#(yes i know there are people who do covers like that but they also do like. other stuff.

[anonymousewrites]

Nature of the Human Soul Pride Special 2024

Platonic! Hazbin Hotel x Teen! Reader

Father Figure! Alastor x Teen! Reader

            “Angel! Husk! Vaggie! Alastor!” Charlie rounded the corner and ran towards her fellow adults in the hotel. “Disaster!”

            The others all looked at Charlie in confusion.

            “Oh, boy, what is it gonna be this time?” said Angel.

            “Nothing that I’m going to be a part of,” muttered Husk.

            The last time Charlie had looked this freaked out, she had learned that all the dances she knew from Earth were out of date and forced all of them to teach her the latest dances (only to then learn that Vaggie had died ten years before (Y/N), and (Y/N) wasn’t exposed to modern media so she was still behind).

            “Babe,” said Vaggie, grabbing Charlie by the shoulders to steady her. “Calm down. Tell us what’s wrong.”

            While Angel and Husk attempted to stand and sneak away, Alastor began to melt into the shadows.

            “It’s about (Y/N)!” said Charlie.

            Angel and Husk froze, and Alastor instantly reformed. Vaggie tensed.

            “What about (Y/N)?” said Alastor, tilting his head. His wide smile was frozen on his face, but Husk took a careful step back at the sharpness of the expression.

            “I was talking to them about the party my dad held for me last week because he learned that I liked girls and guys, and they looked confused! They had no idea it could be something celebrated!” said Charlie.

            “Babe, in most of our lives it wasn’t something people could talk about,” said Vaggie. “I mean, I died when LGBT people were starting to be able to marry.”

            “Yes, but (Y/N) thought people who were queer were in Hell because they were queer! They thought they were in Hell partly because of that,” said Charlie, anguished.

            “…They think that about themself?” said Angel, frowning and glancing at Husk.

            Husk sighed. “They have made some comments like that. I think they were raised religious and were pretty controlled.”

            “So (Y/N) thinks they’re a bad person?” said Angel. He frowned. “They’re like…the best of us outside of Charlie.”

            “They are in Hell for a reason,” said Alastor. He grinned. “Pretending they’re helpless doesn’t help them.”

            Husk scowled and rolled his eyes. “They’re strong, but they’re still a kid.”

            “They’re in Hell, but not for being queer!” said Charlie. She looked at Vaggie. “We need to make sure they know that!”

            “Hey, babe, relax.” Vaggie smiled and took Charlie’s hands. “If you’re that worried, we can talk to them.”

            “We have to do better than that,” said Charlie fiercely. Everyone exchanged looks. That meant they were about to be dragged into one of Charlie’s ideas.

            “Is it too late to escape?” muttered Husk.

            “Probably,” said Angel. He offered Husk a smile. “But it’s for (Y/N), so I can put up with it.”

l

            “Is everyone ready?” said Charlie, bouncing around.

            “After all the hours we put into decorating? We better be,” sighed Husk.

            The entire foyer was covered in rainbows and sparkles. In typical Charlie fashion, she had decided to go as dramatic as she could. She had also forced outfits or at least pins onto everyone in the hotel.

            Husk had a bowtie in pansexual colors, Angel Dust had a crop top that said “I <3 Gay People,” Vaggie had a dress with lesbian colors, and Charlie had a bisexual flag wrapped around herself. Charlie had tried to approach Alastor with an aroace pin, but Alastor had been confused, and, since no one wanted to be the one to explain to him what it meant, they had decided to back off. Finally, Charlie had gotten nonbinary and aroace flags for (Y/N). She was really excited to help (Y/N) be prouder in who they were. Seriously, she was vibrating in excitement.

            “We’re back!” said Rosie, who had taken (Y/N) out shopping as a ruse to have them leave the hotel (as soon as Charlie explained what she wanted to do for (Y/N), Rosie had been on board).

            “I feel like I’ve been through Hell,” groaned (Y/N), holding a bunch of bags from their excursion with Rosie.

