#yes i know some of the decisions on here may get me cancelled

[holy--milk]

spent nearly an hour making a tier list of (almost) all MXTX characters with insightful commentary and help from my roommate. at 3 am.

[bucketbueckers]

STICK AROUND

pairing: paige bueckers x fem!reader

content: language, fluff, slight injury

wc: 2.3k

synopsis: After an arduous year full of ACL recovery, navigating your new yet inexplicably familiar relationship, and falling back in love with Paige Bueckers (not that you ever fell out of love in the first place), Paige is finally cleared and ready to play basketball again for her senior season.

notes: yes this is the same banner. no comments at this time please! this is part 2 to come around, requested by a few anons (sorry i may have deviated from the request a lil bit) & @janaelalfysloml 🫶 i was not expecting the reception CA got - and also!! 1k notes? wtf???? that's actually insane to me, i get on here to yap and procrastinate my homework, i am so blown away by the love and how many of you guys actually like what i write 😭 i love y'all bad! so here is part 2 in honor of CA surpassing 1k notes and my anons and if you're curious - yes flattery gets you everywhere and this is definitely an open invite to keep sending asks. not proofread! i hope you all enjoy this 🫶

tags: @unadulteratedcyclepaper @avvwritesstufff @surferandskater5 @jnkbueckers

The months between August 2022 and November 2023 were full of ups and downs. This is not to say you were miserable – far from it, in fact. Transferring to UConn from UMN was the best decision you’d ever made in your entire life. You’d made more friends, your grades started improving, and you’d truly felt at home in Connecticut, making a name for yourself in some of their student organizations. It would, however, be wrong to neglect the other, considerably important factor in why your life was turning around for the better.

You and Paige were in a much better place – romantically, platonically, in every facet of being each other’s person. Your communication was a lot better. You learned to be a little more direct, to enunciate exactly how you were feeling. Paige learned patience, which is honestly a miracle in and of itself; she learned that it’s not her sole responsibility to try to protect you from outside noise or make whatever decision is best for you. The both of you had good intentions, but sometimes it’s really easy for those good intentions to get swept up in chaos and unravel before you. The both of you had to remember that you’re not just girlfriends, but you’re partners, too – you’re a team.

The year’s ups and downs weren’t on the two of you. You and Paige had “learning curve” moments as you’d called it, having to sit down and have uncomfortable, vulnerable conversations that left you feeling raw on the inside, but healthier in spite of it. Instead of being on the same page, it was as though you and Paige were the weaving lines and sloping letters, beginning on opposite sides yet meeting in the middle to form words, sentences, stories. You weren’t just there. You were together in a completely new sense, working side-by-side with the sort of ease that comes with fully knowing a person inside and out.

The troubles of the year stemmed more from her knee. Her recovery wasn’t linear. Some days were harder than others and some days were downright hell on earth. It was hardly comparable to the time her high school championship was cancelled due to covid – it was worse. The pain would leave her shuddering in bed, hiccuping through tears and there was only so much you could do. You’d spend countless hours at her side, alternating between the heating pad and the ice pack, helping her swallow her painkillers with water when it got too bad, brushing your fingers through her hair and rambling about everything and nothing to distract her. Once she’d made it out of the post-surgery, pain and soreness phase, her days were full of physical therapy and mental battles that tested the both of you. Some days you didn’t know what to say. Sometimes you wouldn’t say anything at all, letting her cry into your shoulder as you held her. Other days you let her talk for hours on end, entrusting you with the uncomfortable parts of her and the whispered confessions of, “I don’t know how I can trust my body after this.” 

Time was what she needed to heal. The both of you knew that. So, you stuck around, knowing that even if Paige was a mess, injured, struggling mentally and physically, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but with her. As the days turn into weeks and the weeks melt into months, she gets better. You knew she would. Watching that light return to her eyes, getting to see that spring in her step, hearing the way her laughter carried across the room was healing for you, too.

As she healed, you studied. You would spend the majority of your time in bed next to her with your textbook sprawled over your lap, her fingers tracing your skin and her chin hooked over your shoulder as she watched you do homework assignments. Your majors couldn’t have been further apart from each other, so admittedly, your time together was spent with Paige asking, “What the fuck is an electrophile?” and you responding with an endeared fondness, “Electro- means negative, -phile means love, so it’s a chemical species that accepts electrons,” followed by Paige huffing and declaring, “Yeah, you got that – you can be the breadwinner and I’ll be your sexy trophy wife.”

Whether she knew it or not, Paige helped you out a lot with your assignments. She kept your head on straight when your assignments got a little overwhelming and forced you to take a break when you were getting grouchy – “It’s what you did for me,” she would remind you, pressing soothing kisses to your cheeks, and murmuring, “You wanna DoorDash take-out?” (and who were you to say no to that?)

So as time passed, Paige recovered, the both of you healed, and by the time November 2023 rolled around, Paige was fully cleared to play basketball again. She’d been ecstatic for the weeks leading up to it, talking your ear off and dragging you to the gym with her even though the two of you fooled around more than she got her shots in. Her happiness was infectious – that was what mattered to you. You knew that she worked hard to get into UConn but you also knew she worked even harder to recover from the kind of injury that tests the resilience of many athletes.

The night before their home opener against Dayton, she revives an age-old tradition that you’d spent years missing. She takes you to Dairy Queen, shooting you an exasperated look over the center console as you teasingly pressed your card into her hand. She pays – she always does – driving off with her ice cream in the cupholder as she focuses on the road and you offer her spoonfuls of the same flavor you’d been ordering since you were both seventeen. Paige serenades you at the red lights, holding your hands and belting out off-key renditions of Keyshia Cole – because that hadn’t changed over the years, either. And when she finally pulls into a secluded parking lot, nothing but the moon and the crickets as your only witness, the two of you joke and ramble and flirt for what only feels minutes but are actually hours.

She still reserves that last bite of ice cream for you, guiding her spoon to your mouth and kissing the remnants off of your lips, relishing in the way your laughter reverberates throughout her Jeep. Paige tastes like vanilla ice cream and happiness, a lingering flavor that’s intoxicating when it mixes with your strawberry and the love for Paige that you’ve kept safe in your beating heart for years. Some things truly never change at all, you think when she rests her warm palm over your thigh as she adjusts her music (and the playlist she has fittingly titled ‘Freaky ass R&B’ with the heart emoji that she uses only for you). Things evolve, and they get better, and they have a way of surprising you in the best way possible, like when Paige gazes at you as you speak, her expression soft with a realization that sounds like I’m going to love you forever and a matching look in your eyes that looks like Forever sounds perfect.

Par for the course, her eyes start drooping around midnight, her movements fluid and her hands perpetually glued to your skin. The two of you talk for a little while longer until she finally blurts, “I have something for you.”

At that, you can only raise your brow, watching her as she leans into the backseat to grab a rectangular, gift-wrapped box. Panic fills your body at the thought that you may have missed an anniversary, but you remind yourself that it’s only November; your official anniversary wasn’t until late December.

She clears her throat, the nervousness reflected in her eyes, and you can’t help but remember how she asked you to be hers for the first time. You’re not seventeen anymore, nor are you in her stepmom’s Honda Pilot, but you’re both twenty-two living a life that feels both new and familiar, basking in a love that you’ve spent your entire life cherishing.

“You can tell me anything,” you remind her, your tone soft, and that’s enough for the tension to ooze out of her shoulders.

She smiles at you, that same smile from the first time she sat down across from you in junior year AP Lit. “I know,” she murmurs. “I just wanna do this right.” Your expression melts into one of understanding. “When I first convinced you to come to one of my games, I gave you my hoodie. I remember Coach lectured me for an hour straight, ‘cause he was all like, ‘Bueckers, the school pays a lot of money for those sweatshirts, and you lost yours!’” You laugh at her imitation of her high school coach. Her eyes shine a little brighter. “Coach wasn’t stupid. I’m sure he knew what actually happened. It was hard to miss you sittin’ in the student section and cheering me on like every bucket was one you made yourself. But, honestly…I didn’t care. I liked being able to look over and see you wearin’ my name and my number. It made me feel like I wasn’t just your best friend, that I was someone you’d want to…you know, do life with. That one day you’d love me in the way I loved you even though I didn’t know it was love yet.”

“So, you came to more of my games,” she continues. “You wore my hoodie. We’d get ice cream after and we’d talk for hours. I still remember that night I almost kissed you on your porch, that afternoon in your bed when I told you we weren’t so far away, that morning when I finally kissed you in the snow, when I asked you to be my girlfriend.” Paige swallows uncomfortably. “I remember when I broke your heart. I thought I was doing you a favor, but I just hurt the both of us. I missed you for two years but I didn’t think you’d ever want me back. So I hid. But we’d text each other happy birthday, and you’d reach out after I’d injured myself. I didn’t think I deserved your attention after what I did. Then I tore my ACL, and despite everything, you came.”

“You called,” you whisper, like it was the simplest thing in the world – because it was. Your heart beats to a cadence that sounds like the dribbling rhythm of a basketball and you know that Paige’s heart beats in tandem with yours. The two of you were so inexplicably intertwined in the fabric of each other’s lives, each other’s hearts, that it was difficult to discern where you began and she ended, but you knew that you wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Yeah,” Paige agrees, her eyes shining. “I’on care what it takes, you’re stuck with me this time around. I am never letting you go. You’re my past, present, and my future. Which is why I want you to have this.” She gives you a meaningful look and you begin to unwrap the box. When you take the lid off, you can’t stop the smile from growing on your face as you reach in, wrapping your hands around Paige’s zip-up tracksuit hoodie. It has the Husky logo and it smells just like her. You know it’s the school issued one that she wears everywhere. “It doesn’t have my name or my number on it or anything, but I got a little something embroidered on the inside.” Allowing her to guide you, she pulls back the lapel, and on the left side, directly under the Husky logo that rests over your heart, the words “Not impossible. Not for us” are stitched delicately into the fabric. You feel tears prick at your eyes as you laugh softly. “Coach is gonna kill me,” she muses, “but it’s worth it – especially since you’ll be sitting courtside in my hoodie like we’d always talked about.”

Your lip trembles, but you’re smiling widely. “Paige,” you murmur. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll stick around for my games,” she says softly. “See if I’m still good at this basketball thing after taking a year off.”

Despite yourself, you laugh, placing the hoodie back into the box and wrapping your arms around her neck. Her hands find your hips, her lips pressing into your temple, and you both melt into each other with an overwhelming amount of relief. “You know I’m there,” you say. “Always will be.”

Paige squeezes your waist, pulling back far enough to smile at you before her lips find yours, kissing you with a gentleness and a passion that hasn’t gone away, no matter how long you’ve been together or how long you’ll spend looking for each other. Her kiss feels more like a vow of forever, and when she breaks away, whispering something that sounds like an I love you, you promise the same thing.

(You’re courtside at her home opener, as promised. You watch as Geno shakes his head at Paige when he catches her staring at you, mumbling something about these damn kids, but you know that she doesn’t care and you don’t either. She reserves a spot for you at every game, at every team hangout, in that crevice of her heart that you’d tattooed your name on ages ago. Every day, you fall just a little bit further in love with Paige, and one of the things that you know with an absolute certainty is that you’re spending the rest of your life with her.)

[vettelsvee]

GOODBYES ARE BITTERSWEET | Sebastian Vettel ✩₊˚.⋆ PART 1: I'LL SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN [NEXT PART]

goodbyes are bittersweet masterlist f1 masterlist | ao3 | requests or let's talk!

rb sebastian vettel x gf!reader

word count: 4095

summary: seb's gf finds out she's pregnant, and she decides that hiding her pregnancy is the best she could do due to seb's career

warnings: pregnancy, mentions of cheating, curse words, angst, fighting. set on may 2013. for a bit of background: reader and seb have been friends since they were literal babies, but growing up their feelings changed and started dating on 2006.

a/n: this is actually the first chapter of the very first series, Infinity, i posted here! i had to cancel it because i had some problems with wattpad people telling me through indirects i copied their work and i got very, very unmotivated with this story i absolutely love (when actually this was a draft I had of a tom holland fic back in 2017 lol), but i'd love to post the following parts if you like this one! feedback is appreciated, as well as reblogs <3

© VETTELSVEE (2024). please, do not steal, copy or translate my works. thanks for reading!

You pulled the flush and got up, being careful not to get dizzy. You took some paper and wiped the corners of your mouth to remove any possible traces of vomit. You headed to the sink automatically, quickly pulling out the toothbrush you’ve gotten used to carrying since nausea became part of your daily routine. You really tried to get rid of the acidity in your throat and the bad taste in your mouth, but as you expected, and knowing you've been experiencing this more times than you'd like in the past month and a half, it was impossible.

"Y/N, are you still there? Are you okay?" Britta's voice, accompanied by a few knocks on the door, snapped you out of your trance. You startled and forced yourself to answer, even though it was the last thing you feel like doing.

"Yes, I’m coming. Just a sec!"

"Don’t take too long," she replied. "Not that I don’t want you to take your time, but Seb is worried."

Panic-stricken, you suppressed a laugh that almost escaped.

If only he knew what you were about to do…

"Don’t worry, I’ll be right out," you answered.

You stared at yourself in the mirror, contemplating your own reflection longer than you’d like. Minutes passed, and you almost completely lost track of time, aware that you needed to put an end to the intrusive thought that was telling you that what you were about to do was, wrong but inevitably the best thing.

You were going to break away from everything you’ve wanted since you were a child just because things hadn't turned out "right." Seb was at the peak of his professional career, constantly surpassing himself in every race, making history, while you remained stuck in your hometown, working at a bar, dealing with drunks and immature kids pretending to be adults daily, because you didn’t have the luck, or perhaps the financial means, to study what you had dreamed of since you were a child who just wanted to make music.

You leaned on the sink, feeling the cold starting to penetrate your body. A great tremor shook you, and it became increasingly difficult to stay on your feet. Your eyes filled with tears as you confronted the reality of what you were about to do, of the decision you'd made.

Since your boyfriend began not only achieving his dreams but making a name for himself, you thought you didn’t deserve him because you were heading in the opposite direction. Now that you’ve gotten pregnant by him, possibly because the birth control pills you were taking failed for some unknown reason, you felt like this even more.

Despite the love you still felt and possibly always will feel for Sebastian, since you took the pregnancy test with Hanna at one of the most secluded malls in Heppenheim, you knew that letting him know he was going to be a father was never part of your plans.

"Come on, Y/N…" you told yourself, still staring at your reflection. "This is for Seb. You're doing this for him and his career."

