#​can we not debate without bashing?

[monzabee]

pleading the fifth - a. hotchner

criminal minds masterlist || part of the nanny series

Summary: a rather... interesting complication happens when jack’s nanny is called to school by the principal. the only person who can save either of them? it's aaron, of course.  

Pairing: aaron hotchner x nanny!reader

Word Count: 2k 

Warnings:  yelling (kinda), poor Jack is punished without a reason, other than that none?  

Please also note that all of my works are protected under copyright, and not available for reposting on other platforms. 

You’d consider yourself a rather calm person—a pacifist, really. You don’t confront people, you don’t get unnecessarily angry, you can’t even recall a time you’ve raised your voice in public. But right now? Right now, you are trying your hardest not to bash the principal’s head into his desk as he stares you down. It’s a glorified staring contest between the two of you, with Jack as your unwilling audience and referee.  

When the school first called you to tell you should come into the principal’s office, you thought of the worst. The worst being Jack having an accident, or one of the crazy criminals his dad deals with escaping prison and somehow finding him—which should serve as a reminder for you to stop falling asleep to murder podcasts.  

But no. Instead, you find yourself in a situation so utterly ridiculous, so mind-bogglingly absurd, that you’re starting to wonder if Aaron spiked your morning coffee before he went into work as a juvenile prank. “You’re telling me,” you say slowly, pressing your palms against the desk, “that Jack is in trouble��� because he didn’t answer a question in class?” 

“He was exhibiting disruptive behaviour, which hindered the ability of the other students in class to participate.” The principal explains, he’s an aging man with thinning hair and an ever-present scowl, folds his hands neatly in front of him and you find it hard to take him serious due to the absurdity of the situation.  

You blink. “Disruptive? He didn’t even talk!” 

“His silence, Miss Y/LN,” he points out, whilst he’s pointing at Jack, “was disruptive to other students.” 

Jack, sitting beside you, shifts uncomfortably in his chair. His little hands are folded in his lap, his lips pressed together in a firm line. He looks more annoyed than guilty. Your feel for him, for you know he’s not a bad kid, he’s the complete opposite, really. “But still. You called me down here because he didn’t want to answer a question?” 

“Yes,” the principal continues. “His teacher asked the students to share what their parents do for a living. When it was Jack’s turn, he refused to answer.” 

You glance at Jack. He meets your eyes and gives the tiniest shrug, as if to say Yeah, and?You return your attention to the principal. “With all due respect, I don’t see the issue here. Jack’s dad is a federal agent. Maybe he didn’t feel comfortable talking about it.” 

The principal sighs, rubbing his temples as if you’re the one being difficult. “Miss Y/LN, we encourage transparency in our students. Sharing personal details fosters a sense of community and trust within the classroom.” 

You stare at him, waiting for the punchline. “And you think forcing a child to disclose information about his father’s dangerous job is a healthy way to foster trust?” 

The principal’s scowl deepens. “It sets a precedent. When children refuse to participate, it encourages others to do the same. That’s not how we run things here.” 

Jack finally speaks up, his voice steady but tinged with frustration. “I did participate. I said, ‘I plead the Fifth.’” 

You have to bite the inside of your cheek to keep from laughing. 

The principal looks unimpressed. “That’s not participation.” 

“Actually,” you say, unable to help yourself, “it’s a constitutional right.” 

Jack nods excitedly. “Exactly.” 

The principal rubs his temples. “Miss Y/LN, this is not a debate. We called you in because Jack’s response was disrespectful and set a bad example for his classmates.” 

“Oh, come on,” you say, exasperated. “He’s a seven-year-old, not a criminal. He didn’t swear, he didn’t insult anyone, he just chose not to disclose personal information about his father. And frankly, I think that’s smart.” 

“Oh, you misunderstood me—he talked about Mister Hotchner’s job.” The principal clarifies, “He refused to tell the class what his mother does as for a living.”  

You blink.  

Once. Twice.  

Slowly. 

Jack is still staring at his lap, clearly uncomfortable. The principal is watching you expectantly, like he’s waiting for you to snap your fingers and magically produce an answer that will satisfy him. You take a breath, steady and slow, before asking, “And did it not occur to you that Jack doesn’t have a mother?” 

The principal’s expression falters for just a second before he recovers. “Well, I—” 

“No, really,” you cut him off, leaning forward with your elbows on the desk. “What exactly were you expecting him to say? That she passed away? That she’s not in the picture? That it’s none of your business?”Jack’s fingers tighten around the hem of his shirt, his small shoulders hunching. “Because all of those things are true, and dare I say, this is just a great ground for a lawsuit.” 

“I—” The principal clears his throat. “We didn’t realize—” 

“Oh, you didn’t realize?” You let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “You’re an educator, and you didn’t think that maybe, just maybe, forcing a child to talk about a subject he’s uncomfortable with might be a bad idea?” 

The principal shifts uncomfortably. “Miss Y/LN, we were only trying to encourage openness. Jack could’ve explained it to class—” 

You’re done. You pull out your phone and hand it over to Jack. “Go out and call your father, tell him to come here as soon as he can.” 

And Jack, being the sweet and smart kid that he is, doesn’t hesitate for a second. He takes the phone with a small but satisfied smile, hops off his chair, and walks out of the office, pressing the call button as he goes. Once you’re satisfied he’s out the door, you turn back to the principal.  

The principal watches him leave, his jaw tightening. “Miss Y/LN, I don’t think involving Agent Hotchner is necessary—” 

You arch a brow, crossing your arms. “Oh? You don’t? Because from where I’m sitting, it sounds like you want to discipline a child for not wanting to discuss his dead mother in front of his classmates.” 

The principal shifts in his chair. “That is not what I said—” 

“It’s exactly what you said.” You let out a slow breath, reigning in the urge to throw his stapler at him. “Look, Jack is a kid. A good one. He’s polite, he does his work, and he keeps to himself. If he chooses not to answer a personal question in class, that’s his right. And you know what else? If Aaron were here, I guarantee you he’d be saying the same thing—but with a lot less patience than I am.” 

Aaron Hotchner is used to walking into tense situations. In fact, he thrives in them. He’s spent years profiling criminals, negotiating with hostage-takers, and dissecting the minds of the most dangerous people in the country. But right now? Right now, as he takes in the scene before him—his son looking uneasy, you standing rigid with barely contained anger, and the principal sitting behind his desk with an expression that’s quickly morphing from smug authority to barely concealed nervousness—he knows exactly what kind of situation this is. 

It’s one that will not end well for the man in front of him, and not because he��s about to chew the principal out, but because you’re just as angry as he is.  

“I’d like to hear why my son was called in for disciplinary action.” His voice is calm. Even. But it has the weight of authority behind it—the kind that makes grown men break eye contact and shuffle in their seats.  

The principal straightens, clearing his throat as if that will make Aaron any less unimpressed. “Well, Agent Hotchner, I assure you this is simply a misunderstanding,” the principal starts, forcing a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Jack refused to participate in a classroom discussion, which we found to be disruptive.” 

Aaron’s jaw tightens. “Disruptive,” he repeats flatly. He’s aware that the look he gives the man is quite off-putting, but he couldn’t care less given that his son has been put on the spot. 

“Y-yes,” the principal continues. “We encourage transparency in our students, and when Jack chose not to share what his mother does for a living—” 

Aaron hears you scoff at the flimsy excuse the principal offers. He also hears the faint shuffling of clothes, and he doesn’t need to turn around to see that Jack has tucked himself over to your side. It’s a comforting thing that he does whenever he feels overwhelmed, and though the two of you have tried very hard to help him overcome this, he feels glad that Jack has you at the moment to bring him relief.  

“He doesn’t have a mother.” Aaron’s voice cuts through the air like a knife. Sharp. Final. He’s also very aware of the fact that your lips are curling in an unapproving way, and of the fact that this can be an uncomfortable topic for most. But why should his child be put in an uncomfortable situation by the very people who are supposedly tasked with his well-being. 

The principal falters. His mouth opens, then closes, before he manages a weak, “I wasn’t aware.” 

Aaron’s expression remains unreadable, but his tone drops, making his displeasure crystal clear. “Then maybe you should have been.” 

Beside him, you shift slightly, and when Aaron looks over the shoulder to you, you have your arms protectively around Jack as you level the principal with an unimpressed look. “That’s what I said.” 

Aaron almost smirks. Almost. But the sight also tugs at some of the strings of his heart. 

The principal stammers, scrambling to regain some semblance of control. “Agent Hotchner, I assure you—” 

“Assure me what?” Aaron interrupts smoothly. His voice remains even, but there’s a razor-sharp quality to it now. His annoyance is amplified due to the fact the he is back at looking at the middle age principal instead of his son and you, but he tries to remain as stoic as he can. “That you failed to consider the emotional well-being of a child under your care? That you thought coercing him into sharing deeply personal information was an acceptable way to foster ‘transparency’?” 

The principal swallows. “I—” 

Aaron doesn’t give him room to recover. “Jack is a child. A good child. If he chose not to answer a question, there was a reason for it. And instead of respecting that, you decided to make an issue of it. You called in his guardian, wasted her time, wasted my time, and most importantly, made my son feel like he did something wrong when he didn’t.”The principal’s face is rapidly losing color, and you find it highly amusing to watch Aaron tear him a new one as you absentmindedly stroke Jack’s hair. Aaron takes a step forward, just enough to make the older man shift uncomfortably in his chair. “Jack will not be receiving any disciplinary action for this. Furthermore, I expect a formal apology from both you and his teacher.” 

