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justsomerandomfanfic · 1 year

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may I ask for a matchup, please (matchups for both eras in HP, the MCU, and DC/Gothman?) Thank you!

I'm 20 years old, aquarius, Hufflepuff with gryffindor and slytherin tendencies, straight and Poly with a guys only preference and I go by she/her pronouns! And currently I am about to graduate with a diploma for media engineering

I also stand about at 5'4" based on my last height take!As for my personality, the thing is that I know more about the best aspects of my personality the worst I only know a few.

POSITIVE/Negative TRAITS: For a start, I think of myself as someone who is kind, strong, nice, humble and loyal. I like helping people out as much as possible and try to be open-minded and understanding. I'm usually sarcastic but likes to crack a joke at times. I also stick to my personal opinions but I'm happy to learn from a mistake, if I'm being spoken to nicely and not yelled at. I would also do anything for my loved ones but I have a hard time showing it, I'm also very understanding and will stand up for what's right and fight someone for them and I won't hesitate to defend the person or call them out on their bullshit while remaining respectful.

The negative is that sometimes my head is up in the cloud as I tend to daydream alot.i tend to be too talkie so people had to tell me to stop at times.

But that usually depends on the person, as much as possible, I try to be neutral else I will beat thier ass if they are getting more disrespectful

I'm also very introverted and mostly pefer to dive into books and my art but still extrovert when i go out , I also have this rebellious streak but not super rebellious.

HOBBIES:

I have like a LOT of them. Most of them are artistic exploitations such as drawing, listening to music ,writing stories and collect stuff figurines and books but I'm usually seen on my phone and being on social media like tiktok or I'm playing video games (murder mystery, hogwarts awaked) I'm also very particularly fond of learning new things, like shistory and special languages like flower languages....and more learing about magical creatures.

Thank you so much for requesting a Matchup!! I hope you enjoy it! <333

Harry Potter (Marauders Era);

Remus Lupin:

🐾 You met Remus right after graduation while wandering an old bookshop

🐾 You were walking down rows and rows of bookshelves, before turning a corner and almost bumping into Remus; both of you apologizing profusely, but thankfully no one got hurt

🐾 Though you graduated from the school two years ago, you were pretty good at faces, and you almost instantly recognized Remus from Hogwarts, him having been in three of your classes, Potions and DADA

🐾 Remus had instantly recognized you, him having a crush on you since his fourth year, but he never did anything about it, not even telling his Marauder friends; he thought after graduating that he'd never see you again and thought that his little crush would go away, but after seeing you, Remus realized that he never got over you (his crush came back full storm)

🐾 You had found Remus adorable, his words getting all messed up when he spoke to you, him muttering and fidgeting with his lanky fingers, you simply smiled, before asking if he wanted to join you for lunch; Remus nervously said yes

🐾 The lunch went swimmingly, talking about the good ol' days in Hogwarts (though it was only a few years ago), and talking about your lives, likes, and dislikes; the both of you could feel some sort of connection between you two

🐾 After that, you both stayed in contact, making sure to meet up and hang out once in a while, when you both weren't busy or working; you both were quickly growing feelings for one another, and the two of your get-togethers slowly turned into dates, that's to be sure

🐾 Remus's crush on you definitely grew to one of love, he loved how much you loved reading, writing, and listening to music; Remus loved how caring and understanding you were, even when it came to his furry little problem

🐾 You found Remus incredibly sweet and charming, you loved how loyal and kind he was; he always knew how to calm you down if anything was wrong and always loved to just sit and read a book with you

🐾 Together, you two were practically attached to the hip, always together reading or just spending time together in some way; the two of you would do everything together, and always supported each other, making sure each other are healthy and well-minded, and, most of all, loved

Harry Potter (Lightning Era);

Neville Longbottom:

🌹 You met Neville when you join Hogwarts as the new Muggle Studies and History professor, having sat next to him during meals and finding him pretty handsome

🌹 You later found out that he was the Herbology Professor, and had a fascination and love for anything green and plant-y; you found this adorable and instantly wanted to get to know him

🌹 It took a while until you got up the courage to talk to the teacher, but after a bit of self-reassurance and daydreaming, you finally spoke to the professor during lunch; you both introduced yourselves and soon enough, a friendship blossomed

🌹 When you both didn't have classes, the two of you would do your period planning and homework correcting together, talking about plants, students, and even some of your hobbies

🌹 You had once given Neville a drawing of one of Neville's favorite plants for his birthday, and he loved it; that was the day he realized he really like you, in fact, he thought he might love you

🌹 You were smitten with the Herbology professor, finding him sweet and such a gentleman, his green eyes reminded you of the many plants that he adored and his brown hair reminded you of the dirt they were often planted in; he was amazingly gorgeous, and you were shocked that he didn't have a partner already

🌹 One day, while you were in class with your third-year students, teaching them about Muggle history, an owl flew through your open window, carrying a bouquet of beautiful flowers; you gasped, seeing them, and your students watching with curiosity as you read the small note, 'I grew these for you, I hope you like them. I was wondering if you would like to join me at Hogsmeade tomorrow after afternoon classes? - Sincerely, Neville'

🌹 Neville was a bit nervous, waiting outside of Three Broomsticks Inn, growing more and more nervous as he waited, his hands stuffed into his long, dark green robes; at the sound of his name, he turned, smiling as he watched you strut over to him, a bright smile on your face; he heart was singing

🌹 As the days and weeks went on, you and Neville finally became an item, holding hands as Neville walks you to your classroom, sharing sweet chaste kisses before heading to your professor dorms, and having picnics in the greenhouse together

🌹 Together, you and Neville are two peas in a pod, you are the stem to his flowers, the earmuffs to his mandrake, and you had captured his heart, you are his life; and you felt the same, finding your Neville to be your knight in shining armor, your lion, your brave prince, and you loved him wholeheartedly

Marvel;

Steve Rogers:

⭐ You met Steve when you joined the Avengers since Fury had found that you had an amazing set of powers

⭐ Steve was then in charge of training you, making sure you were ready for any mission, and Natasha would help too, putting you under her wing; you quickly became friends because of that

⭐ You were a bit intimidated by the Captain America, but also found him marvelous, amazed by his every move; from the way he moved, fought, talked, and the way his hair just seemed to flow, gorgeous (not to forget that America's booty he had)

⭐ Long story short, you had been daydreaming about a certain Captain and his cake when he broke you out of that daydream daze, and yes, you were mighty embarrassed, and Steve was mighty confused, but told you to make sure you are aware of your surrounding; Steve was mostly concerned that you'd get injured by not paying attention

⭐ Believe it or not, Steve really liked you, a lot really, when he first saw you, he thought you were really pretty, really pretty; but he pushed his feelings away since you were a coworker now and he didn't want to make you uncomfortable

⭐ But, it seemed that Steve wasn't too good at hiding his attraction for you, since Tony and Bucky noticed immediately, instantly teasing him about it, they even tried to get him to ask you out; Tony's rambling wasn't really helping that case, but once he left and Bucky gave Steve a talking to, Steve finally gained the courage to ask you out on a nice date

⭐ When he asked you, of course, you said yes, and Steve made sure to take you to this nice little diner where the two of you ate old fashion burgers and chocolate and vanilla shakes; there the two of you bonded over your love for drawing, and Steve told you that he'd love to see your work, and you said the same

⭐ After the two of you started dating and made if official, some days Steve would find his shield missing, but he knew where it was, or really, who took it; you loved to prank Steve, taking his shield and pretending to be Steve, lowering your voice and doing the pledge of allegiance, Steve would always find you and thought you were adorable, he could never be angry at you

⭐ Steve finds you incredible, he loves how much you care for others like him, and are always so sweet and how funny you are, he loves just spending time with you, reading and drawing with you, (drawing you specifically); you were sunshine on a gloomy day

⭐ You and Steve are best friends, soulmates, and there was nothing that could tear the both of you apart; you were both perfect for each other

DC;

Clark Kent:

⛅ You met Clark when you joined the Daily Planet as the new assistant to Mr. White, giving him his paperwork, getting him to sign something, or he'd just asking you to get him a coffee; your job seemed easy, but it really wasn't

⛅ You had wanted to be the newspaper editor, you loved reading the newspaper and thought editing it would be a fun job, but they weren't hiring an editor and so you became an assistant, and that was when you met Clark

⛅ You were rushing with paperwork in your arms and went straight into Mr. White's office, accidentally interrupting his and Clark's conversation; it was awkward and you apologized, hoping you weren't going to be fired after a week, but you were in luck, Clark saved the day

⛅ Clark introduced himself, as the Daily Planet journalist, and you were in awe, he was so handsome; how come his hair was so perfect, and his eyes were so stunning, and his teeth were so gleaming? Amazing

⛅ Clark found you just as amazing, he loved how sweet you seemed, and even complimented your little sketches and doodles on your notebook cover that you held in your arms; you two were having a lovely time just talking before Mr. White asked the two of you to leave

⛅ It didn't take long before you started daydreaming about the amazing Clark Kent, thinking about his hair and how soft it look, and the way his eyes shimmered and his voice, so dreamy; you wanted to daydream more about him but you had to get back to work

⛅ Only a couple weeks later, Clark asked you out for lunch, and so did your relationship begin, from cute little dates during lunch and wondering why Clark was rushing off early after you heard sirens, you thought he was perfect nonetheless

⛅ You began to get a bit suspicious, when Clark would run off during dates or just hanging out, but you sort of put the puzzle pieces together, realizing Clark was Superman all along; which was pretty cool to you, since a couple days after you moved to Metropolis, you were saved by the man

⛅ The two of you would spend as much time with each other as possible since he'd sometimes have to go and save the day, but the two of you would spend it wisely; reading together in each other's arms, drawing sketches of each other, playing video games (though Clark's really bad at it, except Mario Kart, he always wins), and showing Clark your favorite TikToks

⛅ You and Clark are perfect, the idol relationship, the number one couple; Clark is your hero and you love him to the moon and back, and Clark was feeling the same, he'd do anything for you, just say it

Gotham;

James Gordan:

🔫 You met James (Jim) Gordan when you were brought into the GPD for probably knowing information on some criminal, but they got the wrong person, you didn't know anything about any criminal; they didn't believe you though, which was annoying

🔫 They looked through your stuff, your phone, and they knew that you had to have something to do with the recent crimes that have been happening, you must have been involved, but you weren't, you kept telling them; you really didn't have any involvement

🔫 When Jim got hold of the news that some cops captured an informant of some high-up criminal, Jim wanted to have a go and interrogate the person, thinking you were this hard criminal; when he saw you, looking small in the metal chair, he realized his coworkers have got the wrong person

🔫 Not saying that Jim didn't think you could be a criminal, you could've been, anyone can, but you just had this aura, that you weren't a terrible person, you didn't seem like you would intentionally hurt someone, and so he let you go, but not before giving you his number in case you needed anything

🔫 You did call, a lot later, but you called Jim and asked him for help, but guess what, someone had ransacked your place and you didn't feel safe, and it turns out because the cops had plastered your face in the newspaper about how they caught an informant, you were now a target, a big yay on the police's end 🙄

🔫 Jim, as an apology for putting you in danger, become your personal bodyguard, making sure you were alright and giving you a place to stay; it was awkward at first, but you got used to staying in Jim's room while he took the couch, no matter how many time you said you'd take the couch

🔫 Slowly, and awkwardly, the two of you bonded and got used to each other, to a point that there weren't weird silences anymore and the two of you gradually became friends; your crush on him didn't start until you woke up to breakfast made and a note from Jim telling you that he had bought you your favorite cookies; they were in the cupboard

🔫 Jim really liked you, growing a crush on you as well, after coming home to find dinner made, and you asleep on the couch, a book open in your lap; Jim smiled as he picked you up and took you back to his bed, making sure you were comfortable and all tucked in

🔫 There was no confession, but you both somehow understood and realized that the two of you did feel the same, the two of you holding hands and kissing after watching your favorite movie; it was magical

🔫 In the end, you made Jim a better person, really, and Jim thought you were the best person that has ever come into his life; the two of you were there for each other, supported each other, and would always love each other

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castle-in-the-air0 · 1 year

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Hello my love! Currently re-reading tmttw because I have no self control and I just have a few questions — more so to understand you as a writer than anything else, in truth. First, do you draw more inspiration from Book Canon or Show Canon? The complexity with which you write Jaime and Tywin in terms of their prioritising of legacy VS family is one of my absolute favourite things ever and I see hints of the book characterisation. Cersei is another character you write so well, I am absolutely floored with how you manage to capture the way she stitches narcissism and love into this multi-dimensional hybrid!

Anyways, lemme chill with the fangirling (I literally just now downloaded tumblr and made this account just to rant to you about this fic LMFAO)

My other question is also to do with dynamics, but moreso with which ones you're excited to delve into and further explore. Any little headcanons you can feed us about Alysanne's relationships with the people in her life? Targs, Starks, maybe even my baby boy Gendry? Idk lmfaooo im just way too hyped rn

Hello! So sorry for how long it took me to reply to this, but I wanted to make sure I had time to really think about it. And you downloaded tumblr just to send this???? Excuse me while I go cry, I'm blushing and kicking my feet fr.

(also, you're rereading??? that's so sweet and i'm actually for real crying)

I LIVE for questions like these, so thank you so so much for sending it in! I think I probably unconsciously draw from show cannon more, just because it was my first exposure to asoiaf and I've rewatched the show more than I've read the books. But I do try to keep a healthy mix of both! I always turn to the wiki based off the books, as well.

And I'm absolutely !!!!! that you think I write Cersei well 🥺 She's one of my favorites to write and her level of unhinged is so entertaining, so thank you from the bottom of my heart! Jaime and Tywin are a hard balance to strike, and I do work hard to capture them so thank you for that as well!

I think that Tywin will always put legacy above family, given his father and the way he detests him. It's similar with Jaime, I think, who grew up with a father who put legacy over family and it's something that he desperately wishes to not repeat, but ends up playing into anyhow. If there's one thing that asoiaf does well it's generational trauma and that cycle, and in this AU it's almost fallen to Alysanne to break the cycle in her family as we know Joffrey won't. Perhaps Tommen and Myrcella will as well, but that remains to be seen.

And Alysanne definitely feels this dynamic and pressure (here we go into my little head cannons! thank you for asking me this I'm so excited to delve into this). I think that had she not gone north, she 100% would have followed in the path of Jaime and Tywin. Not only does she have Tywin's legacy weighing down on her, but the entirety of the Targaryen legacy. We already see her efforts to break away, it would have been worse under Tywin's direct influence. Having a healthy influence (Starks 😊) for sure curbed that.

I mean, before she learned of who exactly her grandfather was, she idolized him. Even after she discovered what he’d done to Elia and Rhaenys (and Aegon, so she thought), she had a difficult time equating one of the only members of her family to come visit her with this monster from the history books. It wasn’t until she was older that her disdain for him grew, once she realized he only saw her as a pawn.

