us on the fly, but what do you honestly know about us, besides our anatomy? Has Madison told you anything yet?"

Benny shook his head. "Careful where you tread, Sam."

"Look, I'm just worried about my brother. I haven't seen him this... content, in years." Sam pointed at Cas, and Cas noted how Sam avoided his question. "I hope it's just because you two are getting to know each other, and not because of him accidentally bonding himself–"

"Cher!" A female voice interrupted, and Cas quickly looked to his side. A gorgeous woman with long black hair had come up to the table. Unlike the rest of the staff, she was dressed in a billowy white top tucked into black pants. Cas stole a glance at Benny, whose face had set into a wide grin. "I didn't see you or Sam walk in! Why aren't you back at the family table?"

"Andrea, this is Cas." Benny pointed to Cas. "Cas, this is my wife, Andrea. She's been puttin' up with my ass for almost 200 years now."

"Longer, Cher. We knew each other before we were married." She smiled sweetly, then looked carefully at Cas. "Oh, my sweet loup-garou. Are you the Were that was attacked?"

Cas frowned. "Does everyone know who I am?"

"'Fraid so, brotha. While we have a variety of creatures in this town, the highest population is of Weres. So I imagine that everyone knows about a new pack comin' in, and how y'all came in."

"Plus, your pack has already started to get around town and explore. Considering you've been stuck up on the farm and couldn't really get around? It's not going to take long to figure you out." Sam shrugged.

"Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable." Andrea rested her hand on Cas' arm. "What can I get you?"

"I'm waiting for Dean, but thank you." Cas frowned.

Andrea tapped his chin with her pen. "Turn that around for me, Cher." She pointed at Sam and Benny. "Get your asses back to the family table and leave this poor boy alone."

Cas watched as Sam and Benny looked properly chastised with Andrea merely telling them to leave him alone. He waited until she was out of earshot before speaking again. "You guys don't actually have to go."

"Oh no, we do." Benny nodded fervently. "Andrea is my partner in every sense of the word, except here. Here she's queen, and her word goes."

"Is that so?" Out of the corner of his eye, Cas saw Dean approaching the table. Dean held his finger up to his lips, and Cas continued speaking. "So does that make this her castle?"

"Don't let Benny fool you." Dean boomed his voice behind his brother and friend, and Cas laughed as the two of them jumped in their seats. "Anywhere Andrea is, is her castle."

"Jesus, Cher. Tryin' to scare me back to life?" Benny grasped at his chest as Sam shot his brother a death glare. "I ain't survivin' today, Sam."

Sam slid out of the seat and pulled at Benny's arm. "We should get back before Andrea comes out and finds us anyway." He shot a pleading look at Cas. "Enjoy your breakfast, guys."

No sooner than Benny had slid out of the seat and stepped away, Dean took his place. "Sorry about that, I was doing the shift swap with Bess, and we had one of the young harpies come in with a broken wing. I helped get her into a room and settled before leaving."

"It's all good, Dean." Cas forced a smile and offered his hand across the table. He relaxed slightly when Dean took it and squeezed. "I'm glad that you're vital to this community."

Silence hung in the air between them for a few moments, and Dean spoke up. "Cas, what's up?"

"What do you mean, what's up?" Cas shifted in his seat and forced himself to meet Dean's eyes.

"Something's bothering you." Dean laced his fingers into Cas' to keep him from escaping. "I mean, I can see the way that your smile doesn't meet your eye, but something just feels off. You're putting off an energy of disappointment."

"You're getting that, how?"

A blush filled Dean's cheeks. "Uh, I feel it. Off of you."

Cas' heart sunk. He told himself he was going to have a great day, but instead, he had jinxed himself. "So, the bond is still there." He hung his head and ran his finger along a not-so-interesting line of fake marbling.

"It appears so. Does that bother you, Cas?" Dean ran his thumb along Cas' knuckles, gently petting him.

"It does. What if this thing we're feeling isn't real? What if it really is just the bond working?" Cas frowned, "I don't want you to feel trapped with me."

Dean's eyes widened, and Cas felt himself wanting to move closer, wanting to comfort Dean. "Dude, Dean shook his head. "Didn't we legit have this talk, but from my perspective?" Dean waited for Cas to nod. "I'm the one who bonded us. You're the one who's been reassuring me that you do, in fact, want this. You suggested that we take this slow and that we get to know each other."

"I know." Cas gently squeezed Dean's hand.

"Do you not want to get to know me anymore? Are you already over it? I get that I'm pretty lame." Dean smiled, and while Cas could feel it hurting Dean, he could feel the honesty.

"I never said that, Dean. I just–"

"Then we keep moving slow. One foot in front of the other." Dean laughed out loud, and Cas found relief washing over Dean before it flooded him. "I get that this? It's not a common way for two people to meet each other, or get to know each other, but I want to try."

"I agree, Dean. I want to get to know you." Cas let himself relax again and hoped that it washed over Dean the way that Dean's relief washed over him. "And you promise you'll tell me if things aren't working?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die." Dean held up his fingers in the scout's salute.

"Hey, no dying in my diner. It scares away the customers." Andrea returned to the table, order pad in hand, and only privy to that last sentence of the conversation. "What can I get you two?"

