#I understand her point of view but I still think he should try to convince her otherwise

[yxngbxkkie]

showing your 🍒 during an argument (maknae line)

here's the maknae line! i feel like each one is a little all over the place, but i think it's still pretty cute 🫢 so, please enjoy! 🩷

Han Jisung

Jisung gives you the silent treatment the whole way home. You have a hard time understanding what he's so upset about. You thought the two of you were having a good time.

You watch him closely as the two of you walk through your apartment door. You cross your arms over your chest after slipping your heels off, gently setting them beside the door.

“Do you have any clue why I'm so upset?” He asks you, turning around to face you. Jisung combs his fingers through his hair, breathing heavily.

“I'm going to be honest, no,” you shake your head, tentatively stepping towards him.

Jisung rubs his face, releasing a quick sigh. He moves from where he's standing and sits down on the couch. “I overheard you talking to Yeji,” he mentions, hoping it'll refresh your memory. “It was right after I told you I was getting drinks. I had forgotten my wallet, so I went back to get it when you told her that you weren't happy.”

You frown. “Baby, I wasn't talking about you,” you reassure him, staying in your spot by the door.

He scoffs, rolling his eyes. “It sounded pretty convincing from my point of view,” Jisung mutters, keeping his eyes on his feet.

“I told Yeji that I wasn't happy about how her partner treated her,” you say to him, hoping he'll at least hear you out. “I promise you. Baby, I'm so happy with you, you have no idea!”

Your boyfriend lifts his head, eyeing you from his seat. You can tell he's having an internal battle with himself. You take a few steps closer to him, wanting to reach your hand out.

“You're a hundred percent sure?” He asks you, causing you to giggle softly.

“Of course, Hanji. I love you so much,” you smile. You bite your lip slightly, trying to think of a way that'll make him feel better.

You push your jacket off, letting the article of clothing drop to the floor. Jisung's eyes glance towards you, furrowing slightly as he attempts to figure out what's happening.

“Plus, would I willingly do this if I wasn't happy?” You ask while lifting your shirt.

Jisung's jaw drops, his hands clutching the edge of the couch. “I– Wow,” he mumbles, pushing himself up from his seat.

You smile widely as your cute boyfriend stumbles towards you. “Be careful, baby,” you giggle.

He catches himself and now stands in front of you. His hands rest on your waist, stroking his thumbs along your bare skin. “I love you so much, too,” Jisung whispers, keeping his eyes on your chest.

“Are you saying that to me or my breasts?” You laugh, caressing his cheek with your hand.

“You, silly,” Jisung laughs as well, trailing his fingers up your torso. Your breath hitches in your throat when his fingertip brushes your nipple. “I'm sorry for how I acted. I should've just talked to you.”

You shake your head, moving some hair out of his face. “It's okay, baby. Just know that I'd never be unhappy with you, okay? I love you,” you mutter to him, pressing a sweet kiss on his lips.

Lee Felix

You furrow your brows at the sound of your boyfriend screaming. You stop what you're doing and stand up from your spot on the couch.

Felix has been gaming with Seungmin and Jeongin for a few hours now. He comes out every once in a while, but it's been over an hour since you've seen him last.

You slowly walk towards his gaming room, gently knocking on the door before opening it. You peek your head inside, seeing Felix gripping his hair. “Baby, everything okay?” You ask, and he turns around to face you.

“I'm fine. Can you leave?” He mutters, shocking you a little.

“Uh, yeah, of course,” you stumble over your words, not expecting Felix to speak to you that way. “I ordered dinner. It should be here soon, okay?”

He grunts in response, waving a hand while swiveling around to face the computer screens.

A tiny sigh comes from your lips as you gently shut the door. You tuck some hair behind your ear, wondering if there's something you can do to cheer him up a smidge.

You walk into the kitchen, grabbing his favorite drink. You're not particularly fond of how angry he gets when he loses. Before you're able to deliver his drink, there's a knock at your door.

You set the drink down on the table, heading towards the front door. You open it to see the food you ordered, almost squealing in excitement.

“Thank you so much!” You say to the delivery guy, taking the bag from his hands.

After shutting the door, you bring the delivery to your kitchen table. You separate your food from Felix's before setting his drink into the bag. You grab the bag and make your way back to his game room.

“Baby, I got your food and a drink,” you say while walking into the room.

Felix is currently in the middle of a match, the sounds of his mouse and keyboard echoing off the walls.

He curses at his teammates under his breath as you set the food down. You watch him silently for a minute, not wanting to interrupt his match.

“Seungmin! I'm fucking dying over here. Can one of you help me?!” Felix almost screams, halting his game movements to slam his fist on the desk.

You jump a bit, not expecting him to get so loud. “Baby,” you try to warn him, not wanting to get any complaints from the neighbors.

Felix does it again when his character dies. “I'm dead. I'm fucking done,” he says into his headset before fligging it off his head.

His dark eyes meet yours, and you feel more nervous than you've ever felt with him. “I brought dinner and your favorite drink,” you mutter softly, pushing the bag towards him.

“I'm not in the mood. I'll eat it later,” Felix mentions, his eyes dancing from you to the bag of delivery.

“But, you haven't eaten all day,” you frown, knowing that he hasn't eaten a full meal once today. “It's almost nine, you need to eat.”

Felix closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Y/N, I said not now. I'm pissed off, and I don't need you babying me,” he almost snaps, glaring at you.

You shake your head and decide to do something bold. You lift your shirt, exposing your naked chest to him. You watch as his eyes shift to your chest, the anger in them dissipating.

“Shit,” he whispers to himself, reaching a hand out to touch them. Felix stands up from his chair as well, getting closer to you. “If this is a new way to get me to shut up, use it more.”

A giggle leaves your lips, and his eyes meet yours again. “They'll bring back the Felix I know,” you joke with him, bringing a hand to his face.

You bite your lip when his finger brushes your nipples. “Thank you for dinner, baby,” he mutters after placing a kiss on your lips. “I can have you for dessert, right?”

Your breath hitches in your throat as Felix wraps an arm around your waist. You rest your hands on his chest, gently gripping the shirt he's wearing. “Yeah, of course,” you whisper to him, kissing him once again.

Kim Seungmin

A hand wraps around your wrist before they tug you away from the person you're speaking with “Wait‐” you cut yourself off, realizing the person who dragged you away was Seungmin.

“You wait,” he mutters, hearing the annoyance in his voice.

He drags you towards the restrooms, shoving you into the girls' room. You stumble a bit and catch yourself on the sink. Seungmin locks the door before facing you, crossing his arms over his chest.

“What's wrong?” You ask him, reaching a hand out to him.

Seungmin evades your touch, and it breaks your heart a little. “You're supposed to be here with me,” he tells you, raising an eyebrow. “Yet, you've spent the past forty-five minutes talking to some dude.”

You frown, pressing your lips together for a second. “I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was that long,” you apologize, not wanting to argue in a nightclub's bathroom.

“Did you even try to leave? Do you want to be here with me?” Seungmin questions you, his hands dropping to his sides.

“Of course!” You say with no hesitation, taking a step forward. “I've been wanting to go out with you for years, Seungmin.”

He sighs, feeling the tips of his ears heating up. “You don't act like it, Y/N,” he says with a frown. “Maybe I should just bring you home.”

You shake your head, putting your hands on his chest. “No, wait! Seungmin–"

Your date pushes your hands away from you, moving to unlock the door. You run your hands through your hair and block his path again, staring up at him.

“Y/N,” he sighs, rubbing his face.

You lift your shirt, exposing your naked chest. Seungmin's eyes widen at the sudden action, his cheeks blushing and attempts to not look at you.

“Can I talk now?” You ask him, ducking a bit so you can look in his eyes. He swallows thickly, nodding his head. “I tried so hard to get out of talking to him. Believe me, okay? I wanted to get back to you and spend my time with you.”

He parts his lips, wanting to say something, but nothing comes out. His gaze dips to your chest, not believing that they're still out. “Uhm, I–” Seungmin pauses, wiping his hands on his jeans.

“Are they distracting you?” You ask in a whisper, chuckling softly. He nods his head while meeting your gaze.

You giggle some more, reaching forward to grab one of his hands. “If you are willing to stay and continue our date…” you trail off, placing his hand on one of your breasts. “Then you'll be able to do this more often.”

“You're cruel,” he mutters, shaking his head. He squeezes your breast, and you gently bite your lip. “But you're so pretty.”

It's your turn to blush, diverting your gaze away from him. “Thank you, Seungmin,” you whisper loud enough for him to hear. You fiddle with your fingers, looking back at him after a minute of silence. “Do you still want to take me home?”

“No, no, we can continue,” he tells you, squeezing you again. “Now, cover up. Those are mine.”

A gasp escapes your lips, not expecting him to say that to you. You lick your lips and lower your shirt down, covering yourself up. “Kim Seungmin, you dog,” you laugh, slapping his arm playfully before he leads you out of the bathroom.

Yang Jeongin

“Why did we leave the party?” You ask Jeongin, your voice slurring with intoxication.

He shifts his eyes to you, not saying anything before continuing to open the hotel room door. Your boyfriend drags you into the room and plants you down on the edge of the bed.

“It's pretty obvious why we left,” he says bluntly, toeing his dress shoes off.

You furrow your brows, trying to think, but your foggy brain comes up with nothing. “We were having a good time,” you point out, getting up to head to the mini fridge.

Jeongin stops you, his large hands gripping your arms. You stumble into him, resting your hands on his chest. “You were having a good time, Y/N,” he calls you by your name, causing your chest to clench a smidge.

“You told me I could,” you mutter.

“Yeah, one or two! I didn't expect you to get fucking drunk,” he huffs, sitting you back down. “You were embarrassing me.”

You scoff, shaking your head before crossing your arms. “I was hyping you up, Innie. I knew how nervous you were, so I tried to make it easier for you,” you confess to him.

“Baby, you told them about our sex lives,” Jeongin sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “They certainly didn't need to know about that.”

You giggle, covering your mouth with your hand. “Oops, sorry about that, baby,” you pout, looking up at him.

He's still glaring at you, but in your drunken haze, you can see his eyes starting to soften. “You don't look very sorry,” Jeongin mutters, grabbing water from the table.

“I love it when you get flushed just by looking at me,” you say while exposing your chest to him.

Jeongin choked on his water, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. He groans, tilting his head to the side. “Jesus, baby. You can't just do that,” he coughs a bit, his gaze settled on your breasts.

You smile at his reaction and stand up from your spot. Jeongin twists the cap, closing the bottle of water. “Why? When that is the reaction, I love to see so much!” You smirk, reducing the distance between you.

“You're cheating to win the argument,” he whines before chuckling, his hands touching your bare skin.