            “It was for a good cause,” said Rosie, patting their roses affectionately. She took the bags and put them down. “Fashion and fun.”

            “Surprise!” Charlie threw confetti in the air and turned on the rainbow disco ball.

            (Y/N) stared at the decorations and their friends. A banner read “Happy Pride,” and everyone was dressed in fun outfits.

            “Um, what?” said (Y/N).

            “Welcome to our Pride Celebration!” said Charlie eagerly.

            “We’re already in Pride Ring,” said (Y/N), confused.

            “This is for being queer, kid,” said Angel, laughing.

            (Y/N) frowned. “Okay…”

            Husk rolled his eyes and got to the point so that (Y/N) didn’t keep beating themself up. “You’re allowed to be queer. Whatever shit your parents told you, that is not part of the reason you’re in Hell.”

            “It isn’t?” said (Y/N) uncertainly.

            “That would be silly nonsense!” said Alastor, laughing wildly. “The fact that you believed that is amusing! Honestly, if that was why people were in Hell, we’d be even more overcrowded than we are.”

            Vaggie winced at Alastor’s terrible explanation. “What he means is that we did other things to end up in Hell. None of them revolve around our gender or who we’re attracted to.”

            “So don’t think that about yourself!” said Charlie, hugging (Y/N). She flung the flags around their shoulders. “You don’t have to have a gender, and you don’t have to be into anyone, and that doesn’t make you a bad person!”

            “No, you’re in Hell because you killed people!” chirped Alastor.

            Angel winced, and Vaggie groaned.

            “Alastor…” said Charlie, coughing.

            Alastor waved a hand. “They know it’s true!”

            (Y/N) cleared their throat and nodded. “I’m here for a reason.” They smiled at the others. “But…I guess it’s not for being myself.”

            “There you go, little sprout,” said Rosie fondly, smiling. “Now, let’s go celebrate who you are.”

            (Y/N) smiled. They actually had a family now. They could be themself, and they didn’t have to feel guilty. Well, they still felt some shame, but religious guilt was hard to get rid of. (Y/N) could work on it, though. It would take time, but, hey, they were in Hell for eternity. They had nothing but time.

l

            (Y/N) smiled as their friends danced to music. They hung back, still slightly overwhelmed at everything, but they were happy. After their life, they had a lot of unhandled guilt regarding aspects of who they were and the…situation they lived in during their mortal life, but having this, having their friends. It helped (Y/N). It made them feel whole.

            (Y/N) wrapped the flags tighter around themself.

            “Not enjoying the party?” Alastor appeared beside them.

            (Y/N) smiled. “I am. I’m just taking a break from the energy. Charlie has a lot of it,” they chuckled.

            “Hm, yes, I don’t understand why she put this on, but it was entertaining to see everyone working so hard for some rainbows!” said Alastor.

            “It was nice of them,” said (Y/N). “I mean, I always thought I was strange in life for not feeling like I connected to the, uh, boxes people put me into. Gender and liking people and stuff.”

            “That stuff is all nonsense,” said Alastor. “Acting like anyone really wants to be around anyone or be anything is silly.” He laughed. “But my oh my is it amusing to watch people try to fit those roles when you can just…not.” He grinned.

            (Y/N) smiled slightly. Alastor had an interesting perspective on things, but he was supportive. He might be old-fashioned, but he wasn’t homophobic or transphobic.

            “I don’t like being pushed into roles,” agreed (Y/N).

            Alastor’s smile widened. “Good. I don’t want my protégé fitting a mold.”

            (Y/N) smiled again, and on the edges of the room, lavender flowers bloomed.