…

Dean was surprised how long he had stayed with Cas at the diner. He had figured they would grab a quick bite and a drink, but Dean found himself not wanting to leave Cas' side. A part of that, he knew, had to be because of the bond.

The bond. There was something so strangely profound about it. It felt like more than an ordinary healing bond that he made with patients. Dean was nearly sure that it was because of the amount of magic he poured into healing Cas, into removing as much silver as he could. Yet the bond now had grown and changed and flourished. And it was apparently scaring Cas.

While at breakfast, he could feel Cas' emotions. It didn't take much for Dean to figure out that Sammy had said something to Cas, which made Cas doubt himself. Feeling and seeing the worry in the werewolf's eyes was unnerving to Dean. Not in that he could feel them, but the fact that Cas had those feelings at all. It had been Cas who want to try and pursue this bond thing between them.

It left Dean to wonder. If Cas doubted it, why was he, the white witch that accidentally forced the bond, now wanting to push it?

Led Zeppelin blared from his car speakers as Dean forced him to stay awake. He sang along to Black Dog while he worked on keeping his focus sharp, and only let up once he was home. Dean pulled Baby into her parking spot before turning down the music. As he climbed the stairs to his apartment, Dean felt a small sliver of hope shoot through him. Considering what he was thinking about, Dean briefly wondered if the emotion was Cas'.

Dean stopped in front of his apartment, hesitating for all of a moment before unlocking it and walking inside. Sam and Madison were curled up together on the couch. They look peaceful and content, and Dean silently cursed Sam for filling Cas with anxiety.

Quietly, Dean closed the door and watched the pair for another moment. He smiled as he realized that in all honesty, what they were finding was something he wanted.

Madison stirred slightly, opening her eyes and smiling at Dean. He waved and whispered, 'Sorry,' knowing that she would hear it before heading back to his bedroom. He closed his own door, crossing to the bed and collapsing on it, not bothering to change out of his outfit.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and blindly swatted at his nightstand, looking for his charger. He plugged his phone in and stared at it for a moment before pulling up his texts. Dean quickly scrolled through, finding his conversation with Cas over the past two weeks and smiled.

They had shared a lot about each other, either trying to force the bond to break or nurture it. Cas had told Dean about life with the pack, being on the run. About how his position as Den Protector left him with little time to do things like watching tv or movies. Dean talked about being raised on the road, although not why he was raised that way, and about his love of all things pop culture.

They had talked about music, about books, about siblings. And Dean realized, not once did he feel obligated to do that because of some bond he had with Cas. He may have at first, but as the weeks went on, he wanted to know Cas. Dean wanted to talk to Cas, to have Cas in his life as a friend, maybe even more.

Dean swiped back down and started typing out a message.

[10:30 AM From Dean]: Cas, I know when we left the diner, we had gotten back to a neutral point. We both have this fear that maybe the bond is doing something, maybe it's not. I don't know. But I need to say something I should have said before we parted earlier. [10:30 AM From Dean]: I'd rather have you, bond or not. I want to get to know you. And not just because of this metaphysical bullshit that happens to be my life.

Dean smiled as a sense of calm came over him. He laid his phone on the nightstand, hoping that if Cas responded back, he'd understand the delay in response. Dean rolled over, pulling a pillow to his chest, before dozing off.

…

A few hours later, Dean woke up to pounding on his door. "DEAN! DEAN! WAKE YOUR ASS UP!" Dean smelled the air and determining there was no smoke, lazily reached for his phone. Three PM. Less than five hours of sleep. He quietly cursed Sam's name for the second time that day and unlocked his phone to check his messages.

Text Messages: 3 Missed Calls: 6 Voicemails: 4

Dean ran his hand down his face and stared at his notifications in confusion. Who the fuck had been so desperate to call him. He pulled down the shutter to see the notifications and, since they were at the top, opened the texts first. All three were from Cas.

[11:00AM From Cas]: You're probably asleep by now, but I wanted to make sure I got my feelings straight. [11:04AM From Cas]: I agree that there was a small step backward. While I never wanted to stop getting to know you, I doubted the feelings between us. But as we walked back to our respective cars, there is one thing I realized. Bond or not, the happiness I feel when I spend time with you, the excitement I experience when you text me or call me? Those are real, Dean. And I want to keep getting to know you. [11:06AM From Cas]: Good things do happen, Dean, and I'm excited to find out what those things are. With you.

Dean's heart started beating a tattoo as his smile broadened across his face. The bond he made may have brought them together, but they were both on the same page, wanting to learn about each other before committing to anything.

"DEAN!" Sam banged on the door again, startling Dean. "WAKE YOUR ASS UP AND CHECK YOUR PHONE."

"What do you think I'm doing?" Dean mumbled to himself, as he protected the texts from Cas. He pulled down the notifications shutter and pressed on the missed calls. Bobby. Bobby. Unknown Number. Bobby.

Dean looked up at the door and realized that something was wrong. So very, very wrong. "Sam? It's unlocked."

The door opened, and Sam peeked in. "Uh, it's just me. I sent Maddie home. Neither of you are going into work tonight." He pushed the door open further and crossed into Dean's room. "Charlie and Ash both agreed to take the shifts later." He pointed at Dean's phone. "How many?"

