#and a dabble of Melissa

[feralferretxp]

Hey guys what up, I know it's been a hot minute so heres some old random doodles, except for the first two with Bang & Widget and human Bang, which are newer

This last one is a old doodle of Melissa and Bang being slay siblings since they both have mega rizz or whatever lol. Also I don't remember if i already mentioned before, but Melissa and Bang have a sibling-like bond after the LoveBug AU (the AU where she does Project "I Love You" and infect the computer world) so yeah they're sibling core Also I have a slight Melissa redesign update, I'll show you in the next post when i actually finally finish drawing her ^^ so yeah stay tuned!

[themillsdaughter]

a privilege I deprive myself of

Synopsis: you would rather chew glass than see Melissa yearn for something and not have it delivered to her. the thing, however, is that your life is a shitshow, and what was meant to be an act of kindness upends any effort you've made throughout the years to keep your feelings hidden.

or slightly insecure! Melissa and traumatized! reader in a Valentine's Day au inspired by this prompt.

Words: 3.9k

Warnings: Talks of body image.

Also, my first time dabbling in this fandom and character, so... Hope you like it!

This isn’t ideal.

Valentine's Day has never been your favorite. Truthfully, you think it’s only yet another excuse for Capitalism to suck some extra cash out of millions of pockets.

You’ve thought this your entire life, regardless of being in a relationship or not. The thing, however, is that you live in a capitalist society and escaping the emotional reliance on the holiday is damn near impossible. So, throughout the years, you’ve come to terms with at least doing something for partners on the day.

Well, that is, until you’d walked in your apartment one day and found your girlfriend straddling a woman you’d never seen before.

This year, you’re single, so the whole thing had just slipped into the background, a red and pink festival more than anything else, really.

“You’re not doing anything?” Janine had asked a few days before in the teachers' lounge, brow furrowed, pity shining in her eyes. Dear God. “You know, Galentine’s Day is really popular now.”

“Honey, I barely want to celebrate the day when I have someone. Why would I make a fuss now that I have an out?” You’d gone back to grading, trying your damnest not to roll your eyes.

“Well, Tariq used to be like that, too. Even though we were together. Sometimes he would forget and go on trips, and those times were pretty lonely… You know, with all the hearts and chocolate and candles and couples around. Not that that’s the case this year, you know. I’m with Maurice, and he’s super attentive.” Her uncomfortable fidgeting had made her chair squeak. As sweet as she is, she should really learn how to stop projecting. “Anyways, I just worry about you. I don’t want you to feel lonely.”

“I don’t.”

“She doesn’t.” Melissa had said, at the same time as you. Looking up from the papers, you’d shared a grin with her. “She has enough wondering thoughts to keep her company.”

Finally, you’d given into your urge and rolled your eyes.

So this really isn’t ideal.

“I think this one is too tight, though.” The voice coming from your phone said. You turned the heat from the stove down, placed a half-lid over the pan, and picked up the device from the counter. On the screen, you saw something that made you pull out a stool from your island and thank God that the woman on the other side of the line was too busy looking at herself in the mirror, brows furiously furrowed, to notice.

Melissa had her hair up in a messy bun, her old pair of glasses hanging in the middle of her nose, and a dark red dress on that stole the breath from your lungs.

The material was soft, with satin-like finish, puffy long sleeves, a square neckline that showed her cleavage to perfection and a skirt that hit her a few inches above her knees.

Nervously, her hands tried to smooth over the creases formed on the dress by her belly.

“Maybe I could wear some spanks” she sighed. “It’s too tight, right?” She turned back to where the phone was, asking you directly.

For a few seconds, you struggled to think of something other than ‘uh’ to say. Melissa is stunning and, in those moments, you wished you’d been braver back when you’d had the chance. Maybe, she’d be asking Barbara this, getting ready as a surprise for you, not for somebody else. 

In a breath, you swallowed that feeling, locking it away with all the ones of its kind, somewhere deep, deep in your soul.

“Hun? It’s too tight, isn’t it? Who the fuck do I think I am trying on something like this.” She’d taken your silence as disapproval, and if she only knew you’d only want to see that off of her if you’d taken it out yourself…

“Shut up, will you?” You finally said. “It’s gorgeous, it looks awesome on you.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s the nicest one of the bunch.”

“I don’t know if I have spanks short enough for it, though. And I need something to get this under control.” She pushed her belly in again, and it enraged you.

“Anyone who doesn’t find that hot is not someone you should listen to.” You said, holding back the rant that always appeared on the tip of your tongue when she said shit like this.

Honestly, the struggle of straight men to like women is mind-boggling.

“You might just be too gay for this.” Melissa snorted, going into her drawer in search of the spanks.

“Well, fuck you very much.”

She barked out a laugh, and you let go of your phone to stir the food you were cooking, glad for a break from the glory of the woman you did not love like that.

Which is yet another reason why this isn’t ideal.

You don’t really care for Valentine's Day, but on the morning of the 14th, Melissa had seemed off. You tried touching on the subject while you two got coffee, as weak as Abbott’s brew always was, however, Gary walked in in all of his mustached glory and her attention immediately shifted to him.

He’s her boyfriend, it’s Valentine's Day, it was only logical.

She gave him hint after hint, pushed her shoulders a bit back, highlighting her breasts just slightly, cocked her hips some while leaning against the sink, licked her lips more than usual, everything to get an ounce of attention back. The absolute idiot fussed over the vending machine, mumbled a few words to her, eyes not even moving in her direction, before leaving with a “see ya later” tossed behind him.

The look that had taken over her face then had made your heart sink.

“He’s been like this all week.” She said during lunch break in your car. “Barbara thinks he might be planning something, says he’s not cheating, but I don’t know… I tried fooling myself with getting the perfect outfit, getting my hair and my nails done, but he hasn’t mentioned any plans, and he’s been so fucking distant, he doesn’t even seem like himself. And I really can’t handle another Joe situation.” Taking the last bite of the Shepard’s pie you’d brought her, she leaned her head against the rest.

To nearly everybody else here, she shows her angry, reactive, gray side. It’s easier for her, something that still makes her an outcast, but firmly protects her inner-self. But some magical, all-powerful, incredible being out there had made it so you were the one she chose to show her other side to, the one that is not always confident, not in her worth or her looks or her ability as a teacher.

The one that loves so intensely it scares her, and the one that has so many scars she spends half her time trying to heal them, or, at the very least, stop them from bleeding all over the place and being visible to the outside world.

“What do you think?” She said, bringing you back to the inside of your 2010s Honda. “You’ve always been better at these things.”

“Do I think he’s cheating on you?”

She nodded.

“Well, first of all, if he is, he is an absolute deepshit who doesn’t know how to count his blessing for you even giving him the time of day.”

You looked into her eyes while you said it, and she turned her head after, staring at the Tupperware in her hands. You thought you saw a blush creeping up on her cheeks.

“But I don’t think he is. Hey, maybe he’s just seen Valentine’s Day for what it is!” You nudged her arm with the back of your hand. “Maybe you’re the one who has to get on board.”

She relented a smile then, but it didn’t last.

“Mel, I think you’ll just have to ride this one out. Wait until the end of the day, so then you can actually have a conversation with him. If he really forgot or if there’s really something wrong, you’ll find out, but, honestly, me? I think he might just have some goofy-ass surprise planned.”

Melissa nodded while keeping her gaze out the window.

There’s a beat, then another, and you thought perhaps you’d convinced her, and she was only taking some time to absorb it.

“You know, you may not feel lonely with this kind of stuff, but…” She paused, voice tired, heart bearing all those tender scars, “I think I’m more like Janine than I’d thought.”

So, hm, this isn’t ideal.

You’d be damned if you let a man who didn’t realize the one in a million he had found ruin Melissa’s day.

Even if Valentine’s Day was traumatic for you, even if it was silly and forced and the world would be better off without it, Melissa was Melissa, and she deserved everything she wanted out of life. You’d thought Gary would see it, but if he didn’t, it’s up to you, even with all your emotional limitations.

So you wrote a little card. Nothing much, just made out of a fancier piece of purple paper you’d had lying around the classroom, with a heart-sticker you’d found at the bottom of your purse decorating the front page. Inside, the note wasn’t all that special, just enough for her to know she would never be alone. That you loved her. That she’d always have you, even if one day she didn’t have anyone else. That she’s your favorite, and if she wanted to, you’d take her out for dinner yourself.

As a friend, of course. Truly.

The fact she made your chest inflate and your pressure drop and a flock of butterflies run a full marathon in your stomach were not things that were included.

After sending the students home, saying goodbye to everyone else (Gregory and his Legos, Janine and her designer bag she knew nothing about, Ava and her many flings and Jacob and his slam poetry), you’d walked to the lounge, where you’d seen Barb and Mel walking towards only a few minutes earlier.

On the way there, you’d seen a bouquet of gerberas discarded on the hallway floor. You’d wondered if a poor kid had gotten broken up with on that day of all days, or if the bouquet held any card of its own. You’d picked it up, deciding to bring it to the compost pile later.

You hadn’t realized how it looked until it had been too late.

“Hey, Mel, I have something for…” You’d started, rounding the corner to enter the room.

“I love you too.” She’d said, looking into Gary’s eyes. In a split second, you’d registered there was something off about her voice, something lacking.

And now here you are, in this less than ideal situation.

All three look at you, standing in the doorway with a card and flowers, calling after another person’s girlfriend. Shit.

“What do you have for her?” Gary’s hand tightens on her waist just so.

So, yeah. Not fucking ideal.

“Hey, look at that. I uh…actually forgot the… ah… The book I was lending you.” You mumble. Spinning on your heels, you walk as fast as humanly possible without breaking into a sprint.

Stupid-ass, invented, asinine holiday.

******

You’re more than half-way through a bottle of Merlot when your doorbell rings.

