#also you do have to lie to kids sometimes for their safety

[stubz]

warning - bad guy wants to kill people and threatens to eat them + ship invasion

General Morbius was one an accomplished soldier. He was ruthless to his enemies, loyal to those who appreciated him, and willing to do anything. He was made for war. The coalition was not, it was made for peace and thus the general was rarely if ever used.

He had been fine with this...until he rejected as captain of the main ship. A tighalax by the name of Nox was chosen instead. Nox was not ruthless, was too hesitant to make the hard decisions, was a runt.

Morbius would not let a runt replace him.

That's when he met Sine Macula, a ruler who stood for everything the coalition did but was not afraid of getting their hands dirty to do so. Morbius respects that and so he fed him information. He got away with this for several months until found out...but not caught. There was not enough proof to charge him with treason and so he laid low. His schedule became tight and rigid, work then straight home. No dawdling or talking...well not to anyone he thought were a real threat.

The human chef from the west side cafeteria, the human who was head of sanitation, the human from the youngling centre, these were the only ones he talked to. They were the only one's who understood him and listened to him. At least that's what he thought.

He had a strange feeling about why the captain's first mate had reduced the amount of tails/watchers on him and so he did some digging. Oh how he longed to rip those filthy humans apart with his teeth...how he longed to watch the life leave their eyes as they gurgled out pleas through blood...

He let them into his home, he let them know of his thoughts and desires, he told them details and secrets, he let them meet his family-touch his family with those filthy dirty hands!!

He has calls to make.

.

The general cruelly smiles as he walks through the halls and sees his former allies escorted into the cargo bay, a temporary jail until they see who is worthy to join and who is to die.

His grin widens as he steps into the command center to see the Captain wrestled to the ground along with the first mate. A muzzle is shoved into the tighalax's mouth. A shock collar is strapped around the petronlic's neck. How lovely.

Growls and curses follow him as he turns around to continue to enjoy the show. He sees dozens of his new soldiers subdue an orc with tasers and guns loaded with rubber bullets. He hopes Fenrir will see his side and join, the orc will be a wonderful soldier.

Disgust crosses his face as he sees the ships tech supports throuple make the most offensive and crude gestures to him as they're dragged to the cargo bay. How Quip ended up Glip and Kal he'll never know.

..

"So we have everyone?"

"Not yet General, we're missing 30."

"30? How was I not made aware of 30 missing crew members??" he sneers grabbing the soldier by the shoulder.

"They weren't high priority-!"

"Well they are now since you lost them! Who did you lose?!"

"Th-the youngling centre sir!"

"...the youngling centre?" he whispers.

"Y-yes, sir."

"...you lost the youngling centre? The very centre run by the disgusting humans who betrayed me?"

"Well find them right away sir-!"

"You have two hours or I'll be using your bones as the broth for my diner tonight." he releases the soldier who sprints away to his team.

...

Kim knew she was going to die if they were found. The younglings would be most likely safe, Max too if he didn't fight back, but her? She would be killed.

When Captain asked her to spy on Morbius she did so without really thinking of the danger. She wasn't going anywhere dangerous, she would just talk to him whenever she him in the ship. Just talking, easy!

But then he actually opened up to her and that's when she realized how dangerous he actually was. The 'jokes', the wishes, the cracks that let her see who he really was...it scared her. And she couldn't do anything but grit her teeth and smile.

She was still safe though. They never met off the ship. She rarely actually talked about herself, he did all the talking, she never let anything slip.

But Morbius had still found out. He had found out, played along, and now the ship has been taken over.

They've done this before, her and Max, and therefore already had a plan. Lock the door, close the blinds, turn off the lights, hide in the supply room in the secret room and block the door. No one make a sound.

Hours pass and they do their best to keep the children quiet. Do their best to take their minds off the shouts, blasts, and shots fired with whispered stories and reassurances.

By the fifth hour, she knows because Max counted to keep himself calm, all is quiet. Kim hates it. She wants to leave, she can't breathe, her heart is too loud, she-

The tiny door opens.

Standing there before the group of 30 is a youngling. Standing between them and their fate is Morando. The General's son.

The youngling's mouth opens.

....

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" Morbius roars, sirens blaring throughout the ship nearly drowning out his voice.

"Sir! There is a fire in the youngling centre!" a soldier screams directing his comrades towards the fire.

"AND WHY ARE YOU PUTTING IT OUT?! WE'RE BLOWING THIS SHIP UP THE SECOND WE LEAVE!!"

"Your son is there sir!"

General Morbius is many things. A killer, a soldier, a liar, a betrayer, but in that moment he was only a father. And fathers' love their children.

"Kill the one who was supposed to watch him. All available soldiers with me. If my son dies I will skin you all and eat you whilst you still breathe."

General Morbius loves his child and if his child dies he will kill everyone and anyone who contributed to it.

.....

General Morbius loves his child. Morbius loves his child. He would kill for him. Die for him. And in this case forgive him.

The fire was a diversion. His son was not in any danger. His son was tricked by the disgusting humans.

Morando had found them while looking in the supply room for a toy to play with after having given his escort the slip. His son had intended to alert him, call for reinforcements. But the humans had used their silver tongues to trick him.

One last meal they said. Humans were given one last meal before defeat, before death. Morando had seen no issue with this, he respected Kim and Max, they had given him much fun and amusement.

The final meal involved fire but since the centre's kitchen was partially destroyed they asked to use Fure, a fyreian. Morando agreed once again.

They cooked, involving all the younglings, even Morando. They sat down together and ate, inviting Morando, giving him his own plate. Kim begged him to let her tell one last tale before capture, he allowed.

The comradery, a warm meal, a tale catering towards his son's taste...the humans were not as foolish nor soft as he had thought.

They lulled the youngling into a false sense of security before capturing him. Tying him up, his son. Gagging him, his child. Carrying him like a sack over their shoulder, his flesh and blood. Setting the fire and leaving Morando's shawl just outside the door to make it look like he was in there, trapped, burning...a brilliant plan.

With how little soldiers there were in the cargo bay they managed to sneak in and free their crew mates. How the orcs, rextalians, tighalaxes, and other apex species fought.

It was a swift defeat. They had taken control of the ship whilst he was distracted by the fire. They had the armory now. They had called in reinforcements. They had Morando. What else could he do but surrender?

Humans are so much crueler than others give them credit for. A species who have mastered trickery to such a degree that younglings are not even safe from them.

[unluckiestmember]

Mouthwashing X Innocent! Reader

Characters: Anya, Swansea, Daisuke, Curly and Jimmy

Warning: Mention of death, but outside of that, none. SFW.

A/N: Should I open up requests for Mouthwashing? I absolutely love this game so I wouldn't mind doing some headcanons here and there for it!

Anya

When it came to everyone in the Tulpar, Anya tried her best to have a strong bond with her crewmates. You were no exception. She found your presence along the spacecraft to be a breath of fresh air. She is always delighted to see you and super excited to teach you all she knows about medical practices and safety she’s read up on. When you, her and Daisuke are together on game nights, she always knows it’s going to be one of the best nights ever.

Some nights when she stays up, she appreciates your company and will even tap into her motherly instincts by laying your head on her shoulder or lap while she hums a tune to you. You are one of the only people who knew about her “incident” and jumped straight into action against Jimmy. Anya greatly appreciated it but always tries to keep you out of trouble out of fear of you getting hurt. The final days of her life were hard, but at least she can look back and confidently say that you were one of the best people she’s ever met. She hopes you two meet again in another life…

Swansea

Swamsea didn’t like you when he first met you. He thought you were another airhead like Daisuke or some quiet soul like Anya. But after a while, he came to secretly care for you like one of his children back on Earth. You are one of the only people he opens up about his family to, reminiscing on the past and revealing his inner turmoil as a father. He appreciates how you simply listen instead of overlapping him, bearing his heart to you unlike another lovable young member aboard to Tulpar.

If you love shoes, Swansea will find it easier to love you since the both of you bond over shoes of many kinds. If your shoes get ruined during the crash, he won’t hesitate to give you his own shoes so you don’t hurt your feet on loose materials. Swansea reminds you a lot of your own father, so you guess you can call him a dad away from home? He’ll act annoyed, but he secretly loved this title. He always did…

Daisuke

Let’s not lie to ourselves, when Daisuke first laid eyes on you, he wasted no time rushing to your side. In your eyes, you might’ve seen only a fellow co-worker, but for him, he saw a new friend. The both of you ended up being pals way before the Tulpar even set off into space! The members aboard the ship like to label you two as siblings, one being a chaotic brother and the other the sweet gentle sibling. A golden retriever and a puppy to say the least.

When he’s not bothering Swansea or hanging out with Anya, he’s rushing to your side to see if you want to take turns playing Pokemon on his gameboy or if you want to play dress up with his abundance of clothing. Sometimes he’ll open up about his life at home, revealing the troubles he has with his parents and how he doesn’t like to be labeled as the “rich kid on board for fun and games”. It hurts, but it helps knowing that you’re sweet enough to look past that aspect of him. Even with that axe hanging over his head, he could at least close his eyes and drift to sleep knowing that in taking this job, he met his true best friend; You.

Curly

Though the both of you didn’t spend much time together, whenever Curly was around he always tried his best to make sure you were comfortable along the Tulpar. When you two first met, he could tell you were shy and nervous about your space voyage together. So in good spirits, he opened up a dialogue of Pokemon with you, leading to not only you revealing more of yourself to him, but also attracting the rest of the team. Whenever he had cake aboard the ship, he would always sneak his slices over to you and Daisuke since he made sure to note you loved sweets.

After evaluations with Anya and others, he always made sure to treat you in some way for being such a good member of the crew. The time the both of you spent together was short, but also as sweet as commodorative cake and Curly would’ve loved to spend more time with you. Unfortunately, his chance has passed… There were so many times he wished he would have opened up to you and just. Be your friend instead of your captain… Some captain he was, right? If only he knew that even up to the end, you still cared for him…

Jimmy

If you got any requests for Arcane or X-Men '97, send them my way! Screw it, if you have Mouthwashing requests too, then throw them my way!

