#that we recognize will always be a thing and are healthy to have

[napping-sapphic]

No but listen if we were dating i could inspire you to do your daily mental health walk when you don’t want to which would also force me to do MY daily mental health walk when i don’t want to it’s a win/win situation absolutely no downsides

[mischiefsystem]

'even healthy couples fight' skill issue

[moreaujeans]

semi came out to someone for the first time last night

[littlecakeclub]

Rumi x Jinu and the danger of sinking together

I’ve been thinking a lot about the dynamic between Jinu and Rumi in K-pop Demon Hunters. To me, their bond is so clearly rooted in mutual understanding — not just because of who they are, but because of what they share. As I wrote in this other post, I read the “patterns” in the film as a metaphor for mental health (though I know many other interpretations are just as valid and important).

So when I look at Jinu and Rumi, what I see is mirror dynamic based in unhealed trauma. They connect because they carry similar wounds. They speak the same language of shame. And when you’re hurting, having someone who gets it, who mirrors back your struggle, can feel like salvation. You’re no longer alone. You’re no longer broken alone.

This kind of connection can be a lifeline. But what happens when that person is your only anchor... and this person falls?

That’s what makes Jinu’s relapse so painful to watch. There’s this beautiful moment during Free when he says he can’t hear Gwi-ma anymore, as if Rumi’s presence has muted the voice that tells him he’s not enough. But the moment she’s gone, Gwi-ma comes back, the shame and issues come back.

And this time, Jinu doesn’t just fall : he pulls Rumi down with him. That betrayal at the award show isn’t just cruel. It’s self-sabotage. He weaponizes her vulnerabilities because he’s drowning in his own.

Their confrontation scene is devastating. Rumi begs him to believe they can heal, that they can still be free together. But Jinu, broken and spiraling, tells her it won’t work. That moment shatters her and she screams "it has to!".

Because if the one person who knows her patterns, who shares her shame, stops believing in the future, how is she supposed to hold on?

And sure, I love the trio dynamic with Mira and Zoey — but let’s be real. At that point in the story, they don’t understand her. They’re hurt by her lies. They fear what they can’t name. That’s something that happens too, with self-harm or mental health struggles. Even people who love you don’t always know how to show up. Sometimes they lash out. Sometimes they disappear. And that adds a second layer of loneliness to the whole thing.

After all that, Rumi is completely alone. That’s why the scene with Celine under the ancestral tree hits so hard. She’s not just asking for love. She’s confronting the silence, the control, the generational pain she inherited — and finally choosing to stop running from it (more on that scene here).

And what strikes me most is that, even at the end, Jinu and Rumi don’t save each other directly. Rumi doesn’t return to fix him. She returns because she’s faced herself and that’s what makes her steady again.

By standing there, vulnerable but grounded, she creates the space for Jinu to breathe again too. She doesn’t push him. She just exists in front of him, honestly. And that alone gives him a reason to move.

Maybe seeing her live with the patterns and still choose self-worth helps him believe he can do the same. And that’s why he makes the choice to sacrifice himself — not just for her, but because he finally recognizes that clinging to the same loop will destroy them both. It’s a painful but meaningful gesture. A rupture that breaks the toxic dependency and opens up the chance for something new.

So yes, I love their bond. And I ship them hard. But I’m also glad the film didn’t rush into a resolution. Because depending entirely on one person — especially someone carrying the same pain — doesn’t always heal you. Sometimes, it breaks you both.

A healthy Rumi x Jinu relationship might be possible someday — but only after they’ve rebuilt themselves on their own terms. After they’ve stopped trying to survive through each other.

I’d love to see how that’s explored if we get a sequel.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘ more kpop demon hunter ∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

If you’re curious about my post on K-pop Demon Hunters and mental health through the songs, it’s right here !

I also wrote about Celine and Rumi's relationship here.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘ more on mental health and love ∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

And if you're interested in a deeper exploration of this kind of bond — mental health, shame, love, and trying to climb out of darkness together — please read Seven Days in June. It’s an adult novel and beautifully written, though be warned: it deals with heavy themes. You can check my full review for content warnings.

[mommyslittlebird]

I’m a person who struggles a lot with eating, as I don’t really like food. I survive mostly off of nutrition shakes on the nights where I find myself unable to stomach anything else. So the idea of a woman going through the process of induced lactation to feed me is so heavenly. To clarify, I know this isn’t actually how it works, but this is a work of fiction inspired by the yearning fantasy of a girl with mommy issues.

Cw: breastfeeding and other mommy issue related ramblings

*****

I come home after a long day, weary and tired. I have to eat but the last thing I want to do is have to force some food in my mouth. So I go to find her on the couch, reading.

“Mama?” My voice is sheepish and quiet. Not nervous, but just a little embarrassed by how badly I need this.

She puts her book down, peering up at me over her reading glasses. She smiles when she sees me. Despite my exhaustion, I can’t help but smile back.

“What is it, darling?” She asks, concerned when she recognizes my sorry state. “Come here, baby. Tell mama what you need.”

I walk over to the couch, resting my tired head on her shoulder. She takes my hand into her lap, running her thumb over my knuckles. Her brow pinches with concern. “Oh honeybee, you’re shaking. Have you eaten?”

I bury my face in her shoulder and shake my head. Of course she could tell immediately. My shaking always gives me away. It gets so much worse when I haven’t eaten.

“It’s okay, baby. We’ll get you some dinner. Maybe a sandwich? I have some leftover pasta in the fridge. I could butter up an English muffin if you’re not feeling well,” she lists, trying to come up with something that I might be able to stomach.

I wrap my arms around her, shaking my head against. “I can’t, mama,” I mumble into her shoulder.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she coos, kissing the my hair and cradling my head. “That’s okay. Mama’s got you. Come here. Lay down on my lap and we’ll get you all taken care of.”

I shift until I’m sitting across her lap, perpendicular to her with my legs draped across the couch cushions. She’s already sliding her shirt off, reaching behind her back to unclasp her bra. She pulls my head in close, nuzzling my nose against her soft skin.

“Go ahead, angel,” she croons, scratching my scalp with her pointed nails.

We both hum pleasantly as my lips wrap around her nipple, immediately starting to eagerly gulp down her milk. I am addicted to the taste: to the warm feeling of her essence sliding down my throat, warming my and nourishing me from the inside.

She chuckles. “Slow sips, angel,” she gently corrects. “Let your stomach adjust. You don’t want to get a tummy ache.”

I whine, but I obey, slowing to a rhythmic suckling that makes her toes curls. She has to close her eyes for a moment just to take a deep breath. “That’s it. Keep going. Just… just like that,” she stammers, tensing up against the couch. “You make mama feel so good when you do this, you know? Feeling your tongue and… knowing that I’m inside of you… filling you up… fuck… just knowing that you need me like this… and I can feed you from my own body… and make sure you stay full and healthy…”

It truly is so rewarding to her, to watch me grow instead of wither under her loving guidance. There is something about feeding me with something from her own body: knowing my body was growing from her, breaking down nutrients from the milk she supplied and using it to fuel me. I was hers even on a biological, cellular level.

My stomach rumbles, whining with the relief of being fed after going through the day empty. She lifts the hem of my shirt, splaying her fingers out over my soft torso.

“There you go,” she says. “Mama’s got plenty of milk, baby. Take as much as you need.”

My eyelashes flutter again her, tickling the soft skin of her chest. My eyelids are starting to droop and go heavy. She looks down to find my hands curled against my chest, doing soft kneading motions into the air like a kitten massaging its mother. Something about the warm milk, or maybe the soothing suckling, seems to lull me into a trance every time.

“Shhshsh,” she soothes, running her hands through my hair. She knows I might be exhausted after working all day. “Don’t fight it, sweetheart. Rest those tired eyes. Mama’s got you. I’ve got you and I’m never letting go.”

[faramirsonofgondor]

AU where Mary and John Grayson come back to life (through magic or some other weird thing idk) and come to the wrong conclusions about the Batfam. Like as soon as they come back they’re transported into the manor where Alfred is just like “Oh dear!” and then walks in Dick, dressed as Batman, with Damian, in full Robin gear (this is when everybody thought Bruce was dead). And Dick’s parents recognize him immediately, and they just kind of roll with it cuz what the hell. And then they turn their attention to Damian (who they heard Dick call “Robin” and who is dressed in their family colors) and they’re just like “aww, a grandson”. And Dick is too in shock to correct them and so he has to roll with it. And then over time Mary and John meet more of the fam and their alter egos but they think that they’re all just apart of the circus and not crime fighting vigilantes because circus performers would be the most obvious conclusion. They’re also under the impression that Dick just built this family himself because it’s not like Bruce is around and Dick always wanted siblings, didn’t he? And like none of the Batfam has the heart to correct them on anything because while Dick can be annoying sometimes, none of them want to mess this up for him. Plus, it was nice to have some adults who had healthy coping mechanisms and stuff. Eventually it becomes harder and harder to keep the charade and they start to bet on who will get caught first.

