#all I can think about is how sad Oliver’s life is

[tessonaut]

Thank god emerald ended Saltburn with such a banger dance scene, it’s like a little reward for making it through the tragedy of Felix and Oliver

[lala-blahblah]

I will never make this because it would be for an audience of one (me) but ever since reading "If we Were Villains" (story about serious drama kids in college who perform shakespeare and deal with a murder) I have been entertaining the thought of a crack fic crossover with High School Musical The Musical The Series where the staff decides they will no longer put on shakespeare after the tragic accident that happened at Thanksgiving, because Shakespeare plays would only increase the tension and drama. So they hire Ms. Jen who decides their spring play will actually be High School Musical (which exists in the 90s in this universe) and it ruins the vibe so much that everyone gives up on being dark and mysterious because they're universally pissed at Ms Jen for making them learn choreoraphed basketball dancing.

[signify-nothing]

I think the thing about Saltburn that makes me lose my mind the most is that Oliver's longing was so intense that he found a way to cast himself in the play of Felix's life, taking on the role of the damsel in distress specifically so Felix could feel like the hero. I mean, what the fuck. He really went out there and said I will make myself weak so you can feel strong. I will be small so you can be big. Whatever role I can get in your life, I'll take. Just to be near you. Just to gaze at you with your little red glasses and lollipop, Lolita-ing it up on a hot summer day. Just to drink your cummy bathwater after you jerk off. And when Felix found out all that he'd done, he didn't want him anymore. How fucked up is that. If some feral little man turned himself into Oliver fucking Twist to seduce me I'd let him nip at my heals like a sad little dog for the rest of my life. What the fuck.

[licensedproldier]

highlights from the brennan hank interview (aka taking notes on things that i liked or didn't know)

HE STARTED ATTENDING COLLEGE WHEN HE WAS 14?????

immediate jump off topic from hank to ask him about d20 (this happened while fhjy was airing)

"and the greatest project of all, my wonderful family with my wife isabella roland"

bonding over their children

brennan and hank's son both corrected their father's bedtime stories 💀

many elaine lee shoutouts

"his dad met my mom and fell in love" "you did that" "we did that, parent-trapped them"

was pulled out of school in 4th grade for homeschooling because the bullying was so bad....

started a company when they (he and his brother) were fifteen?? called Bootleg Adventures

hank's little awed hiss of "what" to the above piece of information

GOT PART OWNERSHIP OF THE WAYFINDER COMPANY AT 15

"knowledge is something that, when you share it, there's just more. there's no scarcity"

hank staring off into space slightly looking like brennan just blew his mind (we're 11 minutes in)

"we were 14 year old philosophy majors, if you can imagine anything more normal than that"

brennan unable to resist doing fun voices for the people he talks about

he wouldve loved to work at wayfinder full time and said back then hey maybe ill become a famous internet comedian or something and that's how i can help camp. now he's got texts from the staff saying how a bunch of dimension 20 fans have joined and its been a huge boon for them that way 🥺

"it's funny when a really bad plan works. dont make that plan."

"every new community-- is this too sad? no its true" THOSE THINGS ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE

anyway "for every new community i start with the presupposition that someone is going to pick me up and put me in the trash can" 😭

hank sniping him through the duplex door with "[when you do that] you kind of imagine yourself to be the value you're delivering rather than yourself, or that your value is in what you deliver and not who you are" and brennan going 😐 "that's a great point man"

both of them turning to do pained smiles at the camera 😭

"i think the value is in who you are" "that's really sweet i appreciate that" "but i also love that you deliver"

brennan quoting mary oliver

im starting to feel a little called out guys

robert mckee "stories are not about their premises they're about their conclusions"

brennan also staring off into space slightly thinking about what hank said

the REAL college advice brennan is giving is reportedly "put an egg in your ramen" because thats how you stop your eyes from going "matte finish"

shoutout to vanessa's dumplings for keeping this man alive

"i am ozymandias nerd of nerds, gaze upon my banner and despair"

the moment he felt like something changed was walking into C2E2 and seeing that the biggest hanging banner in the convention hall was of fantasy high. or, as brennan put it, "my dumb face"

"my friends moved in with their partners, the apartment i had with them scattered to the wind, the woman i was dating dumped me after three weeks, and i won a bunch of money on Who Wants to Be a Millionare" "wh- what???"

he taught emily, murph, siobhan, and zac how to play dnd 🥺 and was running a home game for lou at the same time

got hired at um, actually because his name was getting around for being a big dork

zac stepped down from troopers and sam liked brennan's character from a previous casting call (tim curry eating pizza) so he brought him in

its very charming the detail with which brennan remembers these important moments in his life

became a full time cast member in the same week he started dating izzy! "hard to beat week gang!"