“Why argue when we could be doing something else?” You offer, standing on your toes to kiss him.

He wraps an arm around your waist, tugging your body closer to him. Your breasts are pressed against his pecs and your forehead against his.

“I'm truly sorry about tonight. My nerves and alcohol don't mix,” you whisper, pressing a light kiss on him.

“It's okay. I love you,” he mumbles, returning your kiss. Jeongin lays you on the bed as his lips trail down to your chest. “You looked scrumptious tonight.”

You run your fingers through his hair, smiling softly. “I love you, too.”

~

tagging: @strawboorybunny @reddesert-healourblues @spacegirlstuff @moon0fthenight @foxinnie8 @like-a-diamondinthesky @prettymiye0n

[damiansgoodgirll]

Can i request a Damian Priest x girlfriend reader where reader gets mad with Damian and the rest of judgement day for the way they treat R Truth. so she defends Truth much to Damian's dismay.

pls i love r-truth so much

damian priest x reader

not fair

“i’m just saying, the way you guys are treating him it’s not fair” you tried to excuse damian’s behaviour towards r-truth.

you’ve always liked him.

he was fun. a gentle soul to be around and he always treated you right. he had nothing against you even if you were damian’s girlfriend.

he wanted to be part of the judgment day too. you didn’t know why. why someone kind and honest like him wanted to be part of the most cheating faction.

yet, it would have been fun to see him with the group but the way they were treating him, especially your boyfriend was making you mad.

“we don’t need new members in the group…” he tried to explain himself.

“yet you let jd in” it’s not that you didn’t like jd, you just didn’t see the value of having him in the group when there were more talented wrestlers in the business.

“just because finn wanted him, he’s part of the team and he wanted jd in…no one in our team wants r-truth in tho…” damian said again.

“i want r-truth in! do you know how funny that would be?” you tried to explain again.

“but y/n, you’re not a part of the group…not anymore”

“so my opinion doesn’t matter?”

yes, due to an injury sustained while you were still one of the original members of the judgment day along side with damian, rhea and edge, you had to quit wrestling to give your body time to recover.

only fact it’s been years now and your body hasn’t recovered yet.

you didn’t leave the wwe. you were still ringside to every member’s match, helping them as you could. you were backstage interviewing other wrestlers when you could, so, a part of you was happy that you didn’t have to leave but you wished that your group would consider your opinion a little more.

“no love its not that…your opinion matters…”

you scoffed “to who? it doesn’t seem like that it matters to you damian…i’m just saying you should consider the idea of having someone like in the group…people love him, he’s fun and hilarious and he makes people laugh…”

“we are the judgment day y/n, we don’t need to make people laugh, i’m pretty sure that adding him in the group would only make us look ridiculous…” damian said.

“whats going on here? we’ve been hearing you talking all the way down to the corridor…is everything okay?” finn said entering the locker room along side with dom and rhea.

“y/n was just trying to convince us or just me, to have r-truth in the group” damian said making the other two guys laugh.

you didn’t think it was that funny. they just didn’t want to see your point of view.

“why would we have to y/n?” rhea said. she was your best friend but sometime she couldn’t understand why you would get such weird ideas.

“for the millionth time…he’s a likeable person, people love him, i like him too, he’s funny and kind and he would bring a different tone to the group…i just think that he would be perfect as a new member of the group…he’s different and he proved to you many times he wants to be a part of the group…so why not?”

“that’s absolute nonsense y/n” rhea said, finn and dom agreeing with her. damian too.

“okay fine, do what you want. i’m tired of talking with ghosts…” you said leaving the room.

you’ve been supporting their crazy and nonsense ideas since you’ve left the group. but having them laughing on you just because you had a good idea wasn’t fair.

that day you talked to r-truth, explaining him that you tried your best to have him in the group but that they wouldn’t listen as they thought that your opinion didn’t matter anymore.

you loved the group.

damian was your boyfriend. rhea was your best friend. but sometimes you couldn’t go along with their ideas and most of the times you ended up fighting over stupid things.

“why don’t you join me and the miz ringside?” r-truth proposed to you “you’re too funny for the judgment day anyway” he said making you laugh.

“that’s a complete different role from what i had in the judgment day…”

“i know. you had to help them win, cheating of course. you had to cover for their lies and mistakes and even if that’s what the group is about, even if you can’t wrestle anymore, i’m pretty sure that there’s still something more than you could do…i’m not saying you should officially leave the group, i’m just saying, come ringside in one of our matches and see what happens, maybe that would change your mind” he said smiling at you before leaving.

once you were back at the hotel, you thought about the proposal.

maybe you should have given a try.

“hey…i’ve been looking for you everywhere” damian said before sitting next to you on the bed.

“yeah…i talked with r-truth…”

“i imagined it…” he whispered.

“he said that maybe i should leave the judgement day and join him and the miz…”

“what did you say?” he asked you.

“ that I have to think about it…but damian please, think about that too. my opinions are no longer welcomed in the group and honestly i just feel like a burden and you’re my boyfriend and we keep constantly fighting over stupid things and…and if leaving the group means that you and i or rhea and i are not gonna fight anymore then i’m okay with that…” you explained.

damian was watching you. “i don’t like the idea of you leaving the group honestly…but i can tell you are no longer happy with us…so if that makes you happy then go for it”

“you guys make me so happy, but i don’t feel respected anymore…”

“we’ve been hard with you, i know that. honestly i’m not fond of jd too” he said making you laugh “and your ideas are always brilliant it’s just that maybe they aren’t brilliant for our group? you are my girlfriend and in these years i kinda got to know you…you’re always looking for new things, new adventures and that’s something i love about you…don’t let our ideas discourage you to do so mi amor” damian said, trying to justify his shitty behaviour of before.

“i just wished we could do those brilliant ideas together as a group but sometimes my idea aren’t meant for everyone and i get that…i just wished you guys had a better way to express that tho…” you said, still offended by how they treated you before.

“i know and i’m so sorry about that. our tones hadn’t been nice and i apologise for that mi amor, disculpame…” he apologised, softly taking your hands in his bigger ones and kissing them.

“you’re excused…” you smiled.

“think about his proposal and do what is best for you, at the end of the day it’s me you’re coming home too, and i couldn’t be happier” he said, making you genuinely smile.

damian supported you, no matter what and that was everything for you.

————————————-

bonus gif :

[joelswritingmistress]

Neighbors With Benefits: Part 10 (Joel Miller x f!reader)

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

Life felt completely up in the air. It was as exciting as it was anxiety-ridden. The BMW remained at Joel’s house overnight, and even long after you’d gotten home after your romantic romp in the lake, jealousy and insecurity ate away at your core - not to mention every other heightened emotion you could think that you had no idea what to do with.

He said he wanted this, you reminded yourself. Still, there was a looming dark cloud over your inner paradise in the form of the legal situation between Joel and Cecille. Should she try to convince him to take her back, maybe she would be enticing enough for him to agree to it. After all, this wasn’t some high school couple that was simply calling it quits. This was a marriage.

Your racing thoughts disallowed you to have a solid night’s sleep. Each time you awoke you took a glance out the window to see the car beside Joel’s truck. It was torture. When the morning finally did come, you were pleased to see Cicille enter her vehicle ahead of Joel. The question was, was she going to work, or was she leaving for good?

Your phone went off soon after, and you barricaded yourself in your room to take Joel’s call.

“Hey.” The one word practically came out as a sigh of relief.

“Hey.” Joel cleared his throat, “Look, I’m uh, I’m going golfing with your father after work.”

“Oh, yeah,” you remembered, “That was today huh?”

“Yeah.” He paused, “And then I’m going to get a room somewhere for the night.”

“Like a hotel?”

“Yeah.”

“So, is um… is Cecille staying there permanently then?”

“Honestly, things are a bit of a mess, and there’s nothing legally keeping her from being there. She loves to make my life a hell of a lot more difficult when it’s convenient for her, hence why this thing is ending the way it is.”

“I’m sorry.” You sighed.

“I shouldn’t even be venting all that out to you,” Joel went on. “But, I just wanted to let you know that I wasn’t going to be at the house tonight.”

It felt like a crushing blow that you were potentially losing Joel as a neighbor. Having him right next door was exciting and fun. Sneaking back and forth had been an addicting addition to the relationship. To have his ex-wife appearing out of the blue to take the house back over felt unfair, if their verbal agreement had stated otherwise.

“What hotel are you staying at?”

“I have to make some calls on my lunch break,” he explained. “And, uh… if you’re around I wouldn’t mind the company.”

“I’m around,” you explained with a nod, though you knew he couldn’t see the gesture.

Joel hesitated before speaking again. “Thanks for… understanding. I’m sorry for how this all must seem from your point of view.”

“I trust you,” you said to him. “Divorces happen and from what I’ve heard through the grapevine they’re rarely easy.” You paused a second before adding, “I’m here for you.”

“Thanks.” Joel sighed heavily on the other end of the line, “I, uh… I’m really lucky to have you, honey.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Despite all the heavy feelings, a smile still formed on your face.

“I’ll text ya the name of the hotel this afternoon.”

“Okay.”

“I, uh, I can’t wait to see ya. I know it’s only been since last night but I got used to you sleeping next to me.”

Your heart went from a steady beat to outright pounding in your chest. “I loved waking up next to you.” And I fucking love you!  You wanted to shout it. You wanted to cry as you told him. The thought of it alone made you want to burst into tears but you didn’t know why. The feelings were so intense and the circumstances were so up in the air that it left you feeling a bit tossed in all directions. It was overwhelming.

“Well, if you’ll have me, tomorrow morning you will.” Pep returned to his voice as he spoke those words.

“You know by now that I’ll gladly have you.”

“Okay, then,” Joel said, “It’s a date.”

That was enough to hold you over. While the long term held some serious questions, the short term had you back to walking on air. Spending the night at a hotel with Joel already felt like a little slice of heaven. No one would know where you were. No one would be there to potentially interrupt or catch you. In your mind, you could play house again and act in your fantasy world like you were husband and wife.

When you made your way back downstairs to see your mother filling her travel coffee mug, you smiled. “I can make the pasta salad for the picnic tomorrow,” you offered, “And whatever other appetizers will hold overnight. Oh, and I’ll set up the volleyball net this afternoon. Dad’s going golfing, I think.”

“Thank you,” you mother said with a smile. “That would be great.”

“Hey, I’m not going to be home tonight, but I promise I’ll be back for the picnic.”

“You’re staying out?”

You nodded. “Yeah.”

“Holly’s?”

“Mm-hmm.”

You mother squinted her eyes. “Is there… something you’re not telling me?” She asked with playful accusation.

“Like what?”