Taglist:

@kyalov

@pandaquick

@boredwithlifeatthispoint

@jaytheaceenby

@paastaboi

@bettybabys

@gxdoesstuff

@grippleback-galaxy

@just-here-reading

@dmitrytherat

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@marxo5

@rory-cakes

@andsoigotabutterfly

@theblueslytherin

@romyoia

@ray-rook

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@pandaquick

@funkyexistence

@theyaremorethanjustfictional

@lanxianschoenheit

@justyourfriendlyneighbourhood1

@ringsofpersonti

@futureittomainn

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@oo0lady-mad0oo

@falsemain

@a-huge-bi-nerd

@lost-in-the-hellaverse

@tagthetrekkie

@amberforest08

@picklehat3r

@lunalixya

@rl800

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@deadgirldreaming

@elaemae

@im-making-an-effort

[bbyobbyo]

To Mingyu, you were perfect. It was no wonder he was drawn to you when his long time best friend and roommate introduced you to him as his partner. Alas, you were perfect but you weren't his.

content: angst, fluff if you squint, suggestive (no actual depictions of sex), unrequited love, pining, gyu is a simp

wc: 729

notes: second attempt hehe, thank you everyone who read my vernon fic! feedback is appreciated, i'm still new here 😔👉👈

Truthfully, there was no better person for you than Wonwoo. Mingyu could at least admit that much. You complimented each other like yin and yang, supporting and uplifting one another in harmony. You were the much needed ray of sunshine and motivation in his life, and he was the structure and inspiration you wanted in yours. Over time your presence became a welcome constant in his life, first by association, then seemingly by necessity.

"She is the best thing to ever happen to me" his roommate would exclaim constantly, and Mingyu couldn't help but agree.

He tried to be happy for his friend, he really did. After all, why wouldn't he want the people he loves to be happy? It wasn't like he didn't want you visiting the apartment constantly, always with a delicious treat to share in hand. Nor did he dislike your genuine attempts to get to know him as a person, asking about his preferences and aspirations in life. In fact, it bothered him more and more that he wished you came over more often, even when his roommate wasn't home.

It was tortuous to hear the sounds in the apartment when you and Wonwoo thought he was asleep. Heavy moans and muted whines haunt his brain on those long nights filled with tossing and turning. The next morning he tries his best to pretend like he didn't see the hickeys littered on your neck just barely covered by your hair when he ran into you making breakfast. And yet, when you ask if he had a good night's sleep with an offer of making an extra serving for him, he doesn't have the heart to tell you the truth. That he spent the entire night wishing it was him in the bed next to you instead.

-

The day the world came crashing down on him was the day Wonwoo had told him about his plan to propose to you. An evening surrounded by his 12 closest friends that you have also come to adore, how perfect. It was so perfect that he didn't even have to think twice when saying yes when Wonwoo asked him to help film the entire affair.

"I trust you over Seokmin any day, that man can't keep a secret for his life. But if you tell her it's for a personal project, she won't suspect a thing!" he chuckles.

"Yeah," Mingyu mumbles back, not quite meeting his friend's eyes, "she won't see it coming."

-

Mingyu thinks he's going insane. There were hundreds, maybe even thousands of photos from tonight and yet he's enamored by this one. You're absolutely dazzling, looking at the camera like you just discovered the lens, eyes turned into crescents and smiling cheek to cheek. How long has he waited for you to smile at him like that? And the first time you do, he's behind a camera. At your fucking wedding reception of all places.

"You like her." His head snaps up from the viewfinder.

"What?"

His older friend snakes a gentle hand on over his shoulder. "You like her, don't you?" Seungcheol repeats, voice barely above a whisper.

Mingyu says nothing, slowly directing his gaze back downwards at the camera, screen stuck on the photo of you he took only a few moments ago. He can't do anything but sigh. Seungcheol's expression softens, giving his younger friend's shoulder a knowing squeeze.

"It gets better."

God, he sure hopes it does.

-

Mingyu's attention fades in and out when you're reading your vows. It's ironic that on one of the happiest days of your life, he finds it impossible to focus on you when it feels like that's all he's done for years. It was a welcome distraction, however. He can't decide what would destroy him more: listening to you profess your love to someone that wasn't him, or knowing that you meant every word. You end your monologue gracefully with a small smile, holding back a sob as the groom begins his.

"You're the best thing to ever happen to me," Wonwoo begins, voice breaking as he bites back his own tears.