You took a deep breath a couple more times, feeling the knot in your throat choking you. You looked at the girl full of insecurities you were one more time. Her eyes reflected doubt and, above all, fear, and you sadly sensed that it will continue to be this way from now on.

Trying to control yourself, you slowly opened the bathroom door, as if wanting to torture yourself. Britta was sitting in one of the chairs, reviewing something in a notebook until you closed the door a bit harder than you meant to.

"Are you really okay?" she asked again, giving you an uncertain look. "I've been hearing you vomit for several weeks now. Don’t you think you should go to the doctor?"

The knot in your throat seemed to tighten even more. See a doctor… Of course you’d been to the doctor! Four weeks and, as of today, four days pregnant was the answer, but no one beyond your parents and your best friend could know.

"Yes, I’m fine," you replied quickly, trying to fake your answer as best as you could. "Don’t worry. It’s probably just a bit of stress," you added, praying she believed you. "I haven't had time to see a doctor, but I assure you, with all my heart, that everything is fine."

And that's why you're leaving the love of your life today.

Britta seemed to hesitate for a moment. Her lips remained slightly open, as if she wanted to say something. Her look gave you the feeling that she didn't quite believe what you were saying.

"Whatever you say, Y/N," she finally said, standing up from her seat. "But seriously, if you need to talk or anything, I’m here for you."

"I know."

"Well, seeing that you're as calm as a lake, we’d better hurry up," she told you. "The last free practice session is about to start, and Seb is probably worried why we haven’t come back yet."

You prepared to leave the room with her. You were more than sure to go with her, but as you were almost out the room, you realize it was now or never.

You stopped before going from the driver’s room to the garage, watching Britta hurry down the stairs, probably aware that you were running late even though there were still about forty-five minutes before the session started.

"Wait, Britta. Just a sec!"

You were convinced your shout from the top of the stairs was heard by more people than you’d like. You wished you could turn invisible as you saw some eyes on you, including Britta’s, which made it hard to speak, and not to mention the variety of emotions you were feeling inside you.

You needed to calm down and act a bit better, or everything you’d been mulling over will end up falling apart.

"I’d like to talk to Seb… alone," you finally said.

"Y/N Y/L/N," she said your name much more seriously now. "You’ve told me that everything is fine, but… are you sure it really is? Are you sure nothing’s wrong?"

No, everything is wrong, and yes, more things are happening than I’d like.

You knew you could trust Britta completely. You were sure that if you told her the news before you did to Seb, she wouldn’t say anything, at least not right away. You wanted to do it; in fact, you’d love to do it because she was like a second mother to you, but you knew you couldn't because, once you left, there’s a really high chance she might end up telling him everything in a moment of weakness.

"Yes, yes, I’m fine. It’s nothing serious, don’t worry," you replied with a sigh, trying to console the PR woman and yourself. "I just need to talk to him about… well, a minor issue."

"Of course. Go get him, I’ll wait here. He’s probably talking to Rocky or Horner about who knows what. He hasn’t gone far, especially considering how eager he was to see you."

"Can you get him for me?" you let it out casually.

You ignored her last comment because now, your nerves were eating you alive. Britta seemed to notice your anxiety, so you were grateful she ignored it and acted as if nothing is wrong.

You sighed in relief when you saw her nod, and you couldn't stop thanking her out loud for what she just did for you.

"Lie down on the physio’s couch and try to rest a bit, you look a bit pale," she insisted. Reluctantly, and after repeating it a couple more times, you finally listened to her. "Seb will be here soon. You know he’ll drop everything when it comes to you."

And it was true. Once she left, you remained lying down, drawing small shapes on your stomach with your index finger. As you whispered things to what would supposedly be your child, a whirlwind of varied thoughts flooded your mind.

A small pressure settled in your chest as you became aware that the idea of breaking up with Sebastian was becoming a reality. You didn't want to face it and largely refused to, but you knew that for both of you, especially him, it was actually the best.

Hiding the truth from the guy you’d loved longer than you’d like to admit is exactly the opposite of what you should do, but because he was the most important person in your life, and you knew him almost as well as yourself, you knew he'd have time to play moms and dads in real life.

This year, the only thing he should focus on was winning his fourth Formula 1 World Championship, not learning how to change diapers or feed a baby.

Your thoughts vanished when the door opened abruptly, startling you. Seb appeared with his suit hanging at his waist, hair completely tousled, and a face revealing worry matching the situation you haven’t told him about yet.

"Sunshine! Britta told me you’re not well. What happened? Do you want to go to the doctor? I don’t care about missing the free practice: you’re the most important thing."

The German quickly took your cheeks in his hands. You hadn’t even sat up, and he was already trying to warm your face with his palms, moving it from side to side and examining you as if he was a doctor with the solution to your problems.

"I’m fine, love, relax," you said, breaking free from his grip.

"I know you better than I’d like, Y/N. You’re pale," he pointed out. "You rarely get pale. The last time I saw you like this was when the police chased us after they caught you doing an illegal concert in the school square."

Your anxiety grew more at his perception. You couldn't hide the lie you concocted with Hanna for much longer.

"Seb, really, I’m fine," you insisted, swallowing hard as you tried to find the right words.

He didn't seem to agree with your answer once again, and he didn't seem willing to let it go easily.

For a moment, you were tempted to tell him the truth, especially when you noticed his eyes fixed on you, not intending to look away until he found out what you really wanted to say… As if he wants to know that he was going to be a father next January if your gynecologist’s calculations and the latest technology were correct.

You mustered the courage to look him in the eyes. His concern overwhelmed you completely. When he made a move to hug you and you fell into his arms, you knew you couldn't keep dodging the truth.

"Seb…" you started to say, slowly pulling away from him, "the truth is that... well, there's something wrong."

He clenched his jaw and got very serious.

"Tell me, Y/N. Whatever it is, you know you can tell me."

"I know, love. I want to tell you everything, but…" you began calmly, your voice breaking. "This is different, and it’s going to be a bit difficult."

"What do you mean by different and difficult? Y/N, what’s going on?"

Your hands fidgeted nervously as you tried to find the best way to cause him the least harm possible. You noticed that the German's nervous and worried tone had dissipated, and now it was anger that seemed to be consuming him.

"I want to tell you, but I don’t know how to do it without hurting you," you admitted in a whisper.

There it was, you had let it slip.

You didn’t know what else to say, so you decided to wait for Sebastian’s response. Anguish had taken hold of him, and you knew he was waiting for your words as much as you were waiting for his.

His behavior wasn’t helping you; on the contrary, the feeling of guilt was consuming you, as you had foreseen, but there was no turning back now.

It was impossible for you to even think coherently enough to say something that made sense.

You watched as your boyfriend’s gaze turned into pure pain, a pleading search for answers that you didn’t dare to give him.

"Seb…" you spoke again, struggling to maintain your composure and reaching for his hand at the same time. "I need you to listen to me, please."

"I just want you to tell me the truth, Y/N," he called you by your full name. That was the indicator that things weren’t going well and wouldn’t be again. "Whatever it is, I’ll be able to deal with it."

"I don’t want us to be together anymore," you declared. "I’m not in love with you anymore. I haven’t been for about a month or so."

The silence that flooded the room after your false confession was too uncomfortable. His eyes filled with tears; yours did too, but for a different reason than his.

He thought you had stopped loving him when, in fact, you loved him more than ever, especially now.

"Why are you telling me this? Why, Y/N?" he wanted to know. "I thought we were great… I really believed we were better than ever."

"I don’t know, Seb," you murmured between sobs, trying to hide your face so he wouldn’t see how truly affected you were. "There are… there are couples that stop loving each other, and that’s what I think has happened with me. With us."

"What can I do to make you fall in love with me again? I can’t lose you. I can’t lose the sunshine of my life, not when we promised each other a life together."

"You can’t do anything, Seb, and I’m really sorry," you falsely admitted with sadness, trying not to succumb to his desperate plea.

"Sometimes things stop being what they were in the beginning, and, well… ours is no longer what it used to be."

"Of course, it’s not what it used to be! Everything was getting better until you decided to drop this on me, Y/N!" Sebastian yelled at you.

"I was even going to ask you if you wanted us to get…"

"And that’s why I feel it’s better if we move on, but each on our own path!" you interrupted with another shout.

It’s not real, Y/N. Everything you’re saying is a lie.

You inhaled and exhaled more times than you would have liked, but it felt necessary. This charade to try to make Seb’s life a little better was not only costing you your relationship but also your mental health in the long run.

"Is there someone else, Y/N?"

Vettel's voice denoted anger. Rage consumed him at the possibility that there was an answer he didn’t want to hear. His fists, clenched tightly and turning his knuckles white, were proof of it.

"No, not exactly."

And once again, the camouflaged truth.

"What are you saying?" he spat at you, getting closer and closer, consumed by anguish.

"I mean not exactly, but… yes. There is someone else, Seb," you admitted.

The shouts, full of reproaches, insults, and slurs, flooded the room.

You tried to turn a deaf ear. You thought this was all part of a performance and tried to convince yourself that in the future, everything would be fine when you knew it would be the opposite.

"How could you do this to me, Y/N?! How could you cheat on me after almost seven fucking years together?!" Sebastian shouted, taking out his anger on a vase on his desk, throwing it to the ground, spilling the water and the flowers he had given you just a day ago.

"We’ve been through so many things together. We’ve grown up together and fulfilled our dreams together, and now you’re leaving me for some guy you must have slept with on a whim?!"

"Do you think this is easy for me, Sebastian?" you replied, your words true for once. "Stop lying, okay? The only person who has fulfilled their dreams here is you," you said, showing your disagreement on that topic that you knew hurt you and that he had mentioned to hurt you. "While you’ve been living your life as a driver and being the center of attention, I’ve kept working in the same disgusting bar full of creepy old men I’ve been working at since I finished high school," you shouted, furious. You knew this kind of stress wasn’t good for the baby, but right now you didn’t care. "I’ve been saving as much as I could to build a prosperous future even though my salary was a pittance, composing songs and singing them with the hope that they’ll reach someone someday and not be forgotten."

"I’ve told you a million times that you don’t need to work in that fucking bar full of drunk old men who fuck you with their eyes to have a good life," he protested, now much calmer. "With what they pay me we can live comfortably. It's more than enough for both of us."

"I know," you responded calmly, though you were on the verge of an anxiety attack, "but I also know that I can achieve things on my own without anyone’s help."

The blonde let out an ironic laugh. Immediately, he crossed his arms, lifted his head, and looked at you.

"You’ve always been too stubborn, Y/N. Now I see what your future expectations are. After all, I understand: if you never got into the Berlin Art Academy on your own, and you’re still working at the same place after so long…"

You stood still, not knowing what to say or do because you knew exactly what he meant with every word that came out of his mouth. It felt like your feet were cemented to the ground; his words continuously hitting you, wanting to hurt you more and more.

"How dare you to say that to me?"

If you were already shaken and almost broken after this whole conversation, now you were completely sunk. Seeing your reaction, tears streaming down your cheeks non-stop, he seemed to regret it.

Quickly, he approached you, opening his arms intending for you to bury yourself in them. You, as stubborn as he said you were, refused not only the hug but any physical and non-physical contact he wanted to have with you.

"Y/N, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to say that," yes, that was clear, but it had already been said, and the damage was done. "I was wrong. Please forgive me."

No matter how much he kept talking, trying to apologize and make amends, there was nothing else to do.

Without saying anything else, you began to gather all your belongings from the driver’s room of who could now be considered your ex-boyfriend. You didn’t want to do it; you didn’t want to start the zero-contact phase with the boy you had loved since you were ten years old, the one who had loved you like no one ever had before and like no one ever would.

You were saying goodbye to the father of your child to venture into raising her alone so he could pursue his dream in peace and achieve all the successes he so longed for.

“What are you doing, Y/N?”

“Packing. I’m leaving.”

Your eyes were fixed on the floor, your hands fumbling with the few belongings left to pack in the small backpack you usually took to the paddock. Now, you would have to return to your hotel room and quickly pack everything into the suitcase, rush to the airport, and pray you didn’t miss the flight.

“What do you mean, you’re leaving?” the blonde frowned, incredulous. “It’s Friday, Y/N, we have the whole weekend ahead of us.”

“Well, from now on, you’ll have all the weekends to yourself,” you shook your head, unable to bear his comments trying to make you stay. “From now on, you won’t have me here on weekends, nor in your life. I’m leaving your life, and I’m not coming back,” you repeated, emphasizing the finality of your words.

Vettel was speechless at your declaration. He kept shaking his head, approaching you, trying to take your belongings, but you stopped him.

No matter how much you wanted to, you weren’t going to stay.

“What do you mean by ‘leaving my life and not coming back’?”

“It means I’m going back to Heppenheim, Sebastian,” you turned to him, trying to maintain composure. “I’m going back, you’ll also end up going back even though we live… you live in Switzerland,” you immediately corrected yourself, “but I hope we never see each other again.”

The firmness behind your words scared you. Everything was a lie that, as the conversation progressed, had grown until you doubted what was real and what wasn’t.

“I really hope you achieve everything you are working hard for,” you continued, insisting to yourself not to break down right there. “I hope you win the championship this year and get the four consecutive ones you’ve wanted for. You, more than anyone, deserve all of it, and I know you’re capable of that and much more.”

You said nothing more because you had stopped being strong. You left, without looking back, the room where you had spent much more time than imaginable, and one of the many places that made up the story starring Sebastian Vettel and you.

You carefully descended the stairs. You walked with a false sense of security through the RedBull garage, dodging any questions about why you were crying, where you were going, and if you had argued with the team’s golden boy, including the endless questions from Britta Roeske that you were trying to ignore at all costs.

You felt curious eyes following you wherever you went, but you didn’t care in the slightest. It was all done.

Now, it was just you and the little pea, or whatever size the baby was.

“Y/N, wait!”

Sebastian’s desperate shouts echoed behind you, getting closer.

You stopped dead, clutching the only strap of the backpack hanging over your shoulder. You slowly turned toward the direction the voices seemed to be coming from and saw the driver running to you, almost choking, as he wiped tears from his cheeks and even those still falling from his eyes.

“I love you, Y/N.”

His voice was choked, and his hands acted on their own. Still, it didn’t stop him from taking your face in his hands and pulling you into a kiss that unleashed a whirlwind of emotions, where you tasted each other’s tears as you had done many times in your relationship. Where you silently said millions of I love yous that only you and he knew perfectly.

“Please, don’t go, sunshine,” the German expressed. “Whatever it is, we can work on it, but please, don’t let us end.”

“I love you too, Seb, but there’s someone else.”

You finally confessed… not in the most ideal way, but in the right one, especially considering what your goal was after all this trail of lies.