John: You know you carry an awful lot of guns for someone in the circus. What did you say you do?

Jason, sweating: …..Security

John, who literally died at the circus: Oh, that’s nice. Wish we had that back in the day.

Mary: You know, it’s been a few months of us being back, and I’d love to see you all perform sometime.

Tim, running on two hours of sleep: Uh… you can’t because…… our shows are all sold out!

Mary: Oh, well that’s lovely dear. It’s a shame we can’t go, though.

Eventually, though, the rest of the Batfam start to relax and get closer to Mary & John. Then, funnily enough, it’s Dick “Trauma Is My Middle Name” Grayson who accidentally lets the truth slip during one of his sleep deprived hallucination sessions, in which he believes that Mary and John are also hallucinations and starts ranting about being Batman and such. Mary and John were already able to tell that Dick had been hiding something and that he had trauma because they’re not blind, but they didn’t expect this. But whatever reaction the Batfam was expecting, it wasn’t Mary and John’s slightly disappointed frowns as they exclaimed “So you don’t work for the circus? 🙁” because they had been really looking forward to catching a show eventually.

Bonus: Mary and John figured out that Jason was Red Hood before Dick spilled the beans, but they were just like “Wow! He works as Red Hood and security? He must be great at his job!”

[kanmom51]

How do we know they are more than just best friends?

Someone asked me this the other day. After watching their latest joint live or parts of it:

"How do we know they are actually a couple? How do we know they are more than just best friends? Isn't that just the usual banter between friends?"

And I was thinking to myself: "how do I answer this?"

How do I explain how they are just so much more than best friends.

Is it that I recognize the signs being in a loving and healthy long term relationship for over 30 years? And others that might not have had the good fortune of experiencing this kind of relationship just can't see the signs? Is it about them being 2 men that makes it harder to reconcile with their behaviours and assigning them to it being couple behaviours? Is it because of their fame or looks or opportunities or maybe because they are so young that people find it hard to accept that they have been in a committed long term relationship for years and are each other's "THE ONE" for life? Is it the intensity of it all? How can they be a couple and behave the same consistent way for close to a decade now? How is it possible that they are acting as attracted as they were to each other 10 years ago? That doesn't make sense, so that must mean that maybe we are reading it incorrectly and it's not attraction, they aren't a couple, because how can someone look as in love as they were 10 years ago with that same person?

And though I have written many posts in the past, which can be found on my masterlist, I feel like there has been an uptick in this attitude - Jikook are best friends and not a couple, so I thought I should address this.

This will be about what I believe. What I see. What I recognize.

Also, for those who are all about "maybe they were together but aren't anymore" or something similar, I will ask: if that's true how is it that absolutely nothing changed with them. The behaviour. The interactions. The intensity. It's a constant throughout the years. It's not about them changing or the nature of their relationship changing. It's about if they are visible to us, if we are 'allowed' to see it. Whenever they show up together they are the same. And this is something I have on repeat on my blog: not seeing them means absolutely NOTHING. Not seeing them most definitely does not mean they are not together.

So, following that intro, I will try to put into words why it is, based on the content they give us, that I was so sure and still am that JM and JK are a couple in a loving healthy long term relationship and not just best friends.

I guess that there is no better way than to start with the basics.

A healthy loving long term relationship is based on being first and utmost each other's best friend. Knowing each other thru and thru, at their best and at their worst, and still loving them.

Yes, best friends love one another. As friends. On a platonic level. And being a couple usually, mostly, has the added sexual attraction and relations added to that base (usually and mostly because there are always exceptions). But the sexual aspect of being a couple isn't the only thing that separates best friends from loving partners. It might be the initial addition of said attraction (that btw is way stronger and long lasting when the relationship is built on friendship first), but from that, many times, stems a level of intimacy that surpasses any kind of friendship, as close as it may be. The level of intimacy of course, the level of trust, the level of need (for the other, to be with them, to touch them, to hold them, to feel their affection physically and emotionally, to get their input, to comfort them, to just BE with them) is just BEYOND.

So, of course there will be best friend energies recognizable in a couple's interactions. But it will be on a different level. It will include other recognizable couple behaviours.

The level of intimacy will be higher. The behaviour will be flirtatious, at times with sexual innuendos (yes, JM talking about JK's "precious" is part of that, JK worried that JM is once again mentioning his "member" is another). It's the flirting about having to discipline JK. The tone, the behaviour while saying it. Talk about innuendos. Not even going down the eating ramen mentioning discussion, even more so with us knowing the others were out at the time (or maybe I am seeing that I put it down on paper, figuratively that is).

😏

And when you see all of these you cannot disconnect them from previous moments, things they have done and said in the past. So obvious and loud. This here is only a continuation of those actions, those words.

Before I continue I wanted to add something that just came up in a discussion I had with a very close friend of mine. Why it is that it seems so many Jikookers have suddenly backflipped on this. That they are back to "maybe they are just best friends", and she said something so profoundly true. That maybe people have become desensitised. With their loud moments over the years and AYS, that somehow seeing them together being themselves without the grand gestures or loud moments is just another Monday. No wows or gasps. Them being them, as couplie as their behaviour might be, is just something we got used to. So much so, that many stopped recognizing just how couplie that behaviour is. To that I will add that the level of expectation of them, the need of some Jikookers for them to 'prove' to us they are a couple is also a thing. All while forgetting, again, that they are still a closeted queer couple and there are things that we just cannot expect of them as such. Definitely not on a regular basis (that in itself is actually something that really frustrates me, as they do not owe us a thing, and somewhat demanding this of them is beyond entitled). They still have to live within the realm of deniability. And I do think that their hard work from 2019 thru to 2021 in stretching those boundaries has done it's job. Because if a fandom can see a dude sucking his 'bro's' ear or proudly strutting around with a hickey his 'bro' left on him and still call them "friends" or "brothers", then whatever they did in their live a couple of days ago, including talking about the other's member, will fly right under the radar as "bros being bros". Apparently, including for some Jikookers.

Ok, point made, I will go back to what makes them more than just best friends. Let's get back on track.

The touches. Friends touch. They hug, they hang over each other. We saw that with Tae yesterday in the live. But seeing that, you could also recognize the clear difference. And it's not about it being a different level of friendship. It's, once again, about the level of intimacy and need to touch the other. It's JM's little touches on JK's nape, his playing with JK's hoops (which I am still thinking were his gift to JK for Silver day). It's JK's constant touching JM, groping JM basically. His chest, his necklace (at least twice - again, his Silver day gift to JM?), his hand, under his shirt.

It's the way they react to each other's touches. Not always visible, but definitely on occasion it's clear as day that this isn't a friendly reaction to the other's touch (re: JK's visible problem first day of BV4 at the lodge while playing footsies with JM). At times leaning into it. At times trying to avoid it, not because they don't want that touch (because they themselves initiate it with the other), but because in the moment they need to be guarded, perhaps worried of the effect it might have on them, or on how it might be perceived by others.

And the hug. Of course friends hug. But there are hugs and there are hugs. And we know JM gives the best hugs. JK told us that himself. But just like all the other things I mentioned, this hug is different than that hug with your best friend, as big and encompassing that it might be. JK's expression. The closing of the eyes. Contentment. Peace. Safety.

A reminder of this moment too.

JM is JK's safe place. Always has been always will be. On the highest level possible. The one person that knows him thru and thru and that he trusts and can rely on fully in his highs and his lows.

It's also the knowing what the other is feeling, what they want, what they want to tell you without the other having to even say one word. It's an expression, an eyebrow lift, a look, a twist of the mouth, a gesture, and sometimes not even any of those. Just knowing the other on such a deep level that you know what they are thinking and feeling in that situation!!!

Knowing someone on that deep of a level is so much more than just being a friend. This is what a couple in a loving long term relationship looks like.

The way they look at each other. Again, this is beyond how even the best of friends look at each other. I guess my word of the day is "beyond", because basically that's what it's all about. Beyond and more. It's the need to see everything the other does, clock it in, every funny expression they make, even if they aren't in your line of view, making that effort to see them anyway. It's love, it's adoration, it's admiration, it's lust, it's all of the above compiled into one.