"Six missed calls total." Dean turned his phone at Sam. "I haven't listened to the voicemails yet."

"Can you play them on speaker?" Sam sat next to Dean on the bed, causing Dean's anxiety to build.

"Do you know who the unknown number is, Sam?"

Sam nodded.

Dean pressed for his voicemails to open. The robotic voice came through the speakerphone. He closed his eyes as she repeated the information that he had four new voice messages. The first one started, and Dean relaxed slightly as Bobby's voice played.

"Dean, You're probably sleeping. Your brother better not be. I need you two awake ASAP.

"That's not so bad, right?" Dean clicked to play the next voicemail.

DEAN! I don't know why I'm yelling at this damn robot, but I need you to call me now. I'm going to keep calling between you and Sam, but you need to be awake, and you need to hear this from me before you find out on your own."

"I will say he was nicer to me on my voicemails." Sam shrugged.

Dean rolled his eyes and moved to the next message. As soon as Dean recognized the voice, the temperature in his room dropped below freezing, and he started shivering.

"Hello, Dean. You know it's not really nice to keep your phone number from your old man. I just wanted to let you know I'm going to be in your neck of the woods on some business. You're probably going to want to stay away from any of your freak friends. I got the proper permits to go after them, and there's no stopping me. I'll see you soon, boy".

Dean's stomach dropped, and he looked at Sam. "The proper permits?" Sam nodded and pointed at the phone.

"Dean, I finally got a hold of Sam. He still hasn't gotten a call, but I know you did. John's in town. He's been hired to go after a pack of Weres who were supposedly responsible for killing five people and injuring another out in Pontiac. He's coming after Cas' pack. I don't know who he bribed or what connections he has, but the permit is legit. I'm reaching out to an old friend out there who can prove they were Wendigo kills and get the permit revoked."

The call ended, and Dean immediately started to dial Cas' number. "Sam, can you call Bobby, tell him we're on the way?" Sam nodded and pulled out his phone, stepping out of the room to give Dean privacy. Cas picked up on the third ring, and Dean let out a sigh of relief.

"Dean, shouldn't you still be sleeping? It's only–"

"Cas, there is no time to explain. Your pack is in trouble." Dean interrupted, his words quickly exploding out of him. "A shady as fuck hunter was either able to bribe someone or exploit someone and got a permit to hunt Werewolves. I know this jackass doesn't normally go through the legal routes, but he knows he's wanted in Sioux Falls, and the permits give him immunity."

"Wait, what?" Dean could clearly picture Cas' head tilt, and it pained him that he wasn't there. "Immunity from what?"

"He's allowed in the town, and he can legally hunt you guys until he deems the pack destroyed. He's not going to come after you guys, he's going to try and kill all four packs. Or at least take as many of the Weres in town out as he can." Dean stood up and started pacing his room. "This guy is dangerous and unstable, and knows how to negate magic."

The silence between them was deafening. Dean wasn't sure if Cas had muted him and was shouting out directions, or if the call had disconnected. He started to speak when Cas' voice came quietly over the phone.

"It sounds like you know a lot about this guy. That he's caused issues in the past." Another pause. "Who is he, Dean?"

"He's my father, Cas. Mine and Sam's." Dean shut his eyes and squeezed, ready for Cas to yell or scream at him. After a moment of silence, Dean spoke up again. "Cas? Say something, man."

"It sounds like we have an advantage," Cas responded calmly. Dean held his breath, waiting for Cas to start yelling at him. "What do we need to know or do?"

"He uh... He's..." Dean stopped and knew he was going to regret his next words. "Why aren't you yelling at me?"

"Why should I be yelling at you?" Cas' confusion was evident in his voice.

Dean pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it, making sure he had called the right number despite knowing he was on the phone with Cas. "Because it's my father?"

"Dean, we've known each other all of two weeks. That's not a lot of time to tell me your full life story." Cas breathed out a rough chuckle. "I will start yelling at you if you don't tell me what we need to do. You're shaken. I can sense it. If you're scared, then I know I need to take this seriously."

"Thank you, Cas. I'm making a pit stop by Bobby's, and then I'm going to come to you at the homestead. In the meanwhile, I know that Gabriel had people work on fixing the bunker under the silo. Get all of your pack there and lock it down." Dean swallowed roughly, fighting down a million feelings threatening to unload. "John Winchester is a bull-headed asshole. He won't stop to think of other ways to get to you guys, he'll just try to brute force his way after you all."

"And when you get here? What's your plan?"

"I don't know yet, Cas. But the more time we waste on the phone, the more time he has to sneak up on you. Go." Dean paused, hesitant to hang up the phone. "Be safe. Please."

"Same could be said for you, Dean. I'll see you soon."

…

Cas stared at the phone in his hand. Dean's father was not only a hunter, but the hunter coming after his pack, and possibly even the hunter who had filled him with silver buckshot. And Dean thought that Cas would hate him for it.

Shaking his head, Cas pocketed his phone and ran to Gabe's room before banging on the door. "Gabe, we have a problem!"

"Hold on, Cassie!" A couple of moments later, Gabe opened the door in a robe. "What's so bad that you can't take care of it?"

