#been lost to time. and he is a victim to time just like anybody else. OUGH AAAAA MY HEART MY BRAIN IM SO SAD ABOUT FATES AGAIN.

[lululeighsworld]

decided to play the heirs of fate dlc this weekend (ive been meaning to for awhile; admittedly my knowledge of it all comes from browsing the wiki, and i really wanted to experience the anankos characterization for myself). this isn't even the part i was excited to get to BUT I AM REELING OVER IT..........FOR REASONS I WILL DISCLOSE IN THE TAGS (from part iv: light's sacrifice)

[papervenom]

✩ chapter fourteen: S.P.E.W ✩

summary: your fourth year starts with the return of the triwizard tournament— and a relationship with cedric diggory that should feel steady, but doesn’t. when harry’s name gets pulled from the goblet, everything shifts. the trio starts to crack, and being with cedric only adds to the tension. you’re sure about how you feel , you love him. but someone else is pulling for your attention, and it’s getting harder to ignore. a slow-burn, character-driven take on goblet of fire, told through your perspective

chapter warnings: heavy sexual tension, intense making out lol, emotional vulnerability & insecurity

word count: 5.7k

INSATIABLE MASTERLIST⋆˙⟡

November 16th, 1994

During the few, fleeting weeks after the Inter-House party— Cedric and I had become inseparable.

Every morning, I would find him waiting for me on the other side of the Fat Lady's portrait to walk to the Great Hall together for breakfast. He'd join us at the Gryffindor table and would make sure I was properly alimented before escorting me to my first lesson of the day. 

We made a habit of leaving a few minutes before the bell rang, while the halls were still vacant, because the moment that we were out of our peers' eyesight— we would be on one another.

There'd be a make-out session before his departure for his next class and another in between lessons at the Courtyard with his friends' jeering surrounding us.

Everyone in our proximity became victims to the clingy fervor we felt towards each other, and I could tell it was annoying to most of them. 

My friends, especially.

The Golden Quartet became The Golden Trio once more, since I was rarely around to spend leisure time with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

We'd hang out during class, though we wouldn't be able to socialize much then, but as soon as the bell rang— Cedric would somehow already be there, earning a scoff from Ron, an eye-roll from Harry and an exasperated look from Hermione, who thought I was being severely irresponsible with my free-time where I could've been studying. 

But I couldn't care less. 

I was aware that the majority of Hogwarts was growing sick of how inseverable we were, yet I couldn't keep my hands off him.

I was crushing hard on the Hufflepuff who was by far the most handsome guy I've ever known.

Cedric Diggory was a movie-star type of handsome— the kind that people would falter in their step to watch go by. 

He wasn't as tall as Fred or George, and he was a bit slimmer, but he had a finely drawn, sensitive face that managed to be thoughtful and looked like it was carved by angels or Michelangelo himself.

His lively, dancing, bright-grey eyes managed to be gentle and sympathetic and held so much emotion in them.

It wasn't for nothing that he attracted girls like honey does flies.

And he was mine.

Or at least, it felt like it.

We never had much of a conversation about the exclusivity of our relationship, but Cedric didn't shy away from kissing me in areas where anybody could see— tuning out the rest of the world until it was just background noise as we got lost within ourselves.

I couldn't deny that it would be awkward when people would ask when we had made it official, but I wasn't interested in anybody else and neither was Cedric, so that's all that mattered.

As for the Tournament, the next task wasn't until the end of February and neither Harry nor Cedric had even touched their Golden Eggs ever since we heard the disturbing, high-pitched screeching they emitted when they opened them in unison at the party.

They had plenty of time to figure it out, so we all let negligence get the best of us as we grew accustomed to everything returning back to normal. 

Even if it was just momentary.

The beginning of December was looming ahead and it was already bringing wind and sleet to Hogwarts. 

I was always grateful for the castles' never-ending, burning fires and thick walls every time I passed the Durmstrang ship bobbing on The Black Lake or the Beauxbatons caravan, which was likely to be chilly as well.

We had just finished our last lesson of the day and were on our way to the Great Hall for dinner. 

It was at the moment we'd sat down and started filling our plates with food when I noticed that Cedric wasn't beside me, like he usually was. 

Not thinking much of it— I took the opportunity to catch up with my friends.

"Harry, did Sirius answer the letter that you sent?" I asked, knowing that Harry had rushed to send his Godfather an update on his survival from the dragon the morning after the first task.

Harry nodded as he worked on chewing his mouthful of pudding to be able to reply to me when Ron hastily interrupted him.

"Yes. He did. And you would've known if your lips weren't glued onto that plonker's face."

"Ron! What is wrong with you!?" Hermione seethed, glowering at him in my defense but I grinned cheerfully, nonetheless— feeling like absolutely nothing could damper my mood.

"So? What did he say?" I asked Harry again, ignoring my redheaded friend who was evidently upset with me, and Harry soon filled me in on everything.

Sirius was relieved, to say the least, but still reminded Harry to be wary of Durmstrang's Headmaster Igor Karkaroff. 

Ron seemed to have been brought up to date on everything that he missed while Harry and he were fighting, because at the mention of Karkaroff's name— Ron went off on a tangent where he claimed that we ought to have suspected that he had been a Death Eater all along.

"I mean, it fits, doesn't it?" spoke Ron over a mouthful of Pumpkin Juice. He took a big gulp before continuing, "Remember what Malfoy said on the train? About his dad being friends with Karkaroff? Now we know where they knew each other. They were probably running around in masks together at the World Cup... I'll tell you one thing, though, Harry— if it was Karkaroff who put your name in the Goblet, he's going to be feeling really stupid now. Didn't work, did it? You only got a scratch! There's no way any of the other tasks are going to be that dangerous. How could they be!?" Ron went on. "You know what? I reckon you could win this Tournament, Harry. I'm serious." 

As if on queue, Hermione scoffed at Ron's ignorance and I smiled privately to myself at how predictable my friends were. 

I had missed them so much.

"Harry's got a long way to go before he finishes this Tournament," she said gravely. "If dragons was the first task, I hate to think what's coming next."

We all shuddered at the thought— the panic subsiding into my nervous system again, and Ron seemed to notice because he nudged my knee gently and when I peered up at him, he was looking at me worriedly.

"Right little ray of sunshine, aren't you, Hermione?" spoke Ron accusingly. "You and Professor Trelawney should get together sometime."

I giggled at the idea of Hermione and Trelawney hanging out and Ron's features seemed to soften once I did, pleased to have gotten me to lighten up as he gave me a dorky smile.

When asking Hermione what she's been up to the past weeks, she told me that she remained occupied with her usual long hours of studying at the library, but then informed me of a new project that she was currently working on.

"Hermione! Stop trying to rope her into that spew shit!"

"I'm not!" she said hastily. "And it's not spew, Ron —"

"Changed the name, have you?" he retorted, frowning at her. "What are we now, then, the House-Elf Liberation Front?"

The two bickered back and forth as Harry and I shared a look of wary solidarity for one another for once again being caught in the middle of another argument.

"Shut up, Ron. I wasn't even talking to you! I was simply trying to inform (Y/N) about a very critical situation happening in this school, out of all pla—"

"Tell me then," I interrupted impatiently before Ron could quip back at her, "What's going on?"

"Right. So remember that mountain of food Fred and George got for the party? I was curious about how they managed to acquire so much of it, so I asked them," Hermione explained in an innocently casual sort of voice, "And that's when I found out about the House-Elves! The twins told me how to get to the kitchen dungeons, so Harry, Ron, and I went a few evenings ago—"

"Against our will, might I add," Ron muttered and Harry huffed out a laugh.

"And you'll never guess who we saw, (Y/N)! Dobby! Remember we told you about the House-Elf that Harry freed during our second year who used to work for the Malfoys?"

I thought back to the night that Harry caught me up on the two years that I had missed with them back at The Leaky Cauldron and vividly recalled him telling me about Dobby, the abused elf who once lived his days getting kicked around and scorned at by Lucius Malfoy.

"I remember," I replied, letting her carry on with her story.

"He's working here at Hogwarts, (Y/N). Like actually working down in the kitchens. There are House-Elves cooking us countless of food options for the three meals we eat daily, and guess what!? Most of them aren't even getting paid for it! Dumbledore is paying Dobby, because Dobby asked for it— rightfully so, but most of the other House-Elves are so adamant about providing free labor! Oh, (Y/N), I'm just hoping the other elves will see how happy Dobby is, being free, and slowly it'll dawn on them that they want that too! So I'm making it my mission to inform others of what's going on in the kitchens. In the meantime, I made these..." Hermione trailed off as she started rummaging into her book-bag.

I waited patiently for her— my interest piqued in whatever Hermione had to show me since she seemed so passionate about the subject when I heard Ron curse under his breath.

"For fucks sake," Ron grumbled.

I searched to see what had made him so grouchy and spotted Cedric entering The Great Hall.

Many of the students erupted in cheers as they spotted their Champion, and some Hufflepuffs were even calling out Cedric's name to get him to join them for dinner— but he just waved them off, making a beeline towards me.

His bronze locks were gorgeously disheveled and his yellow House tie hung loosely around his neck— adorning his exposed collarbones stunningly, as the first few buttons of his white dress shirt were unbuttoned. 

Many of the girls in the Great Hall were giggling and fanning themselves with their hands from how devastatingly sexy Cedric looked— but I couldn't find it in me to take it personally, because I completely understood the sentiment. 

Once the Golden Boy was at my arm's length, I didn't waste a second before jumping into Cedric's arms and giggling girlishly as he spun me around.

He chuckled and set me down so my feet were touching the ground again, and I stood on my tip-toes to peck his lips sweetly. 

I caught Hermione smirking at me from the corner of my eye. 

Harry seemed indifferent to us and Ron was eyeing us odiously and told us to 'get a room'. 

"Looking good, (Y/N)!" a voice called out from somewhere in the Great Hall and I noticed that it was Roger Davies from Ravenclaw and he was sitting up on his chair as his eyes roamed me excitedly.

His friends were guffawing at his boldness but the laughter quickly died in their throats— the reason being Cedric who was glaring at them furiously next to me.

He steered me to my seat, his body blocking me from their view protectively.

It was thrilling to see him become so threatening. 

I didn't think it was possible— with him being so soft and gentle most of the time. 

"I don't know how you can tolerate those imbeciles cat-calling you that way," Cedric mumbled as he pulled out the chair I was previously sitting at for me and took his seat right next to mine. 

He soon began filling my plate generously with baked potatoes before starting on his own.

"It comes with being a woman, unfortunately," I remarked nonchalantly, pouring pumpkin juice into both of our glasses. 

"It's crude," he prompted, his eyes flickering up to glower at the Ravenclaw table. 

"I hate to tell you this, Ced, but most guys our age tend to be a bit crude. I just got really lucky with you," I spoke lowly so only he could hear, watching his face soften as his grey eyes peered down at me.

He grinned and pecked me on the lips.

"I'm sorry I'm late, dove. Snape held me up. Ever since he found out that the Triwizard Champions had been excused from exams this year, he's been persistent in assigning me extra coursework." 

"Of course he has," I sighed. 

My attention was grasped when someone stood up abruptly from the Ravenclaw table and stormed out of the Great Hall. 

I noticed that it was Cho Chang who had just burst into tears and was being followed by her friends who rushed to her aid behind her.

I felt a pang of guilt at the prospect that the sight of Cedric and I had made her so upset.

When I turned to look at Cedric worriedly, I saw that he didn't even seem to notice as he ate his dinner.

"Hello, how are you guys doing?" Cedric greeted my friends, nodding at them politely like the gentleman that he was.

Only Harry and Hermione greeted him back, as Ron became engrossed with his pie. 

"What's in the box?" Cedric asked Hermione, pointing at it. 

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, smiling sheepishly as she seemed to forget that she was holding a box in the first place. 

She took off the lid and showed us the contents. 

Inside were about fifty badges, all of different colors, but all bearing the same letters: S. P. E . W.

Ron snorted as soon as he got a good look at them, earning a nasty look from Hermione. 

"S-P-E-W. What does it stand for?" Cedric asked curiously, picking up a badge and inspecting it. 

"It stands for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. I've founded it to promote liberation and rights for House Elves."

 "And you expect us to walk around wearing badges that say 'spew,' do you?" said Ron  

"How many times do I have to tell you, Ronald? It's S-P-E-W!" said Hermione hotly. "I was going to put Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status, but it wouldn't fit. So I made that the heading of our manifesto." Hermione said as she pushed the piece of parchment towards us. "I've been researching it thoroughly in the library. Elf enslavement goes back centuries. I can't believe no one's done anything about it before now. " 

"Hermione— open your ears," said Ron loudly. "They. Like. It. They like being enslaved!" 

