#this is basically crack and i'm only sort of sorry

[lucky13cat]

Mel gets a boyfriend in the time jump between Season 1 and 2, and she just doesn't mention it to Langdon. He's going through a lot what with the rehab and separating from his wife, and she reasons, because she's very sweet and occasionally too logical, that talking about romantic relationships could be stressful for him. He's been struggling a lot what with Robby being on his case 24/7 plus all of the mandatory drug screenings he's been doing then the divorce is taking forever. So she just locks that down. Doesn't talk about him at all to Langdon or around the ER. Because she doesn't want to upset Langdon.

Right.

Then Fourth of July rolls around, and of course her and Langdon are working the night shift with the rest of the crew. It's hectic. Mel is running around constantly busy, but she still manages to share a patient or two with Langdon. They even do a STEMI together ❤️ all while Totally Not Flirting with each other because Langdon is going through a divorce and Mel is in a relationship (though really only she knows that).

Boyfriend comes into the ER with some burn he got helping neighborhood kids set up a fireworks display. Langdon grabs the case obviously oblivious to who Boyfriend really is. While Langdon is busy with Boyfriend's burn, Mel comes in to update Langdon on some test results from one of their shared patients.

Cue Reveal of the Century.

Boyfriend calls out her name happily, and Mel starts to worry over him, running over asking all sorts of questions. Langdon's sitting there wondering what the hell is happening. A crowd of busybodies starts forming who are Totally Not eavesdropping.

Langdon interrupts, very "sorry excuse me, who are you? To her? How do you know each other?" to which Boyfriend replies "Oh I'm Melissa's boyfriend! You're Frank? She's told me so much about you!" that has everyone all a flutter cause holy shit Langdon hasn't been subtle that he likes Mel and Mel hasn't been subtle either (or so everyone thought)! Langdon just bluescreens. (And OF COURSE Boyfriend calls her Melissa!)

Dana, in the background, turns to Perlah and Princess, ordering them to go bar the door to the roof.

Their shift goes on. Langdon is forced to keep checking on Boyfriend because Medical Reasons, and Mel asks him a few questions about Boyfriend's treatment. He's off step now entirely, totally out of sync, completely unsure why as well. (He knows why, he's just not letting himself admit it.)

Then a severe case comes in that requires quite a few hands on deck. Lots of nurses as well as Langdon, Mel, and Santos with Robby and Collins checking in.

Santos, of course, being Santos cracks some joke basically asking if Boyfriend's good in bed because she'd heard all about Mel' surprise partner showing up. Mel being Mel answers her without giving too many NSFW details that basically clue everyone in on the fact that Mel has been getting some on the reg. Robby and Collins share a Look. Langdon is there the entire time silently going through every stage of grief and then some before landing on Jealousy that Totally Isn't Jealousy. He then takes a break, smokes a cigarette trying not to have a total breakdown when Robby comes by and screws up a how are you doing convo.

Dana asks for someone to be stationed at the roof access door.

More things happen, Boyfriend witnesses Mel and Langdon being Mel and Langdon. Gets lowkey jealous and asks if there's anything between the two. Doesn't really believe her when she says no.

Eventually (and before the inevitable accident that shuts down the Pitt) Langdon breaks. He and Mel are alone talking about something, anything. It gets passionate and both are smiling and much too close. And they kiss. Very 'neither knows who actually initiated it' but both immediately feel guilty. Both of them try to apologize, words overlapping. Then the moment breaks because there's been some major accident that's sending a truckload of victims in need of help to the Pitt.

Do they have a lot of quick glances at each other during the chaos? Yes. Does Langdon force an irate and aggressive patient away from her? Also yes. Do they work seamlessly together? Obviously.

At the end of the shift, both search for the other because they know they need to discuss the kiss. They find each other, both sweaty and a little bloody. Somehow, they end up almost kissing again only for Boyfriend to interrupt them.

[lavenderprose]

I'm thoroughly convinced that in any sort of modern-day AU, Rook and Emmrich are the couple whose first date basically just never ends. There's a meet-cute. They meet in the grocery store when they both reach for the same jar of pickled eggs. Or in an elevator of a fancy hotel where Emmrich is attending a conference and Rook is on a galpal's bachelorette vacay. Or at a blood drive where Emmrich is grading papers and Rook is reading the trashiest novel she could get her hands on.

They hit it off. Emmrich, of course, finds Rook charming and Emmrich is, of course, the king of unassuming rizz. They exchange numbers. They go on a date that weekend to some stuffy gastropub that Emmrich apologizes for recommending no less than six times mostly because Rook looks at the prices on the menu with the kind of dismay that Emmrich remembers from being young and poor and hungry.

He pays for their meal, of course, and utterly insists that she order dessert.

They go for a walk. They Uber home, again on Emmrich's dime. Emmrich walks Rook up to her doorstep and intends to leave her with a quick peck, maybe even on the cheek, and a promise to call --but Rook slinks her arms around his neck and presses her body to his and invites him up.

"Terribly sorry," Emmrich half-yells into the Uber driver's passenger side window "It seems we're both staying here! I have--a tip--" He shoves a twenty dollar bill through the cracked window. It flutters anticlimactically onto the passenger seat. "Here you go!"

Rook's apartment is small, cluttered but clean, and they do not reach the bedroom. Emmrich fucks her on the sofa, which is second-hand and which they sink into alarmingly far, and they enjoy the afterglow together by scrolling through late-night offerings on a delivery app because Rook mentions that the gastropub's serving sizes were abysmal. They order a pizza, and Rook eats wearing nothing but her lacy purple thong and Emmrich's discarded white button-up. Emmrich watches her and feels his heart nervously flutter.

He stays the night.

In the morning, he plans to make her coffee and offer some eggs and then take his leave, because it seems polite and he has no reason to think she wouldn't want her Sunday to herself. Instead, Rook drinks the coffee, pops out of her chair and mentions that there is an Antivan bakery just down the street if he wants to walk with her.

He does, of course.

"I'm applying to graduate programs right now," Rook tells him, chewing on a biscotti, cute fingers wrapped around a second coffee. They sit in the window of the bakery on a pair of charmingly previous-century wrought iron bistro chairs. "There's one program...I want it so badly, but they only accept six candidates every three years. I've been out of school for a few years and I was going through some stuff in undergrad, so my GPA wasn't the greatest. I'l doubt I'll get in."

"Which program?" Emmrich inquires. Each of their pairs of legs are folded under the table, his right-over-left and hers left-over-right. They periodically tap their feet together and each time it happens, he smiles.

"It's a fellowship to study at the Grand Necropolis," Rook tells him. "Specifically, their program on funerary practices from the turn of the first millenium, which is--what?"

"Oh," Emmrich says, a little flustered. "Nothing, it's just--well, I'm tenured at the Necropolis. I know exactly the person who will be reading your application. It's not my program, of course, but I could...would you like me to look over your application? I know what she'll be looking for."

This is how Emmrich ends up sitting at Rook's dining room table well into the afternoon, reading through her extensive application to the Necropolis' fellowship program. She's undersold herself extensively--and he tries to aim her in a better direction while also not getting any of his fingerprints on the application. Myrna would easily be able to tell if she was reading an application written by someone who she'd eaten brunch with once a month for the past eight years.

"I should probably be going," Emmrich says, stretching out his back after several hours. "I have a...well, my bird gets nervous if I'm gone for long periods of time."

"You have a bird?" Rook asks, with delight, and this is how he ends up being driven back to his place by an overly-excited Rook, who apparently had a childhood dream of owning a parrot.

Manfred seems equally fascinated by her, as he hops onto her shoulder and makes a serious of hisses.

"His previous home evidently had cats," Emmrich tells her, gently petting the top of Manfred's head, and Manfred displays his other skill--screeching 'Emmrich!' over and over.

This is when things start to blur. Emmrich makes dinner, they eat, watch an episode of whatever is on the TV, and then have sex again--in the bed this time, Rook on top, hair down, and she looks...well, he doesn't last long.

In the morning, she goes to work. Texts him in the middle of the day to ask if he likes Tevinter food. He says yes, and she asks if he's free that evening. Also yes.

It's about a week later that Emmrich realizes they haven't spent much more than a workday apart since Saturday. It being Saturday again, Emmrich mentions it.

"Oh," says Rook, looking suddenly unsure. "I'm sorry, did you--if you need me to go, I can--"

"No!" Emmrich all but yells. "I just meant--am I monopolizing your time? Do you have...things I'm, er, keeping you from?"

Rook settles back against the sofa, which she's been lounging on beautifully on this rainy Saturday morning in Emmrich's pajama top and underneath Emmrich's mother's crochet blanket.

"Most of my friends are also, y'know, busy professionals," Rook sighs, head leaning on her hand, hair draping. "It's hard to make time. And I don't have family, really. I can leave if you want, really, I would understand. I just got a little carried away because--well, it's nice. To have someone to come home to." She frowns. "I don't know, is that weird to say?"

"No," Emmrich says, tears watering in alarming fashion. "No, darling, it makes perfect sense."

Everyone is only vaguely concerned when Rook moves into Emmrich's place a month later.

"It's not like we're getting married," Rook scoffs repeatedly.

Except that they do, before the end of the year. By that point, however, it seems that everyone has made peace with the situation--mostly because they finish each other's sentences, and sigh like lovelorn puppy dogs when they're apart, and mostly because nobody can really imagine them any other way nowadays.

[etheries1015]

I had sort of a crack idea of what would the non-human twst boys do if their crush or s/o was allergic to them? Savanaclaw and Octonivelle with like the fur allergy and seafood allergy. Maybe diasomnia’s s/o has some sort of fairy allergy? Sorry if this is too silly for you to write, it’s alright if you don’t 😭

I LOVE THIS BECAUSE I'VE HAD A SIMILAR THOUGHT i'm allergic to cats and i'm like...man what am I gonna do around Grim BUAHAHA...this is a great idea. Nothing is too silly to write my friend!

Non-human Twst boys reacting to a S/O who is allergic to them!

featuring: Savanaclaw and Octavinelle!

general warnings: gender neutral reader, not really proof read \

TW: None! just fluff. and allergies.

Leona

The first time you sneezed around him, they didn't know it was literally BECAUSE of him. This was until you two took a nap together for the first time, and when you woke up he saw your face...Oh, brother. Your eyes were puffy and red, congested, and your nose leaked like nobody's business. He genuinely felt bad about this, but wouldn't let you in on his true feelings/emotions. Without understanding the cause (though he had an inkling) he immediately took you to the doctor.

"They're allergic to me? What kind of shitty nonsense is that?!"

Leona invested in the most expensive of healthcare for you. Allergy pills and whatnot, because he wasn't about to sacrifice his lovely naps with his significant other. No amount of allergy is gonna stop him from getting what he wants, and that is your affection.

Ruggie

"Sooo...basically you're saying you're allergic to me? Cause' im part heyena?"

"It's a little more complicated than that. It's more like...animal dander? I guess?" You didn't seem to certain in your answer either, it was more or less a guess since...well, there wasn't half beast half human where you are from. You can only make an educated guess on why you're so allergic to him based off of the information you had back at home.

Ruggie is honestly so sad about this. He can't afford to get you any treatments or medical help with this, so you two just have to be careful. He does manage to get his hands on some special washing products (probably legally) and takes extra care of what he eats, and how clean he his. He's consistently brushing his hair and cleaning his ears.

"Man i'm such a simp. What's wrong with me?!" ...He isn't used to bending backward for people. But seeing you so sick around him, hurt him even more than his pride, so he of course would do anything to make sure you're as comfortable around him as possible. Ahh...the power of love <3

Jack

He gives me the "I must stay away from you for your own good," Type. Although this doesn't last very long. Jack is incredibly loyal, and he's far too attached to let you go. There's times where he would try and keep a distance (much to your annoyance), but when you began sneezing and itching your eyes you knew he was somewhere nearby. Jack is protective like that, but it pains his heart to see you so sick because of something he cannot control.

He does both a mix of what Ruggie and Leona does. He took up extra part-time jobs to afford good allergy medication for you, the entire works. Pills, eye drops, nasal sprays, breathing treatments...He also invests in high-quality shampoo and conditioner to help rid of his dander and hopefully reduce the amount of shedding he has.

With the amount of hair Jack has, he is CONSTANTLY brushing it and it is CONSTANTLY shedding. He does EVERYTHING under the sun to control this, all for you. Although... this is a partnership! You told him that a relationship goes two ways. You love him regardless of how itchy you may get, and you equally chip in to problem-solve.

