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sunnywalnut · 1 year ago

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I miss when autistic rep was on accident. I feel like every time a neurotypical/allistic person tries to write somebody with autism on purpose, it just comes off as "he's a total jerk, but he's REALLY GOOD at what he does" instead of "this guy's facial expression doesn't change very much, but I promise you he's absolutely happy to help. Also talk to him about birds. He fucking loves birds."

And I don't mean "he loves birds" as in "this guy wears bird shirts 24/7 and corrects you if you accidentally call a pigeon a dove." No. I mean "he loves birds" as in "he's able to name the sound of the bird just by it's song and point to it and it's just sitting on the rooftop next to you" and if you ask questions he gets this little smile to his face and answers them all and even tells you about some drama about two researchers who were unsure of they could call two birds different species since they were so similar and then gives you the answer of they can, because their beaks are different and that means their diet is different or whatever.

Not every autistic dude in media has to be "UwU save me from the world and take care of me bc I'm just a smol beannn✨"

Sometimes they're just Chad from maintenance who seems to love his job a bit more than he should, but it's all good bc everything that's fixed works even better than it was before it was broken. He's not creepy or anything. But he WILL call you over if he sees you walk past in order to show off his latest repair and talk to you about what he did. Everyone loves Chad. They're happy that he's as dedicated to his job as he is. Plus it makes the office a lot more bearable to have him around because he always seems to wear this gigantic grin and talk with his hands.

You're absolutely able to have "cute" autistic characters. I have cute autistic characters.

I have a little elf girl that counts each individual strand of her hair when she's nervous and climbs trees. She loves baking, so much so that she will make everything gluten free, kosher, dairy free, vegan, whatever you need in order to make sure you're included. As soon as she steps into a garden, she's completely covered in dirt. And yes, she's extremely friendly and doesn't understand social cues. And sure. She has her boyfriend take care of things for her, like keeping her safe from creeps when she's in public, and shutting down scammers before she can pay them, but it's not because she's dumb. It's because he elected himself into that space. And he knows full well that if she decides to scurry off to whatever wonderful thing that has caught her eye, that she'll wander back to him when she's ready. She knows how to defend herself. And he trusts her. And she does things for him as well. Which is something I don't see in autistic/allistic relationships in media at all.

Like do y'all really think our partners are just our glorified babysitters???

We're not just there to sit still and look pretty.

We're there to be your emotional rock. We tend to have high empathy. We can listen to your problems and validate your emotions. And sure, we might give you some advice that seems a bit wonky at best, but anyone can do that. Not just autistic people.

Sometimes we take over financial decisions, for one reason or another. I had a partner that would always come to me for financial advice despite living on their own and having more than enough money to do what they wanted with, but they knew that I could budget better. I'm good at math. And no, not a "math wiz" all A's kind of good. But a "I can do big number addition/subtraction and sometimes multiplication within seconds in my head" which was also really helpful in my culinary class when my teacher would put me in charge of making sure we were on target with how many servings of food we had. Not every autistic person has to be leagues above the rest academic to be autistic. My allistic brother had straight A's for YEARS. Much longer than I did. I had A's and B's.

You can come to us if you need a hug. Or to cuddle. Or to body double. Or just to hang out. Some autistic people like touch. We crave it. I can guarantee you that if we were friends and you climbed up on the couch next to me and laid your head in my lap, I would let you. No questions asked. I'd even pet your hair. And I'd ask you about your day. I can't count how many times high fives have turned to hand holding with my friends because they needed a loving talking to about how great they are. Or a back rub when they're crying. Not all of us are going to stand there, staring down at you while you're curled up on the floor and be like "STATISTICALLY SPEAKING-" yeah no. And the people who DO that likely are trying to relay information that they know that they think will help you feel better. We're odd, but we're not heartless. Let me get down on your level. Sit with you. And then I'll talk to you about how tears are actually really healthy and it's good that you're able to cry. And also I'm proud of you and let's get you some water, okay?

We can take care of you too!!

I give all my friends hair care advice bc I've spent too much time watching hair stylist videos. I tell them to make sure they lotion after every shower when they complain about dry skin or body acne. I tell them to drink water after they cry. Or wash their face. Or alternate ways they can get around invisible barriers and still get what they need done. You know how many times I've had to sit down problem solve with my loved ones for over an HOUR bc their ADHD decided not to let them brush their teeth or take a shower? I have a whole ARSENAL of advice to give you. And yeah. If you're close enough where I can head over to your place, I WILL do your dishes(bc somehow they're less gross than mine). I WILL wash your hair for you, or fold your clothes or clear the counters of trash. Not because I think you're lazy or nothing. But because I see something that needs to be done, and I do it. Because I love you, it's simple, and hey, I'm here anyways, right?

Like shit. Every night I have a sleepover with my best friend, I do the dishes that were in her sink before I even came over while she starts on dinner. Because I love her. And that's my way of paying her back for picking me up. I clear all our trash, and the scraps of tea bags that she missed in the mornings. Because I love her. And it's simple enough I can do it myself. I chop the garlic as we cook together because we're working as a team. And yeah. After it's all over. We sit on the couch like a bunch of lazy dogs and watch TV and chat and do whatever. And sometimes. We don't do anything but just enjoy each other's company. Because as adults, we don't get a lot of time to just relax.

We all have our own strengths and weaknesses. And sure. Being friends with an autistic person isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes our behaviors or our tenancies can be stressful. Like sensory meltdowns, or our bluntness(which is honestly usually just us saying exactly what is true without sugar coating it. Like if you said the sky was purple I'd be like "nah it's blue rn" and people find that blunt and rude. But to me, that's just a fact. I'm not saying you're dumb. I'm just saying it's blue right now.) or sometimes, even when we get super hyper about our interests. I would know. I'm autistic myself. And I irritate myself.

But it seems like in media, the irritation is all people can see. Even in "supportive" families that I see in shows and such, everyone's always stressed all the time.

You're telling me ONE LITTLE CHILD is tearing this entire family apart? (*COUGH COUGH Young Sheldon COUGH*) Not only is that stupid, that's just inaccurate.

If you wanna be accurate, maybe don't have every autistic person you write be a "high functioning" male in a doctor's coat who's transphobic as fuck and his excuse being he's autistic.

If you know the bitch is outwardly transphobic, don't fucking put him in the room with trans people.

And also?

Autistic people are allowed to learn the difference between sex and gender. We're ALLOWED to learn about queer identities. And we're ALLOWED to be queer ourselves without being labeled as idiots who don't know any better.

I've YET to see a show about an outwardly queer autistic girl who is able to make awesome friends and overcome her challenges WITHOUT succumbing to being an asshole on purpose.

Except for The Owl House. And Luz isn't even canonically autistic. It's just speculated.

THAT is good autistic representation.

Not whatever the fuck "The Good Doctor" is supposed to be.

My Personal List Of Good Autism Rep Recs(non canon, sadly):

-Good Omens(not explicitly canon, but multiple characters behave in a way that could be labeled as autistic. Plus Neil Geiman, the writer himself is autistic)

-The Owl House(again. Not explicitly canon. But great. The whole show is about accepting yourself as you are and is kinda along the lines of Gravity Falls. In fact, she was in a relationship with Alex Hirsh, creator of Gravity Falls. And also she's bisexual with a CANONICALLY BISEXUAL LEAD!! Also is lovely for mental health allegories too)

-Gravity Falls (the whole Pines family just REEKS autism to me. Noncannon.)

-How To Train Your Dragon(Hiccup is autistic as hell and you can't convince me otherwise. Non canon)

-Adventure Time (some of the humor is dated, but enjoyable. Also Princess Bubblegum. Need I say more?)

-We Bare Bears (slice of lifey. Sometimes childish. Sweet as hell though. Grizz feels very autistic to me, but that could also be because I enjoy how huggable and easily excitable he is. Everyone loves him. He's loud, he can absolutely be obnoxious, but he loves his bros and tries his best to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. He also does his best to fix any problems he makes. Which in my book, makes him a good guy. Some people also claim Ice Bear is autistic. But personally, I feel like he just doesn't talk much. What do you guys think?)

#actually autistic #autism #autistic #autism representation

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alynswim · 1 year ago

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Phoebe Cheats Hey Arnold Original air date: October 15, 1997 Part 2

[LINK TO PART 1] Phoebe meanwhile, thinking that her problem is solved. Returns home humming happily. Only to find Dickinson waiting for her there. Phoebe freaks out.

Dickinson begins to scold Phoebe about not putting in the hard work that she’s capable of and how she should have searched deep inside of herself like "all real poets do". Phoebe yells at Dickinson to leave her alone. Admitting that she knows she didn’t earn her and is ashamed.

Phoebe is tired of all the lying and cheating. She knows what she has to do.

At the open house, Phoebe comes clean to Mr. Simmons. Mr. Simmons, not angry but disappointed, asks Phoebe if she understands the full weight of what she did.

Simmons asks Phoebe, straight up: "Why was the contest so important to you that you decided to cheat?" Phoebe: "I’m used to being the best...that’s who I am."

Phoebe’s *entire* sense of self-worth is tied to always excelling in everything, especially academics.

Simmons responds: "Don’t you think there’s a lot more to Phoebe Heyerdahl than always being the best at winning awards?"

"I...really don’t know, sir", Phoebe responds, a tear going down her eye and having to look away from Simmons in shame.

It’s clearly a question that Phoebe has never asked herself before. She doesn’t even believe it to be true. "Well I’m sure of it", responds Simmons. Believing it for her.

Simmons encourages her to write a poem based on the feelings she has to be the best at everything and how it makes her feel when she doesn’t win. Simmons believes that there is a good poem hiding within *those* feelings.

And he’s absolutely correct. Phoebe has issues with self-worth and needs constant outside validation that she has value. She’s so used to getting it from teachers, grades, and school that the first time she doesn’t get it she isn’t able to handle it. It drives her to cheat.

It would do Phoebe some good to explore those feelings. A possible explanation could lie in Phoebe’s ethnic background. She’s Asian. Maybe there are some underlying overachieving and underloved issues stemming from that? It’s not unheard of.

Contrast that with Helga! Helga is smart too! But for Helga, doing well in school doesn’t matter to her, in fact, she could care less. Not because she’s dumb or whatever, but because Helga’s sense of self-worth comes from within (mostly).

She certainly wasn’t going to get validation from these two checked-out chucklefucks so Helga had to learn how to self-love pretty early on.

Not that Helga doesn’t have issues of her own, but one of the things she doesn’t struggle with the way Phoebe does is deriving her value from external sources. Sure, Helga cares if Arnold will love her back, but outside of that? Helga’s pretty comfortable with who she is. One thing that both Phoebe and Helga have in common however is that they both fear rejection of who they fundamentally are deep down inside.

Phoebe fears the rejection of her intelligence and Helga her emotions.

Remember when I wrote earlier about how writing is hard because it involves putting yourself out there? Writing isn’t the only way to do that. Look at artists of any stripe. It’s the same thing.

Hell, even just putting yourself out there *socially* is hard. It’s scary! What if we do it and people hate us? What if people tell us we’re no good? Could you handle that type of rejection?

I sympathize with Phoebe I really do. I’d be lying if I said there aren’t times when I really wish that people would validate me and my work. To tell me I’m good.

People steal and plagiarize for personal gain all the time, for sure that’s a thing. But I also think a fair amount of people do it because deep down their biggest fear is being vulnerable.

It takes courage to spill your guts out; to show the world how you really feel. Will they take it (you) well or will they reject it (you)?

At the end of the episode, Phoebe does the right thing and reads the legitimately best poem in her class. Written by "Anonymous".

Helga takes it well.

And that was Phoebe Cheats! A great episode and a poignant one about self-worth!

#hey arnold #phoebe heyerdahl #helga pataki #media analysis #phoebe cheats #writing #tv review

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harringtonlovers · 2 years ago

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COME AND GET YOUR LOVE | STANCY

chapter 3

“ up the water spout ”

ao3

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All Nancy wanted to do was sleep.

After her conversation with Steve in journalism, she tried her best to focus on the flyers. However, someone else had caught her attention. The one and only Jonathan Byers, head of the photography department. He had a way with words, acting introverted at the start but concluding with a sentence that usually caused Nancy to blush.

She was enamored by Jonathan. He was everything she looked for in a guy. Sweet, had a steady hobby, cared about his future, and knew how to dress. He was well-liked by the yearbook group and had a solid friend group with others. The two also shared classes so Nancy had ample opportunity to stare at the back of his head. All those things checked off Nancy's list, making her instantly have a crush on him. The only person who knew about this was Robin, and Nancy planned to keep it that way.

Not that she was embarrassed by the crush, it was just unusual. She never expected to fall for someone like Jonathan. Sure, he fit her perfect guy to a tee. However, Nancy felt that he might have been too good for her. What did Nancy have to offer him besides school and journalism? The idea of them dating seemed unreasonable.