"Our short-term aims," continued Hermione, her attention on Cedric and I as she spoke even louder than Ron and acted as though she hadn't heard a word, "are to secure House-Elves' fair wages and working conditions. Our long-term aims include changing the law about non-wand use, and trying to get an elf into the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures because they're shockingly underrepresented."

"And how can we do all this?" Cedric asked, seeming interested as he pulled Hermione's parchment towards him to read through.

"We start by recruiting members," replied Hermione happily. "Two  Sickles to join, that buys a badge, and the proceeds can fund our leaflet campaign." 

"How many members have you got?" Harry asked. 

"Well, if you four join, it'll be five members," Hermione replied confidently.

There was a pause in which Hermione beamed at all of us, and I was torn between exasperation at Hermione and amusement at the look on Ron and Harry's faces. 

But the silence was broken, not by Ron, who looked as though he was temporarily dumbstruck, but by Cedric who started rummaging his pockets for two Sickles to buy a badge.

"Count me in," he assured as he pushed the coins towards Hermione and pinned the badge to the front of his robes.

After Cedric bought a badge, Harry and Ron felt obliged and also paid their two Sickles, but I felt like they had only done it to keep Hermione quiet. 

I bought mine because I thought the intention Hermione had was good, and although it seemed like the House-Elves didn't care for being liberated, I was curious to see how far Hermione would take this.

Some people at our table, like Neville, had paid up just to stop Hermione from glowering at them.

A few seemed mildly interested in what she had to say but were reluctant to take any active roles in campaigning.

Many regarded the whole thing as a joke. 

Cedric spoke to Hermione for a few more minutes about the elves, having some knowledge since the Hufflepuff Common Room was in the dungeons, right across the kitchen. 

He was very polite in brainstorming ways that they could ease the hard work for the elves, and even promised that he'd help them wash dishes before heading to bed, which causes Hermione to grin ecstatically.

Already having finished my supper, my eyes roamed the Great Hall and saw students gossiping and glancing at our direction every once in awhile.

This disinterested me, since I was already so used to it— so I merely stared back at everyone blankly until my eyes landed on the Slytherin table where Draco was sitting, surrounded by his friends. 

They looked like The Last Supper mural, but filled with assholes.

After the party, Draco and I had gone back to ignoring each other with a few occasional glances which always ended in me scowling at him or flashing him the finger.

In other words, everything was back to normal.

One morning, Draco caught Cedric and I kissing right outside of the Potions classroom as he was coming down the stairs to the dungeon. 

He seemed livid— looking unreasonably scornful as he stormed towards us and I was almost afraid that he would tell Cedric about our weird moment at the party, but he just walked past us and went into class.

I felt disgusted with myself for allowing Draco to get so close to me that night.

I don't know what came over me. 

My only conclusion as to why I let it happen was that I wasn't sober.

But ever since that day, Pansy Parkinson had been perched on Draco's lap and slobbering disgusting hickies on his pale neck as he sneered at me.

The sight of them was revolting, but I just hoped that our hostility would last this time around because frankly, I never wanted to speak to him again.

After some time, the Great Hall started clearing up as all the students returned to their Common Room for the night.

Cedric took the liberty to accompany us back to  Gryffindor Towers, and the Champions used the time to inquire each other about their process of figuring out the message hidden within their Golden Eggs while Hermione chimed in with suggestions from some book she read but Ron remained tight-lipped and simply brooded.

When we were standing in front of the Gryffindor Common Room entrance, I lingered behind to have Cedric to myself for a few minutes.

"This was sweet of you," I murmured, toying with Cedric's S.P.E.W badge once the last student had shut the entrance with The Fat Lady's portrait behind them. 

Cedric shrugged, placing his hands on my waist.

"Anything to get on your friends' good side," he smirked and cupped my face with his hands.

"Speaking of— I wouldn't get mad if we didn't spend all of our free time together, Ced. I bet your friends find me intolerable for taking their Champion away from them," I grinned, emphasizing the word 'champion' as I stepped closer to him and combed my fingers through his hair.

"They're more understanding than you think. Have you seen yourself, sweetheart? They're downright envious of me," he muttered before nipping the soft skin of my neck which elicited a giddy laugh from me as I squirmed away from him.

"Look who's talking. How very dare you arrive to dinner looking so despairingly handsome. All the girls' eyes nearly rolled out of their heads— you should show them some mercy," I scolded him humorously, my hands working on buttoning his shirt and tying his necktie.

Cedric hummed nonchalantly in response, attempting to kiss me but I moved my head away from him as I pretended to be too preoccupied with tidying him up— earning a frustrated huff from the Hufflepuff as he leaned on the staircase's banister.

"No one's giving you a hard time anymore, are they?" Ced asked, his demeanor becoming serious as he searched my eyes with genuine concern.

I thought about all the dirty looks I got from girls whenever I walked hand-in-hand with him in the hallways. 

And then I remembered Cho's outburst earlier.

I couldn't pretend it didn't make me feel remorseful.

"Well... someone's always bound to be jealous... but maybe we should cool it with the PDA? I'd hate to make any of your... ex-acquaintances any more upset."

Cedric's eyes softened once I said this— looking at me as if he'd been seeing me for the first time in his life, and then he broke into a dashing smile— his eyes crinkling as he flashed his perfect, pearly white teeth.

"This is one of the many things I love about you, (Y/N). How extraordinarily thoughtful you are. I've never met a girl like you, you're incredible." 

Cedric gushed as he pulled me towards him by my waist and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into an embrace to cover up the fact that I was blushing furiously. 

I tried to steady my erratically beating heart after hearing him say 'love'. 

I knew we weren't there yet, but it still felt like a genuine confession, even though he spoke it so casually.

Cedric pulled away from the hug, his large hands nestling my face in his hands before he dove down to crash his lips onto mine.

We both hummed in bliss at the contact, his warm lips gliding over mine softly. 

It was inexplicably passionate, the way that we connected like magnets.

Behind us, I could hear the hushed, gossipy whispers coming from the portraits as they peered down at the both of us. 

But they were inconspicuous to me— my attention enveloped by the way my skin seemed to go ablaze with electric shocks when Cedric pulled me towards him to deepen the already feverish kiss— his teeth tugging at my bottom lip as his tongue proceeded to swipe into my mouth. 

Our tongues were greedily exploring each other when he abruptly pulled away, leaving me breathless.

Both our chests rose and fell as we watched each other in silence, allowing one another to breathe for the first time since he initially kissed me. 

Cedric's hands were clutching my face selfishly, and his lips were pink and swollen, but it was the fervor with which he was looking at me that sent my heart racing so quickly that I was sure it was audible.

I've never been looked at in that way.

I was used to receiving the male gaze on the daily basis, but this look held much more than sexual desire.

Cedric was looking down at me as if I were a dream come true.

"You're fucking beautiful" he murmured before slating his mouth over mine again.

My bottom lip was quickly captured between his warm ones, and the kiss was slow like dripping honey this time. 

The ardor and hunger were still very much prevalent, yet he was taking his time with me—wanting to savor the moment. 

I tried to ignore the butterflies that rioted in my stomach.

I didn't think I could ever get enough of him.

Cedric Diggory was overpowering all of my senses and it was driving me fucking insane.

Yet, I wanted more.

I kissed him back ravenously— combing my fingers through his tousled curls as I pressed my body to his. 

I could feel him smirk against my lips but to my infuriation, he didn't do anything else.

"Ced," I muttered as I clung to his robes. I wasn't sure what I was pleading for, but I needed it desperately.

"(Y/N)..." he mumbled against my lips warningly, trailing his kisses down my neck until we were both sighing— out of breath as we usually were after a few heated minutes with each other.

I looked away in shame, acknowledging that I let myself get carried away until Cedric took my chin and angled me to look at him.

"Hey... look at me," he insisted when I still wouldn't meet his eyes.

When I finally did, all my humiliation evaporated as Cedric looked at me pleadingly, his dark eyebrows furrowing in empathy. 

"I want to. I just... want it to be right, okay? You deserve that."

"Okay," I replied in a small voice, not knowing what else to say.

He stood up from the banister and wrapped his arms around me tightly.

"Also, I don't want you to worry about Cho. I see her at Prefect meetings, and she's doing absolutely fine. I'll see you tomorrow angel, okay?"

"See you tomorrow, Ced. Good night." I replied and floated back to my dorm room on a cloud.

༻✦༺

The next morning, I got woken up by Crookshanks who was pawing at my face repeatedly and as soon as I saw that Hermione was awake, I filled her in on what happened with Cedric the previous night as we both got ready for the day.

I appreciated having her as an audience, because really— she was the only one that I could tell these things to.

She'd sigh dreamily when I told her about Cedric mentioning how rightfully envious his friends were that he was seeing me. 

She'd coo when I brought up the nicknames he gave me like dove, angel or sweetheart.

She'd 'awww' when I added how he softened at my regard for Cho's feelings and told me it was one of the many things he 'loved' about me.

But what really piqued her interest was what happened after.

"(Y/N)! Right outside the hallway!?"

"Nothing happened! We just got carried away, a little bit. He was the one that stopped it and said he wanted to wait for the right moment. Gods, it was so fucking awkward. He probably thinks I'm a sex- freak or something," I groaned, becoming more mortified by the second and quickly buried my face in my hands.

"I promise you, he doesn't. This is completely normal. I'd bet you ten thousand Galleons that he's thought about so much more. He is a guy, after all." Hermione added, smirking at my reaction.

Once we were ready, we descended to the Common Room and met up with the boys.

We had a quick breakfast and then Harry, Ron and I sprinted to the other end of the castle for Double Divination— which became thoroughly enjoyable again ever since Harry and Ron rekindled. 

We were still doing star charts and predictions, but everything became very funny, once more. 

Professor Trelawney, who had been so pleased with us when we had been predicting our own horrific deaths, became quickly irritated as we giggled through her explanation of the various ways in which Pluto could disrupt everyday life.

"I would think," she said, in a mystical whisper that did not conceal her obvious annoyance, "that some of us—" she said as she stared very pointedly at Harry, "might be a little less frivolous had they seen what I have seen during my crystal gazing last night. I gazed into its crystalline depths... and what do you think I saw gazing back at me?"

"An ugly old bat in massive specs?" Ron muttered and our whole table fought hard to keep a straight face.

"Death, my dears." she announced and Parvati and Lavender both gasped dramatically, putting their hands over their mouths, looking horrified.

"Yes," said Professor Trelawney, nodding appreciatively at their reactions, "it circles overhead like a vulture, lowering itself over this castle..."

She stared meaningfully at Harry, who in turn yawned very obnoxiously.

"It'd be a bit more impressive if she hadn't done it about eighty times before," Harry said as we finally returned to the fresh air of the staircase beneath Professor Trelawney's room. "But if I'd dropped dead every time she's told me I'm going to, I'd be a medical miracle."

"Maybe you could be the next Gryffindor ghost? Give Headless Nick a run for his money," I suggested and the boys snickered.

"As if he could ever compete with Headless Nick! A lightning-bolt scar is child's play compared to nearly removing your whole head off your neck!" Ron chortled.

"You're right. Harry just has his pathetic little scar," I agreed.

"Oh-kay. Shut up, you two, before I dump you both and make the Hogwarts Ghosts my new friends. Bet they'd show me more respect than you both do,"

"Peeves!? Showing you respect!?" I laughed incredulously.

"Maybe not Peeves," Harry admitted and we all giggled as we went to go pick up Hermione from the library before getting to our Transfiguration lesson.

Once entering, we saw that the library was almost entirely vacant of students.

We found Hermione hunched over her favorite table, doing more House-Elves research— and sitting at a table across from her was Viktor Krum. 

Ron hovered behind the bookshelves for a while, watching Krum and debating in whispers with us whether he should ask for an autograph— but then he realized that six or seven girls were lurking in the next row of books, debating exactly the same thing, and he lost his enthusiasm for the idea.

Hermione seemed flustered for whatever reason as we left the library, glancing over at Viktor who was peering at her over the gigantic book he was reading, giving her a small smile.

I raised my eyebrows as I noticed the discreet interaction, and made a mental note to ask her about it later. 

Our task of the day in Transfiguration was to partner up and convert guinea fowls into guinea pigs before shutting them away in large cage that was placed on Professor McGonagall's desk.

