#and who hasn't thought of the more obvious answers here and hasn't stopped trying

[everyryuujisuguro]

[owuwi]

NATALIE SCATORCCIO.ᐟ

summary: she can't be into you, so why not distance herself?

pairings: natalie scatorccio x fem!r

warnings: angst, a tiny bit suggestive, detailed description of throwing up, internalized homophobia from natalie

2.0k words

Natalie wasn't into girls. She wasn't opposed to fucking them but she wasn't romantically attracted to them. Or at least that's what she thought until she started seeing you in a different way.

You were the whole package; not only were you easy on the eyes but you actually cared about Natalie. That's why she immediately started to distance herself from you the moment she realized that she was starting to get too attached.

A bit of context here; you were Nat's person. You were the only one who she trusted enough to talk about every single shit that happened to her. You were always there for her no matter what and she even tried to 'return the favor' and be there for you — though it didn't always work but at least she tried —.

You protected her, you defended her and she — grumpily — allowed you to. She'd be lying if she said that it didn't make her feel good, that it didn't make her feel safe, but she simply wasn't ready to admit it. She wasn't someone easy to be around, let alone date, so she thought that avoiding you was her way of protecting you back.

Your friends and even Natalie's didn't understand why you were so persistent about her, why you tried so hard to show people that she wasn't a bitch or any of those terrible things they called her, but you weren't doing it for them, you were doing it for Nat. You needed her to stop being so harsh on herself. Your efforts didn't go unnoticed by the dirtyblonde-haired girl, in fact, it only made her like you even more.

She skipped school today which was something you were already used to, but you were worried about her thanks to the fact that she hasn't been calling you back nor meeting you at your spot — yeah, you and Natalie had a secret place where you would meet each other before school —. That's why you built every ounce of courage and decided to pay her a visit after your classes.

Natalie's house — trailer — wasn't unknown to you but you never actually walked there without her permission. She was always telling you when to show up or not, and it was always at times when she was completely alone. You were obviously aware of the issues she had with her family which is why you never visited her unless she told you to, and you prayed that this visit wouldn't get her in trouble.

You knew she was home alone by the sight of her sitting on the stairs of her trailer, a bunch of light-out cigarets and a pair of empty bottles — most likely of booze — scattered around the pavement. Seeing Natalie like this pained you more than she understood but you knew you needed to be strong for her, that's why you walked closer to her, ready to help her in any way possible.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Natalie, though, didn't seem happy by your presence at all. The slim girl immediately stood up after letting out those slurred words, her voice as rough and deep as always.

You knew she was just drunk and payed no attention to her sharp tone of voice, instead, you took a deep breath and approached her even more. There was an odd tension between the two of you; the air suddenly thickening around you, the sounds of the trailer park muffling as your feet moved towards the girl.

"I asked you a question." She spoke again, looking at you with a mix of confusion and discomfort in her gaze. The way she was staring at you was enough to send shivers down your spine, a look you've never received from Natalie before.

Making her mad was definitely not going to be a good thing, especially not when you were trying to get answers for her startled behavior. "I was worried.." Is all that managed to come out of your mouth, your voice sounding shaky and stuttered. It was obvious that Nat was drunk — you could now smell the alcohol on her breath due to how close she was —, hence is why you understood that she wasn't in her right mind.

The girl in front of you simply scoffed, a cold, raspy noise coming from the back of her throat and slipping past her cut-clad lips. You'd be lying if you said you've never thought about kissing them, about feeling them pressing against every inch of your body. Though right now wasn't the moment to be thinking about that stuff, it was almost as if Natalie could read your mind; her eyebrows furrowing slightly as she stares at you.

"Leave me alone, don't you understand that i don't want you close to me? Or are you so fucking stupid that you can't realize something as simple like that?" She quickly asked again, but you could see the way her bottom lip was slightly trembling while she looks at you.

"What's going on, Nat? Why are you acting like this?" You couldn't help but to ask your friend, shifting even closer to her, your words dripping with serious concern and affection — which was definitely not helping her with her mixed feelings —.

Natalie wanted nothing more but to yell at you, to punch you until you were a bloody mess on the pavement, but she couldn't. There was never a violent — hell, not even a negative — thought about you in her mind. For her, you were perfect; an angel sent from heaven to keep her safe. Despite how fuzzy her head was due to all the alcohol and cigarets she had, you were all she could think about.

That's why she grabbed the collar of your shirt and crashed her lips against yours, so roughly that you swore your lips were going to bruise. It was a quick kiss, though messy and filled with anger, it wasn't enjoyable. You couldn't even kiss her back, your hands hovering over her sides but not fully resting against them. What were you supposed to do? Natalie kissed you like some sort of rabid animal — grunts slipping past her lips — and you could taste the cigarets and licor she previously had.

She pulled away some moments later, allowing her forehead to rest against your own, and everything was quiet for some moments. "Because of you... why can't you fucking see that?" She rasped out, her eyes slowly fluttering open to look at you.

There was an evident hint of lust in the girl's gaze but there was something else; a hint of fear glimmering in her eyes. You knew she wasn't doing well yet you couldn't bring yourself to say anything, you were paralyzed — her taste still lingering in your tongue —.

"I can't do this shit... you know that.." She continued talking before closing her eyes and pushing you away — which caused you to stumble back a bit —, acting as if you were the one who kissed her. She then ran her fingers through her ruffled hair, clearly trying to hold back her emotions.

Despite still being quite in shock, you knew that you needed to say something before she dugs herself further into this messy hole. That's why, after taking a deep breath and really thinking about your words, you speak up; "Y-You're... too drunk. Let me help you, please.." You weakly muttered out, offering her a small, almost shy smile before gently reaching out to grab her hand.

Now, Natalie was definitely not a touchy person. She actually hated to be touched — always flinching whenever someone got too close — but you were different. You were you, and she would always allow you to do whatever you wanted with her — though she wouldn't say it out loud —. So seeing the way she roughly slaps your hand away and then takes a step backwards hurt you more than you thought it could.

"Don't—...." She trailed off, looking at you with parted lips for a moment before lightly shaking her head side-to-side and then turning around. She sat down on the edge of the stairs once again, resting the back of her head against the door of the trailer. "Don't touch me.." She managed to continue her sentence, looking up at you like a kicked puppy.

Her eyes were red and filled with un-shed tears, her body visibly shaking, and you knew that was going on in her head. She needed her person right now — she needed you — and you could tell. Even though she was going to complain, you simply sat down next to her and then let out a sigh. You couldn't look at her, you were confused. Did Nat liked you? Did she wanted to be something more than just friends? Or was it the booze in her system? Millions of thoughts were racing through your mind until the sound of her voice snapped you back into reality.

"My uh... m-my dad's gonna be here any time soon... you should leave.." She warned you, looking over at you through hooded eyes, a hint of concern hidden in her words. Despite everything, she still cared about you.

"I'm not leaving you... especially not when you're like this." You quickly protested before bitting down on your bottom lip. An idea crossed your mind, an idea drunken-Natalie wouldn't enjoy, and you knew it was the right thing to do. Before the dirtyblonde-haired girl could say anything, you spoke again.

"You should come with me, you're in no state to see your—... dad." You then added, your voice cracking with nervous and even hesitation. There was a glimpse of anger noticeable in the girl's eyes for a moment before she looked away from you, her face turning into a wince before she threw up on the pavement.

You immediately grabbed her hair and hold it up for her, using your free hand to slowly rub soothing circles on her back — the fabric of her t-shirt soaked in cold sweat —. Natalie Scatorccio was probably the most stubborn person you've ever met, yet you hoped that she would allow you to help her in this moment.

"Please, just—... make it stop.." She weakly stuttered out, not being able to stop the warm liquid slipping past her lips. Natalie liked the effect of being drunk but she absolutely despised the consequences; puking and then being hangover the next day. The way she was acting like a little kid was only breaking your heart even more.

"C'mon..." You simply indicated before helping her get up, ignoring the putrefying smell of her vomit. You've helped Natalie during moments like this plenty of times yet you never truly realized how messed up it was; how fucked up it was.

The drunk girl was literally shaking, her body seeming much smaller than it ever did, and she was weak. She would never admit it but she was weak; she was so weak that she could barely walk on her own. If it wasn't for you, she'd probably be passed out on the cold floor, waiting for the inevitable to happen.

The next hours were a blur for the two of you; you managed to get her into your car and drove her to your house. Your family were — thankfully — out of town so you had your house to yourself. Natalie was mumbling nonsense under her breath the whole time you helped her into your place, you assisted her with brushing her teeth and even bathed her. In another time, another moment, the pair of you would've joked about this; you probably would've crack a joke or two, but this was different. Nat was barely conscious and she wasn't herself.

After giving her some fresh clothes, you lied her on your bed and she immediately passed out.

It was until midnight where she roused and she couldn't help but to break, tears rolling down the pale skin of her cheeks like a cascade. You obviously woke up yet you didn't say anything, you simply wrapped your arms around her figure and she allowed you to — she was so weak for you —.

With her head on your chest, she eventually calmed down, her lips parting to mumble out some simple words. "I'm so—... so sorry.."

[just-jordie-things]

really lovvvve toxic ex megumi who can't stop being around you after you're break up. follows you to the parties you attend, meets with you, you both have an argument and then make out. <33

The cycle repeats until you take him back, you might as well anyway, it's not like you can get rid of him<3

godddd toxic ex megumi <3 <3 we'll always go back to uuuu

you see him before he sees you. or at least, he happens to not be looking when your eyes find him in the crowd. it happens too naturally for your taste. instantly there's something bitter in your mouth and you feel your eye begin to twitch.

but you play it off and try not to pay him any attention. you're at a house party, and you already found some eye candy that would much better suit your attention for the time being. would you see him after tonight? no, definitely not. but the more you sip your drink and flutter your lashes at him, the more appealing he becomes. especially now that you-know-who is here.

and who invited him anyways? your mind wanders even as you keep your eyes on the handsome company you forget the name of. all that matters is he's blonde- not a ravenette- and he's got brown eyes -not deep, beautiful ocean blue...- and what were you thinking about again..?

"she has a boyfriend you know"

you have to shut your eyes to regain some false sense of peace. otherwise you would've whirlled around already to try to kick the shins of the 6 foot toxic piece of-

"you do?" your blonde placeholder looks down at you with confusion in his eyebrows. your own expression is unamused, bored, and quite frankly you're not sure who to direct it at at this point.

"she does" megumi confirms. your elbow hits his forearm in warning, but it's not nearly strong enough to get him to back off. he's already made his stance clear in coming straight to you in this crowd of people, and your gut is already telling you that you're going to fall for it.

