#THIS IS A JOKE ONLY I UNDERSTAND BUT I'LL GET INVESTED IN IT

[slverblood]

. . . His Majesty could be Aylin's cat

[deliciousangelfestival]

Love Lesson || Bucky Barnes (One-Shot)

Character : College!Bucky x College!Reader

Words Count: 2,265

Summary: Y/N's academic challenges lead to an unexpected romance, changing her life and future in surprising ways.

Theme: Fluff

Main Masterlist || support: Ko-fi

Thank you to anyone who gave a like, reblog, and left a comment. It motivated me to write more. 

Y/N and her friends were gathered at their favorite campus cafe, sipping on their lattes and chatting about the usual topics. Y/N was known among her friends for her beauty, and it wasn't uncommon for her to receive love confessions from various admirers.

Today was no exception. A fellow student approached her with a bashful smile and a heartfelt confession of admiration.

The admirer said, "Y/N, you're so amazing. I've had feelings for you for a long time. Will you be my girlfriend?"

Y/N, known for her kind and polite nature, smiled and thanked the admirer for their confession before asking a rather unconventional question, "What's your grade score in this semester's exams?"

Taken aback by the unexpected question, the admirer stammered, "Well, I'm not really into academics, but I'm great at other things."

Y/N's smile remained, but her response was clear, "I appreciate your feelings, but I'm looking for someone who's serious about their studies. I've had my share of handsome bad boys, and now I want someone smart and dedicated."

Her friends, who had witnessed this scene many times before, chuckled at Y/N's criteria for a potential partner. Y/N had outgrown the allure of handsome troublemakers and was seeking a different kind of connection, one that revolved around intelligence and academic ambition.

They couldn't help but playfully tease Y/N about the idea of her being with Bucky the famous campus nerd.

Emily: "Hey, Y/N, have you seen Bucky Barnes? He's like the campus nerd. Imagine dating him!"

Y/N, not thrilled with the idea, shrugged off the suggestion, "Come on, Bucky's way too quiet for me. I prefer someone more outgoing."

Steve and Sam, friends of Bucky, overheard the teasing from Y/N's friends about the possibility of Y/N being with Bucky. They couldn't resist sharing the humorous comments with Bucky.

Steve, with a grin: "Hey, Bucky, you won't believe what we heard. Y/N's friends were joking about her dating you, the campus nerd."

Bucky, who had always been reserved, smiled at the jesting comments. He didn't take them too seriously but was curious about this Y/N whom he had only heard of in passing.

Bucky Barnes was well-known on campus, primarily for his remarkable intellect and dedication to his studies. He was often referred to as the "campus nerd" by his peers, particularly in his computer science class.

Despite his nerdy reputation, Bucky was a kind and genuine individual. Whenever his classmates ask for help, Bucky will help them.

**********

Y/N was in her dorm room, trying to enjoy a rare moment of relaxation when her phone rang. She saw her grandmother's name on the caller ID and answered with trepidation.

Y/N: "Hello, Grandma."

Mrs. Johnson, her voice dripping with frustration, responded, "Y/N, I just saw your latest report card, and I am absolutely furious! Your grades are abysmal, and I won't stand for this any longer!"

Y/N, attempting to lighten the mood, quipped, "Well, Grandma, at least I'm not the one making the family fortune disappear in the stock market, right?"

Mrs. Johnson, not one to back down, retorted, "Touché, my dear. But we're talking about your future here! If your grade getting worse I will cut your allowance!"

Y/N, now feeling the pressure, replied, "I understand, Grandma. I'll make studying my top priority from now on, and I promise not to invest in any more 'get-rich-quick' schemes."

The call from her angry grandmother served as a wake-up call for Y/N. Y/N's grandmother, the famous CEO, had always been a beacon of intelligence and success.

Johnson Corporation is a well-established and highly successful conglomerate that operates in various sectors, including technology, finance, and real estate. Under the leadership of Mrs. Johnson, the company has grown to become a major player in the global business landscape. Known for its innovative solutions and strategic investments, the corporation is renowned for its commitment to excellence and its dedication to pushing the boundaries of industry standards. It stands as a testament to the Johnson family's legacy of business acumen and leadership.

However, it seemed that this remarkable intelligence had skipped a generation or two. Y/N's father had chosen a carefree lifestyle of constant travel with her mother, making every day feel like a honeymoon. They prioritized adventure and leisure over academia.

On the other hand, Y/N, despite her family's legacy, found herself grappling with math and her academic performance. Her struggles with the subject only added to her frustration, as she tried to live up to her grandmother's expectations and overcome the academic challenges she faced.

Mrs. Johnson hopes that Y/N will embrace her family's legacy and take on the responsibility of continuing the hard work and success that she has built. She desires to see a positive change in Y/N to ensure the family's bloodline carries on the business legacy.

As Y/N pondered how to resolve her academic issues, she found herself in a conversation with her lecturer one day. Little did she know that this conversation would introduce her to someone who would change her life.

Lecturer: "Y/N, I've noticed you're struggling with your grades. I'd like to introduce you to someone who might be able to help. This is Bucky Barnes, one of our top students. He's known for his dedication to academics."

Y/N, taken aback by the introduction, looked at Bucky, who was standing there with his kind but studious expression. She couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity.

Bucky, shifting nervously, managed a small smile and said, "Hi there, I'm Bucky Barnes. I'm not as interesting as my physics textbooks, but I promise I'm helpful with those."

Y/N, charmed by Bucky's humility and humor, couldn't help but chuckle, "Well, Bucky, I'm Y/N, and I promise not to make you as bored as a physics lecture."

Their lighthearted exchange during their first meeting set the stage for their unique connection, blending Y/N's outgoing nature with Bucky's shy, endearing personality.

Y/N and Bucky had started their regular study sessions in the campus library, with books and laptops spread across the table. Y/N, dressed in her stylish, confident manner, was determined to improve her grades, while Bucky, the campus nerd, was there to assist her.

Y/N would occasionally struggle with the material, but Bucky's patient explanations and tutoring skills made it easier for her to grasp complex concepts.

Bucky's friends, Steve and Sam, sat with him in the campus courtyard, discussing his recent interactions with Y/N.

Steve: "So, Bucky, we heard you've been spending a lot of time with Y/N lately. What's going on there?"

Bucky: "Well, I'm tutoring her, you know, helping her with her grades."

Sam, with a teasing grin, chimed in, "Tutoring? Is that what they call it these days?"

Bucky: "No, really, it's just tutoring. She was struggling, and I offered to help."

Steve: "Come on, Bucky, we know you're a brainiac, but hanging out with Y/N? It's hard to believe."

Bucky, feeling a bit defensive, said, "She's actually really cool once you get to know her. We're just friends."

Sam, raising an eyebrow, added, "Friends, huh? Well, if you say so."

Bucky chuckled seeing his friend's reaction. Y/N actually were cool. But he has to admit her understanding of mathematics needs help.

Bucky encourages Y/N to work on an exercise without directly revealing that it's challenging, with the intention of helping her improve her grades and spend more time with her.

Bucky: "Y/N, I've come across an exercise that I think could be really beneficial for your studies. Working on this will help you make great progress."

Y/N, eager to improve her academic performance, took Bucky's suggestion seriously and worked diligently on the exercise.

***********

Y/N and Bucky were sitting in the campus library, their study materials spread out in front of them. The atmosphere was relaxed as they exchanged notes and discussed their coursework. Suddenly, Y/N dropped the bombshell:

Y/N: "Oh, by the way, Bucky, my grandmother wants to meet you."

Bucky's eyes widened in shock, almost dropping his pen.

Bucky: "Wait, what? Your grandmother? You mean, like, your incredibly successful and impressive grandmother wants to meet me?"

Y/N couldn't help but giggle at Bucky's flustered reaction.

Y/N: "Yep, that's exactly it. She's quite impressed with how you've been helping me improve my grades, and she's curious to meet you."

Bucky, still slightly overwhelmed, stammered, "I...I don't know what to say. I mean, that's...that's quite a surprise."

Y/N reassured him with a warm smile, "You don't have to worry, Bucky. Just be yourself.

Bucky felt nervous but excited since he had always regarded Y/N's grandmother as an accomplished and inspiring figure. The prospect of meeting his idol made him understandably nervous.

On the night of the dinner, Bucky arrived at Mrs. Johnson's elegant residence with Y/N, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. He knew this was a significant moment and hoped to make a good impression on the successful businesswoman who had also become Y/N's role model.

During a family dinner, Y/N's grandmother, Mrs. Johnson, couldn't help but notice the bond between Y/N and Bucky.

Mrs. Johnson: "You know, Y/N, Bucky here is quite the intelligent young man. It would be nice to have a smart son-in-law, don't you think?"

Y/N turned beet red with embarrassment, stuttering, "Grandma, it's not like that!"

Bucky, who had taken the comment seriously, smiled and said, "Well, Mrs. Johnson, I'll do my best to live up to your expectations."

******

As Y/N and Bucky's friendship blossomed, an unexpected turn of events shook their world. Y/N received news that her grandmother, the successful CEO of Johnson Corporation, had suddenly fallen seriously ill. Mrs. Johnson, aware of her condition, appointed Y/N as the temporary director of the company. This decision was based not only on family ties but also on Y/N's substantial ownership of the company's shares.

Y/N was faced with the daunting responsibility of managing the family business during her grandmother's illness.

Y/N had been thrust into the role of temporary director of her family's company, and the pressure was beginning to weigh on her. She felt overwhelmed and scared by the responsibilities that came with the position.

Y/N, her voice trembling with anxiety, turned to Bucky:

Y/N: "Bucky, I'm really scared. I don't know if I can handle all of this. My grandmother has put so much trust in me, and I don't want to let her down."

Bucky, ever the supportive friend, reached out and gently placed his hand on Y/N's.

Bucky: "Y/N, I know this is a lot to take on, but you're stronger than you realize. You've got an incredible work ethic and a smart mind. You can do this. And I'll be right here beside you, helping you every step of the way."

Y/N looked into Bucky's eyes, finding solace in his words and his unwavering support. His reassurance gave her the confidence to face the challenges ahead.

As Y/N and Bucky navigated the challenges of managing the family business and excelling in their studies, they found themselves drawn closer together. Their shared experiences, their support for each other, and the time they spent working side by side had forged a deep and unbreakable connection.

One evening, as they wrapped up another long day of work, they found themselves sitting in the office, a comfortable silence enveloping them. Y/N was the first to break it, her voice soft and full of emotion.

Y/N: "Bucky, I don't know what I would have done without you. You've been my anchor, my support through all of this. I've come to realize that you mean the world to me."

Bucky, his heart racing, couldn't hold back his feelings any longer. His eyes filled with affection, replied, "Y/N, from the moment we met, my life has been filled with light and joy because of you. You're everything I've ever dreamed of, and I'm deeply in love with you."

Y/N's heart swelled with emotion, and she leaned in to press a soft, romantic kiss to Bucky's lips. Their affectionate gesture gradually deepened, the passion of their newfound love igniting as they kissed passionately and shared their hearts in this intimate moment, cementing their bond even further.

Epilogue:

In a surprising turn of events, it was revealed that Y/N's grandmother, Mrs. Johnson, had not been sick as initially thought. Instead, she had embarked on a long-planned vacation, taking a well-deserved break from her busy life as the CEO of Johnson Corporation.

Mrs. Johnson's phone chimed with an incoming text, and she couldn't help but smile when she read the message:

"Y/N and Bucky have confessed their love for each other."

