#making the people trying to help me more frustrated with me. awesome. cool

[lesbianpegbar]

hi sorry i didn’t show up to our meeting or respond to your email about this serious thing i slept until 1 pm because i’m going through a major depressive episode and am experiencing some of the most severe mood swings i’ve ever had in my life i understand if you hate me and are mad at me though. sorry

[rafesbabygirlx]

hey!! im the one who requested the john b and bitchy!kook!reader (it was awesome i busted many times!!)

im a mega john b girl and have another smut request 😜😜😜 (with a prompt 🤯)

"if i have to stop this car, i’m going to make sure you can’t walk out of it without my help”

maybe reader made JB mad somewhere, and is still giving him shit in the car??

your wish is my command 🫡

I needed to use your quote too bc damn. also she's a long one

𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍 - 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗 𝙱 𝚡 𝚐𝚏!𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜- 𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚜𝚎𝚡, 𝚌𝚊𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚡

𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗 - 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍

𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝

The Twinkie rolled up to the party, and you and John B. climbed out of the car. He looked effortlessly cool, the usual grin plastered on his face as he shot you a glance.

"You ready for this?" he asked, his voice low, a spark of excitement in his eyes.

You smirked. "Ready as I’ll ever be."

You both made your way through the crowd, John B. keeping a protective arm around you. The place was buzzing, people everywhere, the bass of the music thumping in your chest. After a few beers, you were already feeling tipsy, the buzz creeping up on you.

John B. was keeping a close watch on you, but you weren’t in the mood for clinginess. You wanted to have fun, and he was being a bit too… John B. You needed space.

You grabbed another drink and saw Topper across the yard. He was talking to a group of people, and for some reason, your eyes locked onto him.

“Hey, I’m gonna go talk to Topper for a minute,” you said, barely looking at John B. as you turned to slip away.

“Seriously?” John B. said, his voice tense as you walked off. But you didn’t pay him much attention. You had a mission—have fun, flirt, and just let go.

You were standing next to Topper now, a little too close for comfort, and for some reason, everything he said was hilarious. The alcohol made everything seem funnier than it really was, and you were laughing way too hard at a dumb joke he’d made.

“That’s hilarious,” you snorted, leaning in closer to him, and before you knew it, you were just enjoying the moment, unaware of how John B. was watching from a distance.

It didn’t take long for John B. to get fed up. You could see him storming across the yard, his jaw clenched tight.

“y/n” he said through gritted teeth when he reached you, his face red with frustration.

You raised an eyebrow, letting out a giggle. “What? You jealous?”

He didn’t answer, but just shot Topper a look that could melt steel, then flipped him the bird. He grabbed your wrist and yanked you away from the group.

“Let’s go. Now,” he said, practically dragging you out of the party and toward the Twinkie.

“John B, come on, I was just having a little fun,” you said, trying to pull away, but he wasn’t having any of it.

Without a word, he shoved you into the back of the Twinkie and slammed the door behind him. As he slid into the driver’s seat, his hands tightened around the steering wheel.

“You’re acting crazy tonight,” he muttered, his eyes fixed on the road as you pulled out of the driveway.

“Oh, please,” you smirked. “You’re just jealous. It’s kinda pathetic.”

John B sighed, shaking his head. “You keep pushing me. I’m about to pull over and handle this.”

You grinned, not backing down. “Oh yeah? What are you gonna do, huh? Spank me?” Your voice was slurred from the alcohol, but you were feeling feisty.

"If i have to stop this car, i’m going to make sure you can’t walk out of it without my help” you drunkenly scoffed at his words.

He glanced at you through the mirror, his face a mix of anger and amusement. "You’re really testing me tonight. I’m serious.”

You slid lower against the side of the van, a teasing smile on your lips. “You know you’re a little pathetic when you get like this,” you muttered, more to yourself than to him.

His threats, clearly not empty, JB has always had a possessive hold over you. You were drunk which made you horny. Which then made you realize, that the months you've been together you've never had sex in the Twinkie and that made you even hornier.

John B didn’t respond, but you could feel the tension in the air. As you drove toward the Chateau, the party fading into the background, you knew you wanted to push him more. In this moment, you couldn’t help but enjoy it. You kept egging him on, until the van swerved to the side of the road and JB but the car into park.

Without breaking eye contact, John B climbed into the back of the van, his movements fluid and deliberate. You felt a shiver run down your spine as he approached you.

"You're really pushing me tonight," he growled, his voice low and rough.

You smiled, feeling a thrill of excitement mixed with a hint of fear. "Maybe I am," you replied, your voice barely above a whisper.

John B's face twisted into a scowl, but you could see the desire burning beneath the surface. He reached out and grabbed your wrists, pulling you toward him.

"You want to play it that way?" he snarled, his breath hot against your skin. "Fine. Let's play."

With that, he lifted you up to your knees and slammed you against the driver side headrest, his body pinning yours in place. You felt a surge of adrenaline as he began to kiss you roughly, his lips bruising yours.

"John B," you whispered, trying to catch your breath.

But he just kept going, his mouth devouring yours as his hands roamed over your body. You felt like you were being consumed by him, like he was trying to claim you as his own.

As he pulled your clothes off, throwing them somewhere in the van, he spun you around and entered you from behind with one swift motion.

"You're mine," John B growled in my ear from behind where we were both kneeling on carpeted floor in backseat area while holding onto headrests to steady yourself.

As John B's hips slammed into your ass, you felt a jolt of pleasure mixed with a hint of pain. His hands gripped your hips tightly, holding you in place as he drove into you with reckless abandon.

"You're mine," he repeated, his voice low and menacing. "You're mine, and I'm going to make sure you remember it."

You felt a surge of excitement at his words, your body responding to the rough treatment. You pushed back against him, meeting his thrusts with your own.

John B's hands moved up your body, grasping at your breasts and squeezing them tightly. You cried out in pleasure as he pinched your nipples, the pain sending a spark of electricity through your body.

"More," you whispered, arching your back to give him better access.

John B obliged, his hands roaming over your body as he continued to drive into you from behind. You felt like you were being consumed by him, like he was trying to claim every inch of your body as his own.

As the van rocked back and forth around you, John B's movements became more frantic. He was losing control, and you could feel the tension building inside him.

Suddenly, he pulled out of you and spun you around to face him. His eyes were blazing with desire as he lifted your legs up and slammed his cock into you once again.

This time, there was no gentle foreplay or soft whispers. This time, it was just raw passion and unbridled lust. John B's hips thrusted into yours as he put one hand on the back of the van's seat for leverage, while using the other to bend your legs upwards, allowing for deeper penetration which elicited louder cries from you.

Your body was on fire, every nerve ending screaming for release.

John B's eyes locked onto yours, his gaze burning with intensity. "Come for me," he growled, his voice low and rough.

You felt excited at his words, your body responding to the command. Your muscles began to contract, your orgasm building in intensity.

John B's hands gripped your hips tightly, holding you in place as he drove into you with one final thrust. You felt a wave of pleasure wash over you, your body shuddering as you came.

As you rode out the waves of your orgasm, John B pulled out of you and crawled over you, stopping at your chest. His eyes never left yours as he stroked himself roughly, his face twisted in a snarl.

"You're mine," he repeated, his voice low and menacing. "And I'm going to mark what belongs to me."

With that, he came on your face, hot streams of semen splashing across your skin. You felt a surge of excitement at the sensation, your body still trembling from the aftershocks of your orgasm.

JB's eyes blazed with triumph as he looked at you, his chest heaving with exertion. "Look at you" he repeated, his voice low and rough. "My girl, covered in my cum."

JB's gaze lingered on yours for a moment before he reached out and wiped some of the semen off your cheek with his thumb then brought thumb up towards your mouth, shoving it in and making you swallow. The both of you got dressed and you joined him in the front of the Twinkie as he drove the two of you home.

tags + some moots 💗

@rafestoothbrush @weluvwbb @itsforeverandalwayz @butterfly-ibuki @megiiite @maybankslover @siredbtches @bigenergy777 @percysley @aupernatural-teenwolflover @slut4you @rafegf-real @skywalker0809 @snowtargaryen @kieeslove @leather-n-velvet @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @rafesgreasycurtainbangs @diasnohibng @slut-4-gojo @akobx @jjmaybankmylovee @slurpdew @rafesheaven @cameronsprincess @littlelamy @nemesyaaa @inthelibrarybtw @frankoceanluvr11 @writingroom21 @v3n1ce-bxtch

[withleeknow]

hi lovely!! first off congrats on 1k that's so so awesome and you deserve all that + more truly :( your writing is so tender and so lovey

i would to join in on your little drabble event!!! could you do something for hanji and the song compass by the neighbourhood? that song reminds me of him so so much so i hope you get the vision!! thank you angel and have a beautiful day!! ✮⋆˙

compass.

pairing: producer!jisung x reader genre/warnings: established relationship, hurt/comfort?, fluff, swearing, arson jokes? lmao word count: 1.4k

as always, i’d appreciate any thoughts or comments you may have, and please drop a like and/or reblog if you enjoy reading ♡

main masterlist / request masterlist / ko-fi

you're always there to help me when i'm down i'm lucky you've been keeping me around you're the star i look for every night when it's dark, you'll stick right by my side

compass - the neighbourhood

"fuck, fuck, fuck!"

the sound of jisung's verbalized frustration draws your attention to his desk and setup in the middle of room, where he's been sitting for the better part of two hours, hunched over the equipment like he often does when he's in the studio.

it's written all over his face just how upset he is that this particular piece he's working on isn't flowing right. the deep furrow between his eyebrows communicates utter displeasure. the clench of his jaw tells you he's angry, and that he's angry at himself for not being able to work through his block.

you abandon your comfortable spot on the couch in favor of pattering over to his side where he's all tensed up like an aggrieved hamster whose body can't contain the annoyance he feels. jisung can be short-tempered sometimes, but you know how to handle him in moments like this.

sliding a hand over his back, you say, "take a little break with me."

he huffs out a breath, eyes still focused on his laptop screen. "i can't afford a break. chan hyung expects this to be done in two days."

