#peter asking the real science questions

[lotusxpop]

Peter: if poison expires does it become more or less poisonous?

Tony: ...

Tony: That's actually a good question.

Rhodey: what's wrong with you two

[spiderfunkz]

✧.* NEWSPAPER WRAPPED FLOWERS.

— summary : peter gifts you flowers.

— word count : 0,4k

— warnings : fluff, fem!reader, super cheesy stuff, dumb jokes, a kiss on the cheek, not proofread.

a/n : peter would be the sweetest bf ever!!

the new york nights were loud. so loud and noisy, yet the only thing you can hear at the moment is peter laughing. as if everything else just went silent.

"so like, what's the weirdest valentines gift you ever gotten?" he asked.

peter was explaining that he got a sock with pickles and hearts on it once for valentines day a few years ago.

first dates usually felt awkward. conversations seemed forced and dry, the air felt thick, and one wrong move can spill whatever drink you bought on your date's new white shirt.

but peter made it feel so, easy. maybe it's his cheesy friendly smile, or his chocolate-scented cologne that made you feel so comfortable with him, or maybe it's the fact that you've liked him since middle school.

"the weirdest valentines gift i've ever gotten?" you repeated the question, "yeah." he nodded.

"i've never really gotten a valentines gift, i mean does a note from my mom count?" you say, sipping your milkshake.

"you've never gotten a valentines gift before?" peter gasps, you can't tell if he's seriously shocked or not. "no?" — "not even flowers?" he asks. "no, is it really that big of a deal?" you question. "uh, yes!" he nodded.

"i just can't believe no one has given a pretty girl like you flowers." he says in disbelief.

"what's this?" you ask.

after you mentioned that you've never received flowers before, it has been peter's mission to gift you flowers.

"flowers." peter smiled awkwardly. "you told me no one has ever given you flowers before."

you take the flowers, "you didn't even take the price tag off."

"i wanted to emphasize the massive amount of money i'd spend for you. also, you didn't even thank me yet." peter stood.

"peter it's 25 dollars! that's way too much." you point out, the bouquet was beyond beautiful though. "i'd spend 25 dollars for you any day." he replies.

you smile at him, admiring the bouquet of flowers, your first ever bouquet of flowers. "why is there a bite on one of the leaves?" you question the cartoon-y bite.

"uh, i may or may not have eaten one of the leaves." he rocks back and fourth, hands in his pockets.

"why?"

"because i needed to know if it was real or not."

"so you ate it?"

"i took a little bite."

you stare at him, how can midtown sciences number two be this, unbelievable.

"did it taste real?"

"yeah, i mean it tasted like.. a leaf."

"you're unbelievable." you shook your head.

"i can already tell you're falling in love with me even more now." he makes that cheesy smile again.

"maybe." you give him a kiss on the cheek.

[literaila]

verity what would you think about writing another peter x reader in which peter becomes a photographer and has to take pictures of reader and he develops a thing for her and he thinks that reader just flirts with him for fun and he's totally okay with that because he's a fool for her but after teasing peter and messing with him for a good amount of time she asks him out ? maybe inspired by "suck it and see" by arctic monkeys? thank you !!

chemistry

tasm!peter x fem!reader

a/n: the science jokes are real with this one

*

peter needed to get over himself. that much was clear.

honestly, he had the ability to rip out his eyes and throw them down the garbage disposal, and it was becoming increasingly obvious that he might have to. just to get some sanity back.

it wasn’t really his fault he was staring at you. no, it wasn’t his fault at all.

he was getting paid to stare at you. you had hired him to do this. to take pictures of you when you looked like this—partially glowing from the light, wearing a devious smile like you might be trying to crack his lens—and not get called a pervert for it.

his movements were automatic now. he’d done this enough—admired strangers and tried to pull the best out of them—but it was never quite like this. with every click of a button, and the perfectly adjusted flash, peter felt himself getting a bit hazy.

it would be his luck to faint while taking pictures of a pretty girl.

a pretty girl who’s head was tilted at him, eyes questioning, because she’d just said something and he was too busy scolding himself to notice

get yourself together.

“hmm?” peter asked, moving a step closer to you. “sorry i missed it.”

you smile like he’s said something funny. “should i try something else?” you say, “i’m not used to posing.”

“you’re doing great. you’re a natural.”

maybe a little too great. you blink at him, eyes darting away and sigh. even then, if peter took a photo, he’s sure it would come out perfectly. he probably wouldn’t need to edit any of these, even.

but he also probably would. just to stare at you some more.

“well, you’re the expert.”

but peter frowns. “are you feeling uncomfortable?”

“just—“ you shake your head. “will you tell me a joke, or something? i feel… awkward. i have no idea what i’m doing.”

“tell you a joke?” peter repeats, slightly amused.

“or just talk to me. anything.”

“sure,” he says, easily, nodding his head a bit too much. maybe it’s because you sort of whispered it, and peter sort of felt it on every single on of his nerve endings. “i, um,” he raises his brows. “i think i just forgot every joke i’ve ever heard.”

you laugh with your head tilted back and he snaps a shot. “just tell me about you, then.”

“me?”

“yes, peter parker, the photographer… and? part time comedian? full time alcoholic? father of six?”

peter frowns. “how old do you think i am?“

“old enough to be a professional photographer.”

“i don’t know if i would call myself a professional…” he winces, smiling a bit and feeling embarrassed for himself. flushed and completely ashamed because he’s usually better at this.

he can calm a clients nerves in five minutes. he can make people laugh and get the candid shot that he knows they’re looking for. he can turn an awkward social interaction into getting drinks after a shoot.

but there’s something about you and your smile, and the easy way you talk, like the words just fall out of your mouth and into place.

“i saw your prints,” you correct, shaking your head at him, “why do you think i hired you?”

“free eye candy?”

and then you actually laugh, chest releasing, and peter watches as your eyes squint at him like you’ve finally realized who you’re talking to.

it’s second nature when he presses the button.

“oh, yeah. i just googled ‘hottest male photographer in queens’ and yours was the first that came up.”

“i knew that ad would pay off eventually.”

“really, though. i’ve only got you for another twenty minutes so you’ve gotta tell me something good.”

peter frowns and moves to your left, changing the zoom on his camera and dimming the light. “i didn’t know you were paying for a gossip session.”

“okay, so you don’t like to talk about yourself. what else?”

he catches you as you adjust your hair, the light shining on the side of your face, gleaming off of you like something out of a sci-fi film.

peter shakes his head—his head is feeling a bit off. “um… i want to get a cat.”

you smile, completely darling and enough to knock a breath out of his chest. “i’ll add caring to the list. why haven’t you?”

“well, my apartment doesn’t really allow it…” he pauses for a moment playing with some settings. the two of you are dancing in circles, like a pendulum, when you move, he moves. “and also i’m not sure that i’d remember to feed it.”

“most animals make sure you remember. when i was a kid my dog would jump on whoever was closest when it was time for dinner.”

peter almost winces, and then catches himself. “i also think i’d poison it with my energy. it’d forget how to move its tail.”

“well, i’ve been around you for almost an hour and a half now and i can safely say that i still have control over all of my limbs.”

“good to know…” peter mutters while frowning at his screen. there’s nothing wrong with his camera, or with you, just with his hands. and his heart.

“everything okay?”

he shakes his head, then nods, clearing his throat. “yeah—yeah. i’m just messing with the settings.”

“are you getting anything good? useable?”

“they’re all good,” he says—to himself and out loud like a complete idiot. and then he looks up, awkwardly laughing. “like i said, you’re a natural.”

“even if you’re lying,” you tease, undeterred by his awkwardness, “i’m sure you’ll fix it all before i see.”

“i’m not lying, but yeah.”

when you smile, he smiles back.

“okay,” you say, moving. “what else? got any friends or family? any plans after this?”

“which question am i supposed to answer?”

“all of them, peter.”

he chuckles. “it’s mostly just me and my aunt. and a couple of long lost cousins. as for friends, i’ve kept in touch with some people from college. oh, and me and the john down the street who makes me a sandwich everyday are close.”

you lift your head, revealing the skin of your neck and jaw to peter. and a fetish he didn’t know he had. “and after this?”

“i’ll probably just go home and edit these, actually.”

“it’s friday.”

he shrugs. squinting at you before the next shot. he’s not even really looking.