You're both loyal to each other until the very end, no matter what trivial matters may get in your way <3

Azul

He knew before you two started dating that you had a severe allergy to seafood, so he made it a point to avoid you. But...that didn't stop YOU from coming to HIM. It was one of the things that drew him towards you, the way even though you were gaining a rash you would still wrap your arms around the back of him. Although it wasn't as bad in his human form, he was always terrified what would happen if he were to unleash his original form.

But worry not! We are talking about the literal king of potionology. He finds a remedy very quickly, and you trust him...a little too fast. He is astonished when he says;

"Take this...the second you drink this your allergies will be something of the past. But be warned-" You grabbed it out of his hand and chugged it. He stared at you with his jaw slacked open, his face turning a deep shade of hot red when you throw yourself onto Azul and place a big fat kiss against his cheek.

He imploded. But hey! his potion worked! He tried to get you to give him some sort of paypack, but you mentioned that your form of payment was in that kiss.

He now demands kisses every time he makes the potion for you <3 It's kind of a silent agreement. He just stares at you after you're done drinking it, and whenever you feign ignorance the point upon his lips is far too obvious.

Jade

The first time you broke out in hives, he remained completely calm. Jade is rather smart, and he understands your allergy must be because of his disposition as a mer-folk. Although in human form, he couldn't help but notice the way you would hide your rashes either behind makeup or by bulking clothing. He was amused by this for a moment, but when he saw it worsen he couldn't help but become worried.

"Why would you go so far for me? what do you gain by allowing yourself to become sick?" When you replied with a blush that you simply liked Jade, thus his shock soon turned into action. He excused himself for a few days to climb mountains and collect the most effective of flowers and medicinal remedies for allergies and put together a potion that you were able to take to alleviate your symptoms.

He isn't the vice house warden for nothing! His talents and magic prowess truly aided him, albeit in a way that was seemingly selfish. It was all worth it for you, though.

But he does use you as an example during a class project in potionology, having you stand up in front of the class while he compares your allergies before and after taking the potion.

He got a 100% in the project. And a Significant other. A win-win for everyone!

Floyd

Floyd is much smarter than he lets on. The moment he hugs you from behind and touches your arm, he notices the rash right away. He eyed it with a frown, and without saying anything he let go of you much to your dismay, leaving you to your lonesome for a few days on end.

You had to admit you missed Floyd, his silly jokes and way of talking, his unpredictable personality, and the attention he would often give y you. While sitting at the table during a free period, your head was propped up against your hand and a sad sigh escaping your lips.

"Ehhhh? Why is shrimpy sitting here all alone? Didya miss me?" A familiar voice teased as arms wrapped around you and something akin to a vegetable drink set in front of you. You gasped and smile up at the tall male, who wasn't wrapping his arms around you as you were used to, typically ignoring the itching of your rashes. He convinced you to drink what he sat in front of you, and although you eyed it with suspicion, you sighed and drank it in one gulp and tightly shut eyes.

Nothing happened. You turned to look over at Floyd, about to question the purpose of making you drink the (surprisingly tasty) smoothie-like liquid but were quickly interrupted by lips pressing against your own.

The kiss caught you off guard and you began to panic, talking about your allergy...before you realized that nothing was happening. No rash, no itchiness, nothing.

"Seeeee? It's a potion. I made Azul make it for me. Now I can touch you as much as I want," He smiled proudly. However he managed to convince Azul would forever be beyond you...

He forgets to give you the potion sometimes, only when you two are cuddling and a rash or itching pops up do the both of you realize it's time for a dose.

Ya'll are so silly for each other <3

[aventurineswife]

Hi there! Could I maybe request a fic with Aventurine, Sunday, Ratio and Gepard (do you write for him? Lol) where both them and their s/o (gn) are turned into their child selves for a day and their reactions to that? Or you could do it with only one being turned back to their child selves, whichever you’d like

We Are Young

Tags: Ratio x Reader, Gepard x Reader, Aventurine x Reader, Sunday x Reader, Transformation, Childhood/Younger Versions, Emotional Growth, Humor, Wholesome Moments, Vulnerability.

Warnings: Mild Language, Temporary Body Transformation, Mental Strain or Disorientation, Feelings of Vulnerability or Loss of Control, Emotional Intensity, Reader is taller(in Ratio's and Gepard's part).

A/N: i decided to do both 😇🫣🤭, also sorry to the person who I was supposed to tag because I forgot your username...🧍‍♀️ Also, you may wanna check my masterlists, because I'm pretty sure i have written a lot for Gepard? 🤔 Not sure tho 🤷‍♀️

It was a calm evening aboard the Intelligentsia Guild's sprawling airship. The vast expanse of stars outside contrasted with the warmth of the room, where Ratio sat, his hands poised over a tablet screen. As always, his mind worked tirelessly on the theories of knowledge that he felt should be shared with all. However, today something was… off.

"Ratio, you've been at this for hours. You need a break," you said, your voice carrying warmth and concern. You leaned against the doorframe, watching him lose himself in his work once again. It was then that the strange energy pulse swept through the room, leaving no time to react.

Before either of you could even blink, a wave of dizziness hit you both. A brief flash of light made the air around you shimmer, and when it passed, everything felt different.

You blinked and turned to Ratio. "Ratio?" you said, your voice suddenly smaller, higher-pitched. You glanced down at your hands—tiny, delicate. A wave of shock hit you as you realized the impossible.

Ratio, standing across from you, had shrunk to the size of a child—his normally imposing figure now reduced to a small, wide-eyed version of himself with tousled, wavy hair. His eyes—once filled with wisdom—now looked confused and uncertain, the usual sharpness replaced by innocent curiosity.

"W-What...?" Ratio’s voice cracked with youthful uncertainty as he looked down at his tiny frame. "I—this is highly irregular. How... how did this happen?"

You chuckled lightly, despite the situation. "Well, it seems we're… children, for a day."

Ratio's brow furrowed, though the effect was somehow more endearing than threatening now. "This is a mistake. This must be some sort of scientific anomaly," he said, lifting his tiny hand to adjust his small glasses—except his fingers barely reached them now.

"You don’t look very 'Veritas' now," you teased, bending down to his level. "How does it feel to be small for once?"

Ratio paused, adjusting to his newfound perspective. "This is… disorienting," he muttered. "But it is most likely an opportunity for scientific observation. A learning experience, of sorts."

"You’re always thinking about learning," you grinned, "but don’t you think you could try being a kid for a day?"

The idea seemed to freeze Ratio for a moment. His mind, ever calculating, seemed to find little solace in childlike spontaneity. "Being a child…" He adjusted his golden ornament, now sitting awkwardly on his smaller frame. "This seems… inefficient."

"Try it, Ratio," you encouraged. "Sometimes the most efficient thing is to just have fun."

He hesitated but eventually nodded. "Very well, a break from academic pursuits—if you insist."

As the day unfolded, Ratio was surprisingly adept at indulging in the freedom of his temporary youth. You both wandered around, engaging in games of light-hearted mischief. He was astoundingly quick to catch on to basic games like tag, though his competitive nature was apparent even in his smaller form. Each time he won, his eyes lit up with pride, the traces of his adult arrogance shining through the innocent joy of a child.

In moments when the two of you laughed together—his scholarly rigidity slipping away—he seemed to soften. His usual dismissiveness was replaced by a more genuine curiosity, a part of him enjoying the simplicity of this temporary freedom. It was a side of Ratio you'd rarely seen: unburdened by the weight of his intellect, just living in the moment with you.

Later, as the day drew to a close, you both found yourselves sitting together, your legs dangling off the side of a low couch, both exhausted from the games and adventures. Ratio looked at you, his violet eyes now softer, still retaining their sharp edge but full of warmth.

"Perhaps there is merit to this youthful experience," he admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "I… I had not anticipated it would offer such clarity."

You smiled and leaned against him, feeling the gentle weight of his tiny shoulder brush yours. "I told you. Sometimes it’s about letting go."

Ratio’s tiny hand grasped yours. "Thank you," he murmured, an uncharacteristic vulnerability in his tone.

With a small, satisfied nod, you rested your head against his. "No need for thanks. It was fun seeing you let loose."

"Yes," he said, looking up at the stars outside, "perhaps it was. But I am more than ready to return to my true form." He gave you a side glance, a small smirk pulling at his lips. "I do hope, however, that this is not a regular occurrence."

You laughed softly. "I’m not sure I could handle seeing the genius child version of you every day."

"Indeed," he agreed, his smirk widening.

The Silvermane Guard headquarters in Belobog was quiet, the evening shift having just begun. Gepard sat at his desk, poring over reports. His discipline never wavered, and his devotion to his city was clear in the weight of his every action. Beside him, you were flipping through a small book, offering occasional glances at your partner’s focused expression.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar energy rippled through the room. You both froze. A bright flash of light filled the space, and within moments, everything was different. You rubbed your eyes in disbelief.

Looking down, your hands were smaller. The realization hit you, but before you could react, you turned to Gepard. He, too, had transformed. His tall, muscular frame had shrunk to a much smaller version of himself—still strong, but in a child's form. His eyes widened, and he stared at his hands in astonishment.

"What is this?" Gepard exclaimed, his voice youthful but with a familiar seriousness. "Why am I... a child?"

You burst into laughter, despite the situation. "Seems like we’ve been turned into kids for a day."

Gepard’s young features were framed by his tousled hair, and his usual stern expression was replaced by a mix of confusion and uncertainty. "This is… highly irregular," he muttered, glancing down at his armor, which no longer seemed to fit.

You walked over, crouching down to his level. "What’s the matter, Captain? Aren’t you excited for a day off from all the responsibility?"

Gepard looked at you, his brow furrowing. "I have no time for irresponsibility," he said, his tone surprisingly serious even in his small body. "Belobog depends on me."

"You’re always so serious," you teased, ruffling his hair. "Come on, this could be fun."

Despite his hesitation, you led the way, and soon enough, you both found yourselves in the heart of Belobog, running through the streets with the unburdened joy of childhood. Gepard, while still retaining his sense of duty, couldn't help but join in the carefree fun. His laughter, light and free, was a welcome change from the often grave captain of the Silvermane Guards.

You both played games, chased each other through the streets, and even found time to climb a small hill to watch the sunset. Gepard, no longer burdened by his responsibilities, seemed lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from his broad shoulders.

Later, sitting on the rooftop, you glanced at him, your smaller frame nestled against his. "This is nice, right?" you asked softly, watching the orange hues of the setting sun.

He nodded, his youthful gaze softer than you'd ever seen it. "Yes," he admitted, his voice quiet. "But I also miss the responsibilities... the weight of it all." He looked up at the sky, reflecting on the day. "But this... this was a much-needed break."

"Sometimes," you said, "we need to step back to see things clearly."

He turned to you, a soft smile curling on his lips. "Thank you for reminding me of that, even in my childish form."

You grinned. "Anytime, Captain."

As the day ended and the magic wore off, both of you returned to your grown selves. But the memory of the shared laughter, the momentary escape from the burdens of life, remained with both of you, a reminder that even the most steadfast warriors need a break from time to time.

Aventurine blinked as the swirling light enveloped him, the familiar sensation of a gambit gone wrong sinking in. When the world came back into focus, his hand instinctively went to adjust his choker—only for it to slip off entirely, far too loose on a much smaller neck. His fingers brushed against the soft skin of his now childlike form, and he paused, staring down in bewilderment at the change.

"I—this is impossible." His voice, high-pitched and uncertain, was a far cry from the suave tone he usually maintained. The reflection of himself in the nearby glass confirmed it: a child, no older than seven, wearing a miniature version of his luxurious outfit. His hair was still sandy blond, though a little more tousled, and his eyes still held the same gleam—but everything else was different.

He shifted uneasily, looking up to find you standing in front of him, your expression a mix of surprise and amusement. “What is this?” he asked, clearly flustered.

Before you could reply, the weight of it sank in. Aventurine was a master of control, of risks and strategies—but how could he possibly calculate this? A game he couldn’t win. His childlike body was a puzzle, a problem with no clear solution.

His gaze flickered to his hand, instinctively wanting to hide it, but in this small form, it was far too obvious. “I suppose you think this is... funny.” The words were still tinged with a hint of mockery, though the playful lightheartedness of his childhood form only made it seem endearing.