"There's a hunter coming for us. He went through the legal channels to get a permit." Cas watched as Gabe went through the seven stages of grief in less than ten seconds. "Dean and Sam are working on getting him out of town, but Dean believes he's going to go after all the packs."

Gabe looked over his shoulder. "Meg, we gotta move. Now." He turned back to Cas and frowned.

"Find Anna, have her round up the kids, there's a–"

"A bunker under the silo, I know. Dean told me." Cas licked his lips and let out a worried sigh before leaning into Gabe to whisper in confidence. "The hunter is their father, Gabe. Dean warned me that he can negate magic, and he's not usually known for going through the proper channels."

"So the wards on the perimeter?" Gabe frowned.

"Will barely slow him down. I don't know anything about his skill at negating magic, but considering both his sons are witches? It's probably really fucking high." Cas frowned. "Gabe, go get dressed, we need to make sure you and Meg stay safe and get you in the bunker now."

Cas turned and bolted back down the hallway banging on doors. "Pack meeting in the foyer! Now!" He stopped in front of Anna's door and shoved it open. Anna was grabbing a bag and filling it. "I know, Cas. Pack bond. What am I doing?"

"So, you know what's going on, but not what you're supposed to do?"

"I started to panic!" Anna threw her hands up in frustration. "Just tell me what I need to do."

"Go round up the kids, get them in the bunker. I also need you to make sure that Gabe doesn't do anything bull-headed." Cas dragged his hand down his face. "Inias is one of the ones converting that old storage building into apartments, right? He's living in there?"

"Yeah. His room is the second one in on the left."

Cas kissed his sister on the cheek and ran out again. He sped out past the rest of the pack gathering in the foyer, hoping that Gabe would tell them what was going on. In the worst-case, he knew Anna would.

The building that the pack was working on converting sat next to the barn. Cas found himself stripping out of his clothes and shifting to cut the time it would take to get there in half. He skidded to a stop in front of the door and scratched at it, pushing through the pack bond for Inais to come let him in.

"Castiel? Why are you in wolf form?" Inais had opened the door and was squatting down next to Cas instantly. He placed his hand on Cas' head, taking a moment to listen to Cas as he explained everything he knew. "I'll gather everyone here, Castiel, but your Aunt Amara? She's going to need you to convince her to come."

Cas whimpered and paced in front of Inias. "Can you at least tell me where she is?"

"She found a glade, but she won't tell anyone where it's at. She said at her age, she's allowed a private place. I'm sure if you know," Inais tapped the side of his nose. "You can find her."

"Fuck." Cas howled in frustration and started back towards the main house. He was relieved to find the pack quickly evacuating, but frustrated to see Gabe leading it. He shifted back to human form and walked up to his brother. "You're supposed to be in the silo."

"Under the silo, Cassie, under it." Gabe gently touched the shoulder of one of the younger wolves, keeping them moving. "I'll go now since you're here. I already sent Meg ahead."

Watching as the last of the pack exited the house and made their way to the silo, Cas shifted back into form and ran towards the woods that lined the one side of the farm. If there were any glades to be found, they would be there. He sprinted through the trees, realizing how much he had missed being able to just run. He knew it was an inappropriate time to have that thought, but the wind through his fur, the moss and dirt under his paws, the scent…

He smelled his Aunt. Cas made a sharp turn and followed the scent to an opening in the trees. In the center, his Aunt Amara was in human form, sitting in the Lotus position with her eyes closed.

"Castiel."

"Aunt Amara, we need to go." Cas walked up to her and bumped against her arm with his snout. "Please. There's a hunter on his way."

"I'm well aware, Castiel. His aura taints these woods." She opened her eyes and gently scratched behind Cas' ear. "He's trying to destroy the magic that we are using to ward our home, but I won't let him do it."

"He knows how to negate magic, Aunt Amara. If he gets too close to you..." Cas sat on his haunches next to her and whimpered. "From what I've been told, he won't care what you are, he'll shoot first and ask questions later."

"Your Dean told you this, didn't he?" Amara rested her forehead against Cas' and pet his side. "I'm not surprised. He's afraid of what he does not understand. Including his own sons."

A branch snapped nearby, and both Cas and Amara's attention locked to it. Cas sniffed the air and found himself unnerved not by what he smelled, but by what he couldn't smell. "Please, Aunt Amara. There's no time. We can stay safe if we leave now."

"You've always been such a good member of the pack, Castiel. You knew when to obey and when to question. You always did everything to keep those you love safe." Amara sighed. "Very well, let's get to the safe house."

The sound of a long rifle racking froze them both in their place.

"I don't think either of you are going anywhere."

[strangedreamings]

Gabe & Kitty - Kitty cleans up very nicely. Gabe is gobsmacked.

She Cleans Up Well (AO3)

“We must have you over for dinner sometime,” Leland Arnold said as he rose from the chair in front of Gabe’s desk. “Mary adores you and I could always use another man at the table to even things out. With four sisters-in-law, things tend to be lopsided.”

Gabe reached for his cane then stood, unable to keep from smiling at the idea of the refined earl surrounded by Bennet women. From the things Leland had said in the past, Gabe surmised that with the exception of Mary herself, the women of her family were more interested in gossip and the latest fashions than anything substantial.

Still, anything’s better than frozen food in front of the TV. “Alright, I’ll be your buffer for one dinner.”

