#I can understand if you are neutral because it feels that she is lacking in character but hating is excessive

[aitsuheart]

As someone who likes Soriku, I also like Kairi. I hate how there are unfortunately some people that give everyone who likes Soriku a bad name by hating Kairi and just making her awful in non canon things.

It's quite sad.

The narrative also doesn't really do her justice either and it's such a shame. She could be really interesting. I have stated in the past, let her still have nice friendships with Sora and Riku along with various other characters. Let her have emotions about being left behind and change. Let her get frustrated that she feels that she cannot get strong enough. Let her find out what happened in her past to end up at the Destiny Islands.

I don't want her overpowered. There are some fans who show her a someone who is overpowered and can do anything and it feels like a weak characterization.

Let Kairi feel frustrated that she constantly becomes something to motivate others such as her kidnapping in kh2 and her heart getting destroyed in kh3. It would be so much more interesting if Kairi expressed that she hates how she became a liability. And I'm not saying she is, but she feels that way since she had to be saved.

Not enough people focus on that.

Let her show her feelings or emotions.

It's only reason I sometimes dislike aspects of the people who ship the opposing ship. It's not because it's opposing, but because they reduce Kairi to just that. People show her as having no character other than being a character's partner. It's the similar reason why I dislike the part in MOM where she has to turn to Sora to fight Xehanort.

Why couldn't she do it herself?

In all honesty, I'm fine with the pairing and Soriku is just really special to me.

Disclaimer: These are my thoughts of how Kairi is portrayed by fans and in canon. And what I would like to see from her in future games.

[ghostedgwen]

hiii how are you doing ^^?

I love your writing style so much and I was wondering if I could request a James x deaf!reader where they have a very bad first encounter as first years (because James is James and because he didn’t realize reader was deaf at first), and reader has protective friends who won’t let James get near reader anymore, which makes James more determined to get to know reader and befriend them? Alternatively you can obviously write the story however you like, angst is very appreciated!!

Thank you regardless!

patch your broken wings | j.potter

note : I love this request, I have been well and just celebrated mother's day yesterday! Hope you are well too! Thank you for reading my other fics, and for the kind words about my writing! I hope I did this request some justice, thanks for the creative liberty as well and FOR ANGST YESS! I love angst! I hope you enjoy <33 given how neutral "reader" was described in this request, this will be a general reader fic with 4.4k words

warnings : hufflepuff reader, also made the gender as neutral as possible so if I missed anything then pls lmk! reader is Deaf, James is clueless and kinda stupid, sprinkle of bullying, ableism, sorry fellow slytherins we're the villains again

Your parents were unsure about sending you to Hogwarts. Ever since you were a kid, you had known that you were different from kids your age, they had something you didn't.

But you had never felt lesser than them with the love your parents gave to fill any empty space that could ever break into the surface like a crack on polished marble.

So when your letter came, they were scared.

They did so well raising you with so much love and care, and it scared them to think of how the world outside their arms would treat you. How a world who did not have people like you often would react to your existence.

But they relented once Dumbledore paid them a visit and eased their worries. He has offered to do research on the matter, to offer any help he possibly could give you.

There was no cure, there is no curing you because you were born with it and if you would be honest, you didn't feel broken at all. Having been born Deaf, you never felt lacking.

That word was reserved for people who had something to begin with, and you didn't lack it at all. So you assured them you would be fine.

The world outside your home might not be as understanding, but it's a world you had to enter nonetheless, and no amount of keeping you safe could ever truly keep you inside.

Now, a first year - you look at the train, blinking in amusement at the bold red colour while the people around were bustling. You turned around when you felt a tap on your shoulder, you turned to see your parents teary-eyed looking down at you.

You Mum signed, "I am going to miss you, hunny," her tears almost fell then, "you be good and write often, okay?"

You give them a firm nod, not allowing tears to come. You had to show them that you were brave, that you were fine and you were going to be okay.

After that, they watched you board the train and watched it leave. Off you go exploring the outside world beyond the walls they built for you, and they can't do anything but spectate.

You stepped into the train, nerves curling up in your stomach like smoke from a blown-out candle. It was loud inside - visually loud. Limbs and trunks and owls in cages, older students walking past in packs like they owned the whole place.

You hovered in the corridor for a second, unsure where to go.

You lingered near a compartment, scanning for an empty seat, nerves coiled tight in your gut.

Someone inside noticed you. A tall, freckled girl with a thick braid knocked twice on the glass and gave a friendly wave, beckoning you in.

You slid the door open, unsure how to explain, unsure if they'd mind but it beats sitting alone for the entire ride to your new life.

“Hey, you can sit here!” said the freckled girl.

You blinked, eyes flicking from her lips to her expression. She repeated it, Hey, you can sit here!, slower this time.

You nodded, grateful, and took the seat beside her.

There were two others already inside. One of them had wild hair and was digging through a pack of sweets. The other was curled up with a book and a pair of round glasses slipping down their nose.

The freckled girl leaned closer, speaking again, her lips moving fast.

You furrowed your brow. “Sorry,” you said carefully. “I’m Deaf.” you had hoped your voice didn't sound too strained and they were able to understand - you didn't try to speak much or at all.

She paused.

Then, slowly, and clumsily, she lifted her hands and signed: “You. Deaf?”

You blinked, surprised to read her hands.

“Yes,” you signed back, and then cautiously: “You know sign?”

She grinned sheepishly. “Little bit.” She fumbled the words, but her excitement was obvious. “Grandma lost hearing. I learn. . . still bad.”

“You’re not bad.” You smiled, stunned by the kindness. “Thank you.”

“Emma,” she added aloud, pointing to herself and also spelled it out with her hand, you smiled at that.

“Kip,” said the one with the sweets, throwing a jelly slug in their mouth. “And the library over there is Molly.”

Molly didn’t look up but gave a friendly wave.

The train rattled on toward Hogwarts, and as the countryside blurred by outside, Emma became your bridge with the other kids. When Kip said something, she translated. When Molly offered you a chocolate frog, Emma made sure you knew it wasn’t poisoned (probably). Every minute, you relaxed a little more.

By the time the train came to a halt, you felt a little less like you were stepping into a battlefield and more like you were stepping into something you might survive after all.

You stood with the rest of the first years near the front of the room, neck craning back to take it all in.

Your parents had told you all about it but it paled in comparison to the real thing - the floating candles, the vast ceiling and the esteemed Professor Dumbledore stood there so proud and tall.

Emma nudged you and pointed upward, “Look!”, and you gave a soft laugh, letting yourself be distracted.

You didn’t notice the boy walking up to you until he was already speaking.

“Hi!”

You didn’t hear it, you kept watching the enchanted ceiling in awe.

He stepped closer, waving. “Hi!” he said again, louder this time, a little too sure of himself.

You didn’t turn, barely feeling his presence from how distracted you were - your friends were chatting amongst themselves to notice him as well.

To him, it must have looked like you’d seen him and dismissed him entirely. Barely paying him any attention he didn't deserve.

James Potter frowned, shoulders squaring defensively. “Alright, then,” he muttered. “Bit rude.”

You still hadn’t looked. But Emma had, only catching the last bit he said.

She turned her head sharply just in time to catch his expression - the flash of wounded pride giving way to scorn. Her jaw tightened.

“Problem?” she asked sharply.

James blinked. “No. Just said hi.”

“Okay." Was all she said, dismissing him. James frowned and turned to Sirius who was watching the whole interaction.

"Whad'ya think that was all about?" James asked him and he shrugged.

"Must be future dark wizards in the making, already so stuck-up," Sirius rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "I know the lot."

Second-Year.

It started with a bang, a rain of glitter and then a chorus of screams from fellow students.

And suddenly the whole courtyard was flooded with enchanted snow that didn’t melt, and every person within twenty feet had sprouted neon-blue hair.

You blinked in stunned silence as a goldfish swam lazily past your head - through the air, no water required, like the weirdest dream come to reality.

You turned in a slow circle, watching the chaos bloom.

Kip had his arms raised in surrender, laughing loudly as his robes billowed with sparkles. Emma was glaring daggers across the yard, muttering something vicious you couldn’t lip-read fast enough.

And you?

You were laughing. Hard.

Snowflakes caught in your lashes as you ducked a flying toad (you hoped it was a toad), your chest heaving with silent joy. You hadn’t expected it at all but it was so funny to you.

Emma came up beside you, brushing flakes off your shoulders with a tight-lipped expression.

“Are you okay?” she signed, clearly trying not to scowl.

“That was amazing,” you signed back, still grinning.

She rolled her eyes. “That was them. The Marauders, again.”

Kip shrugged beside her, tossing a jelly bean in his mouth. “Honestly? Bit iconic.”

Molly didn’t look up from her book, even with glitter settling into her hair. Nothing could tear her attention away from those pages, she was married to her books.

Emma shook her head, arms crossed. “Trouble. All four of them.”

You weren’t so sure.

From across the courtyard, one of them 0 dark messy hair, glasses slightly askew - caught your eye before Sirius shoved him hard in the shoulder, both of them laughing like they'd never been in trouble a day in their lives.

You smiled, just a little.

Third-Year.

“Potter and…” Professor Slughorn squinted at his parchment. “Yes, Potter and ____, you’ll be together today. Cauldrons out, everyone!”

You froze halfway through reading the book instructions for the Shrinking Solutions.

James Potter - loud, glitter-happy James Potter was now standing beside you, a crooked grin tugging at his mouth.

“Alright, then,” he said. “Lucky you.”

You gave him a shy smile and nodded.

He took it as encouragement. “I’m not saying I’m great at potions, but I’m not terrible. Probably.”

You smiled again, a little smaller. You were unsure how to approach him, you admit you developed a little crush after that prank last year.

“Err. . . did you like the snowfish prank last year?” he asked, eyebrows wiggling playfully as he tossed a dried root toward your side of the table.

You caught it midair, smiling wider, but still didn’t speak. You couldn't tell him you loved it.

James hesitated. “You don’t talk much, do you?”

Across the room, Emma was watching.

Her eyes were sharp, unreadable. Her fingers twitched like she was seconds from marching across the class and dragging you away. Remus who was assigned as her partner could only watch in amusement.

James followed your gaze briefly, then glanced back at you, confusion brewing.

You were fiddling with your stirring stick, too flustered to sign, unsure if he’d even understand.

He leaned closer, voice still friendly. “I mean, that’s cool, if you’re just shy. Sirius says I talk enough for three people.”

You gave a small shrug.

James flopped backwards onto his bed like gravity had betrayed him.

“I think I’m cursed,” he groaned, arm thrown over his eyes.

Sirius, halfway through braiding exploding snap cards into his hair for reasons no one dared ask, didn’t look up. “You’re cursed because . . .what? Slughorn paired you with a quiet person?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know, it’s not just that.”

Peter popped his head out from behind his bed curtains. “Did they mess up the potion or something?”

“No! The potion was fine. It was me. I was awful. Embarrassing, really, I kept talking and they just looked at me. Smiled, like they were being polite while I absolutely embarrassed myself.”

Remus looked up from his book, already sighing. “So, business as usual.”