“nothing fun?” you ask him. “surely you’ll be sick of my face after this.”

“that’d be hard.”

he watches a sheepish smile reveal itself on your face before it’s gone. you look away. “you’re young, peter. you should be having fun.”

“what are you doing after this?” peter asks, as a challenge.

your brows lift. “this seems like a line.”

he laughs. “not like that.”

you shrug and blink when the flash goes off. “i’ll figure out something. are there any good bars nearby?”

peter pauses, dropping his camera. “are we back to the alcoholic thing.”

“no,” you laugh, “we’re way past that. i just think that your flash is giving me a bit of an adrenaline rush. i could use a calm me down.”

“you okay?”

“i’m kidding, peter. keep going, you’re almost a free man.”

so he does.

you continue to prod him with personal questions, attacking him with your smile and your unsurprisingly sharp wit. you throw his words right back to him, and peter knows, in his deepest of thoughts, that he’s going to be hearing your voice later on.

that when he’s looking back on these pictures, he’s going to see a timeline of your allure, and of his own demise.

he’s already loving and dreading it.

he finishes up by making you laugh from your nose, loud and unprecedented, and so genuinely rewarding that peter has to refrain from clapping himself on the back.

you smile at him as you slip on your jacket, still talking to him, acting too smooth to be just polite.

peter also has to refrain himself from trying to shake your head as he walks you to the door. he tries not to stare any longer, knowing what kind of night he has in store.

“when should i be seeing the pictures?” you ask him, lingering when you finally get to the door.

“sometime next week. i’ll email you a preview with a few different editing styles that you can pick from and then i’ll finish the album.”

“email?”

he scoffs, opening the door for you. “i’ll have you know that not everyone is as young and hip as you. do you know how many grandparents want photos with their family?”

“it just doesn’t seem like you, peter. i’d thought you’d train a carrier pigeon.”

he shakes his head at you, trying to hide his smile.

“but, seriously, thank you so much,” you say to him, voice full and easy, and honest. he can feel your heart and smell your perfume. “i know i’m a lot. especially when i’m nervous.”

“i’m just glad you didn’t ask me about my social security number.”

you reflectively smack yourself on the forehead. “i knew i forgot something.”

peter laughs, letting you slip past him trying to avoid your touch. he doesn’t, and if benjamin franklin was there, he might’ve discovered a whole different type of electricity.

“i’ll talk to you soon,” peter says, and your close enough that it’s almost a whisper. “just let me know if there’s any issues with the pictures, or you have any questions. you’ve got my number.”

“i do.”

his body feels physically repelled from inside the studio, but he forces himself to take a step in anyway. “have a good weekend.”

“you too.”

and then you turn to go, and peter can’t help but stare. he hopes that the tint on the shop windows is enough to keep you from noticing.

but before he can close the door—and mind that it took him an outrageously stupid amount of time—you’re turning back around.

“wait, peter,” you say, voice breathless and jagged. like peters hands as they rush to push open the door again.

it’s embarrassing how quickly he manages to do it.

“yes?”

you smile, like you know exactly what he’s thinking. peter will have that smile branded into his brain.

“do you wanna come with me to get that drink?” you ask him, softly, and wide, with a smile that bursts blood vessels.

peter really needs to get over himself.

*

[desiredrealitytv]

You are now watching… desired reality tv!!!

hi there! welcome to desired reality tv! i’m your host: brooke! and i can’t wait for you to tune in to the channel. today news center 222 is gonna be covering an interview with yours truly, by yours truly.

first things first, get to know your host!

･ ｡ﾟ☆: hi everyone! my name is brooke, i’m 19 years old, and i’m an aquarius sun, aries moon, and gemini rising! i learned about shifting/manifesting wayyyy back in 2019! i’ve been actively practicing shifting since 2020 and have been doing manifestation/spiritual practices for about the same amount of time!

my favorite color is purple (clearly). i love music (even though my taste is quite basic idrc). i like to read (i say as if i’m not in a horrible reading slump). i’m new to tumblr in general and i’m super open to making new shifting/loa friends if anyone’s interested! <3

where do i shift to?

･ ｡ﾟ☆: currently, i’m fixated on my mcu x marauders crossover dr! james potter holds my heart and soul i fear… (but don’t tell him i said that please!)

i also have a dc x mcu dr, which i’m superrr excited to shift to but it’s a bit more complex than my other dr so it’s on a back burner in my mind!! (who am i kidding, i fantasize about it all the time?!)

as for other drs… in theory i have a few fame drs, an f1 dr, a pjo/hoo dr, an andrew garfield spider-man dr, and whatever else is on my mind any given day. none of these are scripts i’ve finished tbh, but i want to go there one day. (anyone else get the urge to shift to any media you consume?!!)

miscellaneous facts about me?!

･ ｡ﾟ☆: as i stated before, my favorite color is purple, i love all shades, lavender and royal purple (cool undertones preferred) have my <3 fully. i love fantasy and dystopian books, always looking for good recs because i hate searching on my own can’t lie (i promise i’m gonna read caraval soon rachel.) i’m obsessed with learning about the universe, spirituality, neuroplasticity, loa, all of the “woo woo” witchy or science idc, it’s fascinating.

series i love: invincible, the vampire diaries, teenwolf, young justice, cobra kai (haven’t finished the last season yet), THE ORIGINALS (elijah mikaelson the man you are), x-men 97, percy jackson, the mcu, harry potter (fuck jkr btw), the arrowverse (have not finished everything but still love it), the hunger games, spider-verse and all spider-man media, little women, and probably a bunch more i cannot recall.

fav artists: harry styles, arctic monkeys, maisie peters, sabrina carpenter, frank ocean, taylor swift, 1d, zayn, ariana grande, tate mcrae

where am i at in my journey?

･ ｡ﾟ☆: currently? i’m on my way to fully shifting to my marauders x mcu dr. i’ve mini-shifted so many times i cannot remember, i’ve fully shifted to alternate one offs of either my cr or dr… (super annoying btw, but thankful for the proof of shifting i suppose) i’ve also had plenty of “dream-shifts” which is a term me and @alleviatcd coined a few years ago, which basically means shifting through a dream into a real life version of said dream or something similar. (we were using it as a really loose term tbh)

i’ve had plenty of experiences with shifting and manifesting by now, i’m at the point in my journey where i’m implementing it in a way where it’s just a normal part of my life, not some outlandish goal i’m trying to complete. i decided to make this blog to have somewhere to ramble (like most of us i assume), and hopefully help a few people and myself out along the way.

if you’ve read all the way down here… i love you so bad wtf?!!! thank you so much for tuning into the pilot episode of desired reality tv: news center 222! if you’ve got any questions or ideas for me to post about send an ask, a dm, or whatever, i love yapping. and i love YOU all!

with love,

b <3

[thevindicativevordan]

Hi, hope you are doing well. I am the anon who asked this question about the Maker (post/730144525324009472/im-conflicted-about-the-maker-as-a-character-on) and I wanted to know what are your thoughts on the Marvel Universe as remade by the Maker? I understand that most of it is a comentary/analogy to real life events, with technocompanies rulling the USA, the USA doing experiments in the Pacific with radiation, basically everything Midas stand for, etc. But, looking from the Maker point of view, how do you think it fits with what he wants? And what do you think he wants, in the end?

Perfect time to ask me this because after I got temp banned from the CBR Forums recently, I decided to read all of Ultimate Fantastic Four. I need to amend my earlier post regarding the Maker - he does actually feel like a believable evolution on the flaws that were always present in 1610 Reed:

Even before he became a homicidal maniac, 1610 Reed Richards was a dick. There was a mean streak and petulancy that I had forgotten about. A willingness to walk riiiiiiiight up to the moral divide that was present from the very beginning. Millar, Bendis, and Ellis all established Maker as having a darker side. Using torture against Doom was on the table, he flat out rejected the possibility that he had made a mistake, he did messed up science experiments for fun. The pieces were all there! Alas the execution sucked. I still stand by what I posted here regarding the Ultimate Doom trilogy:

Bendis' depiction of his "fall" was awful and incoherent. Under Bendis, Reed instantly becomes the type of guy willing to commit cold blooded murder against both his family and other heroes for no real reason. If Reed is pissed about the military controlling everything, why is he trying to kill Peter Parker? Shouldn't he be trying to kill Nick Fury and destroy SHIELD? That at least would make sense, Ultimate Nick Fury is a fucking awful person. Instead he murders his entire family instead of just his asshole dad because... I don't know, he's just evil now. A writer can't write someone smarter than them, and Bendis is just not the guy for tackling the world's smartest heroic mind descending into villainy. Reed's plan is dumb and paper thin.

