#.....that's still a relationship

[wisteriasymphony]

Blue Blood AU - The Bakery

It was one of those April mornings that still seemed like winter. The world was still lingering on to its death-like sleep, and the primroses and peonies planted outside the Dupain-Cheng Bakery were still taking their time to bloom. And in the air, it had felt like it recently rained when it really hadn't. Maybe it was the grayness of the sky that made Marinette think such a thing.

The next customer to enter was a regular—Adrien was his name. He'd often come in once a week just to buy fresh bread, then mostly to talk, though Marinette was hesitant to call him a 'friend'. It was entirely because of her own doubts, and nothing to do with him. Adrien was very courteous and respectful, and when her father joked about the two marrying Marinette would never react with irritation. She was charmed by Adrien, but that was it—just charmed. She worried there was a hollowness to it.

When Adrien entered, a gust of wind seemed to follow behind him, one so cold it might've threatened to cover the tile floor in a layer of thin frost. He smiled warmly at Marinette, leading in another person by the hand—a young woman that stood about head shorter than him, endomorphic and soft like a bruised pear.

"Lovely morning, isn't it?" he beamed. "Hello Monsieur Dupain, Hello Marinette." And then he quickly dived into conversation with her father, asking about the day's batch of bread and pastries and taking an interest in the sweets in a way that he hadn't in any of his previous visits.

Marinette looked over to the tanned young woman beside him, her eyes scanning over every bandage and bruise on her arms and shoulders. That alone didn't mean anything—Marinette knew how often stupid injuries could happen, she'd known reckless people and she was particularly clumsy herself—but Marinette could also just look at her and tell that something was wrong. The young woman constantly looked on edge, never speaking, barely breathing, and she flinched when Adrien raised his hand while making small talk with Marinette's father.

She crept closer to where the young woman was standing, leaning over the display counter. When the woman noticed her, Marinette simply mouthed the words:

"Are you okay?"

The young woman didn't seem to understand it at first—She was surprised that someone found her worth speaking to, yes, but then she knit her brows together and squinted at Marinette. So, Marinette repeated herself, speaking as silently as possible.

"Are you okay?"

The young woman's face fell. Marinette wasn't sure what she was so scared about—She only wanted to help, after all. Then Marinette had this horrible thought that whatever was being done to this young woman was so incredibly bad that she didn't find herself worthy of help, or that any gesture of kindness was seen as someone new trying to abuse her. Marinette took out a slip of paper and a pen from her apron—She'd have the young woman write her name down, maybe even Adrien's full name, and then Marinette would file a report. There was really nothing else she could do unless she found out more, but Marinette couldn't let these two customers leave without doing something.

Another hand took the pen and paper.

When Marinette looked back into Adrien's eyes, she had never seen such an intense desire to kill. Not just kill—Murder. Every other time he'd visited, Adrien had been so kind and nice and even occasionally flirtatious with Marinette, and yet now it looked like Adrien wanted to do nothing more than lunge at her over the counter and slam her head into the tile until everything poured out of her broken skull. His eye twitched—Marinette stepped back. Even if there were three counters between them, it would've still felt too close.

Adrien laced his arm around the young woman's waist, took the baked goods he'd purchased, and hurriedly left the bakery.

For the next three days, the stare Adrien had given her was all Marinette would be able to think about. Morning, noon, and night. While baking, while running errands, as soon as she woke up and right before she fell asleep. It had been so cold, so hate-filled, and now the flickering image of it would haunt her day and night, because it was a promise for revenge (What did he even need revenge for?) that had not yet been settled. Every room would now feel laced with bear traps, and every dark corner would need a light shone into it in case a presence lurked there.

But she couldn't just let this pass, danger or not—What had her mother always said she was? An everyday.... "ladybug". Her mother had always loved ladybugs and the meanings they carried. Sabine said that ladybugs were a sign from God that there was always help, always hope. Marinette needed to be that young woman's ladybug.