Hermione and I were done within ten minutes and were trying to aid Neville who somehow managed to give his guinea pig some scales.

Ron and Harry had finished a few minutes after us, and there was still awhile left for the end of the lesson so they started having a sword fight behind us with a couple of Fred and George's fake wands. 

You could almost hear Hermione roll her eyes as she neatly copied down our homework from the blackboard.

"Potter! Weasley! Will you pay attention?" Professor McGonagall's irritated voice suddenly cracked like a whip and both Harry and Ron jumped in their seat and looked up.

The whole class had finished by now, all the guinea pigs squeaking merrily in the cage. 

McGonagall made the cage disappear with a swish of her wand and glared at the boys sternly.

"Now that Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age," said Professor McGonagall, with an angry look at the pair of them, "I have something to say to you all. The Yule Ball is approaching— a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament, and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests."

Lavender Brown let out a shrill giggle as she clapped her hands gleefully. 

Parvati Patil nudged her hard in the ribs and the both of them turned around to look at Harry. 

"Dress robes will be worn," Professor McGonagall continued, "and the ball will start at eight o'clock, a week before Christmas Eve, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now, the Yule Ball is of course a chance for all of us to... let our hair down... But that does NOT mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way. We will be having a House dance-rehearsal in just a few weeks,"

Professor McGonagall stared deliberately around the class as we sat in silence, processing what she just told us.

The bell rang, and there was the usual scuffle of activity as everyone packed their bags and swung them onto their shoulders.

We were about to leave when Professor McGonagall called above the noise, "Potter— a word, if you please."

Ron, Hermione and I didn't hesitate to follow Harry up to the teacher's desk, and Professor McGonagall didn't protest either— almost as if she had expected us to be in the conversation to begin with.

She waited until the rest of the class had gone, and then said, "Potter, the champions and their partners—"

"What partners?" interrupted Harry.

Professor McGonagall looked suspiciously at him, as though she thought he was trying to be funny.

"Your partners for the Yule Ball, Potter," she said coldly, "your dance partners."

Hermione and I glanced at each other excitedly at the mention of this, but Ron and Harry's faces both seemed mortified at the prospect of having to find dates for the Ball.

"Dance partners?" Ron asked as his face turned the same shade of his hair.

"I don't dance," Harry said quickly.

"Oh yes, you do," said Professor McGonagall irritably, making me suppress a smile,"That's what I'm telling you. Traditionally, the Champions and their partners open the ball."

My heartbeat sped in my chest as I thought of Cedric and I entering the Ball arm-in-arm with everybody surrounding us.

I couldn't help but feel just as giddy at the idea as every other girl in the school.

"I'm not dancing," Harry replied vehemently.

"It is traditional," said Professor McGonagall firmly. "You are a Hogwarts champion, and you will do what is expected of you as a representative of the school. So make sure you get yourself a partner, Potter."

"But I don't—"

"You heard me, Potter," said Professor McGonagall in a definitive sort of way.

It seemed like the news of the Yule Ball was announced to the entire school now, because as soon as we stepped out of the classroom— we noticed the corridor booming with tittering and excitement.

The boys faces were still tinged green but Hermione and I turned to each other and shared a look of pure enthusiasm and immediately set off to the library to research and prepare ourselves for the highly anticipated Yule Ball.

✩ next chapter: scavenger hunt ✩

[gayleafpool]

here we goooooooo im talkin about quirin and var cuz they’re so so interesting to me but like from a much different angle than i usually ever see

warnings off the bat: implications of incest and sexual abuse please dont read this if you think this could upset you

okay so. they live alone together. varian is an only child and his mom is not around, it’s just him and his dad. they live in a small town and as far as we’re aware varian has literally no other friends or meaningful relationship aside from the one he has with his dad until he meets raps. he’s regarded by most people as just kind of insane he’s not down to earth he’s got all these big ideas and he’s a clever but he puts this talent to often destructive uses. he’s not strong or dependable or a good farmer like most other people in his town seem to be, since it’s a farming town. this sets him apart and serves to isolate him even more. there aren’t people who get him, there aren’t people like him. nobody humors him except for his dad, nobody can handle him except for his dad. and this mindset is clearly something he’s carrying well into his teen years. and like that’s going to mess you up man. varian is attached to quirin to an insane degree. losing his dad makes him start poisoning people and trying to kill people. he ruins his life and he doesn’t care. he does not really see reaching out for help as an option anymore by the time he finds quirin in the amber cuz the next time he sees raps he’s dead set on doing whatever he has to do to get his dad back and he’s no longer open to divulging exactly what his plans are, even though he’s been offered help. he’s not making rational decisions anymore + is in a state of hysteria over this loss and can’t function anymore. he depended on his dad for companionship and support on a level that’s kind of unusual for someone his age and really unusual when you know he didn’t have anyone else. and tbh? quirin in turn was kind of the same. he’s a good father but he’s also controlling. he’s hesitant to let varian outside of town. he seems to have no issues with that fact that varian can’t form lasting relationships with anyone besides him. he’s lonely and has a rough history w the brotherhood. he doesn’t seem to have any real friends aside from maybe frederick and even then.. they don’t trust each other. he and varian are extremely dependent on each other. they’re filling every role for each other. parent/child of course but they’re also each other’s best friend and and roomate to a degree confidant. there also emphasis on them having secrets they cant share with anybody else. and also varian sure does look exactly like his mother.

do i think there was overt intent to write something dark and strange into the relationship no of course not but i do think it puts and incredibly interesting spin on why they are the way they are and specially why varian behaves the way he does after qfad. he has been isolated his whole life and he is ridiculously dependent on his father and all of sudden that connection is gone. maybe forever. he does not have the support to deal with this and proceeds to take life-ruining action, because in his mind his life is over.

it also makes a lot of sense as to why he’d fall victim to andrew’s manipulation when he’s in prison. i’ve seen people imply varian and andrew’s relationship and living situation was odd and suspicious and i very much agree i don’t think they had a normal or appropriate relationship. and i think if you remember that varian has just lost the only person he ever had and is now at his lowest without anyone to turn to, his willingness to follow andrew despite usually being very clever and able to see through people makes sense. he’s looking for someone to stand in for the gap he now has. and if he’s always been used to having in appropriate relationships with no boundaries with older men in his life it would make sense that he wouldn’t be able to recognize this as a red flag. (he also doesn’t really have vedy appropriate boundaries w eugene when they first meet imo. like this is a theme for him) like i dunno. obviously i don’t think any of this was intended in the writing but i think it’s the most interesting (albeit sad + fucked up) interpretation of his character and why he does what he does. anyway

[x-kiwi-03]

I was wondering if you have any thoughts about the difference between Overhaul's story being handled compared to how Endeavor's was? I feel like Endeavor was given a better hand than Overhaul. Both in fandom spaces and in the story. I've been thinking about it and I wonder what circumstances could get Endeavor the same ending as Overhaul and vice versa. It almost makes me want to make an au to explore this.

First of all, Horikoshi likes Endeavor and he obviously doesn't like Kai. His writing is hypocritical when you comparing Kai to similar characters like Endeavor and Tomura, characters that Horikoshi actually likes.

To be fair, Endeavor has shown remorse and regret for the right people. He's put in a lot of effort and sacrifice to better his family's circumstances.

Kai has shown only remorse and regret for losing his family. He's desperate for Pops' forgiveness so he won't be thrown away (again?). Kai's making no effort to right his wrongs to the real reason he should feel guilty, Eri.

But here's the thing, Endeavor is a lot older and has had more time to figure out HOW and WHY and to whom he should feel guilty. Endeavor is also in a whole lot healthier situation to get through these feelings, to figure them out and find a way through it all.

Kai got his arms chopped off and immediately thrown in solitary for almost a year. He lost his family, freedom, and dignity in less than a day. His situation not healthy to say the least.

It's very obvious that Kai is very emotional, which is surprising given his villian arc was written as this cold and heartless capo. Solitary is what I think did most of his mental destruction. The only person he cared about would naturally be the only thing on his mind while he was all alone. He doesn't blame Eri for everything, he blames himself. He knows he's the one that messed up. Eri is still only a quirk in his eyes. How could you blame your product for losing everything and more?

Anyway, back on topic, Kai needs guidance and Endeavor was able to get through it himself, miraculously.

Also, Endeavor has been able to talk to his victims directly. Kai has had no contact to Eri, if not been separated from her more. I will forever stand by the belief that anybody else's opinions on Kai do not matter other than Eri's. Just like how Endeavor's family were the only people who's opinions mattered regarding what he did.

One thing to really remember is that Kai was a villain and Endeavor was a Hero. Kai has done no good to make up for his wrongs. And he's never, and probably will never be able to, do anything to help his case.

It's tragedy vs redemption.

Definitely make an au! I'd love to see what you'd do with it!

[zairene]

WELCOME TO THE PARTY. osamu dazai

* ˚ ✦ synopsis: you’ve perished and after being in a limitless abyss that seemed to have no end, you found yourself having a conversation with the underground’s grim reaper.

* ˚ ✦ genre: fic, 1k count !

* ˚ ✦ author’s note: this is honestly a really good prologue for a series.

after becoming a victim of reality’s corrupt fate of death, you were surprisingly calm. were you satisfied when you died? obviously not. dying young meant leaving everyone and everything you had ever loved behind and it was definitely a hard pill to swallow. however, you just knew it was coming. you were free of the pain you were constantly having to endure when living, and now that it has stopped, you finally achieved a level of peace you haven’t experienced before.

you had been suffering from a terminal illness, when doctors immediately diagnosed you and relayed the news that you were slowly dying, you didn’t know how to feel. seeing the tears of your loved ones did not help your conflicted emotions, they were handling it worse than you and you were the one dying. so when it came to the day you were expected to die, you were just ready for life to take you away and put you in whatever situation that lay for you in the afterlife.

and here you are now, walking in this abyss-like place where nothing but the color black was in your vision. you didn’t know how long you were walking or where you were heading towards—hell you could’ve been walking in circles this entire time—but you didn’t feel any sort of fatigue or have any sense of time. being dead was a lot more dull than you assumed it to be. either way, you had no choice.

“well hello there.”

a deep smooth voice called from behind you. you turned around to see a figure with a tall and lanky physique, his bandaged hands held an enormous scythe. is he here to finish me off? that was your initial thought when you saw the being. he soon lifted his hoodie to reveal his face. his eyes were a piercing black to the point where a simple stare could make any regular person think he could see their soul. in this case, he probably could.

his wavy brown hair was layered, but his hair in the back reached the nape of his neck. even for being dead, it looked like he took care of it quite well, you were kinda impressed. his smile was oddly soothing, but you could tell there were many tales to be told behind it.

“are you just here to tell me i’m dead? i think i’m aware.” you said.

“no, no darling. actually, you’re not dead. not yet anyways.” he saunters closer to you. “this is the void.”

“the what?”

“the void.” he raises his hand that is holding his scythe and places it behind him to lean on. you are stunned by the fact that thing could handle his entire body weight. “a place between life and death where i make your journey into the afterlife somewhat easier, to put it into simpler terms, i guess.” he paused, taking a look at you. his expression changed. “you poor thing, you look awfully young. i take it you haven’t handled the news well, hm?”

“yeah, dying young wasn’t really a part of my resolutions for the new year but here i am. and i handled it just fine, thank you.” you were not about to have him treat you like some charity case similar to anybody else that has met their end here. he smirks. “sassy one, aren’t ya?”

“if being sassy means i won’t put up with pity, then i might be the sassiest of them all.” you retorted.

“point taken.” he puts his hands up in defense. “here, walk with me. unless you wanna be here forever, then be my guest.” he walks past you, and you follow shortly not interested in the idea of being lost for the rest of eternity.

“i’m your friendly neighborhood grim reaper, and yes, just like the forms of entertainment the humans like to indulge in.” he says disgustingly. you noticed his disdain for mortal activities but you weren’t bothered to ask.

“so you’re here to take my soul?”

“incorrect and that’s honestly boring. think of the opportunity that lies ahead of you as a second life.”

“a second life?” you were intrigued.

“yes. a better version of humanity, that’s what many have said at least.”

“oh really? what makes them say that?”

“my, you are filled with questions. as expected but i’m afraid i can’t answer them all as i am a very busy man.” you rolled your eyes. “however, you can refer to our consultant at the underground once our conversation here is finished.”

he held his finger up. “and before you ask, i’ll explain.” you closed your mouth since you were gonna ask another question.