And that brings us to Jaime. Alysanne is more like her father than she cares to admit to herself. They both are utterly devoted to those they love, and both she and her father reflect both sides of that coin in a way. With Alysanne and Robb it’s in a supportive manner, but with Jaime and Cersei it’s toxic. I think they’re also really similar in that they both have a deep desire to prove to Tywin that they’re more than his puppet. Jaime does this by refusing to remarry/joining the kingsguard, Alysanne by siding with the Starks and ultimately taking Casterly Rock. Jaime tries to not be his father, and Alysanne tries not to be like Jaime.

And CERSEI. Man, had Alysanne grown up in King’s Landing, they would have been such a fun combination to write. In her early years, Alysanne absolutely looked to Cersei as kind of a mother figure. Even when she visited King’s Landing from Winterfell, I liken her to season 1 Sansa in the way she viewed her aunt. Especially since Cersei views (or viewed, rather) Alysanne as a kind of “what could have been” had she married Rhaegar. A twisted part of her mind sees Alysanne as the daughter she never had with him. In a different world where Alysanne remained in King’s Landing, she 100% could have been Cersei’s puppet, at least for a time.

On a lighter note, Tyrion visited almost as often as Tywin. He’s a major reason why she was able to come to terms with who her grandfather really was. Tyrion is by far one of her favorite Lannister’s, and I’m really excited to reunite them. It was Tyrion who introduced her to the wonders of a good Dornish wine or Arbor gold, and the first time she got truly, horribly drunk was with him on her fourteenth name day, late at night in the godswood. I think they have a sort of kinship that goes beyond blood. He’s always felt discarded by his family, and Alysanne felt similar. It’s a large reason why Tyrion visited so often.

As for an even lighter, lighter note, the Starks hold Alysanne's entire heart (aside from dear Myrcella and Tommen). There's Bran and Rickon of course, who she's known for the entirety of their lives and who she loves as brothers. Sansa, and Arya of course. I think a part of Alysanne resents her father for letting her go, and part of her is thankful for the family she's found. And that same part feels guilt for what she's found.

There was a brief period in her early teens where she resented the easy family bond the Starks have, and that's the point she really bonded with Jon, who also felt some level of detached from them.

Thank you again for the question, I really enjoyed getting a chance to share some of this! I have so much more, so maybe I'll share those someday.

And thanks for reading (and rereading! it's crazy to think that people read, let alone CHOOSE to read again). Hopefully I'll have a new chapter out this week! It's so close to being done.

#thank you thank you thank you #with my whole heart #anon #answered

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adickaboutspoons · 1 year

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tag 9 people you want to get to know better!

you're the sweetest, @givefangapuppy !

Three Ships of All Time:

Ed/Stede: I mean, no question. They haunt my every hour. I love their love with all my might, mind, and soul. Because of them I'm writing for the first time in decades. Overly verbose meta! Fic of dubious quality! I'm all in, baby!

Clark Kent/Lex Luthor (Smallville): I can't not. I still think of these boys on the regular. True story - I turned in some CLex fanfic I had written with the names swapped for aliases for my final project for my senior creative writing seminar in English, because my prof was the kind of jackass who had "poet" listed as his specialty on his office door but couldn't recognize haikus when I submitted them earlier in the class, and I was damned if I was going to waste my time on something new for him instead of focusing on my senior thesis in psychology. I got As on both ;). Also, my wife and I met by writing CLex fan fic together. We will have been 20 years in March.

Juno Steel/Peter Nureyev (Penumbra Podcast): Hardboiled enby space detective with crippling insecurities that they mask with hypercompetency and witty quips? and their complicated homme-fatale master thief sometimes-lover? This show seriously ticks all my boxes.

First Ever Ship:

The Baroness/Destruo (G.I. Joe): I'd say this was a tie with my Lady J/Duke/Flint/Scarlett love-quadrangle, but I honestly don't remember whether that was in the text of the show, or just the shows I'd stage for myself with my brother's action figures. What can I say? I started shipping young. My 3rd grade teacher commented on one of my writing assignments that I should write soap operas when I grew up.

Last Song:

Burning by Alcazar. Sometimes a girl just wants to dance alone in her living room.

Last Film:

Free Guy. Guilty pleasure. Comfort movie.

Currently Reading:

Aunts Aren't Gentlemen by P.G. Wodehouse. Guilty pleasure. Comfort author. Wodehouse is my brain candy, my absolute fav. author (yes, I know I said 'House of Leaves' by Danielewski is my fav. book. I'm complicated), and I rarely go more than a few months without a re-read. This isn't one of my all-time faves, but it's delightful nonetheless and it's been awhile since I read it last. Bertie retires to the peace of a simple country living at the urgings of his doctor after coming down with a minor rash, but still manages to get himself tangled up in crime due to the machinations of his Aunt Dahlia and accidentally engaged to a local stunner against his will. Jeeves/Wooster would have made it into my OTP list above except Jeeves would never permit himself the liberty. :(

(Except, hear me out - "Jeeves and the Tie that Binds" was the American release of "Much Obliged, Jeeves", and is identical except for the ending, in which Jeeves reveals that he destroyed the pages enumerating Bertie's peccadillos from the Junior Ganymede club book - FOR WHICH HE COULD BE BLACKBALLED FROM THE CLUB -, because he doesn't want anyone but him to ever be Bertie's gentleman's personal gentleman but him, because there is a "tie that binds" them. I mean to say, really!)

Currently Watching:

The Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. Look. I have a 10-year-old. He loved ladybugs as a toddler so we started watching the show together when he was wee based on the title alone. But it's actually SO GOOD. And the new season recently dropped on Disney +. I get to talk to my kid about how it's a metaphor for how bad actors in the world exploit feelings of fear and isolation to radicalize otherwise normal people to their destructive agendas? And how there's real heroics to be found in community organization and creative problem solving? And about issues of consent, both romantic and platonic?

But also I have OPINIONS and SHIPS, and I'm DYING to talk to someone who is NOT my child about how Nathalie just SLAMMED Gabriel face down on the kitchen counter and leaned over him to hiss in his ear about how he betrayed her and I am IN TO IT, but I will NOT go anywhere near the fandom because I don't need the drama of being in a kid-show fandom as a full-ass adult. Send help.

Currently Consuming:

Some cucumber/lemon-infused water.

Currently Craving:

I mean, other than another grown-ass person to indulge my not-kid-friendly thoughts about a superhero cartoon? Feeling pretty satiated, thanks!

Tagging:

If you're down for it, my v. dears - @nicnacsnonsense @tisziny @chocolatepot @the-orange-in-red-silk @wearfinethingsalltoowell @okayestokapi @asneakyfox @batsarebetterthanpeople @red-sky-in-mourning and anyone else who feels so inclined ;)

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sage-nebula · 2 years

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T A I L S for the fandom questions!

You know the way to my heart 💜 Also very opportune because I'm currently playing through Tails' section of Frontiers and OHOHOHO . . . let me tell you, I owe Ian Flynn my life.

But anyway, onto the questions!

T - If you mostly have mlm or wlw ships, do you have any m/f ships?

Honestly I'm not sure which I have more of? Haha I don't ship based on the gender of the characters involved, but rather because of the chemistry between them. That said I do have some m/f ships, yes. For instance, baby's first OTP was Ash/Misty from Pokémon, along with Syaoran/Sakura from Cardcaptor Sakura. I also usually like the canon couples in Mike Schur shows and those tend to be m/f, such as Jim/Pam from The Office, Ben/Leslie from Parks & Rec, and Chidi/Eleanor in The Good Place. Link/Zelda from Breath of the Wild is another one I have, and for Sonic, I'm one of the few people on this earth that ships Shadow/Rouge, haha.

So yeah, I do have some! Like I said, it's about chemistry for me, especially since I'm not into smut so the gender of the characters really doesn't matter, haha.

A - Your current OTP

I mean, my tip-top favorite ship ever is MakoHaru from Free!, but they're kind of on the backburner right now, as happens whenever Free! is in another "we're definitely not making any more" hiatus. (They say this time was really ultra finally the last time, but they've also said that like three times before this, so. We'll see.) I don't really have a romance ship that I'm super passionate about right now. Instead, I'm currently deeply invested in the platonic unbreakable bond that is Sonic & Tails, for . . . honestly I've lost count of how many times I've been here, hahaha. But it's really back to basics for me, because before I cared about any romance in media, the Sonic & Tails brotherly bond was my first ever hyperfixation. I mean, my first fanfiction at the tender age of 6 was about them. It was awful, but it was about them. So no matter what else is going on in my life, if no other hyperfixation has got me, I know they got me. And I'm pretty happy about it right now. <3

I - Has tumblr caused you to stop liking any fandoms, if so, which and why

You know, I was going to say "V*ltron", but as godawful as that fandom was (and "godawful" does not begin to describe that fandom's sins), it wasn't them that made me stop liking the show—it was the show itself. Honestly, by the time I created a tumblr I was in my early twenties, and by that point I was already old enough that it was possible for me to enjoy something even if the fandom was awful. And I mean, I grew up a Sonic fan, and a Pokémon fan, and a Legend of Zelda fan. Those fandoms are notorious for being super negative and not fun places to be in big congregations. And yet, I still love all three of those things, because I know how to curate my experience and interact only with people that are fun to interact with. So no, I don't think tumblr made me dislike any fandom, at least not in the sense that "this game / show / whatever isn't fun for me anymore." The series itself has to no longer be fun for me to walk away from it. Not even the worst of fandoms can do that.

L - Your favorite fanartist/author gives you one request, what do you ask for

I would really just like Rose to please update Reconciliation, and if the third book is off the table (which would be more than understandable), then tell me what she had planned for it. But also I don't want to rush her, because every chapter is worth the years it takes to come out, even if I have to re-read past chapters to remember what was going on. (And I don't mean that critically, it's an excellent fic, I am more than happy to re-read it. It's just also a very long fic, so I don't always have the time. But I mean, I've been following it since I was . . . 14, I think? So I'm not about to stop any time soon. I will be 96 and still cheering whenever she updates that fic. I'm in for the long haul. So she can take however long she needs; I will still be here, ready to read the next update.)

S - Show us an example of your personal headcanon

This is such a broad question, I have so many headcanons for so many different characters! But since we both like Tails and Sonic, I'll go with one for them —

I headcanon that, when it comes to music, Sonic favors punk rock. This is because, at least in America, punk rock—and specifically leftist punk movements—often focuses on themes such as anti-establishment, anti-capitalist, and most importantly, anti-fascist ideals. These are ideals that all ring true with Sonic's own beliefs, given that he prioritizes freedom and routinely fights against any who would try to oppress others (i.e. Dr Eggman trying to become a global dictator). So while Sonic of course would like punk rock because it tends to be fast-paced, loud, and energetic (perfect to run to!), the lyrics would also speak to him and would get him pumped up up as well.

And this relates back to Tails, because Sonic raised Tails, and often we tend to enjoy the music we grow up listening to, nostalgically if for no other reason. But for Tails, I don't think it's just a nostalgic thing (especially since he's only 8, so a bit young to be feeling very nostalgic); he genuinely enjoys it because he holds those same beliefs that Sonic does, because again, those are the values that Sonic raised him with. They may not agree on everything, but they agree on important things like this. So Tails also enjoys punk rock, and when he's working alone in his workshop, will often blast it from the speakers loud enough to be heard several streets away. No, it's not good for his hearing. But no, he's not worried about it. He'll just build hearing aids if he needs them, it's no big deal :P

So, that's one of my headcanons, along with the reasons behind it! I hope you enjoyed it :)

#somegiantmess #fandom ask meme #unbreakable bond #for the headcanon ♥

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melissak2802 · 6 months

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Some my personal favourite Dame Agatha's characters that aren't detectives or antagonists:

The Lee family (as people who follow my Miraculous Agatha AU project probably guessed 🙂). Alfred, David and Harry for being relatable and admirable in different ways and their character development. Stephen and Conchita simply for being adorable (and among few romantic stories I sincerely ship). George and Magdalena for being satisfying satire. Lydia and Hilda for being strong and clever ladies in different ways and excellent match for their husbands.

Some from the supporting cast from Death on the Nile: Mrs Otterbourne and Miss Van Schuller are also satisfying satire and fun, Ferguson is fun too, while Rosalie and Cornelia are sympathetic (Cornelia may seem like a stereotypical Cinderella at first, but proves to be a wise and independent-thinking young woman by the final choice).

The Cloades - well-written, interesting source of drama in being too mentally dependent on the overprotective patriarch of the family who died unexpectedly and having not learnt in time to make responsible decisions. Each also is allowed to make a meaningful contribution in the plot. (Side note: no I don't approve of Lynn/Rowley ship with the canon motivation voiced in the final. These two are interesting characters on their own, through. The other Cloades - Jeremy and Frances, Lionel and Aunt Kathie, and Adela - are no less interesting)

The Crackenthorpes. Emma, Cedric and Brian are pretty similar to Alfred, Harry and David Lee respectively (and I came to love them earlier than I discovered an interest for the Lees). And Luther is basically a Simeon that is less of an asshole, to the point where he also keeps valuable minerals as collectibles) While Harold is the same type of satire as George)

Lucy Eyelesbarrow. Smart, active and compassionate young woman, a good professional, and one who turned a "lowly" job like domestic assistance into something to be seen seriously and not be ashamed of.

Roger and to an extent Philip Leonidis. Can relate to both, interesting psychological drama - one squeezed under too much attention of his father due to not being able to say no and as a result developing anger issues, the other suffering from lack of such attention due to not being able to express his emotions and adoration and as a result isolating himself. (Doesn't excuse him passing the lack of parental attention further) And Clemency and Magda are vivid as characters. (Side note, re-reading Taken at the Flood made me realise similarities between the Cloades and the Leonidis. Also, Magda is kind of Mrs. Otterbourne 2.0 and Clemency kind of Lydia Lee 2.0)

Gerry Wade and Ronny Devereux. I understand that's probably weird due to lack of screentime, but their story is so... something that can sadly happen to young people. And despite small amount if screentime I see them having distinct personalities based on what we know. I like Bundle and Bill quite much too, but they should be better listed under "detectives".

Some honourable mentions:

Everyone in And Then There Were None is well written and quite interesting to think about, but wouldn't call them specially personal favourite.

The young Boyntons - I like how they are written. Sarah King as well - a professional young woman, serious, honourable, protective and caring. I don't mind Nadine but she feels a bit like a Sarah copy in the same novel, so she's less interesting to me.

Amy Leatheran - another medical young woman but softer and gentler one, good narrator, open and curious person, good assistant to the investigation.

Angela Warren - despite her disability and the terrible tragedy of what happened to her sister, she grew up a successful and good person, a scholar to add. Also her special relationship with books.

Carrie-Louise Serrocold, I love the idea of her "naive wisdom".

