#I don't think I'd ever write such a dynamic for them anyway

[tagidearte-spam-sb]

My space scrapper dca fic, which originally was reader x sun x moon... is slowly starting to turn into platonic reader & sun/moon, where the romantic part is trying to get these stupid robots to admit their feelings for each other.

I am really just slowly turning this story into "please someone intervene so that these space jesters stop behaving like a divorced couple". And I am loving it.

I mean. I still want us to have a romance with them... but this dynamic is sounding really fun now. A full platonic fic with a ship bonus of sun and moon being the romantic endgame, but reader still being their super important bestie? We'll see.

[unproduciblesmackdown]

truly fitting re: billions to have the lose-lose that if winston is written out i get to be disappointed for obvious reasons and if winston isn't written out i get to be disappointed for being denied ever knowing peace

[cherrymoon4]

hello ^^ ( thank you sososo much for the love on the other posts! send me requests if you want :P )

hiya!! <3333

honestly don't want to pressure you by requesting xxx

buttttt i love, love, love the way you write suguru xxx

so i'd be happy with anything with him <33333

whether it be a continuation of a similar dynamic with the curses aftertaste fic or something else entirely...

Roommate!Suguru would be so possessive and yummy.

Initially, when you first moved in the apartment, he didn't really care much about you. He knew you had a pretty face and were kinda shy, but that's all.

But as time went on and you opened yourself up to him, he began to get quite obsessed with you. He would be all over you as soon as he stepped foot in your apartment; and you would let him, after all he was just being friendly! right?

It didn't matter that anytime he would hug you from behind you would feel something hard pressing against the small of your back. It was probably just his phone in his pocket!

And you're sure that it's your mind doing tricks on you whenever you hear the bathroom door open while you take a shower. He would never ever spy on you, you were sure.

So when you come home from a terrible date, the first thing you do is rush over to him, your pretty eyes filled with tears, and throw yourself in his arms.

He was quite pissed off from the moment you told him you were going on a date. I mean, you have a perfectly good man at home! Why would you even consider seeing someone else?

Suguru always took good care of you. He always pampered and spoiled you, and every time you would think that he was just being generous.

I mean, he had a big reputation as a respectful and kind guy, especially among girls; his giving personality was what attracted them, his deep, soothing voice and his looks were a plus.

So obviously you thought he was just being his kind self when he took your teary eyed face in his hands and wrapped you up in his arms, engulfing your entire body as if protecting you.

But you couldn't deny the warmth in your belly as he whispered in your ear and rubbed your back, listening intently while you vented about how horrible your date was.

And the whole time he was just subtly smiling to himself, knowing that you would always come back to him; that even if you convinced yourself that you were just friends, deep down you knew that you were meant for him.

"It's not your fault, darling. He wouldn't be able to take care of you properly anyway, not like I do. But you know that, don't you baby? You know no one can compare to me, right?" he mumbled condescendingly, taking your puffy cheeks in his hands and tilting your head upwards to look at him in the eye.

God, you were so fucking precious. Especially like this, all pouty and teary-eyed, soft and pliant in his hands.

"Told you that you should've stayed home with your Sugu, but you just had to be a little brat and not listen to me, mh?"

And you know that if you had listened to him you wouldn't be in this position, you know that he's right.

So when his hands start to wander all over your body while he says that he "just wants to make ya feel better", you just nod and let him.

You don't know what you did to deserve him!

He's too kind, you think as his hands rub your waist and wander lower.

You think he's such a good friend when he pulls your panties down, his fingers rubbing your little clit to "make the sad go away".

And when your legs are over his shoulders, his cock nestled deep inside you and your tummy bulging, you think he's the best friend ever!

He smirks down at you, and he knows he's got you hooked when he sees your eyes crossing and your legs shaking.

"Look at you, already dumb on my cock. You love it, don't you baby? Yeah you do, f-fuck.." he plunges so hard in your little hole, biting his lip to stifle the moans coming out of his mouth.

He knows this is where you belong: your body pressed into the mattress, your pretty pussy stretching around his fat shaft, your wetness creating a pretty ring of cream coating the base of his cock, your pink nails (that he paid for) drawing red stripes across his back;

and maybe then he realizes that he's the one wrapped around your finger, when he fills your little cunt up to the brim with his hot cum, and a small part of him wishes that it takes. maybe then you would only think about him, you'll realize that he's all you truly need, and you for him <3

hiiii! thank u so much for the request (sorry for answering late) i don’t really love this but wtv! hope u do😚

[rwrbficrecs]

We’ll Invite Something In by @smc-27 (book-verse)

@dot524: This is a fandom favorite and for good reason. In this canon divergence AU, Alex is President, Henry is out, and they never got together in their 20s. Instead, they encounter each other in their late 30s and a very different type of relationship ensues. They still hide it at first, but there’s a lot of living that they both have done and need to work through. I really enjoyed the character dynamics here and how the premise changed both Alex and Henry, making them bolder and more mature. Definitely read this one!

Eyes Blue, Like the Atlantic by bleedingballroomfloor (book-verse)

@dot524: A Titanic AU! Adapted by an excellent writer, this one has suspense, action, romance, and intrigue. There is a MCD (Main Character Death) in here and some other tags to be aware of, but also vibrant scenes with dancing, chasing, art, and formal wear. I really enjoyed it!

Clean Slate by @smc-27 (book-verse)

@heysweetheart-writes: This was just so excellent. I devoured it in no time, couldn't put it down. I love the way Alex just slips into Henry's life like a silk glove even though Henry has his hesitations. There's abslutely no angst at all other than "you're too young for me" "no, next question" I love it. I love Henry finally feeling young for the first time. I think that is something that Henry generally feels after meeting Alex, like he's never been able to, no matter at what point in life he is. ANYWAY I'm talking about Henry way too much again for a rec. Read this.

Most People Exist by @sprigsofviolets (book-verse)

@na-dineee: Henry, 30, is a nurse on a cancer ward. From the very first moment he feels an intense connection and attraction to his newest patient, the one who has a brain tumor and is named Alexander Claremont-Diaz. - The tags say it all: "Falling in love, Slow Burn, Angst with a happy ending, Hurt/Comfort". After reading this story I am a whole new person. I laughed and cried, had butterflies in my stomach, I felt it all. Hands down one of the best fics I've ever read!

after hours by @dumbpeachjuice (book-verse)

@na-dineee: How much can happen in a few hours? stutteringpeach: Hold my beer. 😅🤝 Reading this was truly a roller coaster ride, my stomach was doing somersaults non-stop: On his last evening in New York, poet Henry meets bartender Alex and the two spend the night together - in true "Before Sunrise" style. To sum it all up: enchanting, sweet, phenomenal, iconic!

No. 1 (Royal Red and Blue) Oil on Canvas by @captainjunglegym (book-verse)

@zwiazdziarka: This fic is so twisted and surprising in the best way! The summary did not prepare me for all the action that comes after the initial relationship drama and I'd really like to fawn over it some more but I don't want to spoil the fun of figuring out what really is going on and what are characters' motivations. Just give it a try.

Meet the Parents (series) by @14carrotghoul (book-verse)

@dot524: I really enjoyed these thoughtful character studies of Ellen and Oscar. The two short stories are a series of canon vignettes from Oscar and Ellen’s POV. These glimpses of the Claremont-Diaz parents add heart and depth to the RWRB canon, giving insight about how Ellen and Oscar think about parenthood, power, family, and each other.

Leave The World Better Than You Found It: A BONES AU by @treluna4 (book/movie-verse)

@myheartalivewrites: I really enjoyed this FirstPrince meets procedural TV show fic! With Alex as Booth and Henry as Brennan, they learn to work together, solve crimes--and fall in love, of course. Plus take down a very satisfying book villain.

No Laughing Matter by @inexplicablymine (book-verse)

@suseagull04: This fic is absolutely hysterical- a must read if you need something to cheer you up! It's also very relatable for anyone who, like me, has said things they've regretted in all the best ways!

in summer air by @acdsbff (book-verse)

@na-dineee: I need a vacation and vitamin D - maybe that's why this series (both POVs are covered 🥰) captivated me so much?! It is set on a Greek island, where Alex, just cheated on by his boyfriend, meets hotel owner Henry. What follows is a whirlwind speedrun romance against a beautiful backdrop. Really therapeutic for the heart on dreary days!!

here is a map (with your name as a capital) by @alasse9 (book-verse)

@dot524: What an incredible surprise to have this entire 50k story drop at once. In this canon divergent story, Alex and Henry start getting to know each other in Rio, when Alex helps him recover from a panic attack. Their friendship, and later their relationship, is a delightful slow burn with funny moments, heartbreak, and steady support of each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this start to finish — the characterization of both Alex and Henry is on point and I really enjoyed how the writer changed some of the scenes from the book while keeping key callbacks. A delight.

Claremont 2008 by @happiness-of-the-pursuit (book-verse)

@suseagull04: This friends to lovers AU is done so well! Having Henry and Alex meet as kids means we get years of their friendship before they even start dating, and it gives every aspect of their relationship so much depth through this entire fic. It also gives some events only referenced in the novel a completely different perspective, which makes them even better!

keep me in the moment (don't it feel so real?) by @anincompletelist (book-verse)

@heysweetheart-writes: I absolutely love everything that comes out of Sarah's magic little fingers and this was no exception. Alex and Henry are best friends and pinning over eache other unknowingly and an accidental lil discovery turns their relationship upside-down (for the better) absolutely recommended. I honestly loved it so much.

you know i can't be found with you by @dumbpeachjuice (book-verse)

@heysweetheart-writes: This was SO much fun. Alex was RELENTLESS and I absolutely love an older Henry. It was also very fucking funny. 10/10

the great duck fiasco by @alexclaremont-diaz (book-verse)

@suseagull04: A spy AU, dating apps, and Alex's Texas roots combine in the funniest way possible- definitely read this if you want a good laugh!

[dootznbootz]

Odysseus was afraid the entire year on Aeaea in the Odyssey.

Content warnings: Rape, Sexual Coercion, Sexual assault, Sex Work, power dynamics, this will also be long as fuck as I talk too much. This is NOT a "Circe the Goddess Hate Post". I call her out but that's it. I tried to keep this neutral but still making a point (Let me know if I gotta put more)

Lots of lovely folks on here have written great essays on what Calypso did to Odysseus as it's soooo blatantly obvious there. It literally states how he cried every day and how he flinched from Calypso, very straightforward on how he was explicitly raped.

But I've noticed that a lot of people are always iffy about Circe's situation (understandably so, it's not so in your face.) She's usually always mentioned in the "Odysseus never cheated! He was raped!" posts but then the evidence is only ever given against Calypso, and then mentioning how you can't say no or disobey the orders of an immortal and how it was in exchange for freeing his men.

WHICH IS ALL CORRECT!!! But!!!

There ARE immortal/mortal couples who genuinely love each other. Dionysus and Ariadne, and Eros and Psyche are examples. Apollo and Hyacinthus. Psyche indeed becomes immortal eventually and in some versions, both Hyacinthus and Ariadne do too. But even while mortal themselves, their immortal lovers still remained respectful and loving towards them and definitely doted on them. There are definitely power dynamics at play here but there's some nuance.

Odysseus and Circe's relationship, however, is very different. We all know he slept with her at the very least once. And that was in exchange for his men being returned to humans. That was the only time it was explicitly stated. With Calypso, it tells you every night he was enchanted and slept beside her. It was the narrator speaking but Odysseus is the narrator now and it's his story. If you think he lied, this probably won't change your mind anyway.

But even if it was a one-time thing, (which isn't the only interpretation and I will have points that talk about others) then why did he stay a year? What was he doing?