"i don't, actually," you reply, giving your nameless suitor a sickeningly sweet smile. "in fact, i'd even go as far to say i've never been as single as i am right now"

the blonde man clearly isn't in the state of mind for these games, his eyes shifting between you and megumi, and it's obvious to you both that he's made up his mind before he's even said anything. you don't have to turn around to know that megumi is glaring this sucker down until he cowers out.

and as expected, your once suitor bids you a fast, "well, have a good time!" before turning and booking it away from you and your baggage.

your baggage grins down at you as he takes his place. you huff and shut your eyes again, this time pinching the bridge of your nose as you wrap your half-drunken head around what just happened.

"what the hell do you think you're-"

"you look stunning, by the way,"

megumi cuts you off, he could skip the part where you chew him out for his behavior, it's nothing he hasn't heard before. you try to smack his hand away when his fingers tug at the fabric resting over your hip, but he ignores that too. he's far too interested in watching the short skirt of your dress ride up your thigh when he tugs on it.

"i like this dress," he mumbles out his thoughts, and you should smack him again, but you don't. his knuckles graze your skin and your thoughts start to go blurry. "haven't seen this before"

"well, it's been a month, so..."

your answer is weak and you both know it. you hate that when he looks at you, your heart starts to race. you hate that you know what's coming next, and that if you wanted to badly enough, you could stop it.

because when megumi says, "come with me" and beckons you to follow him, you do without a word. you follow close behind him as he wanders through the crowd before he gets to the patio door, and you stupidly follow him out through it, where you're both alone.

"you can't keep doing this" you say, but it's a mumble, and when you lean into the exterior wall of the house, he's in your space again in a second.

megumi's convinced himself that he's not manipulative, you're just so willing. why else would you wear that dress to a party you knew he'd be at? why else would you follow him somewhere where you could be alone? and you don't exactly push him away when he leans in close and tilts your chin up to bring you even closer. you bat your lashes at him and pout your lips- you're practically begging for it.

"don't be like that baby," he murmurs and you're melting before him. did you leave your drink inside? because now you find your hands empty and you need something to fiddle with or else they're gonna end up in his hair- "missed you, y'know"

you sigh, shutting your eyes and trying to tilt your head away, lean it back into the wall, but megumi's quick to cup his large palm around the back of your head and bring you back towards him.

or into him would be more like it, because his lips are on yours without any other warning.

you move your hands to shove him away, but they have their own will and they end up fisting his tee shirt to pull him in closer until you're so pushed up against the wall that your dress is being dragged up your thighs. the material wants to bunch up at your hips, despite your efforts to keep yourself partially decent, megumi has other ideas in mind when he decides to grab you by the legs and lift you. his hips pin you to the wall again with an ease you're all too used to, and it's around then that you don't care where the state of your dress lies.

he has the nerve to mumble nothings into your mouth as you sloppily meet his lips in every heated kiss. things you've heard too many times,

"see? you missed me too"

"i knew you'd want to get back together"

"we're so good together, baby"

and as you always do, you'll fall for it for however long it lasts this time. because no matter how many times you've broken up, you've never gotten over megumi.

[withahappyrefrain]

I wish you would write a fic where Jake is flirting with a plus size girl who doesn’t think he’s really attracted to her but still goes home with him (a bit self destructive she knows) but when she has to physically pull him from between her thighs because he’s about to pass out from the lack of breathing/cumming in his pants she realizes that “oh shit he does like me”

Oh I feel this so hard and this got away from me enjoy!

She thinks when Jake comes up to her that he wants to know about her friends, because why else would he come up and talk to her?

And when Jake asks her about herself, she still thinks that's his goal. So she's guarded, her answers are short and to the point. Just waiting for him to bring up one of the girls she came with, waiting for those four words that always come when someone like him talks to someone like her.

"Is your friend single?"

But strangely, those words never come. Because Jake (God bless him) just thinks the bar is too noisy and that's why you're being quiet.

"Do you want to go outside? Where it's not as loud?"

"Why?" It's an automatic response due to years of being ignored, rejected, passed over. It's genuine confusion because he could be talking to anyone here, so why would he want to talk to you?

Jake's brows knit together in confusion. He thought he was being very obvious in his flirting.

"So I can hear you better?" He says it like a question because he's confused too, just for a different reason. He had pulled out all the stops; buying you a drink, complimenting your smile, leaning in to close the distance between his body and her's.

But that hasn't stopped her from looking around the bar, keeping an eye out for snickering friends who are filming the interaction with their phones or passing a wad of cash to each other for winning a bet this Adonis was acting out.

Long fingers hooked themselves around her chin, gently tilting her head back to Jake's.

His smile is now soft, hesitant almost. Nothing like the eye-crinkling grin he had early when he found something she said hilarious.

"If you don't want to, it's fine. You can tell me."

A way out. A way to avoid rejection. A way to avoid being let down, avoid feeling unwanted.

Saying no is the sensible thing to do.

And yet, she finds herself out on the beach with Jake Seresin, who's looking at her as if she put the stars in the night sky.

She knows she can leave anytime, and so could he. She expects it, waits for a half assed excuse, an 'emergency' phone call to occur, an early meeting tomorrow morning. Anything for him to leave.

But Jake doesn't leave. In fact, he does the unthinkable and asks if she wants to come back to his place.

Another chance to leave that she didn't take. She knows whatever this is, it won't last longer than tonight. It's going to hurt like hell tomorrow morning, but it's fun to pretend that a guy actually wants to be with you, right?

But Jake keeps surprising her. First when he kisses her.

Second when he asks if she wants to go upstairs.

He hasn't had a drink since they left the bar, so alcohol isn't clouding his vision and the whole being in the Navy thing rules out drugs.

Maybe it's been a while since he's gotten laid and he's desperate. But even she knows that one is impossible given his looks and charms.

The biggest surprise is when he doesn't reach for the lamp after she lies down on his bed.

"Aren't you...going to turn it off?" She motions to the lamp, a rather incredulous look taking over her face.

Jake tilts his head to the side, resembling a confused puppy more than a Greek God.

"Why would I do that? Then I can't see you."

He wants to see me.

The words repeat over and over in her head. When he pulls off her shirt, she fights the urge to wrap her arms around her stomach, instead pulling him into a bruising kiss.

"You're so soft," his hands are traveling everywhere along her body, as if he's trying to commit the feeling to memory, "Fucking love it."

The seed of doubt becomes smaller and smaller as the night goes on, though it still looms in the back of her head. This is just for a night, it'll only last a night, but what's wrong with that?

There's a lot wrong with that, but that's something to talk in therapy. She tries to push it to the back of her mind, focusing on how good his tongue feels on her clit, how his fingers are able to find the spot that makes her whole body shake in pleasure.

Wait, how long has he been down there?

She was expecting him to come up when she first came but then he kept going.

The noises Jake was making kept getting louder too. Moans vibrating against her wet cunt. Then the bed began to squeak.

That was what caused her to lift her head up and look at the sight between her legs.

His eyes were completely closed as his mouth moved against her. What took the breath out of her lungs was the way his hips were moving frantically against the mattress, becoming more erratic as his moans increased.

Fuck, he was enjoying this.

He was enjoying her.

This was....new.

[totallynottinsel]

Good evening Bagginshield enjoyers, I've come to share the start of my silly fix-it fanfiction. The first chapter is now on AO3!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63176023

@Lord_Tinsel

-----------

An Unexpected Opening

“How do you think mum’ll react?” Kili asked as he and his brother strolled through the greatly large halls of Erebor, now somewhat starting to look like it's good old self once more. It had been a little over a month since the dwarves reclaimed their homeland, as well as doing some much needed recovery after such a gruesome battle. “Based off last time? Not well…she probably won't like seeing us with, y’know, broken everything.” Said Fili in return, already picturing the enraged look on their mother's face once she learned they hadn't exactly come out unscathed. The thought was certainly enough alone.

“Hey! We're doing alright now, if I do say so myself.” Kili placed prideful hands on his hips, as yes—the two prince’s were indeed much better than months prior, they were not yet given permission to walk about so freely as if they hadn't had fractures and healing wounds all about. “I haven't even fallen over once today!”

“‘Cause you used me as a crutch!” Fili gave his brother a gentle yet playful shove to his shoulder. The boys' laughs echoed through the empty stone halls, prompting them to quickly shudder and keep quiet, not wanting anyone to catch them and practically drag them back to their beds to lay sick all week. “Your lady elf stopped by yet? You keep mumbling about her in your slee–”

“Don't say that so loud!” Kili dived in to cover his brother's mouth before any more dreadful words could come out. Oh, he felt even stupider when his face flushed. “And no, she hasn't…and she's got a name, y'know! Tauriel.” He placed a hand behind his neck, though in truth, it felt rather relieving to say her name aloud. Fili was truly the only person he’d confided in, and he’d planned to keep it that way. His brother was the only one who understood in his mind. “I sent her a letter not long ago, and I promised I'd see her again once I recovered. Or…at least whenever I can sneak out properly.”

“Are you ever going to tell Uncle about you two?” Asked Fili, though he was met with a groan of disapproval from the other almost immediately. Well, it was worth asking, in any case. “He might–”

“No! Nope. Not for as long as I live, will I tell our Uncle, that I'm in love with his so-called mortal enemy!” The brunette shook his head, not leaving much room for an argument to be even thought of. “He’ll skin me alive if he finds out!” He fumed, flying his hands up in defense; curse his Uncle’s blasted, utterly stupid feud with Elves! Just because he didn’t favor them doesn't mean he gets the right to tell Kili who his heart does and doesn’t belong to.

“But maybe he’d–”

“No!”

“Alright! Don't get your pretty braids in a twist, it was just a suggestion…” Fili gave a weak shrug, accepting his defeat in the matter for now (as he would most certainly try again later). “That’s one thing you ‘n Uncle have in common, Your dramatic love lives… it's getting harder to watch!”

“What? Am I missing something here? Why’em I out of the loop!” Kili was baffled, and the strangely smug look covering his brother's face wasn’t much of an answer. Between nearly dying and swooning for a beautiful lady, he’d say he was plenty distracted to not notice something so shocking.

“Oh, come on! You must’ve hit that head of yours harder than I thought. Uncle’s grossly smitten with Bilbo, of course! I thought it was obvious.” That made Kili stop in his tracks completely, silently staring at his brother before he gasped, finally seeming to come to his senses. “Ki, you were there when he gave him Mithril—”

“I know I was! But he was sick, so how were we supposed to know he was in his right mind to make a half-assed marriage proposal! The way they get all touchy with their eyes was enough to make me look away…” As love struck as Kili was himself, he took no pleasure in watching his very own Uncle try to shamelessly court an unsuspecting hobbit, who is no better than he is. “I'll believe it when I see it.”

“Your loss, I always win our bet’s.” Fili only smiled as they stopped at a large pair of cold stone doors, which of course housed their dear Uncle’s chambers. They each took turns promptly knocking and kicking and hollering for him to wake up, and when that didn’t quite work, they decided on simply barging on in instead. “Wakey wa—ow!” Kili was put to a fast halt, attempting to simply shake his Uncle’s shoulder, but only got as far as his wrist being seized by a strong hand.

