#Anyway I'm struggling getting going on comic work today can you tell?

[ann-chovi]

Been feeling a bit down about my lowered energy levels and how I don't feel like my art is coming as easily as it did a year and a half ago

but like

I just found sketches and things that I was PROUD of from that time and... I know I could do so much better now???? Like- here brain, here's proof that you haven't gotten worse over time- you've improved. Yeah it's a little slower going now but... that's okay???

Like:

Compared to:

ANYWAY. BRAINS ARE DUMB. AND SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO LOOK AT OLD THINGS TO FEEL OKAY ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE AT.

[booksandabeer]

Hey,

I love your blog and I love how much work you put in when someone ask you to recommend fics for them, you’re truly beyond AMAZING! Just getting that out of the way.

And now, can you please tell me your favourite underrated stucky fics. I know this might be too big of an ask because there are SO MANY out there, so just tell me a few if you don’t mind.

Thank you so much ❤️

Hello Stranger!

Thank you for the ask and your very kind words! ❤ It's so nice to hear that people like my rec posts because they really do take a surprisingly large amount of time to put together. Anyway, I'm not complaining & this is a lot of fun for me, so on to the recs!

I struggled a bit with how to define "underrated" and I think everybody has their own ideas of what exactly that means. Also, the Stucky ship has been around for more than a decade (even longer if you count the comics), so creative output and reader interest will fluctuate and ultimately decline over time. A Stucky fic posted after 2019--no matter how insanely good it is--will never do the numbers it would have done in the Golden Age of 2014-2018. So, for the purpose of this list, a fic written in 2016 with 15K hits or less does qualify as underrated, while a fic posted in 2021 with 10-15K would not.

Also, as always, this list is by no means an exhaustive one.

the wrote and the writ by declanlynchsrack | G, 10K

Author's summary: Bucky’s crying before he’s off the boat and he’s the least surprised out of anyone to realize it.

He’s always been a softie, a leaky faucet, and the war hasn’t changed that, so he doesn’t know why the sob that smacks him startles him bad enough that he grips the strap of his bag doubly hard, ready to swing it around like a battering ram, ready to find that cloying, invisible enemy. He’s not being ambushed, on his belly in the muck and camellias, cypress hanging low, moonlight casting an eerie smile upon Lake Como like it’s enjoying the hell out of muffled gunshots and the wet grunt of lifeblood spattering onto the undergrowth.

That’s done. He’s safe.

An AU in which Bucky--minus one arm--comes back from the war and Steve never got to go, and never became Captain America. A scrappy little story that is at once full of emotion and yet completely unsentimental. This story socked me on the jaw, tackled me to the ground, and then sat on me while twisting, twisting, twisting my arm behind my back. It also has one of my favorite descriptions of the SteveBucky dynamic I've ever read: "They’re all roughed up, the two of em, a pair of old marble statues weathered by time and harsh touches, but they know each other’s chinks and foibles and can side-step them with grace while still treating the other about as delicately as they’d handle a sack of potatoes." !!! If you prefer, you can also listen to it here: [Podfic] the wrote and the writ by quietnight

Hollywoodland by romanticalgirl | E, 69K

Author's summary: In 1930s Hollywood, the world is run on the studio system. Stars are told who to date, what to wear, what to say, and how to look pretty doing it. The only way you can really do what you want is if you don't get caught.

Steve's dating Peggy, which works out because she's married to Sam, even though it's not legal. But it's the perfect cover for the fact that Steve's gay. He's managing just fine skirting the system to find companionship, but then he meets James Barnes and life gets a lot more complicated.

If you know anything about me and my love for Golden Age Hollywood, then you won't be surprised that this pushes all of my buttons. This is loosely inspired by the real life relationship of Cary Grant and Randolph Scott (the exact nature of which we will probably never know, but let's just say it was most likely not strictly platonic). Is the world the author created here entirely realistic? No--and it's not intended to be. While it is indeed rooted in many of the horrible realities that queer people and POC have faced in the past (and are still facing today), it's a slightly kinder version of it that allows for a hopeful, if not a strictly happy ending in the traditional sense. A sumptious story with gorgeous art.

make progress together by frankoceansmoonriver | E, 24K

Author's summary: He feels like Steve’s mistress. He feels hollowed out. He feels like a jammed gun still trying to go off. When he’s not with Steve he convinces himself he’s ruining Steve’s life, and though he tries, he’s too selfish to stop. When he’s with Steve, he’d fight God himself to keep it, this tangible perfection that makes him drunk and anchors him in ways he did not know existed.

Or, the one where they both survived the war, Bucky loves Steve now, has loved Steve since he was fifteen, and the year is 1945.

This is a story that I have reread many, many times because it is the perfect wish fulfillment fic for me. It's the slightly unrealistic, or one could also say: optimistic version of what I imagine would have happened had Steve and Bucky both survived the war. That's not to say that this fic doesn't have its very angsty moments, but ultimately, this is a story about love and hope triumphing in the face of adversity, and sometimes you just want to see good things happen to good people. I know some readers may find the formatting and the non-linear structure challenging, but this is a beautiful story and I really urge you all to give it a try!

I'll Light Your Way Home series by BeaArthurPendragon | M-E, 69K, 5 parts

Author's summary: Two lost Vietnam vets find each other in a Hell's Kitchen gay bar one hot September night. This is how they find their way home.

A pattern emerges! Can you tell I'm really into (No Powers) AUs set in the early to mid 20th century? Well, here's another one, but we're actually moving into second half of the century, specifically to 1969, for this one! Bea is quite possibly my favorite Stucky writer and I have recommended her stories many times to anybody who will listen to me. It's debatable whether or not she actually counts as "underrated", I guess, but it is my personal opinion that her fics should have ten times the kudos/comments/hits they do and that she deserves to be up there with the "big names". This story in particular just completely won over my heart with its gorgeous (but not ostentatious) writing, its confident and mature characterizations, and great eye for historical detail. I *cannot* recommend her fics enough. /unabashed fangirl moment over.

The Northern Lights by ThisChairIsMyHomeNow | M, 21K

Author's summary: “I can’t feel my face,” Steve shivers.

“I can’t feel my left arm,” Bucky says, deadpan. Steve barks out a laugh. It’s all white puffs of vapor in the chilly air.

“This the spot?”

“Nah,” Bucky pants, breath ragged from the long ascent up a mountain. “Almost there.”

A post-CW canon-divergent story that the author jokingly describes in their author's note as "gay superhero reluctantly gets therapy in the jungles of Wakanda, then goes on a covert road trip." And yes, maybe I wouldn't put it quite so flippantly myself, but it's not... untrue. And yet there is so much more depth to it. If you like a Bucky who takes back his life, his identity, and his future on his own terms, a Steve who isn't reduced to being his recovery prop but instead gets to shine in all his glorious, intense, stubborn Steve-ness, and a Sam & a Natasha who aren't just window dressing for the SteveandBucky-Show, this is for you! Cap Quartet Road Trip where all four members get their moment to shine--what are you waiting for?

Misplaced Pencils | T, 13K & and our words would take us 'round the world | T, 13K by Somanywords

Author's summary:

Steve and drawing throughout the years. Also Bucky.

&

Bucky is two years old when he learns to talk.

I've spent a good 30 minutes debating with myself which one of these two I should include here, and then I just threw up my hands and said "why not both? Both is good!" So here they are, two beautifully written mid-length full-arc (childhood to sometime past TWS, where they diverge from canon) fics that I love both equally. These are standalone stories and are not set in the same universe, but they do read and feel like companion pieces to each other because both stories are told through the lense of Steve and Bucky's respective artistic sensibilities and how they use their art as a framework to make sense of the world. Misplaced Pencils gives you artist Steve who, from a very young age on, has always tried to understand the world by taking it apart into its visual components & falling back on a fixed set of questions that help him to categorize and compartmentalize the people he encounters and the emotions he feels for them (just like he will later do in other areas of his life). Only that there is of course one person who's always refused to fit neatly into just one of his categories. and our worlds... on the other hand, gives you storyteller Bucky who's constantly talking, singing, writing. Who, in the end, can't help himself but narrate even his own fall and who is later delightfully affronted by his own narrative arc in a "if I had been the one in charge, I would've written it better!" way. Both of these stories are very dear to my heart and they deserve a million more hits.

+ Bonus!

Fics that definitely could/should be on this list but that I've recced before:

You are here by dharmashark

A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall by DisraeliGears

Prisoner One by ancientreader

As Time Goes By by Trouble_With_The_Snap

new topography series by brideofquiet

What I'm Looking For series by TessaBennet

Welcome Home, Son series by BeaArthurPendragon

I'm slowly working my way through my rec asks, so please be patient with me! Next up: Road Trip fics!

[yellowocaballero]

hi please talk about jaime more i am equal parts afraid and excited for his new show

Jaime stan since 2009 reporting for duty sir.

Jaime is the best Spider-Man story we've had in a very long time. I'm including Spider-Man in this. In 2006 it was pretty abnormal to have such a simple story: about a normal kid, who is a very good kid and just wants to do his best, accidentally getting in way over his head and deciding to make the best of a bad situation by helping people and trying to keep his head above water. Jaime's life dream is to become a dentist. His family is highly engaged in his superhero life. Jaime was wholesome without feeling wholesome, and a really exceptional guy while still feeling like an average teen.

Jaime actually did Into The Spider-Verse before ITSV did ITSV: it told a Spider-Man story about a kid struggling to live up to a legacy. About living up to a dead legend, trying to puzzle out his life and make him proud, and how to engage with his life and message. Except I think it did something even more interesting than what ITSV did with Miles.

Because the legacy was that of a loser.

Ted Kord's a joke. Out of universe, he was placed in joke comic after joke comic (Justice League International was exceptional and prided itself on being 100% loser). In universe, nobody took him seriously. How can you take a member of the JLI seriously? The superhero community knew Ted was competent, but they didn't really admire him and they didn't actually like him. He was another annoying supergenius without any superpowers. He never even got the scarab to work. What was Ted Kord's legacy, what legacy was Jaime trying to live up to?

Well, people loved Ted. That's all.

Ted had somebody who, if JLI had been written in 2023 instead of 1980, would have been his husband. He had his husband's family. He had the Justice League International, a misfit team of losers who were losers together. He was insanely smart and very kind and super weird. He had absolutely zero reason to be a hero whatsoever, but he was a bit of an adrenaline junkie and was too weird to live and too rare to die.

What kind of legacy is that? How do you live up to that? Jaime is the kind of superhero who would rather live up to the legacy of a kind man who is loved than a famous man who is revered. The people who loved Ted feature prominently in Jaime's own comic, and the JLI revival where they met Jaime was super emotional. And the Booster Gold comic where he met Jaime made me cry. Jaime's scarab is built to be an ultra death kill murder machine, and Jaime's job is to make it kind. Jaime wanted to leave a legacy of kindness too, and that was how he discovered what kind of Blue Beetle he wanted to be. He never once gave a shit about the rest of it. His life dream is to be a dentist.

Jaime's story has a lot of lasting appeal, because I think he's the kind of hero who fits in with the sensibilities of people today: just a swell lad. But I'm also a Ted Kord fan, and I always really loved the respect and reverence that Jaime always gave Ted: not as somebody who only knew him theoretically or knew the idea of him, but as somebody who was so loved, that he people who loved him showed up at Jaime's door to help him too.

Anyway Jaime's story is SO BASIC that the movie's good/bad is going to hinge entirely 100% of execution so it's impossible to tell right now, I'm holding out judgment. I'm guessing banal and forgettable. Hopefully charming, like Shazam. I am a massive fucking Shazam stan he is the funniest character on God's green earth.