Coldly murdering his mother and sister Enid - his sister whom he went through all the effort to save from Psycho-Man in one of the final UFF arcs! - reads even more egregiously out of character. Why did he kill those two and not just his asshole dad? No clue, Bendis never bothered to give us an explanation. Trying to kill all of SHIELD after the UFF fall apart makes perfect sense to me after reading Ultimate Power for the first time. 1610 Nick Fury is evil. Fury is a monster whom even Dick Cheney would have to kneel in awe before. Asshole deserves to die and SHIELD should be destroyed. Sending suicide bombers to murder Spider-Man and his other heroic peers on the other hand?

No Bendis, you need to actually explain WTF Maker was thinking there because that makes no sense AND it doesn't line up with his previous characterization! Maker didn't want to kill the zombie F4 despite them 1. Being undead and 2. Planning to infect and eat everyone on his Earth. He wasn't willing to kill Doom even after Ultimatum. Then suddenly off-screen he becomes the kind of guy who murders his sister who only ever looked up to and worshiped him, and his mother who tried to support him and showed him nothing but love? Terrible writing, and it makes me so mad because everything else is brilliant setup unintentional though it was.

Pages like this one floored me. You read this knowing they were not setting up Maker yet somehow it perfectly does just that. The other Baxter Building kids breaking off to form their own perfect society in a secret city tucked away from private eyes? Being sick of how they were forced to serve the military? Commitment to the idea to the point they're willing to kill the F4 and any military personnel sent after them? In-universe this, and other events like Psycho-Man's utopia, likely served as the foundation for where Maker came up with the idea of the City. Everything fits! It's a natural result of Maker having an enormous ego, having seen others make their own attempts at building utopias, tossing morality aside, and going "they failed but I'll succeed. I don't make mistakes like they do."

Begs the question OP asked: why did he make Earth 6160 into the way it is? Fantastic question especially considering that both as a hero, and during his initial fall to villainy, Maker hated the "corruption" of science into a force that only served the elite.

Yet the world of 6160 is exactly what he claimed to hate! America collapsed into a realm ruled by technocrats who abused science to enrich themselves. Freaking Midas is in the White House using cosmic energy as a power source for his war suit and the electric grid. What gives? Is it just Maker being a hypocrite? Maker offers two justifications in Ultimate Invasion. First, that he ran civilization models in the City and humanity cannot accept perfect peace. If you've ever watched the Matrix you know how that argument goes. We aren't built to live in paradise. Our human natures are too fallible, when offered the option we reject it. Given Maker's god complex it does suit him that he invokes the Biblical explanation for why evil exists - human nature demands it.

However, there's a second justification. Maker treats Earth 6160 as his playground, his laboratory. He's the Emperor of the World, and with that comes those who would covet his throne. Keeping the world full of conflicts and evils keeps people divided. They're so busy fighting each other that they can't unite against him. Hitler, Genghis Khan, Bismarck, Stalin, Mao, history is full of dictators who employed similar logic to maintain power. Yes it makes him a hypocrite but Maker is beyond caring about the "small minded" dreams he had back before he jumped off the slippery slope.

Regarding what he wants power for, there are two likely motives to parallel his two justifications. I believe he is trying to create the "Ultimate Earth", an Earth that lives up to what he wanted 1610 to be. Time travelling to the future indicates that he is at the very least invested in this Earth's well-being. He saved it from Galactus, he kept the Council from spiraling out of control as they now threaten to do in his absence. He supported scientific and technological advancements that did improve life for everyone. Howard mentions curing cancer. Maker's Ultimate Earth appears to be a technologically advanced society where the peoples lives are improved at the cost of their freedom. In a single word: Latveria. Fitting for a Reed who has gone the way of Doom.

Unsurprisingly Maker's other motive is much more selfish and narcissistic: he wants to screw with Earth 6160 Reed.

Mentioned this before somewhat in my previous post:

My theory is that it's because Maker is trying to take a Reed who is similar to 616 Reed and transform the guy into a monster like him. It's his middle finger to 616 Reed. Maker wants to prove that 616 Reed isn't better than him, if Mr. Fantastic had lost his family and been put through hell like Maker had, he would break too. That 6160 Reed is, so far, not a monster like Maker pisses Maker off. It's not logical to keep 6160 Reed around, and doing so leads to Maker's fall.

Additionally there's some clear self-hatred going on.

Note the callback to UFF with the "I don't make mistakes" line. People talk about Sue rejecting the marriage offer as being the big divergence point between the 616 and 1610 Reeds. I think it goes back even further. 616 Reed was the one who messed up his friends lives. 1610 Reed however was blameless. 1610 Doom, not Reed, was the one who caused the accident that gave the Four their powers. In Ultimate Power it was Doom's meddling which was revealed to have killed millions of people despite Maker initially being blamed. Maker never had to feel the guilt that Mr. Fantastic has to live with. Always when it seemed like he had screwed up, a reveal came to absolve him of any responsibility. Arguably his two greatest pre-Maker screw-ups were teleporting to the zombie Earth and creating the Cosmic Cube and guess what? Both of those were because of external agents in the forms of zombie Reed and Thanos meddling with his head.

So having done nothing wrong his whole life, never having screwed up with nobody to blame but himself, when Sue dumped him and his whole life fell apart because he put saving the world over his personal desires in Ultimatum? Knowing, thanks to zombie Reed, that there were Reeds out there who got married and had families and kept the Four together despite making mistakes? My headcanon is that's what broke him. Also that's why he made Doom's life hell. 6160 Reed was supposed to live the life 616 Reed got, the kind of life Maker wanted. Instead he lost everything. Why? Because from Maker's point of view, Doom doesn't deserve that kind of happiness. Why should Maker, a Reed who never made mistakes, be the one Reed denied that joy while all the Reeds who are responsible for transforming their friends get to have that?

So Maker took 6160 Reed and gave him the life he thinks Mr. Fantastic should've gotten. 6160 Reed made the mistake of not double checking his notes and lost everything. He ended up with the burnt face and Doom moniker because from Maker's point of view, that is what should have happened to 616 Reed. Maker should be the beloved hero with the fantastic family as befitting a Reed who never made mistakes, not the unworthy Reeds who are fallible. In Maker's mind, 616 Reed should be the one whose Sue rejected him and became a villain. His words in Ultimate Invasion about having thought about what he and 616 Reed would be like if they swapped lives support this.

There's a beautiful symmetry going on here between Maker and Doom. Dooms usually blame Reeds for ruining their lives by sabotaging Doom's experiments. Here is a Doom for whom that belief is valid, and his obsession with Maker completely justified. Except it's himself that he's obsessed with, just as Maker is clearly obsessed with Mr. Fantastic. A grand ouroboros of Reeds chasing after one another. Fitting, for Reeds have always been their own worse enemies.

[graceofgondor]

heyy i was going to reply to that comment but i thought i'd just send an ask, what are your fav 80's movies?? both popular and niche!!

HIII OMG!! i love this question so much i cannot WAIT to drop these recs. tysm for asking girl!

i don't have any particular rhyme or reason so i'll just list my favorites from memory first and go from there haha. extra faves highlighted.

Dead Poets Society - dir. peter weir (ofc)

Back to the Future - dir. robert zemeckis

Better Off Dead... - dir. savage steve holland

Real Genius - dir. martha coolidge (WOMEN IN DIRECTOR CHAIRS!!)