“Have you ever considered knocking?” Grumbled Thorin, shifting his head to eye his nephews, who, tried keeping themselves innocent, regardless of the fact that Thorin had repeatedly told both of them, over the course of their entire lives, not to wake him from out of his eyesight, or else they gained the chance of likely getting something cut off.

“We did! Just this ways more funny–” The two boys began to laugh, but coughed it back at that unamused stare their Uncle gave them when his patience ran thin, especially if he was awoken rudely. Which was more often than he liked. “Fili said we should've brought a horn–”

“It would be wise, if you got to your point.” Said the King, pinching the bridge of his nose with a deep, weary sigh.

“Oh, yes! We've come to tell you that Mother will likely be on her way soon.” Fili eagerly explained, while his brother gave ample nods of approval beside him. Though Thorin wasn't exactly beaming at the sudden news.

“I thought she wasn't set to arrive for another week?” As Thorin sat himself up, a fourth, though just as familiar figure appeared from under the sheets with a pleased hum. It was none other than the fabled Bilbo Baggins, blinking a few times before he could take in exactly what he was staring back at. “Oh,” He nearly squeaked out, clearing his throat as the two prince's gaped at him as if he was missing his head all together. “Er…good morning.”

“Well, now I see it.” Kili thus handed over a bag’s worth of coins to his brother later that day.

[onlyherefortheshowmances]

Something just dawned on me after seeing a gif set about it, and I think I just realized something a little odd.

I think the reason I'm not mad at Eddie for being upset with Buck is... well besides the obvious fact that everyone is entitled to their own feelings/thoughts...

From Eddie's perspective, Buck is trying to "fix" everyone else without asking them first. He's trying to "fix" Eddie and Hen by doing psychosocial evaluations. He's trying so hard to "fix" and help and be there for everyone that he hasn't stopped to ask ANY relevant questions, and there it would seem making it about what he does or would want or need in the situation rather than what the people he's trying to help want or need.

The first thing we all need to learn how to say (especially in situations with big feelings involved) is, "Is there something I could do to help you right now?" or something there abouts. Stop just doling out the kinds of help that wasn't asked for and ask people what they need.

Examples:

*Making a meal for people is usually a great idea, but for me, cooking is my escape, so when I'm in my emotions I need to be able to cook my own food and make my own choices about it. No, I don't want you to help me. I need to do this for myself by myself.

*Offering to (or more so just inserting yourself to) physically be around someone (i.e. carpooling to the funeral, letting them stay at your house, etc.) can be really nice for a lot of people, but for other people (who are introverts that like/need to process internally BEFORE they're ready to process externally), you're literally just making it worse because now they feel like they have to say yes, because maybe it's what YOU need/want even if it's detrimental to their wellbeing.

What it boils down to is...

Don't just assume other's needs/desires/wants based on your own. Don't think you know exactly how to help in every situation. The person experiencing the situation knows what they need, or what they want/don't want. It may take more than one question. It may take prompting (i.e. would me making dinner be helpful to you? would it be better for you if you rode with me instead of alone? do you want to stay at my place tonight so you're not alone? would rather I just let your have your time to process right now?" And above all else, if someone tells you to stop, or gets annoyed by something you think should be "helpful" to them, stop and think for a second, did they specifically ask for this help? Did I specifically asking them if they wanted this help? If the answer to both of those is no, YOU are the one in the wrong here.

I hope this makes sense, and I know people are going to try to argue with me about it, because IRL people always get pissed off when I tell them they're causing more problems by trying to "help" in way that I didn't specifically ask for.

Another great example is: When I was actively homeless the other year. I needed MONEY, not things, not food, MONEY. Someone got incredibly huffy when I said I didn't want a "gift basket" or "supplies", because apparently I should've been happy with what I could get, but those things were not helpful! They would've created more of a problem than I already had, because I would've had to find somewhere to store something else in my already jam-packed van. I needed MONEY to pay bills, pay for gas, pay for the storage unit where most of my belongings were, etc. I had food stamps and community meals for food. I had basic hygiene supplies already. I had everyTHING that I needed, and all I was ever asking for is MONEY, and yet they were mad that I didn't accept THINGS enthusiastically.

Anyway, stop and see what specifically someone is asking for before offering assistance, or ask them what would be most helpful to them, never just assume they need or want the same things you did/do in their situation.

[fallenfrommars6277]

SPOILERS FOR LINK CLICK BRIDON ARC EPISODE 6

Okay, I will try to put in order some thoughts about the last episode and I hope this makes at least a bit of sense. If I wrote something wrong, please let me know and also if anyone has other theories, I'd very much like to hear them!

I've been thinking about Vein's death and I honestly don't think that Lu Guang had in mind to cold blood killing Vein and I don't think that this is what actually happened.

Lu Guang says that he knows that he can't stop him but he can make him stay a bit longer, which doesn't relate to a dead person (who would be stopped) but maybe more to an injured or a stuck one.

Also, just before this he is wondering if this time the right decision isn't to prevent at all the event (he says "the unchangeable point", i.e. Cheng Xiaoshi's death) to happen but to "let it happen more completely" and then proceeds to say the rest and everything happens. So, if he knows that Vein will kill Cheng Xiaoshi, the logical action is to kill him to prevent that, but here he's saying the exact opposite, so it wouldn't make sense to kill Vein after this, this time he doesn't have to kill him (maybe he already tried in other timelines) but all he has to do is stalling him, make him stay a bit longer.

After this, when Vein fights with Wang Qing, it's important to look closely at the order of things: she knocks him out, then goes for the notebook, Vein thanks her for her cooperation, then it's all black and now she's knocked out and her dress is ripped while before it wasn't, so something happened there, then she looks at the window, we see a frame of Lu Guang and she says that someone complicated things further and finally who possessed her (Cheng Xiaoshi's mom) exits her body and presumably a photo.

I think the key moment is in the black frame, something we don't see happens in that moment and changes everything. Everything points to Lu Guang, but we don't actually know anything else, maybe I watched too much tv (Sherlock I'm looking at you) but maybe everything is not really what and how it seems.

But let's keep watching the order in which things happen. When Wang Qing wakes up, we see Lu Guang making the puppeteer moves (I don't know how to call them ahah) for the first time and she calls Vein by his chinese name (Xiao Weiying), so maybe she knows him? I don't know, but what's important is that the first Lu Guang move seems to affect her because he raises his arm and she raises from the ground (this makes me also wonder if maybe it's Lu Guang that knows Vein's name but I don't know), but then, when Vein turns towards her, Lu Guang moves his hand as to crush something and this time his move seem to affect him because he instantly falls while she is getting up completely.

What's odd tho is that only now her eyes become blue, then we see again Lu Guang in the garden.

At this point Vein isn't shocked (I mean, I would be if I realized I was attacked by thin air) but smiles (a very creepy smile) and says "so that's how it is", almost like he foreshadowed this or even was waiting for this, maybe without knowing before what "this" actually was (even if I suspect that it's got something to do with the answer to the test of the forest), but just like it's all part of a plan. And of course, we know who is the mastermind behind it all, because they tell us right after with the scene at the cinema and at the very end with the scene at the obituary: Liu Xiao.

Talking about the scene at the cinema, Liu Xiao isn't affected at all by the news that Vein is dead, like he knows already or knows that there is more, and even asks Xia Fei if he doesn't want to finish the movie and calls him "impatient" and maybe it relates to what they say in the movie: "Did we win? Don't celebrate too soon, I feel like the mastermind behind the scenes hasn't shown up yet" and it couldn't be more obvious that they are also speaking to us, telling us that it's far from over.

I also think that Xia Fei has something to do with Cheng Xiaoshi's death because he tells him the address to the photo studio, but whether this is right or not, I still can't figure out the motive behind his death in the 1st timeline, which couldn't be out of revenge for killing Vein or of punishment for changing the past, unless it's a bootstrap paradox, but honestly I would be a little disappointed because I feel it would be the easiest way to explain it all.

There are two things that don't sit well with me: one is the fact that Vein got an autopsy while still alive/faking death and I really don't know how they'll explain this, maybe if it's all a plan they simply bribed someone into a fake autopsy.

The second thing is very important and it's the fact that if all this happened in 2019, how is it possible that in 2021 they act like none of this happened? I can understand the first dive maybe went differently every time, but Cheng Xiaoshi acts like he never met his parents and I really don't know how to explain this. If we explain it with the different timelines, it would mean that they are very different from each other, but I don't think that's it, so I really wonder how they'll explain this.

TL; DR I can't explain the how and the why or anything else, but to sum it all up, I think that what was shown, not only in the last episode but in the whole Bridon arc, wasn't all that happened or how that happened or when that happened and I couldn't be more excited to see all the pieces of the puzzle (which is also the title of the episode, interesting) click together.

[yanderu-deredere]

ooo spicy reqeuset: how would the yan yans react to their darling trying to fake an orgasm during sex? maybe because nobodys given her an orgasm before and so shes worried that they wont make her cum so she just pretends?

a/n: pretty sure all hell would break loose LOOOL also, as an adhd bitch, i know the pains of this so fucking well and it fucking sucks

wanted to do a group up thing but decided against it becos i wanted to write drabbles so here are just some random yanderes i picked and how they'd react

if you wanted to see another different yandere, shoot me another request and id love to answer for you!

warning: female reader as requested, mentions of stalking, overstim in ryouta's and the wolf boys' parts, spanking int he wolf boys' part, degradation in the wolf boys' part, double penetration in the wolf boys' part, honestly leo just lets it all out i think

eun-jeong yoo ★ profile

if he's never made you cum before, he probably wouldn't notice that you're faking it. he's not the type to really go around fucking other people. in fact, more than likely, you're his first. so he wouldn't know better

but, if he has made you cum forreal before, he'll know immediately that you're faking it and, even if he hasn't gotten off yet, he'll stop everything to ask you what's wrong and ask why you're faking it

same goes for if he's stalked you before and like has watched you make yourself cum becos then he knows what it looks like?

neway he's just an all around very observant guy who memorises how you react to things so he'd know if you're faking it or not

Eun-jeong's thrusts slowed and he ended up frowning down at you, his hands at your hips tightening but only a fraction "What's wrong?" Your face erupted into heat and you tried your best to sound confused "Huh? Wha-What'd'you mean?"

Eun-jeong took a second to think about his words carefully. He'd always been told that he wasn't exactly the most socially graceful person in the world so he wanted to really pick what he was about to say deliberately.

Because he loved you. And he wanted to finally show you the parts of him that he's been anxious to show you; all the ugly burned skin, all the big insecurities, everything.

He didn't want anything to go wrong. Except, now, it was obvious to him that you just tried pretending that you were cumming when you weren't.

It made him extremely anxious that you were faking it. Were you just unable to get off while looking at his ugly skin? Was he that bad? What was wrong?

"You… didn't cum."

Eloquent. He wanted to hit himself upside the head so bad.

You turned even more bashful, embarrassed both by the fact that you acted badly enough that it was obvious and by the fact that you got caught.