I'm doing a deep dive into the year he spent on Aeaea based on evidence in Book 10 and then the beginning of Book 12. Step by step, and honestly I'm writing this for Tumblr, not as a thesis so I will be a bit more casual but still using sources. To me, it's very obvious that he was uncomfortable throughout the text simply based on the language that is used. But it's very subtle and not an outright statement of "He's been crying every day."

BTW, just so we're clear, this is not a "Circe is the root of all evil, etc." type of post.

This isn't meant to villainize her. She's an immortal being and in mythology that changes things. Everybody is morally gray. I genuinely think if we were to ask her feelings on it, she'd probably be like "Oh, yeah! Turned his men into pigs! Strange little man he was." I don't think she gave a flying fuck.

I just simply get pissed tf off when people think Odysseus was fine. It honestly disturbs me how often I'll go on other websites YouTube and see everyone call him a whore and a womanizer. It's sexism at its finest because 1.) "MaN AlwAyS wAnTs sEx" and 2.) women can't rape/coerce. THIS IS SIMPLY TO LOOK INTO HIS FEELINGS ABOUT IT.

This is also only for Homer's Odyssey, using different translations. If you want to discuss this, (I'd be happy to! Just be nice!) DON'T BRING UP ANY OTHER WORKS.

With all that out of the way, come yell with me 🤗

I've read multiple translations, as I know there's going to be bias depending on who's translating. And having done so, each one has basically the same situations described the same so that's nice for consistency. Also, there are some parts in the story that are vague and that we'll never have answers to.

Odysseus first simply sees the smoke from her chimney and then sends his men in, after drawing lots Eurylochus leads half of the men to check out the house. I mentioned here vaguely how the 2 immortals he sleeps with are both introduced while singing and weaving, which could be seen as an enchantment (which to me is most likely. They both possess magic and are goddesses). So I'm just gonna move past that. Just take a peek and come back or just know that enchantment was likely.

Next, I'll see people often joke on Tumblr about how

"Odysseus says that Polites is his best friend yet only mentions him once!"

I think Odysseus mentions his best friend, the one to jubilantly go in first, to show WHY he would go through with this. How much these comrades mean to him. That's his best friend, and there are approximately 20 others who are now pigs as well. Could you knowingly leave one of your best friends to live a life like that knowing you could've done something?

[...]Circe—and deep inside they heard her singing, lifting her spellbinding voice as she glided back and forth at her great immortal loom, her enchanting web a shimmering glory only goddesses can weave. Polites, captain of armies, took command, the closest, most devoted man I had: ‘Friends, there’s someone inside, plying a great loom, and how she sings—enthralling! The whole house is echoing to her song. Goddess or woman—let’s call out to her now!’ So he urged and the men called out and hailed her. She opened her gleaming doors at once and stepped forth, inviting them all in, and in they went, all innocence.

(Fagles, Book 10)

In the Odyssey, it's never mentioned why she turns people into animals. I think they were turned into pigs because, throughout the Iliad and Odyssey, Odysseus is often associated with boars. His men are associated with him, therefore: 🐖 Piggy. From what we know, the lads were just eating her food. With how much Xenia and hospitality are a large part of the story, they probably thought they were safe. They were GUESTS. This is especially welcome after the Cyclops and the Laestrygonians. And it literally says "All innocence". They were simply naive.

Then Eurylochus runs back, so terrified that he couldn't speak at first. He then begs Odysseus to just leave the men behind. Odysseus has shown that he does TRY to save his men when it is truly not reckless to do so.

But I shot back, ‘Eurylochus, stay right here, eating, drinking, safe by the black ship. I must be off. Necessity drives me on.’

(Fagles, Book 10)

Then the famous warning from Hermes. I've seen folks bring this up when talking about this. YES, he is literally commanded by Hermes to not refuse her if he wants his men back in basically every translation. It sounds like Circe was warned as well. When? We don't know, but it sounds like Hermes didn't pick "sides" here.

Strange that he was still like, "Sleep with each other" to both, because he could've been like, "Circe, there's this guy named Odysseus. When he comes to this island, change his men back." But who knows, maybe it was Circe's idea from the beginning and Hermes went along with it. Just food for thought.

Now here’s your plan of action, step by step. The moment Circe strikes with her long thin wand, you draw your sharp sword sheathed at your hip and rush her fast as if to run her through! She’ll cower in fear and coax you to her bed— but don’t refuse the goddess’ bed, not then, not if she’s to release your friends and treat you well yourself. But have her swear the binding oath of the blessed gods she’ll never plot some new intrigue to harm you, once you lie there naked— never unman you, strip away your courage!’

(Fagles, Book 10)

But that doesn't explain why he was there for a year afterward! Nor if he himself was okay with it, which is what I'm trying to delve into as he wasn't.

Also the knife thing? She's still immortal. It was meant to startle her. Her dad is Helios. Odysseus would've been toast, literally.

Also note this exchange wasn't a "Yippee! Hermes says I'm going to get laid!".

...just approaching the halls of Circe, my heart a heaving storm at every step, paused at her doors, the nymph with lovely braids— I stood and shouted to her there. She heard my voice, she opened the gleaming doors at once and stepped forth, inviting me in, and in I went, all anguish now …

(Fagles, Book 10)

Another translation by Ian Johnston, (they all say the same thing essentially but trying to make a point.)

I continued on to Circe’s home. As I moved on, my heart was turning over many gloomy thoughts. After I had walked up to the gateway                                                of fair-haired Circe’s house, I just stood there and gave a shout. The goddess heard my voice.                      She came out at once, opened her bright doors, and invited me inside. I entered, heart full of misgivings.

HE👏WAS👏SCARED! The tone is solemn and suspenseful. He was just told that without Hermes' help with the root, he wouldn't be able to survive and bring back his men. Circe was dangerous.

He made her swear not to harm him.

Straightaway she began to swear the oath that I required—never, she’d never do me harm—and when she’d finished, then, at last, I mounted Circe’s gorgeous bed …

(Fagles, Book 10)

Please note that she NEVER promised that to his men. His comrades did NOT have moli in their systems. He had no way of truly ensuring their safety in any way from Circe.

He then refuses to eat or speak, literally "lost in grim forebodings". If he "just got laid", then why isn't he happy? Not many men can say that a goddess CHOSE to have sex with them. He did it to get his men turned back. It was an exchange. I don't think Circe is "Evil" so maybe it slipped her mind. Or yes, she could've thought, "Hey, I got what I wanted. He's handsome enough. Homer never shuts up about how hot this guy is He hasn't brought up the pigs yet. I'll just let this play out. Maybe HE forgot. I don't have to do anything." We don't know. But Odysseus probably felt like he got deceived.

"Hey, I did my part of the deal. I slept with you. Now do yours."

She pressed me to eat. I had no taste for food. I just sat there, mind wandering, far away … lost in grim forebodings. As soon as Circe saw me, huddled, not touching my food, immersed in sorrow, she sidled near with a coaxing, winged word: ‘Odysseus, why just sit there, struck dumb, eating your heart out, not touching food or drink? Suspect me of still more treachery? Nothing to fear. Haven’t I just sworn my solemn, binding oath?’

So she asked, but I protested, ‘Circe— how could any man in his right mind endure the taste of food and drink before he’d freed his comrades-in-arms and looked them in the eyes? If you, you really want me to eat and drink, set them free, all my beloved comrades— let me feast my eyes.’ So I demanded.

(Fagles, Book 10)

He doesn't trust her despite what she had told him that he should when they sleep together. He has figured out that while she will not hurt him, his men were not a part of that oath, the men he was trying to protect in the first place.

She is then moved by how they rejoice when they see one another again. While turning people into animals for funsies isn't cool and coercion is fucked up, I think she comes to see this group as not quite friends but I think she did find them entertaining in a way.

This is very strange but I've seen some folks say that since Odysseus was pissed at Eurylochus for still not believing him about Circe is proof that "Oh he was trying to defend her!". Which??? Uh, Eurylochus was literally questioning his leadership as a whole. Calling him reckless and shit. He is captain and he's the King, he can't let that shit slide. The text literally says "Mutinous". Also if I had to sleep with someone I did not want to especially if it was to save my friends and I got called names afterward I'd get fucking pissed too.

Only Eurylochus tried to hold my shipmates back, his mutinous outburst aimed at one and all: ‘Poor fools, where are we running now? Why are we tempting fate?— why stumble blindly down to Circe’s halls? She’ll turn us all into pigs or wolves or lions made to guard that palace of hers—by force, I tell you— just as the Cyclops trapped our comrades in his lair with hotheaded Odysseus right beside them all— thanks to this man’s rashness they died too!

They stay a year. Again it's never stated that Odysseus slept with her that whole time. You could interpret that. (Honestly, I feel Circe would get bored with him? She's a goddess, she's got more important matters than mortal men. And she definitely doesn't love him.)

His men DO have to bring it up that "Odysseus has forgotten his native land." Maybe they thought they could sneak out without her knowing??? I am fucking REACHING but hold on as Telemachus did because he knew Nestor would well, be Nestor and try to coax him with "Have a meal with us! Let me tell you about how badass I used to be in my youth." But to sneak away from a goddess? Without her permission? That won't end too well. Aeolus in the beginning kicked out Odysseus when he tried to ask for another bag of wind. If she didn't want him around, she could literally boot him out. While she didn't force him to stay like Calypso did, she didn't "release" him either.

We don't know if they've been asking for a long time. Odysseus does say to Circe that they have been begging him nonstop, but he could also be saying that to try and convince her. He's good at persuasion. I think while he knew he could rely on her for food, shelter, and good advice, he still didn't feel...SAFE with her. I think he was possibly avoiding her personally.

I think HOW he asks her to leave is important to know as well.

...but I went up to that luxurious bed of Circe’s, hugged her by the knees and the goddess heard my winging supplication: ‘Circe, now make good a promise you gave me once— it’s time to help me home. My heart longs to be home, my comrades’ hearts as well. They wear me down, pleading with me whenever you’re away.’

(Fagles, Book 10)

Throughout all of Homer's works, the characters grasp another's knees when they are desperate and are literally at the other person's mercy. Priam did when begging Achilles for Hector's body back. The man who literally killed his son and was defiling his body by dragging it around. Leodes grabs Odysseus' knees to beg for his life before Ody kills him. If he saw her as a friend, and not a captor, WHY DID HE FEEL THE NEED TO BEG IN ORDER TO LEAVE?! No one, who is in a healthy relationship, has to BEG for permission to leave. Or to "Break up", if you interpret them as still sleeping together.

And even Circe acknowledges that he is there against his will!

‘Royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, old campaigner, stay on no more in my house against your will.

(Fagles, Book 10)

[...]Odysseus, man of many resources, scion of Zeus, son of Laertes, don’t stay here a moment longer against your will

(A.S. Kline, Book 10)

This is probably another reach that you can ignore but the whole "they wear me down", could be trying to appease her. "Look, you're REALLY cool, it's actually my crew that wants to leave hahahah please don't kill them"

I mentioned before how Telemachus snuck away from Nestor but that was simply out of necessity because he needed to go home now. Not rest for the night. NOW. Nestor is just everyone's grandpa. Menelaus kind of talked more but Telemachus is very straight up in "Please I have to go now" and Menelaus immediately got things ready for him. He never has to beg and clasp his knees. Telemachus was never afraid. Menelaus is a fun uncle and Helen is your cool auntie.

Back to Circe! She tells him instructions for the underworld, they were in her bedroom. But that might've been the only way to speak with her. As even Penelope is usually away from the suitors when they are in her halls, Circe may have done the same. The text never states she played hostess physically. If she was hosting in the halls during the day, why did Odysseus wait until night to talk to her? He could've just asked her while she was on her throne in front of everyone. (He did so with the Phaeacians)

Or maybe he went alone because she only swore an oath to not harm him and so he didn't want his men near if she decided she didn't want to let them go. I could be missing something here so feel free to say something. Idk if this was a pride thing on how "I don't want others to see me beg".