“Fucking finally!” You shout, jumping from your couch, your belly clenching painfully. Opening up your front door, though, your shoulders drop. “You’re not Postmates.”

“No, I am not. You know what else I also am not? Enjoying this beautiful night with my husband.” Barbara floods you with words, walking past you into the living room.

“Why is that, exactly?” And maybe you’re starting to get drunk, because she seems furious with you, and you can’t remember the last time that ever happened.

“Because I cannot possibly enjoy what was supposed to be a romantic moment with Gerald when I get a desperate phone call from my best friend’s partner asking me if I know where she is.”

It’s too many words too fast, so you sit back down and blink hard, trying to focus.

“What are you talking about?”

“Gary called me. He doesn’t know where Melissa is.”

Melissa. Suddenly, the reason you’d started drinking comes back to you. Shit. Shit shit shit.

“Have you seen her?” Barbara seems to take pity on you, be it for your drunkenness or the way your face scrunches up at the name.

“Not since this afternoon, no. What happened?”

“Gary says she went after you, came back in a different mood. Then they got into an argument in the middle of dinner, because she didn’t seem to be enjoying it, which is strange considering she spent the day worrying he wouldn’t do anything special, as we both know.” She sits down on the futon in front of you. “He says she broke up with him right then and there, and left.”

What?

“What?”

“I don’t understand it either. What did you say to her in the hallway?”

“Nothing, I didn’t talk to her in the hallway, or at all.”

Barbara looks away, shaking her head with an incredulous smile on her lips.

“You two are… God forgive me, but infuriating.” She turns back, sighing. “Did she text you? I’ve called and called, but she hasn’t picked up. She’s not at her house, either.”

“I don’t know.” You pull your phone from the middle of the cushions. “It’s been on focus mode the whole night, I only got notifications for my food.”

“Can you try her? Maybe she’ll pick up if it’s you.”

“You’re starting to freak me out.”

“Yes, well, at least we’ll be on the same page.”

The line rings three times before going to voicemail. Then, there’s someone pressing your doorbell again. Your stomach aches.

Again, not Postmates.

“You’re an asshole!” It’s the first thing out of Melissa’s mouth. As the second person today pushes her way into your home, Barbara jumps up from her seat.

“You’re alive, you’re whole?” She turns Melissa over, taking advantage of the woman’s confusion at seeing her here. “Are you stupidly drunk?”

“Uh… No. Why…”

“Are you going to make any decisions that might land you in jail?”

“No.”

“Thank you, Jesus!” Barbara shouts, letting go of the redhead, lifting her hands in praise, and walking to the door. “Please, resolve your issues and let me have my steak in peace. I’ll call your boy-“ She looks Melissa over. “I’ll call Gary, let him know you’re okay. Goodbye. Also, you’re both on probation until further notice.”

She closes the door behind her with a bang, and the two of you are left alone, staring at each other.

Her make-up is smudged, as if she’d been crying, and that beautiful, beautiful red dress shines under the light. The vision worries you at the same time it sets the butterflies off.

Once more, with feeling: this is not ideal.

It feels like forever goes by, just like this, with neither of you moving or speaking or looking away.

Until she unclenches her fist, and you see your card, the one you’d lost on your rush to leave.

“You couldn’t have picked a better moment?” Melissa asks, placing the piece of paper on your entrance table. Her anger, so explosive moments ago, is low and dangerous now, simmering with the hurt in her eyes.

“Listen, I know how it looked-“

“Any other moment.” She keeps going, incapable of stopping now that she’s started. “Maybe one of the endless times when we sat on that fucking couch watching those boring movies you like. Or… Or maybe one of the nights when we spent hours pouring over project ideas or education strategies. Or really any other time before I made the decision to move on.”

Her heart is there, right in front of you, in the tears that drown the gorgeous green of her irises. Somehow, you feel like this is the cataclysm of thoughts and words and feelings you had both held back for years. 

“What?” You mumble for the second time tonight.

“I found every excuse in the book to avoid this, to avoid looking for someone else. And some of it was true, really. Joe did a number on me, which you know – which is why that just hurt worse.” She points to the card, bent in half and slightly crumbled. “But most of it was crap, and I knew it was crap, but I convinced myself it wasn’t because you weren’t ready, but you are amazing, and maybe it was better to wait just a little longer to see if you ever got your shit together, if you ever got over what that ex of yours did. But you never, ever did.”

“Melissa, the flowers…”

“Yeah, gerberas, my favorites, I know. That was a nice touch. You probably knew he wouldn’t remember that detail.”

“No, Mel, I didn’t buy them.” You step forward, past the table, close enough to reach out and touch her arm, if you were brave enough. You never are.

“What, are you gonna tell me you grew them too?” She snorts, humorlessly. “You know, the worst part is that you encouraged me. You told me to go after him, to let him woo me. Even this morning! You told me to wait for him, just to pull this crap.”

She raises her hand, wipes her eyes, and Christ, what the hell have you done?

She breathes in, and it would be wondrous if it weren’t terrifying, how she puts her heart away, takes the part reserved just for you to see and hides it from view.

“I’ve been in love with you for longer than I know, and this whole time you’ve been leading me on, never really letting me go, no, but still pushing me away.”

In love you with you. In love you with you.

I’ve been in love with you for longer than I know.

It reverberates inside your brain as if an echo in a museum. In love with you.

The person who lights up your days without a fail, the woman who’s made every single potential partner pale in comparison, a staple in your life so important that the mere thought of risking something that could make you lose her had forced you to bury all warm and fuzzy feelings. That woman. This woman. Melissa. Your Melissa. In love with you.

You feel your past is too broken to believe her, but still the thought of her being this hurt is unacceptable.

“Mel, I didn’t write the card to steal you away.”

You risk it now, because you feel her slipping through your fingers, and not seeing her heart when she looks into your eyes makes you feel the loneliest you ever have. You risk reaching over, placing one hand on each of her upper arms. The fabric there is so soft it surprises you.

She flinches, but allows it.

“Just to keep me from giving up, right?”

“You know me better than that.” You try, throat tight. You damn sure hope she does. “I wrote it because you seemed really hurt, and just in case Gary messed up, I wanted you to know you at least had me. You’ll always have me.”

She shakes her head, eyes welling up again.

“What a great pal you are.” Melissa whispers.

“I found the fucking flowers on the floor, I was gonna take them to the trash.” You lose your patience for a split second, because maybe you were tactless, but this is a bit too far, even for such a stubborn woman.

She raises a brow.

“I’m not trying to cover my ass.”

“’You’re the person I think about the most’” She quotes the card. “Did you mean that?”

“Of course.” You say without a thought.

“As a friend?” She challenges.

No. Yes. Maybe. It’s on the tip of your tongue.

If you risk this next step, will you lose her eventually? Like you have every other woman you have loved like this? Will you lose yet another person, yet another soul you feel you can rest beside?

You let your hands travel down slightly.

“Mostly.” She breaks eye contact, frowning. “I cherish our friendship so much, Melissa. But part of me wanted to say more. To say things that weren’t purely platonic. I didn’t mean to steer you around.” You sigh. This is… a lot. “I want to see you happy, Mel. More than anything in the world, you deserve that. And I just felt like allowing myself to feel all those things for you would jeopardize that. You’re an explosive, hot-headed, weird, outlaw Italian with a great mind and a huge, huge heart, and you’re definitely too good for me.”

She shakes her head again, but looking at those amazing, gorgeous, breathtaking green orbs, you find a glimpse of that other side of hers, even if the tears are still there, hiding underneath the surface.

“Today, I only wanted to make sure you would be okay. And I’m sorry about the misunderstanding. I truly didn’t want to ruin that moment for you.” Finally, you reach her hands, and she holds yours back. You fit. “And I have only ever encouraged you to go out there because I really believe you deserve to have the fullest life you can possibly have, and that’s probably with someone… less damaged. Someone good and kind. Someone like Gary.”

Melissa mumbles to herself in Italian.

Forse sarebbe più facile.

“But I don’t love Gary.” She says simply, in English, relaxing into your touch, sending your blood pressure through the roof.

I’ve been in love with you for longer than I know.

“I know.” You say.

You had seen it in her eyes when she’d returned his declaration earlier, the emptiness, the masking, the guilt for lying. She wanted to love him so badly.

She’d looked at you back then and, for a split second, before the confusion and embarrassment that had followed, she’d seemed relieved, as if saying there’s the one who sees me. And something more.

Now, the something more is clearer.

“I know you’re scared.” She whispers again. “And you always, always try to protect me from these things. Never when I get myself mixed up with family business or get into fights…”

“Well, I trust your right hook for that.” You can’t help yourself. She snorts very, very softly, and maybe there’s hope yet.

“But you always try to keep me safe from this, even from you.” Melissa lets go of one your hands, placing a palm against your cheek. Oh, so that’s what it means to have a heart attack. “But I have never, ever, been afraid of your baggage, you jackass.” The spark of defiance that flashes through her expression pulls a smile from you.

If someone had asked you yesterday if this happening was something you thought possible, you’d have laugh them out of the room.

“I just wish you’d given me that god-damn card before I’d wasted this dress on somebody else and had broken a man’s heart for nothing.”

“Poor Gary,” you whisper.

“Yeah… Poor Gary.”

So, perhaps it’s not ideal, with the tears and heartache and being on Barb’s bad side, but she leans up on her tip toes, squeezing your hand, palm migrating down to hold your neck, and despite not being ideal, it does feel oddly right.

“I don’t give a fuck if you hate Valentine’s Day and you think this is corny. You better kiss me before I lose my nerve, or I swear to…”

For the first time in your adult life, you forgo your mind, trying something with risks that may far outweigh the good. With a tug, you pull her in, leaning down, breath catching in your throat when your lips connect, and you find you don’t give two shits about the risks.