“the underground is the place you go to once you’re officially dead—i feel that part was obvious but it’s part of the speech i give everyone—a wonderland filled with people who are also in your situation. dead and confused. some have resided there longer than others, so they know their way around the place, but for people like you,” he points at you. “it’s a redemption of sorts. to live your life eternally without the fear it may end due to unfathomable circumstances or stupid things like old age.”

“so you’re saying that i’m living life again but infinitely and with no consequences?”

“correct! you’re a natural.” he continues. “but this doesn’t exclude you from having responsibilities of course. we all have jobs here and you still have to play your part, alive or not. now, are you ready?”

“yeah, sure.” you weren’t. you were still very hesitant about the whole thing but you didn’t want to continue to bombard the guy with questions. “well then,” after those words a red portal appeared in front of the both of you. you looked at the man’s face and he gave you another smile. “welcome to the party.”

and before you could even comprehend what he told you, you were pushed into the portal, unaware of where it would take you specifically but you most certainly had an idea.

(📦) — BUNGOU STRAY DOGS TAGLIST // @4nthonyyliving @4kh

(📝) — TAGLIST FORM :: sign to be apart of the taglist!

[thisisathrowaway24]

So are you really friends with the victims or just another random anon blog asking for attention?

I'm mutuals with @blitzbuckz and @owlstronomer/@devilishdanse. No I'm not a random anon blog, just a mutual. I won't be giving out my name tho

See, here's the thing. Nobody wanted drama with or because of stols. Faust and Lizzy have been getting hate anons for months and not just out of nowhere. Faust got their first message in august which was around the time Stols was still vagueposting and always posting drama. One of the weird things is that stols and faust both got a anon commenting on their writing and because of the anon's way of typing, it caused somebody called miro to get framed for sending the message to Stols. It's really weird though because we're sure stols sent the messages, one to their self and the other to Faust just to avoid looking guilty

Speaking of the framing, some random person called Cam came out of nowhere in January saying that he was the one sending the hate and harassment and framed miro. But the weird thing is that he appeared right after Stols said that they wanted to be a better person for the new year which makes us think cam is an another blog for Stols admitting what they did

Faust and lizzy never did anything to Stols and they didn't receive hate messages everyday until like November when Lizzy and stols stopped being friends. After Stols lied and said that lizzy abandoned and traumatized them that's when all the hate and drama started

Everybody knew who Stols was talking about since they said that they lost their blitz mutual and started talking about how they hated the character and wouldn't write with him. All the posts are still on Stols's old blog

Nobody, not faust or Lizzy or anybody else wanted drama with stols or about them but it's really telling since the hate has been sent since November which was when Stols was posting nothing but drama and vagueposting about lizzy

Now I don't know all the details about faust and Stols but Faust said that they blocked Stols mutually and had a calm discussion with them about it.

Lizzy and Faust don't deserve any of the hate they get everyday and we all know/believe stols or their friends is the one sending it

We don't want drama and we never wanted it but Stols and their friends has been harassing Lizzy and Faust long enough and it should've ended a long time ago

[fanfic-scribbles]

Dinner Date Chapter 31

Masterlist

<<Previous Chapter Next Chapter>>

Overall Story Facts:

Fandom: MCU Captain America/Avengers

Story Summary: Steve Rogers has a girlfriend. A prickly, generally asocial girlfriend, but they make it work. They have more in common than some people might think.

Quick Facts: Romance – Steve Rogers/Reader – Female Reader

Story Warnings: Reader-insert that verges on OFC, written in 1st person past tense

Chapter 31: Under Cover

Chapter Summary: Hypothetical plans, nachos, and a nice night in with victims friends.

Chapter Word Count: 1515

A/N: May is a mixed bag so please enjoy this little offering <3 The next chapter is getting a bit unwieldy, but I’ll try to rein it in to something more orderly (and sensical).

~

“What are you going to do when you can’t keep undercover anymore?”

Natasha did love her non-sequiturs. I was sitting with Steve and we were currently hanging out with her, Clint, and Bruce in the top floor of Stark’s tower. Though Bruce was barely paying attention to anything around him, too fascinated with something on his tablet. He even still had nearly a full plate of nachos left– though that might have been because, when Clint had tried to reach over and grab one, all it took was a vague comment about “feeling a little green” for Clint to snap his hand back, pout, and get up to go refill his plate from the nacho bar Tony had had set up in the common area. Stark truly was a genius, much as it pained me to admit. Even if his idea of an ‘appetizer’ was bigger and better than some nice meals I’d had.

I munched on a chip and wondered if I could get away with pretending I hadn’t heard the question, but Natasha was definitely staring at me and not anybody else, so I tried to think about how we had gotten from ugly shoe advertisements to this. It took me a second. More than a second. Many seconds. …Okay, I gave up. “What am I undercover about?”

She smiled like I said exactly what she expected. Why not just explain first then? Weirdo. I meant that affectionately, of course, but I had no idea what went on in her head, and I could have sworn she could very clearly see the DVD screensaver bouncing around in mine, which felt a little unfair sometimes. She jutted her chin at Steve. “You two are way too touchy-feely for ‘just friends’ to fly for long,” she said.

I looked at Steve and took in his arm behind me, his other hand on my thigh, and the frown starting to form on his face. I rolled my eyes and made sure to pull his arm down further, so he knew to stay put. “One: you’d be amazed how unwilling people would be to believe it. Two: we’re not this touchy out in public. Three…” I looked at Steve, who raised an eyebrow, then I shrugged and looked at Natasha again. “We’d figure out a way to deal. Likely with an addendum that Steve never, ever, ever, ever be allowed to look at any article about him without my vetting, ever, ever, ever again.”

“That’s a lot of ‘ever’s,” Clint said appreciatively.

“Steve’s not the only dramatic bitch in this relationship,” I said and crunched as obnoxiously as possible. As soon as I swallowed, I admitted, “Though the first rag to get the ‘Captain America Colon Chubby Chaser Interrobang’ headline would probably give him such a fit that even I couldn’t decree shit.”

Steve patted my leg, but didn’t argue. “So hopefully I don’t have to punch any so-called ‘journalists,’” he said and leaned in. I rewarded him with a chip, and he took it, crunching loudly by my ear a couple times before giving my cheek a salty kiss.

“Ewww,” Clint said and fake-gagged. “I think I lost my appetite.”

He still had toppings on his nachos, so I reached over and snatched his plate. “Excellent; Steve, we’ve got guacamole again.”

“I might actually get some this time,” Steve said and snagged a chip with a mountain of it.

“Wha– hey!” Clint said indignantly.

“You lost your appetite. We’re helping,” I said, taking some toppings for myself.

“Very helpful,” Steve said and took a mountain of guacamole and sour cream on just a few chips. “You're welcome.”

Clint scowled in our general direction, but oddly, did not try to steal his food back. “Captain America my ass; Captain Nacho Thief, more like.”

I snapped my fingers a couple of times. “Doesn’t have the same zing.”

“We’ll workshop it,” Natasha said, her dimples starting to show with her smile. Thinking of the Black Widow as ‘cute’ was probably ridiculous, but she was just impossible, sometimes.

“What’s this I hear about Captain Stickyfingers?” Tony asked as he came back with Pepper, Phil, and Maria.

“Clint had no appetite. We’re just making sure no food goes wasted,” I said, fully ready to support my boyfriend against any accusations. …Especially since I had been the one to, technically, theoretically, hypothetically, do the alleged ‘stealing.’

“He did say he thought he lost his appetite,” Bruce commented, becoming maybe my third favorite Avenger. Steve and Sam always held spots one and two– switching depending on how annoyed I was with Steve at any given moment– and cute as she was, Natasha was going to have to stop tripping me up if she wanted to be back in the top three.

“Thought! Thought,” Clint said, like it seriously mattered.

“Oh, sorry Clint,” Steve said and handed back his plate. With just scattered, toppings-less chips just sitting sadly with the scraped remains.

Clint took it in hand, and scowled at us. “You guys suck,” he grumbled and got up to get more food.

“The couple that steals food together,” Natasha said and crunched on a chip. Her plate was quite full and looked like something out of a food magazine spread, but I was not tempted. I liked having both of my hands.

I looked at the nacho bar, all of maybe ten feet away, and I was about to turn to Steve to suggest playing rock-paper-scissors to see who had to get up to get more, but Steve took his arm from around my shoulders, patted my knee, and got up without any prompting or nagging or anything. And when he came back and sat down just as he had been, he held the plate to me.

“I love you,” I told him and took it before turning to put my legs across his thighs and setting the plate in my lap so we could share better.

“I know,” he said smugly.

“Ooooo!” Tony pointed. “He just Han Solo’d you!”

“Actually, he Leia’d me,” I said and settled back against the couch arm, feeling just as smug. “I did it first.”

“And here I thought you’d want to be Leia,” Pepper teased lightly.

“If I’m gonna be anybody, it might as well be the grumpy outcast who fucks up more often than not,” I said. Steve pinched my thigh in rebuke– for the negative self-talk I assumed– and I swatted his hand. “The supposed diplomat who just wants to fight everyone though? Totally Steve.”

“Wow,” Clint said. “If we got Steve a blaster…”

Maria actually flinched. “Thank you for those nightmares, Barton,” she said dryly, and then she swiped Clint’s (new) plate, to his outrage and Natasha’s outright laughter. Then they all went on to debate whether or not Steve would talk back as effectively to Vader and Tarkin, but I assumed Natasha and Clint were making it a debate just to be contrarians, because of course Steve would. Or maybe my faith in my boyfriend’s ability and willingness to be an obnoxious little snot was blinding me. I still chose to believe.

“I think the better question is, would Steve use the blaster?” Bruce asked aloud.

“What, Captain Apple Pie?” Tony scoffed.

I rolled my eyes. Steve patted my leg reassuringly. “I haven't used a gun since the war,” Steve said helpfully. “The shield’s enough for me.”

“And it’s not like he goes around giving every asshole a beating. I mean, if you didn’t go at the guy needling you last month, I think we’re pretty safe,” I said and patted his cheek. He rolled his eyes and moved his head away.

“Oh, the guy who got on you about the trans teen center fundraising you were doing?” Clint said, sounding oddly…pleased. “The guy whose car mysteriously imploded?”

Silence settled at that. Almost as one, we all looked at Natasha.

Who looked at Steve with a partial smirk and one highly raised eyebrow. She looked like she wanted to grin though, which looked oddly more demented than I imagined an actual grin would. “I didn’t teach him that.”

We all looked at Steve– even Bruce deigned to lift his head. Steve set his face like he did when he wanted to stonewall, but after a few seconds he grumbled, “No one got hurt,” and sullenly munched on a chip.

“Nazi Germany did not teach you how to irreparably damage a Toyota Corolla,” Maria said skeptically.

Steve made a noncommittal “hmm,” and was utterly unrepentant. I looked at the nearly empty plate and scraped up a decent amount of sour cream and guacamole, no salsa, onto a chip before offering it to him. His return ‘I love you too’ was in his eyes as he took it and ate it, but I understood.

“Ugh!” Tony exclaimed. “You're both disgusting but if I tried to tell anyone how they’d think I was insane.”

The thought of that interaction was satisfying enough that I could feel a smirk form on my face before I could stop it. Steve, though, had an expression to match, so I didn’t feel so bad.

“No, no couple bonding over my torment! I forbid it!”

I snuggled closer. No, not so bad at all.

~

<<Previous Chapter Next Chapter>>

[destinygoldenstar]

Total Drama Danganronpa Island Chapter 4 Deadly Life Spoilers:

Tw: I talk about suicide and cancel culture in the story

I myself have never experienced having suicidal thoughts. The only time I can recall where I came close was getting braces. Yeah. So you can imagine the research I had to do, especially since in this very fic, I’ve been pretty dismissive of mental illnesses and disorders. That I apologize for and hope I can do better.

This was something I felt more than anything, I CANNOT dismiss this, nor can I sugarcoat it. I have to be as respectful to it as possible, and actively discourage the idea. Never know if there’s a crippled person out there that sees your work and takes it to heart. (That’s a nightmare for me. To have something I made be responsible for someone’s death)

I have a romantic partner with chronic illnesses for almost ten years now, and still no cure. Multiple times, they’ve shared to me their suicidal thoughts, thoughts that made me scared of losing them. They’re still alive, and they say over and over again it’s because of me.

I’m someone who has a hard time talking coherently. That’s why my social media presence is mostly text. So Bridgette’s speech here, I personally see it as me talking to the people struggling to find something to live for and never give up even where there’s literally no hope left. There’s always something, even when you don’t see it at the moment. Someone to love, someone who loves you, a book you like, a show you like, nice walks, whatever. There’s something. You can’t experience those good things if you’re dead.