“Well… you barely stay at this house anymore,” she began, putting a hand up before you could protest,” And it’s fine, you’re a young woman, you can do as you please. But, as your mom, of course I’m a little curious.”

Crap. Where was she going with this?

“Are you in some kind of secret relationship?”

“Mom…” You shook your head.

“With some guy… or even with Holly?”

Your eyes bugged out of your head and you began to laugh. “What? Holly’s been my best friend since middle school.”

“It happens.” She shrugged, making you laugh further. It was a relief that she thought of Holly before Joel, though you knew sooner or later you would have to tell her the truth.

“No,” you giggled now, “I can’t wait to tell her you said that.”

“Oh, don’t make fun of me,” she said, shaking her head, “You girls always teamed up on us moms growing up.”

“Some things never change,” you teased, laughing out loud. In the lighthearted nature of your talk, you almost wanted to blurt out the truth and tell her you were in love with Joel. In your heart, you knew a part of her wouldn’t judge, but the other rational part of her would break down every reason why getting involved with him was a terrible idea - and you didn’t need that right then. Still, you decided to be half honest with your mother. “I am seeing someone,” you admitted.

“I knew it.”

You chuckled, “But, I didn’t want to put anyone in an awkward position so I kept pretending I was staying over at Holly’s”

“Who is he? Did you meet him at school? What was his major?”

“It’s still a bit new,” you explained, “But I really… really like him. A lot.”

Your mom’s face seemed to glow. “You’ve never said that about anyone… maybe your high school boyfriend, but…” She shook her head, “Oh, I can’t wait to meet him!”

You already have. A smile lingered on your face but you could feel how forced it was from the tense feeling in your cheeks.

“You will,” you explained, “I promise. In time. I just… maybe don’t tell Dad. It’s a weird, in-between time I’m in. I feel like an adult and a kid at the same time and I’m living with you guys and-”

“I get it,” your mother cut you off, “I’ll keep it between us. I’m glad you’ve met someone that makes you… glow.” She grinned, “I knew it. I knew something was different. He treats you nice?”

“Yes,” you said right away, “Very nice. He’s a gentleman. I think you and Dad have set a good example of what to look for in a relationship.” You winked and decided to butter her up a bit - not that it wasn’t true; but sucking up a little wouldn’t hurt once she found out that Joel Miller was your secret lover.

“Your father and I love each other very much,” she concluded, capping her coffee. Your mother smiled and pointed at you, “He’s a good man.”

“And a great Dad.” You exchanged a kiss on the cheek, “And of course you’re a great mom.”

“Stop trying to make me cry before work.” She cupped your face, “My baby is growing up. And it’s hurting me and making me smile all at once.”

You smiled back at her, exchanged another hug and then parted ways for the day. You spent your day cooking and did a little baking before whipping out all of the yard games for the following afternoon. The volleyball net was a little frustrating to set up alone, but you figured it out. And then you followed with setting up cornhole, staking in a set up for horseshoes and even dragging out a set of folding tables so everything was more or less ready for Saturday.

“Hey!” Joel’s voice caught your attention unexpectedly from next door later in the day.

You whipped around with a smile and had the urge to run across the yard to greet him. You played it cool, of course and smiled, staring at him with your hands on your hips.

“Hey!” You shouted back.

“Straighten out those horseshoe pits! They’re cooked!” Joel smiled wide and winked.

You laughed and bit your bottom lip. “Maybe you should come over and straighten them out.”

“I can’t,” he motioned like he was hitting a golf ball, “I’m play golf with my girlfriend’s father.”

He said that loud enough for anyone to hear, but you realized that no one was home to even question it. It made you laugh out loud.

“Keep you ball out of the rough,” you shouted through cupped hands.

Joel began to laugh out loud. He smirked and put his hands out the sides. “No promises.”

Fuck. You wanted to kiss him. No, you wanted to pounce on him.

“Check your phone in about thirty seconds.”

“Okay.”

“Your dad comped me a room on the golf course,” he went on with a shrug, “Felt bad about what’s been going on.”

“He what?”

“I hope that’s okay,” Joel added.

“Oh, yeah…” You hadn’t realized your shock had translated into some form of disapproval, “Of course that’s fine. That’s a really nice hotel.”

“Yeah.” He sighed, “Check in is any time after four. I’ll still be playing then, but you can go whenever you’d like.”

“Do I just use your name?”

“I know it’s probably risky but I gave both of ours.”

You smiled. “Well, I better go inside and freshen up then. I’ve been sweating out here the last hour.”

Joel looked around in all directions before making the trek over to your yard. Your heart rate began to pick up again and you took just a few, nearly-frozen steps toward him. When he reached where you stood he asked, “When do they get home?”

“I, um.. well-”

“Do you have any butter I can borrow?” Joel smiled playfully, reminiscent of the first conversation you’d had together on the back step.

You smiled back and swallowed hard. “I have whatever you need.”

“Is there time?” he asked more directly, looking you in the eye.

“There’s time,” you whispered back, as if someone might hear you.

Joel looked like he wanted to pull you against him and kiss you; but he didn’t. He let out a deep breath, holding your eye contact until you led him inside the back door a step behind you. When you got inside it was as if he had been overseas at war. You didn’t know if you pulled him to you, or he pulled you to him, but your lips crashed against one another’s.

Wondering if you could get caught was the farthest thing from your mind when your hand was tangled in Joel’s wavy hair. He held you with such force and kissed you with such ferocity that you couldn’t hold back what you were feeling.

“I love you,” you gasped in between kisses, “Fuck, I love you, Joel.”

Joel’s tongue dominated yours harder and you only separated from him because you felt like you couldn’t breathe. He let out a gasping breath of his own and let out several deep breaths into your open mouth.

“I love you, too, honey.” He swallowed hard, pecked your lips and you kissed on another more firmly. Joel’s hand lingered on the side of your face. “I fucking love you.”

@pedropascal111 @axshadows @mybritishstyle @untamedheart81 @amyispxnk @goodvibesonly421 @cosmic006533-blog @ashleyfilm @maybetomorrowgirl @rebeccawinters @cuteanimalmama @writlingerz @vickie5446 @drewharrisonwriter @churchofjoemiller

[malarign]

Hi! Can I request an overthinker!reader; thinking that Jungwon is no longer giving the reader love and affection because the reader thought he's tired of her but the truth is, Jungwon is busy with the comeback schedule

thoughts of doubt

(when you thought he fell out of love)

contains: idolbf!Jungwon x gn!reader | genre: angst, fluff | tw! the reader is overthinking, mentions of breaking up and implications falling out of love, crying, kissing | wc: 0,8k

reblogs, likes and comments are highly appreciated!!!

author’s note: thank you for requesting! y’all really like angsts, huh? you wanted drama then here you go 🫣 it’s been a while since i had any requests and it made me realize how i love writing them! 😇

“Y/n, please not now,” Jungwon sighed and closed his eyes, a frown painting on his face. “Next time let me know you want to come pay a visit, I really appreciate it but I have no time right now,” he continued and didn’t wait for your response.

You stood as you were in the empty hallway of Hybe. Feeling like your heart had been stabbed you just bit your lower lip and lowered your head. You took slow steps towards an elevator, overthinking once again.

“Is this it? He’s had enough of me it’s evident. Does he still love me?” you asked yourself when another side of you spoke: “Of course he does. He’s probably stressed about his comeback and has a lot on his mind, just like he said.” You tried to reasonably convince yourself, but sad to say, the first voice seemed more plausible.

With a flooded mind, full of thoughts of your relationship. When was the last time he hugged you? Kissed you? Told you he loves you? You couldn’t recall anything like that in the last few weeks.

When you finally reached home you had let out all the emotions and thoughts by crying loudly.

Hours passed by quickly, and more possibilities why Jungwon behaved like he did coming up one after another.

“I’m back!” You heard Jungwon close the door, making you realize how much time has passed.

Thinking about whether you should confront him about your concerns you quickly gathered all the thoughts about his recent behavior.

“Jungwon we need to talk.” Your voice was soft but serious at the same time. You finally looked at him, already seeing reluctance in his eyes and overall facial expression.

“Y/n, I have no time and energy to do that now,” he spoke slightly annoyed.

“Well, that’s what I want to talk about. You and all the ignoring me. You never have time for me,” you said and crossed your arms.

“Gosh, I don’t have time for anything!” he exclaimed. “I don’t have time to go home and see my family, I don’t have time to call any of my friends, I don’t have time to think about anything apart from this comeback!” You heard how he was gradually losing his patience by the way he spoke. “You think I want this?”

“Honestly? Yes, I do think so,” you announced and your words took him aback.

Jungwon couldn’t really understand your point of view. It wasn’t the first comeback you experienced together, so you certainly knew how many responsibilities lay on him as the leader of the group during that time. Just when he was about to respond you continued.

“You don’t even try to make time for me! Can you even recall when was the last time you hugged me or kissed me? When was the last time you said you loved me?” Tears started to brim in your eyes and threatened to spill with every word you spoke. “It made me doubt if you even love me anymore.”

Your last words were all it took to untie the knot of emotions that tightened in him. You watched Jungwon break down momentarily and didn’t know what to think. Was it too much?

“And when was the last time you hugged me or kissed me, Y/n? Throughout all the comeback preparations I didn’t hear any word of support or encouragement from you, none!” He spoke, choking on his tears, making guilt slowly rush through all your body. “You don’t feel loved, but when will you realize that affection works both ways? I also want it. And I need it just like you do, maybe even more.”

His cries made everything clear. You felt extreme guilt watching and listening to him. Everything seemed to be crystal clear now. It helped you realize that not only you didn’t receive any love during the last weeks, but Jungwon also didn’t either.

Instinctively you took slow steps toward him and wrapped your arms around his body, expecting him to push you away. Instead, he pulled you even closer to him and cried even harder burying his face in your neck. You let your tears fall down your cheeks. You were now crying messes, both from strangled emotions and feelings and from finally finding comfort in each other's touch.

“I’m so sorry, Wonie,” you whispered. “I was overthinking everything and didn’t realize it wasn’t you pushing me away, but it was me drifting apart from you.”

“I’m also sorry.” Jungwon pulled away to take a look at you with his bloodshot eyes. “I’m sorry for not making time for you and for lashing out at you, I should’ve talked to you calmly.

“No, Wonie, I think both of us needed that,” you reassured him and both of you smiled at each other. You laid a soft peck on the corner of his lips only for him to capture your lips in a sweet, lingering kiss.

“I love you, so much,” you spoke laying your head on his shoulder.