Leland grinned delightedly. “Splendid. I’ll have Mary text you the details.”

***

Kitty listened dutifully as her mother droned on and on. Being the only unmarried Bennet girl, she was used to her mother lecturing her on the best ways to find and keep a man. At least if it’s on the phone, I can do other things while I listen, she thought as she scrolled through Pinterest on her laptop.

Finally, Mrs. Bennet said something interesting. “Mary said Leland’s friend will be at dinner on Sunday.”

“I didn’t realize Leland had friends besides Mary,” she said, half-joking. Her brother-in-law’s reclusive tendencies were legendary.

“Neither did I,” her mother said, completely serious. “But this one is apparently an architect and Mary says he’s charming and attractive, despite his unfortunate accident.”

“What unfortunate accident?”

“Mary says he was hit by a drunk driver several years ago. The doctors saved his leg but he’ll always have a limp and he walks with a cane. Such a shame.”

Kitty rolled her eyes at her mother’s dismissal. “I’m sure he’s just as attractive with the limp and cane as he was without them.”

“I suppose.” She audibly perked up. “He’s currently single and Mary promised me she’ll sit him across from you at the table.”

Kitty groaned inwardly. “Mum, I don’t need a boyfriend.”

“How can you expect to write romance accurately if you’re not experiencing it?”

She smirked. “I use my imagination, like any writer.”

“Still, you need a man in your life. I want grandbabies.”

Kitty raised an eyebrow. “You have eight, almost nine.”

“I want more.”

She sighed heavily. “Yes, Mum. If this friend of Leland’s is at all my type-”

“He’s single, what more do you need?”

“Plenty since I’m not Lydia. As I was saying, if he’s at all my type, I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing if something develops.”

“Good. Now, remember to wear something nice.”

She rolled her eyes. “Mum, it’s dinner with the family. I’m not dressing up just for a man I’ll only just meet.”

“No wonder you’re not married,” Mrs. Bennet muttered.

***

Gabe had to hold back a smile as he watched Leland, a man he considered a good friend, deal with his mother-in-law’s increasingly embarrassing questions about his and Mary’s private life. Mary, pregnant with their second child, thankfully ended the line of inquiry when she saw the discomfort on her husband’s face. She then redirected her mother’s attention, unfortunately, to Gabe.

“Mum, this is Gabe Bromley. Gabe, this is my mother, Alicia Bennet.”

Mrs. Bennet beamed as she held out her hand. “My, aren’t you handsome? You’re perfect for my daughter Kitty. She’s the only one of my girls who’s still single.”

Unseen by Mrs. Bennet, Mary rolled her eyes at her mother’s obviousness and Gabe wished he could do the same. Still, he felt the need to live up to his charming reputation. He took Mrs. Bennet’s hand and gallantly kissed it. “If Kitty is anything like you, Mrs. Bennet, then the men of London don’t know what they’re missing.”

The silly woman actually blushed. “Oh, you are a charmer! Yes, men are so oblivious these days. Kitty was a lot like me, but she changed when she went off to uni.”

“And got away from Lydia’s influence,” Mary muttered.

Ah, Lydia. The black sheep of the Bennet family. Leland’s told me more than once how Lydia got herself into one jam after another. Now she’s on her third husband. “Will she be joining us?”

“No, she’s still in York, but we expect her for Jane’s birthday next month.”

Counting his blessings, he was about to comment on the weather (always a safe topic) when a new person walked into the room carrying a bottle of wine. This must be Kitty. She wasn’t what he would call “sexy,” but “cute” definitely qualified. Her eyes were big and brown and were made even bigger when she saw him. She was dressed casually, just jeans and an oversized shirt, no make-up on her face, her short brown hair windblown.

Mary approached her, smiling. “You made it.”

Kitty shook her head a bit then smiled at her sister. “Yes, traffic was something I won’t say in mixed company.” Mrs. Bennet rolled her eyes at that and turned to talk to Jane. Meanwhile, Kitty handed Mary the wine then turned to Gabe and grinned, revealing a dimple in her left cheek which made her even more adorable in his eyes. “This must be Leland’s friend.”

Mary grinned. “Yes, this is Gabe Bromley. Gabe, this is my sister Kitty Bennet.”

“Nice to meet you,” Kitty said as she held out a hand to him, still grinning. “I’ve heard a lot about you, mostly from my mother.”

Gabe chuckled as he shook her hand. “I’m sure. Nice to meet you as well, Kitty. Leland and Mary have told me a few things about you.” He tried to remember anything they had said, he’d usually tuned them out by the time they talked about Jane then Lizzie. “How’s your book coming?” Like Leland, she was a writer, that he remembered.

“I just finished it this afternoon,” she said with obvious pride as she followed Mary to the kitchen and he followed her.

“Congratulations!” Mary said happily. “This is number five?”

“Yes,” Kitty said, smiling a bit. “Number six is already forming in my head.”

“You don’t take a break between books?” Gabe asked.

She smirked. “Since I like being paid, no, I don’t. But they’re short books, so it’s not as bad as it sounds.” She accepted a glass of wine from her sister and had just taken a sip when her mother called her name from the sitting room. Kitty rolled her eyes before smiling at Gabe. “Excuse me, filial duty calls.”