Unbeknownst to you, you could've been the best actress in the world and Eun-jeong still would've been able to tell. He knew you, has observed you at your most vulnerable moments, when you thought nobody was looking.

He liked to think he knew you better than anyone, even yourself.

The awkward silence was finally broken as you stuttered out an explanation "So-Sorry, I just-- I-- Nobody's ever made me cum before s-so I was nervous-- I-I didn't want to make things awkward by uhm, not cumming?"

Eun-jeong understood completely. Still, he shifted his hips, jostling his cock inside of you. He pulled you a little closer, sigh escaping him. "I don't care about that, puppy. It doesn't matter how long it takes; I just want you to feel good, no matter what."

You nodded hurriedly, feeling the way his cock stretched you deliciously. Honestly, this entire time, you'd been stuck at the precipice, eager to cum but unable to. Unfortunately, it's always been like that.

Eun-jeong noticed the way you nibbled at your bottom lip, your eyes flickering to where the two of you were connected. Something clicked in his mind then.

He shifted his hips again, dragging his cock out of you slowly. He could at least tell that it felt good because the walls of your pussy seemed to desperately want to keep him inside.

“How about you tell me how it feels?” Eun-jeong leaned down, his voice tickling your ear and his breath hot against your skin.

The words were on the tip of your tongue but your brain ended up blanking a little when Eun-jeong suddenly thrust his cock back in. He took your loss for words as a good sign and chuckled, his hand travelling from your waist to a little bit lower so his thumb could rub against your clit

“Don’t worry, I’ll wait. We have all night after all and I want to make sure you cum at least once.”

ryouta watanabe ★ profile

super observant like eun-jeong except like maxed out so, even if he hasn't seen you cum before, he definitely can tell what's fake and what's not

not to be like cliched or anything but your body tells him exactly how you feel and he's not had any experience outside of you but that doesn't stop him from hyper-analysing your every movement

so, yes, he can tell you're making yourself clench around him and you're making your eyes roll up and that you're pretending

and he'll definitely 100% take that as an offence LOL like what, you think he's stupid??

wouldn't talk to you abt it til after he's punished you tho

“What the fuck was that?”

Your entire body stiffened and you immediately grew nervous. Thankfully, your back was facing Ryouta so he probably couldn’t see your expression but you were sure he would at least fall for your acting.

People usually did.

He suddenly bullied his cock back into your pussy, making you whimper. Then, just as suddenly, his hand was at your face, cupping your chin, his fingers digging into your cheeks “I asked you a question.”

“I-I don’t—”

“Don’t lie to me.” He sounded angry—angrier than you’d ever heard him be like ever—and from his tight grip on you, you could tell that he wasn’t in the mood for games.

“I-I’m sorry.” You huffed, squirming as you felt him keep grinding his hips against yours, his grip on your waist making you unable to get away “I-I— Nobody’s ever made me c-cum before and I-I thought— I-I didn’t want to—”

Ryouta pulled out of you, which only made you feel rejected and guilty. Now, like everyone else, he’d be sick of you too.

Before you could say anything else, though, he turned you over so you faced him. Finally, you could see the irritated expression on his face.

It felt so out of place since Ryouta always seemed pretty much emotionless. You were always left guessing exactly what he was thinking. Now, it was obvious: what you did really pissed him off.

“You think I’m anything like those shit-heads? Those pieces of garbage that can’t make you cum?” He practically spat out, his hands cupping the backs of your thighs and spreading your legs.

You tried to stutter out excuse after excuse but the words immediately died on your lips when Ryouta ducked down and started lapping at your pussy.

You gasped, your back curving up a little as your eyelids fluttered. Oh, fuck, the feeling of his tongue tracing your folds, lapping at your clit, was something else.

One of his hands moved your knee so it rested on his shoulder and, at first, you wondered why. Then, you felt him pushing his fingers inside you, curling them in a way that made your walls clench and your pussy gush.

“Wa-Wait, Ryouta— I-I— feels weird!” You squealed, feeling his fingertips deeper than you’ve ever been able to reach. He kept brushing up against something that made electricity dance along your spine.

It made you feel like you needed to piss.

Instead of stopping, however, Ryouta just kept his dark eyes on you, lips closing around your clit and sucking as his fingers kept working you over and over.

Before you knew it, your back bowed and your head flung back as you were hit with the hardest orgasm you’d ever felt before. Your toes curled as white spots played along your vision.

“First time cumming and you end up being a squirter, huh?”

Ryouta almost sounded far away or maybe was that just your post-orgasm haze? You were still so out of it, both from the fact that someone made you cum and from the fact that it was the best orgasm you’d ever felt.

Before you could say anything, you could feel the head of Ryouta’s cock at your pussy.

You immediately looked up at Ryouta, the haze replaced with a sense of urgency “N-No, wait, I-I’m still a bit—”

Ryouta just chuckled meanly and pushed his cock all in one thrust “Did I say you could stop cumming? No, you’re going to keep going, baby, until you wring out every last drop of cum from my balls.”

emm fiala ★ casimir fiala

has had experience with each other so like they know what someone cumming looks like and, yeah, every person is different but like also you're not fooling them

they each have polar opposite viewpoints on how to deal with it though: like casimir's would be to just ignore it and keep going but emm would wanna stop and talk abt it

it's defo a lot more like eunjeong rather than ryouta cus emm calls the shots LOL

Emm suddenly stopped and you could hear Casimir let out a small scoff. Immediately, you felt a cold sweat cover you. Did they notice?

“What the fuck was that, darl’?” Emm was behind you but you could feel her grip around your throat tighten a little; not enough to restrict your breathing but definitely enough to get your attention.

Casimir, on the other hand, didn’t say anything, his hands still tight around the fat of your thighs.

You didn’t know what to say. You’d never been caught faking it so it was a little jarring to face the consequences so quickly. Were you that obvious?

“It’s fine, Emm.” Casimir huffed, rolling his eyes, and he seemed to lean closer to you as if about to kiss you.

However, before he could, Emm’s free hand pushed his face away “The hell d’ya mean it’s fine? It’s not fine.”

“Why’d y’fake it?” She pulled you closer to her, her breasts pressing against your back and her hand travelling a little higher up so she could direct your gaze to her.

Your face felt hot and you couldn’t bring yourself to look at her. “S-Sorry. I-I just— I-I thought I n-needed to…”

“For what?” Casimir sounded a bit amused by your answer but you honestly couldn’t see his expression clearly because you were pointedly looking away from both of them, too embarrassed to meet either of their stares.

“If y’didn’t wanna fuck, you could’ve just said so.” Emm added, huffing and obviously off-put as she started pulling her strap-on out of your sopping pussy.

“I-It’s not that I didn’t want to!” You immediately interjected, feeling bad that you’d ended up making them feel like they’d forced you “I-I really d-did want to! Bu-But… uhm, it’s just that! N-Nobody’s been able to make me cum before…”

Casimir laughed meanly but Emm seemed to pause at your words. Then, she sighed, and you could feel her pushing that impossibly thick strap-on back inside of you. It definitely made you whimper a bit.

“Were we at least making you feel good?” Casimir pushed himself closer to you and you finally looked up to see a smirk playing across his lips.

You nodded because they really did. Both Casimir and Emm were, at the very least, the closest to making you cum “B-But, uhm, I-I just c-can’t—”

“I think you just need a little nudge, my love.” Casimir used one hand to cup your breast, thumb playing with your nipple, while the other moved down to toy with your clit.

Suddenly, you felt Emm push against you, nudging you so you were chest to chest against Casimir, your chin resting against his shoulder. Emm’s hand also left your neck and, instead, she used both hands to grip both sides of your waist.

“The fuck’n audacity to compare us t’your past lovers.” Emm grumbled before she renewed her thrusting except, this time, there was more force behind it, like she was earnestly fucking you.

Casimir chuckled but you could hear a sinister tone to his voice “Don’t worry, my wife, we’ll show our sweet that we’re nothing like those hooligans.”

mel lowell ★ isamu lowell ★ leonard lowell

also another group that hasn't really had a lot of experience with the female gender? LOL the three of them have only ever been with each other and pussies work differently yk

if it was just isamu, he'd totally fall for it LOL he'd believe you 100%

for mel, he's less likely to believe you but he wouldn't confront you abt it? he'd just keep going until he sees a real orgasm. but it'd be that thing where it's like? was that real? (yes) hmmm, he should make you cum again just to be sure

leonard would kick. your. ass. like forreal LMAO he'd absolutely berate you for even attempting to fake it and he'll be able to tell okay! surprisingly, the youngest of the three of them is kind of the most observant loool

if all three of them are together tho, leonard wins out and he ends up beating u up (metaphorically) while isamu and mel watch LOL

“No fucking way.”

Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and you felt a sudden anxiety overtake you. There was no way Leonard could tell… could he?

“No fucking way! I didn’t just see that! Tell me I didn’t just see that!” Leonard, who had been behind you, suddenly woven his fingers through your hair before tugging, making you look directly at his bright blue eyes.

“Tell me you didn’t just fake an orgasm right in front of me.”

Mel, who had been happily observing, fist around his cock, stood, and you saw the concerned expression on his face from the corners of your eyes.

Isamu, who was in front of you, looked like a kicked puppy.

“I-I didn’t!” You instinctually answered, shaking your head, your entire body jittery with anxiety.

“Leo, I don’t think she’d—” Mel even tried to intervene but there was no stopping Leonard as soon as he was determined to see something through.

Thankfully, he let go of your hair. However, as soon as he did, he was shoving you and Isamu down, his hand on your shoulder making sure you wouldn’t get back up.

What he didn’t let go of was the issue at hand. Though you couldn’t see his face now, you could hear the insistence in his voice “Yes, you fucking did! I know you did! Admit it!”

You shook your head, of course, still in denial. The embarrassment of admitting it to them would’ve been too much.

Unfortunately, just as you shook your head, you felt a sudden flash of pain that made you gasp. Leonard just spanked you.

“Admit it.”

Of course, you shook your head again and, like you’d expected, Leonard spanked you again. This time, the lingering pain from the first one combined with the pain of the second one and you were left whimpering.

You looked to Mel, eyes a bit watery, hoping for help. Instead, he stood there, his arms crossed, an analyzing look on his face.

“Leo, don’t bully her!” Isamu at least tried to stand up for you.

“Fucking slut thinks we’re some virgin fuck-heads who can’t make her cum.” Leonard grumbled, landing another hard swat against your ass “Doesn’t that piss you off?”

You let out another pathetic sound, eyes fluttering close as you felt the pain and heat radiate from your ass cheek. “I-I’m sorry…”

Isamu made a confused noise but Mel tilted your chin up so you were looking up at him “So you did fake it?”

You nodded guiltily “I-I just— I-Isamu was about to cum an-and I-I felt so bad— Nobody’s been able to m-make me cum before and I—”

You were interrupted by another harsh slap against your ass, making you yelp out.