She has info he needs in order to go home as well. She tells him to go to the Underworld.

She gave him new fine clothes and put on pretty clothes herself but that doesn't mean they had sex. Nausicaa gave him nice clothes as well but he never slept with her.

Then he leaves. Immediately. Not even doing a headcount as he didn't realize one of his men had died. (That was negligence on his part but he wanted out) He booked it, to the UNDERWORLD BY THE WAY. Circe even had to sneak the animals he needed for the sacrifice. Odysseus even basically said "She's a goddess. She can do things mortals can't" at the end of the book. And it almost feels...Numb? Solemn? Neutral? Gives a "It is what it is" vibe.

But Circe got to the dark hull before us, tethered a ram and black ewe close by— slipping past unseen. Who can glimpse a god who wants to be invisible gliding here and there?

(Fagles, Book 10)

She’d slipped past us with ease, for who can see a god move back and forth, if she has no desire to be observed?

(Johnston, Book 10)

She's a goddess. She has magic. She can do whatever the fuck she wants.

NOW ON TO BOOK 12!!! That was long! GET A SNACK AND WATER! LUCKILY THIS'LL BE SHORTER!

In Book 11, Odysseus swears, upon all his loved ones in Ithaca, to Elpenor that he'd give him a proper burial as he's been "unwept, unburied". So in Book 12, he sails back to Aeaea to fulfill his promise.

But you know what's funny to me?

He didn't tell Circe he was there.

He didn't even go to greet Circe himself. He sent his men to go get Elpenor's body.

The biggest clue that he didn't love/trust her is that if she was his "Affair partner" then why not go see her for "one last night together"?

SHE came out herself and pulled him aside to know what happened and then gave more advice.

I dispatched some men to Circe’s halls to bring the dead Elpenor’s body. [...]

Nor did our coming back from Death escape Circe— she hurried toward us, decked in rich regalia, handmaids following close with trays of bread and meats galore and glinting ruddy wine. [...]

But Circe, taking me by the hand, drew me away from all my shipmates there and sat me down and lying beside me probed me for details

(Fagles, Book 12)

In every translation, it talks about how he sits, and she lounges/lies down. That's not sex 🙃 In some translations, it even says he tried to be with his shipmates but she pulled him away!

So we lay down and slept beside our ship’s stern cables. But Circe took me by the hand and led me away, some distance from the crew. She made me sit, while she stretched out beside me on the ground. 

(Johnston, Book 12)

Then, she gives advice about the sirens, Charybdis, Scylla, and her father's Cattle. He tries to ask if he could save all his men. She scolds him for even thinking he could try. He again books it out of there.

I think we all know it wasn't "love". But I think a lot of people think Odysseus was willing and happy with whatever this was. "Friends with Benefits", if you will. I guess you could see it that way but I will say that makes me feel itchy with the whole power dynamic and fear. I don't think folks who have that arrangement have to beg on their knees to ask if they can leave though.

I mean the entirety of Book 10 gives me the vibes of "Laughing uncomfortably because you don't want to upset the other person". To just grin and bear it.

A lot of this was just putting the text here and picking it apart step by step. What you do with this is up to you. It's rambling while banging pots and pans together.

Maybe you see him as drugged the entire year and still sleeping together, as the moli "wore off". Even then, just because her magic can't affect him, there are plenty of natural concoctions that can be created that can affect mortals.

Maybe you see the entire year as sex work in exchange for shelter and food.

Maybe he was just alongside his men the whole time under her roof and was avoiding her after the exchange. After he got asked by his men to finally leave, he would start to walk up to that room only to freeze and turn around, thinking "One more day won't hurt. Should wait until I know she's in a sympathetic mood".

I beg of you, however, PLEASE understand that there was fear and coercion throughout his entirety on Aeaea. He wasn't staying to get laid. While there is so much going on and too many things that are left vague to really know exactly what happened, it is consistent that he was scared/numb. Lots of people go through with things they don't really want to do just to appease others. There are plenty of situations of sexual trauma where one person goes through something and the other has no idea the other person isn't okay. ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMEONE CAN HARM THE PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT AT ANY MOMENT!

Sexual trauma is a very complicated thing and while he was scared, he definitely wasn't as traumatized by her as he was by Calypso. Calypso was a torturous hell while Circe was a year of walking on eggshells. Not comparable but I still think it should be acknowledged. It's wild because I read the Odyssey and kept thinking "Y'all are calling the sex slave a cheater? The guy who slept with a goddess to get his men back? The ultimate simp apparently doesn't love his wife??"

Things I'm adding that shouldn't affect the argument as it is not in the Odyssey but I want to mention as it's a "fun fact": Odysseus' dad was an Argonaut. Laertes probably met Circe as well, (or knew of her) with the whole purifying thing and maybe Odysseus heard his dad tell stories of her. Later myths also have Circe with the habit of turning her crushes (or their lovers) into something with Scylla and Picus.

In conclusion, Yeah, he was afraid of her. At least to an extent. And don't pull the whole "Ancient men didn't get raped". Male victims exist and deserve compassion for what was done to them and women are capable of sexual abuse. If you think otherwise, you are not a true feminist and Fuck you. I said in the beginning this'll be casual and I don't wanna write a fancy ending. You can still think Circe is neat but you have to know that this was fucked up.

If you think a lot of this is bullshit or wanna give more context or wish to yell with me but still know he wasn't alright on Aeaea, cool. If you want to point out mistakes or something I should keep in mind with interpretations then feel free to say so but give text evidence. If you try and bring up the Telegony and/or Madeline Miller's Circe, fuck clean off. This is Homer. If you call Odysseus a whore and not the malewife he canonically is I'll start biting. 😤

[tamelee]

pls bottom naruto is disgusting stop drawing this ooc cringe

Eh? And it hadn't even been a full day.

Anyway, do you know what this means?:

It means… that I don’t give a damn about your whiny gibberish about this top/bottom bullshit, because it sounds incredibly silly. (And wrong because I draw both?)

It’s fine to have a preference, good for you (I have one too!), but if all you care about between a character-dynamic is the single notion which establishes a rule within a fandom that demands only this particular dick in only that particular booty and nothing else, while dividing yourselves between "us and them" while seeing the people who like the same exact characters as your "enemy" and treating them as such— well, 

I have nothing to say to you, I couldn’t care less what you think about me and I don’t know you. 

But for the sake of other creators who are often a target also, some which I know quit because of this… there is a little something I'd like to say about these servers:

You don’t think I (we) know what is said in there and by who? 👀 That your rules of "what is said on here stays here" with a bunch of people online that you don't know, is actually respected? Why do you think I never join any. And bet your ass that I'm not the only one. This constant fighting between NS/SN is such an embarrassment for this fandom, seriously. I hope you realize that.

Because, instead of encouraging a (new) creator to share something about the characters you claim to love (for fucking free) you go off chastise them for not “doing it right”/“your way”, pretending it's some unspoken commission no one knew of or was paid for. Instead of being happy there’s still so much creative contribution for characters from a story that ended years ago, you go complain under fanfics and dishearten writers, often grinning away with your little server-“friends” and make fun of work someone poured their heart in. Or, you huff, puff and breathe fire as you make plans to cancel them out of pure bitterness, to the point (especially new) creators are too scared and dispirited to ever share anything again. It's easy to do anonymously, aye? And if you think that doesn’t affect their lives and sends them right back into a crestfallen pit of dark hell because it prevents them to do/share the single thing in life that gave them a bit of joy, then...

Congratulations; you’re a heartless bastard.

And you, as a fan, did yourself dirty too.

Do you know how many people don’t want to share anything at all for this fandom because you people leave comments, tags, asks, tweets constantly complaining about an incorrect portrayal of the (in your opinion) only acceptable dynamic, like a bunch a brats? Do you? Because I’ve talked to quite a few of these discouraged creators, they have to hope for the best and pray they’re spared from your scrutiny. I receive it from both sides every now and then.

Again, congratulations: you’re the reason there’s less chance of you getting what you want in the first place. 

Do you... really not realize?

The more you squabble with "your enemy" (lol) the more it affects the "us" you care about while the rest of us just bask in the glory that is SNS/NSN and couldn't care less about what you think/have to say. So, keep everyone else out of it and go mope elsewhere.

But, between you and me? There are better ways to share what you think is right. Make something yourself, because what's stopping you?

You’re perfectly capable, it doesn’t have to be art or a fic, maybe there’s just something in the story that you really enjoyed— write about it. Make a meta. Post the panel, show the moment that determined your undying love for this single dynamic and why— whatever.  Because, wouldn't it be nice having someone encourage you to create something you like? 😬 Especially because you and your server feel so strongly about it? And then you don't have to depend on others either?

Wouldn't it be nice?

Well?

Hm!?

Try it, ffs.

[child-of-helios]

hello. I've a rather stupid question. I've only read the books once, as a kid, and I don't understand why people hate calpyso x leo. whys it so bad? why does everyone seems to hate it on here?

xxx,

eurydice

First of all, this is my first ever ask, I've made it mother :D Secondly, I'd gladly explain! Though please note that it really has been a good while since I've read the books too, so my memory is kinda foggy :] Warnings for: Slight mentions (but not too much) of rape, pedophilia and mental illness (oh boy this is a tough one)

So, I have made a post abt this before, but it was written in a fit of rage so not my proudest moment (but my most popular post, oops). Anyways, I feel that the hate towards Calypso x Leo is because of a few reasons. 1. It simply didn't get enough development to feel worth it imo. Similar to Jason x Piper, I felt like there wasn't enough there to warrant a canon ship. There is also the fact that personally, I thought that their dynamic was more of a familial or that of siblings, which made me uncomfortable. I would've much rather have them be friends. 2. The uncomfortable age gap. It feels very weird because while yes, Calypso was depicted as a teenager, she is thousands upon thousands of years old. The fact that she fell in love with a literal child is incredibly weird. It was weird enough with Percy, but at least they didn't end up dating. With Leo though, she did end up dating him and the age gap feels very odd. Its even weirder knowing she had a relationship with Odysseus, who by that point was a pretty old dude so she was probably very mature and an adult (though she doesn't act like it). 3. Calypso is kinda a rapist. In the Odyssey myth, she forces Odysseus (a married man) to sleep with her. I'm sorry, but I can't support any relationship involving a rapist unless its rapist x prison cell. It makes me uncomfortable because she could very well take advantage of Leo, a mentally ill teenager with self-esteem issues. 4. Her toxic treatment of Leo. Calypso was very pissed when Leo arrived on her island, rightfully so after what she had gone through, but even then her treatment of his was outright cruel, especially compared to that of Percy and Odysseus. She made him sleep outside, exposing him to the elements after he got flung through the air and ended up on her island, which must've caused some damage. Then after they started dating, I still felt uncomfortable reading about the two, because their dynamic just didn't work, and I don't recall her apologizing to him for her treatment of him. 5. Leo's arc was thrown away. I think the worst of all, is how this impacted Leo's character. He should've had an arc where he learnt to love himself, but because of Calypso he didn't. I think the moral was supposed to be: 'even if you're mentally ill or have problems, you still deserve love!' but it came over more as: 'ignore your issues and get all your love from someone else.' Isn't it more important for kids to learn about self-love? And as an extra: what could've been. I think that Leo shouldn't have gone back for Calypso, that that ship shouldn't have happened. I prefer him going back to Echo and them learning about self-love together as buddies (and maybe evolving into more than that). Echo was stuck in an abusive relationship with the Narcissist, so I think it would a good arc for them both. I also think that if you really wanted a romance, Jason x Leo would've been much better. We know that Rick can write good gay romances, we know that Piper turns out to be a lesbian, so why not make Jason and Leo gay? I think it would add much more to the tragedy of Jason's death, but that's for another post (and this one is getting too long already oops). In conclusion, I think Caleo is bad for many reasons, but especially because it didn't have enough time to develop and the dynamic was simply too creepy for me to get invested in. Sorry for the super long post- Have a lovely day :D

[deakyjoe]

Somebody’s Watching Me Part 8

Pairing: Simon “Ghost” Riley x Reader (“Sarge”, she/her, British, backstory)

Category: slowburn coworkers to friends to lovers with grumpy x sunshine dynamic/idiots in love

Summary: A slice of heaven is created as you get a glimpse at what could be.