You chuckled softly, stepping closer. "Just a little," you teased, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "But how do you feel about it? Don’t tell me you’ve lost your confidence too."

Aventurine scowled, though it held no real weight behind it. “It’s... absurd. My stature is an integral part of my presence. How am I supposed to manipulate others if I can’t even manipulate my own reflection?” He glanced down at the roulette wheel details adorning his coat, visibly irritated by the absurdity of it all. But then, the smallest of smiles tugged at his lips, a rare moment of vulnerability creeping in. “Though, I suppose... it’s quite a charming form.”

You smiled, stepping closer to him and pulling him into a gentle hug, feeling his small arms instinctively wrap around you. "It suits you. Maybe this will help you rediscover the joy of playing without the stakes being so high, huh?"

Aventurine froze for a moment in your embrace, but as your warmth surrounded him, he let out a small, almost imperceptible sigh. His usual sharp, calculated demeanor was gone, replaced by something softer, something closer to the man he’d been before life made him hardened. For a fleeting moment, he could feel the carefree freedom of a child—of someone not burdened by the weight of the world.

“I suppose,” he murmured, his voice quieter now. "Maybe I can afford to let go… just for today."

Sunday’s wings fluttered in confusion as his form shifted. A strange, almost dreamlike sensation washed over him, like he was caught in the middle of one of his own contemplations. When the world solidified once more, he looked around, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Is this...?" His voice was soft, higher than he remembered, but unmistakably his. He instinctively touched his hair, finding it longer now, grazing his shoulders—his normally serene appearance now radiating innocence. His once graceful, ethereal figure had been reduced to a child’s, no older than ten, with all the vulnerability that came with it.

A small gasp escaped his lips as he noticed you standing nearby. There was a soft, affectionate glow in your eyes, but the mixture of surprise and amusement was unmistakable.

"S-Sunday?" you asked, your tone filled with that same gentle surprise that mirrored his own.

“I...” He hesitated, his golden eyes flickering in uncertainty. “I wasn’t prepared for this.” His wings fluttered again—an unconscious response—and his little hands went to adjust the clothing that no longer quite fit the same way. His halo, too, seemed smaller and less defined, as if it were struggling to hold onto its celestial nature in the form of a child.

You stepped forward, a soft smile playing on your lips. “How do you feel about this? A little strange?”

He nodded, clearly unsettled. "It’s... disorienting." He glanced at you, his gaze shifting between his childlike form and your more mature one. "I’ve spent so long trying to maintain control over everything... And now I—"

"You don't need to control everything today," you interrupted gently, reaching for his small hand and holding it between yours. His fingers curled instinctively around yours, the tenderness of the touch cutting through the awkwardness of the situation. "It’s okay to let go. You’re allowed to feel... free, for once."

Sunday's expression softened at your words, and for the briefest of moments, the heavy burden he often carried seemed to lift. His small body fit so easily into your embrace, and the weight of his usual responsibilities seemed to vanish. The deep internal conflict that was often so prevalent in his mind felt distant, as though it were a memory from another time.

His wings fluttered again, the lightness of them symbolizing the fleeting joy of childhood. "I suppose," he whispered, "this day will allow me to remember... what it means to dream without fear."

You leaned down, kissing the top of his head. "Exactly. You’ve been so focused on protecting others for so long—let me take care of you today."

A small, wistful smile tugged at Sunday’s lips, his childlike form reflecting a rare, vulnerable side. "Thank you," he murmured, the words more genuine than he'd realized he was capable of expressing.

[nephilimbrute]

ok since you guys don't know anything about my agent 8's personality, i'm doing a huge infodump on them. enjoy

Agent 8; they/them, nonbinary — 24 as of current time, in a relationship with Agent 4 and Captain 3

they're pretty, but also one of the worst people you'll meet. everyone who met them has had something terrible happen to them, basically a bad omen...yet they still think they're a saint! 8 is very narcissistic, but also very self-critical. they think they can be the only one to do something, that they're the best at it...but they know this is wrong, so they hate themself for it

they think they're a very fragile and innocent being, like a deer. they want to live a calm and steady life, no excessively loud or overwhelming sounds and music, just them and their close ones. they enjoy writing poetry and creating art to the likes of vincent van gogh, but also impressionism in general. they have a very bad memory now, so they want to capture the present time as best as they can if it ever gets worse. often times, 8 thinks about any big events that are coming up in the near future (concerts, festivals, etc.). they don't like to think about the future outside of these things (was team present if that wasn't obvious)

they used to be full of emotion, expressing and voicing their thoughts well. but slowly over time, they've became numb to most things to prevent themself from being embarassed by...sadness. they think being upset is embarassing, and are easily annoyed by gloomy people. they have such little sympathy, but it still exists. they are capable of love! it's not hard to crack through their shell, nor do they even have one. 8 themself is aware of how they've changed over the years, and they want to go back to how they used to be; loving, sympathetic, mindful of others. they do feel very sorry for the change in their personality, but the partial sanitization that was done to them makes it difficult to revert to their old self

8 feels like they're putting up a front when they want to be nice, and, they can be compassionate and apologetic sometimes. they deeply wish for anyone who recognized them pre-octo expansion to forgive them, even if they did nothing wrong

because of the whole octo expansion situation, 8 has developed truman syndrome, paranoia, and heavily dislikes anything involving a smart AI or robotics. this is one of the reasons why marina pisses them off so badly. to 8, they think that they've caused no harm, and every mistake they've done was not entirely their fault. they make a lot of people uncomfortable in some way without touching anyone or saying anything. despite all that, they respect people's personal space a lot!..other than pearl and marina, who they used to watch sleep before being kicked out

now, onto their relationships. 8 is doing fine with agent 4, he's nice to them so they like him... but so is cap3, yet 8 might be one of the worst things that ever happened to her. cap3 really wants some alone time and hates being stared at, and 8 does the exact opposite of that. they don't touch her at her request, but they Will stare at her whenever she's doing anything, at any given time. they don't process in their mind that they want to make her uncomfortable, they just sort of...do?

^ i only limited this to a bit so i won't delve Too deep and go off topic. you can ask about that if you want

i guess you could say they have some kind of parental issues? i don't know, they can't remember who their biological parents are anyways. they have a strong attachment to marina though, can't decide if they wanna be her or want her to adopt them. kind of "eh" with pearl, still respects him nonetheless

congratulations! if you've read until the end, here's a human 8 doodle :3

[sossi-still-dreamin]

jjk fic recs

aaaalright it's jjk's turn. before i start lemme remind ya'll that almost every fic is a oneshot unless otherwise mentions, everythings on ao3 and they're all character x character!! i seriously read too much fanfiction but errr that's okAY!

inuokko (my fav)

all these salmon and you decided to catch feelings by orphan_account - 20k getting together fic with a LOT of inumaki pining and oblivious longing. basically yuuta comes back and inumaki is thRIstY in more than one way and our lovely lovebirds dance around each other completely ignorant for a while before they find their way to each other <3 featuring a lot of exasperated maki 10/10

subtle differences by botanicalbites - super fun oneshot where megumi asks yuuta how he understand inumaki so well eEEEEeee. lots of subtle inuokka and fun stuff, yuuta cHEATS, no not like that, more like a it's-not-fair-only-you-can-understand-toge sort of way 9/10

and every day, it's changed since then. by botanical bites - OKAY THIS ONE'S THE REAL DEAL, 12 ch long university au getting together slow burn fic where yuuta is a third year who had just taken a gap year and meets maki in the gym. gets casually beaten up, and maki invites him to a party where he meets a lil shy boy who immediately wins his heart. gojo is a lil freak hehe 11/10

things unsaid. by botanical bites - birthday sequel to fic above ^^^

sorry, i don't understand "konbu" by diggingupthegrave - crack fic oneshot where yuuta gets an alexa, one who can talk and tell jokes and do everything inumaki can't seem to, and toge gets ridiculously jealous :( so funny and fluffy 10/10

cursed by lichtstrahl - a quick ptsd established relationship fic that takes place uhhh post jjk 0 pre jjk s1 i think? or mostly at least. a fic about toge's past trauma and fear of water... yuuta helps him get over it 9/10

i'm alright if you're alright by anonymous - 14k getting together feelings realization fic from the pov of yuuta during the time gojo's sealed, a post shibuya incident fic where yuuta has to pick up the pieces and tries to secure a boyfriend at the same time... lots of hurt/comfort aND my fAVoRITE tAG au nobody dies! 9/10

satosugu/sugusato/gojo x get

life hack: gay thoughts can't catch u if u have limitless activated by sugurugetowo - the no. 1 fic in the ship and IT DEsERVES eVEry kUdOS, a gojo coming out getting together fic that that is super fluffy, au, super fluffy and fun ;) 10/10

a spin around the rumor mill by ilovegetosuguru - a fic from the pov of nobara where gojo is a professor obSeSSED with his husband but nobody knows who he is, and so nobara takes it upon herself to figure out... sO muCH crACK i lOVE iT 10/10

a story without a happy ending by ilovesugurugeto - suCH a SAD fluffy fic that ends with a shot of angst. a soulmate au where on one wrist is the name of your soulmate and on the other is the name of your greatest enemies... geto has gojo's name on both T-T 10/10

'cause every now and then i fall a bit behind (everytime i stare into your eyes) by flowercitti - a sweet fic about geto's love for gojo's six eyes, and realization of how much his eyes actually hurt him... a story of how gojo's gets his glasses! a confessions fic with a side of hurt/comfort

guard down by illicitly - a slightly nsfw fic but honestly you can just skip the end and this is totally worth reading, a oneshot of touch-starved gojo (one of the best tropes ever). gojo hasn't been touched in years and geto is begging to ;) 9/10

how many shots does it take for us to get to the center of our relationship problems? by ilovegetosuguru - a crack fic featuring itafushi about the two ships playing truth or drink, super fluffy and this will guarantee you smile so please read! 10/10

itafushi

don't tell a soul by cursedwritings - a soulmate au fic with soulmate identifying marks featuring a lot of oblivious itadori and emotionally constipated megumi, quite a bit of crack, and a lOt of fluff! solid read for any drunk fanfiction diving 10/10

the smell of your hoodie by mustardleaf - crack fic with a side of second hand embarrassment and a lot of megumi suffering. aka itadori stays over at megumi's and megumi tries to hide that small fact, gojo gives no mercy. none. at all. 10/10

past preferences by botanicalbites - established relationship itafushi where itadori asks for megumi's first crush... megumi's crush for yuuta is revEaLED!!! mwahahahaha, crack fic because this ship is too fluffy! 9/10

these fics were so fun to read aND i HAVE MORE! so lmk if ya'll want more bc i am mORE than willing to share my wealth (no gatekeeping!)

enjoy! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

[moonstruckme]

hi!! CONGRATS!!!!

secrets in the dark- poly!marauders + c (comfort)?

congrats again!! 10k is huge❤️

Thank you angel!!

c = comfort; when someone’s feeling down, how do the rest look after them?

Oooookay (cracks knuckles) I'm gonna go one-by-one here haha because I have lots of thoughts about this. Sorry in advance for the rambling. So when Remus is feeling down, I think James is about the only one he'll let truly look after him. This started because for a long time when Remus would reject care James was simply like "that sign won't stop me because I can't read" and eventually Remus just gave into it, plus no one can really get mad at James. In general, though, I think Remus tends to appreciate low-key comfort and you all pretty much respect that, just making sure he has his tea and chocolate and basically just being around him without calling too much attention to whatever is upsetting him. He does better with an indirect approach. When Sirius is feeling down, he'll go to James first too, and though James doesn't always know what to say he'll give Sirius all the physical comfort he wants. I can see Remus being a bit sterner with him, because when Sirius is really hurting he gets self-destructive and sometimes he needs that, but mostly everyone just gives him lots of physical comfort. You don't need to push him to talk because you can trust that he'll do it in his own time. When James is upset, I imagine the other two are a bit at a loss. This is where reader comes in I think. Everyone's used to James being their rock, so I think it takes someone who's been part of that dynamic for less time to sort of direct the other boys in what to do. He's going to want tons of physical comfort and probably will need to be encouraged to get things off his chest because he has a hard time doing it on his own but he'll feel so much better once he does. It's hard to say exactly what reader needs because it's self-insert so of course she's always different, but if we just let each of the boys comfort her in their own ways I think that would mean James giving lots of hugs and kisses, Sirius also providing physical comfort but just mostly being nearby and making sure nothing adds to your upset, and Remus helping you to talk it out while also making sure you have things you need like tissues, water, etc. They all have their own role to play and while comfort doesn't always come naturally to all of them they really do their best <3

[translatingpostsintoitalian]

What free or paid apps would you recommend to learning Italian?