Mrs. Johnson, with a sly grin, simply muttered to herself: "Well, isn't that a delightful turn of events! My matchmaking skills are impeccable, even from a beach."

-End-

Forever Taglist:

@magnificentsaladllama, @esotericgalaxy, @xcaptain-winterx, @buckysteveloki-me, @cherrybubblebullet, @bagoffeelings, @darkofimagination, @starsofcloud @shamrockqueen, @shinytreefire, @thezombieprostitute

[666writingcafe]

The Final Boss

Solomon

MC is too smart for their own good. And it's making them fail my test.

Have they demonstrated an understanding of Beel's powers? Yes. Have they used those powers to defeat their foes? Yes, and in an impressive fashion, I might add.

But the fire they normally have is missing.

"You've noticed it too, haven't you?" Asmo scooches closer to me and looks into the viewing ball I set up. "The passion's not there." I sigh.

"I suppose it's my fault for allowing your brothers to pick out the location of this test," I tell him. "I would have simply reserved an arena in the Devildom and have the battle there, but Satan insisted that this game of Levi's would be perfect."

"As if MC doesn't know the tropes of a RPG game."

"Exactly."

"I mean, even if they had no knowledge whatsoever before the exchange program, Levi would have at least taught them the basics." Asmo runs a hand through his hair to get some of it off his face. "Do you remember the first time you made full and complete use of my powers?"

"All too well." It was during a threesome with a girl we both liked. To put it simply, we fed off each other's lust and inadvertently overstimulating her to the point of death.

Asmo likes to joke about it sometimes. I don't.

"So, how do we get MC to do what you're asking?" Right. The task at hand.

"To be honest, I don't know," I answer. "I suspect they'll put more energy into their battle with me, but I don't know if it'll be enough to bring out all of Beelzebub's power."

"Why now?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've never been this invested in your apprentices becoming sorcerers." Asmo pauses. "Does MC mean that much to you?"

"You already know the answer to that." He sighs.

"Yes, but I want to hear you say it! Do you know how tiring it is to constantly use my powers to get dirt on people? It's so exhausting!"

"Yes."

"Yes, what?" The patronizing look in his eyes makes me want to barf.

"I care about MC. A lot. They're the first human in a long time that I see myself having a future with." I pause. "Is that good enough for you, Asmodeus?" He playfully snarls like a cat, bending his fingers to look like claws.

"What an attitude!" he exclaims, smiling at me.

"You annoy me."

"Only because I care." Asmo glances back into the ball, appearing to think. "What if we upset MC?"

"No." Asmo huffs.

"I'm not saying we make them destroy the game or anything that extreme! I just think that if we tease them a little bit, we'd get them to feel something other than sheer boredom."

"Teasing might work. Just not on MC. They'll get too flustered to focus properly." I pause as an idea pops into my head. "Your brother, on the other hand..." Asmo's eyes widen before gleefully laughing.

"That's it! Oh, Solomon, you're such a genius!"

"How, exactly?" I'm asking because I want to know where his mind went, because he seldom complements me in a professional setting.

"You see, MC hates when we're reduced to our sins. That was why it took them so long to warm up to me; I wasn't being my true self, but merely a caricature. If I act like gluttony is Beel's only personality trait, then MC will feel the need to jump to his defense, thus triggering that connection you told me about." Interesting...

"You do realize that MC will be controlling your brother, right? The more angry they get, the stronger Beel will become, and I'm pretty sure you don't want him pummeling you." Asmo makes a dismissive noise.

"I'll be fine! Don't worry about me. Any injuries I sustain will be temporary." He smiles, nudging me with his elbow. "I want MC to become an official sorcerer as much as you do, you know."

[romancingdaffodils]

Love Kills.

part 1

bassist!rockstar!remus lupin x roadie!reader

In which one of your closest friends happens to be Sirius Black, who is also the drummer in the infamous punk band: The Marauders. You’ve met Remus Lupin twice before the tour begins and you found yourself quite enthralled with him. The more time you spend, the greater the need is.

warnings : mention of drinking, and that’s about it. gender neutral reader with a small understanding of drums and stuff :333

title stolen from Love Kills - Joe Strummer

hiii i know you missed me

i’d like to give a special thanks to @alegsy for all his help on this one. and if you like Alex turner go check out @joepublicspeakings :33. Seriously Al thank you much for helping me out with all the roadie tech stuff and ideas and punk music too it really means a lot and i love you sooooo much. thank u smsm

ps pls ignore that matt plays electric and not bass it’s not my fault i love him so much

Sirius Black was by far the most interesting man you've ever met. He was also the reason you were stood with your hands clasped tightly around the handles of two stuffed bags.

"C'mooon, you know me, it'll be fun! You like the music, know the tech, got the skills nailed. You're the perfect roadie, join us." Sirius begged, following you around the bar. You frowned at him. Unfortunately for the raven haired man, you liked your job, which meant it took a lot more convincing to get you onside.

"Sleeping in a glorified caravan for god knows how many days doesn't exactly seem like my idea of fun! Plus, Sirius, I only really know James. Met the other lanky one, what, twice? Don't know the last guys name! It's not fair." you argued, crossing your arms and glaring at him. You had included a small white lie in the fact Remus Lupin was not known as the lanky one in your mind - you were familiar with the version of him that haunted your daydreams. He pouted at you. Yes, the fully grown man pouted at you.

"It pays well-ish! It'll get you in with the industry and it's months with your favourite person, ever. Me! On top of that, it's not a glorified caravan, we invested this year so shut your trap." he whined, giving his best puppy dog eyes.

"Right, fine, maybe. I'll, consider it. And, never ever say 'shut your trap' again. You're a daft twat, you know that?" you caved. He grinned.

"So that's a yes! And I'll do you the favour of assuming you're just trying to keep me humble." he grinned once again. Mentally, you smashed your head through a glass pane. What had you gotten yourself into?

“Nice shirt.” a voice spoke from beside you, giving you a small smile. You smiled back. The lanky one - Remus Lupin, you reminded yourself. Not that you needed much reminding; the honey eyed man stuck firmly in your brain.

“Thanks, didn’t know you liked Bowie. Thought all the punk stuff would be more for you.” you joked, peering up at him. He scoffed, as though your statement was the most insane thing he’d heard.

“Can still like the ‘punk stuff’ and Bowie. Plus, he’s a genius. Done every style and more, like.” he replied, some sort of northern accent coming in thick and fast. He was different to Sirius in many ways and you took comfort in it. Even though, at times, Remus was a tad bit mean. But, not really to you. The three times (including now) you’d met him he’d been quite lovely. Sirius had chewed your ear off about that.

“It took me years to get a grin out of him! And you do it straight away? It’s so not fair!” he whined, leaning against the counter of the pub’s bar.

“You’ll recover, posho, promise.” you said, giggling to yourself at his heartbreak.

“Yeah, suppose you’re right. Nice to see you again, by the way. It’s been a while. ‘m excited for the tour and stuff.” you said, deciding that changing the subject might suit you better.

“Me too, can’t believe Sirius actually got you on as a roadie. Did he physically fight you for it? Last time we asked you were dead set against it.” he gestured for you to walk beside him as he spoke. He was holding his bags in one hand and his bass case in the other. He made short work of putting everything bar his bag of necessities into the storage bin. Then, quickly took your own off of you, shoving them into the storage of the bus. He didn’t seem to mind doing the heavy lifting for you.

“He harassed me, a lot. At work. A lot. It’s fine though, I think I’ll enjoy it if I’m honest. If all else fails at least I’ll get contacts and friends out of it, yeah?” Remus snickered. He smiled down at you as he closed up the storage compartment.

“I’ve been telling myself that for the past, what? Decade? Trust me, he entices you in, you’re trapped now. Failed plenty of times and don’t think I’ve gained much - apart from wanting to bash all three of their heads in. On multiple occasions.” you giggle; he smiles.

“Ah well, just promise me you won’t let me kill anyone then. I’ll do the same for you.” you said, holding out your pinky for him to close the promise. It was childlike and somewhat immature, sure, but it locked the deal closed. Wrapping his pinky around yours, Remus silently agreed to your proposition.

“It’s nice to meet you— Jesus Christ! You’re lanky. Sorry. That was mean. Remus, right?! I’m the one Sirius told you about.” you shouted over the blaring music. Submission by the Sex Pistols was causing the entire room to shake and was rocking you to your core.

“Yeah. I know you. Been trying to keep up with Pads, by chance?” Remus chuckled down at you, assuming you weren’t always this dishevelled.

“Always. Thought I could out drink him, you know, for a posh boy, the lad can drink.” he smiled.

“Perks of going to a boarding school. Mix with all sorts of people, it was good for him.” you smiled.

The night seemed to fly by and you couldn’t keep yourself away from Remus. Flocking to him like a moth to a flame, your cheeks were beginning to hurt from smiling so much. Thankfully, the incomprehensible amount of vodka you had consumed helped dull the pain.

“Can’t believe we haven’t met before.” you purred, peering up at him.

“Neither. Pads is cruel, keeps all his best friends to himself. Didn’t know there was anyone else on the planet who actively enjoyed The Clash and Dostoyevsky.” he responded, bringing a green tinted glass bottle to his lips.

“Let me try it.” you demanded, holding out your hand.

“You don’t like beer.” he said, giving you a small grin.

“Wanna try, it might be different.”

“Oh, yeah? All the beers you’ve had in your life and this one just might be different.” despite his teasing, he offered you the bottle. It did in fact not taste any different. It still tasted like piss.

“Nah, still rank.”

“Shame, that, really.”

You grinned. He smirked.

The tour bus was now filled. The four key members of the band: James, Sirius, Remus and Pete, who you’d finally remembered the name of and the rest of the members of your new team. Oh! And the support band, who you kept forgetting about, The Valkyries. Lovely girls, all of them. It tickled you somewhat that James and Lily were in rival bands. And, that some how they’d persuaded the rivals to support them. The roadies with you had mostly known the Marauders since school, which inevitably led to you feeling like an outcast. It really struck home as they were all discussing stories from their youth. The road was a relentless treadmill of travel and you were provided no solace. Until a small voice called your name.

“You busy?” Remus asked, poking his head into your bunk.

“Trying to be.” you joked, smiling over at him. He looked ridiculously oversized compared to the glorified caravan.

“Don’t think you aren’t welcome. They’re lovely. Sit up a bit, will you? My knees are killing I need to sit down.” you sat up, as he instructed. He sat on the bunk opposite yours, you faced him directly. It was a little scary- his ability to practically read your mind.

“I’m sure they are, just having second thoughts, as always. Dunno, you lot all went to school together. So, just a bit of an outcast, yanno?” you whispered, emphasising this was for Remus’s ears only. He nodded his head, and then began to shake it.

“Y’not an outcast. Promise. They’ll all love you once they get to know you. Like Pads does, poor fucker can’t leave you alone.” you laughed; he smiled. It wasn’t a sympathetic smile; it was genuine.

“I love Sirius too. Best friend you could ask for, really. It’s just such a shame he’s such a slag.” you joked. Remus laughed.

“Really is. How’ve you been since the incident?”

Remus’s hand was acting as a makeshift bobble as you threw up into the bar toilet. His other hand was rubbing small circles into your back.

“I hate him! I hate how much he can drink and- I hate this stupid bar.” you whined, in between sobs. Throwing up always made you cry.

“Shhh, yeah, I know. Come on, let it all out. Y’don’t need to cry, sweetheart, you’re fine. Just have to let it all out.” he cooed, still rubbing your back. God knows how you’d ended up exclusively talking to Remus the whole night and somehow still trying to out drink Sirius. You’d been fucked when the taller of the two showed up and now you were completely gone.