“I love you more, Y/nie.”

thank you for reading! back to the masterlist

permanent taglist: (send an ask to be added) @nicholasluvbot, @en-chantedtomeetyou, @kpopstanmeg, @skzenhalove, @nfrgirl, @edensgardenn (in bold can’t be tagged)

[sallowsunshine]

Sebastian x F! hufflepuff where he starts getting more jealous of her and ominis being closer, as he goes down the path of the dark arts gets a bit obsessive about it!! I just love angst and fluff so if it could also have a happy ending MSNSKDB

Got a little carried away with this one. I forgot to include Hufflepuff specifically, so can be read as any house. Also, not a happy ending, but definitely a hopeful ending. Contains spoilers for Sebastian's quests.

“Perhaps I should have a chat with Ominis,” you say to Sebastian. The two of you were outside the Slytherin common room, where Sebastian had been hoping Ominis would help him open up the Scriptorium.

“You?” Sebastian laughs. “Well I suppose it’s worth a try, but don’t get your hopes up. Ominis is annoyingly stubborn.”

-

You gesture Sebastian over after talking with Ominis, appealing to a more sympathetic view point that exploring the Scriptorium and finding out what happened to his aunt would honor her memory.

“Now you’ll share? You wouldn’t tell me when I practically begged.” Sebastian exclaimed.

“It wasn’t you who told me what I needed to hear.” Ominis replied.

-

Their first obstacle is a locked door, and Ominis knows how to get through. He’s ready to turn back, but Sebastian isn’t. You’re stuck in the middle, nervous at what lies ahead.

“Believe me, I am having thoughts- but I’m still convinced we should go ahead.” you say after Ominis expresses his wish that you’re having second thoughts.

The door opens to whatever he says in Parseltongue. “It worked! Ominis, you possess a rare ability indeed!” your excitement washes over into your voice.

Sebastian crosses his arms. “Between the two of you, I’m starting to feel left out.”

“Between the two of us?” Ominis raises his eyebrows.

“I- never mind.” Sebastian shakes his head.

You assume he’s referring to your ability to see ancient magic, but you wonder if there’s more behind his comment.

-

The three of you are trapped. Ominis is at the other end, pacing back and forth, his head in his hands. “I knew I shouldn’t have listened to either of you!”

Sebastian pulls you to the side, “I know what to do. We need to cast crucio. Ominis knows how. You seem to be in Ominis’ favor- will you ask him about this?”

“I cannot ask this of him. I don’t understand how you can even think about asking him to do this. Are you sure you don’t know how to cast it?” You’re scared. This is more than you bargained for. This is more than what you wanted. No answers were worth ruining a friendship like this. No answers were worth losing their lives for.

“You would rather die, than cast a curse, Ominis?” Sebastian calls out to him. “I think I know how. I can either teach you, or I can cast it on you.” he says to you.

“If you cast Crucio, you will regret it forever,” Ominis calls back.

“I don’t want to learn the Cruciatus Curse, so you must cast it on me.” You’re shaking your head.

“Very well. I shan’t forget this.” Sebastian takes his wand out. “Ready?”

You can’t even reply, your body is frozen in fear.

“Crucio”

Instantly, you’re down on the ground, screaming. White-hot pain laces its way down your body through to your bones. As quick as it starts, it’s over. But you body still feels the toll. You can’t even think of getting up, so you curl in on yourself.

“You alright?” Sebastian moves to help you.

You flinch back and whimper, “Please. Don’t”

“Are you alright?” Ominis calls out. He’s found his way near you, and has his hand extended out to you.

You take it, and a flash of hurt crosses Sebastian’s face. “That pain. It was excrutiating, but I’ll survive. Let’s keep moving.” your entire body feels weak and you have to lean on Ominis.

“I’m sorry Ominis, I don’t think I can stand on my own right now.” you groan.

“Let me help-” Sebastian tries.

“You’ve done enough, Sebastian.”

-

“-Not all goblins”

“Not all goblins what? Have you forgotten Feldcroft? Have you forgotten the mines we just went through?” Sebastian sneers.

“No, I haven’t forgotten, but you’re not listening to me!” you try to reason with him.

“Why would I listen to someone so ignorant?”

“Please, stop it, Sebastian. You’re don’t know what you’re saying.” you shake your head. “You’re being cruel. Ominis-”

“Unbelievable.” without another word, Sebastian storms away.

-

You didn’t think things would go this far. Sebastian was going to explore the catacombs with or without you and you had promised Ominis you’d keep him out of trouble. The relic had been found, and the desire to help Anne had begun to turn Sebastian power-hungry. He was becoming increasingly irritable and snappy. You were a bit relieved when Ominis showed up in the catacombs.

“You cannot let him leave with the relic.” Ominis pleaded.

“There’s no stopping him, I’m afraid. I’ve already tried to reason with him.”

You continue to explain to him how this will be the last time. No more after this. If Sebastian continues, you won’t- can’t associate yourself with him anymore.

“Fine. Fine, I’ll let you pass. You have to help him, though. Don’t let it go any further.” Ominis pleads.

You return to Sebastian. “What is it? I haven’t changed my mind.”

“Ominis has, let’s go.”

“What? Ominis? What happened back there?” Sebastian questions suspiciously.

“Ominis and I found a compromise,” you answer.

Sebastian pulls you around to face him. “Ominis simply needs a moment with you and he’ll change his mind. Is that it?”

“You’ve started to go too far, Sebastian. Everytime you say this will be the last time. But it never is. You are lying to Ominis and me, and you are lying to yourself. I understand you’re doing this for Anne, but this wouldn’t be what she wants. The answer does not lie within the dark arts. Please stop now, while you still can.”

“Oh, I see. You and Ominis have both turned against me. I knew there was something between you two. And don’t you dare use Anne against me. I refuse to give up on her.” Sebastian’s voice rises.

“Between Ominis and me?” you scoff. “The only thing between us is our desire to keep you from doing something you’ll regret. We’re begging you, I am begging you to please stop this.”

“You’re lying. I see the way you two are together, the way you talk about me behind my back. I saw the fear in your eyes when I tried to help you in the Scriptorium. You’re scared of me. You’re scared of the power the Unforgivables can grant you.” You stop in your tracks and turn to him.

“Sebastian, you’re seeing things that aren’t there. But you are right, I’m scared. Not of you, but of what you are becoming. You are not the boy I first met in Defense Against the Dark Arts. You rarely smile anymore, and you rarely laugh. You’re letting this sick obsession with finding a cure consume you. It’s going to tear you apart. Tear us apart.”

-

“Ominis, we’ve lost him. I’ve tried to defend his actions but I just can’t anymore.”

The two of you are in the Undercroft. You hadn’t spoken to Sebastian since he left the catacombs with the relic.

“We cannot give up on him. He needs us.” Ominis’ hand finds your shoulder and you turn and embrace him, wrapping your hands around his waist.

“I don’t want to do this anymore. I want to help him, but he’s making it impossible.” The tears begin to slip down your cheeks.

Neither of you hears the gate to the Undercroft opening. “I knew it!” Sebastian’s voice echoes.

You and Ominis startle apart.

“I knew there was something going on between you two.”

“Sebastian! You are looking for something that is not there” Ominis tries to reason with him.

“Please, Sebastian. There is nothing between Ominis and me. It’s you I want to be with!”

Silence. You can’t breathe.

“I - I didn’t mean to say that.” You don’t know what else to say.

Silence.

“But I cannot keep watching you do this to yourself. You say we should not be afraid of the dark arts, but it has begun to consume you. I will not be a part of this any longer.”

Sebastian’s face falls. “But- I need you. I need both of you. I can’t do this without you.” He pleads.

“This time, we will give you one more chance. You will not use that artifact. You will not use the dark arts. Or we will no longer be around to help you.” Ominis ordered.

“I- I will do my best to make it up to you. To the both of you.” Sebastian looks to you. “I- I think we need to talk.”

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

I’m not sure if you’ve ever said anything about this, but the first time I read new moon, the vote chapter, there was one bit that really stuck out:

(from Bella’s point of view) Edward grabbed my face in his hand, forcing me to look at him. His other hand was out, palm toward Carlisle. Carlisle ignored that.

Bella later went on to say it was hard to talk clearly with how Edward was holding her jaw. I don’t know if I’ve misunderstood what exactly was happening, but why did the entire family watch that and do nothing? I’ve read the metas where you’ve said it’d take a lot for Carlisle to realise what Edward really is, but surely that’s a pretty massive indicator and Carlisle actively ignored it?

Anon, you're hilarious.

An Aside in Which I Say "Look in the Mirror"

I've been running this blog for a few years now (a terrifying thought) and I'm both a) one of the most critical of Edward in this space (which is not a bad thing, mind, people are free to do what they like) b) often get asks in which I am asked by anons to justify why I think poorly of Edward.

This is on top of the thousands of metas I've written pointing out various things from canon, where I've presented many arguments, and anons still will ask me to make more arguments.

This is fandom, anon, relatively objective observers who are privy to information the characters in the story don't have. We know Bella's exact thoughts, we know how Edward has interacted with her in private, and we even know Edward's private thoughts for at least the duration of Twilight because of Midnight Sun.

AND YET, I AM HERE.

And you ask this as if it should be obvious to the most casual observer.

Back to Your Ask

I've discussed this at length in posts I'm too lazy to look up at the moment but the crux of it is that

a) Edward's a beloved family member and it's deeply hard to think ill of those we love and we want to justify their actions

b) the family doesn't see most of what goes on with Bella and are only told things by Alice and Edward with Alice being firmly on Edward's side

c) Due to his having previously had a redemption arc in which Edward came back unprompted to the diet even though it must have been not only humiliating but terrifying, Edward comes across as one of the Cullens who best understands that human life is worth protecting and just why they're all doing the diet.

This particular moment though, I'd also give Edward a pass if I was present. To touch Bella at all, to move her like this, Edward has to be extraordinarily gentle and careful. If he was at all rough with her, at all, Bella would be dead or seriously injured (with her jaw crushed between Edward's fingers, her neck snapped, etc.) Basically, for Edward to do this at all, he's being incredibly mindful and the Cullens as vampires are very aware of that.

Add onto that that Bella can speak, when this is a guy who's hand is made of stone, he has to be holding her incredibly gently from his perspective for her to be able to speak at all (and not have a broken jaw).

Also from the outside perspective, where Bella and Edward are in this romantic relationship (even though they just got out of being broken up) and they all know Edward's deeply in love with Bella, this looks like an intimate gesture than it does a "LOOK AT ME" gesture. It's not something any of them would do, or a normal person would, but they're also not dating Bella/convinced they're soulmates with her.

Add into that that they're in the middle of a very intense day, in which Edward had just tried to kill himself and is very emotionally fragile, Bella's now asking to be turned directly, the Volturi barely pardoned them, and Edward is coming unglued with the idea that Bella's going to be turned and the Cullens aren't at the top of their game.