Jonathan definitely wanted nothing to do with her.

Due to the distraction, Nancy was unable to finish her flyers or start her assignments for journalism. She usually never fell behind, but the day had kicked her in the ass. Steve Harrington was the bane of her existence, causing this whole shift in her schedule. Because of him, Nancy actually had to try and fit him in somewhere for the paper. Sadly, she wasn't able to make him clean the rest of the year.

During lunch, she tried her best to complete her assignments. The flyers were done, stacked on a desk next to her. Nancy typed away on the typewriter, trying her best to ignore the hungering pains in her stomach. Even after lunch, she still had a few things to do. In between, Nancy continued with her classes that provided even more assignments. She knew the burnout would hit today.

After school, she blew off Robin to finish her journalism assignments. All the girl had left was to assign projects for the October paper. Everyone was fairly easy to place, besides Steve Harrington. He was the worst. Of course, Nancy knew it would be too easy to fit him into sports. But the sports team was already too big, so Nancy decided against that. Instead, she placed Steve into review articles. Basically, Steve just had to go around and ask people about random assignments. It would keep Steve out of the class, and Nancy's sanity steady.

On top of journalism, Nancy took the rest of her work home. She hid away in her room, grinding out her homework. It only took her an hour or so, but Nancy hated falling behind. She constantly blamed herself when it came to school, the academic validation increasing as she got older. The only way Nancy could measure her success and happiness was through school. If she got less than a B, why should she even try? Everything was worth an A to her.

Nancy also thought of the future. She would be attending college next fall, which made her extra worried about her grades. Although that's not the only thing that mattered, it did help that she has had straight A's since the sixth grade. It also helped that she was consistent with journalism. But at the end of the day, she found herself thinking about the conversation with Ms. Kelley.

Tutoring would add even more to Nancy's plate. She found it challenging to handle school, journalism, and tutoring. However, Ms. Kelley had a point. If she couldn't handle that all at once, then why would any college want her? College is all about time management and balance, which was something Nancy needed to master.

Nancy wrapped up her work, releasing her stress with a full plate of dinner made by her mother and tying up the night with a nice, hot shower. She stood in the water for over thirty minutes, taking in the quiet time. The girl loved everything about a warm shower, especially after a long day.

She dressed herself in her favorite matching set and plopped onto her bed. Nancy stared at the ceiling, arms stretched out above her head. Her face went soft as she stared at the old patches of paint on the wall. They reminded her of her childhood, also known as pure bliss. How could she get back to that place? Be the girl who found happiness in things besides school?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her landline. Nancy shot up in her bed, gasping at the sound of the ringing. Before going to the phone, Nancy looked at her clock. How was it already half past nine? And who the hell was calling her so late at night?

She wanted to ignore it. All Nancy wanted to do was lay in bed and think of all the things going on in her life. But, what if Robin was on the line? She could've been in danger. Or something could've happened to Mike, Nancy's younger brother. And that's when the anxiety of something happening hit her hard. Sprinting toward the phone, she stared at it. Her brows furrowed before she picked up the landline.

"Hello?"

Silence. No one replied to her for a few moments, causing her cheeks to turn bright red. Had she been prank called?

"Nancy? It's Steve Harrington."

Oh, she had been prank called.

Before she could hang up the phone, Steve began to beg. "Before you hang up!"

Nancy clenched her fist around the phone tightly.

"I have a solution to all of our problems!"

Nancy froze. What problems had he been talking about? She didn't have any problems. At least ones that didn't concern Steve whatsoever.

"Excuse me?" She snapped, placing her spare hand on her hip.

"A solution!" Steve sighed. The boy pressed the tips of his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "I know your secret, Wheeler, and I can help."

Nancy's eyes went wide at Steve's words. What secret could he have been talking about? "This isn't funny, Harrington."

"I'm being serious!" Another sigh. "Byers! Jonathan Byers. I know you have a crush on him."

Steve tried his best to listen to the silence. He furrowed his brows as he didn't get a response. Pulling the phone away, he checked to see if his phone had disconnected. "Hello? Nancy?"

Nancy knew he was full of shit. How could he have known? There's no way in hell that Robin would say something. "A crush?" Nancy chuckled. "You're funny!" The girl tried her best to fight the feelings. "Wh-Why would I...Nancy Wheeler...have a crush on." Nancy cleared her throat. "Jonathan Byers?"

Steve felt the laugh in his throat, letting it explode. His laughter filled his bedroom and blew Nancy's eardrums. "God, Wheeler, you're pathetic."

Nancy sighed, crossing her free arm over her chest. "Very funny! I'm hanging up."

"Wait!" Steve cried out. He ran a hand through his sweaty hair before continuing. "I'm serious. I could get Byers to like you back, ya know kind of set you guys up."

Nancy's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean like me back? What if he already likes me?"

"He's doing a shit job at saying so." Steve scoffed. "Let's face it, Wheeler. You've got absolutely no flirtatious bone in your body. And you need my help to fix that!"

Nancy's cheeks turned bright red. She felt lucky that he wasn't in the same room as her right now. "That's not true! I...I..." Nancy sighed. "Yeah, you're probably right."

"I know I am! So this is what we're gonna do."

Nancy hated the fact that Steve was basically bossing her around. He was telling her the truth about irrelevant parts of her life that didn't seem important until now. It was a shame that Nancy never dated anyone, let alone barely speak to another guy. "What are we gonna do, Harrington?" Nancy crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned into the phone.

"I can't say over the phone." Steve paused. "Anyone could be listening right now."

"You can't be serious!"

"Dead. So dead, Wheeler." Steve grinned. Nancy swore she could hear it.

Steve figured that the perfect way to get Nancy hooked was to leave her at the edge of her seat. She would just have to know what the solution to her lack of flirting and boyfriends would be. Steve usually had this down perfectly, using the excuse to see a girl again for another hook-up session. Now, he was using it on Nancy Wheeler, someone he never thought he'd have to.

At the end of the day, though, Steve was going to get his way. It didn't necessarily matter if anything sparked for Nancy. All that mattered was whether or not he could bring his grades up, all while scoring the girl of his dreams.

Nancy, on the other hand, was having a hard time buying Steve's act. Why would Steve Harrington need a favor from her? And what did it have to do with her crush on Jonathan Byers? The whole situation piqued her interest, but she was still reluctant to fall for it. "I don't know. You're being too suspicious about all of this."

"Trust me, Nance," Steve smirked, knowing the nickname would get Nancy going somehow, someway.

"Trust you?" Nancy laughed. She couldn't stop, finding it hard to breathe. "You're out of your mind!"

Steve sighed. This was going to be tougher than he thought. Of course, Nancy was stubborn as a mule. But he knew he could break the ice just a bit. "Look, Nancy, I could really use your help. It's got to do with my future and...I know you care about yours, right?"

Nancy rolled her eyes. "Yes."

"So, what do you say about helping someone better their future? Even if that person is me?"

Nancy stayed silent. She began to contemplate, wondering if this was actually true or not. The girl knew how Steve was with other girls, and she didn't want to fall into that trap. But on the other side, she thought about the future. What if helping him would be a great thing to talk about in her application? Or what if it had to do with school? "You're fantastic at guilt-tripping people."

The answer only made Steve's smile widen. He wished Nancy was seeing his smile to show how genuinely happy he was. "So you're in?"

Nancy exhaled. "I guess so." Steve let out a cheer, causing Nancy to cringe. Her ears burned from the yelling. "Harrington!"

Steve stopped his cheering, clearing his throat. "Sorry, sorry. We need a meeting spot to discuss this plan, yeah?"

Nancy rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I guess."

Steve thought for a moment. Would it be too weird to have Nancy come over to his place? It might throw some people off, and Steve runs into the issue of potentially having Eddie and Billy come over, questioning why he can't hang out when Steve is at home by himself. He also didn't want anyone to drive by the house, risking their plans. It didn't make sense to have Nancy come to his house.

"I got it!" Steve smiled. "Your place."

Nancy's eyes went wide. She wished she could slap him across the face right now. "What? This is your plan, so it should be at your place."

Steve sighed. "I...I can't. My parents don't let girls come over during the week. It just wouldn't work out." His first of many lies slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

The girl ran a hand through her hair, debating on whether or not Steve should come over. It would be strange, for one thing. If Nancy asked her mom, it would be the end of the world. How could she have gone from no boys to one of the most popular ones in Hawkins? Her mom would also want him to stay for dinner, which is the last thing Nancy wanted.

She glanced around the room, biting down on her bottom lip. Her eyes gazed until they landed on her window. Nancy grabbed her landline, dragging the device toward her window. She glanced out of the window, seeing that the roof of the garage did connect to her side of the house, creating the perfect platform to step on. Nancy nodded slightly, taking note of the water spout next to the roof. "You can come here."

Steve's smile only brightened. "Awesome!"

"But!" Nancy interrupted. "You'll come later tonight. Park down the street, and you're gonna climb up the water spout, get onto the roof, and sneak into my room through my window. Got it?"

Steve's smile turned into a sly grin. "Sneak into your room, huh?"

"You're an idiot, Steve Harrington." Nancy rolled her eyes. "2530 Maple Street. See you soon."

The girl hung up the phone before he could respond. Nancy wrapped her arms over her chest, rubbing her arms awkwardly. She felt ill knowing that Steve Harrington was coming over to her house. In secret. Through her window.

Nancy felt her heart sink as she threw herself onto the bed, counting down the seconds until Steve Harrington arrived.

———

Hours passed and Steve figured that it was time for him to go. He decided that it was best if he just rode his bike so that if his friends stopped by, they'd figure someone picked him up. After all, his car was in the garage, so he hoped they would see the missing car and move on with their lives.

Not that he was embarrassed by Nancy. Steve just found it difficult to cope with the fact that he needed help with school, as well as getting Chrissy to fall for him. And it made it even worse that he was getting help from Nancy Wheeler. Of all people, she was the last one he'd expect service from.

Steve wondered why Nancy agreed to help him. As he pedaled down the street, he tried to think of the many reasons why she would even want to be anywhere near him. His mind went blank, finding it difficult to come up with an answer. It was painfully obvious to him that Nancy Wheeler despised him.

Approaching Maple Street, Steve found himself gripping onto his handles tighter than ever. He was a bit familiar with this street due to several house parties taking place on this straight. It was one of the most common areas for suburban housing, which made Steve all the more anxious. His friends could pull up in a car out of nowhere. That thought only made him pedal faster, trying to focus on the sounds of the late-night crickets.

Despite the darkness, he managed to find her house. It was at the end of the cul-de-sac, standing tall and wide. His mouth went ajar a bit as he stared at the house. Steve left his bike down the street, adjusting his jacket as he made his way toward the house. He looked for the window, finding the only glowing one. It was next to the lower roof of the garage, indicating Nancy's room.

For some reason, Steve grew anxious. What if the two got caught? Nancy obviously wanted him sneaking around due to her strict parents or something. He slowly made his way toward the garage, studying the layout of the house. Steve's eyes darted toward the infamous water spout Nancy spoke of.

Glancing around, he jogged toward the spout. He looked back for a moment as he heard the faint sound of another bicycle. His eyes locked with a younger male. His face was full of disgust as he stared Steve down. The older male smiled awkwardly, waving toward the kid. He resembled Nancy slightly, both having dark hair and gleaming eyes. The younger boy rolled his eyes before biking down the street. "What the hell is he doing out so late?" Steve huffed.

Turning back around, Steve stared up at his destination. He reached up, gripping the water spout as he climbed up slowly. His feet slid slightly, a sigh escaping as Steve clenched onto a tough root. He pulled himself up, grunting a bit in the process. It was harder than he thought, and Steve wished he worked more on his upper body strength at the moment.

Taking a few more tries, Steve managed to make it halfway up the water spout. He gripped the edge of the roof, fingers clawing into the hard brick. He winced, pushing himself off the wall and pulling himself up. His body hung for a moment before he rolled onto the roof. Steve let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. He hoped no one was watching his fiasco of a climb.

Glancing over, Steve looked into Nancy's window. He saw the vague outline of her body sprawled out on the bed. A grin appeared on his lips as he crawled toward the window, trying to be as quiet as possible. His fingers reached up, forming a fist. Steve watched as Nancy's chest rose and fell, soft breaths filling the air. In a quick flash, Steve banged against the window. He clutched his stomach as he laughed, watching Nancy practically jump out of her skin.

Nancy's heart began to beat faster than ever. The girl turned to the window, eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. Her face settled as she saw Steve laughing his head off. Her hands clenched into fists as she stormed toward the window. In a fit of fiery, Nancy threw open the window. "Are you insane?!" She whispered yelled.

Steve stifled his laughter, covering his mouth. "I'm so sorry, Nancy." He chuckled, shaking his head with the biggest grin on his lips. "That was too easy. Man, better hope no one ever comes up here, right?"