Footloose - dir. herbert ross

The Lost Boys - dir. joel schumacher

Ferris Bueller's Day Off - dir. john hughes

Labyrinth - dir. jim henson

The Pickup Artist - dir. james toback

Adventures in Babysitting - dir. chris columbus

Can't Buy Me Love - dir. steve rash

Stand By Me - dir. rob reiner

The Outsiders - dir. francis ford coppola

WarGames - dir. john badham

The Burbs - dir. joe dante

The Terminator - dir. james cameron

The Goonies - dir. richard donner

Clue - dir. jonathan lynn

Weekend at Bernie's - dir. ted kotcheff

The Great Outdoors - dir. howard deutch

Nine to Five - dir. colin higgins

there are definitely others i like (ie. the breakfast club, top gun, karate kid, weird science, etc.) but i feel like those are pretty given so i didn't include many of the majorly popular ones unless i really love them. HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend the first few, those are the ones i always come back to i just adoreee them. better off dead and real genius specifically are ones i really feel like should be classics yet they're kind of cult films still!

anywho that's my list!! feel free to send asks/recs/etc. regarding anything 80s, there's still stuff i haven't seen believe it or not!! and ofc i love to yap abt the stuff i have.

and since it seems like a good time i'll go ahead and drop my letterboxd again for those who have it <33

[star-lights-up]

click to see better lmao, tumblr always messes with the quality we've got a "meet the blorbos" page on the way too i just have to draw it first :D

Hi there! I'm Daisy! I write (and read) tons of fanfiction! Currently, I only have Cherik-centric work (from the X-men fandom) but I'm hoping to expand soon and write for some of my other ships as well!!

You can find me on ao3 @ star_lights_up

All my work is rated teen or under. I'm not comfortable writing content with a higher rating than that, so if you're not comfortable reading that type of stuff, my work is always safe for you! I also include trigger warnings (where there are triggers) at the beginning of my works. <3

I am a minor. This blog is safe for minors. (though I do swear a little? Nothing awful, though!) If you're a creep, FUCK OFF (there's that swearing I talked about).

This blog is a safe space for EVERYONE, regardless of your gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc, WHATEVER, as long as you're not a jerk you're welcome here. <33 (hate, towards me or towards anyone else will not be tolerated.)

My main fandoms (and interests in those fandoms) are:

Star Wars (Reylo and Stormpilot, anything about Din Djarin, minor Obitine)

X-Men (Cherik, Emmoira, anything about Peter or Jean)

Marvel (Anything about Loki, minor Sam/Bucky and bishova)

Agents of SHIELD (Fitzsimmons, anything about Daisy)

I am also trying to make the tag #thegreatcherikrevivalof2024 a thing, because I don't have anything better to be doing with my time. It kind of.... worked? (CHERIK NATION WE NEED T-SHIRTS)

My other tag that i'm trying to get is #rip charles xavier's hair because apocalypse was a TRAGEDY. He was so pretty ):

And here's a little bit about me outside of all that:

I'm a full time student (unfortunately, it sucks).

I draw quite a lot, you'll probably see some of my art on my blog.

I love reading and writing things that aren't fanfiction too! Some of my favorite books are Fangirl, Hurricane Wars (Okay, I know that USED to be fanfiction but, c'mon, I get to count it as a real book now) and the Testing trilogy (Hunger games but done better. I will fight about this.). I also drafted a novel last year, which I may or may not finish up and publish on Amazon. Only time will tell.

I am a songwriter, I love singing and playing the guitar!

I'm a total science nerd, especially for Astronomy and Genetics. I also love pretending that I understand quantum physics because I watch too much TV.

That's me! Feel free to send me an ask if you have any questions, or just want to say "hi." (:

If you're a creep, I have no qualms about blocking you, so don't waste your time.

- Daisy <3

The Cherik tiktok au is at: #cherik hear me out au #cherik tiktok au (It also now has a masterpost here)

My X men ships list here

Random Cherik AU ideas stored here

[seriousbrat]

what would the marauders' (+ lily and snape's) tastes in literature and poetry be like? i like to think remus would be a kafka guy and i see lily as a big fan of sylvia plath and the romantic movement, but i'm curious about your take

Ahh I love this question soo much and I've been thinking about it a lot! Thank you for asking ❤️

James

sorry to say but this is a Kerouac bitch. this is a bitch who likes 'boy fiction' like On the Road and Catcher in the Rye. I also think James would like epic fantasy like Lord of the Rings, and science fiction like Dune.

Also, I'm just going to go with Muggle (aka real. lol) literature for this BUT I also want to say that I have invented a wizarding poet that Fleamont is really into for my fic, (this is just an excuse to write/include poetry lol) and James would like that too, having grown up with it. ALSO in my mind James would read poems about Quidditch lol

As for poetry, I think he'd like Beat poetry. But also TS Eliot and Dylan Thomas, similar to Remus, and Yeats, like Lily. An Irish Airman Forsees His Death is perhaps my favourite poem of all time and I think it would REALLY resonate with James. Especially since 'a lonely impulse of delight' would also drive him to 'this tumult in the clouds.' wahhh i love that poem

Sirius

I think Sirius would skew a little darker than James. Honestly as much as he'd hate this he might have a bit in common literature-wise with Snape lol, so I'm giving him Camus, The Stranger, and Sartre, Nausea.

as for poetry, Ginsberg's Howl would appeal to him. and William Burroughs. Like James, Beat poetry in general, though I feel he wouldn't be as into Kerouac as James.

A lot of this kind of stuff doesn't appeal to me as much (Kerouac is my fav Beat unfortunately) but I think generally Sirius would like fairly gritty realistic dark stuff. So the obligatory Bukowski is going here. Also perhaps Ted Hughes. Maybe stuff with a political/social commentary.

Peter

honestly I can't see Peter reading a lot lol but if he did, it'd be fairly easy and exciting things, maybe fantasy/scifi like James. I can see him liking The Hobbit. Also maybe crime novels or thrillers? Like kind of bad, easy to read ones haha.

Also comic books, i know nothing about that personally though. Super heroes?? lol idk

No poetry lmao, he wouldn't get it. Maybe he'd like humourous stuff. Limericks lol. An epicure dining at crewe / found a traitorous rat in his stew, etc

Remus

I agree about Kafka!

I just want to give someone this because it's one of my favourite novels ever, so I'm giving Remus Le Grand Meaulnes by Henri Alain-Fournier. (I think it's been translated as The Lost Estate in English but I prefer the original title.)

Hmm I think he might be a Hemingway?? Also Raymond Carver (who is one of my fav authors) anyway I think the minimalist, understated style of both would appeal to him.

I also think he'd like a good coming-of-age story when younger so, the aforementioned Meaulnes (honestly i rly just love that book) but also Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and, like James, Catcher in the Rye.

And then when older it would be more minimalist stuff. I just think he'd be a Hemingway! Also maybe Steinbeck and Capote. I really dont know why I'm always giving Remus such American taste in things. In my mind he has great taste though haha.

For poetry I'm giving him Dylan Thomas (see? Welsh) and T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden.

Lily

absolutely Sylvia Plath! I had her reading The Bell Jar in my fic.

but also other poets, particularly female poets. Anne Sexton, Emily Dickinson, Mary Oliver, Edna St Vincent Millay.

Yeats too, she'd absolutely love Yeats. Like I said my fav is An Irish Airman... but Lily would LOVE and be so enraptured by The Stolen Child (as am I)

as for fiction, she'd love The Mill on the Floss (as well as other things by George Eliot,) the Brontë sisters. God would she love Wuthering Heights (both the book and the Kate Bush song.) I think she'd like Little Women too and really identify with Jo (as do we all,) and also Virginia Woolf. I'll give her Oscar Wilde and Poe too.

Also I want someone to be a Wodehouse fan and that's going to be Lily.

as a kid I think her favourite books would have been The Secret Garden and Watership Down. And Alice in Wonderland. She probably grew up with Beatrix Potter and Edward Lear too. This is essentially just my own taste/what I grew up with btw lol

Snape

I think he'd like Kafka too. also, like Sirius, Camus's The Stranger and Sartre's Nausea lol. he'd be pretentious and dark, basically.

I also think he'd read the most nonfiction, specifically philosophy, specifically nihilism lol so the aforementioned Camus and Sartre, Kierkegaard, and NIETZSCHE. god.

He might like horror. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde. I'm not really a horror fan myself but I think Snape would be.

fun fact but hpwiki lists 'poetry' as one of Snape's skills and I believe that. Anyway, similarly he'd enjoy moody man poetry. But also be more romantic and more classical than Sirius.

I'm giving him Richard Lovelace, I think he'd relate to the romantic aspect of To Althea, From Prison (which is so beautiful) but also the tragedy haha.

As you might be able to tell this is heavily based on what I like and therefore what I could think of off the top of my head. I feel like if you combine Lily's taste with Remus's and then add a bit of the darker Sev side of things, that's just what I like lmao.