They're just trying to get through the conversation where they tell Edward (and Rosalie) that, yes, they actually do have to turn Bella.

This doesn't register as physical violence to them, and I don't blame them for this one.

[the-gayest-sky-kid]

what's your take on odasaku and dazai's idealization of him?

also any takes you want to share about bsd/bsd in general?

(If you don't mind, I'm also interested in your thoughts about verlaine if thats ok 😭) tyty

who's your fave bsd character and whose the character from bsd you want to have more screen time?

i think its another case of projecting onto someone and it fucking things up. like notably how kouyou projects her own feelings abt light & dark onto kyouka. we just dont often see it that way because what oda does is like. stereotypically good? he uses his dying words to push a friend out of the dark. a death motivating others to act and furthering their character development is classic storytelling. you go into bsd knowing dazai is on the "good guys" side (not that the ada are "bad" but obviously reading bsd as a good guys vs bad guys story is. wrong), so clearly it worked out. so you kind of overlook the surrounding events yk? plus dazais own idolization of oda hammers that in. dazai tells atsushi that "He was a friend of mine (...) He’s the reason I quit the Port Mafia and joined the agency. I’d probably still be killing people for the mafia if it wasn’t for him" in dead apple (the lightnovel. im not going to go through pulling up the movie for this fhfhtndj). and so aside from previous bias people are going to take what dazai says at face value. hes thankful oda showed him the "side that saves people" and of course we're going to agree with that. the thing is. again. projection. now i havent actually finished dark era (i am working through it) but a lot of the time it feels like oda is just shoveling off all his feelings about being "someone meant for the darkness" onto dazai when thats something thats not going to be true for. well. anyone really? and his final conversation with dazai is very influenced by that. he says "You told me if you put yourself in a world of violence and bloodshed, you might be able to find a reason to live... (...) You won’t find it (...) You should know that. Whether you’re on the side that takes lives or the side that saves them, nothing beyond your own expectations will happen. Nothing in this world can fill the hole that is your loneliness. You will wander the darkness for eternity". now the thing is this is kind of a fucked up thing to say to an 18 year old with suicidal tendencies, but odas view of dazai makes it seem like a well needed wake up call. he obviously had good intentions. hes trying to "step into that solitude" but because of his flawed view of dazai he kind of. stumbles. dazai up to this point has been clinging onto the hope that he'd find a reason to live by observing the entire human experience. now oda comes along and dazai thinks hes found someone who understands him better than anyone, and oda tells him hes not going to find that. ever. so he should become a better person and make the world a good place. and also he's dying. so dazai, as we've seen, takes these words to heart. so hes not going to find a reason to live but he should also make the world a better place. good cool got that. so i think he gets a bit too comfortable being collateral for a good cause. and hes already convinced hes not going to find anything here, so of course hes not going to find anything. does that make sense.

i dont think ive phrased anything correctly here but like anyway i think with all his other friends around he'll be able to sort things out there. i cant see bsd ending without any sort of resolution for him in this regard yk.

[television-overload]

neither snow nor rain

(a short little X-Files fanfic)

Almost posted a headcanon that came to me this morning, then realized it worked better as a fic. So here it is:

Read on AO3

"What's this?"

"What?" Georgie asks, looking up at her friend.

"In the mail, check it out."

Quinn tosses a stack of glossy paper through the air, nearly knocking the gadget she's building off her worktable. It lands in a heap on top of her carefully organized wiring, and she shoots him an unappreciative look, to which he responds with a shrug.

"I thought that was out of publication," he says, nodding at the item he had so carelessly thrown.

She furrows her brows, adjusting her glasses before lifting it for examination.

As she scans over the words, her eyes widen, and she looks back at Quinn, now understanding his surprise at finding this in their mailbox.

"It's been years!" she says, flipping open the front cover of the magazine eagerly. It looks a little different, but the title on the front is unmistakable.

Quinn circles the table to look at it over her shoulder, obviously intrigued that this defunct publication had resurfaced out of nowhere.

"Wait," he says, reaching over her shoulder to turn back to the front cover. "That's different, right?"

His finger points to the title, and she squints at it, trying to picture the old magazines they'd stopped receiving about four or five years ago.

He's right to be suspicious. They don't give out their mailing address to just anybody, but this magazine had been pivotal in shaping their view of the world.

In fact, it was sort of how they met and became friends, probably more than a decade ago, at this point. It's not like it was a popular publication, like Time or People or National Geographic. When you see someone out and about with the same fringe interests as you, you can't help but gravitate toward them.

"The Lone Gunman," she reads aloud. "Wait, yeah, I think you're right. Wasn't it the Lone Gunmen?"

He nods.

"I wonder what happened. Maybe They got to them."

Georgie rolls her eyes. "Or they could have just parted ways. It has been almost five years, you know. Not everything has to be so dramatic."

"The editors of a conspiracy magazine?" he says, a disbelieving look in his eye.

"You never know," Georgie says. She'd always been the more rational one between the two of them. But, he has a point.

She opens to the front page again, and notes a number of differences between this and the old design from the late 90s.

The table of contents is there, just like it had always been. But instead of having a number of contributors listed (aliases, of course), each article appears to have been written by the same author.

F. M. Luder.

Well, hey, that's a name they recognize.

So, this is legit, after all.

The page is pretty sparse, other than that, but her eyes are drawn to a note at the bottom of the page, small and unassuming.

For the Gunmen. Miss you, guys.

Signed, your friend

"Man," Quinn says, letting out a breath. "See? What did I tell you?"

She's still not sure she's completely convinced, but she nods anyway, leafing through the remaining pages of the magazine.

"I wonder if I could send in that article I've been writing on the military use of extraterrestrial technology," Georgie says thoughtfully. "You think they still have that P.O. box for submissions?"

"Can't hurt to try," he shrugs.

She smiles, enjoying the feel of the freshly printed magazine in her hands.

"Now I just need to think of a good pen-name."

-.-.-

The house is still sparse, all scratched wood floors and peeling wallpaper behind its creaky doors. But it's beginning to feel like home, he thinks. Stacks of magazines line the walls where furniture should probably be, but they'll get around to that eventually.

For now, he's just enjoying not having to pack up and move every few days while constantly looking over his shoulder.

There's a small desk and a computer in the study, but that's about it. It's enough to keep him occupied while Scully is away. The place feels too empty when she's gone, but he knows it's a good thing. She needs to be around people, and now with her new job at the hospital, they've got a reliable source of income to work with, too.

His work is... more of a hobby, but he thinks it could bring in a little extra cash if people even bother with magazines anymore. A lot has changed since he was last an active member of civilization, so he really doesn't know.

The sound of gravel crunching on the driveway breaks the heavy silence that he's grown used to, and he decides to call it a day. The front room seems to light up with warm sunlight when she walks in, balancing a bag of groceries on her hip and a stack of papers in her hand. Her juggling act makes it difficult to pull the keys out of the front door lock, but she manages.

"Hi, Mulder," she says cheerily. She flicks on a lamp as she passes, and he watches her with the characteristic look of awe on his face that he always has when he's around her.

"I missed you," he says truthfully, entering her space to grab the groceries from her. He presses a kiss to her lips while he's at it, never one to pass up the opportunity.

Her free hand lands on his chest, its weight a familiar comfort to him, but he can feel the prickly edges of whatever else she's carrying against his stomach.

"What'cha got there?" he asks, glancing down at the papers. Envelopes, he realizes.

A playful smirk tugs at her lips, and she pulls away from him. Brandishing the envelopes in front of him like an offering, she watches intently for his reaction.

"It seems you have fan mail, Mr. Luder," she says, pride beaming from her face despite the raised eyebrow she levels on him.

His eyes widen, and he looks down again in surprise at the substantial stack of letters she carries.

"Really?" he asks, his voice cracking a little against his wishes.

She nods, and he thinks he detects a hint of tears gathering in her eyes, too.

"I stopped by the old P.O. box on my way home," she says. "I had a hunch."

"You?" he says teasingly, unable to restrain himself.

"I only opened one, but it seems your readers are thrilled to have you back, and they send their best wishes."

He chokes back an unexpected knot of emotion and feels a breathy laugh escape him.

"I can't believe it," he says, overwhelmed by the response to his attempt to keep his friends' memory alive.

She must find his disbelief amusing, because he recognizes her smile as one he's seen more times than he can count. "You're surprised?" she asks.

"Well... yeah." To put it mildly.

Scully shakes her head and sets her bag down on the threadbare couch, and he follows.

"I've read your case reports, Mulder. I think—and Skinner would probably agree with me here—you've found your calling."

He stands in stunned silence, for the first time in a while feeling that spark of passion reignite in his chest.

"Now if only we could get them to send me money," he jokes.

Scully tilts her head, flipping through the stack of letters to find the one she'd opened.

"They have," she says casually, as she withdraws a hundred dollar bill with all the air of a magician performing a trick.

His eyes widen comically again.

"You think there's more?" he asks, grabbing a few envelopes from her hands.

"Some of these are pretty thick, Mulder," she says, a knowing glint in her eye.

The tension in his shoulders evaporates, and he tosses the letters aside to pull her into his embrace. Any worry that he'd have nothing to do, no way to contribute to this life that he's all but trapped her in, goes away in an instant. Relief overtakes him, and Scully holds him tight around the middle, smiling proudly over his shoulder.

"They'd be so happy that you're continuing their work," she says, her voice unable to muster anything more than a whisper.

Words fail him, so he presses a kiss to her forehead instead, his arms wrapped tightly around her shoulders.

"I hope so," he says, glancing heavanward as if he might see the three of them flying around like little cherubs on his water-stained ceiling.

"I hope so."

-.-.-

Mr. Luder,

I'm terribly sorry for your loss. My friend and I are longtime subscribers of The Lone Gunmen, and we feared the worst when they stopped publishing years ago.

Receiving the copy you sent in the mail was a wonderful surprise. I'm sure we will be writing again soon to pick your brain on some of the details in your articles (is there really confirmation of a flukeworm-human hybrid in New Jersey?).

I didn't see a form to renew our subscription, but if you include it in your next edition (I do hope you'll continue!), we will happily send along payment with it, as securely as possible.

I hope this letter reaches you. Thank you for carrying on with this important work. We (your subscribers) truly appreciate it!

Sincerely,

Queen George (and Sir Quincy)

(P.S. I've attached a draft of an article I've been working on. You're welcome to include it in a future publication, if it meets your standards of approval. I'd happily welcome feedback, as well! If I recall, you're the expert on this particular subject.)