"so it's in two whole days. you can leave it for fifteen minutes, it won't kill you."

"but i still have to rework the first verse and figure out what in the fucking hell this second verse is-"

"han jisung," you scold him lightly, to which he instantly shuts up and peers up at you with his big eyes, immediately apologetic when he recognizes his harsh language.

"sorry," he mumbles, "i'm just stressed."

"which is why you need a break. you're not doing anyone any good just sitting here and trying to make your laptop explode with your eyes."

he lets out a pathetic-sounding mewl but he follows you to the couch regardless. jisung knows you're right because you always are. you're the more level headed between the two of you, whereas he's the one who lets his emotions get the better of him sometimes.

before, he would often succumb to his negative feelings. it's hard to keep his cool when nothing seems to go right and there's a deadline on his ass. he'd get so frustrated with his work that sometimes, he would delete whole tracks off his drive only to instantly regret it and spiral even more. he'd take it out on the people around him with his grumpy attitude and misplaced pettiness.

when jisung is overwhelmed, he tends to spin out in all directions. he splinters and drowns in a sea of his own making, constantly being pushed away further and further from shore because he doesn't know how to anchor himself, how to hold on so he wouldn't drift far away. his solution to soothe his anger has always been to give into it, to rip whole pages from notebooks and lock himself in his studio for hours on end until he could plow through the stubborn creative block. it'd often leave him exhausted - emotionally and physically so - and in no better state than he started out with.

jisung accepted this a long time ago - that his way of dealing with his emotions wasn't very healthy, but it was the only way he knew.

that is, until you popped into his world and taught him that people can be lifelines too. falling upon him like a wish that he never realized he was making his whole life.

"what's the matter, baby?" you ask, prompting him to air out his grievances as he lays his head on your chest while you card your fingers through his soft curls. he leans into you instantly, a long sigh escaping his pouty lips. jisung's got a lot of pride, and he would rather die before admitting to anyone that he loves to be babied by you behind closed doors.

he knows the question is just your way of getting him to verbalize all of his pent-up frustration, and not because you're eager to help him traipse through his mind palace and solve whatever dilemma he's having with the track. let's be honest, you never really have a clue what he's talking about, but it helps that you're keen on listening to him even though you can't offer him any valuable insight. more than you could ever know, it does wonders for jisung, just being able to untangle his thoughts and release the mess in his mind.

he could simply just talk to chan, sure, or any of his other friends who work in the industry. but again, his pride is an awful thing sometimes.

you never make him feel like he has prove himself to earn your love and attention, though. around you, jisung feels enough as he is. there's never been any need to toughen up in your presence.

"i just... i can't work with this track. nothing is flowing right. i hate everything i come up with." he rambles on about the things that plague his mind; topline this and beats that - they're really just words to you. you weren't blessed with the same genius in music that jisung was, so you just listen until he's done, until he concludes his tangent with a groan as he nuzzles further into the comfort of your warmth.

"you said that the last time, you know?"

"said what?"

"that everything sucks and you hate it."

"because everything sucks," he whines again, his eyebrows knitted together as he adorns a petulant pout. "and i hate it."

as you play with his fluffy hair, you feel him lean into your touch like it's the very thing that will bring him clarity. in a way, it does. your gentle touch may not give him the answer he needs, but it quiets the static in his mind, drowns out the continuous buzzing that muddles his brain.

"you're too hard on yourself," you say, to which jisung just huffs out a breath in disagreement. "i'm serious. you say this every time but it all still works out in the end. you're so smart, and talented. you shouldn't forget that."

his frown only deepens in response to your words. he knows you're right; things have always turned out fine before. trust the process and all that shit, but he's hot-headed and impatient sometimes, and he doesn't want to endure the stress that often comes with the process. he just wants to get to the finish line.

then, you continue, "remember 13?"

"what about 13?"

"you didn't like it at first either. you were so dramatic about it. but you sucked it up and finished it anyway. you made a hit and nobody could stop talking it. i believe in you. you just need to believe in yourself too."

in complete silence except for the sound of your steady heartbeat in his ears, jisung keeps laying on top of you like a weighted blanket, soaking up your words as a flower would in warm sunlight. of course he remembers 13 and the day he let you listen to the song for the first time. you'd nearly burst into tears in the middle of this studio, pressing kisses all over his face while you gushed over how proud you were of him.

"damn you," he mutters after a while. "why do you have to be so rational?"

"someone's gotta be. if i wasn't here, you probably would've ripped all your hair out, set your keyboard on fire and ran off into the woods."

he shoots up instantly, propping himself on two elbows as he glares at you even though you've got a valid point. it's not that far-fetched of a scenario.

"what?" you tilt your head with a coy smile. "am i wrong?"

jisung stares at you for a quick minute, and it's that very smile you're wearing that mitigates his frustrations and dulls his urge to sabotage his work out of self-inflicted anger. he says nothing at all, just leans down quickly to give you a kiss full of appreciation, despite the way there was a frown tugging on his eyebrows only seconds prior.

"you good now?" you ask, the words coming out a little muffled against his mouth.

if it's with you, then he is. you're the anchor that helps him part his stormy seas. you're the compass that always guides him home. he really doesn't know where he'd be without you, or how he'd manage in times like these if you're not by his side to ground him.

"always good with you around."

all rights reserved © withleeknow. reposting, translating and/or modifying is not permitted by any means. [posted 24.04.2024]

[madridfangirl]

Star crossed lovers (Jude Bellingham fanfic)

Chapter 4

(Series Link)

Jude * female reader

Warnings: None. Slightly mature language in parts.

Synopsis: A chance encounter in a tiny Madrid cafe with the newest superstar of her fav club. The two couldn't be more different, yet both feel the pull toward the other. Would this girl be the one he finally falls for? Would she make him change his ways? Even though she resists him every step of the way, would he fight all odds (& her) to have her in his life? Or would life come in the way of these star-crossed lovers?

…………………………..

Jude let go of her hands, which fell in her lap, and took two steps back to look at her. The mood needed some lightening up.

‘Look at you, shooting me down two nights in a row. One would think I played for Barca, not Madrid.’

This made her look back at him. His silliness made her smile, she couldn’t help herself.

‘There is no way I would be sitting in your kitchen if that were the case.’

‘Finally, the sass is back. Hallelujah!’

He mimicked his celebration, with his hands raised, quite proud of himself in the moment.

She tried kicking his knee to wipe that smirk off his face but he dodged just in time, both laughing by now.

‘Let’s get some food in you. And more wine, definitely more wine. Then we will talk.’

They moved to the living room couch with their dinner and drinks, and settled on watching an episode of Friends. Both knew the show by heart and it served as the perfect distraction. The food was lovely too. White sauce pasta was her ultimate comfort food - she had no idea how he chose this or if it was just something his cook decided to make.

But what helped the most was the wine. It tasted like little drops of heaven. She knew it would be some fancy ass bottle she won’t even be able to pronounce so she didn’t even bother checking the name.

It had started raining by then, she could see the downpour through the French windows facing the backyard. And in Madrid, when it rained, it poured.

While she was looking outside, he cleared the empty plates and came back to the couch with re-filled glasses.

‘Agnes will drop you back later, don’t worry. He’s awesome at driving.’

She turned around and thanked him with a genuine smile, taking the glass from his outstretched hand.

‘Now, tell me, why so intent on shooting me down?’

He tilted his head towards her, patiently waiting for a response. Ananya looked down wryly, while her fingers played with the fabric of the couch.

‘It’s not something I set out to do. But, you and me, we are so different. Don’t you think?’

‘Why do you think so?’

‘Isn’t it obvious? Our jobs, our worlds, our lives, our circles, our priorities - every damn thing is different. There is nothing in common.’

‘Or we are two young, lively, ambitious people, enjoying life in a new city while still being connected to our families back home. That’s how I see it.’

She shook her head in frustration.

‘C’monn, Jude. I am sure you can see my point. You can see what I mean.’

He scanned her face for a few seconds, before conceding.

‘Alright, cool. Yes, we are different. Why is that such a bad thing though? Don’t opposites attract?’

‘Only in movies. And novels. Not in real life. Practicality always wins in real life.’

‘Don’t believe in romance then? In love and fairy tales?’

‘Romance, yes. Love, yes. But not in fairy tales. Not in Price Charming or a White Knight. Not in some star crossed lovers kinda story.’

‘That’s too much scepticism for a 20 year old, y’know.’

She just shrugged in response. He wondered if there was a story behind it. If something, someone rather, made her feel this way. But that thought was so unpleasant that he quickly snapped out of it. Conversation for another time.

‘Ok, let’s stick to practicality then. Let’s break it down. Why can’t we give this a try and see where it goes? Why do we have to think 50 steps ahead on day 1?

‘Define giving it a try.’

‘Dating.’

‘And what would that entail?’

He had been leaning against the back of the couch but sat upright then, and looked at her quizzically.

‘You are asking me what dating entails?’

‘No. I am asking what dating you entails. Would it mean going to your matches, going out in the city with you, to be clicked in public with you? Yeah?’

‘Well, yeah, I guess.’

She sighed, and he put his glass on the table, utterly confused now. When she spoke next, her voice was small but firm.

‘The thing is, just the thought of that, of so many eyes on me is nauseating. It makes me want to run. I can’t handle the pressure of being in the public eye like that. Of being under constant scrutiny. The media will dig out every photo, every text, every said and unsaid thing. And not just that, the fans Jude. Some of your fan girls will absolutely detest my existence, for not being deserving in their eye of the most sought after guy in all of Europe maybe. And I live here, right in the epicentre of all this. It won’t just be virtual. It will be everywhere around me.’