“There’s a new person in my life, and I’m afraid to say that no matter how much I love you, I love them more than I love you, and I always will,” you continued, knowing that every word you were saying about your baby was true. “I love you, Sebastian Vettel, and I’ll never stop loving you, but that person is my main priority right now.”

“Have you been unfaithful?”

Sometimes silence is worth more than a thousand words. In this case, it was the exact opposite.

You stood in front of him for a few seconds, debating internally whether to answer or leave as calmly as possible, without attracting more attention than you already had. You decided on the latter because you couldn’t speak, and the tears wouldn’t let you see clearly; not to mention your judgment was so clouded that you couldn’t think clearly about the next step to end this nightmare.

You finally directed one last look at Seb; whispered that you loved him and always would, even though it was over between you.

All it took was for you to lower your head, turn around, and continue walking, fighting not to look back, to realize that you had made the biggest mistake of your life and would never, for anything in the world, be able to forgive yourself.

And you knew perfectly well that Seb wouldn’t either.

[nottsim]

— ɴᴇᴡ ᴅʀ ᴜɴʟᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ: 𝐣𝐚𝐬’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐫

══════════════

⊹ ࣪ ˖ welcome to my better cr. same me, but with rich people privileges and a roman postcode. the cobblestone streets? stunning. rome wasn’t built in a day but it will take my shoes out in one. thankfully, my bank account now pretends to support my expensive taste, so we suffer in style. independence is about to taste like espresso and fresh cornetti. am i going to thrive? we’ll see. will i commit to the bit with full enthusiasm? absolutely. ୨୧

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 - 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟖𝟒

if you thought what was in my room was fun, wait til you see what’s in my apartment, mind you it overlooks the colosseum (yes, i’m geeking). in case i haven’t made it clear this is me, living abroad with money to burn...anyways. my apartment? where do i begin? one bedroom, one bath, a spacious living room, a classic kitchen, and views so breathtaking they almost make me forget how much i’m paying in rent. just kidding. i’m financially responsible (a lie). the ceilings, you ask? high. the windows? dramatic. the natural light? so good it practically demands i become a morning person..unfortunately, i remain immune. my living room is perfect for having people over, if i ever decide to be social. otherwise, it serves its true purpose (naps). now..the kitchen? charming, classic, and mostly untouched because let’s be real i’m keeping the local restaurants in business. but i did script a grocery store nearby because i simply cannot wait to spend an absurd amount of money on fruit, fruit, and more fruit. IMAGINE THE PRODUCE. peak main character behavior is romanticizing fresh figs like they’re a personality trait. also, there’s a pilates studio within walking distance because balance (i scripted it in). will i go regularly? maybe. will i feel superior just knowing it’s there? absolutely. all that’s left is for me to dramatically sip espresso on my balcony and pretend i have no responsibilities. sigh.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐝𝐢 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚 - 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠..

you might be wondering… jasmin, what exactly are you doing in rome? excellent question. just vibing. but i figured i needed at least one semi respectable reason to leave my apartment, so i enrolled at rome’s university for marketing and graphic design. am i passionately pursuing a career? partly. due to obvious reasons, mainly perfecting the fine art of editing aesthetic pictures. clearly, this is less about career ambitions and more about having a mildly intellectual hobby (and a student visa). though, it might come in handy…am i secretly plotting to take over vogue italia? i’ll update you on that. yes. i also made sure my schedule is laughably slow paced, because stress? in this reality? couldn’t be me. i’m shifting here to romanticize my life, spend an unreasonable amount of money, and get called bella on the daily.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 - 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞

playing social life architect for this dr? a first. casting my own friend group? elite decision. enter: bianca, alessia and giulia (aka the roma gals). all born and raised in rome and fluent in girltalk and italian, naturally. did i script myself to be fluent? obviously. we’re a unit. a force of nature. so synchronized we practically communicate through looks alone..but let’s be real. i’m still their little foreigner, their beloved study abroad kid who somehow infiltrated the group and is now simply part of the infrastructure. we’re basically a packaged deal. the group chat? a constant stream of chaos. the plans? always almost canceled because of my taurus tendencies. alas, they know where i live and trust me, will show up. it’s a “just an aperitivo” turning into alessia passionately debating politics with the cab driver at 2am. simply put? i may have scripted them, but they are absolutely unscripted.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐚 - 𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐩𝐬𝐞

some things remain constant across every reality, my love for theo is one. i needed my man. this time, theo is lorenzo. same essence, different name. the multiverse is vast but somehow he always ends up here, next to me. fate? destiny? an unshakable gravitational pull? or just me refusing to script a dr without him? interpret as you will. lorenzo is basically theo, just with a rebrand. scripted differently but make no mistake, it’s still him. and this time? no acting. i simply would’ve lost my mind knowing what goes down on set. instead, he’s the ceo of a film production company in rome. he spends his time producing and marketing independent films. emphasis on independent. because mainstream nonsense? not on his watch. he’s all about classic cinema, deep character development, and historical narratives. if the script lacks substance, he’s simply not answering the call (love that for him). but don’t let the job title fool you. this man, this highly respected ceo, still zips around rome on a vespa like he’s in a 1950s arthouse film. why? because he still hasn’t gotten his driver’s license. make that make sense. his work schedule? flexible. no soul crushing 9-to-5 here. he’s selective with his projects, only taking on what aligns with his vision..basically passion projects, handpicked with precision. some men choose their battles, lorenzo chooses his films. and, apparently, chooses to never set foot in a driving school. as for us? we’re private but not a secret. media speculation? not our problem. and financially? let’s just say, between his thriving career and my ability to script whatever i want, my romanticized roman lifestyle isn’t exactly suffering.

══════════════

the script is done and the vision? fully realized, already romanticized to perfection. all that’s left is for me to step into it. when i do? consider me italian (and probably running late).

gelato in hand, 𝐣𝐚𝐬 “𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐞” ୨୧

[hollycrowned]

cipherhunt log: some sunny day

It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?

On July 27th, I went to the Hillsboro Barnes & Noble signing event for The Book of Bill. I’ve decided to come back to this account at least for a moment to write a little bit about what it was like. At the end of this post, there’s some Cipher Hunt related news, so be sure to read all the way through.

The Q&A was a lot of fun. There was excitement in the air even before the event began, with eager fans wearing Dipper hats and flannel shirts hurrying to their seats. A few fans were in cosplay, too, which was heartwarming to see. While there were several kids with their parents in the audience, most of the fans there were younger adults—which really made it hit me that the series first aired over ten years ago.

By total accident I ended up next to the door Alex stepped through and caught his entrance:

Alex has the type of charm that can get anyone laughing, and his own laughter is contagious. I didn’t record much of the talk, wanting to simply experience it, but here’s a short video I took of him talking about how The Book of Bill came about:

Over the half hour, Alex talked about the the book itself, about the show, his characters, and about creating a television series. Fans, when the mic was turned over to the audience, said what they love most about the series and asked about intentionality and the possibility of crossovers (Alex’s immediate “yes” was a hit). Alex expressed after one question that while he never could have guessed that people would like Gravity Falls so much, he’s grateful for the enduring love fans have for the show.

The event coordinator, who schooled a few questions to Alex before mic was given over to the audience, asked what I think we all want to know: “What are you working on right now?” Alex gave the answer he’s given in the past: that as is typical in Hollywood, he can’t talk about the projects he’s currently involved in.

If you were around when I was active here, you might remember that by the time I left, my focus had become to follow Alex through his career. To recap: after Gravity Falls ended, Deadline reported in 2018 that Alex had signed a multi-year exclusive contract with Netflix. Not long after, Netflix announced the opening of its own animation studio, alongside a reel showcasing some of the artists they’d recruited. The reel highlighted that this group of artists included industry legends, young talent, and diverse voices; each artist in the reel talked how excited they were for what the studio itself meant the future of animation, and for the opportunity to work there. Alex was in this reel, too.

Although I’ve moved on to other fandoms and my own creative work, I’ve kept up with movements in the animation industry. If you have, too, you may know about the massive cuts and cancellations Netflix has made in the last several years, especially to its animation department. Alex has produced and consulted on a few projects at Netflix since his contract began—chief among them Inside Job, which was initially renewed by for a second season before Netflix reversed their decision six months later and cancelled the series altogether. Shion Takeuchi, the creator of Inside Job and previous writer on Gravity Falls, confirmed the cancellation, saying “I’m heartbroken.” Alex, in a reply, expressed the same, adding, “Grateful to have had the chance to help on one of my best friends shows, for however briefly”.

In the six years since Alex signed his contract with Netflix, there have been hints that he’s been working on a series with his name on the masthead. In late 2020, he tweeted about staffing his new show:

But if his project was among the cuts Netflix made a few years after that, he gave no sign of it in his answer.

It’s jarring, and saddening, to watch that reel from 2018 with the knowledge of what has happened since. Outside of Netflix, things seem just as dire, with the dragging of AI into animation giants like Disney and Dreamworks by their corporate executives—notably, as The Animation Guilds’ contract approached its expiration date. In 2023, Vulture published an article which included testimonies from four artists who worked on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse about the unsustainable working conditions at Sony while the film was in production. Over the last few years, Warner Bros has shelved two animated films and one hybrid for multimillion-dollar tax write-offs. In addition, their subsidiary HBO Max purged multiple animated series from its catalogue, denying the artists who worked on them access to their own works—and for some of them, residuals as well.

The final question at the Q&A was from a fan who said that they’re currently in school for animation. They asked Alex if he had any advice for new animators trying to break into the industry. Immediately, my mind went to all of that news I linked in the paragraphs above. I listened intently…

Alex’s response did not have hopelessness in it. He did talk, foremost and with humor, about how risky it is to pursue art as a career, especially at this moment—laughed, as he ended a sentence with, “Don’t go into the arts.” But he moved on from that, and gave an even more honest reply: hone your skills, put your work out there, and don’t give up. Be persistent, share what you make, make what you love. Make sure it’s easy for people to contact you, explore feelings through your work even when it’s uncomfortable, and show your work to others, even though it’s scary. Alex also remarked on creating itself being hard work, from the raw process to putting your art out there to taking criticism to learning from what didn’t work and applying it to your drafts and future projects. Hard work, challenging in more ways than one, on top of an unforgiving cultural moment, yes—but keep going. Keep creating.

Keep making art.

Then the Q&A ended, and the signing began. I found myself at the end of the line, but I didn’t mind; neither did anyone else waiting with me. In the moments when I wasn’t chatting with other fans, I thought about that last question and Alex’s response.

There is little that is easy about being an artist these days. I have come to know this by having friends who are artists, by following the careers and accounts of other artists, by reading the news, and—since becoming an artist myself—finding out firsthand. But I have come to know, just as well, that the best remedy for these ills is community. Whether you create art as a hobby or you have a career in the arts, whether your medium is collaborative or solitary in nature: in the face of intolerable working conditions, cutthroat corporations and corner-cutting clients, the advantages they take, the instability and uncertainty, and what all artists can relate to: the challenges of the creative process itself—it’s the support of your fellow artists that helps you survive. It helps art survive. A community that creates alongside you can give trusted critique, celebrate with you, stand up for you, introduce you to other artists you can learn from, and give what is necessary for so many of us to create at all: encouragement. A voice that says, keep creating. This gives to the world what is necessary for us all: more art.

If tech companies develop their AI by stealing from artists, if the c-suites who own the studios see artists as disposable, with the way freelancing can throw water on creative fire, if popular opinion increasingly trends toward art only having as much value as money it makes, then we must support each other. Helpful, practical advice given by a successful artist on how to succeed in the arts in this particular moment is a gem to anyone who is reaching for that goal. But invaluable and eternal is example; not just of success, but of how to be good to your fellow artists—and in turn, to yourself.

And I just think that’s how an artist ought to be.

As the line moved, and I got close enough to see the signing table across the room, I watched Alex greet the fans ahead of me. I found that he was as sweet to people as I always have heard he is, as I remember from watching the Periscopes he appeared in during Cipher Hunt: generous with his time, genuine, and good-natured. One fan skipped away from the table with their book, and a big smile on their face.

And then it was my turn.

When you meet him, he looks you in the eye. I always forget, until I shake someone else’s hand, how small my own hands are. I told him my name is Holly. He asked, “Spelled how it sounds?” I spelled it for him, reflexively, before I could fully process the question and simply say yes. I said lightheartedly that he must be extra happy to see us, being that we were at the end of the line—it was over three hours after the event had begun—and he said, “I’m sorry you all had to wait for this long.” While he was signing my copy, I asked if he was enjoying Portland—though what I really meant to ask was if he was happy to be back in the PNW, in the summertime. He said yes, he loves it here.

It all happened so fast, with me completely forgetting that I’d passed my phone to a kind father of some fans waiting near me in line, and I almost walked away without getting a picture with him. When you meet a celebrity crush from your younger years, it has you reckon with how the part of you who crushed back then has walked with you through time—in what ways who you were back then is still a part of who you are now, and who you want to be. And, of course, it gets your heart beating a little faster, too.

There was much more I wanted to ask him (this has never stopped being the case), but there were other fans waiting for their turn, and he had given his time to just shy of 150 people already. So I smiled at him, and said thank you, and moved along.

I am, and always will be, excited to see anything Alex makes. Hearing him talk about his art, and artistry, and being an artist, was beyond wonderful; not only young Holly’s wish come true, but inspiring for Holly, today—as an artist in my own right. In the years since I retired this account, as I’ve read all this news about the industry, I’ve often wondered how Alex has been. I am very happy and grateful I was lucky enough to get a ticket to the signing, and meet him.

And finally…the Cipher Hunt news.

First: the fan waiting in front of me in the signing line (I’m so sorry I didn’t get your name, but if you’re reading this, I hope you had a safe and smooth flight back home!) said she had been to Confusion Hill recently, and that Bill and the treasure box are still there. I haven’t been to Confusion Hill since I last went in 2017–before COVID—but I think about Bill and the treasure box all the time. It made me so happy to hear that fans are still visiting and exchanging treasures. I hope I get to go again, someday soon.

The second announcement: by chance, I happened to meet a fan who is working on a documentary about Cipher Hunt. I introduced myself and said I’d be more than happy to help out with the project! The creator, Keyan Carlile, can be found on both Twitter and YouTube. I hope you’ll follow along!

I met so many other lovely fans while waiting in line, as well. There is still so much affection and excitement for this series, and it was so nice to step back into the fandom, if only or a moment. If we spoke with each other: it was so nice to meet you! Maybe our paths will cross again, someday. And to everyone, all of the fans who were there, and all of you out there with The Book of Bill:

happy reading!! ∆

[twinklingstar1ights]

Wrong Number

Sunwoo Summary: A text that was meant for your best friend ends up going to Sunwoo. At first you wanted to die of embarrassment, yet you still find yourself texting him for some reason.  WC:~2.5k Warning:none

photo not mine credits to owner.