Warnings: smut (18+), PinV, unprotected sex (please wrap it before you tap it), creampie, riding, praise kink, cum eating, f receiving oral, fingering, swearing/cursing, British terminology/slang, insecurities (light angst but not really), overthinking, children, mask is off, domestic Ghost, Ghost receiving compliments, sexually suggestive talking, Ghost reassures you for once, *** to indicate where smut starts and ends

Word count: 5.6k

A/N: Thank you so much for all the support and praise I got on the last part! This idea has been rattling around in my head for ages and I was going to leave it out but then decided to write it anyway just to see how it came out and here it is. Sorry it took me so long, hope you enjoy! Part 9 here.

Consider buying me a coffee :)

The sudden burning happiness the two of you created was glorious. It almost didn't feel real. It was sudden and unexpected. But there wasn't a single thing in the world that you'd trade for it and you hoped that Simon felt the same. You assumed he did.

And your assumption would be correct. Although, the man would never voice it to you openly. Instead, he showed it through his actions, the way he looked at you and other small things he said. But it was perfect that way. The two of you were happy, and that was all that mattered.

"Y'know... you have the nicest eyes, like, ever!" The two of you were on your sofa. Well, Simon was sat on your sofa and you were on his lap, leg either side of his thighs and facing him. You had your hands on his face, palm on each cheek, to keep him looking at you. You often did this, just sat together content with nothing but the other’s company.

His grip on your hips tightened in warning. He still couldn't take a compliment. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Sarge."

"Oh, please. It's gotten me everywhere. Especially with you." You grinned at him, staring more intensely at his eyes. "They're so dark and warm and... deep. Could just drown in 'em. And your eyelashes. So fair and beautiful."

He huffed, moving his gaze away from you.

"No, no. Eyes on me." You whined, gleeful when he reluctantly looked back at you. "You need to learn how to take a compliment. Because I can't stop."

"And what are you going to do if I don't? Hm?"

You considered it, pondering on what you could possibly say to him that would entice him to learn how to take a compliment. Your fingers tapped mindlessly against the skin of his face as you thought about it.

He pulled your hips further against him to gain your attention. It worked. "I can hear the cogs in your brain turning. You don't need to think that hard to come up with some way to torture me into submission."

With a smirk, you leant towards him. So close that your noses almost touched. "Interesting choice of words there, Simon."

"You know what I mean." He rolled his pretty eyes.

"Yes, I do. Too bad. I'd torture you into submission if you wanted me to." You said in a fake nonchalant voice, focusing your attention behind him on nothing in particular.

He paused, mouth hanging open for a second. "I will keep that in mind."

You smiled at him, going in for a kiss when your phone started ringing. "Oh, for fuck's sake."

"Don't answer it." Simon pleaded with you, trying to guide his lips to yours.

"I have to. It's about tomorrow." You groaned, reaching for it on the other end of the sofa and answering it with an over enthusiastic tone in your voice. "Hey! What's up?"

The day out that you'd promised your friends' kids had finally been organised. You were due to pick them up at nine in the morning the next day, and take them wherever they desired to go. As you usually did. The only difference this time being that you were taking Simon along with you.

"Yes, it's all good. We'll do what we usually do. I'll drive to yours and leave the car. Then I'll use the minivan. It'll be fine. I've done this how many times now? And I'll have Simon with me this time. Extra support. Don't worry so much. I'll keep them safe. It'll be fun. Okay? Yeah? Alright. I'll see you in the morning. Yeah, he's here. She says hi."

Simon just nodded at you as he continued to watch the phone conversation play out, only having access to one end of it.

"Yes, okay. I know. Yep. Alright. Okay. Bye. No, yeah. Fine. Bye. Bye..." You finally got to hang up with an exaggerated sigh, slumping against Simon's chest. "I hope you're prepared for tomorrow."

"Six kids and only two of us? Sounds like a blast." He'd agreed because he didn't want to spend a second away from you anymore, let alone a whole day. Also, the children were nice. He could handle helping look after them for a day.

"It'll be easy peasy. I've been doing it alone for ages. Extra man power now with you means it'll be a breeze. Teamwork, y'know?"

Teamwork.

He smiled. "I know."

"I love it when you smile." Your index finger traced along his lips, outlining the expression of happiness he was showing you.

"Just for you, Sarge." He kissed the pad of your finger, resisting the urge to bite it playfully.

You chuckled quietly, pressing your mouth to his. "I'm so lucky."

"Think I'm the lucky one." He mumbled against your lips.

You pulled away reluctantly. “I suggest we go to bed now if we want to be awake and prepared for tomorrow.”

It wasn’t necessarily early to be going to bed or anything, just that the two of you usually spent your nights talking into the early hours of the morning. Or doing other things…

“Christ, you look as if I just offered to castrate you or something.” You giggled, pushing yourself off of Simon’s lap to stand up. “Come on, I’ll read you a bedtime story.”

“Ha ha.” He laughed sarcastically but took your hand and followed you to the bedroom anyway. He’d been spending every night there since New Year’s Day, only returning home briefly every few days to pick up a fresh set of clothes. Basically, the two of you had barely spent any time apart since he’d kissed you for the first time. And neither of you were complaining.

The two of you got ready for bed silently, standing at the sink together to brush your teeth and removing your dirty clothes from the day to put in the laundry. You crawled into bed together without a word said and assumed the position you took every night - chest to chest with you slightly lower in the bed so you could look up at him and rest your head in the crook of his neck if you needed to. Simon’s arms were wrapped around you, hands tracing patterns against your skin, and your fingers carded through his hair. It was a way for you to seek comfort in the other without having to say anything.

And you often started the day in the same way as you had on New Year’s Day - him spooning you and using the cuddling as the best position to fuck you. It was perfect every time.

Tonight though, the blond man could tell you weren’t as relaxed as usual.

“What’s wrong, Sarge?” He asked, tilting your chin up to look at him. “Hm?”

“Nothing.” You grumbled, hooking your leg over one of his to get as close as possible to him. “Don’t want tomorrow to be too much for you, is all.”

“Ah, so you’re overthinking.” He offered, pressing a kiss to your forehead when you admitted it with a single nod. “Don’t. It’ll be fine.”

“Mhm.” You hummed, still not looking sure.

“You said earlier that it will be a breeze. What changed your mind?” One of his hands curled around the back of your thigh, pulling you impossibly closer to him.

“The kids will be a breeze to look after, they’ll be on their best behaviour.”

“Then what?”

“I’m concerned for you.” You said, averting your eyes from his. “They’ll be energetic and you’re… not. Spending a whole day with them will be exhausting. And I know you get over socialised.”

His heart tugged in his chest at how you were worried about him. He was so absolutely, completely fucked. “It’ll be okay, Sarge. As long as you’re by my side, it’ll be okay.”

You brightened at that. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He confirmed with a lingering kiss, tongue meeting yours to solidify his point further. “Now go to sleep. Long day ahead tomorrow, remember?”

You shook your head, teasing smile on your lips as you wound your arms around the back of his neck. “Nuh-uh. One more.”

He obliged and kissed you again, ignoring the previous statement of “one more” as it turned into many more and eventually led to him on top of you, dog tags dangling in your face.

When you both awoke the next morning to your blaring alarm, you didn’t have time to go about your usual routine of him taking you from behind. And you both hated it as you dragged yourselves out of bed and got ready for the day ahead. Despite the two of you being used to early starts when on duty, you’d grown used to sleeping in wrapped in each other’s arms and only getting up when you really needed to.

As he rummaged through his bag, Simon realised he only had one set of clothes left. He’d need to go home later in the day to pick up some more, he noted to himself.

With bleary eyes and two to-go cups of coffee clutched in your hands, you met Simon at the front door and gratefully accepted his offer to drive as you left to pick the kids up. You loved the children, you really did, and you’d promised them a day out but you were regretting that decision now. All you wanted was lazy days with Simon before reality set in again. Yet, here you were - about to spend the next eight or so hours constantly counting the amount of kids you had at your side in an effort not to lose any of them.

When you arrived at your friend’s house, you barely had any time to get out of the car before she was rushing out of her front door frantically with six pairs of feet scuttling behind her.

“Ah! You’re here!” She cheered, a manic smile on her face. She looked tired. The children that weren’t hers had stayed overnight for a sleepover in order to make pickup easier for you. You were guessing she didn’t handle it all that well. “Here are the keys to the minivan.”

A set of keys was shoved into your hands as she whirled around on the children, chimed a quick goodbye and disappeared back into the house without another word.

The kids all looked up at you expectantly, bags on their backs and wide smiles.

“Hello, gremlins. Did you all behave yourselves last night?” You asked, hands on your hips to tell them you wanted a truthful answer.

“Yes.” They giggled in unison.

“Good.” You grinned and reached out to grip Simon’s arm. “You all remember my friend, yes?”

They nodded and waved at him. He, adorably, waved back.

“He’ll be coming with us today. Which reminds me… where are we going today? Have you all decided?” You asked as you began to herd them towards the minivan.

“Aquarium!” One of them shouted.

“Hmmm, and you all agreed?” You questioned and they nodded, climbing into their seats in the back of the minivan. “Great! Come on then, let’s get going.”

The last one was buckled in and you slammed the door on them, turning to Simon with a nervous smile.

“Ready for this?”

His large hands cupped your cheeks. “So ready.”

“You’re very confident.” You teased, leaning into his touch as he bent down to kiss you.

“With you by my side, Sarge, I’m ready for anything.” It was mumbled against your lips, noses nudging together.

“Romantic piece of shit.” You bit back but accepted his kiss, fists curling into the material of his shirt. You pulled away suddenly. “This is not family friendly.”

He suddenly straightened up, gaze glancing towards the windows of the minivan which were, unfortunately, tinted so he couldn’t tell whether the children had been watching. “Fuck, sorry. Got carried away.”

You laughed and rounded to the driver’s side of the minivan. “I’m flattered, Riley. Come on.”

Simon climbed into the passenger side and he thought that the two of you had gotten away with it until one of the kids shot forward in their seat. "Errr, you two can't kiss!"

You rounded on them with a gasp. "Nosy! And who said?"

"You're not married!"

"Unmarried people can kiss." You told them, sticking the keys into the ignition and turning the radio down low.

"What?!" The children gaped at you. “But why would you want to?”

You laughed. “Because kissing people you like can be nice.”

“So you like Simon?”

“Yes.” You replied, looking at them in the rear view mirror.

“Like like him?”

“Yes, like like him.” You smiled at the man in question, enjoying the way he avoided your eyes for once.

“Oh. Okay!”

“Alright.” You sighed and checked directions to the nearest aquarium on your phone.

"Mr Simon?" One of the kids dragged out his name in a whine.

"Yes?" He mocked their tone, eyes meeting yours as he stopped himself.

"Why did you put your tongue in her mouth?"

He froze, desperately looking at you for an answer. But you just cackled for a moment.