James groaned louder. “No, Moony, listen. I was trying to be nice! Charming, even! I said like, three whole jokes. And nothing! Just -tiny smiles. It was like talking to a wall. A very attractive wall, but a wall nonetheless.”

Peter snortedat his words, unexpectedly. Remus stared at him for a second. “You really don’t get it, do you?”

James peeked out from under his arm. “Get what?”

Remus shut his book with a soft thud. “They’re Deaf, James.”

There was a pause.

“. . .what?”

“____. They’re Deaf.”

James sat up so fast he knocked a pillow to the floor.

“They’re what?”

“Deaf,” Remus repeated calmly, folding his hands in his lap. “As in, they can’t hear you.”

“No - no, that can’t be right. I would’ve - someone should’ve - ” He looked around like the truth might be hiding in the bedposts. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Remus arched an eyebrow. “You ever ask?”

James stared at him. “No!”

“There’s your answer, then,” Sirius said, flicking a card at him. It exploded harmlessly near his foot.

“I was just - I was making conversation. I thought they were just shy!” James buried his face in both hands. “I said a joke about armadillo bile, Remus, and they smiled. They smiled like it was funny.”

“Well, maybe it was,” Remus said, deadpan. “Unlikely, but maybe.”

James groaned again, flopping backward. “Oh my God, they probably think I’m a prat.”

“They probably didn’t think much of it at all,” Remus said. “You didn’t know. Just don’t be a git now that you do.”

James peeked through his fingers. “How do you even know?”

Remus leaned back. “I read. I observe. Emma Hopkins, the other Hufflepuff signs with them all the time. It’s not exactly a secret.”

James stared at the ceiling, a quiet, guilty sort of energy settling over him. “I’m such an idiot.”

“No arguments here,” Sirius muttered, smirking at his dramatic antics.

James ignored him. “I want to fix it.”

Remus snorted. “You just learned about it five minutes ago, besides you didn't break anything.”

“I know,” James said. “But I was so weird today. If they thought I was just annoying and pushy - and they couldn’t even tell me to shut up, Merlin, that’s awful.”

He sat up again, something determined growing in his eyes. “I’m going to learn sign.”

Remus blinked. “Now?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t even do your Divination homework.”

“This is different.” James stood like a man with a mission. “I’ve got to make it up to them.”

“You could also just. . .not,” Sirius offered lazily. “People exist without being your friends, you know.”

But James wasn’t listening. He was already digging through his trunk.

Peter watched him, baffled. “Do you even know how to start?”

“No,” James said cheerfully. “But I’ll figure it out. Can’t be harder than Quidditch.”

Remus rolled his eyes, but he was smiling a little.

James may have missed the point at first - but now that he knew?

He wasn’t going to stop trying. Because what is James Potter if not determined to figure out a way to get his crush to like him back?

James lingered after class. You had already left with Emma, her hand gently on your back as she guided you down the corridor, her hands moving in quick, practiced signs.

James stood in the doorway, watching your silhouette retreat, guilt curling like smoke in his chest.

Remus fell into step beside him, a quiet presence as always. Sirius, on the other hand, jabbed James in the ribs with a smirk.

“She’s not going to bite you,” Sirius said, tilting his chin toward Emma, who had just glanced over her shoulder with narrowed eyes.

“No,” James muttered. “But she might try to hex me.”

Before he could start walking, Emma doubled back, her robes swishing around her ankles as she blocked his path.

James blinked. “Err - hi?”

Emma crossed her arms. “Look, I don’t know what this is.”

“What what is?”

“This sudden interest,” she said coolly. “I remember you back in first-year.”

James shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t know. I didn’t realize - ”

“I know you didn’t,” she said, and her voice wasn’t cruel, just careful. “But it’s not about that.”

He frowned. “Then what is it about?”

Emma glanced past him to where the rest of the Marauders were waiting. “You and your friends pull stunts that leave half the school coughing up glitter or dodging enchanted dungbombs. You cause chaos for fun. And maybe that’s fine for you. But not everyone wants to be caught in the splash zone.”

James looked confused. “We’ve never pranked them.”

“That’s not the point,” she snapped, then took a breath and softened, just a touch. “You don't mean harm, Potter. I know that. But harm doesn’t always come from bad intentions.”

James opened his mouth to protest, but nothing came out.

Emma’s gaze held steady. “They don’t need to be dragged into one of your harebrained adventures. They’ve got enough to handle without dodging slytherins or getting swept into another ‘legendary’ Marauder mess.”

“I wasn’t - ” he tried, helplessly, “I just wanted to talk.”

Emma gave a faint sigh. “That's up to them if they want to talk to you. But please remember, leave them out of your mess.”

And with that, she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

James stood still for a long minute. He hadn’t been trying to drag anyone into anything. He just . . .wanted to talk to you.

But maybe Emma was right. Maybe his world - the loud, laughing, explosive one - wasn’t safe for someone like you.

Still, he couldn't shake the look on your face when you smiled at him earlier.

And he couldn’t stop thinking about what it would mean to be someone safe for you, instead.

Fourth-Year.

The Great Hall was buzzing with the usual chaos - floating candles, gleaming plates, and the low hum of returning students catching up after summer. The Sorting Hat had finished its song, and plates were filling themselves like magic (because, well, it was.).

At the Hufflepuff table, you were smiling at something Kip signed (Emma has been teaching them the basics) while Emma inspected a suspicious-looking pudding. You didn’t notice the Gryffindor boy striding confidently across the hall until he stopped right in front of you.

James Potter. He smiled, maybe a little nervously, and then -

He signed : “Hi. How was your summer?”

The room didn’t go silent. But your table did, or the ones who saw at least.

Your eyes widened. You blinked once. then again, trying to register if you saw that right and it appears you did.

Emma froze mid-bite, fork halfway to her mouth.

You stared at James for a beat too long. Then slowly, you lifted your hands and signed back: “It was great. I read a lot of books. You?”

James lit up like a Lumos spell, reading your hands with practised ease.

“Brilliant. Spent half of it elbow-deep in sign books and tea.”

You laughed. It was quiet and mostly breath, but real, and surprised, and warm. Emma still looked wary beside you, but even she didn’t interrupt.

James gave you a mock salute. “See you around.”

And with that, he turned on his heel and sauntered back to Gryffindor, smug as anything.

Back at his table, Sirius blinked. “Did you just flirt in another language?”

“Shut up,” James said, grinning and flushing all at once.

Peter leaned in, eyes wide. “Can you teach me? That was so cool.”

James beamed. “Yeah. Yeah, I think I can.”

Remus just nodded, a faint smile tugging at his mouth.

James Potter, for once, had said something without speaking, and it had finally been the right thing.

It was quiet in the corridor outside the library, too quiet. The torches flickered low and cast long, crawling shadows across the stone.

You had come alone, just a quick errand, returning a borrowed book before dinner. You liked these quiet walks. Or at least, you used to.

But something shifted in the air behind you. You didn’t hear them approach. You only felt the way the air changed - colder somehow, staler. The moment your hand touched the brass handle, a figure stepped into your peripheral vision.

Then another. Then three more.

Green and silver. Slytherins.

One of them sneered. You couldn’t catch all their words, but you could read lips - and their expressions said the rest.

“Look who’s pretending to be special.”

“It was bad enough you're a Puff, but had to get associated with that blasted Potter, huh?”

“Maybe he likes broken things, he even got that scarred Loopy-n with him.”

Your stomach dropped. You backed up, hands hovering slightly, unsure if you should sign for help or run. Your fingers trembled.

They didn’t wait.

“She can’t even hear us. Isn’t that hilarious?” / “Wonder if it’s the same blood that made her Deaf. Must be rotten.” / “Magical defect. An abomination.”

The first jinx hit your side - hard. You stumbled into the wall, your bag spilling across the stone floor.

A second jinx flew, catching your hand, your signing hand - leaving it red and raw, already swelling. You gasped, clenching your wrist, pain blooming like fire up your arm.

You tried to shout, sign - anything. But your vision blurred, and you felt the walls closing in.

And then, bright light. You couldn't really tell what was going on, unable to listen in for context so you just watched as the Slytherins scattered like startled crows as a hex snapped past your head and exploded against the far wall.

You looked up in shock.

James Potter stood at the end of the corridor, wand raised, jaw clenched.

He didn’t hesitate. He advanced on them like a storm, wand flashing. He was shouting angrily but you couldn't read his lips well enough.

They didn’t try to fight back at all and there were more of them, they ran. He didn’t watch them go. He was already kneeling next to you, wide-eyed.

“Hey - hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” he said, fast, panicked. “You’re alright. You’re - bloody hell, your hand - ”

You flinched when he reached for you.

James froze. “No, no, wait - I’m not gonna hurt you.”

You stared at him, confused, shaking. You couldn’t breathe, couldn’t form the signs properly with your hand the way it was. You didn’t understand what he was saying, not completely, but his face said concern and regret and please don’t be scared of me.

Still, you edged back against the wall, trembling.

James reached slowly for your book that dropped a foot away, and handed it to you, his hands open and careful.

Then footsteps thundered down the hall.

Emma, Kip and Molly. Your friends, two in yellow robes and one in blue.

Emma’s eyes widened when she saw you on the floor, then immediately narrowed when she saw who was next to you.

“You.” She shoved James back, hard enough to make him stumble. “What did you do?!”

James’s mouth dropped open. “What? Nothing! I - they - I helped - !”

“They're injured, Potter!” Kip was already crouching beside you, inspecting your wrist with a worried frown. “Back off.”

“I didn’t - I swear, I stopped them!”

“I told you to stop before they get more attention,” Emma snapped, wrapping her arm protectively around your shoulder. “It's bad enough the heat we get from those snakes, you just had to bring the spotlight.”

You didn’t know what was being said exactly, but you could tell -Emma’s sharp voice, the way Kip pulled you close, the way James stood still and heartbroken and helpless.

James stepped back, hands falling uselessly to his sides. He didn’t argue anymore, nor did he fight.

He just watched as your friends gathered around you, guarding you like a flame in the wind, and led you away.

You looked back once, barely and James stayed frozen in that corridor, alone.

Kip was pacing, Emma had her arms crossed tight, and Molly has finally abandoned her books.

You sat curled into one of the armchairs, your hand bandaged and propped on a cushion, your eyes on the fire.

Then, finally, you started signing, slowly at first. Kip was the first to catch on, eyes flicking to your hands and back to your face.

“They were waiting for me. The Slytherins. I didn’t hear them come up. They said horrible things.”

Emma moved to your side instantly, her hand on your arm.

“They said I was wrong. That I shouldn’t exist. That I was - ” You looked away. “And then they hurtme.”

Kip’s fists clenched. “What?!”

“I couldn’t get away fast enough.” You swallowed, then added, “But James came.”

You looked up, meeting Emma’s sharp stare. “He fought them. He made them run.”

Emma’s jaw tightened. “Still doesn’t mean he gets a medal.”

“He didn’t expect one,” you signed softly. “He looked like he’d cry.”