Currently I am re-reading or planning to re-read Death Comes as the End, Sparkling Cyanide, The Hollow, Dead Man's Folly and probably Sleeping Murder, which may cause this list to grow.

#agatha christie

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fairytales-and-creativity · 2 years

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Week 44 - The Blind Fairy - SILKE -

My favourite story and perhaps why.

As a child I already loved looking at pictures, there were many picturebooks on the bookshelf in my bedroom, and I would always ask my parents to read me the longest stories so I could look at the pictures longer. My favourite to look and listen at was 'The Blind Fairy' by Brigitte Schär. The story talks about a blind fairy who is being fooled by dwarves. She does not see the deceit and ruin her palace is in, and doesn't know that the people are afraid of 'the mountain'. The illustrations were magical, different from the other books, it felt as if it were more 'adult'.

Back then, as a child, I could not say why this was my favourite besides me liking the pictures. Now, after re-reading the story perhaps 10 years later I might be able to understand why.

When I was younger I had a difficulty making friends. I prefered to read and stay inside when we were supposed to go outside and play. I had a big imagination and was able to be just fine with myself, staying 'inside my own head'.

I did try to always create friendships, try to belong to a group. But then that group would point me out, or not involve me or be rude and then tell me that it was okay for them to be rude to me 'because that's how you do things'.

When analysing the story there are these ugly and rude dwarves who have taken over the castle and are fooling the blind fairy. When projecting that back to me, I remember, unfortunately, plenty of times where there would be birthday parties of children. You would see in the morning that many children got invitations to the birthday party, and I wouldn't. Back then I had the balls to ask the child celebrating it's birthday 'Can I come as well? Am I invited?' And their answers would be; - My mother told me there could only be (x) people; - There were not enough envelopes; - My father doesn't have enough seats in the car; - I forgot to write one for you.

I felt fooled, even then as a child. I knew all the reasons they gave me could all be possible and valid, but you can very well feel the situation and I felt very much hurt.

One of the things, growing up, I see the toxicity in giving out invitations in class and seeing kids not getting any. I remember having an internship at my old primary school, for just 2 weeks, where the new teacher forbid it, to make sure children wouldn't feel left out. I liked this 'tactic' because I know my younger self would have been much less hurt back then.

The reason I liked the story was probably because I identified with the blind fairy. She was being fooled, she knew deep down something had always been wrong. But then she sees (literally) and she takes back her palace, and makes it beautiful again. I think, from this scene, I also grew. Where you 'get rid' of the evil and come out stronger alone... I don't know if the above is a positive outcome. Thinking back on it, when I grew up and went to highschool I was what you'd call a loner. I pushed myself away from people to avoid getting hurt, I had trust issues or would pretend to be someone else in front of others.

Currently I'm still learning to be more social, to try and go out more, be a little more 'extravert', but I will always be an introvert at heart. I don't mean to say with this blog that this fairy tale has made me the way I am, but I do think it is something I identified with and fused together into the person that I am today.

Scroll further down to read the fairy tale of the blind fairy.

In the middle of a distant land stood a dark and gloomy mountain. The people who lived there would have loved to move away... But where would they go? This was their home: The fields belonged to them! As time went on, the mountain became ever more terrible. The people didnt know that up on the peak, in a palace, lived a blind fairy. Day after day she sat on her golden throne, dressed in the most beautiful clothes, waiting for someone to visit her.

"Is everything prepared?" Asked the blind fairy. Dwarves answered her, disguising their voices to sound like her old servants. "yes" they said. "We have readied everything just as you wanted. Delicious food is cooked, the carpet is rolled out, the palace is scrubbed spotless. Everything gleams." They made faces and grinned at one another. "Well done, my dear servants," said the fairy. "Soon the people will come to visit me."

She said this every day, but no one ever came. "Tell me how the mountain looks," said the fairy. "It is might," said the dwarves. "The mightiest mountain in the land. It is greener and more fertile than any other mountain. Everything on it grows and flourishes." "And I see none of it," sighed the fairy. "How much I would give if only I could see it all again." The dwarves grinned rudely. They had prepared nothing. Not today or any other day. Nobody would be invited. Nobody would come. The dwarves liked the dark, gloomy mountain just the way it was and did not want there to be beauty again.

As usual, after sunset, the dwarves took the fairy to bed

As soon as the fairy was asleep, the dwarves turned night into day. They crawled out of all the crannies and caves. From everywhere around they stormed to the palace. The wild revels began. The fairy was woken by the terrible noise. How the thunderstorms rage, she thought. The wind is whistling so widly through the palace that it sounds like eerie music.

The fairy slept little, and was still tired when the dwarves came for her in the morning. "what terrible thunderclaps." she said. "I didn't sleep a wink." "Yes," said the dwarves. "It was a terrible storm." The fairy sighed. "surely the wind from the storm has done great damage. Go down and help the people put their fields and houses back in order. You may send their children up here to me while you work." The dwarves only laughed. They rollicked about wildly and made mischief all day long. The fairy got ready without their help. She prepared everything for the children, feeling her way around the kitchen and through the rest of the palace. Again and again she stumbled over things lying in her path. But the children did not come. Perhaps they can't find me, thought the fairy and she groped her way to the balcony.

"Here I am, children," called the fairy. "Come along! I am here!" Then, quite clearly, she heard titters. That is the children, she though joyfully. They are playing a game with me. They've hidden themselves, want me to find them. "I can't see you. I can't see anything at all. I am blind," she called. Again she heard the titters. "Don't laugh at me," cried the fairy. "Come here to me!" "You come to us!" she heard someone call.

There was nothing the blind fairy could do but grope her way outside the palace, where she had not set foot for so long... She stumbled down the steps. She bumped against a wall, fell down, picked herself up, tripped, and fell again. Finally she crawled along on all fours. "Where are you? Give me a sign!" Giggling came from all around. "There are so many of you!" called the fairy excitedly. She stood up again and stumbled on down the mountain without finding anyone. So the fairy managed to get down to the woods. She sat on the ground and breathed in the fresh air. These children have made a fool of me, she thought. And yet she felt quite happy.

At nightfall the fairy grew tired and lay down and went to sleep. No storm woke her this night. She slept soundly. In the morning she felt wonderfully rested. She groped her way from tree to tree. Suddenly she felt mossy stones.

"Here you are at last," said an old woman, emerging from a cave. The fairy startled. "who are you?" she asked. "Someone you don't know, but who knows you," she heard the voice say. "Why don't I know you?" asked the fairy. "Why haven't you come to visit me in my palace, when you live so close by?" "It wasn't possible," said the old woman. "the time has not yet come. But now you have come down yourself. That is good." The woman and the fairy had much to tell each other. "So the mountain isn't pleasant and fertile?" asked the fairy, shocked. "It is barren beyond these woods," answered the old woman. "And the people in the valley?" asked the fairy. "How is it for them?" "They are afraid of the mountain more than anything else in the world," said the woman. "But at least my palace is inviting, isn't it?" asked the fairy. "It is horrible, sinister, tumbledown castle" answered the old woman. The fairy began to cry.

"Before I was blind, the palace was bright and beautiful," sobbed the fairy. "My servents were true to me. They would do anything for me." "After you went blind," said the old woman, "dwarves came and chased away your servants. Since then the dwarves have reigned in a terrible way." "Why have they let me go on living in the palace?" asked the fairy. "Playing tricks on you was fun for them," said the woman. "I never noticed any of this!" cried the fairy. "If I weren't blind, I would change everything." Hardly had she said this than it seemed that she could see a little. Then she could see the old woman. She saw the trees, the sun, the sky. With tears in her eyes she thanked the old woman. The woman answered. "If you hadn't forgotted you possessed the powers of a fairy, you would never have become blind. Now go, and set everything right again."

From way down the mountain, the fairy could hear the vile noise, the howling and screeching of the dwarves. She climbed higher and soon was so close that she could see everything too. How shocked she was. The palace was in ruins and overrun by thousands of dwarves. The fairy wanted to flee. But then she thought of the old woman. "You can do it," she told herself.

The fairy climbed up to the wide steps. When she stood at the top, she called out in a loud voice, "I have returned!" For a moment, all was still. "Be off with you!" she cried, enraged. "You are useless riffraff. Get out of my sight! Leave this mountain! Away from this land! I don't want to see any of you ever again! The dwarves laughed, "There are thousands of us. You are alone. What can you do against all of us?" "You are dwarves," she declared, "but I am a fairy!"

And so she cast her magic spell.

The end.

#silke #week44

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mybookplacenet · 2 years

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Author Interview: Lynn Rae

Tell us about yourself.: I was diagnosed with depression at the age of thirty and bipolar disorder at thirty-five. I have been living with these illnesses since 1991 and have had numerous hospitalizations. Two psychiatrists told me at age thirty-nine that I would never work full time again. I have proven them wrong. I have written two books. The F Book: 7 F’s to Creating Your Fantastic Future teaches you how incorporating these seven F’s will lead to a happier, healthier, more joy-filled life. The other is called My Journey Back to Myself which depicts my struggles and recovery from bipolar disorder. As an Inspirational Speaker I share with others my coping strategies for living with bipolar disorder and how I learned to be a productive member of society again and thrive despite how I was labelled. My talk, “7 F’s to Creating Your Fantastic Future” outlines seven words all starting with the letter F that led to my recovery. Those Fs are Family, Friends, Fun, Fitness, Fulfillment, Finances and Faith. I have spoken at hospitals, conferences, Rotary Clubs, libraries, colleges and universities. My home is in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. In the summer I love taking care of my vegetable garden and eating fresh from it every day. Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?: I grew up on a farm one hour north of Toronto. This gave me the discipline I needed to write a book. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I write when I feel inspired. Currently I am writing speeches and blogs. What authors have influenced you? I grew up on a farm one hour north of Toronto. This gave me the discipline I needed to write a book. Do you have any advice for new authors? If you are passionate about what you are writing about the ideas will come; don't force them. What is the best advice you have ever been given? When I was very sick my mother looked me in the eye and said "Why not you?" It made me realize I would have to deal with my health issues and I wasn't immune from problems. It gave me the strength I needed to pick myself up and continue on. What are you reading now? Universal Human by Gary Zukav What's your biggest weakness? I get distracted by having fun and don't write as much as I should. What is your favorite book of all time? Ageless Body, Timeless Mind by Deepak Chopra. Reading this set me on a Spiritual path many years ago. When you're not writing, how do you like to spend your time? In my vegetable garden Swimming Dancing Playing Texas Hold 'Em Poker Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you? Not the first story but the book "When I say no I feel Guilty" had a big impact on me. What has inspired you and your writing style? The many authors that Oprah had on her show have inspired me. What are you working on now? Presently I am writing speeches and blog posts. What is your favorite method for promoting your work? I like to promote my work by doing Inspirational talks. What's next for you as a writer? I will re-write my book "My Journey Back to Myself" How well do you work under pressure? I prefer to feel like I have an infinite amount of time to accomplish a task. How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing? Sometimes I come off as preachy; everything I write about I have experienced myself. If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be? Don't ever give up! Lynn Rae's Author Websites and Profiles Website Goodreads Profile Lynn Rae's Social Media Links Facebook Page LinkedIn Read the full article

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obeymeoasis · 3 years

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Demon Bros React: MC Is Insecure

Warnings: mentions of insecurity surrounding body image, physical appearance, self-worth.

Lucifer

It was the day after a party Diavolo had thrown at his castle. You had had fun for the most part, dancing with the brothers and eating delicious foods prepared by Barbatos.

But you also remembered how it had felt to look around the room and realize you were surrounded by gorgeous demons, not a single flaw on anyone’s face. Doubt and insecurity had begun to creep into your mind, and that feeling had carried over into the next day.

You had only talked briefly with Lucifer at the party because he was too busy interacting with Diavolo’s guests. Every time you tried to catch his eye, you noticed how beautiful whoever he was talking to was and found yourself swallowing down your greeting.

Currently Lucifer was at his desk like always, scribbling down notes and shuffling through papers. You brought him afternoon tea and sat reading in one of his armchairs to keep him company.

You had been telling yourself that you were going to ask him the question that was burning in your mind, but an hour had already passed since you first came in. You tried to distract yourself with your book but the words were fuzzy on the page. Finally, you spoke. “Luci?”

He didn’t look up from his desk when he answered, “Yes, love?”

“Do you... do you ever wish I was more beautiful?”

The scratching of his pen stopped immediately and Lucifer lowered the papers he was holding to show his face, a carefully blank expression revealing nothing. “What exactly do you mean by that question?”

“I mean exactly what I asked. Do you ever wish I was more beautiful? More attractive? As the Avatar of Pride have you ever been... embarrassed to be seen with me?”

At this Lucifer’s expression grew cold and furious. “Has someone... made you feel this way? Has someone made you feel as if you are inadequate?” You shook your head sadly and whispered, “No, just my own brain.”

“Ah, I see. Well pet, I don’t ever wish you were more beautiful because you are the most beautiful being I’ve ever seen. So it would be physically impossible for you to be more beautiful than you are now.”

You snorted. “Luci, that was so cheesy. Your brothers would throw up if they heard what you just said.” Lucifer’s lips quirked up in amusement. “Well, I’m glad I was able to make you laugh. And I do mean what I said. I’ve never once felt embarrassed to be with you; you are my pride, the source of my happiness. If anyone were to suggest otherwise, I would gladly kill them.”

“Luci, we’ve been over this. You can’t just kill everyone who is mildly rude to me.”

Lucifer went back to working on his papers but there was a gentle smile on his face. “Darling, you’ll find that I definitely can. I have a permit.”

Mammon

You were regretting tagging along to one of Mammon’s photo shoots. At first, it seemed like a fun idea getting to look at all the clothes, makeup, and jewelry. Plus, you really wanted to see what Mammon was like when he was working professionally.

It was fun at first, you cooing over how handsome Mammon looked in his outfit and watching him get all flustered and blushy. But then the actual photoshoot started and you watched as Mammon posed with a stunning model.

You tried to not let your insecurities get the best of you. You were here to support Mammon! But as the shoot progressed you couldn’t help but start to compare yourself, keeping track of how they were more beautiful and you more flawed.

The photographer stopped to take a break and Mammon immediately bounced over to you. “MC, did you see me? How does it feel to watch the Great Mammon in his natural element? I look good, don’t I?”

You caressed Mammon’s cheek and feigned a bright smile. “You were amazing Mammon! You look so handsome. And this is such a cool outfit!” But Mammon was somehow always able to tell when you were faking a good mood and he frowned. “MC, is something wrong? You look sad. Did something happen?”

You opened your mouth, an excuse ready on your lips, but found you couldn’t lie right to Mammon’s face. You gestured toward the model who was talking to their manager in the corner. “Do you ever wish I looked like that?”

Mammon cocked his head, confused. “Do I ever wish you had blue hair? Not particularly? Although now that I think about it, blue hair would look cool on you too.”