"Uhh..."

"Ask your parents when you're older." You offered out, patting Simon's thigh reassuringly. "Alright, let's get going!"

The subject was dropped after that, the children too excited for their day out to care any more about you and Simon kissing. He was relieved.

He stayed silent for the whole drive, just listening to the stories that the kids had to tell you and your enthusiastic responses to them. No wonder you were so good at keeping the team upbeat and managed to match Soap’s energy. You had training.

When you reached the aquarium and got out of the vehicle, you set out some ground rules.

“Okay, so… no running off, make sure you can see either me or Simon at all times, no talking to strangers unless you’re asking a question to someone who works in the aquarium. And how can you tell if someone works in the aquarium?”

“Blue uniform!” They called out to you.

“Yes, great! If you need the toilet then let me know straight away so we can find one, no tapping on the glass or putting your hands into tanks, keep your bags on your backs and most importantly… have fun and learn lots! Now, everybody find a partner.”

This was a standard rule you had every time you went out with them. If they each had a partner then it was easier to keep them all in check. Besides, it gave them someone to talk to for the whole day instead of fighting for your attention.

There was a light tapping on the side of Simon’s thigh. He looked down to find one of the kids staring up at him hopefully. It was the same one that had come to collect him at the Christmas party when you needed help in the kitchen.

"Will you be my partner, Mr Simon?" He squeaked, clearly nervous for some reason.

Simon looked to you for reassurance and found you nodding encouragingly. So he looked back to the small child. "Sure, kid."

What he didn't expect was to have to hold hands with him, but he didn't protest. Especially when he saw the look on your face, like you were proud of him.

"Okay, everybody?" Your hand was linked with one of the other children's. "Ready to go?"

They all chimed in with a "yes" so you started walking, leading the way with Simon at the back to keep the group together.

You paid entry for the group of you, getting a map for you and activity books for the kids, and made your way into the building.

“There’s a piranha feeding soon, do you want to go?” You asked everyone and they all nodded.

You led the way towards where it was supposedly happening and joined the side of a large group of people who had already gathered to watch. It didn’t take long before a man walked out with a bucket of something that smelt bad and grinned at the group, tapping at the side of the microphone attached to his face.

“Hello, ladies and gents! How are you today?”

The children in the crowd sent him variations of hellos and other greetings, wide eyes set on the tank of fish behind him.

He started off by ladling scoops of something into the tank, pointing out the reaction of the fish as he did so. Then he turned to the crowd with a mischievous smile. “Anyone like to volunteer to help?”

Several small hands shot up as children begged to be involved but then lowered back down sadly when the man had to explain that this was an adults-only opportunity.

“Come on, parents. Show your kids you can be cool for a day.” His eyes locked on Simon suddenly. “Maybe a big, strong man to help, hm?”

You pushed him forwards, urging him to do it. “Come on, Simon Swayze. Feed the piranhas.”

He stepped forward hesitantly, hissing over his shoulder at you. “I hate you.”

“Ooh, very big, strong man.” The man’s eyes trailed up and down Simon’s towering figure, gaze flicking to you behind him and scanning over all of the children. "Well, you two have been busy."

You laughed. "Not ours actually. We're babysitting."

The man looked to Simon disbelievingly, dropping the ladle back in the bucket with a comedic plop. "What's wrong with you, man? Get on with it!"

Simon said nothing in return, his own eyes widening slightly at basically being told to impregnate you as he stepped forward further to help with the feeding. When he was handed a set of tongs, he didn’t look thrilled.

“So, just pick up a piece and drop it in gently. Yeah?” The worker explained.

“Yeah.” Your lieutenant replied, doing as he was told.

“Yay, Simon!” The kids chimed and you noticed the way he relaxed at their encouragement. He rushed through the rest of it and was thankful when the feeding was over and he was set free, coming back to you and suggesting that you move on to look at another enclosure. You didn’t comment on the fact that he appeared to be scared of the tiny fish he’d just been feeding.

The day went quickly, stopping briefly in the middle for lunch, and soon enough you were driving back to take the kids home with all of them asleep in the back of the car.

“What was your favourite thing we saw today?” You asked, head tilted back as far as possible without hindering your view on the road.

“Jellyfish. Yours?” Simon replied, hand on your thigh sliding up and down your leg.

“Seahorses. Why the jellyfish?”

“They float around happily doing nothing. Seems like a peaceful existence.” He explained, thumb circling against your skin. “Why seahorses?”

“They’re cute.” You said meekly, not as confident in your response as his.

“That’s a good enough reason.” He told you, squeezing your thigh gently.

You hated to wake the children up when you got back but it had to be done. They were ushered back inside the house, ready for their parents to pick them up or have dinner, after hushed goodbyes and tired hugs. The last child, the one who seemed to have taken a particular interest in Simon, refused to get out of the car awake. So Simon offered to carry him inside the house and meet you back in your car. You just nodded, surprised at the suggestion.

Once he’d placed the mostly unconscious kid on the sofa and turned to leave, he finally got a coherent sentence out of him. “If you like like her and like to kiss her then maybe you should marry her, Mr Simon.”

Kids really did say whatever came into their heads.

He said nothing and left quietly, saying a quick goodbye to your friend and nodding quickly when she asked if it was going well between the two of you. He didn’t want to talk about it with anyone other than you.

You stuck your head out of the car window just as their front door shut and your tall lieutenant trotted towards you. "Come the fuck on, Simon.”

"Did you just make a Bridget Jones reference?"

You raised your eyebrows at him. "Did you just understand the Bridget Jones reference?"

"Secret sappy rom-com lover, remember?" He said as he climbed into the passenger seat of the car, pointing at himself wearily.

“Ah, how could I forget? One of the many reasons I like like you.” You sighed and started the car, the two of you speeding away back to your place.

When you got back, Simon headed towards the bathroom for a shower, mumbling something about needing more clothes. You just went to your room and collapsed onto your bed, eyes closed and listened to the sounds of the water hitting the bathtub in the next room over.

You don’t know how long he was in there, drifting in and out of sleep, only taking notice when the water stopped and the bathroom door opened.

Simon walked into your bedroom slowly, hair dark and damp from the shower and t-shirt hanging loosely on him. That sight certainly woke you up. You could just devour him.

"Good shower?" You asked and he hummed with a small nod as you pushed yourself up on your elbows. "Are you hungry?"

"A little. You?" He sat on the bed next to you, sidling up close. Now that he had plenty of access to it, the man loved physical contact.

"I could wait." You trailed your fingertips lightly up the side of his arm, the implication clear.

"Well, what do you want to do? To build up your appetite, I mean?" He knew. He always knew.

"You look good with wet hair." You whispered, not looking in his eyes.

"Yeah?"

You nodded, teeth sinking into your bottom lip to contain your smile. "You look good always. You also look good caring for six kids."

"Sarge?" He tapped the bottom of your chin with his finger to encourage you to look up at him. "If you want to have sex then just say so."

You rolled your eyes. "I was trying to seduce you by showering you in flattering compliments."

He rolled his right back at you. "You don't need to seduce me."

Your eyes widened in embarrassment. "Oh, god... am I not seductive?"

"What?" He frowned, not understanding where you got that conclusion from.

"I mean, like, am I not... y'know?" You gestured at yourself with wiggling hands.

"I do not know." He really didn’t.

You huffed. "Am I not seductive? Or sexy? Or... foxy? Whatever the youth are saying these days."

"The youth?" He deadpanned.

"I never thought about it really. Am I just embarrassing myself when I try to be flirty?” Your hands clutched at your head. “Oh, fuck me."

"I was trying."

Your thoughts were becoming erratic, uncontainable. It wasn’t good. "Well, this is a devastating revelation. All those times I've flirted, I've initiated. All gone to waste, all times I've embarrassed myself."

Simon’s confusion just grew. "I really don't know what you're talking about now."

"Maybe I should retreat into a life of celibacy."

"That would be unfortunate."

"Spare the world of myself." You sighed dramatically.

"Unfortunate for me, especially."

You raised your knees to your chest, arms curling around your legs. "I hate myself."

"Ssshhh, stop talking." He shut you up with a kiss. "You need to calm down."

"But-" You protested, ready to voice every irrational idea that had rocketed through your mind in the last couple of minutes.

He kissed you again. "No, no."

"I ramble, I'm sorry." You pouted at him, clearly upset with yourself.

The corners of his lips upturned. "You're sexy when you ramble."

"Ugh, fuck off." You pushed his face away from you.

His hands were raised in surrender. "Thought you wanted to be seductive."

"Not through my annoying habits." You snapped.

"But your annoying habits are what I like about you.”

"Mhm, how appealing. Jesus, why do you like me?"

"Sarge..." He chimed, tapping at your chin with his fingers.

"No seriously? My annoying habits?" You despised that idea.

"I beg of you to stop."

"Thought you liked my rambling."

"I do. But not your spiralling." His fingers traced up the side of your face to your temple, like he was pointing out the source of the spiralling.

"If you think this is spiralling then you should see the inside of my head."

He leant in to kiss your forehead. "Wish there was a way for me to see inside that gorgeous brain of yours.”

"Weirdo."

"Charming." He scoffed.

"Told you, not seductive." You pointed at yourself harshly.

"Wouldn't say that. I was turned on from your strange little compliments." He shrugged.

"Condescending bastard."

"I'm being genuine." As much as he couldn’t take a compliment himself, Simon couldn’t stand to see you being so self deprecating. The idea of you seeing yourself as anything less than perfect was impossible for him to comprehend.

You frowned at him. "Odd man."

"Would it help if I said that I find you seductive, sexy, foxy or any other words the youth might be using?"

You tried to contain your smile but failed. "Might help a little."

"Then I find you seductive, sexy, foxy and every other word the youth are using."

"Hmm."

He decided to move on, you weren’t going to accept the truth for now. "Hungry yet?"

"No." Your head shook from side to side roughly.

"Good, my appetite has passed."

Your head ducked. "Sorry."

"Don't be sorry.” He paused, considering his next words carefully. “Be naked instead."

You burst into laughter. "Okay, I feel better. You're less seductive than me."

"I'm insulted. No one can be as bad as you."

"Simon!" You gasped, the smile still on your face.

"I'm joking, Sarge." He cupped your chin and kissed you quickly.

“I’m still offended.”

“Oh, shut up.” He scoffed and kissed you again, arms wrapping around your waist to tug you into his lap. He loved having you on top of him, feeling your weight pressed against him. It was a reminder than this was his reality, a grounding effect almost.

***

It didn’t take long before you were both naked, you still on top of him and his fingers buried inside of you to prepare you for him.

“Come on, Sarge. One more and I promise to fuck you. Need you nice and wet first. Come on, good girl.” He said breathily, enjoying the reactions on your face as he curled his fingers inside of you to hit the right spot. “Fuck… that’s it, good girl.”

He knew what he was doing by calling you that.

And that point was proven when you came, crying out his name and digging your fingernails into the skin of his shoulders. He pressed a soothing kiss against your lips, tongue lapping against yours to show you his appreciation and praise.

He was hard underneath you and wasted no time in allowing you to sink down onto him, gasping into his mouth when you sat against him fully, buried to the base.

“Jesus- fuck, Sarge.” He garbled, jaw tensed and eyes on you as your own rolled into the back of your head from the pleasure. He filled you so well and no amount of words, from either of you, would ever express that.

You clenched around him as you got used to the feeling of him inside you. No matter how many times you’d been in this situation, it never got any less surprising at how good it felt.

“God, fuck, please start moving. I can feel you- can feel you- fuck!” He cut himself off when your hips rolled against his.