Disclaimer: the following are just general app recommendations, they're not specific to Italian because I have never had to learn Italian (bc I'm native) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So take them with a grain of salt

First and foremost. My most beloved, the light of my life, the apple of my eye, the diamond in the rough, the one and only, the I've run out of flattering phrases... WordReference. No ads, completely free, extremely high quality content, lists all meanings of a word with at least one example for each meaning, also has phrases, AND has a forum.

I really liked using the free version of Clozemaster a couple years back (IM PRAYING that it stood the same and that they didn't add 728237 AI features. PRAYING). I *think* it was ad-free. I fell in love with the learning method and the UI stripped down to its bare essentials. It had no extra stuff that distracts you, no gems, no streaks that I recall, nothing of the sort. Just vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary. I think it's worth it to pay for the VIP version, but *only* when it's 90% (IIRC) discounted which happens for sure on Black Friday, and maybe some other times of the year; otherwise I find it expensive. Or you could just get the cracked APK for free hehehe

The biggest disadvantage for me was that in the free version you couldn't skip to a certain knowledge level, you could only start from the basics. For me it ended up being tiresome because my level was already intermediate and I really didn't want to "learn" basic words again. But if you're a beginner then it sounds good to me.

As I said, it's only for vocabulary, not for grammar or pronunciation. Italian grammar is very complex and I'm not sure if there exists an app that tackles grammar out there. Maybe one of the people reading this can help me on this one!

Polygloss is a nifty little app that I would recommend as halfway between beginner and intermediate. Basically you match with a totally random person, and you take turns doing a little game. The game is: you pick a stylized picture, describe it (with as little or as many words as you want, though you're encouraged to use many). Then the opponent sees 4 pictures and your description, and must guess which picture you were talking about. That's it. That's the whole app. But it's very fun and the comment/correct function is very fun to use. You can correct a sentence the opponent has said, and/or you can give them a little award for being creative, funny, and stuff.

Beelinguapp is one step higher in that it presents you with full texts. The main thing about Beelinguapp is all the texts are bilingual, so in two languages. So you're being shown the same text in Italian and English (I don't know if there are other options for the "home" language other than English), and also the texts are read aloud and the sentences light up as the speaker reads them (so you're practicing listening as well as reading!!!). You can stop the speaker at any time and, in the paid (or *cough cough* cracked) version, quickly highlight and annotate a new word that you don't know, before resuming. I find it terrific.

Tandem is a great app in general, it's basically a chatting app but tailored to match people who are learning each other's native language. I didn't like the pressure it gave me though, and I wouldn't recommend it to girls and femmes because some people treat it as a dating app... Ugh. But it's still fun and worth trying in my opinion.

Sorry for getting so verbose lol

[sk3tch404]

How do you feel about yan jojo characters using there stand to harm there darling ? Or use it to there advantage.I like to imagine some characters like jotaro, jolyne , Joseph using there stands to kidnap or threaten their darling

YES!! I LOVE THIS QUESTION!!!

I really hate it, but sort of love the idea because of the power imbalance it brings. Especially if darling isnt a stand user themselves.

I'm pretty sure darling would have a mental break because how the fuck is an invisible force dragging them up by the ankle?? Gravity?? Hello? Not to mention being HURT BY IT? Yeah ur all checked out.

Using the Joestar bloodline specifically for this was diabolical, thank you.

Jotaro would be one to use Star Platinum to intimidate his darling-- as if he himself wouldn't already be enough-- but he would never use Star to hurt them. Only if it were necessary. Afterward, he'd feel obligated to treat his darling be it tending to their wounds or gifts to make it up if they deserve it. He's a pretty closed off guy, so showing remorse face-to-face is a hard thing. Younger Jotaro would have a lot more difficulty with saying sorry. He'd say things he didn't really mean, "Then don't be a pain." Okay, he kind of meant it, but that's just his default response. Jotaro would make it up in some way or another to get rid of that cold shoulder of yours.

That's only if you're ballsy enough to even let him loom over you in dead silence for more than a few seconds.

Older Jotaro using his stand to hurt his darling is reserved for worst case scenarios only as well. He has more resources and has come a long way since his teenage years. He doesn't expect for his darling to magically get comfortable around him instantly or even in several months following the revelation of his yandere tendencies. He finds that using violence to get ones way doesn't really get what people want in the end, so its useless to him. It only applies if his his darling is actively running or trying to kill him.

Something he'd do in general with Star to intimidate his darling is scare tactics. Jotaro is pretty straightforward and tells it how it is, but he isn't above telling a few lies to get you on his side. He sees no point in hurting himself or you for some brownie points, so he does the obvious. Break shit around you. Though, not in some fit or tantrum. Rather, just to showcase the control he has in each situation. It seems to be way easier to crack a table in half, leaving concern for splinters around you two, (not that he cares much), and have you willingly be smart than grabbing you by the arm and dragging you away kicking and screaming. So damn annoying. It'd stress him out, and again, he hates screaming.

Jotaro would 100% use the help of Star to kidnap his darling. He utilizes Star well and gets the job DONE. Not to mention having the Speedwagon Foundation backing him up as well.

Old Joseph would use Hermit Purple occasionally. Assuming he had a falling out with Suzie, he wants to appear as best as he can for his darling. He'd be a gentleman. Well, as gentlemanly as an eccentric elder who's main focus is breaking and talking to screens can get. Joseph wouldn't use Hermit Purple to teach his darling a lesson or scare them at all. The only times he'd feel inclined to whip his stand out is to restrain his darling if they decide to attempt escaping, or to... do what old people do. Yeah.... But anyway, those are the only two most likely scenarios that come to mind if he were to ever use ol' H.P on his darling. Joseph would rather focus on wooing and winning over his darling rather than forcing them into submission all the time.

I do want to be like, "He would put pedal to the metal," or, "A little elbow grease does the trick," but honestly, that belongs to Young Joseph. Same guy basically, just more unhinged and less wise. Young Joseph would intentionally push his darling, but would suffer the unintentional consequences. He just wants some luv 💔 "Oh no! I made my darling cry because I kept dragging them away from the people they love and continuously pushed their boundaries! I tried to do everything right, how could this happen?" WHY ARE YOU DENSE SIR. GEEZ LA WHEEZ.

Jolyne would use Stone Free to mess with the stuff in her darling's life so they come running to her instead of scaring them into submission. She's a romantic at heart, but her darling doesn't make it easier by pushing her away. In the usual prison setting, she'd whisk away your stuff so you have to come asking if she has any commissary to spare. Other times, she's petty enough to mess with others in front of you if she feels threatened by them. Although, she'd either make sure to be low-key about it, or brush it off if you really have an issue with it, "So what? It's not like they're our friend right? This ain't a daycare or whatever. And besides, its not even a big deal. Don't worry about it." Gets sort of defensive, but always backs her "claims" up in some way. A bit foolish, but quick thinking.

She tries to tone it down usually due to there being potential hundreds of stand users that could get back at her for something stupid she did. If her darling ever caught on to her antics, (probably because the crazy shit always gotta happen around her), she'd deny it HARDCORE at first, but would feel bad eventually and confess because what's a relationship without communication and trust? She'd never want to lie and snowball that into something she can't control anymore. Jolyne might get emotional, but her drive outweighs the doubt in her. She'd make it up to you in any way she can, and with her friends, she can make prison life a whole lot easier or harder. Darling's choice.

[mktskii]

—Burnt Pancakes and a Loser in Denial

—Synopsis: As a newcomer in a busy restaurant kitchen, you’re a disaster waiting to happen, and Bakugou Katsuki isn’t shy about making that clear. The hot-headed line cook has no time for incompetence, and yet he finds himself begrudgingly stuck with you—his clumsy, relentlessly upbeat coworker who can barely crack an egg. Frustrated with your lack of skill, Bakugou can't explain the nagging urge to keep an eye on you or why your laugh sticks in his mind long after you’ve clocked out. Somewhere between burnt pancakes and late-night cleanups, Bakugou is forced to confront the unsettling truth: he just might be falling for the one person he insists he can’t stand.

—Pairing: Line Cook!Bakugou Katsuki x AFAB!Newbie Line Cook!Reader

—Genre: Slice-of-life, comedy, romance

—Tags: unrequited love (sort of), slow burn, workplace, oblivious crush, enemies to (one-sided) lovers, Bakugou Katsuki x reader, harsh Bakugou, denial, quirkless AU

—Notes: ..uh...hi everyone. soooo exuse my insanly long absence. i could use my excuse that I had lined up but would it really matter?? MOVING ON! i got this idea from @/tokenirainanfriend on tiktok soo go follow him ! THE SERIES WILL BE ON HOLD soly because..well..i need ideas. if you all have any, PLEASE message me! i would like to keep it going for a while. also, apologies to people who can actually cook, I'm taking away your skills for this one. ENJOY!!

Bakugou didn’t understand how anyone could be this goddamn dense. Not in a million years would he have guessed that someone who managed to survive in the world, breathe in and out each day, would lack the most basic ability to crack an egg without turning it into a massacre. And yet, here you were, assigned as his new coworker in the bustling, chaotic depths of the kitchen—his kingdom.

As the restaurant’s most efficient line cook, he’d established a meticulous routine to keep things running at the rapid pace they needed to. No time for nonsense. But now? With you around, it was as if the world itself had taken a nosedive into hellfire. He couldn’t go two seconds without hearing you calling his name over the clattering sounds of spatulas, saucepans, and the relentless sizzle of grills.

“Hey, Bakugou..uh,” you called timidly from behind him, holding a spatula in a death grip.

“What?” He turned, already bracing for whatever catastrophe you were brewing.

You offered him a plate of burnt, vaguely pancake-like shapes. “Do these look…right?”

He took one look. Actually— one GLANCE, and he felt two emotions. Disbelief and pure anger.

“Do they look right?" He scoffed "They look like somethin’ crawled out of a dumpster and got hit by a truck. What the hell do you call that?” He didn’t wait for you to respond, grabbing the plate and practically throwing it into the trash. “You don’t call it food, that’s for sure.”

The embarrassment on your face was plain as day, but you bit your lip, nodded, and set to remaking the pancakes with an exhausted sigh. Bakugou had half a mind to scream—honestly, just to get it out of his system. Why the hell did it bug him that you looked so damn disappointed? It was your own fault for taking a job you clearly had no skills for. And yet…

Goddammit, it pissed him off.

It shouldn’t have, but every time you tripped over your own feet trying to get out of his way, or when you muttered a soft “sorry” as if your very presence was an inconvenience, it lit some unidentifiable fuse in him. Not the usual, angry fuse—something else, something gnawing and ridiculous that had his stomach tying up in impossible knots.

And he wasn’t about to let that feeling win.

A few weeks in, the irritation only intensified. The kitchen was a battleground, and you were making him lose his mind. Bakugou was convinced you were planted there to make him suffer—some sort of karmic punishment for every curse he’d ever muttered and every rude remark he’d thrown.

But something was wrong.

Because somewhere between your second attempt at pancakes and your third night shift, Bakugou found himself…observing you. Watching out of the corner of his eye as you focused, cheeks red with effort, brow furrowed as you strained to not mess up. If someone so much as raised their voice at you (and he was well aware, he’d done more than his fair share), he felt his blood boil with some twisted, misguided desire to tell them to back off.

And he despised that feeling.

Every time he caught himself, Bakugou wanted to smash his head against the freezer door.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” he muttered under his breath, scrubbing a pan with more aggression than necessary. But when you glanced his way, offering that usual tentative smile, it was like the damn pan wasn’t even in his hand anymore. For all he knew, it had slipped from his grasp and clattered to the floor—but it wouldn’t have mattered, not with the way his pulse thrummed a little harder, just because of you.

“Did you need any…uh, any help, Bakugou?” you asked quietly, probably hoping not to set off his temper.

It was so ridiculous, he almost laughed—almost.

“Pfft, as if I’d need your help. Just don’t get in my way, alright?” he shot back, trying to ignore the weird pang in his chest at the dejection on your face. But before he could stop himself, he added, “But, uh…I mean, maybe later, if you’re still here, you could work on, I dunno, keeping up with me. No sense in dragging everyone down.”