This next point is not really about their behaviour during the live, but more about choices we've seen them make over the years and clearly over the past couple of years, and that's the choice they make to spend their spare time with that one person over any other, when possible. Even after working through the days together. Even when on leave after being together on base the whole time and spending their spare time there together. Even after they are discharged. Even when they are now back working as ot7 in LA and could clearly be spending time with the others.

Seeking out each other, including when sleeping, and documenting every single thing they do, cute, funny, weird, awake or sleeping... Can you even imagine how many Terabytes of JM pics and videos JK has stored away on a cloud or memory drive? Same to be said about JM, btw. You don't do that with a friend. Not on that level. And that's my point exactly.

This is a relationship built on deep friendship, trust, mutual support, affection on levels beyond anything you can call friendship. Their reliance emotionally on each other, each being the other's "person" who they will turn to for support when they are down and in need. Again, this is beyond being a good friend. A best friend.

And do I have to remind you of Like crazy and Letter?????

You have to be blind and in denial not to get that JM is referencing JK in both of those songs!!! That is not friendship he's talking about there.

What about the dates and numbers? What about the matching outfits? What about the wearing each other's clothes? Including JM wearing JK's sweaty sweatshirt to bed. Yeah, not something even a best friend would do. What about going to sleep with the other's piece of clothing in bed with you (either because they can't be or because they spent the night with you and left it behind).

And did we forget about the "I promised to go to the moon with JK"? The ear sucking, hickey making, crotch footsie events? The sexy couple dancing boner moment? The ass grabbing and squeezing, the chest pinching, too? The congratulatory couple gift sending? Not to mention JM talking about JK's "precious" member, his jewels. I guess if anyone knows it's in good working shape that would be JM.

This is where I want to mention another point, and that's for us non Korean Jikookers. There is so much we don't see or don't understand while watching these interactions, even when they are translated. The choice of songs they will sing in a certain situation;

The wording they will use, like the whole "precious" innuendo we were clueless about;

It's the way they talk to each other, something only Koreans will catch onto. The usage of formal and informal; The flirtatious tones of it all. These are things that we as outsiders can't initially catch onto. We can see the obvious. The looks, the touches, the facial expressions, and some of the translated interactions, but there is so much more to it that we initially can't see. Things that are uncovered as days go by. As translations come out. As cultural explanations are posted.

It's about those little inside jokes that the Korean side of the fandom might just understand (or not if they are inside inside jokes, and they do have many of those too).

And the last couple of points I wanted to make:

First is they themselves not putting a title to what they are. For years not framing it for us. With Vmin there was zero problem calling them soulmates. Jihope best friends. And Jikook nothing. Even though it's been clear to those who see them that at the very least since 2016 the two have been literally attached at the hip. But not once have they addressed it, nor have the other members - not by name. Why? Because they can't. Because they aren't just best friends. They aren't just soulmates. They are more. A more that can't be named.

What about the other members? The way they too do not address it. Once in a while we hear from them about the two being off together. Where is JM? He's with JK, and vise versa. We get a snide remark about them looking like or acting like they are a couple or dating. The way they constantly and clearly consider the two as a unit (not working unit). It's always about JM and JK as if they are one. They will talk about the one and automatically mention the other in the same context. Where they talk about the one the other is to follow. It's how they get mixed up between the two, even visually. It's about their reactions to the two and their interactions. It's NJ's frowns and making sure he's there to stop them from going too far, even running across the stage to stand as a wall between them. It's Hobi's ear to ear smile when they are on with their shenanigans. It's Jin's small and short endeared grin when they get up to their shit.

This isn't about the others seeing 2 good friends misbehaving. It's about the others seeing this beautiful love as it grew from a mutual crush into a blooming strong long lasting once in a lifetime love. And their need to protect them, many times from themselves, lol. Just ask NJ.

I'm 100% sure I've forgotten something. Just me being me. But if you are up to it my masterlist is filled with posts explaining why I believe they are a couple and not just friends.

Oh wait, one more little thing. If all they are is friends why didn't they tell us back in JK's 2020 birthday live that they were together when the #1 billboard landed? Why was it ok for Tae to say he wanted JM to come over without it being clarified that JM was with JK, on his birthday eve? If they are just friends. And why was it such a big deal for JM to tell us in the interview the next day that he was with JK? And JK's huge ass smile as he is revealing that piece of information? If they are just friends!! And if they are just best friends, something that is clearly long lasting and not something that started the minute they enlisted together. Something that made them supposedly decide to enlist together, how is it, as clearly the 2 closest members of BTS, we saw close to nothing of them together in public or in BTS content during chapter 2, while they were on their break or during their solo activities? Why was that content of just the 2 of them cut to almost zero? Why weren't we allowed to see them together? Not even in a campaign to promote Busan???? The two Busan princes!! If it was only a couple of good friends why was there such an obvious attempt to distance them (not in real life but in the public eye). While on break in 2022, the two best friends were the only ones that didn't interact, even once on their public SM. Not once. They weren't seen in public in events. They didn't show up to each other's promotions. The one time JK was seen at JM's rehearsals we don't see him arriving and we get approx. 60 seconds of interaction. They were distanced so much that even Jikookers fell for the anti campaign against JK in Sep. 2023 and were full on surprised to find out the joint enlistment. But I stress this again, this was just in the public eye, all while they continued to stay as close as ever (trying to adapt to the solo era and their different super intensive separate schedules).

And when you take ALL of those components, look at them as pieces of a puzzle that just fit together so perfectly only to reveal the full picture. It's never been about a moment, a touch, a comment. It's about the entirety of it all. Years and years of consistent behaviour. What they say, what they do, and the reactions of those that surround them. That big picture is loud and clear.

They are a loving couple in a beautifully healthy long term relationship.

So, best friends? Most definitley.

But only best friends? No.

So much MORE!!!

[sereia4skz]

a house we build | chapter 5: third trimester variables

pairing: established!Minsung x fem!reader

< previous chapter | next chapter >

⋆｡°✩

word count: 1.2k

It starts because Seungmin asks a question over dinner.

“So,” he says, pausing with his chopsticks halfway to his mouth, “is it a boy or a girl?”

There’s a beat of silence before Jisung blurts, “...oh my god.”

You look up from your plate. “What?”

“We never asked,” he says, turning to Minho like the doctor has been keeping a national secret from them.

Minho frowns. “Didn’t think it mattered. We just want them healthy.”

“Yeah, but-” Jisung waves his chopsticks for emphasis. “People do this. They find out. They have a party. It’s a thing.”

You shrug. “I am not going to keep the baby, so… didn’t seem like something I needed to know. I thought you didn't want to know…”

That makes Jisung go quiet for a moment. Minho’s eyes flick to yours, just long enough for you to see the tiny crease between his brows, before he sets his chopsticks down.

Two days later, there’s a message in the group chat:

Jisung: gender reveal saturday. bring cake.

It’s embarrassingly late in the game, thirty weeks, your stomach a firm, round arc under your shirt, but somehow, they pull it together. The living room gets strung with paper streamers in mismatched colors: 'Just in case' Jisung insists, the coffee table piled with snacks, and the couch claimed by an alarming number of cats.

All eight of the guys show up, loud enough to shake the walls. Minho’s parents come too, smiling warmly and pressing a hand to your belly like it’s second nature. You don’t really have anyone to invite; you tell yourself you’re fine with that.

“You’re family by proximity,” Jisung tells you when he catches you lingering in the kitchen. “And you’re stuck with us now, so get used to it.”

The reveal itself is simple: one cupcake each, frosting dyed inside. Everyone bites at the same time, Seungmin immediately announces “girl” with his mouth full, and the room erupts into cheers.

It’s fluffier than you expect. Not the kind of tearful, sentimental thing you’ve seen in videos, but warm in its own chaotic way. Han claps you on the shoulder hard enough to make you stumble, Felix insists on taking about a hundred photos, and one of the cats decides to nap in the empty cupcake box.

When it’s over, you end up wedged between Minho and Jisung on the couch, a half-eaten cupcake in your lap. They’re both still smiling, not the big showy kind but the soft, lingering kind that makes you wonder if maybe this is your family for a little while.

⋆｡°✩

By the time you hit the mid thirties, weeks, not years, the glow everyone talks about has long since packed its bags and moved out. What’s left is a body you barely recognize, a stomach that feels like a bowling ball in permanent residence, and a baby with a penchant for practicing kickboxing at two in the morning.