Your head fell to his shoulder, you were completely over sensitive from what he’d been doing to you before this that every minute movement was magnified by a thousand. Your legs were already shaking and you could feel the burn pulsing through you from how tired you were. But, god, you wanted to please him. So you pushed forward.

Your hips rolled against his again, the drag of him in and out of you creating a friction that had the two of you gasping for air. And again, and again, and again.

“That’s it, Sarge. Keep going.” His hand found the back of your neck where he dragged you back to look into your eyes, finding your face screwed up in pleasure. His hips bucked up against yours of their own accord and the way it made parts of you bounce from the impact had his gaze lowering to the dog tags dangling from your neck. He didn’t need to ask permission, he could see it in your eyes as soon as they locked again. The chain was wrenched from your neck and replaced with his in a split second, yours being placed around his neck at the same time.

The action set the two of you off into a lust fuelled frenzy.

You rocked against him desperately, chasing every bit of pleasure you could get for both him and yourself. Your hands threaded into his hair, pulling him impossibly closer so your chests rubbed against each other and your dog tags tangled together. It was poetic really. Sharing the piece of you that represented your identity by giving it to the other as a symbol of dedication. Only to have them intertwine anyway.

“Simon.” You whined into his mouth as a warning that you wouldn’t last much longer.

“I know, Sarge, I know.” He returned, kissing you and practically tasting the moans that were pouring out of your mouth.

The sweat coating the both of your bodies in a shiny sheen meant that your skin glided against one another easily. And neither of you would have been surprised if the windows had steamed up. Moreover, Simon’s hair was wet. Whether it was from the shower he took or from this, neither of you knew. All he knew is that he’d probably need to shower again after this. The room was hot and humid, an atmosphere created by the two of you.

Suddenly you tensed against him, arms locking around his shoulders and walls fluttering around him. The noise you let out against his neck as you came was heavenly and Simon almost lost himself to that sound alone.

He knew you were spent so he wrapped his arms around you and shifted so you laid underneath him on the bed, careful not to move out of you at any point. With the new position, and a quick check in with you to make sure you were okay, he rocked his hips against yours a few more times in uneven thrusts before finishing inside of you with a groan let out against the skin of your chest.

You giggled sleepily as he pressed soft kisses to your sweat-soaked skin but mumbled a short protest when he pulled out of you. He shushed you with a few mumbled apologies.

Simon looked down at the mess the two of you had created as it slowly seeped out of you, satisfied. He gently pushed it back in and gathered some of it on his fingers at the same time, raising them to your lips and tapping gently.

“Have a taste of us, Sarge.” He whispered huskily, appreciating the glimmer in your eyes as you nodded and took him inside your mouth.

And when you hummed happily around his fingers, he wanted a taste for himself.

He lowered himself between your thighs, pressing open mouthed kisses to the flesh there, and started licking at you, groaning at the taste of what the two of you had created. He lost track of the amount of time he spent there, especially after he managed to get you to come again - your thighs trembling on either side of his head. All he knew was that in the time spent between your legs, it had grown very dark outside and he still had no clothes for tomorrow.

***

So he pulled away from you reluctantly. "I need to go." He said, attempting to stand up.

"Nooo..." You whined, dragging him back down. "Just five more minutes."

He looked down at you with a sigh, the pleading and the mischief in your eyes being too tempting. "Fine. Five more minutes. That's it."

He stayed another two hours.

And when he did finally manage to depart, he made you promise to stay naked and waiting for him in bed. But, as much as you did want to do as you were told and abide by his request as he left, it was cold and you were thirsty.

So you put some clothes on and trotted to the kitchen for a drink, deciding on the farmers' market apple juice you regularly stocked up on now. With the glass in your hand, you sat on the sofa to see what was on television.

Before you could, the surface of the coffee table shook slightly as your phone started ringing, unknown number flashing on the screen.

Fuck.

You picked it up cautiously and pressed it close to your ear, taking in a deep breath. "Hello?”

There was a gruff mumble of your name from the voice you'd been dreading to hear the past few months.

You shut your eyes tight, bracing yourself for the inevitable. "Yeah?"

"It's Price."

A/N: and so it begins… or ends. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

[spiderfreedom]

historical revisionism of second-wave feminism

I'm wondering where this idea that "second-wave feminism" didn't bring up race came from. It seems to be conflating liberal feminism, starting with Betty Friedan's "The Feminist Mystique", for the entire movement. But "second-wave feminism" refers to an entire era of feminist organizing, including lesbian feminism, socialist feminism, radical feminist, and numerous Black feminist works with multiple intersections. Why should Friedan and NOW's 'liberal feminism' be the representative of an entire era of feminist writing? What do we have to gain from pretending that there were no Black feminist writers during the second wave?

The US women's movement has always had ties to anti-racist movements like abolitionism and the civil rights movement, as well as the New Left and socialist/anti-war movements. White feminists tried to include racial analysis in their books - to mixed effect, e.g. Susan Brownmiller's book "Against Our Will" proved to be contentious for its treatment of interracial rape of Black men against white women (example).

It feels like there's been a wave of historical revisionism to make the second-wave seem more limited and single-issue focused than it really was, in order to make "third-wave" feminism seem novel, exciting, and necessary. It's resulted in a whole generation of feminist writers and cultural critics who don't read or quote or engage with the feminist works of the second wave. They are dismissed out of hand as irrelevant or limited. It feels like another way to say "stop paying attention to women's history, just believe me when I say the first and second waves were irrevocably damaged and that the third wave is the only way to go."

I think this article does a good job of capturing one of the reasons why an interracial feminism failed to form, which is that white women assumed Black women also wanted an interracial feminism, when many Black women, especially at the start of the movement, were not interested in solidarity with white women. The fantasy of a racially integrated society was often much more important to white organizers than to Black organizers, who may have instead wanted Black self-determination. I disagree with some of the points of the article (can elaborate if anyone is interested) but I recommend reading it anyway for a retrospective on why white attempts to reach out to Black women failed - white feminists did attempt to reach out, but failed to focus on issues that were relevant to Black women, failed or were offensive in their racial analysis, and failed to understand the importance of racial solidarity for Black women.

Correcting the record on the racism and failures of white feminists in the second-wave is necessary work to building a strong movement. But there's a difference between correcting the record and pretending that white feminists didn't try to talk about race at all. They did! They were participants of anti-racist movements! But they failed to understand their own racism. They failed to understand the complex dynamics between white men, white women, Black men, and Black women. They failed to focus on issues that resonated with Black women. They were failures of bad attempts, not that no attempt was ever made... and that's the part I find weird.

The idea that there was no racial analysis made during the second wave, by white women or Black women, flattens a complex history. Like fun fact - the Combahee River Collective Statement which is the foundation of intersectional feminism and third wave identity politics? Is a second wave text! It was published in 1977, in the late era of second wave activism in the US!

I have more to say later, but for the moment, I'd like to present you with some examples of second-wave feminist texts written by Black women. Read them, and avail yourself of another myth - that there is One Black Feminism. Black Feminists have always had internal disagreements, which frightens white feminists, because white feminists want to know The Correct Answer On Race. I highly recommend reading these (and modern Black feminist texts too!) to understand the situation Black feminists faced in the 60s and 70s. All of these texts were published between 1960 and 1980. They are all essays or excerpts - links provided where possible.

Black Women’s Liberation group of Mt. Vernon, New York - Statement on Birth Control

Mary Ann Weathers - An argument for Black Women’s Liberation as Revolutionary Force (https://caringlabor.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/mary-ann-weathers-an-argument-for-black-womens-liberation-as-a-revolutionary-force/)

Frances M. Beal - Double Jeopardy: to be Black and Female

Doris Wright - Angry Notes from a Black Feminist (https://yu.instructure.com/courses/49421/files/1918241/download?wrap=1)

Margaret Sloan: Black and Blacklesbian

Alice Walker - In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens

Angela Davis: Joan Little: The Dialectics of Rape (https://overthrowpalacehome.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/ms.-magazine-from-the-archives.pdf)

Michele Wallace: A Black Feminist’s Search for Sisterhood (https://www.amistadresource.org/documents/document_09_03_010_wallace.pdf)

The Combahee River Collective (https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/combahee-river-collective-statement-1977/)

Barbara Smith - Racism and Women’s Studies (https://hamtramckfreeschool.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/smith-barbara-racism-and-womens-studies.pdf)

[a-zalea-garden]

How do you feel about the pride comic so far? :D

I actually hadn't sat down to read it until I got this ask, but the snippets I'd seen were ADORABLE. I'm writing this as I read it for the first time:

pg. 1: "Hypnosis was so much easier" HE WOULD! And him rehearsing with Whisp is so sweet. I love that they tied her and their friendship into the story more; I kind of thought she was done for good. Valentine hitting his face on the locker is SUCH a diary thing, too. I don't know if it was meant to be a callback or anything, but that's what it reminded me of. And Whisp saying "good luck!" while Kier is half-dead on the floor is PRICELESS. I love that he's still trying to make amends with Drac though.

pg. 2: Him blurting everything at once and then stopping to be all ✨composed✨ is perfect. UGH but the accent. Kieran, dear, she knows you're Romanian. I like the call back, though, and if you really look into it, it's a reflex because he's embarrassed and panicked. I LOVE the cut between him saying "it's fine" and him absolutely panicking, all zoned-out. It's such a simple thing that's meant to be comedic but it really shows us how he thinks and how vulnerable he is in a world without his prestige.

pg. 3 BIG SPELLDON REVEAL DUN DUN DUUUUUN!!! I love the small details of his character design that bring him to life, like the rings on his fingers and the mole on his lip. and the necklaces <3. Valentine IMMEDIATELY crumpling the paper in his big dramatic moment is so silly. And spelldon ignoring it and just taking a rose. It's such an easy, domestic kind of moment. And they're both so pretty ugh the close ups. "Like my soul" ok princess val 🙄 and spelldon worried, "You still love draculaura?" I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SPELLDON CAULDRONELLO

pg. 4: the moment of realization is priceless. Kieran is just in awe of this man. and Spelldon is just so enthusiastic about it (I love how he's just like 'this is dumb' but goes along with it anyway. Okay mr. malicious compliance). The height difference is also perfect to me. It makes sense that Spelldon is way taller because he's part (like 70% ish if I remember right from that time I did a pedigree) god. Casta's tall too isn't she? Valentine lost in his own little world ❤️ my little yapper.

pg. 5: Valentine trying to be over prepared, he's so me. And it's a nice (probably unintentional) callback to his diary where he says "better have it and not need it than need it and not have it." Spelldon's blunt humor is one of my favorite things ever. And him flattering Kieran about biteology >>> ugh they're so sweet. Val's facial expressions are so funny too he's so dramatic. Him trying to be humble and change the subject when Spelldon compliments him is so cute. AAAA they're so sweet.

pg. 6: Spelldon being all nonchalant while Val is literally falling over is so them. That is such a fun dynamic for them to have and I love it so much. I don't even know how to describe or "analyze" it because it just feels so naturally them that there's nothing to point out as "unusual." AAA Spelldon catching Val is such a sweet moment in the comic. Poor Val has his eyes closed, he can't even see Spell's face when it happens. And his hand is HOVERING over Val's back; he's not even touching him and he's blushing like that. I don't even think I need to mention the smirks (they're so precious)(Spells had an eyebrow slit this whole time and I just didn't see it??😭)

pg. 7: EEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAA Val you're going to give poor Spelldon a heart attack leave him alone. He's so dramatic clasping his hands like that. The mausoleum is really cute though, I approve. If I were a vengeful ghost, this would be my haunt (get it?). Spelldon having this whole plan thought out to get the ingredients when he's the one who thought it was a useless plan to start with 🤨 okay Spelldon we all see what you're doing. Especially since the whole plan is to get Val clinging to him. Scarah to the rescue!!! Not the return of the accent val STOP PLEASE. I'm glad they're talking about it, though. And he doesn't do it to spelldon 👀 because he's being himself with spelldon and doesn't feel the outside pressures to be someone else. He subconsciously knows that spelldon will accept who he is. Spelldon's face when Val admits that is priceless. BUT SPELLDON NOOOOOO WATCH OUT!