“This is so embarrassing. Sorry, I feel awful.” you threw up again after that.

“Got nothing to feel sorry about. Listen, been there done that with Sirius. Learnt my lesson the hard way too, plus I’m taller than you. Takes a lot more to get me drunk, yeah? He’s just insane. Don’t worry about it.” he comforted, not at all bothered by your sickness. Giving him a dopey smile, you were eternally grateful - even in your drunken state - that it was Remus you had befriended that night.

“Thank you, tell you what, I’ll do you a deal.” Remus nodded “Pinky promise if you ever get plastered I’ll do the same for you”. Holding out his pinky, Remus tilted his head at you. You locked pinkies with him for the first time (and most definitely not the last time).

“Good deal. Do you think we should get you home? Are you close? I’ll walk you if you are.” he offered, wrapping an arm around you to pull you up.

“Yeh, like ten minutes. Thank you, Remus, really. Bet you’re glad it’s me and not you, huh?” you joked, trying to add light to the situation. Leaning into him, you were relying solely on him to stay upright.

“Nah, know you’d do the same for me. Pinky promised it, didn’t you? And, it’s no problem. Think we’re going to be good friends.”

“Don’t bring that up around me. I’m still so embarrassed.” you complained, burying your head into your hands. Chuckling, Remus shook his head.

“Could’ve been worse, you could’ve declared your undying, unrelenting and pure love for Lily, whilst stood on top of the bar and using an empty vodka bottle as a microphone for the announcement. Poor Lils never recovered.” You lifted your head to give him the loudest laugh ever.

“They’re sooo cute. It’s upsetting.” you said, lying back down in your bunk. Remus watched your every move, subconsciously. “Oh, you said your knees were hurting. You get pains? Arthritis? My mum gets that in her knees, she just keeps moving, but I think it’s making it worse.” you rambled, turning your head to face him.

“Oh, yeah, just chronic pains, really. Just try and rest as often as possible.” he explained, stretching out his legs across the two bunks. His legs fell atop your own, now creating a bridge between the gap in the bunks. You smiled over at him.

“Must suck, huh? Well, let me know if I can help. Tour isn’t really resting.” you offered, giving him a big smile.

“Yeah, thank you, speaking of tour we aren’t far off Glasgow now.” he stated, peering out the window and then down at his watch.

“I’m ecstatic.” you stated sarcastically as your stomach twisted with nerves. Telling you not to worry, the sandy haired man gave you a smile that only made your stomach twist further.

The venue was a shit hole. A complete and utter shit hole. The ceiling had a badly patched up leak, which had almost destroyed Pete’s copy of the setlist. The reason Sirius had been so desperate to get you on his staff was because you specialised in drums - his instrument, of course. You’d managed to get everything set up relatively quickly. Carefully, you began to tighten the cymbals, listening for the correct pitch and length of the ring. Humming as you worked, you stopped every so often to admire the work of the rest of the team. Frank, who specialised in strings, was particularly impressive. He had finished up rather quickly and moved on to help his girlfriend, Alice, with getting everything ready for vocals. It seemed everyone here, but you had the perfect relationship. James and Lily were a lifetimes worth supply food for the green eyed monster. Frank and Alice were just as cute, but less well known as they weren’t in the limelight.

“All good?” he shouted over at you. You gave him a thumbs up and smiled over at Alice, who was fighting with some duct tape and a wire. Everything was all good for you, at the moment.

Finally, you finished up the final checks and placed a backup pair of sticks beside Sirius’s chair. It was then onto sound checks, all went well. You actually really quite liked the Marauders music. With inspiration from bands like The Clash and The Jam it’s hard to make a bad sound. He was weird in that he’d always carry around his sticks before the show, believing it would bring him good luck. In fact, in the first show you found out all the boys weird pre-show rituals. Pete laid down on the couch and threw chocolate raisins into his mouth. James clung onto Lily ever so slightly more than usual and insisted on drinking a shot of olive oil. As the lead singer he swore upon it for lubricating the vocal cords. You nearly gagged when you watched him do it. Whereas, Remus sat outside, cigarette in one hand and a cadburys chocolate bar in the other.

Trying to escape the rest of the boys, you ended up going outside and bumping into Remus during this. Quenching your thirst for normality, you couldn’t help your next actions. “Oh, sorry, hope I’m not interrupting.” you stated, giving him a small smile as you gravitated towards him.

“Nah, take it you saw James’s shot?” he said, before taking a long drag from the cigarette. Wincing, you looked at him with pure disgust in your eyes. “No I get it, can’t be around him when he does it either. Makes my jitters worse.”

“Christ, you don’t look nervous at all. Good poker face. Your sound check was really incredible though. James performs like Joe Strummer, it’s funny. You’re good, really fit the part of Paul, huh?” there was an unspoken message behind fitting the part of Paul. The bassist of the Clash and the so called good looking one of the group (as stated by their drummer, Topper). You thought the same about Remus.

“You calling us Clash tributes? Also, he humps less than Joe.” You laughed. Full force laughter left your lungs as you keeled over in genuine disbelief. Snickering, Remus looked down at you, a little scared you’d collapse on the floor and knock yourself out. You went to speak, but the words were drowned out in laughter. “That tickled you, dinnit?” he mumbled, dropping his cigarette and crushing it below his foot. The shout of ‘Five minutes till you’re on!’ snapped you out of your laughter. Grinning up at Remus, you tilted your head.

“Break a leg!”

“It’s not the theatre.”

“Oh, good luck.”

“Thank you.” he replied, smirking down at you. He pushed the final piece of his chocolate bar into your hand before walking inside for the ‘team talk’. Time seemed to move at the speed of light whenever the lanky man was around. You found yourself completely lost in everything about him. Seriously, you couldn’t believe how long Sirius had deprived you of this perfect man.

Frank had told you whilst you were setting up that the band always had a talk before going on stage. The talk often consisted of: “James don’t cry and don’t fuck up” from Sirius and Remus; “Dodge bottles, whatever you do don’t get hit please you’ll look stupid.” as the general message to the whole band and “Jump around”, which was mostly directed to Peter and Remus. Frank had also warned you about the dangers that came from within the crowd. Police. Famously, punk music was viewed as being quite aggressive; it ended up being the roadies job to make sure fighting and dancing could be differentiated. Sirius hadn’t told you about that part whilst advertising the job. However, now wasn’t the time to take offence.

Erupting like a volcano, the crowd filled the rotting venue with noise. You watched the boys sprint on stage. All leather and tight fitting trousers.

James really did look like Joe Strummer when he performed and Remus was right about his comparison too. Sirius looked truly ecstatic whenever he performed and the energy brought about by the show pulled Peter from his shell. And Remus, oh, Remus. He was entirely perfect.

Catching yourself, you blinked and shook your head. You’d met this man three times, including the current interactions and here you were, fawning over him. Sure, it’d get you in a little bit of trouble, but what harm is a crush. Right? Not much harm compared to glass bottles and punk rockers. Oh, and a leak in the ceiling with wires messily taped to the floor.

Bang.

[mspandorasart]

Thoughts about Undertale Yellow

Greetings, I just returned from binging through Undertale Yellow, True Pacifist Route specifically, and am seeking a place to let out some thoughts (and steam). It's the first time I'm doing this type of "review" on my blog, but since my thoughts on it are quite strong, I thought, "hey, why the heck not"? Spoilers for the game and its ending ahead, fellas. Buckle up.

First off, let me begin by stating that, for the most part, I had a blast playing through it. The music is amazing, the boss themes real bangers, the environmental ones great as well. My favorite track was the OST that played in the Dunes: a really catchy western vibe with Flowey's theme in it as well, an earworm that filled me with Determination while running through the sandy fields. Then we have a beautiful pixel art style, gorgeous sceneries, great gameplay with challenging and fun boss fights (side note: although I couldn't fully appreciate Ceroba's fight since it had a couple pretty much unavoidable attacks. Or is it just skill issue on my part? Anyway, that part annoyed me more than it should have. Moving on, lmao.)

Furthermore, the game also has charming characters! They are the ones that kept me going and really ignited my interest. Not gonna lie, it took me until the town in the Dunes to become really invested in the game. Martlet is charming and cute, sure, but North Star and his gang, no, that guy specifically sold it for me. Charismatic, funny, very expressive sprites (well, all facial sprites are quite colorful, but it took me until North Star to appreciate/notice just how many there are for each character) and an interesting internal conflict with wanting to entertain others so they forget about the pain of being stuck underground, but at the same time being so absorbed in his persona that he temporarily acts like a douche towards his pals and forgets who he truly is. He also features my favorite joke in the game when he proudly proposes to the salesman that "he wants to buy a gun for the child". Freaking hilarious, love him, huehehue.

Story-wise, I was pleasantly surprised and taken aback by the dark twists of Ceroba and her husband Chujin. And I appreciated how the flashbacks got intigrated within her final boss fight. I don't know about you, but my biggest motivation to play RPGs are not just the gameplay, it's mainly the characters and the story. If the gameplay is amazing but the characters/plot boring, then I lose interest quickly. To me, the real rewards of a tough battle are story progression and seeing just what the characters will do next. Therefore, I greatly enjoyed the breaks between Ceroba's phases in which we saw parts of her backstory. They even made me cry!

...Although, to be honest, I don't exactly understand why we had that insight into her mind in the first place. Why did we survive so many hits to the point of 0.00001 HP? Where's that coming from all of a sudden? Why did time stop at some point like Za Warudo? Maybe that random plot armor (that happened the first time and never again) is explained in another route, but anyway, moving on-

This review-style blog entry only exists because of the True Pacifist ending. I'll be blunt, I hate it. Why?

So it ends with Clover sacrificing their soul for the monsters so they can eventually break free. Which is fine on its own. Clover is for the most part a blank slate of a character, only driven by their desire to seek the lost humans, that's basically it. Maybe it would have made a bit more sense for Clover to see an actual physical proof of their demise before they give up on them completely, but eh. I'm also wondering whether they are really okay with potentially another, possibly innocent human falling down sometime in the future only to get killed by the monsters. But oh well.

(You know, now that I think about it, I actually am a bit salty about Clover's decision to sacrifice themselves, lmao. Would've been kinda cool if it was up to the player, have another ending split.)

Anyways, the issue I'm having is how our cast of supporting characters, Martlet, North Star aka Starlo and Ceroba react to Clover's decision. They are shocked first, but... agree surprisingly quickly?? What?? Excuse me, the entire hassle we went through to get to this point was to stop Ceroba from taking Clover's soul. Now with Clover volunteering to sacrifice themselves, the gang is cool with it??

Of course they don't agree immediately, but are easily swayed within a few arguments back and forth. Man, what friends you are, guys. The reason I'm having this pet peeve in the first place is because we as the human, who has known these guys for just a day, did a lot for them, alright? They all tried to kill us at one point, but we took the beating, the hard battles, forgave them and were there for them during their internal conflicts. We were a pretty decent friend, if I may say so.

Especially with Ceroba! We did a lot to change her mind and path of self-destruction! Yet our so-called friends don't put in the same amount of effort when it comes to convincing us otherwise- or heck, use force if you must- get Clover away from there, lmao. Wouldn't it have been an interesting act of redemption on Ceroba's part, by the way, if she tried to stop us? Being touched by our mercy and refusal to give up on her, she does the same for us?