Molly finally spoke up after heaving a sigh loudly. “They like him,” she said simply, nodding at you. “They’ve liked him.”

Kip’s head snapped around. “Wait - what? You and Potter?”

You flushed, your hands going still in your lap.

Emma heaved a long, slow sigh. “I guess. . . ” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I can’t guard you forever. You’re your own person. If you want to do this, we’ll stand by you. But if he hurts you - Helga, I'll hex his bollocks.”

You smiled faintly. “He won’t.”

You turned to Emma again and signed: “I’m going to tell him. We’ll figure it out together.”

Emma just nodded once, fierce and fond.

The air was crisp, sun catching the edges of gold leaves as they fluttered down into the courtyard. James stood with Remus by the arched stone entryway, rocking on the balls of his feet.

“Hopkins said they wanted to talk?” James muttered, nervous.

Remus smiled. “Looks like your bravery’s about to be tested somewhere besides a Quidditch pitch.”

James shot him a look. “Not helping.”

Then he spotted you.

You stepped into the courtyard, hands tucked into your sleeves, expression unreadable - but calm and focused.

You glanced up at him, and James straightened instantly.

Remus gave a low whistle and faded back into the hallway with a muttered, “Good luck, Romeo.”

You reached James, heart thudding.

He opened his mouth, then closed it. He raised his hands instead, signing slowly: “Are you okay?”

You nodded. Then you signed: “Why did you learn sign?”

James blinked, surprised at the sudden inquiry. Then his face softened. “You.”

You raised your brows. “Me?”

“I wanted to talk to you. Properly,” he said. “And I - I like you. I didn’t want you to keep being the one left out. Or for me to be the idiot who didn’t know how to listen.”

You smiled, and it was slow, a little shaky. “I like you too.”

James stared at you. “Wait, really?”

You nodded. “I came to say it out loud - or sign it out loud.”

He let out a breath like he’d been holding it all year.

“Do I still have a chance?” he asked.

You didn’t need your hands to answer. You just grinned and nodded again. James took a step closer. “I meant what I said. I’ll protect you. From them, from anyone.”

“I believe you.”

He hesitated, just for a moment - then signed, awkward but earnest: “Can I kiss you?”

You didn’t sign back.

You leaned in and kissed him.

His hands found your cheeks, careful and warm, and yours found the hem of his jumper. It was a kiss with trembling nerves and quiet relief.

When you pulled back, you laughed under your breath. James then thought in that very moment that he ought to preserve that smile and laughter.

end. masterlist

[cheapshrimpysheep]

Hi! Can you do Lilia,Silver,Riddle and Sebek with a famous cook reader, ? Like she always cooks for them, always do delicious lunch box for them when they get away and when they meet she always brought pastries specially for them that she cooked herself. Have a nice day ! I love your blog btw !

(I'm sorry if I made any spelling mistakes, English is not my first language.)

COMMENTS: HI! Thank you! ❤️ Don't worry, I think I understand your request. 😉 The only problem was that I myself barely know how to cook. 😅 but that was no impediment. Since the reader's gender ends up not being relevant in this context, I made it gender neutral.

Hope you and all enjoy it. 🍽️

CHARACTERS: Lilia Vanrouge / Silver / Riddle Rosehearts / Sebek Zigvolt

TAGS: Fluff; GN Reader; Headcanons; Can be read platonically

WORD COUNT: An average of 250 words per character

.

Lilia loves everything you do and is constantly praising you. “Oh! Another one of your cooking? You really make me the luckiest fae in Twisted Wonderland. Khee hee.”

He always brags to everyone about you cooking for him. And he will show other people pictures of everything you cooked for him and that he remembered to take a picture of before eating. “Look what they cooked for me! Aren't they so talented?”

If he has a lunch box that you prepared, he will invite whoever is with him and has never tried your food to try a bite. If they already know and like your cooking, he will mess with them by not inviting them to eat, but continuing to boast about having someone like you cooking such delicious things for him.

Every time he remembers to take a picture of your dishes he will publish it on Magicam with descriptions like: ‘Feast your eyes’; ‘Favorite meal of the day’; ‘Brunch vibes and good times’ or even ‘Food is my love language’

Whenever you cook something with his favorite food: Tomato juice, he will be simply radiant. “Is today a special day?”, “To what do I owe this wonderful treat?”, “Did you feel inclined to spoil me today?”

Problem: The more you cook for him, the more he will want to cook for you in return. He feels selfish always receiving, he wants to give you the same kind of love that you give him.

He gets sad and even sulks whenever you refuse his help or the food he has prepared.

No matter what you try to teach him, he will always want to do things his way. He wants to surprise you, so doing something you already know and in the way you know wouldn't be funny.

You are now the biggest target of his cookings and you may have to work together with the Diasomnia boys to save yourself.

Silver really likes it when you cook for him, but he noticed that his lack of facial expression confuses you and makes you a little sad. So he started training just so that whenever you offer him a new dish or sweet he doesn't forget to smile.

He knows it could be something a little mean, but he asked you to try to hide from Lilia the true amount of times you cook for him. Because if not, he might get a little jealous and start cooking even more for you two.

He wants to reciprocate the delicious meals you make for him, so he asks you to teach him. He listens to you and follows your instructions like he does with any other teacher or tutor.

Whenever you cook his favorite dish: Mushroom Risotto, he will ask you: “Is today a special day that I have forgotten about? If so, I'm so sorry... Hm? It's not?” He smiles. “Thank you. I will strive to make your favorite dish perfectly too.”

He doesn't brag about the lunch boxes you make for him. But whenever someone sees the lunch box and asks about it, he ends up indirectly complimenting you. “Ah, yes. (Y/N) usually makes them for me. They are an amazing cook. I am very fortunate for everything they do for me.”

Riddle smiles tenderly whenever you offer him something you've cooked, whether it's a full meal, sweets, or just a handful of appetizers. He is always grateful for everything you do for him.

However, he feels slightly frustrated that he can't repay you with the same cooking skills. But that doesn't stop him from asking you for help to teach him how to cook.

He won't depend solely on you. When you can't help him he'll ask Trey, read books on the subjects, try to practice on his own, etc.

Although he recognizes the (probably glaring) difference in culinary skills, he won't be shy about asking you for opinions and feedback. And he would like you to be as strict with him as he would be in your place, no being nice if it's not genuine.

He will never give up after a failure and will always smile proudly when you tell him he did a good job.

Whenever you cook something with his favorite food: Strawberry Tart, his eyes will shine and he will smile like a lovely child. But then he'll try to hold back a bit. “Thank you so much, (Y/N).” He says still smiling. “I can't help but feel spoiled whenever you do this for me. So, even though I am always grateful for your gesture, this must not become a habit. Understand?” He likes to keep his diet balanced, but your cooking is always a big temptation.

Sebek is always torn between praising you or being annoyed that you do something so much better than him that he has difficulty reciprocating.

When you're not around and he has one of the lunch boxes you made for him, he'll brag about it to EVERYONE. “BEHOLD! One of the masterpieces of human cuisine! For a human, (Y/N) is incredibly talented, and I had the privilege of being chosen as one of their tasters. Hm? You would like to taste a little and see if my praisings are true? Well, if that's the purpose then I'll allow you to try it. GO AHEAD!”

However, when you are present, his praise is more restrained. “Excellent, human. Incredible as always.” And a strangely competitive side emerges. “These gestures cannot go unrewarded. You'll see! One day I'll be able to surprise you with my cooking techniques as well! Just you wait!”

He will NOT ask you to teach him how to cook. On one hand, he wants to surprise you. On the other hand, he doesn't want you to see or know about his mistakes in the process. His pride is too strong here.

Whenever you cook his favorite dish: Salmon Carpaccio, his eyes will shine and he will gasp. “And to what do I owe this thoughtful gesture today?” He smiles smugly. “Is there something you wanted to thank me for? Whatever it is, I am extremely grateful for your generosity, (Y/N).”

If you dropped in here out of the blue and want to read more from me, you can find it in my pinned post: INDEX

[solarstranger]

a/n. pleasantly surprised at how quickly i wrote this bit, it practically wrote itself. i love writing about psych/therapy stuff (despite my complex relationship with 'em), and bakugou being the central character in all of this is only the cherry on top <3 i honestly don't know where i'm going with this, but it's been fun so far. (0.8k)

navigation. part 1, (you are here)

thankfully—and to the relief of whatever dignity he had left—that interaction was short-lived.

well, it’s mostly because after you blinked at him for what felt like a torturous eternity and said a shaky hello back, he gave you a curt nod as if he wasn’t the one who just initiated the exchange and bolted it out of there without a single glance back.

that bit haunted him for the next few days, reappearing in his consciousness whenever the topic of therapy or anything remotely close to it was broached. he even snapped at kirishima when the redhead asked how his latest session went during one of their evening patrols together. it was a kneejerk reaction, an entirely out-of-proportion, aggressive response that shocked even him, which says a lot.

he should go ahead and text the guy an apology.

eventually, though, that unfortunate powwow slowly faded into the background of his exceptionally busy mind as the days went on. things got so hectic in the agency that he had to postpone his appointment for the week, which—quite frankly—is an upside to this chaos, because he sure wasn’t pumped about discussing his love life, or the lack thereof, with the jarringly knowing middle-aged lady. being able to definitively avoid you and buy you more time to forget about his stupid social blunder is merely the cherry on top.

okay, maybe the incident didn’t actually slip his mind after all.

“…bakugou-san? are you still with me?”

dazed, bakugou squeezes his eyes shut before fluttering them open, and what greets him is the very same lady against the backdrop of her increasingly familiar office, only this time she’s looking more concerned than perceptive.

right. he’s supposed to be in the middle of a session right now.

“yeah, sorry,” he mumbles, shaking his head in an attempt to rid himself of irrelevant thoughts and focus on the matters at hand. therapy is expensive, after all. “i’m here.”

that doesn’t seem to placate the woman who instead prods, much to his chagrin. “you seem out of it today. is there something in your mind that you want us to talk about?”

for a second, he debates caving and just telling her the dumb shit that happened two weeks ago, but then backtracks when it dawns on him how ridiculous everything is. what is he, a prepubescent boy? he died and survived a major war, for fuck’s sake. why is he so hung up on seeming awkward for once in his life?

even hearing it in his head is embarrassing enough.

that settles it, then. his lips are and will remain sealed.

but then his gaze refocuses on his therapist, and the sheer ‘unconditional positive regard’ or whatever the crap is called that she’s radiating becomes so palpable that it just spills out of him.

“i fucked up.”

that makes the lady frown—which, if he thinks about it, is understandable, because he rarely opens up about his failures, let alone this blatantly—although she manages to quickly school her expression into a more neutral one. “can i ask you to expound on it?”

at that, bakugou sighs, because it’s either he just tells the laughable truth or actually cite one of his actual mistakes—which he’s not feeling right now, by the way. or he can expertly maneuver the conversation to another topic, but something tells him there’s no getting out of the current subject. maybe today, there is, but it’ll surely loom over their next sessions indefinitely until either of them revisits it.

he should know. it’s happened to him too many times, he’s lost count.

with this realization, he can only sigh again.