There’s also some cancel culture commentary here. Everyone’s a part of it whether we consciously know it or not. It’s really sad.

I cant count how many times Ive said something whether in real life or online and I become self-conscious whenever someone has a certain response. One wrong word and a whole group of people can hate you. That’s all it takes.

In the realm of fame, either you’re a role model or you’re a disgrace. Nothing in between.

Total Drama isn’t any different from this subject matter with Gwen in particular. Something I feel a lot if people overlook.

There are some cases where it’s lies and the person is innocent, you may find a few examples of such, and that's just heartbreaking.

But what happens when you ACTUALLY screw up? Make a mistake? Make a fool out of yourself? Like humans do? (I.e, Gwen) Cancel Culture tells you you’re therefore an awful person with no redeeming qualities, and that one mistake suddenly becomes your whole life. It’s heartbreaking especially when the cancelled person WANTS to own up and be better, but the people just don’t have it.

Then there's the other side of cancel culture, which many famous people, such as Chris, use to defend TRULY terrible people and say the world is in the wrong.

Either way, Gwen was treated like dirt and sent to suffer for an old mistake, for so long until she lost hope altogether and bailed on fighting. The others could've helped her, but only Duncan took the time to consider helping, and he tried to commit suicide... so what other influence was there for Gwen in a world where she really needed a friend?

Does this mean the other campers are entirely to blame? No. But there is a lesson for them to learn here about empathy and redemption as a concept. Them hating her is understandable if you the audience want to see it as understandable reasons to hate Gwen, but did they go about it the right way? No.

Gwen Ellis is nothing short of a tragedy and a cautionary tale of a minor being a victim of cancel culture.

And the surviving campers want to make sure that her fate never happens to anybody else ever again.

And in case you’re wondering why Bridgette is the one who gave the eulogy, when Duncan and Courtney were right there, 1) Neither were very mentally stable at the time 2) Bridgette is one of the hosts with who WAS Geoff (And is now Leshawna. Platonically.), so she has the experience to give speeches like this in front of people. That and she has the calm agency to be mature about the situation, especially how she, more than anyone, feels like she HAS to own up to her mistake of being a part of the fuel that lead to the death of this girl.

And she didn't have to do that, and no one would blame her. Gwen killed Geoff, forced to or not, and Bridgette was understandably upset and could still hold that grudge even after Gwen's death, and no one would blame her. But the fact that she took ownership after realizing what's happened says a lot about her as a person.

[maryellencarter]

1. haha no

2. Probably Leia

3. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA let's say there are a surprising number of choices I don't regret

4. Duh, who isn't on this bitch of a website

5. I has a Leia

6. Painlessly and after having done as much fun shit as possible

7. Strawberry cheese danish

8. Soccer. A little baseball but I don't run well enough.

9. Yup

10. Huh. Longer ago than I realize. I'm always *ready* to fight but it hasn't been necessary in many years

11. I like many people. If the question is "do you have a crush on someone", no

12. 60+, for my sins. There's a point where you get paranoid hallucinations keeping you awake even further

13. Oh yeah, I contain multitudes

14. So many people

15. No. Pets, like children, are too much of a responsibility for me. I like them if their humans will take them away again

16. Sleep deprived. I forgot to charge my CPAP battery and the nightclub across the street is on its usual Saturday night backbeat

17. Have not made out at all

18. I would like them to stay away from me but I'm as scared of hurting them as I am of them hurting me

19. I honestly don't know. I'd miss so many friendships if I did anything different. Causality is weird

20. I have not snogged someone, at least if I understand the term properly (open-mouth kiss?)

21. Be sleep deprived. And hopefully get back to my food stamps application

22. No. I am not psychologically able to be a good parent.

23. None currently. I got my earlobes pierced once but they never healed properly

24. Oh, English by a country mile. Spelling, grammar, analysis, writing, you name it.

25. Yeah

26. Sleep. Also for the temperature to stop getting so cold I have to break out the electric blanket

27. Great question. He probably thought I did? I think it was just his ego. He's obviously over it

28. Not technically, that I know of. Leia has other datemates but we agreed to that up front, and she doesn't have anyone else in my role. And the best we can figure, John dumped his previous ex mere hours before propositioning me, so not *technically* cheating?

29. Oh, probably. Hopefully. He deserved it

30. The difficulty of doing stuff "in bed" comfortably when your bed is a reclined driver's seat of a car

31. She says she does 🥰

32. Blue

33. BWAHAHAHAHA being fair i fucking earned them

34. I don't remember dreams much since I lost my job and don't have to get up on an alarm anymore. I think it was a stress dream about what if my new phone broke

35. Define "in front of". I last cried in a conversation with Leia, but it was over text. Generally I can't cry in front of people unless I'm so overloaded with stress that I shouldn't even *be* around people

36. Yep, right up until I snap and it's zero chances ever again

37. I have a near-eidetic memory and a deeply ingrained aversion to the ways forgiveness gets demanded of victims. I will take option three, "hit the bricks"

38. Christ, it better fucking not be. I deserve better than this

39. I was 36

40. Yeah

41. ... questions 41 through 50 appear to be missing, huh

51. Hard to choose, but Panera mac and cheese is right up there

52. No, and anybody who tries that shit on me in person can get cornered into a trauma-dump that won't end until I lose my voice

53. Turned on my CPAP machine

54. Really depends on the definition of cheating, and also whether you're talking about in relationships or on tests. There are plenty of people to whom any nonmonogamy is cheating

55. No. I'm too softhearted

56. Dear lord, I lost count by the time I was three. This is why I'm kind of baffled that it's been so long

57. Strongly depends on your definition. True as in faithful? As in one-and-only? As in at-first-sight? Something else?

58. "October's bright blue weather"

59. Hell yes. I missed it so much when I lived out Southwest

60. Not for legal purposes, but I'd like to have a handfasting or similar ceremony someday if we can ever afford it. I get jealous when my friends get married because I want to also have a day that's all about how much we love each other. And a really fancy dress

61. When Leia does, sure. Or a Southerner or drag queen who can pull it off. Random old men hitting on me, no

62. Lots of things. Music. Sunshine. Thunderstorms. Knitting. Geology. My shows and blorbos. Leia

63. Already have done and will again

64. Not clear on the question. If she was here it would be very easy for me to kiss her. But she is not here, and it would be more difficult for other people to kiss her

65. My best... look, opposite *sex* is a complicated enough concept when I'm technically intersex... but if you go to "best friend of the opposite AGAB", I think I only have three or four friends at most who fit the description? And my first thought is the one I've known the longest, who... I don't think does relationships? He certainly doesn't talk about them. So I just go sort of brain-broken out of the starting gate and do not have an answer. I suppose for argument's sake we'd discuss it like grown adults, as we have other things?

66. This quiz has gone weirdly heterosexual, huh. Same definitions as before, same friend has seen (and encouraged) me being on my bullshit for what has to be about fourteen years now, it'd have to be something pretty stiff to override that

67. I have absolutely no fucking idea? I mean, I was talking to Logan at the beginning of this quiz, he dropped by to poke me about being too attached to my regrets because that's one of his things. But he's fictionary and also in my head

68. That really depends on how you define deep. Maybe Kat?

69. I'd better, I have one ^_^ I've always been really against the concept of soulmates, because what if you never find them? Any relationship can work if both parties put in the effort. And yet... here she is, exactly what I wanted from the time I knew I wanted anything, exactly who I knew was missing and ached to find. I never used to want to believe in reincarnation because my life was so miserable that any other incarnation would have been preferable, but now I hope I find her in every life

70. Yeah, but she'd kick my ass for it 😘 I have to go on living and enjoy life, even if I lose her. That'll be infinitely harder. (I don't think I could write again. That or I'd go back to writing 500-word depression vignettes)

70 horrible questions ... Fuck it

01: Do you have a good relationship with your parents? 02: Who did you last say “I love you” to? 03: Do you regret anything? 04: Are you insecure? 05: What is your relationship status? 06: How do you want to die? 07: What did you last eat? 08: Played any sports? 09: Do you bite your nails? 10: When was your last physical fight? 11: Do you like someone? 12: Have you ever stayed up 48 hours? 13: Do you hate anyone at the moment? 14: Do you miss someone? 15: Have any pets? 16: How exactly are you feeling at the moment? 17: Ever made out in the bathroom? 18: Are you scared of spiders? 19: Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? 20: Where was the last place you snogged someone? 21: What are your plans for this weekend? 22: Do you want to have kids? How many? 23: Do you have piercings? How many? 24: What is/are/were your best subject(s)? 25: Do you miss anyone from your past? 26: What are you craving right now? 27: Have you ever broken someone’s heart? 28: Have you ever been cheated on? 29: Have you made a boyfriend/girlfriend cry? 30: What’s irritating you right now? 31: Does somebody love you? 32: What is your favourite color? 33: Do you have trust issues? 34: Who/what was your last dream about? 35: Who was the last person you cried in front of? 36: Do you give out second chances too easily? 37: Is it easier to forgive or forget? 38: Is this year the best year of your life? 39: How old were you when you had your first kiss? 40: Have you ever walked outside completely naked? 51: Favourite food? 52: Do you believe everything happens for a reason? 53: What is the last thing you did before you went to bed last night? 54: Is cheating ever okay? 55: Are you mean? 56: How many people have you fist fought? 57: Do you believe in true love? 58: Favourite weather? 59: Do you like the snow? 60: Do you wanna get married? 61: Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you baby? 62: What makes you happy? 63: Would you change your name? 64: Would it be hard to kiss the last person you kissed? 65: Your best friend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do? 66: Do you have a friend of the opposite sex who you can act your complete self around? 67: Who was the last person of the opposite sex you talked to? 68: Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with? 69: Do you believe in soulmates? 70: Is there anyone you would die for?

[devotedgossamerreader]

Mr Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger

ok, a blind person can 100% be a witness. just probably not what anybody hopes for

SHE REACHED WITH HER LEFT HAND! SHE SAW HIS CAST! I remembered she wasn't totally blind though, and I've been watching for proof

the fast pace this show moves at is always so funny to me. like, we as the viewers just found out that the shooter spoke to the blind lady- "tell anybody about this and I'll kill you." but the cops already brought in willie and several other guys to have an identification test, they were waiting right outside the room

Trudy and Adrian lore- their first date was a willie nelson concert

ok but i know how this show works. the second they showed me Adrian practicing the song for the radio show, and doing super well, i started to be concerned he won't be able to play it when the time comes, or will be interrupted. it's some charlie brown murphy's law stuff

of all the concerns for Monk returning to the force, I'm surprised nobody's brought up his pattern of getting too close to the suspects during investigations. I'm sure he just gets away with it from being a consultant

I'll never get tired of Monk and Sharona reenacting crimes

oh. my. word. that guy is just rude, even before covid i feel like putting your mouth on someone else's instrument was a big no

i feel like if I was blind i wouldn't care to make my clothes match. except I'd probably have to do it for other people's sake like to look good at work

OH SHOOT i heard them say the victim was found guilty of drinking and driving and that the accident had casualties. i heard the lady say she lost her sight in the car crash that killed her parents. I didn't put 2 and 2 together tho

[uroborosymphony]

The receiving end of Ara's ire is like staring down the sharp edge of a knife. Her eyes are hard when they pierce into yours, merciless. Ara knows how she intimidates either by her known unstability, her eloquence, her gained superiority or a twisted mix of the three. It would have been anybody else than Annie serving her these words, it would triggered an erratic theatrical reaction of hers, a loud laughter of Awww are you judging me Honey? Followed by a grand exposé on how the world will be saved by her and the machinations in her head. She believes, more than her own existence, in this ideal she wants to create, perhaps to the point it becomes a dangerous fantasy she lives in, one she drags everything around her in. It's obsessive. It's called fanatism. Everything is different here. It's Annie. Annie being the one asking her these questions does seize her core. Ara is offended, a little hurt - wanting to believe Annie, more than anybody else would know what's in her heart and that every single action taken is to serve the causes she dedicates her life to. Despite Annie being careful about her words the way she always is, it is judgment. A brow is arched at first, then it's followed by a frown, the lines of her face resisting the urge to distort. "So you are judging me huh." A silence follows. A contemplative silence followed by slow nods from Ara's head, the type of slow nods of disapprovement that actually helps her to slow down, hold her tongue, the type of "I see" cold silence. Ara refuses to lash out, believing it is not Annie's intention to hurt her nor cause a fight yet it's hard not to. "Then tell me if my Choices are Oh so morally inferior. What does it mean to protect the neighborhood to you? Keep doing what we have been doing for YEARS?" Escalating, the last word is almost yelled, she clenches and unclenches her fists, back and forth like a mad woman trying to refrain to raise tone, to control what's always creepling under her skin. Ara is impulsive, it is something she never truly worked on. She attacks, she yells, she overpowers but here, here she is trying. "I won't' protect shit by remaining a lowlife, what we've been our entire existence : victims. There are young girls out there who are currently living the same fucking lives we lived, or you know what, even WORSE, at least I never had to sleep in the streets nor did I got abused by my own alcoholic father who lost his job because he was considered too old to serve some company who treat their employees like stoke. But I swear to fucking God that's what's happening on the daily. Do you know why?" She crosses her arms. "It's a pyramid. In a world where money is power, the only way to stop this madness is to climb the ladder, seize that wealth to be able to redistribute it. And how the FUCK am I going to do that if I don't fight equal to equal? Stealing from the Rich occasionally, we've done that, it's not enough. I need to break the cycle and to break the cycle I need to step inside of it, become part of it and make it implode from the inside." A sigh follows as she paces a bit, stretching her neck, thinking, she's jittery. "This dress - " she starts again, pointing at her own self, stopping where she is, eyes back to Annie. "That's the weapon I need to see eye to eye with the persecutors, I need to be close to them if I want to dare to take them down and dilapidate them all. But I'm all ears if you got a better idea." A sarcastic scoff escapes from her lips as she looks down shaking her head again, her hands on her hips this time. "I bet you don't. No one has. I bet this isn't even your point nor your wish to protect a goddamn neighborhood no, you just wanted to call me a sell out. How long have you been thinking that of me huh?"