Nancy rolled her eyes before her famous scowl appeared on her lips. "Just come in." She moved to the side.

Steve nodded, crawling in through the window. It was a tight squeeze but he managed, to catch himself on the ground.

Nancy watched in amusement, loving how much Steve seemed to struggle. Her mood immediately went south as she noticed his shoes. "Take your shoes off. Now!" The girl demanded, watching as the mud almost stained her pillows in the bay window.

Steve only seemed to struggle more, trying his best to balance without getting his dirty shoes on her pillows and carpet. He managed, sitting on the floor with his feet in the air. Glancing at Nancy, he swore he could see the steam coming out of her ears. He slowly ripped his shoes off his feet, holding them in the air to reduce the amount of dirt he brought in.

"You're unbelievable," Nancy said. She grabbed the shoes, she tossed them out of the window. The girl hoped that somehow, someway, the shoes would disappear. She snapped the window tight, quickly wiping the excess dirt off of her bay window pillow. "Now, make this quick so I can reject the offer?"

Steve's neck snapped toward Nancy. There was no chance in hell that she made him come all the way over to her house just to reject his idea. "Reject? Why the hell did I come? You could've told me this on the phone." He stood up, cracking his back from the awkward fall from earlier.

Nancy's head tilted up to look at Steve. She never noticed how much taller he was compared to her. Having to look up at Steve made her blush, considering tallness was quite attractive to Nancy. Pushing the thoughts out of her head, Nancy pursed her lips. "I mean...I just don't really see how you knowing who my crush is will help out both of us. To me, it seems like perfect blackmail for you."

Steve thought for a moment. Nancy wasn't completely wrong—her crush did act as some sort of blackmail. A way to keep up her end of the deal. "I can explain it if you'd let me." Steve paused to put his hands on his hips. "But only if you promise to not reject it right away. Cause I know you will."

Nancy crossed her arms over her chest, face softening from his request. "Alright." She waltzed over to her bed, sitting on the edge. The girl moved down a bit and looked up at Steve, gesturing for him to sit down.

Steve watched as Nancy's demeanor fell, showing off a bit of a softer side. Her blue eyes were gentle and full of wonder, causing Steve to want to sit next to her. He was thankful that Nancy offered a seat on her bed. With a sigh, Steve sat down on Nancy's bed with ease. He scooted up a bit, lifting one of his legs to rest in an awkward but extremely comfortable position.

Nancy watched, her eyebrows furrowing along with her signature smug look. She moved over a bit, facing Steve completely by crisscrossing her legs on the bed. "I'm all ears, Steven."

"Just Steve." He said. "Alright, now. This plan. At first, it may sound a bit insane but I promise you. It'll work out so well for both of us." Steve lifted his pinky finger in the air.

Nancy stared at his finger, eyes flickering to see Steve's pure reaction. "What are you doing?"

Steve looked at his finger before sitting up completely. Their knees touched one another's, causing Nancy to flinch and Steve to blush a bit. "This? A pinky promise? A pretty common thing to do."

"How do I know I can trust you?" Nancy blurred out. She bit down on her bottom lip, staring into Steve's dark eyes.

His eyes flickered for a moment, catching sight of Nancy's baby blues. "Just promise me."

Nancy let out a sigh. How was she so sure to trust Steve? But alas, she hooked her pinky finger around his.

With a smile, Steve hugged Nancy's finger with his own before letting go. "Okay. Just to jump right in." Steve paused to prepare himself for the wrath of Nancy Wheeler. "We fake date each other."

Nancy's eyes grew wide as the words slipped out of his mouth. "What?!" She yelled, covering her mouth as fast as she could. Nancy prayed no one in the house had heard her. Removing her hand, she stared at Steve with disgust. "Are you insane? Fake date each other? How could that possibly work?"

Steve lifted his hands to defend himself, nervous to face Nancy in a fight. "Okay, okay. I know! It's a bit insane." He sighed. "But think of it like this. Jonathan sees you dating the most popular guy in school.."

"So humble," Nancy mumbled.

Steve gave her a look of annoyance before continuing. "Anyway. Most popular guy in school." He points to himself just to piss her off. "And he flips his shit. Wonders why he couldn't possibly get a hold of you. You automatically become more desirable the minute you're in a relationship, and Jonathan will realize it the second he sees us holding hands."

Nancy tilted her head in confusion. "Why would being in a relationship make me more desirable?"

"Think of it like this," Steve said. "No desperation. The crush on Jonathan is oozing out of you, Wheeler." Her cheeks flushed which made Steve smile a bit. "The minute he realizes you've stopped pining over him, the more he'll wonder why. And it's because..." Steve pointed his fingers at Nancy.

"I'll be in a relationship." Nancy nodded, playing along with his silly game.

"Exactly!" Steve beamed.

"Wouldn't this be making you more desirable as well?" Nancy asked.

Steve nodded, his smile growing wider. "Yes, you're getting it! See, you'll be helping me out too. Chrissy Cunningham is the love of my life and I need her, Wheeler. Badly."

Nancy cringed at the desperation but found it kind of sweet how enamored he was with Chrissy. "Chrissy Cunningham? She doesn't like you?"

"I can't tell. Eddie always likes to say she likes him and I just...can't have that happen."

"How selfless of you." Nancy retorted. All the girl wanted to do was laugh at the fact that he was so desperate for a girl who has never expressed desire toward Steve.

"Can it." Steve rolled his eyes. "Anyways. People want what they can't have. So, when Chrissy sees I'm 'dating' you, she'll want me even more. It'll be perfect for us."

"This just seems so...wrong. I feel like I'm going to be manipulating everyone!" Nancy sighed, growing anxious over the plan.

"No, no." Steve shook his head. "You won't be doing anything except allowing me to hold your hand in public. It'll all be me. Jonathan will come to you naturally, I promise. Besides, there's another perk?"

Nancy hesitated for a moment. "Another one? What, do you need to impress the whole cheerleading team?"

"Funny," Steve muttered. "No. I need..a tutor. Real bad."

"A tutor?" Nancy practically sprung out of her seat.

"Yes, Ms. Kelley recommended you. I need your help because if I don't get my grades up, then I can't apply to schools or be accepted by schools due to my poor GPA. I'll also get kicked off the team, which won't be great for the spring season."

Nancy tried her best to contain a smile. "That's crazy because I need another activity to put on my college resume!"

Steve lifted an eyebrow. "You don't say."

Nancy nodded, a smile forming. "This is perfect! If I tutor you, I can add it to my resume and Emerson will totally accept me now!" Nancy stood up and began to pace back and forth. Steve's eyes grew wide as he watched the girl, nervous for her to fall from the concentration. "On top of that, I will be helping a student grow into a beautiful new person."

Steve smiled. "Wow, you really care."

"It'll be great for my essay!" Nancy lifted her hands to create a fake scene. "Nancy Wheeler loves to educate, as well as express leadership. She's perfect for Emerson, and make her the Editor-In-Chief!"

"Okay, tiger, slow your role." Steve humbled her by forcing Nancy to sit back down. "You just have to help me. I am really depending on you."

Nancy sat for a moment, a soft pout on her lips. She stared up at Steve, anxious to give him an answer. The whole idea seemed ludicrous. How was Jonathan just suddenly going to want to date her the minute Steve took her under his wing? Wouldn't that be a major turn-off? Granted, she barely knew anything about boys, but learning from Steve Harrington seemed like the worst idea on the planet.

On the bright side, Nancy found this to be perfect for her application. Sure, she loved to tutor. It was great to see people excel in topics they struggled with. Nancy always felt like a momma bird watching her kids leave the nest for the first time after sessions. But how was she going to handle tutoring Steve? She knew it would be extra work considering his grades must be all over the place. And worst of all, she hated him. At least she thought she did.

Tugging at her hair nervously, Nancy let out a groan. "Fine."

Steve stared at her. "Fine?"

Nancy closed her eyes for a moment. She sent a prayer, hoping she wouldn't regret this decision. "Fine. I'll do it."

Steve's heart practically fell into his butt. He immediately wrapped his arms around Nancy, pulling her into the tightest bear hug imaginable. Nancy winced, refusing to hug him back due to the awkward way he grabbed her. The boy pushed himself away, placing his hands on Nancy's frail arms. "Tomorrow. Meet me in the parking lot in my car. Alright?"

Nancy stared up at Steve. She could see the glimmer in his eyes, making her heart flip-flop weirdly. He seemed overly excited about this, and it made Nancy feel nauseous. "Alright."

Lifting himself off the bed, Steve headed toward the window. "You're the best, Nancy Wheeler!"

"That's it?" Nancy faced him.

Steve turned around, placing his hand on the window to open it. "Yeah."

"No plan? Layouts? How we're going to convince Chrissy? Or, better yet...your tutoring schedule."

"That's a tomorrow issue." Steve smiled. "Remember. Parking lot right before school."

Nancy nodded, smiling softly at Steve. "Right."

After he threw himself out of the window, Steve looked back at Nancy. He placed his shoes back on his feet, adjusting to the uncomfortableness that had no match for Nancy's soft carpeting. "Goodnight, fake girlfriend."

Nancy stood up and walked toward the window. She placed her hands on top, a fake smile forming on her lips. "Get lost, fake boyfriend." She felt ill just saying that.

With a wink, Steve disappeared into the night. Nancy let her hands rest on the window for a moment as she listened to the sounds of Steve's feet hitting the ground and the pedals of a bike. She watched as Steve pedaled down the street, her eyes feeling glossy.

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darspeaksout · 2 years ago

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The Longest Dream

On a random Saturday morning, I woke up on the highest floor of an apartment building. My partner was laying next to me. Taking me in his arms, I felt the warmth of his body pressed against mine. The bedroom window which led to the balcony presented us with a view of the city that spread into the distance. Roads leading to condominiums, office spaces, skyscrapers, and the CN Tower far away.

We remained in each other's embrace, exchanging kisses and warm words as the sunlight poured abundantly into the room. To be happily in love with a man in the comfort of our own privacy, to receive this love without any shame or guilt, is something I thought would never be possible for me.

THE PAST

It was over a decade ago when I was a student, crying in a hotel room that I was sharing with some other guys in my grade. Word had gotten out about my sexual orientation and for three long years, I had watched my core group of friends dwindle, one person at a time. Which is why when I joined the out-of-province trip to Quebec, I found myself feeling alone in the hotel room despite sharing it with three guys, and wandering the streets of Old Montreal by myself while the rest of them went off exploring together. Every local shop, sidewalk, statue, and church we visited, I was alone. Physically, my classmates were there. Emotionally, nobody was.

I understood my lonesome expedition to this culturally different province to be my punishment for not being heterosexual, and for letting that fact get out. In my little kid brain, this trip to Quebec taught me that the price of being honest about myself was loneliness and exclusion. I learned that if I wanted people to stay, I needed to be more discreet. I needed to downplay any feminine attributes, or better, eliminate them entirely. I needed to make friends with guys to prove I was still one of them, but not get too close as to arouse suspicion that there was a possibility for romantic attraction. I needed to change myself in order to feel like a successfully integrated boy-becoming-man. I wanted respect, which I would later discover would come at the cost of my authentic self. And so began my future of pretending to be someone I wasn't.

I never talked about that Quebec trip until now. I felt like I had no right to feel upset especially considering that at that age, it was a privilege and a luxury because not every student could afford to go. I spent most nights weeping than I did laughing. I was counting down the remaining days because I wanted it to end. Even though in our hotel room there were two king-sized beds, the three guys I was rooming with all slept on the other one because they wanted to avoid me. I never told my parents this.

There's a guilt that comes with privilege, it's the guilt of feeling like your pain isn't valid because someone always has it worse. Yes, I was bullied. But it was all words and no one ever put their hands on me. Yes, I felt alone. But I was alone while traveling, compared to some students who felt alone and were stuck where they were. This is what I told myself. I should just deal with it.

Suffice it to say that as a kid, I didn't allow myself the space to be upset, to grieve loss, to feel anything. And because I didn't allow myself to feel pain, I couldn't feel joy either. The joy would always be accompanied with guilt. Self-hatred and guilt, or happiness and guilt. Always guilty and never fully living. Even on the days when it wasn't so bad, deep down I felt I didn't deserve to have these moments of peace.

So when it was time to graduate from elementary school and I took home all the academic awards, I couldn't feel proud of myself. What right did I have to feel good when I'd lost most of my friends upon their discovering that I was not straight? Because I was gay, it caused my best friend to distance himself from me. Because I was gay, my friend who was dating my best friend started to become suspicious that I would develop feelings for him. It was my fault they left, I told myself. There was something wrong with me that they couldn't stand to be around. I was the problem.

At graduation, I remember the first award I won was religion. The teacher who stood next to me on stage whispered not to return to my seat just yet. I was confused but then it made sense when they announced my name for the next award. And for the next one. And for the next four. The award goes to Darwin and to Darwin and to Darwin and to Darwin. The room filled with cheers and applause. And each time they called my name, it was humiliating.