In another time, another place, Mingyu would've agreed with him. But in this moment, as you look at his best friend like he's the center of your whole world, Mingyu decides that you might have been the worst thing that's ever happened to him.

[internetgiraffekid1673]

Did you know you can move onto other brainrots and STILL be stuck brainrotting on the old thing too? My brain is a decaying piece of wood that has become an essential breeding ground for several species of rot. One of them is still the BatFam variety, so onto the next member!

Initial traces of Carrie Kelley, my child! Be honest, how many of you who have seen the Nightwing and Red Hood posts thought that I was doing Tim next? Well HA! Joke’s on you, I make the rules here! I have a very specific order in my head, and I will stick to that order!

Carrie is technically an elseworld’s Robin from The Dark Knight Returns, but Robin is my favorite superhero, and anyone who has been Robin will get my attention (yes Robin. Not Batman or Nightwing or any of the individual characters who have been Robins. Robin as a hero, regardless of who it is, is my favorite). At this point, she’s actually graduated to Catgirl and then her own iteration of Batwoman, but in my head, she’s the same age as Damian or younger, so she gets to stay Robin in my art for a bit.

I did two traces here because, unlike other Batfam characters, Carrie is in so few comics that I can’t just FIND a perfect, full body action pose from an angle that I like. The first trace is by far the most popular and easy to find picture of her, but it has her hair blowing around in the wind. This is a Problem, you see, because Carrie’s hair is a special challenge for me. In The Dark Knight Returns, she has this very distinctive hair shape that I do not like looking at OR drawing. So I knew the pose I used for my reference was going to need to be a pose where I could update her hairstyle. But, I also needed a full body, and that first photo is iconic, so two for the price of one again.

Stylization time! Carrie was honestly really easy to stylize, her hair is just a bit of a nightmare for me. I finally got a handle on it after the complete project, but it took a WHILE! Anyway, I more or less just lifted her updated hairstyle from her Batwoman costume and some cosplayers. And no, I’m not giving her pants. Damian and Tim are edgy Robins, they can have pants. Dick, Jason, and Carrie are not edgy Robins, so they get short shorts. I did give up on coloring her sleeves green. Too much of one color for me to effectively handle when her gloves overlap her sleeves. Also, I need to draw more characters with capes. They’re so fun to draw!

Characterization pose! In the comics, Carrie wears her goggles as a civilian too. I interpret this as her needing glasses, so I gave her regular glasses instead because wearing the same distinctive goggles you wear as a superhero is maybe not the best way to keep your identity secret. Comics Carrie has like one friend that you don’t see after she puts on the costume, and her parents don’t remember they have a kid, so it’s not like she has a whole lot of people to be hiding her identity from, but it’s the thought that counts. Schoolmates and random civilians and nosy reporters and all that.

I put her in a Girl Scout uniform for her civvy outfit because I think that it’s important to her character. The whole reason Batman took her on was because she was 1) crazy/traumatized/determined enough to buy herself a Robin costume, fight petty crime on her own, and follow him into dangerous situations and 2) used her Girl Scout first aid training to save batman’s life and splint his arm after he got his sh*t rocked in an ill-advised fight. I figured a salute, even if it’s a bit of a sassy one, was a good pose for her not just because of this, but also because The Dark Knight Returns is a very depressing comic, and so Batman calls her “good soldier.”

If you saw the first two posts, you may notice that I did not trace the hero text for this one, and that I used the same font for both names. This is because 1) I didn’t feel like the regular Robin font with the spiky R fits Carrie’s vibe, but she doesn’t have any comics covers of her own I can steal from and 2) I feel like Carrie’s personality is the same as Robin and Carrie. Unlike with almost everyone else, there’s no posturing, no distinction, no divide there. So the same font works for both personas.

Nightwing Edition

Red Hood Edition

[cosmic-kaden]

Good Company

Ship:Superstitious Sweethearts (Clyde x Kaden)

Words: 1,273 (we're cute please read it lol)

cw: minor consumption of alcohol.

summary: idk read it

okay to reblog || if you don't self-ship please dni, I got mad anxiety lol.