pg. 8: Val regretting the potion because he's in loooooove is so cute to see. "A couple thousand years" you want to spend a couple thousand years with your feelings for Spelldon awww. And he doesn't even act like he needs them to be reciprocated. Like, duh we all know what he's doing, but he never spells (pun unintentional but fully embraced) it out. The bracelet too from the Val's rose is a sweet little detail. Especially since they chose to give us THAT angle for that panel. They wanted us to see that in this moment. Valentine voicing his development is perfect. He really has grown and learned so much. SPELLDON WHAT?????? NOOOOO! and Val immediately regretting this whole thing because oh nooo Spelldon won't love him (🤨)

pg. 9: Okay Spelldon you trickster. "You really think i'd let you excise your emotions like that" (okay mom) "Yes? I asked you to!" Bro. That's super sweet though, he's been looking out for him this whole time, but couldn't just tell him no. Awww he wanted to spend time with him. AWWW VAL. I'm surprised Val didn't feel the love but maybe i've been reading his powers wrong. And then we have The Moment™ of course. Aww

pg. 10: Aw he and Drac made up. I'm glad they got closure from everything (the Pit Incident... and everything beforehand). WOAH val is so pretty, that turning panel??? Spelldon watching silently from the sidelines all proud. We have to remember that he met Spelldon BEFORE Whisp (and long before the two of them had their makeshift therapy sessions), and the day of the dance (where he failed his attempt to fix everything) from the original comics. He was still a mess then. He has been here since then, and got to see him grow. KIERAN VALENTINE FULL NAME RAHHHH COME OUT YE BLACK AND TANS COME OUT AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN🇮🇪💪i'm glad they're pushing that because so many people think Valentine is his full name, it's actually crazy. Whisp wanting to meet Spelldon 👀 I need to see that now too! And Val ignoring her to hold Spelldon's hands, he's so clingy. I guess he has been this entire time with his yapping. And they walk into the sunset!!!

THE END!!!

I don't know if I wrote WAYYY too much, but I wanted to make sure I gave my full reaction (because lets face it, we've been starved for a while. thats why I got into fanfic like three-ish years ago). The notes got progressively longer as I went 😭

All in all I absolutely adore the comic. It's such a sweet glimpse into Valentine's growth and development, and I'm so glad to finally have a real Spelldon. The entire thing is such a good slice-of-life story that just feels calm and domestic and unforced, like there is no antagonist or unneeded tension to force things along. It's just Spell and Val.

[nocreativityfornames]

Hello! Um, I don't know how welcome you are to asks but I kinda wanted to bring up this little headcanon I have of Michael that you may or may not find interesting? Iv posted about it somewhere on my blog, but to summarize it, here

Consider the potential of a Teenage Michael!

Hear me out! I just think there is a lot of potential, not only angst wise but also narrative wise.

I just love the idea of the head angel of the celetial relm being this scrawny teenage boy with issues.

Not only is he a teenager with the responsibility of being the mature older brother to the other angels, therefore, having to step up more in the absence of lucifer, but also having a lowkey abusive father who burdens him with religious trauma.

And I just loove the trope where it's like:

The younger siblings stays behind with abusive parents left to take care of the rest of their family because their older sibling left to live a healthier life. And resentment builds because they think their older sibling abomdoned them.

Also considering how I don't think the devs will make him a villian, I think it would make Michael look way more sympathetic if he was on the younger side.

Is this accurate to what the game has established Michael to be? Not really but they've retconned things before. Not that I'd ever think they'd go along with a concept like this.

Anyways I'm writing this at like 11pm so exuse the spelling errors, I'm so tired 🥲.

Ps. I really like your content :D

I actually REALLY like that, and the angst oh boy :")

I mean, looking back to NB S1 (spoilers!!!) with this in mind makes everything so much sadder. Like how he disguised himself as Raphael just to visit the others in the Devildom because he missed them and didn't know how to interact with them as himself. And also him giving Lucifer that ultimatum to either come back or make the Devildom an enemy of the Celestial Realm as a last attempt to bring his older brother and brothers back (even though deep down he knew they'd refuse) because he was struggling to step up and handle things on his own after he left, especially since the trauma of the war was still fresh for everyone (including himself) and he had to look after the traumatized part of the family that stayed, like you said.

Which is... heartbreaking.

Funny thing though: I always thought Michael to be the oldest one (or them being twins) and your ask made me start thinking about how that would play out in this scenario with the og game stuff in mind.

So like, the older sibling carrying resentment while also being happy for the youngest because they got tired of the abuse and had the courage to stand up to their parent and leave to have a happier life when he couldn't because he still feels tied to that parent and that it's his responsibility and duty to stay with them no matter what (think of Dean and Sam from SPN, who have this exact dynamic and a very complicated relationship with their father).

And then there's the whole thing about Michael being the one to cast out Lucifer and his brothers from the Celestial Realm, which only adds to this. It's like: the younger brother stood up to his father and was met with rage, so the oldest stepped up and to avoid something even worse from happening kicked him out of the house himself.

(@luckykittysshowerthoughts has an amazing post about this that has never left my mind ever since I read it and I recommend everyone reading it)

So we fast-forward to years and years later where the oldest is still living with their parents looking after the siblings who didn't leave while missing his younger brother, worrying for him, and wanting to know how he's doing. So he tries his best to stay in contact and know what's happening but since their relationship has been strained ever since what happened (because from the youngest's POV his older brother betrayed him by not taking his side and kicking him out of the house, which I think was how Lucifer felt for a long time before he saw the bigger picture as he got older) the youngest rejects his attempts at trying to contact him and the oldest's only way to know how he's doing is by sending his other siblings to check up on him or contact the people close to him.

Does he do it to the point where it gets annoying? Yes. Is his constant need to know how his brother is doing making said brother feel even more frustrated with him and only driving him further away? Yes. Would it have been better if he had left the brother alone and waited for him to reach out on his own? Yes. But he can't find it in himself to do that because he'd worry too much and miss him even more.

Tbh, I can see both of these scenarios being true together. So younger Michael right after the fall is still bitter and doesn't want to admit that he misses Lucifer and his brothers (he didn't seem to like to hear that Luke thought he missed them when talking to him as Raphael) and later accepting that and leaving a lot of that resentment behind to just be happy for them and miss them, wanting to know how they're doing often, etc.

So I definitely don't see him as evil either, but more of a broken younger/older sibling who wants to reconnect with his family and whose intentions are good but don't translate very well in his method of doing things.

Sorry for going on my own rambling here, lol

And I'm more than fine with asks, I love discussing stuff about the game and the characters <3

[missycolorful]

omgg, i saw a few posts about the glass child stuff but never really got too into it bc i felt like they were always missing something. i wasn't really sure what that was until i saw your post, where you mentioned lullahs abandonment issues, and everything just clicked. it just all makes sense now bc i know one of the biggest proponents to the "chays STILL a glass child" is qphils seemingly continuing to prioritize lullah over chay, when looking back at most of said moments it does feel more like a dad making sure the child who was abandoned doesnt feel like that ever again. i also feel like some of the issues come with qphils falling into habits, lullah hasn't really needed extra help in a while, but i don't feel as if that notion has fully into qphils mind yet. i would just love if both lullah and chay got one on one time with qphil bc i love them together, but i think each of them often times holds something back for the others' sake, y'know? lullah and bads and/or chay and tubbos recent solo hangouts kinda showcase the difference in dynamic. anyways, tl;dr you have amazing insight and an attention to detail that i, and i feel like a majority of others, missed out on, and i would love to see more character analysis/insights done by you, if you're interested of course!

oh my goodness, thank you you're far too kind, haha!! 😭

yeah, tbh, I'm kinda surprised that part of Phil's reasoning was either not considered or even ignored. When he mentioned them "being alone," Tallulah's abandonment issues instantly came to mind; it's a huge part of her arc, y'know? So, yeah I can't see this as him accommodating Lullah's disabilities while disregarding Chay; rather, it was him thinking about her literal trauma. If it were switched (Chay had these issues, not Lullah), Phil would go for him in a heartbeat. Why people spun it as "he wasn't worried about Chay" is wild to me.

i also feel like some of the issues come with qphils falling into habits,

mhhm, that's about the crux of it. Yes, q!Phil has trained Tallulah in PVP , and neither he nor Chay recently hover over her during pvp, but when it comes to adjusting to how much his kids have changed, we're still getting there. And not just cuz of, like I said, being separated during Purgatory makes it hard for Phil to grasp what they went through. But bc he himself isn't quite in tune with his own emotions/trauma. It's a detriment to helping his children and growing as a parent, and is part of his own character growth that he is surely yet steadily going through.

And YES! I'd LOVE for the kids to have one-on-ones with Philza. They usually come in pairs, which y'know, is what makes a lot of these issues so difficult. The kids don't have time to be alone with their father, bc they're typically online with him at the same time. I crave that sole father/son bonding, not just bc they need it, but because I love their dynamic so much <3

tbh, i usually limit my character analysis to my main POV, sometimes others if I feel confident enough (i.e. Missa, Baghera). Last thing I wanna do is write analysis that does injustice to a character - any cc!phil fan knows this pain, both in this fandom and others lol! and also some characters I'm admittedly… kinda scared to talk about bc some fans get uber defensive if you talk about any of their negative traits; all fanbases have people like this, of course, crows are NO exception, but this one specifically just… I'd need to be prompted to discuss this character whom I won't specify haha. regardless, if you or anyone else ever wants to ask about my insights on qsmp characters, whether q!Phil or others, I'm more than willing to at least give it a try. thank you again! :)

[tryingtimi]

Books of 2024 (2023 or close to it)

Thank you for the tag @barbex it sounds like a fun one hehe. 9 books should be listed that were read in the last 12 months (or alternatively liked when you read it) if I'm right. And when I read the rules I had the same reaction: mind went blank on if I ever read a single book lol. Luckily I keep track of my reading because I like watching them back.

No pressure tagging: @aninkwellofnectar, @bloodlessheirbyjacques, @the-void-writes, @circa-specturgia, @aalinaaaaaa, @dyrewrites, @italiangothicwriteblr, @cherrybombfangirlwrites, @blind-the-winds and anyone who wants to join.

All of the listed were read last year and which I liked especially.

When The Stars Alight by Camilla Andrew (@aninkwellofnectar). Bi MC, gaslamp fantasy, gothic, court intrigue, delicious spice

You've already seen this many times on my page, because I really enjoyed this book and it was a window to many things I didn't know I'd enjoy in a story. So many beautiful description, beautifully emotional and sexy sex, rarely seen complex character dynamics and so much mouth watering food.

Éjféli Iskolák (Midnight Schools) by Attila Veres. lovecraftian horror set in Budapest

It's a horror short story collection by a hungarian author who I got recommended by a collegue. Attila Veres has a talent to capture that melancholic, sometimes surrelistic feeling living in Budapest which makes his work so authentic. But also very Big Ew for all the horroristic shit he created (in the best way.) My favourite one was the 'Porn After Midnight'.

Yumi and The Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanders. M/F romance focus, sci-fi/fantasy, anime-esque

You all know I'm a Sanderson trash. And the fact I, the slowest reader on the earth, read this book in two days, proved that very much lol. It felt like watching an anime, I swear to god. There's magic, time travel kinda thing, pretty innocent humour, loads of painting in it.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickenes. christmas nostalgia, historical fiction?