“This is why I told you it was a bad idea to use your phone while taking a bath,” you told your best friend as you typed their new number into your phone. 

“Look it wasn’t like I was planning on drowning it in the tub,” they responded. “Plus I needed a new phone anyway,” they added. 

“Yeah a phone that was a little over a year old was just on its last days,” you remarked, causing your best friend to scoff.

“Ok, whatever,” they say. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know you’re going to think that I’m being stupid but Jay may or may not have texted me asking to go out and I may or may not have said yes.

Sunwoo stares very perplexed at the text from a random number that appeared on his phone screen. 

Sorry I think you texted the wrong number.

He texted back. 

You feel your stomach drop. Of course your best friend would get their new number wrong and now you’ve texted a complete stranger about your dumb relationship decisions. “Haha sorry” you type out. No, I can't send that.  You delete the text. “Oops sorry” No. Again you delete the words. “Sorry to bother you” That could work or maybe not. While you're trying to figure out how to apologize to the stranger you just texted, another text comes in from them. 

If you know it’s a stupid idea to go out with whoever this Jay guy is, why would you say yes though?

Sunwoo couldn’t help it. He was nosy and maybe he could stop a bad relationship before it started. That’s what he tells himself. He’s helping a poor soul avoid a no good situation. Not sticking his nose in a stranger's business. 

Well Umm …cause I like him

You don’t know why you responded to the stranger. It really wasn’t any of his business. Though it’s not like you could talk to your best friend about it right now, so maybe that’s why you responded. 

Ah so you like a trash guy?

Well that was blunt you think looking at the text. 

He’s not trash!

You argued, despite knowing that Jay was indeed trash. He already stood you up before with the excuse that he got caught up with work. It wasn’t even a good lie, but you chose to believe it nonetheless. 

Sunwoo chuckled at your text on his screen. This Jay guy was clearly trash.

Then why is going out with him stupid? 

Ok so maybe he’s not the best guy, but I still like him God no wait that sounds so pathetic  Why am I like this?

Again Sunwoo laughs as your text ring in. Whoever you were, you were clearly a poor girl caught up on a trash guy. 

It’s ok at least you’re self aware

You scoff seeing the stranger’s response. 

Look I know I look really pathetic right now, but haven’t you ever liked someone despite knowing you’re better off without them?

You prompted. 

Sunwoo wishes that he could say that he hasn’t but he has. He’s like someone that he shouldn’t have and he’s held on too tightly to friendships that were dying. 

I have But you should really do yourself a favor an cancel that date Save yourself the hurt

Your lips tug into a line, looking down at your phone. Save yourself the hurt. Do yourself a favor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You didn’t do yourself a favor. Jay was thirty minutes late to your twos date. You check your phone for the nth time looking for a text from Jay. There was none. Just when you were about to leave. 

“So sorry I’m late!” It was Jay. “My boss sprung last minute work on us,” he excused. You wanted to believe it, so you did. 

“It’s ok. I’m glad that you’re here,” you smiled at him. 

“Me too,” he smiled at you taking his seat. See he wasn’t a trash guy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I can’t believe you actually went out with him!” your best friend scolds you through the phone.

“It was a nice date!” you defended. 

“He was thirty minutes late!” they reminded you. 

“I told you that was cause of his boss,” you said. 

“Do you really believe that? If he was going to be late he should have told you,” they argued. You couldn’t argue back against that. You know Jay should have told you that he was going to be late, yet you still dumbly chose to dismiss it. 

“He should have, but wants to go out again and he promised he would be on time this time,” you say. 

“Oh my god you’re really going to keep seeing him? Y/n he’s playing with you!” your best friend states. 

“No he’s not!” you refuted. “I’ll prove you wrong too,” you insisted. 

“He’s the one who has to prove me wrong,” they corrected. 

“Whatever, just wait and see. He and I are gonna be happy together.” With that you end the call.

So if a guy was thirty minutes late to a date then promised that he wouldn’t be late to the next one, would you believe him?

 You found yourself texting the stranger again. 

Sunwoo sighs, shaking his head when he receives your text. You weren’t doing yourself a favor, you were digging yourself a hole. 

As a guy I’m telling you not to believe him If a guy is late to a date he’s not serious about you

So this stranger is a guy you think. You sigh after reading the rest of his messages though. All signs point to not going out with Jay, but keep turning a blind eye to them. 

What if he really was caught up with work though?

You couldn’t help it. You had to give Jay the benefit of the doubt. 

It takes seconds to shoot a text

Again you sigh.  You know that, but you don’t want to fault Jay. 

I know

Did you at least call him out for it?

…

Sunwoo shakes his head in disbelief. How could a girl let herself get treated like that?

Please don’t go out with him again You deserve better

Even a stranger is telling you that you deserve better. 

Thanks

That’s not an “I won’t”  My name is Sunwoo btw

Y/n and I’ll think about it

You type Sunwoo’s name into the contact, feeling a feeling that you can’t describe. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You thought about it, but you still ended up going on that date with Jay. Who was only fifteen minutes late this time. This time his excuse was having to help his mom. He didn’t even bother to say what he was supposedly helping her with. To make things worse you didn’t even ask, you just took his word for it. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I can’t believe you agreed to be with him! Like officially!” Yes Jay was your boyfriend now and your best friend was not so happy about it to say the least. 

“He’s really not that bad,” you argued. 

“Not that bad,” they quoted giving you a face. 

“Ok I worded that wrong, but you know how much I like him and he likes me,” you say. 

“For now,” your best friend whispered under their breath. 

“Hey-” You were cut off by the sound of your phone going off. It was a text. 

“Please tell me that’s not him,” your best friend begged. 

“No, it’s Sunwoo,” you inform. 

“Sunwoo?” they question. 

“Yeah the stranger I ended up texting when you gave me the wrong number,” you tell.

“You still talk to him?” Now your best friend was more interested in your continued talking with Sunwoo than your poor relationship choices. 

“Yeah we talk,” you said. 

“About what?” they arched a playful brow at you. 

“...Jay” 

“Oh,” your best friend says very unimpressed. “Well what does he think of Jay?” 

“Same as you. That I should do myself a favor and not be with him,” you answer. 

“I like this Sunwoo guy. Date him instead,” they insist. 

“Aye it’s not like that,” you say. 

“But certainly there is some reason that you’re still texting him. Even found out his name,” they pointed. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey Sunwoo What do you do for work? Or are you still going to school?

Suddenly interested in me? Did you end things with that piece of trash? I work at an instrument repair shop though

No I’m still with Jay I was just curious

Sunwoo feels a pang of disappointment in his chest. He hated knowing that you were with someone who was no good for you. 

Oh Well what do you do for work?

I work in advertising 

That actually sounds cool Do you like it?

It can be a hassle at times but overall I enjoy it

Sunwoo’s and your conversation drifted away from the topic of Jay. Instead talking about your daily lives. You find that you did quite like Sunwoo as a person. He could be a bit blunt and a menace sometimes, but he was nice overall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok you seriously need to break up with this Jay guy

You feel  slightly confused by Sunwoo’s newest text. You knew that he didn’t like Jay by any means, but to say that you should break up with him so randomly was odd. 

Umm excuse you??

No seriously you are so beautiful

He sends you an attached image of yourself. 

Too beautiful to be with a piece of trash

Stalking me now

You text playfully. 

I simply searched for your company it’s not my fault your photo comes up as a part of the staff

You couldn’t help yourself from looking up Sunwoo. You feel like your world freezes as you look at his picture. 

Sunwoo you’re single right?

Why?  Wanna break up with Jay after seeing my picture?

No I just mean with a face like your certainly you would have someone

I suppose there is someone I’m interested in But they’re currently with a piece of trash so

Sunwoo

You know I’m right

Normally Sunwoo didn’t mind too much when you left him on read, but given what he just said, he does feel a slight panic when you stop responding. Maybe he said too much. Maybe he was a little too blunt. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You haven’t texted Sunwoo in weeks. His half-confession was affecting you way more than it should have been. You were with Jay. You liked Jay, so how come all you could think about was Sunwoo? How come your heart skipped a beat at Sunwoo saying he was interested in you? Why do you miss seeing Sunwoo’s name light up your phone screen?

“Why are you so moppy? Did Jay do something?” Your best friend asks, plopping down beside you on your couch.

“What? No he’s…Jay” you reply. 

“That’s it? He’s Jay? Did you finally realize how horrible he is? Is that it?” your best friend does a bad job at hiding the bit of excitement in their voice.

“Could you give it a rest Sunwoo is a great guy!” you state. 

“Sunwoo?” Your best friend's eyes widen as do yours upon the realization that you said his name and not Jay’s. 

“I-I meant-”

“No, no you said Sunwoo,” they cut you off. You sigh, sinking into the couch and bringing your hands to your face. “What’s going on?” they questioned. 

“I don’t know. A few weeks ago Sunwoo told me that he was interested in me and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him since,” you explain. 

“Interested in you? Like he wants to date you?” your best friend checks.

“I think so,” you say.

“You think so?” they repeat. 

“I haven’t talked to him since,” you tell.

“Oh my god! Y/N!” they shout. 

“I know!” you shout back. “It’s just….I might be interested in him too,” you admit. “But I don’t know, I’m confused.” 

“Do you miss him?” they asked you. 

“Yeah, a lot actually,” you answer. 

“Miss who?” they questioned. 

“Sunwoo. Who else would-oh.” Jay. It only occurs to you now that you haven’t spoken to Jay in a couple days. 

“You like Sunwoo,” your best friend states. 

“Yeah, I do,” you finally admit to yourself. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You’re breaking up with me? You? With me?” Jay pointed at you then at himself offendedly.

“Yeah, I am,” you declare. 

“No! Why? You were so pathetically in love with me. Now you’re breaking up with me?” he says. 

“Pathetically?” You repeat. 

“Yeah pathetically. I stood you up once. Then continued to be late to our dates, but you never even said anything. Even believed my lies. I was never really busy, I just didn’t care to be on time,” he reveals. It’s nothing you didn’t already know though. 

“I know that you were lying, but yeah you were right I used to like you so pathetically that I decided to turn a blind eye to it, but not anymore I’m done with you Jay,” you end things. Jay scoffs. 

“Fine, I’ve been seeing other girls anyway.” With that he walks away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your fingers repeatedly tap against the small table of the cafe you were currently at. Foot bouncing up and down as you looked down at the unsent text in the text bar.

I broke up with Jay

You stare anxiously at the text. It has been close to a month now since you last texted Sunwoo. As you wait for his response you begin to think that you ruined things between you and him. 

Finally!

His response came through. A relieved breath leaves your lungs. A smile adorns your lips as you look at his name on your phone. 

So when you said you were interested in me

“I meant that I liked you.” 

You looked up surprised at the sudden voice beside you.

“Sunwoo? What are you doing here?” Sunwoo chuckles as he slides into the seat across from you on the other side of the table. 

“I saw you post this cafe on your story and since you’ve been avoiding me I thought maybe it was time we met in person,” he explained. 

“So you are stalking me?” you say playfully. Sunwoo smiles at your playfulness.

“So why did you finally break up with him?” he questioned. 

“Cause you were right he was trash,” you say. “And maybe I realized that I liked this stranger I texted on accident,” you confess. 

“So I didn't upset you?” Sunwoo asked, feeling relieved.

“Upset me?”

“The last time we texted I thought maybe I upset you or made you uncomfortable by telling you that I was interested in you and that you should leave that piece of trash for me,” he chuckled at the end. 

“No, I started to be confused about who I really liked after you said that. I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” you explained. 

“Well I can’t stop thinking about you either,” he says. He reached his hand across the table to hold yours. You hold his hand back, enjoying the feeling of his palm covering yours. It felt right. “Let me take you out on a date,” he said. Obviously you agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You’re early,” you say walking up to Sunwoo as you arrive at your date spot. 

“I couldn’t wait to see you,” he replied, taking your hand in his and bringing it up to kiss your knuckles. 

Yeah you were so glad that your best friend messed up and gave you the wrong number, Sunwoo’s number. 

[ladykailitha]

You pardon me, I'm getting a little foamy at the mouth about this and if I don't rant about it, I may explode.

Lucas and the Game.

Which game? Both of them. Basketball and D&D. Because honestly I am a little lot weary of Eddie getting the lion share of the blame for what happened that Friday. Like I legit saw someone suggest that the school move the basketball game. Like what now?

Did Eddie make some CHOICEStm? Yes, yes he did. Lucas did not go to the dark side for playing a sport.

HOWEVER!

Lucas made some choices of his own.

Now, my information is 20 years old and I'm doing this based on memory, so if I get things wrong, also know I am from a different state than Indiana.

The play offs and championship games are announced ahead of time. There is no way Lucas was told THAT day that Hawkins was playing in the championship game. He had three days on the inside and a week on the outside of knowing when the game was.

Also take into consideration that the likelihood of Lucas PLAYING in said championship game is astronomical. Like the starting lineup and all the second string players would have to injured or fouled out before he could play. Because he's a freshman. He would have to wait out all the sophomores, juniors, and seniors(grades 10-12 respectively) before the coach would put him in. As opposed to a game that not only would he be playing in, he would be considered a valued member.

But as a club, Hellfire probably had set days they could meet. (Also, also, who the teaching advisor for that club and where the hell were they at any point during that season?)

So for most of the school year, the Hellfire club met on Fridays. Lucas would have known that.

So he had a few days to tell Eddie that he wouldn't be able to make it to the finale of their campaign, and he didn't. Then he didn't have to courage to tell Eddie himself and made Dustin and Mike do it.

So here's Eddie, president of the club (though, I can only imagine he was because no else wanted it, as something tells me I don't think they would have a let a double super senior president of anything), being told he's going to be down a player or be forced to move it. Something the other members of the club didn't want to do.

So why does Lucas's choice matter, but Gareth, Jeff, and the Unnamed Freak's choices don't?

So Eddie has to make a decision. Move it, find a replacement, or cancel it all together.

But since it was Dustin and Mike who brought to his attention THEY can find a replacement.

Because here's the thing about D&D and especially about being a DM. You build the fight based around the characters' abilities, classes, and magical items. And there is a lovely thing called CR or challenge rating. It's based on a party of four but can be adjusted for how many players you have. So a CR 10 would be a monster or fight that would take FOUR level 10 characters to beat. So six players, he would probably throw a CR 12 or 13 because of the extra players.