Kaden sighed, steeling themselves before they pushed open the doors to the Duck Tape bar, a familiar scent of aged wood and beer hit their nostrils as they walked in. The place was pretty quiet with only a few patrons scattered around. Of course, a few of their glances caught onto Kaden and they felt a wave of homesickness crash over them, they missed Canada and the comforting sounds of home.

Boone County had been the chosen escape, a place they believed they could really make a difference in with their work. The scenery reminded them of home except here it was a lot quieter than the forest city where they came from. Everything today felt so heavy and uncertain. A bad mental health day as they would call it.

Clyde was behind the bar, wiping down glasses and arranging bottles. He glanced up towards the door where Kaden entered, noting the new face and the unmistakable air of someone who needed a drink and perhaps a distraction?

Kaden approached the bar, sliding onto a stool, they weren't really paying any mind that much but offered a half-hearted smile.

"What can I get ya?" Clyde asked, his voice warm and welcoming.

"Something strong please.." Kaden replied softly, their voice a mix of fatigue and resignation.

"Rough day?" Clyde asked gently. "Burbon alright?"

Kaden nodded their head a small sigh leaving them "Yes and also yes.." Kaden gave a small chuckle.

Clyde poured them their drink and slid the glass over to them. "Names Clyde, by the way."

"Kaden," They responded softly, picking up their glass to take a sip, savouring the burn that coated their throat. "Nice to meet you."

"You aren't from around here are ya? 'least not one of my regulars," Clyde remarked. "What brings ya to Boone County?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Kaden sighed, setting their glass down. "I moved here from Canada, I thought I could do some good here, I'm an environmental consultant, I fell in love with the scenery here, reminded me a bit of home." Kaden inhaled deeply before blowing out yet another small sigh. "Today however is one of those days where nothing really feels right you know? Like something is off and I can't place it."

Clyde nodded his head, listening intently. "That's quite a ways away. Gotta admit you don't look the type for an environmental consultant-"

Kaden let out a genuine laugh, their eyes glancing upwards towards Clyde "It's the hair" They gestured to their snakebites "And the piercings isn't it?'

Clyde grinned playfully "Yeah, somethin' like that"

"Never judge a book by its cover" Kaden warned lightheartedly. "You'd be surprised what people can do despite what they may look like."

"Fair enough," Clyde replied as he leaned up against the bar. "So, what kinds of work does an environmental consult do exactly?"

Kaden took another sip of their drink, feeling the warmth spread throughout their chest. "Mostly advising on sustainable practices, helping businesses reduce their environmental impact. It's rewarding but it can be frustrating when people don't see the importance of it-" they gave a small shrug.

Cylde nodded his head thoughtfully. "Sounds like important work, also sounds like it could take a lot out of ya."

"Some days more than others," Kaden chuckled softly. "Today's just been…one of those days I guess…"

Clyde smiled warmly at them, leaning a little further on the bar. "Well, you're in the right place for a lil R&R. Bar's always have a way of makin' troubles feel a bit lighter."

Kaden nodded their head, their eyes finally truly gazing at Clyde behind the bar. They couldn't help but notice how attractive he was. He had a rugged charm about him, the kind that seemed effortlessly authentic. His dark hair was combed back and over, yet a few rebellious strands fell across his forehead, it was dark and wild. His eyes were a rich, warm brown, like freshly brewed coffee or dark earth after rainfall, and they held a warmth that made Kaden feel instantly at ease.

They noticed his broad shoulders and muscular arms suggested he was no stranger to hard work, and the way his shirt clung to his frame left little doubt about his physical strength. His right hand, large and capable, moved with practised ease as he handled the bottles and glasses, displaying a kind of grace that belied his tough exterior. His left arm ended in a sleek prosthetic forearm and hand.