Heaven.

Of course, your doorbell rings not five seconds later. Fucking Postmates.

[jackiequick]

Bradley James Rogers | High Hopes

FC: Joshua Bassett (Younger), Wolfgang Novogratz (Older)

Full Name: Bradley James Rogers

Nicknames: Brad, Jamie, Rad, Dramer, Bear

Alias: None (yet!)

Age: 7-22

Height: 5’8 (Younger), 6’0 (Older)

Date Of Birth: July 28

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Place Of Birth: New York City, New York

Place Of Residency -> Currently: New York City

Family 📷

Father: Steve Rogers

Mother: Stella Romano. Strange

Uncles: Leo Strange, Thiago Strange, Tony Stark, Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilsion

Aunt: Jen Walters, Natasha Romanoff

(Extended Family): Various Avengers and other figures

Middle Name: James (A tribute to Bucky Barnes, Steve’s best friend, as a subtle homage to their deep bond. Steve chose it to honor Bucky without making it too obvious or formal.)

~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

Quotes 🎙️

“I’m sorry, when was this my fault? I didn’t ask for this…”

“Yeah, sure, let’s go to Germany. Said no one!”

“Wait. I don’t get it…?”

“Oh? So he gets to fly and I don't? How is that fair?!”

“Ohh, dad’s in trouble. When should we start planning his funeral now?”

“WE’RE GOING TO SEE HAMILTON LIVE?!”

“Uh, guys can be divas too. Take a look at Uncle Tony.”

“Is that Red-Wing?! Oh shit–run!”

“..i just wanted a normal vacation so I can work on my painting..”

“Rei, I'm not going to watch IT with you!”

“Do I look like I'm ready to study magic? Cause I'm really not..what if I mess up?”

~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

—Personality 💫

Bradley is a blend of creative sensitivity and a quiet rebellion, the kind of kid who is perfectly content lost in his own thoughts but ready to step into the spotlight when the moment calls for it. On the surface, he’s snarky, shy, charming, witty, sweet and often uses humor as a shield against the more serious things in life.

His passion for art, theater, and flying fuels his dreams, while his rebellious streak keeps him questioning authority and pushing back against the expectations others place on him.

Though he’s got a tough, independent exterior, Bradley is a sweetheart at heart, fiercely protective of those he loves, especially his parents and close friends. Beneath his humor is a loyal, determined side that’s always there when someone needs him most—though he might not always express it in the most conventional way. He’s still figuring out where he fits in the world, but one thing is certain: he doesn’t want to live in the shadow of his parents’ legacies. He’s determined to chart his own course, even if it means sometimes challenging everything around him.

~~~~~~~~

Relationship status: Single

— | — | —

—Social Circle

Childhood Friend: Rei Stark (Tony Stark’s eldest son)

Other Friends: The Young Avengers (Rochelle Romanoff, Liane, Felton, Rick Banner, etc.)

High School: The Juniors (Peter Parker, MJ, Gwen Stacy etc)

SHIELD Agents: Maria Hill’s Crew (Michelle, Melissa, Ji-Hoon, etc)

~~~~~~~~

Rei’s older, grumpy, and emo, but protective of Bradley in his own way. Bradley, with his sunny personality, always knows how to snap Rei out of his funk. While others see Rei as a loner, Bradley looks up to him. Their friendship is full of banter, talking smack about the adults, binge watching movies and genuine care for the other person, but they balance each other out—Rei keeps things real, and Bradley brings the light. Even though Rei prefers his space, he cares for Bradley, and vice versa.

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

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

— Skills 🤹

Athletics: Bradley is a natural athlete—baseball is his sport of choice, though he’s known to dabble in other hobbies like skateboarding, gymnastics etc.

Magic Potential: While Bradley doesn’t have formal magical training, his exposure to magic through his uncles (Thiago and Leo) and his mother’s mystical ties give him a latent ability to sense magical energies. He’s been taught basic magical principles but is hesitant to tap into them, unsure of the consequences.

Tech Savvy: He’s a bit fascinated by technology, thanks to the world he lives in—especially aviation tech—and has an intuitive understanding of how things work. He can fix up his own motorcycle or tinker with old tech as a hobby.

Theater & Creativity: Bradley has a deep love for the arts—specifically musical theater, where he shines on stage. Whether it’s acting, singing, or playing an instrument, he feels most at home when he's performing or creating.

Plus The Obvious: Bilingual, Marksmanship, etc

~~~~~~~

— | — | —

Bradley always had a love for sports, especially baseball. Motivated by a desire to learn and grow, he approached everything with determination—though that came with a side of stubbornness.

When he was frustrated, he’d bottle it up, which often led to some intense moments, like when he’d almost try to hit the other team with a baseball in a fit of competitive spirit. Still, that same drive made him a solid player and a great team member, with his uncles Leo and Thiago watching on in amusement. His stubbornness, while sometimes a challenge, was a reflection of his passion and motivation, and it would shape the man he’d become, always pushing him to go further and try harder.

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~

—Aspirations

Dreams of Becoming a Pilot: Bradley has always been fascinated by aviation. His desire to become a professional pilot is tied to his need for independence and freedom—something he feels he lacks due to his family’s legacies.

Owning a Motorcycle: Inspired by his father’s iconic motorcycle and his own love for adrenaline, Bradley hopes to one day own a motorcycle and ride it as a symbol of testing his limits.

Exploring Magic: Despite his reluctance to fully embrace it, Bradley is curious about his magical heritage. He’s been exposed to magic his whole life, but fears the power it might give him.

~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

BACKSTORY –🧸

It was 2:30 a.m. when Stella’s first contraction hit. She winced, trying to downplay it. “It’s fine, Steve. We have time.”

But Steve, who’d never been through anything like this, was already on high alert. “Right. Sure. Time. I’ll be back, honey.” He scrambled around, checking bags, the car, the gas tank, as if preparing for a mission.

Stella rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. “We’re fine.”

By the time things got serious, Stella’s calm gave way to impatience. Hours later, she was still only at 7cm. Steve had to make sure his wife didn’t try to murder a few nurses…

When the doctor finally broke the news—Bradley was on the slight larger side—they suggested a C-section. Stella’s eyes widened. She had heard the word ‘C-section’ before, but now that it was her turn, it felt too much. “Wait—no, I—”

Steve, pale and worried but trying to mask it, gently placed a hand on her arm. “Stell, listen. We need to do this. It’s the safest option.”

“But... I wanted a natural birth. I wanted—”

“I know,” Steve interrupted, his voice a little shaky. “But we’ll do whatever we need to keep both of you safe. Please, sweetheart. Please.”

Stella looked at Steve’s face—his calm, trusting eyes—and finally, with a defeated sigh, she nodded. Steve’s smile broke through, though it was nervous.

Half an hour later, Stella was under the effects of the anesthesia, her face a bit loopy and her words a little slower than usual. “Babe...” she slurred, a silly grin creeping across her face. “Am I... am I allowed to eat after this?”

Steve, who had been nervously sitting at her side, couldn’t help but chuckle. “Uh, honey, I think you’ve earned a whole feast once this is over.” He grinned at her. “Can we keep you like this? I’ve never seen you so relaxed in my entire life.”

Moments later, the sound of a baby’s cry filled the room, and Steve’s heart skipped a beat. A tiny, perfect little voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“That’s him, right? That’s our son?” Stella asked, her voice thick with exhaustion but soft with awe.

Steve nodded with a soft smile, his throat tight. “That’s him. That’s Bradley.”

A nurse gently handed him a bundle in blue, and Steve looked down at his son for the first time. Bradley was healthy, loud, and perfect. “Hey there, big guy...” Steve whispered, brushing his hand over Bradley’s tiny head.

Stella, now fully awake, gazed at him in wonder. “He’s ours?” Her voice cracked with disbelief. “Oh my God, Steve, he’s beautiful.”

Steve smiled, overwhelmed with love and joy. “Yeah, he is. He really is.”

The couple’s eyes were glistening as they shared a quick kiss, grinning proudly. Bradley James Rogers had arrived—against all odds, with a little bit of chaos and a lot of love. A big guy, with a big future. And his parents? They were already hooked.

~~~~~~~~~~~

— | — | —

– BRADLEY’S LIFE ✈️

Bradley was always a good kid. Sure, he had his rebellious streak, a natural curiosity that led him to test the waters and sneak into labs or pull harmless pranks with his uncles. But at his core, he was a sweet, charming kid with a quiet, shy side. He had this easy smile that could melt anyone’s heart and a tendency to withdraw when things got too loud or too much. He was never one to seek attention, but when the moment called for it, he could light up a room with his presence.

Steve and Stella always encouraged Bradley to follow his own path, free from the shadow of their legacies. Steve had been an art student before becoming Captain America, and he wanted Bradley to know that if he loved creating, he didn’t have to pick up a shield. Stella, who had felt pushed into the medical field by her family, was equally determined not to force her son into a predefined role. They didn’t want Bradley to feel like he had to be anyone other than himself.

And Bradley, while he was definitely aware of the world around him—superheroes, magic, spies—always felt the weight of his parents’ expectations in a different way. They wanted him to be free, but still wanted him to be able to protect himself and have a chance to take advantage of his own opportunities. He was a natural artist, shy and sensitive, with a love for creating that came from deep within. His mother noticed his passion for painting and dancing, while his father encouraged his curiosity about the world. But Bradley wasn’t interested in following anyone’s footsteps. He admired the work of his uncles and aunts—magic, tech, law—but wasn’t sure he wanted to be like them.

The day Uncle Sam Wilson took him to see The Blue Angels, Bradley felt a spark. The rush of adrenaline, the idea of soaring through the sky—that was something that called to him. He started thinking that maybe he could be a pilot, or perhaps dabble in magic or invention. He didn’t know exactly what his future held, but Bradley knew he had the freedom to figure it out, in his own time, in his own way.