“We’ll talk about it later but I want you to know that you shouldn’t ever be pressured by us.” Mel spoke to you in his rather infamous soft leader-ly voice. “We’ll do whatever it takes to make you cum so you don’t have to fake it, okay?”

You nodded hastily but your nodding was disrupted by another harsh swat from Leonard.

“And you, Leo. I appreciate you noticing and saying something but try to be a bit gentle with her.” Mel turned to Leonard and you could almost hear the exasperation in his voice.

“Now…” Mel reached behind you and it took you a second to even realise what he was doing.

He had fisted Isamu’s cock and fed it back into your pussy, not even giving you a second to adjust as the thickness spread your walls apart mercilessly.

You whimpered but happily took it.

“You have to be punished though, puppy.” Mel pet your head, threading his fingers through your hair before directing your mouth to his cock “We’ll forgive you if you let us use all your holes, hmm?”

You nodded at that, tongue already running over the veins on Mel’s cock.

“And, of course, you’ll have to cum at least three times. No faking it this time, okay?”

You sighed but agreed to that as well. Just as you did, you could feel the head of Leonard’s cock press against your asshole, pushing in slowly but surely, spreading you apart in a way that made you whine.

It would be a long night for sure.

[darkhorse-javert]

May I request for Twenty-Four Touches: 14. A firm handshake, professionally at first, but a second to long with Sam/Andrew?

Here you go, sorry it took a few days:

(for the touches ask meme here)

1950/1960s Hastings

"Andrew Foyle..." He turns, and there she is. Sam, Samantha, Stewart, Samantha Wainwright.

MP's wife, once Dad's driver. The girl I had to let go, and couldn't win back again.

Sam nods to herself, "I thought it was you."

"Hello Sam." His neck is hot. I thought it was awkward on the doorstep, or in the Wolesley. Nothing on this. "Are you holiday, or is Adam changing constituency?" God it sounds flat and false. I thought I was better at small-talk now.

Sam frowns, her eyes sharpening on him "Your father didn't tell you?"

Tell me what? That you were coming to visit?

"I divorced Adam last year. He was dallying with his secretary. I was already second violin in his focus, I wasn't about to settle to third."

Divorced

"Oh." I divorced Adam - not we divorced, or Adam and I divorced. "Good for you."

Sam smiles broadly, "You can say you're surprised, Andrew." She seems to stand just a little taller "Me, a vicar's child, choosing that course."

"Mmm, a little." But no, not really Sam, you had your code of manners, and shame on us who broke it. Including me. "Can't have been easy." The Church isn't exactly keen on it

Sam twitches a shrug "Adam didn't fight it - he didn't want any fuss, or at least," her face tenses, "any bad publicity on his precious career." Then she pulls a wry smile, but it doesn't meet her eyes, leaving them sad, a little distant, "My father wouldn't speak to me for six weeks after the Nisi. Uncle Aubrey managed a fortnight of silence, then I think he decided Adam was more in the wrong than I was. I think he talked my Dad round too, on the quiet. The cousions haven't been too bad."

All Andrew can do is shake his head a little, in admiration. "You were brave."

"Maybe... Or else I was stupid for jumping to marry him in the first place. But anyway, " Sam says quickly, "to answer your first question, I'm partly here on holiday, partly house-hunting."

"You're moving back?" He winces at his own words. Oh well done Andrew, state the blindingly obvious.

"I always enjoyed it here, and the guesthouse suited me; when Adam wasn't being daft, or it wasn't trying to fall down on our ears. So I thought I'd give the idea another go. At least I'd be setting my own tune this time."

You'd be kindness itself as a landlady, Sam

"Are you just visiting, the last I remember you were in the City?"

He shrugs back, "Didn't suit, really. No, I'm here again, and roaming along the coast and up the hills, I write bits for the Observer."

This time her smile is soft "You always were a writer."

"Just not of letters." Not when it counts, either with Dad or Sam

The town clock strikes and she brings her head up smartly, then pushes at her sleeve to look worriedly at her watch.

"I have to go, I'm sorry, an appointment" She moves in a flurry to go down the hill, then stops herself, "It was lovely to see you Andrew." It seems as if she wants to say more, but instead she holds out a hand.

He takes it. "And you Sam." I'm glad you're back.

The shake she gives is one of official practice, he recognises the exact polite feel. But then, as he goes to bring his hand back, to not overstep, her fingers stay curved around it.

"Would you like to meet up for Tea, at somepoint, I'm here all week?" she says in a rush of words.

She still hasn't let go.

He manages to find his tongue. "Yes, that would be lovely."

Silence settles, but only then does she let go. He scrabbles in his pocket, finally pulling out one of the card slips. He offers it to her

"You'll find me easiest through the paper, they mostly know where I am."

She takes it in her neatly gloved hand, only glances at, then smiles, her whole expression warm, "Alright." She slips it into her pocket, turns down the hill again. "I'll ring. See you soon"

"Yes." He watches her walk away, hair glinting in the sunlight, raises his hand just a little. She won't see, of course, but he does it anyway.

A/N The accepted reasons for Divorce had widened in England in 1938 when the Matrimonial Causes Act came into effect; Adultery on either side of the marriage, Desertion for Three Years, Cruelty, Insanity- after three years of marriage that is.

However there was resistance from the Church of England, and Divorce was still scandalous into the 50s and 60s. Divorced people couldn't take communion or re-marry in church. It's one of the reasons the relationship of Peter Townsend (divorced) and Princess Margaret couldn't be borne. The law changed again in 1969, but I'm setting this ahead of that.

[luck-and-larceny]

FFXIV Write: Telling

Audr Shade's home is a small, nondescript house in a relatively undeveloped ward of the Lavender Beds. It sits tucked away in an appropriately shady, uninhabited corner of that undeveloped ward. This says to me one of two things:

This guy is a recluse who is just begging to be robbed and Nymeia is fully on my side today.

There is no Audr Shade. This is an elaborate set-up by my asshole ex-boyfriend and the Adders and Nymeia has decided I should get fucked today.

If I abandon the plan to rob this very introverted and probably very imaginary music genius now, I will avoid being arrested. That might be nice.

But I'll also never know what might have happened if I went inside and what secrets could be hidden within. That is not nice. I do not like that.

It occurs to me that I have more options than just stupidly going into this house. I don't have to roll the dice without knowing who I'm playing against. I don't have time to go searching through public records or to interview people about this lucky landowner's history and tragic backstory, but I know people who do have that time. I settle into a cozy spot hidden away at a nearby, half developed house, behind abandoned construction supplies, and watch Audr Shade's place while I call my fixer.

“Floors and Decors,” he answers. 

“You changed the name again? Sibert, you're not going to be taken seriously as a committed business if you can't even commit to a name for that business.”

He sighs. He hasn't made it through even one sentence from me before becoming exhausted. I feel so powerful!

“Go on then,” he says in a world-weary voice. “Give me more business advice I can rightfully ignore. I've got the time.”

“Oh, good! It's time that I need, actually. See, I'm working on– you know what? No. I need to say more. I take back my criticism. I don't think you're changing the name of the store enough actually. You should switch it up at least once a week. Keep em guessing. What's that guy in that ramshackle place down by the dock saying he's got this week? Chairs for Lairs? Sheds and Beds?”

He cuts me off to grumble, “Stop! What is it that you need?”

“Couches for Grouches then,” I reply, “I'm working on a job and I don't know if it's a setup. I don't actually know if the guy I'm robbing even exists. I've been sent to Ward 31 of the Lavender Beds–”

“I didn't know there was a 31st Ward,” he interrupts. “I thought it was still being constructed.”

“Me too,” I say, “But there is a house here all the way at the very end of this ward. It's super basic. Nondescript. Nothing notable in the yard. I don't even see a place to tie up a chocobo.”

He scoffs. “Well, that's telling. Are you calling to ask me if this obvious trap is actually a trap or to try to convince you it's not?”

Well, fuck. When things look like they are too good to be true, they usually are. But sometimes they're that good because Fortune has smiled on you. I admit I have some difficulty these days discerning between divine intervention and my own intervening delusions. I really ought to examine that more. I won't, of course, but I ought to.

“Could you just look into this guy for me anyway, boss man? His name is Audr Shade and–”

“Audr Shade? The musician?” He's curious now.

And I'm annoyed. Why did he know that immediately? I'm the one whose hobby is music and I didn't know him! Unbelievable. I bet Sibert couldn't tell the difference between a flute and a fart.

“Yeah. Him. So he's real?”

“Well, I've never met the guy face to face, but I know him, yes.”

“Right. Of course. Because you definitely pal around in the same circles. The antiques and home goods community sometimes invites the art crowd to brunch?”

“Well, no. I mean, sort of? I mean– Lia, he's worked with me before. Not as a contractor, but as a client. Not recently, but not so long ago either. Actually, I had you retrieve a golden spoon once for him. Do you remember that?”

Do I remember that? Sibert had “forgotten” to warn me that the woman who had this antique spoon also had a trained Gigatoad. I shudder at the memory and suddenly feel like I'm covered in toad slobber all over again.

“Yeah, I remember. Wait, so this guy is a part of our world?”

“Enough that he's reached out a few times anyway. Describe the house to me again?”

“Like I said before, I can't. It's the most boring house I've ever seen, but, like not even in a notable way. Like… it's just a white house with black shutters. You know what? Shutters are stupid. Like they don't DO anything. They're just a decorative thing that pretends like they have a function, but they're nailed to the sides of windows! They couldn't even actually shutter anything if they wanted to. Everyone's just got these silly pieces of nothing fixed on their houses because they see every other house has them–”

“Yes. Great. People do things because other people do them and because it looks good. Very insightful. Back on task, Lia. I said it was telling that his house is nondescript. I thought that might be because it's a trap. But maybe it's not. Maybe it's nondescript so it'll be ignored. Maybe he does live there."

A light turns on in the home. Moments later it turns off again and a guy… a very boring looking guy– the Highlander equivalent of a nondescript white house with pointless shutters– steps outside. And looks right in my direction. 

[pascaloverx]

Hit The Road

Chapter Eight

previous chapter next chapter

Summary: You are a hunter of supernatural beings who is forced to experience a new reality: being a vampire. The only thing stronger than your thirst for blood is your thirst for revenge.

Author's note: The characters mentioned here were created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on the book series of the same name by author L. J. Smith. They don't belong to me. That said, this fanfic will be short. This fanfic may address scenes of violence, inappropriate language and adult content. Minors should not interact with this story. Also some information here is not in the order of the series or the same way it happened in the tv series. I'm changing some things to fit the fanfic story. Hope you like it!

You wake up scared as if you had a nightmare, a soft scream of horror escapes you. You analyze the room you are in, recognizing it as Damon's room. Not seeing him makes you afraid. Did he die while you were fighting to survive? Or maybe you're hallucinating...