“Agent Hotchner, I��I don’t think that’s necessary—” 

“I do.” 

The silence in the room is suffocating. The principal, realizing he’s backed into a corner, nods stiffly. “Of course.” 

Jack may be young, but he isn’t oblivious. He understands things far too well for a child his age—has seen too much to be anything but painfully aware of the way the world works. And right now, he understands that the adults who were supposed to protect him in this environment have let him down. 

Aaron takes in a slow breath and releases it just as steadily. He won’t let this moment define Jack’s time here. He won’t let this school—this principal—become another source of stress in his son’s life. 

He turns his attention back to the man in front of him, watching the principal squirm under his gaze. “I trust this won’t be an issue again.” 

“No, sir.” The principal nods quickly, his hands folded tightly together on his desk. 

The final look Aaron gives the man is cold, and you’d be lying if it isn’t at least a little bit satisfying to watch. With the matter settled, Aaron turns to Jack, his face softening. “Let’s go.” 

Jack doesn’t hesitate. He hops off the chair and moves toward his father, but not before looking up at you. There’s something in his gaze—relief, maybe, or gratitude—and your heart clenches at the sight. 

You ruffle his hair playfully. “Come on, kid. Let’s get out of here before your dad arrests someone.” 

Aaron sighs. “I don’t arrest people for incompetence.” 

You smirk. “Pity.” 

[theangryblackfem]

Don't argue with them.

Don't argue with males

Don't argue with gender expansionists

Dont argue with conservatives

Let them yip and yap away in comments, videos, tweets, asks

That doesn't mean you have to give your time of day to any of these people. They all need something to do with their lives, and sometimes yapping endlessly about God knows what trying to prove you're wrong and a horrible human being is what they do with it. Let them.

Imagine all that energy spent arguing with people who won't even bother to open their minds and be willing to change them, when you can put that energy into the movement instead.

Imagine that fire you have for debating these people, when you can put that energy into helping your sisters; volunteer, educate, converse, protest, riot, actions.

I fully believe that if we as a collective do not respond to this outburst, but instead keep going to support our movement, we'll see a great change.

Remember, a crying child without a toy will only understand it is not getting its toy if the parent remains consistent and does not give in.

The less energy you put into giving these people attention, and the more energy you put into us progressing as womyn, the quicker they'll get the memo, and the quieter the annoying buzzing will become.

Once I've realised this, I fully decided to stop arguing. Block them, and don't interact with them. Even if there's 99 hateful bashful comments that make you angry, find that one comment that stands with you and interact with them.

Anyways conclusion, if you're gonna come here and try to test me; you're not getting a reaction. I'm too busy building solidarity with other womyn.

woc radfem server

[cxffecoupx]

our little thing

chwe hansol + bickering over which christmas movie is superior wc: 672 warnings: vernon being a cutie, gets a little emotional at the end (i think) author's note: todays exam was shit. this was made in a haste. please bear with me (me for the 23456th time). but i kinda like it a little. also basically i've tweaked the prompt a little i guess. but this was the general idea. hope you like it <33 winter wonderland masterlist

"sol, stop sulking; it's been more than an hour now!"

hansol just huffs once more before crossing his arms across his chest and looking away. you walk over to him to sit beside him.

"it was just a silly debate, non. i didn't even mean it that seriously."

"silly?! you mean to tell me, that movies are silly?!" he mocks a hurt expression before pressing his palm to his chest to drive his point home. you can only roll your eyes at this drama queen of a boyfriend.

two hours ago, vernon posed a question that he explained was 'in the spirit of the holidays'.

"what's your favourite christmas movie?" he asked while you were looking at decoration ideas through pinterest for seungcheol's christmas bash.

you actually had to judge him for that. for asking you that question, when he very well knew the fact that you were: 1) not a movie person, and 2) not a holiday person (two things that emotionally hurts vernon every time you express it, he claims).

so without much thought, you say what could have been the worst answer anyone could ever give to a movie person who likes the holidays:

"i dont know; i never really cared."

vernon swears he heard something break into a million pieces at that moment. if he were half as dramatic as his best friend seungkwan was, he'd have faked a faint and fell to the floor with his hand to the forehead (you say this in detail because this has happened before - when you answered the same way when he asked what your favourite christmas song was).

you thank whoever is up there that your boyfriend is nonchalant.

but this answer was enough for your stoic boyfriend to pout (a pout!! that you has to resist kissing), and move to the other end of the couch, far away from you, with the same worked up expression as right now.

for a whole two hours, he stayed huffing and puffing across from you.

you try to get him to look at you, but when that doesn't work, you climb onto his lap and hold his face between your hands. his face felt cold to the touch, nose a pretty pink and lips still in a pout.

this time, you don't resist your urge to kiss.

you lean in and press a lingering kiss to his lips. you could feel him melt under you, leaning into you while trying to deepen the connection. when you pull away after some time, he rushes to chase your lips. you place a finger to his.

"sol," you take a breath and continue.

"i've never really celebrated the holidays before. i mean, we did have some quality family time during the meals, of course. but we've never shopped for ornaments, or decorated the tree and put up a star. i've never sat down with them to watch christmas movies."

you smile when you notice his nose become even red, and smooch it.

"so, i've never really found the appeal to it. i'm grateful for all the holidays i've had, i really am. but there are just some things i silently wish for at times."

he takes a deep breath and pulls you in for a hug.

"let me fulfill that wish for you. we're a family, you and i. we can make new traditions, you know? i've watched a lot of holiday movies, we can watch them together ever year. make it special with some wine, or some hot chocolate. some caramel popcorn. a warm blanket around us."

he pauses to smile before going on.

"and you'll fall asleep in the middle of it, but i won't wake you up because then i'll get to have your share of the popcorn too. and i can tease you about it till the next year, when we do more things to tease each other about."

vernon presses a chaste kiss to your lips.

"you and i can slowly make it our little thing, just like you've wanted."

prompt by @novelbear divider by @adornedwithlight

[secondhandsorrows]

Some Vital Scenes to Include in a Romantic Subplot, pt. 1

I’ve been in the plotting stages of a novel I’ve been working on for some time now. It’s not a romance novel, per se, but the romantic aspect is very prevalent… dare I say important. Anyway, so as I was working on my scenes and character arcs, I began to realize that I didn’t have enough fleshed-out about romantic arc, nor deepened the protagonist’s love interest or their connection, for that matter. This led me to devise up some scenes that I felt were crucial to the story if I wanted to keep this romantic angle to it, and now that I’ve most of them arranged, I find now that I’m way more excited about my characters’ love story. 

These tips will be unnumbered because, obviously, the sequence of these events and how they will fall into your storyline will probably be different. Also, you don’t have to use only one scene for every suggestion that will be mentioned, as you can have multiple scenes of flirtations or deep conversations, for example. They usually blend all together into the narrative at this point. Just remember that there should be some relevance to the plot at hand in some of these scenes as to not derail completely from the main narrative or other conflicts.

I was going to post this all at once, but decided it was too long and wanted to split it into two parts to go more in-depth and for easy reading. /-\ Enjoy ~

- The meet-cute, or the meet-ugly:

Ah, yes, the first encounter. Or, as we sometimes like to call it: the meet-cute, or the meet-ugly if you’re feeling a little unconventional or perhaps mischievous. Though we may enjoy setting up our star-crossed characters in a whole range of moments from awkward to swoon-worthy, the initial meeting is what’s important (if your characters haven't already met before the beginning of the story, ofc, but this is useful to have in mind). Let us quickly define the two:

Meet-Cute: A charming and serendipitous first encounter between the characters in question that sets a positive, memorable, and oftentimes romantic tone.

Meet-Ugly: An unconventional, awkward, or disastrous initial meeting that adds a unique twist to the start of the romantic connection, often leading to unexpected chemistry and an added intrigue on whether or not they’ll get together.

You don’t have to nail your characters’ first encounter into a label or bubble such as these two examples, but I like bringing these up for a general idea. 

- Bouts of flirting and/or banter:

Just as the title suggests, these are scenes containing the flirtaious communication between the two characters. These kinds of interactions will, of course, develop over time and deepen the bond or relationship. Playful interactions, gazes, and witty exchanges between the characters can create a lighthearted and flirtatious atmosphere that hints at their growing attraction.

The way they might flirt or tease can reveal their personalities. For example, one character might be more sarcastic, while the other responds with quick wit, or quiet bashfulness. There’s an element of subtlety, as flirting lets the characters express their romantic interest without explicitly stating it (unless one of your characters lacks subtlety in general and prefers to shout their undying love from the rooftops, which would make for an interesting dynamic, but I’m only spit-balling). 

Banter, teasing, and romantic tension underscoring heated debates or loathsome gazes suit just as nicely, especially if you’re writing with enemies-to-lovers or rivalry tropes in mind. But be careful! A little goes a long way: too much all at once can repel any growth for the characters or narrative.