Above all, Bradley was a sweet soul with a big heart. He cared deeply about the people in his life—his family, his friends, his world. And while he was still figuring out who he wanted to be, one thing was certain: no matter where he went, he’d do it with the same curiosity, charm, and heart that made him him.

————

—————

—Strengths:

Creative: Naturally artistic, Bradley excels in painting, theater, and finding unique ways to express himself.

Loyal: Fiercely protective and caring toward those he loves, even if he’s shy about showing it.

Hardworking: When he’s passionate about something, Bradley puts in the effort to succeed.

Curious: Always learning, whether through books, tech, or exploring new interests like aviation or magic.

Empathetic: A sweet soul with a big heart, always looking out for others.

Team Player: Values collaboration and pulls his weight in group settings, even if he’s stubborn at times.

—Weaknesses:

Stubborn: Once he’s set on something, it’s hard to change his mind.

Shy: Hesitant in new situations and struggles with self-doubt.

Emotionally Guarded: Bottles up feelings, often keeping his struggles to himself.

Avoidant: Tends to shy away from conflict, preferring to avoid tough conversations.

Pressure to Live Up: Feels the weight of family expectations sometimes, leading to insecurity.

Impulsive: Sometimes acts on a whim, which can lead to mistakes.

— * — * — * —

—————

– | – | –

—Bradley’s Fun Facts & Quirks

1. He’s a lyric guy when stressed. 🎶

When Bradley’s feeling overwhelmed or anxious, he’ll start quoting lyrics from his favorite songs to cope. It could be “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons or “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. He’s like a walking jukebox, depending on his mood!

2. Not a PDA fan. 🙄

PDA? Nope. If Bradley sees two people getting all lovey-dovey in public, you better believe he’s either rolling his eyes or physically looking away. He’s a “keep it private” kinda guy.

3. Loves Disney, but doesn’t like to admit it. 🎥

Disney movies? He’s obsessed. He’ll happily belt out Hamilton songs in public, but when it comes to The Little Mermaid or Tangled? He’ll act like he’s too cool for it, but secretly, he’s got all the songs memorized. 😜

4. Sketching is his escape. ✏️

Bradley’s always drawing on something—napkins, his arms, random papers. It’s how he processes his emotions, but he never likes to show anyone unless he trusts them.

5. Not a fan of horror… unless it’s supernatural. 👻

Horror movies? No thanks. But throw in some magic or an actual plot line? Suddenly, he's all in. He’ll be terrified but secretly addicted.

6. Has a soft spot for animals. 🐾

Bradley’s a big animal lover, but there’s one thing that will always make his heart melt—puppies. He’s always ready to pet or cuddle any dog, no matter how big or small. Don’t let him see a shelter ad—he’ll end up trying to adopt a whole pack.

7. Will never turn down a game of baseball. ⚾

Whether it’s a pickup game with friends or a competition with his dad, Bradley’s always down to play. He may not admit it, but he secretly loves showing off his skills—especially to Steve.

8. He’s got a soft spot for penguins. 🐧

Don’t ask him why, but Bradley thinks penguins are the cutest animals ever. He had a whole collection of penguin-themed things—plushies, socks, notebooks, you name it. If there’s a penguin anywhere near him, he’s the first to try and take a picture with it.

— — —

~~~~~~~~

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

– PLAYLIST 🎼

Surf Curse - Freaks

The Fray - Over My Head

Neon Trees - Everybody Talks

Bruno Mars - Runaway Baby

Taylor Swift - My Tear Ricochet

Panic! at the Disco - High Hopes

Paramore - Ain’t It Fun

James Arthur - Safe Inside

Tom Walker - Leave A Light On

WILD - All My Life

Ashes Remain - Right Here

Billy Lockett - Empty House

Sleeping At Last - Saturn

Taylor Swift - Daylight

Sia - The Greatest

~~~~~~

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

HC: Leo, Thiago, Sam, Bucky and Tony all fought over who got to be the godfather 😉

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

Phew that was a lot! 😅 I bet I missed a few beats in this post and I might add more later on

Please let me know what yall think of him! 🧐

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff f @gcthvile @missstrawbs2001 @djs8891 @starkleila @aidanxsophxoxo @mandylove1000 @yetanotherwells @topgun-imagines @buckysteveloki-me @sherloquestea @ximehs @savemewattpad @rose-of-oz @rowinablacks-moodboardsandstims @rickb-chaos @capsshinyshield @blueboirick @wickedocs

[edensgardenn]

pinned ^^♡

I’m here to be unhinged about beautiful women. I will dabble in dead dove and other sensitive topics. ;they will have a warning!;

My req’s are open, but i’m also dealing with schooling so it’ll be a bit!

I’ll do any genere, and I mostly write for bottom!reader, and I only write for fem!reader, sorry :(.

character list ¡

criminal minds: (Jennifer Jareau, Spencer Reid, Emily Prentiss, Aaron Hotchner, Penelope Garcia.)

sfgae: (Lady Lesso, Dovey.)

Grey’s Ant uni: (Meredith Grey, Jo Wilson, Amelia Shepherd, Derek Shepherd, Lexi Grey, Addison Montgomery. Maya Bishop, Andy Herrera.)

Wednesday: (MARILYN THORNHILL. Larissa Weems.)

abbot elementary: (Melissa Schemmenti.)

Marvel: (WANDA Maximoff 😋, Natasha Romanoff, Rio Vidal (on hold.)

Misc: (Rebecca Welton, any Cate Blanchett character, and I’ll take req’s of most fem characters!)

[magazinewankersworld]

Melissa Wolf

Sometimes credited under the alternate spelling of Melissa Wolfe, she was born in 1964 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. Melissa was raised in Vancouver and educated in all girl Catholic schools. She began modeling and dancing at gentleman's clubs at age 18 when her job at McDonalds didn't pay the bills. She became Penthouse Pet of the Month for the June 1985 issue of the magazine, and continued her dancing and nude modeling career well into the 1990's, dabbling in hardcore shoots with male adult stars and some softcore lesbian shoots. In the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s, she appeared in around half a dozen B-movies. In January 2007 she was arrested at her suburban home near Atlanta, Georgia on charges of prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution and conspiracy to possess cocaine under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. In October 2007, she pleaded guilty to prostitution, holding a place of prostitution and possession of cocaine and was fined $US150,000.

[evita-shelby]

Guest

chapter 2

when i said this was a one shot, i apparently had been lying to everyone including myself.

cw: Targaryen incest, paranoia, drama, heavily implied semi-public sex, teenage pregnancy, past abortion, westrosi culture, Victor Bolton is his own warning and medieval birth control methods

Also I changed my mind, Polly is now half-sister to Arthur sr with her mom having been Melissa 'Missy' Blackwood (making Polly and Eamon Blackwood/Jack’s dad first cousins) to explain how she got into magic as House Blackwood is known for dabbling in old gods magic (Missy Blackwood is Brynden Rivers/Bloodraven/the three eyed crow's mother)

Heavenerys and Amos belong to @call-sign-shark , Lily and the rest of the Boltons belong to @littlepeakydevil and Emilia Mormont belongs to @cillmequick

got peaky taglist: @justrainandcoffee @mischievouslittlecreature @call-sign-shark @peakyswritings @cillmequick @zablife @hoodeddreams13

Aeva had never felt the stirrings of love in her ---even at the age of six and ten she feared she was not capable of it--- until she reacquainted herself with Thomaryon.

She had been his first, and he had been the first and only person to see it was her beyond Daena Sand’s veils. They had been betrothed to each other as children and when it fell through, Aeva snuck away from Court to be with him despite Polly’s stupid decisions.

They had always been close, even before they began fucking each other. She used to give him her favor in the tourneys he rode, even when they were little, and he rode against strawmen. They had hoped to elope like Jaehaerys and Alysanne had done a century before Aeva’s visions ruined everything.

Polly was the only one who knew about it, the one to assure the princess she wasn’t mad about heeding her dreams, after all it was Daenys the Dreamer who saved House Targaryen and the dragons from extinction by warning them of the Doom. The Queen then showed her the prophecy that had made Aegon the Conqueror leave Essos to its fate and conquer the Seven Realms.

A song of Ice and Fire, dragons to defend the living from the dead and a Targaryen to lead the whole of Westeros against the Night’s King.

Her vision told her that Tommy’s real love was some girl up north who Aeva likes to say is not as beautiful as her to make herself feel better about her decision. And if she saw that Lilia Bolton was Tommy’s real soulmate, it meant it was true and would be true no matter what Aeva did and told herself.

She had left a letter with Polly before she left for Pentos to find a man who will make the ache in her heart hurt less. The letter explained why she had to leave and why the four children they wanted and the pleasure palace they would escape to were simply never meant to be.

And yet Tommy acts as if he never got it, as if she had no other reason to leave him in the lurch beyond being a heartless bitch.

“You should be wary of our hosts.” The princess warns in Rhoynish, too many nobles had learned High Valyrian making it harder for them to communicate in secret. Her growing network of informants had confirmed even the Bolton’s Maester had been teaching his charges their tongue.

Rhoynish, however, was not taught anywhere else but by the orphans of the Greenblood and a handful that kept the culture of the Rhoynar in both Dorne and the Rhoyne. None of the spies she had put in place here knew the language and none of the Targaryens save Tommy knew it because she was the one who taught him in the first place.

“Are you so selfish that you do not wish your old toys finding better owners?” he retorts thinking the worst of her. He keeps his back to her as he readjusts the chains on Syndor’s saddle as he does before and after flights.

“No. I just prefer seeing you with skin.” Aeva supposed she deserved it, there were not many people she allowed to reproach her, Tommy was one of the few in that circle. “I do not care if you bed her, just do not overstay you’re welcome.