-.-.-

Tag list ♡: @today-in-fic @ao3feed-msr @agent-troi @baronessblixen @captainsolocide @cutemothman @deathsbestgirl @edierone @enigmaticxbee @figureofdismay @frogsmulder @hippocampouts @invidiosa @randomfoggytiger @skelavender @slippinmickeys @teenie-xf @whovianderson

[good-beanswrites]

I wonder where Mahiru got the idea for "A Different Kind of Love". I'd say it's Amane because I'm biased. But more likely, Mahiru saw little acts of love from everyone, and she realized that romantic love isn't all there is to it.

Drabble request? *twiddles fingers* Or if not, headcanons work too.

Ough I was crying through that whole chapter, it was really beautiful ;--; (Haha, I'm biased and think it'd come from Fuuta! but) I ended up writing something with Amane and found a really sweet idea to run with. They both just want to teach one another...

“It’s not scary at all, because it’s love.” Amane gave a decisive nod, pleased with her explanation. She’d been at a loss for words lately, weighed down with exhaustion and pain, so it was nice to finally feel like she was articulating herself well. 

That is, until she got a look at the horror painted across Mahiru’s face.

“I… I’m not sure…” She shifted uncomfortably. “That doesn’t sound… quite like love.”

It was understandable that Mahiru wouldn’t understand. Amane had heard the way she talked. More importantly, Amane had heard how the others talked about her. Mahiru had a very rigid view of love. She wasn’t a narrow-minded person like some others here, but she certainly had some work to do in that area. 

Amane took a breath. She’d grown tired of trying to teach these sinful adults anything, but Mahiru was always a good listener. 

“Not all love is shown in the same way. A strong bond requires respect. Discipline.”

Mahiru still didn’t look convinced. Her smile seemed forced on her lips. She tugged absently on one of her colorful earrings. “I know love comes in all shapes and sizes. But… I don’t think it should be so… harsh.”

“Let us take Kajiyama for an example.” Amane folded her hands in her lap. It felt good to be speaking like this, as equals. “His behavior in the first trial was nothing but harsh. And yet, you’re the one who spoke up on his behalf, pointing out ways that he cared to the others.”

“That’s true. But Fuuta never hurt anyone.”

“Fuuta has hurt many people.”

“W–well yes, but I meant…” Her face twisted into the one and only expression Amane hated to see from her. A sad sort of smile. There was love in it – which is the reason Amane tolerated it at all – but so much pity, as well. 

As quick as it had come, it was replaced by one of her signature little smiles. “I’ll tell you what, will you play a little game with big sis Mahiru?”

Amane’s mouth was open to reject the idea until Mahiru hurriedly added, “I do love games. I don’t get to play as many, now that the warden didn’t forgive me…”

She huffed. Mahiru turned her round, brown eyes on her. Amane let out another noisy breath. “What is it…?” 

Mahiru clapped her hands together. “Yay~! It’ll be fun, I promise! Let’s pick out the ways that the prisoners show their love! We’ll keep track of it during the day, and keep score at night. You said it yourself, there are so many ways that people show it. Let’s try and notice them all!” She held a finger to her lips. “But we’ll keep it secret. And we’ll try to find something for everyone.”

Amane scoffed. “We’re not going to find one for everyone.” There were a few people who were not graced with the capacity for real love, she had found. 

“Well then, that’s what will make it an interesting game, yeah~?”

—

Mahiru bid Amane a good night. She kept the notebook open on her lap for a moment more. 

The two had busied themselves keeping a secret scoreboard throughout the past few weeks. Mahiru was worried the idea would fizzle out quickly, (as most of her spontaneous plans usually did,) but she hadn’t accounted for how committed Amane was when she put her mind to something. 

Each and every night, Amane would appear in Mahiru’s cell, picking up the notebook to add in the day’s entries. Mahiru would scramble to come up with a few of her own, as she’d forgotten to pay attention throughout the day.

Though she hadn’t actually noticed any decrease in game-playing, the warden’s verdict had hurt her in other ways. If Es rejected her love, what did she have left? If her love truly did hurt others, and Milgram thought she should be punished for it, wouldn’t it be better for her to never show it again? Now and then she’d be crushed under the weight of the verdict, the voices, the guilt. She considered withholding all the kindness within her – what if it got someone else killed? Hadn’t it already come close?

But this little exercise with Amane… 

Originally, the idea had come to her as a way to prove that not a single entry in their notebook featured any harm – no screamed words, no contradictory rules, and certainly no physical pain. It would be a way to keep Amane from staying in her cell all day. Mahiru wasn’t sure if the others necessarily appreciated the nonstop surveillance from Amane’s single, bright eye, but Mahiru knew what a blessing it really was. 

To her surprise, she’d felt swaying within her own heart, as well.

Mahiru ran her finger across the chart, lingering on various entries. Some were as big and grand as she had expected: “held Muu’s hand when she was nervous after a nightmare;” “complimented Mikoto’s appearance after he’d taken a long time to style his hair.” Physical touch, gifts, compliments, it all made sense to her.

Other lines had surprised her: “changed the subject when Kazui started looking uncomfortable;” “explained a joke to Haruka when he didn’t understand it at first;” “left Yuno alone when she seemed too tired to talk.” Amane brought much more variety when she wrote down the things she’d witnessed

Just as Mahiru was teaching Amane something about love, the girl was revealing something to her about it. The mere act of picking out others’ acts of kindness, recognizing when they were trying, even imperfectly, acknowledging when the others touched something deep inside of themselves – it all proved something new.

Her finger paused over a recent addition in Amane’s neat handwriting. “Spoke to me like an adult.” 

It was in a column filled otherwise with Mahiru’s pen strokes. Shidou’s.

“Huh…”

[faithandfairies]

I love the conversation Louis and Lestat have in 2x08. Because it's such a turning point. It's the most vulnerable both have ever chosen to be with each other where they are both receptive to each other's openness and vulnerability at the same time.

Up to this point according to Louis point of view Lestat has made a mockery of any real emotion, any real conversation Louis has wanted or tried to have with him in the past. He has made jokes when he should have been sincere. And the times he himself has tried to be vulnerable, which includes 2x07, it has been in a crowd or situation where Louis couldn't really ask follow-up questions or show genuine sympathy. And other times when you could tell Lestat was about to get emotional in private with Louis he would steer the conversation in a different direction in order to keep that from happening.

Louis for his part has never truly opened up to Lestat, probably afraid of being mocked for it by him which happened when he tried. But also seeing vulnerability as a sign of weakness and something to be avoided at all cost.

It's very sad because all Lestat has ever wanted was for Louis to love him and fully open up to him but the way Lestat conducted himself was the very thing that helped prevent Louis opening up to him and letting him in completely. Louis never felt safe enough to do so.

It reminds me of this quote from one of my favorite books "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

"People think intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is 'You're safe with me'- that's intimacy."

The only time we see a glimpse of actual vulnerability from Lestat before 2x08 in private, not public, is Louis and Lestat's last night together before Claudia and Louis try to kill him.

Lestat standing with Louis on that balcony he spent nights waiting for Louis on, spouting poetic musings about New Orleans. He looks like he's about to burst into tears and tell Louis that he knows about their plan but he is speaking in riddles and Louis doesn't understand and eventually he just let's it go before he starts crying.

But in 2x08, they both go there. And you can see Lestat considering not going there in real-time. When he asks if Louis hurt himself it's this burning question I'm sure he's been walking around with for decades. And he may have half convinced himself Armand lied to him. That Louis wasn't actually hurt.

But he still has to know for certain. At the same time he's also terrified of the truth. So he stumbles out the date and time. And the moment he does Louis starts tearing up which immediately confirms the horrifying truth for him. Louis did try to hurt himself. And it was about Claudia. And then he starts crying in earnest.

This is a man that forced a girl to stay with her father so that the likelihood of him offing himself would lessen considerably. Even if it made him even more the monster in their eyes than they already saw him as. Even if that was the last drop that made Claudia start to plot his demise.

[greypetrel]

15 Lines of Dialogue

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

Tagged by @shivunin, thank you so much Mo! It's been so fun. Also a nightmare because I chose Aisling and my goodness someone make her shut up please. Referenced from Monster Fic (which is still getting views?? :"D Welp.), This one Radha fic , this prompt . Five minutes of silence for the one poop line that didn't make it to the final cut of this meme. Always remembered.

🦄✨ Aisling Lavellan ✨🦄

"We look like a swan and the ugly chick of a cuckoo.”

“I do. He’s just been mistreated. The Idiot started training him as a war horse, but it didn’t go well. He’s been beaten and whipped and given little food for too long, and relegated to do the work horse when he’s not. He just needs to learn that people can be trusted again, but he’ll be stronger and swifter than all the others, I’m sure.”

“Hey, I’m trying to stay in the role. I was told I’m a religious figure and I should behave! You’re ruining the mood, people need to think I’m the Herald of Andraste for real and that you can’t laugh! Stop, or I’ll have to sing a very lewd drinking song, you’ll laugh loudly, and they’ll all know!”

“I am aware I must sound like a child. But I believe people are good, deep down. And that everyone deserves a second chance.”

“In the case I’ll tragically fall to my death on horseback, I’ll leave a note to allow you to talk to my funeral and tell everyone that you told me so, is it all right?”

“The bad and the good, Cole. The good is better if there’s bad, like when it stops raining and the sun shines again, or when springs melts the snow and the flowers grow. But, humans can’t choose one, you know it. There must be snow and rain and thunder to make the flowers grow. I’m fine, don’t look at me. What do you want to do?”

“Honestly, I think all the time that you would have made a way better job as Inquisitor, if I hadn’t convinced the Keeper to send me and not you. You would have done a better job as First than I ever did, if… And I’m… I’m trying to prove that it’s not so, that I can be good too. Been doing it all my life, honestly.”

“Mh. I’m not really sure. Care to try again? For science?”

“You wished for a Cinderella, your Grace, but I am a bad one. You would know if you ever had paid more attention to anyone that’s not yourself.”

“But then, even if I feel nauseous and I hate everything and I would beg you to just take the title from me, I can’t take it, it’s too much and I’m just me… Then I remember that if I had run, I’d never met any of you, and you’ve all become family, and… And I do believe that we’re doing something good to the world. And that’s… That’s enough when the walls seems to loom upon me and I think that I can’t shoulder another impossible decision that shouldn’t be mine to take.”

“What if you explain and nothing changes? I know about loneliness, and of thinking you don’t deserve the love you get. You don’t have to face it alone.”

“I know. But I can still do some good, and the important people will remember me. I don’t care for the rest.”

“I’ve been alone ever since people started calling me the Herald of fucking Andraste, but I guess you wouldn’t understand being imposed by others a part that means nothing to you and you hate, right, Blackwall?”