So I'm sure there's obvious stuff I'm missing for someone, pls feel free to suggest things!

Edit wait, since I mentioned Dylan Thomas I wanted to share this Welsh translation of his famous poem Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, sung by Welsh group Brigyn! It's a bit folksy haha but such a beautiful version:

[a1ur2017]

Fic List

This is just one giant list. Some ideas are more developed than others. I wanna start writing soon, but I don't know where to start.

This Building Can’t Be

Architect and Engineer TimeBomb

Friends to Enemies to Lovers

Modern Arcane AU

Cupcake, Cupcake, Wherefore Art Thou?

VioLyn Romeo and Juliet (Part 1/2)

Vi is Romeo and Caitlyn is Juliet

Deaths

Jayce

Viktor

Vander and Silco as Montagues

Mylo as Mercutio

Claggor as Benvolio

Violet

Caitlyn

Benzo

Grayson

Marcus

Deckard

Romeo and Juliet, but lesbian and twice as bloody.

Zaun’s Royalty

TimeBomb + Future Isha (2/2)

Sequel to all that.

What’s Up Danger?

Peter survives ITSV (1/3)

GhostFlower

Pete is Science Teacher

Gwen meets him at Visions

Pete B helps Pete mentor Miles

Planning on doing it, then I realized many people have already done this concept, so yeah, no.

Mistakes were Made

1/3

BTSV with Background TimeBomb

Miles ends up in Arcane S2E8 (CaitVi in bunker before they f**k)

Crashes out since Vi sounds like Gwen and leaves

Finds TimeBomb @ Suicide

Gwen Finds Miles @ Firelights

Talks to Miles

Goes Terribly

Hobie scolds Miles and tries/fails to consult Gwen

Miggy shows up after

Miggy kills Gwen before GhostFlower makes up

Miggy mourns Gwen by killing Miggy

Band goes to 1610 + TimeBomb

Band doesnt talk to Miles about it in fear of death

All plan for the battle

Plan fails spectacularly (Peter B., Peni, Jess, Ben, and most Society Spiders die)

Rio and Jeff both die

Miles sacrifices himself to kill the Spot

Unfortunately, Spot sends a Hail Mary of power for someone to get

It ends up in the hands of Vik and Ambessa

The Final, Glorious Evolution

2/3

S2E9 / Matrix with TimeBomb

Whille the others were mourning, TimeBomb went back home

Ekko called in help from Hobie, Pav, Noir, Ham, and Margo

Who responds?

Vik wants to spread Glorious Evolution

Ambessa wants to spread Noxian Empire

Battle ensues

Vik gets his way since Ekko was absorbed before he could revolt

He spreads it to whole Spiderverse

Other fandoms too (Minor) ?

(4 years later) People realize there is something wrong and act on it

Which People? (Aside from Hobie, Jinx, and Ekko)

People band together to leave the Evolution

Vik catches onto them

Band 2.0 decides to set up a base @ Jannas temple cuz it is abandoned

Vik finds out and attacks base

Band 2.0 fights back

At last hour, Janna shows up to ask TimeBomb to change the past

They accept

Second Chances

3/3

A giant do-over of Mistakes were Made with GhostFlower and TimeBomb

Janna sends TimeBomb to Miles's Apartment to when Gwen visited

Timebomb try to right the wrongs of Mistakes were Made during the story

This saga was changed several times in planning. This is the original idea. I rewrote the first chapter 3 times before I lost motivation. I’ve basically moved on from both ships, but the idea is still here. The bold were questions I had no clue how to answer when I originally planned the fic.

PJO x MCU or DC

Both would have same divergence point. Basically, right after BOO, Zeus, Hera, and Ares decide to punish Percy and Annabeth by sending them to a different universe than their own, and they would have to face challenges to be able to leave.

MCU:

Basically, they have to survive the Battle of New York, Sokovia, Wakanda, and the Final Battle of Endgame. Could be consecutive or they could be stuck for twelve years in this world but twelve seconds in the “real” world.

DC:

I want to do this one more than the other one, but I am more lost here. The original idea was to drop them right into the clutches of the Scarecrow and Joker. The first arc would end with the deaths of both villains. I didn’t like it because the two were likely to die before either villain could be killed. I also thought even if the villains did end up dead, it would set them up more as antiheroes than heroes. Given their trauma, it would be deserved, but it also kinda goes against the essence of both characters. The second and current idea is having them body swap with Tim and Steph, since they look similar. I don’t have a plot line for either universe, but it’s the current idea in place for the future fic.

Jinx kills whole dinner party

This would dissolve into a war between Zaun and Piltover. I kinda just came up with this without an endgame in mind

Vander gave letter to Silco

Zaundads trying to fix Zaun. Need I say more?

Ekko came back before everything with Vander

Timebomb Found Family

What If… with different stories

Just something to do when I get inspiration

PJO something

Dunno what I would do

Arcane/Hogwarts

Not very thought out

Silco adopted Powder and Vi, not Vander

This would be at the bridge. Didn’t know where to go from there.

Vi led the Firelights

She would step down at some point and Ekko and Jinx would co-lead. That’s all I remember

PJO something

I genuinely don’t know what I want for this, I just know I want to make it

I lost motivation for most of these and don’t know what to do with the rest. If you have any ideas, tell me. If you want to use any of my fic ideas, also tell me and credit me. Ao3 username is the same as this one.

[sciderman]

This makes me wonder... What do you think of MCU Peter? Like the fact he basically gets all his stuff from Stark. Tbh I'm not a big comic reader but isn't the point that he's like,, poor and invents his own stuff...? I could be so wrong here but oh well, I'll ask

i think that yeah - it absolutely misses the point of peter parker being a working-class hero who's struggle is. the whole point.

i think a huge part of the problem with superhero media in general lately is that it's not really about heroism or hope anymore (something that previous spider-man movies deal with in spades) - superhero media nowadays is often kind of just wish fulfilment. you know. imagine if YOU were this powerful and rich! imagine if you, a dumb kid, got a BILLIONAIRE SUGAR DADDY who makes you a COOL SUIT and COOL TOYS!! it's the same case in the comics too, it's not about the cost of power or the questions it brings about your responsibility to the world - or even it being allegorical for anything (everything to me is allegory. but i can't even do that with the mcu because actually, everything in the mcu is kind of literal? there's nothing there to sink my teeth into. nothing i can interpret in any sort of different way other than, like, military propaganda and wish-fulfilment. i don't think they're even concerned with telling any sort of human story with most of these characters.)

the thing is with peter parker is that the whole point is that it's not wish-fulfilment. sure, it's freaking awesome to have super-strength and swing around the city and everyone wants that. but it always, always, always comes at a cost to him. and it doesn't solve any of his problems. everything is still difficult. money. romance. he's knocked off his feet by the common cold. he's just a guy. bad things happen to him and there's never an easy out. he doesn't just have fortified penthouses at his disposal, and high-tech suits, and wizards he can call to break the multiverse for him.

i think the frustrating thing with peter parker in the mcu is that they'll pay lip-service to it but not have it be part of peter's character at all. peter says jokingly "haha i'm broke" like we ever even SEE the impact of that on him like at all. the vulture says to peter "you're like me, we're just working class guys", as if peter showed any frustration or struggle at any point in that movie to justify that comparison. he doesn't have to work a job to pay his tuition at this elite science school. there's never a question of whether he can afford this trip to europe. his identity is blown and immediately he gets set up at a fancy maximum-security apartment with all the technology he needs at his disposal. there is never a second of struggle for him. there is not one moment where he doesn't have everything he needs, any time he needs it. his court cases are settled immediately over like, a three minute conversation with matt murdock. nothing touches him. he literally skates by with sheer dumb luck and having powerful contacts. what kind of stupid, boring-ass spider-man story is that.

raimi trilogy and tasm movies you were real. you get it. being spider-man does not make life easier. you just get to punch guys to feel better about it.

[marta-bee]

News of the Day 2/27/25: Disease

I've been focusing on war and military issues lately, so let's shift gears to a different Horseman of the Apocalypse: disease. Yes, yes, Good Omens fans, I know they're supposed to be retired, but apparently they're making a comeback.

First, RFK Jr. was successfully confirmed as the Secretary of Health.