I suppose the reason I am so baffled by all this is because of Clover being a blank slate, the player character really felt like me, like I was going through the journey and not like I was controlling another character. It felt like my decision to spare them all, to talk to them and wanting to get to know them better. So the group of characters I have really grown to like giving up on me within about a minute of back-and-forth just felt... wow. Thanks, guys.

If I compare it to Undertale's True Pacifist in which every important supporting character gathers up after the confrontation with Asgore, all agreeing with the decision of me, the player, staying in the Underground with them, then oh boy, it really stings. Just would've been a cool, wholesome sign of friendship if Martlet, Starlo and Ceroba decided that "nah, even for the surface, we won't give up on Clover". By the way, in this game, we don't even really get to see why the monsters want to return to the surface so badly. They keep saying they want to, but what are the reasons exactly? More freedom, I suppose. Yet by expanding the Underground with the Dunes, the Mines, the Factory, and some of Snowdin, the Ruins and New Home, their habitat seemed so much larger than in the OG game- What I wanna say is, their desperation should've been shown way more instead of told, so the player can understand the monsters' aspiration better.

The thing is, it's a shockingly easy issue to fix if you really want "the canon ending" with Clover ending up dead and their soul taken: have Clover still have their moment of doubt and realization, remembering what the monsters told them throughout their journey. Then they go to Asgore with their gang, hoping to convince him. It doesn't work out, so Asgore starts a fight. During the battle, Clover realizes it's useless to fight back, it's better to have their soul taken for the monsters, so they allow Asgore to kill them. Their friends are not powerful enough to stop him. There ya have it.

Siiiiigh. Is it just me, being annoyed by that ending? As a whole, the finale felt a little... rushed? Was New Home always meant to be so empty? Is it to build up atmosphere? Yet there were two silly NPCs in the first screen of New Home, making me assume that maybe, there was another plan originally? (If it has been stated in a devlog or any other comment by the creators, then I apologize, I haven't read those fully.)

Anyways, if I didn't care about the game, this rant wouldn't even exist in the first place. I was really invested in the game until the ending just left me... kinda sad, not gonna lie. It will take me a while to process it all.

If you got this far, then thanks for reading. Am I the only one feeling this miffed about the ending? I might go back and edit this post if I find out there are things to be corrected. Buuuut as of now, happy holidays!

[tomwambsgans]

hello! I agree with a lot of your takes re: Tom/Greg and am quite sincerely baffled by how many of the big 'intellectual' Succession blogs are comfortable dismissing them as a joke unworthy of insight or analysis. one of the weirdest trends I've seen is 'Tom/Greg would be nothing without Tom/Shiv' because it's like... of course a storyline about what's essentially an affair relies on the marriage it's destroying; of course the relationships on the show all feed into each other vitally. I wouldn't even say I 'ship' T/G or have a deep personal investment in it, but I think understanding it as textually real and substantial is essential to any reading of the show as a whole. I love Tom's relationship arc with Shiv; I find it chilling and heartbreaking and fantastic (and I have equal sympathy for her), but saying that every scene he has with Greg is just about Shiv is such a ludicrously ignorant dismissal coming from people who purport to be invested in, like, serious dramaturgical analysis. Tom being closeted is important; Tom sincerely (and sometimes truly selflessly) loving Greg on a show about egomaniacs forever betraying each other is important. it's almost hilariously ironic to see 'serious' bloggers waving it all away.

this isn't to say that the vast majority of those interested in T/G don't also get them completely wrong – once people are actually confronted with a 'canon gay pairing' that doesn't conform to shipping conventions they don't know what to do with it. it's just tiring that the two extremes seem to be 'total, smug disregard' and 'pointlessly unfaithful misrepresentation'.

but anyway: I like your blog! keep doing what you're doing.

hi wow okay i love this message first of all

and tbqh that Intellectual Dismissal of tomgreg? homophobia. it's homophobia. whether internalized or otherwise that's genuinely what it is lol. like at absolute best it's ppl who've been convinced that it's dumb or immature to be passionate and sincere about two men loving each other and that that's never gonna be the "correct" reaction about a piece of media or something.

and yeah no "tomgreg only exists bc of tomshiv" is a take that makes me want to rip my hair out any time i catch so much of a whiff of it. as something to dismiss tg first of all it's dumb as fuck bc like.. okay? and YOU only exist bc your dad managed to say some offhanded thing to your mom one day that made her decide they were gonna fuck or vice versa. everything in the world "only" happened because something else happened first. and then as an actual analysis of tg it's still wrong and falls apart so easily with so many of the big tg moments in mind. like nero and sporus? I'm gonna push my wife down the stairs and marry you? I'm literally going to end my marriage and be with you instead? and honestly you don't even have to go far that into the show, I'd argue that the ortolan dinner and the connection that tom literally spells out there is very clearly independent of shiv. there's parallels but tom isn't consciously thinking "shiv is out cheating on me so i'll also (emotionally) cheat on her".. obviously lol. Tom and greg simply connect as two human beings more than basically any other pair in the show do and the actual ""reliance"" that their relationship has on shiv boils down, I would say, to simply how tom's unhappiness with shiv pushes him to pursue what he wants. otherwise yeah tomshiv influences certain aspects of the tg dynamic but I guess a lot of ppl don't realize that that's not the same thing as being "reliant" lmao

[7grandmel]

Todays rip: 08/11/2023

Rolling Start

Season 1 Featured on: GilvaSunner's Highest Quality Video Game Rips: Volume 6.66 Also on: Hatsilva Miku: Ripping DIVA

Ripped by beat_shobon

If there's one thing I think I'll end up regretting with this blog, it'll probably be over how harsh I think I've come off in describing Season 1. I get the feeling that a good number of SiIvaGunner fans - a solid majority of subscribers at this point - weren't able to be around for the channel's big breakout year, and have only been able to listen to its rips in retrospect. And yeah - a lot of them are messy, lack quality control, and in general tend to have a feeling of being...undercooked. But that really shouldn't take away from just how special of a community it was to be part of back when - when the channel's jokes, the people behind it, and what to expect from it, were ALL a mystery.

I've never been big into vocaloid, and it certainly wasn't what drew me to SiIvaGunner - nor has SiIvaGunner really made me all too interested in pursuing it further, honestly. But even I could REALLY tell that Rolling Start struck a chord with people - a mix of The King of Speed and it's iconic opening bellow of "ROLLING START!!!", and Rolling Girl by the late vocaloid musician wowaka. My vocaloid-invested friends have all told me the same thing - during his ten-year tenure doing music, wowaka was an absolute pioneer in the vocaloid field, and songs like Rolling Girl showcase exactly why, even to a relative outsider like me.

The sheer emotion present in the song is undeniable, and the blend between lyrics and vocal samples from both songs works shockingly well - its a duet between an artificial girl and a sentence-mixed racing game announcer, in a language many of us don't even speak, yet its intents are clear as crystal. Despite not understanding it, I come back to this rip constantly - and with 200K views, I'm likely not the only one. I can't quite pinpoint what keeps me coming back to this rip in particular, yet...everytime I return, its as if I'm there in June 2016, as amazed as everyone else was at that time, relishing in the sheer emotions the two songs exude.

[furryprovocateur]

a natural, inevitable consequence of the rise of therapyspeak is that it teaches us to be more selfish and self-centered in our relationships. article after article, tweet after tweet will say things like "if your friend is traumadumping to you, it's okay to ignore them" or "ghosting someone you made plans with is okay if you felt anxious about it", which, while maybe beneficial to one side of that equation, will ultimately greatly burn the other side and likely result in relationship deterioration. so much of the emphasis has been placed on understanding the self, what emotions we experience, and what situations cause these emotions that we've lost sight of the world around us. we forget to ask things like "oh, my friend is traumadumping, they probably just experienced something really bad and need someone to console them" or "[person] was probably really looking forward to going out with me, i should communicate with them".

this is part of the reason i hated that one post that was like "therapyspeak isn't ruining us, it's just enabling selfish people to be more manipulative" or whatever. unless you think people have always been this level of selfish and borderline callous due to their self-centered nature, it really fails to explain the unique rise of rational adults suddenly becoming indifferent to the wants/needs of those they care about. therapyspeak has taught people that their emotions supersede the emotions of those around them, and we need to resolve our emotional conflicts without doing the icky stuff like confrontation, communication, vocalizing and naming boundaries, etc. why should you have a difficult talk with your bestie about how you feel terrible that their wedding is reminding you of your own personal loneliness and amplifying your depression? why not instead just ghost them, not show up to the wedding, and leave them wondering as to why you suddenly vanished from their life with no warning and were apathetic to one of the most important moments of their life? your emotional wants and needs are more important after all, and you shouldn't even have to consider how someone else in your life would feel in response to your actions.

here, i'll give a personal anecdote as to what i mean. there was an online friend i knew for about six months who i had a good friendship with. out of the blue, without any warning, i was blocked by him, kicked out of his discord server, and given no explanation as to what the reason was. i actually had to text his number and ask "hey, did you do this intentionally? if you did, why?" to get a response. and this response was a long text using therapyspeak-esque logic of "well you and [mutual friend] played a joke on me and you know i'm extremely gullible (this had never been communicated to me btw) so it really hurt my feelings so i chose to prioritize my own feelings and end our relationship". you might be saying "oh wow, well that's just how internet friendships go sometimes" but this was someone who had flown to my house and even admitted to having a crush on me at one point. this was someone who arguably was more invested in our relationship than i was. when did we get to this point? the offense i had committed was. . . lying about being a user on a forum and telling a mutual friend to go along with the lie if asked. and it was only brought up once.

i don't want to diminish the potential harm and pain that my actions caused, but, at the same time, i want to highlight that every reasonable adult out there could likely deduce that this perceived harm would greatly be outweighed by the investment in this relationship and also how much this person seemingly cared about me. and, instead of taking the very reasonable option of doing any of the following: addressing this with me and asking for some type of acknowledgement of harm and subsequent apology, communication of personal boundaries to avoid future harm, informing me of my wrongdoing and still continuing to terminate the relationship, i got ghosted. you could say i wasn't owed any type of explanation, and, maybe, just maybe, you're right. but at the same time, it's emotionally harmful to have someone do that to you. immediately after realizing what had occurred and why, i felt extremely disposable in my friendship with that person, as if i had never truly mattered to them and instead had just been a concept for them to idealize, only to be thrown away when i failed to meet these impossible standards. moreover, it's just generally very bad socialization to be so incapable and unwilling to assert yourself and engage in confrontation with your friends that it's going to likely be a constant issue.

this anecdote is a microcosm of the greater problem i see with socializing in the modern age. with how easy it is to remove people from our lives with no explanation, it suddenly becomes the more tempting option when choosing between that and confrontation, boundary talk, and other interpersonal intimacy topics. and i don't want to say that everyone is obligated to your time and energy or that there's never a warranted block w/no notification (i've done this before in fact!). it's just that culturally, we're becoming more and more self-interested and less invested in the wants/needs of those around us, stranger or friend. by telling ourselves that we owe no one anything, we don't hold ourselves accountable to the social obligations of checking in our friends every now and then ("i don't believe in friendship degradation!" that isn't how the real world works), making sure we communicate when we need certain things from them, and when we need to have conversations about things that are bothering us. we choose instead to prioritize the self, and in that, we lose sight of the world around us.