We all know this, but I'm very behind on classics book-wise so I began to catch up last year. Espceially because I love the animated movie so much. It was a lovely and educative read.

Y/N by Esther Yi. litfic, kpop fandom and industry satire basically, comteporary

It was one of my favourites from last year tbh, because I couldn't put down the damn e-reader. A very strange little read, 100% unhinged, but made me realise I might enjoy litfic, so I'll read more this year. Also, the story is not "summarizable" but the fact that this is the first two review on GoodReads tells a lot I think: reading this feels like that one night when i accidentally smoked weed for the first time I sort of feel like I just hallucinated this entire thing Yeah.

Even Though I Knew The End by C. L. Polk. F/F romance, fantasy, novella

Lesbian magical detective. Done, sold. I wanted to read this a while now, and it did not disappoint. It gave exactly what it promised. Fast paced little adventure with some humour and a lovely couple. Not a life-chaning read but as I mentioned, it gave what it promised. I enjoyed it anyway.

Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice. M/M romance kinda, supernatural, philosophical

Finally started to read the books my all time favourite movies are made of. Loved every bits of this, though sometimes it got way too wordy or I don't even know what. Overall though, it got me. Full of contemplation about human nature, God (though I could do a bit less without that) and death, plus the iconic vampire husbands and their arguments. It's just a real long broody monologue of Louis tbh. I'm fine with that it seems, though.

Legend & Lattes by Travis Baldree. F/F romance (not focus), cosy fantasy

Read pretty fast too. It's very much what it promises also. Cosy, and relaxing, and endearing. Love the concept of how a stoic warrior woman can settle finally and do something other than fighting. It was cute.

Tress of The Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. M/F romance (not that important i think), cosy fantasy, Princess Bride-vibes

Yes, I got all the secret project, because of course I would. This one was also something like Legends & Lattes imo. In Sanderson style tho. I'm also loving when the narrator is a third person telling the story. Those are always fun. Oh and the story had many cuteness, humour and Our Flag Means Death kinda pirates.

[hiskillingjar]

omg i'm getting the domestic strade worm in my brain now.......do you have any thoughts on it? i'd love to read them :)

GAHHHHH HEADS IN MY HANDS whyyyyyy why would you let me think about this

fine. take my deeply self indulgent and insane domestic strade/mc (meeeee :3) headcanons/plans if i ever fucking write it

so like. the underlying thesis of the domestic dynamic is "the worst possible family you could think of"

as mc gets integrated into the existing strade/ren dynamic as it is, they basically become this. caretaker for the two of them

they cook (or help ren to), they clean, they...relieve stress, they help out with streams

as a side, i'm a video editor as a hobby so i like to imagine editing strade's streams into liveleak videos because i'm #insane <3 (better than being an occasional star though)

strade basically views them as a demented little housewife who talks back sometimes but is generally pretty whipped (and a total suck up)

and they're good at it too! they're learning how to speak german, they know how to cook his favourite meals, they don't even complain when he drinks too much in front of the tv after a late night (and he has a lot of them)

they're even sweet enough to sit in his lap and keep quiet when he does! how cute <3

(definitely goes upstairs and fucks them after a good night in the basement. it's unfair to waste his urges, after all <3)

ren is pretty hot and cold with mc so their dynamic is either bad (being jealous of the new toy) or "good" (them fucking in the ickiest fauxcest kind of way)

and like. time goes on and strade ages out of streaming, giving ren the chance to take over while he manages things

ren's ecstatic about this and develops into 'fox' very quickly. making his master so proud <3

and mc is past the point of any kind of saving and likes their role too much anyway, and strade stepping down lets him focus on the two of them!

sooooo all and all, after however many years, mc is still the mommy caretaker for the two, ren is the provider and strade is the daddy looming patriarch who keeps them both whipped and fuck drunk and happy

they're like a hideously fucked up kind of family <3

oh also cannibalism happens. just super casual like.

[bumblingbabooshka]

You want Tuvok asks?? Okay, I'll send some from time to time now lol

Can I have some uhhh Tuvok & Kes mentoring relationship analysis and maybe hcs?

Personally, I think... we all know Kes sees parts of her father in Tuvok etc right but hc that Tuvok also sees parts of Asil in Kes? Anyway, your turn. Don't worry about writing "too much", no such thing when it comes to you!!

YEAAAH TUVOK ASK!!! I hide it well so few people know this but I actually like Tuvok quite a bit so this ask was very much welcome, thank you!! <3

KES!!!! Tuvok's one true daughter (other than Asil, his actual one true daughter) in my mind!!!! I wish more of the show actually showed their mentorship. Like him and Kes on an away mission or there being a 'student becomes the teacher' moment as her powers grow. I imagine a scene where Kes teaches a patient who's in pain a breathing technique to calm him down as she bandages him up and revealing that Tuvok taught her that technique! I also like the thought of aliens mistaking them for being the same species due to their pointed ears and telepathic abilities. The Kes-Tuvok dynamic also provides more opportunities to learn about their families and upbringings and values since they both seem like fairly introspective people. I can imagine Kes earnestly wanting to learn about and engage with Vulcan culture. That's a similarity between her and Neelix, a fascination with others, but Kes is calmer and Tuvok would be more open to talking with her about it because he knows she's not gonna make a big fuss, hehehe~ I would put a scene in the Elogium episode where she talked to Tuvok about it and he mentioned (obliquely) the pon farr and tried to comfort her. (She promises to keep this a secret - it's not to be spoken about!) There'd also be some little tidbits about his kids...hate that the only thing we really know about them is that there are four, Sek studies music and they were "well behaved" as children. And that last bit might be an exaggeration on Tuvok's part. I wish Kes was just in general more part of the crew. She's really only ever seen in sickbay even though she was introduced as very adventurous and curious and wanting to "peer into every crack in the universe". I can imagine a scene where Kes is doing something dangerous and Tuvok's watching her and Janeway's like "haha it's nervewracking, sitting back and doing nothing isn't it?" and Tuvok's like "I have no nerves to 'wrack', captain but this experience is....familiar." <- Sometimes you have to watch your kids fuck around so they can find out Episode where Kes & Tuvok are able to telepathically communicate despite being in completely different areas of the ship and so are able to coordinate and fight back against some invading aliens. I'd add a continuing subplot between Harry & Kes where they are like the unofficial/official proteges of Janeway and Tuvok respectively and playfully tease each other or argue about it. Secretly competitive A+ students though they're motivated by different things. Kes by her curiosity and Harry by a desire to prove himself.

I can imagine them having a moment where they talk about the weirdness of aging differently from everyone else. <- Episode where Kes is frustrated with everyone treating her like a kid. Tuvok doesn't experience this of course but I do wonder about a Vulcan's view on aging while surrounded by people who are both significantly younger than you but also your peers? This conversation veers quickly into death and loss. Kes who will die naturally long before anyone else and Tuvok who will die naturally long after everyone else. Scene where Kes tries to get the doctor to meditate (comedy) Scene where Kes learns how to telepathically shift the air so that she can hover above the ground. (comedy, it's not very useful except if they need to scout something she can slowly 'fly' high enough to see it but it takes SO much energy.) I can imagine Tuvok seeing a lot of his own children in Kes. I imagine having to teach your children how to use their telepathic powers is a near lifelong process for a Vulcan which he relives in his formal mentorship with Kes. Kes tells Janeway that Tuvok is "devoted to" T'Pel which makes me imagine him talking to Kes about her...showing how close they are, that he trusts her with that information and feels comfortable talking about his family to her...or that Kes is observant enough to pick up on the devotion he feels even though he doesn't divulge much. Waaa. Headcanon that Tuvok keeps a candle burning for Kes even several years after her departure and thinks about her often, the same way he thinks of his family. Headcanon that very occasionally Tuvok will be able to 'feel' Kes' presence. (Usually when he's alone) He attempts at times to communicate with her if she is 'around' long enough but whatever he gets in return he is not able to parse. He wonders if he ever will be. He's grateful that she tries regardless. One time he feels it when with Neelix is able to perform a sort of double telepathic telephone where Neelix can receive the message as well: He is similarly unable to parse it but he cries tears of joy anyway. Tuvok doesn't understand why but Neelix says it's ok so fine. Tuvok is the only person besides the doctor who Kes can talk about her weird medical dead people surgery stuff with!! (He isn't particularly eager but he's not gonna turn her away). There's awkwardness between them after the Tuvix situation (Because Tuvix was attracted to her) but they clear it up (Tuvok is not attracted to her) and everything's fine again. Kes teaches Tuvok how to sew. Tuvok later uses this to mend Naomi's flotter doll and also create a parachute during some sort of death defying stunt he has to pull along with the rest of the crew. Kes has medical papers published in Voyager's database which are widely circulated upon reaching the alpha quadrant and are used frequently by Tom when he has to do a medical thing because Kes created 'Tom Notes' which are just simplifying a bunch of the medical jargon in many of Voyager's papers. She called them 'Tom Notes' bc he's the only nurse and definitely not to poke fun <3 <- She's mischievous as she is helpful! Tuvok has seen her snacking on bugs multiple times as they tend to the plants in the airponics bay and he does think it's weird but he doesn't comment on it so she thinks he hasn't seen v_v

[eluxcastar]

thinks are being thunked 🧐 GREATLY influenced by the sexiest white suit in all of mankind worn by the prettiest genshin man EVER

which specifically got me thinking about Lord Regrator himself in a pair of evil and sophisticated suit 😩 completing the look with a CANE. Do you know how sexy it is for men with glasses to have Canes? i just KNOW that bastard has commissioned separate and uniquely-designed walking canes to match each of his outfits. Speaking of which, im going to throw my little male reader into this too, because why not. I'd like to think Pantalone is the kind of dude who believes 'subtly one-upping' his business partners and negotiators, to be the second-most satisfying thing in the world. First being a successful profitable endeavor. A petty bitch who does a background search on his wealthy clients before meetings, "oh it's an inazuman entrepreneur?" Suddenly he's wearing the grandest flowing robes befitting a (Japanese) king. "a group from sumeru?" bro is about to dress like a Desi maharaja. Pantalone CAN, infact, outdo the doers. 😏😋 In this case; (pre-relationship) where the harbinger dons an imposingly HOT suit- complete with priceless accessories to flaunt right under the noses of his newest clients from Fontaine. Our reader (and a couple other lawyers and bankers) also attend this meeting and has to try so hard not to shamelessly eye Pantalone in front of everybody. (he succeeds. Because distractions = disappointments. And you DON'T want to disappoint the harbinger. Sometimes working under him means Fear > Horny)

skkskskskks I feel like I want to pin down the dynamic like: Reader (praying) : I am a pious fatui. No temptation can stray me from my path of duty. Pantalone (yes i hc him to occasionally use a casual petname. Not affectionate, but more smug) : What was that, my dear? Reader : 😩😭💦😳🔥😲🤤😔😩🥴😵

I've been hoarding this ask for months because I love it, and I was gonna write something short for it, but I finally decided I wanna fuss over it instead cause OMG UWEGDUYF Pantalone trying to one-up his associates is so real you can't convince me he isn't lowkey envious and depending on how you spin it kind of an attention whore but subtly like, if people aren't taking notice of him he takes that as a sign to work HARDER

especially his darling cause, like, who else should get their attention?? HE deserves that, and he damn well knows he's gonna get it anyway, but he's gotta please them too, even before their relationship where it's like a teasing thing cause there's no way he doesn't notice and take advantage of the attention to bask in it a little. he's hot and he knows it. someone called him the dom's dom one day and that's so REAL he IS AND HE KNOWS IT

also I'm working on your Kaveh request my child it's coming I swear