And if they are down a player it can really fuck things up, because what do you scale back and how?

We don't know what level all the characters were or what their classes were. We know that Lucas HAD played a ranger in the past so lets go with that. And since we know EXACTLY what Erica's character was: a level 14 half-elf rogue, so Lucas was probably of a similar level. And let me tell you TWO complete different skill sets.

Which is probably why the group is decimated at the end. Rangers are long range (heh) and rogues are better up close and personal. If Erica hadn't rolled a natural 20 both her and Dustin would have been dead when Vecna took his turn.

Sorry, I got off track a bit with the D&D stuff. But the purpose of that was to show that Lucas bailing last minute would have fucked things up for Eddie.

So TL;DR is that Lucas chose a game that he would likely be on the bench for for all of the game over a game he was an active participant in, didn't tell Eddie for DAYS and made his friends do it last minute, and then demanded the campaign get moved at the cost of the other members of the club's wants, and all because he wanted to be popular.

So, no. Eddie should NOT apologize for not catering to the wants of one member of his club over the needs of everyone else in said club. Maybe a bit on the traitor thing, but not moving the finale because Lucas thought basketball was more important? Nah...

[hoshiko2000]

So with production for Good Omens Season 3 officially halted, it does look like cancellation may be on the horizon. Because yeah, I really don't think Amazon would 'pause' production on a show this lucrative if there wasn't serious discussions currently going on about 'if' and 'how' it should continue. A production shuffle-up - ie. Neil Gaiman getting booted and new staff being put in charge - is certainly a possibility. But it is important to remember that this will still be a show that is written by him and very intrinsically linked to his brand. And whether fans or studios will still have an appetite for it considering this fact is something that has to be seriously considered.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that as disappointing as it would be, cancelling Good Omens season 3 may be the hard but right decision. And, frankly, if season 2 is anything to go by, we may not be missing out on too much to be honest.

But on a serious note, I do want to use this news as an opportunity to share my own thoughts on the situation, which I will do under the cut (and as is probably obvious, there are trigger warnings for references to SA).

Despite Neil Gaiman's works being a massive part of my content here on this tumblr - and yes, that is something I am very aware of- I've not posted about the sexual assault allegations up until now for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I'm a working adult in my 30s; tumblr is very much a place I come to chill, I'm far too old (and frankly, tired) to get involved in discourse or heated fandom debates (not that those are the correct terms to use to refer to rape allegations but you catch my drift). But the other reason is that these revelations have honestly devasted me, in a way that I'm still processing and doesn't feel like an exaggeration to describe as grief, a feeling I'm sure is echoed by many other people.

Neil Gaiman's works have been a massive part of my adult life, and while I know it sounds like a cliche, they have gotten me through some incredibly difficult times. Coming to terms with the fact that such beautiful, thoughtful, empathetic novels and series have been written by a rapist has been incredibly difficult.

What has also been incredibly difficult to come to terms with is the fact that the incredible queer representation that has drawn so many of us to his television works in recent years was, in hindsight, indisputably a grooming tactic. And yes, grooming is the right word.

The grooming of communities is not something that is often discussed but is absolutely a thing. Predators groom victims to gain access to them, and they groom the people around both the victim and themselves to make it seem unbelievable when the victim later comes forward. And this can happen parasocially too. In the case of Neil Gaiman, he groomed his fanbase by constructing a calculated image as vocal a LGBT ally, drawing in queer fans and creating a smokescreen of apparent empathy and kindness to cast doubt on the future allegations he likely knew would inevitably catch up with him.

I really want to stress - particularly for younger fans - that no one is stupid or somehow culpable for having been fooled by Gaiman, for having supported his works previously, and for continuing to support his works now. I myself have no intention to leave the fandoms I am already a part of, and I genuinely do not believe anyone is under any sort of pressure or obligation to do so. The separation of the art from the artist is a very tricky subject and not something that can ever be done entirely. And if I'm honest I'm not really sure how to navigate this myself, or what this is going to mean for me in the future.

But to get back to the subject of my blog, yes I am planning to continue reposting content related to Good Omens and Dead Boy Detectives. However the latter differs drastically in that the series was not actually written by Neil Gaiman and is effectively an author-approved spin-off of one of his works. Good Omens on the other hand I have more complicated feelings towards, and at this point I am not sure how I feel about future series being made, with or without Gaiman's involvement.

I'm sorry if this post is a rambling mess, it has taken me a lot of time to build up to being able to share my thoughts, and while there is a lot more I could say I will stop here. But on a closing note, let's just be kind to each other. This situation is awful, lets not make it any worse. Give space for the victims, give space for the fans, and give space to people to continue to enjoy fandom spaces without making assumptions about where they stand on these allegations. It is a hard time, but things will get better, and these fandom spaces will continue to be a positive place for people to exist online. Lets keep it that way.

[starlordcumidk]

New Kind of Love

~chapter 2~

word count: 3.2k

notes: slight ooc, reader wears glasses, this is an AU of TASM!Peter where he is a fraternity brother. reader is portrayed as rude/stand-offish. reader is a tad neurodivergent. playful banter. please read this knowing that i am a newer author and the plot is based on a song.

warnings: not proofread, minor cursing? does that count?

author note: i am not super proud of this chapter but i really am losing my own plot atp

I can't help myself And you don't have to say that

Monday, October 28th, 2024

The weekend was spent debating on if you should or shouldn’t add Peter into your contacts. After a heavy debate, you messaged Delilah, hoping she would have some good advice for you in your time of need. 

you: lillaahhhhhh i need help :(((( Delilah: whats wrong ? you: you know that weird spider guy in the courtyard i was telling you about? Delilah: uhhhhh kinda. why ? you: me and him have to work on a project for my science class together and he wants me to add him into my contacts you: but he's kinda dumb, so i haven’t yet. he even called me ‘trouble’????! you: i don’t think it’s a good idea Delilah: u got a pet name, cute just add him dude idk  you: noted. i’ll input his contact i guess. Delilah: happy to help bb <33 talk soon

You groan and put your phone onto your bedside table. English was cancelled this morning so you get a few more minutes to evaluate your life decisions before having to meet up with Peter. He was… a lot to handle, honestly. He left a note on your desk this morning, very middle-school-boy-esque. It was still in your pocket, a little wrinkled but it felt like it was burning a hole.

‘Trouble- come to the frat party this friday? Check yes or no :))’

Obviously, you were not going to be caught dead at that party. Nothing he said would have pushed you to. Humid air and sweaty bodies bumping into one another, alcohol smells swirling in the air– the thought alone made you sick. 

You hated the way he was so… forward. It was weird, you didn’t get it. So many things about him intrigued you, and you didn’t get it. Why was he the one person in your handful of years at this school that piqued your interest? It made you angry, sick to your stomach, a weird flutter deep in it that made you want to punch something.

A ding from your phone signals a new email, leaning over slightly, you grab it and see the devil’s name.

—-------------

<pbparker@empire.edu

Hey trouble, my class ended early. Wanna meet up soon?

Peter B. Parker

Get Outlook for iOS>

—-------------

You groan and send a quick reply agreeing, asking where he wanted to meet today and if he had any new notes to share. Standing from your bed to grab your shoes and a light jacket, you feel your phone buzz again.

—-------------

<pbparker@empire.edu 

You still in Siebert Hall? I'm right by there, we can meet up at your dorm or the courtyard?

Peter B. Parker

Get Outlook for iOS>

—-------------

Your heart leaps as you look across your room, examining the space and hoping it wasn’t a mess. There were some snack wrappers here and there and you immediately feel the itch to clean. Before you can even think to respond, you tidy up. You make your bed and turn on the floor lamp in the corner to make the space look less cold.

Once it was to your liking you sent a response telling him which floor and room was yours in Siebert this school year. You’d rarely had anyone but Delilah and your parents in your room. Well, outside of the one guy you hooked up with for a few weeks on and off your freshman year. But that was always in the dark and he never got to stay longer than an hour or two. 

After a few minutes there's a knock at the door, and you move quickly, opening it and looking up to meet Peter’s stupidly pretty eyes.

“Hey there,” he says your name again, and you may like the way it sounds when he does, “ready to get our hurricane on?” His stupid smile accompanies the words and you step aside for him to come in. 

“Hey, yea. Come on in.” You say before he nods, walking in and looking around at all your posters, nick-nacks and even just the pattern of your bed spread. 

He points to the ceiling light and has a raised brow. “Not a fan of the school issued LED rods?” 

You shake your head, crossing your arms over your chest. “Not really? It overwhelms my eyes.”

“No me too, I get it. I like the coziness here.” His arms gesture to your bed, and your left to just stare at him. He took up so much space in your small room, but it looked almost natural. 

“Uh- thanks. You can sit there while we do our research if you want?” You offer it before you can think straight, quickly regretting your decision. 

It's almost like a flash of lightning, he is quickly sitting on your bed, shoving his shoes off and onto the rug just below. He is so naturally fit to your space and it knocks the sense out of you. Your eyes are locked onto him as you stand just a few feet away from him. He smiles at you, showing off his slightly crooked lips before digging into his bag, pulling out his laptop and a very, very nice camera. 

“You let your laptop get destroyed but have a well taken care of camera?” You ask before sitting at your desk and opening your own laptop, a small laugh escaping you. 

“Well I need the camera way more than the computer, obviously.” He said with a touch of irony, a playful grin on his face. 

“Really?” You said incredulously, fighting back a smile.

“Yea. I mostly take pictures of nature. Some spiders, some portraits.” He shrugs, his sarcasm dropping entirely, and before you can say anything he starts typing on his laptop and speaks again. “I did some research over the weekend. Did you know that hurricanes and tropical storms are named alphabetically?”

“Yea. I’ve lived through a handful.” You shrug and start up your outline file, looking at where you left off last time you were with him. It was pretty barren and you started to slowly fill out your portions. 

“I mean me too, I just never pieced it together. We’re gonna have to name ours something special.” He spoke so gently as he folded one leg under himself, the other dangling off the edge of your bed. 

“Like what?” You look up at him, your eyes locking on his bent over frame, something endearing about how he was squinting his eyes at the laptop screen. 

He shrugged, his fingers thrumming softly against the keyboard, something in his mind turning before looking up at you. “Benjamin? Gwendolyne, maybe?” His voice isn’t the usual cheery, all confident tone. There’s something more behind it, and if you were better at social cues, maybe you’d understand it. 

“We can go with either one, whatever you’d like.” You speak gently, trying not to offend or sound rude in any way. The look on his face is drawing you in, the downturn of his mouth, the slight fog in his eyes, it’s so… beautiful. 

Peter nods and quickly turns back to look at the computer, editing the shared document. But you just keep staring… the way the light from your window is filtering in casting a blue glow on his face, his eyes flashing golden, the freckles that were almost hidden popping out. For whatever reason, you couldn’t help but feel captivated by it all. 

You must’ve been staring for a while, because when Peter let out a soft chuckle and looked up at you, you felt embarrassed.

Your attention quickly moved back to the screen in front of you where you read some of the portions he had filled out while you were ogling at his unrealistic features. The embarrassment faded into anger, red hot and biting at your cheeks.

“It’s okay to stare.” He said, cockily, laying back against your bed. 

Oh you could kill him right now. You typed angrily, ignoring the words he said, ignoring his presence. 

He said your name once, twice. The third time made your ears ring, but you kept typing out random, probably false, hurricane facts into different parts of your half of the outline. His gaze was burning into your face, feeling his eyes roam over the slope of your nose, the way your lips were tightened into a flat line, and then it was gone. 

You could have sighed in relief that he finally stopped examining your face until you saw that stupid orange line blinking next to your cursor.

you’re kinda cute when you're embarrassed

Everything in you stalled before you cleared what he wrote after your tidbit on the casualties of the last hurricane. He barked out a laugh and you groaned, sinking into your desk chair.

—-------------

The session went quick after that, ending with you shooing him away and locking the door behind him. It was going to be a very long, very painful semester with him. 

You reach for your phone to text Delilah and pause, deciding it would be better not to.

—-------------

Wednesday, October 30th, 2024

You were late to class, rushing down the hall as you double checked your phone for the nth time. The decision to go into the lecture hall through the back door was made way before you reached the science building.

But now, entering the back of the room, eyes meet yours as you huff out a breath. Catching your breath was hard as you stared at your usual seat, taken by some random girl you never noted or cared to learn the name of. It made you angry, sure they weren’t assigned seats but everyone knew that once someone sits somewhere more than once it’s their seat by proxy. 

Before you could stew over it a hand tugged at your backpack strap, making you falter a bit and look down, seeing Peter smile up at you and nod to an empty desk right next to him. 

It was either there or on the floor… you chose the former and quickly took out your notebook, looking up towards the front of the class and having to squint. You yearned for the new pair of glasses that was taking a million years to get to you. 

But Peter put his notebook on your desk, tapping it and leaning ever so slightly. “It’s one of her lengthy presentations.” His hand snaked over the back of your chair and you blinked at the words, no, paragraphs in front of you. 

You give him a small nod as thanks before copying his notes and catching up on the slides currently flashing over the screen as Dr. Howard drones on. 

Peter watches you the whole class, his chest tight as you focus on the lecture he decided the moment you walked in wasn’t important enough to listen to. You were taking over all his senses, he could hear each huffed breath when the professor changed the slide before you finished taking notes, the smell of your shampoo, perfume, perhaps it was a strangely floral detergent. Whatever it was, his nose was lathered in it.

He almost hated that his heightened sense made him so aware of you, aware of everything that could signal to him that you were in the room. In any room. 

Yesterday he could hear you talking on the phone from across the courtyard, he searched for you, left his frat brothers on the grass patch to try and find you but you’d disappeared. He waited to hear your voice again, but there was nothing, no sign of you in the courtyard anymore. 

And now, as he watched you scribble down your notes, watched you chew on your lip, it made his mind wander, imagining what could possibly make you think so hard your teeth found a home there. 

It was too much for him, even when the alarm sounded from the speakers in the room. The same stupid one that sounded every class period, and you finally looked at him and furrowed your brows, giving him that beautifully crafted look of skepticism. 

“Thank you.” It sounded so surreal as he blinked a few times and realized you had his notebook held out for him. When he took it he realized you’d erased and respelt some of the words in his notes. 

“You rewrote a part of my notes?” He asked with a raspy laugh, shaking his head a bit as he saw your curved lettering, staring at the way you tried to blend it in with his handwriting.