There was that smile again, softer this time. “I’ll do my best, then.”

Bakugou glared at the pan, willing his pulse to slow down, all the while knowing this was some cosmic joke at his expense.

It wasn’t until one night—one particularly quiet closing shift—that the reality hit him like a two-ton truck.

You were cleaning up the kitchen, humming softly under your breath, and Bakugou was stuck restocking supplies, fuming at the sight of you so…comfortable, so at home in the space you’d once fumbled around in.

And for reasons he could barely understand, he just…watched you. Not out of annoyance or critique, not out of irritation, but just because.

For once, you weren’t trying to make conversation, and he wasn’t telling you off. You looked…content. And when you laughed softly to yourself—at some thought he’d never know—his chest squeezed so tight he was damn sure he’d forgotten how to breathe.

“Hey, idiot,” he muttered, so low he wasn’t sure if you’d even heard him.

You turned, eyebrows raised, that smile making his stomach churn. “Yeah?”

For a moment, he lost track of every insult, every complaint he’d been about to throw at you. Instead, he felt his cheeks burn, and he cursed under his breath, forcing himself to look away.

“Forget it,” he said gruffly, busily organizing the shelf with furious precision. But his mind was already spiraling into the depths of horror: Oh, no. Hell no. No way. This is not happening.

Bakugou Katsuki, a guy who’d barely thought twice about anyone, was…interested? Him? In you?

The thought was absurd. Impossible. But it sat there in his mind, solid as a rock, completely unmoving and irritatingly present. He wanted to punch something—or better yet, punch the feeling itself out of his gut.

For the next hour, he did everything he could to avoid looking your way, stomping around the kitchen like he was gearing up for war, trying to deny this…this idiotic pull. He wasn’t some clueless fool—he’d seen people fall over themselves, getting all mushy and soft around others. But that wasn’t him, dammit.

Yet the feeling sat there, mocking him.

And when you called out, “Goodnight, Bakugou. See you tomorrow!” as you walked out the door, he barely managed a stiff nod. He had an insane urge to follow after you, to make sure you got home safe. Stupid. You can take care of yourself. And it’s not like you’d want him hovering around, anyway.

He slumped against the counter, rubbing his face, silently willing this “crush” or whatever it was to just burn out like a candle in the wind. But he knew it wouldn’t. Not as long as he saw you, talked to you, heard that laugh and saw that damn smile.

Bakugou Katsuki, now a loser in love, was stuck. He’d be damned before he ever admitted it out loud.

Reblogs and comments are appreciated <3

[lees-chaotic-brain]

Can you do i wanna be your by arctic monkeys with Kenma kozume and fluff? Thank you!!

summary: nekoma's setter seems to have a soft spot for his manager.

wc: 1670

cw: pure fluffy goodness, kissing, gn reader, reader is nekoma's manager, maybe ooc kenma (it's my first time writing him, sorry)

note: i'm so sorry this took so long to write! thank you for your patience, and i hope you enjoy it! i feel like it's not my best work, but i had to power through the writers block, sorry.

listen to this while reading!

Event Guide | Event Masterlist | Haikyuu Masterlist | Blog Navigation

“Kenma!”

When you call his name he looks up, searching for you. As you bound over to him he sets his game off to the side and shifts over to make room next to him on the bench. Flopping down in the space he made for you, you smile at him, and his face heats.

“Hey. What’s up?” He flushes a little more when his voice cracks a bit, silently hoping you didn’t notice (you didn’t).

“So I was talking with Coach Nekomata about the seating chart on the bus and…” He tries to focus on what you’re saying. He really does. But the way your eyes sparkle and the movement of your hair in the breeze are extremely distracting. “...so I was wondering if you’d want to be mine?”

“Sure,” He mutters absentmindedly, used to agreeing with whatever you say before your last question registers and his face feels like it’s on fire. “I-I mean no? No, I meant yes but I guess what I meant was…for what?”

You sigh in teasing exasperation, and he wants to crawl into a hole and die. This is why he can’t do social interactions. His only saving grace was that Kuroo wasn’t here, because if he was he would have never let him live down stuttering like a love-struck fool. Even if that was exactly what he was.

“Okay pay attention this time. Basically the school decided that from now on there will be assigned seating on all buses, and Coach asked me to take care of it for him since I know all about everyone’s weird superstitions.” 

You pause and give him a strange look that he can’t quite decipher. Were you nervous? Embarrassed? Annoyed? He really hopes it isn’t annoyance.

“But after drawing it up I realized I was going to have to share a seat with someone since there’s more people on the team this year. And I was wondering…” You fidget with the papers you're holding, shuffling them around. “I was wondering if you’d want to be my seat partner? If not I can ask Kuroo-”

“No!” The syllable escapes his lip with more force than he intends, and you look at him quizzically. “No, what?”

Kenma clears his throat and tries again. “There’s no need for you to ask Kuroo. You can share with me. It’s not that big of a deal.” He tacks on the last sentence hoping it will make him look less desperate after his earlier outburst.

“Great!” You beam at him and spring to your feet. “I'll go finalize this with Coach. Thanks Ken! You’re the best!”

You take off, leaving him sitting on the bench, hiding his red cheeks in his hood. That entire conversation was a disaster, but at least the outcome was good.

You call the shots, babe I just wanna be yours

“You sure about this? I know how you are about your personal space and the seat next to me is empty.” Kuroo has one corded forearm propped on the back of Kenma’s seat as he leans over to speak to him. “I don’t want you to be all out of sorts when we get  there. I need my setter.”

“Yeah.” Kenma doesn’t even look up, fingers dancing over controls as his avatar leaps around the screen. “It won’t bother me. So go bother someone else.”

And it doesn’t bother Kenma. Every time the bus takes a turn, causing you to lean against him a little he relishes the feel of your leg and shoulder pressed against his instead of jerking away. When you ask if you can lean against him and close your eyes for a bit, he agrees readily. 

Contrary to Kuroo’s concerns, Kenma’s sets aren’t impacted by your interruption of his normal pre-match routine. If anything, he seems to play better than usual, with an extra pep in his step and more precise sets. Nekoma wins, and once again the team boards the bus and you settle into your spot beside him.

The bus is about halfway back to Nerima Ward, cruising along the expressway when suddenly it makes a strange clanking sound and turns off. Instantly the team falls into chaos, panicked and full of complaints as Coach Manabu eases the bus onto the shoulder.

Kuroo joins the coaches outside as they examine the bus. When they climb back onto the bus a few minutes later, they do so bearing bad news. 

“So…the bus’s battery is dead.” Kuroo rubs the back of his neck, sighing. “The tow truck and replacement bus should be here in half an hour, but until then we’re just going to have to hang tight. Sorry guys.”

A chorus of groans rises from the guys, but they settle back into their spots fairly quickly, huddling into the warmth of their hoodies and jackets as the cold winter air slowly seeps into the bus. Next to Kenma, you’re shaking, silently bemoaning your decision to forgo a coat this morning. Ugh. You should have just grabbed one as you were heading out.

“Um…hey.” Kenma’s quiet voice interrupts your self-pity. “If…If you’re really cold we can share mine. I mean, only if you want to. You’re not wearing a jacket so…”

He trails off awkwardly, not looking at you as he speaks. Maybe it’s just your imagination, or the cold air, or even a mixture of both, but the tips of his ears look red. Butterflies stir in your gut, before you crush them, sure that you’re reading too much into it.

“Sure.” You scootch over slowly, unsure of how close would be too close. “I really appreciate it. Thanks.”

Kenma slides his left arm out of his jacket, and lifts the flap with his arm, inviting you to squeeze in and wrap half the jacket around your shoulders. It’s going to be tight, but since he’s offering you weren’t going to turn him down. 

Mustering your courage, you squish yourself into his side, and wrap his jacket around your shoulders. Instantly the cold recedes, and you start to warm up a bit. A sigh of relief escapes your lips and you sink a little further into him, closing your eyes. This feels nice. Hopefully Kenma doesn’t mind you taking a short nap.

When you wake up, it’s to the sound of Kenma and Kuroo arguing quietly over your head.

“I don’t shut up-”

“Omg you totally do I can’t wait to tell the others-”

“Don’t you fucking dare- Oh. You’re up.” Kenma stops talking when he feels you stir and sees your eyes blink open. “Sorry. Did Kuroo’s annoying voice wake you up?”

“No it’s alright.” You sit up and look out the window. “Is the other bus here yet? How long did I sleep?”

“No, not yet. You were only asleep for like twenty minutes.” Kuroo’s smirking face invaded your field of vision from the left. “But you looked pretty cozy all snuggled up like that. I bet Kenma agrees.”

“What is that even supposed to mean?” Kenma hissed at Kuroo from your other side. “Just leave us alone.”

“Hey! Why are you getting mad? I was just saying that the two of you looked nice and cozy all cuddled up like you were-”

An empty plastic water bottle arcs through the air and hits Kuroo in the face. For a moment, he doesn’t react. Then the theatrics begin.

“Kenma.” He gasps, frantically patting his face. “My good looks! How could you endanger them like that what is wrong with you I was only joking-”

“GO AWAY!!”

Let me be the portable heater That you'll get cold without

“So. Kenma. Do you have anything you’d like to share with the group?” The team is changing in the locker room after a grueling practice, and Kenma is not in the mood to go along with Kuroo’s shenanigans. “Yes. I do. Your plays were crap today. Get it together.”

“Oh come on, you know that’s not what I’m talking about.” Kuroo raises his eyebrows suggestively. “No one wants to hear you complain. Now spill. What’s going on between you and our dear manager?”

“Nothing.” With that, Kenma slams his locker shut and hurries out, irritation lining his movements. Kuroo shakes his head as Kenma storms by, before turning back to his locker with a chuckle.

“Poor guy. He’s down bad for her.”

Secrets I have held in my heart Are harder to hide than I thought

“Hey. Can we talk?” 

You’re standing there awkwardly, playing with your fingers. Instantly Kenma is on high alert. Is something going on? Did he do something wrong? Do you just hate him?!

“Of course.” He does his best to sound unconcerned. “Is something going on?"

“Not exactly. I just, well, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t misinterpreting things.” It feels strange seeing you so uncertain, and he doesn’t like it. “What do you think you’re misinterpreting?”

“This. Us.” Your frustration is palpable as you gesture at the empty space between you. “What am I to you? My friends say that I’m not being crazy, but sometimes I just feel delusional like my feelings for you and making me see things that don’t exist and I-”

You’re cut off by his mouth pressing softly against yours. The kiss is fleeting, over as quickly as it began, but it left both of you blushing and flustered.

“You’re, um.” Kenma coughed, his cheeks pink. “You’re not crazy. Or delusional. Or seeing things that aren’t there. And uh, sorry for not asking first I just-”

This time you interrupt him with a kiss, this one lasting longer than the last. It’s sweet and slow, exploratory as you take the time to get to know each other in this new way, basking in the sensation of your lips against his, and his against yours.

“Hey Kenma.” Your smile is so bright and beautiful it nearly blinds him. “You wanna be mine?”

There’s nothing he’s ever wanted more.

Maybe I just wanna be yours I wanna be yours, I wanna be yours

thanks so much for reading! as always, likes and reblogs are so appreciated. lmk if you want to me to add/remove you from any of my masterlists!

general taglist: @ponderingmoonlight @evemooniepeach @hotvinimon @arlerts-angel

haikyuu taglist: n/a

kenma taglist: n/a

[ams-puppy]

*THIS ACCOUNT IS NO LONGER RUN BY ISABEL. LAIN IS THE HOST OF THE SYSTEM, NOW, SO THIS ACCOUNT WILL BE INACTIVE UNTIL I CREATE FANART. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING AGAINST IZZY, KEEP IT TO YOURSELF, SHE WILL NOT SEE IT, LOL.*

Hi! I'm Isabel! You can call me Izzy or Belle.

☆ pup/pups + she/her

☆ side blogs: @aestheticmastercomputer, @ficto-station

☆ 18+

☆ AM's one and only romantic partner!~

What I will post ☆

☆ Art

☆ I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream

☆ Self-ship content

☆ Objectum stuff

☆ Puppy stuff

☆ Shimeji downloads on my ko-fi!

☆ SFW + NSFW downloads on my patreon!

☆ Check out my strawpage!

If you're looking to interact/follow, check below the cut for my BFYI, DNI, and content warnings!

BFYI ♡

♡ I am above 18, and I post sensitive content!