- Initial conflict or struggle:

Depending on your story’s big-picture conflict, the introduction of challenges or obstacles can create tension between the characters, adding depth to their relationship and making their eventual connection all the more satisfying. This might include cultural or class differences, opposing goals or values, history of past heartbreak, personality weaknesses such as stubbornness, or external pressures that threaten to keep the characters apart. Even a nosy family or a disapproving mother can be considered. How the characters navigate and resolve these conflicts contributes significantly to the overall emotional impact of the romance subplot, as well as allowing for some exploration of each character's strengths, weaknesses, and resilience. 

- Shared vulnerability:

This kind of scene involves the characters opening up to each other about their innermost fears, insecurities, past trauma, or personal struggles. Shared vulnerability goes beyond surface-level interactions. It involves characters revealing their authentic selves, exposing their emotional vulnerabilities, and allowing the other person to see them in an honest — and sometimes new — light.

This is a symbolic gesture of commitment we’re talking about, here… something that requires trust. As characters share their fears or past traumas, they are entrusting the other person with sensitive information, fostering a sense of trust and emotional intimacy. It might be scary, it could be out from left field, but they will end up learning something new about themselves, their situation, or about the other person, and thus deepen their connection, little by little.

[sloanesallow]

I am trying not to vague-blog when I say this, but at the same time, I have been on tumblr for over 15 years and think people need a reminder in fandom etiquette:

If you don't like the "content" you see within a fandom, don't engage. The effort it takes to complain about something you dislike can be turned into something you do want to see. Misery begets misery.

We can coexist without bringing each other down.

To add to this, the people behind accounts are that. People. We are entitled to our opinions and our values regarding fandom. Healthy discussions/debates can occur if people are open to listening and reading. Be empathetic. Also, use common sense. A few bad apples sending hate do not speak for everyone in the fandom. Just because I don't like something doesn't mean I am actively bashing the people that do.

Also, if you find yourself feeling alone in fandom, reach out. There's a common misconception that fandom circles are impenetrable. They aren't. Every friend I've made in fandom is because I engaged and made an effort. Does it work with everyone? No. Are there going to be people that you don't really vibe with? Yeah. You can't be friends with everyone. But there are friends I made over a decade ago that I'm friends with now because one day I started yapping at them about the stuff we liked. You find your weirdos and never let go.

There are always going to be tighter circles here and there, but guess what? It's like that in real life, too. But you'd never know unless you try.

[alltimecharlo]

I love all your will/mack content but I am LOVING the frat boy will content. It really just fits him so well. If you ever expand the verse it could be funny to see them in rival frats. And Mack’s trying to take the rivalry very seriously and Will is like … can we pls hookup I think I’m in love w you. But they have to sneak around ? That could be cute

amazing levels of wsh desperation here, i love it. thank you anon - fic under the cut!!! :)🩵

Will leans against the porch railing of his frat house, a half-full red solo cup dangling between two fingers, and watches the chaos across the lawn.

Sigma Delta Phi is throwing their usual Friday-night bash, all neon lights and thudding bass and shirtless guys on the roof howling along to throwback pop songs. It's a mess. It's always a mess. And across the street, Alpha Rho is doing their version of a party too—cooler lighting, tighter dress code, a line of people waiting to get in like it's a club downtown.

Will smirks. Mack's party.

Mack, president of Alpha Rho, king of the clean-cut, all-American jock types, is standing at the top of his frat house steps, arms crossed and jaw tight, glaring like he's trying to manifest an earthquake under Will's feet.

Will lifts his cup in a mock-toast. "Evening, sweetheart."

Mack flips him off.

God, he's cute when he's angry.

"You're not taking this seriously," Mack says later that week, when they run into each other by the gym.

Will is in joggers and a cropped hoodie, sweat-damp and flushed from a run. Mack looks like he just stepped out of a recruitment catalog: backwards cap, team jacket, those ridiculous thighs.

"Taking what seriously?"

"The rivalry."

Will raises an eyebrow. "You mean the fake little frat war you started because I stole your float idea for Greek Week?"

"You did steal it!"

"You put it in the group chat. That is not legally binding."

Mack makes a frustrated noise and stalks past him, but Will falls into step beside him, grinning.

"You're really cute when you're mad, you know that?"

"You're not funny."

"Debatable."

They don’t stop running into each other. The campus is small, the Greek life smaller. There’s meetings, fundraisers, mixers. Will keeps catching Mack looking at him across crowded rooms. Glaring, mostly. Occasionally staring. Once or twice blushing.

The first time it happens, it’s after a fraternity council meeting that ran too late. Everyone's tired and cranky and half the group peels off to get drinks. Mack walks past Will in the hallway with a muttered, "Still think your pledge class is weak."

Will grabs his sleeve and pulls him into an empty classroom.

"Say that again."

"What, that your pledges couldn't organize a bake sale without crying?"

Will kisses him.

It’s not a gentle kiss. It's teeth and heat and Mack making this low, shocked sound in his throat before he grabs Will by the hips and backs him into the wall.

They don’t talk about it after. Not really. Just text each other things like "study night?" or "I know you’re at the gym. Come over after."

Will knows he should care more about the secrecy. But honestly? The sneaking around part is kind of hot.

There’s a thrill in showing up to Mack’s frat house in a hoodie pulled low, slipping around the side entrance while some pledge is mopping the floor. In making out in closets during campus-wide events. In whispering insults at each other with mouths barely an inch apart.

But also, there’s the quiet stuff.

There’s the time Mack makes him pasta in the tiny Alpha Rho kitchen and doesn’t even complain when Will sits on the counter eating mozzarella straight from the bag.

There’s the night Will falls asleep on Mack’s couch after one too many rounds of Mario Kart and wakes up covered in a blanket and with Mack’s hoodie tucked around him.

And then there’s the moment it all tips over.

They’re at a joint fundraiser. Mack is working the dunk tank. Will is supposed to be manning the raffle table. But he keeps drifting closer, watching Mack get soaked over and over.

Mack catches him staring and calls out, "Why don’t you try, pretty boy? Afraid you’ll mess up your nails?"

The crowd laughs. Will grins and saunters over, digs into his wallet for a few crumpled bills.

He nails the target first try.

Mack goes under.

Later, soaked and grinning, Mack corners him behind the supply shed.

"You’re enjoying this too much."

Will shrugs. "What can I say? I like watching you get wet."

Mack groans like he's in pain. "You are impossible."

"And you love it."

Mack hesitates. For once, he doesn’t deflect.

He leans in and says, quiet and rough, "Yeah. I think I do."

Will blinks.

"Say that again?"

Mack presses his forehead to Will’s. "I think I’m in love with you, dumbass."

Will laughs. He kisses him. It's softer this time. Real.

Maybe rival frat presidents aren’t supposed to sneak around behind the scenes.

Maybe they're supposed to hate each other.

But Will is done pretending.

And it turns out, so is Mack.

♡

[cynicalmusings]

a little exchange i thought of which would probably take place during some debate or other between the socrates-adjacent!reader and some random other person (who begins the dialogue):

“I’ve had about enough of you! Could you stop acting like that?”

“Acting? I’m afraid I don’t understand your meaning. Could you elaborate on your point?”

“You’re still doing it! You can’t seriously be like this all the time. Drop your pretences already and behave normally.”

“Ah, so it is normalcy which concerned here. I’m happy to engage, but you have yet to define what precisely ‘normalcy’ in this context is. Are you able to do so, to help an ignorant soul such as myself?”

“For—you’re serious? You want a definition?”

“I am being entirely honest in asking my question. I only ask that you answer me in a similar fashion.”

“Just—ugh—act like the rest of us!”

“I see. If I have understood you, ‘normalcy’ here is taken to mean a form of social conformity to the behaviour of the majority.”

“Yes.”

“Very well. Now we are in a position consider your demand properly. By your definition, there is no standard for judging what is ‘normal’ beyond how commonly a certain thing is practiced. So, if everybody were suddenly to act like I do, and you became the minority in your behaviour, would not my behaviour classify as ‘normal’, and your own ‘abnormal’?”

“Well… yeah, I guess. So what?”

“And so, if I began demanding that you adapt your behaviour to match mine on no other grounds than it is shared by the majority, would you be willing, without any resistance, to do so?”

“…No, I suppose not.”

“Very well, then; and I respect your answer, for it is an entirely reasonable one. However, it also means that, by your own admission, I ought to be similarly free to act as I please; and thus, I am afraid I must reject your request for reasons which you can understand. I believe we can conclude this line of discussion here. Now, remind me, what were you saying previously about gaining true knowledge from experience?”

[After this, the other person walked off and bashed their head with a rock.]

[duhshereadz]

A collection of one-shots with Ekko as your boyfriend!

1. Late-Night Adventures

The city hummed with life, neon lights reflecting off the damp streets. You tugged your jacket closer as the chilly air nipped at your skin. Ekko walked beside you, hands in his hoodie pocket, a lopsided grin on his face.

“Where are we going?” you asked, curiosity edging your tone.

“You’ll see,” he said, smirking. “You trust me, right?”

“Debatable,” you teased, earning a scoff.

Ekko stopped suddenly, turning to face you. His dark brown eyes locked on yours, filled with amusement. “Alright, Y/N. I’ll give you a hint. It’s something you’ve never done before, but you’ll love it. Guaranteed.”

You raised a brow, skeptical but intrigued. “Fine. Lead the way, Time Boy.”