Even the way he stood, with a confident yet relaxed posture, spoke volumes about him. There was an unspoken gentleness in his movements, a quiet strength that Kaden found incredibly alluring. Then there was his smile—easy and genuine, it lit up his entire face and it actually made Kaden's heart skip a beat. Clyde was undeniably handsome in Kaden's eyes, and they found themselves captivated.

Clyde took note of how they were looking at him and a small subtle smirk tugged the corner of his lips when Kaden cleared their throat awkwardly and brought their attention back to their drink, trying to play off the fact Clyde had just caught them staring.

"Well…I can see why, this place has a nice vibe.." Kaden glanced back up to Clyde and gave him a small smile "The bartender isn't so bad either~"

Clyde chuckled, a light blush creeping up his neck. "Well, flattery will get ya everywhere."

They both laughed softly, the tension easing a bit. The conversation flowed easily between them light and a bit flirtatious. Clyde found himself captivated by Kaden their purple hair, vibrant and unique, contrasted beautifully with their bright green eyes, which seemed to hold a world of stories. Kaden's outfit caught his attention too—black jeans paired with a grey and black striped t-shirt that was a little too big, the neckline hanging off their left shoulder. The overall look was relaxed and confident, and Clyde found it pretty cute, his eyes lingering a moment longer than necessary as he took in their appearance.

It was Kaden's turn to catch him staring, they let out a little chuckle, their cheeks tinting a rosy pink. They decided not to call him out. "Well…I think I've found my new favourite spot~" Kaden hummed, finishing off their drink and paying for it. "I'll definitely be back."

"Glad to hear it," Clyde replied, a smile tugging his lips. "Lookin' forward to it."

Kaden gave a happy little wave before heading out the door, it closing behind them with a soft 'thud' Clyde stood there, feeling a surprising sense of anticipation for Kaden's next visit.

Within moments Jimmy, Clyde's brother saunters up from across the room, having just finished a round of billiards. "So, who's the new friend?" he asked, his tone teasing.

Clyde shook his head, trying to play it cool. "Just a customer, Jimmy."

Jimmy gave Clyde a knowing look. "Sure didn't look like 'just a customer' to me. you were practically starin' holes through 'em."

Clyde felt his cheeks get warm. "Ain't nothin' like that. Just had a good conversation that's all."

Jimmy leaned against the bar, a grin spreading across his face. "uh-huh. Well, if you ask me, it's about time you found someone. Never seen ya lookin' so love-struck before."

Clyde rolled his eyes. "It ain't like that!"

"mhmm, well in any case good luck brother." Jimmy chuckled. "See ya later."

Clyde watched as Jimmy wandered away, his thoughts drifting back to Kaden. Maybe there was something about them after all. He found himself looking forward to their next visit, wondering what more he could learn about that intriguing purple-haired consultant with the pretty easy smile.

@ama-ships || @deathnot-e || @heatobrienswife || @dragonsmooch || @mahitosoulmate

[ruvviks]

Mikhail and Vitali were inseparable; when they weren’t studying or getting into fights, they would hang out at Mikhail’s place to smoke and get drunk on cheap rum and vodka, to then pass out in each other’s arms and sleep most of the next day away. They promised each other— no matter what would happen— they would never leave each other’s side. Yet after starting university and college respectively, they did not see each other for a little over six years, leaving them both heartbroken and wondering what went wrong.

by lucas expedidor // catch me if you can; eden // clementine von radics, from 'courtney love prays to oregon' // sam sax, cruising: a broken tiara // 'ceramic home' by heavensghost; quote from john murillo // 'something's changed' by laiikastears // i don't want to watch the world end with someone else; clinton kane // fortesa latifi, from 'the truth about grief' // audre lorde, the evening news // frank o'hara, biotherm (for bill berkson) // heading home; ruben // 'preface to a dream' by alessandra casini // tokyo; caroline kole // langston hughes, poem // haruki murakami, norwegian wood // julie buntin, marlena // by lute // by aleksandr popov // anyway; noah kahan // christa wolf, cassandra: a novel and four essays