"I thought you wouldn't wake up so early. It's strange for a vampire to spend two days unconscious." You hear Stefan's voice as clearly as day. You are extremely happy to see him. Without having much strength, you get up staggering and go to hug Stefan.

"I'm so relieved to be here. I thought I died, I actually thought we both died. Please make sure no one died." You speak with a weak tone in your voice almost like you couldn't find strength to talk.

"No one died Y/N. But you could have died thanks to your stubbornness. If Damon and I hadn't run here and found Caroline with Klaus' blood..." Stefan seems more stressed than usual when he face the reality of your actions. You look at him tenderly and give him a peck on the lips. You want to make it clear that you are grateful for everything and that you are sorry.

"Where is your brother?" You ask, still in Stefan's arms. He seems apprehensive but after a sigh he answers you.

"With Elena, she hasn't left his side since we arrived. After we saved you, Damon finally felt the consequences of the werewolve's torture." Stefan says as he hugs you even tighter. It seems like he knows you're feeling slightly uncomfortable about Elena being with Damon.

"You know that I can't demand any type of monogamous relationship from your brother, right? You don't need to be afraid to tell me that he's with someone." You say trying to stay strong both physically and psychologically. Feelings really are a great weakness.

"You don't need to deceive me, Y/N. I can feel your discomfort from here." Stefan speaks as if you were obvious to him. A puzzle that he has already solved and is used to.

"Now I know why we were in a secret relationship. You're sexy when you think you know something." You say, kissing Stefan right after.

"Sex will not solve our problems. As much as I want to, I don't think it's right for us to do this. Before I thought you were a stranger and now I know that even though I don't remember, I love you." When the words finish coming out of Stefan's mouth, you understand the burden of having returned to the Salvatore's lives.

"I love you too, even if I don't remember it. I would still like to sleep with you today." You speak sincerely looking at Stefan with a needy expression.

Stefan is silent for a while as you reflect on how comfortable you feel with him. Does Stefan know that he is like home to you? Cozy and comfortable, a place you want to belong. You observe him and decide to try to make him stop rationalizing what he is doing.You start by lifting your feet and kissing Stefan's forehead, then kissing his cheeks lightly, kissing near his eyelids. You kiss both sides of the neck softly, as if wanting to show your desire for someone. As soon as you feel Stefan is receptive, you kiss his lips firmly. He returns the kiss, increasing the intensity with which your mouths and his are intertwined.

"Am I interrupting something?" Elena speaks in an extremely serious tone entering Stefan's room. Did she not learn during her life that knocking on the door is the correct thing to do when you're entering someone's else room?

"Yes, you should use good manners and knock on the door before entering. It's okay that you've seen Stefan naked but I could be in a much more compromising situation." You speak being as direct as possible. She had to interrupt her moment with Stefan right when you were almost convincing him to sleep with you.

"Did something happen to Damon?" Stefan says, composing himself, and looking at the two of you.

"He's already much better, I was just going to let him know that I'm going home to take a shower and probably will come back later. Even during Damon's sleep, he kept calling a name. Y/N, to be exact. Maybe you guys should check on him." Elena says a little desapointed, and you somehow understand her. It must be difficult to see that you are no longer the only woman in the lives of the two men she loves. She left quickly after saying that to you and Stefan.

"Let me go see your brother and you can take a shower to calm down. Maybe another time we'll finish what we started here." You say pointing to Stefan's visibly aroused dick. He is embarrassed, but kisses the corner of your mouth. It's almost as if we communicate through looks. Then you head towards Damon's room.

"I heard you need a babysitter until your girlfriend gets back. I hope you don't mind me coming, but after all I'm your wife. I'm supposed to take care of my husband." Do you speak as soon as he enters Damon's room, seeing him half naked trying to find clothes to put on.

"You used to hate it when I called you wife. But I'm fine, don't worry. You should be resting." Damon speaks disinterestedly, as if he doesn't want to talk to you or look at you.

"Did I do something that pissed you off or is there at least a reason why you're avoiding looking at me?" You ask with a little anger on your tone of voice.

"You were irresponsible in putting your life at risk for me. You could have died thanks to your stupidity." Damon speaks completely out of character. You smile without believing the words he is saying.

"If I hadn't choose to go with Stefan, you wouldn't be here, but your ungratefulness is beyond realizing that, right? You question him, looking him in the face. Your fingers are slightly directed close to Damon's bare chest.

"Next time, choose yourself. That's what I would have done." Damon speaks rudely.

"Are you saying you wouldn't try to save me if it could mean your death?" You question, directly getting upset.

"Without even thinking twice." He responds so sharply and directly that you don't even notice when you slap him across the face. There is a limit to how far you can go and Damon has surpassed it. This bastard. It doesn't even take you long to leave the room crying.

[dailycass-cain]

Birds of Prey #3 had Cass but it was her smallest role in the series so far to date. HOWEVER, there was A LOT to digest.

So let me get into my thoughts on this issue...

Again this issue was AMAZING even not pertaining to Cass. All the members clicked this issue with Zealot doing her thing with Maps and Dinah/Harley hijinks abound and of course...

Everything keeps escalating from the hidden force subtly playing the Amazons to Wonder Woman doing her best impersonation again of a freaking Nemesis from RE3 (the last time I was this scared of WW was in DCeased: Unkillables).

I'm really curious where the next issue goes other than the obvious fight the team will have with Diana. Not only that but what occurred in Future Map's timeline. The hints writer Kelly Thompson keeps laying out got me curious in how she ties into the threat the BoP are trying to stop.

The issue delivers a moment many of us were hoping would occur last year, and it kind of makes the whole Red Canary angle just more disappointing (many thinking it was Sin then it was a OC who hasn't done much).

So there was A LOT of things that made me love this issue even with the lack of Cass. Because in those few pages we got crammed in of course this golden gem.

We're just gonna add that to the "Cass should be Batman" evidence for a future story. 😝

Though maybe I'm reading more into #1 the lack of bonding with the team (save Barda) is just how socially awkward throughout. We did get it in Batgirls, and well she was one in Spirit World. But here it's more front and center.

She's there just reacting to the team's antics and being like, "Um how am I supposed to react or do with this?" It's a little nugget that I am enjoying.

The real meaty nugget I enjoyed in this issue was Cass vs Amazons. It's a subject many a fan debated how she'd fare against one? Well, we get an answer in this issue (and the next).

Which feels like a better answer than what Red Hood & the Outlaws #15 ever gave us. A fight between these two titans and we only see the final blow. 🙃🙃🙃

I wasn't as salty at it back then (I was happy for the small bones I got). Now? That issue just feels dated.

This one? She takes out two nameless Amazons with little effort (and we get to SEE HOW via artist Leonardo Romero showcasing it all) and the next issue teases a bigger fight?!

GIMME!

I wanna see the limits.

It's also a funny side note how many fans wanted to see Cass on Themyscira. It's a story element the character NEVER had. Somehow, the character has visited the island in the main DCU (at last) and two other properties in this year alone (Harley Quinn: Legion of Bats mini and Dark Knights of Steel).

It feels pretty GOOD seeing the character thrown into elements never used prior, and it kind shows the potential for even more stories.

So yeah, BoP #3 while not giving Cass much to do, still gave the character a lot of elements I truly enjoyed in the issue. Beyond that, the team bonds (or shows the tears within that might cause some more trouble), reunions we longed for, and a BIG fight coming next issue.

[deans-baby-momma]

Law & Love Chapter 21

A/N: Well, I asked and you guys answered. So without further ado.....here's Chapter 21.

"Do you think you could come pick me up? I kinda need a ride."

"Sure I can, sweetheart. Just text me the address and I'll be there as soon as possible."

They hang up and almost immediately his phone vibrates, alerting him to a message. Beau opens the text and reads the address. It looks vaguely familiar and he searches his brain for what it could be as he grabs his truck keys and heads out.

Driving down the highway, the closer he gets to Y/N's location, the more he recognizes the area. In fact, he knows the Walker Ranch is in this part of town, on this exact road.

He tops the hill right before the turn and there she is. As much as a sight for sore eyes she is, Beau can't help but realize she is standing at the end of the Walker Ranch driveway. What the hell is she doing here of all places?

He knows of the Walker family, he has worked with the one that's a Texas Ranger, the narcissistic prick who almost got the case blown by flirting and sleeping with a witness. 

The Walker family is well-known and liked by many but there have been back alley stories of the younger son being a blemish on the name.

Beau slows to a stop and waits for Y/N to get in. 

"Hello stranger," her giddy voice fills the cab.

"What are you doing here?" Beau inquires, trying his best at being nonchalant but failing epically. 

I told you I came to visit a friend," Y/N says and Beau can't help but wonder if she's going to tell him exactly who her friend is or continue to be vague and abstruse. "But we had a disagreement and I don't know if I can still consider him a friend."

"Him? Who's him? He wouldn't be a Texas Ranger would he?" Beau asks, not wanting to play this game.  The fact that she traveled all this way to 'visit a friend' lets him believe it was more than amicable.

He is quiet as he listens to Y/N realize Beau knows exactly who her friend is. The idea that Walker was even in her vicinity causes anger to build deep inside. He grabs the gearshift and puts the engine in drive and takes off down the darkened highway.

About three miles later, that anger is somewhat overpowered by curiosity. "How did you become friends with Walker?" 

Beau continues to drive as he hears that Y/N met Walker because of him. He was the reason that self-righteous jerk was even in Montana. Did he have a right to be upset about it?

He hums his affirmation and Y/N continues to describe their meetcute and how she asked him out. But as soon as she indicates that they spent the night together, Beau feels ill, just absolutely sick to his stomach. 'No, please say it ain't so,' he pleads silently.

"Your date lasted all night?" Beau asks as he grips the steering wheel tight, his knuckles turning white.

"Uh, yea.  He spent the night with me.” We had sex."

"I got the obvious hint." Beau seethes and starts internally berating himself for not being there for her, not being there to warn her about the tall son of a bitch who thought women were just things to be used and tossed away. He beats himself up for falling for Carla's fake reconciliation story and taking him away from her. 

Even though Beau hasn't been paying attention to Y/N' words, the tone of her voice brings him out of his internal thoughts just in time to hear her say "more than friends, but apparently I was wrong."

"Y/N," Beau asks timidly, his voice softer now. "What did he do?" 

"Nothing, really. Just put some things into perspective for me."

"That's……vague," Beau announces. "Do I need to turn this truck around and go kick some Ranger ass?"

Y/N laughs at that and even though Beau is pissed and upset, her laugh is like music to his ears. "No. It's okay. Not even worth your time. He's a player. Sex for him is just a way to pass the time. I'm the one who brought intimacy into the equation."

Beau nods and drops it. It sounds to him like she realizes what a monumental asshole Walker is. The radio is on low and fills the silence in the cab as they drive toward the hotel room he’d gotten after the argument with Carla.

As Beau pulls into the hotel parking lot, Y/N asks about Carla and he tells her that it didn’t work out, leaving out the details of why it didn’t work out. 