I remember putting my head down. People might have thought I was doing it out of humility, but I was actually doing it out of shame because deep down I knew the price I paid for this success was the loss of myself and the loss of acceptance from my peers. When the ceremony concluded, I didn't receive a single "congratulations" from anyone in my graduating class. What hurt most was the people who I considered myself to be closest with didn't congratulate me either. Even though we'd fallen out by then, part of me was hoping they would find it in themselves to be happy for me. I think if I'd had at least one person in my corner, it wouldn't have been as painful.

It was from this experience that I associated my success with people's resentment. You would think this would've discouraged me from further excelling in my education. Quite the opposite - since people wanted nothing to do with me anyway because of my sexual orientation, whether or not I was academically gifted had no effect on their decision to avoid me. I poured my energy into my schoolwork going into high school and all throughout university, which did serve me well. But I felt alone for most of it.

At the school trip, I was an outcast and I had no awards. At graduation, I had awards but was still an outcast. I received the same treatment when I had nothing and when I had something to be proud of. And yet I couldn't be proud of myself. I learned that as long as I'm gay, no one will find it in themselves to be happy for me. If this was my reality then I didn't want to wake up to it. In hindsight, that period of my life was so lonely I wanted nothing more than to sleep forever. To be stuck dreaming good things and stop living in the real world sounded blissful. I was a child then so I wasn't familiar with the word "suicidal," but it's what I felt.

THE PRESENT

Fast forward eleven years later, and life couldn't be any more different. My university diploma hangs gloriously on the wall of my living room, next to my brother's. I wake up to the sound of my parents chatting in the dining room. They ask me what my plans are for the weekend; I tell them I'm driving a couple hours away to visit my partner. They tell me to stay safe and to text me when I get there.

And when I do, we have the whole apartment to ourselves. This time, no one is avoiding sharing the same bed with me. The morning after, we sleep in and drive to the city for brunch. Hands intertwined over the aroma of eggs and coffee, I tell him this: "I never thought this would be possible for me." He tells me he feels the same.

Every local shop, statue, square, and park, we're together. And when I look at my life, I realize I laugh more than I cry these days. I count my loved ones instead of my lost ones. While it's true that having him in my life makes it more fulfilling, it doesn't mean I was an incomplete person prior to the relationship. I'd made the decision to like myself and to enjoy my own company even when I was single. I'd go downtown by myself, visit museums, eat at restaurants, and go on late night drives to various places. The difference between wandering alone as a kid in Quebec and wandering alone as a single adult, is that as a kid I was alone and hated who I was. But as a single adult, I was alone and learned to accept and to appreciate myself. Which means that now that I'm in a relationship, I accept, appreciate, and love myself, and I have someone to accept, appreciate, and love in return. A relationship adds to a person's existence; it does not complete it.

And because I've reached this milestone of self-acceptance, I can revisit that day in my childhood when I won those awards and truly claim that I deserved it, because I did.

I have graduated. Not only from the subject material taught to me in school, but from the experiences I endured as a student there. I've graduated from homophobia, self-hatred, loneliness, exclusion, and bullying. Adults will tell you that school is a place of learning, and if that's the case, I'll tell you that life outside of school is a place of unlearning. Unlearning trauma and unhealthy, destructive ways of thinking. Unlearning the defense mechanisms we had to adopt as children in order to deal with the teachers who didn't enforce respect and the kids who felt entitled to take advantage of their leniency. Unlearning the idea that in order to consider myself as a worthy human being, I needed to be accepted by everyone. If I even have to ask for acceptance, then I'm asking the wrong people.

It's ironic that the place where I experienced such pain is only a five-minute walk away from my childhood home. Whenever I'd drive past, I'd steal a glance searching for the little kid version of myself playing during recess, running around freely, ignorant to the fact that his social world would crumble in a few years. I felt an anticipating doom for that child. Life as he knew it would be no longer. Now whenever I drive by, I don't bother glancing because there's nothing more to look at. I've taken what I needed from that time of my life that was elementary school, acknowledged that it's contributed greatly to how I've developed, retained what was useful and discarded what wasn't, and in doing so, have moved on. There's no need to look back.

That school is like a time capsule of my former world and of the person I used to be. In terms of physical proximity, it's near. But in terms of time, it's as distant as a foreign country. And since I've changed internally by unlearning self-destructive mindsets and habits, my external world has changed too. Although I've lived in the same place for most of my life, it doesn't feel the same because I've changed for the better.

Occasionally, I'll have flashbacks of the bullying that took place on the school's playground. It'll be at random times when I'm making coffee, going to the grocery store, or commuting to work. I'll think back to that tearful night in Quebec as I slept by myself on that large bed and how I wandered alone on the cobblestoned streets during the day. But because it happened a long time ago and because I've changed drastically since, it feels like it happened to a different person entirely. And when I remember that it happened to my younger self, I feel that it was only a bad dream which, while I was in it felt eternal, in reality didn't last long. The longest dream of my life came to an end. I eventually woke up and saw that real life wasn't so bad.

REAL LIFE

"Good morning," my partner says softly. Sunlight enters the window. My eyes adjust to the contours of his face. He asks how I slept.

"I slept well and even dreamed a little," I say.

"Really?"

"Yeah." I run my fingers through his hair, savoring the moment, remembering life wasn't always like this. It took a lot of time, work, and patience. As he's in front of me, I feel joy and nothing else. No guilt, no shame. This is bliss - being in the presence of love, and being in the absence of everything that is not. The things I thought were impossible became possible for me.

"I hope it was a good dream," he says, giving me a kiss.

"It was alright." In his eyes, I see the reflection of the person I grew to love. It's only because I grew to love him that I can love my partner. "But you know what? I'd rather be awake."

THE END

#romance #love #selfacceptance

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the-warlock-syndicate · 5 days ago

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See, I am just thinking about my own personal bugbear, in that I am deeply disgusted by mobile games basically turning themselves into barely disguised casinos to get money out of children.

Like, in fairness, it isn't exactly hard to trick small children. But in the same breath, I am willing to bet that most 11 yr olds don't have strong opinions on the validity of the psychology in the field of advertising or scams. And if they do, probably not very nuanced or well informed ones.

Regardless, we see it all the time. Mobile games offering various alternative currencies(probably to divorce the thought of them from the real money being spent), bright lights and shiny pop-ups, satisfying reactions and sounds to actions in game, offers for limited time offers and deals to get that fear of missing out.

Like, I am not a psych major, nor have I ever engaged with that academically, or felt the need to seek therapy. That said, I feel like from a pure layman's perspective, we can define psychology as trying to understand people's thought processes from a scientific bent. Even if only aspirationally.

Like, I firmly believe that applied psychology is crucial to the very concept of advertising, and advertising is crucial to actually get people to buy stuff they don't need. And a distressingly large percent of the US economy(which I am most familiar with) runs off of advertising.

Put it this way, I think that homeopathy is the purest type of pseudoscience, because it is just straight up false. It does nothing. I can eat as many sugar pills as I want, and no results, good or bad, will occur.

I am hesitant to apply the same label to psychology, because while I don't have any practical or anecdotal information about its beneficial side, it seems pretty clear to me that the malevolent uses are indeed doing something. Advertising does seem to work and powers all of our megacorps, scam calls are profitable enough that people keep trying them, and nation states local and domestic invest huge amount of money in online propaganda campaigns.

I can easily accept people having bad experiences with psychology who are turned off from it forever. But to claim it has no basis in reality is just absurd. Demonstrably absurd.

being a psych, econ, or polisci major is like an anti-degree for me i think you've had knowledge blasted out of your head with a men in black laser basically

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hotchshands · 8 months ago

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Chapter 1 | First Day of Class

Masterlist | Taglist | Other Chapters

Summary: The first day of class is upon you and first up is Professor Hotchner's lecture, Intro to Profiling. You've been anxiously waiting for this day to arrive, having picked out your outfit and prepared yourself for his lecture weeks in advance.

Word Count: 2.3k

Contains: professor!hotch x student!reader

A/N: Welcome to the first chapter of Teacher’s Pet, a Professor!Hotch AU (Yes, I changed the title for the second time). Oh, and imagine readers wearing the outfit above. Last thing to keep in mind, the university is totally made up, but the mechanics are modeled after my uni.

The start of the new semester rolled around quickly, signaling the end of summer and the start of yet another academic year. You weren’t looking forward to the start of the semester until you reviewed your course schedule and saw his name, Aaron Hotchner. The name alone brought back memories of why you registered for the class in the first place.

Fall registration rolled around sometime in March. You had put it off for a while, but you needed to sign up for a university lecture, as your school required every student to take two before graduation. Luckily you were able to take one relevant to your major, so all you needed was one more.

As you scrolled through the course catalog, you were doomed to be unlucky. Everything was completely out of your field of study, and none were remotely interesting, though there was one that sounded like it could be. Intro to Profiling? Hmm.

You click on the course to read more. As you read the course description, the class seemed to be more and more like something you should register for. The lecture meets on Mondays and has discussion sections on Wednesdays at 10 am. The course would be taught by Aaron Hotchner and some TAs would lead the discussion sections.

Aaron Hotchner? Because you weren’t a criminology major, you’d never heard the name before, so you decided to do some research. You did this every semester: Look up the professors and see if there were any major red flags before signing up for their courses. As you Googled Aaron Hotchner, all you saw were articles upon articles about his achievements at the Behavioral Analysis Unit or BAU. Most are about the cases he has worked on, and others about his leadership as the Unit Chief of the BAU.

Clearly, the man was well-educated in the field of profiling, not that it really mattered to you. Now for the ultimate final test: RateMyProfessor. You go on the site and type in his name. Thankfully, several results popped up. Most were from Georgetown University in DC, but a few were from your small private school.

The reviews varied, but they all had one commonality: the man was strict. “Insanely strict,” one reviewer put it. That same reviewer went on to complain that he "failed them." You started to become hesitate. As you continued scrolling through the reviews, more and more said things like “Don't take his class” and “He refuses to give A’s.”

As a person who craved academic validation in the form of a 4.0 GPA, straight As, and high praise from your professors, your brain was screaming RUN. However, a small voice in the back of your head told you to continue your research, so you did.

You read through some of the more nicer reviews. “He's strict as hell, but put in the effort, and you'll get a B.” another reviewer said. Another wrote, “Forced to take this horrible class, but my God, does the professor put the hot in Hotchner!” Your eyes widen at that. Secretly, you always wanted to witness the hot professor trope in action; maybe this was your chance.

You go back to Google and look for images of the man. Since he had been in the press quite a bit, it wasn't hard to find several photos of him in action. Some of the photos were from press conferences, others were taken from the scene. You study each picture you come across like it was a painting. You take in the lines on his face, the browns of his eyes and hair, and the mole on the right of his nose. Right then, your mind was made up; you were taking his class.

As you were preparing for the start of the fall semester, you huffed at all the clothes in your closet—or, according to you, the lack thereof. Hours later, you decide on a more preppy look. You choose a pale blue button-up, a plaid skirt, and a navy blue blazer for your outfit on Monday. The look felt like a cliche, the teacher's pet kind of cliche, but you wanted to impress Professor Hotchner, so you pushed the doubts aside.

The weekend could not have gone by any slower. By the time Monday came, you were antsy. You woke up later than you would have liked, at 8:30, giving you less than an hour to get ready if you wanted to be early for class. One thing you did not want to do was show up late on the first day, especially to Professor Hotchner's lecture. Another commonality those RateMyProfessor reviews had was that Professor Hotchner hated lateness.

You rushed out of bed, brewed yourself a cup of coffee, and got dressed. By the time you were dressed and ready to go, it was nine o'clock. Crap! You didn't have time to make breakfast, so you left the house, stopped in your favorite local cafe, and grabbed a quick bite and another cup of coffee. You were by no means a morning person, so caffeine was a must for a 10 am class, especially one you feared would kick your ass. He had better be worth it, you thought, as you made your way to the classroom listed on your schedule.

The campus was quiet in the mornings, so thankfully, you didn't have to deal with crowds of students. You searched the halls of classrooms before coming across room 213. The door was closed, making you think you were late, but when you glanced at your watch, it was 9:46. You sighed and slowly opened the door into the classroom. Your heart was pounding as you entered the room, which was empty except for one man. You gulp as you look around.

“You're early,” a deep voice spoke.

You look at the man standing in front of the class. He was facing the chalkboard, so you couldn't see his face, but you knew who he was. After he finished writing on the board, he turned around and faced you. “Well, I didn't want to be late on the first day, so...” your voice trailed off as you took in the man now facing you. He looks down at a sheet of paper on the desk in front of him. “What's your name?” he asks while looking at the sheet of paper.

“Y/N,” you answer.