[everafterfrisk]

Here we go again Folks and today I'll be dissecting the popular topic of "Ruby isn't affected by anything across the volumes"

-I'm gonna be honest and say this claim is pretty much BS

Volume 3

- Ruby falling to the ground in sadness after seeing Penny's Dismantled Body

> Was mortified by Pyrrha's Death at the hands of Cinder

Volume 4

In the DC Comics(which take place during the events of Vol 3-4)

Ruby showcases alot of uneasiness and self doubt

▪︎I.E being worried about how Yang felt back at the end of Volume 3

▪︎Believing that she herself can't go on without her team backing her up

▪︎Questioning if she can truly make the right choice

"No One is truly alone".

"What you can do and Who you are-- These are Two very different things".

"No Person is Lesser for Being Alone,

You miss them but You aren't incomplete without them"

"They may bring Forth the Best in You

But the Best still Belongs to You".

- Episode 2 - Ruby is shown having Nightmares about the events of Volume 3

Vol 5

-After the battle with Tyrian, Ruby was upset that she indirectly got her uncle poisoned as well as not being so welcoming about team JNR joining her as the Problems got increasingly worses

"I should've never brought you guys into this"

But the Most powerful scene in this Volume for Ruby is her talk with Oscar

Where she tells him that how distraught she felt about Pyrrha's and Penny's Deaths & wished she could've gotten to know them better

Proclaiming that if she were have died, Pyrrha and Penny would try to keep fighting no matter the obstacle

As she then says that moving forward is what she has to do in order to protect who she cherishes left

Which parallels Issue #6 of the Comics

"Even When it's Hard---

--Just Live".

Which leads to the 2nd Strongest scene for Volume 5 Ruby

The Letter Scene

"Believe me when I say I know it can feel impossible. Like every single day is a struggle against some unstoppable monster we can never hope to beat. But we have to try…"

As Ruby is writing a letter to Yang about how although the World may seem bleak and while things may be painful in the long run, With the right people working together for a good cause can make an extraordinary change no matter how small it seems at first

Also Ruby LITERALLY TEARS UP DURING THIS SCENE

The Silver Eyes Activated after Ruby had a PTSD flashback of Pyrrha's Death when Jaune was going to clash with Cinder in the battle of Haven

■ Ruby was seen shocked by Weiss's fatal injury from Cinder's Spear strike

Volume 6

■ Felt a little Betrayed by Ozpin's Secret after Jinn revealed the Truth

■ Her Silver Eyes Activated When Blake was almost at death's door against the Apathy

■ Confronted Qrow about his lack of willingness to keep moving forward during "Lost" & "Stealing from the Elderly" Episode

Wanting him to view Team RJNR as people who can fight alongside him instead of just being a bunch of children who needs to be protected

"Just because you don't have an idea, doesn't mean we're out of options! Oz hasn't been here to tell us what to do, but we still managed to get this far anyway. We've been in bad situations before, and we don't need an adult to come save us or tell us what to do. We just did it our way! And I say we do it our way. And if you think you can keep up with us "kids"... we'd be happy to have you"

"We're all in this together, and we're all going to do the best we can. That's all anyone can do. And I know it's what you've always aimed for. We would've come whether or not you'd let us, so stop talking like we're your responsibility! We're not! But we could still use Qrow Branwen on our side"

Volume 7-8

■ Immediately felt guilty about lying to Ironwood about the Other stuff that happen with Ozpin

■ During Her Talk with Qrow, She even questions if she even knows what she has been doing was the correct decision

■ Ruby pleads Harriet in the "Ace Ops vs Team Rwby" to stand down and join her team in saving the citizens

■ Stood in Confusion and shock after witnessing a Silver Eyed Grimm Hybrid

■ in Volume 8 Finale,

Ruby is seen shedding a tear during her fight with Neo(Supposedly as a result of Yang's death)

---> in the Vol 9 sneak peek it showcases Ruby's POV where she was having constant anxiety attacks throughout the fight against Cinder

And in the Volume 9 Chapter 1 Sneak Peek Clip

Ruby breaks down and Cries to herself reflecting upon the events that have transpired

So Yeah I think this pretty much sums up how much these events have had an Impact on Ruby's emotions

(She ain't just Happy all the time and Ignores all the tragedy, if anything she tries using it as a Coping Mechanism of some sort in order to move forward & keep her mind away from the Darkness)

Hope yall Enjoy

[jinx-on-mars-19xx]

Hey people I love 🫀

I can't believe how sweet you all are, I think this is more birthday wishes than I've had in... years if ever. I've been scared of today after everything but you're making it beautiful so far. You don't know how thankful I am.

I know the day is going to be rough, I'd mostly just wanted to rest but my dad invited my sister and her husband over. (I have some trauma with them that would take far too long to explain but I'll leave it at them being the kind of bullies that make 'jokes' about me and situations from my past I have PTSD over and then tell me I'm too sensitive when I ask them not to. Among other things they've done 🙄) So I have to deal with that tonight. My parents love any excuse to have them over and they need to borrow money from my dad I guess so they needed to come over anyway. It's hard knowing my birthday has been reduced to a night for them but ah well. He sprung that on me last night and when I didn't know what food I wanted (if you know me at all you know I struggle with food severely) so he suggested something he knows 'everyone' likes- meaning them because I can't really eat what was mentioned (health reasons).

That's alright though because I know it makes my parents happy to have them over. I just hope I can handle the 'teasing' on top of everything else... At some point I'll get myself a cake I actually like though. I can celebrate myself at a time when they don't need something. It's amusing too because I haven't been able to figure out what I want from my parents so the only exchange of anything tonight will be them getting money on my birthday 🤣 It's comical how this shit works out. Honestly. I should be rocking Alanis Morissette right now.

I don't mean to complain or sound ungrateful, I just find it interesting my sister told me they can't do anything until later in the month the other day but now they need money and suddenly they can. I'm not upset, I'm glad my parents can have a good night and they'll all enjoy dinner, I guess I'm just tired.

But all this was just to say I wasn't looking forward to today, for obvious reasons I'm a little down but all of you have been so sweet and really cheered me up, thank you 🖤 I don't deserve you all. I love you! 🩷

[gummybugg]

Writer Questions Tag!

Thanks for the tag, @tabswrites! Find her post here. I did do this tag at some point, but I wanted to restart!

I'm gonna leave this as a fully Open tag. If anyone wants, they can say I tagged them!

...

[1] What is your absolute all-time favorite idea you’ve ever had?

Forcing myself to write more via peer pressure & to maintain a highly Positive blog to foster confidence in my writing. But also, I would say my wip Crater City, because I just like going Wild writing it. I don't have to hold back my imagination, I just use whatever comes to mind create a new path. I promise it's not as chaotic as that sounds because there is a sound plot, but I give a lot of wiggle room. Very refreshing, and it's a stark contrast to writing essays all day.

[2] Is there a question you’ve been asked in the past that really stands out to you, and you still think about sometimes?

Not a question! But! Every time there’s a song playing and my little sister says “I’m assigning that song to your character.” (And then I tell her it’s on the character’s playlist already, ehehehe) I’m just very passionate about my characters, that’s the moral of the story :’)

[3] What is your favorite part of being a writer? What parts could you take or leave?

I’ll hit you with the double-edged sword called “I got the best idea for a scene at 3 am but I’m sooo tired, but it’s sooo gonna be worth it!” (Yet I never regret doing it)

[4] What is your greatest motivation to write/create?

Probably writing stories that are a culmination of my favorite stories. At least, that's what Crater City is so far. Not a copy, of course, but if all of my favorite apocalyptic/sci-fi media had a child, that's what it would be!

There’s a handful or 2 of some sci-fi webtoons I really adore reading! I would recommend books too, if only I could read them in a timely manner. Comics are just easier for me to consume for the time being.

[5] What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever read or been given as a writer?

Write what excites you and don't worry too much about if others think it's cringe. I’ve seen so many reddit threads of people asking if they can put [insert trope] in their writing, and I wish I could just scream at them: DO IT! IT’S YOUR WRITING! DO WHATEVER YOU WANT! You know there’s gotta be some people out there who’s interested in your story if at least one person you know is into it (You).

[6] What do you wish you knew when you were first starting out writing?

I wish I knew I didn't have to live up to the same expectations my family/others have for my writing. I'm an adult & can write whatever I want! I don't really feel the pressing weight of expectations to please others through my writing as much anymore, unless it's some form of commission/assignment. My characters can be gay, mentally ill, what have you, and I'm lucky I get the freedom to write them how I please.

[7] What is your favorite story you’ve written to completion? Link it if you’d like and can!

I wish I could but alas, I struggle to finish my thoughts in day-to-day life.

[8] What is your favorite out-of-the-box quote?

From one of my English professors, grading my essay: “This analogy doesn’t work here.” Here’s another one: “?????” They’re so silly, I swear.

[9] Which of your characters would you say has the most controversial mindset? Why do you say so, and how do you personally feel about their ideals?

At some point I said Darcy, but I’m feeling spicy today and I’m gonna go with Frasier today (both from my wip Crater City). I think everyone in that story is controversial because I kind of made everyone Unhinged. Well, as they say, “Oops, my bad.”

Anyway, the law isn’t the most important thing to Frasier, as he will do anything to make sure he gets his way. At some point (or maybe not yet) I mentioned how Blair and Elijah are lowkey like Frasier’s godchildren, so you can guarantee he’d use his mayor-assistant powers to make sure they’re safe. Many of the Crater City characters (except Darcy, I think) don’t really care about others outside their relationships, so the traumatic consequences of murder and destruction aren’t at the forefront of their minds.

It really makes me ask myself sometimes what defines a villain. Darcy is running around trying to save humanity by any means necessary (even to the point of merging humans with machines), while the rest of the cast just wants to live selfishly in the moment because they’re not promised a tomorrow. Truly interesting how things are developing. I think it makes them more human, but what do you think?

[10] If you, when you first started writing, met you now, what would younger you think?

My younger self would be surprised I had the potential to get this far. Sometimes it’s very hard to begin writing again, but as soon as I just start, I remember what it’s like to have fun writing!

[an-artthief]

daily dispatch #8: a mini comic

Just to kinda steer away from The Cloak Maker (writing today was more of a struggle, because everything I wrote seemed wrong), thought I'd show some of the process of a short comic I'm working on.

This scene from Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Vol 2 (I'm currently reading the manga for the first time) had me thinking about soulmates. I'd read a soulmate fanfic around the same time too, which had me thinking about all those stories about soulmates and the different ways to discover them (i.e., no colour until you meet your soulmate, the red string of fate, being able to feel what your soulmate is feeling, writing on skin, etc).

I did a messy sketch of Her. I'd also started rewatching Cardcaptors on Netflix, hence the staff in her hand. (These characters don't have names so I've just been calling them Him and Her.)

I couldn't seem to get Him down at all though. Everything I was comfortable drawing and used to drawing didn't seem right. But I figured I'd just storyboard the comic and play around with Him until I found something I liked.

I managed to do some messy sketches for what I want the comic to look like. I'm horrible at drawing environments and characters doing things other than looking pretty, so this was an interesting challenge. And as you can tell, basically stick people at this stage.

I've started doing more refined sketches and have decided what I think I want Him to look like. I want to paint it traditionally since I feel a lot more confident doing that, so I'll need to lightbox these onto some watercolour paper eventually. I have dreams of doing a graphic novel and a children's book that way, so this is also a good test for the process.

Kinda in the mindset of "I'm never going to feel good enough to do it, so might as well do it anyway. Otherwise it'll never get done." So far, so good.

[toweringclam]

Random Paramount City Musings

Paramount City: overview, the Metropolitan Defenders (GWU)

The truth is, there aren't five teams. There's ten. And in fact that isn't true either. There's really just five.

Although the conflict is situated around the five super-teams that make up Paramount City, the sub-factions that share a color pair probably have more in common with each other than they do with their teammates who share only one color.