You sighed. “No, I mean do you ever wish I looked like a model? Sexier? Or prettier?” Mammon thought for a moment, processing your question, and then frowned. “Oh no no no. Treasure, what’s this all about? What happened?”

“Sorry Mams, I didn’t want to distract you while you’re working. I just got really low and insecure all of a sudden. Started thinking about how you should be with someone really beautiful, you know? And sometimes I feel like that’s not me.”

Clearly upset, Mammon rushed to give you a crushing hug, tucking your head underneath his chin. “MC I- I wish I could beam my thoughts into your head. That way you’d really believe me when I say that you’re so precious to me. Every day I wake up and think about how lucky I am to be with you.”

You chuckled a little. “I do put up a lot with you, don’t I.” Mammon gently smacked you on your back. “Hey! I’ve been good lately! But seriously MC, you are stunning. You are gorgeous. And it’s okay if you don’t believe me right now because- because I’ll tell you as many times as you need me to! I’ll tell you a thousand times a day! A million times!”

You tried to blink away the tears in your eyes and held onto Mammon even tighter. “Thanks Mams, I love you so much.”

“Love you too treasure. Your first man’s gonna take care of you, don’t you worry about a thing.”

Leviathan

Usually you liked watching anime with Levi; it was one of your favorite things to do together. Levi was always more happy and lively when watching with you because he was able to express his opinions freely without judgment. And you thought it was adorable how excited Levi got over his favorite characters and storylines.

Today, you were snuggled together on some cushions re-watching an episode of “The Magical Ruri Hanai: Demon Girl”. At first you were enjoying the episode, laughing as Ruri got used to the oddities of the human world. But Levi’s repeated comments about how cute Ruri-chan was, which you usually never minded, started to bother you a bit.

You took a quick glance around the room, noting Levi’s enormous collection of Ruri-chan posters, figurines, and other merch. Levi tapped you on the knee, interrupting your thoughts. “MC, you’re missing the best part! What are you looking at?”

You sighed a little, struggling to act nonchalant. “Sorry Levi, it’s nothing. I’m still watching.” Frowning, Levi paused the episode and turned to look at you. “Hey, what’s up?”

Taking a deep breath, you said “Levi, I’m not Ruri-chan.” He narrowed his eyes in confusion. “Yes... I know?”

You continued, “I don’t look like Ruri-chan. Does that bother you?”

“Does it bother me... that you don’t look like an anime character?” He repeated the question slowly, as if you had asked him the strangest question in the world.

Frustrated, you blurted out “I don’t look like Ruri-chan! I’m never going to be as cute as her!”

Levi looked completely bewildered, his eyes wide and staring at you in confusion. “B-But you are cute! MC, w-what are you even talking about?”

Embarrassed at your outburst you looked down at the floor silently. Levi scooted over toward you so that your knees were touching and he waited until you broke the silence. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m good enough. I think maybe you’d like it if I looked cuter or acted cuter, like the characters in anime.”

Levi hesitated for a moment before quickly grabbing onto your hand, blushing furiously as he did so. "MC, I-I already think you're c-cute. Really really cute. So don't say things like that. And also, I like you because you're you! Not because you're like someone else."

"And you make me really happy. I'm just a gross otaku. I never thought I'd be able to... to find someone like you. Someone who accepts me."

He tried to lock eyes with you but blushed even harder and stared at your joined hands. "Plus, I couldn't to-touch an anime character. But I can touch you. I can hold your hand or give you hugs whenever you need it, o-okay?"

You leaned your head onto Levi's shoulder and closed your eyes, letting the peaceful silence wash over you.

Satan

You were accompanying Satan on a trip to one of his favorite stores: an antique shop that sold all manner of rare books and artifacts. The owner, Ms. Sparrow, was a friend of Satan’s and she welcomed the two of you wholeheartedly.

Today, she looked as gorgeous as she always did. Her chic pearl dress and matching silk gloves shone against her dark skin. Not a curl in her hair was out of place and even the click-clack of her heels on the floor seemed melodious somehow.

You left Satan to look at the books and went wandering off into the various aisles of the store, marveling at all the bits and bobs. In one of the over-stuffed corners you happened to find a glittering silver key on a red velvet ribbon. Taking it in your hand, you went back through to show it off to Satan, wanting to ask him what he thought it opened.

But Satan was busy chatting and laughing with Ms. Sparrow. You watched the two of them for a moment and noticed how well they complimented each other. Both had a certain poise, a kind of confidence and certainty in their movements.

On your walk back to the dorms, you were unusually quiet and Satan noticed. “Pet, is something the matter?”

You hesitated, wondering if Satan was going to find your insecurity childish. “Satan, I’m not very....elegant.”

“Yes, I know. You choked on a piece of bread yesterday. The day before that you tripped over absolutely nothing and fell down.” He smiled, expecting for you to get riled up, but it fell when he saw that you looked dejected. “Love, what is the matter? Have I upset you?”

You avoided his gaze. “Sometimes... sometimes I wonder if I bring you down by being with you. I feel like you deserve someone elegant and sophisticated. Someone who matches you. But I’m not. I’m clumsy and messy and not perfect, like Ms. Sparrow.”

Satan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Ms. Sparrow? What does she have anything to with this?” He turned you around so that you were facing him. “Pet, please look at me. I love you. And I’m not with you in spite of you being clumsy or messy. I love you because you’re clumsy and messy, because those are parts of you and I love all of you.”

He leaned down to press his forehead against yours. “And why would I need someone perfect? Am I perfect? Yesterday you saw me screaming at my cup because I accidentally spilled some tea and burned my finger.”

You shrugged while giggling, “I thought it was a perfectly reasonable response.” You wrapped your arms around his and buried your face into his shoulder. “Thanks, Satan. You always know how to make me feel better.”

He reached down to give you a gentle kiss. “Anytime, love. I’m always here for you.”

Asmodeus

Asmo has a lot of fans across all his social media accounts. That was made perfectly clear the first time you went on a date with him outside. Sitting in the trendy coffeeshop, several people had come up to ask him for a picture or an autograph. He was never shy about you and always introduced you as his sweetheart, cooing about how beautiful you were.

Some days it was okay. You loved seeing the bubbly social-butterfly side of Asmo. He was always so sweet to everyone who came up to him and genuinely enjoyed meeting new people. But other days, your insecurity rose up like a huge wave and dampened everything.

This particular day you were shopping with Asmo in a new boutique that had opened up. You were aimlessly flicking through the racks of clothes when you heard a large squealing.

Two demons ran up to Asmo, talking and gesturing excitedly. You could make out that they followed him on Devilgram and were asking if he was willing to take a picture with them. These demons were some of the most attractive beings you had ever seen. Their clothes were incredibly stylish and their hair and makeup were done flawlessly.

Looking around the shop, in all of the full length mirrors you could see the reflection of Asmo and his beautiful fans. And you looked out of place, like a puzzle piece that didn’t fit in at all.

Tearing up, you grabbed a random pair of jeans off the rack and ran into a changing room. You turned away from the mirror, not wanting to look at yourself, and took deep breaths to try and keep from bursting into sobs. After a few moments Asmo began looking for you, having finished taking pictures. “Sweetheart, are you changing? Let me see what you’re wearing when you’re done!”

At the sound of his voice you burst into tears and your attempts to muffle the noise were futile. Outside the door, Asmo’s voice sounded panicked. “Darling, are you okay? What’s the matter? Please come outside, whatever it is please let me help you!” You hesitated, not wanting to face him, but this made him even more frantic. He started jiggling the doorknob and knocking on the door.

You opened it, afraid that he would accidentally break the doorknob leaving you trapped inside. As soon as he saw you he gathered you in his arms and began making shushing noises while smoothing your hair. “Sweetheart, why are you crying? Please talk to me, please tell me what’s wrong.”

You tried to get the words out in between sobs and hiccups. “A-Asmo, don’t you want someone m-more beautiful? Someone who-who looks g-good with you?” Asmo paused for a moment, processing your words, and then his eyes burned with anger. “Sweetheart, did one of my fans say something mean to you? Did someone make you feel like this?”

You shook your head vigorously. “No, just me.” Asmo breathed a sigh of relief at hearing no one had harrassed you and resumed smoothing your hair. “Oh, darling. You ARE beautiful. You’re stunning, sweetheart. I wish you could see the way I saw you, how adorable and gorgeous you are. And I understand that there are going to be days when you don’t believe me, when you feel like you’re not. But at least don’t go through those days alone, okay?”

You nodded, not trusting yourself to speak without tearing up again.

"Now, let's go get some ice cream. We can eat it while taking a bubble bath."

Beelzebub

You weren’t really sure why Beel liked you coming with him to the gym all the time, even if you didn’t exercise. He said your presence was calming and that it made him focus better, which was odd because a lot of the time you just sat on an unoccupied machine and scrolled through your D.D.D.

Today was much the same, with Beel running on the treadmill and you watching some videos. The gym was pretty empty, just a few students exercising here and there.

Your eyes drifted to Beel who was running without even breaking a sweat. His body was all solid muscle: his arms, legs, and abs looked perfectly chiseled and toned. Last week you accidentally ran into Beel in the hallway and it felt like you had smashed into a brick wall. Beel, on the other hand, was completely fine.

You began to wonder what Beel thought about your body. He could be pretty handsy at times and he wasn’t shy in his affections. But what if there was something he didn’t like? Something that he thought needed changing?

He’s never mentioned anything about exercising to you before. But you thought back to the students you had seen in this gym: all of them were extremely fit with incredible bodies. You couldn’t help but start to compare yourself to them and think that maybe you were lacking.

Just then, Beel finished his run and walked over to you. You weren’t sure what kind of facial expression you were making but it seemed enough to concern him because he asked, “MC, is everything okay?”

“Hey Beel... do you ever wish I had a nicer body?”

He squinted in confusion. “What do you mean by ‘a nicer body’?”

“I don’t know... just better. Whatever nicer looks like for you.”

Beel was quiet for a moment, thinking. “No, I've never wished for that before. I still don't know what you mean by 'nicer'. I love you. And I love your body because its yours. The only thing that matters to me is whether you’re happy. And as long as I'm still allowed to touch you, then I'm happy.”

He looked at you nervously then, biting his lip. "Am I... still allowed to touch you?"

You laughed and reached to give him a hug, loving how safe it felt in his arms. "Of course, big guy. Thanks for making me feel better. You always know what to say."

Beel flushed with pride and closed his eyes in happiness, leaning into your hand as you patted him on the head.

Belphegor

You knew you were dreaming because you were sitting in a R.A.D classroom surrounded by fellow students, but you couldn’t focus on any of their faces. They were blurry, as if someone had smudged them like an artist had smudged some charcoal.

You were at your desk, looking around the classroom, when as if on cue all of the students began to slowly gather around you. They stood there silently for a moment, unmoving, and you felt a shiver go up your spine.

And then one by one the students began to hurl insults at you.

“You’re not good enough. Not good enough for Belphegor.” “You’re ugly, you’re hideous. “You’re unwanted, go back to where you came from.” “You don’t deserve what you have, don’t deserve good.” “You’re weak.” “You ruin others, you ruin everything.”

As they insulted you the students began to draw themselves closer, pushing and shoving to reach you. They almost made a cover over your desk as if to block out all the light. You hunched over your desk, shaking and panicking, trying to curl up to protect yourself.

One of the demons began shaking your shoulder roughly, you yelping in pain. He began yelling in your ear, “Wake up! Wake up!”

“MC! Wake up!”

You startled awake and looked around the room in fear. You were in Belphie’s bed, your pajamas sticking to you with sweat. Belphie was looking at you with concern, one hand still on your shoulder.

“MC, you’re okay. It’s just me. It was just a nightmare.” You let out a sob and buried yourself in his arms while he patted you on the back until your breaths evened out.

“D-Did you see my dream?” you asked. You were nervous about showing Belphie that weak side of you, the insecurities that had been brewing since the two of you had begun a relationship. He looked apologetic. “I did. You were whimpering and shaking in your sleep. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

He reached over, one hand smoothing your hair, the fingers of his other hand interlaced with yours. “None of what they said was true, you know.” You looked down, embarrassed. “I mean it, MC. You are good enough. You’re beautiful, you’re wanted, you deserve all the nice and beautiful things in the world, you’re strong. And most importantly, you lift others up. You lift me up everyday.”

He lifted up your hand and pressed a kiss against it. “You lifted me out of darkness. I love you so much. And I’ll gladly stay by your side, for as long as you’ll have me.”

You grabbed the front of his sweater to draw him into a rough kiss, lips bruising. “Forever, Belphie. Forever.”

934 notes · View notes

bucky-hues · 3 years

Text

stucky fic recs

here are some stucky fic recs! as always, be sure to read the warnings for each fic <3

one shots

finding home | @thedamageofherdays

cap steve x modern bucky

After he is caught in a terrible rainstorm while hiking, Bucky is glad to find shelter at the cottage Steve shares with his daughter and his dog. Bucky ends up finding so much more than just a safe place to spend the night.

x | @dreadlockholiday

steve x bucky

Request: Bucky looking through a glossy magazine and saying something like "God, can you imagine being paid for just looking cute?" And without thought Steve replies, "you'd be a millionaire" and Bucky just blushes furiously while Steve's all like 😳 *oh no, I just said that out loud*

x | @dreadlockholiday (18+)

steve x bucky

Bucky finds his BFF Steve's sketchbook... and it's full of nothing but sketches of Bucky... naked.

sweethearts | @musette22

steve x bucky

Steve confesses his feelings to Bucky using sweethearts

my moon, my man | @musette22 (18+)

steve x bucky (modern au)

AU meet-cute. Strangers on a Train, but with less murder and more sexual tension.

make it till you fake it | AggressiveWhenStartled (AO3)

steve x bucky

“Ned,” Peter said, like a drowning man sighting land. “Ned. Captain America and the Winter Soldier are fake dating right now and it is the most painfully awkward and obvious thing I have ever seen, all of us want to die, Ned.”

things my heart used to know | Nightwing11 (AO3)

steve x bucky

In a world where soulmates can communicate telepathically with their partners, Steve Rogers has always had Bucky Barnes with him, a calming voice in a sea of turmoil. And, when Bucky falls off the train during World War II, Steve experiences deafening silence for the first time.

Now, after crashing a plane in the Arctic to save the world and being frozen for 70 years, Steve’s still trying to figure out how to live without Bucky there. His new friends are trying to help him adjust, to move on. And he thought he was doing better, he really did.

So, why is he suddenly hearing Bucky’s voice again?

catfish | @buckmebxrnes (18+)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Steve Rogers is a famous movie star, known for his role as Captain America. Bucky Barnes is a bored law student who drinks too much wine. Bucky gets on match.com to boost his confidence. What he doesn't expect is a guy using Steve Rogers' pictures on a dating profile. Bucky decides to mess with the guy. After all, what idiot uses Steve Rogers' pictures on a dating site?