It’s not that you’re ungrateful. You like knowing they’re healthy, that everything’s on track. But liking something doesn’t mean you want to do it forever. And 34 weeks is starting to feel a little too much like forever.

Minho notices first. He always does.

“You’re sighing like an old man,” he says one afternoon, watching you wrestle yourself upright on the couch.

“That’s because I’m ninety in pregnancy years,” you mutter, trying to shift a throw pillow under your lower back without making the effort obvious.

He raises an eyebrow but doesn’t push. Instead, he disappears into the kitchen, and two minutes later returns with a glass of water and a handful of grapes. “Hydration and sugar. Might keep you from glaring at the furniture.”

“I’m not glaring at-” You stop when you catch sight of Jisung leaning in the doorway, chewing a granola bar and smiling like he’s caught you in 4K.

“You are glaring at the furniture,” he says, spraying a few crumbs. “And honestly? You’re terrifying. I kind of like it.”

You throw the nearest pillow at his head. He catches it and tucks it under his arm like it’s a prize.

The kiss, the nursery, has been sitting in the air between you and Jisung for weeks. Neither of you have mentioned it, not once. You both keep skirting the edges, saying things that could be about it but could also be about nothing at all. Sometimes you think he’s about to bring it up, but then he cracks a joke or changes the subject.

And Minho�� you don’t know if he suspects, or if he’s just very good at pretending he doesn’t.

⋆｡°✩

By week 35, you’ve officially entered what you think of as your “get this baby out of me” era. Your feet swell if you stand too long. Your lower back aches if you sit too long. Lying down is a strategic operation involving three pillows, two blankets, and the patience of a saint.

It all comes to a head one Wednesday night when you drop a spoon in the kitchen.

It’s such a small thing. A spoon. But it hits the tile with a clatter and you just stand there staring at it because bending over sounds about as appealing as hiking Everest.

You don’t even notice Minho until he’s crouching beside you, picking it up without a word. He rinses it, sets it in the sink, and then looks at you like he’s trying to figure out if you’re going to cry.

Which you are.

“Oh, baby,” Jisung says softly, appearing behind you. His arms come around your shoulders from the side, warm and loose, rocking you slightly. “It’s okay. We’ll fight the spoon. We’ll win.”

A wet laugh escapes you, half-choked by the tears. “I’m so tired.”

“I know,” he says, rubbing his cheek against your temple. “We’re almost there.”

Minho hands you a tissue, still silent, but his other hand rests briefly on the small of your back as you blow your nose. It’s grounding, the way they don’t try to rush you out of it.

Later, you’re in the nursery, sinking into the rocking chair with a sigh you don’t bother to hide. Jisung sits cross-legged on the floor, rubbing slow circles into your feet with both thumbs. Minho leans on the crib rail beside you, his gaze resting on your stomach.

The baby kicks. A sharp, strong thump that makes your whole belly shift.

“Oh-” you gasp, hand flying to the spot.

Jisung freezes. “Was that?”

“Here.” You grab his wrist and press his palm against the side of your stomach. The baby obliges with another firm kick.

Jisung’s face splits into the kind of grin you wish you could bottle. “They like me.”

“They like anyone warm,” Minho deadpans, but he’s already moving his hand to rest just below yours, catching the faintest ripple under your skin. His expression doesn’t change much, but something in his eyes softens.

For a while, no one says anything. Just the creak of the chair, the slow pressure of Jisung’s thumbs, Minho’s hand steady against you. The air is warm, heavy with the kind of quiet you don’t want to break.

You close your eyes. And it hits you, how safe this feels. Too safe. Like you belong here. Like this is yours. But it’s not. You’re just their surrogate. They’re not yours to keep.

And yet… the weight of their hands, the warmth of their presence, the sound of their breathing in the same room, it all wraps around you like a blanket you don’t want to take off.

You don’t know if it’s the hormones, or the exhaustion, or something you’re too afraid to name, but it scares you in a way that feels almost good.

Dangerously good.

series taglist: @rougegenshin @imagine-all-the-imagines @imma-much-happier-person @jisungs-iced-americano @seungminthesnail @straykids4lifeee @peskybirdysya @straykid2004 @geni-627 @numberonedefendorpenguin @codex-12 @skzbiasot8 @skzlover143 @jeonginsbaee @rekussk @bahngarang @mareuxkala @wwwtxao @katchowbbie @alondra601 @ateez-atiny380 @nanaluizam @littledeadleaves @iluvluvfictionalmen @whitejuliana1204 @tsukiloveskitties @chasinghxran @mocharacha @channiesbighugs @kpop-trash-03 @stvrryl0ve @lillymochilover @aemondsb1tch @kwanniehae @kjinwoon @hvnlymoon @kokinu09 @httpsxnox @brekkers-whore @wolfhallows4 @skyearby @sammhisphere @bitterbluemorningstar @sungie-stay @to-be-written @jaadesthings @lomllino @tricky-ritz @16lotonhermind @sapphicmesworld @like-diamondsinthesky @seungpuppymongmong @popcatx0 @bluedenebii @ellalalalalasworld @Kaiwantkisses @eli1717sblog @bubbletuttle @hrtsfra

taglist: @diekleinesuesse @tillaboo @felixsonlyrealwife @geni-627 @skz8riley @lezleeferguson-120 @pixie-felix @headfirstfortoro @alnex05 @baby-stay92 @encoredesires @androgynouscrownorbit @channiesluvrclub @my-neurodivergent-world @chims-dimple @bookswillfindyouaway @stellasays45 @angel-writes-skz-here @m-325 @0sunshinecryptid0 @beal-o @hug4helios @oksullen @rileylovescats @dreamyfelixx @yxna-bliss @turtledove824 @enhacolor @skzz0213 @hannahlue @purplelady85 @velvetmoonlght @inishij @bangchanspineapple @straykids4lifeee @peskybirdysya @gnabsss @zayn-210 @wolfhallows4 @katsukis1wife @sammhisphere @sunfk88 @sillyseob @rougegenshin @yaorzu-blog @babigriin @tricky-ritz @kibs-and-bits

[renthony]

In the aftermath of my big post about censorship, multiple people have left comments that boil down to, "it's okay to show heavy topics in fiction as long as they're portrayed as bad."

Let's take a quick look at an excerpt from the full ext of the Hays Code, shall we?

No picture should lower the moral standards of those who see it. This is done: (a) When evil is made to appear attractive, and good is made to appear unattractive. (b) When the sympathy of the audience is thrown on the side of crime, wrong-doing, evil, sin.The same thing is true of a film that would throw sympathy against goodness, honor, innocence, purity, honesty. note: Sympathy with a person who sins, is not the same as sympathy with the sin or crime of which he is guilty. We may feel sorry for the plight of the murderer or even understand the circumstances which led him to his crime; we may not feel sympathy with the wrong which he has done. The presentation of evil is often essential for art, or fiction, or drama. This in itself is not wrong, provided: (a) That evil is not presented alluringly. Even if later on the evil is condemned or punished, it must not be allowed to appear so attractive that the emotions are drawn to desire or approve so strongly that later they forget the condemnation and remember only the apparent joy of the sin. (b) That thruout the presentation, evil and good are never confused and that evil is always recognized clearly as evil. (c) That in the end the audience feels that evil is wrong and good is right

This is the same Hays Code that supported Nazis. This is the same Hays Code that forced Jewish artists out of Hollywood. This is the same Hays Code that targeted artists of color, queer artists, female artists, any artist who deviated from the white American Catholic ideal. And it was explicitly Catholic, which I explained in further depth here.

The idea that art has to have a clear moral, which lines up with the dominant morals of white American Christianity, is foundational to the Hays Code. If you sound like the Hays Code, you need to re-evaluate.

Censorship and moral codes enforced on art are never used for anything other than oppression. The second you try to dictate what is and isn't allowable in art, you side with people who will enforce those rules on marginalized people with no mercy and no hesitation.

Censorship does not create healthy relationships with media, even the censorship you might be tempted to think of as "good censorship."

(And, as usual, being an independent censorship researcher does very little to pay my bills. Kick me a tip on Ko-Fi or pledge to me on Patreon if you want to support my work! <3)

[why-animals-do-the-thing]

Sorry if you've already covered this, but I was scrolling socials and saw that the San Antonio zoo got a large donation to expand their savanna habitat. The only thing that jarred me as I read through their expansion plans was apparently they're going to be outfitting some 'safari' vehicles so guests can be taken into the habitat to feed and interact with the animals (from within the vehicle). I was always under the impression that this kind of interaction wasn't necessarily good for either the humans or the animals-- is there a way it can be done ethically?? Anyway, I just thought it was interesting!