“Y/N, Y/N... Ah, found you,” he mutters, assumely marking you present for class. The sound of your name falling from his tongue mesmerized you. His voice was deep and commanding, and you didn't know if it turned you on or terrified you. He looks up at you again, taking in your frozen state. “Well, uh, find a seat. We'll start at exactly ten o'clock,” he said, returning to work.

You walk toward the middle of the classroom, not wanting to sit in the front or back. Once you sit down, you take out your note-taking materials and wait as students begin to fill the empty seats.

As soon as the clock struck 10, Professor Hotchner began class.

“As many of you already know, the next fifteen weeks will be your introduction to the study of profiling. I will be your instructor on Mondays for the lecture portion of the class. On Wednesdays, my TAs will lead you in discussion. We'll get to introductions in a moment,” Professor Hotchner pauses, picking up a thick stack of papers before handing them off to one of the TAs, who begins distributing the papers to the students.

“The syllabus for the semester is going around. I expect you all to keep up with this, and should any of this change, I will let you know via email. Now, does everyone have a syllabus?” the professor scans the room before continuing. “Good. Let’s get started. My name is Aaron Hotchner. I’ve been a profiler for almost twenty years now and am the Unit Chief of the Behavioral Analysis Unit over at Quanco. My TAs are my colleagues who help me profile all sorts of cases from kidnapping to serial crime.”

Professor Hotchner goes on to talk about his work at the FBI. You dazed off into space shortly after. Rather than pay attention to what was being said, you paid attention to who was speaking. That one review was right. He was hot and completely your type—no one would ever know this because you knew admitting to liking older men would elicit judgemental looks of disgust. Although you were well aware of your preference, you couldn't help but feel like it was a fucked-up fantasy that would never come true. Regardless, it couldn't hurt to dream a little.

“I will expect a level of professionalism from you all and will require your undivided attention during class. If I catch you glancing at your phone, that will be the last time you will have it out during class. You may get away with stuff like that in your other classes, but not in this one. Do I make myself clear?” He pauses, remaining authoritative. The class nods as if this was the moment in the horror movie when the victims knew they were going to die.

“I also expect you to arrive to class on time as we start promptly at ten and end at eleven thirty. If you are late, you will receive dedications in your final grade. Attendance accounts for twenty percent. Remember that.” Professor Hotchner scanned the room, ensuring everyone understood his expectations. His eyes stopped toward the middle of the classroom where you were sitting before turning his gaze to the desk before him.

Man, he sure has high expectations. Do people really fail for being late? You were never one for lateness, but sometimes it's inevitable. You looked around the classroom. Everyone looked terrified, as if they were going to pee their pants. One or two students looked up to the challenge, eager to learn from him—makes sense considering he's the best profiler out there.

Professor Hotchner's firm voice continues, “For your midterm, you will present a profile. For your final, you will write a ten-page essay, which we will discuss in further detail later in the semester. Just note that if you pay attention in class, study hard, and take notes, you'll pass. You may not pass with an A, but I'll admit this class isn't an easy one, so simply passing is quite the accomplishment.” His eyes once again seem to gravitate toward you, and this time, they linger.

“I can already tell whose going to pass and who isn't, but I hope I'm wrong, and you'll all pass. So, prove me wrong,” Professor Hotchner chuckles as he prepares to go over the syllabus.

“How?” you ask before you even realize it. Once you realized you spoke, your eyes widened, and there you were, a deer in the fluorescent lights of the lecture hall.

A hint of a smirk appears on Professor Hotchner's face. You were eager to learn, and he liked that. “Body language reveals so much. I can learn a lot about someone just by observing them,” he spoke professionally.

You ponder his words before speaking, “So you can profile us based on our body language?”

Professor Hotchner's smirk fades and his expression becomes more serious. “No, not exactly,” he answers, his tone firm and serious. “Profiling is about using observations and knowledge to get a sense of a person's behavior. Body language is part of it, but a lot more work goes into it.”

You nod and go back to remaining silent.

Professor Hotchner finishes the class by going over the syllabus in great detail and answering questions, “Alright, that's it for today. I will see you all next week.” Students quickly begin leaving the lecture hall, and the TAs follow, leaving you and the professor alone in the big, empty classroom.

“I appreciate your questions in class today. I hope you'll continue asking questions throughout the semester. Don't be too intimidated by the content. I know it's a lot, but I can tell you're one of the brighter students in the class,” Professor Hotchner said as you exited the row you were sitting in.

You smiled at that. It was nice to hear a professor praise you for once. “Thanks, I didn't mean to interrupt you or anything,” you began before he cut you off.

“Nonsense. You didn't interrupt me.”

You pause at that. For someone so strict, he seemed nice, almost welcoming. “Well, uh, thanks away. I'll see you next week,” you said, turning to exit the room.

“Wait! I uh couldn't help but notice you don't seem like a criminology major, so why take this class?” the professor ejects, looking you over.

You face him, surprised that he knew without actually knowing you. “How did you figure that out?” you said.

He chuckles, looking down at his shoes. “Well, you're dressed like a schoolgirl. Your demeanor is curious yet kind, and you looked at me the entire class rather than at the syllabus or your classmates. Criminology students tend to be professional and overly confident and see their peers as competition. They show up to class right on time, not early, dressed like they already work at the FBI, and pay most attention to those around them.”

You were stunned. How did he observe all this in only 90 minutes? Was he really paying attention to you?

“So what's your major?” Professor Hotchner repeats his earlier question.

“Literature,” you answer.

He smirks, “That makes sense. It suits you. Hopefully, you'll find my class just as suitable.”

You smile, “I hope so, too. Goodbye, Professor.” You exit the class, taking one look back at him before closing the door behind you. He is going to be the death of me, you thought as you walked down the hall, anxious for it to be Monday again.

Taglist: @zaddyhotch @none-of-your-bullshit @snapessecretdiary @uselessnewt @presidentdangdang @lalaehlaa @de-duchess @targaryenswhxre @chicagotrio101 @barbeddreams @adrienneleclerc

#aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotch x reader #hotch x reader #professor!au #professor!hotch #professor x student #professor!hotch x student!reader #student!reader #ssa aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner fanfiction #aaron hotchner x you #aaron hotchner fic #aaron hotchner x y/n

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cherriscoups · 3 years ago

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The Ghost of Noria University | Episode 01

Pairing: Seungcheol x Fem!Reader (ft. SVT & other idols)

Words: 1.3k

Content: strangers to lovers, college au, non-idol!Seungcheol, workaholic!reader, reader has implied social anxiety, reader thrives off academic validation, she/her pronouns used to describe reader, reader neglects her health (implied)

A/N: this is a product of an ongoing daydream I have thats fuelled by the college aus I've been reading (bless/curse maladaptive daydreaming)

disclaimer: this is purely fictional. any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

Masterlist Next

3 weeks.

It's been 3 weeks since Seungcheol tried to book the study room that was on the far left end of the university's library. He had booked that room once a couple months ago. That room was one of the smallest study rooms in the library but it felt the cosiest of all the rooms. 3 weeks ago he tried to book that study room because he felt the most productive in that room and the librarian, Ms Oh, had told him that room was booked. He went back the next day and Ms Oh told him that it was booked, again. He has been going to the library every single day since, only to be told the exact same thing again and again.

"Hyung, you should just give up at this point." His friend, Soonyoung had tagged him along. Soonyoung joined Seungcheol on his library trip once last week and had heard about how someone had been hogging the study room and how Seungcheol was determined to find out who it was. He decided to follow Seungcheol to the library once again today in hopes that something might change.

"There's a lot of other rooms in this awfully large place to study in. why do you need to book that room?"

"because it's the best room in this library." stubborn. god he was so stubborn.

The first thing I loved about him; how stubborn he is and how he makes sure he gets what he wants.

"Hey Soon, hey Soon's friend," a deep voice snuck up from behind, almost making Seungcheol scream. Almost. "I'd like to check these out!" he plopped a couple of books onto the counter that Seungcheol & Soonyoung were standing in front of. "Hey Wonwoo! Hyung, Wonwoo. Woo, Seungcheol hyung." The boy introduced his friends to each other.

He then told Wonwoo about the study room situation, earning a sigh from Ms Oh. "You come here everyday to ask me the same thing and I guarantee you my answer will probably stay the same for as long as she studies in this university."

she?

Wonwoo looks over to Seungcheol, "I heard the ghost of Noria haunts that room." Seungcheol raises an eyebrow.

The ghost of Noria?

Well now this is interesting. Seungcheol had heard of the existence of this "ghost" but he hadn't heard much about them. He questions Wonwoo about this "ghost". Soonyoung & Wonwoo explain to him about how there's a girl in their course who no one really knows.

She attends every class but disappears the moment the class ends. She's said to be a straight A's student with a 4.0 GPA. No one has really heard her voice. She does have friends though. Doyeon, a korean-australian student, Minnie, a Thai exchange student, Jun, a Chinese exchange student and Chan, the head of the International Student Union for their year. It’s assumed that this “ghost” is an international student based on her friends. Her friends often answer on her behalf. The 3 other people that have worked with her had mentioned that despite the fact that she’s super quiet, she did in fact carry their group to a distinction. During exam seasons, she semi lives in the library to get as much studying as she possibly can get done.

Seungcheol himself was a straight A student but he realised that he was never dedicated as much as she is. This just made him all the more interested in meeting her. He told himself that he’ll come back again tomorrow as the 3 of them made their way over to the campus cafeteria.

10am

Seungcheol packed his bag and made his way to the library. He was determined to at least see her if she was still in that study room. The librarian once again told him that the room was booked. At that moment, he heard a few voices coming towards him. Ms Oh glared to the side, signalling them to quiet down. Seungcheol recognised one of them. Chan. That boy happened to be in a couple of Seungcheol’s classes and they were some sort of acquaintances. Along with Chan were 2 girls, all dressed in sweatshirts. A very common attire during the exam season.

“What time did she come here today?” One of the girls asks Ms Oh, to which she responds, “7.30.” The time that the library opens. Ms Oh then turned over to Seungcheol, “If you have any questions, these are the people you should ask.” It took a moment for him to realise what she meant. They are her friends. The girl turns around to look at Seungcheol and then back to face Ms Oh. “Eh?”

“You’re friends of the ghost of Noria?” Seungcheol questions them. These girls must be the Doyeon and Minnie that Soonyoung mentioned. The girl slowly turned back around with a smug look on her face. “Yeah. Why?”

“She’s been hogging that damn study room for like 3 weeks.”

“4, actually. And today is your lucky day, my dude.” A boy walked into the library holding soy milk and a sandwich. That must be Jun. “No food in the library!” Ms Oh gave the boy a stern look to which he just shrugged and said “gotta feed our ghost.”

“Don’t call her the ghost of Noria in front of her though. She doesn’t like the attention it gives her. I’m Doyeon, by the way.” The girl at the counter introduced herself before she left with her friends to get their friend out of that room.

Chan slowly opened the door of the study room. There were textbooks, notebooks and other study material laid out on the table. “You know you can’t just stay here everyday. It’s almost as if you’re living here.” You look up as you hear your friend sigh at the sight of you. “But I’m not living here. I still go back to my dorm every night.”

Jun plopped down the packet of soy milk and sandwich that he was holding. “At least eat something.” You look over to Doyeon who opens her mouth to say something, just to get smacked in the arm by Minnie. “Were you gonna say something?” You ask her, avoiding the glare from Minnie.

“You might have a secret admirer.” She blurts out. Chan dramatically turned around to look at Do. “I’m pretty sure that’s not what he meant!” Jun just shakes his head, leaving you to wonder what Doyeon was on about. You made a good effort at avoiding attention. So good that the fact that you avoid attention was what gave you any sort of attention. You having any secret admirers was not a concept you ever thought you had to deal with. “I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding,” you say looking at Doyeon.

Seconds pass before you hear something outside of the room door that wasn’t fully closed. The door opened a little more and a head popped in. “So, you’re the one that’s been hogging this room?” His voice sounded almost like a cold whisper. Minnie slaps her hand over Doyeon’s mouth to stop her from whatever she was about to say.

Seungcheol?

“Give us a few minutes. We’ll drag her out soon.” Jun chimes in, hoping to take any attention away from the girls.

“Drag me out?!” You say a little louder than you wish you did. It wasn’t uncommon for you to be loud around your friends except it wasn’t just your friends who were here. He was here too.

“You’ve been living here for 4 weeks.” Chan says with yet another exasperated sigh.

“No! I’ve been going home everyday. All I’m doing is just finding a conducive place to study and that place happens to be here.” You silently cursed yourself for how you put that across. It was true but you could’ve been a little more mindful of the fact that there was someone else in the room.

The first thing I loved about her; she knew how to be assertive. She just didn’t want to.