“it’s stupid,” he preempts.

“i’d like to hear it regardless,” comes her classic, supportive response.

and so he does it. talk, that is. it starts off a bit rough—he didn’t know how to even begin without flushing like an idiot, but he managed to get the brief anecdote going. he still ended up blushing anyway—the warmth in his cheeks was undeniable—and if she noticed, she gratefully didn’t point it out. by the time he’s finished with the trivial tale, he’s mildly out of breath, having said everything in one continuous burst.

“i told you,” he spits when she doesn’t say anything for a beat. “it’s stupid.”

“i’d normally ask you to reconsider the adjectives you use for yourself and your experiences, but i think you’ve heard enough of that.”

he snorts. damn straight.

the woman then shoots him a smile, and he has to tamp down the reflex to bristle at an impending attempt to placate him. fortunately, it doesn’t come.

what does, instead, is a question.

one that catches him completely off guard.

“did you find her attractive?”

the fuck, is his first, immediate thought.

but then his normally trusty and acute brain seemingly comes to life and promptly supplies a second one that leaves him frozen and utterly dumbfounded.

yes.

˗ˏˋ while likes are appreciated, they don’t do much on tumblr! if you want to support me and writers in general, reblogs, replies, and tags are the way to go. feel free to drop an ask, too—i’d love to chat. have a nice day! ´ˎ˗

[nereidprinc3ss]

okay i know this is kind of a specific request but can you do something with professor Spence and uni reader where they get into a spat and argue bc she did something stupid and he gets mad and she’s like “noooo pls don’t be mad i hate when you’re mad at me I’m sorry🥺” bc she literally cannot function knowing she let him down (me with everybody) but he’s like super stubborn and goes all closed up and quiet so that he doesn’t like blow up on her until she finally says like “pls talk to me” and he’s all pissed and like “hell na bitch u crazy!🗣️‼️” but then later he’s like “it’s ok i love u but neva do that shit again ho” then they make up and it’s good again 🎀 ok i explained that so poorly (and comedically if i may) but i hope u get it and pls make it SO DRAMATIC bc I live for drama! like she steals test answers or something or does something that could like get her kicked out of school OR him lose his job 🤔 sigh … idk I’m leaving now. Also i LOOPOOOCE ORRKGOOVI love your fics. Luv em

hey girl (gender neutral) this made me laugh bc genuinely sometimes i write spencer so ooc that is what he sounds like. and i'm not sorry! anyway this is potentially a vyvanse fueled nightmare but i wrote it and i'm posting it MY BLOG MY RULES BITCHESSSS!!!! but genuinely read the content warning LMAO this one got a lil kick to it

warnings/tags: ANGST, HURT/COMFORT, fem!reader, spencer and r get into a for real argument like they're mean to each other, spencer is a lil toxic but its resolved, emotionally neglects reader just for a teeensy second but then he's really nice and sweet again, discussion of his past addic+ion, gets fluffy because i'm not EVIL, gets suggestive at the end bc i am secretly evil.......

a/n: i don't know whats happening. this confuses me just as much as it confuses you. its 3 am in the morning. im gonna post nice happy things soon. Gootbye

“I cannot believe you right now. I don’t even—I don’t even know what to say.” 

“Spencer, you don’t have to say anything. It has nothing to do with you, and I’m not looking for your approval.” 

He looks up from where he’d been rubbing his temples, like you’re a headache, eyebrows raised and lips parted in indignant disbelief. 

“Oh! You’re not looking for my approval? Well thank god for that, because if you were one of my students I would recommend expulsion to the board.” 

“Are you fucking kidding me? I just said I don’t care about your opinion on this, much less your hypothetical opinion from some alternate universe where you have any authority over my education whatsoever.” 

“You distributed an answer key to half of your class! Objectively this is the kind of thing that gets people expelled. I don’t understand how someone so smart could do something so fucking stupid.” 

The words bite more than you were prepared for—but what hurts even more is how much he seems to mean them. In arguments past you’d both said things you didn’t mean, and then would immediately melt into I’m so sorry’s and the fight would resolve itself. Spencer’s clenched jaw and inability to make eye contact with you do not lend themselves to tender apologies. They cannot be attributed to miscommunication. 

You take a step closer to where he’s bracing himself against the countertop, arms crossed defensively in front of your chest. 

“Spencer, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was such a big deal. People cheat in college all the time.” 

Still no reply. His head shakes so minutely you wonder if you’re imagining it. Panic wells in your chest. 

“Please talk to me. I really hate when you ice me out. I’m sorry, okay? Just... please say something.” 

Finally, his eyes slide to you. They lack the fiery anger of moments ago but there’s not much softness there either. His normally warm gaze now feels too abrasive, too cold and sharp on your bare skin. You're exposed, much too soft for that grating look, and it feels like he can see everything that’s wrong with you. 

“Believe me when I tell you this. I am doing us both a favor by not speaking to you right now.” 

And then he’s leaving the kitchen—nothing but a breeze against your cheek and the sound of a door slamming to prove he was ever there. 

The apartment is silent. You stand in the middle of the kitchen, unsure of what to do next. Spencer very, very rarely gets angry at you to the point of neglect, and you know he’s doing his best with what was modelled for him as a child and his tendency to feel things so deeply it’s nearly disabling; but that doesn’t make it hurt much less. It doesn’t make you feel less abandoned or alone.  

You’re sad, and you’re still pissed, and maybe you’re in just a bit of shock as you robotically move back to your nest of blankets on the couch and resume your schoolwork. What else is there to do? Unless Spencer is right—unless you really are about to get expelled after getting the answer key for an upcoming test from a friend, who then gave it to another friend, and so on. But is that really your fault?  

It’s a struggle to stay focused as your mind keeps drifting back to Spencer in the other room, those cruel words and that cold steely look in his eye that isn’t supposed to ever be aimed at you. It’s not a secret that side of him exists, but it doesn’t belong in this apartment. It’s not something he needs to use against you. He’s supposed to be on your side. But instead, he’d said you should be expelled and essentially called you stupid. And now you’re doing homework for a class at a school you may not even be a student of come Monday. 

---------------------------------------------------

The sound of the office door opening forty-five minutes later spikes your blood pressure and simultaneously makes your heart flutter, because no matter how mad at him you might be, Spencer is still Spencer.  

He comes to stand behind the couch quietly, but you don’t acknowledge him. Maybe your typing gets a bit more aggressive, but aside from that you flat out reject his presence. 

“Can we talk?” 

You let him sweat for a minute as you finish your paragraph. 

“I don’t know, Spencer. Can we? Or are you not done with your temper tantrum?” 

“That is... well deserved,” he sighs, rounding the couch and tapping the bottom of your foot, signaling that he wants you to move your legs. You despise how automatically you comply, pulling your knees to your chest to avoid touching him as he sits next to you. There’s a long moment of silence, in which you resume typing. Spencer scoffs, leaning in slightly to peer at your screen. “Are you doing homework right now? I’m a complete asshole to you and you just... do your homework?"

“What the fuck else was I supposed to do?” you almost-yell, slamming your laptop shut and blinking away potential tears. “The only person I wanted to talk to called me stupid and fucking left!” 

The tears realize their potential once you admit the blunt truth. 

Spencer carefully moves your laptop and pulls you into his arms—and you just let him. There’s not much fight left in you. There wasn’t a lot to begin with. 

“I am so sorry, angel. You’re right, I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have yelled, I shouldn’t have said what I said, I shouldn’t have walked away. I overreacted.” 

“Yeah, you really did,” you cry, allowing him to run his hand over your hair. “Why did you do that? Why were you so fucking mean?” 

His voice shakes slightly as he responds, betraying his own anxieties, and a new, unwelcome sense of trepidation slithers through your veins. 

“I was wondering that, too. Even as I was saying it, I knew—I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to be saying. And then I was in the other room and I wanted to be out here, and I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t. But I think I was just scared. Which—I know, doesn’t really make sense, but... I think about when Ethan dropped out of the academy, and ended up doing heroin in New Orleans for three years, and I think about when I almost left the BAU because I was so convinced I’d never get clean that I didn’t even want to anymore, and—and the idea of you losing your education and your direction like that terrified me, probably unreasonably, and I took it out on you. And I’m sorry.” 

“But I’m not like you or Ethan. You don’t have to worry about that. Even if I... even I do get in some sort of disciplinary trouble. That’s a road you don’t have to worry about me going down, ever.” 

He fixes some unseen wrinkle on your shirt.  

“Yeah, but, remember... I used to not be like me or Ethan either. Do you think twelve-year-old Spencer would have ever even considered that of the infinite realities and universes which exist, he was living in one where someday he’d be shooting up in the bathroom at work?” 

“Mm-mm,” you hum, shaking your head and burying your face in Spencer’s shoulder. The sound is more of a plea for him to be less descriptive than an answer to his rhetorical question. It’s still much easier for him to talk about that part of his life than it is for you to have to actually imagine it. You didn’t know him then, but you’ve seen pictures, and you know Spencer now, and it’s... it’s just too much. Too sad. 

“Okay,” he agrees soothingly, still playing with your hair. “I digress. My point is that literally anything is possible, and while it’s not necessarily likely, I more than anyone know that anxiety even over the most improbable of things is never completely unfounded.”  

You sniffle in response, too emotionally and physically exhausted to contribute much to the conversation by this point. Thankfully, Spencer can talk for two. An idiosyncrasy which you love and comes in handy every once in a while. He can play his own devil’s advocate; in this case, you. 

“But that doesn’t mean I get to take it out on you. Ever. I truly, truly, sincerely apologize for that. I never want to hurt you.” 

You let the apology sink into your skin like a salve, soothing every abrasion those earlier words had left in their violent wake. 

After a few minutes, you find the energy to ask a question that might best remain unanswered. 

“Are you still mad at me?” 

He’s quiet for a beat, seemingly contemplative as his fingers trace abstract patterns in a language all his own on your arm. 

“I’m not thrilled. But you were right earlier. It’s not my place to be mad at you for something like that.” 

“Mm... it’s a little bit your place. You’re an actual professor.” 

He chuckles. 

“At an entirely different university.” 

“Thank god,” you laugh. “You and me at the same school would be such an HR clusterfuck.”

While it’s almost a serious matter, the smile in his voice is evident. 

“Yeah... I, uh... try not to think about it.” 

“Okay, but seriously. In your professional opinion. Am I fucked? Like, do I need to prepare an appeal and character witnesses or whatever?” 

Spencer sighs. 

“It was incredibly reckless and irresponsible. You should be ready for disciplinary pushback from the schoolboard if you get caught. That being said... because over sixty of you got a hold of the answer key, I doubt anyone is getting expelled, and even if they did, it would likely only be the TA and the student he gave the key to. It’s my tentative, professional opinion that you’ll probably be fine.” 

You relax slightly, allowing a tension you didn’t realize was there to shed like an old skin. 

“I’m not gonna cheat again,” you promise on an exhale. It’s simply too much risk for too little reward.

Spencer’s response is quiet, and comes much faster than you’d expected. 