Likes and retweets are always appreciated! I love you all, stay hydrated and have a good day! <3

[buck-star]

Put your hands in mine

Pairing: Boyfriend!Bucky Barnes x Girlfriend!Reader

Summary: He can't breathe. His lungs burn and the water above his head gets darker and darker. Theres no more light. Until there is again.

Warnings: Anxiety, hurt/comfort, crowds, established relationship, fluff

Wordcount: 2.263 Words

Authors Note: Beta’d, aesthetics by @thevillainswhore. Divider made by me. @felicitylemon this is for you, because you’re not alone and your reblog made my day.

“Put your hands in mine.

And I will pull you out of the darkest waters."

Loud noises. Crowded places.

Bucky hates it, and yet, he still tries to live his life as best as he can. He keeps trying to get out of your shared apartment more often, to be around people for longer periods of time. But somehow, it only makes him want to curl in on himself, with you wrapped in his arms in the safety of your apartment.

He’s not ready for the world just yet. He’s not ready for the business, the noises of the actions. He had them long enough — for years and years. And now, finally settled down with the woman he loves, he wants to keep the peace a while longer before he’s ready to face the loud world outside.

But somehow, sometimes he still manages to interact with the outside — as long as you’re by his side he knows he can do more than he believes.

Bucky’s fingers cling to the shopping cart he’s currently pushing through the aisle of the grocery store. His ocean blue eyes dart from one side of the aisle to the other and back to the cart as he takes in the different products.

Lots of jam, way more than he used to know back in the days. Bread — delicious and softer than he knows, and so many variants — you always buy different ones. One better than the other. But his favorite one is still the brown bread with the star on top. It reminds him of his childhood, and it tastes almost the same as remembers.

Maybe if he just keeps his mind busy enough he can try and mute the noises around him. If he just —

“Buck?” You ask softly, your warm fingers circling the back of his hand and his white knuckles. Your voice is soft and soothing, just like the smile that’s spreading on your lips.

You’re smaller than Bucky, but you’re standing perfectly in front of him to bring his attention to you. You’re blocking the people around you from running into your boyfriend, making it easier for him to focus on you — and only you.

“Do you want to get out of here already?” You offer but your boyfriend shakes his head and turns his head to interlace your fingers with his thicker ones.

You’re always so soft with him, sweet and loving. Bucky could melt with you around. The understanding and support you offer him causes his heart to clench every now and then, the insecurities growing stronger. How does someone dark like him, deserve someone so sweet like you?

Never pushing him, never judging him. Bucky wonders what he did to make you fall in love with him. But no matter what it was, he’s glad he was able to get your interest, to get the love you show him.

Bucky takes a shaky breath. You offered him to go shopping by yourself, but he didn’t want you to do it alone — he wanted to come with you. And even though he regrets his decision slightly, he’s grateful to have you around.

“N-no,” he says, forcing a smile on his plump lips. You sigh but nod, knowing that Bucky’s feeling overwhelmed already. But you also don’t want to act like he’s a kid who doesn’t know his own limits well enough to decide himself.

Bucky can decide when his limits are reached. And as much as he tries to push them every now and then, you know he would never lie, would it really be too much for him.

His eyes are slightly narrowed and he tightens his grip around your hand. “I-it’s fine, babydoll. A bit loud and crowded but not too much.”

You hum softly, followed by a soft giggle. You lean closer to him, standing in your tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his lips before you wrap one of your arms around his waist. The other still interlaced with his thick fingers to sooth him and keep him calm.

“You’re doing good, Buck. I’m proud of you and I’m glad you decided to come here with me,” you mumble while you push him with you through the aisle. Bucky sighs softly, relaxing with your arm around him. He knows you will catch him when he feels like he’s going to fall and drown in his fear again.

When you finally reach the section with fruits and vegetables, you look for a quiet corner, pushing the cart and Bucky there to keep him away from all the noises and business of the other people.

A soft, warm smile spreads on your lips as he leans down to kiss you softly. Bucky’s blue orbs light up slightly when he can focus on you and the music of the store but nothing else.

It’s quiet. He can watch everyone and it’s less crowded. Perfect for him to wait for you to get a few fruits and vegetables.

You move through the aisles to take some apples and bananas before you move further to the vegetables. It’s a bit crowded but when you look up to Bucky you see him still softly smiling at you. There’s not many people around him, only an elderly lady and a mother with her kid.

So you look back to the vegetables and get some peppers and cucumbers too. You can still feel his intense gaze on you, taking in every detail.

Bucky’s tapping his fingers against the cart, keeping his focus on the music and on you so he won’t be too overwhelmed, until —

“Ow! I’m sorry, sir,” a lady apologizes as she pushes her cart with force into Bucky’s side. The kid on her arm is crying loudly, and the moment they notice their mother's attention on someone else — and not on the gummy bears they want — they start screaming.

The pain in Bucky’s hips is nothing compared to the noises that crash down on him like a heavy weight. The music from the loudspeakers is suddenly way louder. The mother talking to her child. The child that’s still crying and screaming. And suddenly he’s aware of every noise around him.

Bucky can hear every little noise in the whole shop. The people around him. The people on the other side of the shop. Even the registers and the cooling systems of the fridges.

His breath hitches, his chest tightens as he wraps his fingers tightly around the cart. His blue eyes are widened as the noises become even louder. Bucky can hear his heartbeat so loud and clear like every other noise in the shop. And there is no way for him to mute all these noises.

“B-ba…by-do—“ Bucky chokes, his hands shooting to his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt tightly. He tries to pull on it, to rip it off his body but it doesn’t budge. It only tightens and becomes heavier until he feels like he can’t breathe anymore. “P-ple—“

And there it is again — the feeling of the dark water around him. Only a small amount of sun is shining through the darkness but it’s fading slowly. And he’s sinking, further and further while he feels like he’s drowning.

Bucky never thought it would be possible for him — or for anyone — to feel like they could drown without physically being in a body of water. And yet, he feels as if he's sinking into the depth of the ocean, the water surrounding him everywhere and there’s no place he could grab a hold on.

The water is hugging him like an old friend, but it isn’t an old friend. It never was and it never is — it never will be. It’s only his darkest enemy, his fear of losing control, of losing himself.

He gasps loudly, his eyes scanning the people around him to find you but everything is blurred. Everyone looks so similar, the voices mix with the others. He just can’t make out where you are, he can’t hear your voice, he can’t see your face, your worried expression or maybe your soft smile — he can’t tell because everyone looks just like the others in the shop.

“B-babydo-ol-l…” he whispers, tugging harshly at the collar of his shirt. A soft whimper leaves his plump lips as he feels his lungs burning. The darkness of his thoughts became worse. Even the corners of his view turn a few shades darker, supporting the feeling to sink further in the ocean.

The sun — actually the light of the shop — disappears with every second. The weight that’s pulling him down becomes heavier and heavier, his breathing unsteady and frantic as he tries to grab for anything so he won’t drown.

“Buck,” your soft voice is audible. It’s so close and yet so far. He can’t reach for you, but he wants to — he needs to. “Bucky, hey, baby. You’re safe, try to take a deep breath for me, please.”

He can feel your warm hand reaching for his. Your fingers curl around Bucky’s thicker ones as you pull his clenched fingers off his shirt. He doesn’t want to let go of his only grounding source but he also doesn’t stop you — deep down he knows you’re his real grounding, his anchor.

“Loud noises are overwhelming, aren’t they? But it’s okay. I’m here, I've got you. Just try and focus on my voice, I know it’s hard but you need to listen to me otherwise we can’t get out of here,” you say. Your voice is still so soft and soothing, warming his chest as he feels his eyes moving toward yours.

Bucky’s mouth opens before he closes it again. He remains silent but you can see his eyes flickering from yours to your fingers before they settle back on yours.

He takes in the soft smile that’s tugging at your lips as you stand in front of him — causing his heart to flutter slightly. Your fingers interlace with his as you rub soothing circles over the back of his hands. Bucky notices your lips moving, trying to calm him down and even though the noises are still louder than your voice, he can make out some of the words you’re saying.

“I know you listen to me, Buck. Maybe not completely but I know you try. And I’m proud of you, you’re doing so good, baby,” you assure him, hoping it will help him to calm down.

While dating Bucky you learned how to handle his anxiety and his panic attacks. Not just because of therapy but also because of all the talks you have after such a situation — allowing Bucky to look back and help you both to understand what you can do to either help or avoid these situations.

From finding out what overwhelmed him to what he felt until he can tell you what he might have needed, you talk about every detail Bucky wants to share with you. So, with his help of what he could have needed in such a moment you can try different things out until you both are happy with the result.

“You have to stay calm. I’m not gonna hurt you, but I need to cover your ears. It might be a bit of pressure but then the noises will be quieter,” you explain before you bring his hands to your hips, placing them there for him to ground himself before you reach up to cover his ears softly.

Bucky flinches, his fingers digging almost painfully into your hips as he stares at you with widened, fear filled eyes. Your thumbs stroke softly along his cheeks, still covering his ears as you feel him relaxing softly into your embrace.

Bucky’s breath slows down, the noises are quieter. Once again — like so many times before — your hand reached out for him when he was drowning. It’s your hands that take a tight hold on him, making sure he can’t drown in the darkness.

You move your hands down his cheeks, wiping away a few streaks of tears before you settle your hands around his neck.

“I-I’m sorry…” he mumbles, leaning his head against yours. Bucky takes a shaky breath, way more steady than before but still on edge with his emotions. “I shouldn’t have gone shopping with you… it’s only… I’m only in your way.”

“You will never be in my way. I’m glad you came to the shop with me,” you mutter, pressing your lips to the tip of his nose. “I don’t like you suffering like that, Buck. But you went out with me, you should be proud.”

“Are you proud?”

“Of you?”

Bucky nods softly. His blue eyes flickering to yours, uncertainty written all over his face. How can he possibly be proud of himself when he just had a panic attack where he needed your help to calm down?

“More than anything,” you say with such a softness and honesty that Bucky feels like he’s melting in your arms. He nods, sighing softly. “I’m really proud of you, Buck. You’re so much stronger than you think. You went to hell and back, and yet, you’re still so lovely and caring about the people you love.”