________________________________

#cherriscoups #cherriscoups: noria university #svt #choi seungcheol #svt seungcheol #seventeen scenarios #scoups #seventeen #seventeen x reader #seungcheol fanfic #non idol au #strangers to lovers #seungcheol x reader #seungcheol imagines

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floral-poisons · 3 years ago

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twst characters: their roles in a teen movie

another random thought that just came into my brain. i was thinking about teen movies and it had me assigning certain roles and archetypes to certain characters. i have one for horror movies done already. the next one is their roles in a rom com.

this one does feel a little bit general. like a what the twst cast would be if they were in a normal high school. might do a list like that one day.

NRC STAFF

dire crowley

the headmaster/principal. no explanation needed here. he just sits back and observes the chaos in his school.

ashton vargas

the pe teacher. probably a coach for a bunch of different spots teams. was a former athlete himself but got an injury that caused him to retire from that prospective career early. probably exactly like the coach from mean girls (without the making out with teenage girls part, nasty).

mozus trein

the english teacher that provides a safe space for the gay kids. enough said. computer background is his cat. no phones in class type of person too.

divus crewel

the chemistry teacher. very fashionable even if it’s not practical during the lab. single and isn’t much help at extra help. probably an advisor to a few clubs. makes things hard for no apparent reason.

sam

a foreign language teacher, probably french. he’s one of the cool ones. willing to take students on a trip to france in order for them to improve their french skills. his class is entirely in french however.

DIASOMNIA

malleus draconia

the new kid. just arrived in school and is shy and awkward at making friends. hasn’t been around people, probably moves a lot. but he’s attractive and immediately gets noticed by the queen bee. accidentally falls prey to the dangers of popularity.

lilia vanrouge

the senior. he’s there and present, mostly because he’s a friend of the love interest. represents the anxieties about college felt. having a mental breakdown like every period probably. but he knows how the school runs and he’s the new kid’s guide.

silver

the straight a student. constantly sleeping because he doesn’t get enough sleep. man pulls all nighters basically five times a week and sleeps in a lot. won’t text or call often. but he’s really smart and gets his work done. worries too much about grades however.

sebek zigvolt

the teacher’s pet. or the strict ra in those prep schools. he follows the rules and is very much a by the book type of student. won’t accept anything that goes against the rules. he really dislikes silver because silver falls asleep in class so often.

HEARTSLABYUL

riddle rosehearts

PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT. strict and always planning events. but also kind of boring. he won by a landslide and won SO EARLY during his academic career too. need i say more?

trey clover

the mathlete. it might be the glasses that give me the vibes of a mathlete but he’s a mathlete. really good at math and probably taking high level classes. little nerdy but with a bit of fixing up he can look amazing.

cater diamond

the queen bee who also wants to be an influencer. he’s not exactly mean but his tongue is sharp and there are plenty of valid reasons to dislike him. he’s actually a nice person underneath the surface. he just needs to find a better outlet for his emotions like regina george.

ace trappola

the anarchist. he doesn’t like the social order of the school. call him janis ian. artistic and could care less about social norms. makes a lot of jokes which is why the audience loves him. but his raw emotions come out when he realizes that the new kid has become one of them. at least he’s upfront about how mean he is.

deuce spade

the band kid. seemingly calm and innocent. but underneath that exterior is someone who is full of chaotic energy. he probably plays a bass instrument. definitely in marching band and definitely goes to band camp and definitely starts off stories with, “this one time at band camp...”

POMEFIORE

vil schoenheit

the theater kid who’s also puts up a primadonna front. has an ongoing rivalry with the rival school’s primadonna (neige obviously). while he’s not THAT theater kid, it’s easy to tell he is one. puts a lot of effort into his appearance because he believes that’s people’s first impression of him and they need a good impression of him.

rook hunt

the person that specializes in makeovers. basically he would be all of queer eye in one person. really good at making people feel confident in themselves and amplifying their great qualities, as well as sticking to natural beauty. he doesn’t change anything about a person because he doesn’t need to. everyone’s beautiful. they just need the right tools.

epel felmier

the person you think is rich but they don’t have as much money as you thought they did. he blends in with the popular crowd and certainly looks the part. beautiful, fashionable clothes. but when you actually go over to his place, it’s not as grandiose as you thought. in fact, it’s perfectly average. a middle class home. and he doesn’t bring his rich friends over because he knows they will judge.

SAVANACLAW

leona kingscholar

the college bound brother. he’s mentioned briefly a few times and that’s it. he’s not in the movie because he’s not a teen.

ruggie bucchi

the student with a scholarship at an elite rich institution. doesn’t like the popular rich crowd for a reason and stays in his own lane. works hard and works smart. to make money on the side, he definitely writes essays for this kids who can’t do anything for themself. and he charges a lot for a killer essay.

jack howl

the jock with a heart of gold. i also wanna say he would be a bit of a himbo too. like he’s fine academic wise. in fact, he’s really smart which you wouldn’t expect from a stereotypical jock. but when it comes to life? he’s a little clueless. he’s the type who didn’t know oven mitts existed and when he got them as a gift, his eyes sparkled because what a life saver.

OCTAVINELLE

azul ashengrotto

the one that does everyone’s homework for them. wants the money and he’s smart anyways. will give out answers and because he’s seen as a teacher’s pet, he’s able to somehow access the answer sheet and questions for the test. people pay good money for it.

jade leech

the model student. a little bit boring but he’s there. present in the movie but no one pays much attention to him. he prefers to keep to himself while all the drama goes on.

floyd leech

the troublemaker. constantly, constantly getting in trouble with authority figures. is smart but doesn’t feel like applying himself. has a twin brother who wishes he would take schooling more seriously. but he definitely has interesting takes on the system. has one teacher that hasn’t given up on him yet.

SCARABIA

kalim al-asim

the rich kid. he’s actually really nice but the amount of money he has is just...so much. so much money. lot of people want to be his friend because he has so much money so he’s actually pretty lonely. little artsy too. has little to no experience with relationships though.

jamil viper

the best friend. best friend to the rich kid and is constantly in second place. has to listen to kalim talking about his day and doesn’t really get a say in the movie much. supporting. would be a token character.

IGNIHYDE

idia shroud

the unpopular person who gets a complete makeover and redo. he was a loner until getting into the popular crowd and his appearance got completely renovated. he suddenly started to be noticed by everyone which unnerved him. and unlike the new person, he didn’t let the popularity get to his head. instead, he stayed the same introverted person as he was with just a little more confidence.

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darlingbudsofrae · 4 years ago

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Neil Josten Appreciation Post

Foxes Appreciation Series : 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 10 ||

Alright, let’s just start this by addressing the big elephant in the room: everyone loves Neil Josten. EVERYONE.

If you don’t, you’re lying.

Okay, first up- I’m glad this is getting addressed more on AFTG tumblr but Neil is literally so much smarter than the fandom gives him credit for.

Like yes, he’s a little dumdum on the social aspect of things (you could argue he kind of has a low EQ but also not really, I would argue that later)

but that doesn’t dismiss that he is smart af and that he can kill you and make it look natural if he wants.

For example, he literally outrun and hid from the mafia for years. Like, that in itself is an obvious point but we often forget that he did this at a very young age.

Like, he was presumably what? 16?? (when Mary kicked the bucket?) And kid was already playing hide and seek pretty well with a freaking mafia.

He does not get enough credit for this.

The survival skills it takes- the mental strength to survive as a runaway and technically he’s also homeless- at freaking 16, that’s just insane.

Also, let’s not mention the fact that it takes skills to forge official papers and all that.

We also do not talk enough about Neil and how he freaking have to relearn an entirely new position just to play exy.

I don’t think most remember that he’s actually a backliner, but have to play as a striker because it was the only available position in that local high school he attended in Millport, and that was how Kevin saw him so he was recruited as a striker.

We also additionally do not talk enough about how Kevin “literal and figurative Son of Exy” Day found potential for court in Neil “I’m a backliner but I’m playing striker because it’s the only thing available and I’m an exy junkie” Josten who only played it for like a year or less.

Like yeah, Kevin said he needs more training but it’s not even Neil’s official position.

The talent on this man- I cannot, he is such an icon.

Aside from his great survival skills and being literally great at picking things up- he’s also like freaking academically smart.

Like that also doesn’t get enough credit- I mean, he does math for fun.

Frankly, I think if you did Kumon or if you had an awesome teacher you could also do math for fun (I know I did) but this should be noted with the fact that he didn’t have proper schooling.

He went on a run at a really young age so there is no way he received formal education.

Which means he is naturally like really smart.

He’s also a polyglot. And the languages he has under his belt are all freaking difficult to learn- like, no kidding: French, German, and he can assumingly speak intermediate Spanish, and we don’t even have an idea if this is all the languages he can speak.

Also, he and Andrew learns how to speak Russian, right? Like, that’s crazy.

The brain on this man and the power that he has- my son, I am so proud.

I mean, for all we know- there’s more than that and the fact that he’s like 18 at TFC screams supremacy.

This is where I argue about his EQ but Neil is crazy perceptive.

It took him like freaking 3 seconds to figure out the team dynamics the foxes have, and how to work against it.

He later figured out how to make it all mesh together.

Like the way he do things isn’t conventional but reading him analyze his team despite his lack of empathy really makes me shudder.

Like, this kid is so freaking smart. I remember reading his thought process for the very first time and being like, okay- I definitely did not think about that.

The main problem with his EQ though is that he doesn’t know how to process positive stuff when he’s involved, but when he’s the outsider- his perspective is so amazing.

Like again, he kind of lacks empathy but the way he understands things and is just so sharp is just noteworthy.

I’d argue he doesn’t understand social cues and “modern teen things” but he isn’t so completely clueless on the social aspect in general as to not manipulate an entire team of misfits with issues to work together.

He’s literally the key to unity in AFTG. Even Dan says so.

Also, the way he puts things into play- like he’s a master manipulator, and I love that for him.

We do not talk enough about manipulative Neil, like I just really love manipulative characters in general so much- especially if they’re just owning it.

I mean, he freaking manipulated Andrew and Aaron into therapy. Kind of evil but also wow. (just a sidenote, please don’t force people into therapy lol)

Going completely dark for a second, Neil also has a freaking high pain tolerance.

The amount of horrible things he went through in the books were just so sad and the fact that he just kind of moves on from it? That’s just completely oh my gods.

My poor summer child, even if you can kill me at any given time, let me just hug you for a second with consent.

Everyone also gives shit about Neil’s fashion choices and granted it is said he kind of bags the homeless looks but the fact that he values utility above all else-

Yes, we stan a resourceful king.

Lowkey though, am I the only one who appreciate Neil’s average style?

Speaking of style- I love the way Neil narrates. Like, the way he doesn’t give much attention to how the character looks- it’s just so realistic?

Because if I’m talking to a person in real life, there is no way I am noting how his blue polo makes him kind of casual but clean-cut and how his brown eyes is as warm as my morning coffee. Like, who even does that?

The thing with Neil’s narration is that it’s just so authentic- like it easily engages the readers and the way he gives importance to every thing the same way, it really makes it easier for the reader to discern things objectively, y’know what I mean?

He just has that quality in a main character and narrator- he’s laidback and sarcastic but not trying too hard, and he’s just really easy to love.

Like, I normally don’t like narrators/main characters in books because I favor a side character more or just because they’re annoying, but Neil Josten is legit lovable.

At the same time, he’s also a really well-written character. Like, for all the technicalities I point out in AFTG, Neil is an asshole. He’s not perfect and I don’t 100% love everything that he does and I love that.

He’s a flawed character but he gives you something to root for- and I just really want to appreciate his characterization for a second. Most books make their characters’ flaws not even their fault to put a check to the flawed character but at the same time still have that perfect character. Eeww, no- give me real flaws to work with.

He’s one of the realest protagonists I ever read.

Like people give him shit for wanting to hide but also choosing to play a nationwide-discerned sport on an infamous collegiate team but for me it’s kind of realistic.

Because I think we, as human beings, also do things we love too much regardless of logic. I don’t know, like it’s kind of funny the way Neil is written but I honestly didn’t see him joining Palmetto as a loophole.

Like, just think of all those successful people who hid their identities via pseudonym or other necessary means to do things they weren’t expected to do or weren’t allowed to do.

For me, his character was really just looking for excuses to play his favorite sport a second longer and if anything, that’s just kind of sad.

But also, his dedication and love to exy is really admirable- like I never understood it but the way he literally does everything to stay on the court for a second longer just makes me want to root for him.

On a random note, Neil may not have an eidetic memory like Andrew’s but the way he memorize most phone numbers by heart?

Bruh, I don’t even have my phone number memorized and I freaking have it for two years now.

He also memorizes every twists and turns at every trip, every exits at a room he enters, and most people’s tics upon the first meeting, and other things and that’s just crazy perceptive but also really crazy on another level.

Also, we don’t get much ace/demi representation and out of the few I’ve consumed, demi Neil Josten validates me. He’s legit my favorite character that belongs in the ace spec in books.