Ooo, okay, your question aligned with a thing I've been chewing on for a while, so let's talk ~ethics~ and ~philosophy~ aka this is gonna be a bit long. I do promise I'll answer your question, though!

The first thing I want to note is that you're really asking about two different things, which are almost always conflated these days when it comes to talking about animals: welfare (is the animal happy / healthy / safe) and ethics (is what's happening good / moral / acceptable). It's really important that we distinguish between the two, because welfare is an objective measure of physical and mental wellbeing, and ethics are a human construct that involves subjective interpretation.

A useful but highly oversimplified example of this is the bothering of cats for online videos. Pestering a cat to get a funny reaction once in a while may not impact their overall welfare. Welfare is the cumulative impact of an animal's experiences, which means that single acute moments may not weight heavily on the entire balance. If the cat is healthy, fed well, enriched, and has a good and positive bond with their humans, those momentary irritations for videos might not matter much. That doesn't mean that you or I, as viewers, might not still find bothering an animal for internet clout ethical. We can believe that humans shouldn't ever unnecessarily put their pet through negative experiences, and we can think that doing so just because it brings the human money or fame is distasteful. But! We have to recognize that as used in this example, those ethical stances aren't inherently tied to the animal's welfare state. Many people I know who dislike cat-bothering don't care if the animal has good welfare outside of that situation - they don't like that the situation occurs at all, ever.

So, back to your question. You're wanting to know if it's okay for a zoo to have a drive-through aspect of an exhibit where people get to feed the animals. You're asking if it's safe for the humans and for the animals (which is a welfare question) and if that type of interaction is ethical. I could just tell you that of course it's fine, San Antonio is an AZA zoo and their accreditation only allows them to do "good things" but that's now how it works here (nor is it the reality of accreditation).

The safety aspect is one I'm not worried about. It's actually a pretty common thing for reputable facilities to do some sort of vehicle tour in savanna habitats, whether in the guest's vehicle (safari parks) or on a hay-ride type vehicle (zoos). Many of those allow guests to feed out specific parts of their animals' diets. Offhand, I know Tampa and Fossil Rim both have feeding tours like this in a staff-driven vehicle. It's not specified from the zoo's press release, but I can guarantee you that guests will not be driving those vehicles - which means the interactions will be proctored by staff and what people are feeding out will be carefully regulated. The habitat is going to have rhino, giraffe, zebra, ostrich, and antelope/gazelle, and I'd guess that the drive-through is going to stick to those latter two and maybe additional species. Those are animals where a car is an appropriate safety barrier.

As to if it's ethical to do? It's spiny question, because it depends very directly on the ethical perspectives of the person you're asking. I think it's fine - you may not. Let's break down the different things that come into consideration on the ethical side, and my responses:

"The zoo is commercially exploiting animals by letting people pay to get closer." If the issue is that people paying to get closer to animals is using them for money, well, that's the business model of a zoo (non-profit or not, they still need revenue to operate). So IMHO it's not like it's "less ethical" than anything else the zoo is doing, using that framing.

"Zoo animals should be allowed to be wild and undisturbed by guests driving in their habitats." Zoo animals aren't wild, and their entire lives revolve around humans and the human work schedule. As long as a vehicle entering the habitat doesn't have a negative welfare impact (e.g. they're not scared of it), it's not very different from the rest of the routine of managed care.

"Feeding zoo animals will encourage people to try to feed wild animals." Thanks to obnoxiously viral content creators, people are going to try to feed wild animals no matter what. Doing it in a proctored situation where a staff member can try to do some education at the same time is probably the best possible scenario.

"People just do those tours to get close to cool animals." People are always going to want to touch the animals. If being able to pay for a tour keeps them from jumping the fence to try to pet a rhino, great.

There's one more that I want to talk about separately, because I think it's where a lot of confusion gets generated. It's this idea that "Humans shouldn't be interacting with animals at all, any interaction is unethical and bad for the animals." This is a welfare crossover, but not one actually informed by welfare science in a captive situation. And I think it's because the internet lacks nuance. Yes, it is absolutely correct to say that with wild animals, you should never ever try to feed a deer out of your car (or similar). It is incredibly harmful to those animals on both an acute and chronic timeline. But thanks to the rage-bait algorithms on social media and people endlessly justifying doing stupid, dangerous, bad things (and getting pushback for it), there's been a lot of bleed between the public's understanding of what wild animal welfare is and what captive animal welfare is. Combine that with the reality that captive animal welfare cannot be assessed or diagnosed from a single context-less clip, and that people with strong beliefs and no practical experience with the field/species/individual will pass judgement loudly to their audiences...

The result is almost a reflexive believe in many sectors of the internet that any human-animal interaction that isn't couched as a "rescue" is inherently unethical, for reasons people often can't articulate. Which is why, I think, so often people want to support certain aspects of captive animal management but feel guilty for doing so. I see this a lot in the questions the blogs gets, and I'm glad people feel comfortable asking, because it's important to think through not just the individual instances but the patterns leading us to question them.

So yes, I'd say that a staff-led experience in a vehicle chosen for safety is an ethical way to proctor an interaction between guests and certain savanna species. It will vary by facility - I'm always more wary about guests driving, although many drive-through safaris are fine - and by setup. I think what San Antonio is doing will be fine, though, and will be interested to see / hear about the setup when they start up.

If you've got a question about ethical captive management, I'm always happy to talk about it - but I'd invite you to poke around in your head a little and send me not just your question in the ask, but your thinking about why or why not something might be concerning. It's great practice for understanding why you relate to animal ethics the way you do, and where those beliefs come from.

[kinardsevan]

who am i (to know)?

had this drabble in my head for a hot second. enjoy. post-s8 shenanigans.

-

"I owe you an apology."

Tommy looks up from his coffee with wide eyes. Maddie is standing across the kitchen from him, her own fresh cup in her hands. She'd come out from getting baby Bobby down, having fallen asleep in the rocking chair in the nursery while he'd been left in the house with Jee-Yun when the girl had wrangled him into a very convoluted pretend play of princesses and dragons. Evan was outside with Howie, working on a landscaping project that Tommy was supposed to join him on before his attention had been taken over by Jee.

"You really don't," he tells her, glancing out into the other room. Jee had fallen asleep on him—literally—about ten minutes before Maddie had come out, and he'd been so heartened by the fact that he hadn't wanted to move her. Maddie had shifted her over once she came out and offered him coffee.

"I do, though, "she states, stirring a spoon inside her coffee cup to mix the flavored creamer in. Her indulgences with the drink aren't very different from Tommy's, always seeking the sweetness instead of the caffeine.

She takes a deep breath, sips rom her drink before setting it on the counter.

"I wasn't very nice to you during round one of your and Evan's relationship, much less during the…off season," she comments.

Tommy lets out the slightest chuckle, the corner of his mouth pulling up as he acquiesces a nod before taking a sip of his own coffee.

"I'll give you that one," he responds. "But he's your brother. And as I understand it, maybe even more than that, given the situation with your parents," he comments as he sets his own coffee on the counter and leans back against it, wrapping his fingers over the ledge.

Maddie nods. "I recognize that he's an adult, and that end of the day, we're siblings-.."

"But for all intents and purposes, he's still your baby in some contexts," Tommy finishes for her. Maddie nods at the statement.

He's never said much on the subject, but he's always seen the way that Maddie has looked at Evan when they were in group situations. He still remembers the way she had kept watch over him at her own wedding reception—both the impromptu one thrown at the hospital, and the one that Bobby and Athen had held for them weeks later when schedules finally lined up and they were able to do something small at their condo. Maddie had been cordial, at the very least, but she had always kept a watchful eye on him, always waiting for…something. She never commented on whatever it was that she was waiting to see take place, but it seemed obvious once the breakup took place—she was waiting on him to end things.

"The thing is, for as complex as Evan's trauma is, he doesn't know it the same way we do," Maddie states. Tommy inhales sharply, staring down into his coffee mug.