[noelledeltarune]

EVERY SINGLE DAY there are MILLIONS of characters in their late 20s who get falsely accused of being father figures to teenagers when in reality the description of "weird older cousin" or "step-sibling that moved out before you were born" is 1000000x more apt

[lilith-91]

"Katara was the first one to reach out to Zuko"

Nope, it was Aang

and zuko has never forgotten his words :)

[honeyymistt]

i’ve heard a lot of people say “don’t reach out to your friends first and see how many people will remain in your life. those are your true friends” and i get it. it sucks and it’s tiring constantly being the one to message first, to initiate hang outs but don’t take this so literally. some friendships require initiation. i have lost touch with so many people who genuinely cared about me and wanted me in their life because i stopped reaching out. it’s a hard pill to swallow but honestly some people just suck at it and it doesn’t mean they don’t love and value you. i’ve reconnected with some people over the past few months and it’s crazy how genuinely happy they are to see me and how engaged they are in the conversation. i just think sometimes we’re too harsh on each other & too quick to emphasize other peoples flaws and remove them from our lives but then we’ll all be alone and what’s the point of life then!!!!

[reineydraws]

jason is a grandpa's boy and u cant take this away from me!!! they cook together, they discuss literature together, and when jay comes back, they clean their guns together haha. ofc they celebrate their birthday together too! 😌

✨️🎂 hbd jay & alfie 🎂✨️

[chloesimaginationthings]

The FNAF Mikes talk about their extended family..

[elainiisms]

[farshootergotme]

Occasionally I picture Nightwing calling Red Hood "little wing" in front of others and people looking between this huge, 6'0 feet tall man with growing white hair, and then Nightwing, a shorter man who has flawless skin, probably around his 20's, and a fit but not too buff build and they just- don't know what's happening. Is it some kind of inside joke they aren't aware of? Why is Nightwing acting as if he's years older than Red-fucking jacked-Hood?

Nightwing: Little wing, you actually were decent in that fight! I'm impressed.

Hero, who was helping during this fight as well, listening in to the conversation: little...?

Red Hood: Wow, feeling very appreciated right now. Got any other backhanded compliments in there?

Hero: Wait, excuse me-

Nightwing: As a matter of fact-

Red Hood: Nope! I'm outta here. Screw you!

Nightwing: You know you love me!

Red Hood: In your dreams, dickhead!

Nightwing: Hey! We don't use that-

Red Hood: Not listening!

Nightwing: Jeez, kids these days...

Red Hood: I'm an adult and fuck you too!

Nightwing: What? Thought you weren't-

Red Hood: See you never, I'm out.

Hero: ...

Hero: what the actual fuck?

[rystiel]

i keep seeing people say the doctor shouldn’t have feelings for rogue because he’s married to river…? river song… who has also married multiple people… one of the most polyamorous characters in the show…?

[bixels]

Learning that fans hated Applejack and called her "boring" is crazyyy to me because I genuinely, unironically believe AJ's the most complex character in the main six.

Backstory-wise, she was born into a family of famers/blue collar workers who helped found the town she lives in. She grew up a habitual liar until she had the bad habit traumatized outta her. She lost both her parents and was orphaned at a young age, having to step up as her baby sister's mother figure. She's the only person in the main gang who's experienced this level of loss and grief (A Royal Problem reveals that AJ dreams about memories of being held by her parents as a baby). She moved to Manhattan to live with her wealthy family members, only to realize she'll never fit in or be accepted, even amongst her own family. The earlier seasons imply she and her family had money problems too (In The Ticket Master, AJ wants to go to the gala to earn money to buy new farm equipment and afford hip surgery for her grandma).

Personality-wise, she's a total people-pleaser/steamroller (with an occasional savior complex) who places her self worth on her independence and usefulness for other people, causing her to become a complete workaholic. In Applebuck Season, AJ stops taking care of herself because of her obsessive responsibilities for others and becomes completely dysfunctional. In Apple Family Reunion, AJ has a tearful breakdown because in she thinks she dishonored her family and tarnished her reputation as a potential leader –– an expectation and anxiety that's directly tied to her deceased parents, as shown in the episode's ending scene. In The Last Roundup, AJ abandons her family and friends out of shame because believes she failed them by not earning 1st place in a rodeo competition. She completely spirals emotionally when she isn't able to fulfill her duties toward others. Her need to be the best manifests in intense pride and competitiveness when others challenge her. And when her pride's broken, she cowers and physically hides herself.