I just really love Neil’s character so much- he’s just so amazing.

One thing I always appreciate about Neil Josten is that while he’s not a total angel (sadly), the way he loves the foxes- like he legit tried to mend the team and make sure everyone is going to be okay before walking straight to his death- like I’m with Andrew on this one, what a fucking martyr. Why are you like this and why am I crying?

Neil Josten is by all means not soft, that much is established, but the way he’s just still as precious and must be protected at all costs-

"You know, I get it," Neil said. "Being raised as a superstar must be really, really difficult for you. Always a commodity, never a human being, not a single person in your family thinking you're worth a damn off the court—yeah, sounds rough. Kevin and I talk about your intricate and endless daddy issues all the time."

I love him, your honor- where can I file this adoption papers and do I have anything else to sign?

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yostresswritinggirl · 4 years ago

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Researching...

ZETA

You need to see this first then this

The alchemist had been trying all remedies to shake off the stress and fatigue in his system and they all seemed to fail, no amount of sketching or discoveries can pull him away from it. So when you offered a solution he hasn’t heard, he’d jump at it immediately. “You know, some people say having intercourse with someone is a good stress-reliever.” “Intercourse? If it’s true, then please, I wish to have intercourse with you.” “Wha- wait Albedo, do you not know what that is? It’s only done between lovers!” “Convenient, I love you, anything else?”

Pairing -> Albedo x Female Reader

Word Count -> 2944

Themes -> Smut, PwP, PwF, Woohoo, the "thing", the "do"

Series -> #Bonafide Specials (100 followers event)

Warnings -> NSFW CONTENT, DO NOT READ IF YOU'RE UNDERAGED! (this is awkward because you two have no experience, jsyk)

(Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (TDA, also known as ZETA) are usually emitted by females to attract males for mating. Sex pheromones are defined as odors, produced by either males or females that stimulate one or more behavioral reactions in the opposite sex, bringing the males and females together for the purpose of mating.

The foldered papers at the mahogany desk met with a soft plop at its weight, and you noticed the Alchemist suddenly straighten his back from his spaced out daze on the noise, whipping his head towards where you stand. Albedo's teal eyes were wide from the sudden intrusion, but his eyelids drooped over them once again upon the realization that it was just you who entered as it loses its light once more. This worried you.

The Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius has been in a dilemma recently. And all of Mond knows of this.

Albedo naturally holds himself in a regal and composed aura that draws people to him in admiration and trance. But this Albedo lacks such gait, with shoulders tense and eyebrows furrowed, steps heavy and head hanging low.

He has hit a wall in his never-ending research. And the effect was obvious on him.

Days he'd be cooped up in his laboratory staring at nothing, glaring at his setup. Days he'd be gone beyond the walls with his easel and sketchbook, only to return with unfinished artworks meant to be forgotten. Sucrose had tried placing experiments that are easy to handle and give him at least a sense of self-confidence for solving, but even that cannot pull his mind away from his obstacle.

"You know," leaning on the table with arms crossed, you watched the Kreideprinz drag his foot to where you were, aiming to check on the folder that you just submitted, "Some people say having intercourse with someone is a good stress-reliever." Such words smoothly flowed out of your mouth despite the masked embarrassment you expertly hid through a haughty smirk.

That someone was Kaeya, and that Kaeya threw out that same comment next to you when you two saw Albedo walk through the headquarter's halls like a zombie a few days ago.

The sudden pound of fists on the table at either side of you startled you, expertly caging you in as you looked up. Albedo loomed over you with eyes brightly catching the sun, giving it the luminosity that carried the same curious look he had when faced with the unknown. "Intercourse? If it's true, then please," oh no, "I wish to have intercourse with you."

Excuse me? "Wha-" suddenly, you were hyper-aware of just how close you are to one another. You slightly hiked yourself up against the table, as to preserve what little distance you have. "Wait Albedo, do you not know what that is? It’s only done between lovers!”

And without skipping a beat, he mused, "Convenient, I love you, anything else?" That familiar smirk displayed on his face.

Contrary to his face tho, you greatly contest to Diluc's hair. Really a normal reaction- to this guy suddenly confessing! Your head is already whirling around in confusion and your eyes couldn't set itself straight at him, still mindful of the distance of which reminded you why you were in this predicament in the first place.

Albedo attentively watched your eyes stray to the side as he stands there in silence, seeing it land at the entrance to his laboratory. Ah of course, he thought he'd made a discovery, as he leans away from you to make his way towards the door.

And shut it with a click.

"Wait, wait, why did you lock the door?!" You finally mustered up the courage to speak (breaking away from the shock of his confession) as he finds himself where he stood over you, eyes filled with confusion.

"You were quiet after my confession. I know such moments of romance are intimate and with your eyes, I only wanted to give us privacy," his brows furrowed with confusion before his shoulders dropped, a sharp sigh escaping. "Normally people would express their reciprocation by now," he breathed as he starts pulling back and away, "but voicing your rejection would have been appre-"

Quickly with a yelp, you reached out for his departing form, pulling him back by the grip on his shirt. Albedo's eyes only widened a little as he was quick to grip the table's edge to stabilize himself, one arm wrapped around your waist to ground you. "No! I do- do love you too!" You finally squeezed out the embarrassing confession, "You were just so sudden, it surprised me so much!"

And suddenly he was laughing openly, full of relief and humor, as his shoulders slackened at the validation. The heavy weight on his shoulders eased as if a physical matter left it, the bout of removed tension making him slump on you.

You cradled the tired Albedo in your arms as you let him place his chin on your shoulder. This man is your lover now, you thought as the fact finally dawned on you. The brilliant and most loved in Mond now tied down to you.

Basking in the presence of a person now his, Albedo found himself breathing in. There was a scent to you that always soothes him which now feels emphasized at the closeness. His pupils dilated as his face buries itself closer to the junction where your neck and shoulder meets.

Ah, what was this? Was this the pheromones you once talked about in your research on zoology that attracts those to them? He mused in his mind as those teal eyed fluttered shut, nose brushing at your neck for another whiff.

While Albedo indulged himself with the natural scent of you, you stood there with weak legs, trembling and red from the notions. Oh gods, you whimpered at the feeling of his lips brushing at your skin, you're whipped for this man.

"I'm waiting," you had to hold the shiver when his words vibrated against your neck, "for your answer on my offer, I think it would be good to try." Ah the 'intercourse'. You placed your hands flat on his back as he leans away to stare in attention, and then you finally explained to him what you meant, what you'd do, and what it entails to.

Albedo nods in understanding at your every clause and explanation. And his bright mind understood far too easily how it would help. "We are lovers now," his eyes twinkled at the cute scrunch of your nose upon the embarrassment of the fact, "sooner or later we'd end up doing it anyways. When shouldn't be a matter."

Albedo always make a good point.

With your consent, Albedo slowly lays you on the surface of the table as his other hand makes quick work to swipe away the items that would be in the way, thankfully the carpeted floor prevented anything from breaking. His lips found yours almost naturally as you urged him to take off his coat and you worked on your own, the thoughts spiraling in your head for every clothing that is shed:

Albedo has little to none idea on how sex works between humans, and you had your base knowledge from the things you learned from academics; in short, you're both inexperienced and you are his anchor.

How funny how the master role quickly switched, you thought with an inward laugh before it died in your throat at the sight— he stands there with his undershirt unbuttoned, belt and shorts caught by his knee, and his apparent bulge outlined by his boxers. Your thighs instinctively closed, you don't know what's considered average in size for such things, but you know for a fact there's gonna be some difficulty.

"Is something wrong?" His raw and calloused hands (gloves long gone) softly landed at your squirming thighs, the contact sending a shiver all over. "Am I doing something wrong?"

No, you breathed as you urged him to step closer and settle between your legs at the edge of the table, his form forcing you to spread your limbs apart.

The intoxicating scent that Albedo indulged in earlier was stronger now, drowning him and clouding his thoughts. The waft plunged through his senses so forcefully that he stumbled a bit on you, hips hitting as he grips your sides to keep him steady.

Next came the warmth that touched his sensitive length as it laid between you, the contact had forced out a cute squeak from you and an airy groan from him. His hips buckled to catch the sensation as he finds himself rutting between your folds with ragged breathing.

So good, it felt so good. Albedo finds himself struggling to keep his eyes open from what he now identified to be pleasure, and as he looks up to check on you, you were struggling just the same. Your chest rises and falls in quick successions as you covered your eyes with an arm, whimpers coming out of your slightly parted lips.

Fuck. If only he wasn't so engrossed, he wanted to capture this image through painting. "Am I-," he cleared his throat of the hoarse voice, "Am I hurting you?"

You gasped at the cold and wet feeling swipe from your chin to the corner of your lips, licking the trail of drool you didn't even notice when you opened your eyes to see Albedo's up close. With a shake of your head, you gripped the ponytail of his braid to pull his head for a sudden kiss.

Staggering over your form as your legs hiked up to hook around his waist, you guided the tip of his length to your entrance as he ravaged your mouth without restraint. Lips bruising each other, tongue tracing the underside of yours gingerly before it licks at the roof of your mouth— all the sensations had fogged up your consciousness so badly that you didn't feel an ounce of pain when he finally entered into you, guided by a shy gentleness to his ministrations.

It is only when his tip finally touched the opening of your cervix did you whimper; the way you're being stretched and the fullness of his length in you making you writhe under and around him, the friction only making rousing him more.

Albedo produced a low growl against your lips as he bit down on the bottom one, his trimmed nails digging to your soft-skinned hips as he pins it down. "Stop- nghh- stop moving around so much," a sudden warmth pooled into your stomach as you tightened around him.

Mistake number one: You didn't expect for his gentleness to be gone.

Spurred on by your tightening grip and the pleasure shooting up him everytime his tip came in contact with your edge, Albedo went into a relentless pace, pounding straight into you to hit that spot. Your pants turned into breathless chokes everytime he comes in contact, forcing your raw moans out of you. There's a dull pain by your entrance everytime he grinds against your walls, and he whimpers your name in pure ecstacy every stroke.

Your back arcs as he smacks into you, pulling back halfway through before burying deep into your hole once again. His brutal pace gets sloppy at times, before his strength comes back again to pull you closer. Halfway through Albedo produces a feral growl as he grips one of your legs behind the knee, pushing it closer to your body and slightly angled to the side.

And the moment he thrusts in with the new position, you cried out his name. The tip of his length reached far deeper with this new angle, and had plunged the top right into your cervix— your hips trembled as Albedo's whole body shivers at the new sensation, fingernails digging into your thigh as his other hand intertwines with yours, pinning it down on the table as leverage.

"Ahn," he whispered your name tiredly with tears pricking at the edge of his eyes, for the first time staring at your eyes after he had started, "How are you? Is it okay? Is it..."

Good, you mumbled with a tired smile at his consideration, bumping your hips to emphasize on it- which drew a sharp gasp from the both of you, he was already in so deep, your hips bruised and touching.

He rolled his hips to test out, his thickness rubbing at the walls as he stirs your insides. The sweet moan you produced spurred him on, and he was once again staggering into you, his hips slightly elevated in an angle meant to pierce through you.

The sound of flesh smacking against each other overpowers even your loudest moan as Albedo pleasured himself inside you desperately, the smell of sex filling your sense of smell. He chases the way your hole drips and wafts with the scent, drawing in a huge breathe whenever your mixed cum spills past his tightly locked dick in you.

And soon his pace became more desperate and short, as he makes quick work at hitting you in your most sensitive part to barely give you time to gasp for air. Your walls clenched down on him so tightly as you came, a cry of his name passing your lips as your back arched—

the pressure made him buckle and he thrusts in deep one last time, tip breaking past your cervix, as his climax enters you in thick strings of warmth.

That was mistake number two: you didn't bring protection with you.

But at that moment you couldn't care less (your cycle just ended anyways, you should be fine), watching him whimper your name in full pleasure as his teeth grinds against each other, his forehead and eyebrows knit and furrow as he releases before it relaxes after he is done.

And then he falls face first to your chest, the renowned Alchemist running out of the minimal stamina he had with him. Buried between the valley of your breast, Albedo had the most serene (almost drunk) expression on his face, lips pressed against the skin over your heart where it beats with fervor from your activity.

He tested another experimental thrust, lighter this time, as he felt your mixed fluids moved around the tiny space. You gave a wailing moan at his action, and he breathlessly laughed at your reaction.

Albedo stayed in you and on you for a few more minutes after that. Still trying to regain strength as your tired pants became the white noise that night.

"Albedo..." he hums against your chest as his arms tightened around your waist, enjoying the peace your hands brought to him as you stroke his cheek. "Albedo, I need to clean up." He jests that you should just keep it in you and you responded with rapid pats, whining at the notion. He chuckles.