It's not that he's ever expected Evan to not tell other people about the things he's shared about his own life—he knows that keeping secrets isn't healthy, and it directly affected the downfall of their relationship in the first go around. It wasn't at all that Tommy didn't want Evan to know him, either, or that he didn't want to know Evan in deeper ways. But when they had finally taken the time to sit down and really talk about the dark stuff that they'd avoided during the first year, it was more than clear that the trauma they both held wasn't light or easy. He fully understood Evan's urge to cling with a life filled with abandonment, including an entire quarter of his life in which he didn't speak to a single member of his family—and none of them had bothered to reach out to him. Adding to that he fact that he was 29 before he knew about his dead brother, and the fact that his entire life existed because he'd been intended as a savior sibling—so much about the younger man had come into focus for Tommy. He had no problem assuming that the same could also be said for Evan in relation to him.

"I think he's got a bit of a better grasp on it now," Tommy answers, still staring down into his coffee cup. He can't actually be entirely sure that the younger man really does understand the urge to bolt, but in the face of Bobby's death, while he urged to cling and stay close, Tommy needed time alone to process. It wasn't even that he didn't appreciate the comfort of being with Evan—he very much so did—but in the same breadth, he had only ever known a life where processing loss came hand-in-hand with loneliness. He needed the silence to figure out his own thoughts. But it was also that need for separation—short as it may have been—that ultimately led to the fighting that brought them back together.

"I imagine he does," Maddie states softly. She stares at Tommy for a time, and when he looks back up at her, the expression on her face is one he's only ever seen in his direction as a young child. It's the way that his mom used to look at him before she died. A layer of emotions, usually some mixed level of both pride and annoyance, but always covered in love. It makes a wave of something unfamiliar rush through his chest.

Well, maybe not unfamiliar so much as so distantly memorable that it doesn't feel right at first.

"Anyway, my point was…" Maddie trails off after a moment, and Tommy glances over at her again. There's something familiar in their shared gaze, but whether her statement is too loaded to put into words, or she doesn't fully have a grasp on it, she's not sure. He lets out another soft breath of a chuckle and nods.

"You didn't think I was going to change my mind," he states, not questioning. "Come back."

"I wasn't entirely sure," she admits. "I just knew that I recognized something in you, and I didn't like it. It took me a while, when you came back around to really grasp what it was that I was ambivalent about, but when you showed up and helped with saving Howie, a-and stuck around for Evan…" She glances back down at her coffee, touching the cup anxiously while also trying to keep her emotions together. "Well, anyway, I've seen Evan's life be a revolving door, in the kind of way where people come and go. They don't really come back. And I knew he loved you, but I wasn't sure if you loved him. Before then, I mean."

"Figured I was just along for the good times with the hot sibling," Tommy comments, just a hint of his bitchy tone and a smile on his face. Maddie scoffs.

"He is not the hot sibling."

"He kind of is," Tommy answers with a slight tilt of his head, and then they're both laughing, and it feels good. It feels warm and safe, and he has just the slightest pang of anxiety about letting himself really sink into it. No matter how much Evan tells him that there isn't anyone else and he doesn't want someone else, the fear of letting himself believe in another future that he won't actually get is still terrifying.

"The important thing is that you believe that," Maddie states, still laughing a little. As she finishes talking, though, just a smile remains on her face, and Tommy knows she means it.

Tommy glances out toward the back patio as Evan and Howie work on moving a bag of mulch into large pots, and his expression softens.

"He still scares me, if I'm honest," he tells her. "I've put faith into relationships in the past that didn't work out, and that hurt. But falling in love with him, and then telling myself that I couldn't have him…" His eyes get that overly dry feeling as he feels the edge of them brim with moisture. He glances back over at Maddie briefly, and she has that look on her face again, and it makes his heart twist. His gaze falls to her hands wrapped around her coffee mug as he drags his teeth against themselves, bites the side of his cheek. "He feels like a home I haven't known since…and I couldn't let go of him the way I should have. S-so even though he tells me otherwise, I still wake up every day convinced just a little bit that he will actually destroy me."

Maddie sets her cup down and Tommy looks away, suddenly feeling as though he needs to pull himself together in the right way. He forces a breath out and pushes a smile across his face as she walks over to him, wraps her small hands around his bicep, leaning into his side a little. The height difference is a little ridiculous, but he finds he doesn't mind it.

"I think you've figured this out, but Evan loves big, and in grand gestures. He has a penchant for missteps and overcorrection, but he means only the best with all of it. And in the midst of all of that, I have never seen him love the way he loves you, even if it took him a while to piece all of that together."

Tommy glances down at Maddie, his gaze narrowed just slightly.

"You don't think he's going to change his mind one day?" He tries to make it sound like a joke, but the trembling in his voice gives him away, and Maddie squeezes his bicep.

"Believe me when I tell you, Evan doesn't see anyone else," Maddie tells him. "Also, if you tell him that I've told you this, I'll deny it because of how disgusted I was when he said it to begin with. But I have heard him make the statement that if it was humanly possible, he'd have your children." Maddie narrows her eyes at Tommy. "Truth be told, I wouldn't be surprised if he did a deep dive to see if it is possible."

Tommy blushes at her statement, lets out a laugh, and it makes Maddie laugh too. For a solid two minutes, they lean against each other and the counter, laughing until it hurts to keep doing so, at which point the patio doors open and Evan and Howie come walking in, pink and each covered in a sheen of sweat. The center of Evan's tank clings to his chest, and it makes Tommy feral just looking at him.

"Might have to do a google search of my own," he mutters toward Maddie. She slaps his arm and steps away as Evan and Howie both mutter some version of 'what?' Maddie walks over to her husband and wraps an arm around him, pulling him away as Evan approaches Tommy. The pilot watches his boyfriend as Evan drapes an arm over his shoulder, fingers grazing at his hairline as he smirks at him.

"You are so dirty right now," Tommy tells him. "And sweaty."

Evan nods. "We were going to shower. The master bedroom has its own. And besides, you like me all sweaty and worked up." He trails a finger down the center of Tommy's chest, slipping it in past the button the fastened button in the center of Tommy's chest. The pilot glances down at what he's doing, can't fight the smirk pulling on his face. Evan leans into him, tilts up toward his ear. "Shower with me."

"There are children here," Tommy murmurs back to him, glancing toward the hall. He hears the bedroom door shut down the hall, and Evan presses his heated, sweaty cheek into Tommy's. "And I didn't plan for this."

"I did," Evan whispers, turning his head more and biting down into the space below Tommy's ear as he leans closer to him. Tommy gulps. Evan's free hand slides down his torso before his fingers curl into the waist of the pilot's jeans. "I have clothes for you. Shower with me."

Tommy opens his mouth to respond, but Evan's fingers dip lower, and the pilot gasps as the tips of Evan's fingers brush against him.

"Quickie in the shower," he whispers, his throat tight with need. "Quiet like a mouse."

Evan grins against his neck, and he can feel it.

"Sure," he answers gruffly. When he pulls away, the grin is still plastered on his face as he tugs Tommy forward by the hand still in his jeans. "Bag's already in the bathroom."

Yeah. Tommy definitely needs to get on that Google search.

[sonnyaavce]

DP x DC Prompt # 10

Song: Goodbye - Ramsey

-------------------

I can hear the sound of a heartbeat before it goes out Won't ever leave my memory of bloodshed all around And I can see a tear on my brother's face before it falls out Oh, my al'kh, how could I have ever let you down? Oh

-------------------

Damien knew, deep down, that his brother was gone. Danyal had been gone for a long time, actually. But Damien knew he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—stop the memories from surfacing. He knew it wasn’t healthy, how he was coping with it (it had been four years now), but… his memory still haunted him to this day.

Like a fresh wound, bleeding and pulsing with rot; he sometimes swore he could still hear Danyal’s laughter echoing in Richard’s maniacal cackle, in the way Todd would frown at some of his ideas when he tried to devise a Plan B with him, or in those rare moments when Drake would slouch over in his chair, lost in thought over some detective case—Damian remembers that Danyal had loved solving puzzles with him— Sometimes, when he felt the shadow of arms around him, he couldn’t help but inwardly lean into them (he knew Cassandra was responsible for that one), but he always managed to shake those memories off before it was too late, his mind roaring 'traitor' ------------------

When all these trees saw us grow, Cut our teeth and make our bones right here We'd play with shields made of stone We shared our dreams and sit our thrones

------------------

On those days, he would quietly go to his room and light a small candle next to a crude drawing of his al’akh, surrounded by his old wakizashi and League of Assassins medallion. But... sometimes, when the weight of rules, restrictions, and responsibilities of the family felt too heavy on his small frame—when he felt like he might choke and break down (he would swallow his emotions until he was alone)—he would retreat to the small barn, cuddling with Batcow and the rest of his rescues.