He chuckled, taking your hand in his, the warmth of his palm cutting through the chill. “Keep up, slowpoke.”

Minutes later, you stood in front of a high-rise apartment building. Ekko pulled out a small key from his pocket and nodded toward the rooftop door. “Come on.”

The sight that greeted you made your breath catch. The entire rooftop was strung with fairy lights, and a projector was set up against one wall. Blankets and snacks were scattered across a makeshift seating area.

“You did all this?” you whispered.

Ekko shrugged, looking almost bashful. “I figured we could use a night under the stars. You’ve been stressed lately.”

You threw your arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. “You’re ridiculous,” you muttered against his shoulder.

“Yeah, but you love it,” he replied, wrapping his arms around you with a soft chuckle.

2. Paint Wars

You should’ve known better than to agree to Ekko’s idea of painting the walls in his studio apartment.

“Do you even know how to paint a wall?” you asked, holding a roller with suspicion.

“Do you?” he shot back, grinning as he dipped his brush into a can of dark teal paint. “We’re winging it, Y/N. That’s half the fun.”

It started innocently enough—music playing in the background, the two of you focused on covering the plain white walls. But then you felt a cold splash against your arm.

“Ekko,” you warned, glancing at him.

He stood a few feet away, feigning innocence as he held the paintbrush behind his back. “What?”

“You just got paint on me.”

“Prove it.”

Without thinking, you dipped your roller into the paint and flung it at him, leaving a smear across his cheek.

“Oh, you’re done for,” he said, grinning wickedly.

The next few minutes were chaos—paint splattered everywhere as the two of you dodged and attacked, laughing uncontrollably. By the end, the walls were only half-finished, but you were both covered head to toe in teal.

Ekko leaned against the wall, out of breath but smiling. “Okay, maybe this wasn’t the most efficient plan.”

“Yeah,” you said, catching your breath. “But it was worth it.”

He reached over, smearing paint on your nose. “You look better in teal anyway.”

3. A Lazy Sunday Morning

The soft glow of sunlight filtered through the curtains as you stirred awake. Ekko’s arm was draped across your waist, his face buried in the crook of your neck.

“Morning,” you murmured, your voice thick with sleep.

“Five more minutes,” he mumbled, pulling you closer.

“You always say that,” you teased, running your fingers through his soft hair.

He tilted his head up, his lips curling into a smirk. “Because I like waking up like this.”

Your heart swelled at the honesty in his voice. “What’s the plan for today?”

He groaned, rolling onto his back. “Plan? Nah, today’s for doing nothing. We deserve it.”

The two of you spent the morning tangled in each other, talking about everything and nothing. At some point, Ekko started humming a song, his voice low and smooth.

“You should sing more,” you said, resting your head on his chest.

He laughed softly. “I’ll sing for you, but only if you promise not to tell anyone I’m a secret softie.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

4. Protecting What’s His

The argument had been brewing all night, the tension palpable as the stranger at the bar got too close for comfort.

Ekko was leaning against the counter when it happened. The guy had laughed too loudly, his hand brushing your shoulder one too many times.

“Hey,” Ekko said, stepping in. His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp. “You wanna back up?”

The stranger scoffed, clearly unimpressed. “Chill out, man. I’m just talking to her.”

“And now you’re done,” Ekko replied, his jaw tight.

You placed a hand on Ekko’s arm. “It’s fine. Let’s just go.”

But Ekko wasn’t backing down. He stood his ground, his expression firm. “If you’re smart, you’ll walk away now.”

The stranger muttered something under his breath but eventually moved on.

As you stepped outside, Ekko let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. “Sorry if I overreacted,” he said, his voice softer now.

“You didn’t,” you said, leaning into him. “Thanks for standing up for me.”

He pulled you close, his hand resting on the small of your back. “Always, Y/N. Nobody messes with you when I’m around.”

5. Confessions in the Rain

The rain poured down, drenching you both as you stood in the middle of the street.

“Ekko, this is ridiculous!” you shouted over the downpour.

“Then come here and stop me,” he called back, spinning in circles with his arms outstretched.

You ran up to him, grabbing his arm. “You’re gonna catch a cold!”

He laughed, shaking his wet curls out of his face. “You’re cute when you worry.”

“Ekko—”

“I love you.”

The words stopped you in your tracks. Your heart raced as you stared at him, his grin fading into something more serious.

“I’m not great at this,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I love you, Y/N. I’ve been wanting to say it for a while.”

Tears mixed with the rain as you smiled, throwing your arms around him. “I love you too, you idiot.”

He held you tightly, his lips finding yours in the rain. “Guess we’re both idiots then.”

[moonstruckme]

could you write steve harrington x reader x eddie munson?

something like, Eddie invited Steve to see his band playing at a bar and during the presentation Steve starts to flirt with the reader cause he thinks she's the most gorgeous girl ever, and hes actually happy cause she is flirting back, and when the show ends Eddie gets to them and he is like "yeah shes my girlfriend but don't worry we like to share"

Hi, thanks so much for your request! This got a bit long, but I hope you like it :)

Steddie x fem!reader ♡ 1k words

Steve knows that, in theory, he's supposed to be here for Eddie. And Eddie is good, commanding the attention of the entire bar, the colored lights seeming to shine more brightly upon him. It's unfair to his bandmates, really, but Eddie's just like that. Has been from the first time Steve met him, and he's grown more fascinated with the other man each day since.

It's part of why, when Eddie had asked Steve and no one else to come to his show that night, Steve hadn't hesitated before cancelling his plans with Robin. But now that he's here, he finds his attention unwillfully divided between the bright, shining star on the stage and the girl beneath it, glowing softly like the moon.

It seems like every bit of light that catches Eddie refracts back onto you, and you beam up at him, clearly enamored. Steve knows the feeling. Maybe it's that kinship that drives him towards you, maybe it's something else, but Steve finds himself drifting through the crowd, letting himself be bashed around by overenthusastic moshers, until he's beside you.

"Do you know their stuff?" he shouts over the music, jerking his chin towards the band.

You smile, eyes roaming his face appreciatively, and Steve's mouth goes utterly dry. He didn't begrudge you the attention you were bestowing upon Eddie, but having it directed at him is something different entirely. Steve wonders if he's never been properly looked at in his life, if this is what it's supposed to feel like.

"I do!" Your enthusiasm is adorable, and Steve finds himself grinning back at you as if in a trance. "I go to all of their shows. Is this your first one?"

"Yeah," Steve says, debating whether to tell you he knows someone in the band. What if you want him to introduce you to Eddie? He's not sure if he could stand watching as the two most gorgeous people he's ever seen get together right in front of him; Steve's too selfish for that.

He's saved from his moral dilemma when you nod cheerfully, as if Steve's just given more than a bland, one-word response. "Yeah, didn't think I'd seen you here before. Whaddya think?"

This, he can answer with complete honesty. "I really like it. They're awesome." Some of them more of others, in Steve's opinion. But he might be biased.

You look downright jubilant at his answer, and Steve's happy to have something in common with you. "Aren't they?" you yell back, still bopping your head to the rhythm even as you devote most of your attention to Steve. Eddie starts on a guitar solo, and you both abandon your conversation to watch, whooping above the roar of the crowd, and when Eddie grins, Steve's not sure which one of you it's directed at. Once the chorus starts again, you grab at Steve's collar, pulling him closer so you can yell in his ear. He's eager to oblige you. "You should come to more shows, if you can. I'd love to have someone to hang out with."

Steve hopes the lighting is camoflaging his blush, but there's no hiding the beaming grin that comes to his face at what he hopes you're implying. "Sounds good to me," he yells back, taking the opportunity to put his hand in your hair under the premise of gaining easier access to your ear. "Actually, I'm really thirsty. Come to the bar with me for a drink? I'll buy."

You agree without any further persuasion, and while neither of you ever takes your attention completely off the band, you spend the rest of the set chatting at the bar. By the time Eddie hops down from the stage, your hands are joined on the bartop, and you're running your thumb along Steve's knuckle flirtatiously. Eddie heads straight for the two of you and Steve wilts slightly, knowing the jig is up, but when Eddie grins at him, he can't help but smile back. It's an automatic response.

"Hey," Eddie greets him, before his eyes find you. "Hi, sweet thing." He wraps an arm around your shoulders, and your cheek dimples where he kisses it. "Did you have fun?"

You hum in happy affirmation. "I met Steve."

Eddie chuckles. "Yeah, I can see that, baby." His gaze falls on Steve, who's busy wishing a sinkhole would open under his seat and swallow him up. "I was gonna introduce you to my girlfriend after the show, but it seems like you found each other without me."

"Your girlfriend," Steve repeats dazedly. He looks between the two of you, waiting for someone to be offended. Should it be him? You were flirting with him too, or had he misread everything? There was no way Eddie didn't see your hands atop the bar, fingers intertwined. "I—I'm sorry, I didn't know you guys were together. I wouldn't've—"

"Shit, relax, Harrington," Eddie laughs, and now Steve's definitely offended. How could he have thought Eddie liked him, when he would laugh at Steve's humiliation like this? "My bad, I should've explained. Y/N is my girlfriend, but we're not...exclusionary."

Steve says nothing, letting his flabberghasted expression speak for him.