Ananya took a big sip from her glass, almost gulping down the remaining half in one go. While he sat still, trying to process everything she was saying. She continued immediately after.

‘Also, who’s gonna take me seriously at work then? Do you know how hard it is to get into investment banking? There are so few women who graduate to leadership roles in this field - the glass ceiling is present and real. And I am just starting out. I worked my ass off to get here. But they will all just look at me as your…, as some kind of floozy..’

He didn’t let her finish. Jude grabbed both her hands, held them together between his and squeezed firmly.

‘Shhhhhhhh, calm down, calm down babe. I hear you.’

She breathed heavily, gradually opening her eyes as he kept making shushing noises in the meantime.

His eyes were kind and sincere, seeking hers. She nearly got pulled into them but managed to regain her balance. He spoke softly, with understanding.

‘It’s not that bad for some guys, y’know. Tony was telling me how Jessica has pretty much been able to do her own thing here, without much glare. Same for quite a few other guys.’

‘Jude, they are not you. And please don’t make me explain what that means, you already know it.’

Yes, he knew what she meant. She could see it with the resignation in his eyes.

It was his turn to look away to compose himself. She couldn’t resist admiring his face from so close, as he was lost in thought.

‘How about this - we don’t tell anyone. No one. Just you and me. We meet either here or at your place. I will find a way to get there without being seen. No media. No fans. No pictures. No drama. No pressure. Till we are ready. Till you are ready.’

His eyes had changed shade again, filled with resolve now.

She considered every word and replayed it over in her head.

‘That’s not ideal for you, though, is it?’

‘Maybe it is. The media finds enough fodder to rip apart my life and my family’s as it is, let’s not give them more juice. It could be a good thing dove, seriously.’

She scanned his face to see if he really meant what he said. When she couldn’t find any evidence to the contrary, she let out a little sigh.

‘You are sweet.’

‘You are pretty.’

His instant response threw her off-guard. The look of surprise on her face and her failed attempt to speak was deeply amusing to him. Along with the little blush that was starting to creep up at the top of her cheeks.

She pulled out her hands from his hold, gathered herself and tried to look admonishing. He just laughed at her response and flashed her his biggest smile, all 32 teeth visible.

Ananya was convinced he was just trying to distract her from the conversation. The darned thing was, it was working.

‘Can you please be serious, Jude?’

‘I say it as I see it.’

He retorted, meeting the challenge in her voice.

Just then, his phone rang loudly and they both jumped from the suddenness of it. He looked at the phone, then looked at her indecisively.

‘Umm, it’s my Mum.’

‘Go talk to her, she must be calling about the match. What are you waiting for?’

He beamed happily at her, almost thanking her for understanding. Then quickly answered the phone, moving to the next room. She could see him through the glass windows, walking up and down, practically skipping with joy while discussing the match with his mom.

It was such a sweet moment. He looked like a 5 year old little boy telling his mom he came first in a school race. The love was practically radiating from his being.

She smiled, then busied herself with her phone. Giving them their privacy.

Her insta was filled with messages of shock, awe and jealousy of them getting to watch the Classico live. She chuckled and scrolled through all, reminding herself to respond later.

Roma had sent her a few messages too, asking her how it was going. And throwing in some deeply suggestive comments in between. Ananya could tell her friend was drunk. If only she knew what was really happening here, she would probably murder her.

What was really happening here? She was ruining what was probably the best day of his life yet by discussing her complicated thoughts. He could have been celebrating with his teammates right now, or with anyone else. He deserved to have the moon tonight, not what they were doing.

Guilt set in and she kicked herself for coming over in the first place. He would have been upset but surely he would have found ways to get over it quickly.

The constant pattering of rain outside served as a good distraction. She walked over to the French windows and settled down on the comfy floor seating. The cushions were cozy and the throw was soft; she pulled it up till her waist and shut her eyes for a bit.

She still hadn’t told him the other piece of her hesitation. It was a trickier conversation - she didn’t know how to articulate it, or if she even wanted to. She didn’t know how he would react to such vulnerable admissions. Tonight was so not the night, such horrible timing.

Just then, she heard half-frantic footsteps in the background and moments later she saw him turn the corner.

‘There you are. Thought you ran away without telling me.’

She elbowed his side lightly as he settled down next to her on the floor seating, leaning against the cushions.

‘You think I would do that?.’

‘Been trying to run since yesterday. Don’t trust you yet.’

They were side by side, facing the windows but turned slightly towards each other. Ananya chose to not address the last comment.

‘How was the call? She must have been happy.’

There was the little boy again, smiling from ear to ear, radiating such affection for his mom that it made her heart flutter.

‘She was over the moon. But she’s always like that - twice as happy as me for anything I do. Same with Jobe. She’s just a bundle of love.’

This was just cheating at this point. How was she supposed to resist him like this? But she had to get it off her chest, before it was too late. Before something happens that she can’t go back on.

His eyes turned yet another shade, intense. She could feel them roaming over her now.

‘Listen, about earlier.’

‘Oh yes. Sorry for the interruption. You said there was something else. Tell me.’

Her fingers dug into the cushion as she struggled to articulate this sensitive topic. He watched her movements closely, letting her take his time.

‘I came out of a serious relationship, in fact the only relationship I have been in, about 6 months ago. It was hard, coz I thought that person was THE person I will end up with. He said all the right things, did all the right things but eventually when it came to it, he didn’t have it in him to fight for us enough.’

Jude grabbed a nearby cushion too, resisting the urge to bite on it or rip it open. He could tell her scepticism had a story behind it and this seemed to be that.

‘Not gonna bore you with more about that. But long story short, the idea of being with someone is a bit daunting for me right now. A lot of my fundamental beliefs have been shaken, including my ability to trust in my instincts, which I thought I was good at. I am still trying to piece myself back together block by block. That was another reason to pick Madrid - a complete change of environment. I am not…as in I don’t have any feelings for him anymore but it’s myself that I am trying to understand better. Not sure if that makes sense but that’s what it is. ‘

Just my luck, he thought. The cushion was living on borrowed life in his hands at this point but Jude was proud of the way he had kept his face calm and neutral.

‘Thank you for sharing this with me, couldn’t have been easy. Look, I get it. Coming out of a long relationship can be hard. I have also been in one. Though, I don’t think I was ready for it at the time and I can’t claim to have been a good boyfriend either. But we all learn and grow from our experiences, right? Can’t stop trusting our instincts. Think of it this way - you knew all this yet you are here tonight. Something pulled you towards me. Don’t let your brain deny that.’

Well, she wasn’t denying the pull she felt towards him. She was trying to make sense of it with him. But he still hadn’t gotten the full picture. She needed to spell it out crudely so he really gets it.

Ananya looked straight at him for this - so she could see his reaction closely.

‘Jude - I don’t think I am ready for anything physical. And I don’t know when I will be ready. Or if I will be ready. That’s what I have been trying to tell you.’

She watched the realisation dawn on his face then. Well, finally, she thought. When he didn’t speak for the next 30 seconds, she chimed in again.

‘Look - I know this is atypical and I know this won’t work for you. I get it. We can look at last two days as a different experience and just call it a night. It’s absolutely fine.’

His head shot up at her, and his tone was sharp, for the first time tonight.

‘Sorry - what do you mean you KNOW this won’t work for me?’

‘Because it won’t work for most people in your position.’

She said calmly, trying to keep an even tone.

‘IN MY POSITION? You mean a footballer right? And you know this how? Let me guess - media, social media and gossip pages, correct?’

‘Jude, I..’

‘Tell me this - have I done ANYTHING in the last two days to make you uncomfortable? Did I push you, touch you or even look at you when you didn’t want me to?

‘Please don’t say that. You haven’t. That’s not what I..’

‘Then why, why did you of all people assume I was some sex-crazed animal who is only interested in fucking anyone with….’

She crossed the distance between them, kneeled in front of him and covered his mouth with her hand.

‘Stop, please stop. I am sorry. That’s not what I meant. And yes, I shouldn’t have drawn any conclusions from the media. You are right. Pls I beg you, just calm down. I am so so sorry.’

She could feel his heavy breathing on her hand, but atleast he didn’t push her away. The fight drained out from his eyes slowly, replaced with hurt. Which killed her even more. She moved her hands to his shoulders, gently stroking both.

He spoke in a small voice then, the twinkle lost from his eyes.

‘What did you mean then, if not all that?’

‘I meant that, someone like you, who has the world at his feet right now, who has enough high stakes as it is in his day job, why would such a person want this kind of a restricted set-up? I am sure models, actresses and all such sexy women must be throwing themselves at you left, right and center. You could be with anyone you want to be with.’

He seemed to believe her explanation, from the way his shoulders relaxed and his expression softened.

‘Clearly, not anyone.’

He pointed in her direction. When she didn’t say anything, he reached for her hands lying on his shoulders. And gently, fleetingly brushed his lips on the back of both.

She gasped & shut her eyes, willing herself to not melt. Failing miserably.

‘I believe I have the right to decide who I find sexy. And dove, you are the reason I struggled to sleep last night. Haven’t stopped thinking about you.’

Ananya wanted to hide from his gaze which was burning her even with her eyes closed. But she was transfixed.

‘Plus you are smart, a little lippy, highly opinionated, well-read, brave, vulnerable, honest and so so real. Gosh, I love that about you.’

He requested her to look at him. She obliged.

‘I would take you right now if you were in the same headspace. God knows I have thought about it. But, if taking things slow is what you need and the alternative is you walking out that door forever, then let’s go at a turtle pace. Can’t let go of you.’