“If you cared so much you would have had the stones to tell me to my face things were over between us.” He stops and turns to her with pure hurt in his eyes.

“If I had I would have been too craven to go through with it, it’s why I left a letter for you with Polly.” Aeva admits to her first love. Perhaps they would have had been happy for a time, had children, learned to pretend it doesn’t hurt her to see him fall in love with someone and eventually kill the other woman like most embittered wives end up doing. “My visions never lie, you know that.”

And because her dreams were one of the reasons she started delving into espionage, he knew she had to have proof to back up her words. She has yet to collect all of it, but what Sarella had gotten already from those she sent up here earlier confirm enough to prove she is right.

This gets him to hear her out even if he keeps his distance as if he’d fall under her thumb again. Sure, she has a way with men, but really, they act as if she’s spreading the gray plague.

“They still flay people; she has been taught the craft by her father. In my dream, she made a cloak out of skin.” The words bring back the nightmares plaguing her and it makes her nauseous to remember how she saw Tommy’s freckles on the skin in her hands. “Your skin.”

“I wish I could believe you, love, but you were the one to tell me we would have four children before you left me at the altar.” The word love hurts like a slap, his hurt had caused a chasm between them and now he doesn’t believe her.

“If my vision and your dream said I was not your true love in this life, then it would have never worked no matter what we did. I could not bear a life where I would lose you to someone else even if I gave you everything you desired!” she reiterates what she said in her letter now having the suspicion that Tommy didn’t read it before he threw it into the fire.

“And your visions never fucking lie.” The prince retorted still angry that she did not have the courage to be honest with him instead of running like a coward and refusing to listen to hear this time. She had broken his heart and now to prove that she is wrong about him, about Lily Bolton and the rest of her family he will not heed her fucking warnings.

As if Aeva was not the most reliable source he could have!

“Fine, die if you wish it! Give these fucking people more power than they deserve and let your aunt acknowledge her bastard son so everyone can doubt Heavenerys’ parentage while we are at it, it is not as if the dragons almost died out because a Targaryen empowered the wrong people!” her sobriety has made her worse at this, with a drink or two she would not have lost her temper like this and been seen as irrational and jealous like the man before her has done since she returned to King’s Landing.

“Since when do you care about what happens to those playing the Game of Thrones, Evie?” Tommy asks not liking her sudden interest in politics, she hated the game with a passion, but her family was playing it and now to protect them from themselves she must now do so too.

He used to push her to use her visions to aid him in his office of Master of Laws before Polly made him Hand of the Queen, now he doesn’t like it. But he has to, because as much as she runs from it the Gods gave her this fucking curse for a fucking reason.

What she would not have given to be an ordinary princess who gets to marry some lord and just not care who sits in the ugly chair! Cousin Emilia had no idea the service her father and mother had done for her by keeping her away from the intrigues in the South.

“Because I do not want anyone I love to die. Because Hev is my favorite cousin and I don’t want to see her mauled by hounds, or Aerthurys ending up dead at Amos’ hands like the fool he is, and Polly’s guilt for abandoning her bastard son starting another fucking war as if the last one wasn’t enough!

Everywhere the dragons dance people fucking die, and you fucking know that, Thomaryon!”

Her nausea turns to lightheadedness as she tries to make him see how wrong he and Polly were to marry House Bolton to the Iron Throne. When she doesn’t budge and despite the cold, she refuses to leave, he starts to think perhaps it is not a fit madness that afflicts her today.

She has never been wrong, but she can see it in his eyes that her warning has come too late. He should have waited for her input on this, to see what her spies could unearth about the House of Horrors, but his anger had clouded his judgment and now Heavenerys will be the one to suffer for it.

“Hev says she can handle her husband, I trust her to keep herself safe from him, but don’t think we don’t have contingencies to protect her.” his eyes turn steely as the wheels in his head begin to craft all the ways they must curtail Amos’ power as consort. “And one of those is you.

The new queen wants a spymaster she can trust, and Polly has been overruled. You can keep your visions from happening so long as you stop interfering in my affairs, Lady Sand.”

Oh, great, the last thing she wanted: a fucking job.

“Jack gets to stay with me at Court as my lover and sworn shield.” The Dornish Princess extended her hand and left the wood as the third woman to hold the title of Mistress of Whisperers.

Unlike her predecessors she does not intend to die at the hands of a new king.

“You took your sweet time coming here, princess.” Her lover is far more amorous than usual thanks to their forced separation. She had missed him greatly, for more than the carnal pleasure they enjoyed together, and the princess hated how they had to pretend he was merely her sworn shield and not her paramour.

As far as people know she came out for a morning ride, and he is merely doing his job of keeping her safe. That she’s pinned against an evergreen with her sworn shield about to fuck her sour mood away, is very much part of the knight’s vows.

“I had business to attend to, Ser.” She has to tell him and better now than later, they need to get everything ready to move in permanently at the Red Keep. “It appears I won’t be returning to Dorne, our gracious queen has need of me and my many many friends.”

“Good, I don’t like fucking you under your mother’s roof.” The Riverlord did not get on with her family, the difference in culture and the dislike her mother has for everyone Aeva takes up with were enough to accept this invitation. “And it will give me more time to reacquaint myself with Hendry Bracken and Prince Aerthurys in the training yard.”

“You do love beating any Bracken that takes your fancy.” The Dornish Princess remarked as he rucked up her riding skirt and raised her legs to his hip. She had missed this, the wild fucking made so much better by the danger of getting caught.

“That’s what they get for being Brackens. If Aegon the Unworthy wanted strong men in his line he shouldn’t have married Barba Bracken.” He hated both men, Hendry for being a bully and Aerthurys for being so pathetic. Both the prince and his hanger-on had ended up in the mud in every tourney they rode against her knight, Aeva had made quite a fortune gambling and Jack enjoyed humiliating the two every chance he got.

Silly of her to keep every crown of Love and Beauty he gives her pressed in her favorite novel when she hardly kept anything from previous lovers.

“Careful, that is the Lord Hand’s grandmother you are speaking of, love.” she reminded him just in case anyone took his words against him. All nobles were like crabs in a bucket when it came to gaining favor with the ruling house, the Boltons were no different than the rest just as House Martell isn’t either.

“That’s why I said sons, Queen Polly is all Blackwood, thanks to Aunt Melissa, but enough about them, Evie, let’s make the most of this before the wedding starts.”

“I want to see the Cairns on the way back, you promised me you’d show me your keep when we came to this blasted place.” North, south, ice or sand, Aeva can always count on Jack making her forget what plagued her.

For the second time in her life, she wants to have a life with a man.

The wedding festivities are enough to make her hope all that Sarella is to collect is not more proof this was a mistake.

So far things were more about Victor Bolton being a disgrace to humanity than Amos or his brother, Orion, but you never know.

Victor Bolton reeked of malice, from the way he leered at the servant women, to the way he treated his own family and then there were the things her spies had found.

Lord Victor Bolton had a fondness of raping, torturing and molding his three younger sons into perfect little monsters. They were young enough to be fostered out and fixed, Lady Genevieve and her daughter could be spirited away to Riverrun and the eldest son could be a good addition to Court or at least to the Starks since he was as much of a sword-swallower as Lord Jared Stark.

Victor, however, needed to be dealt with before he caused irreversible damage to the Realm.

The princess warns her great-aunt while has her first sip of wine after a whole day without imbibing the precious liquid. “If you must make courtiers out of them, the aunt needs to be widowed before he takes the youngest boys to rape smallfolk.”

“What a terrible guest you make, dear girl. Two nights here and already you want to replace the Steward.” Polly ---nicknamed so by her Blackwood kin--- chuckled as Aeva took to her post like a fish to water.

“The King takes a shit; the Hand wipes it and the Spymaster leaves the chamber pot as clean as a whistle.” Aeva reminds her as she presented her with an amended version of the old refrain. “Believe it or not, your daughter knew what she was doing when she tossed my name in the hat.”

“I know that is why I suggested someone else. Its bloody work and you need more eyes than a peacock.” The soon-to-be Queen Mother stops her cupbearer ---one of Jon’s girls--- from refilling Aeva’s wine as they talk business at a wedding feast. “You are barely three years older than Heavenerys, you should be focusing on taking your knight to the Septon’s Noose and having children on the right side of the blanket. Many women would kill for your freedom, myself included.”

So her first time with Tommy ended up with Polly giving her moontea and telling her to enjoy the freedom her station allowed her and not wasting it on becoming another Daena the Defiant or worse, Princess Saera. The queen had reminded her how it turned out for the aforementioned ladies when they were outed as whores and that it would pain her to have her banished from court and their family because Aeva knew no bounds.

Somehow Polly got through to her in ways her mother could not and it worked, Lady Daena Sand never removed her veil unless she liked the person she took to bed, the moontea was brewed religiously and there was always lemons on hand for the lemon tops that prevent a man’s seed from entering her womb again.

Aeva had been six and ten, a perfectly reasonable age to become a bride and a mother, but Queen Aelizabeth and King Daeron did not wish for the annexation of Dorne to have any problems, least of all a little sand dragon because a princess played the whore for her then betrothed. Tommy had been scolded, Aeva sent to her mother once the moontea did its job and it was agreed it would never be spoken about ever again.

“I will, there is no reason for me not to do both things at once. Grandmama Elaena was running the Crown’s accounts while she raised eight children, if you remember. Besides, that is what wetnurses and nursemaids are for.” The Spymaster reminds her. There was no one else better for the job, no one had amassed a web like hers and no one had their trust like she did.

Polly just thinks that because she jumped into Daeron’s bed in want of power, Aeva will do the same. Besides, she’s sampled all her cousins and pities the power-hungry twit who ends up taking Aerthurys home.