You just shrugged and carefully pulled your bag back over your shoulders. “You misspelled sequestration. Thought I’d save you the point on the next notebook quiz.” Something about that made his heart pound in his ears and he stood slowly from his seat, tucking the notes into his bag and examining your expression. It was usually cold, steely, and… right now it seemed a little softer before you cleared your throat and made to move around him. 

“See you in the free period, Peter.” You spoke so softly, so distant. He watched as you disappeared with the hoard of classmates filing out of the lecture hall. And then his phone buzzed, he looked at it and saw a short text. 

i’ll be in study room e, btw - ”trouble” (stupid nickname)

He felt a little triumphant that he now had your number, a small part of him wanted to click his heels, maybe even skip to his next class.

—-------------

Noon came all too quickly, but you were already in the study room you specified when you had messaged Peter. A part of you felt like an idiot giving him your number that way. Maybe you should have made him work for it, but it was too late now. 

You had your textbook out and typed out a few things, humming a song to yourself. Gently tapping your foot to the beat as you get lost in your work. Time faded away as you continued, finding the different ways a community could rebuild after a category five hurricane.

The clock ticked a bit louder, causing you to rip your bleary eyes up and look at the time. It was already one o’clock. A pang of disappointment rattled in your chest but you shook your head, continuing to work anyway, who needed his help anyway…. 

Then your phone buzzed, and you opened it to see a text from him.

Peter: Got caught in something. Be there soon, Trouble, I promise. 

And it made your stomach flip a little. A stupid feeling, you told yourself. But you quickly messaged back. 

you: if you’re not here in 15 minutes, i’m leaving

Peter: I promise, ten minutes, maybe less.

You didn’t respond, you just put your phone down and went back to work, a mental reminder to leave when the fifteen minute window you allotted him in the forefront of your thoughts.

But, just as he promised, he walked in about nine minutes after he sent his last message. His hair was mussed, as if he had a hat on a few minutes ago and his skin was sheen with sweat. 

“Sorry I’m late, I got stuck at the frat house because the underclassmen are… I think they’re trying to manipulate me out of the master bedroom.” He laughed, something hidden under it, you could sense it but don’t push. 

“I won’t wait forty-five minutes for you again.” You said it gently, but there was a bite to it, one you hadn’t intended to use. 

Peter sucked in a breath, deciding what to say as he pulled out his laptop, looking at you for a long pause. “Technically,” he paused, looking at your hands as you typed before continuing about twenty seconds later, “I was only thirty-nine minutes late.”

You looked at him with narrowed eyes and your nostrils flared a bit and he laughed, his stupid boyish laugh. Something in you bloomed, but it wasn’t anger, maybe it was bemusement. “Peter, hands, laptop, type.” You started to over-exaggerate your typing, rolling your eyes as you focused on your screen again.

He let out a small breath, still amused at your look but gave into the order, but not without saying “Yes ma’am.” 

God you could hit him, flexing your fingers over the keyboard was all you could do to fight the urge. 

You both sat in silence, the only sound ringing through the study room was the clicking of keys and small sighs– mostly from Peter. Until you got lost in your research again and started humming, tapping your foot. 

After what felt like maybe 30 minutes, you took a glance up at Peter, chewing on his lip and squinting at the computer screen in front of him. The crinkle of his eyes made his eyelashes look impossibly long, complimenting his impossibly beautiful eyes. The sight of him was continuously making you think like an artist, over examining his eye color and the way his nose was slightly pink. 

You kept staring though, trying to pinpoint exactly what about him made you feel so… interested. What on his face made you want to stare at him? Was it the freckles? The dimple when he smiled, which was on full display at the moment.

Why was he smiling right now? Then you looked up at him and realized he was staring right back at you, smiling. It made you blink a few times, knowing he caught you staring again. 

You felt the nerves build back up, embarrassed that he caught you staring twice, but more embarrassed that you’d been staring at him at all. The nape of your neck heated and you thinned your lips into a tight line.

“You, by the way, are cute when you’re embarrassed.” His voice was filled with playfulness as he spoke, his chin resting over the back of his laptop.

“You don’t have to say that, Peter.” You say, aggravated and trying your best not to get mean. 

“I can’t help myself.” He shrugs, the curls on his head bouncing a bit. “You’re cute.”

You groan and stand up, gathering your things from the table and his gaze follows you the whole way up. The fact he kept saying it felt like you were in middle school again, being the butt end of the joke. 

“Wait, we still have fifteen minutes left-” he says nervously, standing along with you. “Why are you leaving?” 

You shake your head, looking at the bag in your hands before forcing a small smile. “I just need to get across campus for my next class.” And then you shrug your bag on, walking out the door and making quick work to leave the library all together. 

Peter just stares, watching you walk away, feeling only a little guilty for making you so upset.

—-------------

Friday, November 1st, 2024

Your classes got cancelled, even Dr. Howards and you let out a huff of relief before rolling back into the comforts of your bedding. You slept in for hours longer than you should have, but it felt good to have a day off from school. 

That was until noon came around and you got a text from the absolute devil himself.

Peter: Hey, Trouble, we’re still meeting today right? You groaned at the sight of his text. The day you were wanting was spent entirely in bed, by yourself, watching Spider-Man videos on YouTube with no interruptions. So you texted him back a quick response. A simple

you: no.

And went back to the video posted by fartslinger55, not the best account to  it was of Spider-Man saving a handful of people from a burning deli, the sound of his webs catching the brick buildings debris was almost rhythmic, his attention solely on the lives at stake. There was yelling and then a loud crash as a beam came down from the smoke headed right for a woman before a flash of red and blue whizzed in and stopped it. 

Right before your favorite moment happens there's a banner covering a sliver of the screen. 

Peter: Did I piss you off? Peter: I was just trying to have some fun, I’m sorry. you: no ? you didn’t do anything, i just don’t want to meet today Peter: Oh, okay! Peter: But Peter: What about my invite to the frat party? ;) you: not my scene, also stop sending more than one text weirdo Peter: Awe man, tonight's our Halloween bash, there’s gonna be plenty of booze… you: don’t drink, i’ll only go if i get to meet spiderman. so good luck with that peter

You put your phone in to not disturb and continued down the long list of favorite videos of the superhero, all the different angles of all his different fights.

There was a weird thing about it, something perhaps in your animalistic side that liked the idea of a protector, even if he themed himself off such a grotesque creature. You were grateful he doesn’t have multiple eyes and limbs and the only suggestion that he was relatively a spider was the webbing on his suit and the silk he shot from his wrists. 

You wondered if they were natural to his body, to his mutations, or if he had a beautiful and intricate device that shot them out. 

Peter however was staring at the messages you had exchanged, how your notifications were turned off so quickly after he started messaging you. It was bothering him so badly, he wanted to talk to you more. Wanted to laugh at the fact you said you would only come if you got to meet Spider-Man, unaware that you already have. That you somehow weasled into his frontal lobe in the summer and he hasn’t been able to push you out since. 

Pure trouble, that’s what you were for him. 

[jiminsass-istant]

The JIMIN LOVERS CLUB..or should i say Smeraldo Garden Marching Band..

This might get lengthy, but I'll try to speak my heart out because what else is tumblr for ? Let's have a one sided chat.

From the recent happenings surrounding MUSE, we have seen Jimin lovers (pjms, jimin biased armies and some real OT7s) fight hard for Jimin.

I still remember how in 2023 after FACE, so called 'armies' made long threads and wrote long essays on how Jimin was indeed not sabotaged, but everything was his own choice. I wish I'd remember their @, but it's best not to spend energy entertaining people who love to stay blind just to satisfy their ego of being OT7 army. (yes it's an ego and a persona they can't let go of)

Seeing Jimin lovers promote using posters made me so proud. You know what it reminded me of? (Contd. Below)

It reminded me of early OG army. The army that would promote BTS when they were smaller and had lesser influence. The type of dedication that makes a big artist.

And you know what? That kind of dedication can now be been in Jimin lovers. They are getting down on streets, they are streaming, buying, doing everything they can. A dynamic fandom is what makes an artist organic and successful.

On some level, i believe:

"The next BTS is Jimin and the next ARMY are Jimin Fans"

I know this sounds bold and some of you may come at me for this. Army fandom is not the same as it was- it's filled with visual stans, twitter warriors who make shooter accounts just to feel something in their lives, toxic shippers, youtube and tiktok fans who have never streamed a song, consume 90% unofficial content because the real bts and their music is not why they were here in the first place.

But Jimin lovers (not the toxic solos) are in it for good. My TL on twitter is good. I follow some good OT7 armies, some scholar armies, people who deep dive into music, JM fanbases, and funny smaller accounts. I'm actually glad I've cleared my TL of shipper drama and irrational solos. The community is good out there.

Bonus: My opinion on member release during Jimin schedule(Type 1)

Honestly, from what I've seen so far, members are aware of what fellow members are releasing and when. So for those who think Jimin isn't aware...i have news for you. And don't forget that vmin kinda text regularly (there's proof). Even if Jimin knew that Tae plans to release this on army day, he's the kind of person who would absolutely support it. We all know the kind of person Jimin is. And it's not like BTS hasn't released more than 1 content in one day. The only difference is that now members are solo artists.

BUT- I do think that releasing 2 things and giving pre-orders for that other thing so close to Jimin's release is a bad decision on company's part.

They could have had other surprises or gifts for army day. Or could have announced the photobook pre-orders before Muse announcement. The timing is indeed terrible.

This could mean 2 things-

1. They are indeed intending on taking away attention (and sales) from SGMB.

2. They are using the momentum of the fandom to sell a photobook. Because we all know how active the fandom is during Jimin's releases.

3. Both of the above.

I think those who have their priorities right will buy Muse first. A photobook can wait, there are no records to make.

MUSE prep:

I have YT and AM premium, but I am about to make a premium for spoti too because apparently it's so important..ugh. Hope you are doing everything you can for Jimin. Getting free premium trial account is so easy for all streaming platform. Please do it. Just cancel the subscription in August if you don't have the money. And then make another account. It's possible, you can do it. :) Buy the album too if you can!

[andydrysdalerogers]

Sliding Into Home ~ Evidence, Emotions, Whatever

Pairing: MLB!Frank Adler x Abigail Hernandez (OFC)

Synopsis:

After a trade from Boston to Los Angeles, first baseman Frank Adler would seem to have it all. Money, women, an amazing niece, yes Frank should have it all. Except for one thing. One thing that left after a mistake five years ago. Los Angeles should be the chance to start over. Except she is supposed to be in Boston. Not his new medical director.

* A Frank Adler AU x Major League Baseball Story**

Warning: ANGST (i can't stress this enough), second chances, cheating, S~M~U~T!!, slow burn, drug use, abandonment issues, betrayal, domestic violence (i may have missed some), flashbacks

Dividers by me

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS. Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated

Previous: For Reasons Unknown...

Sliding Into Home Master List Main Masterlist

Frank slammed the door to the office. One week ago, his world was being turned upside down. Now, after the motion hearing, they had to continue to wait for a decision on the adoption.  The judge had granted the stop on the adoption but not the cancellation.  Mike had to prove that he was a fit parent and DNA evidence.  He also had to show why Abby and Frank were not fit for adoption.  Frank reached for the scotch after Andy called with the news. He poured himself a healthy measure and sat on the window seat.  He watched as Mary played with Dodger and Scott, Marco watching over.  

“Frankie?” Abby poked her head in after letting Frank have a few minutes. “Baby?” 

“I can’t right now Abby. I just can’t.”  

“They didn’t say we couldn’t adopt her.” 

“No but they are giving him a chance. Why would they fucking do that?  He has charges against him!” 

“I know, baby, I know.”  She sat next to him and rubbed his back.  “None of it makes sense.”  

Frank drained his glass. “There has to be something to prove he’s an unfit parent.”  

“I agree.” She kissed his cheek.  “And we’re gonna work together to find it.”  

That whole week was dedicated to research and reaching out to anyone and everyone who had been a part of Mike’s life.  A lot were shocked to hear what Mike had been trying to do.  Others felt that the way Frank and Abby went about their relationship forced the reaction.  

Frank and Johnny were warming up for their next game.  “Have you heard from Andy?” 

“No.” Frank felt dejected. Andy, Steve his agent and Scott had been making call after call.  Abby had been called in by the hospital to cover for another surgeon so that added to Frank’s worry. He thought back to after she got to the call. 

“Cricket, you’re pregnant. I don’t think the added stress is good for you.”  

“Frankie, there are patients that need me. I will rest a lot and not make it longer than eight hours. I’ll talk with the Chief.”  

“Cricket, you don’t have to work. I can take care of us.”  

Abby narrowed her eyes and Frank took a step back. “Franklin, are you saying that I’m not strong enough to work?” 

“No baby, I’m...” 

“Let me tell you something Franklin Edward, I am stronger than any man. I survived more in my life.”  

“Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean you weren’t strong. I’m just... fuck Cricket, I’m scared ok.” 

“Scared of what?” 

Frank took a moment. “We are on the verge of losing Nugget and what if something happens to you or the baby and... I keep seeing the worst every time I close my eyes.”  

“Frankie, we are not going to lose Mary. I am going to be safe, and we are not going to lose our baby. Honey, you can’t let your fears take over. I promise, I won’t overdo it.”  

“I know, I’m sorry Cricket. I know you are the strongest woman I know.” He kissed her forehead. “Forgive me love.”  

“Say something like that again and we are going to have problems Frank.”  

“I know Cricket.”  

“Now let’s get ready for bed. You need to rub my back.”  

“Yes ma’am.”  

“Abby has thrown herself into work for distraction.  We had to talk to Mary about the hearing because the judge said she wanted to talk to Mary.” Frank sighed. “I just wish we had something to show he is a bad guy. I just can’t believe that he might get custody.”  

Johnny sighed. “I remember you telling me he had helped you in getting custody of Strawberry when she was a baby. Something about seeing Diane using drugs.” He furrowed his brows.  

Frank had mimicked his expression. “Yeah, he did.” 

“Well, how did he know that? He had to have been with her when she was using it.” 

It clicked in Frank’s head. “So it is possible he was using as well. Fuck Storm, you’re a genius.” He pulled out his cell and sent a message to Andy.  

Frank: Can we request a drug test?  Andy: We would need a reason  Frank: He claimed that Diane was using. How would he know?  Andy: Noted. I will file the motion.  

Frank put his phone away. “Thank Storm. Hopefully we’ll get a break.”  

The game is perfect, the Dodgers shutting out the Padres for the day. As Frank jogs off the field, he looks up to see Abby in the row behind the dugout.  “Hey Cricket!” 

“Hey Frankie! Nice game.”  

“You been here all game?” 