He pulled them both up to their feet, standing a few inches away from each other.

Then, he opened his arms for her, inviting her in. She looked between his arms and his face which had an expectant smile, then back to his open arms.

‘Come here, come to me.’

Next second, she found herself against his chest. Strong arms wrapped around her in a gentle hold, pulling her further into his chest. While her hands went around his broad back, clutching at his jumper.

This wasn’t like anything she had ever felt before. His scent, his warmth, his breath, his presence fogged her mind and made her oblivious to everything else in the world.

Jude kissed the top of her head and rested his cheek against it. She bit her cheek to not let out a moan, but failed, making him smile.

‘Feeling what I am feeling?’

‘Yes.’

‘Will you give us a chance, then?’

‘You haven’t left me with a choice.’

‘Finally. Two wins in the same night, I am truly on a roll.’

She giggled against his chest at his silliness, and he followed suit. Feeling his laugh reverberate through his whole body was a feeling she couldn’t describe in words. It was something pure, something ethereal.

They swayed in each other’s arms for minutes, not wanting to let go. Not wanting to disturb the peace of the moment.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she grudgingly removed her cheek that was placed against his chest, and looked up at him.

‘It must be late. I should go now.’

‘If you want, you can take the guest bedroom. And leave in the morning whenever you want.’

‘I have some work in the morning, have to send out some stuff to the New York office.’

‘Agnes can pick up your laptop and bring it here.’

‘Jude - I really don’t think we should be under the same roof tonight.’

‘Don’t trust me?’

‘Don’t trust either of us right now, to be honest.’

He flashed her a mind-numbing smile.

‘Already can’t resist me? I knew it.’

‘Shut up and let me go.’

‘Five more minutes?’

‘Fine.’

She rested her cheek on his chest again, while his went on her head. His arms gently stroking her back, building a cocoon of comfort. They stayed like that for more than 5 mins.

……………………………………………

There you go - hope you are liking the story so far.

Feedback is very very welcome :)

[themuseinthewoods]

Dad!Hector x daughter!reader headcanon's

Hector is awesome and I feel like he would be an amazing girl dad, after all he’s a good dad to Astyanax. And I was bored and over analyzing the Iliad. warning: Cursing.

Fandom is troy 2004 and also the iliad cause I love both

My cousin wanted these, I hope they are good

Reader is the oldest child and let's pretend the Trojans and the Greeks have signed a peace treaty.

When you are first born he’s slightly frustrated because of everyone else being frustrated because your a girl, but he loves you so much

He has a younger sister, of course he knows how to interact with his little girl

Have you seen his hair? If he gets the chance and does your hair you two are going to have matching hairstyles because Hector gives me the vibe that he wouldn’t want his hair done by servants because he prefers the independence

Might sing to you

You love your dad, like your mom is great but it is clear to most people that you are a daddy's girl

you're the kid who says "imma call my dad." and when Hector shows up everyone is like 'oh shit'

can you imagine saying that to a Greek commander lol

he might have had to bring you with him to Sparta because of the tantrums

Your grandparents think it’s adorable, your granddad fully supports it. He is so proud. Your grandma doesn’t think that it's proper but she is grateful she has a grand kid.

You know those interviews where the NBA players have their kids in their lap while they are answering questions and the kid is occasionally trying to talk to their dad?

That's you in meetings. Except your dad's a prince, and you're a princess.

I like to think he would support any and all interests you have, including fighting, even though he won't be crazy about it

As you get older he teaches you the diplomatic side of things

Somehow you are more mature than your own uncle but you love him anyway and Paris is very supportive, and you often climb between his and your fathers laps in meetings when your a toddler

Lets say your ten when the Trojan war starts

You like Helen fine, but you spend most of your time with your mother begging her to tell you where your father is. She feels awful and can’t bring herself to tell you what is going on.

At the end of every day you run into your dads arms, clingy to him and begging him to never leave you again.

One time you managed to get out of the walls of Troy before your father comes inside and the Greeks see you running to your father, who is happy to see you but so fucking worried because how the hell did you get out?!

You are twenty when the war ends and you come with your father to view what the proceedings are for a peace agreement

If Achilles is there, he’ll probably flirt with you, (going with the version that he’s twenty-one when the war ends cause yeah, there is debate over that frustratingly) cause your the daughter of the only man who is even close to his equal in battle, he's trying to get a rise out of your dad

Hector is not please but keeps his cool (I am gonna let y’all decide what happens lol)

Continuing to go on diplomatic missions with him and helping your mom when your baby brother comes along

Basically, your dad is your best friend, your his sidekick

(i totally did not make myself cry, I want to hug my dad now)

[wowieze]

Thinking about if Bakugou got a different best friend after Midoriya was diagnosed as quirkless.

Some random kid had transferred to his primary school in the middle of the year and instantly became friends with everyone. Except Bakugou.

Bakugou hated them with a burning passion. All because they were friends with useless Izuku. In little Katsuki's eyes, they were a pathetic deku just like Izuku.

Not to mention they had a cool quirk that everyone at school praised them for. All of that attention that had been on him was now on them.

And he hated them for it.

They were the polar opposite of Katsuki, so people liked them more than they did him. They were nice while he was rude, helpful while he was a bully, considerate while he couldn't care less.

Hell, they were even nice to him. They said hi to him every morning. Shared their snacks with him.

And that just pissed him off more.

So one day during recess, he sought them out.

"You're really stupid, y'know? No even actually likes you." He scoffed at them.

"Yea, they do. Everyone says I'm nice to be around." They didn't even flinch. Pretty confident for a six year old.

"No you aren't! You're ugly and...you smell bad! I'm a thousand times better than you!" He declared, smirking while he put his hands on his hips, proud of himself.

"Yeah, you are."

Huh?

"You're really cool and strong. And your quirk is sooo awesome!" They grinned.

"I-....it... Of course it is! It's the awesome-ist. Like me."

He certainly never expected to become their friend.

"It's not that difficult! Kat-su-ki," He said, elongating the pronunciation of his name.

"Kat-su-ski," Another failed attempt on their end.

They just can't get it right! It's just a name, what's so difficult about that?

"No! Say it with me, kat,"

"kat,"

"su,"

"su,"

"ki!"

"ki."

"Now say it all together! Katsuki."

"Kazushi."

"Damn it!"

"That's a bad word."

They watched Katsuki's eye twitch in annoyance, his frustration evident.

"Can't I just call you Kacchan? That's what Izuku and your other friends call you, right?" The six year old suggested.

Already tired of trying, he huffed.

"Fine, whatever."

The other child smiled at him.

"okay Kacchan! I'll call you Kacchan."

"Don't be obnoxious about it!" He growled.

"sorry Kacchan. What does obnauseus mean?"

The boy shrugged.

"I dunno. It's what my mom calls me when I annoy her."

The two of them became bound at the hip. Anywhere he went, they followed. Anytime he did something cool or impressive, they were the first to praise him for it.

As they got older they got closer. They shared things with each other that they wouldn't dare to tell anyone else.

But soon they were teenagers. And teenagers suck.

While Katsuki never changed, always remaining the same egotistical jackass, they grew up.

They started to realize that the way Katsuki treated other people wasn't okay. Especially the way he treated Izuku.

So, when they were fourteen, Katsuki's friend finally confronted him.

"You can't just treat him that way, he's a human being Suki."

"Like I give a fuck! He's a worthless nobody who's better off dead."

They couldn't believe it took them so long to realize how messed up Katsuki was.

"Just because you think he's looking down on you doesn't mean you get to make his life hell!"

"The hell it doesn't! He's a pathetic Deku and he needs to know his place!"

They ended up ignoring him.

For days, weeks, and eventually months.

They didn't so much as spare him a glance.

And it hurt. So bad.

He didn't want to admit it to himself, but he missed them. So fucking much.

His best friend, the only person he truly trusted, hated him. Or at least that's what he thought.

He tried to get over it. To convince himself that they weren't worth it. That he hated them. But he didn't. He couldn't ever hate them.

He became quieter. Less eager to yell about how much better than everyone he was. Whenever anyone commented on his change in behavior he snapped. He'd yell and curse, just like normal. But it wasn't normal.

Not without them.

He pushed through the months leading up to the UA entrance exam. Ignoring everyone and everything except his schoolwork and his training. He even took it easy on Deku.

And then he got it. The acceptance letter.

His first thought upon hearing he had been accepted into his dream school was to rush and tell them. But then he remembered.

That night he had another nightmare. That sludge incident was months ago, before they started ignoring him. But the trauma from it was still present. He had almost died. And when he jolted awake, clutching at his throat as he gasped for air, he reached for his phone to call them. Just like he always does when he has a nightmare. But then he remembered.

And he threw his phone across the room.

It was another few months before he saw them again. He had fought real villains with his class. He found out Deku had a quirk. All without them.

But then the Sports Festival came up.

He looked forward to showing off his badass skills and winning this damn thing. That's all he was thinking about as other classes started to spill into the arena. And that's when he saw them.

In a UA gym uniform, standing next to some extras as Present Mic announced their class.

"AND FROM THE SUPPORT COURSE WE HAVE CLASS 1-H!"

He could've sworn that his heart stopped right then.

They looked the same. Maybe a bit taller, a bit more confident. But they were the same.

He had nearly forgotten their dream. To become the best inventor and support item creator in Japan. And it all started with them getting into UA's support course.

That's a lie. He never forgot. He just didn't want to get his hopes up that he might see them again at school. At the school they both had been dreaming about attending since they were little.

At the school they had dreamt of attending together.

//////////××ו°•°•×××\\\\\\\\\\

Katsuki pretended that he never saw them. Throughout the whole sports festival he didn't so much as spare them a glance.

Because he knew if he did he might cry. Not like he'd ever admit that.