Epidemiologist Greg Gonsalves talks about his HIV denialism and how a similar "just asking questions" movement in South Africa led to over 300,000 AIDS deaths. (RV)

How Kennedy's ascension could impact abortion access. (12ft.io)

He pledged to re-examine the childhood exam schedule after promising not to change it in his confirmation hearings.

How Kennedy could change a CDC panel that helps set vaccine policy, and not in a good way.

Measles, once eliminated in the U.S., now was found in 99 cases in Texas and New Mexico. (RP) One child has died.

"Unknown disease" that kills within days, kills over 50 in Congo. (RP)

Bird Flu is also on the rise:

The Trump administration had temporarily prevented CDC, FDA and other science organizations from sharing scientific data with each other or the public, and to stop working with the WHO. Sen. Peters argued this is masking the spread of bird flu in both humans and animals, and hindering our response. (12ft.io)

Trump promised to stop killing animals to stop the disease's spread, and will use other approaches to fight the disease.

Sec. Agriculture Rollins discusses hiss plan to lower egg prices. (RP)

Staff reductions at NIH, CDC and other government health agencies have scientists concerned U.S. will be less able to respond to disease outbreaks, bird flu and more generally. (12ft.io)

USDA warns egg prices may jump up to 41% this year.

Are egg suppliers jacking their prices up, beyond what's caused by bird flu-linked shortages? (RP)

Some consumers consider buying or renting hens. Experts warn this may not actually cut costs. (12ft.io)

Relatedly, NIH changed their policies about how much grant funding could be used for so-called "indirect costs" - building rents and utilities costs, support staff, even equipment shared between different research projects. It's thrown quite a lot of disease research projects into a real tail-spin.

In response to slashed funding, many scientists consider leaving the U.S.

The funding slash threatens to wipe out entire specialized fields of study, and other far-reaching impacts to the scientific community. (12ft.io)

How the cut is affecting academic researchers as well as those employed by the federal government. (12ft.io) Not being able to hire grad student researchers was honestly an aspect I didn't think of.

Scientific American on the impact of DEI and funding cuts, especially on how the US risks losing its reputation as the best place to do scientific research. (12ft.io)

How cutting research impacts the wider US economy, US technological competitiveness.

The impact of "NIH's Mindless War on Wokeness and DEI" (12ft.io)

[galaxyharlot]

Having a day and need to distract myself so I'm going to over analyze a throw-away line from Speed Racer 2008. Any mention of Speed Racer in this essay is in regards to that movie.

Before reading this understand that Speed Racer is a movie about macro economics effecting the individual. Any science talk is just flavor to that, and studies like this take a lot of liberty.

"Pops. Thats a Bernoulli Converginator!" "Transponder Shmonder. You want real kick you go Bernoulli."

What the fuck is a Bernoulli Converginator and why is it a big deal.

Now. First assumption. Bernoulli is a companly like Edison Motors or Tesla. Named after someone famous in the history of physics and electronics and speed.

I'm watching a video about Spider-Man 2, and how to make a good sequel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCVYDrtecDY

In it we hear Doc Ock talking to Peter about Bernoulli, and Peter asks "Did Bernoulli sleep before he found the curves of quickest descent?"

I'm going to assume that this was a well researched line, because Spider-Man 2 tries to be at least somewhat accurate with its real world physics, I think.

Looking it up, the Bernoulli family lineage has a lot of mathematics in it. Daniel Bernoulli is who we're talking about in regards to Speed Racer, for sure. His findings lead to the invention of the carburetor.

Sidebar: He was friends with Euler. I wonder if Speed Racer Universe has a company called Euler. They created a theory that explained how steel can bend without cracking. The racing cars in Speed Racer, the T-180, are essentially jets with wheels. They don't turn the wheel to turn the wheels. They turn the wheel to turn the engine.

Bernoulli's principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in static pressure or the fluid's potential energy

Another sidebar, apparently Mach is the measure of how fluids relate to the Bernoulli Principle. No clue what that relationship is. From what I can garner, it has to do with the idea that going faster fucks with the pressure of air impacting the thing going fast.

Actually, I don't think thats a sidebar. I think that can lead to the answer of "what the hell is a Bernoulli Converginator". We have an answer to what the Bernoulli half is now. Its short for Bernoulli's Principle, which has to do with Mach speeds and how they influence the pressure around something going fast.

That leads to the next question, what is a converginator? Converginator as far as I can tell is something that the Speed Racer movie came up with. So, lets break it into its principle parts. Converginate and "or". "Or" is usually a suffix that means "something that does the thing being modified". Convergence is the act of unifying, in multiple definitions. So, this is a device that unifies bernoulli's principle.

What the heck does that mean. We know that it makes things go fast, and its a power supply, and it has kick. Another throw away line with lots of weight becomes important here.

Actually, rolling back a bit first. Some more bits about the converginator. When they get the Mach 6 Car going, it starts up sounding like a V12 Engine. Or as Speed puts it, "Sounds beefy Pops."

So something about it has something similar to gearing. The design of it reflects that too. It looks like a scifi version of 6 piston engine. T-180s are all electric. So what the heck is making that noise? For right now, I'm going to either assume magnets or something causing a lot of increase or decrease to pressure.

Might be important to talk about why they're using a Converginator. The finale of the movie showcases the battle between new technology optimized by a company, and a dedicated practice working with the tools they know for the customer they know. The company they're up against created a car that uses something called the Transponder. I'm going to ignore that for now, or until this essay decides its suddenly relevant. What we need to focus on now is how a Bernoulli Converginator works to Speed's abilities and knowledge.

Now, onto that important throw away line. Speed spins out, and his car stalls, and these races don't do pit crews. He has to figure out how to get it running again, and he can only rely on the foresight of Pop's designing, and his own knowledge of that design. That foresight leads to him remembering that he can jumpstart the car with the Bernoulli Converginator. So, this thing has to be making power somehow. Either that, or its messing with potential energy.

The fluid in this case is probably air, given that aerodynamics is important. This thing can turn air pressure into electricity. Thats pretty damn cool. It reduces the pressure of the air around the car, and turns that pressure into electricity. Converting that air's potential energy into kinetic energy. This lines up with the movie I think, cause when Speed does that, he fuckin zooms. Cars don't just magically go faster than their top speed. This guy didn't just jumpstart his car. He made a mario panel speed boost to the finish line with an expert supermove that only the bernoulli converginator can do.

[questionableratatouille00]

ᴸᵃˢᵗ ᶜʰʳⁱˢᵗᵐᵃˢ

Pairing: Peter Parker x GN!Reader

Summary: Last year at Midtown’s winter dance, your science lab partner (and crush) stood you up without an excuse as to why. But when he asks you to it again this year, you’re forced to face the question: can the fire in your heart ever be rekindled?

Warnings: mention of being stood up, reader has no defined height but is taller than Peter, school dances, holidays,

“I don’t know, MJ. You remember what happened last year. He didn’t even show up.” You closed your locker, staring at your shoes.

“I wasn’t there, but I guess I remember. Anyway, you’re right. He’s probably a real douchebag, so why would you waste your time on him?” MJ justified.

“What? No! You should go! I know Peter, he’s a really nice guy. Like, actually. He felt so bad after last year. I heard him tell Ned about it the next day.” Betty combated.

“Guys, I don’t know. Maybe he’s just trying to put salt in the wound. What if he doesn’t show up again?”

The two girls looked at each other, as if they knew something you didn’t.

“What was that? What was that look? That look, you two just gave each other.”

“Nothing!” Betty tried to reassure you. “Besides, why would he go through the elaborate trouble of putting that note in your locker to ask you to the dance if he didn’t care?” She rambled out.

“Our lockers are right across the hall—“ MJ began, but Betty clamped a hand over her mouth.

Just then, the bell rang.

————————————————————————

The dance was loud, filled by the sounds of overplayed pop music from the 2010s and the chatter of your classmates.

You stood awkwardly off in the corner, regretting even coming. You should’ve just stayed home, God it would’ve been so much easier to do that. Or you could’ve went to MJ’s, and criticized overdramatic films just for the hell of it.

A tap on your shoulder dragged you from your bitter thoughts. You turned around, meeting his eyes. A beautiful brown, warm and welcoming; beautiful like the leaves on the ground on a cool autumn day.

“Hey,” he stammered out awkwardly, fidgeting with his hands.