“Came in the end of the seventh. Got to watch you bat.”  He could see her eyes turn sparkly and he laughed, knowing that watching him bat was an aphrodisiac for her. She had a thing for his forearms.  She bites her lower lip.  

“Let me shower and take you home baby. Mary has after school science club today, remember?” 

“And Scott?” 

“He’s with Steve. Marco is watching Mary.”  

“So, we have the whole house to ourselves?” It was a rarity in the Adler home to have it to themselves.  

“Sure do Cricket. I also got a fresh jar of peanut butter and Oreos.”  

They way Abby’s eyes light up makes Frank chuckle again.  Johnny happened to come out to call to Frank and overheard the last comment. “Gross.  Doc, isn’t that bad for you or something?”  

“Depends on the situation Johnny. In this case, it's our secret indulgence.”  She winked at him, and he shuddered.  

“Just when I thought I knew you Adler. Now I know what you and the misses get up to in the bedroom using peanut butter and cookies.  Why can’t you be normal, like tying her up or something?” He shakes his head as he walks back into the dugout.  

“If only he knew,” Frank said as Abby bursts out laughing.  

As Abby brushed out her hair to get ready for court, Mary walked in. “Mama, can you tie up my hair?”  

“Sure Nugget.”  She brushed her hair back to gather it up. She could see Mary thinking hard. “What is it, Nugget?” 

“If the judge says you can’t adopt me, does that mean I have to stop calling you Mama?” 

Abby watched as Mary’s eyes glassed over with unshed tears. “No, it doesn’t. I’m your Mama as long as you have me. You’re my Mary and nothing, not the judge, not Mike, will change that.  Just like Frank is your daddy.”  

“I don’t want to go with Mike. He’s not my dad.” Mary turned and buried her face into Abby’s neck and cried.  Abby did her best to comfort her in the moment, stroking her hair and squeezing her tight.  

“I’m sorry you have to go through this baby girl. I wish we could just adopt you and we can move forward with our lives. But Uncle Andy, Uncle Steve and Scott have been working really hard to fight this and now we got to go to court, and you get to tell the judge how you feel.  How you feel is really important.”  

“And you won’t leave me alone with him?” 

“Never, ok?” She wiped the tears from Mary’s face and took it in her hands. “Daddy and I won’t let anything happen to you.”  

As the family walked into the court house, Abby was passed a letter from Andy.  “What is this?” 

“It’s a letter from Diane.  To be opened by you only.”  Andy shrugged.  “My private investigator, Hansen, had done one more interview with Diane and this was given to him to pass along.”  

Abby’s hands trembled as she opened the letter.  

Dear Abby,   When I found out that I was pregnant, I really thought I had a chance at a happy life with Mike. It was a dream come true. I thought it was my chance to have a happily ever after just like you and my brother. When I told Mike about the pregnancy, he said two things to me. 1. He wasn’t the father because I slept around and 2. that he wanted me to abort.   It hurts my heart to know that he really didn’t care about me. I told your investigator where the key to the safety deposit box at Boston National was at and that the letters from Mike during that time are there.   I’m so sorry that I hurt you , Frank and Mary.  I knew when I left her with you, that you would be her mom. I knew it was the best choice for her. I hope this helps in stopping Mike.   Please let Frank know that I miss him. I hope he can forgive me for what I done and that maybe we can build our relationship again. He knows where to find me.   Take care of our family, Abby.   Always,   Diane 

Abby wipes her eyes.  “Did he give you anything else?” 

Andy held up a stack of envelopes. “Let’s go into a conference room.”  Andy, Abby, Frank, filed into a room, while Scott, Mary and Marco sat outside. Andy opened the bundle.  “There are a few addressed to Mary to be opened on specific days.” He handed those to Frank.  “There is one to Frank and the rest... Holy shit.”  

“What was it?” Frank asked.  

“They are letters from Mike to Diane. Dated when Mary was conceived.” Andy looked at Abby.  “May I?” 

She nodded. “I know what they are going to say.” 

Andy opened letter after letter confirming what Diane had wrote. “He denied being the father,” he said. “He asked Diane to have an abortion...” he stopped. “We can admit this to the court as proof.”  

Frank took the letters and read.  “This bastard did this to my sister.  Can we use this in the kidnapping charges as well?” 

“Absolutely. I’ll send them to Diskant as soon as we are done here today.  Let’s get this party started.”  The group stood and walked out.  Abby and Frank took both of Mary’s hands and walked to the court room.  As they entered, a familiar laugh rang through the room. Mike Weiss stood at the front with another man.  

“Oh look, it's my daughter and her jailers,” Mike said with a sneer.  

Frank growled but Abby put a hand on his arm. “Let it go Frankie.” The family sat where Andy directed them and took a seat as they waited for the judge. Mary cuddled into Frank’s side, keeping her face away from Mike.  

They all stood as the judge entered the courtroom.  “You may sit,” he ordered. “Ok, we are here to hear the motion to suppress the adoption of Mary Eileen Adler. Complaint filed by the alleged natural father Michael Weiss and contesting are the guardians in questions, Franklin Adler and Abigail Hernandez-Adler.  Mr. Weiss, you may proceed.”  

“Thank you, Your Honor.  I am submitting my first piece of evidence as exhibit A. This is the DNA match showing that I am the natural father of the child.  Second is the birth certificate where I am not listed so I cannot terminate rights that I was not privileged too.”  

“Entered into the record.  Mr. Weiss, your argument please.”  

“Your honor, due to the natural mother’s, Diane Adler, reckless behavior, I was not allowed time to establish myself as Mary’s father. I was away at school, earning my degree while Miss Adler gave birth and then subsequently rescinded her rights to Mary.  While I am grateful to Mr. Adler and Dr. Hernandez for raising the child, I would like to point out a few things.  

“Mr. Adler has been known to make reckless decisions while having custody of Mary.  Proof of alcohol abuse is evident in public record and led to the termination of his relationship with Dr. Hernandez. Mary only had one guardian for five years before Dr. Hernandez reappeared in her life.  That instability is not good in the upbringing of a child.  She should be brought up in a stable home with a loving parent who would do anything for her.  I believe that I am that parent. Thank you.”  

“Mr. Weiss, how do you explain the pending kidnapping charges against you?” 

“I feel like that was a misunderstanding.  The guardians did not allow me access to my daughter, and I just wanted to get to know her. It is not my fault that they over reacted and calling in law enforcement.  Once the matter of her guardianship is settle, those charges will be removed.”  

“Alright.” The judge turned to Andy.  “Mr. Barber, any evidence you would like to add?”  

“Yes, Your Honor,  I have in my possession, provided by the natural mother, Diane Adler, letters from Mr. Weiss to Miss Adler, during the time of Miss Adler’s pregnancy.”  Andy watched as Mike’s face blanched. “In these letters, you will find proof that Mr. Weiss denied paternity of the child multiple times but also requested that the pregnancy be terminated at the earliest convenience.”  

“Objection, how do they know when the time of the letters were written?”  

“The letters reference dates in the past as well as significant aging of the paper.”  

The judge looked over the letters.  “Admissible. Please continue.”  

“Thank you.  We also have the original custody order that named Mr. Adler as the guardian of Mary with an addendum of adding Dr. Hernandez-Adler as a guardian after the fact.  Mr. Weiss’s argument that Mary was in an unstable home is laughable.  Mr. Adler has done everything he could to provide Mary will everything she needed.  When he himself could not care for her, given his profession, he made sure that the child caregiver chosen was of sound mind, clean record and recommendations from former employers.  He is in the room today to testify, if need, that Mr. Adler was a loving and attentive parent to his niece.  

The door opened in the back, interrupting Andy. A young woman went up to Andy.  “A moment your honor.” He spoke to the woman and smiled.  “Apologies, sir, but we have an additional witness that we would like to add to our list.”  

“Alright, name?” 

“Bobby Fuller.”  

NEXT

Taglist

@patzammit

@texmexdarling

@slutforchrisjamalevans

@firephotogrl74

@before-we-get-started

@tinkerbelle67

@bunnyforhim

[mysteriawrites]

hello it is me hi hello

anyway…you already know from the server…

hi, im hannah!, im obviously swedish! my oshis are shu, luca, koto, and kyo…some wosemi too.

I’ve been doing dance for a super long time and i LOVE LOVE LOVE physical touch! (giving and receiving)

uhhh im bad at this

i tend to be a super fast typer so my messages always come out looking like gibberish

uhhh i hate calling but if im calling my bff or my s/o i will never hang up i love it sm!!

uhh, i tend to be pretty extroverted (due to my meds LMAOO) and im described as more of a golden retriever (however, i look like a black cat aporently)

SORRY IF THATS NOT ENOUGH ITS ALL I CAN THINK OF 😭💔💔

Luca Kaneshiro!!!

Congratulations Hannah Chan you got ur oshi! In all seriousness I think you guys would make a good pair.

You’re both sweet and energetic. You care a lot about the people around you and love to make friends. You also both try to hide your own problems and worries from others, but i think since you’re so similar it’ll be easier to notice and break each other out of these habits.

You and Luca met on somewhat unconventional means. It was the boss’s birthday and so he was having a big birthday bash with lots of people invited family, friends, and famous people alike.

You were hired as some of the entertainment. You were a well known and highly respected dancer and only the best of the best was expected at this party.

You had meticulously planned and practiced your performance for weeks until it was flawless. You had been told that this show could be a huge stepping stone in your career.

You arrived at the party in your finest outfit and set the stage for your performance. You were a bit nervous since it was such a large crowd of important people, but as every good performer knows: the show must go on.

Your show enraptured Luca to his very core. He couldn’t take his eyes off you. Your moves were so graceful and delicate yet bold and dynamic. He had to know who you were!

Sadly it was hard for him to get the time to see you given all the guests wanting to talk to you. By the time he got away from them your group had already packed up and left.

After the party Luca was on a mission to see you again and tracked down where and when your next show would be. He canceled all his plans and meetings to book a flight to your next location.

Was it an impulsive decision for someone he barely met? Yes. But something inside him was telling him he had to see you again.

You were in your dressing room one night after you last show when suddenly there was a knock at the door. You opened it to receive a delivery of chocolates and flowers with a note that said “Meet me at (insert restaurant here im too lazy)”

Sure you’ve had messages and gifts from creepy stalker fans before and you knew going was a safety risk. However something in your gut told you it was worth checking out.

And so you went. When you got there you were met with a familiar man with golden hair and amethyst hair.

Luca Kaneshiro finally found you.

Fast forward to you guys becoming fast friends and even faster lovers, you and Luca are a very active and energetic couple.

You both like moving and be being active. Him with working out and you with your dancing (which arguably is a workout in an of itself he has mad respect for you he couldn’t imagine moving like that). You guys stretch and go on runs together laughing and having so much fun it doesn’t even feel like working out.

~~and when you’re both sore afterwards you take a warm bath or shower together and give each other massages. Both activities may lead to a lot of touching 👀~~

Despite being busy with his work he always makes time for you as quality time is one of his love languages. He will always clear his schedule to go see your performances and spoil you afterwards because you deserve the fucking world.

He also uses dumb puns and pick up lines on you when you guys go on dates. Dates with you guys are usually a day out having fun and unwinding from your hectic lives. Like going to the amusement park (that he rented out for your whole trip) or going for a walk.

A couple with a lot of puppy energy that only has love to give. (I was gonna put more but this is getting too long)

Runners up: Vantacrow Bringer, Doppio Dropscythe, Yu Q Wilson

[laf-outloud]

https://www.tumblr.com/laf-outloud/727083591202471936

I would just like to say a few things:

I was honestly taken aback by this, because even if they won‘t believe me, why not share the info anyway? Or at least respond to it? If there is nothing to what I say, then it could be quickly invalidated or? Unless the two know exactly that I'm right and are afraid of when it comes out.

Here's the thing anon, there really ISN'T a way to verify. They would have to specifically know people who work at those cons and neither of them are based in that area so it's less likely they have connects over there (obviously still possible, but not as likely as for US cons). And even then, they would only be able to verify it for themselves and would still not be able to offer proof. Granted only one of those two cares about showing receipts... it still isn't something that "could be quickly invalidated"

And look at the line up of the English cons and tell me that you could not have paid Jared‘s fee to run various duo shots!

Now about this, even IF they are going to two separate cons from the same company there could be a few reasons for that which have nothing to do with them avoiding each other. As @laf-outloud already mentioned - it's a smart business decision to get a little distance between them since they are still so tied together publicly even years after SPN has ended. With the way CE cons run it would be impossible to really get the separation there (and they have been exclusive there forever when it comes to US cons) so their only chance to really do that is overseas cons.

But you also have to think about it fiscally. Yes, the cons may be run by the same umbrella company but I also bet they have allotted money for each con and with other big names, they can't afford both at one individual con without having to cancel other big name guests who are a draw. Another thing is the fans spending. If they get both J2 at one con then to cover to extra costs they would probably have to increase the prices of ops and autos. That limits the number of fans who can afford to purchase tickets for both and some would pick between the two, meaning less income for the con and J2 themselves. By splitting them, the fans of each don't have to choose and can spend money on one J and also other guests. Plus, splitting them up means a bigger draw to each con (since we've seen how quickly they can both sell out cons). If they were together at one then all the draw would be there, with the split there is an added draw to both cons.

If I'm lying, why is Creation now releasing the second convention for 2024 with only Jensen as headliner but not with Jared? It can't be the money, because Creation takes the same amount for the tickets as usual. And schedule difficulties during an official strike ? Hardly.

First, just because he isn't added now, doesn't mean he can't be added later. And yes the strike is effecting work, but they might still have tentative schedules in place based on when they think the strikes might end. They are surely going to get right back to work when the strikes are over so he might have some idea about work schedules going forward.

But there are also rumors (unverifiable of course) about CE cons and that J2 signed on again but for less cons. Hypothetically speaking (because I do NOT know any specifics, this is simply me giving an example) if they each signed on for 6 cons for 2024 but CE wants to run 10 then there are going to be cons that have one and not the other, that's just logistics and doesn't necessarily mean anything. I'm sure if they wanted to do more than what they signed on for, CE would be more than happy to accommodate because J2 is their real money maker, but if they really did sign on for less and that rumor is true, then the CE con landscape is going to change quite a bit in 2024. I personally think that if this rumor is true, we are going to see Jared do the amount he signed on for, and Jensen will do those plus additional CE cons. We've seen he doesn't want to let go of SPN and with the spending the Ackles do (10mil mansion anyone?? That clothes budget....) they can't really give up that income.

You make some great points, anon. Thank you for sharing! It would make sense to split the pair up and draw more SPN fans to multiple cons than to have them all gathered at one con.