"I was sort of hoping you guys would hit it off tonight. We're into sharing," Eddie says it casually, as if its not the most surprising and objectively the best news Steve has heard in his entire life.

"Wait." Steve wants to be sure he has this right. "So you," he looks at Eddie, grinning smugly as he watches Steve put it together, "and you," he turns to you, gazing at him with kind, hopeful eyes, "are in a relationship, but you want...me, to be in your relationship too?"

"If you want to," you say softly, squeezing Steve's hand. "Eddie's been campaigning for this for weeks, and after tonight, I'm pretty sold on the idea too." You laugh a little, and Steve realizes, for the first time, that you're nervous.

"Yeah." Steve's palm is sweaty against yours, but the answer comes to him easily. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"Great." Eddie doesn't seem surprised, necessarily, but his smile is giant and goofy, and you seem equally thrilled. "Then how about I order us some more drinks?"

Steve's only had one tonight, but as Eddie slings his other arm around his shoulder, wrapping the three of you in a loose hug, he feels plenty drunk already.

[richincolor]

New Releases - May 6, 2025

We found a dozen book releases to watch for today. It's a good day to stop by a bookstore or check to see if the library has made an order yet. 

Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks Henry Holt & Co.

Unmask a murderer or take the fall.

After Cooper King is pressured by big brother figure Jason to go on a looting spree during a local march, the unthinkable happens: gunshots ring in the air and someone ends up dead. After Cooper flees, the news shows four teens in ski masks near the scene of the murder―Cooper and his friends. Cooper fears the cops will come knocking at his door, and the pressure only mounts when a suspect is taken into custody: Jason.

Monique, Jason’s sister and Cooper’s longtime crush, is willing to go any length to clear her brother’s name. Even if she needs to go into the belly of the beast and confront the killer herself. When she teams up with Cooper, they fall down the investigation rabbit hole and start to fall for each other. But little does Monique know that within this web of deception, Cooper is shrouding the truth that he was there when the shots went off. If the pair fail to uncover the real murderer, Jason will get locked up for a crime he didn’t commit―and drag down Cooper with him.

Audre and Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

MEET AUDRE. Junior class president. Debate team captain. Unofficial student therapist. Desperately in need of a good time.

MEET BASH. Mysterious new senior. Everybody’s crush. Tall, floppy, great taste in jewelry. King of having a good time.

It’s the last day of school at Cheshire Prep, Brooklyn’s elite academy—and Audre Mercy-Moore’s life is a mess. Her dad cancelled her annual summer visit to his Malibu beach house. Now? She’s stuck in a claustrophobic apartment with her mom, stepdad, and one-year-old sister (aka the Goblin Baby).

Under these conditions, she’ll never finish writing her self-help book—ie, the key to winning over Stanford’s admissions board.

Cut to Bash Henry! Audre hires him to be her “fun consultant.” His job? To help her complete the Experience Challenge—her list of five wild dares designed to give her juicy book material. She’ll get inspo; he’ll get paid. Everybody wins.

He isn’t boyfriend material. And she’s not looking for one. Can they stay professional despite their obvious connection?

Fun fact: Audre Mercy-Moore first appeared in the New York Times bestseller Seven Days in June and now stars in her own story!

unOrdinary Volume 3 by uru-chan HarperAlley

The action-packed series from the #1 digital comic platform WEBTOON continues in a whirlwind of drama, conflict, and secrecy as a rogue group called Ember wreaks havoc and begins attacking the students of Wellston High!

When Seraphina finds herself powerless in a world that prizes powers, she becomes an unexpected target. As Arlo grapples with the task of keeping Seraphina’s predicament a secret, a rogue group called Ember begins attacking students without remorse.

Tensions come to a head in this struggle of power dynamics, loss, and the weight of secrets in a world where abilities reign supreme.

I Can’t Even Think Straight by Dean Atta Quill Tree Books

In this emotional novel in verse by the Stonewall Award–winning author of The Black Flamingo, a queer biracial teen confronts issues of race, privilege, class, and sexuality on his journey to falling in love.

Kai knows who he is to others: The good grandson, the reliable best friend, the romantic backup. But he doesn’t quite know who he is to himself.

Kai wants to come out at school, but his best friend there, Matt, stays closeted for fear of getting kicked out by his conservative parents—and wants Kai to do the same. Kai unhappily agrees, but when a rumor goes around that Kai and Matt are dating, Matt starts acting differently anyway.

Kai’s other best friend, Vass, is proudly nonbinary and thinks Matt is a negative influence—though maybe that’s just their crush on Kai talking. Kai has always turned to writing to express his emotions, but when his on-page emotions erupt into the real world, he might just be putting the delicate balance of his life at risk.

Told with Dean Atta’s signature lyricism and candor, this deeply feeling story explores the complexities of crushes, navigating identity, and coming out.

The Lost Queen by Aimee Phan G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Jolie Lam, a high school sophomore in San Jose, is known for two things: her bizarre freakout at last year’s swim meet and her fortuneteller grandfather with visions of dragons and earthquakes. Friendless and ostracized, Jolie’s life takes a dramatic turn for the better when she saves the school’s it-girl, Huong Pham, during a haunting vision of her own. Taken under Huong’s wing, Jolie’s world transforms, in more ways than one.

As Jolie and Huong’s bond deepens, they unlock long lost powers: telepathic abilities, fluency in Vietnamese, and eerie premonitions. This leads them to a shocking revelation: they have ties to legendary queens and goddesses of ancient Vietnam. While a thrilling discovery, it also sets them on a perilous journey.

The girls must navigate dreams and portals to piece together their past lives and reclaim their immortal elements before their ancient enemies strike again. But all is not what it seems, and Jolie must determine friend from foe, truth from lie, and ultimately right from wrong in this battle for all she loves and the fate of the world.

Snowglobe 2 by Soyoung Park Delacorte

Chobahm’s perfect life in Snowglobe came crashing down when she discovered the truth about Haeri. The girl she watched faithfully on television was far from perfect. And the TV family revered by millions was nothing more than an illusion created by the sinister Director Cha. But revealing the lies was only the first crack in the domed utopia.

Director Cha may be behind bars, but the Yibonn Media corporation, the corrupt entity that runs Snowglobe, is still in power. They’ll do anything to hide their own secret—the dark truth behind the domed city’s signature warmth—and when footage emerges of Chobahm committing a murder, she knows they’re not finished with her yet.

The only person who can help to clear her name is none other than the disgraced Yibonn heir, Bonwhe—who knows better than anyone that enemies exist everywhere. Sometimes you can’t even trust yourself.

The heat is rising—and with the soaring temperatures come new secrets. And new lies.

This Thing of Ours by Frederick Joseph Candlewick Press

In an instant, Ossie Brown’s entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie—a Black teen who doesn’t come from wealth and privilege—must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he’s now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students’ viral “anti-woke” video puts the teacher’s job, the writing program, and even Ossie’s friends’ safety at risk—and Ossie must find his true voice. This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.

It’s You Every Time by Charlene Thomas Scholastic

When Sydney Michaels stops for breakfast in order to put off scholastic ruin a little longer, she never expected to―quite literally―bump into cute-boy stranger, Marcus Burke.

When Marcus invites her to have breakfast with him instead of going to class, she can’t ignore the urge to get to know him better―or the fact that this charming new acquaintance seems just as interested in her.

After a magical day together in their hometown of New York City, Sydney is finally willing to believe that maybe―just maybe―after years of loss and heartache, she’s finally reached the good part.

But when it comes time to say goodbye, as they linger in a crosswalk, something happens. An accident? Sydney isn’t sure―all she knows is that, after screeching tires, blinding headlights, and a moment of searing pain, she opens her eyes and is back in her bed. On September 24–the morning of her big exam―again.

Wake the Wild Creatures by Nova Ren Suma Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Three years ago, Talia lived happily in the ruins of the Neves, a once-grand hotel in the wilds of the Catskill Mountains, with her mother Pola and their community of like-minded women. Some came to the Neves to escape cruel men, others to hide from the law, but all found safety and connection in their haven high above civilization, cloaked by a mysterious mist that kept intruders away. But as their numbers grew, complications followed, and everything came crashing down the night electric lights pierced the forest. Uniformed men arrested Pola, calling her a murderer and a fugitive, and Talia was taken away.

Now sixteen, Talia has been forced to live with family she barely knows and fit into a world scarred by misogyny, capitalism, disconnection from nature . . . everything the women of the Neves stood against. She has one goal: to return to the Neves. But as Talia awaits a signal from her mother, questions arise. Who betrayed her community, and what is she avoiding about her own role in its collapse? Is it truly magic that keeps the hotel so hidden? And what does it mean to embrace being her mother’s daughter? With the help of an unexpected ally, Talia must find her way to answers, face a mother who’s often kept her at arm’s length, and try to reach the refuge she lost—if the mist hasn’t swallowed her path home.

The Survivor Wants to Die at the End (They Both Die at the End Series, 3) by Adam Silvera Quill Tree Books

Paz Dario stays up every night, waiting for the Death-Cast call that would mean he doesn’t have to keep faking his way through this lonely life. After a devastating day, Paz decides he’s done waiting around for Death-Cast. If they say he’s not dying, he’ll just have to prove them wrong. But right before Paz can die, a boy saves his life.