“Hi.” You replied back, not sure what to say. “I…didn’t think you’d show up.”

“Why would I not—oh, oh my God, no, m’so, so, so sorry about that. Something came up, but I really wanted to be there, and I tried so hard to make it on time, but I couldn’t—“

“Relax.” You chuckled. “I’m not that mad. Really.”

Neither of you said anything for a moment.

“Do..do you wanna..dance?” He asked awkwardly. “I can’t promise you I’m good at it,” you warned, but he just smiled.

“It’s okay. Neither am I.” He held out his hand for you to take. You obliged, and he led you towards the crowd of dancing teenagers.

Just then, a slower Christmas song came on. It was obviously a piano version of a popular song, but you couldn’t place your finger on it.

Everyone around you began to slow dance to it. You looked at Peter, your hands instinctively went to his waist. He blushed, and you drew your hands back.

“Sorry, I just—“

“No,” he stopped you, smiling boyishly and shyly at the same time. “It’s okay.” Using his own hands, he guided yours back to his waist before he put his hands on your shoulders. You got a few strange looks here and there, mainly from Flash, but it didn’t stop either of you as you swayed together.

“I’m glad you showed up this time.” You murmured, feeling heat rise to your cheeks.

“Ye-yeah. Me too.” He chuckled. You were positive there was a reason behind his absence last year, but for now, you weren’t too upset about it.

Especially when you kissed him as you dropped him off at his house. You weren’t too upset about that, either.

A/n: it just occurred to me that I haven’t been putting GN!Reader in the pairings? I’m pretty sure every one of these so far has been with a neutral reader but I’m not positive on that

dividers by @saradika-graphics

Tomorrows hint:

Under the mistletoe Watching the fire glow And telling me, "I love you" Just being in your arms Takes me back to that little farm Where every wish comes true

[galaxythreads]

May I ask about science says no, but my heart says otherwise and slave loki fic ?

science says no, but my heart says otherwise:

idk if this fic is ever going to be finished, which makes me sad. I worked really hard on it. Idk, i need to talk to my friend. It's an alt pov fic for a fic she was writing about tony haunting peter post spider-man 3. She had tony's pov, I was doing peter's because i was obsessed with it, but i'd feel weird posting this without her permission, and we don't talk that much anymore since she started uni.

snippet:

He feels so, so young. 

“Karen,” Peter whispers, his voice sounding clogged. He waits, feeling despair beginning to claw up through his body for every microsecond passes where there’s nothing then--

“Yes?” Karen says. 

Peter feels his body get seized by a sudden, intense, paralysis, so cold and hot at once that he thinks he might pass out. She still exists. She’s real. Peter--

Oh god.

Here it goes. 

“Do you--do you--” he can’t get the question out. He doesn’t want to know the answer. He ducks his head, his hands shaking from where they’re buried against his chest before he says softly, “do you still remember me?” 

And.

Please.

Please, God, I’d given anything--

“Yes, Peter,” Karen says, and if Peter didn’t know better, she sounds faintly confused as if the unspoken why wouldn’t I is hanging in the air, “I remember you.” 

And Peter can almost see her starting to rile through the internet, trying to figure out why he would even bother with the question and Peter wants to scream at her no. Just in case. Just in case. His phone remembered for a second and then-- 

Peter falls apart. He collapses against the side of the bed onto his knees, sobbing harshly, any mental fortitude he was pretending to possess breaking. Sliding away like he was never trying in the first place. 

“Th-thank you,” Peter stutters out to Karen, as if she made an executive decision to say I’m good, no thanks to Dr. Strange’s spell. 

Then he freezes. 

That--that thing spoke again. The next sob catches in his throat, not out of curiosity but terror. Something is watching him. Peter lifts his head up, holding impossibly still. Waiting for something to stab him, or push him in front of a train, something. The room is empty. Just like it was before. He squeezes his eyes shut. Why does he--

He really is, honest to God, losing his mind. 

Or--

Or. 

“Karen?” his voice is strangled. 

“Yes, Peter?” 

He can’t. He can’t begin to explain how much it makes him want to cry that she’s calling him by his name. She knows who he is. She remembers their history. It didn’t go away. She’s here. She cares. She knows his name.

But then he remembers the voice. And the presence. 

“Is--is there anyone in the room with me?” he whispers.

Karen is quiet for a long moment, scanning, checking, and Peter can feel terror creeping up his face. Then--“All illusions are down, and will remain that way, if that is what you’re asking, Peter.”

Peter’s body relaxes, a little, at that, as if he’s been waiting for those words for weeks. He has, he thinks. He really, really has. He closes his eyes, squeezing them tightly until it makes his head ache. 

There’s a murmur in the air, like a sound being caught in suspension, and Peter shakes his head, trying to force it out. There’s nothing there. There’s nothing there. Beck isn’t playing with him. No one is. Peter is alone. 

“Thanks, Karen,” Peter whispers softly. 

“Anytime, Peter,” Karen says quietly. Her voice is almost sad.

slave loki fic:

it's this au where jane marries thor like 3-4 years after they meet, and when she gets taken to asgard for the wedding, she runs into loki, who was made a slave after the avengers, and she slowly forms a bond with him

snippet

“Please don’t do this.” The servant sounds close to begging and Jane hesitates for the briefest moment, lifting her gaze up to his face again, hands still against the edges of her shawl. The Asgardian’s hands are frozen on top of the glass, green eyes settled on her face without breaking contact. Without breathing.

He looks terrified.

Something uncomfortable churns in her gut at this. He shouldn’t be frightened of her. She’s just...Jane. She won’t do anything to him. She’s not even angry anymore. It’s just a skirt, and it’s not as though her appearance is flawless. She hasn’t brushed her hair in at least three days now and her make-up is the remnants of yesterdays and a hastily put-on mascara this morning.  

 “Hey,” Jane tries, dropping her tone to be something more gentle. It reminds her oddly of trying to coax a stray cat out of hiding. “It’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong, I bumped into you.”

The green eyes flick back to the stone floor. They’ve spent a majority of this conversation pinned there, and the servant seems to have almost forgotten to continue the trend until now. Jane presses her lips together, at a loss, but pushes forward. Removing the shawl and shaking her head to get it loose from the pins sticking her messy bun together, she rests it on the ground on top of the broken glass and not-cheese.

The servant’s fists visibly clench, a tightness spreading between his shoulders. Closing his eyes for the briefest moment, he exhales slowly. 

Jane frowns, but says nothing, waiting for the liquid to seep into the clothing all together. Bits of glass are poking up through the fabric and digging at her fingers, but keeping her grip lax against the shawl seems to help the worst of the pain. 

Mopping up the not-cheese, Jane glances at the wary servant and inwardly wrestles with herself for a moment before asking, “Hey, um, you wouldn’t happen to know a faster direction the Great Hall, would you? I’m not exactly...familiar with Asgard yet.”

Excuses.

She has been living here for close to three years. She knows how to get there. What she needs is a native’s shortcut. Thor has tried to show her a few, but once he stepped inside the inner tunnels of the palace, she’d been lost. There’s so many complex layers to the building that she can’t imagine anyone actually using it, let alone memorizing anything.

The servant’s brow furrows for the briefest moment with confusion before it smooths over and his lips part, a ragged breath slipping through them. “You are Thor’s wife.” The statement is flat. There is no indication on how the man feels about this, only that recognition has sparked.

“Yeah. Jane,” she supplies, staring at him carefully. How can they have not been close enough that he didn’t recognize her on the spot and she can’t shake off familiarity? She knows she’s seen him somewhere. 

A piece of glass digs into her finger and she winces, drawing it back sharply and instinctively stuffing it into her mouth. It tastes of blood and has a faint yeast-like aftertaste, which she attributes to the not-cheese. 

“My lady, please, I can handle this.” The servant says, eyes wide around the edges. “You needn’t harm yourself with my mistake.” He reaches for the cloth, but she smacks his hand away, shaking her head. Popping her bleeding finger out, she wipes the cut against her already ruined skirts. The wound hurts like a papercut, sharp and piercing. 

Distantly, she thinks she hears someone walking down the hall. “No. I broke the bowl, remember? I can clean up my mess.” 