It took him a lot of willpower to get up and he made it obvious as hell, taking his time to remove himself off your chest, grumbling that his bed was complaining too much. You let out a cute snort before smacking his arm. Albedo grips your hips as he gently pulls out when he stops suddenly, realizing that the liquids would pour out and make an obvious mess if he were to do so.

His head passes around the immediate area as he pinpoints a peculiar object, plucking it from its plastic package, still new from the bubble wrap. A sharp gasp suddenly comes by you at the cold and hard sensation that replaced Albedo inside you, only a few inches deep as the Alchemist walks off to get tissues. Wary, you looked down to see the object, choking out when you saw its end sticking out past your crotch:

A test tube, pristine and clean, was preventing the fluids from dripping out of your hole.

When Albedo came back with the tissues and spare cloth in hand, he muses at how your deep red face was smacked tightly against your palms. He offers to clean up, a gentle hand carefully pulling out the tube, but you refused and got quick work on yourself. That was enough embarrassment for tonight.

Unbeknownst to you with your busied self, Albedo held the glass vial in close inspection and curiosity. The translucent white liquid barely blocks the night light and produced the same strong scent he'd been chasing the whole night— he sticks his tongue out to taste, ah, slightly salty and sticky.

Albedo wonders what kind of experiment he can do with this.

The obvious lift on the shoulders of the Chief Alchemist was greatly acknowledged by everyone in town who were aware of the impasse the young man had troubled himself with for the past few days. The bags under his eyes were gone, and the tealness he has shined with newfound vigor. Besides the mood shift, many of the knights had also noticed the time spent between the two of you. Missions and expeditions were always coinciding with each other and people barely saw you separated, giggling and smiling to yourselves in your pink world.

One day they finally found out about your relationship when a knight barged in to his laboratory for an urgent matter. Blurting out the Chief Alchemist's name before he realized that you were there, lips locked against each other.

The news spreads fast with that little detail and everyone congratulated you on your relationship.

Behind your bashful smiles, you and Albedo sighed in great relief, thankful to the archons that the knight didn't took notice of your hand under his big white coat that time.

This turned out like this cuz alchemy boy very new to things u_u and little stamina, he needs to exercise more ehe-

@creation-magician @dandelion-dreams @zelos-simp @struggljng @youroffical-weirdo @your-local-venti-simp @indigodreamtime47

#genshin impact #genshin impact oneshots #genshin impact x reader #exile.flower #genshin impact albedo #albedo x reader #Albedo #not for children #bonafide specials #aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa #author.exe stopped working #author scared #*glares* part two will wait a lil longer #female reader

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sepublic · 4 years ago

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Odalia and Alador in the Future...

I know we joke about Alador being the distracted of the two, while Odalia is the one who keeps him focused…

But sometimes, it’s the other way around? While Odalia is busy freaking out over her short-term sales for the Abomaton 2.0, over the idea of losing her control over Amity; It’s Alador who’s instead paying attention to what REALLY matters, to the true takeaway from this night! We can see him gauging Amity’s power with increasing, cautious fascination as his mental gears begin to turn- Before he’s openly impressed!

And, Odalia being the more distracted of the two at times is kind of poetic… She’s more focused on things like personal pride, about immediate money and profit (like any capitalist who razes the environment for short-term riches), and her own desire for total control.

She’s so distracted by things that she, frankly, doesn’t really need- Whereas Alador? He knows that all he needs is for his kids to be powerful- It’s likely why Emira and Edric can get away with being mischievous, because it’s easier for him to let them be that way, and Alador already has what he wants; Strong children.

The same applies to Amity here- Odalia is focused on things that ultimately won’t make a difference when it comes to their standing, but Alador is pushing that aside to notice and focus on how Amity’s growing power is useful to them. He’s not just making the most of a bad situation, Alador’s arguing that this is actually a GOOD situation, even better than what Odalia had initially planned!

Which, Odalia’s vision is a lot more straight-forward and at times lofty, she is an Oracle; So it makes sense that she’d get so preoccupied with her own visions, and forget to notice her own surroundings. It’s a neat parallelism between her and Alador, that their attention is split on different things, so when they combine, the two of them can take into account everything they need…

Neat, but also a terrifying synergy. In a way they both have a tunnel vision that causes them to focus on what they only care about; Al with pragmatic things and Abomination magic, Odalia with her personal pride and control, her wealth, etc.

In a way, it really is twisted, Alador’s happy smile as he appreciates his daughter’s power… Because in the end, he WANTS Amity to be strong, and he’s willing to do whatever’s necessary to make her become more powerful! Alador’s realizing, he’s being validated, that his and Odalia’s academic abuse of Amity, forcing her to focus on her grades, has worked- But not only that…

Odalia accuses Amity’s friends of distracting her, but it’s Alador who realizes that it’s the opposite- They help her focus. They help Amity focus her emotions, dedicate herself to something she truly wants and believes in- Luz, Willow, and Gus help Amity focus on what really matters, the way Odalia and Alador help each other focus their own priorities in a sense, which fits with Luz and Amity being in mutual love for one another really…

And instead of passively letting others decide for herself, Amity can actually think about and consider her own life and future! She’s actually focusing on her own future, the way Odalia is obsessed with her own Oracle magic and visions and plans�� Amity’s become a lot more proactive and stronger for it, she’s grown… Like her father, Amity is also a kid who just kind of wants to be left alone and not bothered, and be happy with herself- And like Alador, Amity has found someone, Luz, who’s able to help her really think about the future the way her mother would…

In a way, Luz helps Amity self-actualize into basically a better version of her own parents, she’s not a mindless drone like some might perceive Alador to be- In a way, she’s becoming more like her mother, albeit in a (somehow) good way? Thinking of herself for once, thinking ahead and about what she wants. It’s funny that Odalia tries so hard to force Amity to become like her, when all Amity needs is freedom and friends to self-actualize in that sense, to also be ‘focused’, to have her passion and skill channeled towards something so she can make the most of it;

And Alador has figured this out, that Amity’s friends can easily make her what her parents want to be, but better and more efficiently, without any effort from Odalia and Alador. Which… Doesn’t bode well; Because Al’s perspective on the situation is basically him acknowledging to Odalia that, hey, a living hostage is better than a dead one.

And his ‘compassion’ is purely pragmatic, in recognition that people who are happier tend to do better in life anyway. If making Amity miserable would make her stronger, I have little doubt that Alador would support and encourage Odalia to make their daughter’s life a living hell.

Alador isn’t acting out of compassion, he’s only doing what brings HIM and Odalia what they want, and he doesn’t really care what it is, unlike Odalia- He’s not much of a picky chooser. And if he knows that Amity would move mountains for Luz and the others, it’s making me consider the possibility of Alador deliberately weaponizing this to his own advantage, perhaps outright threatening Luz, Willow, and Gus, using them as motivation for Amity to unleash her potential to protect them…

That’s concerning me- That Alador is realizing that the best way to control Amity isn’t directly, but through her friends… It’s through Amity’s friends that him and Odalia can make Amity work for them, so of course it’s imperative to keep and maintain and encourage that connection, rather than removing it entirely. So, Al reminds Odalia of this, that Amity’s friends are good for her and more importantly THEM…

With what Dana said about how the couple can appear one way, but are also another, and how this can be good or bad for the protagonists… Honestly? With how Odalia can fake being civil and amicable with Luz initially, I wouldn’t be surprised if Odalia and Alador started being openly agreeable with Luz, Willow, and Gus… Welcoming them, maybe even apologizing for past treatment (Al would really have to needle Odalia to do that), trying to establish good relations with them!

They’re not doing this out of real respect of the trio, more respect for power and opportunity. And I can see Luz, Willow, and Gus being confused at first- Did Odalia and Alador become better people? And Amity, Emira, and Edric are privy enough to warn them that no, their parents are probably only being nice because they have something to benefit from…

But still, I could see Odalia reworking her view of Luz and the others as useful assets to manipulate Amity with and make her stronger- So she ends up adopting this more charitable, amicable fondness for the trio, as people who have made her life so much easier and removed the burden of needing direct control… And of course, Odalia might hold a minor grudge, but she really is grateful in a very detached and superficial sense towards the trio; Welcoming them into Blight Manor, treating them as beloved guests… But only because she’s fascinated for what they can bring her.

Luz, Willow, and Gus might be able to maneuver that to their advantage, too, as a business deal of sorts- It seems Odalia and Alador might have their own issues with the Emperor’s Coven, if the Golden Guard’s words are any indication. If they can convince the two that going against Belos is in their best interests, then Odalia and Alador might just listen, especially if they see Luz and the others as assets to rely upon, to figure things out- Ultimately just using them, but still. Like any good Oracle, Odalia is figuring out her next course of action, and she’s using these kids as a means to do so…

But of course, to Odalia and Alador, they’re using Luz and the kids, as much as Luz and the others would use them. So this mutual business connection could very easily backfire and turn against Luz and the others, especially if Odalia and Alador have THEIR own ideas on how to use Amity’s friends to their benefit.

Odalia and Alador would be dangerous and hard to figure out- Should Luz risk it and try to make use of them? Or should she only approach them as enemies… Maybe both- Be privy to circumstances, and recognize when to use Odalia and Alador as allies, and when to leave them out of the loop, or oppose them! Luz might take advantage of her ‘usefulness’ to Odalia and Alador to bargain with… And the two of them might try to increase that connection with Amity to their own benefit! Arranged marriage, anyone?

Seriously, though… Alador only helped Amity because she became stronger, and a strong daughter was all he cared for. He’s the kind of dude who would impassionately make Amity’s life a paradise, or an agonizing torture, depending on which option yielded the most results- The ends justify the means, he doesn’t really care either way. It’s kind of twisted that he gets what HE always wanted and abused Amity for…

And through Alador, Odalia gets her happy ending this episode too? He helps Odalia realize that she didn’t necessarily lose this episode- She also got what she wanted, she also won? So it really is messed up that while Luz and Amity managed to win against the parents… Odalia and Alador still achieved a victory of their own, and it makes me wonder if, again, Luz and Amity will have to figure out how to navigate Odalia and Alador in a way that results in the two kids making it out alive. Will they help or hinder the Blight parents? One option might be better than the other, and it’s all about playing their cards right.

In the end, Luz and Amity didn’t totally take down Odalia and Alador- Those two still got THEIR happy ending as well, by hitchhiking off of Luz and Amity’s. But of all people, the Golden Guard arguably undoes that- Because now Odalia and Alador are being forced to work for Belos and devote all of their resources and effort towards his goals… And with this being a very tenuous position, Odalia and Alador could be swayed by Luz to act against Belos, but they could also think about using Luz to prop up Amity for their own takeover!

Luz and Amity could get what they want, but still play into Odalia and Alador’s hands. So, like Odalia, they’ll have to question- Is it more important to take down their enemy… Or let their enemy benefit for a greater picture? Alador convinced Odalia that her revenge was second to Luz’s usefulness, so let Luz win and live and be happy!

For Luz and Amity, I imagine it might be easier for them to let Odalia and Alador have their little victory, because who cares- They’re not motivated by petty spite nor prejudice. As long as the two are happy together, who cares what happens to Odalia and Alador, good or bad?

So, they might just help Odalia and Alador with their situation, help them out of Belos’ grasp… But carefully, because if an opportunity arrives; Then Odalia and Alador could easily use this to bring in Luz and Amity, and earn Belos’ favor.

Will they go along with the plans to supplant the head of the Abomination Coven- Having that position could help with the rebellion, especially if Rayne also helps as head of the Bard Coven! Or is that too risky, will Amity put herself in a situation where she must do terrible things for Belos for his trust and as a coven head, things that might prove more detrimental in the long run…

It really is a risks and benefit, cost analysis scenario, very befitting the Blights as business people. Luz and Amity will have to be careful, because Odalia and Alador could just as easily be one of their best assets, or their worst hindrances, and vice-versa… Shall they take advantage of Odalia and Alador’s close work with Belos to spy and influence, or try to reverse that?

We know with Lilith in Young Blood, Old Souls that Luz may not like someone’s deal, but she’ll put that aside to work for a greater good, because sometimes the ends DO justify the means! And on Amity’s part, I can see her understandably not wanting to work with her parents in any way or form, with Luz being understanding enough to do this entirely on her own;

And maybe Amity gets herself roped in to protect Luz, or even, she might take issue with Luz working with her parents behind her back- Possibly because she justifiably resents her parents still and doesn’t want to help them at all, and/or she was hoping Luz would trust and respect her enough to be transparent. Which, Luz would normally be... But with pressure and concern about Eda and other matters, Luz might make a deal with the devils behind Amity’s back that upsets her. We’ll just have to wait and see...

And of course, how will Belos handle Odalia and Alador himself? Will he be privy to Luz’s own plans and designs, and might he decide that the best way to deal with Blight Industries as a liability, besides making it work for HIM instead, is to simply… Do away with it entirely, and its owners’ lives?

#the owl house #alador blight #odalia blight #amity blight #luz noceda #speculation #analysis #meta

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