For example, the Defenders are made up of the Peacekeepers and the Gardeners, with a bunch of other people who don't align one way or another. The Gardeners are at odds with the Peacekeepers because their emphasis on law and order often criminalizes the disadvantaged and just enforces the status quo. However, despite theoretically being in different factions, they would work very well with the Watch from the Underground, who focus on protecting individual neighborhoods rather than the whole city.

As another example, it's straight-up illogical that the Vindicators (RG, Underground) would work more often with the Watch (GW, Underground) than they do the Vanguard (RG, Breakers). The moral line between those who go after the untouchable elites and those who try to bring down the entire system that props up those elites is completely artificial and arbitrary. And yet, it exists.

It's also more realistic than you think. Anyone who's done any organizing can tell you how hard it can be to get two people who theoretically share the same values to actually agree on anything. That's only magnified when dealing with the larger-than-life personalities common to comic book superheroes/villains.

This is also an actual element built into the metaphysics of the world. The Rift is a powerful source of energy, but it also encourages extremes and arbitrary lines in the sand. After all, it's in the name. The RIFT. Think of it like continental plates. They drift away from each other, leaving a gap that is then filled by lava. That lava is Rift energy. Then the plates collide with other plates, driving both plates to greater heights through that collision. The mountains that form are the clashes between heroes and villains. In the gap between the plates, that energy solidifies and creates new land, and thus new supers are born to continue the struggle.

Anyway, gonna continue writing this, even if it hasn't really found an audience yet. I'm really not sure what tags to use, there has to be some plane creators community, right?

I'm gonna break up the People's Underground a bit since my last post was probably a bit too long, expect the first part up later today.

[mysteriawrites]

hi, can I please get a romantic marvel match up? im 18, and im an intp, 5w4, slytherin, true neutral, and a capricorn. I'm cisgender and my pronouns are she/her, and I'm bisexual with a heavier preference for guys. I'm 5 foot 3, fair skinned, and midsized/curvy. I also have brown curly hair just below my shoulders and light brown eyes. I'm usually wearing cuffed jeans, a shirt with some show or movie reference on it, and converse. My hobbies are writing (novels and poetry), reading (books and comics), baking, watching shows and movies, drawing/painting (even though I suck at it and it makes me upset half the time) and playing piano. I love mythology and ancient history, and I'm very interested in anthropology. I would love to work in a museum and become an author one day. I struggle with social anxiety and depression, but once I open up I ramble a lot to people I trust and I use humor a lot to cope. I'm a very loyal friend who loves to help solve problems. thanks so much if you get to mine!

Hello, thank you for the request! Sorry this took a bit longer part of it is cause I was busy the other part was that idk marvel is a bit harder for me to write for idk why but i digress…DRUMROLL PLEASE

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

PETER PARKER!!!

Imm just say it, you two are huge nerds. And nerds are highly attracted to each other. I would know. Anyway,

You two met on a field trip, but not in the way you'd expect. You see you two actually went to different schools, however you and MJ were childhood friends and she had gotten you an internship at your local museum which they so happened to be visiting.

The students were released in groups to go explore the museum as they wished (within reason of course we don't need to be creating any more spider people in this universe). MJ, Ned, Betty, and most importantly Peter were in a group together (because of random chance aka my magical powers as the author).

MJ being MJ went off first to see what she was interested in, and to escape Ned and Betty being lovey dovey and cringe (by the power invested in me as the writer I pronounce Ned and Betty still a couple). Peter feeling awkward as the 3rd/4th wheel decided to go with her.

After a while he lost track of where she went. So, he decided to look for her in the Greek mythology section, where you just so happened to be working on your shift today.

During your time here MJ was hoping to push you towards working on your social anxiety so you could achieve your dreams. Only thing is that you usually avoid most of the patrons unless your manager asks for something specific, which they usually don't because they're quite the control freak and do everything themselves.

Anyway, when you heard there would be visitors from one of the nearby genius schools you decided to hide out in the mythology exhibits. Unluckily for you however Peter, one of the many students you were trying to avoid, had spotted you.

Peter being the actual puppy that he is decided to ask you if you had seen his friend, when he noticed your Star Wars t-shirt. Immediately he was asking you all kinds of questions about what your favorite movie in the franchise was, who your favorite character was, if you liked any of the other movies he had mentioned.

If you were being honest, it was a little overwhelming. This random boy just ran up to you and started asking you questions before you could respond, but if you were being honest it was refreshing to have someone to share interests with you. Your coworkers didn't know what you were talking about, and even though MJ was willing to listen to your ramblings she didn't really find interest in it just happy that it made you happy.

After his rambling Peter finally introduces himself. Deciding to take a leap of faith you decide to continue talking to him, and you get along swimmingly. After you two exchange numbers MJ finally shows up (she actually found you guys 5 minutes ago but didn't want to interrupt you guys) to tell peter it was time to go.

If you thought that was the last, you would see of Peter then you were dead wrong. Ever since that day Peter had been texting you every day to get to know you better. You guys would nerd out over franchises, debate about science and history, and would show off your latest works to each other (him his science experiments and you your art/writing).

After a year, Peter decided he was finally going to tell you his secret, well secrets. 1. being the fact that he was spiderman, and 2. the fact that he had a massive crush on you. So, after building up his courage he finally asked you out, and he the perfect idea for the date.

On the day in question, you got a text from him saying to come to the roof of your building. When you reached it, you saw a mop of brown hair in a red and blue suit smiling sheepishly at you. After he dropped the bomb and gave you time to process it you two headed on your date: a tour of New York from the roof tops.

He swung you all around New York from Queens, to Brooklyn, to Midtown, to Staten Island. You soared all across the city safe in the strong grip of Peter's arms and admired the view. The final stop was atop the head of the Statue of Liberty where lay a candle lit dinner for two, and the rest is history.

A word to sum up the life after would be absolutely adorkable. You two are a nerdy hopelessly romantic couple and the best of friends. Always laughing together and sharing support for each other's dreams and passions. Even as Peter's spiderman life gets hectic and his Parker luck rears his ugly head, he'll always be there for you and protect you, and you him.

Wow this turned more into a fic then a matchup, but I hope you like it.

Runners Up: Kamala Khan, Kate Bishop, Steven Grant, Scott Lang, Bruce Banner

[sirenascales]

-> double black [part two] 18+

-> Chuuya x 1stPOV!F!Reader x Dazai

-> Who knew getting fired from work could lead to this?

-> Content: SMUT, slight angst, violence, murder, swearing

A failed friend date turns into a day of fun and laughs with a rather odd coworker. [Dazai x 1stPOV!F!Reader]

3,274 words

Warning: suicide ideation (like, it's Dazai, c'mon now.)

note: I'm glad some of ya'll seemed to enjoy chuuya's chapter! I decided to just upload Dazai's and then we can move on to the story. Please enjoy! Tags in the replies.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Final || masterlist

"Keiko-- Keiko, it's two PM!" I said into the phone, sending an apologetic look to my coworkers. "And I'm at work. You can't be calling me, especially when you're drunk so early in the day."

"Uggghhhh, you're so mean!" I sighed softly at Keiko's response, the office phone on my desk beginning to ring.

"Keiko, I have to go now, I'm sorry! Call Taichi and tell him to bring you home."

"Wait-"

I ended the call, rubbing my eyebrows as I picked up the other phone. "Armed Detective Agency, how may I help you?"

It's been around three months since I've started working at the Agency, and I have to say, it was a pretty great job. It paid well, kept me on my toes with the many different cases we took on, and my coworkers were great... despite how weird they were.

"That's like the seventh time your friend called you this week," Ranpo spoke up from his desk, the man literally surrounded by snack wrappers.

I sighed deeply, rubbing my eyebrows. "I know, I'm sorry everyone. She's not usually like this... I know she likes to drink, but... never to this extent."

"Maybe there is something going on?" the cute Atsushi suggested and I frowned. "Maybe you can try to find out?"

"It wouldn’t be wise to just push yourself into someone's private life like that," Kunikida added and I nodded in agreement.

Of course I couldn't. Not with who her boyfriend was. I was her best friend, but even I knew not to step in. "Besides, she always says she's okay when I ask..." I said thoughtfully, too distracted to continue my work. I could believe her, right? Besides, she had Taichi. He loved her, and always made sure that she was protected and taken care of. He always made sure to be around her when he wasn't away, keeping her to his side at all times. I thought maybe he was being a bit too protective, but I also understood because of his... profession.

"Alright, alright, we have a schedule, people. Let's not get too distracted here," Kunikida exclaimed and I laughed softly. The only one with a schedule was the super punctual man himself, but I still went on to do my work.

"Speaking of work..." I started, unimpressed as I Iooked to the empty desk across the office. "Where the hell is Dazai?"

Atsushi just hung his head and sighed, Kunikida gritting his teeth at his desk. "I tried calling him but he wouldn't pick up," Atsushi sighed again and I huffed, standing up from my desk. "I'll take my 30 now. I'll be in the cafe and I'll try to get Dazai to bring his scrawny ass to work."

The Agency was on the fourth floor of the building while the cafe was down on the first, very convenient for me. I was lazy and the coffee and food was good. I dialed up Dazai's number as I descended the four flights of stairs, pressing my phone to my ear.

At the top of one flight, I stopped when I heard a familiar ring tone blare out, and when I looked down to the bottom of the stairs, I saw the man of the hour. His brown hair was wavy as ever, his signature tanned jacket looking immaculate. I watched as he just looked at his phone, watching it ring before he put his phone in his pocket.

I hated him. "So you were just gonna ignore me?!" I shouted down the stairs. Dazai whipped his head up, eyes going comically wide.

"Bella!" he exclaimed, practically running up the stairs right towards me. I gasped and back away quickly, back hitting the wall as Dazai caged me between his bandaged arms. His forehead pressed against mine and I will my face not to burn as he looked at me with those pretty brown eyes of his. "I missed you."

My heart skipped a beat, my mouth going dry. Still, I glared up at the man. "We just saw each other yesterday," I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore the feeling of his soft breath against my face. I was thankful my voice didn't crack. "And you have plenty of paperwork to do still on your desk."

"Ehhh, I'm tired and I'm busy," Dazai nonchalantly waved that off, now standing away from me and waving his hand dismissively. "Got better things to do."

I scoffed and crossed my arms over my chest. "Yeah? Like what?"

With that, Dazai took my hands in his, a hopeful look on his face. Here we go again. "Double suicide."

"No." I immediately declined him. "My answer is still the same as it was last week."

Dazai visibly deflated, covering his eyes dramatically. "Sweet death... she evades me yet again..."

"Yeah," I deadpanned, brushing past Dazai and heading down the stairs. "Anyway. I'm heading to the cafe to get something to eat."

"Oh!" Dazai exclaimed, hooking my arm with his as he quickly came up to my side. "I'll go with you!"

"You have work to do!" I yelled at him, trying to push him back up the stairs. "Go before Kunikida has an aneurysm."

"But I don't wanna!" Dazai whined, quickly turning the tables on me. Now he was behind me, his arms wrapped around me and pinning my arms to my chest. I felt his breath against my left ear and I shivered deeply. "I wanna spend time with you..." he whispered softly, his voice dropping. I bit my bottom lip, looking over at him over my shoulder. I shivered again, the usual brightness in his eyes gone. I've only seen that look on his face a handful of times, and it never failed to make me feel completely on edge. Like I was in danger.

I liked it.

"Ugh," I sneered, rolling my eyes and shaking myself out of his arms. "Fine, fine. I'll treat today, okay?"

"Yay!" Dazai's jovial nature returned as he followed me to the cafe. I shake my head at the strange duality of the man. We sat across from each other, the redheaded waitress named Lucy that obviously had a crush on Atsushi giving us some menus.

As I looked over the menu, I looked over at Dazai, the man humming as he mulled over his choices. I bit the inside of my cheek, just feeling that maybe there was more to Dazai than he let on.