“Oh, I know you aren’t. Because if you do, you’re going to have to worry about disciplinary action from me. And I’m not nearly as nice as the dean of your school, darling girl.” 

But something about the way he says it—a thinly veiled threat/promise contrasted by a sweet kiss to your forehead—doesn’t exactly make academic honesty look all that exciting.

[wackywatchdotcom]

what intrigues me abt caines dynamic w the rest of the cast is the way that none of them seem to understand why he is the way he is. like not in the comedic sense but how they dont seem to have a clear concept of his motivations or anything of that sort

we havent seen toooo much of it. but we have seen how pomni, zooble, jax, ragatha, and gangle view him and its so fascinating

pomni is like. she doesnt understand what hes doing but seems to view his actions as malicious in some way. i dont think she sees him as a 'mean' person but with how she says she thinks he wants her to suffer its very illuminating of how she sees him as someone who wants all of them to hurt. i dont think she knows why he would, but its the only conclusion shes got. it also speaks to her distrusting nature that upon being hurt by him her first thought is that its an intentional decision to harm her, and unfortunately for caine she hasnt actually been given much of a reason to think he feels otherwise. i dont know how she thinks caine feels about them but its clear to me how she views his goals and hobbies for lack of a better term

zooble doesnt trust him. they find him to be annoying but more significant is that they KNOW he likes them all. it adds an interesting tone to how they see him, that they specifically say that whats 'holding caine back' is that he 'likes [them]', which on one hand is them interpretting caines actions as being done from a place of liking the players, and that his actions are coming from a place of NOT hurting them, because he likes them (its interesting to note that they have participated in less adventures, so its unclear how much they know abt caines adventures firsthand). but on the other hand is implying that they think caines holding himself back at all. that there IS a desire or a capability to be cruel that theyre wary of. theyve also seen caine at his most vulnerable (in the show itself at least) and their comment, 'whose therapy session is this again?' implies theyre at least aware that this is caine having his own problems, though i dont think theyre comfortable safety-wise with how these problems affect them and the others. them asking caine 'why did you think i would like that?' speaks to the idea that they do think hes genuinely trying to appeal to the players, but they seem to find his lack of understanding of the players frustrating and unsafe for all of them

jax i think is pretty vague since most of his lines to caine are brief, and the most telling line he has abt caine is the only one we have. but he seems neutral on caine as a whole. caine is just a guy who makes things for them. he tries to entertain them and thats all jax really seems to be concerned with- whether his 'its not in his nature' line is reflective of him genuinely Believing that is smth i see debated often but i think no matter what, it conveys that jax Generally sees caine as someone who isnt malicious. hes not trying to hurt them, and whether or not he thinks caine is capable of hurting them is whats more vague. either way, jax doesnt seem to like or dislike caine

ragatha has very mimimal interactions with caine and not many lines about him, but i think her line in the pilot, 'thats just one of caines little adventures. theyre just something fun to do to, yknow, prevent us from going insane,' is extremely telling of how she sees caine. of all of them, she seems to have the most positive view of caine, since she interprets his actions as an active attempt to stave off abstraction in the players. whether or not she thinks caine is acting from a place of wanting to stop disruptions or if he wants to ensure the players arent doing as unwell as they could IS up for debate though. the way she talks about him in the pilot in general reads like she has some level of trust in him, but it seems like a surface level trust in him at the worst- she knows hes not malicious and knows he wants to help. she knows he can help her when shes jumbled. but its not clear if she Likes him. she seems to enjoy the adventures though (which, ill keep it brief so i dont derail this, but it honestly reads like a deliberate parallel writing-wise that the two of them both seem fond of distractions as an acceptable solution to a bad situation- if her assessment of Why he makes the adventures is anything to go by)

gangle is harder to read on this front, as she has way less lines about him, though she does have multiple notable interactions with him in ep 4, in the way of her seeming genuinely enthusiastic about his adventure (it doesnt seem completely directed at him, but she seems genuinely a bit happy about his praise of her leadership skills). when she calls him it doesnt convey TOO much i dont think but the way she talks to him and requests he make a punishment could imply she doesnt think hed normally make one, but also that hes not opposed to it, which is confusing in what it means about how she sees him but it feels important. her interaction with him at the end of the episode also doesnt convey much in this way (i feel like caine is not the main focus of most of that scene- which works for the scene and is good writing wise bc the scenes important for gangles writing of her own problems, but in terms of breaking down this idea it means im not sure this scene conveys much about how she sees him)

and then. i didnt mention kinger at the beginning specifically bc i dont think we have... almost any indicators of how he sees caine. he tells caine abt kaufmo in ep 1, suggests caine could find pomni in ep 2, doesnt address the thing pomni says abt caine in ep 3, and even his suggestion in ep 4 to sit out the adventure doesnt convey almost anything. the only throughline is that kinger sees caine as someone who can help them if they ask, but it doesnt convey any thoughts on what he thinks caines motivations are or his thoughts on caines actions. which frankly reads like a deliberate choice when kinger should be the one with the most history with caine

this post is long but i just am bery intrigued by this. i thinka ll the character dynamics are so deeply fascinating but with caine being the closest the show has to an antagonist (which of course is a loaded statement but i mean it in the writing sense and not in the 'antagonist is evil' way) it means that the way the characters see him holds a lot of weight. it conveys a lot abt them all with how they interpret the person that has (at least on the surface) the most control over the situation

[doberbutts]

It's astonishing to see people say "All fear of men is reasonable and okay, but you shouldn't be afraid of black people obviously" and you having to reply, "Hey, question? Aren't black men people?" Everyone clinging to their fear of men while never examining their actions which could harm men of color, in this case, black men who have historically been killed and lynched in great numbers by white women weaponizing this fear to end their lives. Read the Will to Change! bell hooks talks about this! She talks about how white people, especially white men, have distracted from their own patriarchal masculinity by portraying violent women-haters as aberrant and abnormal (So, clearly Black men are more likely to be dangerous because they're already aberrant and abnormal in our white supremacist society). PLEASE understand your fear isn't fucking value-neutral and can be inherently be trusted!!!

Also, on the topic of patriarchal masculinity, I think that term really encompasses what we're talking about when we say male privilege is highly conditional. It's also what makes this uncritical man-hating so devious. Like, bell hooks says, contemporary feminism has provided a place for some women to construct a sense of self outside of sexist expectations, but the same can't be said about men. So by distrusting trans men, telling them they should accept feeling unwelcome in queer spaces because "your identity as a man means you have to earn other's trust (even if you haven't done anything other than exist), you're conflating transmasculinity with patriarchal masculinity. Which is so fucking damaging? Not to mention how people love to destroy and hurt transmasc's emotional selves, the same rituals that bell hooks talks about which so severely damage cis men (who were the book's main topic), and we're doing this to a marginalized, queer group who face immense systemic oppression.

Just--I hate how we mutilate trans men's emotional selves, demonize them because we assume all men possess patriarchal masculinity. I hate how we can't talk about marginalized men because apparently, that means we believe in misandry, when in reality, we're trying to talk about how men of color are portrayed as the worst of masculinity to deflect from white men's violence.

Disclaimer: Sorry for this big ass ask. Just seeing you have to respond to people with a basic lack of understanding of intersectionality and who weren't subtle about their racism--gosh.

And the biggest issue is that I understand why the kneejerk reflex happens- there's a lot of men who have engaged in the most bad faith of bad faith discussions about men's issues and somehow have turned it all onto "so it's WOMEN'S fault things are like this" rather than "so how do we work together with everyone in society to break free", and so a lot of people have their guard up from the start and don't care to listen to the last bit because they think it's more of the same.

Unfortunately, all this will do is continue to make us spin our wheels. We are always stronger together.

[doodler-jpeg]

Thinking about self aware! MW characters (plus Roach) who absolutely adore your laugh.

CW// gender neutral, unfunny men deserve to be slandered, favoritism is seen, badly translated Scottish and Spanish, this is based off of my interpretation (you can find the main fic link on my account)

Feedback and criticism are highly encouraged! Please tell me if anything is badly translated, out of character, or something else!

Ghost actively makes jokes that are guaranteed to make you at least giggle. Even through this weird mental barrier (for him) and your monitor's screen, it's so invigorating to hear some form of joy out on the field, especially when it's from you. It just makes that fuzzy feeling in his heart multiply.

"Thank you, thank you - I'll be here all night."

Gaz takes absolute advantage of this. He makes a few jokes here and there, but keeps it to interesting stories. In some instances, he just starts laughing out of nowhere and you can't help but join in. It's very clear he gets bitches on the daily.

"Didn't know I was that funny, but I'll take what I can get."

Price uses all of his past experiences with courting to get, at the very least, a giggle or two out of you. He doesn't have millenium of experience (contrary to your belief), but he's certain that his "old-man" charisma and his weird way with words. But he still tells some older jokes, so your assumption that he's older isn't completely wrong (he was totally raised by his grandparents).

"Would you like to hear a story?" *Tells one of the pointless joke stories that lasts for 10 minutes and has the stupidest punchline*

Roach can't really come up with ways to make you laugh. His preference of keeping quiet and faceless doesn't really help, either. Instead, he tries to point out some enemy on the field, signing insults to them that you're sure to understand.

'His head looks like a donkey, and he acts like one, too.'

Soap physically cannot keep you from laughing. He doesn't even have to make a joke, you just start laughing. He believes it's because he's just an immediately funny dude, but you're not going to tell him that he looks stupid with that hairstyle. If he does tell any jokes, they're not even funny.

"Dinnae ken how come ye'r laughing, bit keep daein' it."

Alejandro tries, he really does, and it doesn't work most of the time. It's kind of funny seeing this overly-confident dude absolutely fumble because of his lack of realization that your personality and humor aren't really the same as the people he usually catches. On occasion, though, he does get a rise out of you and can't stop smirking about it for the rest of the day.

Valeria has subtle jokes that rely mainly on her tone, but those aren't her priority. She doesn't mean to be rude (lies usually, but with you?), but she does impressions of your laugh and then comments on it. Usually they're not bad, but it does feel demeaning sometimes.

"Me gusta esa risa. Jejejejeje."

"You know why Mexicans call Americans 'gringos'? ... Would you like to?"

Rodolfo doesn't always try to make you laugh - he still gets a bit disoriented that you're no physically there (which means he can't see your face, but what is he gonna do about it?). His humbleness and large range of jokes really comes through, especially since he'd been the family entertainer at parties. If you can understand simple jokes in Spanish? You're practically set to be unable to keep a straight face, and he loves it. (Even if he doesn't understand it, he'll turn it into a mini lesson so you do)

"¿Qué dijo el gato cuando chocó su carro? 'Miau-to.'"

Nikolai has a handful of Russian jokes at his disposal. Are you completely guaranteed to understand? No, and he doesn't expect you to. If you do understand Russian, boy howdy is he gonna have the time of his life! You won't be able to breathe properly until he's out of sight!