[heliads]

Hello Lisa! This is a request for peter pan with the prompts no. 13, 19, 25. I can't wait to read it <3

Congratulations once again on 5k 🎉

lots of love from AU Anon! 💛

thank you!! let's rock

masterlist

Peter Pan never fails.

That’s what his Lost Boys say, anyway, that little expression they love to repeat whenever he outsmarts another shipful of pirates, evil queen, or the latest villain to come to the island and challenge his status. Peter has said it himself more than a fair amount of times, savoring the syllables on his tongue as if by declaring it alone, he’ll have that much more power to find the means to his ends.

Now, however, Peter feels surprisingly close to failing. He has been trying to actualize a goal of his for quite some time, yet somehow he is absolutely no closer to succeeding than he was at the beginning. In fact, he might be even farther from achieving this dream than at first. Every one of his efforts seems to push him away time and time again.

The name of this particular conquest, you might ask? Peter Pan wants the heart of someone quite close to him. He wants to steal that beating organ directly from someone’s chest without a single drop of blood. No violence, only metaphors. He wants someone to fall in love with him, and that person is Y/N L/N.

Peter was not supposed to fall for her. In fact, he specifically has been going about his days all this time in the hopes of never falling in love. Love is a weakness, a distraction from the true glory of not caring about anybody except for oneself. That’s what Peter had been preaching, at least, but all it took was one daring Lost Girl and he’s absolutely set on her.

It’s ridiculous. Peter has been trying to shake this crush for a while now, but nothing he does ever seems to work. He spends some time in his Thinking Tree to identify all the things about Y/N that he seems to love in the hopes of talking himself out of them, but no dice. He tries to treat her like any other Lost Boy so he’ll start thinking platonically instead of romantically, and they end up sparring and he’s got his sword to her throat and she’s grinning at him and– oh no, he’s even worse than before.

No, there’s nothing Peter can do about getting rid of his terrible affections. The only solution, then, is to get Y/N to like him so he can stop pining and get on with himself. However, this is far easier said than done. Y/N is headstrong, wild, out of her mind, and that’s exactly why Peter loves her. This does, unfortunately, lead to Peter’s attempts having less success than he would prefer.

He’s trying again now, though, and this time, it’s going to work. At first, Peter was worried that perhaps he wasn’t being direct enough– if Peter himself didn’t think himself capable of love, it’s not like anyone else would think that he would fall victim to such an occurrence. Y/N might not even realize it, and believe him to just be talking to her like any other friend.

He’s not blind, of course. Peter is Peter, and at the end of the day, that means he’s the most brutal of all of them, the most cunning, the most devoted to trickery. Most of the Lost Boys wouldn’t put it past Peter to make someone think he liked them far better than he did just to achieve a result if he so wished.

Y/N is different, though. For once, there’s no gambit involved. Peter is simply in love, and although that may not seem conceivable to anyone who isn’t him, it’s true. The objective from here on out is not to win a prize, but a heart. Peter may have had less luck on that front than he’d like as of late, but today is going to go differently. He can feel it, or at least he’d like to pretend as much.

Today, he’s going to be direct. In fact, Peter doesn’t think he could possibly be more obvious. The Lost Boys are holding a celebration of sorts to welcome their latest arrival, some bedraggled looking boy Peter’s shadow summoned up earlier today, and the sounds of their wild whoops and cheers should cover up any words spoken between him and Y/N.

She’s sitting on a log on the outskirts of the festivities, watching the dancing and cheering with a glint in her eye. Y/N had been one amongst their wailing numbers only a little while ago, but she relinquished her spot in the ranks to the new boy.

Peter casually takes a seat next to her, raising his voice a little to be heard over the din of the others. “How’s the prettiest person in the world doing?”

There, a clear indication that Peter wants to be more than just friends. However, despite his strong self assurance that this could only be interpreted in a non platonic manner, Y/N just flashes him an easygoing grin and fires the question straight back at him.

“I don’t know, how are you?”

Peter almost sputters. “You think I’m pretty?”

Y/N arches a brow. “Do you think I’m pretty?”

He’s going to lose his mind. “Do you ever take things seriously?”

“Not if I can help it,” Y/N returns, “I thought that’s what we did around here. Made things up and had fun with it.”

“Only in the proper situations,” Peter mutters under his breath. Preferably, serious conversations could still be had in times of need, such as now, when he really needs to figure out if she likes him or not.

Y/N chuckles. “You look like you’re having a wonderful evening. You might want to smile every now and then, or our newest Lost Boy is going to think that we’re all boring and grim.”

Peter arches a brow. “I’m always like this. Don’t you remember that from when you arrived on Neverland?”

Y/N’s eyes warm with the memory. “Of course I remember. I think you threatened to kill me. It was a wonderful start.”

Peter does remember that, now that she brings it up. Perhaps it shouldn’t come as such a surprise that he’s struggling to let his feelings be known; he’s not exactly well known for his emotional outreach.

“Well,” Peter declares, “it worked for you, obviously, and it’ll work for the new kid. I, for one, am eager to see what he’ll bring to the rest of us.”

Y/N nods in agreement. “Just don’t get so attached to him that you forget about me, alright?”

The fire sparks nearby. The extra light casts Y/N’s face in sharper clarity, and for a brief moment, Peter realizes that she’s serious at last. The shadows come soon enough, of course, ridding him of this evidence in no time at all, but her expression is still burned into the back of Peter’s mind like a brand.

“I could never forget about you,” he whispers, “never in a thousand years. Perhaps even in a million.”

It’s getting dark by now, the night settling over them in great heaps of indigo and charcoal, but Peter swears he can still see a slow smile spread across Y/N’s face at his words. He might have a better chance at this than he thought.

Peter goes to sleep pleased with himself that night, but when morning comes, he can’t shake the belief that he made no real progress. The day comes and goes, bringing with it no sure signs that Y/N understood what he was trying to say. When Peter wakes up early the morning after that and sees Y/N along by the water’s edge, he all but jumps at the chance to talk to her alone again.

Y/N’s skipping stones as far as she can. The water is slow around here, less restricted by the tides. The bay opens up to the sea farther out, but right here, all is calm and bright. The sun is steadily climbing through the sky, setting a ripple of sparkles atop the blue of the water.

She turns to him with a smile when she hears him approach. “Thought that was you. No one else does the whole ‘ominous lurking’ thing like you, by the way.”

Peter snorts before he can stop himself. “That’s a terrible thing to say to somebody.”

Y/N chuckles. “Doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

She turns to pick up another pebble, hurling it as far as she can into the shimmering depths. Peter raises a hand to shade his eyes from the sun, and he can just make out where it lands on the horizon.

“I didn’t think you’d be up so early. We were training all yesterday, everyone else is still sleeping in.” He comments.

Y/N lifts a shoulder. “You’re not. Plus, I only get so many hours by myself around here. I wanted at least a few moments to myself.”

Peter freezes slightly, wondering if that’s a hint for him to get lost. Y/N gestures at him to join her, though, so she must not be including him in her wish for everyone else to keep their distance.

Peter picks up a smooth stone, tossing it up and down in his palm before sending it skipping across the surface. “I can’t blame you for wanting some time alone. The rest of the Lost Boys are a good bunch, but we spend a lot of the day together. I often walk by myself in the mornings, if you ever wanted a place to be alone with somebody else.”

He manages to tinge the offer with the faintest bit of hope, like the last of his spirit is bleeding out into the request. Peter doesn’t know how many more ways he can try to tell Y/N how he feels, but he’s running out of options.

Y/N puts down the rock she had just picked up, and turns to look at him in earnest. “If this is your way of asking me out, I think I’m going to need you to try a little harder.”

Peter stares at her. “What?”

Her voice, usually so light and carefree, is deadly serious. “I need to know how you feel, Peter. I’m sick of playing games or trying to figure each other out through extended hints and innuendos. If this is what you want, fine. I just need to know the truth.”

Peter feels floored. He’d thought he was being obvious, but Y/N looks like she hasn’t been sure of him for quite some time.

So, he nods, and does his best to give her some clarity. “I am trying to ask you out, Y/N. Honestly, I am. I know that I’m– difficult, maybe, or hard to handle, but it’s true. I want to be the closest person to you, closer than anyone else.”

The faintest of smiles is starting to slip across her face, warming her hesitant expression, giving new light to her eyes. Peter thinks he could watch that sort of transition like a sunrise, constantly seeking it out, always enamored to have it all to himself.

“So you really do like me, huh?” She comments, so unconcerned by the gravitas of Peter Pan himself falling for her.

“I do,” he says calmly, “but I don’t know how you feel. Tell me you love me, Y/N. I need to hear it just the once.”

He has always been one for theatrics, for showmanship, and he can’t resist now. Something about hearing her say the blessed words once and for all will finally let him rest.

Y/N seems to know this, and so she smiles and indulges him. “I love you, Peter. I have for quite some time.”

Just like that, he’s golden. Peter is used to his endless stretch of years and decades and centuries. He’s always had the Lost Boys, but now he has something better, someone even closer than those friends. He has someone to love, someone who loves him back, and that makes all of the difference.

ouat tag list: @lovesanimals0000, @amortensie, @lost-ender

[ctheathy]

Yandere The Angel headcanons

Yandere The Angel x Reader

Yandere Headcanons [SFW]

It may come off as slightly out of character to those who have dove deeper into his persona, but I wish to tell you; that was exactly what I was going for. I could easily just write him down as some barbarian who does nothing more than take the lives of those around you, but where’s the fun in that? That might as well be his neutral form without any of the romance included. I enjoy writing for unique aspects in yandere aus, and this just so happens to be my own.

Potential ⚠️TWs⚠️ :

General toxicity • Yanderes • Depression • Descriptions of Insanity • Su!c!de mention • Slight death+murder detail • Sadistic behaviour [Only from the Angel ,, Not directed torwards darling] • Possessiveness • Superiority complex • Narcissism • Fascination with death • Guilt tripping • Worship

At first glance, the Angel seems like a very ... Complex character. He’s sadistic, cruel, barbaric and very much disrespectful to those who have passed on to the next life; showing no sorrow in their deaths and feeling the need to mock those who are on the verge of it. Much of the characteristics that would be considered a whole lot more reasonable for quite the opposite than the angelic form they take on. All of that and proportionally for little to no reason behind it either. He simply enjoys the things that he does for the thrill of it, having zero remorse in the matter whatsoever ... But there’s an aspect I haven’t seen anybody remorselessly think nor talk about just yet. One that not only has the capability of breaking some of those inhumane personality traits down, but in causing his yandere tendencies to show up. It’s time we take a look far into the future, one much further than any given screentime could ever be.