Not like it's really him, right? Bucky may need more wine.

let's go have fun | @sebastanbucky

steve x bucky

“Nat wanted me to-” Nat clears her throat and he rolls his eyes. “I wanted to tell you something.” He looks at Steve with a look he hopes says ‘play along’. “Okay. What did you want to tell me?” Bucky has to take a deep breath to keep from laughing again, it helps with his performance as Nat nods encouragingly at him. “I’m gay.” He says, making his voice sound shaky and weak.

the way you came around | sokaless (AO3)

steve x bucky

After a while, Bucky says, “You know, this song sounds like it was written for you.” “That's funny,” Steve remarks. “I chose it because it reminded me of you.” Steve gives Bucky an iPod full of his favourite songs from the 21st century to help him deal with his nightmares. Bucky has a new mission- to find out who Steve is in love with, because there are a few too many unrequited love songs on that iPod.

stuck on you | wearing_tearing (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

“Bucky? You don’t look so hot.”

Bucky makes a tiny little sound in the back of his throat, only to start coughing. Of course he doesn’t look hot. He’s sick and he’s dying and Steve obviously isn’t attracted to him.

you have the place next to my place | justanotherStonyfan (AO3)

cap steve x modern bucky

prompt: “We live in adjacent apartments and our bedrooms are on opposite sides of a very thin wall and one night I heard you crying and talked to you through the wall” AU

Captain America helps the Vet next door.

you’ve got (30) new matches | williamkaplans (AO3)

steve x bucky

When everyone finds out Steve's bi thanks to Bucky's recovering memories, Natasha kicks up her match-making into high gear. Steve has zero luck, but Natasha won't give up, especially when Sam (jokingly) suggests online dating. It isn't long before Steve finds someone, a someone who seems eerily familiar.

perfectly right wrong number | melonbutterfly (AO3)

cap steve x modern bucky

It all starts because Steve is too dumb to handle his smartphone.

A wrong number AU in which Bucky Barnes doesn't enter Steve's life (meaning: Bucky wasn't born until the eighties, but Steve is still Captain America) until Steve accidentally dials the wrong number. Wherein there is a lot of texting, some advice via Natasha and Darcy, a bit of pining, and a first date in an amusement park. Oh, and on top of being a disabled veteran, Bucky is a professional catwalker. Literally.

put your number in my phone | MacksDramaticShenanigans (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Steve tucks his phone back into his pocket and turns back to the computer. He only has to click a few times before he finds the link to the questionnaire and opens it, inputting the participant number before hitting next. The beginnings of the consent form fills the page, and all Steve has left to do now is wait for the participant— one James Barnes, according to the website— to show up.

Thankfully, Steve doesn’t end up having to wait very long. James Barnes shows up ten minutes early and knocks on the door before cracking it open and peeking in.

“Oh, hi,” he says, when he spots Steve sitting at the desk. He pushes the door open all the way and steps into the room just as Steve spins in the chair to face him.

“Um, I’m, uh, a bit early, but I’m here for the decision making study,” James continues, clear blue eyes flickering around the room before landing on Steve again. The skin between his eyebrows crinkles up a little, and god, Steve probably shouldn’t find his uncertainty as cute as he does. “Am I in the right place?”

wouldn’t it be nice | MacksDramaticShenanigans (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

"You are never going to believe what just happened," Bucky bemoans, shaking his head. He's at Steve's side in a moment and doesn't bother to give any warning before he dramatically falls into Steve's lap. Steve just barely manages to save his book from getting squashed.

"What is it?" Steve asks, matching Bucky's dramatic tone. "What am I not going to believe?"

"I just got off the phone with Natasha," he starts. "She cancelled on me!" Bucky throws his arms up, nearly smacking Steve in the face in the process.

Steve carefully places his hand on Bucky's forearm and lowers it away from his face.

"You're kidding," he says, a frown curving onto his lips at the news.

"I wish I was," he sighs. Bucky presses his lips together into a disappointed line and deflates against the back of the couch, slinking down Steve's thighs a little. "Who goes to Coney Island alone? How pathetic is that?"

Steve snorts, earning a glare from Bucky, and pats Bucky's thigh. "Aw, don't be such a sourpuss, Buck," he says. "Who said anything about going alone?"

all jokes aside | darksknight (AO3)

steve x bucky

"Before we know it Banner’s gonna be makin’ insinuations.” (Everyone "jokes" about Steve and Bucky being in a relationship until, eventually, they admit that they are.)

barnes & rogers and the goddamn truth

steve x bucky (teacher au)

There are three well-known facts at Shield High:

1. The history teacher Mr. Barnes is a stone-cold terror, and it’s not even because he only has one arm. 2. The other history teacher, Mr. Rogers, is a mysterious enigma, and it’s something to do with the body of a Greek God and contradicting stories of his past. (They’re all rumours, anyway.) 3. Mr Barnes and Mr Rogers hate each other.

Bucky wouldn’t have it any other way.

in the shadows | DragonWannabe (AO3) (18+)

steve x bucky

Five times they thought they were almost caught, one time someone found out, and one time they didn't have to hide.

OR:

Bucky and Steve grew up in a time when people like them went to jail.

single and looking | Jaiden_S (AO3) (18+)

steve x bucky

"Bucky held his place with his index finger and turned the magazine over to check the date on the cover. It was brand new, just out this month. An unexpected cord of anxiety tightened in Bucky’s chest. Single and looking? Frantically, he flipped back to the article. What exactly was Steve looking for? According to the article, Steve’s dream girl should be intelligent, altruistic, well-versed in current events and have a wicked sense of humor. Oh, and he had a thing for high heels and red lipstick. Bucky’s stomach churned as he re-read the article. Was that really what Steve wanted? Make-up and stilettos?"

A slightly sappy tale of two utterly besotted super-soldiers who excel at miscommunication.

these american dreams (ain’t no white picket fences left for me) | kariye (AO3) (18+)

steve x bucky

In which Bucky has a house, a dog, an herb garden, and a serious case of insomnia. Welcome to Havensport, Indiana (population 8,294), where Tom’s Neighborhood Grocer stays open all night, little old ladies call the car shop to get their refrigerators repaired, and the heat of summer days and the length of summer nights can make you think that this perfect world will last forever.

i’ve been careless with a delicate man | paraxdisepink (AO3) (18+)

steve x bucky

Steve lets SHIELD think he and Bucky were boyfriends so they’ll let him see the Winter Soldier in medical.

knock on wood | 74days (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Steve Rogers lives a quiet, steady life, until his next door neighbour moves in and starts having incredibly energetic sex every night. All Steve wants is for him to move his bed away from the wall so the damn headboard doesn't knock a hole through his wall.

progressively bigger keys | spinawren (AO3)

steve x bucky

“A very little key will open a very heavy door.” ― Charles Dickens, Hunted Down

Steve and Bucky, it appears, have less need for a key and more use for a battering ram in trying to come out of the closet.

(The one where Steve tries to do one thing (one thing!) without causing a national ruckus, but the press are determined to see Bucky as Steve's best friend. And nothing more.)

stucky discover gay rights | Alicia_Borealis (AO3)

steve x bucky

“Then, why-” Steve stopped himself and looked at Bucky, who had tears rolling freely down his cheeks. “We’re- we’re not sick?”

“Wait, what?” Tony asked.

“Being a homosexual, it isn’t… wrong?”

The story of how Steve Roger's loved and lost Bucky, then how he got him back and then how he realised he was allowed to love him after all.

thursday nights with bucky barnes | Ellessey (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Steve has a comfortable, well-worn routine for his Thursday nights, until the old man who runs the laundromat breaks his hip.

Then Steve has Bucky instead.

to seek a nood-er world | jehans (AO3) (18+)

steve x bucky

Send noodz

Steve has been staring at his phone for the last six minutes, eyes narrowed so much they’re almost closed at this point, trying to figure out what the hell Bucky means. Noodz? What the fuck are noodz?

Listen, Steve is at least marginally aware of modern pop culture. He’s heard of nudes — not that nudes are exactly a modern invention; artists have been creating them for millennia — and he does know that people tend to misspell words to be cute or funny. They did that when he was young, too. Because time is a flat circle, apparently.

But, wait—does that mean…?

No. Not possible. Bucky isn’t asking Steve to send him…nudes.

Right?

tied ‘round your throat | sleepypercy (AO3) (18+)

police officer steve x serial killer bucky

Steve's a small-town police officer trying to track a serial killer who's been in Steve's bed the whole time.

much tattoo about nothing | Deisderium (AO3) (18+)

cap steve x modern bucky

Steve Rogers gets a lot of email requests, but never one like this: James Barnes wants to use his healing factor to practice tattoos.

Turns out tattoos give Steve boners.

the perfect man | Ellessey (AO3) (18+)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Setting up a dating profile is decidedly not in Bucky's skill-set, but against all odds he manages to connect with someone who makes the one-night stand he thought he wanted feel like not nearly enough.

kiss me and take off your clothes | steveandbucky (AO3) (18+)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Steve Rogers is dared to send a dick pic to a blog which critiques dick pics (run by none other than Bucky Barnes). Hilarity ensues.

i can’t dare to dream about you anymore | steveandbucky (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Steve considers himself to be a pretty open-minded guy, which is why he can't quite understand why he feels so uncomfortable whenever he sees his gay roommate kissing guys. He's not homophobic, but how else can he explain the way his stomach twists at the sight?

It takes him a while to catch on.

exam room b | steveandbucky (AO3)

modern steve x nurse bucky

“Wait, what do you mean he asked for me?”

“He asked if the cute male nurse with the ponytail was working today. I assume he meant you.”

kickstart my heart | Kalee60 (AO3) (18+)

doctor steve x modern bucky

Bucky’s Wednesday wasn’t off to a great start. Not only did he wake up in a hospital with his annoyed best friend staring down at him, his treating Doctor just happened to be way too familiar, and the reason for that was slightly mortifying.

With misunderstandings in the air, a snarky nurse who is a pain in his butt and the ugliest neck brace known to man attached to his body. There was no way his Wednesday was ever going to improve. Could it?

you make me feel.. | kalika_999 (AO3) (18+)

cap steve x modern bucky

All Steve wanted was to take a breather, decompress after a mission and go out for a jog in the rain. He wasn't expecting to hide out in a bookstore filled with new and used books or that the employee that worked there thought he was an absolute loser and didn't even realize he was insulting Captain America.

nothing in the world that could stop it | rainbow_nerds (AO3) (18+)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Bucky just wanted to send his best friend a picture of his cat being an idiot while he was taking a bath. Was it really his fault for forgetting the full length mirror right opposite the tub?

rescue me and hold me in your arms | 74days (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Bucky is on the worst date of his life, and what he really needs of for this waitress to get the message he's sending her with his mind to rescue him. She doesn't, but she does send someone to extract him from a night of torture...

odd ways | peterbparker (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

“And it would have been an amazing night with my son if he wasn’t distracted by the hot guy on the other side of the room,” Sarah sighed, shaking her head. “He’s been looking over at you for the past fifteen minutes.”

Bucky choked on the mouthful of beer he had just taken.

“What?” he croaked. Things were starting to make a little more sense now.

“Right?” Sarah said, waving her hand towards her son. “He completely ignored my garden stories because he’s been making eyes at you so I decided to come over and introduce myself.”

series

rare is this love (keep it covered) | @musette22 (18+)

cap steve x modern bucky

It’s 2014. Captain America has been out of the ice for three years and is trudging along, saving the world and trying to get used to living in the future. Steve thinks he knows how the rest of his life is going to pan out – a life of duty, which he chose when he signed up to be Erskine’s science experiment. But then, he meets Bucky Barnes: the out-of-this-world-gorgeous mechanic and war vet, who turns Steve’s life upside down and makes him question everything he thought he knew. Slowly, Steve comes to realize there is more to life than duty and punching Nazis. Just one problem though: how on earth does a 96-year-old virgin who only just realized he may not be entirely straight make the transition from crush to relationship? Cue healthy amounts of self-doubt, awkward flirting, pretty blushing, existential crises, emotional growth, and maybe, possibly, a sexual awakening.

coming up easy | @musette22 (18+)

steve x bucky (modern au)

“Listen, I was just thinking,” Steve says, his face open, eyebrows raised in a tentatively hopeful expression. “Why don’t you come stay at my place for a while? I’ve got an office that I barely use, and a change of scenery might do you good, right? Help you beat that writer’s block?” With a crooked smile, he adds, “I promise I’m not a serial killer.”

While Bucky would normally crack a joke about how that’s exactly what a serial killer would say, right now, all he can do is blink at Steve in surprise, heart tripping over itself in his chest. Steve wants him to come and stay at his place. In Massachusetts. Just the two of them.

"Oh," Bucky croaks. "I- Wow."

“I mean, no pressure,” Steve says hastily. “Totally fine if you don’t wanna. I just thought I’d offer, in case it might help, y’know?”

“Yeah.” Bucky ignores the little voice in his head that sounds an awful lot Nat and Becca, telling him he’s setting himself up for heartbreak. “I mean, if you’re sure, that would be amazing.”

4 minute window | @cesperanza

steve x bucky

"Look, if they catch me," Bucky muttered, "they're either going to kill me or they're going to put me in a box with a little window and—Steve, I can't."

swapped | writeonclara (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

if u wanted my number u couldve just asked

u didnt have to steal my whole phone ;)

Steve stared down at his phone, confused. He didn't recognize the number – except, oh wait, he really did. That was his number. On his phone.

He flipped the phone over, then slid one hand down his face. Not his phone.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

[stupid fucking] brooklyn hipster bros | relenaflanel (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Bucky's mother gives him an ultimatum. Bucky doesn't respond well.

All Barneses are stubborn assholes, Steve observes, as though he doesn't see the irony of calling someone else stubborn. Or an asshole.

And Bucky can't even deny he is a total asshole for lying to his mother about dating Steve just so he doesn't have to bring someone else to her wedding, but damn if he's not going to give the lie everything he has.

brought to brightness | eyres (AO3)

cap steve x modern bucky

Army veteran Bucky Barnes has fallen in love with Steve, a guy he met online a few months after he returned from Afghanistan. Only problem is, he doesn't know Steve's last name or even what he looks like.

When his sister helps him send his story into MTV's Catfish, he's hoping they can help him meet Steve or, at least, let him move on with his life if Steve isn't real. Little does he know, Steve and Captain America have more in common than just a first name.

slide to answer | relenaflanel (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

"What do I do?” Steve appealed into the phone. “I’m freaking out.”

There was silence on the other end of the line. It lasted so long that Steve pulled the receiver away from his ear and frowned at it. Pay phones were old. Maybe this one wasn’t working despite the obvious dial tone when he picked up.

“Ok,” a stranger’s voice said over the phone. “First acknowledge the fact that you dialed the wrong number, but be quick about it because my cab is a few blocks away from my own plans and I’m about to drop some truth bombs on you.”

how to woo the winter soldier | writeonclara (AO3)

steve x bucky

“I think I’m ready to date again,” Steve said.