"You see, it's funny because-" *explains joke if you don't understand*

Laswell is a huge fan of subtle jokes. She often makes small, funny comments that get light-hearted chuckles out of her. However, she also has older humor, which means you're less likely to understand unless you, too, are old (which isn't likely, but it's still a possibility). She likes hearing you laugh and really does try to get some sort of connection with you, even if it doesn't work.

"What did the chicken say when it crossed the road? 'Damn it, I missed the bus.'"

Alex is a funny man. He's aware of his effect on people and uses it to his full advantage. As a people-pleaser, he makes it his duty to get you to laugh as much as possible. If he doesn't make you laugh, he'll make himself laugh, and then you laugh. He's totally not putting all his effort into jokes just to get you to laugh or anything. He's just that guy.

"Me? A tryhard? Whaaaat? Psh- as if."

Farah has no business with nonchalant jokes, but she makes them work. While she does like the sound of your voice, she doesn't want to force it. She believes that intentionally funny words can diminish any genuine laughter, so she sticks to half-assing it in hopes you at least giggle. That's not to say she doesn't try to get you to laugh - she just does it far less, since she can't see your face (but she can just imagine the glee on your face if you get the giggles because of her).

"What is your type of humor? Asking for a friend."

Graves is unintentionally funny. When he tries, he fails miserably. He says a southern phrase that might not be super known? You're cracking up. He doesn't get it, but at least you're going 'teehee'.

"What's so funny 'bout me sayin' cattywampus? It fits the situation!"

[sailorscout93]

Okay attempt number 2 at posting why I personally think Galinda Upland is a high masking AuDHD person after I saw a post pegging Elphaba as Autisitic and Galinda as ADHD:

See under the cut

1. She’s very clearly high energy/hyperactive, always busy, never stops talking, the way she talks it seems like that’s how her brain works, just running and running constantly.

2. She speaks what’s on her mind without thinking about how what she says may affect those around her. “You’re green!” It very much gives me “If you’re from Africa why are you white?” From Mean Girls vibes. (And yes, I do think Karen Smith is autistic too lol)

3. She has 2 special interests: being Popular and sorcery. I mean, aside from just being a huge gay flamingo mating dance, Popular also feels like a giant infodumping session of Galinda onto Elphie. She’s sharing all the knowledge she has on one of her favorite topics. The works she puts in to following her hearts desire to be a sorceress, saying how it’s her hearts desire. She would do anything to be able to do magic and I personally think she has the knowledge behind it, even if she doesn’t have the magic ability in her in the way Madame Morrible is looking for. She recognizes that Elphaba was the one who did the magic in the courtyard at Shiz and she begs Elphaba to share how she did it, even though she claims to loathe her. She thinks Elphaba knows something about her special interest that she doesn’t so she MUST find out!

4. I know the suitcases and trunks all her stuff is in is partially because of the lack of closet space in the dorm room but while it seems like everything has its place, drawers are labeled, etc… it’s still very cluttered. She just has SO. MUCH. STUFF. A little bit of hoarding. She cannot bear to get rid of anything because what if she needs it one day?! (I.E. the hat her grandmother made her!)

5. Speaking of the hat. I don’t think she actually hates it. It may not be her style, but her grandma made it for her! When Pfannee pulled the hat out and he and ShenShen started hating on it and Galinda turned around, it took her a moment to read her friend’s tones. You can see for a second her expression looks neutral but contemplative when she’s looking at Pfannee before it changes and she starts to hate on the hat. She had to take a second to read and process her friend’s tone before she responded so she could have the correct reaction her friends were expecting from her.

6. The ‘toss toss’ and ‘leg’ things are both stims. You cannot change my mind.

7. Why is she so high masking? Because her momsie and popsicle conditioned her to hide any trait of hers that could seen as “undesirable” or “unladylike”. She’s Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands after all! She has a reputation to live up to!

8. After the Ozdust Ballroom night when she and Elphie become friends, she quickly becomes attached to her. Elphie becomes her “safe person” and she develops an attachment to her that I see frequently in neurodiverse people. She always wants to be around her and she is always holding her hand and touching her because she’s so comfortable with Elphaba. She finally has someone she can unmask around.

9. Speaking of Elphie…. Galinda shows some HEAVY Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria in the deleted scene “Elphaba’s Promise”. She is sad and hurt, not that Elphie and Fiyero were doing something without her, but that Elphie “chose” Fiyero to help her rescue the cub, not Galinda. “If you needed someone, you could’ve picked me!” Breaks my heart every time!

10. She seems to have a little bit of rigid thinking when it comes to Dr. Dillamond not being able to pronounce her name. She seems to think if she just keeps repeating the correct way to say it, he’ll eventually get it and not understanding that he’s physically not capable of pronouncing her name correctly because of his lack of upper front teeth, even when it’s explained to her.

11. This last one is very much a stretch (pun not originally intended this time lol) but I’m putting it in too, hypermobility issues are a very high comorbidity with autism and when she’s dancing around during Popular she does a high kick. Could it just be athleticism? Maybe. Could it be a hypermobility thing? Also maybe.

[xryptik]

AND MAYBE TO LOVE IS TO LOSE

─ grieving with ekko. ⠀⠀⠀⠀˖ ⭒ gender neutral, platonic or romantic, he doesn't have anyone else so what if i want to be there for him

grief with ekko is silent; a silent type of avoiding and acceptance that you think was something he'd learned. after being a leader, building a place where those who wanted to escape the rule of silco could hide away, could live without the threat of shimmer looming over their heads. ─ after being alone, without those he once looked up to and cared for by their side.

ekko grieved alone; he'd stand there as they paint a picture of those they'd lost; he'd stand strong for everyone who stood with him, who looked up to them. but then he'd grieve when no one else was there, because he didn't know anything else.

you remember when it wasn't like that; when neither of you knew how to grieve, when you both lost the only people, you had called friends, family. when you both sobbed until your chests ached and your faces were red, because you didn't have somewhere, someone, to call home.

you tried to be there for him once, and he tried to be there for you ─ but neither of you knew how to do that, how to comfort each other when all either of you knew was loss, anger, and uncertainty.

"i thought i'd find you here," you sighed as you approached him, sitting alone on the roof of the last drop. they didn't say anything back to you, but you didn't expect a response.

you take a seat next to him, legs hanging over the edge and your arms behind you, keeping you supported as you lean back. you don't say anything else for a moment, instead staring over the city in front of you; a view you were used to.

you remember when you'd climb up here and wait for the others to return, wait to see if you'd see vi coming back from wherever she and the others had gone off to. sometimes you'd come up here with ekko and powder ─ jinx, to giggle and talk about whatever the three of you wanted to talk about. sometimes about customers that came into the shop and how ekko managed to swindle them, sometimes about powder's new ideas or inventions, and sometimes you'd tell them the new stories you came up with.

they were the only ones who knew of your love for storytelling ─ who knew how bright your imagination could be. and they loved to hear them, to learn about the new worlds you'd build in your head, the characters who lived in your thoughts.

and then that all stopped, and you mourned what little peace someone like you, someone from the undercity, who only knew what it was like to survive not live, had. mourned relationships you were too young to truly cherish ─ because you didn't think it could end as soon as it had, even in the world you lived in. because you, foolishly perhaps, believed you had more time to love, even when you hardly understood how to do that at all.

"how long have you been up here?" you ask, even though you think you know the answer to that.

"a few hours," he answers, and he sounds tired. you know he hasn't been sleeping well, because you were no better. ─ but you can tell it's more than that; the weight of loss on his shoulders carries into his words, shows on his face in lidded eyes and the lack of energy to so much as frown.

you understand, of course you do, but you know it's not quite the same for either of you.

you hum, and lean forward, pulling one of your legs to your chest and resting your chin on your knee. you don't let the silence linger for long; licking your lips before you break it, because there's a feeling in your throat that almost makes you choke ─ "i miss her too."

you say it not because you feel like he thinks it was only him who mourned her ─ but because you want him to know you were here; to share the weight he holds, to sit in the quiet of his love for her that drowned him in a heartbreak he didn't know how to handle. the both of you still didn't know much about grief, about handling the pain that bristled in your chests like thorns threatening to tear through your lungs and climb up your throats.

but you think the two of you could learn how to grieve together. ─ because you didn't want him to be alone; because you didn't think he should be alone. (and maybe because you didn't want to be alone yourself.)

you think he understands when he sighs; heavy, tired.

you don't say anything else; you just let the silence fill the space between you.

i was going to do some of the other characters too. but then decided nah. maybe another time idk.

[conflictofthemind]

I love the post that took the rounds again a week or two back discussing how much more "being gay" and internalized homophobia is a theme for Will than it is for Mike. It's things like this that make me such a neutral party on the "gay vs bi" debate.

I'll try to word it in a way that makes sense. My real opinion is that Mike's arc with sexuality is a lot more symbolic than it is material. That post does go into a lot of it. For Will, his sexuality is directly brought up by both friends and strangers, and he must ask questions like "will my family disown me for liking another boy" and other things that are basically only about being gay.

For Mike, his arc is wrapped in metaphor - understandably, since he is less visible and his feelings are meant to be a plot twist. But I think even as it's revealed, it will be written differently than Will.

Its like, "how do we explain sexuality in a way that is understandable to every viewer" (Mike) versus "how do we represent a specific experience to the queer community" (Will).

Saying this as a Will fan who also wishes people would understand Will better, I wish people (especially Mike fans who should know better) would understand the scope of Mike's character and how it informs what he does!!

He basically spent the entire last season whisper-screaming for help, but this has still flown everyone heads who still believes his biggest struggles are liking men and not liking El primarily because she is a girl, no deeper reasons here.

Mike's acceptance and/or realization of his sexuality is so wrapped up in other things that are crucial to his character. To the point you can't address one without having the whole house of his personal issues fall apart. It's an arc about personal acceptance - not specifically for liking boys, but for daring to step out of the suburban nuclear family dream, for not rushing to abandon his desires that seem 'childish' to others, knowing that his worth goes past what he can provide. Not feeling inadequate.

His relationship with El not just failing because he is (possibly / probably) unable to reciprocate her attraction but because they are deep down incompatible individuals, beyond sexuality. They don't have much in common. El's power brings out Mike's lack of. Mike is only able to connect with her in situations of danger, when his previously stated mental health crises are triggered, not everyday life.

Disclaimer of course that this is not a hard black and white line, and Will's struggles with his sexuality are also tied into his character flaws. But not in the same magnitude. I also think Mike will face the material reality of his feelings and being gay in the time period, but again, not to the same magnitude as Will's arc emphasizes.

[rottenangel2]

hellow, i realized that i made so much of Omen, so, here is my favs the fokin agents. HC!!!! (neutral, bc, lets be realist, most of them are toxic). Is gonna be about the dificulties of dating the agents.

also there is gonna be (i guess) a lot of mistakes, so please forgive and make blind eye and just enjoy :p

cc: Reyna, Omen, Sage n sova

WHAT KIND OF PARTNER THEY ARE?? HUH?