“Dorne would retaliate if you had the same end as your predecessors, Mysaria of Lys and Tyanna of the Tower were both tormented to death and tossed into the sea underserving of graves. Have you considered I do not wish that end for you?” she plays up Aeva’s fears with motherly concern just as she did that day she came with the moontea and told her she knew Aeva had not bled in two moons.

But it does not work, not this time.

“Then I will not die like them, I will be sure to die in the Water Gardens in my old age surrounded by my kin and having outlived my husband.” The princess shook off the doubts and fears that come more often now that she drinks in moderation like all sensible people do.

She supposed this new office will be the reason she does not break and return to drowning her demons with drink. Aeva will need her wits about her when she proves marrying the first Queen Regnant to Amos Bolton was a grave mistake. As much as she wishes she could be wrong, the princess knows it in her bones that her hunch is right.

After all, her visions are never wrong.

[lightofraye]

I’ve been dabbling in writing fanfiction. Contemplating going to AO3, or somewhere else. Or taking those stories and doing more with them.

In my dabbling, I joined a new fandom: The Rookie! There I (re)discovered another Days of Our Lives actor: Eric Winter! I remember watching him too!

Fascinated, I watched a few episodes and liked it. Intrigued, I went looking for fanfiction… and found fandom drama that forced Eric Winter to address to the fans himself.

What drama?

Well. In the show, his character, Tim Bradford, had been in a on-again-off-again relationship with Lucy Chen, played by Melissa O’Neil. Fan nickname for the relationship is Chenford.

Some fans had been harassing Eric and his beautiful wife, Roselyn, about how he should be with Melissa, just based off the show’s relationship.

Absolute madness.

He had to ask them to stop. Imagine having to do that. Phew!

[butchreg]

MELISSA IS BIG KITTY REGRESSION CODED!! he's like, one of those cats that was raised around dogs and unintentionally acts like one,, tries to bark, accidentally meows,, paws at people he likes, slow blinks as a sign of trust,,, WAYYY too energetic, he tends to kinda skitter around like a newborn kitten lol

(i'm ngl, i've loved kitten regressor mel since that one genlissa post you made a while back,, i think about that one a lot)

-🐦‍⬛

YES !!! YOU GET ME !! i have been too fearful to post more kitty ! mel worried that people would get upset ⼃ angry with me given the general consensus but as the founding member of mel nation wayyy back in the day i can stay quiet no longer !! that boy is a kitty !! funnily enough i hadn 't even really much considered puppy ! mel until s3 when it became quite obvious𓈒 i knew that he dabbled in both ( father knows best ⼃silly ) but i have always been a kitty ! mel truther𓈒 everything you 've said here is SOO true and real !! kitty mel loooves to play , his scratching post would be in shreds ! silly kitty who loves to pounce , tail wagging in anticipation as he lurks in a shadow a sly smile spreading across is face𓈒 he 's a vocal kitty often mewing conversationally and at the birds out his window ! i am sooo happy you enjoyed my previous kitty ! mel thoughts eek !! be on the lookout as i plan to post some kittyjackets headcanons soon ( hopefully )𓈒

[btvs3x21]

my current thoughts on like. what makes the most SENSE for the yellowjackets’ religious upbringings and what has the best weight in terms of the cult is on team catholic we’ve got natalie (begrudges it and derides it but ultimately it hangs over her and she can’t help but believe), van (accepts it without question just immediately is like yep weird necklace lottie gave me for protection that tracks), mari (latina + believes in ghosts and all that preemptively like truly so geared to believe in it), trav (latina and struggles with it sooo bad), and javi (latino. like sorry idk what you want this is how latinos are). on team evangelical is laura lee even though the show mixes her religious beliefs horrendously with the mary magdalene summer camp. maybe laura lees parents sent her there to test if she’d go to hell for dabbling in catholicism. on team protestant but far less into it than an evangelical are jackie (church on holidays type christian upbringing imo), tai (hugely lapsed. incredibly atheist now), ben (also hugely lapsed and incredibly atheist now), akilah (dabbling in agnosticism tbh), gen (also a church on holidays type christian), and melissa (more frequent church going maybe than gen and jackie maybe but has def gotten a lot less frequent as she’s gotten older). on team jewish we have rachel goldman (i mean. her name feels self explanatory) and shauna (clearly lapsed religiously given the dabbling in catholicism but i think it adds so much weight to her relationship w the cult and esp its appropriation of her baby and her suffering). then on team raised agnostic or atheist we have lottie (the way she approaches laura lee makes it seem like she had pretty much no personal connection with religion of any sort prior) and misty (like culturally christian sure but idk she seems to have very few feelings abt religion itself even in the wilderness so i don’t think she was raised with it in an at all church going capacity or anything). on team not enough info for me to decide any which way we have crystal, britt, and robin.

[cosmos-coma]

'Did you know..?"

A/N: A request/suggestion by the ever-lovely @beardedladyqueen! While Regis isn't really my thing personally I'm always more than happy to experiment with characters and see what makes people happy! I also realized while writing this that I... I'm just Reigs. I'm an herbalist who just loves to tell people fun facts and maybe falls a little in love when people use scientific names.

Pairing: Regis x Reader

Words: 727

____________________

Birds tweeted eloquently from above, their feather-light songs bouncing off each other and stitching themselves into a fantastic melody. The wind rustled through the delicate grass, tickling your arms as you cut another leaf off the little plant. The large umbrella of shade trees above provided a welcome respite from the wicked heat of the day as well as a comforting sense of protection as it watched over your dutiful work.

“Alright, thank you little plant, that's all…” you said with a quick smile as you stood back up and placed your fistful of leaves into an empty jar. Quietly your feet padded around the well-worn protrusions- headstones dappling the surrounding landscape- as you look for your next plant. Your fingers brushed against a particularly moss-covered wall as you made your way around a moss-covered mausoleum when you were nearly scared out of your own skin.

“Aah!” you exclaimed, jumping about a foot in the hair, your hands immediately clutching your chest as you spotted him, “oh- ah, wow… I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t know anybody else was here..” you explained as you looked over at the figure sitting before a long-gone campfire. He had dark gray hair pushed back and away from his face, matching sideburns that emphasized already prominent cheekbones, and tired eyes that you’re sure made him look far older than he really was. But you found it all rather endearing, he looked as if he spends all night carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, yet still seemed to hold the sunniest disposition.

“Oh, that’s quite alright.” the older man said, standing up from his fire to turn to you. “I wasn’t aware anyone frequented this area- oh, forgive my manners” he held his hand out to you, “I’m Regis… “ he said as he shook your hand.

You introduced yourself in turn with a gentle smile and a shake of his hand. “It's been a while since I've foraged here if I’m being honest, so I doubt I could lay much claim to it.” 

“Hmm, is that lily of the valley and… do I smell lemon balm?” The vampire inquired with curious excitement as your hands came close, now peeking over to look toward your herb-laden basket.

You chuckled with surprise and showed him your collection, “What an amazing nose you have..! Yes, I just gathered some before I came around the corner.”

Regis's lips pulled into a sheepish smile, knowing he was perhaps being a little too telling with his vampiric talents than he would have liked, “yes, well I-I think the scent must still be on your hands,” he said, straightening his posture a bit more, “I actually dabble a bit into herbalism as well… did you know that lemon balm can be used for anxiety, appetite, and even-” 

“-Insomnia,” you two said in unison, causing you both to pause before easy laughter filled the otherwise lonesome cemetery.

You grinned brightly as you shook your head, “Yes, actually that's what I’m gathering it for… I’ve been having absolutely dreadful sleep lately and was hoping Miss Melissa officinalis could help me out a bit with that”, you said with the slightest tinge of blush- no one ever wanted to talk plants with you before. Usually, people just listened for a bit to amuse you, but rarely did they ever want to bring it up again. Yet here this older man stood before you with an almost giddy smile that was barely hidden behind a veil of well-mannered resignation. 

Regis on the other hand thought his immortal heart might just burst out of his chest and onto the floor, then and there. A fellow herbal enthusiast and you can drop a scientific name into conversation like it's nothing? He couldn’t remember the last time he had smiled so broadly at something so seemingly small. 

“I- please, forgive me if this is too forward,” Regis started, nearly tripping over his seat as he stepped forward. He knew it was terribly unlike himself to be so clumsy, but for some reason, he just couldn’t seem to help it. “but would you mind if I accompanied you while you continue to forage?”

Your shy but determined smile captivated him like the first glimpse of morning light as you held your basket out to the love-struck vampire.

 “Only if you promise to carry the basket.”

__________

Taglist: @writingmysanity @open--till--midnight @madamemelancholysstuff @dark-academia-slut

Want to be on a Taglist? Did my brain slip and I forgot to tag you? DM me to let me know!

[fjotla-vithir]

VierApril Day 13: Business

Rating: T

Read below the cut!

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaalright everyone! Place your bets now! Who will be the champion tonight that takes it all? Who will reign supreme over all the other contenders? You thought the Arcadion was a sight to behold? Well you haven’t seen shit! Tonight we have our two finalists who dragged and clawed themselves through the seven hells and back, only to be pitted against one another! The two most violent sons of bitches to walk these rings so far! Let’s hear some noise for Jesse the Jackal and the queen bitch in charge herself: Animalissa!”

The Don and his Consigliere watched as two people entered the dirt ring below them, the crowds in the coliseum seats surrounding the pit going absolutely apeshit for the contenders and screaming various insults or cheers in every direction. The fighters stood in their respective corners, stretching and hyping themselves up as they waited out the last final minutes. The odds were stacked rather evenly between the two; Jesse was a Hyur man who had taken on the guise of a rabid jackal, his claws and teeth the weapons that brought him to the top, whereas Melissa, or Animalissa, was a tiny Au’Ri girl who had the force of ten thousand dragons resting within her. It was her explosive spells and animalistic obsession to be the best that helped her get to where she was now. Fjölla himself had no idea how to side on this fight. It was one of the closest he’d ever seen in his underground fighting pits, a very illegal venture that earned him quite a bit of extra Gil. This was one of his smaller venues, making fights all the more entertaining with the limited amount of space the arena offered. He was excited though; the Jackal may have speed and bursts of damage in his favor, but there was no way he could outrun an explosion from even one of her fire spells. The flames would surely engulf the entire arena, and maybe a few onlookers in the closer rows.