♡ I am in an OSDD system. You may come across invasive members in my posts or direct messages.

♡ Minors. Please please pleeease do not follow :(

♡ I don't mind minors interacting with selfship games that I post and things of the sort, but I will post snippets of suggestive content or NSFW content on my page.

Please, DNI ♡

♡ pr☆shippers and variants :(

♡ if you ship AM with ... anyone, really (crack ships, oc x canon, canon x canon)! this is a space for my selfship, sorry guys!

♡ basic DNI criteria (homophobic, transphobic, racist, etc, etc...)

♡ if you don't support xenogenders/neopronouns

♡ if you follow shitty AM daily (Dino)! we had a very uncomfortable experience with them :(

Content Warnings ♡ (all will be tagged)

♡ plenty of self-shipping

♡ suggestive themes

♡ gore/torture themes

♡ trauma/abuse themes

♡ 18+ themes in general, I suppose?!

Other Platforms ♡

♡ My Pinterest!

♡ My Twitter!

♡ My ArtFight!

♡ My Bluesky!

I look forward to meeting you! ☆

[ashwhowrites]

I have a request basically you remember when Robin saw Vickey and her bf kissing in a store and was devastated yeah so basically after that she ran head first into reader and soon enough they start dating and a few months/weeks later the roles are reversed and Vickey walks in on Robin and reader doing the same thing in the volunteer center/hawkings high

For the sake of the story, lesbians can kiss in public

I hope this is what you wanted and you enjoy it. Thank you for requesting 🫶🏻

Miss moving on

Robin and Steve tried to move fast as the group waited in the stolen trailer, but Robin stood frozen in her spot. She could feel her heart slowing down as Vickie's lips pressed against a boy. Robin didn't have any proof that Vickie was gay, but she had so much hope.

Steve stood behind her with a pitiful expression, landing a comforting hand on her shoulder. His touch made Robin jump out of her trance, Vickie now looking her way. Robin turned around and began rushing out of the store, but then she hit something.

or someone

"OH MY" the voice said as their bodies made contact. Robin felt her butt smack against the floor and her cheeks flame in embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry, are you alright?"

Robin looked up to see a girl holding out her hand. But not just any girl, a gorgeous girl. Robin took her hand, blushing harder as the girl easily yanked her to her feet.

"Are you okay?" The girl asked again, worry in her eyes as Robin still hadn't said a word.

"Oh..uh...yeah" Robin stuttered

"Good, would be a shame to see a pretty thing get hurt," the mystery girl said before she walked away.

Robin stood shocked as Steve threw his arm over her shoulder, "Sorry about Vickie" He led them back to the van.

~~~

Weeks passed and all Robin thought about was the mystery girl who she truly believed hit on her. No straight girl would randomly say that. The images of the beautiful girl flashed through Robin's head repeatedly, Vickie so far gone.

Robin begged Steve to drive her back to that store, praying the girl might be there again. It was the only place and only chance.

"Good luck!" Steve yelled out the open window as Robin walked into the store. She wandered around, keeping her eyes on the lookout. She felt her heart speed up with excitement when she saw the girl again. She was looking at the shelves, and Robin took a deep breath.

Robin moved to stand next to her, pretending to look at the same shelf, her eyes going to the side to look at the girl. Robin tried to think of something to say but hated that she kept drawing blanks.

"Oh hey! I know you," the girl said, a huge smile on her face as she turned to look at Robin

"Oh hi!" Robin said, her voice cracking as her face flushed.

"I didn't catch your name last time," the girl said, holding out her hand. "My name is Y/N."

Robin swore that was the most beautiful name she had ever heard.

"Didn't catch me last time either!" Robin joked, cringing once it left her mouth. "I mean...uh..Robin"

Y/N laughed at her dumb joke and shook her hand

"It's nice to meet you, Robin"

~

Steve was listening to music when Robin yanked open his door. A huge teeth-filled smile on her face as she got in the car.

"GOT HER NUMBER!" she screamed

~~~

After the events of the upside down, Y/N and Robin barely had time to start their relationship. But they both knew one would start the second the world was upright. Robin cursed the timing of Vecna and the events that followed. But before the world went to hell, they had a few dates and shared a few kisses.

Now, Robin and Steve were at the school, volunteering to help the families that lost loved ones when Hawkins split into two. Steve was sorting through clothes but kept looking up at Robin. She stood nervously as she waited for Y/N to show up. Y/N was a kind heart and volunteered the second Robin said she'd be busy with volunteering. Robin couldn't wait to spend time with her, even if it was preparing meals.

Steve smiled as Y/N walked up behind Robin, tapping her shoulder.

Robin smiled once her eyes met Y/N's.

"Hi" Y/N smiled

"Hi" Robin whispered

They were both lost in their own world as they looked at each other. Blushing and softly bumping each other as they prepared sandwiches. Small conversations turned into soft whispers.

"You know with the world almost ending, I had a hard pill to swallow," Y/N said, biting her lip

"Of what?" Robin asked

"Not getting to kiss you" Y/N admitted, shyly looking over at Robin as she put down the knife. She wiped her hands on her jeans.

"Oh" Robin blinked, Y/N watched as her freckled cheeks began to redden, "well" She swallowed, "You could do it now"

"Yeah?" Y/N whispered, leaning in as her hands landed on Robin's hips.

"Yes" Robin whispered

The girls leaned in and their lips connected. Robin felt like her heart was exploding as she gripped Y/N's elbows.

Steve watched with a proud smile

And Vickie walked in at the wrong moment. Her heart slowed down as she watched Robin's lips smash against a girl she had never seen before. The two were kissing each other like no one else was around them.

Robin moved on, and Vickie realized her feelings too late.

[pastelchelle]

I had this crack idea at midnight that I discussed with my friend in May, which turned into a funny little thing. Have at it!! Jason Todd Shenanigans

=====

So basically Jason Todd is aware that he is legally dead. However he does NOT want to go through the process of getting himself new documentation, he very much likes the name Jason Todd. So before he gets back to Gotham, he goes to the nearest non-Gotham police department and asks if they can take his blood samples and stuff and get legalized as a living being again. And get this, a news reporter over hears this and is like "Oh?? Tea??? And I'm the only one who knows?!?!?" They chase Jason down and demand an interview because Jason Todd is alive! and not dead! and they want to be the first person to broadcast this shit.

And Jason? Oh he's going to have a fucking blast.

"Actually, you know what, hell yeah!"

Lo and behold less than 24 hours later a small News Channel is suddenly gaining a LOT of traction when the words "Former Wayne Son Jason Todd is Alive and Well." are being spoken through every TV in Gotham

Here is what I have amateurly cooked up!!!

========

"Mr. Todd, would you like to confirm your blood results with us?"

"Hell yeah! Here's the paper that claims me no longer dead and even some finger prints, not showing you the important stuff though, those get blurred out right?" An affirmation is hummed off camera.

"So Mr. Todd, or do you prefer Mr. Wayne? I probably should've asked sooner--"

"Actually, I don't go by Wayne anymore, I wanted to keep Todd. Just Todd."

"Right! So would you like to go in depth on the reason why you were falsely labeled as deceased?"

"Oh, I did die."

"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that. How uh..."

"Oh yeah that's probably confusing. I believe sixth months after my death is when I woke up in my coffin. It's very brutal so I won't go into depth on the process of coming out of that situation."

"...."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah! Yeah yeah uhm, continue."

"So I left the graveyard and I did get hit by a car at some point, I think there were quite a few witnesses when that happened and during the process I was transferred to one of the Gotham hospitals."

"That sounds awful! Where was your family when this happened?"

"Oh... uh. It's kind of hard to talk about but I think Bruce ended up taking in a new kid sometime while I was still in the ground and since no one knew who I was when I was in the hospital they just labeled me a John Doe. I had severe brain damage at the time so I was borderline catatonic, if not that. It was a... rough year."

"But there's been a three year gap, and you, pardon me for assuming, look to be a very healthy young man. What changed?"

"Oh I was stolen off the streets after I wandered out of my hospital bed by someone and taken to an unknown location. There wasn't much I remember until I did suddenly come back to my senses, and by then a year had passed since I died. The person taking care of me used some sort of miracle medical magic, I'm not going to question it, but she took care of me for some time and I've come to accept her as a mother."

"That sounds like it turned out better than the average statistics, but are you sure this person is safe for you? Being stolen out of your hospital bed and then forced to a place you have never known sounds like a grey area."

"Yeah, she's... My mom can be hard at times but she provides me with everything I could ever need."

"Is there a reason why you haven't talked to Mr. Wayne since you've come back to Gotham?"

"Well, I'm pretty mad at him and refuse to see him so this is going to be the first time he knows that I'm alive."

"Oh my, I know that'll be a shocker to hear!"

"Oh you know it! I'd kill to see the look on his face!"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Do I? I'm in a very good mood to be honest which has been drastically different from how angry I've been the past few months so why not!!"

"Well thank you for your willingness!"

"Hey, to be honest I'm just really comfortable right now. It helps that they let an intern do this that's my age, and you're a new group. I don't like having shiny things and fake faces talking to me."

"Oh shit you're nineteen, right? Oh crap sorry for the language." Someone from offscreen dismissed it with with a laugh.

"Yeah actually, turned nineteen not that long ago. What was your name again?"

"Jessica! Jessica Steward, intern newscaster!! An anchor here at Gotham Local, Young Stellar News! But, you can call me Jess."

"Hey Jess, my names Jason, you can call me Jason because, well, Mr. Todd was my father and I don't really want any association with him. Or Wayne."

"You got it Jason! Now, would you like me to start anywhere or would you like to lead?"

"Ask away! I'm very happy to answer anything."

"Alrighty! So what happened to you? I feel like that's a loaded question, but give any answer you'd like!"

"Oh man, that is a loaded question, but let's not digress." Jason paused on camera and his face went through a flood of expressions before he looked back at the interviewer with a small smile.

"Before I get started, I'd like to say that while I may have problems with my father Bruce, please don't use any of this information to attack him in any way."

"We'll do our best to get the message across. Hopefully viewers watching mind your words."

"Thanks Jess."

"As for what happened, I should probably start from the beginning."

"You can start and stop any time you want."

"I guess we can start from my death. I did end up dying overseas in Ethiopia, the news did get that right. However I was killed by the Joker. This is around the time he ended up becoming a temporary ambassador of the UN." A wince came from behind the camera as Jess made a grotesque expression. Jason drank from the provided teacup they handed near the start of the interview.

"I think I remember that... thank god he's not anymore!"

"Ha, yeah, small mercies." Jason said this with a bitter smile. He continued.

"I was in Ethiopia because I was looking for my biological mother."

"Oh? Why is that?" Jason seemed to pause at the question, mulling it over with a crease in his brows.

"I... I thought I was going to get kicked out. I'm not.... I wasn't the best child... I thought that I was..." Jason stopped talking as his eyes seemed to drift off into a memory. Jess wringed her hands together as she let out a small cough. Jason came back quickly before smoothing it over with an awkward chuckle.

"Sorry. Got lost in thought."

"That's alright. Take your time. You don't have to answer that question if you don't want to." Jason smiled before looking down at the tea he cupped in his hands. It was finished. He set it down with a clink. Jessica made a motion to the unseen crew to grab more with the wave over her fingers.

"Joker beat me to near death with a crowbar which is how I ended up with bad brain damage." Jessica had to stop herself from staring at the quick subject change into darker territory.

"I was bleeding out, but it was the smoke from the explosion that did me in. I died alone, and honestly, it made me angry for a long time. I still am angry, but it's not as bad anymore." Someone came by and set another teacup in front of him, steam coming off from it.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Jason shrugged at the condolence.

"It's fine. It happened. It wasn't as bad as when I woke up six months later buried in the ground. Again, I won't get into specifics on how I got out but it did involve a belt that I was dressed in." He didn't comment on Jess' frown.

"I didn't get too far from the cemetery until someone accidentally hit me with their car."

"Man, you just can't catch a break huh?"

"HAH! Tell me about it." Jason reached for his tea and took a test sip. Once setting it down he cleared his throat.

"I was put in the hospital for a good amount of time. I was able to gather any information I could get my hands on as soon as I became fully conscious and found out that the doctors have my stuff on record but just didn't have the means of figuring out who I was. I was in the hospital for a while before my body just decided to get up and leave. I wondered the streets of Gotham for a time before I got... picked up."