The weekend soon arrived and I was in a bit of a sour mood. I was at the boardwalk, sitting on an empty bench after getting off the phone with Keiko. We were supposed to spend the day together, but she had called me thirty-minutes late, all of a sudden saying that she couldn't make it.

Her tone of voice worried me, she sounded rushed and breathless, totally unlike her. "I'm okay. I'm sorry for flaking out so suddenly," she said before she ended the call. I blinked at the screen, a bit put off by the entire thing. Just what was up with her?

Though I couldn't dwell on it, for there was a presence behind me. "Well, well, look what we have here," a teasing voice whispered into my ear before blowing into it. I shrieked, jumping off the bench before spinning around.

"Dazai!" I hissed at the laughing man standing on the other side of the bench. "You scared the crap out of me!"

"Bet it got your heart pumping, huh," Dazai hummed happily, skipping around the bench and right over to me. "Bella, I missed you~" he hugged me tightly in his arms. I sighed deeply, half-heartedly wrapping my arms around him in return and giving him a pat on the back.

"We saw each other yesterday."

"Eighteen hours is too long, bella."

I rolled my eyes, pulling away from the huge and giving Dazai a look. "You're so dramatic, dude," I say with a laugh, shaking my head. "What are you doing here?"

"Hmm, well I thought this would be a great place to think about how to commit suicide," Dazai began and I gave him another look. "But, I saw my bella looking so sad and lonely! I just had to rush to comfort her!"

Dazai hugged me again, squeezing me tight. I let out a struggling breath, writhing a bit in his hold. "You're killing me!"

"Oh! Let's commit do-"

"No, oh my God!"

I turned and stormed away from the suicidal man, shaking my head when I heard him call out for me. "Bella, wait!" He latched onto my arm, pressing his cheek against mine. "Tell me what's wrong. I am your trusted friend and coworker~"

"More like trusted pain in my ass," I mumbled before sighing, walking over to the boardwalk railing and staring out into the ocean. "It's Keiko. She was supposed to be with me today, but she just called and canceled..." I frowned deeply, eyebrows pinched in worry.

"What else did she say?" Dazai asked quietly, having gone serious once he saw the look in my face. "How did she seem?"

"Off..." I answered immediately before I looked over at my companion. "Or am I just imagining things? Yeah, I'm disappointed she flaked out but...." I hung my head. "I don't know..."

"Well, it could be nothing," Dazai suggested. "Or it could be something. There's no way for you to know."

I made a face at his vague ass answer before sighing again. "I can only trust her. She was the first friend I made when I moved to Japan, and I was excited to see her today. I've been having a rough time lately."

"Is something bothering you?" Dazai asked, and I shivered feeling his gaze on me.

"Eh... just depressed," I answered offhandedly. "Lonely. Normal sad girl shit, ya know."

That made Dazai snicker under his breath. "Yeah, I know. But luckily for you," Dazai started, arm draping around my shoulders and pulling me to him. "I'm here to save the day!"

I couldn't help it, I laughed before I wrapped my arm around his middle, letting him hold me against him. "You'll hang out with me today?"

Dazai grinned. "It would be my pleasure."

Time flew by so quickly, that I was surprised to look at my phone and see that it was damn near seven in the evening. Gaping, I looked up, seeing that the sky was slowly turning dark. "Holy crap, Dazai. Did we really spend the whole day out here?" I asked in shock, looking over at him. "What the hell did we do?!"

"What didn't we do," Dazai whined, slumping against me. "I'm tired... and you still wanna ride the stupid ferris wheel!"

"It's not stupid," I said with a pout. "Besides... we're already in line."

"Meh," Dazai grumbled, still keeping his body pressed against me as we waited in line. He was behind me, his chin pressed on my shoulder. I tried not to shiver as I felt his breath along my neck.

Soon enough, we were in our carriage and slowly riding up to the top. I took a few pictures as we did so, Dazai looking over in amazement.

"You think the drop from up here would kill me?"

"Yeah, and would scar everyone here."

"Oh yeah... can't have that."

I rolled my eyes, glancing over at him and pausing for a bit. Dazai was still looking out over Yokohama, an expression I've never seen before on his face. He almost looked... sad. Very handsome, his side profile absolutely perfect. But he still looked sad. I took a quick picture, smiling as I looked over it on my phone.

The carriage stopped and I couldn't help but grin as we just swayed softly up in the air. "Thanks for spending the day with me, Dazai. It would have sucked if I had spent it alone."

"Ahh, don't sweat it, bella. I couldn't possibly leave you out here alone," Dazai answered dramatically and I laughed and rolled my eyes. 

I felt a vibration in my pocket and I grabbed my phone, smiling at the cute selfie that Keiko sent to me.

'I'm so sorry for bailing! I'll make it up to you, I promise! ❤ mwuah'

"Is that Keiko?" Dazai asked and I nodded, sending her a quick reply.

"Yeah. She seems to be doing okay," I said, feeling a bit relieved.

"That's great!" Dazai exclaimed, getting up from his spot and carefully making his way to sit beside me, much to my horror.

"Dazai! We're not supposed to move around!"

"We're fine!" he waved me off dismissively. "Now you can stop worrying about Keiko and focus on what's important. Me."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "You?"

Dazai hummed. "Yes, me. And how I'm taking you home tonight."

My jaw drops, face heating up at his words. "Wh-what are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Dazai answered, his voice dropping a bit as his gaze and entire mood changed. His gaze was darker now, his lips curled up in an almost dangerous smirk. "I think it's time we stop tiptoeing around each other and just take what we really want."

My mouth went dry and I quickly became flustered, turning my head away. Immediately, a hand is grabbing my face, Dazai digging his fingers into my cheeks as he forces me to look back at him.

"Nuh uh, you look at me when I'm speaking."

His authoritative tone makes me freeze, heart pounding in my chest as I stared at Dazai, completely bewildered. I knew there was something more about him than he had let on, and whatever it was, had me in fight or flight mode.

"Now, when we're done here, we're gonna leave and head back to my place, okay?" he asked me, but his tone made it seem like it wasn't a request, and it sure as hell didn't match the seemingly innocent smile on his face; not when it didn't reach his eyes.

I nodded, Dazai removing his hand from my face. His smile sent shivers down my spine.

"Good."

"Mmn... fuck, Dazai..." I moaned and gasped softly, the man on top of me littering my neck with angry red and purple marks, two of his fingers working inside my pussy. I was completely naked on his bed, Dazai only in his underwear-- and his bandages still wrapped around his arms and chest.

"Hey, what did I tell you?" Dazai whispered against my neck, curling his fingers and smirking when I cried out. "Call me Osamu. Don't make me tell you again."

I frantically nodded my head, crying out again as he sped up the pace of his fingers, his mouth moving down to my chest. "F-fuck, Osamu!"

"That's it," he whispered, taking one of my hardened nipples into his mouth. My fingers curled into his soft brown hair, head tilting back and eyes screwing shut as Dazai continued to pleasure my body.

It wasn't long until he pushed his hard cock into my wet pussy, the both of us groaning at the feeling of us finally connecting. I was on my knees and elbows, pillow placed under my hips. Dazai started out slowly, biting his lip as he watched his dick disappear inside of me.

"Fuck... I'm gonna burn this sight into my memory," Dazai groaned, making me whine as I shook my head.

"D-don't stare like that..."

Dazai chuckled softly, his hands grabbing my hips as he started to move faster, thrusting harder. I moaned and whined, it seemed to be the only thing I could do while Dazai fucked the shit outta me. "Osamu... please..."

My whining made the man above me grin widely, his thrusts becoming rougher, almost wild as he suddenly reached out and grabbed a handful off my hair. I yelped when he yanked me up, my back now pressed against his chest and his other hand wrapped around my throat.

"What is it, bella?" he hissed into my ear, pounding away at my pussy and making me cry out again. God, it was too much all at once. "What does my pretty little subordinate want?"

I whined. "I want to cum... please Osamu..."

He cackled, pushing me back on the bed, grabbing my hips so hard, I knew I was gonna bruise. "Cum then," he hissed down at me, pushing my face into the mattress. He fucked me relentlessly, fingers finding my clit and rubbing harsh circles. That made my vision go white, my scream muffled as I came hard, body going rigid as pleasure overtook my body.

"Shit, you're squeezing me so tight," Dazai grunted. He pulled out, ignoring my whines as he stepped off the bed. "Get on your back."

I barely rolled over halfway until there was a strong grip on my ankle, my body being pulled down the length of the bed. Dazai stood at the end, wasting no time in pushing my legs back by the back of my knees, and plunging his cock back into me.

I looked up at him through teary eyes, and I knew I should have been afraid of the mad look that was in his eyes, the way his lips were curled up in a snarl. But it just made my pussy clench around him in arousal, eyes rolling to the back of my head.

I came a second time as he did his first, and much to my ultimate pleasure, we weren't finished there. We pleasured each other through the night, until we wore each other out and fell asleep entangled in the sheets.

I woke up the next morning, groaning in pain as I felt my body ache. I forced myself to sit up, looking around blearily and humming softly when I found Dazai sitting on the edge of the bed, his bare back to me.

"Good morning," he sang to me and I giggled softly, carefully moving to kneel behind him. The blankets fell from around me and I pressed my bare chest against his back. "Hm, that's nice."

"Morning," I said softly, peeking over his shoulder. "What are you do-"

I stop, staring as Dazai wrapped seemingly clean bandages on his heavily scarred left arm. I swallowed thickly, my mind running at what could have possibly been the cause of those scars.

But deep down, I knew that the cause was Dazai himself.

"Do... Do you have enough?" I asked softly, not knowing what else to even say. I didn't want to pry or seem insensitive, just having to get over this metaphorical punch in the gut myself.

"Yeah, I'm fine!" Dazai answered, turning to face me with a cheery smile on his face. In a matter of seconds, I was flat on my back, Dazai on top of me with his lips pressed against mine. It was easy for him to make me forget about what I saw, his kisses stealing my breath away.

"I have to go," he said softly, pushing himself off me after a moment.

I nodded solemnly, watching him continue to get dressed. "Alright. See you at work tomorrow?"

He smirked at me. "You know the answer to that."

I rolled my eyes again, just as my phone started to ring. I grabbed it, sending Dazai a quick smile before answering the call.

"Hey Keiko, guess who got fucking laid." That made Dazai snort while I grinned, though my grin fell as I didn't hear Keiko go off like I thought she would. "Keiko?" I shared a look with Dazai.

"Hey... I need you. Can I come over?"

[srptchkds]

Heya!! I’m really happy you liked the leafdad drawing! If you want any other character drawn, I can do that too! Or anything you want drawn, I can probably do! I can also tell my headcanons for characters sometime, I don’t know! Also your headcanons are never too long and I think they are great! Now I’m requesting another ship because, why not! I don’t know! How about Principal Simipour and Vice Principal Watchog? As usual, you don’t have to if you don’t want to! And if you want me to draw another character or any character or Nuzleaf again (but I will struggle cause I gotta practice him some more), then tell me and I’ll get to drawing! Thank you and have a good day or night!

That Leafdad drawing was amazing, tysm for that😭😭 (I have it saved on my phone), and I don't need any other characters drawn!! You've already done enough and I'm very thankful for that!!