Bucky smiles softly, a soft pink creeping onto his cheeks as he tries to hide his face in the crook of your neck. “Don’t say that…”

“Because you know it’s true?”

“No… because it makes me blush,” he whines playfully. Bucky leans back a bit, his ocean blue orbs flickering to your lips, then back to your eyes. Within another second his warm, plump lips press against yours, pouring all his love and adoration into the kiss.

@armystay89 @rogersbarber @firelilyfox

[vaspider]

Spider, can I ask you and your followers for some input in a situation? I want some unbiased opinions, especially from parents of adult kids (bonus if your adult kids are disabled). I've tried to be as unbiased as possible and include both sides. I am aware that you're under no obligation to actually answer, but I'm hoping that if you're not able to provide any input, then one of your followers might be able to.

TLDR at the end.

The context:

Basically, I am an adult in my late 20s. I haven't lived with my parents since they threw me out at 19 for being diagnosed with autism and they were told that I wasn't capable of living independently without years of occupational therapy. I was homeless for 13 months. Like literally two days later, they dropped me off at work, confiscated my house keys, and said to find somewhere else to sleep because I wasn't coming back home. (My parents insist that I wasn't actually homeless because I already had my current job and was able to afford to stay at a youth homeless shelter. I say "what the fuck do you think Homeless Shelter means??") After that, I was able to get a government grant for chronically homeless youth that allowed me to get a room in a student housing complex. It's not dorms, but it works like a dorm. I do have a private room.

My bedroom of my apartment is a mess. My bedroom has always been a mess. I have AuDHD and multiple disabilities, including extreme fatigue so that's not unexpected. During lockdown, it was especially bad. I had to move out of my last apartment in 2021 because one of my roommates was a bigot and my building wanted a new tenet so they could charge more rent, so between the two of them, they forced me out for being a "safety concern" due to the mess (the roommate did things like lie and say I didn't bathe, even though I was literally still wet from the shower). My parents ended up helping me pack up my stuff and move to a new place. I've been here for a few years and my roommates here have always been okay with the mess because it stays confined to my room.

(Also I wrote this at like 5AM and I'm half asleep but I wasn't going to be able to go back to bed until I ask someone unbiased. So please excuse any typos, and I hope everything makes sense and nothing came out as gibberish because sometimes by brain refuses to Word Good.)

The problem:

My mother decided when I moved in that my dad was going to be inspecting my bedroom in order to make sure it's clean. He's been putting her off but she's been on his ass about it for three years so he's finally caved and said that next time he's here to bring me something (I cannot drive due to disabilities), that he would be inspecting my room.

I do not want my room inspected. I've been very clear about that since day one. Yes, my room is a mess, but I'm also a grownass adult. My parents say that since they've given me some money for my rent over the past few years that they're entitled to inspect my room. I say that it's a violation of my autonomy. My room is my safe space. My mother is an obsessively clean person so growing up, my room wasn't really mine, and everything had to be to her standards whether I liked it or not (including things like what color I paint my furniture that I owned).

My parents do not care about my boundaries, and would say that since I've proven incapable in the past (re: because I'm disabled, not that they'd ever admit it), that they're trying to protect me by keeping me from being kicked out again.

I am skeptical about this and believe it's more about controlling me (see: throwing me out for having autism and just generally being extremely controlling my entire life). My parents have refused to stop giving me money for my rent every now and then (I have a job and pay at least the majority of my rent, but there are some months where business is slow and I don't get many hours, and no one wants to hire me because I act Autistic and use a cane) and I end up short. I have resolved to do everything I can to not need their help, including having my sister pick up my prescriptions, in order to avoid my parents coming over and inspecting my room.

Also, my building already does quarterly inspections and they've always been okay with my room, but I know my room won't be to my parents' standards. I don't have any local friends that I could ask for help cleaning up, but like, I'm a Spoonie. I clean my toilet and then have to go lay down because I'm getting dizzy. I am not making much progress myself.

The question:

Are my parents right? Have I shown that I cannot be trusted to keep my room clean, thus entitling them to come inspect it to make sure it's not a mess. They will definitely yell at me and have threatened to withdraw what support they do give me if my room is a mess or I refuse to let them inspect it? Or am I right to put my foot down and enforce my boundaries?

Side note, my parents have a history of being abusive and controlling. That's something I had to prove to the government to get my grant. They would insist that it's not abuse. Some of it was quite bad but I'm not going to get into it here.

TLDR:

I'm an adult with disabilities who has my own apartment. My parents think they're entitled to come inspect my room to make sure it's clean. I say that it's my apartment and I say no. They have threatened to withdraw what support they do give me if I refuse. Are my parents being unreasonable, or am I the one being unreasonable for refusing?

Your parents have no right to inspect your room. You are an adult. This is your apartment, not theirs. Your mother is wrong. Your parents are being invasive. I think they think they're being reasonable bc they care about your well being, but they aren't respecting your autonomy.

Sometimes, being a parent means you gotta let your kids not do things the way you would or even not do things the way that is best for them. It's hard, but it's necessary.

If you still lived with your parents and your lack of cleanliness was affecting their lives, it might be different ... but this is just your parents being fucking weird.

[rebelfire]

Re-listening to s1 again and realized we ALL forgot Glenn has a therapist!

During episode 10, when he's explaining himself to the other dads after running off with Nick, he says: "But my priority first and foremost was looking out for my son and myself and our safety and we had to get out of there, and yeah, maybe it could have been handled more elegantly maybe a little more communication, I know that my therapist says I got to work on that, but we made it out and for the most part we seem to be okay here. So—"

Darryl cuts him off right after and I don't think the therapist is ever mentioned again, but I don't think that means it was a lie. (I also don't think his explanation here is incorrect. Nick is the one to push for them bailing, and it's only later they make a plan to try for a drug business, but it's all Nick's idea. Yes, Glenn is the adult, and yes he is not sharing what they planned after they left, but there were no nefarious intentions when they bailed.)

Glenn isn't exactly the type to talk about his feelings openly without any prompting, so he's not likely to just admit to having a therapist, but we do see plenty of hints that he's aware he's barely coping/surviving emotionally, and that he's reflecting on his responsibility as a dad. (We see this a short while later when the dads are helping Ron during the Tower of Terry arc. He advises Ron, then reflects on what Darryl and Henry say when they give their own advice. Notably about when they mention having to be the bad guy sometimes to be a good dad.) He's aware he's not doing great, but he doesn't personally have the skills and support to address it.

But if he's so bad at confronting it, why have a therapist? I'm not confident he'd do it of his own volition, mostly because I don't think it'd occur to him to do so. If he hasn't had support it may not occur to him that a therapist could offer that. BUT, Glenn would totally agree to see a therapist for Nick's sake! He would do anything for Nick.

My guess is that it is related to losing his band. We know this happened not long before the soccer trip, and it seems safe to assume the therapist is probably still somewhat new to him. Glenn says he was kicked out of the band due to his tour-antics and references an attempt to hot-box his car in a closed garage. He tells it like an accident, but he tone screams "don't think about it too hard" so I think it could have been a cry for help / suicide attempt. We know of the one incident, but it might not have been the first, it was just the catalyst. Whether it was this incident, or a prior incident, he's forced to get a therapist. Maybe it was due to pressure from his bandmates/friends, a manager, or law enforcement/social services. My guess is that they didn't get the law involved, since Nick doesn't know about any of it, but it was a quiet hush-hush deal. Perhaps a "you need help, you need to quit the band, focus on your kid, and see a therapist, or we get the law involved" sort of situation.

[dark-dragon-8]

A Supernatural × Batman crossover where the Batfam are actual cryptids and the brothers are sent to hunt them, only to find out that these guys are pretty much immortal, god like beings whose only weaknesses are each other, the sun and some weird sentient manifestation of their home city that they seem to care about, and most of them already grew out of the second one, since, apparently, the sun only affects them when they're newborns/newly transformed/changed.

The whole reason they ended up in Gotham in the first place was because of some online rumors saying that there is a demon cult in the city, as well as Blüdhaven [it's true, partially, the Bat clan has had several cults and/or religions painting them as godly beings/saviours of Gotham throughout the years, still do (imagine the colonies from F'ing Demon Bats, only this time the cryptid part of them is actually real)] along with shrines for human sacrifices.

At first they thought the locals sold themselves to a Pagan God in exchange for their safety, that the shrines and "holy grounds" spread throughout the city were for blood and human sacrifices and the creatures were feeding on the souls of their followers or something.

Turns out, that couldn't be further from the truth. Yes there were bloody sacrifices at the shrines, but most of the time those were just grieving kids bringing their dead pets to silence's holy grounds for them to be healed, or taken care of, by the spirit and have their souls at peace. But, again, that was rare, and only occurred at the holy grounds themselves rather than the shrines people attended to daily.

Majority of those shrines were filled with books, art supplies, music boxes with ballerinas and, sometimes, you could even find a few trinkets and computer parts, as well as the occasional plates and plastic boxes filled with home cooked meals, sometimes they even put pots and kettles filled to the brim with savory goods and nice tea. Nobody ever touched the food, not even the poor and desperate, when asked why all the brothers received were looks of horror and hushed whispers about how "The bats don't like thieves" and "They'll stop coming by the shrine, maybe even destroy it if we do that"

Dean didn't like it, neither did Sam, they didn't like how the locals, people who barely even bat an eye when they see a dead body on their way to work, get so scared and terrified as soon as they hear of something that might displease the Bats. They tried asking around, trying to figure out what is it that makes them so scared of their dearly beloved deities, after all, they talk about them like such a wonder, like they're the best thing that ever happened to them. Hell, one of them is named Mercy and was revered for its compassion and understanding of those around them.

They only got their answer when investigating a place called Crime Alley. They locals were all the same, if not even more reserved than their city's counterparts, but there was one person, a young girl who couldn't be older than ten that said she'll be willing to answer their questions in return for some money and stories from their time as hunters. They were reluctant at first, but seeing as they haven't had much of an option, they agreed.

"So, Masey" Dean started

"Missy" she corrected

"Right, sorry, Missy, you said that you could tell us what's up regarding those demons"

"Deities" she said sternly, the man simply nodded "And yes, I can do that, but you'll have to do something for me first"

"And what would that be?"