[rwbyvein]

Double Rainbow: The Purchase IV

Ilia stepped out of JNPR's dorm room. She was wearing a skintight halter, along with skintight yoga pants. She was told to pick something easy to move around it. She figured it was some kind of fetish play, but that was hardly the worst thing that could happen to her. She would rather suck his cock than the majority of the ones in the world, nevermind dying in the SDC mines, or being tortured by some sick freak. Even if she was a lesbian, there were far worse fates than being his plaything. It might just be the lack of love, affection, or a home for the past years, but his affection almost felt good. At least the hugs and headpats did.

* * *

Ilia: *stares at the sign of a sword crossed with a rifle*

* * *

Ilia: *walks into the shop, only to see Weiss there with Jaune*

Ilia: *silently walks up*

Weiss: *turns her head towards her*

Jaune: *turns around and gives her a warm smile*

Weiss: Jaune has told me that you were... militarily active in an unofficial capacity. I, at first, did not want to get involved, until he informed me that my arming you would be less morally dubious than my original purchase. Sometimes I despise having moral consistency.

Ilia: *complete unable to understand what was happening*

Jaune: We want to get your weapon back.

Well Dressed Man: It is no secret that Huntsmen have their weapons custom-built.

Ilia: . . .

Well Dress Man: So, who would buy a Huntsman's weapon at auction?

Ilia: I'm not a Huntsman.

Well Dress Man: Cute. But I'm not impressed. Given your status as a slave, your moral concerns are none of my business. As you have received your punishment, and it can only get worse. Next time you might not find a master who would seek to reclaim your lost possession. Now, if you could, describe it for me?

* * *

Jaune: Even if he finds it, is the guy going to sell it?

Weiss: The dark secret about auctions is that they never finish. The rich are rich because they want to be.

Jaune: Meaning?

Ilia: Everything has a price.

Weiss: Precisely.

Ilia: Even someone's life.

Weiss: ...unfortunately...

Ilia: I was apparently a bargain.

Jaune: Because I'm not looking at you as an investment.

Weiss and Ilia: *stop in their tracks*

Jaune: *turns around*

Jaune: Investment implies I intend to sell you. You're everything I want.

Weiss: In a girlfriend?

Ilia: In a slave.

Jaune: Uh... not touching that.

Weiss: Which is it?

Jaune: *nervously turns around*

* * *

Jaune: *sits on his bed and sighs*

Ilia: *kneels in front of him*

Nora: Does she have to?..

Jaune: Apparently.

Ren: Is arming her especially wise?

Jaune: It's like I can feel her Aura trying to jump out of her body.

Ren: So, you wish to train her?

Nora: Body guard concubine?!

Pyrrha (internally): If she becomes his concubine, then the position of wife will be open.

Pyrrha: I'll help.

* * *

Ilia: *strikes at Jaune with her Thunder Lash*

Jaune: *blocks with his shield*

Pyrrha: You hit his shield again.

Ilia: Isn't that the whole point of shields?

Pyrrha: You are striking with your muscles.

Ilia: . . .

Pyrrha: And between you and him, who's muscles are bigger?

Ilia: . . .

Ilia: *blushes*

Pyrrha: *blushes*

Pyrrha: *shakes her head*

Pyrrha: So, don't attack with muscles, attack with Aura.

Ilia: I don't know what that is.

Pyrrha: Strike with spirit. Strike out with your soul.

Jaune: Lash out with your soul?

Yang: *heard snickering in the background*

Pyrrha: Precisely.

* * *

Ilia's Workout Clothes: *floating in the air*

Nora: It's a ghost!

Pyrrha: I'm sorry.

Ilia: I'm not a ghost.

Nora: That's just what a ghost would say.

Ilia: I think that's more BOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Nora: See? She - admits - it!

Jaune: Nora, it's Ilia.

Nora: Oh - my - gods! Ilia died? She was so adorable. Jaune was so happy with her.

Ilia: I - am - not - dead!

Jaune: Well, this way I can get ghost blowjobs.

Ilia's Clothes: *kneels on the ground in front of him*

Jaune: I was joking.

Ilia: . . .

Jaune: *reaches down to cup her face*

Jaune: I love looking into your eyes.

Jaune (looking at Nora): Ilia's not dead, she's just invisible.

Nora: Then why can I see her clothes?

Ilia: Because I'm a chameleon. Clothes don't change colour just because a chameleon is wearing them.

Nora: Why not?

Jaune (looking down at Ilia): Maybe you should stand up.'

Ilia's Clothes: *stands up*

Pyrrha: The first semblance of her Semblance.

Yang: *heard snickering in the background*

[yuukei-yikes]

It’s me back in the ask box again for another super important question:

What “cringe” fandoms would the mekadan have been into as kids. Like we know Marry was a black butler girlie but I need to know the rest. Who was deeply invested in the fnaf lore, who was cosplaying as homestuck trolls, who was shipping creepypastas. I am desperate for answers only you can provide.

EXCELENT question. i ADORE this question.

ayano is into homestuck. used to role play warrior cats. loves the marvel cinematic universe, and just any superhero comic book stuff in general. canonically into jojo.

kido's is BANDS. specifically bands considered emo back in 2013 or something. my chemical romance. blink 189. black veil brides. that was their shit. also im sorry but they were a superwholock. sorryyyyyy i also think they'd be into medical dramas like grey's anatomy and dr house LMAO

i dont think seto did or does fandoms. i think seto goes outside too much. he's the only one who has no idea what being in a fandom is like, also the least online definitely (I'll get to mary)

kano would be into youtubers/celebrities. he's so into celebrity gossip it's impossible to talk to him he knows of names youve never even heard of.

like u said mary is a black butler girlie but i guess she could like other mangas... i also think she'd watch medical dramas with kido. BUT she doesnt internet so she has no idea about any of it she just lore dumps everyone instead about any book she's reading. she finds out black butler is actually animated and forces everyone to sit down and watch it with her

momo was the one shipping creepypastas btw. i also think she's a sims girlie she's obsessed with its lore and loves making ocs in there and ends up obsessed with her own sims families (commissions haruka a bunch)

shintaro is into magical girls animes. like any of them. but i also think he'd like some popular cartoons like steven universe LOLLL he was probably furiously defending pearl online. also i think he used to make youtube poops and sparta remixes when he was like 14

haruka and takane are the fnaf lore guys especially haruka i seriously think he arrives to school one day after he stayed up all night watching fnaf lore videos and told takane all about it. they're the ones lining up for the movie rn. they also probably roleplayed undertale together in highschool. also i think takane likes analog horror which is horrible for haruka bc i think he hates horror but he's also weirdly fascinated by it so he's watching through his fingers anything takane puts on lol. they tend to share their fandoms especially in hs because haruka was furiously googling anything takane mentioned to have conversation topics with her

hiyori's obviously into idols. i think like kido she loves bands too but she's from the directioner bts stan vibes. and hibiya i LOVE to make jokes abt him being into whatever 12 year olds are into (fortnite, among us, fnaf) and seriously i do love that and i think gamer hibiya is possible with the power of him making the effort to learn to use his phone and the internet bc all his friends live far away and in the process learns abt all that. but before that he was like seto he has no idea what it feels like to be in a fandom and cannot understand hiyori's visions. he's still not SUPER online though

i loved this question. more questions like this i beg

[therealgchu]

WIP Wednesday - Surprise To the Shore Snippet!

late post for the day. woke up with a killer migraine, but still went to work. went home when i realized that looking at anything for longer than 5 seconds caused vertigo. came home. so, only been up and at it since 2:30.

i finished the next chapter in To the Shore! but, it won't be published friday, as friday is my 23rd wedding anniversary, and me and the husband are off on a little jaunt. this is the first time we're doing something like this. i'm terribly excited <3. i'll publish it on sunday.

so, today you'll get a sneak peek from the next chapter.

ok, enough of the numbered list. tagging the coemancer crew, as always. you peeps are the best!

branes are funny. Seven Days was begging to be written, and i have about 2/3rds of it done. and, something about working that made some things clearer for To the Shore.

if you want to read the whole thing, it's here on ao3.

if you want to check out Seven Days, it's also here on ao3.

sneak peek incoming!

It took about a week of intermittent work to get the camera in working order. Sam and Barrett helped set up a dark room in the basement of the Lodge, clearing out the spare storage room. Once the work was done, Cora started photographing everything and anything she could find. Walter, once again, was instrumental in assisting her new hobby, as he was her source for acquiring film. He felt it was a good investment as it “recorded Constellation’s endeavors for posterity.”

She had a good eye for composition, but it was quite the learning curve to understand the mechanics of things like aperture speed, film grain, and lenses. And, there was both a craft and an art to developing the film. It was a couple weeks before decent enough photos were produced, for which Cora showed off proudly to the members.

The first batch she showed to her dad, especially one photo of which she was particularly proud of, and thought he’d like. It was of him and Hwa aboard the Razorleaf, with Hwa holding onto his arm and laughing. 

“Oh, gum drop,” Sam said, a little choked up, “this is beautiful. My mom used to show me pictures like this. Can I have this?” he asked. 

“Of course. I can always make a copy from the negative.”

“Thank you so much,” he whispered to Cora, and hugged her tightly. He let her go, sniffled, and wiped his nose. “I want to get this framed. Have you shown this to Hwa yet?”

“No, I thought you’d like to show it to her.”

Sam smiled widely, “That I would. This is the best gift I think I’ve ever received.” He gave Cora another hug. “Do you know where Hwa is? Is she in her room?”

“No, last I saw her, she was downstairs working on her armor.”

Sam headed down the stairs, two steps at a time, and found Hwa was tinkering with the Mantis helmet, head down and goggles on, soldering servos. He walked over and put his arm around her waist when she stood up. Hwa jumped a little, but calmed when she felt him kiss her neck. “Cora’s first batch of photos are done. I wanted to show this one to you,” he said, and handed her the photograph.

She briefly glanced at it. Her body went rigid and her breathing stopped. She stared at it a couple more seconds, then dropped the picture. She removed his arm from her waist. and without a word, left the basement, leaving Sam flabbergasted.

It took him several seconds to register what happened, it was so unexpected. He picked up the photo and stared at it, trying to see what had affected Hwa negatively. It was just a photo of them on the Razorleaf. He thought he looked kinda goofy, as he was grinning from ear to ear, probably told some terrible dad joke that Hwa loved so much. And, indeed, she was laughing hard, hanging off his arm. There was nothing else in the photo.

He walked back up to see if Hwa went to her room. Finding it empty, he checked the rest of the Lodge. No Hwa. He paused for a minute, and thought about where she would be. He headed to the Waterfall Promenade.

[sammysorrowful]

Words are Hell, But Less With You - Hero x Villain Snippet

The stoic Hero and the witty, suave Villain have been more personal. Hero wants something not even they understand from Villain. But Hero isn’t good with words.

“Why is it always the filthy alleyways?” Hero muttered as they were pushed against the wall by Villain. Villain invaded Hero’s precious personal space, though not to the complaint of Hero. “‘Cause, shady alleyways in the middle of nowhere is always a good place for some stuff to go down, no?” Villain replied with a wink.

“I suppose, however, you have to understand how filthy this place is.” Hero continued as Villain smiled devilishly. The kind of look only they could pull off. Villain laughed, just a bit. “What? Would you rather out in the open?” Villain joked, laughing further. “I know you would hate that.” They added. They leaned forward once more, going back into Hero’s space. Hero could feel Villains breath on their neck. Something in Hero spoke. Villain and Hero had done this countless times. And Hero never regretted a single time. However, something spoke. Hero wanted more. It felt greedy of them to say, but they wanted more of…something to do with Villain, but in a very specific way that they didn’t know how to say. Hero didn’t know how to say a lot of things. But Villain always did find a way to understand. 