And yeah no maybe I will request some of your HCs of certain characters👁👁 (also ty I rlly do be typing whole essays on PSMD character HCs)

Anyways here's some HCs of Simipour/Watchog

- THIS IS ME BUT THEY'RE JUST LIKE FÉLIX AND PEPA FROM ENCANTO I SWEAR (I can't stop imagining them singing Pepa/Félix's parts in We Don't Talk About Bruno, yes I'm cringe)

- Whenever Watchog is hard on himself, Simipour is there to relax him and let him know it's always okay to take a break

- These two were an unexpected pairing, and when they first announced that they're together, most Pokemon were confused (The students however were just like "I KNEW THERE WAS SMTH GOING ON BETWEEN YOU TOO"😭 Espurr probably knew the whole time but didn't say anything😭😭)

- Simipour had developed feelings over time while Watchog's feelings hit him like a bus

- Watchog is willing to express his opinions in the most intense way possible to nearly anyone... Except whenever Simipour is around... Then Watchog "politely" express how he feels

- Simipour does have a rather relaxed way of life, but Watchog encourages Simipour to do a little more with his time, and to see things from different points of view

- They both do their best to keep their relationship as private as possible, as Watchog personally is against PDA, especially when at work, and Simipour completely respects that

- Whenever they're both on break, Simipour will take Watchog on trips to the Air Continent and Grass Continent for a little fun with eachother

- If students or staff ever come to Simipour about how terrible or strict Watchog is, Simipour will do his best to reassure them that Watchog is not a horrible person at all, and is just doing his best

- If Simipour manages to fluster Watchog (which is often🧍🏼‍♂️) Watchog will become extra defensive (ex. "Watchog! I thought the way you taught the class today was spendid, the kids seem to love you." "W-Well... That was only because the sheriffs were there! I was hardly teaching the class..." "Whatever you say...")

- Once the students find out that Watchog is dating Simipour, they become RUTHLESS in their teasing of Watchog.

- "Pancham why are you late? That is absolutely unacceptable!" "Well your boyfriend said it was okay as long as it wasn't consistent." "WE'RE NOT BOYFRIENDS-"

- These two definitely have a more comical relationship dynamic then compared to Nuzleaf/Simipour

- OKAY BUT... Simipour subtly flirting with Watchog, and Watchog not getting it at all... Painful for Audino and Farfetch'd to watch

- As for dates, they both usually take walks around the village, sometimes go into Cafe Connection to have a mini dinner date, or go for a laid-back exploration in a dungeon

Here's what I got for them, apologises if it was not as long as you were hoping for, considering the MASSIVE amount of HCs I made for Simileaf/Nuzpour, but I hope you enjoy them :)

[babylooneytoonz]

Warnings: Bucky has a nightmare, more truths revealed, Dark Bucky Barnes, Winter Soldier mode .

Note – The dialogues in 'bold italics' are not mine. These are their quotes from the comics.

Link to Coffee Stains Masterlist here.

You welcomed this newly found relationship that had blossomed between you and the Winter Soldier. The two of you were inseparable, joint at the hip. If he was at the gym, you were somewhere around, and the two of you couldn't stop either giving giving each other googley eyes, or licking your lips at the sight of the other one; or bicker at something or the other like an old married couple. The Avengers were all used to your sassy comments now, and more so, Steve Rogers. It was funny how he had stopped chastising the two of you when you started using a derogatory language with each other.

"Who the hell keeps their stinky socks in their shoes and does not wash them for over a week?" You threw a glare towards your boyfriend, who was engaged in a hand to hand combat with Steve.

This was a casual scene for the Avengers now; listening to the two of you.

Bucky grunted, muttering something under his breath as he dodged a blow from the Captain and fell to his knees, rolling over his back, trying to avoid Steve's blow.

"Ask her, she doesn't even have that many hair on top of her head, and yet the fucking drain in my bathroom's blocked," he spat, pushing himself up on his feet as he flexed his arms and ducked, grabbing Steve by his waist and slamming him against the ground, making it look as effortless as possible.

You groaned in annoyance, filling up your palm into Sam's bowl of caramel popcorns, ignoring the way he just gave you a look of pure betrayal.

"Hey! That was my popcorns, did you guys see that? This woman just stole my popcorns?"

"Sam–" you turned towards him, your eyes narrowed, as you hissed, "Caramel popcorns aren't good anyway, I'm only doing you a favour by sharing these with you."

"Sam–" Bucky interjected, "this woman has a thing for taking over the things you love the most. She's taken over my wardrobe, and now my bed, last night, she kicked me off the fucking bed," he grunted, his arms held in front of his face as he blocked a punch from Steve.

A series of spins, kicks, blocks and counters followed, and by the next five minutes, the two super soldiers were smirking at each other, drinking water from their chilled water bottles as the two walked up to where you were sprawled on the couch, tossing popcorns carelessly into your mouth.

"Sam, tell your friend, he doesn't have the right to complain, I would be able to fit into my own damn clothes, if he hadn't stuck his dick in me."

"Whoa, hey! You two, knock it off. Listening to the two of you is like taking out dirty laundry, it just keeps getting dirtier," Sam commented, grabbing his bowl of popcorn, when you weren't looking and placing it on the coffee table next to him so you couldn't reach it.

To add a cherry on top of it, little Buchanan Barnes always chose to kick you hard against your ribs at just the weirdest of times.

"Well fuck," you cursed, your face contorting as a scorching, burning pain, something that reminded you of acidity, sizzled from inside of you, and your palm instantly flew to your bump, your body almost doubling over, as the team started to crowd over you, including your boyfriend.

"Well Barnes, I swear to God, if your spawn kicks me one more time .. Oof–" you groaned again, when the rebellious little punk kicked you once again, your palm now kneading over the fabric of your.. Bucky's sports fit t-shirt that you had taken over.

Wanda giggled in glee, leaning over you so she could feel the kicks too, and so did Sam.

Bucky just smirked, his arms crossed over his chest, as he towered over you with a look of triumph washed over his face that you managed to catch, "what you smirking at, Mister?"

"Nothing, atleast my kid knows how to shut you up." He lowered himself next to you, his arm coming to rest around your shoulder as a peace offering and you sighed, leaning into him, letting the rest of the Avengers gush over the kicks while you just took a deep breath and groaned every time the kick became brutal and you felt an urge to slap Bucky for injecting you with his super serum swimmer.

"Pesky bugger," you muttered under your breath, watching your boyfriend grin next to you and run his flesh hand over your stomach, before quickly kissing the back of your head.

"Well, what was that for? I thought I clogged your drain." You grumbled.

"Yeah, you do. But that doesn't mean I don't love you two." He leaned in to quickly peck on your lips before he stood up and threw out his palm towards you and you took it, stepping up to your feet.

"Yeah I feel like a fucking whale," you grumbled as the two of you walked out of the recreation room, towards your apartment.

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

You pulled the blanket closer over your body, letting out a soft gush of air as you rolled over on your back. Your ears perked up when you felt slight movements next to you, and your eyes fluttered open.

"Нет, пожалуйста, не делай этого."

You pushed yourself up on your elbows and swiped your palm over your sleepy eyes, trying to listen to the words shooting from your left but you couldn't understand them.

Bucky was most likely having a nightmare.

You leant over him, gently placing your palm over his chest, and your other hand stroking over his sweaty forehead, as you tried reaching him out, "It's alright, Bucky. It's okay, my love. They can't come in here. Wake up."He stirred in his sleep, but your words seemed to be working on him; he visibly relaxed, and his breathing steadied.

You sat hunched over him for a few more minutes, just stroking over his warm head with your fingers, but soon, your back had started hurting, and you felt the sudden urge to pee. Discreetly, you pulled back your hand, pulling the blankets over Bucky's bare chest, as you started sliding out of bed when suddenly, his metal arm found your wrist and he pulled you back, and you tried to pull your hand away, whispering to him, "Bucky, babe.. wake up please. You have to let go of me."

You struggled to pull your wrist away but he just gripped onto it harder, and started mumbling some barely incoherent words , in Russian, "оставляй меня, Natalia." Although you couldn't figure out anything that he had whispered, you had heard just the word you never wanted to hear from Bucky's lips, Natalia. Roughly, you pulled your wrist away from his grip, and slid out of bed, tiptoeing into the bathroom and bolting the door from the inside.

Pulling your underwear down, you lowered yourself onto the WC, and your hands flew to your head, your eyes clenched shut. Your heart was drumming inside your chest, and you were suddenly feeling not so good.

Natalia.

You had a glimpse that James Buchanan Barnes knew Natasha Romanoff from his days at the Red Room, but that's all you knew. There were no details, and never did you feel the need to ask. But you couldn't help it now, it kept stinging at the back of your head, again and again, and you felt you had to know.

"Natasha?" You knocked on her apartment door and stepped back, when you heard a groan from the inside and the shuffling of sheets, before soft footsteps reached your ears and Natasha unlocked the door, rubbing her eyes as she glanced at you, top to bottom.

"Can we talk?"

"Can't it wait?" She grumbled, under her breath, but a part of her knew, that this was bound to happen someday, only she hadn't realized it would be so soon. You were bound to ask questions, but neither she, nor Bucky had thought that it would be so soon.

"He called your name in his sleep, Natalia," you bit back on your tongue and looked away from her, not wanting to break down in front of her but you could see that she was looking at you with concerned, soft eyes and she had moved out of the way, so you could step into the room.You stepped into the dimly lit room, ignoring how Natasha had taken your arm and was now dragging you to her bed.

"I knew this would happen, eventually. I didn't think it would be this soon."

"What are the two of you hiding ? What happened at the Red Room?" Your voice came out broken, and cracked.

"Listen Y/N," Natasha's voice was soft, as she sat down next to you, and reached for your hand, causing you to stiffen in response, but you didn't draw your hand back, you waited for her to tell you, what you didn't know yet.

"You do know that I and Bucky were a part of the Russian Organization."

You stared into the darkness in her room, and hummed in response.

"Well, Barnes was one of my trainers, who trained me to become who I am today," she continued.

You blinked, feeling your eyes start getting glossy, and you forced a laugh.

"This is the non scandalous part of it all, isn't it?"

"There are some things love, there is no point trying to mull over them. Whatever I had with Bucky, it's not there anymore."

"So you had something with him." You pointed out, your lower lip trembling.

"I know ..how he thinks. We were both weapons once.. to be used."

A sudden silence took over the two of you as you two sat there, contemplating when she slowly turned towards you.

"You don't have anything to be worried about. James Buchanan Barnes and Natalia was a one time thing, we couldn't work out, and we realized that we worked together better as friends, and nothing more."

You stood up, straightening Bucky's tshirt, pulling it over your thighs and Natasha followed suite, the two of you making your way towards the door.

"Besides, it's not my place to tell Y/N, this should all come from his mouth, I hope we're good?"

You nodded, looking at her, "yeah." You mumbled in a low voice as you stepped out of her apartment and disappeared out of her sight.

You took a little detour, up on the roof and reached Bucky's apartment almost an hour later. You had expected Bucky to be asleep, but when you stepped in, he was already getting dressed in his jacket by the mirror, and he turned, giving you a look of perplexity.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I couldn't sleep."

"You could've woken me up."

"I tried to, but you were having a nightmare and you were calling out Natalia's name."

The way he looked at you, it looked like the words had left him. He stared into your eyes, searching for how you were feeling, but all he could see was a hollowness inside of you.

"Listen, I.." he began, but shut his mouth, when you looked away and slowly went to sit by the edge of the bed, withdrawing your gaze from him. It was as if you were stuck underwater, everything was slow to understand as he ran his hands through hair in exasperation.

"There's nothing between the two of us, you know it. You know that I am in love with you."

Although you could sense the sincerity in his words, yet , something at the back of your mind kept nagging at you.

"Then why did you not tell me about your relationship with the Black Widow? Why did you hide it from me?"

He was contemplating whether to walk up to you in the back of his mind. Finally, he took a step closer, and another one until he was walking up to your side of the bed and lowering himself next to you, so the both of you sat side by side, "I just didn't tell ya, because there was nothing to tell. I loved her once, but it was long time ago."

You stood up, as fast as you could with your baby bump, your hands on your back as you glared at him, "how is it so easy for you to say you loved her? Loved? And now you live under the same roof with the woman you used to love."

"With the woman I currently love!"