REYNA

She is actually really nice, kind of would destroy most of the things for the ones she really loves. Not use to get emotional conections, and if she does are really important, so, a betrayall would kill any chance of comeback (Like cheating, disrespect of boundaries, lies and stuff). Her emotional and close relationship are realy important to her, so, if something bad happened to you it would worry and scare the shit out of her, and for that she use to be really protective, and in cases, even toxic -"Why are you going out at this hour?" "you didn´t tell me!"- so if you are a "spirit" free dude, belive me, this is not gonna be the most compatible realtionship.

Whit time and trust, she gonna be more chill about it, like when your parents accept that you are not a child and start to let you date, and even drink, so she won´t be weird and that worry about your well-being, she only want one thing: a text from time on time saying that you are okay, that´s all. Reyna already have lost so many people, she can´t risk loosing you too.

OMEN

He is usually really down on himself, most insecure and distant. there is almost no diference between being his friend at being his lover, so please, patiente! Most of the figths are for not comunicate what he feels and that gonna be the biggest issue on the relationship, he doesn´t know how really say how he feel, so he just gonna feel lost on his own issues and want to do all for himself, going distant and even trating you poorly when he feels down (thing that ofc is wrong)

the only solution is time, he want time for process all of his trauma and lack of memories, and you would need time to process of how traumatized he is. If you really want to keep him by your side it gonna required a lot of comunication and silence, sometimes the silence is better than the deaf words, he want that, not empty words. He gonna be kniting and thinking, leeting the stress out, and you? by his side doing something by your own. Understand the others need gonna be the damn key, and he really NEED to feel like you understand.

SAGE

She doesn´t have time for a relationship, the kind of girl that feels like a busy billionaire because is IMPOSIBLE that every day of her damn week is already fully whit a activity of vital importance, belive me, having these kinds of relation ship is tiring. At the start gonna feel like -"Okay, she is bussy, no problem" but then??? it gonna feel like she is not putting enough effort, even if she is trying, she don´t gonna be able to give you the time a realtionship need, almost like being single 3 weeks per.month

There is no solution, job is job, and whit the monasterio and protocol, damn.

SOVA

Bussy, bussy bussy (haha pussy), he usually want to be free of the work, but is his only financial income and he doens´t want to think on his personal stuff, so he usually hide himselft on it. The main problem is not when he is out, he is attentive, text you, send you pics when he can, and try to be in your arms all the time he can, but when he is you he have almost 10% batery on, only craving sleep, cuddling and being spoiled, sound cute, but when is always like that is usaully tiring and feel like you are his nany more than a partner, and this can lead to figths, figths that he would feel like invalid or overreacting, and that word gonna piss you off.

This could lead to a break up or a main inconvenience that yes or YES gotta be talked deeply, but guess, OH! he is to tired for argue.

[purple-dreams9]

If Thea was Theo, a controversial opinion

I want to preface this post by stating that this is not meant to change anyone's mind or opinion. I am not here to tell you to like a character or to ship a certain ship. You are free to hate Thea, write her off your fics, ignore her existence, and ship Kevin with the milkman if you so desire. This is also not an essay. Instead, think of it as the thought dump of someone munching over it for days.

This all started with a conversation about Thea with a couple people on a Discord server. I've been mostly neutral about Thea, not understanding the overall hate but not knowing much about her either. It led me to read Nora's most recent post about Thea, the replies and the "Why do you not like Thea?" poll, and I've seen plenty of Tweets about her, too.

In general, I noticed one main element when people explain their stance: it is not because Thea is a woman and people want to ship Kevin with male characters. The real reason(s), branched in different directions: the age gap, the lack of building of her character, how little she shows up/how little we know about her/the feeling of her being shoo-ed in out of nowhere as Kevin's love interest, and her attitude (inc. her lack for communication with Kevin after he left the Nest, her comment to Jean in TSC, etc.)

I have been in many fandoms for over a decade, some with more prominent mlm ships, and to be honest, none of those reasons seemed to truly justify the dislike of Thea to the degree she is disliked in the fandom as a whole, especially as the romantic interest of a main character. It seemed to me that most of it is rooted in the desire for Kevin NOT to be straight, but to be gay and be with a guy (or bi, but I see more people using "gay" for Kevin. And some prefer Aro/Ace Kevin, but these fans are a bit more quiet and subdued with their headcanon.) See, even taking Thea out of the equation, there are no popular mlw ships for Kevin with characters from canon, and even in fanon ships the counterparts are mostly (if not all) men.

That got me thinking: "What if Thea was Theo? How would that change how fans interact with this character, even if her personality was the same? What about the relationship with Kevin? Would fans approach the ship differently if he had had Theo as a boyfriend instead of Thea as a girlfriend?"

Of course, it is all hypothetical. For one, a big part of her character is that she is a woman of color (note that I am not black, so I am in no position to talk about how her race plays out with her character) in a predominately male and white team (violent cult) that had to fight her way to the top. It wouldn't quite have the same weight or the same background if she was a male. For two, I am aware it would bring another discourse to the table, that of the "predatory gay men stereotype" (even though there was nothing predatory or "grooming" in their relationship, but that conversation is not for this post.) I am sure plenty of fans would still hate the Kevin/Theo ship, and Theo himself.

Still, I allowed myself to picture it. I read, once, that women used to ship male characters together because female characters were underdeveloped and were not interesting. I wondered if this applies to fandom as well, how certain fandoms prefer to develop and grow male characters.

Things like "lack of canon information about Theo" would not be an issue. Fans are very good at filling in the blanks and building a character from the few spare parts given by the source. This also applies to "there is almost no interaction with Kevin" because let's be honest here, guys, ships are sometimes made from nothing. Rarepairs exist, and even ships like pre-TSC Jerejean can explode in popularity.

With how big of a part Kevin plays in the books and how big his shipping fandom is, if Theo was a thing, I truly believe we would have seen him bloom in fanon spaces. He would have given space and opportunity to grow, change and develop both as a character and in his relationship with Kevin.

The "forbidden relationship" trope and the possibility for angst would have fans foaming, fics working around Theo's past and how he had to fight his way to the top would be written, AUs where he leaves the beliefs of the cult behind and reunites with Kevin would also exist. We would see stories about how his and Kevin's love story played out before and after Kevin left the Nest (at least one primarily focused on the notes they used to pass each other in secret). His mean comments and bitchiness would be ignored, played down, understood, forgiven, or found charming (like Andrew's throughout the series, or even Abby's in TSC.) In a few words, he would be more present and less disliked.

AFTG is a predominately queer fandom, and there is nothing wrong with wanting representation, but I also think it's necessary to use the same scale for female and male characters that are romantically or sexually involved with more popular ones. It's fine not to like Thea, but also to sit and think: would I asses a male character in the same way? How would my view of them change regarding their gender? Just food for thought, I guess.

Again, this is not a call to action of any sort. It is just me, rambling and putting my thoughts down. I can't see different realities so this is basically all fiction. I wanted to take it out of my brain, hear what others think and that's it. Ship what makes you happy. Create what inspires you. Curate your experience. All that being said, Id love to hear your thoughts, but I wont debate anyone's opinion because that's truly, not what Im seeking.

This got longer than I intended so I'll end this here. If you made it, thanks! I hope you have a nice day.

[merwgue]

(This is neither a pro nor anti post, this is merely to criticise SJM's writing. However, it will be tagged as "anti" because if I tag it neutral, I'll get jumped❤️)

Ah yes, the infamous communication void in Sarah J. Maas's books—a void so deep it could probably swallow the entire Night Court and still be hungry. SJM doesn’t just dabble in miscommunication; she throws her characters into emotional landmines and says, "You figure it out... or don’t." And that’s where the fated mates trope comes in, right? It’s supposed to patch up that mess with some mystical connection, as if being mates magically grants couples ESP-level knowledge of each other’s deepest feelings. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.

Let’s dive into why SJM’s version of communication—or lack thereof—just doesn’t hold water.

The Fated Mate Shortcut

In theory, fated mates should have some magical telepathic bond that transcends words. It's the ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card for character development: why build healthy communication skills when the mating bond can conveniently swoop in to fill the gaps? In Maas’s world, this idea is wielded like an all-powerful tool: mates just know what the other is feeling, and therefore don't need to use this wild, ancient concept called words. The idea that fated mates can "sense" each other's emotions essentially sidelines the necessity of open dialogue. But here’s the problem: emotional intuition ≠ effective communication.

Psychologically speaking, emotional intelligence involves recognizing and managing your own emotions and the emotions of others. That’s not mind-reading! You can be deeply connected to someone, even soul-tied, and still have no idea what’s going on in their head. People are complex, and relationships require actual verbal communication to navigate emotional landscapes.

Take Feyre and Tamlin. They clearly loved each other but weren’t mates, which might be why their lack of communication felt so tangible and raw. The failure to express needs, fears, and insecurities is what led to their downfall, and honestly? That’s valid. Miscommunication or inability to communicate is one of the most common—and understandable—reasons relationships end. But do we get that sense of growth and change when Feyre hooks up with Rhysand? Not really. It’s like the narrative shifts gears from "Tamlin doesn’t understand Feyre" to "Rhysand just knows because they’re mates," completely skipping the part where Feyre needs to actually talk about what she went through.

The "Communication-Free" Mating Bond

Now we get to the Rhysand-Feyre dynamic. Once they're revealed as mates, it’s as though any need for in-depth conversations about feelings becomes redundant. The bond is treated as an unbreakable connection that automatically compensates for any emotional roadblocks. Rhysand messes up? It's okay, they’re mates. Feyre’s spiraling emotionally? Don’t worry, the bond will smooth that over. In psychological terms, this reliance on a supernatural bond as a "fix" is classic avoidant behavior. Instead of confronting the discomfort of working through problems, the narrative leans into this magical quick-fix. They’re bonded for life—problem solved, right?

Except it’s not.

Relationships—good ones, healthy ones—are built on effective communication, trust, and vulnerability. The mere presence of a fated mate bond doesn’t remove the need for these things. Mates don’t automatically understand each other’s trauma just because of some mystical bond. Imagine being so emotionally stunted that instead of apologizing or owning up to your mistakes, you’re just like, "But we’re mates, so it’s fine." Spoiler alert: it’s not fine.

Nessian: Miscommunication Meets the Mating Bond

And then we have Nesta and Cassian, whose relationship could be the ultimate case study in how not to communicate. Nesta, dealing with PTSD and trauma, is paired with Cassian, who—for all his supposed swagger—cannot for the life of him communicate effectively. They constantly clash, avoid real conversations about their pain, and sweep everything under the rug with physical intimacy. They kiss and make up, but no one is really talking. And that’s not love; that’s avoidance. It's like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.

The bond between them is used as a crutch. When they fight, we’re supposed to believe that their mate bond will fix things eventually, but that's simply not how relationships work. Kissing your partner instead of discussing real problems is fine for a silly argument, but when it comes to serious issues—trauma, boundaries, power imbalances—it’s irresponsible. And the fact that Maas frames this as healthy because they’re mates is the narrative equivalent of gaslighting the reader into accepting toxic dynamics.