“Villain…” Hero said their name, the name itself drenched in a kind of sweetness that Villain loved. “Yes, dearest?” Villain replied. Hero couldn’t find the words. Villain stopped and they leaned back to where they and Hero locked eyes. “Dearest?” Villain added, just making sure. The words got caught in Hero’s throat. Villain figured that them being in Hero’s space wouldn’t help them speak. So Villain leaned back out and out of Hero’s space, giving them room to figure their thoughts out. “I…” Hero couldn’t find their words. “Desire something…From you.” They specified. Villain slightly giggled at that. Hero always loved that. Villain never did make Hero feel like a burden, and yet Hero was never quite sure of how they managed to do it. “Whatever it is, just say the words, dearest. I'll find a way to put them together." Villain said, flashing Hero a wink and finger-guns. Hero rolled their eyes at that. “You are so unbelievably corny.” Hero stated. Villain giggled again. “That’s my job, isn’t it?” Villain replied with their usual smile. Hero evaded their eyes. Villain’s expression didn’t sour. “I don’t mean to make this a police interrogation, so how about a game?” Villain suggested. “To try and help ya figure what ya want out.” Villain continued and slightly leaned back against the opposite wall of the alleyway. “What kind of game?” Hero replied. “It’s an easy one. It’ll help ya narrow stuff down, I think. All you have to do is say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ No need for explanation. Okay?” Villain explained. Hero vaguely nodded. Villain smiled. 

“Is what you want from me an item or something like that?” Villain began. Hero paused, and thought. No. But it was certainly something to do with Villain. “Not quite.” Hero answered, looking up at Villain. “Is it something emotionally represented physically?” “You’re certainly utilizing your vocabulary today.” Hero muttered. “I try.” Villain said somewhat sarcastically. Hero smiled. “It’s…both emotional and physical, I can feel it.” Hero stated whole-heartedly. Villain nodded. “Is it old or new?” Villain asked. Villain seemed to be enjoying themselves in this little game. 

“It’s new, I know that. However, it feels like it is centuries old, like it has been sleeping within me for as long as I’ve lived.” Hero answered. “Poetic, as usual.” Villain commented. They slightly leaned forward again, getting invested. “Are you ashamed at all? Of whatever it is you want?” Villain asked. They looked over at the Hero, who contemplated. They quickly came to an answer. “Not at all.” Hero said. They couldn’t care less what people thought about them and Villain.

“Mhhmm, well, Hero, do you want what you think you can’t have? You heroes tend to do that, from what I’ve heard.” Villain suggested. Hero paused once more, but not hesitated. “I never thought I couldn’t have them.” Hero answered. “Them?” Villain repeated, just a bit confused. Hero froze for a moment, as if someone had hit pause on them. And the realization hit them like a bus. The ‘material’ was not an item at all. But rather…the physical comfort that Villain loved to exhibit so often. The emotional coordination being their absolute care for Villain. It made sense, then.

“I want you. To be with you. Not just with you but by you at all. In a way not like this. But in a way…a way where we…are...together.” It didn’t make much sense, but they were finding the words. The words were natural. A kind of natural Hero never knew. The words were still clunky, but Hero knew how hard they stumbled over the words, they’d find them.

Hero knew they could be there all day, and Villain would listen to every word.

[agnerd-bot]

So... Goku Vs Superman(2023) was absolutely peak

A lot of people say that Bill Vs Discord was a love letter to the community, and I definitely agree with that. It had so many in-jokes and references to Vs creators and reactors and delivered on one of the most wanted episodes in Death Battle history.

But if Bill Vs Discord is a love letter to the vs community, I'd say Goku Vs Superman III was a love letter to the very idea of vs debates itself, as well as a reminder of why so many folks get invested in these silly little fights to begin with.

If you're not one like me and you don't spend time in endless debates regarding who would win in a fight, a little backstory:

(Also, spoilers. Obviously.)

In 2013, Death Battle released Goku Vs Superman as its finale to its first ever season, an episode over half an hour long tackling one of the biggest rivalries in pop culture to ever exist. And it broke the internet.

While I'll fully admit that this episode has aged significantly since its release, it's also undeniably Death Battle's most iconic episode, and for a damn good reason. It brought in MasakoX from DBZA and ItsJustSomeRandomGuy from I'm a Marvel/I'm a DC, two of the most iconic internet voices of Goku and Superman, was the first Death Battle to have its own original score, and is over ten minutes of non-stop action between two of pop culture's biggest juggernauts. It was a spectacle unlike any other.

Unfortunately with nerd debates like these, you're gonna also get some toxicity, and the results of this episode were... controversial to say the least. While folks loved the fight, the salt and anger it stirred up rubbed many the wrong way.

Then, two years later, after the release of Battle of Gods and several other new movies, Goku Vs Superman II was released.

Originally meant to be a highlight reel of cut content that didn't make it into the original, it was instead released as a full episode and advertised as a rematch. Many people were dissatisfied with this, including Ben Singer, one of the minds behind the series, who straight up admitted its his least favorite Death Battle because of how he felt it as an unintentional kick in the nuts for Dragon Ball fans. And he wasn't the only one, as many folks have deemed the episode one of their worst. While I personally don't hate the episode, it does do a disservice to both Goku and Superman as characters I feel, and like many, I dreaded the idea of an inevitable rematch happening that'd bring back the debate that many felt needed to just die at this point.

So when the news of Goku Vs Superman III came out... a lot of people felt nothing but immense dread. Many were sick and tired of this matchup and thought that this would be another episode that would just end up making people more angry.

And then the episode came out:

God, am I glad we got this episode. While my #1 favorite still goes to Cole Vs Alex at this point, I can't deny how good it felt to watch this episode go down.

Close friends of mine know that I am a massive Superman fan. He's my favorite character of all time, and I'll fully admit that the original Goku Vs Superman was a big reason for that. It really introduced me to Superman as a character beyond the baser knowledge that everyone knew. Similarly? This was the episode that got me interested in Dragon Ball. I'm still very new to the franchise(only got started recently with Xenoverse and FighterZ), but this rematch got me to understand why Goku's such an icon in his own right. I never got into Dragon Ball unlike a lot of folks, and I'll fully admit I didn't really 'get it'. I watched stuff like DBZA, but that's still a parody that doesn't quite get to the heart of who Goku truly is as a character, as much love as they put into it.

This episode does such a good job approaching both Goku and Superman not just as icons of strength or power, but as genuine inspirations to look forward to. Goku symbolizing someone who is always willing to push himself further when all hope seems lost. Determination incarnate always willing to bring out the best in himself and others. Superman symbolizing a simple wish for goodness and humanity. A hero beyond the stars who will help fight back the darkness in any way he can. They're the greatest embodiments of goodness and hope in their respective universe, and inspire countless people inside and out of it.

This further ties into the actual fight itself. In the original Goku Vs Superman and its sequel, Goku and Superman were very aggressive to one another, their attacks vitriolic and seeing the other as an enemy, kind of reflecting the toxicity that this debate symbolized for so many people. But now? They're fighting because they're enjoying themselves, seeing the other as an equal they can find themselves at ease around. Goku is constantly encouraging Clark to cut loose and stop holding himself back, and Superman is realizing that he doesn't have to fear his own strength here. This fight is as much a battle to the death as it is therapy. There's two moments in particular that really draw my eye and love for this fight.

"World made of cardboard..."

Superman is someone who has often been characterized by fearing his own strength in several stories, always worrying if he'll break someone or something, afraid to truly put himself at his limits.

But after this poignant moment... he smiles. Because now, he has someone he can go all out against and encourages him to go even further beyond. And that he does, truly releasing his unrestrained power at his rival's request.

"Finally."

This is such a good moment both in and out of context. In context, Goku's looking on in excitement and pride as he finally, finally gets to see his rival go all out against him, not holding back to let him see him at his best.

Out of context? In both the previous versions of Goku Vs Superman, Superman was treated as an impossibility for Goku to overcome. The idea that Goku could even come close to his rival was seen as something that could never happen? But now? After how hard he's worked? After how far he's come? He's reached the point where he can stand tall alongside him, even if he can't win.

In the end, these two titans meet for their final clash in a beautiful call back to the original Goku Vs Superman, creating a punch parry strong enough to rewrite all of reality itself.

And in the end, when the dust settles?

Goku has lost again, for the third time now. But instead of last time where he simply accepts that he'll never beat Superman, he just goes, "Ah, darnit," and laughs the whole thing off, saying he'll work even harder to win next time. Because even in the face of the impossible, Goku will always try to make it possible.

And how does Superman respond?

He smiles, admitting "That was actually pretty fun!" He enjoyed himself, a far cry from his somber and serious nature in the previous fights. He got to let go and really unleash his limits thanks to Goku, and has come around to the Saiyan's lighthearted sparring(well, lighthearted for them at least).

This episode has a wholesomeness that not many other Death Battles have, and definitely not as well. So many people have come out expressing how much they've loved this episode and how happy it made them, and I think the episode itself does a fantastic job at encapsulating why.

"There's more than one way to appreciate something. We're having a great time talking about awesome characters, and slamming action figures together. And that's okay!"

The debates on who's stronger or who would win are never going to die. There's always going to be something new to bring to the table, new arguments to be had, new thoughts to debate. And... there's nothing wrong with that. At the end of the day, we engage with these nerdy debates because we love these characters and we love them interacting. Who wins or loses doesn't matter, what matters is that we simply have fun with it. I think that's something folks have forgotten at some points, myself included.

Hell, Death Battle is the reason why I started writing in the first place. It's how I chose to put myself out there by writing combat fanfiction with my friends, and it's how I found my own footing as a writer. I would not be where I am today without this silly little internet series, and I'm so grateful that it's still going on to this day.

It's so amazing to see where Death Battle started and where it is now. Season 10 has given us so many fantastic episodes, to the point that every episode this season, at least one person I know has claimed an episode to be their favorite. It's been so fun with this season, and it's honestly given me a lot of inspiration to pick up writing again, both for Vs and in general.

If you somehow haven't seen this episode, please watch it. It's grand, it's heartwarming, it's overwhelming, it's so many things going on at once.

And at the end of the day, it's just... fun.

"Let's go again."

"You're on."