[fiapple]

i'm getting towards the end of the skypeia arc, & i'd like to say just how much i adore the way the female strawhats have been treated.

just... every aspect of how the way their characters have been previously contextualized influences the story-line is treated with a masterful amount of consideration. we're given so many layers to both of them that enrich not only their characters specifically, but the arc, and the one piece world as a whole. without nami & robin having their specific skills, and their specific values, without those being built upon, the story would have come to a halt.

you could not have skypeia without nami & robin being who they are as individuals. not just because they never would've gotten there without nami, but also because the way these women think is itself foundational to the machinations of the arc as a whole.

to be totally upfront, if you think any other strawhats were more central to the skypeia arc than nami & robin were you are full-on fucking lying to yourself.

[keeps-ache]

i don't wanna take over the world, it sounds like a lot. but you know, laying siege to a golf course sounds really nice sometimes

[boltgunkiller-archive]

i find it damn near impossible to get mad at santana’s behavior in 3x06 and 3x07 because i genuinely do think she had the right to be lashing out at everybody. sue me idk

[finexbright]

.

[bittwitchy]

see the reality is i post on my rps usually when nobodys been there a bit and nobody is probably online, but the mental illness in me keeps saying its bc everyone secretly hates me and i dont deserve love, and when i tell a gov doctor that, they basically just say ‘take your antidepressant’s and shut up’ which is also funny when said gov doctor wont refill my fucking antidepressants in the first place

[wjbs-aus]

If Doom (1993) was made now, I bet the soundtrack would sound like ULTRAKILL's.

[daisywords]

they should make a support group for people who love to sing but are cursed with mediocre voice

[iloveyoumorethansoup]

I work at a restaurant and it’s so weird bc there’s a lot of people high school aged or very much middle aged. There is no in between. I feel so out of place in every single social interaction

[esleep]

i actually do kinda like delivering groceries on the side because it gives me such a unique cross-section of the community. i never know whose groceries im shopping for until i finish the delivery and see them/their home and it's like it adds more detail to the picture of who they are. the baby supplies going to the apartment that i know for a fact is one bedroom (they'll be moving soon - i bet they're apartment hunting, i hope they find a place). the new cat litter box, bowl, and kitten food going to the house covered in "i <3 my dog" paraphernalia (a kitten definitely showed up on the porch recently and made itself at home). the fairly healthy boring grocery order that includes an incongruous tub of candy-filled ice cream going to the home of an elderly woman with toddler toys in the yard (it's clearly for her grandkids, whom she sees often).

shopping for someone else's groceries is a fairly intimate thing. i've bought condoms and pregnancy tests, allergy medicine and nyquil, baby benadryl and teething gel, a huge pile of veggies paired with an equally huge pile of junk food, tampons and shampoo and closet organizers and ant traps and deodorizing shoe inserts and a million other little things that tell a million different stories in their endless combinations. one time someone had me buy one single green bean. i messaged them to confirm that's actually what they wanted, and they said yes - neither of them liked green beans very much, but they had a baby they were introducing to solid foods, and they wanted to let him try one to see if he liked them. another time i had someone request 50 fresh roma tomatoes - not for a restaurant, but for a person in an apartment. the kitchen behind them smelled like basil and garlic when they opened the door. another time i brought groceries to three elderly blind women who share a house. that was one of the few times i have ever broken my rule and gone inside a place i've delivered to, because they asked if i could place the grocery bags in a specific location in the kitchen for them to work on unloading and there was no way i was going to refuse helping.

i gripe about the poor tippers, but people can also be incredibly kind. one time i took shelter from a sudden vicious hailstorm inside an older lady's home in a trailer park, while i was in the middle of delivering her groceries. we both huddled just inside the door, watching in shock as golf-ball-sized hail swept through for about five minutes and then disappeared. she handed me an extra $10 bill on my way out the door.

when covid was at its deadliest, people would leave extra (often lysol-scented) cash tips and thank-you notes for me taped to the door or partially under the mat. i especially loved the clearly kid-drawn thank you notes with marker renderings of blobby people in masks, or trees, or rainbows. in summer of 2020 i delivered to a nice older couple who lived outside of town in the hills, and they insisted i take a huge double handful of extra disposable gloves and masks to wear while shopping - those were hard to find in stores at the time, but they wanted me to have some of their supply and wouldn't take no for an answer.

anyway. all this to say people are mostly good, or at least trying to be, despite my complaints.