“What,” Natasha said.

“What?” Clint said, lowering his binoculars. He blinked at the dumbstruck look on the Captain’s face, then followed his gaze to where he was staring dopily at—at the Winter fucking Soldier.

“Steve, no,” Clint groaned.

Or: Steve courts the Winter Soldier.

all these things that i’ve done | @not-withoutyou

steve x bucky

Steve was the patron saint of waiting too long. Bucky was atoning for his sins. Maybe they’d both been forsaken, abandoned by the light. Maybe they’d find a way back to each other again.

Post civil war, if things had gone differently.

find a way (to make it back home) | belwrites (AO3) (18+)

steve x bucky (college au)

Fresh off a year abroad, Head Resident Assistant Steve Rogers finds his senior year of college to be full of changes, and he's not just talking about the growth spurt. He's more concerned with the fact that his best friend...isn't talking to him? Is dating his ex? May or may not be missing an arm?

In which Steve has no fucking clue what's going on, but he's trying, Bucky learns how to communicate with his best friend again, and everyone quietly panics about the future.

is it pretending if i already want you? | OhCaptainMyCaptain (AO3) (18+)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Based on prompt: Pretend Boyfriends AU where one of their families is always wondering why they're never in a relationship, so the other offers to pretend to be their boyfriend for some family event

the roommate | layersofart, Niitza (AO3)

cap steve x modern bucky

In which Steven G. Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, gets a roommate. Who rapidly turns into his "roommate"—in the euphemistic sense of the word.

It takes SHIELD and the rest of the Avengers an absurd amount of time to notice.

dear mr. postman | odetteandodile (AO3)

steve x bucky (modern au)

Steve and Bucky revive an old friendship, get married (but totally just as friends, for reasons), and navigate a few of the many trials of the heart that come with falling in love with your best friend.

fate will play us out | steveandbucky (AO3) (18+)

cap steve x modern bucky

Bucky has landed himself a job with Stark Industries. He doesn't know yet that the job is actually being the PR manager for the Avengers.

Bucky has also started dating Steve Rogers. He also doesn't know yet that Steve is Captain America.

Bucky's life is about to get a whole lot more exciting.

the avengers hate club | notebooksandlaptops (AO3)

pop star steve x modern bucky

Bucky falls hopelessly for Steve and starts an Avengers hate club with the lead singer of the Avengers.

songbird | chicklette (AO3) (18+)

modern steve x musician bucky

At 43, James Barnes is a washed up old man. He’s got a dozen Grammys in the hall closet, an agent that can’t get him a deal, a decade-old case of writer’s block, a moody teen-aged daughter, and the gorgeous actress Natasha Romanova for an ex-wife. Well, one of them anyway. He’s a man who’s given up on finding joy in his life, and if it wasn’t for his kid, he’d have probably found a way to quit the world a long time ago.

Enter Steven Grant Rogers, struggling twenty-something, orphan, and someone who has no idea who Barnes is, other than some musician his mom liked a lot. The two men meet by accident, doing nothing more than passing the time in a quiet bar. But when a pap gets a shot of the two men embracing, Bucky takes it as a chance to finally come out as bisexual, and his agent makes him a proposition: Ten new songs and one very sweet boyfriend will get him a new record deal that will maybe, just maybe put him back on top.

Now all he has to do is write the songs, convince the kid, and not fall in love. Should be easy, right?

the right partner | LeeHan (AO3) (18+)

cap steve x ws bucky

Steve meets a beautiful man with a bright laugh on a sunny day in Italy. Captain America meets the elusive Winter Soldier moments later.

Date Bucky Barnes. Defeat the Winter Soldier. Bring down Hydra. How hard could it be?

#stucky fic #stucky fic recs #steve x bucky #steve rogers x bucky barnes #stucky #bucky barnes #steve rogers

139 notes · View notes

redgoldsparks · 2 years

Photo

January 2022 Reading and Reviews by Maia Kobabe

reviews below the cut; crossposted to Goodreads and Storygraph

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun read by Vikas Adam, Graham Halstead and Cassandra Campbell

An extremely fun queer romance set during the filming of a reality TV show. Producer Dev Deshpande believes in true love and fairytale endings, so he's been happy to find work on Ever After, a dating show with a fairytale twist. He initially clashes with Charlie Winshaw, the current Prince, who joined the show hoping to re-habilitate his image and get a job in tech. But both men have more in common than meets the eye, including struggles with mental health and a deep uncertainty about whether they deserve love. I was completely drawn in by these two gentle men slowly opening up to each other, and thought the conversations around mental heath, therapy, and depression were handled really well. This felt like a very modern and contemporary love story; the diversity of the cast served the narrative and the conversations about queer media representation felt timely.

Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir read by Moira Quirk

This book checks off a lot of boxes: fantasy goth aesthetic but set in space; queer in the sense of both gay and weird; spooky and gory but full of Buffy-esque quips. In the opening scene we meet Gideon, an orphan raised in a horrible moldy tomb of a planet called the Ninth House. Gideon has lived 18 miserable years in this dark, decrepit hole and plans to get out, once and for all. She's set up an elaborate escape scheme and plans to enlist in the Cohort, distinguish herself on the war's front lines, and get piled with glory, hot babes, and cold hard cash. The one thing standing in her way is Harrowhawk, a necromancer bone witch, first daughter of and heir to the Ninth House. Harrowhawk is a year younger than Gideon and they grew up as the only two living children on the planet. They have been fighting, kicking, screaming, hating and plotting against each other since they could walk. But Harrowhawk has been called to the service of the Emperor, and each necromancer needs a swordsman cavalier. Gideon is the only option and so the enemies much become distrustful allies to solve a murderous challenge on the the Emperor's home planet. If they survive, they will be raised to the highest positions of the empire. If they loose, their souls will probably be trapped in a hellish prison forever. No pressure. Edit in 2022: I relistened to this a second time as audiobook and enjoyed it even more on a second pass! This book deeply rewards a re-read, when all of the weird twisty parts of the mystery actually make sense.

Witch Hat Atelier vol 8 by Kamome Shirahama

I continue to enjoy this beautifully illustrated series, but at this point it has introduced so many characters I am starting to have trouble remembering them all. A character from a previous book showed back up, who I was supposed to have an emotional attachment too, but I had no memory of him... if I was reading them more closely back to back that would be less of a problem but at some point here I'm going to need a dramatis personae list.

In Waves by AJ Dungo

A very beautiful meditation on grief, through the lens of water. The author, who lost someone very dear to him to cancer when she was quite young, weaves through the history of surfing with his own experiences of surfing, and the oceanic properties of grieving.

Aquicorn Cove by Kay O'Neill

A short, gentle story about grief and climate change told through the lens of a young girl's relationship to the ocean and the magical creatures who live in its coral reefs. Beautiful illustrations, queer in a quiet way.

Future Feeling by Joss Lake

This novel is held together more by vibes than plot. The story centers around three trans men: Pen, a dogwalker living in New York, who is very jealous of Aiden, a Gram Influencer; he hatches a plot to hex Aiden back to into the Shadowlands (transition based depression). But the hex accidentally falls on Blithe, an LA scriptwriter, instead. The omnipresent trans crisis solutions organization, The Rhiz, tells Pen and Aiden that they have to team up to go rescue Blithe and help him find his way out of the Shadowlands. It was a bit unclear to me way Aiden agrees to this plan, but they do pair up and end up living together for the majority of the rest of the book in a very loose, under-employed millennial way. I enjoyed many of the digressions- Pen recounting experiences of his legal name change, mystical therapist, and dating a straight-passing celebrity- but in the end the book didn't really come together for me.

The Golden Hour by Niki Smith

Manuel struggles with PTSD after a shooting at his school, but it happened after hours so his classmates don't know that he was the only witness. He uses photography to anchor himself during anxiety attacks. Luckily, he is paired with two friendly, enthusiastic students for a group project who end up pulling him along into their Ag-club. Manuel gets to help Sebastian and Caysha raise a calf, and in this gentle animal's presence he is able to open up about some of fears. This book is gorgeously illustrated in Niki Smith's characteristic thin clean lines, with soft painterly backgrounds filling in the gold, brown, green and grey of Kansas. The fields and skies feel vast, but are the perfect setting for an intimate story of recovery.

The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo: Tangled Web by Drew Weing

Charles and Kevin are excited about the idea of setting up a network of children to help aid the monsters of Echo City; but will doing so put the monsters into even more risk? Someone has been making posts on message boards directing teenagers where to find monsters, and as more of them are driven from their homes, further clashes with the human world are inevitable. Charles wants to aid Margo on her various missions around the city, but she doesn't trust easily and Charles is frustrated by how often she leaves him behind. This comic is exciting, warmhearted, and beautifully drawn; one of the best ongoing children's comic series out there. I can't wait for the next installment!

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

A compelling story of five women living in the same apartment building in Seoul, told in non-chronological slice of life chapters from alternating POVs. Kyuri has achieved an ethereal beauty through many plastic surgeries, and now works in salon rooms, making a lot of money but also constantly accruing debt. Sujin, who grew up in an orphanage and now works as a manicurist, longs for the surgeries that Kyuri has had and badgers her for information and connections which Kyuri is reluctant to provide. Ara, Sujin's childhood best friend and roommate, works in a hair salon and spends her free time daydreaming about how to met her crush, kpop idol Taein, maknae of his ultrapopular boy group. Miho grew up in the same orphanage as Sujin but escaped via a scholarship to the School of Visual Arts in New York City. There, she fell in with the wealthy sons and daughters of South Korea's elite, who attend various New York universities. A fellowship opportunity brought her back to Seoul, and she splits her time between obsessive work on her painting series and her chaebol boyfriend (whose family refuse to met her). Wonna is the only married woman in the building, with her own hidden sorrows, and a yearning for the close relationships and apparent freedom of the other women. The narrative deals with many heavy topics, including the rampant misogyny and cruelty these characters face at the hands of men, parents, and employers. But the friendship and support the women lend each other proves itself again and again-- maybe enough to balance out the unkindness of the rest of the world.

Harrow The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir read by Moira Quirk

What a long journey this book took me on! I started it the first time in March 2020, got about 30% of the way in, then said, "I have no idea what's going on and I don't feel like reading about so many corpses right now" and gave up on it. Well, a determined friend started a book club and convinced me to give it another shot, so this time I tried listening as an audiobook (I do love the narrator, Moira Quirk!) It was easier starting over, even just knowing the first 30% of the plot helped me wade through the beginning, which is rough going. I will spoil one thing to tell you this book uses one of my LEAST FAVORITE plot devices, which is a major character getting amnesia and having to re-do an emotional growth arc which I, the reader, have already watched them complete in a previous installment. However, I am extremely glad I did give this book a second try and this time I marched my way through the 19 hour audiobook in about two weeks, finishing it just in time for the cover reveal on book 3. I definitely plan to keep on with the series, but also for anyone who gave up on this book, I feel you. I am not going to say anything else about the plot but that it tops book 1 in the categories of queer, spooky, gory, and bizarre!

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

In an alternate-universe post-dystopian China, humans live a fragile and threatened existence behind the Great Wall, which is constantly under attack from an alien species. Human pilots in mecha suits called Chrysalises fight to defend the Great Wall, but at horrible cost. Each Chrysalis suit is powered by two pilots, one male and one female, and in nearly every battle the female pilot is drained of spirit energy and killed. The only time the female pilot is sparred is if her qi perfectly matches that of the male pilot and they are able to form a balanced pair. 18-year old Zetian's older sister was sold to the army, then murdered by one of the ace Chrysalis pilots; Zetian vows to avenge her. She enlists in the army with the sole intention of killing the ace pilot, even though she knows it will doom her whole family as well. But then the unbelievable occurs: she lives through her first Chrysalis battle. Suddenly, she is a rare but dangerous asset, and the army scrambles to control and use her talents. Zetian is disabled, and in constant pain, but her utter fearlessness and rage make her an unstoppable force. This book knocked my socks off! I burned through it at a feverish pace, finishing it in just under two days. I was amazed and impressed by the sheer amount of plot packed into less than 400 pages, and the speed with which situations shifted around Zetian. This book has giant robots, aliens, polyamory, love, betrayal, and a ferocious attempt to topple an entire corrupt, unjust government. Pick it up immediately and read it!

Tidesong by Wendy Xu

A small and gentle story about a young witch, Sophie, who moves in with her great aunt and cousin to practice her magic and prepare to head off to magical boarding school. Sophie's family have always been wind and water workers, able to communicate with the dragons that live under the sea. But Sophie is struggling with the most basic of spells and a negative internal monologue which whispers that she is a failure. In an effort to prove herself, Sophie goes out at night to perform a storm-calming spell; but it goes wrong and she is swept into the ocean. She is rescued by a dragon, but in the process he loses his memory and is trapped in human form. Now Sophie feels obligated to aid the dragon, but she has no idea where to start! Heavily influenced by the films of Hayao Miyazaki, both in art style and tone, this is a short but sweet story of magic and self confidence.

#books #reading #book reviews #comic book reviews #maia kobabe

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thetypedwriter · 3 years

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Cold Iron Heart Book Review

Cold Iron Heart by Melissa Marr Book Review

I don’t think many people are aware or have read the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr, but that’s alright. I originally started this book blog as I had so many thoughts and feelings about the books I was reading and yet no one to share them with.

So I might be talking to me, myself and I in this book review, but at the end of the day, it’s still a way for me to express how I feel about the literature I’m consuming even if no one else is reading this.

Wicked Lovely is one of my favorite series from when I was young. I still remember very clearly how my love story with these books started as it was odd and coincidental. I was at the grocery store with my mom and a promised “quick” trip quickly turned into an hour-long shopping spree as my mother was prone to do.

Back then I was in middle school, had no cell phone, and was bored out of my mind. So what is any pre-teen to do? I went over to the small, sad book selection in the grocery story and picked up the novel with the most interesting cover.

This book was Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.

I read it the rest of the day and finished it that night, consuming page after page. I was completely transfixed. It was dark, gritty, violent, sexy-all things that my twelve-year old self found entirely fascinating.

It was a fantasy book about fairies, but these fairies were deadly, life-sized, cruel, violent, beautiful and loving.

I’ve been enamored with fairies and fairy lore ever since. All because of this book and the series that followed. It hooked me in ways that I still don’t fully comprehend, but I understood then that I hadn’t read anything like it before and I was drawn into Melissa Marr’s world and never quite left it, even all these years later. I’ve gone back and re-read Wicked Lovely multiple times and each time I still found it enjoyable and alluring.

Cold Iron Heart is a different beast.

A few days ago, my best friend (who is a journalist) sent me an email saying that local Arizona author, Melissa Marr, was releasing a new book and that she might have the opportunity to interview her.

I was ecstatic, of course, and not so subtly tried to persuade my friend to let me silently snoop in on the interview (I didn’t, by the way).