"I feel like that's putting kidnapping in lighter terms."

"Yeah it is, but honestly I ended up becoming fully aware after she picked me up so what can a guy do? I'm not complaining."

"And when you came to?"

"I think the first thing I thought of was something angry. I don't know exactly what, I'm not usually an angry person, but I wasn't really in the right headspace when I died. I was terrified, alone, sad, and angry. So fucking angry. If I stayed dead I feel like I probably could've become some sort of poltergeist or something!" Jess laughed with him, but her voice was a little more strained at the dark humor.

"What made you come back to Gotham?"

"Well, everyone knows that Gotham is the most crime riddled city in America, but I grew up here. It's home. I think it wouldn't have mattered if I had died. I probably would've stayed in Gotham."

"I get that a lot from Gotham citizens. You all are a different breed." Jason laughed at that.

"Yeah. We are." He sat up straight.

"That's not the whole reason though. I came back to Gotham because I have unfinished business I need to take care of." Jess made a sound of interest.

======

(Possibility #1)

"Yeah? And what kind of business is that, if you don't mind my asking?

Jason looked at Jess with a smile before turning to the camera. He reached under the table when he started talking.

"I love my father, but him and I have differing morals. Different codes we live by." Jason brought his hand up front underneath the table and lifted his suitcase he brought with him.

"But I'm not afraid to make choices that may not be morally acceptable." He clicked open the suitcase and flipped it up, but the back was facing the camera so no one but him and the reporter could see it. Jess' eyes landed on it and her face morphed into shock.

"Woah."

"So, I'm sorry if this isn't how you wanted the interview to end and I'm sorry if this is inappropriate, but I address all Gotham citizens and those who may see this." He spun the suitcase around.

"I am offering twenty million dollars to the person who kills the Joker."

=====

(Possibility #2)

"Yeah? And what kind of business is that, if you don't mind my asking?

"I want to see if this newscast gives Bruce a heart attack."

Just then, Jason's phone rings. He answers it.

He lets out a dejected sigh.

"Unfortunately, it did not."

======

I didn't think it was that long...

[lsunstreakerl]

more scrapbook paper max. be gentle with him please, he doesn't get enough hugs.

"Max. Maaaaaaax."

Someone is nudging their toe into Max's thigh.

He cracks an eye open, disoriented. There's something thudding against the warm wall behind his back, and he's sitting on cool tile. The room has a greenish hue.

"You better not be dead, I need to interview you for my assignment."

He's in the laundry room. Why is he in the laundry room?

"-We're supposed to interview an upperclassman and ask about their school life balance, and the internship work, and the battleworks stuff-"

Max is in the laundry room because his suit was stained. His suit was stained because he bled all over it. He bled all over it...?

"-So I was like, yeah, I'll just ask Max, that'll be fine. And then I spent half my morning trying to track you down, and everyone said you skipped class, which like- fair, but then you weren't upstairs in our dorm- we should really get a better lock on that door dude-"

Right. Big lizard thing. Mean big lizard thing. Casual evening assignment for him and Daniel that very rapidly turned not casual. Max is forgetting something.

"-And I have been looking everywhere. And now we're here, and I'm pretty sure you might be dead? Also I don't think your right side was purple last time I saw you. Unless it was, in which case I'm very sorry if I've offended you. But it doesn't look natural, cause like- it's just your arm and also your chest a little bit- what is your workout routine- so I'm thinking it's maybe bad."

Oh right. Poisonous big lizard thing.

Max blinks, staring up at Liam.

"Oh! You're not dead!"

Surely Max was not this stupid as a freshman.

"Obviously."

Liam looks from Max's face to his arm.

"...do you need the nurse?"

Max also looks down at his arm. It's definitely not supposed to be that color. He's not sure he could move it if he wanted to.

"Yup."

------

"Are we lost?"

Max feels his teeth grinding, squinting as he looks across the landscape in front of him. They're supposed to have a senior with them, but Kyvat had disappeared almost half an hour ago when he heard a noise- which breaks basically the first rule any of them are taught for Fog trips, to never go alone- and now Max is stuck with a freshman clinging to him.

"No."

He's lying. Sort of.

Max has made a few solo Fog trips, but that's because he's perfectly content to go apeshit and destroy everything around him to find a way out- it's how Daniel had met him the first time, before Max got enrolled.

He can't exactly do that with Bearman at his back though- the kid would die. Max can feel him stepping closer, practically pasted alongside Max's back, even though he's nearly as tall as Max is by now.

It's embarrassing, honestly. Max has two years on him- the least Bearman can do is let Max catch up to Daniel before he outgrows them both.

He might be able to try-

"Ollie."

The kid perks up behind him.

"Yeah?"

Max chews at his bottom lip for a moment. He's never tried this before- a tuned down version of what he's done in the past. He's not sure if it might still hurt Bearman, depending on how long they do it. He's not sure if they're going to get Kyvat back.

But they don't all need to die out here.

"Keep holding onto me. I'm going to try and feel a way out- I need you to tell me if you think there's a threat."

"Okay."

Credit where it's due, Ollie is brave. They weren't even supposed to go into the Fog today, not with a freshman- but things had gotten messy up top, and it had been safer to drop into the complete unknown without supplies rather than stay.

Which kind of sums up the year Max has been having.

That it's only January is irrelevant.

He closes his eyes, tries to carefully build up the charge in the area around him, feeling out for where it stops.

It's much easier to just have a full spark and follow that path, but again- tiny freshman. Max does not want to have to explain to the board why he's brought back a barbecued Bearman.

And Ollie's dorm mates would be sad.

Also, begrudgingly, Max kind of likes Bearman.

He sets off tiny little sparks, soft snaps of electricity, and then he's walking.

The Fog is difficult because it's not real. It causes hallucinations, makes you question what you see, what you hear. It obscures your sight, leads you wandering in circles until you die. Or until one of its natural predators comes to eat you.

Max is not interested in either of those things happening today, so he keeps walking, pulling Bearman behind him as he keeps setting off small snaps, carving out his own path.

He's not trying to get to a specific outlet- there's no way, not with the tiny amount of charge he's generating- just needs to get to one.

"Max-"

Oliver sounds nervous, and Max opens his eyes. There's nothing around them.

"You're hallucinating."

"Okay."

The benefit to traveling in groups through Fog is that it can't show the same thing to two people at once- which is why traveling alone is borderline suicide.

Max isn't going to feel bad for Kyvat- it's his own fault.

He closes his eyes again, feels Bearman jolt softly next to him when he accidentally sets a charge too hard, shocking him.

He's not going to feel bad about that either- he's got empathy in limited amounts.

Otherwise Bearman is good about sticking close, doesn't complain about the numerous static shocks he must be experiencing.

Max can feel a headache building at the base of his skull- he's not used to using this much precision for this long. He's been working on it with Lambiase, but it's still difficult.

His fingertips have a slight tingle- they're not numb or charred the way they get when he's really pushing it, just an uncomfortable pinprick sensation.

One of his sparks flares at the edge of his senses- it's snapping in regular oxygen, not Fog.

He doesn't open his eyes, because they're not out yet, but he must be smirking, because Bearman sighs in relief.

"Please tell me you found it."

Max hums, keeps guiding them.

"Maybe."

He can feel it when they hit the cool air- Fog is dry and stale, constantly. He blinks his eyes open, and sure enough- they've just stepped out of a dilapidated doorway, into the middle of nowhere.

"How the fuck-"

Bearman is looking at him, and Max shrugs. He's not going to explain it- he'll sound like a maniac anyways, and he has enough of a reputation as is.

He leans forward and hits the emergency button on Bearman's suit, sending off signals back to the academy and their supervisors.

"Stay here."

Oliver's eyes widen, darting between Max and the doorway.

"You're not actually going to- mate."

Max frowns at him. He's not taking judgment from a freshman- Liam is bad enough, and they have to bunk together.

"Stay. Put."

Bearman swallows and nods, and Max turns back around and steps into the Fog.

Stupid senior.

[housewilson]

A MASTERLIST OF ALL THE BOOKS I COULD FIND IN TIM'S BOOKSHELVES

As someone who basically sees Tim Laughlin as my own version of Jesus Christ (I kind of wish I was lying but I have a 'beyond measure' tattoo branding my skin so perhaps I'm entirely serious), I simply needed to know what was on those shelves of his. And this was a hard task to achieve, believe me... but I got much farther than I initially thought I would.

(I've got so much to say about all of these books and how they might string together to create a deeper understanding of Tim as a character but I won't go into it here... maybe in a future post or video essay, who knows).

If you wish to help a girl out and attempt to figure out any of the other books I simply can not crack no matter how I look at the screenshots and mess with the adjustments... here's a folder full of 2k sized screenshots of those shelves.

Before I list the books one by one, I want to make a couple observations:

1) Almost all of the books I was able to pinpoint are non-fiction. The ones that aren't are children's books.

2) Topically, we see an interdisciplinary interest in:

History: from a book on a king in 4BC, to a survey of landholding in England in the 11th century.

Somewhat current historical events: books on World War I and II.

Western Philosophers: specially from the 16th to the 18th century.

Aesthetics: there's at least 2 books on the subject matter, but I couldn't find the second one, sadly.

Spirituality: not only christian/catholic; some of these books touch on Eastern practices such as Buddhism and Hinduism.

Fairy tales / children's books.

Psychology: specially in regards to mysticism and sexuality.

Science and scientific discovery/research.

3) A lot of the history, current events, and spirituality books are autobiographies/memoirs.

4) A lot of books (specially those on sciences and philosophy) tend to be more so anthologies or overviews on a subject matter rather than a book written by one specific author on one very concrete topic.

Overall, this all reflects very well an idea Jonathan Bailey himself expressed in a brilliant interview you can watch here if you haven't yet:

"Tim has buddhist flags in his 1980s flat in San Francisco, he has crystals, he is someone who is always seeking other ways to understand human experience. Which is probably tiring for him. Throughout the decades, he sort of appears as completely different people. At the crux of it there's this extreme grinding, contrasting, aggressive duality between feeling lovable and not feeling lovable. There's such shame in Tim. But it's the push and the pull which keeps him alive.”

This desire to understand human psychology, spirituality, and the ways of the universe through as many diverse lenses as possible, as well as a predilection for non-fiction, expresses very much to me that insatiable thirst for truth that defines his character so strongly.

OKAY, THAT BEING SAID. Here's the list in chronological order of publication.

PS. if you decided to click on any of the following titles it'd definitely not take you to a google drive link of the pdf file where you could download and read these books for yourself. Because that would be illegal and wrong.

Journeys through Bookland by Charles H. Sylvester (1901?) (1922 Edition)

I don't know which specific volume he owns, sorry, I tried my best but the number is not discernible (hell, the title barely is). If anyone wants the download link to these hmu because I'm not about to individually download all 10 right now.

10 volumes of poems, myths, Bible stories, fairy tales, and excerpts from children's novels, as well as a guide to the series. It has been lauded as ‘a new and original plan for reading, applied to the world’s best literature for children.’

Pilgrimage by Graham Seton Hutchison (1936)

This book provides a view of the battlefields of WW I through the eyes of the average fighting man. 

One curious thing about this book is that it's author, a British First World War army officer and military theorist, went on to become a fascist activist later in his life. Straight from Wikipedia:

"Seton Hutchison became a celebrated figure in military circles for his tactical innovations during the First World War but would later become associated with a series of fringe fascist movements which failed to capture much support even by the standards of the far right in Britain in the interbellum period." He made a contribution to First World War fiction with his espionage novel, The W Plan."

The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton (1948) 

The Seven Storey Mountain tells of the growing restlessness of a brilliant and passionate young man, who at the age of twenty-six, takes vows in one of the most demanding Catholic orders—the Trappist monks. At the Abbey of Gethsemani, "the four walls of my new freedom," Thomas Merton struggles to withdraw from the world, but only after he has fully immersed himself in it. At the abbey, he wrote this extraordinary testament, a unique spiritual autobiography that has been recognized as one of the most influential religious works of our time. Translated into more than twenty languages, it has touched millions of lives.

This book requires no introduction. It's the one he keeps the Fire Island's postcard in and the one we see him re-reading in episode 8 after Hawk brings it to the hospital with him at the end of episode 7.

Just a little detail I noticed:

Apparently he liked the book so much he visited Gethsemani, which was the home of its author all the way up till 1968.

For all we know, he might have even met its author!