Hence why the Don always sat in the topmost row.

It was a little section cordoned off just for him and up to three of his guests, of which he only had one presently: Edmond Dantes. The Elezen paid the fight no mind, only sitting by as a sort of personal bodyguard to his employer, though the entire coliseum was filled with undercover Capos and Soldiers ready to strike the moment the Boss’s life was put in danger.

Down below, the fight began and it was over as quickly as it had started. Just as Fjölla had suspected, the Jackal made an attempt to dash and dart around to try and confuse Animalissa, but all she did was unleash a massive ball of flames at the center of the ring and Jesse was burnt to a crisp - dead. The crowd erupted in various degrees of emotion, from elation at the victor to fury at the vanquished. The Jackal hadn’t even made it ten feet from his starting point before he was up in flames, and the smell of burning fur and flesh filled the air. Several pit employees came in to drag off the deceased, and the announcer emerged to hold Animalissa’s hand high in the air in victory. Some were already leaving their seats to meet bookkeepers at the bet counters, eager to cash in their winnings and collect on big fortunes. Others who had lost their Gil in droves left the underground coliseum with their heads hung in shame, many afraid to go home and admit to their spouses and families that they’d gambled away their entire lives. The Family had steep pit fees and background charges for all bets placed that were higher for losses, which always left Fjölla way ahead of the game no matter the outcome. All that mattered to him was that there was plenty of bloodshed and death to appease the audiences.

Walking out of the main foyer that was on the ground level, the Don and his Consigliere departed the venue and returned to the Family home in Shirogane, pockets lined with the funds of their night dabbling in illegal gambling and fighting.

Business as usual.

[moonysreid]

scarlettssub’s mini 200 follower celebration

i know i don’t write very often but i’m hoping that this helps get me out of my slump sooo

i dabble mainly in wlw or gender neutral fics but if they’re in the spencer reid to remus lupin genre of men i do make exceptions - also your preferred pronouns would be very much appreciated

🌱 describe yourself a little, pick a fandom, (options are below) and i’ll pair you with a character and i’ll throw in a few headcanons

(if you’re not feeling too adventurous feel free to just state a character you want headcanons with- please still give a description of yourself so i can get the feel right)

🌻 send me a character (from the below fandoms) and i’ll write an ‘x reader’ 200 word drabble

🍄 send me a ‘character’ x reader and i’ll recommend some writers and fics

fandoms: (any female character from these fandoms - there are exceptions for the elite few fictional men lmao)

harry potter , marvel , resident evil village , criminal minds , i also do the men from the marauders (atyd) , wednesday , game of thrones

there’s a couple offshoot characters that i write for e.g. melissa schemmenti (feel free to look at my masterlist to see who i’ve written for before because i also include them)

[slippinmickeys]

Madam Scully’s Spiritual Services, Inc. (5/?)

He still wasn’t certain why he’d walked into the fortune teller’s shop. He was sure however, about why he’d stayed long enough for a reading.

It had been a blisteringly hot day at Quantico, one in which they were running outside, and one of the few nights the cadets had off, allowed to leave the Marine Base where they were housed and trained. Everyone had been close to heat stroke when they finished their five miles, Mulder included, but to him, a night out drinking with his classmates held little appeal. His plan, such as it had been, was to grab something to eat and study for the upcoming Legal II exam — a test even seasoned attorneys sometimes failed — but every restaurant he passed looked less appealing than the one before it. Until he saw the sign for El Compadre. A few tacos and a cold coke were just the thing.

But when he got out of his old Land Rover to head into the taqueria, he’d glanced into the window of the fortune teller’s shop next door and had seen the woman sitting behind the counter, her head bent low as though she were reading. Even through the grimy window, her hair shone like polished copper, and her skin was dewy with sweat. He was intrigued by her rather than struck dumb and had paused outside, reading the smattering of signs in the window. “Heal your past, learn your future” said one. “Walk-ins welcome,” said another. Well, he was a walk-in. And he did just that.

The inside was fusty and warm, an oscillating fan in the corner moving around a thick, stolid breeze. The decor inside was all kitsch, its shelves filled with new age crap; crystals and geodes, and lots of purple and black velvet. And when the woman looked up? The ice cave blue of her eyes fixing on him, well…

She led him through the door now, the night not nearly as uncomfortably hot as it had been the first time, and they were met by a taller, willowy woman who Mulder assumed was the “real” Madam Scully. She was a couple of years older than Dana, her hair a darker auburn. She wore bangles on her wrists, and a flowy, flower print dress over a white capped-sleeve tee shirt.

Dana inclined her head. “My sister,” she said.

The woman gave him a frank, penetrating look.

“Madam Scully, I presume?” Mulder said, holding out a hand.

“Melissa,” she said, putting a limp four fingers in his grasp, which he shook clumsily.

“This is Fox Mulder,” said Scully, looking between them a little awkwardly.

“Ah,” Melissa said. “So you’re the guy who brought the spirits into my shop and then left without paying.”

Mulder gave her a chagrined look. “I have rectified the latter,” he said. “But hoping you could help me with the former.”

Melissa stared hard at her sister before turning back to him.

“No,” she said firmly.

He and Scully both said “What?” at the same time.

Melissa sighed. “I’m happy to act as an advisor,” she said. “To both of you. But this spirit didn’t come to me. She came to you.” She turned to Scully. “And you . I am not a part of this triad.”

“But-“ Scully started, but Melissa held up a hand, and turned back to Mulder.

“Someone wants to communicate with you. You need to decide if you’re ready and willing to hear what they have to say. You may not like it.”

“And you,” she said, turning back to her sister and letting what Mulder assumed to be frustration leach into her voice. “You can’t dabble in this world while looking down your nose at it. You may not believe in these spirits, Dana, but one of them certainly believes in you.”

Scully paled and Melissa’s tone took on a more sympathetic bent. “We’ve been through so much.” She reached forward and put a delicate hand on Scully’s cheek. “You tried to pass through this door when Mom and Dad died, and now it’s standing wide open. Are you able to walk through it now?”

Melissa looked steadily at both of them and then turned and walked into the back of the shop, leaving them standing awkwardly in the small lobby. Scully looked shaken, stiff, and Mulder wanted to reach out to touch her, but didn’t dare.

He was about to open his mouth to say something but Scully’s quiet voice came first.

“She’s right,” she said, finally looking up at him. “I did try to talk to them. Our parents. I wanted to know if they… I wanted to know what happened to them. I wanted justice.”

He nodded at her.

“All I got was silence.”

With that, she turned and walked out of the shop.

He gave her a moment and then followed. She had walked back out to the picnic table, and was sitting at it, looking small and dejected.

Mulder gingerly slid in next to her.

“That must have been hard,” he said. He could picture her in the little back room, desperate to reconnect just one more time. He was certainly familiar with the impulse. It was why he was here in the first place.

“It was,” she said. “But I know you’ve been through something similar.” She leaned her shoulder into his. “When you think about it,” she went on. “We both just want answers.”

Mulder nodded, sighed. “Yeah,” he said, the wheels in his head turning.

He turned to her after a moment.

“I don’t know what to make of all this,” he said. “And I don’t know what’s going to happen. But what if…”

When he trailed off, she looked up. Her eyes were watery, but wide and bright. It took him a moment to remember what he was going to say.

“I’ve been assigned to work in VICAP,” he said. “When I graduate in a couple of weeks. That’s the violent crimes unit at the Bureau. And I was thinking… Maybe we could get answers for each other.”

“How?” She wanted to know.

A frog in the knot of trees across the street began to make its nighttime noises. He took in her profile; her delicate chin, her Roman nose, and inhaled deeply, the smell of hot tar and cumin thick in the air.

“If you’re willing to help me talk to my sister…” She gave him a dubious look, but didn’t stop him. “I’m willing to bet I can get my hands on the casefile from your parents' deaths. Maybe there’s something in there the police missed.”

Her eyebrows rose slowly.

“So you want to make a deal, is that it?”

For a brief moment he was thinking yes, if that means I can see you again. But instead, he said:

“A mutually beneficial arrangement.” He smiled at her. “I have the resources and expertise to help you, and… Well, you have the same for me.”

“So it’s a business arrangement?” she asked. Did he detect a hint of disappointment in her voice?

“If you like,” he said.

She thought about it for a moment, licked her lips, then stuck out her hand for a handshake.

“Okay,” she said. Her grip was strong, firm, the opposite of her sister’s. “You have a deal, Mulder.”