That came out wrong, Bucky knew that you would interpret his words in the wrong way as you pressed your palm to your lips, trying to suppress the whimper that you wanted to let out.

"Currently? Until another one comes along? And you toss me away?"

"Jesus, you're the first woman I ever fell in love with, ever since things between me and Natalia ended," he tried to explain, trying to reach out so he could take your hand, but you crossed your arms over your chest.

"That's supposed to make me feel better yeah?"

Bucky took a deep breath, shutting his eyes for a brief second and looked up at you again, his eyes expressing a foreign emotion that you had never experienced before. Was it regret? Or was it the same thing that he had with Natasha and did not have with you?

"A long time ago, Natalia Romanova made me remember what it was like to feel human. And they punished us both for that, in different ways," he blinked, his eyes suddenly cold, as though he was lost in a distant memory. "This is why I didn't tell you, because I didnt want you to react this way. We've all had pasts, doll."

"Your past is sleeping on a floor below me right now, while mine is cold in his fucking grave."

You huffed, sniffling slightly, as you grabbed your pillow, and started making your way out, when Bucky stood up, and dashed after you, slamming the door shut so you couldn't leave, "You're overreacting."

"Bucky, I am not in the mood, not right now. We're gonna talk when I've cleared my head, I'm gonna go up to the roof and just clear my head. Please don't follow me."

He nodded, as he didn't want to make this any worse for you. He moved out of your way, and you passed through, dumping your pillow in your own apartment on your way back as you made your way up to the roof. Stars were scattered all over the sky like little snow-flakes in the night. You couldn't help but smile, feeling the wind blow your hair into a tousled mane as you pulled out your phone, and dialled Fury's number.

"Y/N? Is everything alright?"

You didn't know if everything was alright; all you knew was you needed to let this all out, as it was killing you from the inside.

"Fury? Guess what, almost no one gets out of love alive."

"Y/N, what the hell are you talking about? Where's Barnes? What did he– "

"I'm gonna go now. I just need to clear my head. Take care, Fury."

"Y/N–"

You disconnected the call and slid your phone into your pockets. Fury, once your call was abruptly disconnected, called up Bucky, telling him everything that you had just told him. "I'm going to make your life hell Barnes, I don't know what you've done, but I swear, if anything happens to her, and you're the one responsible for it, I will make your life hell."

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

"Hey, what's such a cute little pup like you doing out here at the park early in the morning? Don't you have a home kiddo?" A stray little pup had made its way to your bench in the park, and was now laying on its back right where your feet were, and you were tickling its belly with your fingers.

Bucky stood behind a tree, his hood drawn over his face, as he watched you. He was worried beyond anything, he was scared that what you'd told Nick Fury was something really suicidal, but here you were sitting in a park, talking to a pup. His heart broke for you, for he could see that this was affecting you badly and he should have told you all this before. But with everything that had happened so far, he could not. And now, you had found out.

You sat back up, when you heard the sound of leaves being crushed underneath someone's boots, and Bucky stiffened, his hand flying to his gun as a reflex when he heard it too.

Your alert eyes glared at the sudden intruders in your private space, and you stood up, your eyes narrowed towards the intruders with a look of hate in your eyes.

"We thought it would be difficult to reach you, but you chose to walk yourself to us, what a nice surprise," the man with the Russian accent called out.

"Dream on, I would never make it this easy for you."

You neither had a gun, nor were you agile and flexible enough to fight them alone in a hand to hand combat. You knew you were screwed, so you had to use your mind, or maybe just run.

You took a step away, but the man was fast, he lunged at you, trying to catch you, when a gunshot sounded from behind you and the man flew back with the impact of the bullet that pierced right through his chest. You didn't need to look back to know who it was, and a part of you was relieved to see him here. Instinctively, you turned towards him and he tossed you a spare handgun that you caught midair.

Men in HYDRA uniforms kept coming towards the two of you, and Bucky had already pushed you behind him, forming a human shield around you with his body, while you aimed your gun, taking down as many HYDRA soldiers as you could, and he kept trying to deflect the shots that were fired towards the two of you mostly him, using his metal arm.

"No matter what happens, you don't step into their view, stay behind me, yeah?" he shouted at you just as you squeezed the trigger, and the bullet from your weapon hit a man's forehead, before he could shoot Bucky in his chest.

"They're too many."

"Nothing I can't handle," his words were dark, and coated in venom and for once you didn't know who it was that you were speaking with, was it Bucky, or was it the Winter Soldier. 

At first, Bucky snapped their necks with ease. Bullets rained down on him, but he deflected them with ease, and one by one, bodies were scattered all around you. It was like he was on fire; he was growling, screaming and grunting in the most animalistic way, while you kept yourself behind him at all times, but shot anyone that you could within your range.

However, somehow, neither Bucky, nor you noticed, that two of them had managed to creep behind your back, hidden underneath the shadow of the trees, and were now directly behind you.

"Bucky!" You screamed, when a sudden prick in your neck caused a surge of electricity to fly through your body, and a foreign pain filled you up. You had been tasered, and Bucky was in a pool of men, trying to fight them off while you were being dragged away, your mind barely conscious as pain rang through all your body.

The pain, however, was not from being tasered; but rather, it felt like your stomach was being stabbed brutally, and you couldn't help but cry out in anguish, kneading your fingers against the fabric that clung to your bump. The pain was so bad, you couldn't even bother rolling yourself away as the two corpses landed next to you, the minute Bucky shot them and they collapsed on either of your sides.

You didn't know what was wrong, but something wasn't right.

Bucky knelt in front of you now, trying to feel your body for any injuries, when you cried out loud, almost digging your nails into the flesh on his arms, "Buck, something is wrong with our baby."

Permanent Bucky Barnes Taglist :

@really-dont-forget-it @thepeakygurl @all-art-is-quite-useless @baumarvel @janajjj @chipilerendi @nyotamalfoy @skittychat @allidoiswritewritewrite @jessyballet @x0xchristine @evansgirl7

Want to be added to my taglist? Please fill the form on this link. 💙

[revchainsaw]

Coneheads (1993)

Another Entry from 1993. I'm leaning towards the thought that 1993 was a booming year for moviegoers. Unlike my previous review (Demolition Man), Coneheads is a movie that I am not visiting for the first time. I have fugue like toddler memories of the unforgettable silhouettes of these characters but I also have much more vivid memories of seeing reruns of this film on Comedy Central throughout my school years. Of Course, I can not hear Soft Cell's Tainted Love without thinking about this film.

The Message

Coneheads is a Sci-Fi Comedy exploring the American immigrant experience of a family of illegal aliens, but these aliens are of the extraterrestrial variety. All joking aside, that is how the plot presents it's central conflict as the INS is hot on their trail. The Coneheads are a nuclear family of aliens from the planet Remulak. Dan Aykroyd plays the father Beldar, he is employed most comically as a Taxi Driver and also by his home planet as the Time Keeper, whose job it is to inform the invading force of the most opportune time to conquer the earth. Beldar's mate and lifelong companion is Prymaat, played by Jane Curtin. Together they have a daughter, born of Earth, named Connie.

The first act of the film tells of the Coneheads arrival and stranding on Earth and how they are treated as foreigners and second class citizens by the people of Earth. However, they are never assumed to be aliens, just kinda freaky looking. Much of the humor comes from no matter how strange and unappealing they act the Coneheads kindness, hard work, and diligent behavior earns them the admiration and love of their neighbors and coworkers everywhere they go. Eventually Prymaat becomes pregnant and they give birth to Connie.

After a time jump, Connie has entered her teenage years and the generation gap and the culture gap between the Coneheads and their rebellious daughter begins to manifest. The Coneheads are loving parents and Connie a loving daughter and it's just so heartwarming to see such a functional relationship played out as they navigate these difficulties.

Unfortunately, the INS director who had once been on the Coneheads case early in their years finds that the unresolved investigation into these aliens has left a dark mark on his record and could be used to foil his political aspirations. Due to this realization his ambition towards these goals turns his apathy about the case to a dogged pursuit that would put Wile E. Coyote to shame.

Eventually the Coneheads are brought back in touch with the Remulak people and Beldar is forced to choose between his devotion to his culture and his people, and the life he has built for his beloved family as a citizen of Earth. Through some trickery and a decision to spare the Earth, Beldar becomes the anonymous savior of the Earth and the Coneheads are granted U.S. Citizenship.

With our Invader Zim's and Solar Opposites on our plates, does the Coneheads hold up as a satisfactory offering to the Cult of Cult?

Let's get to the Benediction.

Best Gag: 10 fingers, 10 toes, 10 inch cone

The Coneheads is sort of a one trick pony when it comes to humor. No one particular gag sticks out more than any other as most of the comedy tends to be, a Conehead does a weird thing and then people react either shocked or strangely unfazed. However, one seen has both reactions and a ton of that weirdness in rapid fire succession and that would be the birth of Connie Conehead.

Best Effect: Narfle the Garthok

At the climax of the film Beldar is set in colosseum battle against a creature known as the Garthok. The effect is a simple stop motion beast, and it certainly looks corny by todays standards. Even next to an old Ray Harryhausen film the creature looks cartoony. I think that's more than forgivable considering Coneheads is basically a cartoon. I want to take a moment to give props to the makeup department, at no point do i feel like the Coneheads do not look like aliens, they completely sell the very mild alien features that set the Remulaks apart from Earthlings, but these effects are just that, mild. I'm a monster loving boy and I gotta get my monster love out. I love the Garthok, and I may have to admit I've watched Coneheads a few times just to see the Garthok.

Worst Aspect: Just a Dash of Implied Racism

Racism is just an aspect of our culture. There's no pretending that isn't the case, and for that reason for generations racial stereotypes and observations have made it into our films. That is not to say that observations about race being made are automatically racist, however, I think there are some jokes about how the Coneheads are treated in the film, or the things they do that only work if you are familiar enough with racist caricature that the gag makes sense. Unfortunately, these few moments do not go so far as to subvert the gag. For instance, in a film where a black character is implied to be in danger because the police show up, would be an example of a racial issue that is implied because the audience recognizes the implications of how race is a part of American culture, but an implication that the hallways of a building where aliens live in smells funny or that aliens behaving like freaks is accepted implies that the audience thinks that foreigners smell strange or behave in freaky ways, and does not do enough to subvert these stereotypes. Do I think this was intentional or malicious? NO. But it is important to talk about. The filmmakers swim in the same cultural water as I, and the implied biases that you must understand to get some of the jokes are the same biases that are implanted in me. It's just important to note.

Best Aspect: It's All Love Baby

There is a lot of love on display in Coneheads. Beldar and Prymaat are supportive to one another and to their daughter. There is conflict and misunderstandings in the plot, but it shows that a loving family is not measured by a lack of conflict but by how they deal with their issues. Connie is a loving daughter. The friends and neighbors of the Coneheads are also incredibly kind and supportive of the young alien family. Ronnie, played by the ever endearing Chris Farley is so enamored with Connie that he openly accepts all of the weirdness and well intentioned abuse he suffers as a human trying to find an in to a Remulak family with open arms. It's a shame that so much humor in todays film comes from characters being awful to one another. It's refreshing to turn back the clock and enjoy a comedy that runs on such a warm hearted engine.

Most WTF Guy: Dan Aykroyd is a fucking Weirdo

Between Ghostbusters, Nothing But Trouble, and Coneheads I'm coming to realize just how freaking weird Dan Aykroyd is and I love it. This guys mind must be like an Adult Swim bump marathon.

Ambiguous Aspect: An American Tale

The humor of Coneheads is a fish out of water tale, and as such relies heavily on the cultural context of the American Dream and it's relevance for immigrants. In a way Coneheads can be seen as in dialogue with movies like An American Tale, Scarface, and many others. I was born in America, as a military brat, and I have lived in other countries but always on American military bases and where my status as an American was more of a benefit than a hindrance in my day to day interactions with citizens of whatever country I was living in. I have no personal context for these struggles or how the humor of Coneheads is in anyway relevant.