[effervescentdragon]

i rly liked what you had to say in that long post and i agree with it, but something that i wanted to expand on a little bit more. what u talked about in dissonance vs acknowledgement but i think another key point in that discussion is the steps that people take when they're in the in group vs the out group. like when people are in the in group, they are more likely to be sympathetic to others struggling and are processing their own emotions. versus those in the out group who have little emotional investment and are usually a little bit more callous. people in the in group are offended by the callousness that people in the out group treat them with, which causes more tension despite the groups agreeing on things in general. for a non recent drama example: mick getting fired last year. the in group (mick stans) were very sad about this and very emotional. people in the out group (non mick stans) were like dude what did you expect he wasn't preforming and this writing was on the wall are u delusional and don't have eyes? meanwhile, micks stans knew that he wasn't doing well but they're processing their own emotions but the out group's behavior makes it so that bridge of agreement can't happen.

hello, thank you! okay so i do see your point and i think that the mick example is both a good and a not so good example in this case, and i'll try and explain why.

firstly i do agree about the "in" and "out" group, though that also very much depends on where you stand and you own pov. but to go off your definitions here, if i take myself for an example, i was in the "out" group (non-stan of either mick or daniel) and therefore my responses to both were coloured by either my apathy towards mick or my antipathy towards daniel; let's suppose there was no positive emotion there. however; these two situations are fundamentally not the same.

mick got fired because of his lack of performance. this is a thing that happens often and it can happen to every one of our blorbos at some point. this was a matter of racing, aka their job. so no matter if people like mick, dislike mick, like haas, dislike haas, or anything else, it doesn't matter - it was, at the end of the day, another racer losing his job. the only consequences were there for him and his immediate family, and for his fans, who were/are understandably upset over it.

what daniel did had nothing to do with racing.

daniel, of his own free will, went to be a guest on a podcast he already said he enjoyed (i think, don't quote me on that) which is known to be full of misogynistic trash takes. once there, he proceeded to laugh at misogynistic jokes and make that "subjectively good drivers" joke himself, therefore affirming once again the prejudice against women drivers. this all comes right after f1 academy has fought to be broadcasted; after w-series lost funding and had to stop; after the question of disadvantages of women in motorsports and overcoming the blatant sexism has been in our (motorsports' fans and public) minds and in the discourse for a while. he did that after he already went on another podcast and laughed at the hosts' questions about "which eastern european female fans' pussy is the best" (a misquote, but the gist is the prejudice that all eastern european women are obviously whores; also, i do remember him saying "budapest" real quiet, but not quiet enough not to be caught by the mic, so take from that what you will).

this wasn't about racing. this wasn't about his job, like it was with mick. this was about a man who is followed by millions once again giving his fanbase affirmation that women are shit. shit drivers, shit pussy, shit whatever. this is blatant, outright sexism, and this has bigger impact than mick's contract termination. this is affirmation of patriarchal structures that feminism fights against, only it's presented with a wide smile and an aesthetically pleasing face, so "it's not that big of a deal"?

it is a big deal to me. i am a woman. why should i be okay with someone saying i'm shit just because of my gender at any moment in this life? why should any woman be okay with that? because someone you (general) like said it? because he's a man and we can't expect better? because that's just the way world is?

that's the fucking point. we fight so the world isnt like that. so that it isnt acceptable for women to be trash-talked callously on stupid podcasts. so that male celebrities need to think about what the fuck they say. so that people reassess and question their own biases. so that little girls can see someone who looks like them in an f1 racecar one day and maybe get inspired the same way all these boys do.

and this is where the "in" and "out" group thing doesn't work in my opinion, see. because while i will understand if mick fans block me for being callous about their boy's situation since i have no horse in that race and its just my mild annoyance with him that caused me to be unberable and potentially gleeful about him losing the seat, daniel fans that are rallying up to defend him can go fuck themselves tbh. because the fact that you would rather harass people over their completely valid outrage about his sexism than think on the aforementioned sexism yourself means that i dont want to interact with you. you have no moral high ground here, despite trying to take it by any means, when instead of reflecting on the actual harm those remarks, like any other sexist remarks, bring into the world, you'd rather hide behind deflection and attack people who are, again, rightfully upset over the sexism. there is also the matter of some takes i've seen which are basically just an attempt to dictate to those not in the "in" group how they should feel about it, using exactly the fact that they are in the "in" group of his fans as justification of why everybody else in the "out" group is just a big meanie.

fucking cry about it, i don't care. for me, sexism will never be okay, and i sure as fuck won't hold back in expressing my opinion about it, especially on the opinion website. and especially not for someone i don't even fucking like.

i hope this made sense! i:) thank you for the ask!

[madaboutmunson]

Never Too Much

Just a little something that wormed its way into my head, because I just love the whole Steddie having an extra love language of music thing Word count: 3.7K

After rehab and graduating, Eddie decides to take a "break".

He gets a job at a garage not far from his new home. It's something he enjoys doing, and even though it is desperately hard work and takes its toll on his body, it's a space for Eddie to feel competent.

There are two issues with the garage.

Firstly, he has to have a work persona. It's not difficult, just like at school. Be a little tougher, pretend not to hear jokes he doesn't find funny, and do not tell anyone about his boyfriend, Steve. He's his roommate, and he has a fake college girlfriend to fill in anytime he wants to talk about Steve romantically.

Secondly was the music during opening hours or when he wasn't working alone. He had invested in a Walkman and headphones, but after the third one got crushed, he gave up. Eddie frequently tried to get one of his preferred bands in the tape deck or even an alternative radio station because metal was taking off in a big way. Maybe not the heavier, thrash, or wizard metal he enjoyed most, but it was still good. Everyone at work, except for the few hair metal guys, said that Eddie's choice of music made the customers less patient, and people wouldn't hang around the cars for sale in the lot for as long because of the music.

Eddie thought it was horseshit, but he only needed this job for a little while longer. It was just to cover the bills whilst Steve was studying, and when Steve got a job, Eddie would pursue whatever it would be he wanted to study…that bit he hadn't figured out yet, which is why he went out and got this job the very next day after they discussed it. 

There would have been no way Steve would not have wanted to be the breadwinner if Eddie had let him choose.

Truly the absolute worst situation was to be on the day shift with his boss. Not only did he have to be customer-facing because his boss was the laziest motherfucker the universe had ever created, but also he had to endure whatever music he wanted to listen to, primarily genres Eddie wouldn't touch with a telegraph pole. Worse still, the radio station he liked most must have its own version of a set list because when Eddie heard a song, he could often predict the next.

Freshly showered and already in his comfy sweatpants and threadbare t-shirt, Eddie towel dries his hair roughly as he glances at his copy of this week's shifts, "Goddammit!" He seethes through his teeth, groans and throws himself back dramatically over the arm of the sofa so that he lands face up in Steve's lap, who just manages to lift his textbook up in time to escape Eddie's damp tendrils of hair. He's getting much better at dodging these mishaps after living with one another for so long.

"Well, now that's just great. I'm gonna look like I peed myself," Steve laughs.

"You're still going out?" Eddie pouts, and his eyebrows push together as he tries to make the most endearingly sad face possible up at Steve. Using all his power to attempt to penetrate the book with sheer will.

"It's just a talk, Honey. I'll be gone for two hours if that." Steve says distantly, turning the page before putting his hand to Eddie's chest, which is quickly grappled by Eddie's hands, teamed with a super over-the-top dramatic sigh, making Steve laugh.

"Alright, alright", Steve concedes defeat, bookmarking and closing his book to look down at Eddie, "What's going on?"

Eddie grabs Steve's other hand and puts it on his forehead.

"Your hair is still wet!" Steve chuckles, but Eddie just pouts more. Steve sighs and strokes his hair anyway.

"How long do I have?" Eddie asks with his eyes closed.

"10 minutes, Honey," Steve says gently.

Eddie does a full sit-up and repeats in horror, "10 fucking minutes??!!!" Then, he screws up his face and flops back down, "You don't understand. It's for the whole week!"

"It would have been fifteen, but now I have to change my pants. And I know, Honey. I know it's gonna be absolute hell for you this week." Steve soothes.

"It is, it really, absolutely is." Eddie joins in poutily with his eyes closed 

"And I am so grateful you go through all of that so we can live in our own place, and I can study." Steve smiles at Eddie and rubs a circle with his thumb on his forehead.

Eddie's smile gets more prominent, "It is pretty good of me, isn't it?" he says proudly with his eyes still closed.

Steve rolls his eyes with a laugh, "Look, I know the guy is basically irredeemable, but the music might not be all bad if you give it a chance. Then at least that's a problem halved."

"I guess" Eddie frowns a little.

"And you know Robin's having a party at the weekend too. That's gonna be great. Finally, a party I won't have to sneakily hold your hand under a table at!" Steve says excitedly.

Eddie beams up at him, "It is worth enduring karaoke to be able to do that, I guess." Eddie sighs happily. "Babe, I'm gonna kiss you so many times at that party. Even Robin's most flamboyant friends are gonna be upset by it."

"You're aiming to upset everyone at the party?" Steve laughs.

"It's not my aim, Babe. It's just collateral damage," Eddie grins up at Steve, finally opening his eyes again.

"You could make it up to them with a song? They all loved your voice last time. Even when you were trying to ruin the song, you still sounded good." Steve is laughing so much that it's shaking Eddie out of his relaxed mode.

"Babe, please, no. They never have songs I like at these things. I can just happily sit and cheer for everyone else." Eddie whines.

Steve laughs louder, "You know the rules, Honey. Everyone has to."

Eddie pretends to sob into his hands.

"You've gotten used to some of the things I like to listen to, right? You can do it, Honey," Steve says encouragingly.

"Yeah, but you're cute, at least", Eddie complains.

"Eddie Munson, if there ever comes a day when you think someone at your work is cute, you quit that job immediately, come home, lock all the doors and windows, call me, pack our bags, and we'll move to the other side of the country, ok?" Steve says in a severe tone.

Eddie starts giggling, and Steve amplifies it with a few rib tickles.

"Alright! Alright! I'll do it!" Eddie shouts, and Steve ceases his tickle attack. Eddie stands up and flexes his sinewy arms. "I'll be the man of the house."

Steve bursts out laughing, Eddie's eyes flash, and his mouth is open in pretend shock, "How very dare you, Steven." He folds his arms and turns away, occasionally half looking back at Steve.

Steve rolls his eyes and gets up to embrace Eddie from behind, giving him a kiss on the back of his head, "You can be the man of anything you want, as long as you're only mine", Steve says gently.

"Well, I guess I might find that agreeable", Eddie says with a smile he can't contain and quickly turns around to kiss Steve, only to be interrupted by the beeping of Steve's watch.

"Sorry, Honey, I gotta go." Steve says, running to change, grabbing his coat and giving Eddie a big loud smacker of a kiss goodbye, "Maybe you'll find a new song this week that you find bearable, and you can sing it at the party. A twofer." 

So the next day at work, Eddie tries. Whenever he can hear the radio, he tries to listen. He could find something in one song.

He goes most of the day without anything piquing his interest. Until he hears one song, and it's a lyric that hooks him first "The boss is so demanding."

It starts small.

Singing the funky guitar parts. Tapping his fingers on whatever he's leaning on to the beat. 

By the second day, Eddie knows the chorus by heart.

Then he starts to enjoy trying to match the singer's musical runs that tingled his brain just right, and they were so much fun to try. He does this randomly throughout the day, whether the song is playing or not, jump-scaring a few colleagues when he just randomly bursts into one.

Sliding into different areas of the garage, and making sure to abruptly stop as the singer says the word 'stop'.

By the third day, Eddie is listening to all the lyrics. They just remind him of Steve. Now the song means something, and he looks forward to hearing it because he's daydreaming about their past, present and future when he hears it.

Eddie's voice is good, but it's not as good as the singer of this song. It makes Eddie sing in so many different ways he never has before, higher, softer, expanding his range.

Though it is the week from hell, Eddie has this song to cling to. He listens for the artist and song title and commits it to memory as he learns a new part of the song, singing into his wrench, much to the amusement of his colleagues and customers walking by.

The end of the week arrives, and even with these little oases of happiness, it has been a grind, and he's glad to see the back of it, but now he's free.

He can't get home fast enough, he has his secret surprise song to sing at the party, and he knows Steve will love it.

"Hey, slow down. We've got ages to get there, Honey." Steve laughs, looking flawless in his new suit and perfectly coiffed hair. He puts his hands on his hips, smiling and shaking his head, "I thought you were dreading this."

"I was!" Eddie replies, mouth full of toothpaste mid-brush, half-dressed in his jeans and boots but still bare-chested. Toothpaste was treacherous. He swills out his mouth and continues, "but I took the advice of the little hottie I was talking to the other day."