[hauntingblue]

ONIGASHIMA TIME!!!!

[joycrispy]

I wanna talk about The Angel Who Would Be Crowley.

Because I had a certain set of expectations, which got thoroughly trashed in the first five minutes of S2, and my genuine response is, "Oh, fuck, yup. You're right. That's WAY better."

Looking around at GO fandom, I'm not alone in this. So let's talk about it.

Basically, a lot of people (myself included) believed that he was a high-ranking angel, and therefore as chilly and remote as every other powerful angel we'd seen at that point. We pictured Crowley-To-Be as long-haired, regal and imposing --and the fanart at the time reflected this. I'd link some if Tumblr didn't hate links.

Something like this:

We were collectively drawing on a few things --mostly, Crawly's appearance and general bearing in the Biblical scenes of S1--

--But also scattered hints of his importance, backed up by conspicuous absences in Heaven and a few profound displays of power. That's all better covered elsewhere, so I won't reiterate the arguments here. All I'm saying is: I think our headcanons were justified.

But it turns out he was this:

!!!

With his curly little--!!

And his neat white--!!

IT TURNS OUT, he was an angel who squeaked and squealed when he was happy; who flailed his arms around and made explosion noises with his mouth to explain nebulas; who preened when told his stars were pretty. Furfur, who knew him before the Fall, says:

"You used to jump on me back, little monkey in a waistcoat..."

(The use of a diminutive there, 'little'...oh, that fascinates me.)

In a pretty huge subversion of expectations, we're given these glimpses of an angel who was sweet, and joyful, and heart-meltingly silly.

In sum...an innocent.

(Perhaps innocent to a troubling degree.

We see how he troubles Aziraphale, during their first conversation. He starts looking around and behind them, checking to make sure that no one can HEAR the blithe and reckless things coming out of this angel's mouth. This angel who talks like he's never been reprimanded in his life; like it's never occurred to him that anyone would want to hurt him.

Before the Beginning, Aziraphale understood Heaven better than he did. The danger is plainly occurring to Aziraphale.)

So now, we the viewers are in on a cruel joke that Aziraphale has known all along, which is that this --THIS-- is the angel who--

*checks notes*

--did a million lightyear freestyle dive into a boiling pool of sulphur. For asking questions.

...Imagine you are Aziraphale, and everything inside you wants to believe Heaven are the Good Guys, and God is Good and Everything She does is capital-R Right...and now try to reconcile that. Keep trying. I don't think he ever totally managed it in 6000 years.

All this gets further complicated when we learn that, despite all of the above, we were still right. That sweet excitable babby up there?

He WAS a powerful and high-ranking angel.

That much is explicitly confirmed, with significant evidence that he could have been among the mightiest of archangels...

...Who apparently accosted his fellow angels for piggyback rides. And was remembered millennia later by those (now fallen) angels as something 'little.'

What does that tell us about who he was? Is?

Hell, Aziraphale has known to be wary of the archangels (and the judgements of Heaven in general) since before the Fall even happened. He chooses to believe they are Good; he can't fool himself into thinking they are Safe.

Yet he's absolutely certain that Crowley won't hurt Job's children. Enough to stand in a burning building and say to them, "I can't save you, but don't be afraid. I won't need to."

And what reason does he give?

("I know you."

"You do not know me."

"I know the angel you were.")

What does that tell us about who he was? Is?

("The angel you knew is not me."

But how is Aziraphale supposed to believe that, when he can see him all the time?)

tl;dr --yes, this is better. I love the tragedy of it.

'Innocence died screaming' and all that.