From where I'm sitting I really enjoy how the themes of the film explore the exploitation of immigrants. How Beldar has a genius level IQ and an absurd work ethic yet he is payed in peanuts and happily overproduces for his bosses. I appreciate the exploration of the cultural gap between immigrant parents and their bicultural children. I'd like to think, because I quite enjoy Coneheads, that this movie is sensitive and is presenting these issues in a sympathetic light instead of just using prejudices of "wacky foreigners" as fodder for cheap jokes, but I'm not really sure I'm the position to determine that.

At the very least it's something to chew on. If any of you in the congregation have read any articles pertaining to the subject of how the immigrant experience was portrayed in Coneheads please shoot me a link. I'm sure it would be illuminating to read. Perhaps I am over thinking things and maybe the film makers did not wish to have the movie picked apart, however, immigration is currently and has always been a sensitive and complex category of interrelated issues in our country and if Dan Aykroyd and the other writers did not want to dig into the subject maybe they should have steered clear of the topic in the script.

Summary

Coneheads will not likely be the funniest film you'll ever see. It's certainly a product of it's time and I'm not sure that even then it was for everyone. This is a heartfelt family story but it is also what happens when an SNL skit by a very strange and very high Dan Aykroyd is successful enough to receive a Hollywood budget and a feature length claim to your time. It's by no means amazing, but it is easy viewing. Good luck getting Soft Cell out of your head this week.

Overall Grade: C

[notveryglittery]

"you know I'm not like that" + royality 👀

so i might have tried the “write in comic sans” trick and now i’m on a roll. let’s answer some prompts from over a year ago >:3 

soft angst prompt: “you know i’m not like that” / ship: romantic royalitywords: 1,300 / warnings: negative thoughts, crying, alcohol mention

—   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —

Patton was tired. It had been a very long day. His alarm had never gone off which meant he was going to be late to work. He just barely missed the soonest bus and while waiting for the next, it started raining despite the forecast calling for clear skies. Of course, this was the one stop on the route without any cover from inclement weather and he hadn’t brought his umbrella. By the time he was on his way to his shift, he was cold and shivering and miserable. He was reprimanded for his tardiness as soon as he arrived, despite it never having been an issue before. Normally, a day at the supermarket’s bakery department didn’t really take it out of him. Today, one of the ovens was broken, they were backed up on custom orders, and no amount of being surrounded by warm kitchen appliances was helping to dry out his socks. 

Should he have just called out the moment he woke up and realized what had happened? Maybe. Would he ever be capable of calling out for any reason whatsoever? Probably not. Barring being actually physically sick, Patton was sure he’d make it to any and all shifts they scheduled him.

Clocking out had never felt so satisfying. Stopping to buy a bottle of wine and the fixings to make angel food cake felt just as good. He was feeling better which meant, of course, that things had to continue to go wrong. After triple checking every pocket of his outfit and his bag, he had to accept that the necklace he kept his apartment key on was still in his work apron, since they weren’t allowed jewelry. He scolded himself for not having the forethought to keep an extra one stashed somewhere outside the door, for having kept it on his person at work, for carrying a bag for no apparent reason if he wasn’t going to use it to keep his important belongings in. 

Thankfully, he wasn’t the only one with a spare. 

Roman responded to Patton’s message before Patton could even leave the text thread. Apparently, he’d been hoping to come over that night, anyway. Patton frowned and tried not to think too hard about the fact that he’d much rather just be alone. The company of his boyfriend had never failed to cheer him up before. Why would it be any different this time? 

Roman truly was the knight in shining armor his kids lauded him as. Patton couldn’t have disagreed with the kindergartners if he wanted to but it was a nice feeling, knowing that they saw Roman as brightly as Patton saw him. He dropped a quick kiss to the top of Patton’s head before unlocking the door and ushering him inside. 

Patton’s first stop was to put his groceries into the refrigerator. Roman followed him into the kitchen, where he began to unpack the brown paper bag he’d brought with him. 

Patton fidgeted. “Honey, not that I don’t appreciate you here, but…”

“I know,” Roman interrupted gently, smiling kindly at him. “I knew the second you messaged me. I’ll be out of your hair in no time at all. Why don’t you go take a hot shower? This’ll be ready by the time you finish.” 

Patton wondered how Roman could possibly know about the day he’d had through a handful of words over text but frankly, he was too tired to question it. He never really had fully dried out after getting caught in the rain and so after one more chaste kiss from Roman, he left his boyfriend to his devices. 

The water was scalding and it was leaving his skin a little red but at least it was working in melting the chill that had been clinging deep in Patton’s bones. He used the strawberry shampoo he liked to save for days like this. He picked the fluffiest robe he owned (a Christmas gift from Virgil, the year the temperature had reached record lows), putting it on over his pajamas, and even took a few minutes to blow dry his hair so it wasn’t still dripping wet. Staring at himself in the mirror reminded him how tired he really was. It wasn’t fair, that he’d slept in and got more sleep and yet he was this exhausted. He wished he didn’t work tomorrow. Patton shook his head and took a deep breath. He just had to get through the rest of tonight! He could do that much. 

Stepping into the kitchen, wearing the comfy slippers Thomas had bought him a few years back as an apartment-warming present because the floors were wood and Patton had always had carpet flooring and “trust me, Pat, you’ll need these” gosh what did he deserve to have such good people in his life? — 

“Surprise!” 

Patton blinked and took in the scene before him. Roman had made fettuccine alfredo, had poured a glass of wine, and had taken care of the angel food cake Patton had honestly forgot all about treating himself to. 

“Oh, darling,” Roman cooed, sweeping in towards Patton and taking his hands. How could Roman tell he wasn’t capable of full physical affection right now? How was his boyfriend so good? 

Patton sniffled and wondered when he’d started crying. “You… you made my favorite.” 

Roman looked a little sheepish. “I’ll admit, I had alfredo last night and might have just brought over the leftovers and warmed them up.” 

“The cake…” 

“I saw you putting everything away! I might not be quite as magnificent a baker, but I think I did alright.” 

“There’s only one glass?”

“I understand perfectly if you want to be alone, sweetheart. I can head out now.” 

Roman was stepping back, his hands slipping away from Patton’s, and — 

“No!” 

Roman looked understandably startled. 

“You know I’m not like that!” Patton continued, “right?!”

“Like… like what, love?” 

Patton struggled to answer. Finally, he screwed his eyes shut tight and just, “un… ungrateful. And weak. Useless and sensitive and —”

“Patton!” Roman cut in, sounding panicked. 

Oh great, now he was worrying Roman! God, why was he like this!

“Shh, shh, honey,” Roman was saying as he gathered Patton into his arms, holding him carefully. “Please, tell me what on Earth gave you the impression that I think those things of you.”

“Anxiety brain,” Patton answered, laughing bitterly, thinking about Virgil’s self-deprecating moments, and how he’d find something new to blame them on every time. 

“It’s wrong,” Roman reassured him. “And really quite rude. Dearheart, not once have I ever thought you ungrateful or weak or useless or sensitive.” He drew back, cradling Patton’s elbows in his hands, keeping their forearms touching, but putting distance between them otherwise. “You show gratitude in more ways than one, and you’re so strong to make it through days like this, and I wouldn’t know half the things I do without your help, and it’s admirable that you’re so in tune with your emotions.” 

Roman let go just long enough to take Patton’s face in his hands. Using his thumbs, he swiped at the tears leaving tracks down his cheeks. With his fingers, he massaged the skin behind Patton’s ears. It helped to soothe the headache he could feel coming on from his crying. 

“I’d like to stay with you tonight, dearest, if that’s okay.” 

Patton liked the sound of that very much. “Please. I just… I don’t…” 

Roman nodded and Patton wished he knew how he understood him so perfectly. 

“Here, why don’t you pick whatever you feel you can stomach, and I’ll go find something to watch on Disney Plus?” 

Patton hummed his agreement. Roman pressed a kiss to his forehead before leaving him alone.

The evening would find them sat next to each other on the couch, while the live action Lady and the Tramp played. Roman had a pillow squished between them so that only their knees, feet, or elbows occasionally bumped into each other. Otherwise, physical contact was limited and Patton couldn’t believe how light he felt in knowing that Roman wouldn’t be mad at him for it. Falling asleep with his head on Roman’s shoulder, his last thought was that he’d got through the rest of the night. He’d done that much.

[vole-mon-amour]

OTP tag game.

Tagged by @captainjowl. You know for sure than I'm struggling to pick only 10 & fit them in here. But hell, that’s fun, thank you <3

Rules: Choose 10 OTPs BEFORE reading the questions, and then get to answering

1) Harry James Potter & Sirius Orion Black

2) Daniel Le Domas & Grace (Ready or Not 2019)

3) Samuel & Nathan Drake (Uncharted 4)

4) Corvo Attano & The Outsider (+probably Emily Kaldwin; Dishonored series)

5) Steve Grant Rogers & Bucky Buchanan Barnes (Marvel)

6) Tony Edward Stark & Peter Benjamin Parker (Marvel)

7) Handsome Jack & Rhys (Borderlands video game series)

8) Damon Salvatore & Elena Gilbert (TVD Books & a tv show)

9) Batman & Joker (in every universe, really)

10) Adam Jensen x Francis Pritchard (Deus Ex video game series)

1. Do you remember the episode/scene/chapter that you first started shipping 6?

I believe it didn't hit me before Spider-Man: Homecoming. Civil War was about Steve & Bucky for me, but when I saw that growing up Peter with Tony, their dynamic, chemistry. Tom & Robert are really just like that.

2. Have you ever read a fanfic about 2?

Lmao. I've read like 50% of the tag on AO3, I wrote my own & started a few wips on them. They are amazing. Plus, with that shitty canon? We didn't get enough of them & they deserved better, so it's only logical to save yourself with fanfiction.

3. Has a picture of 4 ever been your screen saver/profile picture/tumblr screen saver?

I was living with The Outsider icon on my twitter & tumblr. That one is still my Google profile picture I believe. Don't remember about having an icon with the two of them. Also had The Outsider as my lockscreen on my smartphone for a while.

4. If 7 were to suddenly break up today, what would your reaction be?

Funny how it fits canon, lmao. Rhys literally tried to erase Jack's AI in TFTBL, so I guess another day on Pandora, nothing new. They torture each other, they kiss each other, they kill other people in the process. It'll be fiiine.

5. Why is 1 so important?

I love them since the first time I met them, which was much more than 10 years ago, I don't even remember when. At some point they were the reason I was waking up & forcing myself to eat just to read more fanfiction & feel something. Even if I was drowning in pain (I was extremely depressed), it was still something. I read every fic I could find at that time. The depression that Harry went through, all these feelings, his love for Sirius. I was living through it, I could relate.

I'm currently drowning in these two again, though in a much healthier & happier state. I see their flaws & I know as much as I can. I see them differently as an adult. They saved me, they keep being my number one, I still consider making a tattoo of Padfoot/Sirius or of both Harry & Sirius together. I have many headcanons, ideas, I write fics about them. They are everything, you see? They were my choice when there was nothing, no one. They are HOME.

6. Is 9 a funny ship or a serious ship?

Both. There goes the dynamic of Jack & Rhys: torture, fighting, flirting, a lot of trauma. I'd definitely say that they are wild and comical sometimes, but they are definitely serious. With the Asylum, the mental health issues. There is so much more to it, the complexity of their relationship. The struggle of loving who you probably shouldn't (but hey, when does it work like that?) Thinking about Tettlate's Batman, about Batman: Europa & how Joker was: "You must be crazy, putting me in charge of the plan, letting me decide. Okay, well..."

Nah, they are entertaining, but this is a serious ship.