“But if thinking he deserves another chance makes me a traitor, than be it. He’s more powerful than any of you realize. If you really think that hate and open hostility will ultimately save us all, I am glad to call myself a traitor and die as one.”

“No. You will let me finish. I know my shit, I am good at it, I am happy that you worry and care for me, really! I am and thank you for it, but this is getting ridiculous and I’m only doing worse because I’m stressed about you not trusting that I am competent and constantly watching me like… Like… Like a fucking vulture!”

Special mentions:

"Bad horsey!"

“Hey! I also have good days!”

Tagging: @ndostairlyrium @underneathestars @melisusthewee @rowanisawriter @pinayelf @zenstrike @inquisimer @heniareth and YOU!

[findafight]

On Steve understanding those pretentious metaphorical films (I know, we'vepretty much moved on at this point, but) I do think it would get Jonathan questioning reality a little bit, but I think the person it would really mindfuck is Nancy

Because she's a very straightforward person but she also fancies herself the smartest person in the room at all times, which doesn't slot itself into this context very well. As does Jonathan, she has this perception that Steve is an idiot, but while Jonathan is having to contend with Steve being on level with him on this one, Nancy is having to grapple the idea that Steve intrinsically grasps something that she for the life of her can't figure out

-@fandsart

I sent this a few days ago, but I think tumblr has been eating my asks. You aren't the only person I've sent one to recently that hasn't been answered. Anyway, I know this has largely been moved past, but on the whole "Jonathan having a crisis over Steve understanding the metaphorical and complicated foreign films" thing. I think that Jonathan might have a hard time with that and start questioning his judgment of people, yes, but the person really questioning reality as a whole about it is Nancy. Because while both Jonathan and Nancy have this low perception of Steve's ability to comprehend thing, Nancy specifically fancies herself as the smartest person in the room at all times, but she can't understand these things for the life of her. She's angry and confused and trying to convince herself that she's neither of these things

I got it! I started writing a response and saved as a draft and didn't get back to it! Honestly I love going back to things talked about a while ago so don't feel weird about that!

I agree! I also think it'd be interesting to apply this to horror movies, which often serve as allegories for other things. Like I can see them watching Carrie and Steve commenting that it's kind of weird that a story about the trauma of adolescents for girls was written by a man. Which is maybe heavy handed but it's something that Nancy would feel like she should have picked up on and be frustrated that she didn't. No one is doing adolescent teenager girl trauma like Nancy!!

But it's just not how her brain works. She likes facts and figures, interviews and observations. Metaphors aren't really in real life, though we use them to understand things, they aren't always straight forward. While Nancy wants to research and discover things, she possibly isn't interested in more... obscured meanings of things. (we sort of see this when she dismisses the alien newspaper, when they were actively looking for clues about something that could break all of someones without touching them!) and this might also influence how she views steve and his intelligence and how he views and interpret things.

She does think she's correct and how she thinks and sees things. and that frustration and stubbornness about being right would make her more frustrated because now that it's been pointed out to her, she sees it, but she didn't figure it out herself. It's an interesting way for her to try to grapple with having her worldview challenged!

With jon I think he would feel kind of off-kilter and embarrassed that Steve of all people got it, that this wasn't something he could feel he was better at than Steve or any random person. So that would maybe shift his view of Steve more than himself, but still both?

[annabolinas]

Anne of the Thousand Days Review: Part 2

Alright, here's part 2! Spoiler alert but this movie has some shockingly regressive views about women... no, not just by the male characters in it.

Absurdities only mount as Henry visits Anne in person in her Tower cell and offers to let her live and have custody of Elizabeth if she agrees to an annulment. Anne utterly refuses; while this is completely the opposite of what the real Anne did, this is an understandable deviation, as it is more straightforwardly heroic. Anne lying that she committed adultery with “half your court”, though, is not only baffling, but an insult to the real Anne’s memory. I know that sounds harsh, but bear with me. In the movie, Anne seems to fling this lie at Henry to wound his fragile masculinity, as seen in her remark that he should “look, for the rest of your life, at every man that ever knew me and wonder if I didn’t find them a better man than you!” But Anne shifts far too rapidly from crying out at her trial, “They were innocent as I am innocent! Any man, no matter who he is, who says the contrary, is a liar!”, to freely lying and stating that she’s an adulteress. There’s no buildup, no rhyme or reason that the audience can see as to why she would do such a thing. Moreover, the real Anne never confessed to adultery, twice swearing on the Eucharist that she was innocent of all charges. Anne of the Thousand Days’ portrayal of its Anne as flippantly and falsely confessing to adultery and incest undermines her real-life courage and bravery in maintaining the truth until the end, even on peril of her soul’s damnation. It’s incredibly disrespectful, to say the least.

Above all, the movie fails on an emotional level. Not only does it sag in the middle with its pacing and excitement, but it fails to create a compelling or believable relationship between Anne and Henry, the movie’s two leads. The marketing for this movie played up its romantic aspects, even if it is really more reminiscent of a boss sexually harassing young female interns; its poster reads, ‘He was King. She was barely 18. And in their thousand days they played out the most passionate and shocking love story in history!” However, the movie fails to convince audiences of a core part of its story - the romance, let alone the believability of Henry and Anne’s relationship. There are usually two ways adaptations go with Henry and Anne’s relationship. They either have Henry and Anne, after some point, have a genuinely loving relationship until it goes horribly wrong (e.g.  The Tudors, Blood, Sex, & Royalty) or portray Anne as stringing Henry along to win a crown (e.g. Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972), The Other Boleyn Girl, Wolf Hall to an extent). Anne of the Thousand Days takes a third choice and goes the route of portraying Henry as sexually harassing an initially quite unwilling Anne. Henry’s attraction to Anne is never explained, as in the first scene (chronologically), he’s drawn to her before she says a word, even ordering Wolsey to break her romance with Percy. Why? Is it just because he wants her in his bed? After all, Henry declares at one point that he’s never been refused by a woman; maybe he finds the challenge exhilarating. But if so, why does he remain fixated with her after she insults his words and poetry, even though he says there’s no better way to end his interest than by doing that? Indeed, Anne later says that Henry wants to know whether she’s guilty because “that would touch your manhood and your pride”, indicating that he is touchy about such subjects. Apparently, though, he’s not sensitive enough to abandon Anne after she blasts every part of his personality at the start of their courtship. Why does he still try to woo her for six years, throughout which Henry admits that “Not once have you said, ‘I love you’”? To be clear, it’s not an impossible scenario, but it is perhaps the farthest thing from romance imaginable.

In other words, what are we supposed to think of Henry and Anne’s relationship? Far from being a passionate romance turned toxic, Anne of the Thousand Days portrays a toxic relationship driven by lust on Henry’s part and ambition on Anne’s part, a relationship where supposedly, they only love each other for one day. Such a characterization of any relationship, let alone the fascinating and complex one of the real Henry and Anne, would be too reductive. Henry starting to hate Anne immediately after she falls for him not only is too simplistic for viewers, but not even supported by the movie. Henry continues to love Anne and behave affectionately towards her after they sleep together until she gives birth to Elizabeth, meaning there are at least nine months of mutual love between them in the movie’s timeline! 

Even the ending of Anne of the Thousand Days, despite its seemingly-empowering voiceover of Anne narrating how Elizabeth will be a great queen, is hampered by an unwillingness to face the full tragedy of her death. In real life, Anne was at most 35 when she was beheaded on false charges, and in the timeline of the movie, she’s around 29, following the 1507 birth date. Anne’s death is presented as poignant, as she remarks on the May flowers growing just as she did on her coronation day. But the absence of her execution speech, in what I can only assume is an attempt to highlight its somber brutality, is in fact borderline disrespectful to the real woman. While unlike Anne Boleyn (2021), this film does not purport to present Anne’s side of the story through a feminist lens, it is still galling that in place of the real Anne’s words, the writers inserted a fictitious monologue about Elizabeth’s greatness, which the real Anne could never have known! The real Anne Boleyn was a highly intelligent, ambitious, and reform-minded queen executed by her husband on false charges. Not only was her death, along with the deaths of the five men accused with her (never mentioned in the film!) a grave miscarriage of justice, but it was a tragedy. Much of its tragic nature derives from the fact that Anne left her toddler daughter, as far as she knew, dependent on the whims of her father and a bastard. There is no way she could have known, that anyone could have known, that Elizabeth would become queen. Anne of the Thousand Days giving Anne this knowledge makes sense out of a senseless, brutal demise, almost implying that there was a silver lining to Anne’s death because her daughter became queen.

It once again defines a woman by her reproductive history, and the film follows in a long tradition of claiming Anne’s real worth lay in her womb and the great queen it produced, her tragic downfall notwithstanding. Despite its ostensible focus on Anne Boleyn, the movie, like so many films then before and since, fails to understand - arguably, does not try to understand - historical women like Anne on their own terms. Women, in this mindset, must always be defined by their relation to a man or an exceptional woman. It’s not enough that Anne was an exceptional woman in her own right, that women are inherently important on their own, not by virtue of their family. Anne of the Thousand Days, at a time when cinema was pioneering in so many ways, is rigidly traditional in its views of women. Dramatic license with history needs to both fulfill a satisfying dramatic aim and at least be in contact with the facts; Anne of the Thousand Days’ portrayal of its titular queen’s death fails on both counts.

Needless to say, I didn’t like this movie. Its costumes, sumptuous pageantry, and strong performances from Genevieve Bujold as Anne, Anthony Quayle as Wolsey, and John Colicos as Cromwell, cannot make up for the fact that the rest of the film’s parts are either mediocre or simply bad. Why then do so many people think fondly not just of Genevieve Bujold’s Anne, but also this movie? Part of it must be nostalgia - it would have gained a special place in the hearts of Tudor fans who grew up in 1969 and the following decade. Its accessibility for purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Youtube, also meant it gained more popularity than the far superior 1970 BBC miniseries The Six Wives of Henry VIII, which is only available on DVD and the platform Britbox. But I’ve argued in this review that Anne of the Thousand Days is just as inaccurate as more scorned depictions like The Tudors; in fact, I firmly believe that on the whole, Anne of the Thousand Days has more inaccuracies in its plot and characterization than The Tudors! Why, then, in spite of its major inaccuracies, does Anne of the Thousand Days retain a reputation for authenticity? 

The fact Jonathan Rhys Meyers looks nothing like Henry VIII in The Tudors and has little of the real king’s imposing majesty is surely part of it. More to the point, though, The Tudors’ propensity towards sex and nudity in its first two seasons meant it seemed louche and vulgar compared to the sober and slow-paced Anne of the Thousand Days. If Natalie Dormer’s Anne was criminally overlooked by critics because of her show’s disreputable appearance, then the opposite has occurred with this movie. Genevieve Bujold’s great performance has managed to elevate a quite mediocre and often horribly reductive movie into the hallowed halls of the Period Drama Pantheon. It’s time for a broader reappraisal of this movie: one which dethrones it for good.