In psychological terms, this is where we see the conflict-avoidant and emotionally avoidant behaviors on full display. Cassian and Nesta both lack the emotional tools to effectively navigate their struggles, yet instead of being called out, their dysfunction is wrapped up in a bow of "fated mates" as if that’s supposed to be a solution. It’s not. The reality is that their bond does nothing to facilitate real healing; it’s just there as a placeholder for emotional growth that never comes.

The Unhealthy Dynamic

In psychology, we talk about secure attachment as the cornerstone of healthy relationships. You can have a deep connection, but you also need to work on things like trust, openness, and communication. What happens in Maas’s world is the opposite: the characters are codependent on this fated bond, rather than working toward a healthy attachment style. And SJM lets them off the hook. This narrative implies that emotional labor and apologizing for mistakes don’t really matter because "the bond will fix it." Not only does this undermine real, meaningful growth, but it also glosses over the entire point of relationships: to grow and learn together through the hard stuff.

When it comes to Cassian and Nesta, they literally can’t communicate. Cassian has all his own insecurities (hello, always calling himself a brute, never feeling worthy of Rhysand’s inner circle), and Nesta is navigating serious mental health struggles. They’re both drowning, but instead of Maas writing about how they could heal together, she plasters it with the band-aid of "mating bond."

At the end of the day, the whole "fated mates" trope in ACOTAR is a narrative cop-out that excuses bad communication and toxic dynamics. It’s okay to have flawed characters, but the problem is Maas doesn't treat them as flawed. She treats their lack of communication as something normal or even romantic. When in reality, if you can’t talk through your issues with your partner, no magical bond is going to save you.

So yeah, SJM’s version of "fated mates" feels like a lazy way to dodge the hard work of showing real character growth. And if these characters weren’t mates, they’d probably have broken up long ago—because healthy relationships are built on communication, not just magical convenience.

[velmashaircut]

I played Caleb's route and myth a while ago and here are my thoughts/ theories/ predictions about him and the story (long af):

I reread my prediction post I made a month ago about Caleb, and I feel bad for painting him as some sort of villain. This man has been through the ringer, I thought the other LI's had it bad, Caleb somehow has it worse, he's been through so much and this is just in one lifetime. I both anticipate and dread his second myth, although the story will be good, it'll also be sad af

His main story branch update was the best of the main story in my opinion. I found it really engaging, not that the other chapters suck or anything. The same goes for his myth story; it felt like a continuation from the main story and the plot of the myth was enjoyable. If you want to understand Caleb and what's going on with him, read his myth! I would say his myth story is one of the best in the game.

MC's emotions and inner conflict were executed perfectly in this story branch. The emotion in MC’s voice when she’s face to face with Caleb was so touching, and the way she hugged him as soon as she could...it was sweet, her VA did a great job depicting her emotions! I really liked seeing MC so overjoyed to see an LI; in her initial meetings with LI’s she's either annoyed or neutral, so seeing her over the moon to be reunited with Caleb was refreshing and just solidified how deep their bond runs. Caleb naturally has an advantage compared to the other LI's in that sense, in this timeline, even if MC doesn't love Caleb, she'll always be warmer to him and he'll be her first choice.

Playing the main story and witnessing MC’s joy to be reunited with Caleb slowly turn into suspicion and eventually morph into frustration and anger was so good to read. The player and MC both bare witness to Caleb's transformation in character and it's heart wrenching to discover, both the MC and player don't fully understand what's going on to cause this switch in behaviour.

The ending for the main story was very solemn; MC failed her mission, Kevi was taken away and Mia died. Her short reunion with Caleb turns bittersweet. I thought that would be the end, but then it was revealed Caleb's been tangled in EVER's schemes and Caleb is making himself look like the perfect weapon to spare MC from this fate - he’s trading his life so she can keep hers. And his myth ending makes this all the more heart wrenching - the chip has taken away most of his memories, and he's doing whatever he can to preserve the memories he has of MC not only to keep his sense of self, but to still resist EVER's control of him.

Despite the lack of transparency and control Caleb exercised over MC’s life, I didn’t think he went too out of line. Caleb seems to believe he needs to amass power to protect MC and himself, Tainted Cuts seems to prove this ideology. Skyhaven is dangerous and Caleb knows it; despite being influential, he can't control over Skyhaven the way Sylus does with the N109 zone, he has to keep MC under lock and key to ensure she's out of harms way. He knows there are people after her, he works for them! He's not safe either. And in the end, Caleb was proven right to keep her under surveillances; MC nearly died twice in Skyhaven. When MC and Caleb get into an argument towards the end of the story, and she says she doesn't need his protection, instead of possession I think he felt more frenzied despair. He knows what lurks ahead, and he knows he can't hide her away forever and protect her from the danger.

...

In my theory post about Caleb, I suggested Caleb orchestrated the explosion, clearly that was not the case. I still think he wasn't clueless about what was going on behind the scenes though, his behaviour was still weird before the explosion. Unlike MC he remembers the past experimentation - I wouldn't be surprised if he was keeping tabs on EVER in case they made a reappearance in their lives. I used to think he didn't like the granny because of this, but I've changed my mind. He arranged for her to be moved to a nursing home that was remote and of good quality, he was remorseful when he told MC he couldn't save her in the explosion. Maybe he grew to forgive her for her past experimentation, or was just glad she gave them a roof over their heads.

I also believe Caleb failed to save Grandma in the explosion because he instead chose to protect MC. That could explain why his necklace was left behind. I also think the explosion was meant to target all three of them, kill the granny and take MC and Caleb back to EVER headquarters, but Caleb somehow managed to prevent them from taking MC. Or they were after MC only and Caleb convinced the raincoats to take him instead. It tracks with Caleb's intentions to have EVER focus on him rather than MC.

My theory post was mainly wrong, but I was right about one thing; Caleb wants to return to a place where it felt as if it was only himself and MC in the world; the secret/ abandoned garden he visits (in his mind?) at the end of his myth. In my post, I speculated this may be a reference to the Garden of Eden due to commissioned fanart of the game representing MC and Caleb with the forbidden fruit. Now I'm not so sure; What does the apple represent for MC and Caleb, their blurring relationship? And what about the serpent? I think it's no coincidence we meet Viper in this branch, who is some sort of snake cyborg...

I've seen speculate that this timeline is the first lifetime Caleb and MC have shared with one another, and as much as I like the theory, I disagree with it. The main reason being this:

I think this is how Caleb dies in the end of his next myth... question is what the hell happened for this to occur.

As well as that, Caleb and MC have the whole Adam and Eve thing going on, 100 years, space/nebula's surrounding their characters... the scene in the main story in which they watch the shooting star...that must link to a different timeline somehow. I personally believe in another lifetime, Caleb was banished from somewhere, maybe the heavens, or was sentenced to death, and MC decided to go down with him. I think this is a nice parallel to their current relationship, MC wants to be in the loop, wants to stand alongside Caleb, but he won't allow her to do so for her own sake, and instead shoulders everything on his own. Maybe he doesn't want to be the reason for her demise again. Whatever it is, like Zayne, I don't think Caleb has any recollection of their shared past.

Also, I believe Caleb surviving multiple instances of near death is no coincidence. He claims its because of MC, he needs to persevere to return to her... a part of me thinks he's being literal. Maybe he's been afflicted with some sort of curse, and he cannot die until MC does, or they are each others life source or something crazy like that.

Last but not least I want to say this: I hate EVER for what they did to Caleb. They have been fucking up his life since day one. Putting that chip in him and making him lose a part of himself was toooo much. I just mourn for Caleb now; he just wanted to fly and protect his loved ones, he was so beloved by those around him, and now he's been turned into a war machine. Free Caleb! If the 6th LI is the EVER ceo I'm throwing hands.

[elvexen27]

Cove Holden Homework Headcannons

Step 1: After Summer

- Would actually rather be doing anything else

- He understands why teachers give out homework and why he has to do it, he’s just not at a point where it’s anything he really puts priority on

- If anything little Cove probably avoids homework when possible

- If MC is worried about him not doing well and offers to help, he may or may not take it, depending on their closeness

You knew Cove wasn’t really the homework type. Since he got to Sunset Bird all he’s really wanted to do is just, well, spend time with you.

At least, that’s what it looks like. To you anyway.

The two of you are sitting in your living room after school, working. Liz is complaining, as usual.

“What did you get for number 3?” Cove asks, snapping you out of your temporary daze.

“Um… I got 7” You say, looking over your paper just to make sure you said the right thing, and not another question by mistake.

“Mm” He hums softly. He continues on with his work, so you assume he got the same thing.

You’ve gotten used to his short, simple responses. While they may seem cold to other people, you understand that it’s just how Cove is.

He isn’t cold, just simple. Straightforward.

Step 2: Another Year

Studious:

- Good at studying, best person to help when exams are coming up

- Homework is less of a chore then it was when he was younger

- It’s more of a time for him to just focus on something and be alone

- He takes his study’s seriously, and it pays off. All those perfect homework assignments could probably let him miss 3 weeks of school and still come out with good grades

- NERD (I had to)

- Even if school isn’t hard for you, being able to bounce answers off each other is great

- And if it is, Cove is always there to help you out.

- You pass every class you’re in together with flying colors, that’s for certain.

You and Cove luckily had most of your classes together this year, and even more lucky you have one of the brightest students in class to help you with your homework.

You were both sitting at your dining room table, completing your homework for the day.

There’s papers scattered all around you. The actual assignment, the reference packet on the material, scrap paper for notes/math problems, and a few encouraging sticky notes you’ve passed to one another.

It’s chaos, it’s messy. But you’re getting it done. Together.

Sporty:

- Maintains the lack of care for homework that his younger self had

- He’s much more likely to do it now though

- He understands the implications and consequences of not getting his work done, so he gets through it as quickly as he can (while still trying to do it correctly) so he can do other things

- His attitude is neutral all around

- His grades are still good, just not as good as his studious counterpart

You’re pretty sure your history teacher is evil incarnate.

She assigns like 4 chapters and an essay every night.

Luckily for you, Cove is in her class too. So the two of you do the work together, to make it easier.

You rarely ever get much done in these study sessions. It’s mostly complaining about all the work and playful conversation between the two of you.

You both know you’ll have to get it done at some point. Yet you’d both rather spend your time together.

Step 3: Before Graduation

- Conflicted on your schooling years being over, he feels a lot of pressure to decide what he’s going to do

- Class work is easy for him still, but with how chaotic everyone’s lives have gotten it’s taken a backseat on his priorities again

- His only goal right now is to spend as much time with you as possible, just in case you get separated after graduation

You can’t wait to be done with high school. You’ve made good friends and you’ll be sad to not see them as much, but it’s a fact of life.

You and Cove still study together, even when your work is minimal.

You’re going to miss this. Soon your focus will be on jobs and rent. It’s a lot to worry about.

So you’ll savor this time while you can because soon enough it’ll be gone.

Senior year felt miles away when you first met Cove, and yet here you are. About to graduate.

Time flies.

A/N: I just want to note that I will not have a posting schedule. I’ve been cooking this up in my drafts for like 2 weeks now. Please send me asks with ideas on what you want to see!!! I’d be more than happy to take suggestions