"That's understandable," Y/N says with a nod. "So, what're you going to do?"

"That's what I was contacting you about. I talked to Walter-Sheriff Tubb-earlier and he's actually looking for an assistant Chief of Police. Maybe I jumped the gun but I put my name in the shuffle and he says I have the job if I really want it. So, I'm moving back to Helena. And was hoping, back to you."

A smile grows on Y/N’s face before she climbs onto her knees, leans over the console in the middle of the seat and grabs Beau’s collar, pulling him into a kiss.

“I thought you’d never ask,” she says against his lips as they pull away from one another. 

Beau grins and swipes a loose strand of hair behind her ear. They stare into each other’s eyes for a while, just taking in the moment before Y/N sits back and situates herself again. 

“As much as I want to continue….this-” she says as she waves a hand between the two of them. “-I need a shower. I want us to start fresh and new and can’t do that when I’m leaking another man’s cum.”

Beau growls and huffs. “Way to ruin the moment, sweetheart.”

“I’m just letting you know what you’re getting yourself into, ya know.” With that she opens the truck door and jumps out. “Now can I please clean up so you can have your way with me?”

“Yes ma’am!” Beau says as he joins her outside the truck and they walk hand in hand to his apartment. 

@spnbaby-67 @sea0405611 @delightfullykrispypeachh @larajadeschmidt13 @atc74 @vicariouslythruspnn @squirrelnotsam  @sandlee44 @blacktithe7 @hoboal87 @mogarukee @supraveng @akshi8278 @lyarr24 @kazsrm67 @chriszgirl92 @deanwithscissors @raisinggray @fanfic-n-tabulous @hobby27 @stoneyggirll2 @purpleeclipseeggsland @kmc1989 @deans-spinster-witch @yvonneeeeeeee @tmb510 @globetrotter28 @leigh70

[paa-official]

Recording No. 20

In the evening we were back in the city and I immediately ran to our night quarters. Xornud tried to stop me >> Apath, take it easy. This is normal for humans. They'll deliberate for a few days and then come to their senses. <<

I turned to him and stopped in the middle of the path >> You know, I had actually been pretty optimistic. I thought people were open-minded, friendly, innocent. God damn it, I thought they were reasonable. More reasonable than our people. <<

>> Well, that's not particularly hard either. << he muttered to himself. >> Why didn't you warn me about this? <<

>> Warn you about it? Shit, I thought you had some sense. Why else would you come to us for help? And now you want to put all the blame on me? <<

I laughed hysterically >> Are you trying to tell me it's my fault for speaking out against Parker? <<

Becka stepped between the two of us and looked me in the eye >> No one here is to blame. We just have to be patient. You said yourself that this all has to work out. <<

>> What if we don't have enough time? <<

>> But the military doesn't know anything about anything here. They think we're still spying on this place. <<

>> But what if they get suspicious about the whole Area 51 thing yesterday? What if Miran suspects why Markus hasn't returned? <<

I paused for a moment and Becka noticed it in my expression >> What is it? << she then asked.

I slowly turned away from he >> I have an idea. Don't wait for me. Xornud can you take me to Markus? <<

>> Apath? << Becka tried to stop me, but I wasn't paying attention to her, I was already running after Xornud.

Xornud had taken me deep into the ship, to an interrogation room where I had to wait. The walls, ceiling and floor were all made of dark gray steel. In the middle was a table with three chairs connected to the floor and a ceiling lamp had been built into the ceiling directly above it. Unlike in Naglfari or the human interrogation rooms, there was no mirror with someone behind it. After only a few minutes, the door opened and Xornud brought in Markus, whose hands he tied to the table. I went to Xornud and whispered quietly in his ear >> Give me a few minutes with him. I'll take care of it. <<

He doubted at first, but then nodded and left us both alone >> Knock on the door, if there's anything. <<

I walked slowly to the table and sat down on the chair opposite Markus, who looked at me sceptically >> Do you want to try again? <<

>> Yes, and you will give me answers. <<

>> Why so sure? <<

>> I'll ask the questions. <<

He laughed suddenly >> That's not like you. You can stop pretending to be threatening. <<

I sighed slowly and folded my hands on the table >> Alright. Why did you fake your death anyway? <<

He laughed again >> Isn't it obvious? 20 years without orders and then we arrive at the planet. Something will go wrong, like someone going rogue. Miran needs a backup like us, his mercenary force. <<

>> And what about your family? <<

He remained quiet for a moment and his face became serious >> I don't have any. Never did. <<

I hesitated for a moment. He had been all lonely on the ship and probably wasn't allowed to bond with anyone so there wouldn't be that pain when he had to leave everything behind.

>> And what about the second ability? << I then asked >> Have you had it all your life too? <<

He started grinning again >> How many years have you spent on the ship? <<

I looked at him questioningly >> 19 auroric years. What does that matter? <<

>> That's how long I've had mine. And if I'm not mistaken, I even saw you back then. <<

>> What? What do you mean by that? <<

All I got in response was this grin >> Ask your parents, if you have any questions. Or ask your buddy, Luke. Maybe he's in on the whole thing too. <<

I looked at him seriously >> There's more to it than that. Why don't you just tell me? <<

>> I'm only telling you what I'm allowed to tell you. <<

I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms >> What does that mean now? <<

He sighed and propped himself up on the table >> We haven't exactly had the best start since you and I met on Earth, but it doesn't have to stay that way. I want a little more neutrality between us. Do you understand? <<

I raised my eyebrow.

>> I'm willing to tell you certain things, but only the ones I won't get in trouble for. You'll have to find out the redacted lines for yourself. <<

>> Well at least I have a clue donor. << I muttered to myself.

He leaned back again, but not too far, because the chains weren't particularly long >> And if I can give you a tip: grow a new pair. <<

>> What? <<

>> I'm just saying. This pacifist way won't get you where you want to go. Trust me, I was convinced of that on Aurora. <<

I stood up and got ready to go to the door >> This isn't Aurora. You can keep your tips to yourself. <<

>> You're right. This is not Aurora. But the people you're up against are from Aurora. If I were you, I'd do what I advise. <<

I ran to the door >> Know-it-all. << I whispered to myself and knocked on the door.

I had tried to sleep, but couldn't. Becka was having trouble with it too, but she was already fast asleep while I was tossing and turning on the bed. I couldn't let go of the conversation with Markus and the excitement in the Pentagon. To make a pre-emptive strike on Naglfari. The guy was out of his mind. To distract myself a little, I looked at my watch. Maybe I could find or change something new. But first I checked my inbox in case I hadn't noticed that there were new orders. But it had been empty. At least one satisfying message that day.

But then I looked at the tracker, which I had switched off on me and Becka. Markus' words immediately came back to me. > Ask your buddy. <

I looked over at Becka and she was still fast asleep. She had even turned her back on me. I had to take advantage of this opportunity before it was too late. Maybe he would understand. Luke had always had a friendly character. If I had chosen the right words, I was sure I could have convinced him.

So I sneaked out of the night quarters and walked to the train. The lights had only been on in a few houses and the streets were empty. There weren't even any soldiers outside. It was similar at the train station. Only a few phalanxes were walking around and the trains had been mostly empty. That worked out well for me when I took a train to the UK. I can't remember exactly where in England. When I left the station there, I first made my way to a deserted field, far away from civilization. I didn't have to walk very long because the station was already close to a very wide, uninhabited meadow. Somewhere near the chalk cliffs, in fact.

sat down on a rock there and switched the tracker back on. Then I contacted Luke to come to my location, but alone and in such a way that no one would notice. I waited for him until then. The now cold wind from the coast brushed through my hair and was actually refreshing after all the commotion. And the best thing was that it was still so early in the morning in England and still so peacefully quiet.

Soon a shuttle appeared over the horizon. It was barely visible because of the darkness and difficult to follow with the naked eye. But the noise of the engines could not be hidden so easily.

The shuttle landed carefully several meters away from me and the ramp opened. The turbines slowed down until they were off and no longer stirred up the wind. Luke frantically ran out and towards me >> Apath, are you alright? <<

I stood up and ran towards him >> Don't worry, everything is fine. << I answered him calmly.

>> Why did you bring me here? And where is Becka? <<

Luke stood right in front of me and looked at me worriedly. I had to take a deep breath >> We've split up. You don't have to worry, really. <<

He exhaled with relief >> If you say so. Do you actually know what's going on with your watches? Yesterday they showed that you traveled several hundred kilometers in a few minutes and then the trackers went out today. <<

I looked him in the eye and thought about how much I wanted to tell him >> I don't know about the first one, but I turned off the trackers myself. <<

He looked at me confused >> Why? <<

>> It's not important now. << I shook my head >> I have a few questions. <<

He looked around uncertainly >> Go ahead. What's up? <<

>> What do you know about Markus? <<

He looked at me cluelessly >> He had no family. And he never came back from the scouting mission. <<

>> Is that so? << I asked insinuatingly and Luke no longer understood me.

>> Yes, it is suspected that the reptiloids have something to do with it. Have you found him? <<

>> Well, he more likely found us. But I guess Miran didn't tell you everything. <<

>> Miran? What makes you think of Miran? He hasn't been seen since he wiped everyone's memory. <<

[chzdavmpr]

Goodnight Punpun Reading Diary Volume 2

Content Warning: I try to avoid going in detail about the more explicit parts of this story, but this does book gets real explicit for a while, so I'll still warn here that this post will discuss a plot point about abuse and sexualization of a minor. Also if you plan on reading this book yourself PLEASE LOOK UP THE TRIGGER WARNINGS FIRST CAUSE THAT'S JUST THE ONE I CAN'T AVOID TALKING ABOUT

Theory: perhaps "God" represents a part of Punpun's inner thoughts. (Note: I tend to be pretty bad at picking up on themes and symbolism in a story before finishing it, so for some of you that statement is probably pretty obvious.)

There's 2 of him now???

With the wager Punpun and Yaguchi set up it's very much them ignoring Aiko being her own person, but for different reasons. For Punpun he's in his incel arc but for Yaguchi it very much he more has his own issues in how he sees himself that he needs to overcome before he's ready for any relationship.

In volume 1 I thought Punpun's uncle was a chill dude, but he not only has a pretty cynical outlook at life, but he thinks his own sister should die just for having armpit hair, but gets off to a vhs labeled "high school hotties" and now I think I hate him. [Note from after finishing the volume: it get's worse. Now I 100% hate him]

Ok so either we are getting guy-with-afro lore that he works the this karaoke bar, or he's just a gag character that the author puts everywhere for no reason

Uh oh. UH OH. I see where this flashback is going STOP USING THE SAME WORDS YOU USED FOR THE POTTERY TO DESCRIBE THE 16 YEAR OLD!

As of the end of "part 3" I am very uncomfy. And that's probably the point, it forces the reader to be like "that's fucked up" and then look back at that whole date scene that was played mostly wholesome and say "this whole situation is fucked up" (which they probably should have already but the legacy of Scott Pilgrim has taught that you can never be too obvious with this stuff).