-------------------

Where is my home? I don't recognize the faces anymore, no Where is my brother? The one I've known since I was only just a kid

-------------------

The warmth of the bodies reminded him of how his al’akh used to embrace him in those moments—his gentle voice, the soft caress of his hand running through his freshly washed hair, on how his words of gentle praise with no hidden meaning meant so much to him.

Only to wake up in a reality that didn’t have his older brother in it.

------------------

I think it's time to say goodbye Goodbye, goodbye Goodbye, goodbye, woah

------------------

And that’s how Richard found out about his second younger brother: Danyal.

He had been the same age Jason was when he died—too young, too bright, too innocent—Damien added this in a lower tone, almost like a reverence, as he remembered how Danyal had been his light and only respite in the League of Assassins. And honestly, Dick didn’t know how to process that. He felt sad for Damien. Because even though they had both lost a brother—eerily similar circumstances but different times, different ages, different families—it was tragic in a way that was disturbingly alike.

"Do you still want to give Danyal a proper funeral?" he had asked one late night after a heavy-duty patrol that had forced the two of them to team up again like old times as they were only ones still awake and on duty in the cave.

Damien had frozen up in his steps after removing his gear and mask, slowly nodding but not denying the question. After a silent moment, Damien only muttered—almost inaudibly but still loud enough for Dick to hear—"Danyal always loved small things… but I know he loved to be closer to the stars."

Dick simply smiled and hummed, the small remark noted and stored to later share with Alfred—a quiet surprise prepared for Damien as it was time to say goodbye…

To Danyal, his older brother.

--------------------

masterpost [prev]

[blueberrymocha]

HAI I LOOVEEEE UR WORKS SM esp since kurapikas my fave ^_^*

could u do kurapika x sick!reader hc/oneshot if ever? :3

when you’re sick ᰔᩚ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

┌──────────────────────────────────────┐

ׂ╰┈➤ fluff

➣ characters: gon, killua, kurapika, leorio, hisoka, illumi, chrollo

➣ a/n: decided to add the rest of the gang because my acc is looking more and more like a kura fan page each post

└──────────────────────┘

G.F

- gon has a very strong immune system

- he was a small child the last time he was sick, being the kind of person who very rarely contracts anything

- so it would catch him off guard if you came down with something

- but don’t worry; he’s very determined to cure you

- being from a rural area, getting medicine meant walking all day to the market side

- so his family had always taken to homemade remedies

- and trust me, they have endless concoctions and rituals to get rid of illness

- aunt mito would whip you up about eight different types of tea infused with every ingredient under the sun

- and gon would probably watch you throw away a tissue and stop you, telling you “out here we burn those to ward off future sicknesses”

- you might get a little tired of their placebo medicines that aunt mito swears by because “gon never gets sick anymore” (it’s because he has ging’s genes—even viruses are repelled..)

- although he’s generally a free spirit, he becomes much more meticulous when you’re under the weather

- and seeing him carefully cook a soup for you, weighing each ingredient and starting over a few times is rather endearing

K.Z

- another great example of someone who never gets sick (though for him it’s due to his training)

- and although it might seem like he’d be bad at taking care of you, he’s not too shabby

- he doesn’t have any personal goals, no obligations besides sticking by you—meaning he’s able to be with you constantly

- the two of you would probably watch movies all day

- you’d ask him for a new object every ten minutes or so

“can you get me that box of tissues?” “i need my water..” “go grab a blanket please—“

- and he’d do it every time

- he’s truly a softie when you’re like this, all mopey and weak

- he’s definitely the most fun person to have when you’re sick, though far from the best influence

- he’s no avid chef, so if you want takeout and snacks all week, he’ll cave to your raspy pleas

- and if you don’t like the taste of the medicine, he’ll only insist and tease you a little before he backs off, greatly prioritizing your wants over your needs

K.K

- kurapika doesn’t have a lot of time to coddle you while you’re sick

- besides, he can take a very realistic approach to things like this—you won’t die from the common cold

- he also has far too much experience shrugging off illness in favor of slaving away at the office

- he has such bad health practices that he assumes you’ll be okay solely on the principle that he was (he was not, he just refuses to take breaks)

- but this doesn’t mean he won’t listen to you

- all you’d need to do is tell him you’re uncomfortable or in pain and he would be at your side

- as previously mentioned, he won’t take the day off work to stay at home with you

- but if you asked, he’d stop by during his lunch and take a few breaks to check on you

- he’ll get you everything you need, trusting you to be able to take the medicine on time and eat when he’s not there

- other than that, he’d advise you to rest, even carrying you back to bed if he found you around the house doing anything moderately intensive

L.P

- leorio’s a huge stickler on staying healthy, and i’m sure you’d notice yourself getting sick less often

- he’s the type of person to remind you to take your vitamins or tell you to wash your hands the minute you got home

- but when you do get sick, he’d probably stay at your side

- expect to report every single symptom you have

- when you study (and work in) health so closely, you become aware of all kinds of conditions

- he wants to make sure any severe complication is recognized early on

- especially since he knows many afflictions present as a cold while being much more serious

- he’s a great caretaker naturally

- you could stay in bed all day—he’s got your meals and medicine covered

- hell, he’d carry you to the bathroom, not wanting you to strain yourself

- part of this stems from pedro, really..

- even if he knows you’ll be fine, he can’t help but smother you sometimes, seeing his late friend in you

H.M

- hisoka doesn’t care if you’re sick, unfortunately

- he’s just not the nurturing type

- he wouldn’t mind running a few errands for you though

- in fact, he would practically beg you to delegate all your daily tasks to him

- it was a golden opportunity for him to mess with you

- he’d go to your job to ‘pick up a few papers you’ll need to work from home’

- and end up detaching the arm from the coworker you always complained about

- he really takes advantage of the fact that you can’t stop him for the next few days

- at least when it comes to your health, he’s reliable enough

- he’d stick a thermometer in your mouth each morning, curious if you’d be sick another day

- and he wouldn’t shy away from being around you—he’d probably still kiss you and everything, not at all concerned with getting sick himself

- if you ever tried to point out that you shouldn’t be sharing saliva, he’d say something like

“i’m a murderer and you think i’m afraid of a few germs?”

I.Z

- very surprising but he’s quite good with your health

- now i know what you’re thinking; he never gets sick, he must be clueless..

- but he’s actually far from it

- he was parentified for most of his life, leaving him to deal with the young kids

- and what are young kids prone to? illness

- so he learned all the ins and outs of coming down with a cold—what actions are too intensive, how to reduce each symptom, which medicine is most effective, etc

- while he’d put you in the care of a servant most of the time, he’d occasionally check in to ensure you were being properly assisted

- he doesn’t do this out of affection, more so instinct after having gone through the motions with 3-4 other children before you

- besides, it’s an excuse to antagonize or kill the servant if they make a mistake

C.L

- chrollo can really be a gentleman when he wants to

- he loves to spoil you under normal circumstances, so when it comes to being sick, he goes all out

- he’d steal mountains of medicine, pain relief, ice packs, plushies; anything to make you comfy

- this man would get you the fanciest soup from a high class restaurant just for lunch

- and he’d be by your side as often as he could be

- it’s not that he’s worried about you necessarily, he’s just a man who finds pride in taking care of what’s his

- in this case, that’s you

- his goal is to make sure you don’t have so much as a want, because everything you could even think of is already in front of you

- and he does a damn good job at it

[bixels]

Taking the current topic as an excuse to ask you to tell me all the reasons you love Rarijack. Your art for the ship is so sweet and intimate I'd love to hear any in depth thoughts you have.

Breathes in.

I think what makes their dynamic really strong is that they have opposing personalities but aligned values. It's deeper than just "opposites attract." Rarity's fancy, prissy, and femme while Applejack's modest, rough, and "masculine." But both value hard work (to the point of being workaholics), their families (both have guardianship over their little sisters), running successful businesses, and eventually each other. Their relationship can be boiled down to, "Despite our differences/disagreements, I still like you because we value the same things."

We see their relationship develop so much. In the first season, they can't stop bickering about surface-level differences. By season four, they still bicker, but will mend their relationship because they can't help but do nice things for each other. In Trade Ya, they start off arguing over personality differences (Applejack likes old junk and Rarity likes useless crap). Then they pivot and start arguing that they value their relationship more than the other. In the end, they mend things by sacrificing their needs and buying each other a gift. Even if they don't understand it, they know it'd make the other happy. And that's all that really matters. It's a genuinely sweet moment that shows how arguing can be healthy and necessary for relationships to strengthen.