Moreover, it's strongly implied that AJ has a deep-seated anger. The comics explore her ranting outbursts more. EQG also obviously has AJ yelling at and insulting Rarity in a jealous fit just to hurt her feelings (with a line that I could write a whole dissection on). And I'm certain I read in a post somewhere that in a Gameloft event, AJ's negative traits are listed as anger.

Subtextually, a lot of these flaws and anxieties can be (retroactively) linked to her parents' death, forcing her to grow up too quickly to become the adult/caregiver of the family (especially after her big brother becomes semiverbal). Notice how throughout the series, she's constantly acting as the "mom friend" of the group (despite everything, she manages to be the most emotionally mature of the bunch). Notice how AJ'll switch to a quieter, calmer tone when her friends are panicking and use soothing prompts and questions to talk them through their emotions/problems; something she'd definitely pick up while raising a child. Same with her stoicism and reluctance at crying or releasing emotions (something Pinkie explicitly points out). She also had a childhood relationship with Rara (which, if you were to give a queer reading, could easy be interpreted as her first 'aha' crush), who eventually left her life. (Interestingly enough, AJ also has an angry outburst with Rara for the same exact reasons as with EQG Rarity; jealous, upset that someone else is using and changing her). It's not hard to imagine an AJ with separation anxiety stemming from her mother and childhood friend/crush leaving. I'm also not above reading into AJ's relationship with her little sister (Y'all ever think about how AB never got to know her parents, even though she shares her father's colors and her mother's curly hair?).

AJ's stubbornness is a symptom of growing up too quickly as well. Who else to play with your baby sister when your brother goes nonverbal (not to discount Big Mac's role in raising AB)? Who else to wake up in the middle of the night to care for your crying baby sister when your grandma needs her rest? When you need to be 100% all the time for your family, you tend to become hard-stuck with a sense of moral superiority. You know what's best because you have to be your best because if you're aren't your best, then everything'll inevitably fall apart and it'll be your fault. And if you don't know what's best –– if you've been wrong the whole time –– that means you haven't been your best, which means you've failed the people who rely on you, which means you can't fulfill your role in the family/society, which makes you worthless . We've seen time and time again how this compulsive need to be right for the sake of others becomes self-destructive (Apple Family Reunion, Sound of Silence, all competitions against RD). We've seen in The Last Roundup how, when no longer at her best, AJ would rather remove herself from her community than confront them because she no longer feels of use to them.

But I guess it is kinda weird that AJ has "masculine" traits and isn't interested in men at all. It's totally justified that an aggressively straight, misogynistic male fandom would characterize her as a "boring background character." /s

At the time of writing this, it's 4:46AM.

[turtleofthehollow]

I need someone to write fanfiction of Lucifer and Alastor making a deal, but Luci botches the wording of the deal so bad that they end up married instead, and neither of them know how to break the deal, so they're just stuck like this until further notice

You can't tell me it wouldn't be in character for him!

UPDATE: It has been written! Check out the reblogs for the link!

[ale-arro]

been going a little bit insane about this sentence from Ace by Angela Chen for the past week

[pangur-and-grim]

I think another reason I love having cats is bc with people you gotta hold yourself back and not be a smothering over-affectionate creep, but with cats you can just hold them up and be like "I LOVE I LOVE I LOVE YOU" and kiss their little paws, and all they do back is meow at you

[triona-tribblescore]

I thoroughly enjoy the stage of huskerdust where they have yet to fully admit their feelings to each other uvu <3

P2

[juicedaloe]

original by @ crawfishcomic below cut

[divorcedfiddleford]

hold shifty gentle like hamburger