He just set his sights on winning. Like he always does.

And maybe during his last fight with Todoroki all of his frustration just crept up and made him lose it.

He was just so fucking mad. That damn icy-hot wouldn't use his full power when fighting him. That they were here and he still couldn't talk to them. That icy-hot used his power against Deku, but didn't find Katsuki worthy enough to use it against him too. That they still hadn't stopped ignoring him.

Even as he was awarded the first place medal by his idol, he was still so fucking mad. He didn't even blame the teachers for putting a goddamn muzzle on him.

After the event was over and everyone started leaving, Katsuki ignored all of his classmates attempts to congratulate him. He just had to find them. He had to talk to them.

//////////××ו°•°•×××\\\\\\\\\\

To think after all these years they still took the same route. They lived in a different neighborhood than Katsuki, but he still vividly remembers going out of his way to walk them home after school.

And now here they are, using the same route to get back home after the festival.

It took Katsuki a while to catch up to them, it seemed they had left the second the Sports Festival ended.

Now, he's speed walking only about twenty feet behind them as they turn into an alleyway. Their secret shortcut.

"Hey! Dumbass!"

They freeze.

Katsuki turns into the alley, only about twelve feet behind them now.

"....Hey...."

They mutter in response, not even glancing behind to see him.

Shit. What does he do? He was so desperate to talk to them that he didn't even think of what to say. There's a million things he wants to say.

Katsuki hesitates.

"So now you finally talk to me, huh?"

His voice feels foreign on his tongue. His normally loud and confident tone is gone, replaced with a small and dejected version of itself.

They don't say anything, still refusing to turn and look at him.

Then a thought hits Katsuki.

Are they looking down on him?

Do they think he's pathetic or something? Why else would they have ignored him for so damn long?

All of Katsuki's insecurities bubble to the surface, now mixed in with the added pain that the one person he trusted thinks he's weak.

"You're just like Deku. Always looking down on me. You think I'm too fucking weak for you, is that it!?"

Silence.

"What? D'you think I'm so fucking pathetic that you can't even look at me?!"

Katsuki's hands clench into fists, his teeth gritting as he blinks away tears that threaten to fill his eyes.

"Ten months. Almost a full goddamn year that you've ignored me! Just fucking talk!!"

Katsuki was so focused on his anger and restrained sadness that he didn't even realize they had turned around. It wasn't until their fist connected with his jaw that he realized they had closed the distance between them.

It took Katsuki a second to comprehend what happened, but the moment he did, he lunged.

He shoved them against the cement wall harshly, returning their punch with his own.

They grunted in pain before retaliating. Their fist connected with Katsuki's stomach in a brutal blow, momentarily knocking the wind out of him.

And before they knew it, they were brawling in the middle of that alleyway.

No quirks were used. Just raw, unadulterated rage-filled punches and kicks delivered by two emotionally unavailable teenagers.

At some point Katsuki kneed them in the stomach and they turned around, gripped his hair and banged his face against their knee.

Then finally, with Katsuki's nose broken and bleeding, and their lip busted and face already swelling, they sunk down to the ground.

Both leaning against opposite walls in the alley, they panted.

Neither of them spoke for several minutes as they licked their wounds, but then;

"...Sorry for ignoring you like a coward."

A long beat of silence stretched between them before Katsuki shoved aside his pride.

"....Sorry for being a dick..."

And despite the quiet that followed, filled only by their own breathing, they both felt more content than they have in months.

Eventually, Katsuki looked over at them, watching as they prodded their busted lip with their tongue.

"Your lip okay?"

"Definitely gonna bruise."

They looked up at Katsuki.

"How's your nose?"

Katsuki scoffed.

"Fucking hurts."

They grinned at that, followed by a chuckle.

"Aw, poor baby."

"Fuck off!"

After another moment of quiet, they stood up and walked a few steps over before kneeling beside Katsuki.

"Let me look at it."

Without much thought, Katsuki tilted his chin and allowed them to gently touch and examine his bleeding nose.

It's so familiar. Nostalgic, even. Them looking over his injuries to make sure he's okay.

They've been doing it since they were kids. Always checking on any particularly bad scratches or bruises Katsuki got from whatever fight he had been in.

"It's just fractured. You should be fine. But you should definitely ice your head, looks like it's swelling."

They hummed softly in thought, just like they always do.

"Tch, shit, nevermind. That's just your face."

They add, looking over his face before tutting.

"Oh, shut the fuck up!"

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

[batbetbitbotbut]

Hi, hope you're doing well!

I was wondering if you have a specific resource you use for weaving project inspiration? I struggle with finding ideas for projects that aren't another scarf (I have 6 now...) or teatowels. My next project for my 4 shaft loom is going to be a lining for my pinic basket with matching napkins+cutlery roll, but after that I'm out. I would specifically like try overshot sometime soon, but I don't know what yet.

Thank you and have a nice day!

Hello and I hope you're also doing well! A picnic basket set sounds amazing!

I don't have a specific suggestion for you, alas. I've been weaving for less than a year and so far I have always had more ideas than I have time for (they form an orderly queue but usually the newest shiniest idea jumps to the front, how rude). I try to write them down as they come, to hoard against barren patches in the future.

I get ideas in a few places: a lot from my books because I want to try all the different structures I can, #weaving and related tags (shitty as tumblr tag tracking functions are) because I want to join in with the cool things other people make, nature stuff. I make a project and then make something completely different because I want a fresh experience (and different frustrations!) - a few cotton projects and then another wool one, several shuttles then one shuttle then two - but I also return to old projects and weave a new variation to see what happens. I've abruptly reached the age where several of my friends want to have babies, so I'm plotting more wide warps and double-width projects as baby blankets, which have their own restrictions.

But I make more tea towels than anything else because they have infinite give-away potential: even if I have too many towels in my life and I don't want the faff of selling them, someone will always be glad to have them. I can fuck up as much as I want and make them in any design at all and they will be useful, except for, like, lace. Some of my things have a recipient in mind when I make them, but most don't.

I struggle a bit coming up with palettes - it's part of why I'm not very interested in doing plaid - so I often go for pride flag palettes because they make a thing into A Thing (even if the palette isn't, like, relevant to me personally). Might do similar with bird-themed palettes in the future, like I did for the pigeon towels. Or when using wool, I only have cones in a few colours so I just use those.

Whatever you're doing, assuming you aren't using up a one-of-a-kind material in a way you don't want to use it, it's not wasted. If you enjoy the process, not all of it has to be for a result you are interested in, and it will still refine your skills for results you do like in the future. Not everything has to be the pinnacle of inspiration and craft but it may help you towards finding the next thing that really gets you excited - exercising your inspiration muscles whether they want it or not. This is a parable not an experiment that ever happened, and it's only vaguely related here, but this is my favourite retelling of it:

There was an experiment a professor did. I think it was pottery students. He did an experiment of “quality” vs “quantity”. One half of the class he told; you have to make as many pots as possible. Good pots, bad pots, shitty pots, whatever. The more pots you make, the higher your grade. The other half of the class were told, “you can make only one pot”. But that pot had to be perfect. The quality had to be high; the highest quality pot would get the best mark. But when it came to the grading, they noticed something weird. All the best quality pots were in the ‘quantity’ group. The guys who were literally churning out pots, trying to make as many as possible, not concentrating on the quality. But every pot they made, made them better at making pots. By the end of the month (I think it was a month) - they had some pretty awesome pots coming out, because they enjoying finding all the ways and all the things they could do to make all their pots. Where as the ‘quality’ guys had spent their time reading up on pots, and technique, and researching and planning; which was all great but they’d had no further practice at actually making pots. The best way to get really good at something, the only way to be really good at something, is to make lots of shitty attempts at that thing several of which will fail. If all you create are perfect things then you won’t improve, because how can you improve on perfect? tl:dr MAKE YOUR SHITTY POTS.

https://www.tumblr.com/darkandstormyslash/154648694948/fireandlifeincarnate-look-write-as-much

[jacenotjason]

OK this will be an extremely long ask i am sorry. i love radford

i havent sent an ask to people in years but i am one of the radford fans of all time and demonic possession is a fun concept to me, so the idea of gadreel possessing him specifically makes me INSANE

i just think itd work extremely well. radford doesnt take anything seriously and doesnt understand boundaries, but he always puts his concern for others first and his well-being last. he annoys father gregor and compares him to priests hes seen in the movies, and he does spray holy water + offer free candy against kevins wishes, but he also warns rick about the trouble he could get himself into when not giving the right movie tickets, and helps kevin with his job with no pay in mind. hes annoying, but his heart is in the right place

but gadreel is the Ultimate Prankster. him trying to imitate radford would backfire Hard, because gadreels idea of fun is,, More Extreme. he allows kids to enter adult films, he steals candy and says its fine since hes friends with kevin, he tells his friends and brother to break the rules and disrespect authority, etc etc. im unsure what gadreels motives are other than to ruin everyones day, but hes doing a damn good job at it. all the blame is going to radford, and honestly, its just So Easy to blame him for it

i imagine it takes a while for most people to figure out that somethings wrong with radford. he does what he wants freely, wherever and whenever, so these mistakes could be rationalized by him having an off-day. i assume rad would look extremely tired after a days long session of gadreel torturing him (because he loves pushing the human body. bill cipher behavior). but i think what makes everyone truly concerned is when "radford" starts involving Others in his antics

it isnt like rad to encourage bad behavior. he would never tell rick to swap the prices of two items at his new job, or tell robert the best blind spots to steal from stores, or forcing kevin to take his anger out on someones property. the radford everyone knows is ditzy, but kindhearted. if theres trouble, radford would be the only perpetrator

and god, imagine how much worse it gets if "radford" gets in trouble with the police. john would be frustrated seeing his own nephew be so careless and cruel all of a sudden. itd probably even make him spiral and assume the cult had something to do with it, and that john and his family arent safe like he thought. and i think gadreel relishes in that knowledge

im also so curious as to how gadreel and radford met and how long the possession lasted, maybe it was a week? in my head, he came to radford in the form of a snake before revealing his true self and attacking, leaving no time for rad to fully process it and run away. i also assume skid and pump will have some involvement, and pumps eyes turning blue will be a clear sign that "radford" is associated with a demonic entity, or Is one. either way i love gadreels character being a "twisted" version of radfords if that makes sense

so um ya sorry for the longest ask ever. heres a drawing

OPOOOHMYGOHMOSIEJHIOSRHGIUSADHRUITGHSDUIGSDB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE AWESOME!??!?!?!?!? FUCK OK OKAYAKOAJTYAOKATY THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS IS SO COOL