We even see them dropping their hang-ups about each others' personalities. In Made in Manehattan, when Rarity runs off in dramatics about someone's fashion, AJ doesn't roll her eyes or scoff, she smiles. Oftentimes, their conflicts are very common domestic conflicts romantic couples face. Applejack's Day Off is about a woman's inability to balance work and life and find time to properly spend with her partner, causing her partner to feel neglected.

By season seven, they're actively participating in each others' interests. Any problems or conflicts that arise are dealt with, and they come out the other end stronger and closer. In Honest Apple, AJ pretty much spells out why their relationship works so well: even though she doesn't understand fashion, she can recognize and appreciate how much work it takes and wants to respect that. When she realizes her mistake in the episode, AJ goes above and beyond to fix things and apologize to Rarity. They care about each other so much.

The two go out of their way, sacrificing their personal desires and beliefs and doing things they normally wouldn't, to make the other happy. That's just love.

There's Simple Ways, where AJ gets stuck in an unwanted love triangle between Rarity and her hipster crush. And her frustration and anger can be so easily interpreted as AJ finding herself in a terrible position; the girl she loves wants another man, and that man wants her.

I dunno. I've always had a preference for opposites attract ships, but Rarijack's stuck with me like a brain worm because they have the perfect chemistry. The way they show they care, or do things for each other, I've always read it as the truest representation of romance in the show.

[glowettee]

she wasn’t trying to win, she was trying to prove something | spencer hastings

everyone loves spencer hastings because she’s brilliant. because she’s intense. because she’s always ten steps ahead. but what no one talks about enough is how exhausting it is to live like that, to be the best, all the time, because it feels like if you’re not winning, you’re nothing.

you don’t just wake up one day addicted to achievement. it’s a defense mechanism. it’s the result of being told, either directly or indirectly, that love is something you earn. approval, security, pride... they’re all made into things you chase, not things you deserve by default. and for girls like spencer (and girls like us), the chase becomes your whole personality.

this post is for that version of you: the one who doesn’t know how to slow down. who feels guilty for resting. who is so busy proving she’s good enough that she doesn’t even know what she wants anymore, only that she has to win.

but glowettee girls don’t just burn out. we decode the burnout. and we build something better from the pieces.

✧ step one: admit that your ambition isn’t always healthy (and that’s okay)

spencer’s ambition was her superpower, but also her coping mechanism. it was how she kept her identity intact in a family that prioritized image over emotion. it was how she filled the silence when she didn’t feel seen. and that’s the thing no one tells you: you can be extremely high-functioning and still deeply emotionally neglected.

if you recognize yourself in that, it doesn’t mean you’re broken or dramatic. it means you learned to survive in a way that made you successful but not necessarily fulfilled. and that awareness? that’s your power now.

start asking yourself: › what part of my ambition is actually a response to fear? › am i working towards something real. or just running from feeling “not enough”? › if i stopped being productive for a while, would i still feel like i mattered?

this isn’t about throwing away your drive. it’s about reclaiming it. so that your success stops being a trauma response and starts becoming a conscious, joyful path.

✧ step two: stop tying your worth to how well you’re doing

this is one of the hardest lessons for spencer-coded girls to learn. you’ve spent so long being “the smart one,” “the responsible one,” “the one who gets things done,” that the idea of being average... or even just not ahead, feels terrifying.

but the truth is, your value doesn’t fluctuate based on how impressive you are today. you are allowed to be exhausted. to take breaks. to not know what’s next. to be unsure and still deserving of kindness.

practical reframes that help:

› “i am not only worthy when i am productive.” › “it’s not my job to be exceptional every single day.” › “i do not have to earn rest, i’m already allowed to feel okay.” › “getting ahead means nothing if i don’t feel like myself at the end of it.”

your worth is not your grades, your resume, your discipline. your worth is how gently you treat yourself when things don’t go according to plan. and how brave you are for trying again, but this time, with love.

✧ step three: identify where the pressure is really coming from

one of spencer’s most iconic traits is her constant pressure to be better, to prove herself to her parents, to compete with melissa, to always be right. and a lot of girls pick up this energy without even realizing it.

so let’s break it down.

when you’re pushing yourself too hard, ask:

› who am i trying to impress right now? › what am i trying to prove, and to who? › would i still want this if no one else saw it?

sometimes the answer is “my parents.” sometimes it’s “my younger self who was bullied.” sometimes it’s “the girl who made me feel small in 10th grade.” whatever it is... naming it gives you control back. it turns a subconscious obsession into a choice.

glowettee tip: start tracking your academic or glow-up goals with intention journals. write down why you want each thing. if the answer is rooted in love, curiosity, or your dream life. it stays. if it’s rooted in shame or needing to prove yourself, you rewrite it.

✧ step four: build a version of success that doesn’t destroy you

ambition doesn’t have to hurt. it doesn’t have to cost your health, your sleep, or your identity. but to get to that place, you need to reimagine what success actually looks like.

spencer's biggest downfall was never that she worked hard, it was that she never let herself pause. she never believed she was enough without the accomplishments. so let’s fix that.

your version of success should include:

› slow mornings with your journal and a matcha › deep focus sessions that leave you proud, not drained › goals that light you up instead of haunting you › people who see you beyond your output › a sense of peace when you're doing “nothing”

you deserve a version of success that feels like coming home to yourself, not escaping who you are.

✧ step five: learn how to forgive yourself for not being ahead

this is the softest, hardest part. if you’ve ever stared at someone else's instagram story or grades or glow-up and felt that sinking feeling of “i’m so behind,” this part is for you.

glowettee girls don’t pretend they’re immune to comparison. we just reframe it.

spencer always felt like she was playing catch-up, even if it was to melissa, to her parents' expectations, or to some imaginary version of perfection. but she was always enough. the problem was never her ability. it was her belief.

if you’re feeling behind:

› remember you are living your own plotline, not anyone else’s › take inventory of how far you’ve come, even if it’s invisible to others › allow yourself to grieve the time you lost to stress, fear, or self-doubt › forgive yourself for surviving the only way you knew how, even if it meant overworking

being “ahead” means nothing if you don’t feel grounded in your body, your heart, your softness. you’re allowed to pause. you’re allowed to rest. and you’re still powerful even when you do nothing but exist.

♡ mindy’s personal tip:

i used to think that if i didn’t get everything right, i’d disappoint everyone, my family, my future self, the version of me that’s supposed to be a doctor-ceo-academic-goddess. but slowly, i realized the pressure was inside me. and that i could be ambitious and gentle at the same time.

now i schedule in breaks like i schedule study sessions. i romanticize rest like i romanticize hustle. and i remind myself every day: i am not just a girl chasing goals... i am a girl creating a life.

so are you.

xoxo mindy

⋆ this post was inspired by my free workbook on trauma-coded ambition, it's for the overachiever girls who can't rest without guilt. grab it here:

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

I think your followers could, along with using google and not caring if they're "allowed" to do something, also do with a big spoonful of not caring if something is normal. I swear half the asks i see you answer are people asking if random experience A is normal, and I get it, we don't wanna feel alone or broken or something, but like cmon yall. At a certain point does it matter?? Who cares if your experience is normal, human experience is infinitely varied. Take a deep breath and go have fun

questions about what constitutes normalcy are probably among the most common type of question that I've gotten for ten years running now, and at risk of being overly general I think when people ask "is x norma" what they're really getting at is at least one of two things:

1.) "is what I'm describing common among other people?" to which the answer is exactly as you've said, anon—in the majority of cases, people are spectacularly average, and even when they're not, it's not really a problem. so what if your absolutely harmless preferred method of achieving sexual gratification isn't especially widespread? if it's working for you, that's all that matters. in this arena I'm usually very happy to dispense a "sounds like it's normal for you, have fun" and call it a day.

2.) "is what I'm describing something that should be cause for concern?" this one is particularly frequent in terms of questions that skew medical, re: people asking whether or not it's normal to, say, produce a lot of vaginal discharge or always throw up immediately after sex. "normal" is a particularly useless term here, where someone's personal norm may nonetheless still not by typical or healthy—if you're prone to fainting during your period that may be a normative experience for you, but it's also cause for concern as a likely sign of greater health issues.

all of which is to say that I agree that the word "normal" is pretty meaningless around this particular work, something that irritates me enough that I once lead a presentation called "Better Than Normal" all about the way people talk about sex and sexuality, but I can also fully recognize that expecting people not to use it would be a fool's game.