"You said you were a hunter, right?" He nodded "And you also said you have some money. So I want you to give me two hundred dollars, cash, and a written story containing at least three of your adventures with your partner. You can't use big fonts, lie or omit any details from the story, it needs to be one hundred percent real and legible and needs to be at least fifty pages, understood?"

Dean was confused, confused and worried. Why would this child need a story about them hunting monsters? And why did she need it to be so long and accurate? Was she trying to sell them out to the Bats or something? Why was this so important?

A million questions flooded his head and looking at Sammy, he could tell the feeling was very much mutual.

"Um Missy" it was Sam talking to her this time "Why would you want a story of us hunting like that? We could tell you about our time together on the field, if you want, but why do you need that written so meticulously?"

The little girl shook her head before he even finished speaking "No, no, I need it written"

"How so?"

"For Passion, of course"

"Passion?"

"Yeah, Passion, the component watching over Crime Alley, it loves reading stories but only when they're worth it. It doesn't like when people give them stories only to please it or for it to give them undeserved attention. It needs to be good and interesting, a story about two hunters will definitely do that"

The two hunters met each other's eyes, both their expressions filled with worry, apprehension and suspicion.

"And why all the other rules? Why does have to be so long and accurate?"

The girl tilted her head, looking at them as though they've said something stupid "Because you're introducing yourself, maybe"

"I can't just tell you guys all there is to know about the Bat without at least one of the components acknowledging you guys and giving me permission to share that information with outsiders"

"And what makes you think it won't just kill us as soon as it realizes what we do for a living?" They might've been desperate, but that doesn't mean they're going to give an essay about their weaknesses and hunting methods to a freaky, probably homicidal spirit on a silver platter

"Because they like people like you, people who put their lives on the line in order to help those around them. Also" she leveled her gaze with Dean's, which was pretty impressive considering she barely reached his hip "Had it wanted you dead, you wouldn't have been able to take two steps inside Crime Alley without having a heart attack, or your head magically disappearing"

The two brothers tensed, the taller's eyes rapidly scanning their surroundings, hands fishing out a weird cellular device, probably an EMF reader or maybe a bottle of holy water, as the shorter failed to keep up his confident facade in front of the (probably) ten year old (because Dean isn't going to be spooked by a kid that hasn't even reached the double digits yet, he's 𝘯𝘰𝘵)

The little girl laughed, completely ignoring their - very justified!!! - panic "Relax, would ya? Passion doesn't kill people unless they feel like it's necessary"

They didn't seem to be very relaxed, she didn't care, she just told them to meet her again on the border of Crime Alley and its neighbor city in a week, before leaving.

Two hours later, Carrie Kelley was skipping into the main living room of Wayne Manor, where several of her siblings played video games and with their father reading the newspaper on the side, the perfect illusion of a normal, happy, completely human family.

She walked up to Bruce, sitting on the arm of his sofa as the last of her illusion magic slipped away

"Did you do it?"

"I offered them the deal, still not sure if they'll end up actually agreeing to it"

"Mn. You did well"

The young teen preened under the praise, thanking her father before going off to boast and scheme with the rest of her siblings, they were up planning contingencies and devising plans until Sundown.

[tokyo-daaaamn-ji-gang]

Hii ! Could you please do some husband/ father baji Head cannons. Tysm <33333333

Yeah, here are some for Baji!

Baji never really understood the whole wedding thing and what a big deal it was before he met you, then he suddenly realised how much he wanted it.

He's a very responsible dad, more responsible then his friends assumed he'd be but Baji takes raising a child pretty seriously, same as with his vet work.

Speaking of vet work, he did get a few things mixed up in pregnancy stage and asked questions about things that a human baby wouldn't do (after how many weeks will the baby open their eyes etc).

Tends to try to let you sleep if the baby or kids start crying in the night, he's always determined to try and deal with it himself (though he does need your help sometimes). 

Isn't afraid to tell his friends to shut up when the baby is sleeping (even if he accidentally wakes the baby up after doing this the first few times).

Struggles a lot to get out of bed in the morning when you're next to him, just wants to stay next to you. (You're definitely being forced to lie in with him on weekends).

He's pretty determined that his kid is gonna be strong too, like him. Will put his kid in martial arts classes (though if they show no interest in it he won't push them)

Is very protective as a partner, will constantly check your wellbeing and safety.

Is a very good mix of being strict and chill, actually a lot like how Ryoko was with him (his mother is his role model and he tries to parent in a similar way to her)

Puts in a lot of effort into all of your birthdays, doing his best to make the day perfect for you and the kids.

If Mikey has a kid around the same time then the two of them have a fun rivalry going, like who's kid will talk first etc.

Is a bit of a baby when it comes to taking medicines, doesn't like the way they taste and refuses to take them, you have to bribe him with other stuff he wants. 

Panics a bit when the baby first starts crying

Introduces his kid to all the neighbourhood cats and teaches his kid to feed them too.

Introduces you to all the neighbourhood cats too, he'll also occasionally bring one home and give you a pleading look as he asks if the cat can stay. 

Thinks men who won't change nappies or help out with the kids are weak 

Straight up congratulates his kid after they get sent home from school after a fight.

Tries to teach you a few self defense moves, just in case he can't be around. 

He's a very caring father who can be a bit strict at times but always does the best for his family

Your being married to Baji privileges includes being the only one allowed to touch his hair (at least while it's just the two of you).

Makes sure the two of you get plenty of dates (will spoil you a bit but he's denying it if anyone else asks)

Was so nervous about his wedding, Chifuyu and Kazutora had to reassure him a lot that it'll all go fine. 

Hates whenever he has to study long hours to become a vet because it means he gets less time with you and the kids. Promises to make up for it later though.

Being married to Baji also means having Chifuyu and Kazutora around a lot. Chifuyu especially does whatever he can for you, he respects you greatly for being the one Baji chose. They're also uncles to your kids and will argue about who the kids like more (it's Mikey because he brings them sweets)

Is very sentimental, keeps everything you and the kids give him.

As a partner he's very good at reading your moods and adapting to them. Your sad? Then he'll cheer you up. Stressed? He'll help you relax. Angry? Then he'll take you out somewhere to let that frustration out.

Is super glad when you get on well with his mother

He's a total family man, valuing you guys and his friends above all else. 

[danithy]

Davesport headcanons (because I'm so insanely normal about them)

Decided to do this ! For no real reason but alas ! A lot of these are taken or used in things I've written, so if you recognise some of 'em then that's where they came from.

The most infamous dsaf headcanon ever: hair./silly I imagine Dave had hair when he died, long and a deep purple, and he eagerly maintains it to prevent it from decaying as much. Jack learnt how to braid because of Dee, and has braided Dave's hair on a few occasions. His hair in the flipside is darker than it is in reality, especially during dsaf 3, because it resembles a less decomposed version of himself. Jack has a buzzcut, he died bald because hairless is an easy hairstyle to maintain, especially when you've got a six year old sister to take care of. It just barely managed to grow before his body started decaying and is rather patchy. Their hair also represents some aspects of their character: Dave clinging onto his hair and its fleeting liveliness resembles how he clings to the past and Henry's legacy, whereas Jack exhibits none of those behaviors and is instead focused on putting things back together, along with his promise which all lie in the future. 

Dave sometimes stops breathing entirely when he sleeps, since he technically doesn't have to do it to live considering his physicality. The first time this happened in Vegas Jack freaked out, he's since gotten accustomed to it and doesn't jump anymore when Dave goes limp in his arms.

Dave's scared of thunderstorms, I imagine he'd hide from heavy rain as a kid and the loud thunder and harsh lightning terrified him, which persisted into adulthood. Usually he manages to handle it well, but there’s been times where Jack found him under his bed or in his closet. 

Dave gets slightly and subconsciously intimidated when Jack waves any sort of tool around too much; it reminds him of Henry. Jack caught on at some point from the way he seemed to go uncharacteristically quiet, and has since minded how he handles his tools. 

They fight a lot, Dave was never taught affection and Jack very rarely expresses it because his emotional palate is repressed and slightly altered considering the whole soulless ordeal. The closeness of violence is a way to achieve affection for them, and patching each other afterward is also a sign of love. It got out of hand once and Dave died, they've been more careful since. 

Dave cradles Jack’s head to his chest with a hand on the back of it when they cuddle (which they do in my mind). It's a subconscious instinct to protect him that comes from a place of care, Jack accidentally woke up in that embrace a few times and finds it endearing. 

Somewhat canon but Dave was the one to bash Jack's teeth out, Dave managed to scramble for- and still has one of the teeth; he thinks of it as a trophy and keeps it separately from the box. I personally imagine it happened in one of the aforementioned Vegas fights instead of the handcrank, and in good routes he did it himself when he was drunk and miscalculated the distance between the bottle and his teeth. In the context of Dave having done it though: it happened because Dave's accustomed to himself being treated without regard for his safety so he accidentally mimics this towards Jack, which is how he knocked them out. He was more careful after that but because of his many deaths his motor skills are decreased, and this still leads to accidents sometimes. 

Both Jack and Dave have nightmares, both about the springlock accidents and Dave also about the experiments, nights where he woke up to see his own stomach open, etc. Each of them can tell when the other is dreaming from the way they move in their sleep. 

That's currently all I can conjure... Might add onto this another time:]

[alexa-yukiyu]

Some headcannons for youu ♡ :

Izou just having the time of his life designing outfits for dokusha.

Thatch teaching dokusha to cook bit by bit and supporting them no matter how bad the food is (think like Sanji's mother)

Related to Puppy love/escapes - Shanks secretly writing to dokusha now and then to check up on them

Dokusha sneaking into whitebeards room after having a nightmare, and whitebeard knowing that the kid is there but pretends to be asleep

Marco not leaving dokusha's side while there sick, not because it's serious but because he doesn't want them to wake up with no one there

Vista helping dokusha make flower crowns while telling stories

Ace breaking the rules and sneaking dokusha away while their grounded do to fun things

Tried to include a bit of everybody for ya, remember to eat water drink food and rest ♡♡

Let me start by saying that when they read the end my first reactions like HA they din’t include Vista, ima throw one in but then I saw you DID. Include him and I was damn they got ahead of me. 😂

Izou is one hundred percent ensuring Dokucha is always on flick 💅🏽 . Not only does he have a good eye for them on stores but he also comes up with both cutest and fanciest things for the kid. One day you wake up to them in the darnest dino costume

Another day you woke up to them in the fanciest outfits

You bet that Thatcher is gonna always have his little assistant even Baby Dokucha, he will always have them on his hip as he cooks (as long as it’s safe) trying to get some early lessons on the baby, making sure to narrate every step of what he’s doing.