I would be really interested if your speculation about the Creation schedule were true, mainly because I'd love to see how different a Jensen-only led Creation con would work vs. a Jared-only led con.

[harbingrs]

It's genuinely funny that today's posts are rounding out days of serious contemplation about my general inability to publish tumblr posts. As in, I regularly write personal posts or replies to post and... immediately draft them, never to see the light of day.

I do this multiple times per week. Sometimes multiple times per day.

Not even posts on controversial topics, usually. But I'm having to reckon with the fact that I am constantly afraid to be a person out loud.

When it comes time to press 'post' I am afraid that - in some way, shape or form - I have not adequately protected myself from potential harm, and that there will be negative consequences I have not even anticipated, and therefore have not taken measures to avoid.

And so I quietly file everything in my drafts to experience a sense of relief akin to 'cancelling plans' because I have resolved the problem an I am safe again. In other words, yes, I am Doing Compulsions About it.

And I only just realised that's what I'm doing a few days ago, puzzling over why it always happens when I have zero intention not to post it. Right up until I try to hit the button and the siren song of the 'Save as draft' compels me to click it and immediately banishes all my anxiety.

But the phrase 'do not obey in advance' continues to crop up recently and it's certainly prompting some out-of-context thoughts. As in, it keeps reminding me that all my decisions are based around Safety and Survival.

This is not new and it is a pervasive pattern. As in, when I have a rental inspection, everything needs to be beyond perfect. This is not a requirement. Here, there is a clear legal scope of what they look for (that you are not damaging the property or otherwise violating the terms of your lease). There are legal safeguards to prevent them from evicting you or otherwise penalising you for other concerns.

However. Safety and Survival is about maximising the cards I hold in a vulnerable scenario. If my apartment is /impressively/, unusually clean and well-styled, I can make myself less vulnerable. This is not just an irrational perception, but a reality.

I would not have secure housing right now if it wasn't. Because despite a patchy rental history for on-time payment in my previous tenancy, I was able to land another apartment with the same real estate agency when I needed it because they know I "take care of the place".

The owner could get an extra $150 per week for this place if he didn't renew my lease this year and put it back on the market. He could have raised my rent by $150 per week. But that would risk me leaving, and he'd rather keep me here than gamble on a new tenant who doesn't "take care of the place".

The level to which I can impress and pander to an authority figure is the power I have in this scenario.

Since my on-time payment history is still fucked, getting a positive reference direct from the owner may be the only chance I have of landing another rental if/when I need to leave this place. If I am not approved for another rental (in a housing crisis) I'll have nowhere to go.

I have a 12-month lease term ahead before that's a possibility again. But appealing to authority - making myself pleasant and desirable, being of advantage to them - is the power I have to keep myself safe.

I was taught this intentionally from a young age. As a working class person, this is how you survive.

When your boss says 'jump', you should be so dedicated to your job, you don't even need to ask how high. You never turn down a request, overtime, a last-minute shift. If you don't have transport, you say yes anyway and then you /figure it the fuck out/.

Because sooner or later, your boss will need to fire someone. If it's you or the other guy, make sure he chooses the other guy.

This was drilled into me, word for word. This is how you protect yourself. Make yourself perfect in the eyes of the people in power, because it's the only way you can keep yourself safe.

You can see how this is a problem. You can see how this makes you afraid to... literally do anything, /be/ anything less than palatable. How everything you could say or do or express comes with a risk-reward analysis attached, and the priority is always to avoid risk. It's /necessary/ to avoid risk or you won't survive. You don't even know all the ways it might come back to bite you, but you didn't hold onto that protection when you had the chance.

If you don't say anything at all, nothing bad can happen. There can be no fallout and it can't ever be used against you. And if everything you say or do has risk attached - especially the kind of nebulous, undefined risk you can't even anticipate - then it's safest to stay quiet.

You can see how this is a problem.

[moveslikeanape]

hey! so, you may or may not have seen me post about this, but sadly one of my cats, lily, died just a couple days ago. i'll spare you the details of what happened, but i've been pretty heartbroken about it. she was an incredibly sweet cat. daisy is doing well and is very healthy, though. anyway, you and your dad's cats have such cute names! would oliver's name happen to come from oliver and company?

iirc you have an older phone and that's why you can't get dreamlight valley on mobile, right? hopefully you'll be able to download twisted wonderland! i should also say that the game is sort of a mix of a visual novel, rhythm game, and turn based RPG. the gameplay isn't usually too difficult but it'd be totally understandable if it turned out it wasn't your thing. i mostly love it because i'm fascinated by the characters, story, and world! it's set in a school with seven dorms, each one being based on a different disney movie: there's heartslabyul (alice in wonderland), savanaclaw, (the lion king), octavinelle (the little mermaid), scarabia (aladdin), pomefiore (snow white), ignihyde (hercules), and diasomnia (sleeping beauty). so each part of the story focuses on one dorm and takes inspiration from that movie's events, but with a lot of unique twists on it. and it's still ongoing so it's always fun to wait for the updates to find out what happens next.

i agree on everything you said about sequels! and personally, i'm worried about moana 2 because it was originally planned to be a disney+ show, which was then canceled and turned into a movie. so i have to wonder why they made this decision, is it just because a movie will make them more money? and how will whatever story was planned for the show work with the much shorter runtime of a movie? i just find it strange. and yes, i love toy story so much but i'm not excited about 5 at all!!

how i feel about the WDAS movies since moana is that with almost all of them, i was excited before they were released and then either disliked them when they came out, or enjoyed them at first but after rewatching and thinking about them more i realized they just weren't very memorable and not nearly as good as i first thought. for me the only exception has been encanto, and i'm pretty sure it's by far the most well received of the newer films as well. i think it's clear that disney is having issues behind the scenes, and it's also sad that some people don't see that. recently someone on here basically said that i and others who don't like wish are "anti disney moron", and are the reason we're getting all these sequels instead of original stories… but most people who know me would say that i'm crazy passionate about disney! i wanted to love wish but found it disappointing, and it is not my fault that it didn't succeed.

i will be honest, trolls band together came out in theaters around the same time as wish and i remember hearing about it making more money and getting better reviews than wish did. i ended up thinking i should've gone to see it instead because as cheesy and childish as they are, i actually like the trolls movies haha. the ghibli movie "the boy and the heron" also came out in US theaters not long after, and it sounds like a lovely movie from everything i've heard about it.

strongly agree about the broadway shows! i also think something that really sets them apart from the live action remakes is, quite simply, the fact that a stage show is such a different medium than a movie. they have to get so much more creative to translate an animated film to the stage. sometimes i see people wanting remakes of movies like the emperor's new groove or princess and the frog, but i always say they should get broadway musicals instead.

ohh that is true, i didn't think of how tarzan and terk's relationship might be viewed differently if it's just the two of them! it's too bad they had to remove tantor, because it sounds like that just might be the reason why terk was changed. also, sorry some of my asks are so lengthy, you can probably tell that i tend to ramble lol.

I'm so sorry for your loss **hugs**

It never gets any easier, but giving them a loving home and the best life we can makes it worth the heartache. I'm glad Daisy is doing well. Many people don't realize that losing an animal is hard on other animals in the house too.

(also, sorry I missed the post, I've been having internet issues on and off this weekend)

Good guess on Oliver's name. I finally got to name a cat, and naturally had to be Disney related… I was struggling to pick the best name, but couldn't concentrate because he kept crying for more food, so he kind of named himself.

I do have a tablet, but it's android and dreamlight valley isn't available on them (hopefully it will be someday). I have tried Twisted Wonderland and it looks really interesting. Love all the character designs, and the villain descriptions too! Not sure if I'll play much of it though, it looks like it takes far more time than I have time for. Will let you know if i make any progress on it though!

I was so excited when I saw the announcement of Moana 2 (especially the artwork with the whale shark, my fav!), but then I discovered they'd cancelled the show. If we were getting both I'd be ecstatic, more Moana! But changing from series to movie so far into production… that just screams Tarzan and Jane (tying a few episodes together with some quickly written story to make them connect) to me. It's gotta be about money. 1 short movie verses however many epsiodes they were going to do. I'm going to hope for the best that Moana turns out alright, but I'm not holding my breath. I find I'm constantly surprised when I get reminded that Toy Story 4 even exists, it was just that memorable to me. The only thing I really remember from it is Duke Caboom, and that's probably only because he's Canadian, lol. Can't imagine what they could possibly add to that series to justify another movie.

I really really wanted to like Raya, and I probably should give it another chance as I've only seen it the once, but it just felt like they were throwing things in there that they think people will like instead of actually trying serve the story. From what I remember, so much of it seemed unnecessary. I do remember at times being blown away by the animation though, maybe I was just too focused on that to actually pay attention to the rest, lol.

The "anti disney moron" made me laugh. As if that's what's going on. There are people who genuinely like Wish (and the other recent movies), but enjoying a movie doesn't make it good. And Disney is in a rut because they are, not because fans are being too picky. Disney went hard in the 90s/2000s, and they just can't seem to achieve the same quality of story we've some to expect. There are other factors too. The whole pandemic situation, rising costs of everything, and people just being worn out will affect how movies do as well. I've been worn out for years, constantly on the go, and at times struggling to pay bills… when I do have time to unwind and watch a movie, I don't want to waste my hard earned money on something I'm not guaranteed to enjoy. That makes it so much easier to just wait for something like Wish to go on Disney+. That way if it ends up being not my cup of tea, at least I didn't waste any extra money on it.

I've never seen any of the Trolls movies, but I have some coworkers who said they enjoyed them. I've heard nothing but good things about the Boy and the Heron, and I really want to see it!

OMG yes!! Stop the remakes right now and bring on the musicals!!! They can still film them and put them on Disney+ so people who can't travel can still see them. Even if they did that as a pay per view, I would still watch them! And I totally agree about the creativity, far more interesting than any changes they've made for the LA remakes.

I dug out my Tarzan Broadway book and had a quick look through, and I couldn't find anything that even mentioned Terk becoming male. Will have to find the time to properly read it someday. That's probably my best guess though. Such a shame not to find the actual reason. But at least we get 2 versions of Terk this way. I am so sad Tantor was removed, he's such a great character. It may have been tricky, but it would have been neat to see how they'd pull off having an elephant in the show.

lol, no worries. You're passionate, "rambling" is part of that.

[blackgirl-galactica]

Astro Observations with Claude ❤️🌻✨

NOTE: WHILE I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL ASTROLOGER, I LIKE ASTROLOGY AND IT’S ASPECTS! PLEASE DO NOT STEAL OR REPOST MY WORK! THANKS! ❤️

-Hey y’all!

-Your local tarot lady/astrology student is back with some more astrology observations!! I love growing an learning this so you know how we do it over here!

- Retrogrades don’t necessarily mean the opposite of the planet’s effects. It can manifest that way, yet the point of retrograde astrologically means going within and reflecting before acting. 🧐🔎 That’s how you can think of rx planets whether in transit or in your natal chart! ✨ I’ve also noticed people with natal rx planets tend to be better problem solvers than natal direct people.

-I’ve noticed two things from Saturn dominants vs. Pluto dominants: Saturn prepares for the world externally 🌎. Pluto prepares for the world internally 😶‍🌫️. One prepares by establishing external order and enforcing discipline (whether to themselves or to the things around them). The other prepares by purging the remnants of one environment to morph with the next environment.

-Leo’s aren’t as shallow as y’all portray them. While yes they may hold onto their ego, they understand relationships are transactional (which they are). They understand that no one is going to make them feel less than. Nope! 🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅

-To have a Moon-NN aspect (esp a harsher aspect like square, opposition, and even conjunction) means that in this lifetime you are supposed to understand the importance of your own emotions, comfort, and nurturing ❤️. I point out the harsher aspects because they give more challenges, and it may be harder to recognize that you need this. Also, in this lifetime you are meant to understand what home is like to you and where you feel safest. 🏠

-Don’t necessarily resonate with your natal chart and also don’t resonate with the transits going through your chart at the moment? Look at your progressed chart. It’s like the transits for your life in this moment in time. It actually helped me a lot 😂😂🧐.

-Mars in the water houses (4H, 8H, 12H) anger can be a lot more terrifying than other houses. That anger is coming from a deeper place. Esp if this Mars happens to aspect Pluto. Remember these houses all have one theme in common: the subconscious mind. These placements may not always be the first to be confrontational, but when they do don’t be surprised if you’re sliding down a wall for three days rethinking every decision you made up to that point. 🤣🤣💀.

-Knowing your chart ruler helps you understand your outlook on life, but also your dominant planet! This planet may also have alot of influence on your life and how you go about it. 🪐

-The Pluto in Sagittarius ♐️ generation (1995-2008) will not let you slide if you got fucked up beliefs! Jupiter (philosophy, belief systems) is very hard on the beliefs and morality. I think we’re also the generation that created cancel culture over what someone says. We do it because if you say certain goofy stuff it’s probably because you believe in said goofy stuff. Because why are you still putting that out in the ether? And that’s one of our powers (Pluto). We are gonna make you think twice before you say something crazy. 😂😂😂😂😂

-I’ve mentioned this on Twitter but I’ll mention it again here. I’ve noticed inconjunct pairings (Pisces x Leo; Cancer x Sagittarius; Aries x Virgo) get along well to my surprise! Inconjuncts usually are an aspect that speak of irritation, awkwardness, or just not having common ground. Yet, when these pairs get together and get to know each other, it’s a newfound adoration for each other. I really love it 🥰.

-If you have the ruler of your 11H in your 2H you may not only be able to make money well (11H: gains), but also save it for awhile. While 2H is famously known for how we make money, I’ve noticed it can also reveal how we are with saving money, as the 2H also talks about what brings us stability (it’s an Earth house after all). If your 11H and 2H aren’t afflicted in general or with one another, this is material gworl energy!! 💸💰🤑🤑

-I’ve noticed people with stelliums (esp if you have more than one stellium) in their chart can find it very difficult to focus their attention on more than one thing. For example if they start something, they may focus just on that project before they move on to the next one. Balance can also be an issue for them too, as a stellium is concentrated in one area of a chart. I feel y’all 🤣😭.

-Y’all when I tell y’all 8H or 12H folks don’t need to tell folks nothing if they are planning to do something!!!!! I’ve had a client say this to me (they had 8H placements) and this happens to me as well with my 12H placements! And other peers have come and said this with said placements. These two houses are synonymous in hidden forces. Because the minute we speak on something (before it’s set and stone) it goes awry. Just something I’ve observed and experienced time and time again 😅😂😂😩.

-That’s all for this one! Hope you enjoyed it!

-Tips made to: $DellyRelly

-See ya later!!

Claude

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