[moonflowerpetal]

Some hcs i have

-if the eggs are the old residents and richas was the one who fled to the lighthouse, he was the ones who ran away with the recipe for what the fed wants and now the fed has to redo everything, that's why they have cucurucho , which is the one made the right way but they couldn't remake it perfectly (osito bimbo)

-the current federation was inspired by a old one but didn't know how to get to the headquarters of the old one because in fact they are a group that made a riot and disassociated themselves from the old fed so the old fed hid so they (the new) wouldn't find their research and the guy who ran away to the lighthouse thought the new group that made itself the new fed would do the experiences the same way the old fed did in a ethical way but when he saw that it wasn't, he ran away

-some books that q!cellbit are finding are write by himself during the time he was working at fed

-a lot of q!bad's ghost doesn't like q!cellbit because he was the one who killed them and eated them

-when richas mess up his prosthetic leg again after the q!tazercraft have already fixed it in the week he goes to ramon for help

-when q!pac and q!fit started flirting and ramon discovers he can get another brother he started a comparison and saw that richas and dapper are very similar (dark skin, they dabble with the occult and are good builders)

-one day richas started seeing a kid following their dad q!cellbit and never understand why no one talked with they ou made their tasks until the day he finally understood

-q!bad, q!missa, q!phil, q!cellbit, richas and dapper are the only ones who can see the dead eggs since they are the ones who knows the other side in their own ways (that was before the chayanne and tallulah thing)

-one day when q!wilbur comes back and tallulah says to him that she has another father figure that she see as a uncle and he saw that q!forever and q!phil let she fight (they don't actually but she must know how to defend herself) and these kind of thing, and he says that he never allowed it, she says ''they were here all this time''

-romero richas was the leo's entity friend who was wandering before the richas's body was allowed to back to life

-one day the residents will have to choose to save between osito and cucu but they will have to find out who is the "good" one

-it will be a egg who will kill the cucurucho (probably richas for revange after all the kidnappings)

-it is already a time where the fed doesn't want the eggs to die anymore, since they saw how dangerous the residents are and they don't want to lost the only thing that allows a sense of control over them

-abueloier is a scientist at fed but neither do q!roier or melissa knows about it (at this point i doubt that this old man don't will have his own lore)

-q!cellbit and q!foolish are opposite double agents, q!cellbit tells everyone that he hates the fed but is following cucu's idea that he is actually pretending to make the residents trust him (which is not true), while q!foolish tells everyone to like the fed but is a secret agent who will seize his chance as a trusted by the fed when the time comes

[jewishbarbies]

Actors are not the brightest people! Specially the ones from Hollywood.

They will support the most unhinged ideals without stopping for one second and think “idk maybe the things I’m saying sounds a little bit anti-semitism”

And yes I’m talking about the mediocre actress called Melissa Barrera!

She was dog whistling so hard that I’m surprised she was not just plainly saying that “Jews Control The World” 💀

literally that’s the part the studio said they fired her for, they spelled it out in plain english that that’s an antisemitic conspiracy theory and harmful and they weren’t going to work with someone who dabbles in that. like, i actually respect the studio for that because there was going to be backlash regardless, but they’re taking it and not recanting. if she JUST said her ‘free palestine’ bit that’d be one thing, but to add the extra antisemitism of the jews control the world shit while also saying “those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it” is just the trash taking itself out at that point.

goyim LOVE to circlejerk holocaust phrases, events, details, etc. like comparing everyone hateful to nazis and hitler or invoking concentration camps or whatever gets the most emotional reaction when they need to make a point, but when something happens to jews, they ask why they should care. make it make sense.

[mariacallous]

The past few weeks have been a fever dream for the online conspiracy world. Wild claims about Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, went from fringe corners of the internet to mainstream social media platforms, and people who don’t usually dabble in conspiracies found themselves leading the charge. Basically, the whole world fell down the rabbit hole.

WIRED talked to researchers, TikTok creators, and experts on conspiracies about what exactly happened, and how so many people so willingly threw themselves into the story. It was the perfect storm: A combination of gamified social platforms, distrust in media and government, unprecedented levels of conspiratorial thinking, and even a bot influence campaign on social media all played a part. Even now, following Middleton’s announcement that she has been diagnosed with cancer, the conspiracies have continued.

Until Friday, Middleton was last seen in public on Christmas Day. Kensington Palace later announced that she was undergoing an abdominal surgery and said Middleton was in the hospital for two weeks before returning home to recover. Conspiracies surrounding Middleton’s whereabouts had been bubbling online since early January, but they became mainstream after the palace issued a doctored photo that was retracted by AP, Reuters, and other agencies. “They were dishonest, and then they put out at least one doctored photo. So of course, at that point, they're gonna lose all credibility,” Melissa Ryan, a disinformation researcher, tells WIRED.

It seemed like the whole internet quickly became obsessed with figuring out what happened.

On social media platforms, videos discussing this issue exploded. TikTok investigators and content creators, along with their huge fanbases, obsessed over dimples on grainy photographs, images of hands, and AI-enhanced pictures. Creators who don’t typically post about royals jumped on the bandwagon because of the level of engagement this topic was receiving. These conspiracies were also able to thrive because of the unwillingness of the royal family to speak openly about what was happening, creating a void which was quickly filled by everyone from TikTok creators to blue check grifters on X and died-in-the-wool conspiracists on Telegram.

“The topic is an ideal mainstream conspiracy theory: It's low stakes, easy to obsess over, and endlessly iterative,” Caro Claire Burke, a journalist and TikTok creator based in Virginia, tells WIRED. “There's no easier build-your-own-adventure story than the one that can be built around a woman who is simultaneously famous and unknown. She's a perfect lightning rod for this kind of obsession.” Burke, who is a producer with Katie Couric Media, recently switched from posting about tradwives to Kate Middleton; she’s seen huge engagement on these posts, including several videos which racked up more than 2.5 million views each, and one which has been viewed more than 6 million times—much more than any of her previous videos.

While the volume of conspiracy content around Middleton has dramatically decreased since her statement was released on Friday, it has far from disappeared entirely. On Telegram channels and X over the weekend, conspiracies claiming that Middleton’s video statement was AI-generated spread quickly, while others claimed that her cancer was caused by the Covid vaccine which she was photographed getting in 2021.

But influencers looking for likes and clicks made up just one aspect of this perfect conspiracy storm.

WIRED found that Middleton conspiracies were being amplified by networks of bot accounts on X, with one comment posted by thousands of accounts. The comment referred to a conspiracy about a video published in The Sun of Prince William and Middleton walking at a farm shop. “Why do these big media channels want to make us believe these are Kate and William?” read the posts.

Joe Ondrak, regional investigations lead with Logically, a company that uses AI to track conspiracies and disinformation online, also discovered the same comment being shared on other social media platforms, as well as message boards and much darker conspiracy corners of the internet. Ondrak has not been able to identify who was behind the campaign, but said it could be a “bot farm for hire,” which is a company that sells services to push whatever disinformation narrative you desire on social media platforms. While most of the X accounts spreading this message are based in the UK, the ones with the highest reach are based in India.

The campaign, Ondrak believes, could have been undergone, in part, to “undermine trust in mainstream media sources.”

In the US, trust in mainstream media and government is at all time lows, meaning that these kinds of comments or explanations can be eagerly accepted and shared. A Gallup poll published last year found that 39 percent of Americans had no confidence at all in the mainstream media, a record high. Months earlier, a survey published by the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that 49 percent of Americans agree with four or more conspiracy statements related to topics like antisemitism, vaccines, climate change, and white supremacy. That figure dramatically increases to 69 percent among US teens.

“Conspiracy frameworks and the conspiracy mindset are more readily present in the cultural mindset now than it was pre-2020,” Ondrak says. “The way in which Covid [conspiracies] led to the Great Reset and led to everyone knowing someone in their family who has referenced it or shared things on Facebook—it's now just much more present.”

The British royal family is a topic that has been at the center of the conspiracy universe for decades, from wild claims that they are lizard people to QAnon’s claims about Princess Diana still being alive. The palace is also a subject of intense scrutiny from the media across the globe, meaning that audiences have been primed for years to engage with this story.

“There is no weirder Twitter than people who either love or hate the royal family, and the battle that plays out online every day,” says Ryan. “I follow it just because I've written about Meghan Markle and the hate targeting her so much. So there was already an audience sort of primed for this content.”

Now, experts who track how people are radicalized into more troubling conspiracies by seemingly benign ones worry that some of those who were captivated by the Middleton speculation in recent weeks could now find themselves obsessed with other conspiracy communities.

“I see a lot are having fun with it, but as with many conspiracy theories there's an extremity scale here,” says Brent Lee, a former conspiracist who now works to help people escape the rabbit hole. “This sliding scale always runs the risk of losing people to the extremities of the rabbit hole. It depends how far people are willing to go.”

Ondrak believes that the lack of trust in institutions and government means more and more people are susceptible to this type of thinking.

“We've seen in the past the true crime community getting far too into things that lead to Satanic Panic, and then true crime becomes QAnon.” says Ondrak. “There is always the risk that one or two people might accidentally find themselves on an on-ramp and not be able to get off.”

Still, it may not necessarily lead to anything. Since Middleton’s cancer announcement, backlash against Burke and creators has been swift.

“I genuinely did not think that people would turn this story into what they turned it into, which was that a young woman, a young mother of three, had been bullied into revealing a medical diagnosis and we should all be ashamed,” Burke said on a podcast on Sunday. “On Instagram in particular, and TikTok, I received a sudden rushing wave of profound vitriol.”

Other creators believe some, however, deserve the blame. “I do think there are a handful of creators who took advantage of the hype, spread horrible theories, and made bold claims without any fact to back it up,” says a TikTok creator known as Alyssa R from Illinois. Alyssa R has 115,000 followers, and her videos on Middleton amassed hundreds of thousands of views. “Those creators absolutely should feel ashamed for partaking in spreading misinformation and potentially putting pressure on the Princess to reveal her diagnosis.”

Ashamed or not, these creators could have inadvertently sent some of their new followers down a conspiracy rabbit hole that could be difficult to escape from. Lee says that for those teetering on the edge of looking into more extreme conspiracies, it’s important to ask basic questions: How likely is this to be true? How many people would have to be involved to pull off this conspiracy? How many people would have to be involved in covering up this conspiracy? And have I jumped to conclusions because there is a gap in my knowledge?

“It's so easy to get caught up in the hype of the rumor mill,” Lee says. “It's nothing strange or new. It's what we do. I believe the genesis of almost every conspiracy theory is gossip. My advice to anyone, be they prone to conspiracy theories or not, is to stop and think for a minute. Occam's razor is your friend. Ask yourself these questions and see if you can find easy logical answers without making assumptions.”