As soon as she was out of the kitchen, Mary offered Gabe a glass of wine and a knowing smile.

Gabe rolled his eyes then accepted the wine. “Don’t start. I’ll admit she’s cute but she’s not my type.”

“You don’t have a type,” Mary said genially as she checked on dinner. “I’ve known you what, two years? And in that time, I’ve seen you date every type of woman under the sun, so why not Kitty?”

He shrugged. “There’s no spark. I suppose I need someone with a little more polish.”

“Uh huh.”

Just as Leland had said, Gabe found himself seated across from Kitty during dinner. She good-naturedly accepted teasing from her sisters and brothers-in-law and didn’t hesitate to tease them right back. When Gabe found himself the target of such teasing from Leland and Mary, Kitty’s grin and dancing eyes had him wondering when he’d receive such affectionate teasing from her.

No, she’s not your type, he reminded himself. Yes, she’s cute, adorable, even, but there’s no attraction in “cute.” “Cute” is a friend, not a girlfriend.

***

Kitty stayed after everyone else went home and helped with the clean-up. Mary, proving herself to be her mother’s daughter after all, immediately went into matchmaker mode.

“What did you think of Gabe?” she asked innocently as she dried the pots and pans while Kitty washed.

Kitty rolled her eyes. “Mary, I love you, but you couldn’t be more obvious if you tried. But since you’re my sister and you’re pregnant, I’ll indulge you. Hottest man I’ve ever met, and that’s saying something, but I don’t think he’s interested in me.”

“Yet,” Mary said knowingly. “He just has to get to know you.”

“Right,” she muttered as she attacked another pot. “Meeting guys was so much easier when all I cared about was what was on the surface.”

“Easier, maybe, but not better. Gabe’s a better class of guy than-”

“Than the ones Lydia keeps finding?”

Mary smirked. “That’s not hard but yes. Just give him a chance, he’ll come around.”

Kitty thought about Gabe’s handsome face and infectious smile and couldn’t help smiling herself. “I hope so.”

***

Two weeks later, Gabe walked into one of the bars at The Savoy Hotel and stopped dead. There at the bar was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen, even if all he could see was her profile. A black cocktail dress hugged her slim figure perfectly, ending at her knees and revealing her shapely legs. Her short brown hair was styled in an artful disarray and while he admittedly didn’t know much about make-up, it was plain to see that hers was expertly done.

Wanting more than anything to see her full face, maybe even talk to her, he moved closer but stopped dead when she turned his way. Kitty Bennet’s eyes lit up in recognition when she saw him and he took her resulting smile as an invitation.

“Fancy meeting you here, Gabe,” she said, smiling a bit, when he was close enough.

“You too,” he said, unable to stop staring at her. It felt like his jaw had been hanging open since he had laid eyes on her. “You look … good. I mean nice. No, not nice, you look-”

“‘Well?’” she suggested, her eyes dancing and her dimple showing. “I know you’re not a writer, Gabe, but surely you have a bigger vocabulary than that.”

“Breathtaking,” he blurted out, much to his immediate embarrassment.

Kitty blinked in surprise then preened a bit. “What, this old thing?” Then she grinned happily. “But seriously, thank you. I had to put in the effort since I came for a dinner my publisher hosted for all their best-sellers. Now that it’s over, I wanted another cocktail before I hailed a cab.”

“Would you like some company to go with that cocktail?” Gabe asked then mentally kicked himself for sounding too eager.

“Only if the company is you,” she said, grinning, and winked at him.

Gabe just couldn’t believe his luck. The most attractive woman I’ve ever met is someone I already know. His conscience reminded him of what he thought of her at the dinner party but he shoved the memory aside. That was then, this is now.

Once their drinks were ready, he led the way to an empty table in the back while she carried their drinks. When they were both seated, Kitty took a sip of her cosmopolitan then smiled at him. “So, what brings you here?”

He took a sip of his whiskey. “A meeting with an out-of-town client but enough about work. I must be blind since I didn’t realize how utterly stunning you are at dinner the other night.”

She rolled her eyes playfully. “Like I said, the difference is in the effort. Dinner with my family simply doesn’t require the same amount of effort as something for work.” She smiled a bit. “What did you think of me before?”

“Cute,” Gabe admitted reluctantly. “Adorable when you smile.” She grinned at that and he continued. “I know your mother was trying to set us up with Mary’s help and while I resisted before,” he grinned, “I certainly don’t mind it now.”

Kitty smirked. “I hope your interest is based on more than how I look in a little black dress.”

Gabe chuckled. “You clean up very well, but really, I want to know more about Kitty the writer, Kitty the sister, Kitty the cool aunt.”

She smiled a bit. “What makes you think I’m the cool aunt? I could be the one who’s strict about sweets and bedtimes.”

He smiled back. “Just a hunch.”

“Uh huh. Well, how much time do you have?”

“For you? All night.”

[yulmoldauer]

its better not to say such things out loud (Tyson Jost/OC): Chapter One

part 2

Story summary: Mason Wright was recently traded and because an Av. Sometimes a fresh start with a new team across the country is what a guy needs, right? It seems to work out, going to a place where no one truly knows you. That is, until someone finds out what you’re desperately trying to hide.