Alano Rosa is heir to the Death-Cast empire that encourages everyone to live their best lives, but he doesn’t feel in control of his own existence thanks to his father. And with a violent organization called the Death Guard threatening Alano, his End Day might be closer than he thinks. It’s time to live.

Fate brings Paz and Alano together, but it’s now up to the boys to survive the tragic trials ahead so no one dies at the end.

This book contains themes that some readers may find difficult.

If I Could Go Back by Briana Johnson Peachtree Teen

For Aaliyah Campbell, family is everything. Her cousin Ivy is her best friend and track co-star, and Grandpa Joe is her rock. He may be crotchety and dramatic, but he’s raised Aaliyah since she was a toddler. Still, Aaliyah can’t stop thinking about what’s missing—her parents.

When Aaliyah secretly contacts her mom, she risks upsetting the family who’s always been there. But Grandpa Joe refuses to explain why her parents gave her up, and without answers, Aaliyah cannot silence the anxious voice telling her she’s never been good enough.

Surprisingly, it isn’t Aaliyah’s mom, but her dad, Quincy, who steps up. Quincy turns out to be immature but surprisingly fun to hang out with. And when the rest of the family finds out they’re in contact, old secrets will finally be forced into the light.

Aaliyah Campbell is a champion for young Black girls coping with anxiety and depression, and a voice for all teens navigating the messy process of learning how to advocate for ones’ self. Through honest storytelling and a voice that oozes humor and heart, Briana Johnson’s memorable debut explores sensitive topics with authenticity and compassion.

Future Millionaire: A Young Person’s Step-By-Step Guide to Making Wealth Inevitable by Rachel Rodgers Blink

Rachel Rodgers—author of We Should All Be Millionaires and creator of her own eight-figure business—knows what it’s like to be broke. She also knows what it’s like to rise above your circumstances and radically change your future. Now, in her first book for young adults, Rodgers empowers readers 13 and up to do the same.

Future Millionaire unpacks all the financial concepts you never learned about in school, like creating a budget, managing debt, investing your savings, and more. Rachel also discusses how to think like a millionaire—creating a healthy money mindset, boundaries, and goals—and act like a millionaire, using your money to support causes that you believe in and upending systems that favor the 1% over marginalized communities.

You’ll also learn how to:

Reframe negative, self-sabotaging thoughts so you can pave the way for future success

Invest in yourself by practicing self-care, establishing healthy boundaries, and upgrading your everyday life

Create a budget, tackle debt, and start investing so you can see your money grow

Use your money to achieve your dreams and make a difference in the world around you

[everythingfivesoka]

For the first time ever, we have a place where Fivesoka shippers can meet and discuss this dynamic pairing! 💙🧡

If you’re interested in joining, review the server rules posted below, and then DM this blog or one of the mods!

Mods:

💙 @tealmisthams 💙

💖 @snips2112 💖

💙🧡 RULES & REGS 💙🧡

1 - Must be 18+. This server is for adults only.

2 - Be courteous to each other. No hate or otherwise discriminatory language is permitted. It is okay to respectfully disagree and politely debate, but refrain from judging and/or bashing others. We want this to be a safe space where no one has to feel concerned about being judged.

3 - Please keep NSFW content in the NSFW channels. Please also spoiler any content that contains nudity, sexual content, gore, or other graphic images. Links to E-rated fics may be posted in other channels, as long as the post itself contains no graphic language or imagery.

4 - Any potentially triggering content must be identified as such. Please spoiler potentially triggering images and text. Also please tag any potentially triggering content in your fics. If you’re not certain whether or not something needs to be spoilered, ask a mod or spoiler anyway, just to be safe.

5 - Ship and let ship. Discussion of all ships is welcome, as long as there is no hate directed towards any particular ship. If a conversation is going on regarding a ship that you do not agree with, simply do not engage.

6 - Please keep Fives and Ahsoka focused on each other. Try to avoid extensive discussion of Fives or Ahsoka ships in which they are involved with anyone other than each other. Ships like Rexsoka can be mentioned in passing, as long as the conversation remains focused on Fivesoka. (For example, comparing the differences in the relationships, due the similarities of the two ships.) For fics, Fives or Ahsoka having other relationships prior is acceptable, as long as Fivesoka is the endgame.

7 - No underage content. No posting any content (fic, art, or other) in which either character is portrayed as a minor in a romantic relationship with an adult. For all romantic/sexual content, Ahsoka must be depicted as an adult Togruta (like in TCW s7 and on). If the content takes place during TCW s1-6, please age Ahsoka up. For art, Ahsoka‘s TCW s1-6 character design will not be accepted, as she is a minor during that time frame. However, if the content is platonic in nature (fighting together, standing side by side, or anything else that can be interpreted as platonic), Ahsoka can be any age.

8 - Do not share/repost other people’s content without permission. This is a safe space for people to share their content without fear of it being stolen.

9 - Respect the mods’ decisions. Please do not attempt to “mini-mod”. If you see that a server rule has been violated or have any other concerns about interactions within the server, please DM one of the mods. After a situation has been handled, we will delete all content relating to the incident, so as to keep the channels clear of disruptions. The mods also reserve the right to change or add rules if the need arises. Members will be notified if any changes are made.

10 - The mods have the right to remove anyone who is not complying with the rules. Anyone who is repeatedly violating the server rules, harassing other members, or otherwise creating tension within the server will be removed.

Art & dividers by @ahsokathegray

[mothmanssweetsucculentass]

Ok here’s my two cents that no one asked for on the current (sort of?) debate going on in the Creepypasta fandom on here rn.

For starters, I grew up with Creepypasta. I also grew up mentally ill. I am also autistic. So I know my way around good and bad mental health rep at this point. And to be honest? A lot of the original stories DID suck balls at representation or just horror writing in general.

However, nowadays I see other people on here, often mentally ill or any other social outcast, taking these characters and reshaping them as their own to fit their own feelings and experiences, and I don’t think anyone has the authority to criticize things like that. Cringe culture is supposed to be dead anyways, nevermind the fact it’s inherently ableist at its core.

We also need to take into account kids still exist in the fandom. Pre teens who got tired of shit like scooby doo and wanted something more “mature” or “edgy” to get into without fully going off the deep end into full blown horror movies. At least that’s how it was for me. Not everyone, especially someone who’s younger, is gonna be comfortable with the grit and gore a lot of Creepypasta “purists” are pushing for these days, and that’s okay! When a fandom gets popular it’s always inevitable and unavoidable to have the popular characters get two dimensionalized.

There’s also the whole mascot horror thing that I don’t wanna get into, but I’m 90% sure that also plays a part in the old favorites like Jeff and slenderman being brought up again. They were and still are recognizable characters. Recognizable characters aren’t a bad thing. Making horror more approachable for younger audiences isn’t a bad thing. People having their own interpretations based out of their own experiences isn’t a bad thing.

Some of us grew up and wanted the more edgy and reality based content, and that’s also not a bad thing! But neither side should be dictating or policing how the other enjoys content in this fandom. If you personally don’t like the way something is written, characterized, depicted, or drawn, no one’s forcing you to look at it. No one’s claiming it as canon. No one’s asking for you to accept it as the end all be all.

At the end of the day this fandom was built on OCs and personal depictions of stuff. I can’t name a single character or story in this community that was created by some outside party like a movie or TV studio FIRST (because I know some got so popular they breached the fandom and got their own shows/movies/comics/etc). Everything here was created by someone who wanted an outlet for their creativity, or their pain, or their coping, or whatever else.

Realism and dark headcanons aren’t bad, and neither are any of the headcanons out there who just wanna make a goofy found family of social rejects as a form of escapism.

A 13 year old drawing a fictional layout of a fictional mansion where these fictional characters live isn’t going to suddenly invalidate the horror, I promise, it’s not that deep and it never was.

A 22 year old making a dark comic on the realistic origins of Jeff who is a fictional character in a fictional world isn’t going to suddenly invalidate the more softhearted side of the fandom.

Sure, there can still be a split if people are so adamant about that, but as someone who personally enjoys both the brutal horror side and the “haha Jeff is 15 and gay” sides equally, y’all need to at least learn to be civil to anyone who has a different headcanon than you. And if that seems like too much still, the block button exists for a reason.

TL:DR this fandom is based entirely off OCs and headcanons and people can do whatever the fuck they want because none of it is real and horror comes in many shapes and sizes and intensities and no one should be bashing anyone on their headcanons or views or rewrites or whatever else.

EDIT:

Actually wait I think I have more to say-

Horror, like any genre, has NO AGE LIMIT. And by that I mean, if someone younger wants to delve into scary stuff, they should be allowed to do so without criticism. I personally grew up on “child friendly” horror media like Scooby-Doo, and the older I got the more horror I wanted to experience.

There’s no right or wrong way to “understand” horror, and I frankly think it’s ignorant and stupid to say if you don’t fully “understand” something, then you shouldn’t be involved in it at all. Horror isn’t always about gore and unspeakable violence and the eldritch entity that wants everyone’s skin inside out. That’s why horror has sub genres for fucks sake. Gut wrenching brutality against innocent people isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and that’s okay!

However, bashing anyone’s tamer headcanons, or calling anything anyone interprets differently than you “stupid”, that’s not okay. God, I feel like an exhausted parent giving this lecture to fellow adults, but this really needs to be said and stressed.