Listen the crew don’t know this but Dokucha has bribed one of the delivery birds to come to them after they have dropped the usual new’s coo. In exchange for some quality food and perhaps a coin here and there they maintain contact with Shanks.

Dokucha is a kid, and with that comes scares wether from a nighmare or from a suspicious sound they keep hearing on their room, even though they sleep with the commanders on their room, nothing will provide more safety than good ol grandpa so Whitebeard always makes sure to ‘forget’ to lock his room, if you’re lucky he might even ‘accidentally’ leave out some blankets…

Listen, he might not do this for the rest of the crew, that dosen’t mean he doesn’t care for the others he just thinks they can toughen it out plus when it cones to stubborn pirates sitting next to them as the lie injures their pride but Dokucha, they don’t know any better. The others don’t know this but Marco sneaks some books into the clinic to read to the small child to help them rest better.

They know to nurture all sides of Dokucha and that means the innocent meaningless activities, just like izou Vista is more than willing to take on that role, helping them make flower clowns and teaching them of the different plants they might encounter in the different islands.

Oh remember how I said the commanders know better? They do but they also recognize when they have learned their lesson; sometimes the time frame of the punishment is longer than needed so they do kind of see what the situation calls for. However when the punishment do seem to be longer than what they need, Ace asks special permission from Pops to give the child a ride. Whitebeard most usually says yes but he does on the condition that Ace will also have a talk with Dokucha to make sure why they were being punished and try to find a middle ground to make sure the behavior gets curbed. (He does have to ask Whitebeard, Even Ace is aware he wouldn’t be able to sneak past the man)

I love making these with you guys, do you guys have any more takes?

[pearblossomrain]

returning from the dead for a new point form race recap:

(what the fuck is happening at red bull??)

• actual generational fumble from red bull like a slow pitstop AND your exit lights aren't working? did the ex redbull second seat drivers actually curse the garage? also the hards. why were we on hards PLEASE. (though verstappen did at one point get a fastest lap on them which. what the fuck?)

• so. many. technical failures. brakes not working, dashes potentially coming off, drs button broken, THE ENTIRE BOARD JUST BREAKING??? at this point call a power outage like in testing....

• speaking of the colossal timings fuckup, i checked my app instead and russell's name kept getting restored to p2 and then inexplicably dropping to dead last then this repeated like 10 times 😭😭

• okay onto the actual Racing, INSANE weekend for haas? starting dead last and p14 but finishing p10 and p8 is actually mental. they have a really solid lineup this year tbh and their strategy team is apparently more competent than any top team (cough ferrari cough) 💀

• what the hell was sainz doing holy shit he was going to run everybody off the track? before any fans cry foul, sorry but if multiple drivers are saying you aren't giving them room then you might be the issue. that 3 place grid penalty was stupid though and he's already dnf-ed like. why is the fia kicking a dead horse???

• red bull what the fck 😭 this is some ferrari type of bad luck i'm not gonna lie like the exit lights breaking has probably occurred to the red garage during some tests. verstappen was hopping MAD with the already bad strategy holy shit. if i was christian horny i'd be scared ngl. but also YUKI TSUNODA POINTS!!! cook that second seat curse omg

• alpine points! gasly had an amazing weekend from qualis to checkered flag so now every single team has scored points this season which is nice. seeing ocon and gasly together at some point made me mildly terrified for a french civil war crash which. admittedly would have spiced up the race (which i love) but everyone was really close due to safety car so it would've been Total carnage.

• i only realized after the race that lawson collided into hulkenberg and stroll?? doesn't matter as much with hulk though because he was disqualified due to. skid block issues? geez that sounds familiar (what is up with the skid blocks?)

• confusing weekend for mercedes like on one hand russell finished where he started, getting a podium but his car sounded like it was falling apart. then antonelli got run off track though i don't think it affected him a lot because the strategy was already kind of fcked by the safety car. pity that his points finish streak is ended though 😭

• piastri was horrifically ahead of the entire pack like great for him but that fcking rocketship oh my god this is like the rb20 again. great drive though i can imagine it's really fun to be that far ahead of everyone 💀 honestly thought mclaren would fck up the strat but i remembered they only fumble when the drivers are next to each other. oops? also norris going over the grid box was hilarious when you see the way verstappen clocked it and then IMMEDIATELY tattled on the radio 😭😭 sometimes f1 feels like a bunch of kids trying to get first in a school festival contest.

• ferrari, oh, ferrari. i actually cannot tell if the new floor worked or not? yes they are faster than before (at least with similar pace to merc according to pundits) but car parts are apparently still flying off 😭 great job for hamilton getting up to p5 from p9 though and thank god the strategy wasn't completely fucked due to the well timed safety car. (which benefited nearly everyone, really) also great defending from leclerc to norris but the car is really no match for that rocketship. (which, they should really just admit is a good car. no shame in acknowledging that your car is good and props to the garage as well.)

new meme section for every race recap. this is the entire race for red bull.

there's definitely things i'm missing but tldr; great day for the midfield (just alpine and haas), horrific day for williams, soo close for ferrari, red bull and merc are a mixed bag.

[keouil]

down must fall the sky

in hell, they leave the love in. it’s important to remember that, thinks mincheol, on the bed of a girl he’s known barely a year with the same color palette as haesoo but not quite: the love was there. it was always there. it’s the life part they screwed up just a touch. 1k. haesoo/mincheol. also on ao3.

You are shaking fists & trembling teeth. I know: You did not mean to be cruel. That does not mean you were kind. Sometimes, I think you forget. I am not God. I do not forgive.

VENETTA OCTAVIA

Maybe my life is trying to tell me something. These days, I want to wander, But the past still needs me. How could I ever leave?

HUA XI

花

In hell, they leave the love in.

It’s important to remember that, thinks Mincheol, on the bed of a girl he’s known barely a year with the same color palette as Haesoo but not quite: The love was there. It was always there. It’s the life part they screwed up just a touch.

⊹

Mincheol first meets Haesoo under the awning of a bus stop. 

It’s raining, the first pour they’ve had all summer, and when you live in the slums of Seoul with practically no heat management system in place: you take your victories and spin them into gold. He jogs down the stone steps, yells out a Sell well, halmeoni! to the pajeon seller who always goes door to door first thing in the morning, and helps out a policeman wrangle a few kindergarten kids to safety on the pedestrian lane. There was a community here, thinks Mincheol, the same way ragtag people find themselves gravitating towards each other and making the most of what life hands to them at the bottom of the barrel.

Mincheol bumps into her on the way down the steps to the bus stop, milk bread in his mouth and spun silk in her hair. 

“Oh,” he says, and then: “Hello.”

⊹

She was beautiful, by the gods she always was; but even more so, thought Mincheol then, her heart. She was quiet in her kindness, and kept to herself in class where he was great and grand and loud. The sort of beautiful to write home about, the way her eyes lit up just a fraction when they went flower viewing in spring; or the elegant slope of her neck that had his heart stopping when she bent down to pick one up; or the almost hesitant, almost shy way she offered up the tiniest smile along with the dandelion she presented to him: heart on her sleeve and longing lodged in his throat.

Haesoo was the kind of beautiful you marry young.

The one you make a life partner out of. The one that when both of you stroll past the streets of Myeongdong, will have people stop for a second, and re-assess and double back: because yes, Mincheol had been there himself: She is real and she is mine. There are great, grand, loud things he has planned for them: a penthouse suite overlooking the Han River, a vacation house in Jeju they can summer in, the whole world on a platter, it seemed, if she asked; and by the gods, he was going to give that all to her.

⊹

They go to the same college. Mincheol takes up an internship at a multinational company and complains of long days of being a glorified errand boy, but Haesoo, Haesoo: in the little rundown apartment by Ilsan they pay way too much for way too little, always managed to assemble a few loose ingredients to make sundubu jiggae and arrange them in a fashion like a king’s meal long before he even gets to toe his shoes off. Haesoo who turns to him in the doorway and says with so much delicacy, so much honesty, so much heart: “Mincheol-ah,” and then, “Welcome home”, and then, “You worked hard”; that always has his heart racing, years after and long after.

I love you, he would always say back. I love you and I want us both to eat well.

⊹

When they lie in bed at night on the futon passed down to them by Mincheol’s parents, the one that was hard on the back and had him offering up his pillow to her instead: he’d turn to her, quiet in the night, with a voice as soft as liquid silk: I’m going to take care of you. 

⊹

The love was there. It was always there.

It was never a problem until it became the problem.

⊹

Mincheol marries Haesoo to no fanfare: There, the girl at the legal office said as she slid the papers their way, It’s done. Mincheol could only look on in equal parts awe and dumbstruckness at the tangible evidence of the very real thing they just did that was going to impact their lives now in a very real way. Haesoo, though, when she lifts her head to look at him: It’s done? she asks, still so timid and lovely and soft, Are we really—

And Mincheol heaves her up in his arms, smothers her with kisses and even more declarations of his love, all the way until they reach the expensive yakiniku place they have no money to spend on but decide fuck all because:

“Yes,” says Mincheol, breathless, still just looking at her and not believing she was real and she was his and he was hers and they were standing at the edge of the world or staring down at it, daring it to bite back. “We’re really.”

⊹

The mortgage on their first home is bleeding both of them dry, but they’re married and young and excited to do life with each other. It’s imperfect like how most marriages go, but for the first time in their lives, they have a real shot at making it out of the slums and building the bricks on a life they can slowly start chipping away on.

“When it gets too hard,” whispers Haesoo, brushing a few strands of hair away from his face when they face each other on the bed after Mincheol gets another job rejection the third time that week. “We attack the problem and not each other. Always. Okay?”