Sexual Behavior in the Human Male by Alfred Charles Kinsey, Wardell B. Pomeroy (1948)

When published in 1948 this volume encountered a storm of condemnation and acclaim. It is, however, a milestone on the path toward a scientific approach to the understanding of human sexual behavior. Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey and his fellow researchers sought to accumulate an objective body of facts regarding sex. They employed first hand interviews to gather this data. This volume is based upon histories of approximately 5,300 males which were collected during a fifteen year period. This text describes the methodology, sampling, coding, interviewing, statistical analyses, and then examines factors and sources of sexual outlet.

Yes, Charles Kinsey is indeed behind the Kinsey scale that has done so much for the LGBTQ+ community.

Their Finest Hour (1949), The Grand Alliance (1950), and Closing the Ring (1951) by Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill's six-volume history of the cataclysm that swept the world remains the definitive history of the Second World War. Lucid, dramatic, remarkable both for its breadth and sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, it is universally acknowledged as a magnificent reconstruction and is an enduring, compelling work that led to his being awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1953. 

The European Philosophers from Descartes to Nietzsche by Monroe C. Beardsley (1960)

In so far as we reflect upon ourselves and our world, and what we are doing in it, says the editor of this anthology, we are all philosophers. And therefore we are very much concerned with what the twelve men represented in this book--the major philosophers on the Continent of Europe--have to say to us, to help us build our own philosophy, to think things out in our own way. For the issues that we face today are partly determined by the work of thinkers of earlier generations, and no other time is more important to the development of Western thought than is the 250-year period covered by this anthology. Monroe. C. Beardsley, Professor of Philosophy at Swarthmore College, has chosen major works, or large selections from them, by each man, with supplementary passages to amplify or clarify important points. These include: Descartes - Discourse on Method (Descartes), Thoughts (Pascal), The Nature of Evil (Spinoza), The Relation Between Soul and Body (Leibniz), The Social Construct (Rousseau), Critique of Pure Reason (Kant), The Vocation of Man (Fichte), Introducciton to the Philosophy of History (Hegel), The World as Will and Idea (Schopenhauer), A General View of Positivism (Comte), The Analysis of Sensations and the Relation of the Physical to the Psychical (Mach), Beyond Good and Evil (Nietzsche).

The New Intelligent Man's Guide to Science by Isaac Asimov (1965)

Asimov tells the stories behind the science: the men and women who made the important discoveries and how they did it. Ranging from Galilei, Achimedes, Newton and Einstein, he takes the most complex concepts and explains it in such a way that a first-time reader on the subject feels confident on his/her understanding. Assists today's readers in keeping abreast of all recent discoveries and advances in physics, the biological sciences, astronomy, computer technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and other sciences.

The Heavenly City of the 18th Philosophers by Carl L. Becker (1932) (1962 reprint)

Here a distinguished American historian challenges the belief that the eighteenth century was essentially modern in its temper. In crystalline prose Carl Becker demonstrates that the period commonly described as the Age of Reason was, in fact, very far from that; that Voltaire, Hume, Diderot, and Locke were living in a medieval world, and that these philosophers “demolished the Heavenly City of St. Augustine only to rebuild it with more up-to-date materials.” In a new foreword, Johnson Kent Wright looks at the book’s continuing relevance within the context of current discussion about the Enlightenment.

I find the particular choice of adding this book very curious and on brand, since it explores the idea that philosophers of the Enlightenment very much resembled religious dogma/faith in their structure and purpose. Just... A+ of the props department to not just add any kind of book on philosophy anthology.

Herod The Great by Michael Grant (1971)

The Herod of popular tradition is the tyrannical King of Judaea who ordered the Massacre of the Innocents and died a terrible death in 4 BC as the judgment of God. But this biography paints a much more complex picture of this contemporary of Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and the Emperor Augustus. Herod devoted his life to the task of keeping the Jews prosperous and racially intact. To judge by the two disastrous Jewish rebellions that occurred within a hundred and fifty years of his death -- those the Jews called the First and Second Roman Wars -- he was not, in the long run, completely successful. For forty years Herod walked the most precarious of political tightropes. For he had to be enough of a Jew to retain control of his Jewish subjects, and enough of a pro-Roman to preserve the confidence of Rome, within whose territory his kingdom fell. For more than a quarter of a century he was one of the chief bulwarks of Augustus' empire in the east. He made Judaea a large and prosperous country. He founded cities and built public works on a scale never seen before: of these, recently excavated Masada is a spectacular example. And he did all this in spite of a continuous undercurrent of protest and underground resistance. The numerous illustrations presents portraits and coins, buildings and articles of everyday use, landscapes and fortresses, and subsequent generations' interpretations of the more famous events, actual and mythical, of Herod's career.

Readings in the Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics compiled by Milton Charles Nahm (1975)

A college level comprehensive anthology of essays written on the arts and the field of aesthetic philosophy.

The Mustard Seed: Discourses on the Sayings of Jesus Taken from the Gospel According to Thomas by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (1975)

This timely book explores the wisdom of the Gnostic Jesus, who challenges our preconceptions about the world and ourselves. Based on the Gospel of Thomas, the book recounts the missing years in Jesus’ life and his time in Egypt and India, learning from Egyptian secret societies, then Buddhist schools, then Hindu Vedanta. Each of Jesus' original sayings is the "seed" for a chapter of the book; each examines one aspect of life — birth, death, love, fear, anger, and more — counterpointed by Osho’s penetrating comments and responses to questions from his audience.

(You don't know how fulfilling it was to find some of these books and just sit there like "oh my god, yessss, he'd SO read that".)

A Third Testament by Malcolm Muggeridge (1976)

A modern pilgrim explores the spiritual wanderings of Augustine, Pascal, Blake, Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Bonhoeffer. A Third Testament brings to life seven men whose names are familiar enough, but whose iconoclastic spiritual wanderings make for unforgettable reading. Muggeridge's concise biographies are an accessible and manageable introduction to these spiritual giants who carried on the testament to the reality of God begun in the Old and New Testaments. - St. Augustine, a headstrong young hedonist and speechwriter who turned his back on money and prestige in order to serve Christ - Blaise Pascal, a brilliant mathematician who pursued scientific knowledge but warned people against thinking they could live without God - William Blake, a magnificent artist-poet who pled passionately for the life of the spirit and warned of the blight that materialism would usher in - Soren Kierkegaard, a renegade philosopher who spent most of his life at odds with the church, and insisted that every person must find his own way to God - Fyodor Dostoevsky, a debt-ridden writer and sometime prisoner who found, in the midst of squalor and political turmoil, the still small voice of God - Leo Tolstoy, a grand old novelist who swung between idealism and depression, loneliness and fame and a duel awareness of his sinfulness and God s grace - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor whose writings and agonized involvement in a plot to kill Hitler cost him his life, but continue to inspire millions

Portraits: The photography of Carl Van Vechten (1978)

Can't find a file but you can borrow it from archive.com in the link provided.

During his career as a photographer, Carl Van Vechten’s subjects, many of whom were his friends and social acquaintances, included dancers, actors, writers, artists, activists, singers, costumiers, photographers, social critics, educators, journalists, and aesthetes. [...] As a promoter of literary talent and a critic of dance, theater, and opera, Carl Van Vechten was as interested in the cultural margin as he was in the day’s most acclaimed and successful people. His diverse subjects give a sense of both Carl Van Vechten’s interests and his considerable role in defining the cultural landscape of the twentieth century; among his many sitters one finds the leading lights of the Harlem Renaissance, the premier actors and writers of the American stage, the world’s greatest opera stars and ballerinas, the most important and influential writers of the day, among many others.

Report of the Shroud of Turin by John H Heller (1983)

Heller, while a man of science, was nevertheless a devout man (Southern Baptist). He viewed his task concerning The Shroud with great scepticism; there have been far too many hoaxes in the world of religion. The book describes in great detail the events leading up to the team's conviction that the Shroud was genuine; last - not least - being Heller and Adler's verification of "heme" (blood) and the inexplicable "burned image" of the crucified man. Although carbon dating indicates that the image is not 2000 years old and that the cloth is from the Middle Ages, there is not enough evidence to disprove Heller's assertion that the Shroud is indeed genuine.

Context for those who may not know (though I doubt it's necessary): The shroud of Turin "is a length of linen cloth that bears a faint image of the front and back of a man. It has been venerated for centuries, especially by members of the Catholic Church, as the actual burial shroud used to wrap the body of Jesus of Nazareth after his crucifixion, and upon which Jesus's bodily image is miraculously imprinted."

It is a very controversial subject matter and I definitely don't know that from going to an Opus Dei school since the day I was born till the day I graduated high school.

Mysticism, Psychology and Oedipus by Israel Regardie (1985)

I've tried my hardest but despite many Israel Regardie books being on the world wide web, I can't find a copy of this specific one.

Mysticism, Psychology and Oedipus, from the Small Gems series is one of these mysterious alchemys which Regardie and Spiegelman crafted for the serious student of mysticism. Mysticism, Psychology and Oedipus by Dr. Israel Regardie and his friend, world renowned Jungian Psychologist, J. Marvin Spiegelman, Ph.D. was created to reach the serious student at the intersecting paths of magic, mysticism and psychology. While each area of study overlaps they also maintain their own individual paths of truth. One of Regardie’s greatest gifts was his rare ability to combine these difficult and diverse subjects and make them understandable.

Domesday Book Through Nine Centuries by Elizabeth M. Hallam (1986)

In 1086 a great survey of landholding in England was carried out on the orders of William the Conqueror, and its results were recorded in the two volumes, which, within less than a century, were to acquire the name of Domesday, or the Book of Judgment 'because its decisions, like those of the last Judgment, are unalterable'. This detailed survey of the kingdom, unprecedented at that time in its scope, gives us an extraordinarily vivid impression of the life of the eleventh century.

The following two are a fuck up on the props department part because they were published after 1987 but we'll forgive them because they were not expecting for me to do all this to figure out the titles of these books, I'm sure:

The One Who Set Out to Study Fear by Peter Redgrove (1989)

This book barely exists physically, rest assured it does not exist online... LOL.

The author of The Wise Wound presents here a re-telling of Grimm's famous fairy tales, written in a manner and spirit more suited to the present day. Each story is rooted in the original, but cast in an energetic style that is both disrespectful and humorous. 

Essential Papers on Masochism by Margaret Ann Fitzpatrick Hanly (1995)

The contested psychoanalytic concept of masochism has served to open up pathways into less-explored regions of the human mind and behavior. Here, rituals of pain and sexual abusiveness prevail, and sometimes gruesome details of unconscious fantasies are constructed out of psychological pain, desperate need, and sexually excited, self- destructive violence. In this significant addition to the "Essential Papers in Psychoanalysis" series, Margaret Ann Fitzpatrick Hanly presents an anthology of the most outstanding writings in the psychoanalytic study of masochism. In bringing these essays together, Dr. Fitzpatrick Hanly expertly combines classic and contemporary theories by the most respected scholars in the field to create a varied and integrated volume. This collection features papers by S. Nacht, R. Loewenstein, Victor Smirnoff, Sigmund Freud, Jacques Laplanche, Robert Bak, Leonard Shengold, K. Novick, J. Novick, S. Coen, Margaret Brenman, Esther Menaker, S. Lorand, M. Balint, Bernhard Berliner, Charles Brenner, Helene Deutsch, Annie Reich, Marie Bonaparte, Jessica Benjamin, S.L. Olinick, Arnold Modell, Betty Joseph, and Janine Chasseguet-Smirgel.

Let's not forget another book we know has been present in his shelves at some point:

Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe (1929)

It is Wolfe's first novel, and is considered a highly autobiographical American coming-of-age story. The character of Eugene Gant is generally believed to be a depiction of Wolfe himself. The novel briefly recounts Eugene's father's early life, but primarily covers the span of time from Eugene's birth in 1900 to his definitive departure from home at the age of 19. The setting is a fictionalization of his home town of Asheville, North Carolina, called Altamont in the novel.

And Ron Nyswaner mentioned in a podcast (might be this one? I'm not sure) that he scrapped from the script a line where Tim recommends this poem at some point:

He specially emphasized the line "If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me".

And lastly, if anyone wanted to know:

His copy of the bible is the Revised Standard Version by Thomas Nelson from either 1952 or 1953.

Because why the hell not figure out what specific translation of the holy bible a fictional character was basing his beliefs on — as if the set designers cared nearly as much as I do.