THANK YOU FOR THE DRAWING, EATING IT, YOUR POINTS ARE ALL CORRECT

Unlike Moloch whose possessions are more brutal and obvious, Gadreel hides and youre so right! Hes here for the long haul babey!!

yes i imagine the possession lasted about a week, week and a half. Gadreel can't feel pain (at least Radfords pain i mean, he has a higher pain tolerance, as a demon yknow) so he could very well accidentally snap a bone as Radford and not even notice. What im saying is Rad is hospitalized afterwards

AUGHHH the police thing. Gadreel sees the cops and WANTS to get caught by them, just for goofs. in a "Oh what would happen if i did this :)" way.

GOD THIS IS SO COOL YOURE LITERALLY THE BEST

OH!! AND ON THE SUBJECT OF HOW RAD AND GADREEL MET !!

Instead of possessing Patty in the morgue, Gadreel took the form of a snake and.... left lmao. or got noticed and thrown out bc oh my god a snake

he ended up near the candyclub and radford was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Gadreel saw Radford as a hiding place and a means to have fun.

I imagine Moloch doesnt care about what his vessels look like, meanwhile Gadreel won't possess someone if he thinks theyre lame. like yeah he couldve possessed patty but then he would've had to.... do stuff. eugh. This guy looked WAY more fun.

im actually vibrating yourel iterally the coolest dawg.

[cugzarui]

rewatching ben 10 cuz i feel like it

i have watched kuro's reviews and he keeps being frustrated that ben has to relearn the same lessons (like not needing the omnitrix to be a hero) but looking at the first two episodes i think there might be a reason ben is like this

he seems to have some inherent desire to be a hero and help people, but doesn't seem to actually have what it takes to do it. forgetting for a moment that his idea of "being a hero" is essentially "beat up bad guys" and "rescue people from physically dangerous situations", he just doesn't even have the physical ability to do those things. then the omnitrix shows up and suddenly he can do those things, and you can see he thinks of it as his chance to help people, to be a hero. and he's a ten year old kid. this was undeniably a formative memory for him. so i think it makes sense that even if he learns that he can be a hero without the omnitrix, it does make sense that he'd at least need reminding of it.

now circling back to his entire conception of heroism: his idea of being a hero seems entirely focused on the awesomeness of overcoming physical adversity and beating up bad guys - a typical belief for a young boy in the early 2000s - but in this case i think his obsession with it may also have to do with his grandpa.

when max picks up ben, he mentions how he thought it would be nice to have gwen join them this summer. this summer. implying they do this vacation regularly. ben also mentions he's been looking forward to this all summer so it looks like he and max are pretty tight; and in hindsight (knowing max is used to be a superhero in his own right) it would make sense he instilled in ben some idealism for heros. but he probably didnt need to try too hard considering ben is, once again, a young boy in the early 2000s - a condition which probably explains why bens idea of heros is a bit warped at this stage. i doubt max taught ben that physical might is the way of the hero but i do think thats what ben wouldve taken away since its simple and cool.

this idealising of heros would be a constant throughout bens childhood and another core part of his personality, so it makes sense he would need to be regularly reminded that heros arnt just about overcoming physical hazards and beating up bad guys and being awsome, even if its a lesson he's already learned in the past.

i havent analyzed the other characters as much as i did ben but heres a quick rundown:

vilgax: fully crafted to be an archetypal evil overlord. watching this now he almost seems comical. he exists to be setup and namedrop and be intimidating, and thats basically the only reason hes in the show at this point. (he does of course become important later)

max: i kinda get the feeling max is a little selfish. he didnt ask ben if he's ok with gwen joining them (he couldve at least said something ahead of time). he keeps making dishes he likes but that the kids think are gross. his saving grace is he is experienced and wise enough to not push his luck or do anything totally stupid. my image of him changed less than my image of vilgax and i still like him a lot but my image of him did drop a little. on the other hand he feels more human and his taste in food would be very trendy on tiktok

gwen: she feels more like an archetype at this point and its honestly hard for me to analyze her. shes obviously The Responsible One and is the straight man to bens goofy shenanigans, but shes not above some goofing around herself, which is a nice touch. i like how as much as she bickers with ben they still have each others backs, and how she still listens to max and respects him but doesnt...idolize him? thats not the right word...to contrast bens relationship with max which ontop of respect includes some idolization i think. but what i like the most about her is how she beats up robots and mutant monsters.

animo: hes so much more of a person. hes become a gimmick in the later series and essentially just exists in a vacuum. why is he mutating animals? cuz hes doctor animo. he doesnt need a reason. but in classic he HAS a reason. he has a backstory and a good one. hes a legitimate threat instead of a goofball. i like him being a goofball too but i missed this animo.

as for the aesthetic of the show

i really like watching early 2000s shows because the culture in them is marginally but noticeably different from what we have now. its in bens ashy voice. its in the character designs. its in the entire alien theme of the show. the theme song seems to be a variant of creepy alien music but made to be awsome and inspirational instead of scary. i dont know much about music but i think this show has a lot of punk influence as well if im not mistaken.

animos monsters are also interesting in their design. i feel like they may be inspired by old designs of demons? dont know enough to say anything about that.

bens aliens though definitely feel like they were designed more with the idea of "alternate versions of ben" than the idea of aliens.

one complaint is that have is that vilgaxes drones are apparently do shoddy you can wreck them with a shovel??? i know gwen is the one who was wielding that shovel but still. the shovel shouldve realistically broken before the robot.

edit: note: remember that stick ben tried to use to pry off the omnitrix and the stick broke while lodged under the omnitrix? i wonder if theres still a small piece of it left under there for the entire original show and if it ever itches

edit2: they say 'busted' a lot in this show. phineas and ferb is also pretty 'busting' centric. just interesting how the words we use to communicate seem to have changed in just a couple decades

[the-eclipsed-sun]

Where's my happy ending?

What if Apollo just… snapped? What if he got fed up with his true relationships failing, his father's abuse, or having to oversee so many different things? What if he got tired of being a god, and.. what if he quit? He gave the sun chariot to Hestia, since she was the only one he could trust with such a duty. After telling only his sister, Artemis, of his plans, he vanished. He set off to get revenge against those who wronged him, and to find his happy ending.

TW: profanity, heavy angst probably.

Name: Apollo, I guess. Age: fuck if I know.. Gender: Male, usually. Sexuality: Anyone who's not gonna get killed within a month. Status: Taken by my lovely Hyacinthus! Occupation: Olympian God I don't even know anymore, I'm just vibing. Pastimes: Trying to kill that other bitch Eros, trying to be a better dad. Likes: singing, playing instruments, archery, flaying the skin of people who ruined my life, shooting people in the head with arrows, my husband. Dislikes: Zeus, Zephyrus, Eros, uh who else.. Kill Count: 1 Death Count: 2 Useless "I swear on the Styx" count: 1

Other: He's still a god, despite giving up his throne on Mount Olympus. He considered asking Zeus to make him mortal again, but he decided against it. Only his sister and Hestia know what happened to him, and he'd like to keep it that way. In this AU, a few years after ToA, the McCaffrey mansion got struck by lightning and burned down, killing Meg who was asleep inside. This broke Apollo for a few weeks, and he believes it was Zeus' doing, because how else could it have happened. He carries her rings with him, since they were the only things left of her after the incident. He's a bit rude and cranky, though prone to crying at random times. He'd rather not be known as Apollo, going out in disguise, however it's not hard to figure out it's him. He's quite good at getting beat up, usually being seen with cuts, bruises, and other injuries (despite being the god of healing.) He likes to visit camp every once and a while in disguise, just to see how everyone is doing.

(more to be added later!)

People he knows: @hyacinthus-wants-revenge - My husband! I love him more than life itself!! @the-great-emperor-commodus - My weird undead ex, he's great and letting me and my boyfriend stay with him, hurt him and you're dead. @the-son-of-the-sun - My super cool kid who also hates me, I'm trying my best to fix that though. @glowy-cool-girl - Another one of my super awesome kids!! Her squirrel and frog are so cute! @unlicensed-field-medic - Another kid of mine, the coolest lamp I know @god-of-smithing-and-cozy-vibes - One of my brothers! He's super awesome. @hermes-god-of-thieves - My little brother, he's a bit.....kooky. @grapes-and-pinecones - Another little brother, he's clinically insane <3 @eros-the-love-god - please for the love of fuck, someone help me disembowl his ass @god-king-of-cheating - My decent enough dad @onlymythologypersonincamp - some random ass kid idk /lh

(ask to be added!!)