Mincheol tugs her further into him. “Okay,” he says, and then: “Okay.”

⊹

But:

⊹

The world and life, though.

It catches up to you.

It bites back.

⊹

Mincheol starts working overtime. Haesoo takes on more shifts and more part-time jobs. In a moment of pure desperation and Haesoo shivering on the floor because they’re three payments late on electricity, Mincheol tucks her in all the jackets he has and leans down to ghost a kiss on her forehead and tenders all he has left to give: I’m going to take care of you.

He leaves in the middle of the night in nothing but his t-shirt and a number he swore to never call.

⊹

The next day, all their bills are paid.

⊹

The next month, the loan sharks start banging on their door.

⊹

Mincheol tries hiding it all from her, from pretty and sweet and delicate Haesoo; he takes on a few side-hustles, invests in start-ups, even does a little black market trading on the down low. Some of them stick but not enough. 

But the love, thinks Mincheol, it’s still there. 

It’s always going to be there. You don’t brave through the jaws of death growing up poor and not know a thing or two about gratefulness, or feeling tethered to someone you did all that clawing through with. Haesoo is still as beautiful as the day the first drop of rain soaked through her uniform, that had him blushing and pushing his blazer to her chest, that had him flushing and sputtering all throughout his senior year until he finally plucked enough courage to rip out the first button of his uniform and hand it to her, hands shaking, with a smile that was just as shaky: “Will you go out with me?”

She said yes, and damn her for saying yes all those years ago, because now; now Mincheol was indebted. He felt indebted to will the fantasy life he wanted for her, this girl who never asked for anything but deserved so much more than canned tuna for dinner and a husband who always came home late; this girl who took one look at his tired face from a long night and wordlessly took off his jacket and shoes for him, deposited him on their banged up couch, and started quietly working out the kinks in his muscles; this girl with the face, as soft as a lily pad, hum lullabies to him when the stress met his dreams and he kept thrashing in bed; who, at her first spun song, his heart will always tender itself to.

He doesn’t deserve her. He knows he doesn’t deserve her. But it’s hard to forget a mouth that loves you, even more so, thinks Mincheol: one that you know has been the only one to ever love you as completely and nakedly as you are. 

⊹

The anger, then. That’s new. 

⊹

Things Haesoo has lied to him about over the years:

“Yes, I already ate.”

“It’s just a bad sprain.”

“I don’t need to go to the hospital.”

“I wasn’t late to work.”

“I don’t need to take a day off.”

“I’m not hungry, you can have the last bite.”

“I’m okay.”

⊹

So when the bills are piling up and loan sharks are barking down your door and your wife is crying herself to sleep every night, thinks Mincheol, bitterly: This is marriage.

But how could he direct all that hatred to her, on stable and supportive and enduring Haesoo? Who has only ever known to be there for him when times were rough and especially then when they weren’t? She’s become too trusting of him. She’s become too dependent on the stability of their love that she thought would have survived anything. He couldn’t fault her for that. He couldn’t get mad at her for believing in life when he’d gone through hell and back to shield its ugliest parts from her.

⊹

So he punishes himself instead.

⊹

When a young brunette co-worker invites him out for drinks the next week, he only hesitates just the second before saying yes.

[somegrumpynerd]

HEY. POINTS FINGER… any thoughts on how everyone reacted when the other joined the team? as in how did killer react when dust came, how did he and dust react when horror came, how did they all react when cross came, etc. i love love LOVE your bad sanses thoughts way too much they make me so happy. if i write hurt you write comfort and it’s awesome. also how do you think they slowly started to get closer? just.. bah give me your thoughts on them!!!! any thoughts!!!!!!!!!

You fool!! You’ve given me a chance to ramble about my special little guys and now this post will stretch on forever!! Mwahahahahah >:3c

No but seriously this is probably gonna be wicked long cause I have 1 million thoughts about these guys joining and meeting each other so uh, readmore for everybody’s safety and sanity

(^ I wrote that in the document before I started typing out my actual thoughts and uh

yeah no kidding, this is like a fucking essay so proceed with caution)

OKAY SO

I’ve said before that Nightmare got Dust for two reasons; one being that Dream had just recently started working with Ink (and soon Blue) so he and Killer were no longer able to gang up on Dream. He wanted somebody else to bulk up their numbers and give Killer a little back up. He also was starting to realise that Killer didn’t handle being alone very well, since this was when he most often got worked up and broke things around the castle (and sometimes tipped over into stage 3). Dust would be a perfect fit since he had the same amount of lvl and fighting experience as Killer, and since they were so close in circumstance they would be practically like brothers right?

The irony that he thought this about a guy he was recruiting to help kill his brother was apparently lost on him.

They absolutely hated each other. Like, it was instant. Killer saw him as a replacement, why would boss go out and get another sans - one with almost the same backstory as me - when I’m right here? Does he think I’m not good enough? Am I disposable and this is the backup for when I die in combat? He didn’t take it well. He took it all out on Dust too, not cooperating in battle, trying to start fights in the castle, etc. He couldn’t outright kill him because Nightmare had given him strict orders not to, but Killer loves a loophole. If he roughed Dust up down to 1hp and something else happened to finish him off, technically he’d followed orders.

Dust just straight up didn’t want to be there. Nightmare just showing up and yoinking him had worked fine with Killer, but Dust had wanted to sit in his empty au and die, he had no intention of joining a team or doing work of any kind - good or bad. The only reason he didn’t just lie down and refuse the entire time was that he had to fight back against Killer, as much as he wanted to die he refused to give this ass the satisfaction or lvl. He didn’t intend to be any help out in the field either, but again, Killer was making sure he got fired at so he had to retaliate to stay alive.

Eventually it got bad enough that Nightmare had to pull Killer aside and demand answers. In the year or so of knowing him Killer had never willfully disobeyed orders before, so Nightmare needed to know what had gotten into him. He dispelled the replacement rumour right away, he still wasn’t quite softened up enough to be sappy about it but he made sure Killer understood what a good worker he was and that Nightmare had no intention of losing him. It didn’t help a lot, they still hated each other for other reasons, but it eased a little.

Killer still had pretty frequent dips into stage 3, except now he would go straight for Dust usually. Nightmare had tried to explain what he’d learned about it to Dust, but he didn’t really believe that it wasn’t just Killer deciding to try and kill him for funsies. He only accepted it after a particular episode where he attacked Nightmare instead, which Dust knew Killer wouldn’t try in his right mind.

After he came back to his senses he sought Dust out. The air around Killer was very different after a stage 3, sort of sombre and almost calm, so Dust let them sit together and Killer apologised for giving him such a hard time. They actually talked for the first time in months while Killer was still calm (or tolerable, as Dust describes it), and it didn’t magically fix everything but, things were a little better. They still fought and argued and bothered each other but it wasn’t as sharp, there was a lack of real murderous intent in it all, and sometimes after an episode they would talk a little bit. It was the best Nightmare was going to get for now, so he took it.

They were still completely incompetent about taking care of themselves though. Neither of them would eat unless prompted and Nightmare didn’t have good enough knowledge of mortals to know when that should be to stop them passing out from hunger on the job. Not to mention the stars were now a full team, and with the way Killer and Dust would sometimes rather target each other on the field he could do with more backup.

Horror was the first of the group to get a choice in joining. Nightmare had taken note of how much Dust didn’t want to be part of things, and while it was in his best interests in the long run given his situation, Horror’s au was still mostly intact - though a little in disrepair. Horror was also the first in the group to have a good (and ongoing) relationship with his brother, so Nightmare knew he couldn’t just pop in and steal him, he had to be a bit more diplomatic with this one and offer a deal.

He gave Horror some time to think on his proposal - he would set up regular deliveries of food to Horror’s au in exchange for him joining their team - and was quite surprised when Horror agreed, with some stipulations. Horror was equally surprised when Nightmare agreed so easily to his terms (that he didn’t want his brother to know what he’d be doing, and that he wouldn’t kill). A little down the line the terms were altered to add that he would also be left to visit his au every week or so.

Horror was not impressed meeting the other two. He didn’t need his power as judge anymore to sense the lvl coming off them both, and given who they were working for he was instantly distrustful of them both (the uh, brother situation did not help). He was also in a place that had an abundance of food for the first time in probably years, so he was doing a lot of going hog wild in the kitchen and then getting very sick as a result.

Dust didn’t particularly feel anything for him. This guy hated him, sure, but it wasn’t forward and slashy like with Killer, it was just quiet loathing which was fine. That’s how Dust felt about himself so, y’know, mood. He did kind of feel sorry for him though, not just because of the whole famine and everything, but also because he was watching this guy eat like his life depended on it and then get sick and undo it day after day. He was the one who suggested Horror getting his food in moderation to Nightmare, which did help but was an absolute ordeal to enforce. Y’know how some people get hangry? Imagine that but you haven’t had a proper meal in years and now these people give you tiny amounts of food and don’t let you eat more for hours. The hunger mood swings were a sight to behold, you would never have guessed in those days that Horror specified not wanting to kill.

When his ability to eat had evened out and he was in better shape, Horror made a point of apologising to Dust for being aggressive with him. Over time he’d kind of softened up on him from his initial impression, since he could see plainly how wracked with guilt Dust was over his situation. It was a little easier to imagine that whatever he’d done was truly out of desperation and not just for fun, as Horror had assumed at first sight. 

They also both retained that classic sans laziness, so it was easy for them to share a space while saying and doing nothing. It made Horror the first person that Dust willingly spent time around in the castle (and vice versa since Horror was still largely suspicious of Nightmare and Killer - the deal seemed too good to be true and the stage 3 episodes didn’t help). As time went on, Horror kind of became Dust’s emotional support skeleton in a way. Dust had become quite averse to touch in his solitude and Horror very slowly brought him back out with casual gentle touches, until not only did he no longer freeze or stiffen at being grabbed but Dust would seek him out to flop next to on the couch. Horror claimed it was just returning the favour for helping with his eating situation, but really it was nice to have something resembling a friend here.