7. Out of all the ships listed, which ship has the most chemistry?

Are you kidding me? They are all the definition of CHEMISTRY. I'd say 5, but then go 2, 6, 7, 8. Come on. I'm not choosing. Most of they are WILD.

9. How many times have you read/watched the 10’s fandom?

The fandom itself? Idk. I found one of my favourite artists through this fandom. If it's about the characters themselves, I played the first game with the DLC from start to beginning, looking around every corner. Spent more than 60 hours in there. Watched a second game (my laptop can't run the game) and the DLC (obviously), since Francis is in the DLC & not in the main game. I have a tag for them on tumblr, I read fanfiction, I tried to write my own. I still follow Elias & want a third game. Elias liked my tweets about Adam and Jensen being an actual couple a few times. I'd say I interacted with all of this a lot? Still do, actually.

10. Which ship has lasted the longest?

5. Best friends since childhood, fought & died for each other, still found their way back to each other. "It would break your Captain's heart, to see what they did to you." That only the MENTION of Steve can pull Bucky out of this brain washing(ed?) state, distract him in the middle of a fight. When Steve died in the comics because of Sharon & Tony sent Natasha to take Steve's shield from Bucky because even Tony knew how much Steve means to Bucky. And Bucky was like: "Oh, I see what he did. Not happening!" Fought Natasha (that is his ex in the comics) & kept going for Steve's sake.

Well, you see the point, I can go on and on.

11. How many times, if ever, has 6 broken up?

They're not actually canon so none? They had a few fights: In Civil war (the comics), in Homecoming (the movie).  That only means that they’ve got history & love each other.

12. If the world was suddenly thrust into a zombie apocalypse, which ship would make it out alive, 2 or 8?

As fierce Grace is, they wouldn't stand a chance against Damon & Elena. Those two had to deal with worst thing than brainless stupid zombies. On the other hand, if there were no alive humans to drink their blood... It's either an animal diet that Damon hates so much or I don't know? Still, they're faster & more powerful. Their bodies have advantage of healing the wounds as well.

13. Did 7 ever have to hide their relationship for any reason?

From some people, yeah. Don't tell Athena, don't tell Vaughn, don't tell Fiona. Though Rhys wasn't very subtle about it & Jack just doesn't give a fuck. You will probably end up dead if you disagree or bore him, or if you're useless.

"I can take you to the top, but you gotta know where the top is" & Rhys doesn't tell anybody until Jack makes him the President for like whole 20 minutes lol.

Fiona & Sasha: "This can't be happening." Sure it can, darling.

14. Is 4 still together?

I have a headcanon about The Outsider finding Emily & Corvo after Billie frees him from the Void. He doesn't have anybody & they are his only friends aside from a potential friendship with Billie. And if we don't consider TOTO dlc, they definitely are! The Outsider visits them both when they sleep & takes them to the void sometimes. How could he not?

15. Is 10 canon?

Not really but also sort of? Let's say that they really care about each other in canon, despite Adam pushing Francis away because of his trauma & fear that Megan caused him. :/

16. If all 10 ships were put into a couple’s Hunger Games, which couple would win?

Can you imagine wizards fighting extremely powerful vampires? Superheroes with venom in their bodies that make them super strong with people that made a deal with the Devil himself (hi Le Bail)? 5000 y.o. God and his lover that share his powers and an augmented human protecting his tired IT guy? Combine mental health issues to that, Jack and Rhys with Batman and Joker. Corvo & The Outsider would probably slay them all as Corvo and Emily did in both games with entire islands, though it will still be a slaughter anyway.

17. Has anybody ever tried to sabotage 5’s ship?

All the fucking time, lmaooo. I’m not even talking about it.

18. Which ship would you defend to the death and beyond?

I feel like I already did with Steve & Bucky after many Marvel movies (we're not even mentioning Endg*me, I fucking died & was dead for full 4-5 months).

19. Do you spend hours a day going through 3’s tumblr page?

I used to do that a few years back, but not anymore. There is not much content since the trilogy is finished.

20. If an evil witch descended from the sky and told you that you had to pick one of the ten ships to break up forever or else she’d break them all forever, which ship would you sink?

1 already went through it & fandom lives, so I'd say maybe 7? Rhys will find a way to bring Jack back & they are both so wild. It’s what happened in canon anyway. Jack kidnapped Lilith & forced her to do Angel's job, so I'd like to see that witch try at first. Jack is an immortal bastard. <3

Now that I think about it, Corvo would also deal with her in seconds as she waits to curse them.

As a conclusion: no one breaks up forever, we're killing the witch.

I tag: @ianmillkovichgallagher​ & @aledbr​

Whoever else wants to join the game, please do.

[whats-the-story-tc]

21st of April, 2020

"The One with the Fairy Tale"

(Pssst! If I were you, I'd read this post first before starting this new one!)

I cannot believe this is my life.

A couple minutes before the 8 AM rush hour, a Google Classroom notification from V arrived. Then another. Someone likes a spam, I thought, before opening the first one.

Sigh of relief. It was only the essay I'd already sent her. On to the next one, the detailed info on what we were covering today. The play on the table is both figuratively and literally a fairy tale. V, pretty critical of the play and its character work itself, made sure to bring one particular monologue to our attention, which tackles a rather difficult topic in a pretty simple play about love and longing — human mortality. "(It's my particular favourite, too, but don't let that influence you.)" She wrote after explaining what it was. The last paragraph though, now that was something else. "For those of you interested in an A level (here you imagine me looking at certain people)" she began, and my eyes widened as I read it. Sure, there are literature buffs in both classes, but... I can't help but think it was first and foremost an indirect to me. I mean, I'm probably the biggest nerd out of all of us, and she's always looking at me anyways... I want to dream big and say she wanted me to see it most. I mean, it's a link to an incredibly long essay. The situation speaks for itself.

"Look at this silence," V said as she entered our server at around 11 AM. Once she was here, we (as in all of us) started chatting about the break and quarantine. "It has been Sunday for two months." I declared, V immediately continuing the thought: "That part of Sunday, no less, where the line between the previous week and the next one blurs." Couldn't have said it better myself.

As V spoke about the story, I just leaned back on my bed, letting myself get immersed in the explanation and the sound of her voice while trying to imagine everything. After a while, it all started sounding like the plot of Mozart's opera, The Magic Flute — especially when V said that our protagonists, a human boy and a fairy girl, both had companions of the same sex along the way. And as soon as she said those companions are actually married, I waited for her to take a tiny break in speaking and said "How surprising." According to Bookworm Friend, she laughed, but I couldn't hear it clearly because someone made a noise. Then she said "Obviously..." and basically shaded the whole plot line, though I don't remember the rest of the sentence. And guess what she brought up immediately? That's right. The Magic Flute. I was floored! "That's what I was thinking, too!" I chimed in immediately. She took the words out of my mouth! And, soon as I said that, I got a text from Bandana Friend.

BanF: "Wow the twinning"

It's official, folks. Even from a distance, V and I are sharing a braincell.

Serious shit went down in class, including pointing out some... very suggestive imagery that caught us all off-guard because the thing she mentioned isn't inherently suggestive, but okay, V, you do you. (Obviously, I'm not going into detail here, nor sharing the conversation Bandana Friend and I had here because... this is simply not the platform.)

But what I can share is a really funny bit that caused a bit of a pandemonium in the separate class chat none of our teachers are in. You see, about half an hour into class, The Boyfriend sneezes with what is probably the volume of a medium-sized family house collapsing. About five seconds of absolute comical silence follows, then we just hear V saying "Sorry. I'm sorry." before carrying on. All this caused quite the stir, featuring texts like:

BanF: "The whole house just quaked"

and

Classmate: "Jesus who was this 😂😂"

Classmate: "Tell me it wasn't [V]"

S: "No, her man"

Classmate: "Good heavens I thought it was her 😂😂"

and

S: "I laughed so hard that I thank God I was on mute"

So yeah. That's on that. Bit later, with the words mentioned here, V ended class, and there I was, on Cloud 9, dancing around my room and humming Disney songs from the sudden serotonin charge. That was probably the moment I decided to read the play V spoke about. You see, she didn't assign it because the wording is quite difficult (the text is quite old) and students usually struggle with it, but she said that we wouldn't lose anything by reading it, if we wanted to. And thus it happened that I sat down on my balcony at around 5 PM with the first chapter open on my phone, ready to read.

I knew she'd be right. I trust her opinion and my reading comprehension skill suffers at the stake of my absolute inability to concentrate for longer than 10 seconds. But guys. Some of the longer sections I had to go over at least three times before I understood what was going on! An hour or so must've passed when I read the last line of the first chapter, and the butterflies in my stomach took flight. It was time to text V about it. It was my original plan, anyway. Figure out how right she was, then tell her about it. I was already incredibly nervous, trying to stick to what I'd planned on writing. My fingers typed on autopilot and as soon as I was done, I could barely believe I was actually going through with this. But alas, you only live once, carpe that fucking diem. One big breath. Two biiiiig breaths.

Send.

S: "Well, Miss, I'm not saying you were right about the text of [the play], but I've only read Chapter 1 and I'm already doubting if I even speak [my native tongue]... 😅"

I immediately tossed the phone on my bed and ran away panicking. What will she say? How will she react to seeing it's me again? What does she think? Am I funny enough? Am I bothering her? When will she reply?

Half a minute later (!!!), I see the icon of The Platform That Shall Not Be Named on my screen. No. No. No. Nonononononono. I picked the phone up and unlocked it with a shaking hand. I was not prepared for what I was about to read.

V: "Hahaha, well, babydoll...You do. You're just not used to [the old-timey wording]."

I only had the time to sink to my knees, eyes wide, lips agape, when the next message followed.

V: "Though, once you're already through it, I'm curious about your opinion on the play's stageability. 😄 (given such a word exists)"

You bet your asses all air left my lungs. Not only did she call me babydoll again, now in a way that I could forever remind myself of it, but she basically just prompted another conversation! She wants to talk to me again! And I'll have you reminded, V's basically trusting my judgement based on the scriptbook I showed her at the dawn of time, that she'd never actually seen in action! I wonder what I did to earn all this trust...

S: "I'll see at the end and tell you :)"

V: "Alright :))"

Then, all brave from the double smiley, I had a really stupid and impulsive thought. (Don't yell.) Me being the little shit that I am, I googled stageability and took a screenshot of no results having been found. I took a screenshot, cropped it and sent it to V, my head being completely empty as I did. I acted purely from gut feeling.

S: "Tough luck this time, it seems😄"

V: "i thought so!"

(I can only hope she took it as a joke. But, the way I know her, she probably understood. Still, the me of right now, exactly two days and two minutes later, wouldn't do it.)

And this is where it ended. This is where I ended. My hands, my legs, even my lips were trembling as I tried to process the sudden load of emotion overcoming me. What did I just do. What did we do. What happened here. All this just echoed in my head, and I went ahead and texted every friend I wanted to tell in all caps.

BanF: "WOAAHHHH"

BanF: "you guys have really warmed up to each other"

Even now, as I was typing, I got the chills just thinking about this conversation. If it wasn't for the 'Miss' and my use of formal pronouns in the very first text, it would've just felt like two friends, who happen to both love literature, talking. And this really warms my heart, because there's this fantastic woman, who I genuinely think is one of the best influences on my life and... she just likes me for me. She immediately answers when she can, comes off genuinely happy to talk to me, prompts another thing I can tell her about and all but tells me that my opinion matters to her. Because this is her. I'm almost convinced that I will never hear her outright say that she likes me or she's proud of me, but, should I have any doubts, she does everything to let me know. I just misunderstand her sometimes, not knowing where to look.

When I tell you all this still doesn't feel real...

~ S ♡

[Every story I share here, no matter how specific I get with my wording, depicts actual events from my own life.]