It was then that I realized I hadn’t checked in on Melissa Marr for some time-what had she been writing? Imagine my surprise that one of my favorite series of all time not only had a new book-a prequel no less, but also several new short stories.

I was flabbergasted. And beyond excited.

So I ordered the book immediately and read it the moment it arrived on my doorstep to eventually find myself with...mixed feelings with a negative tinge. Okay, more than a tinge, more like a cascading waterfall of negative feelings.

First off, the book is a prequel.

Now. Melissa Marr could have done so many cool things with this. There are so many interesting characters that I would have loved to see more in depth or delve into their histories.

Like Miach and Beira, for example. I’ve heard about the late Summer King since book 1, but never got to read about him as he was dead before the series began. However, his legendary love with Beira, the Winter Queen, would have been so incredibly bewitching to read about it, especially if it involved the birth of Keenan.

This would have been an awesome choice.

Irial and Niall would have been another incredible one, probably the best one. We’ve been told over and over again throughout the series that these two hot-heads with a past used to run the Dark Court together, wreaking havoc, taking lovers, seeking new heights, etc.

But do we get to see this transfixing time? Nope.

I would even have settled for a story about the Hunt, Sorcha and Bannanach, literally any character done in the right way.

But...no. Melissa Marr decides to write a prequel that is literally a carbon copy of the first book Wicked Lovely, but innumerably worse.

Everything in the prequel is exactly the same as the original novels. Miach is dead, Keenan is looking for his Summer Queen, the Winter Girl is pissed off for not being the chosen love of Keenan’s, Irial is temptation in the flesh, Niall and Irial are at odds, Bananach is causing discord, Sorcha is isolated and frigid, the list goes on and on.

Nothing of consequence, novelty, or importance happens in this book.

Frankly, it just felt like a terrible redo of the first novel, just set 100 years back.

I didn’t give a single flying crap about Thelma or Tam or whatever her name was. She was a worse version of Leslie, of Aislinn, of every other cool female character we eventually get to read about in the main series.

Thelma was contradictory in the worst of ways. She said one thing, like she would rely on no man and never have children and then turned around and did every single one of them like some sort of hypocrite galore.

She was so irritating and boring to read about that I tended to skim her parts because it was just paragraph after paragraph of bitching and moaning about the same goddamn things over and over again: stay away from fairies, oh god this fairy likes me, no sex, no children, no love and then bam! She just throws it all away.

Urgh.

The worst part too is that this isn’t a well written book. It’s repetitive, quite boring at times, and caters way too much to the reader.

Something I loved about the first Wicked Lovely is that Melissa Marr kinda just tosses you into her world and calls it a day. She doesn’t hold your hand or over explain. She just describes and lets you glean for yourself.

I loved this aspect of the original series. I liked learning about her world and the characters this way.

Cold Iron Heart spits on the idea of this concept. Marr repeats herself so much about the same things, who Irial is, what fairies are, why this is happening, that I grew increasingly irritated as the book went on.

Who on earth is she explaining this for? New readers? Why in the world would any new reader start with this book? The newest one that comes after six others???? It makes no goddamn sense.

So not only did I feel patronized and aggravated, but the love story between Thelma and Irial grated on me as there was no basis for their love.

It was ridiculous with no shred of authenticity and I hated it, especially knowing that he already loves Niall and Leslie only to come back and say, “wait a moment! I had another true love that I’ve never mentioned before. Yeah. Her name was Thelma. Or Tam. Or whatever, I don’t know. I knew her for three days, most of which was just sex, and then I lost her after she had my baby but I conveniently forgot about it because of nonsensical plot! Hahahah, good right?”

No. Not good. Horrible.

Overall, this book is a waste of time and trees.

I don’t know why Melissa Marr even wrote and published this. I can see her writing this for herself because why not, but as a fan and a reader this was beyond disappointing.

It’s like how all Harry Potter fans felt when J.K. Rowling wrote The Cursed Child and we got movies about Newt Scamander when we literally wanted anything else-Marauder series anyone??

It’s a particular kind of egregious offense when a favorite series or author of yours ends up ruining the canon you’re in love with. For that reason alone, I am stripping Cold Iron Heart from my heart and mind, like it never existed.

Just like I did with Cursed Child, or the fact that you-know-who dies in Death Note (if you know, you know). I just...don’t believe it. It ruined all the lovely things Marr had previously written and the stories that defined so much of my love for YA, for fantasy, and for my own writing as a whole.

I know for a lot of you this was a bumbling mess of a review with little to no clarity of the plot or who these characters are. Frankly, I’d be surprised if you are still reading if you didn’t know the book or the series in the first place, but that’s alright.

Like I said at the beginning, this is a way to get my intense feelings and thoughts down onto paper and now that I have I feel marginally better, although still pissed off that this book exists and that I currently own it.

Sigh.

Well if you stuck around for the ride, I appreciate it. If you skipped this particular book review, I understand that too.

Recommendation: Burn this book. However, if you want a gritty, tantalizing fantasy story, pick up the original Wicked Lovely and be whisked away into a world that has stuck with me since the first moment I read it on the fateful day at the grocery store.

Score: 3/10

#cold iron heart #melissa marr #wicked lovely #book blog #books #book review #Book Recommendations #YA Book Review #ya book rec #booklover #3/10

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mae-gi-writes · 4 years

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Awkwardly In Love | Mingi (ATEEZ)

Volleyball player! Mingi can’t seem to take his eyes off the girl on the bleachers whose got her nose stuck in her book.

Genre: FLUFF AND CUTE AWKWARD MINGI SBGKJDGJ I CAN’T HE RUINS ME.

Word count: you just gotta know that it iz quite a long ride. I apologize for that.

----

She's always got her nose buried in her book.

That's what catches Mingi's attention at first.

See, he's not one to read. Nor does he have any interest in reading and books and the things that come with it. Growing up in a household full of children involved in physical sport, books had counted for nothing but a minimal afterthought. That, and the fact that their financial struggles made it so that they didn't spend on books if it could be helped.

So seeing her always carrying around piles and piles of books has Mingi wonder how much extra cash does she have to spend on all this imaginary stories.

When he realizes that the reason she's always on the same spot on the bleachers is due to her cousin being in the same volleyball team as he is, he can't help but start asking questions.

"Yeah she's my mother's sister's daughter," Hongjoong says with a small affectionate smile, "we basically grew up in the same household so she waits for me after classes."

"You guys close then?" Mingi asks in a forced nonchalant tone. He keeps his eyes on the ball being served on the other side, palms already closed and upturned at the ready.

"Ready?" His teammate calls.

"Yeah!" They both holler.

He serves. The ball swoops in a beautiful arc and Mingi steels himself before receiving the ball with trained precision.

Pack!

"Closer than siblings," Hongjoong answers as the ball flies over the net, "why do you ask?"

Mingi is about to answer when he spots the ball. Hongjoong sweeps in, steering his legs to tap the ball high in the air.

Tap!

Mingi's head swivels up, catches the ball to throw it back at Hongjoong.

Pack!

"In!" The referree calls to signal that they've marked the final point to the game. The pair allow sighs to leave their lips as they slowly make their way out of the court.

"Uhm," Mingi's chest heaves up and down with effort. Sweat dots his forehead as he racks for an excuse, "just curious I guess."

"Want me to introduce you?"

"Uh-- I--That's not--necessary--"

It's too late though, for Hongjoong is already calling out her name, "Y/N!"

Her head lifts from where it's been buried in her book.

Her cousin motions for her to come forward and no sooner is she stepping down from the bleachers that Mingi's neck flushes bright red, and he knows deep down it's not from the fact that he's just exercised.

"Y/N, meet Mingi my teammate," Hongjoong's grin is definitely one that is suggestive, which does nothing for Mingi's confidence.

"Hi," she sends him a warm smile, extending a hand. Mingi shakes it and can't help but notice how tiny her fingers are in comparison.

Delicate fingers, so breakable. Cute.

"H-Hi, I'm Mingi," Oh god, he hopes he doesn't sound like an idiot.

"Mingi's always been on the team. He's the ace after all," adds Hongjoong.

"Ah, that's cool," Y/N nods.

That's how it starts really. At every practice, Mingi makes it a must to talk to her, even if it's juet a tiny greeting, or a slight wave of his shy hand whenever he's already on the court when she stumbles in with her pile of books tucked under her arm. There's just something about her, something that pulls him in like an invisible string even though he can barely make his way through one sentence when he's gazing straight into her eyes.

Once, he musters up the courage to ask her about the book in her lap and the amount of joy flushing up her cheeks makes it so palpable that he feels giddy from her own excitement.

"I'm currently reading Peony in Love," holding up the book so he can see, she continues, "it's a historical novel about this Chinese girl that falls in love with someone who isn't her betrothed, then dies only to realize that this someone is actually her betrothed."

"That's actually really heartbreaking."

"Yeah well, so are most romance stories," she shrugs, "like the titanic."

"I've never actually watched it."

"What?! You're kidding me?"

He shakes his head, ducking his head in embarrassment as he wonders whether she thinks of him as a loser because of his apparent lack of intellectual knowledge.

But instead, he is faced with her enthusiasm, "we should watch it someday! It's like a classic, you'll love it if you like dramatic endings."

"You--" he feels his chest tighten in excitement, "you're serious?"

"Of course I am! I'll let Hongjoong know."

His heart does drop a little at Y/N's cousin's name. He'd hoped that they'd be alone, just the two of them.

Nevertheless, he makes his way over to Hongjoong's flat on the said night and is surprised to find not just the pair of cousins But an entire group of familiar individuals that he's seen hanging around the corridors and classrooms.

"Hey you came!" Hongjoong claps Mingi's back as he steps into the doorway, "I invited some of my close friends too. You probably know them."

As Mingi greets the rest of the group whe exchanging soft pleasantries, he finally catches sight of Y/N's figure darting between tall frames before she emerges, grinning, "hi, Mingi right?"

He can't help but blush right down to his toes, "h-hey, what's up?"

"Sorry for all the noise. The guys just wanted to crash here. Told them we were watching titanic and they promised they wouldn't make running commentaries."

"It's alright. I know them all a little. We're in the same class."

"Ah cool. You guys all in the same major then?"

Mingi scratches the back of his head, "nah I'm in Psych. But since they're all in the sciences like Hongjoong we do have same classes."

"Cool. I wish I could've taken Psych," she puffs up her cheeks into a pout and Mingi's fingers itch to pinch her cheeks.

She can't be that cute. She just can't be.

"So are we starting the movie or what?!" One of the guys --his name is Yunho, Mingi guesses -- calls out.

"The way you're talking Yunho, it's almost like you're the one who really wants to watch it," Hongjoong replies sassily while throwing both arms around Y/N and Mingi respectively before guiding them to the tv room. He dips his head towards Mingi's ear as the group settles in, "don't worry bro, I'll make sure you sit next to her."

Blushing furiously at the older boy's comment, the latter doesn't even have time to defend himself when he is being pushed onto the couch right next to Y/N's figure.

"You a big tears kind of guy?" The girl murmured, popcorn in lap. She extends it out to Mingi, who shyly grabs a handful.

"I guess it depends," Mingi murmurs, "are there animals in there?"

"Oh so you're that kind of guy."

He flushes. What kind of guy is she referring to?

The movie starts with the narration of an old lady gazing at a sapphire necklace, bedore the screen gives way to a shot of the ship itself in all its splendour, glistening a bold black and white in the midday sun.

Mingi knows he should be concentrating on the movie. And it's true, he really should, especially when Y/N had asked him to because it is clearly a classic he can't possibly miss out on. But alas, his eyes keep dashing back and forth between the screen and Y/N's face, stealing looks whenever she is not looking. It's almost like a magnetic pull tugging his gaze back to her no matter how hard he forces his eyes away; flitting over her eyes focused in attention, eyebrows furrowed at the middle with her mouth hanging open like a child amazed with naked wonder.

What can she possibly be thinking? What is going on inside that imaginative mind of hers?

What magical dimension is she traveling to without his knowledge?

It's only when the romance between the two protagonists start blossoming that he finally tears his eyes away to focus on the movie itself, all the while sensing Y/N's heat permeating from her body to his in a way that causes a permanent flush in the back of his neck.

The movie ends all too soon, with tears in Y/N's eyes and some of the other guys as they debate over the ending and how stupid Rose was for not giving Jack some space on the wooden board.

"Well to be fair, he would've probably sunk the entire board," Seonghwa argues. He's the pretty boy that everyone knows of, the one whom every girl has been crushing on since his admittance to their college.

"If I were Rose, I wouldn't want to keep living without the love of my life," Y/N points out, "I would've drowned myself with him."

"Jesus Y/N, that's terrifying," Hongjoong says.

"It's true though!"

The look in her eyes whenever she spoke of movies was a look of naked excitement. Like now, Mingi spots the familiar fire burning through her gaze, a gaze he finds alluring on her. It's like it breathes life into her face. It's similar to the one she wears whenever she's reading.

A few days later on campus, he bumps into her hurrying out of the library as he walks in, almost sending her flying before his arm snatches out to hold her shoulder.

"Sorry," he says hastily while putting her back on her feet and releasing her like she's just burnt him.

"S'okay," Y/N sends him a reassuring smile, "where you going?"

"Assignments. I'm late on my research paper because of practice," Mingi scratches his head. He nods towards her books, "what caught your interest this week?"

"Oh I'm just re-reading A Darker Shade of Magic," she grins like a little child being caught. Something in Mingi's heart softens like butter.

"What's it about?"

"It's so cool, it's like this guy with a super cool coat that has hundreds over coats inside it. And he's a magician and there are parallel worlds that have different wavelengths of magic. So he can travel through the different worlds and--" she stops abruptly then before her cheeks colour in shades of pink, "sorry. I'm rambling again--"

"No no no," Mingi cuts her off, causing her to blink, wide-eyed, "please...continue. I--I like it when you talk about your books. You--You always seem so alive and excited."

"Oh," her face flushes even more as another troop of butterflies tickle Mingi's stomach. She's so damn cute! "Thanks...Mingi."

He tries to analyze the flickering expressions on her face, though he guesses it is close to feeling embarrassed.

"A--Anyway I--I'll get going," Mingi hurriedly says, moving past her with flaming red ears upon realizing what he has just said, only to feel her hand clamp down on his.

He turns to see her, averted gaze and all, little fingers clamped onto his shirt, "do you--do you want to...go see a movie sometime?"

----------

Hongjoong had threatened Mingi with a multitude of ways of killing him in case he broke Y/N's heart, albeit the fact that the taller man stated that no, they weren't going on a date,.and anyway flirting had never been Mingi's strongest points anyway.

"Sure. If it's not a date, what is it then?" Hongjoong had asked with a roll of his eyes.

"It's just two people hanging out," Mingi had protested through red ears and scarlet tinged cheeks.