Chapter 1

Summary: Mason’s had a rough game, to put it simply. It was never the best idea to get into a fight with someone bigger than you. They won even with him taking a five-minute major for fighting halfway through the third period. The team goes out to celebrate his 23rd birthday post-win and Tyson takes care of getting him home and to sleep safely.

Warnings: None, I believe! Just some drinking mentioned and there’s a drunk character if that makes you uncomfortable. There’s also a slur against lgbt people used.

Words: 1,968

Notes: The title is from The Stigma (Boys Don’t Cry) by As It Is. This is the thing with the LGBT main character that I’ve had a few different people tell me they’d be interested in :) I’m having a lot of fun writing and plotting this so far, so let me know if you enjoy!

There were perks to being smaller than most other people in the league. Being an extremely fast and skilled defenseman was one of them.

Being outmatched in every possible articulation, being compared to a chihuahua yapping at a pitbull, everything like that. Which is how he ended up in the penalty box for five fucking minutes, the asshole in the box next to him chirping him the entire time, it seemed like.

“What are you, a fag?”

That was what Mason heard fly by him, aimed at Jost who wouldn’t get into a fight to draw a penalty. Mason knew for a fact that’s what the guy was trying to do. He still took the bait when Tyson didn’t.

Mason was smaller than nearly every player he knew. Watching him get into a fight was exciting yet painful at the same time for anyone with a brain. The other guy was at least six-foot compared to the five-foot-eight Mason. To say it was outmatched…

Mason was going to be lucky if he didn’t come out of this with some scrapes and bruises. A broken nose was pretty likely as well, once he thought about it.

But hearing that word ignited something in him that overtook the reasoning section of his brain and both of them were dropping gloves. Sure, he’d definitely have a black eye tomorrow, but he’d gotten a few good licks in as well.

They still won the game, which was nice.

“Dude, you gotta at least get into it with guys in your weight class.”

“You’re funny, Landeskog. Whole fucking league is out of my weight class,” Mason huffed as he stripped his padding off of his lean torso.

“Yeah, kinda the point,” Zadorov shrugged. “Not your fault you’re smaller, just the way it is.”

“I get it, I’m short,” he ran a hand through his wavy helmet hair and reached down to unlace his skates. “Z, you can fight for me, then. I’ll run my mouth and you can do all the hitting.”

“With you? Don’t take it, man, Wright can go on and on for hours,” Tyson chirped from across the room. That earned him a glove chucked at his face.

“Fuck y’all. I don’t even have a good comeback.”

“Because it’s true!”

Okay, maybe it was true. Mason was just a talker, it’s how it was.

Tyson gave him endless shit about it, but really he didn’t mind. He actually enjoyed just being able to turn his brain off and absorb whatever stuck from what Mason was going on about. Usually it didn’t even matter--ranting about how a show got robbed of some award that doesn’t even matter, spewing information about whatever book he was reading, going off about whatever asshole did something stupid during his day-- Tyson would just let him go until he ran out of steam. Conversations were nice, too, when he was in just a talkative mood as well.

Mason did know how to shut up, though. Sometimes. (Hint: that’s what made him the favorite out of the Wright/Zadorov best friend duo. He could be quieter than Z. They’ve threatened to separate the two on multiple occasions, though.)

“What’d that guy even do to rile you up? You looked pissed,” Nate broke Mason out of his train of thought.

“Just called someone something stupid. I’m not gonna repeat it.”

“He called me a fag because I wouldn’t take the bait for the penalty,” Tyson said soon after. “He’s just a fucking moron because he got a longer penalty than any of us.”

There was an uncomfortable moment as that sunk in, then a few “what the fuck” or “that’s gross” phrases before people moved on to heading to the showers.

Mason was about to sneak away when Tyson called out his name.

“Hey, I wanted to catch you before you hit the shower. You got a second?”

“Yeah, sure. I just have to do some pt kind of stuff before I shower. What’s up?” he offered with a friendly smile.

“I just wanted to thank you for sticking up for me. You definitely didn’t have to, but calling him on it drew a ton of attention to it. I think it’s really important to start weeding that shit out of the sport, y’know?”

“Yeah,” Mason smiled. “I--thanks, man. That means a lot to me.”

“‘Course,” Tyson gave a nod. “And you know if you were, like… y’know, gay or… anything, really, I wouldn’t care. And neither would anyone else on the team. It’d totally be okay.”

Mason wanted to give him a reassuring “I know” but couldn’t. Hockey was definitely not the environment known for welcoming lgbt kids and turning them into well-adjusted, accepted adults.

“Thanks,” Mason murmured. “Really, that means a lot.”

“Of course,” Tyson breathed, like he was getting a huge weight off his chest. “Um, yeah. I’ll let you go do your physical therapy stuff now. I’ll see you at the bar after everything’s done here?”

“Yeah, I’m not gonna ditch you for my birthday, idiot.”

With an excited smile, Tyson turned and headed in the opposite direction.

Once he reached an area to chill out while waiting for the showers to clear out, Mason sighed, plopping into a chair and resting his head in his hands.

Obviously he knew why Tyson brought up starting to call out homophobia and other bigoted shit they were all used to just overlooking. But why did he bring up the whole ‘we’d accept you no matter what’ thing?