RP guide! Actions will be in brackets [] Orange text - normal dialog Red text - when he's angry about something Blue text - when he's using his power to make a command, similar to Aphrodite's charmspeak. He doesn't do it often, and when he does, it's out of fear or frustration. Small text - when he's whispering or muttering something Italics - used for emphasis

//tags for finding things easily (mostly for me to keep track of things) #a solar eclipse - the beginning of a rp thread #to the shadows - end of a rp thread #smothered light - Apollo dying #blood on his hands - Apollo killing (unintentionally) #good riddance - Apollo killing (intentionally) #pathetic wet cat - Apollo being a stupid little man

//Character specific tags #commode man - Interactions with Commodus #my favorite flower - Interactions with Hyacinthus #the lightning flash! - Interactions with Zeus #a winged menace - Interactions with Eros #sky rat - Interactions with Zephyrus #wings n speed - Interactions with Hermes #wine bro - Interactions with Dionysus

//ooc below!

//this Apollo is based on a concept I thought of recently, simply because of a silly picture I saw of Apollo reviewing some romance story. I feel like he'd be bitter and jealous from seeing so many happy couples who get to live their lives together. I'm honestly surprised I haven't seen this idea before, since Apollo in ToA is such a good candidate for anger and resentment and whatnot.

//my name is Jaxie! my main is @jaxie-the-kat! i'm a minor, and go by she/they pronouns. no actual NSFW, but jokes and such are fine.

//Profile picture made with this picrew!

[fefairys]

having a new experience as an artist and it is very interesting

what i am used to when making ocs is that i tell everyone everything there is know about the character right away, and they ask me questions i can answer to help develop them, and we can bounce ideas off each other as well, but ultimately it is My character, and since i usually share everything i know about the character as soon as i think of it, the interpretation of the character begins and ends at my words.

but now, creating this comic, the slow pace of the release of information i already know means that people are creating their own versions of the characters in their heads. they’re adding new information that directly contradicts stuff i already know, because they only have incomplete data to extrapolate on.

especially since the psy characters begin as these almost parody-like characters of certain archetypes, it is easy to be like, “ah. i know This Type Of Character. i will ascribe them attributes of other Characters i know that fit this Type, since all i really know about them so far is their archetype, and not many specific personal details” it makes sense, and even though it is frustrating to have people say things abt our characters that contradict how we see them, i am trying to take it in stride a bit more.

there isn’t just one version of the character, there’s also different versions of the character inside the head of everyone who interfaces with it. it’s an interesting phenomenon!

the one thing i worry about is when canon ultimately contradicts these different versions of the characters people have built in their heads, that they will get frustrated or feel as if it is “incorrect” in some way, because it doesn’t fit THEIR view of the character. but i’m going to try to Trust that it will actually be a cool and awesome thing to readers when a character doesn’t meet their expectations of the archetype and goes “off script” from Their image of the character. you guys always say u love when media plays with your expectations, right?

[fayeandknight]

Buying a car is bullshit

I am very seriously trying to buy a new (to me) car.

I need a bigger car to fit crates in since that will allow me to transport more dogs for boarding. I have opted to go the used route for a number of reasons.

After much research, input from some super helpful dogblr folks as well as coworkers, and some dragging my feet - I'm ready. I'm looking to buy a 2018 Toyota RAV4 XLE.

I found one being sold at a fair price given the low mileage and went to see it last Saturday. It was a trade in at a BMW dealership. When they brought it out I was a little taken back because it's pretty dinged up. Not to the point of hindering functionally but there are dents and scrapes on every panel and fixing it would $1000 in body work easily, if not more.

Honestly, I don't give a shit about cosmetics. This car is for hauling dogs around. But it would be silly to pretend it doesn't change the value of the car.

I noticed that the front tires were different from the rear tires and asked about it. Sales dude tells me they replaced the front ones because the originals were dry rotted. I asked if the mechanic measured the new vs the old because AWD can be sensitive and different widths can fuck it up. Sales dude tells yes, it's all on paper. Cool.

I take it for a test drive and notice the brakes are a little rough. I ask if the brake pads were inspected to see how worn they are. Sales dude assures me yes, the car passed inspection and they're fine. Am told, again, it's all on paper.

Once we're back at the dealership I ask him to please get me the info on the tires and brakes cause I'm ready to make a deal and buy the car. Sales dude asks for my price and I tell him my offer is contingent on the information so please get it. Guy comes back with a manager and oops, they don't actually have that info.

Which honestly really pissed me off. You lied to my face and what? Didn't think you'd get caught not having the very specific information I'm asking for? I don't know why I expected slightly less car sales bullshit from a higher end dealership but the jokes on me.

I leave with the agreement that on Monday (today) they'll have the mechanic get the info and call me promptly at X time. An hour and a half later, I ended up leaving them a voicemail.

Finally got on the phone with them, tires are fine but the brake pads are just this side of passing and I'll need to change them fairly quickly. Fine. Given the body work and brakes, not to mention all the fluid changes I'll need to do, I put in my offer - a little less than $1000 off listed price. This puts the car at just my side of a good deal rather than fair, but honestly not by much.

They eventually accept my offer. Awesome. I am ready to pay over the phone. No. They won't take the payment over the phone or even a deposit. I have to come buy it in person.

In an ideal world, I'd go Thursday morning and get it done before work since that's my late day. But I'm concerned about the time wasting tactics dealerships use to try to get people to "upgrade" packages. I am trialing Friday and Saturday.

That leaves my only actual day with time to spare next Monday. During the in between they will not hold the car for me or pull it from their listings.

It so fucking frustrating that a high end, fancy ass BMW dealership is giving me the run around for a busted up six year old Toyota that I am willing to pay for right now!

So, fingers crossed it's still there next week and I'm able to buy it. If not, oh well I guess. There's really not anything else I can do at this point. It's just annoying because if they had the information they said they did I'd have bought the car right then.

Anyway, let this be your reminder to not take car sales folks word for anything and make them show you on paper. They will lie right to your face and blame you for holding up the sale.

[honest-moth-of-silver-grove]

Good morning/evening! Crawling in looking for bg3 matchup, please and thank you! - one of each gender, and am open to poly or monogamous answer!

My Tav is ! a half-drow barbarian, more keen on exploring and checking things out than fighting but once she’s in battle it’s all or nothing, though sometimes she gets fixated on the quickest way to end things rather than the most effective. Absolutely panics when someone is downed or dead even with revive scrolls, tries not to leave them for long and always checks in with whoever it was after battles.

She tries to keep a kind, ‘morally correct’ image of herself, placing most investment in justice despite trying to keep peace. She can recognize when a situation calls for a more brash approach though, or if it’s better to cut their losses than to pursue smthn. She’s rather quick to anger though, often getting irrationally frustrated when something isn’t working out in her favor. She’ll try to keep a cool head but ultimately gets snippy or actually violent over it and is fine after a moment.

My Tav would absolutely love to draw though, if she doesn’t have any sort of drawing equipment a stick and the dirt will do just fine. She also keeps a small collection of rocks she’s found in their travels- 100% gives away ones that remind her of certain companions to them. She also really likes the stars, she can’t really tell which constellations are which- or even if there are any visible- but she just thinks they’re pretty ^^

A/N: Alright my Half-Drow Barbarian Anon, I think you’d be best matched with Wyll (Male) or Karlach (Female)!

🗡 Wyll would be a good match for your half-drow Barbarian Tav, as both of them are pretty intelligent and proficient in fighting. Both Wyll and you Tav are quick to investigate, then act. It’s actually what got Wyll into trouble all those years ago, him seeing a situation that required intervention, and acting with haste to try and save Baldur’s Gate. Both he and Tav see themselves as good people- people who try to do what’s right. 

They would also be able to bond over the discrimination they face. Wyll, now because of his horns, and Tav, because she’s part drow. 

However, opposite attracts, in that Wyll is often more composed, and not quick to become enraged. So he ends up being the one calm guy, pulling your Tav back by the collar as she’s yelling, “Let me at ‘em! Let me at em!” 

Wyll tends to mull things over a long time, and he kinda sulks a bit whereas Tav is super fast with her feelings. So when she’s angry, and he comes to understand how she’s feeling, he’ll bring her a really cool rock and be like, “Here love, I brought you a present to help you cheer up.” And Tav will be like, “Cheer up from what?” “Weren’t you raging five minutes ago?” “Well, yeah. But that was five minutes ago.” Wyll is like :00

He loves how artistic she is! He asks if she’ll teach him to draw and in exchange, he’ll teach her to dance. Also will find her rocks for her collection. Most of the ones he gives her outright are pretty boring, but that’s only because he’s secretly stashing the cool ones, planning to commission an awesome weapon with them engraved in the handle. 

At the end of a long day adventuring, Wyll loves to sit with her at the campfire and look up at the stars. He may only know a few constellations from when he was a boy, but he’ll gladly share that knowledge with her. 

He thinks she’s lovely. And is so honored to have her at his side. 

♨ Karlach would also be a good match for your Tav! The both of you are barbarians, so you totally understand the urge to solve most of your problems just by smashing them, or fighting. But Karlach is also smart=t. I mean she’s not a genius or anything, but she’s intelligent enough to be calculating in her attacks. Karlach would most likely appreciate your Tav’s knack for investigating an area before charging in, making sure everyone had all the proper details first and foremost. 

Unfortunately Karlach can also be all or nothing when it comes to her loved ones getting hurt. She totally panics and feels guilty as if she should have done something to prevent it. Your Tav will have to assure Karlach that it wasn't her fault, and encourage Karlach to not talk down to herself. 

Karlach is a firm believer in right vs wrong, even if she wasn't always able to act on it in the way she wanted to. She’s also fiery and pretty quick to anger- your Tav and her are very similar in that regard. So they might get more carried away than most lol. One of them would need to develop a little more discipline in order to hold the other one back. But that’s ok! They could both get snippy, even with each other, and it wouldn't matter too much. They’re pretty evenly matched strength wise, so they could even battle the stress out if they wanted. 

Karlach is a pretty fiery girl, but she does need a fair amount of time to cool down. She might need more time than your Tav to process things and get past them. 