For a moment, Steve's eyes flicker with worry until Eddie walks towards him whilst putting on his iron maiden t-shirt, "and then they fucking left me for some dusty old lecturer. Can you believe it?" Eddie sighs dramatically. "So smart and so very, very hot", he adds, undoing the top two buttons of Steve's shirt. Eddie smiles lovingly at Steve and gives him a peck on the lips.

"So you have a song then?" Steve asks with excited curiosity.

"Maybe…" Eddie teases, "Now hurry up, so I can make a whole room of people jealous of me for having the best-looking partner in the place."

Robin and Steve open the proceedings with a song from Grease. With as much of the dancing from the movie as either can remember, to the joy of everyone there.

The music, Eddie, wasn't interested in, but seeing Steve have so much fun with his best friend made Eddie feel all the more closer to him. He really was, underneath all that old King Steve bullshit, a loveable massive dork.

Eddie does precisely what he said he would and kisses Steve as many times as he can, much to Steve's amusement and Robin's repulsion, until his name gets called, and a mic is thrust into his hands. Eddie finds the song he wants in the booklet, and the woman who owns the machine finds it for him.

Eddie looks around the room, and most people were many drinks in, so that took a little pressure off. He'd sung many times in his band, and he still does, but this was different. Smaller crowds, especially people he kind of knew, still made him nervous. So he focuses on the guy he's singing it for and forgets everyone else.

I can't fool myself, I don't want nobody else to ever love me

You are my shinin' star, my guiding light, my love fantasy

There's not a minute, hour, day or night that I don't love you

You're at the top of my list 'cause I'm always thinkin' of you

Steve's expression reads like it's not a song he knows exceptionally well, as his head tilts at Eddie.

I still remember in the days when I was scared to touch you

How I spent my day dreamin' plannin' how to say I love you

You must have known that I had feelings deep enough to swim in

That's when you opened up your heart and you told me to come in

Steve listens to the words, and a big smile spreads across his face, and he starts to dance.

Oh, my love

A thousand kisses from you is never too much

Steve's hand goes to his mouth in surprise. He's never heard Eddie sing like that.

I just don't wanna stop

Oh, my love

A million days in your arms is never too much

I just don't wanna stop

Too much, never too much

Eddie makes it to the end of the song and nods a small thank you at the applause he receives, but it's when he hears Steve yell out, "THAT'S MY FUCKING BOYFRIEND!!" from on top of a chair, and Eddie's heart just swells with pride and love. 

Steve is punching the air like Eddie got a winning touchdown or something. It almost makes Eddie blush as he smiles a massive closed-mouth bashful smile, his dimples deeply puncturing his cheeks.

Before Eddie can help him down, Steve jumps from the chair, landing in front of him, and puts his hands on either side of Eddie's face, his eyes swimming with adoration, "That was…." Steve opens his mouth to finish the sentence, but nothing comes out. His tear-brimmed eyes move between Eddie's.

Eddie doesn't want to move or say a thing. He just wants to drink this in. He didn't know if anyone was looking, and he didn't care. All he knew was he wanted to remember this moment forever. To tuck it away with all the other precious moments he held so tightly, cataloguing their history together. 

Eddie wasn't sure if he would amount to anything. He wasn't sure if he had the big career dreams Steve had. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do when it was his turn to choose. All he knew was he'd be chasing this look of awe from Steve for the rest of his life. Nothing had ever hit quite like this. It made him feel like the most extraordinary man that ever lived.

"You're incredible." Steve finally manages. Usually, Eddie would absolutely play into this and agree wholeheartedly, but this time he coyly looks at the floor.

"No-no-no-no", Steve says quickly, using his hands to tilt Eddie's head back up, "I want those beautiful eyes on me."

Eddie looks back up at him, and Steve pulls him closer for a tender kiss. As they part, Steve releases Eddie and stretches and yawns, "You know, I think the day has caught up with me all of a sudden…we should probably head back, right?" Steve tries to say with a serious face, but the corners of his eyes betray him entirely.

"Right." Eddie agrees, simply reaching for Steve's hand and intertwining their fingers.

They make the round of goodbyes and head out. Sadly Eddie let go of Steve's hand for the thankfully short walk between the building and the car. Once inside, Eddie grabs it again and starts the car up.

"I hope you're prepared for the amount of private serenading you'll have to do of that song now, Honey," Steve says as they drive back home.

"Private?" Eddie scoffs, "The way you looked at me in there…shit… I'm just gonna sing it whenever and wherever I can." He laughs.

And he does. For weeks, he waits for the most inappropriate moments.

At one of Steve's work functions or family parties as Steve's "wingman" or roommate, he'd lean over and sing a little, quietly, in a whisper, or bring the song up in conversation with other people within earshot of Steve. 

In the grocery store when Steve is reaching for something high up, at the mall when Steve is trying to talk to a sales assistant, all around their little house, occasionally calling Steve from work when the boss wasn't in to hold up the phone to the song playing over the speakers when Steve was studying at home.

But eventually, against his own nature, Eddie eases off because he's worried the effect will wear out if he does it too much, so he stops for a while.

At dinner one night, it's unusually quiet. Steve wasn't telling Eddie about his day or with a snippet of gossip he heard like he usually does when they sit down to eat. Eddie scans over Steve. He's tense, prodding at his food, looks worried, puts down his forkful of spaghetti, dabs his mouth with a napkin and goes to get up without a word.

"Babe?" Eddie says curiously at first and then slightly in a more panicked tone, "Babe?! What's wrong? You ok??" He follows Steve from the table towards the bathroom, but the door closes in his face.

Eddie stands there for a moment, totally confused. He wracks his brain. Had he forgotten an important day? No. Impossible. He specifically got those Garfield stickers to put all over the calendar so he wouldn't forget.

Had he not picked up on something Steve had said? It was possible, but he had been trying really hard with his attention and focus, and that was usually never a problem when Steve was talking.

He knocks on the door, "Babe, I don't want to say I'm sorry and not know what it's for, but I had no intention of upsetting you. Can you talk to me? So my dumbass can figure out what's happening, please?" He asks softly and calmly.

He hears a sniffle from the other side of the door, and it breaks his heart, and he immediately tries the door, but it's locked.

"Eddie, you don't have to pretend anymore. It's ok," Steve's voice croaks out, slightly muffled, accompanied by another sniffle.

"What? Babe, I'm really confused here, please." He tries to keep his voice calm, but the panic starts to set in, and Eddie is trying his best not to lose it entirely and take this door off its hinges.

"Look, you did your best ok, I know. I saw how hard you tried, Eddie. Everyday. It's just not what you'd thought it would be right…I'm not what you'd thought I'd be."

"No-no-no-no-no. This is not happening. This is not happening," Eddie whispers angrily to himself.

He takes a deep breath and falsely toughens up a little to get Steve to listen, "First of all, in this house, I'm Honey, not Eddie. Secondly, you're right, this and you are not what I thought. It's better, so much better than I could have possibly imagined. Thirdly, I'm not pretending. I love you, Babe. I'm just confused about what I've done to make you feel that way. I swear on Lemmy, I never wanted to make you feel that way or ever want to. I swear!" His authoritative tone falls into almost pleading.

"Then how come you don't sing to me anymore?" Steve manages through his little sharp intake of breath.

Eddie rolls his head in relief and exhales, "I just thought you'd get bored of it if I did that all the time. Or it would lose its magic. That's all."

"Are you crazy?" Steve replies.

"Er…yeah..like you didn't know that," Eddie says, a lot happier on the other side of the door.

Eddie starts singing the song but decides it's not enough. He presses himself up against the door and presses his mouth to the wood as he sings, reverberating through it as he taps the beat out on the door frame.

He doesn't realise how forcefully he's pressed up against it until he falls through it into Steve as he opens the door.

Eddie captures Steve's face and kisses all the tears away, in between still singing, and that look in Steve's eyes comes back, and Eddie is elated.

"There you are" Eddie's eyes move between Steve's, "Don't do that again, ok? Just say whatever is going on with that fantastic brain of yours. Don't hide from me. Ever again! Promise?"

"It's just everyone before just…eventually…you know…they give up because I'm not... So I figured this was your time to throw in the towel." Steve struggles to articulate what he wants to say.

Eddie squeezes Steve's face almost a little too much, making his lips look like that of a goldfish. "If you ever doubt for a second how much I am absolutely, fucking insanely besotted with you, Know this about me compared to all the people you dated before." Eddie stands up straight, "I am a crazy motherfucker..and!...I'm stubborn as all hell. So for me to leave you, they would have to drag me, kicking, punching, screaming, kung-fu-ing and possibly biting away from you, ok? And even then, you know I'd claw my way back because I'm a tough son of a bitch too. I am going nowhere. Not unless you, Steve Harrington, ask me to."  

They stare at one another for a second, and Eddie lets go of Steve's face with a, "Sorry, I got carried away there for a second."

"You mean all of that?" Steve says with a half smile on his tear-stained face.

Eddie puts his hands on his hips in a very Steve-type stance, "Yes! A million times, yes. Why would I say it otherwise?" 

"Because you feel sorry for me?" Steve looks down at the floor.

"Honestly, I'm just not kind enough to spare someone's feelings. I say what I think. Maybe that's wrong sometimes, but it's who I am." Eddie says with a laugh.

"Yeah, sometimes it's wrong," Steve says, wiping his eyes with the back of his sleeves. Eddie smiles broadly as Steve moves closer, taking Eddie's hands and putting them around his waist. Then he tucks some of Eddie's hair behind his ear, "Because you should sing to me whenever you want to, and also, in this house, I'm not Steve Harrington, I'm Babe", and he seals his royal decree with a kiss.

If you need/want to hear this song its this:

[thatswhatsushesaid]

What do you make of the ‘very polite divorce’ when JGY essentially gives LXC back the house key, before everything really goes to shit?

it is a TRIAL SEPARATION ok it is NOT a divorce!!! 🥺 lxc was still invested in understanding jgy and listening to what he had to say up until the moment of jgy's death in the guanyin temple sequence, they could've found a way to make it work!!

side note: all my joking commentary aside I do sometimes wonder whether the tongue-in-cheek divorce commentary around the dissolution of jgy's relationships makes it murkier to discuss how each individual relationship falls apart. like I know the divorce stuff comes from the different characters people ship jgy with, but lbr, jgy's relationships with each of the characters he supposedly 'divorces' are not actually equal, narratively or in terms of jgy's canon devotion to each character. example: I am pretty open about enjoying sangyao and chengyao in the mystical land of 'what if?' speculation, but there's really nothing in the text to suggest that the breakdown of jgy's relationship with jc during the guanyin temple chapters really gets under jgy's skin at all. he does what he has to do to provoke jc into making a mistake, stabs him to incapacitate him, seals his meridians, and then goes back to the important business of trying to exhume his mother's remains. he certainly did not contrive a complicated scenario to ensure that jc would not be present at the second burial mounds siege as he does with lxc. because while I believe jgy and jc had a largely cordial relationship with each other while raising jin ling, what evidence does the text give us to suggest that jgy and jc prioritize each other, and their relationship? it doesn't, especially not when contrasted against the clear textual evidence showing us how consistently jgy prioritizes lxc--both his interests, and their time together.

anyway this isn't intended to be shipping salt because like I said, I can enjoy a bit of chengyao et al. in canon-divergent fic scenarios (let me tell you about a arranged marriage chengyao thing I have been doing with another friend sometime 👀) but when it comes to what the text shows us, and especially what shows up on the screen in CQL, the only relationship breakdown that has any real 'divorce' vibes for me is xiyao. ...and it's a trial separation damnit, I'll kill on this hill 🔪🔪🔪