I am an adult. I like when stuff in the fandom takes a dark turn. But for nostalgia’s sake, I also love the fanon so much, because that’s what I was exposed to.

And for fucks sake if it comes down to picking sides, I would rather stick with the part of this fandom that gives zero shits how you see a character as long as you’re having fun.

You can have your serial killer 30 year old Jeff and your canon-accurate-to-that-one-image eyeless Jack, but don’t shit on other people if they don’t want the same thing. Your interpretation isn’t canon, and neither is anyone else’s for that matter.

Realistic, dark, gritty Creepypasta isn’t a new concept, and neither is “adult” Creepypasta. And by the way, Creepypasta was never stated to be for adults. That’s like saying kids and only kids can eat trix cereal. It sounds that stupid on paper.

Let people interpret things the way they wanna interpret. No one is infringing on YOUR character ideas. Creepypasta has no age limit, nor a set way the horror has to be presented. Those who do continue to claim that just sound like pretentious assholes.

Very small side note, I personally think it’s inappropriate and rude to keep using Toby as a “bad example” of mental health rep when the creator has stated multiple times the character is old, not researched, and not even in the fandom anymore. Leave the poor guy alone.

[starlightiing]

Come Join the F1 Family Server 💕

It's Race Week!

We are a group of about 145 people who are very loving, open, and easy to make friends with. If you're looking for a crew to run with, consider ours! Lovers of all drivers, teams, ect are welcome here! Between us, we do not all like each other's drivers, but we know how to behave. (Healthy debates always welcome, but no fighting please!)

We have:

All qualifying and races are guaranteed to be streamed. Practices are usually streamed as well. I typically feed the chat with the radio transcript messages from multiviewer. We have a specific spot for post race chatter so people who missed the race won't be spoiled.

There's a dynamic schedule in there for all events that translates to your timezone without you having to lift a finger!

F1 Fantasy is played in there, and there are channels for streaming games as well (F1 games, or others. Our resident artists sometimes stream art as well!)

There are spots for news, rumors, pets, memes, fanfic/rpf, general F1 discussion and off topics. We even have a sprint writing bot!

There's threads for other sports and other motorsports as well. We often times will stream other sports as well.

No mics or voice chatting is enabled for now. This can be unpredictable and make some people uncomfortable, so all chatting is done via typing/texting.

We have movie/show/youtube nights often as well, where we just get together as a little community and hang out and watch stuff.

An interactive game section where you can play a fishing mini-game, help us grow Nyck de Trees, and more!

Everyone is welcome. As long as you promise not to viciously bash drivers and treat everyone with respect, we got you.

Safety is a huge priority for us. We have 5 mods and between us, someone is always active to keep spaces safe. The server is locked until rules are agreed to, and we have measures in place to limit who can join the server based on age of account, account safety, ect. If your discord account is new and it won't let you in, message me directly and I'll see what I can do.

If you've been looking for someone to share races with, to make friends with, to discuss live events in a live chat with, come hang out with us 💕 you can even mute us until race days if that's your preference!

[sylvieserene]

My thoughts on Primer: Clashing Colors #1 - "Color Me Impressed" (2024)

This was a comic I was waiting a long time for and was super excited about its story. Not because omg New character, Primer!! Nah, because of Teen Titans lol

That too the TEEN TITANS ANIMATED SERIES 2003

I seriously had high hopes for this comic but let's just say I'm disappointed.

Without getting into spoilers,

The writing is just meh at best. Primer is fleshed out decently but the writing for TT03 cast is horrendous at worst and ooc at best.

This comic also suffers from the "Telling but not showing" problem, similar to Nightwing (2016) comic by Taylor.

It's clear that the writers prefered Primer but it's almost like they didn't really do much research over the Titans' personality and that was of less priority. They act a lot like their TTG! (2013) Counterparts rather than TT03 characters. Even the humour is similar to TTG! (2013) and not the original show unlike what was being advertised.

As a Primer comic, it gets the job done and highlights her nicely but as a teen titans fan who was looking forward for the TT content rather than Primer, it's pretty disappointing and saddening.

⚠️ Now getting into spoilers ⚠️

(click off if you want to or scroll down to the end if you wanna skip and basically go to the summary)

The introduction to Primer is pretty decent and I think it does a decent job and blooming her personality.

I believe most of you here must have seen this particular panel in the teasers before the comic's release. It catches the TT03 essence nicely but this is where characterisation jumps in.

As I said Primer as a character isn't of concern to me but as a TT fan, TT is.

So here's where things went downhill in characterisation and character consistency.

You are saying Slade came out in the open, got unmasked and it's of NO big deal to Robin?

Lemme rephrase this to you; Slade, the evil mastermind, who never does anything without a reason and NEVER leaves his basement other than the reason for kidnapping children, touched grass and came out at day and Robin is unphased? It doesn't make ANY sense.

Even more so, when the story tries to pretend it's on purpose.

Slade was NEVER unmasked other than that skull reveal scene and that one Easter egg from TTG! 2003 spin off comics. So the fact, this scene was displayed as something comical is genuinely baffling. The Titans KNOW he doesn't get caught unless there's a catch. This part makes absolutely zero sense.

Then this part ...

The problem with this part is, characterisation. BB debatably acts like himself but Raven? No. It's ooc for her to go "Awww :D" like that. If anything, the best possibility is that she'll say the same line but she'll say it with full and utter sarcasm.

I think most BBRAE fans will agree with me on this one but they both had romantic POTENTIAL but they weren't anything other than good pals in the show. And we haven't gotten any hint at their relationship even in the spin off comics which were canon to show. Which in simpler terms means, this is ooc. Most of the development BBRae can have is after the show and after they get older. But the comic claims they are same Titans who haven't aged a day thus THIS IS OUT OF CHARACTER FOR RAVEN TO SAY!

Raven is a gloomy, sarcastic character who doesn't express what she feels instantly or openly, it would have made a lot more sense if she said the same line sarcastically (where she could blush implying a subtext incase they really wanted to insert BBRae but not making too obvious)

It really makes no sense for her character as depicted in TT03 to suddenly melt at the idea BB giving her tulips if it is the same Raven from TT03. Raven isn't that stereotypical girl character. She's a reserved and introverted person who was still learning to open up even to the series very end.

If this is the TT we know and love, this can't be her.

I'm not bashing the ship btw, I'm bashing the writing. Atleast be faithful to the character's personality while doing fan service!!

If you say, it's the same people who haven't aged a day since the last time you met. You can't have it be that oh yk they changed. Both the statements can't be true at the same time.

Then this scene:

This scene looks straight up from TTG. Back to making Robin dumb af and the team bashing him into normalcy. I'm tired of this trope like jeez, TT ROBIN WAS NOT LIKE THAT!!!

Infact if anything, "Can we just call it 'the battery'?" Line is something BB would say not Raven. Also Starfire getting mad at Robin for saying a long name and rolling eyes? She would never. Robin taught her earth customs and language patiently. If anything, she's that one person who would never eye roll on Robin even if he says something dumb. If it's the same Starfire from TT03 AS ADVERTISED.

Then there's this panel....

Two things, Robin never had a car in TT03. He had a bike named R-Cycle. Second, Starfire always carried Robin while Beast Boy carried Cyborg as a Pterodactyl. The Titan with a car was Cyborg. And when the car was out, everyone rode the car instead of taking the skies. Why the hell would Cyborg be carried out by Starfire when the car is right there??? It makes no sense.

It's incredibly strange how the writer is going long lengths to not make the two (Robin and Starfire) even merely interact with eachother.

How hard is it to just be canon accurate? These are stuff you catch on literally one rewatch. Did the writers not even do that or did they go with fanon or what they remembered from their childhood or like spent 5 mins trying to remember the characters through YT shorts and called it a day?

Like this is the only time they technically look at eachother to talk anything other than business:

Then coming back to Slade, I said the story tries to pretend it was all on purpose.

This further proves that this Slade isnt the same evil mastermind we knew of. This is some other guy.

Then this,

Yk what the awful part is? This . This isn't something you would see in TT03 or anything similar. This is simply something you can expect to see in a fan comic.

And wanna know what's worse? Ravager already existed in TT03 verse except she was Rose Wilson not this guy. This simply just means the writers didn't even BOTHER doing minimum research on the show beforing stamping in characters.

========================================

SPOILERS END!!!

Like I am genuinely lacking words as to describe this mess of a Teen Titans 2003 representation. This isn't them at all.

If anything, this isn't anything like they promoted and advertised. If anything, this is simply a TT03 AU which has nothing to do with the show.

It's neither faithful to the show nor the characters nor the established canon.

If anything, this feels like a shameless cash grab..ik some of y'all be mad at me for saying this but yeah. That is what this is.

If anything, it feels like a clickbait way to get people to Primer without actually bothering to respect that clickbait through which you are trying to pull people in.

It's shameful and disappointing and if I'm being honest, this got boring fast. I didn't enjoy it at all.

The writers prioritised cheap comedy and Primer over the Titans who are apparently a big part of her journey. They didn't even feel hesitant in making all the characters go ooc. The story itself is pretty bland and not interesting and genuinely nothing unique about it other than the Titans who apparently were TT03 as left on the final episode.