[suga-kookiemonster]

It's interesting you talk about Magneto, etc, because we had a large (far right) part of geek channels going absolutely insane because the main character in The Boys (captain something that is the personification of white supremacy) was being "controlled" by a black woman now?!? And started going with the good old "the woke culture is ruining things for us". god forbid a black woman is one of the main characters😒 there was more to it, but mainly this and how sometimes we don't see things from different perspectives until a second time viewing

I think the older I get the more I see things differently. Magneto was portrayed as a traitor who lost himself in the sauce but everything he always did was show everyone that hiding and conforming doesn't work at all. Charles subsided his expectations and got to the point of making a private oasis for his students whilst thousands of other mutants kept going out there on their own either because they couldn't find him or because their powers weren't "pretty" enough

What Charles did with Jean was also very fucked up, he entrapped and brainwashed her to the point she wasn't exerting her full powers because it wasn't beneficial for his idea of "subsided civilized" people just to be betrayed and be treated as monsters that needed a cure

I think he's aware of it though, because throughout everything he still calls Magneto his friend and vice versa, he might know he's wrong, but still kept going, even fighting against his own people to appease the good human kind that have never been kind to them

It's pretty simple, complying only works until one of your own dies/get's hurt/get's neglected, we got here where we are through violence much like in X-Men, it wasn't easy, it wasn't without a fuss and it wasn't without resistance. So everything we do to break this cycle and create our own will be nothing short of violent because we're changing something, it's simple as that

But people still blame him because we're taught that complying works, they just forget to tell us for who this complying works for

phewwww, truly a word this good monday morning! 👏🏾👏🏾 your last paragraph sums it allll the way up. charles is part of the problem, and so are people who say they support a cause until that fight starts to affect them specifically. if you wanna think about the bigger picture, then THINK about the bigger picture and understand that if you benefit in any way from injustice against a people, then fixing that injustice is going to therefore make you uncomfortable.

charles is a mutant, but the way his mutation presents is not visible, so he can easily pass as human. he also is a wealthy man, so that should tell you exactly what kind of worldview and privilege he has. he and raven are NOT the same. the world doesn’t allow her the same grave it allows him by default. so 1000% agree with you on your point of him making a fantasy safe haven while all other mutants are stuck being discriminated against he never was and never will be. just willfully blind to keep himself and his warped sense of what’s “right” comfortable smh. just ignoring the fact deferring to the forces trying to keep you in line will NOT make things better for you if it doesn’t benefit them to do so, because without force, things typically don’t move.

with everything going on in the world today, i guess it’s no wonder that charles ass triggered me lol. life lesson for everybody today: don’t be a white feminist. don’t be a white savior. don’t be an uncle tom. don’t be a charles. gone and kumbaya somewhere else unless you have actual plans on how to really help the people who deserve justice! until then, revolutionaries will always fight for their right to survive, and you can’t dictate how they choose to do that!

also, i really need to watch the boys! i think i’ve seen three episodes or so—I started watching it because I watched all of gen v and was intrigued by that world, but i got distracted by life. you just convinced me to pick it back up!

[blockgamepirate]

I have thoughts on the current Chayanne and Tallulah angst

(Under cut because it's probably gonna be long)

Disclaimer: I'm just talking from the point of view of the eggs here, I'm not trying to accuse Wilbur, Missa or Phil (and obviously especially not the streamers) or anything, I'm just not focusing on them

So mostly talking about Tallulah here because tbh Chayanne's side of it is just me going "WAHHHH ;;A;;" because fucking hell that shit is rough. Losing one of your native languages as a bilingual kid is already rough, your absent parent coming home and immediately having a mental breakdown and avoiding you and talking about leaving again is a hundred times worse. There's not much else to say here, it's just a terrible situation. The only good thing about it is that Missa does still genuinely care about Chayanne, even if his own feelings of inadequacy and insecurity are getting in the way of demonstrating that in a way that would assure Chayanne.

But anyway, I definitely get how that must also look like from Tallulah's POV. They've both been waiting for their dads to come back and now Chayanne's finally did and it went terribly, even if it ended sooort of okay (although.... not without issues).

And much of that was about Chayanne changing. And Tallulah has absolutely changed, even if like Phil said she is still the same at her core. She's grown, she's learned to fight, something that Wilbur apparently really didn't want for her (sorry I still haven't actually watched the Wilbur VODs aside from the adoption one ahdjjfkg) she's been through a lot.

And a lot like Chayanne, she's spent most of her life in Phil's care now, and that shows.

So it's more than understandable that she would feel that Phil is just dismissing her anxiety. Sure Phil did lose hope of Missa coming back, but he has so much faith in people he cares about and wants to believe in them. He's paranoid about the Federation and the codes and also just normal everyday dangers, but he has a bit of a blindspot when it comes to his friends and just interpersonal drama. He wasn't ready for Missa's insecurities or how they could affect Chayanne. But it happened.

Phil also does not know how Tallulah and Wilbur's reunion will go (if it ever happens). He's so sure that it'll be great, but he doesn't know that, no matter how much he insists. It could go badly! There could be drama! Even if it's not Wilbur rejecting Tallulah, it could be something Tallulah interprets as rejection or disappointment.

And even if Phil is right and it'll all go perfectly, that doesn't help Tallulah right now, because just telling her that it'll be fine isn't addressing the sources of her anxiety. It just sounds like Phil is in denial or babying her. Which... I mean I wouldn't say that's accurate but it's not entirely inaccurate either. I think his instinct is to reassure Tallulah but it's not what she needs. And his instinct is to trust wholeheartedly in Wilbur but that doesn't help Tallulah either.

(Also, she knows for a fact that Wilbur didn't originally want a kid. She knows that it took a while to convince him to accept her into his life. She was there. She saw the hesitation. All of that was reasonable from Wilbur's POV because it really was correct that he wasn't able to take care of Tallulah the way a father should. He knew it from the start and he was right. But yeah, it's gonna be something that has to cause some insecurity issues for Tallulah.)

She needs Phil to actually address the worst possible scenario, I think. Just entertain for a minute the idea that Wilbur really does abandon Tallulah. What would happen then? Phil would keep looking after her, Phil would still love her. Or if Phil wasn't around anymore, the other islanders would. And if Wilbur did do that to her, she would have every right to be pissed off. It wouldn't be because there was anything wrong with her.

It would be an awful situation, but all the people who cared about her would still be there for her. And she could talk to the other kids who were also abandoned by one of their parents; Ramón, Pomme... am I forgetting anyone? idk. And she could talk to Chayanne too. She would not be alone.

It's not the most uplifting thing to think about, which is why I think it didn't even occur to Phil to even entertain that notion, but I think it would be more reassuring actually? At the very least to let her know that Phil is taking her seriously? And THEN he could tell her that it wasn't gonna happen because Wilbur would never. Idk, that's my hunch anyway.

Also, it's possible that part of this is about Tallulah herself feeling some resentment and anger towards Wilbur, and not knowing what to do about those feelings, because they're not what's expected of her. And this is where Phil's words might have made things worse, because Phil tries to appeal to her dedication to her papi, but what if she feels like her dedication isn't what it should be anymore?

Idk. Those are my thoughts. I'm not gonna call it analysis, I'm not putting enough effort into this to qualify as "analysis".

I'm alsl very sleepy so apologies if there are some weird bits in here

[wildissylupus]

I haven't talked about Cassidy and Sojourn's dynamic in detail for awhile, I only really talked about them at the beginning of the year actually. So I thought I should revisit their dynamic since PvE has come out, there are new voice lines and more information has been given on the story of Overwatch (can't wait for Declassified to release).

Anyway let's get into Cassidy and Sojourn's dynamic;

The first thing I want to talk about is that Sojourn seemingly shows Cassidy the same type of respect that she shows to the old guard. To me Sojourn treats a lot of the younger members with the type of respect that one would give a person who is younger and less experienced then you, like student-teacher or commander-underling. Even with Angela you can tell that Sojourn is older then her with the way they talk to each other. Meanwhile with Cassidy, though she does make fun of him (like everyone else), she seemingly treats him as more as an equal and I think this is due to the fact that they are.

Cassidy and Sojourn, at some point or another, were the second in commands for a commander of Overwatch. Whether or not you think Cassidy being a captain was official or unofficial it doesn't change the fact that most people would view Cassidy as a captain. They were the same rank meaning they are equals on a semi-official note, that and Cassidy does have a lot more experience then a lot of the second gen cast, him being hinted to being on the streets during the crisis and being a leader, a leader of a gang but a leader non-the-less.

In their new interaction you can instantly tell that they are close, again they were the same rank but also they were probably the only few people trying to defuse the arguments that had started between Jack and Gabe. Not only that but as I have stated in previous posts I believe that Cassidy was a big part of Genji and Lena's training, being one of the few people able to land a shot on them. This would lead to Cassidy and Sojourn to becoming close because they would want to be sure that these new recruits would come back safe.

Also I want to point out that Sojourn is the only character to point out to Ashe that she could be more then a criminal. No other Overwatch hero does that. I think it's because of how close Cassidy and Sojourn are that she knows that Ashe is not just a criminal, but genuinely a good person who would burn the world to the ground for the people she cares about. I also think that she would know that Cassidy does still care about Ashe, especially if they were working closely together near the end of Overwatch.

There's a little detail in the final cutscene of the Toronto Mission when before Cassidy says "Jack Morrison is busy chasing ghosts...", when Sojourn says "This isn't my life anymore", where Cassidy looks at her with what appears to be sympathy. Then after the line Sojourn looks at Cassidy then away, either out of understanding or guilt, because Cassidy is obviously frustrated they brought this up. Honestly through that entire interaction it seems that while Winston is trying to convince Sojourn to stay with Overwatch, Cassidy is trying to convince her to help.

Honestly I think the line that Cassidy said to Sojourn, "You know he's right", is going to come up again. I have always been adamant that Cassidy's arc is being set up for him to be one of the next leaders of Overwatch. That's what Ana sees him becoming, that's what implied with Jack telling Ana to give the information he's gathered to Cassidy, and it's what I think Sojourn and Ashe will help him see he can be. With Sojourn I think Cassidy will be a big part in helping her see that Overwatch isn't a lost cause, that they can still make a positive change in the world. I don't think Sojourn will stay with Overwatch, she's one of the few characters who enjoys their retirement, but I do think she will still help the New Overwatch, even after they defeat Null Sector.