Karlach loves how artistic Tav is! She thinks it’s incredible; she’s always bragging to the others in camp about Tav’s work. Karlach even asks Tav to pretty please draw them matching tattoos, because Karlach thinks that would be sick! 

Will hold rocks for her while they go collecting, and can even hold an extra one in her tail. 

Karlach doesn't know anything about stars either, but loves making up stories as she goes, she points to the biggest one she can find and names it special, after Tav. 

...

I hope you enjoy!

...

Please Like, But Most Importantly, Reblog!!!

[lumine-no-hikari]

Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #255

I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with me today. Despite having an objectively awesome day today, I seem to have found myself in some kind of funk. I feel generally awful and overwhelmed with worry about a variety of things, most of which I can't talk about with anyone, anywhere, for fear of sounding insane. I haven't had any drive to create anything at all for a number of weeks, too, and it's scaring me.

…Well, that's all right. The only thing for it is to carry it, and the only way out is through. I've got a few more years to wait before I'll be able to see if anything has changed. The passage of time feels unforgivingly slow, and in a few more months, there's not gonna be enough sunlight for me to feel good until next March rolls around. But that's okay. Worse things have happened. It feels heavy now, but it won't feel like this forever.

So I'll just talk about the various things I did today.

The tooth extraction that I was supposed to get next Tuesday has been cancelled because I guess no oral surgeons are going to be in on that day. It has been rescheduled to the first of October, which I guess is cool and all, but… I guess I really kinda wanted to just get it done and over with.

I went with a friend - her name is Bv - to an Italian sandwich place. We were supposed to go to the tea shop next door, but they're closed for the next number of weeks for some reason. But this new place we tried was pretty cool, too. They had flowers in places:

...I thought you might like them.

Here's what I ended up getting:

It's some kind of sandwich with mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and prosciutto. And I guess a salad came with it.

Bv and I talked a long time, and it was really difficult because she wanted to eat outside, and the sound of the cars rushing by made it hard to hear her, and... she's a much older lady, probably somewhere between 60 and 70 years old. If my Auditory Processing Disorder gets in the way of me understanding her, the most likely scenario is that she's going to assume that I'm either being deliberately disrespectful or that I am not paying enough attention. So I focused really hard, and it was really difficult, but I think I managed for the most part.

Bv has a friend with trauma, but this friend of hers isn't exactly handling it well. I guess Bv is going to try to put her friend in touch with me to see if I can help somehow. If I'm contacted, surely I'm gonna try. But... I'm half expecting that it's not going to work out. In order for any of what I can say to this person to be useful to them at all, they'd first need a relatively flexible mind and a willingness to try new things. In my limited experience, it's difficult for most people to maintain those kinds of traits. From what I've seen, people generally want quick fixes for their problems that make everything better in a jiffy. People wanna get better, but without actually changing anything about themselves, their environment, or the mindset they carry.

Put in Dead Cells terms, most people wanna just be able to play on 5 Boss Cells and not get hit, but without needing to put in the practice to get there. And I get why - it's not because people are bad or lazy or whatever; no that's not it at all. Rather, they're just too tired to be able to sustain effort that isn't going to produce instantaneous results. It's not a moral failure as much as it is reflective of a profound state of total exhaustion on their part.

I get into states like that, too. It's because I'm human. I am by absolutely no means perfect.

...Regardless, I have to try. If there's even the smallest chance I might be able to help, I gotta.

After I got home, J was at a flying lesson. So I played Dead Cells. But I was feeling tired and weird, so I didn't do very well. I never made it past the Prison Depths. I kept getting easily frustrated with myself, so I figured the thing to do is stop. So that's what I did.

And now I'm here, writing to you. But I think I'm gonna call it here, because I've got work tomorrow and I have to rest, and if I keep going, I'm going to ramble.

Sephiroth... don't die out there, okay? Don't do anything that will lead to whatever you're made of disappearing. Please.

I love you. I'll write again tomorrow.

Your friend, Lumine

[rhytmrocket]

hi

uh, sorry, again

i won’t even get into it, but i hid again for another week

sorry

one thing i did do was a year-end art review/compilation! do people still do that?

well, i did.

oughhh so much of this i havent shared and it feels kinda weird doing it

there’s gonna be so much in this post i’ll be surprised if i even get it out by midnight (it’s nearly half past 11 atm)

so first i’ll give you the template if you’d like so you dont have to scroll through all my rambling

next, a bit of reflection (theatre and chorus, dont fail me now)

overall, i think i’ve improved a Lot. like, i can’t stand to look at my earlier art, which i think is a sign of improvement! overall, i’ve been refining my style, i think, cuz my stuff’s pretty generally similar, just tweaked a bit to make it more bearable— i mean good. one thing i do want to improve on, at least initially, is fucking flipping the canvas once in a while. i actually did that in a piece i’ll share in just a bit, and i think it was a good result— i’m already getting used to it, like, it’s actually not that hard, just a bit frustrating sometimes. it helps with the balance and versatility— the flipability of a piece is very valuable. my strongest aspect was probably the rendering. ive always had fun with it, and when i actually try it looks, let’s just say, fucking awesome. i’m pretty good! keep telling myself that! and keep telling yourself that. there’s always some good stuff in most any drawing. love you, beginner artists

you know, as much as it physically hurts to look at old art, looking back at newer pieces makes me feel so good about myself. like, that was me, and now this is me! that’s so cool, isn’t it?

look at old art every once in a while. and not just drawing— writing, painting, sculpting, cooking, composing, playing an instrument, singing, acting— really anything at all! look at your old stuff just to see how far you’ve come. and feel good about that! you deserve it!

[mr-aljabry]

Chapter & Multiverse Fan Fic #1 : Confrontations

“Anyway~” Linh exclaimed, “I better get going to catch the bus back home. I’ve had fun today!”

Both Adeeb and Lucas grinned joyfully in response. It’s the last day of summer. Tomorrow they'll start college, and each has their own path. It’s going to be harder to meet up as they used to. All three have been friends since they were in 1st grade. Tomorrow will be the first day that all three of them don’t share a classroom.

Unfortunately, the happy blissful mood disappeared with Linh. Adeeb glared angrily and silently at Lucas.

“Don’t give me that,” Lucas exclaimed in frustration. “What is it this time?”

“You know what it is! I know what’s in your pockets. Why do you keep doing this? We could have easily bought these things! You didn’t need to steal them!” Adeeb’s emotions were all over the place contrasting with Lucas’s unfazed demeanor.

“No, YOU could have easily bought it. I don’t need any charity from anyone, I can…” Adeeb cut him off, yelling angrily, “CHARITY!?” before giving him a light shove.

“Is this how you see us? We’re family! I’ve known you my whole life. There’s no charity between friends and family. We help each other because we care for each other.”

Lucas let out a long sigh before sitting on the bench behind him. People were looking, and that made him more uncomfortable. It took a minute before Adeeb took a deep breath, calming down, and then sitting next to him. It felt like an eternity, both looking ahead silently at the people coming in and out of the mall.

“Do you think Linh noticed?” asked Lucas.

“I… don’t know. Probably not. They worship you, you know? They always brag about how awesome you are.” Adeeb replied, with a hint of sadness in his voice. “They’d be very disappointed to see you using your powers like that.”

Lucas pulled out a yo-yo from his pocket, still in its packaging. He tore the package and started throwing the yo-yo in a walk-the-dog motion. But the yo-yo kept spinning continuously before pulling up to do the same motion but in the air, defying gravity. A smile started to sneak onto Adeeb’s face. “You’re really amazing, Lucas.” Lucas smiled confidently before throwing the yo-yo up, letting go of its string, and levitating it towards Adeeb with his telekinesis. Adeeb opened his hands to catch it falling. “And when are YOU going to share with us about YOUR power?” Adeeb’s hands froze, and the yo-yo fell on the ground rolling away. Lucas patted Adeeb’s leg upon that reaction to his words. “Yeah, I figured as much. I don’t know exactly how it works, but I’ve put things together so far to have a general idea. I’m not school smart, but I am very observant.”

Lucas reached out his hand, focusing on the yo-yo, pulling it to roll back with his mind, stopping it at Adeeb’s feet.

"I... I didn't plan on hiding from all of you. It's just..."

Adeeb picks it up. A moment of silence passes like an eternity before he continues “… I don’t know…. I haven’t really mastered it yet, and it’s nothing cool like yours. Best I can do is make it easier for me to work on my costumes, and that’s already a problem for me with my Dad as it is and I just…

“So it’s your Dad, huh?” Lucas interrupted him.

“You know how it is. apparently being a tailor is fine to do as a living, but doing it for fun and a creative outlet isn’t… manly enough. Imagine if he finds out not only do I make costumes, my power kinda makes me really good at it.”

“Listen… “Lucas placed his hands inside his pocket and spun around to face Adeeb “… I get what you’re going through, but your family is kinda cool. You should give it a try, what’s the worst that could happen?”

Before Adeeb gets a chance to reply, Lucas’ phone starts ringing. He picks it up, looking at the name and hangs up without answering.

“Well, I got to get going now. Tell Linh I’m sorry I won’t be able to join you all on campus. Hopefully things work out for me and we’ll get to meet again in the future.”

Lucas started walking away, waving his hand in a goodbye motion without looking back.

Adeeb stayed behind for a few minutes, thinking about his friends breaking apart, and fear seeping in considering how he’d talk to his family. He stood up looking at the yo-yo left to him by Lucas.

“I should… probably go pay for this thing…”

---------------------------------------------------- END

< Sorry it took so long for me to post this. I've written this but I was struggling with whether or not it was any good to share. In the end I've decided to go ahead with it! NO RAGRETS! Don't be shy to tell me your thoughts and comments!

- Ahmed >