As per the said man's suggestion, the pair decides to meet up at the cinema entrance to choose the movie of their choice. Y/N is decked in a simple white t-shirt, loose cut-off jeans with red sneakers, and as Mingi silently admires her sense of simple fashion the heat that rises through the back of his neck is enough to make him avert his gaze bashfully.

They settle on a romantic comedy and he volunteers to buy the popcorn so that she can find some decent seats. As he settles into the cinema room and the lights dim into darkness, he places the popcorn box into her hands, waving her off upon her rising protests.

"But you--"

"I'll share it with you, don't-- don't worry," he replies, hand scratching the back of his neck.

Don't sweat it, he says to himself. It's fine. It's not a date. It's just two friends enjoying each other's presence.

Halfway through the movie, Mingi reaches for the popcorn only for their hands to collide. He retracts it like he just burnt himself, causing the said girl to chuckle softly. She reaches over then, with a handful of popcorn, before plopping it straight into his mouth without warning.

Mingi blinks. Heat goes straight to his ears.

When his eyes find hers, she only graces him with a timid smile, before returning back to the movie, totally unaware that his heart is now practically galloping out of his chest.

Jesus, what she does to his heart.

Mingi has never been so whipped in his life, but right now, he's pretty certain that he doesn't mind if that means she can accept his heart.

"Well that was fun," Y/N says the moment they step out of the cinema hall, "wasn't expecting it to be so lovey dovey though."

His head ducks, "I'm sorry," he mutters, "I didn't know you weren't into--"

"Oh no no! Not at all! We both chose it. You have nothing to feel bad about!"

"I'm not that into movies," comes his mumble.

"What?" Y/N stops in the middle of the road as she blinks up at him in shock, "you should've told me!"

"I wasn't interested in seeing the movie, I just wanted to see--" he hesitates slightly, "you."

What the fuck Mingi, he feels like choking himself foe his stupidity. Why was he acting like a total turd? This was ridiculous! She's just a girl, a cute one sure, but still! It's almost like he's lost all ability to make conversation.

He tries once more, "I'm--I'm sorry I shouldn't have--“

“No, I“m the one who's sorry. Here, let me treat you. Ice cream?” and then, her eyes widen, "you do like ice cream right?"

That'a enough for his lips to tilt up into a smile, "I'd love ice cream."

---

Once they settle on a bench at the nearby park, it seems like all nervousness suddenly ease from Mingi's consciousness and slowly, he starts opening up to the said girl as they lick at their ice cream cones. The sun sets over the horizon, turning the blue sky in scarlet hues that reminds him of summer days that last forever.

"Architecture's tough but honestly, that was the only thing my parents would let me study," Y/N says, empty ice-cream stick in hand as her gaze sweeps over the park and its passerbys.

"I guess it makes sense, considering our economy recently," Mingi agrees.

"And you? Why Psych?"

He lifts his shoulder in a half-hearted shrug, "I guess I just like analyzing people. It's intriguing, knowing how people think, how they act around others."

"You want to be a therapist?"

"I don't know if I'm strong enough to help people get out of their problems when I can't even help myself."

He feels her eyes on him and finds interest in the way the wind blows across the grass blades.

Her voice is soft when she says, "you don't have to be that kind of hero, if you don't want to."

His heart swells with warmth and sudden affection, though he says nothing but nods in agreement.

It's easily past ten when they trudge back to Y/N's house, with nervousness swimming through Mingi's stomach in apprehension to Hongjoong's earlier threats, though Y/N reassures him that Hongjoong is mostly all talk and no action. That reassures the tall man slightly, until his feet start bristling upon spotting her front porch.

"Thanks for keeping me company today," Y/N tilts her head up, her profile bathed in the backlight of her house, "next time, let's not go to the movies."

Mingi's heart skips, "I didn't mind it."

"I know, but I want to do things that you like too," she grins.

A surge of courage rises through his chest as he tells her that he'd like that a lot too.

Except the thing that falls out of his mouth instead is, "I like you too."

She blinks.

He blinks back, realization settling in like a dull ache in his stomach.

Horror sweeps through him. Oh no.

It hadn't been in his plan to expose himself like this, exposing himself like a dog who wants a tummy rub, but then again there's no sign of rejection that flickers across Y/N's face, which he takes as a good sign as he fumbles for the right words, "uhm, I-- I mean, I didn't mean--"

"You didn't mean that?"

"What?" His eyes widen, "no no! Of course I mean it, I just--"

He gasps at his own words, cupping a hand over his mouth as the girl before him explodes into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

"Oh my gosh," her eyes crinkle up into those adorable crescents of hers, "you're so cute."

Scarlet pink blossoms across his cheeks. Averting his eyes, he wishes that the floor can just come and swallow him up right there and then.

"Right," clearing his throat, one hand reaches up to scratch his ear, "well, I-I'll just go--"

He's halfway turning around when Y/N's hand trickles through his, as gentle as water flowing through his fingertips.

"Wait," she murmurs.

His breath stalls. Inhaling a soft breath, he slowly shuffles back, not daring to meet her gaze when he feels like he's just put his heart on the table for her to do with as she pleases.

Her voice is a gentle breath of a whisper, "don't go."

And then, she's up on her tippy toes and pressing a light kiss to his cheek. Mingi's skin practically lights on fire as another round of butterflies erupt in his chest at her touch, and he can't help but stare down at her, jaw slack, as she gives him the shyest smile he's ever seen.

Cute! His mind screams. Cute cute cute!

"So," Mingi's mind comes back into focus upon hearing her voice, eyes finding her biting down onto her lower lip, “Well, uh--I guess--I guess this means I--I like you, or something.”

"uhm,” his ears are so hot with heat he feels they might fall off as he forces himself not to gawk at her, though it’s proving to be quite difficult as he’s trying to muster the courage to come out with a reasonable answer.

“I--well, uh--how does this--I don't know--do you want to...uh possibly,” he swallows thickly, before exhaling the words in a rush,”...goouttodinnerwithme?"

Y/N blinks in confusion, "I'm sorry?"

Come on, Mingi! He thinks to himself in growing desperation. Don't be such a wimp!

"Do you... want to...go out with me? S--Sometime?" His throat is clogged with so much embarrassment he fear he might choke.

But when he feels soft fingers trace his chin, he looks up, right into her dark brown eyes sparkling with a tinge of playfulness, excitement and naked joy brimming at the corners.

"I'd love that," she whispers.

And she lifts herself up once more to land a kiss on his mouth, softly, shyly, a mere brushing her mouth against his.

Mingi stumbles upon impact, hands unconsciously grasping her waist as his back comes in contact with the railing lining her porch.

His eyes are wide when she pulls away, biting her lower lip like she can't help but feel nervous from this bold action that has taken him by surprise.

"What--" Mingi chokes on his words, lapses into silence while staring down at her.

The girl merely glances down. A blush taints her cheeks and even though his fingers are shaking and he feels like his heart is about to jump out of his chest at the mere prospect of their closeness, his body moves before his brain does.

Closing the gap between them, it's his turn to press a kiss now, a chaste one that tells her that he reciprocates these feelings wholeheartedly. And Y/N responds by wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer so that their chests touch, mouths moving slowly in harmony as they chase each other and mold together in a way that leaves Mingi breathless and his heart stuttering like he's just won a race.

If it is, then it's the most importance race of his life.

It is only when they pull apart, breathing into each other with barely millimetres separating their mouths, that he can't help but laugh at the realization that this girl in his arms is his.

"What?" She says while smiling up at him. So gorgeous, so breathtaking. And she's his.

"Nothing," he can sense the heat flooding his cheeks once more, "I just-- I'm just...happy."

And there it is, that same smile that he loves so much. The smile that holds magical words and countless secrets to the amazing mind she beholds. He can't want to delve into her thoughts and pick at her brain, knowing that all of them are going to be precious memories he'll hold dear to his heart.

That smile.

Hongjoong's voice suddenly erupts out of nowhere like a nightmare, "don't think I didn't see you guys kissing out there!"

---

I’m so whipped for Mingi and he’s like 2 years younger so I feel like such an old noona *sighs*.

Anyway, let me know if you’d like more Ateez content! <3 Stay safe guys, and thanks for reading!

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bookaddict24-7 · 3 years

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I said at the beginning of the year that I would share my reviews more on my blog instead of just on Instagram and Goodreads. I’ve been reading a lot so far this year, so my reviews will be delayed on here.

Friend me on Goodreads here to read my reviews in real-time!

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107. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, this book had more of a punch than I anticipated! I think books like this one are super important--not just because of the content, but because of the audience it's geared towards. Young readers now are learning more and more about society than a lot of us did at their age, so I think it's perfectly fitting that a book like this one is out there for kids to devour. One of the things I liked the most about this book was the allegory of racism in a magical community. Usually in fantastical novels for kids (older ones, anyway), there's this belief that no matter what you look like, the moment you go to another magical place all of your worries about racism goes away because MAGIC. But in this one, not only did our MC have to contend with the racism in her normal life, she had to face more racism in her new life, just with a new title. So many of the actions taken against her by those around her, and the comments (like putting her brother on a pedestal because he was the star of the school and calling him the exception to the rule, or one girl actively telling her that "You can take the girl out of the ghetto, but not the ghetto out of the girl) really made me think that this poor kid went from one ignorant situation to another. Not only is she trying to find her brother and solve the mystery of his disappearance, but she also has to deal with racist and ignorant people around her. Imagine calling a child evil because of something they can't control. Imagine going out of your way to ensure that they fail. Imagine you or your child hearing the things this child heard while trying to just do her best in a system that's always been made to be against her, both in the human world and in the magic world. Imagine, imagine, imagine. Another thing I loved about this book was her resilience. She is brave, and smart, and has such a big future in this new world of hers. I'm so excited to read the rest of this series as it comes out. This book was POWERFUL and I highly recommend it. Not just for the young readers in your life, but I think parents and other readers would highly benefit from reading Amari's story.

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108. Mindy Kim & the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay, this book was ADORABLE. I haven’t read a 6-8 book in a long time and I’m thankful to my friend on Instagram who recommended these books! Mindy has to deal with not only her grief about losing her mom and her dad’s busy schedule (as well as his own grief), but she’s also at a new school in a new State where she is the only Asian student. I’ve mentioned this in some of my most recent reviews, but I love that these important topics are being discussed in children’s books. We see moments of racism in this book where Mindy is left upset, even if she doesn’t fully understand just why certain comments and actions are so hurtful. And even if she doesn’t dwell on it, a parent reading this with their little one would notice and hopefully learn if they see their own behaviours mirrored in the actions of some of these adults. But we also see moments of kindness and love as a young girl tries her best to find ways to make her dad happy. Despite the heavier undertones in this book, there was an overall feel of sweetness and childhood innocence. The ability to apologize when you know you’re in the wrong, the innocence of emotions getting away from you, and the sweetness of a daughter loving her father. This was a great read and I highly recommend it for everyone, but especially the little ones in your life who will be entering situations where books like these and their lessons are really important.

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109. The Dead Zone by Stephen King--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one, I felt, held more of an emotional punch rather than a creepy feeling. I really enjoyed it! I loved the psychic angle and the MC proving the people who didn’t believe him or mocked wrong. Also, this was a King book that actually made me want to cry at the end. I didn’t give it a 5 because of some really slow moments. While I love that his stories always have a way of coming together at the end, certain scenes sometimes feel long, boring, or confusing. I’d recommend this for anyone who wants to read a King book that isn’t scary and if you’re a fan of 11/22/63!

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110. Takane & Hana Vol. 1 by Yuki Shiwasu--⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one took me a while to read. I found that I wasn’t really in the mood to read it every time I picked it up—which is so different from when I pick up a manga I really want to read. The story had some funny bits and the artwork was gorgeous, but it really bugged me how every new chapter re-introduced the love interest. Over and over and over again. I get it: he’s rich, arrogant, and an asshole. Can’t you trust us to remember these key personality traits? But it wasn’t even just that. We were constantly re-introduced to the premise of the story. I don’t know how common this is WITHIN the same volume, but I haven’t encountered it yet—and if I have, it wasn’t as annoying as this one. I’ll keep reading the story because I’m curious, but this first volume was a bit of a rougher read for me.

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111. You Have A Match by Emma Lord--⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I think the thing with this book is that the cover tells a different story than what really matters in this book. Yes, there’s a friends to more relationship in this, but the main storyline is about two girls who find out they’re sisters and are trying to solve that mystery. This isn’t a romcom—the romance is a super side story to the main storyline. And to be honest, I really enjoyed it. I wanted to see why these two sisters lived their whole life separated. I enjoyed the process and the friendships created along the way. I felt for the parents, but at the same time, I felt more for the girls. There were instances where I wanted to yell at the parents because they kept putting the reveal off. This was enjoyable overall—a great summer read. Not particularly memorable, but it does what it sets out to do: makes you question the strength of friendships and what they can overcome. Also, Instagram.

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112. Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When my friend raved about this book I was both excited and intimidated. I usually try to avoid hypes surrounding books because I go in with too-high expectations and a lot of the time, the expectations crush me while I’m reading. Thankfully, the hype is very well-deserved with this one. For me, the most important aspect of this book that stuck with me wasn’t the mystery surrounding the MC’s cousin’s death, but the character growth the MC himself experiences during the time of his investigation. Identity sounds like a pretty clear cut thing sometimes, but it’s a lot harder to know your own when you’re the child of an immigrant family. You live in a new country, get accustomed to new expectations and customs, and inevitably feel a culture shock when you’re re-introduced to the culture your parents grew up in. I saw myself so much in this MC. From my childhood to my current adult years, people have thought that they could define me and who I am simply because I say I’m this or this. But while others make a quick judgment, they don’t see the internal struggle. They don’t see you questioning yourself on whether you’re enough of this, or whether you’re enough of that. I think teenage me would have loved this book even more. The MC is constantly faced with criticism about his father choosing to move them to the States from the Philippines. The judgments and the preconceived notions of him and his family make him not only weary because he recalls how his uncle treated his father the first time he visited, but also wary because it sets him down this road of self-reflection. I haven’t read many (if any, unfortunately) books where a character goes to the Philippines. I’m so thankful to this book. I learned so much about the culture, the foods, and the struggles faced not just financially, but politically as well. I remember reading about some of the topics brought up in this book and it was extremely eye-opening. It’s so easy for us to look away because we have that privilege, but this book says, “No, look at me. I exist.” The MC, in his journey, also learns to speak up and use his voice. Not just against ignorant friends, but an annoyingly smug and verbally abusive uncle (who I hated to all hell). He also learns to listen. He learns that though not every story is perfect, they still have power. I think this is a great read for those who have one foot in two different worlds (hands and arms can be in other worlds, too). Especially if you’re trying to understand this part of you that wasn’t developed as you grew up. I’d also recommend it to readers who want to learn more about this struggle, learn more about a different culture that is more than its stereotypes, and/or want to read about a young teenager trying to come to terms with his grief and guilt.

___ Have you read any of these books? Would you recommend them?

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Happy reading!

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