Over the years he starts to grow bored of his targets. As there's heavily implied that the Angel is very much self aware and has the capability of interacting with future victims of either suicidal reasonings, near death experiences, due to them being on the verge of the afterlife to begin with or himself simply shooting the brains out of them out of satisfaction; any potential survivors after having met the Angel would have likely lost their lives by him not all too long after or have fallen into complete insanity by the relentless and nonstopping disturbing presence alone.

Most assumptions on meeting this considered holy being would likely either move torwards fearing it for their lives, the realisation setting in that it holds the power to literally end anyone’s life they desire to take; or instead going as far to worship the divine appearance, viewing it as a sign of hope and good luck, doing anything it requests in order to keep this mere delusion of themselves living and holding no limits in order to do so, to the point where in the end the only considered thing blessing for them would be the mental institution taking them in. And although these occurrences used to be delightful for him, The Angel has rarely ever experienced anything else. All it takes is one little difference in behaviour what would be more than enough to set him off. Foreignness filling his veins and a feeling of curiosity and desire starting to bloom inside of him.

I cannot help but enjoy the thought of the Angel craving nothing but normality for once in a while. Messing with people on the boundary of life and death is fun. Heck, even toying with the mortal’s emotions shall remain enjoyable and very much so entertaining for the Angel, but it’s important to remember that it’s all he’s ever used to. The Angel holding younger//childish characteristics and curious desires makes it only obvious their ways shall become atleast somewhat boring to them over time. He gets tired of everything being in constant repeat. He wants--no he needs something else to keep his own cravings intact eventually.

Am I implying that the Angel has been a ticking time bomb all along?

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m going after.

When treating him as some equal, neutral entity; almost like he didn’t just take somebody’s life right in front of you, he’s close to feeling offended in a way. He understands he speaks and looks like any other human being would minus the common angelic features, but surely you should have gotten the hint by now that he’s on a much higher level than any of you mortals could ever be. But instead you ... Don’t. Or either just do not care about the Angel’s position as the assistant of literal Death himself in the slightest, which both wouldn’t be all too far out of reach for your case, but this instead makes him feel absolutely outraged and severely taken aback; rather close to just making the presumption that your sanity levels had already been long gone to begin with. No other human has ever treated him the same way you have, so what was the deal with you here? You’re definitely on the border of weird in his opinion, but also intrusively compelling, which is exactly where this unwanted obsession of his would make a start.

No matter how the two of you would have met, the Angel wouldn’t want you dead like he might have had in plan beforehand. Due to how dull his life had been, it’s only obvious he would have easily noticed how much more alive he’s gotten after your sudden arrival in his life, it’s likely been hundreds of years since he’s felt this way--no- Even generally speaking, he felt better than he’s ever had. If anything, all those damned years can go to waste for all he cares. You’ve become his main and likely only source of happiness at this point, and although he would never show nor admit to this in any case, he’s been just as miserable as those occasional mortals suffering from depression in all those years.

Yet would the one struggling with similar issues be his darling, he’d be a whole lot less reasonable among his entire circle of life perspective, casting it aside in hopes of them listening to his childlike, yet genuine pleads for their beating heart. Quite literally guilt tripping you in the process, having zero problem nor shame in forcing out a few crocodile tears in order to keep you on your feet properly. He’s had a mindset that could usually only be considered as insensitive and apathetic; finding any kinds of suffering viewed as pleasant, and although he still truly is torwards any other human being out there, he could never wish the same upon his darling, no matter how natural it may feel for him.

Despite how the normal Angel would be fairly careless with his victims, just trying to get the job done with and not feeling any particular way when doing so, yandere Angel gains a habit of becoming a whole lot more ... Aggressive torwards any rivals of his that might pop up. Despite having a seemingly small image and usually just going for the gun to do the job for him, the Angel would have no problem literally ripping apart whoever with bare hands, tearing off the chunks of flesh of anybody unlucky enough to grab your attention. And may they have the convenience to survive? Well- A few or thirty stabs and knife wounds on the body would surely do the trick instead. Although he’d usually be one to show these through childish acts and mannerisms, his possessive nature has become him to be a whole lot more emotionally expressive with his true emotions among the circumstances of the situation.

For something more on the romantic side, I can see him being a severely overprotective, teasing, cunning and sarcastic, yet perhaps somewhat needy being torwards his darling. On a more immature note, he’d likely also be one to throw childish fits when not getting what he desires, even lack of attention for the day causing his mood to sour greatly. He’s an entity that’s lacked any kinds of normal connections, as some would say it, so having gained one through you would make him quite the clingy saint; always hovering around you throughout your usual routines and holding your side close at the seemingly worst moments along the day. He’s also one to wrap you around in his wings, who unsurprisingly, are fairly soft, feeling much like those of doves would, yet also fluffy in a way. He’d also use this technique when feeling particularly jealous in any of your daily moments together. Any potential threats and unwanted observation being given shall learn what it’s like to have a bullet be shot through their foreheads.

The Angel has chosen you as the muse of his life and he’ll go to severe extends to show the entire world that if he has to, feeling the need to wrap you up and keep you away from any of their horrendous behaviours and thinking that could potentially rub their ways off on you. You’re the true angel in his eyes. You’ve saved him of a lifelong fate that no other could have considerably freed him from. He finds himself being an unstable wreck before all that and it’s only then when just the wrong darling shows up

who knows how long he has the capability of following them around before he’ll snap?

[aquarian-queen]

Q: It's been fun to watch Troy and Madison interact with each other. It's like watching a chess match, because each one knows how to play the other one, and Troy may have gotten more than he bargained for with the Clark family, because Madison has been messing with him and keeping Troy on his toes as much as he keeps her on her toes. Daniel Sharman: Absolutely. That was always what was fascinating to me about the script. You never get the sense that either chess player reveals their hand, and what I find lovely about it is that even when Troy is at times surprised or outmaneuvered or outflanked by Madison, there's a kind of respect there instead of an animosity, because he now has a partner that is equal to him. I think that's the first time in his life he's ever had someone who has showed that, so there's a kind of excitement and joy in playing with her. His barometer of when we can be friends is not quite the same as everybody else's. You have to almost kill him to gain his respect. Q: At first you think that Troy is just this sadistic person and that he's doing these things just to be pure evil, but as we learn more about his backstory, it almost seems as though Troy is as much of a victim as he is a villain. Was it interesting to dive into that duplicity as an actor? Daniel Sharman: Yeah, I'm really not interested in playing—I don't think any actor is—two-dimensional characters, so it was never an idea to me that this was just a psychopath or somebody that was totally without a past or a reason for his behavior, so I was really glad that the scripts supported a deeply troubled character, but also the reasons for that trouble—an exploration into a human being and human nature. That to me, as an actor, is always way more fascinating than just playing an "evil" character. Q: Because Troy lost his mom before the apocalypse, do you think that he could almost see Madison like a mom figure in his life? Daniel Sharman: There's a very muddy relationship there. Of course there is an idea of losing a mom, but I don't think it's quite as simple as him wanting to replace his mother. I think he looks at Madison as a strong woman, and is fascinated by someone who cares so deeply for her children and would do anything for their survival, which is so alien to him, because he's never had anybody that's done that. So I don't think it's just a motherly thing, but he's fascinated by blind devotion and this intense love. Because when he first sees Madison, it's not just Madison, it's Madison with Alicia. That's the key, seeing those two together and watching that relationship, which is something that Troy just does not understand. He has a line in the first episode where he says something like, "You love him more than you love yourself." And he's never encountered that. He's quite baffled by somebody who would really, honestly give their life for somebody that they loved.

Honestly, it's because of Troy and Madison's dynamic that helped me write my current Troy x OC story.

[hoardingpuffin]

Autistic Person reacts to Autistic Representation in Young Royals Season 2

Spoiler Warning for Young Royals Season 2

Soooo I just finished Season 2 of Young Royals and oh boi, I have thoughts. In general, but about Sara in particular. I was curious about her arc in the second season, purely cause she is one of the most complex autistic characters I have seen in recently produced media, even though I couldn't relate to her particularily much.

This has changed now that I have seen Season 2 Episode 6. I will be honest, for the first 5 episodes, I didn't like what they did with Sara. I really didn't. I thought her arc with August was weird, though I did like seeing a driven autistic character who does things to get what she wants instead of being a flimsy, quirky kid who doesn't know what she is doing, but episode 6 changed that for me.

One thing that many autistic people experience, is that we take people at face value, until we don't anymore. Most autistic people have been victims of bullying and emotional manipulation, without realizing. We tend to be literal, and in general - unless we learned differently, usually as a follow-up to us being told to not always say what we think - we are very honest and blunt. In return we expect other people to act the same. This continues until the point where we realize that this isn't true, that people don't always say what they mean. In many cases, including my own life, this realization doesn't come until a few times of believing someone was our friend only to have them humiliate, betray or hurt you. And from that point on we tend to turn into metaphorical snails pulling back into our shells. If we don't put ourselves out, we cannot be hurt again.

Sara to me seems like someone learning this lesson at the end of season 2. She genuinely believed August because she, in her mind, didn't have a reason to think he might not mean exactly what he was saying. This was made worse by her maybe also wanting to see good in him, as per the metaphorical rose-coloured glasses of being in love. So whilst she made a mistake, a grave one, and made a lot of things worse with her actions, I don't think she meant to. I think she honestly didn't think August would do what he did. And honestly, the scene where the other girls, and especially Felice call her out, in very direct and hurtful words, she became relatable to me. I never was in her exact situation, but I was in a situation where I thought I did something the way I was supposed to, and ended up being called a liar and other nasty things. Some context: In sixth grade, I made up a boyfriend, because every girl talked about the boys they liked and I felt like I needed to belong. It seemed like a rule nobody had thought to inform me of, but that everyone else knew. So, I tried following the rule, and I lied up a boyfriend named Tom. Not smart, sure, but I was 12 or 13 and hadn't gotten to a place where I was happy being the weird kid yet. When it came out that I had lied, my classmates called me out in front of everyone and painted me out to be a manipulative liar and a fake friend and I felt terrible. I felt like I had ruined every chance at ever being anybody's friend ever again. And again, that was me at about 13. I had already had two friendships end badly, and some very traumatic experiences before that point. So I came to the conclusion of "if I don't put myself out there nobody can hurt me or use me" very early. Sara, evidently, comes to this conclusion at 18.

I don't want to defend her actions. I just think there might be more to this arc for her than many people seem to see. I have seen posts about Sara being a cunt, a manipulator, a terrible friend, a piece of shit - those are all quotes. I wish I was lying. I think Sara genuinely regrets it - her mistakes, because they were mistakes. She is not some cunning, terrible person, a mastermind trying to ruin her brother's and her friends' lives. She just made a mistake because she believed the wrong person, and she pays the price. She lost her friends, her safety net, her relationship with her brother is ruined. Trust me, that is punishment enough. I have been there.

It's also nice - well, not nice, but realistic - to see how her allistic friends react. They don't believe her, they are confused how she could possibly have been so "stupid" to believe a guy they all thought was so obviously terrible. They also don't try to see it from her point of view. To them, it is a clear-cut case. Because yeah, that is a realistic portrayal of how allistic people often act toward autistic people making a mistake, especially when they themselves don't understand much about autism.

I think that is all I got to say for now, about this. Just one last message, to the allistic Young Royals fans who are currently on Tumblr, Twitter, Tiktok, shaming her character for being so very terrible, I implore you to think. To reseach on autism a bit. To listen to the autistic people in this fandom. And to take a page from the book of autistic people and take her word at face value when she says that she didn't realize August was lying to her, and that she is sorry.

[astaroth1357]

Hello I really love your writing. I’m glad that you decided to open requests for a bit. I have a personal headcanon that the boys are a lot nicer to MC then they are to everyone else. Could you do a headcanon of the boys being out with MC and they are talking with MC happily. Then a lesser demon sees them with MC and says that the seven brothers have gone weak and they aren’t scared of them anymore. Thank you again!!! 😖 (Also the way you write Levi is great)

Aww thank you!! Levi's kind of my favorite character (if that hasn't become painfully obvious) so I try to write him well, you know? This one was a little hard for me to write because I just have a hard time imagining Asmo and Beel as something intimidating to the masses, but I tried my best! I hope you like it!

Lesser Demons Think the Brothers have "Gone Soft…"

Lucifer

If anybody had something to lose by acting sweet on a lowly human, it was Lucifer. His entire image was built on the back of power and intimidation, so really who didn't see this coming?

He knew there were whispers… Mostly in the RAD hallways. Students would see him with the MC and gossip amongst themselves… 

"Did you see them together again in the courtyard?"

"How did some random human even score a pact with him??"