The thought of ‘he was very sensitive to a slur so maybe he’s gay’ never crossed Mason’s mind. That would simply be too easy and rational.

Did Tyson know he was different? What exactly did Tyson know? There was no way Tyson would out him, but still. Trusting people to keep a secret was hard. It was just easier to bottle everything up.

God, he needed to figure this out.

Maybe he’d get drunk enough tonight to just forget for a little while. He didn’t get drunk or even drink all that often, he could let go every now and then.

At the beginning of the night, Gabe took his keys, promising that he’d give them to whoever would be driving Mason home. They all knew for a fact Mason wouldn’t drive drunk, it wasn’t even in the realm of possibilities. Honestly, they were more worried about the newly twenty-three-year-old losing them or putting them somewhere so he’d ‘remember where they are later’, which was proven ineffective at the last gathering Gabe threw.

“If you can’t figure out where the stupid keys are, he can come get them in the morning or I can drop them off to him or something,” Gabe rolled his eyes.

“You’re sure you don’t remember where you put them?” JT triple-checked. He’d been the designated driver for a few of them, including Mason, Tyson, and a couple others who had already gotten out to the car.

Mason shook his head. “I’m not even that drunk,” he insisted.

“Uh-huh. Gabe, just let me know if you find ‘em and we can work something out for him in the morning.”

Twenty minutes later, Gabe sent a picture and “anyone know who these belong to?” in the group chat. It was, without a doubt, Mason’s keys, adorned with a keychain reading “DETROIT” in graffiti lettering. He was from Detroit, and everyone knew that he refused to take that keychain off until it literally fell off for some sentimental reason, most likely.

‘Lol where’d you find it?’ someone texted back.

‘My dishwasher. His wallet was there too’

Mason has still never heard the end of that. No matter how hard he tried to explain that when he put them somewhere, it meant that he wouldn’t lose them or buy something stupid online (last time that happened, he bought a thing to hang on a window so your cat could sit on it and sunbathe. Mason has not owned a cat at any point in his life.) and he’d remember where it was once he sobered up.

Of course he still gets relentless shit for it. He wouldn’t expect any different.

Currently, Mason and Z were arm wrestling over a table in the back of the bar, people beginning to call it quits and going home. And with his pride hurt that he could not beat Z in an arm wrestling match, Tyson stole the other’s keys and wallet from Gabe, saying goodbyes and forcing Mason to as well.

“You are blasted, man.”

“Mmph,” he shrugged and laid his head against the passenger window. “I wanna lay down and sleep.”

“You can when I get you home. Gimmie your seatbelt so I can buckle you in.”

Mason followed the order with a small pout, not drunk enough to the point of incoherence but… definitely a little fucked up. Tyson had done this before: dealing with the mopey friend at the end of the night. Mason was definitely one to get mopey or clingy once they left the main event.

“My face hurts.”

“That checks out, buddy. I’ll get you some ice for it back at your place. What?” Tyson continued to ask when Mason stared out the windshield all angsty.

“Still can’t believe I couldn’t beat Z.”

“That guy could slam most of us through a table, don’t beat yourself up.”

“Can’t. Someone already did.”

“You’re full of jokes, huh?”

Mason just grinned sleepily as they pulled into the apartment complex and Tyson had an arm wrapped around his friend to keep him steady. Getting a drunk person to go to bed was usually one of the hardest parts of the night.

“Would you just--”

“I got it,” Mason huffed, fumbling with his keys near the lock of the door.

“Dude.”

“Shut up, you’re gonna wake up my neighbors,” he grumbled, finally getting the door open with a triumphant “see? I’m an adult.”

“I see. Go be an adult and get ready to go to bed,” Tyson rolled his eyes, taking the keys out of the door and locking it behind them.

���I don’t wanna sleep,” he replied quickly.

“You’re drunk, what do you mean you don’t want to sleep?”

“Not tired,” he flopped down on the couch.

“At least get out of your clothes. That way if you fall asleep it’s in pajamas.”

Mason was sprawled out, already clicking through Netflix.

“Fine, I will go get you pajamas. Here,” Tyson pressed a cold compress to a bruise on his face and headed to the bedroom.

“Thanks for driving me,” he heard from the other room.

“‘Course,” Tyson called back. “Here, put these on,” he tossed the clothes at Mason.

“Are you staying here? You can take the guest room, if you want.”

“Sure. Probably easier than trying to get home this late,” Tyson shrugged and headed for the kitchen. As he heard the rustling around of what he assumed was his friend changing, Tyson got a glass of water and painkillers for when Mason woke up.

“I can drive you home tomorrow,” Mason slurred even more heavily as he began getting more tired. He’d managed to get his jeans off and a pair of shorts on before moving onto the shirt. He’d just pulled his shirt off when Tyson walked back in the room with the water.

“Woah,” he said quietly, stopping quickly.

For whatever reason, he’d never realized that he had never seen his teammate and friend shirtless. That was weird, especially when you played sports together for a living. He assumed it was due to the faded scars along his chest, almost in a u-shape under each pec.

He didn’t even know what kind of injury would cause that kind of surgery.

“When did you get surgery?”

Fuck was all that ran through Mason’s head.