Killer, for his part, was going through This is My Replacement 2: Electric Boogaloo. Not to the same degree as with Dust, since Horror was quite a bit different, but Killer was still wary of this new addition. He didn’t really instigate anything though since, to be honest, Horror had the intimidation factor. He was like a foot taller than both of them, he had a cracked skull and completely different magic and it seemed like every time Killer saw him he was eating bread like a wolf eats a deer. So while he was going through his food moderating, Killer mostly just stayed quiet and kept his distance.

Horror had not softened on him like he had with Dust, since Killer didn’t openly show remorse. He still watched him with distrust, especially after seeing the way he scrapped with Dust for seemingly no reason other than for violence’s sake. Killer was still mostly targeting Dust in his stage 3s, but Horror had to be careful to stay out of his way since he was still working with much lower hp than the other two. What did start to convince him was seeing how similar Killer and Dust were after a stage 3 episode. Once Killer was slightly more composed (ie stopped crying), he became so tired and quiet and blunt about things he normally joked his way around. It was a little startling, but also started to bring Horror around to the idea that Killer might regret his actions too, just buried under several layers of whatever the hell is also wrong with him at any given time.

Killer and Horror only really started interacting after talking about Dust. Killer was asking how he got Dust to like him since he seems to hate everyone and everything else, Horror told him very pointedly it was because he wasn’t trying to kill Dust. Killer admitted he wasn’t trying to kill Dust, at least not anymore, he just wanted to fight for fun. It opened up a better channel of understanding, knowing that Killer did not actually have murderous intent behind his swings (stage 3 notwithstanding). It made it easier for Horror to occasionally get involved in the roughhousing which Killer delighted in, knowing that the other two knew how to hold back enough to keep him from dusting.

Speaking of stage 3, it was around this time that Killer and Dust made a very important deal. After a particularly rough episode with a little too close of a call, Killer showed up in Dust’s room and begged him shakily to make a promise - that if he ever got too out of control during one of his stages, Dust would kill him. He’d been told over and over by Nightmare that it was impossible for Killer to hurt him since he was immortal, but now there were more people around him where that wasn’t the case, and he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he came out of a stage and found himself alone. Dust promised.

It’s also worth mentioning that, once they were all close enough to be on speaking terms, Horror started bullying the shit out of these two about eating. Now that Horror knew neither of them were going to kill him, he felt safe enough to pick them up by the scruff and set them at the table to say they weren’t leaving until they had at least a snack. He let them pick what they would eat - he wasn’t that cruel about it - but he had to see them eat at least 3 times a day or they would hear about it.

It was by no means perfect or regular, but after about half a year Nightmare finally had henchmen who ate food and worked together (mostly).

Now here’s the problem… I still haven’t really figured out how or why Cross joined the team. Like, obviously there’s some kind of point in the events of underverse where it splits off into an alternate timeline, but I haven’t really figured out where yet so. Leave that one with me just a little longer. Cross joins.

Nightmare really truly didn’t intend to take anyone else in. They were (mostly) getting along, they were pretty well matched to fight the stars, he had no need of more mortals.

…but he was also pretty soft at this point. Every one of them had taken a blow to his I’m immortal I’m an island I don’t get attached to others persona and he’d gotten pretty damn fond of them all. This was why when he felt the sheer weight of loneliness radiating off of Cross, he just couldn’t bring himself to leave him.

So Cross entered the castle. 

He did not particularly intend to stay or make friends, he was trying to get his world back and nothing more. He even revealed a little down the line that he outright refused to kill, and was quite surprised to find that Nightmare was fine with that. At the start he was polite but not friendly with the others and mostly kept to himself.

Dust, as is often the case, did not really have an opinion. Another new guy, this one was self sufficient and didn’t bother him so he had no reason to get involved. He was content to be in the same room as Cross but didn’t start up any conversations.

Horror felt the need to speak to Cross, since Dust would happily stay silent for years and Killer was, well, Killer. Horror was somehow the closest thing to normal they had, so he was the one that made small talk. Mostly asking what Cross would like for meals and encouraging him to pick something he liked when he got the answer of “anything is fine”. As Cross settled in a bit more and actually opened up, they bonded over being the only two to enjoy food. Horror made a point of adding chocolate to the stock they kept in the kitchen and making tacos here and there for Cross.

Horror was also the first Cross kind of warmed to, mostly because he was the one devoid of lvl and Nightmare had mentioned he’d also said he wouldn’t kill. Learning a little about his au’s situation only softened Cross to him more, especially seeing that he still cared a lot for his brother and was trying to protect his home (even if Cross found it unthinkable that he lived away from it). It was through Horror that he also got accustomed to Dust, how being quiet and distant was kind of his default and that he also felt deeply haunted by the loss of his world. They weren’t exactly friends, but it was comfortable enough.

So now boss had taken in another new person, someone who takes orders like a soldier and fights with knives and ruthless precision and aims to be his righthand man, and Killer was ecstatic. By now he’d mostly put his fears of being disposable behind him, Nightmare had gotten a bit less subtle in showing how important they all were to him and Killer felt confident he wouldn’t be replaced. Which was a little bit funny, because the only guy he didn’t feel threatened by was the one who absolutely competed for his spot.

Cross needed to prove he was useful, he had to feel like he earned his keep and that all the training and suffering he’d done was for a reason. When Nightmare sent them on missions, Cross aimed to be the fastest and the most efficient and to report to Nightmare without question. Horror and Dust looking on would have expected Killer to see this 100% as a threat to his position as (self proclaimed) Nightmare’s second in command, and to go for this guy’s throat when nobody else was around.

But Killer was fascinated. Cross was completely different from any of them, bar Nightmare whose au is a whole different kettle of fish, so he had a certain element of unpredictability to him. Horror and Dust were both based on classic sans just like him, so to a certain degree he knew how they would feel about most things and what they might say, the only differences being in what they had experienced through their own timelines. Cross was based on a swap sans and his au had taken wild twists and turns away from usual events, so Killer had to learn everything about him by poking and prodding for answers or observing from a distance, much like back when it was just him and Nightmare. Cross was something new to be studied and Killer loved taking notes.

Cross did not see this as friendly. He was competing with Killer for approval, not realising Killer was playing their contest like a game. When he saw Cross training he would jump in to spar for fun, but Cross saw his rival trying to get a jump on him and take him out of the running. When Killer would hang around and pester Cross in their off time with questions, it didn’t seem like someone taking interest, it seemed like someone being nosy and looking for weaknesses to exploit. When Horror mentioned that Killer was being surprisingly contained and friendly, Cross really thought he was fucking with him.

The first time Cross was willing to even consider this was the case was when his locket came loose on the field and Killer ran back to find it, since one of the notes he’d taken was how the locket wasn’t something Cross would play about (the same as Horror with food). It didn’t make sense for someone who was seriously competing to have him kicked out to just hand his necklace back, no ransoms or attempts to crush it to upset him, just some vague remark about “owing him one” and then right back to Nightmare for orders.

Cross had to give him something of a chance after that, Horror helped a lot by telling him “he doesn’t want to hurt you, he just doesn’t know how to be normal”. It was mostly a playful jab at Killer, but reframing their interactions changed it significantly for Cross. Now they were sparring playfully and having friendly competition on jobs. He wasn’t as put off when Killer went into stage 3 because he knew he could match him in combat and the others were always on hand to help restrain or distract him. Cross also took note of how Killer calmed down a lot for physical touch, not unlike how Dust had warmed up to Horror. It went a long way into not only making him a little less combative for attention every day, but it seemed to put longer stretches between his episodes (which Cross had also started tracking so they wouldn’t be caught out by them as much).

For his part, Killer has disobeyed instructions in the past to benefit Cross, usually ignoring the task to help him if he’s hurt. He’s also given Nightmare nudges towards praising him because he’s noted that that’s what Cross needs in the same way he needs touch (not that Nightmare doesn’t praise them normally, but when Cross is going through it and needs something). He also doesn’t particularly like chocolate but has made a point of not admitting this to Horror so he can give his chocolate to Cross.

(It’s also worth noting that Cross is the only one, besides Nightmare, that has been to Horror’s au. He offered to help out during the food delivery and got to meet Horror’s Papyrus (who he is a little intimidated by but ultimately friendly with, even though it’s a little weird since he’s a good bit different from his own Papyrus). Dust and Killer can’t really visit for a few reasons, mostly because everyone will notice their lvl immediately and know what they’ve done. Dust especially doesn’t know how he would react to having a Papyrus in front of him again and doesn’t want to put Horror's family at risk to find out. Whenever he visits, his Papyrus asks about Cross now and sometimes tries to make tacos for him (key word tries, he’s still a Papyrus after all). He may have joked that seeing Cross sometimes is “like having another brother but younger and less lazy” and when Horror told him this Cross may or may not have cried.)

And that’s where we are now!

They’re a very strange group who’ve been through some inexplicable events and have all changed each other in one way or another. And whether or not it can be admitted, they are a family c:

Now onto how Nightmare was made emotionally open by each of them!! In this essay I will no just kidding could you imagine this is already like 7 pages long

If you got to the end of this post please drink some water and get yourself a snack

[sleeplesssmol]

How do you think vertin would parent the suitcase kids?

I think the best example of how she parents is Jessica's story, but the kids' voicelines also paint a great picture. You can read many of them on the fan wiki.

Vertin for the most part seems to give them freedom, unless its a safety/health concern. She also likes to mess with them too, but in a very playful way. The kids look up to her too. They feel comfortable asking her for things and like her involvement in their activities. Vertin actively engages with them too, which is probably how she fostered these little relationships. Ms. Moissan asks Vertin to help check Sotheby's homework and stuff too, so even the adults recognize her skills when dealing children.

In Jessica's story, when Jessica gets in trouble for misbehaving at the school, Vertin doesn't yell at her. Instead she talks to her and tries to find the root of the issue, while redirecting/guiding her. She also seems genuinely upset by Jessica's expressions of loneliness and dissatisfaction and tries to make things better.

If I had to sum up how she interacts with kids:

patient

playful

invested/engaged in their activities

cares about their health/safety

seems to share snacks with the kids

mentor/role model

stern when she needs to be

Here are some of voice lines to help paint a picture (left out head pats/hand holding but she does a lot of that and its not exclusive to kids). There's a lot more interactions than this and I'm sure you'll see them pop up throughout the game.