"And I used to seriously look up to him, too…"

He'd always silence their chitchat with a well placed glare, but this was a symptom of something more… troubling. A decay of his social image if you will.

Perhaps it speaks to how well and truly enamored he was with the MC that this proud creature didn't just dump them the second he started looking bad, but still… a part of him really couldn't stand for this...

So maybe it was a blessing in disguise when he finally got an excuse to establish his superiority yet again!

He and the MC were walking the halls of RAD after school hours and they had just made an amusing joke at the expense of of his brothers. Unfortunately, Lucifer collided into a lesser demon student while he was laughing…

On most occasions, he would have expected someone of such station to pay him deference then offer an apology - they had just ran into Lucifer after all - but the student just scoffed at him!

Lesser Demon: "Oi! Watch where you're going, Lucifer! Or were you too busy sucking up to that human to notice?"

This… was maybe not the best response to have (if the "Oh shit" look on the MC's face was any indication) but for as annoyed as Lucifer was, he was also somewhat delighted.

Finally, he had the perfect messenger for just how cruel he could still be!

Lucifer: "MC, feel free to go home without me for now and tell my brothers to save my dinner for later…" *starts pulling out his favorite rope with a cold, but pleased, smile on his face* "I have a feeling I'll be home late tonight..."

The MC left him and his unfortunate victim to their fate and Lucifer later came home in the night with his uniform in a bad need of cleaning...

A new body decorated the RAD entrance hall the next morning - swinging from the ceiling and making an awful mess on the floor - but still alive enough give a very important message to the rest of the students:

"Lucifer hasn't changed a bit…"

Mammon

So, not even lesser demons see Mammon as some kind of high-ranking badass… 

Just to be clear, he is, but it’s hard for him to come off that way when he's begging for his next Grimm... Then enter MC into the picture and he somehow lost even MORE cred.

"There goes poor Mammon… Did you hear he got tricked into a pact?"

"Just look at him nipping at the human's heels! How pathetic is that??"

"Well that's Mammon for you… What a shit excuse for a demon."

Like Lucifer, Mammon wasn’t immune to the whispers, but unlike his brother he was able to push them mostly out of his mind. People look down on him? Yeah, what else is new?

To be honest, he didn’t really feel the need to prove anything to a bunch of lesser demon losers… But insulting his MC takes things a step too far.

He and the MC were out at the Devil's Coast, "enjoying" some of the haunted house attractions and generally having a good time…ish. 

Any time they managed to make it out of one, the MC would have to peel Mammon off their back and hold him to assure him they were back to safety (a process he seemed to like enough to repeat the horror that precedes it).

It was during one of these calm down sessions that the two were accosted by a couple of snickering lesser demons, clearly looking for a fight…

Lesser Demon 1: "Hey look! There's the 'Great' Mammon and his little master!"

Lesser Demon 2: "Guess the master fits the demon… Of course someone like Mammon couldn't even score a pact with Solomon and gets stuck with the weakling!"

Lesser Demon 1: "Well how's the babysitting going, Mams? I bet you can't wait for them to kill over, can ya?"

Lesser Demon 2: "Careful! With his luck, they'll probably get eaten by the end of next week! Haha!!"

Now… an important thing to know about Mammon is that you can fling all the mud and stones you'd like at him… but never at his MC. That's just asking for a bruising...

Mammon: *smiling like usual, but his eyes are practically burning with rage...* "Yo, MC… I'm gettin' a little hungry. Can ya go find us a snack over there? I'll meet ya in a bit…"

MC: "Mammon, are you-?"

Mammon: "Don’t worry 'bout me, babe." *takes his glasses off and flashes a fanged grin* "This is'a piece of cake."

And indeed, it wasn't difficult at all. No matter how fast those demons ran, they could never out speed Mammon and he was looking to give more than a warning…

The MC didn't know what he did while they were waiting in line, but they heard the sounds of pleading go silent before Mammon turned back up with a nice bruise on his cheek. Oh, how they fretted and dotted on him…

Meanwhile, the haunted houses just earned themselves a couple new mannequins!… when rigor sets in anyway.

Leviathan 

Levi has a… mixed reputation in the Devildom to start with. People who only know him for his titles usually expect him to be some kind of sea-hardened badass. Those who meet him are… well let's say less than impressed.

This isn't anything new to Levi. It does take a blow to his confidence sometimes but even still most people aren't dumb enough to say something to his face… most people.

Unfortunately, "most people" have been getting bolder after seeing him with MC - because Demon Lord forbid Leviathan actually look happy for a change…

He and the MC were out and about for once. There was a raffle for exclusive merch at Anidaemon and he brought them along to boost his chances. They were grinning and chatting about anime but well…

The human couldn’t hear this, but he could - sensitive demon ears and all that. There were a couple guys who were tailing him… heckling him just loud enough that he was CERTAIN they knew he could hear them...

Lesser Demon 1: "Is that seriously Leviathan hanging out with a human? Isn’t he an Admiral??"

Lesser Demon 2: "Ha! The whole family's turned into simps, are you that surprised?"

Lesser Demon 1: "Wonder what the human's giving them that's got them all brainwashed…"

Lesser Demon 2: "Well... I've got an idea." 😏

If there were ever a reason for bile to fill his throat, it was now. He might be a shut-in, but those guys were the real creeps…

To be honest, Levi isn't one for public confrontation. Even with how gross and disrespectful those demons were being, he would have let it slide if they had just left it at that… but no…

He and the MC were browsing the ani-music racks in the store when those idiots popped up again. They hovered a while until they MC suddenly left his side to go find a store clerk.

When he saw the other demons move their direction, he naturally put himself between them and the would-be harassers. It was a little telling that despite his ticked off expression, the demons just laughed in his face!

Lesser Demon 2: "Hey look, the puppy's come out to protect its owner! How cute!"

Lesser Demon 1: "I can't believe you're that predictable, Levi… Do you really think we'd be scared of you?"

Well. That settled it.

When the MC came back, they found that Levi had moved from the music racks to the merch tables near the bathrooms. They didn't think anything of it… but...

One body was paralyzed by his venom and stuffed head first in a toilet while the other getting strangled by his tail just underneath the tablecloth… Meanwhile, Levi was cheerfully rambling about the raffle like nothing was happening at all.

Maybe they should have been a little more scared of the shut-in...

Satan

This may actually be a case where the rumors have a point… The MC has made Satan "soft."

Well, if "soft" means actually in control of himself, anyway. 

Satan would probably call their effect on him both a blessing and a curse. Though he loved finally having a handle on his inner rage, it flew in the face of a lot of his public image… and people were starting to notice….

"Do you think there's something off about Satan…?"

"I saw the human step on his toes earlier and he didn't even flinch…! The old Satan would have torn them apart!!"

"He's gotten way too nice all of sudden… Wrath shouldn't be nice."

Was it a little frustrating? Certainly. Especially for someone as image conscious as him. But for as calm as he was now, Satan wasn’t any less cruel and he'd be more than happy to remind others of that fact….

His chance came when he and the MC were together having just left the local art gallery. The two were exchanging a healthy dialogue about a curious sculpture they saw on display when a latte suddenly went soaring through the air and ended up all over Satan's sweater… The culprit was plain to see, being the only other demon on the road that night.

Whether the act was intentional or not, the correct course of action would have been to apologize immediately and beg for mercy forgiveness… but all the demon did was laugh in his face…

Maybe he thought that since Satan had mellowed out and his human was right beside him that he'd be lenient… Oh no. Not gonna happen.

Satan's fist slammed into the guy's mouth with the force of a jetliner and knocked him over two benches before his back bent over a lamppost… To say it was a KO move would be an understatement.

He probably could have done a whole lot worse to the guy while he was down, but you know… the MC being there and "self-control" and what not…

The demon survived (barely) and only had to spend a few months in the hospital, if anything he got off light.

Not a soul would gloss over Satan's temper again and really he preferred it that way.

Asmodeus 

Well, to be fair not a lot of people thought that Asmo was tough to start with… but that's also his intention.

"Scary" is the opposite of "cute" and he prefers to be "cute" at all times! 😊

Buuut that doesn’t mean this scorpion is without a stinger. He CAN be quite brutal when he wants to be, you just have to push him that far and trashing his looks is a good way to start.

Asmo was out with the MC getting his hair done for the week at his favorite salon. They weren't the only people there that day, obviously. There were other customers - one being a lesser demon classmate of theirs - though neither he nor the MC thought much of him at the time...

Well… It was supposed to be a prank. Probably something the guy intended to use for social media clout. While the staff was too busy to notice, he snuck by and replaced Asmo's preferred conditioner with pink hair dye…

Asmo. Was. Furious. And honestly, the dude could have gotten away with it if he hadn't been laughing and recording the whole thing!

When Asmo's ire naturally fell onto him, he hardly looked fazed!

Lesser Demon: "Ah, please! You won't do shit to me with the human still around! You don't want to look any uglier to them do ya?"

Asmo: *freezes, but still furiously eyeing every sharp instrument within arm’s reach* "MC? Darling?"

MC: "Got it..."

Perhaps the prankster should have kept his mouth shut, because suddenly the MC needed to take a looong bathroom break…

They didn't come back out until they heard the sounds of screeching and broken glass finally die down and then they stepped back into a warzone… Broken mirrors and items seemingly flung everywhere in a fit of rage! The guy (and his phone) now nowhere to be seen…

The salon comped Asmo for the botched hair job and touch up… and then billed Lucifer for the property damage (which he got an earful about later). On the bright side though, Asmo actually looks pretty great with pink hair! Silver-linings. 🙂

Beelzebub 

… The concept of Beel "going soft" is almost an oxymoron. He IS soft, but his personality was never what made him intimidating to start with.

Behind all his kindness, Beel packs more firepower than at least 4 for his siblings combined and most people remember that fact. Hell, the guy looks like he could lift a semi and he probably would if he ever tried. 

However, that doesn’t save him from being underestimated completely... Especially when an upstart or two thinks he's too nice to actually start a fight...

He and the MC were coming back from the grocery store with the usual armfuls of sacks when the MC accidentally walked into a lesser demon on the street. Since their arms were full, several items spilled out from the bags and onto the ground…

The MC was quick to apologize to the demon and try to get down to clean the mess, but the asshole just kept walking… and Beel really didn't like that.

Beel: "Hey! Aren't you going to say, 'Sorry?'"

The lesser demon hardly looked over his shoulder to respond.

Lesser Demon: "Why should I? That's your human. Take care of them yourself."

Well it didn't take long for some of Beel's bags to hit the floor so he could lift the demon up by the back of the neck properly. When he turned the guy to face him, he made sure to bring his face reeaal close so he could hear him growl...

Beel: "Apologize. Or I'll eat you."

And like that, the asshole's mood went from "Do it yourself," to "Yessir Mr. Beelzebub, sir!" right quick!

The MC didn't have to carry a single bag another step and Beel got to keep his free hand so he could link it with theirs!... all while Beel kept mushing their new pack-mule forward like a sled dog back to the House. Thanks, Beel! 😊

Belphegor 

Kind of similar to Asmo, Belphie prefers to come off as unassuming on most days. But don't let his, "I'm a harmless sleepy boy" shtick fool you. He will cut a bitch if he's so motivated...

Thankfully for the world, he's generally not motivated. But that can be changed under the right circumstances...

Belphie and the MC were on yet another date to the botanical gardens. It's a peaceful place, though the MC can never go alone because of the frankly concerning amount of flesh-eating plants… Pretty, but also deadly, you know?

The two of them were walking to another rest spot when Belphie heard whispering from a demon behind them, seemingly on his phone…

Lesser Demon: “Yeah, I can see them right now…”

Lesser Demon: “I know right? It's so lame that these guys are in charge of us… They can't even say no to a dumb human!”

Lesser Demon: “What do you mean keep my voice down? Dude, it's fine! This is Belphegor we're talking about, the hell is he going to do if he hears me?”

… Huh.

The answer to the man's question was a simple one. Flash into his demon form for just a moment and whip out his tail... It only took a quick swipe to make him trip and fall right into the foliage. The man-eating… carnivorous… hungry… foliage….

Belphie was back to normal by the time the jerk let out his first scream and the MC almost stopped to see what had happened.

MC: "What the-oh my God!! Should we help-??”

Belphie: *puts his hands on their shoulders to keep them moving, not even glancing back* “Someone else will take care of it. Let's see the roses.”

Even when the desperate cries for help became distant, it took all Belphie had to stifle a smile…

Sometimes, you've got to love irony. 🤷‍♀️😏