They have a lot of zoom ins on Yuichi's eyes in the scene where he brings- what's her name again (checks list of important characters at beginning of part 4) oh shit her name hasn't even been said. That makes this even worse then I thought.

Back to the point though, the scene in Yuichi's apartment has a lot of zoom ins on his eyes being drawn in a more human and realistic manner. I think this is to remove that "goofiness that undercut the darkness" I talked about for Vol 1. If this scene played out and was constantly showing Yuichi as a little bird in a crude artstyle it would make it easier to look past the monstrous behaviour of him by writing him off as "silly." But I feel the author really wants you to stew in the uncomfortability of this so that you really grasp that Yuichi is a bad guy.

Since Yuichi is the one telling this story, I wonder if he's lying about any details, in particular I wonder if he did actually go all the way with the 16 year old. I hope I'm wrong, but there is a chane.

WHY THE HELL IS THE CAFE GIRL STILL INTERESTED IN HIM? Honestly that makes me highly suspicious of her, cause I don't buy "love at first sight" for an appropriate motive to still be interested in a guy significantly older then you, who you've gone on ONE date with, who just told THAT story. Honestly I hope that there's more to her motive cause if not I will be honestly disappointed in that character writing.

Wait the guy who attempted to murder the mom and then set himself on fire isn't either dead or in prison? He's just fine?

The appearance of another "God" who is a different face raises a lot of questions and I don't think I have enough info to piece together an answer rn.

It's definitely healthier then being dead, but this relationship with Yuichi and cafe-girl doesn't seem healthy at all.

"God" opened his eyes. I wonder what that could mean.

So it looks like there will be a 2-year timeskip at the end of each book. Assuming Punpun was like 8 in Vol 1 he'll be like 20 in the last. Interesting.

Closing thought on the volume: This is honestly more what I expected going into Volume 1. I would no longer call this a "dark comedy." We are in full on dark drama now, just with some goofy elements.

Looking back at my notes I had a whole lot more to say about Yuichi's story then I did Punpun's, and I'm trying to think about why that is. Cause Punpun's story is one which I feel I probably should have more to say about but most of the time I'm just kinda along for the ride and don't end up having much to write notes about. The only thing I can think of that I probably could comment on is how Yaguchi is like the only morally good character (except maybe cafe-girl) in this whole volume.

I think part of this is that Punpun himself isn't really the strongest character to me. I know about him, how he feels, what he wants, but him rarely talking and has almost non-existent body language so his scenes flow weird. He can't really bounce off the other characters. I hope that by the end of this story I have less of an issue with this.

While reading this volume I also, as an exercise to get better at media literacy, tried to ask "what is Goodnight Punpun about?" What is the main thing this story is trying to tell? My conclusion so far is that I have no idea. My best guess is it has something to do with how being surrounded by negative influence can make someone worse. Which I guess isn't the worst first attempt at figuring out the theme. But with later reading diaries we'll check back in with this theme and see if it holds up.

Also I realized I only used 1 image for this, and it was for basically a background detail. I should be more liberal with them next time.

[heinzpilsner]

Okay, I'm back, and this is another part of 'Overanalyzing beach Maiko' series! ... Which means we'll try and focus on overanalyzing beach Maiko goddamit as opposed to all the other tempting beach psychological stuff. Yay.

Anyway, today we're going to find out who of the pair actually screwed up the most. Isn't it exciting?

(Spoiler: the answer can be a bit unexpected.)

So, in the last part, Mai broke up with Zuko, and now they're about to meet again in the company of Azula and Ty Lee after... some time (somewhat between twenty minutes and a couple of hours, really).

The pair had an opportunity to calm down and reflect on what happened (and in Mai's case, probably to hear the other girls' opinions), so I'm sure they are different people now!

They both have analyzed their wrong attitudes and relationship mistakes, and now they are wiser, and stronger, and fre...

Zuko: "Where is your new boyfriend?"

Zuko: "My life hasn't been that easy either, Mai." Mai: "Whatever!"

...Nevermind.

But let's not get ahead of events here.

The scene begins with the royal siblings approaching the girls. Zuko walks past Mai with sad expression on his face while she is glaring at his back. Then she looks away with resentment. But then...

Mai: "Hey."

Well, it was very... minimalistic. But it's good to know that Mai reevaluated at least some things here!

...Which ones exactly is an important question though. What if among them was the belief that nice butt is not a reason enough to stay with a guy who can innocently ask you one evening whether you prayed tonight or not?

Okay, okay, I know.

This butt joke was not very minimalistic.

Seriously though, if we leave alone the fact that Zuko is not exactly in the best state for romancing anyone due to him being a cringe-worthy disaster his major inner crisis...

And the fact that Mai clearly should try and find for herself some sources of endorphins which wouldn't depend on how far from a mental breakdown or a high treason her trainwreck of a prince currently is...

And the fact that this whole relationship wasn't such a great idea from the point of compatibility in the first place...

Who of the pair should've made a first move towards reconciliation in the perfect scenario?

Yep, that's a really important question here

I mean, at first it seemed obvious to me that it must be Zuko - since he was acting like an idiot and screwed up the loudest, but...

When I actually tried to analyze the situation through this paradigm, something in the picture didn't really add up. This pesky elusive something kept breaking the general logic, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it for quite some time, you know.

But I think I finally managed to figure out what it was about.

Mai's reluctant little "hey" is the key here, actually.

(It will be a long way, but I hope it will worth it)

Let's look at the totality of facts:

For the whole day, Mai's behavior indicated she doesn't value Zuko all that much.

On this background, he showed her all his ugly sides and gave her not just one, but several good reasons for a break-up.

Just now, he walked past her without stopping to apologize for his words or behavior.

She is clearly still angry at him.

And after all this, Mai, an egocentrical girl with perhaps a bit too much pride, still initiates contact with Zuko.

Doesn't it seem at least a little bit weird to you? It sure does to me.

And, in my opinion, it most likely means one thing...

It was really freaking cold on that beach at night.

... Okay, okay, sorry.

Azula was also a firebender, bad hypothesis.

It means that as soon as Mai got the opportunity to look at her life without Zuko, she suddenly felt that she needs him much more than she thought previously. Like, much more. So much, in fact, that even her pride, resentment and common sense couldn't really beat it.

And yet, she was treating him like a gum that stuck to her shoe. She wasn't grateful for that he gave her nearly enough and took his affection for granted.

So, you wanna know how badly Mai screwed up exactly?

Take the intensity of all cringe-worthy shit Zuko demonstrated today, add to it a little 'hey' multiplied by Mai's pride - and that will be your answer.

Math is so fun.

I always was bad at it though.

I doubt though that Mai herself realized even half of it - otherwise she wouldn't look that angry. I suspect it was mostly her need in itself that made her forget how to be "smart and proud" for once and make a first move.

Except that she probably rationalized it as "Since I'm feeling very generous tonight, I'll give this idiot another chance."

And she is still hoping for Zuko's apologies, so she could graciously forgive him and accept him back.

...Pfffft.

Good luck with this one.

Even though Zuko chilled out quite a bit since the party, until he sees the central belief on which his whole course of actions was based as misconception, he can't apologize for his behavior.

Well, technically he can, but...

"Hello, Mai, Zuko's here. Of course, you treated me like dirt and tried to freaking cheat on me on top after I fed you all the stuff you wanted and almost broke my brain by trying to find at least something about your negativistic ass to compliment... but I a little bit overreacted here. Calling you a big blah was a bit too much, I guess. You're only a small blah. So, yep. It's all I wanted to say. Take care here."

The thing is, Mai didn't really make it clear that she's loyal to Zuko when he doubted it. She only yelled at him for "blowing up over every little thing" without addressing the topic of jealousy directly, and then everything just gone to shit.

And as far as Zuko's knowledge goes, Mai could call her cheating "a little thing". So how exactly he's supposed to understand his mistake if Mai refuses to talk to him properly?

"He could simply use his brain", I can hear someone thinking loudly. Well, it doesn't really seem to be an option at the moment, does it?

You can thank the writer for this.

Mai here is smart though, and smart girls don't explain themselves to their stupid boyfriends even when it actively harms their relationship, apparently.

Fortunately for Mai though, this stupid boy is also lonely as heck. And despite Zuko's "Where is your new boyfriend?" line (which indicates he still resents Mai for her "infidelity" and probably has been imagining in all vivid details how she and Ruon-Jian feed each other fruit tarts since he left the party), he all but runs to her in response to a slightest hint he is still wanted.

Damn, I clearly need to think of some new Mai-related stuff to crack bad jokes about, don't I?

Zuko: "Are you cold?"

So... You're a good caring boy here, Zuko, there's no question about it. But... goddamit.

Is it physically possible to be more love-starved? You could take a leaf out of Mai's book about how to be proud, you know.

I mean, the hell are you doing getting all cozy with her? She just broke up with you! Oficially! After she supposedly tried to cheat on you! Yes, you were an idiot for believing so, but you don't know it yet (otherwise you'd be ashamed of your previous stupidity and wouldn't accuse her again like this).

Even if your reaction was... unnecessary scandalous that's one way to put it, cheating attempt is still a serious transgression (just like breaking up with a partner is a serious act). You can forgive her if you like, but you can't just 'are you cold' it off! You're supposed to talk about it, goddamit!

Perhaps if Zuko just waited a little bit longer instead of moving towards her, Mai would actually overcome her pride and explain the situation to him.

But when his relationship needed it most, Zuko's self-respect vanished. Again.

And now Mai knows that she can whistle at any moment and he'll run to her no matter what (not as fast as she'd prefer, admittedly, but they can work on it). Yep, that's exactly the message you need to give a girl who supposedly looks at other guys and believes it's okay to use you as a free service.

(No.)

How do you think you ended up in such a situation with her in the first place, boy? Give this girl an inch and she'll take a mile!

Ugh, whatever. I guess it doesn't make much sense to expect such an awareness from a lonely 16-year-old in his first relationship.

Naturally, getting in response to her huge gracious 'hey' just a pathetic show of care and forgiveness (as opposed to expected tearful repentance), Mai pushes Zuko away again, and thus concludes this segment of beach Maiko interactions. Yay.

The next dialogue of the pair centers around Mai's personality and demeanor, so I guess this is what we'll talk about next time. And... Mai fans, I warn you: it's not gonna be pleasant~ (when it ever was with me though, lol?)

Thanks for your attention!

(By the way, all you've just read could be  total bullshit, because the topic is quite complex and that in fact was my third attempt to analyze the situation, muhahaha! Take it or leave it.)

I ignore all notifications.

P. S.: I just realized something. Why it's zutara but Maiko for me? It's kinda contr-intuitive given my preferences, I suppose.  But I just feel like this. Maybe it's about difference between something familiar and alien. I'm not gonna change anything anyway - it would be too stressful for my autistic brain right now, lol.

R.I.P., Akira Toriyama.