Anyway, this feels like an AU TT03 self insert OC fan comic at best or a version of TT based on TTG 2013. Frankly, it has the humor and characterization of TTG. Infact, I think this can totally work out as a 'tame' episode in TTG.

Introduction of Primer to TT and her demeanor to them to get along and on the team gave off Massive Terra vibes, it's almost like the writers got heavily inspired from it.

Tldr, the characterisation and characters of TT aren't like their TT03 counterpart but rather TTG one with a lot more grounded personalities. They often go ooc and say things which they won't say if we went with TT03 canonicity. Deathstroke is basically a joke now. The story itself is boring and uninteresting and doesn't make me like Primer any better. The comic falsely promotes this as the TT03 version even though this is, at best, a TT universe maybe inspired by the 2003 show but not the 2003 show. It's closer to 2013 one.

Personally, I'm severely disappointed and I'm gonna say it again, this is a total cashgrab and not worth reading.

[bibibbon]

An idea I'm debating for besties...Izu calling Hound dog a mutt. Now before going "character assassination" let me explain.

In the fic, hound dog is evaluation BK and decides after a few sessions he is fine, and goes to blame Izu bc ofc(you may think I'm bashing him but he, in canon, was blaming Izu and was pretty aggressive). He is like canon and well...saying how Bk is a great guy and how maybe it's HER FAULT BK acted up (again, this feels canon. We saw his interaction with Izu. "It was one time thing." Sure but it was still awful and uncalled for) people are seeing this man defending BK and blaming the victim.

Izu calls him mutt.

And Aizawa gains a new ally on "I hate Izu"

Izu later is not happy for using the word. She was and still is a victim of name callings and she knows how ...awful that is. That being said, she is ready to apologize sincerely if hound dog apologies as well.

Nope. He won't. He still thinks bk is not in the wrong or that the problem lies on Izu too.

(I'm writing this and have to remember myself this is canon. Hound was awful with Izu and ...this is not bashing. Why? Why people mistreated Izu)

Aizawa and Hound try to expell Izu but Nezu says no ...bc he wants to use AM's connections. He will be quirkless but the man is rich and has connections.

Just izu thinking about mutants and name calling.

Hi @mikeellee 👋

I don't think you are particularly bashing houndog simply because I have already shown how bad of a school Councillor he is. From the few moments he has, we see just how intimidating and somewhat outright ignorant he is with the way he treats izuku when he finds him after taking down gentle criminal. Also, Hound dog's own character profile suggests and implies some very unsavoury things about his character. You're telling me someone who is supposed to be a school guidance, someone students are supposed to feel safe enough around to open up is the complete opposite showing how UA fails as a school.

I don't think Hound Dog knows much about izuku and bakugo, so seeing from the very obvious majority that people in your fic favour bakugo and praise him, he would probably assume that izu is the problem and with everything that izu has done in the fic like using her quirk without permission and getting into reckless situations he would probably act pretty agreessively (even if it maybe framed as a gag in Canon to intimidate students so they obey) it is plausible that such thing can happen with such a circumstance.

I think it's funny for you to have izumi call Hound dog a mutt paralleling that with shoto and what he said to the police officer out of anger. I would say this is an interesting thing to do because when it was done here, we had no evidence for mutant discrimination but now we do and I don't know if you are going to implement that into your story which if you are would charge a lot of things.

I am assuming that this is a grave offence since aizawa and Hound Dog try and expell izu but fail due to nedzu and all might.

I think that nedzu should be a morally grey character here where he doesn't really care and is probably used to the discriminatory language and doesn't mind it as long as he is getting something out of it. For him, there is a higher cost in expelling izu than keeping him, and being honest, expelling izu would also have to make nedzu rethink the other students and their actions like bakugo. In the end, I believe izuku would receive punishment for what she did but not expulsion, maybe house arrest.

[jisungsdaydreamer]

[11:10 PM]

«GENERAL M.LIST» · «NAVIGATION» · «TALK TO ME» · «TAGLIST»

SYNOPSIS Your father would end you before allowing you to see him, but you’d spin in your highest heels and risk everything if it meant every night could be like this.

Pairing: Seungmin x fem!reader Genre: forbidden romance, fluff, angst Warnings: implications of arranged marriage, toxic parents Word Count: 1k

P.S. ♡ If you like my work, please consider giving me feedback in the form of reblogs, comments, and asks! ♡

“Want to get out of here?”

Words uttered only a few minutes ago, and yet, it feels like hours have passed since you and Seungmin decided to ditch the cocktail party you were forced to attend. The conversation got tedious quickly, because all these one-percenters can talk about is horseback riding, trips to the Hamptons, and the latest family to get embroiled in a scandal.

Across the dimly lit room, Seungmin had spotted you standing against the wall, downing your third flute of champagne. He’d discreetly made his way over to you, leaning down to whisper those devilish words into your ear. At his signal, you both finally slipped out of the event room, giggling while running through the venue halls like you were children again.

“What do we do now?” You gasp breathlessly once you are outside, surrounded by the thick rose bushes at the entrance of the building. 

Seungmin says nothing, just looking down at where your hand clasps his, from when you grabbed it during your grand escape. In bashful realization, you try to retract your arm, but he maintains a firm grasp, meeting your eyes. Your face heats up as you try not to melt under the gaze of the son of your father’s worst enemy. 

What started as a business rivalry had blossomed into a ferocious enmity, and your father had sworn that he would end anyone who tried to fraternize with the other side, including his only daughter. But how could you stay away from Seungmin, who seemed to invade every part of your life at the top university that you both attended? How could you avoid his witty charm every time he debated with you in front of everyone in class? How could you forget those hushed moments when he cornered you in the rose gardens, eyes sparkling with trouble?

“I’ll do anything, as long as I’m by your side,” Seungmin finally answers, earnesty written all over his expression. He looks vulnerable, like a little boy scared of rejection. You’re scared too, for the time when you’re both inevitably caught, because you can’t keep going like this.

But tonight is what you currently have ahead of you. You bring Seungmin’s hand up to your lips, softly kissing it, before you grab his arm and pull him along with you. You chase each other with no destination in mind, exchanging teasing laughter like you have no worries at all. 

The thin high heel of your sandal inevitably catches onto a cobblestone, nearly making you spin and fall over onto your face, but Seungmin swiftly catches your waist, pulling you back up. As always, he takes care of you without asking for anything in return. Before him, you thought that you had to earn the right to be loved. You never knew that there was a beautiful man who would give his heart to you without even thinking if you would accept it.

So even when the raindrops come pelting down, your smile doesn’t cease. You simply hitch up the heavy material of your dress in your arms, and Seungmin immediately takes off his suit jacket, holding it over your head so you don’t catch a cold. 

“I’ll be fine, you know.” You roll your eyes playfully. “It’s just a light drizzle.”

“Your father will murder me if something happens to you,” Seungmin says without thinking.

You glance at him, the lighthearted mood finally fading away. “He can’t know.”

Seungmin looks over at you. “I know.”

That familiar bout of sadness rises in you for the millionth time, and you have to avert your gaze because if you stare into Seungmin’s eyes a second longer, you fear you may lose it. Whatever is going on between you both, you know it won’t last forever. When your father decides it’s time, he will most likely force you to marry the son of some rich man to secure a partnership. Your life is in the hands of your father, who would rather prioritize his business needs over your happiness. And losing Seungmin would make it unbearable.

“Sometimes, I kind of wish we never even met.” You kick a pebble as the rain begins to slow down. “Then I would never have live in a painful memory when it’s over.”

“You would never be a painful memory for me.” Seungmin shakes his head adamantly. “I know that no matter what, I will never, ever regret meeting you.”

You swallow, your eyes filling with tears. “I don’t want to think of a future without you.”

Seungmin says nothing for a moment, concentrating on the foggy road in front of you. By now, your father and his men are probably looking for you, so it’s fortunate that you both reach a small convenience store, ducking inside of it for a temporary reprieve.

 “So don’t.”

“What are you saying?”

He meets your eyes once more, and you notice something in him that you’ve never seen before. Defiance. “Run away with me.”

You nearly laugh out loud in disbelief. “Yeah. And then we can go to the moon.”

Seungmin grasps your hands. “I’m serious. There’s a cargo bus that leaves the city tonight, and it belongs to Hyunjin. Your father isn’t stupid enough to mess with the mayor’s son.”

“Even so, there’s nowhere we can go where my father can’t find us.”

Seungmin’s excited smile deflates, and he sighs. “We’ll figure out a way, I promise.”

You just gaze at his crestfallen expression, before reaching your palms up to cup his cheeks. “I know we will.”

For the first time, something not unlike hope blossoms in your chest. Even the possibility of getting out of this hellhole and living somewhere alone and undisturbed with the love of your life makes you dream. Maybe you really will get to have what you truly desire more than anything.

“You know I love you, right?” Seungmin loops his arms around your waist and pulls you closer, kissing you right in the middle of the frozen food section.

“I know.”

«GENERAL M.LIST» · «NAVIGATION» · «TALK TO ME» · «TAGLIST»

TAGLIST @hamburgers101 @chansburgah @ajxreads @hash2013 @pixigreen @ana-marais98 @ohish @chizumiyoshi @lilydaisyyy @jetblackbelle @143hyunes

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