Eagle (age 13)

Bond Morning: "Good morning. I will sketch the way you wake up now in my diary." (poor Vertin's barely awake)

Intimacy :Please praise me... Will you?

Praise: Tough. Brave. Never give up. You've done a great job.

Morning: Good morning. Let me help you put the tent away, please. (seems like Vertin took Eagle out on a little camping trip or maybe just set up a spot in the Wilderness?)

Avgust (age 8)

Bond Morning: I prepared breakfast for you! It's Runium slag... The critters told me it's the best food in the world. But I think people don't like how it tastes. My mom says she likes it, though she has never eaten her breakfast in front of me.

Night: I have blankets and milk ready, Vertin. Now you must lie down for story time. The story I'm going to tell is about the Snow Maiden, the granddaughter of Old Father Frost …

Praise You deserve a certificate, or an award, and a medal! I will make one for you. I've seen them make it before …

Intimacy: Could you give me a Picrasma? My snowman needs a nose!

Mondlicht (age 10)

Intimacy: Hey are you free now? I found this book in my room. Could you ... (this once is cute because she's usually trying to protect everyone but here she is being a kid and asking for story time)

Twins Sleep (age 8)

Bond: Night No, no! I don't want to brush my teeth! (Vertin has it tough sometimes)

Spathodea (age 14)

Bond: Morning Vertin, would you like to try a new hairstyle? Like boxer braids... Look, I 100% respect your choice, but are you sure you don't want to give it a go? I've been thinking how perfect it will look on you...

Clothing and Torso: Whoa... No, haha... It tickles... Hahaha! Oh my... I-I have a strange feeling of deja vu. Something like this happened before, but I don't remember what it really was...

Intimacy: Wow, I've never had any chocolate like this! Emm, I mean, it's not the best chocolate I've had, of course. The best one has something to do with a special moment that means a lot to me... While this one, I like it simply because it's appetizing... So, can I have one more?

Chitchat Ⅱ: Wait... Wh-What is it that you're holding? A piece of paper from my... bag? Aaaaah! That's my report card! Stop reading!

[ayamimouni]

Shin Sekai Yori

Watching Shin Sekai Yori really shook me. At first, the world looks calm and peaceful, with small villages and kids learning to use psychic powers. But underneath, it’s terrifying. The society kills its own children to keep things under control. That hit me hard because it reminds me of how some places, even in real life, pretend everything is fine while hiding awful truths.

It also feels very real when you think about the world today. The way the elders lie about history to control people reminded me of governments or groups that rewrite the past to justify violence or stay in power. The part where humans treat the Queerats as animals, only to reveal they’re actually humans, felt like a clear metaphor for racism and discrimination. It made me think about how easy it is to see people as “less than” if it helps us feel safe or in control.

Personally, I found it disturbing how the main characters, even Saki, end up accepting the system once they learn the reasons behind it. It made me wonder if I’d do the same. I think everyone compromises sometimes, maybe not in such extreme ways, but we all look the other way or make excuses for things we know are wrong.

It reminded me of dystopian stories I’ve read where society trades freedom for safety. The anime shows how hard it is to have both. While it has a very Japanese focus on the group over the individual, the message is universal. It left me thinking about what any society is willing to sacrifice to stay “peaceful,” and whether we’re honest about those sacrifices. Overall, it was haunting, but also made me reflect on my own choices and the world around me.

[gotyouanyway]

ok essay on hasper and barrit now because i'm rotating them in my mind

plot. barrit recruited hasper into the cia from the academy before he graduated (work/study style but secret, think divided loyalties vansell). barrit made up some bs about aptitude but it was really because of hasper's strong psychic abilities. don't worry about all that rn but their personal and professional relationship is built on a lie and that's important

initially barrit was hasper's mentor, boss, handler, etc. very much a hands on controlling force in his* life and not that nice either. barrit kind of owned him and didn't actually like him that much. he sent hasper on dangerous missions alone, a lot, one of which got him killed. barrit said, and hasper believed, that this was just how cia work was meant to be, and it was for his own good, etc.

but hasper has been in the cia so long now and working with barrit specifically, their relationship has kind of mellowed out. at its foundation it hasn't changed - barrit still thinks of hasper as his student and property, and hasper still can't escape that control/sense of inferiority. but despite it all they have been through a lot together and are just around each other so much that it became lax and familiar. hasper grew up and barrit watched, and as questionable as barrit is in many ways, he is at least sort of bound by propriety and always gives respect and credit where it's due. he knocks back and forth between genuinely trying to do right by hasper (this kid he practically raised from a teen into a young adult) and giving in to the self-interest that makes him treat hasper like trash.

hasper, likewise, is torn between fear and resentment for the way barrit treated him when he was younger (and still does, but like, more quietly), vs. the familiar, sometimes genuinely kind and reassuring presence of his mentor and the work dynamic that's been the only thing hasper's known as an adult

anyway, all of that ends up looking like either this:

BARRIT: I never said I was going to pay the ransom. Hasper, do you recall me saying I would pay the ransom? HASPER: [Smug] No, sir. BARRIT: No. Now if you’re quite finished, I’d appreciate it if you left CIA affairs to the CIA. VICTON: You’re not going to pay? Then what are you going to do? HASPER: Why don’t you ask whoever told you about all of this in the first place? VICTON: Oh, shut up. BARRIT: [Angry at that] [He chews Victon out, actual dialogue not important here]

both of them joking together, comfortably playing into the role of mentor/student (or teacher and teacher's pet lol), and barrit genuinely getting angry when victon is rude to hasper. a protectiveness from barrit that doesn't map well onto how HE treats has, and an affection from hasper that conflicts badly with the fear and resentment he feels for barrit when things invariably get bad again

it also looks like this:

HASPER: Ransom can wait. I’m not leaving until Marcus is back. BARRIT: None of us will make it out of here alive if our TARDIS isn’t working, Agent Marcus included. I gave you an order, Agent, now GO. HASPER: Not without her. BARRIT: [Trying to be diplomatic] I will hold the door open for her, alright? HASPER: [Cold] Will you. BARRIT: You are not responsible for Marcus’ safety, Hasper, I am! HASPER: Just like you’re responsible for mine? Like you have been since I was practically a Time Tot in the Academy? BARRIT: What are you s- HASPER: Like you were responsible for my safety on Gryben? [Beat. That surprised them both. We're doing this now? Suddenly white-hot, Hasper presses on—] HASPER: [Spitting] Three shots to the back of the head, wasn’t it? And where were you? Eh? [Another heavy pause. Barrit coolly concedes—] BARRIT: Meet us in the TARDIS bay with Agent Marcus as soon as she returns. [Barrit leaves] HASPER: [Shouting after him] I still want an answer, Barrit! I haven’t forgotten!

hasper snapping in a moment of tension, finally calling barrit out for treating him the way he does. and barrit, suddenly faced with the guilt, realizing he actually kind of cares, sees hasper as an equal in this moment and backs down because his own sense of propriety demands he admits when an equal is right about something. not that they're going to be healthy and talk about it or anything, they're going to pretend this never happened and continue going back and forth between friends and enemies for the foreseeable, but things quietly shift for them in the background, constantly

*barrit recruited hasper i, who was a girl, but i'm just using he/him pronouns to make it easy. she was executed and regenerated during a solo mission on gryben, now we have hasper ii

[seriousbrat]

you said james changed but did he? no apology in sight... still tricking lily and going behind her back to hex snape.. leaving his wife and newborn alone in their secret hiding spot to mess with muggles..

genuinely lol what is this 'leaving their hiding spot to mess with muggles' thing, I think you're the second anon who has claimed something like that recently and it's like.... where lmao. when did that happen? who r these muggles? 😭

if you're referring to the prequel, that was almost certainly, like 100% certainly, before harry was born when lily and james were fighting for the Order along with the rest of the Marauders and not in hiding. This is what Lily says, years later, in her letter to Sirius:

James is getting a bit frustrated shut up here, he tries not to show it but I can tell -- also, Dumbledore's still got his Invisibility Cloak, so no chance of little excursions. If you could visit, it would cheer him up so much.

doesn't that imply he wasn't sneaking out? and if he had left the hiding spot in the past it was "little excursions" with Lily's full knowledge and approval, with the safety of the cloak. I don't see the big deal, and it's possible that Lily was leaving the house on occasion too when they had the cloak.

people are so determined to see things in the worst possible light it's kind of funny. It's not enough that James was a dickhead and a bully in canon, he has to be this insidious abusive master manipulator guy who somehow conned Lily "you make me SICK" Evans into marrying her and having a kid with him. Like, no offence but it's just not that deep.

We don't see how he changed because the story isn't about him, it's about his son, but there's plenty of evidence that he did, a BIG example being that a girl who couldn't stand the sight of him and was extremely vocal about the fact ended up marrying him. Something changed, and it's just highly unlikely that James, a fictional character, constructed an elaborate ruse behind the scenes that we see no evidence for to trick Lily, and every other character, into thinking he was an entirely different person. If that had been the author's intent for these characters who, btw, do not exist outside the text we're given, there would be proof of it. Rather, we're given evidence he 'deflated his head' and that lily fell in love with him and that they were happy together.

I've already said it but I don't think James not telling her about fighting with Snape (who, let it be said, at that point was also instigating) is a good thing. Obviously. It's dishonest and he should have told her. But I also think a likely reason he didn't tell her was not wanting to hurt her. That doesn't make it okay, but there can be problems and slip-ups and things to work through in a relationship without it being some big evil insidious manipulation.

Sev hid all sorts of things from her too, important things like "I'm thinking about joining the Death Eaters btw lol". People lie and hide things, especially teens. Maybe the simplest explanation here, rather than this weird jamespiracy thing, is that a seventeen year old boy was kind of shit sometimes but ultimately dedicated his life to protecting others, fought bravely in a war, grew tf up, and sacrificed himself to save his wife and child.

idk like to me it's not that deep, and it's continually bonkers to me that some snape fans will have wildly different standards for their innocent baby boy (idk him) than they do for every other character. bro did way worse stuff than not telling his gf he was getting into fights, james did worse stuff, and yet I still love them both and u wont convince me not to