“My lady--”

“What is going on here!?” a crisp voice demands and Jane jumps with surprise. The servant seems to topple, head dipping down completely and he curls into himself as much as possible, words dying on his tongue. He looks prepared to receive a blow or at least sharp rebuke, and the sight strikes her as odd. She shakes it off and looks up at the source of the voice.

She hadn’t even heard them round the corner, to focused on getting the servant to stop trying to stop her from helping him. The man is tall, but round, sporting a red-white beard with big bushy eyebrows in need of a trim. His eyes are narrowed angrily and jaw set tightly. He’s dressed in the thick garb needed for the royal feast-gala-whatever-it-is-today, unlike her.

[luckystar2025]

Konata: (grinning wickedly) "Hey, guys, here's a question for you: do you think the Pope can do REAL magic?"

Kagami: (raising an eyebrow skeptically) "What kind of ridiculous question is that? The Pope isn’t some wizard from a fantasy novel—he’s a religious leader. He doesn’t go around casting spells or summoning lightning bolts."

Konata: (nodding sagely) "Ah, but think about it: the Vatican has all those ancient rituals, mysterious artifacts, and centuries of secrets. What if the Pope is secretly practicing holy magic behind closed doors?"

Tsukasa: (tilting her head innocently) "Holy magic? Like…turning water into wine?"

Konata: (snapping her fingers triumphantly) "Exactly, Tsukasa-chan! And don’t forget exorcisms—how else do you explain driving demons out of people? That’s straight-up wizardry right there!"

Kagami: (groaning loudly) "It’s called faith and symbolism, not 'magic.' Turning water into wine was a miracle performed by Jesus, not the Pope. And exorcisms are based on spiritual beliefs, not spellcasting."

Konata: (waving dismissively) "Miracle, magic—same thing. Both involve doing stuff science can’t explain. Besides, who’s to say the Pope hasn’t inherited some of that divine power? Maybe he’s just super chill about it."

Miyuki: (adjusting her glasses thoughtfully) "Historically, the concept of miracles within Christianity refers to acts attributed to divine intervention rather than human ability. While the Pope is considered a spiritual authority, his role primarily involves guiding the faithful rather than performing supernatural feats."

Konata: (mock-dramatic) "Ah, but Miyuki, that’s exactly what they’d say to cover it up! Imagine the Vatican as a secret school for holy mages, training Popes in the arcane arts of blessing relics, banishing spirits, and casting magic missile."

Tsukasa: (giggling softly) "I think it would be cool if the Pope could do magic. Like, what if he could fly around on a giant dove or make rainbows appear whenever he wanted?"

Kagami: (facepalming) "This is getting out of hand. First of all, rainbows aren’t magic—they happen naturally. Second, the Pope isn’t a superhero; he’s a person with a very important job leading millions of Catholics worldwide."

Konata: (grinning mischievously) "Superhero? Now THAT’S an idea. Picture this: Pope Man, defender of the faith, wielding the Staff of Saint Peter and battling evil forces bent on destroying humanity. His ultimate move? The Holy Smite™."

Tsukasa: (clapping excitedly) "And he’d have a cape made out of stained glass that sparkles in the sunlight!"

Kagmi: (muttering under her breath) "Unbelievable."

Miyuki: (smiling gently) "While the imagery is certainly imaginative, it’s worth noting that the Catholic Church emphasizes humility and service over displays of power. Any perceived miracles associated with the Pope are typically viewed as manifestations of divine will rather than personal abilities."

Konata: (pretending to ponder deeply) "Hmm… so you’re saying the Pope probably CAN do magic, but he chooses not to because he’s too humble? Classic sage behavior. I respect it."

Kagami: (rolling her eyes) "No, she’s saying he doesn’t do magic because IT’S NOT REAL. Stop pretending every unexplained phenomenon is proof of sorcery."

Konata: (laughing) "Oh, Kagamin, always clinging to your boring logic. Where’s your sense of wonder? For all we know, the Pope could be brewing potions in the Sistine Chapel right now."

Tsukasa: (nodding enthusiastically) "Yeah, Onee-chan! Wouldn’t it be amazing if he could heal people with a wave of his hand or bless us with good luck before exams?"

Kagami: (sighing deeply) "Even if he could, which he CAN’T, I doubt he’d waste his time helping YOU pass math. And you're not even Catholic."

Konata: (grinning slyly) "Ouch, Kagamin, that’s harsh. But fine, let’s compromise: next time we visit Rome, we’ll ask the Pope to cast a prosperity spell on our wallets. Free pizza and pasta for life, anyone?"

[ljsmiths-thenightworld]

FORBIDDEN TALES

An Interview with novelist L.J. Smith, found using the Wayback Machine. Originally posted on nightworld.net (🛑 which is definitely no longer a fan site)

L.J. Smith is the author of nine bestselling novels for children and teenagers, including the two series The Vampire Diaries and The Secret Circle. The first volume of her latest series The Forbidden Game, is in bookstores now.

Q: Why did you decide to write novels for young adults?

A: I decided to write for kids when I was a kid. I knew the kind of books I liked to read and there just weren't enough of them. Nothing to do but write them myself. I'd been telling myself stories ever since I was four or five, and writing them down was just the next step. I suppose the real question is: Why am I still writing YA books, since I haven't been a young adult for...ahem!...well, quite a few years.

Could be arrested development. I must admit that I still read classic children's books, and get a lot of pleasure out of it. Books about fantasy, magic, and the supernatural just excite me, and I love to read them and write them. I'd like to write books for adults someday, but I hope I never grow up completely!

Q: How did you get your first book published?

A: I finished The Night of the Solstice the year I got out of college. I'd been working on the book since I got the idea for it in high school, but the writing went slowly because I was busy studying psychology. Besides, everybody told me that I could never make a living being a writer, so there was no hurry!

I took my book to a professional typist (I didn't even have a typewriter in those days, much less a computer) and she got very excited about it. She said it was the best manuscript she'd seen, and she had a friend who was a literary agent, and asked if I was I interested in being agented.

I was. Very. Of course, it still took some time to get the book sold -- for one thing, I had to cut it by a hundred pages! But eventually Macmillan bought it, and my fate was decided. I loved writing and I knew I had to keep doing it.

Q: What is your educational and professional background?

A: I got my BA in Experimental Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara (great school! great beaches!) I have two teaching credentials from San Francisco State University, one in elementary education and one in Special Ed. I've taught kindergarten and special education, and enjoyed both -- but now I'm writing full time. Every fall I get very nostalgic about teaching, but writing is more fun -- and it pays better.

Q: Who are some of your favorite writers?

A: This is a tough one. There are so many, but I really tend to like the classics. I adore Dickens' characters and his playful, whimsical prose. I love Jane Austen's gentle satire, and Mark Twain's dry wit. I read Steinbeck, Alice Walker and Toni Morrison when I want to cry. For sheer escapism I like fantasy or science fiction -- Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and H.G. Wells. Or detective stories, like Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Whimsey series. And -- please don't laugh -- when I'm sad, I cuddle up in front of the fire with L. Frank Baum's Oz books or Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie books. They always make me feel better.

Q: What advice would you give a teenager who wants to be an author?

A: WRITE! Write, write, write. And read, read, read. Those are the two most important things you can do.

Write all the time -- write in a journal, scribble down ideas on napkins at McDonald's, spend a boring class scrawling poetry in your notebook (Okay, maybe that last isn't the best advice, but I admit it worked for me.) Write anything and everything you like, and don't be critical of yourself. Just let it come out and worry about whether it's good later.

Write when you're feeling something; when you're mad, or in love, or in pain. The passion will come through. And write about what you know, write about your own school, your friends, your take on the world. Teens often think their own lives are boring -- they want to write about exotic places, weird people, things out of their experience. But it's best, especially at first, to write what you know. It may be hard to expose your most private self to other people, but that's what writing is about. And the ring of truth is unmistakable.

Reading is the other important thing. Read all you can and read a variety of books. You'll absorb all sorts of good things, grammar, vocabulary, plot structure -- even if you don't realize it. Try the classics, and keep trying them as you get older. Some things that you think are really boring and stupid right now will suddenly become interesting as you mature. A little light goes on in your head and you say, "Oh, so that's why everybody likes Chaucer, wow."

Q: Is there anything else you think will interest teenage writers?

A: I've babbled on long enough. But I think it's great that Writes of Passage is giving kids a forum for their work. This kind of encouragement is just what teenagers need. Good luck!