"they told us they were launching dropout and everyone had to make a show, which, if you're been trying to make a show your whole life, that's like saying 'bad news guys, there's 24 birthday cakes in the break room and everyone has to eat a whole birthday cake'."

brennan was making a document for a market pitch on an actual-play show when he was called into office and THEY pitched HIM the idea of an actual-play show

"i guess i have tumbled through life to end up here ready to do this"

truly like. one of the guys of all time.

"some of the things that didn't make sense about you make more sense now" hank talking indirectly about how amazing he found all the moving parts of mentopolis and now getting to hear about how long and how many time he's done storytelling it makes sense

"yeah its the one skill"

"i wanted to tell stories before i was anything else"

🎉anti-capitalist rant🎉

"people used to say 'is ucb a cult' and i'd say 'in a cult, somebody is making money'"

HIGH FIVE!!!

[impactedfates]

Letters Unsent - Genshin + HSR Boys x GN! Reader

★ Summary: After their death, you find a letter. A letter he wrote. A letter he wrote for you, a letter he wished he could’ve given to you personally. A letter describing his feelings.

☆ Characters Included (Separate): Diluc, Wriothesley, Cyno, Argenti, Jing Yuan + Gepard

★ Genre/Trope: Angst + Hurt/No Comfort

☆ Warnings: Major Character Death (Not the Readers)

★ Extra: Angst is fun, angst is nice :)) // Might make another part with different characters if this does well // Not fully proof read // Motivation came back cuz of sad tunes/hj

He said he'd be back, that it'll be quick. Despite your worry, you knew he was strong, so he'd be able to protect himself right? So you trusted him. Trusted him so much that when his co-worker showed up to your door with an expression you couldn't exactly read, you were confused. It was about him but...he was fine right? Then why were they telling you he had passed? The injuries he sustained was...to much for his body to handle? The healers couldn't help him? But...he said he'd be back...you were snapped out of your thoughts when they handed you a letter with your name on it. "I think he knew he wouldn't be able to make it...so...he wanted you to have this...even if he couldn't hear your answer"

"To My Dearest,

If I'd ever be lucky to even call you that. Although this isn't ideally how I wanted to do this. I believe I can only get these things on paper, it's much too difficult otherwise. I was never good with words so I hope this alternative is alright for you.

Ever since the day I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were different. Not in a bad way. It took me way too long to figure out the reason for this was due to the fact I loved you.

I loved seeing your smile.

Hearing your laugh.

Loved the small talk we had that would end up with me taking you home. You made me feel something I didn't think I would ever feel, and I'm unsure if I even deserve it.

If I even deserve you.

Whether or not you feel the same way, I hope we can stick together as long as time allows us.

Sincerely

Diluc."

"To Y/N

Hope you're doing well, life in Meropide is still as dull as ever. Well, unless you decide to visit, you really do light up the room when you come by don't you? Or maybe that's just for me.

Anyways, preferably I would be telling you this in person, but more work has piled up. That's also why our little tea sessions have to be put on hold for now. Don't worry, as soon as this all clears up and I investigate this one area, then we can go back to the usual.

I have this one blend I think you'd really like!

Anyways, enough beating around the bush.

I like you.

Like like you.

I love you.

So much.

I can't even begin to describe how much I love you, and even if I did I feel you'd be gagging at how cheesy I was being haha!

But really, I love you so much. I want to be with you, of course I understand if you don't feel the same. But Sigwinnie would have my head if I postponed this confession any longer.

I hope to see you again after my work.

Yours Truly

Wriothesley"

"Hello Y/N

I never thought I'd be writing this kind of letter in my free time. Unfortunately for me, it seems as though fate likes making things harder for me and whenever I want to even try to talk to you about this, it's much more difficult than it was when I practised in the mirror.

Or...

Well...

Practised to Tighnari.

We can ignore that for now though as I'm still trying to put this all together in words.

I would let you borrow my TCG set, you can use it as you please and I'd even let you touch my limited edition cards.

If that's not making any sense then how about a joke?

How does a fruit confess?

They say "Olive You"

.

.

.

Get it, because an olive is a type of fruit, and olive sounds like "I love"

.

.

.

I love you"

"My beloved rose

As much as I'd love to tell you all these words in person, my search for Idrila is still ongoing and I am unsure when I'll be able to see your beautiful face once again.

Ever since my eyes laid on your beauty, I thought I had found Idrila herself, but once I got to know you. Even if you weren't the Goddess, you could almost rival her.

The sparkle in your eyes.

The pretty little smile.

Your wonderful personality.

All those things you think are flaws? I love each and everyone of them. They are not flaws to me and it pains me knowing you think of yourself like that.

Once we meet again, I want to make sure you know how deserving you are of these words, how your 'flaws' aren't flaws and how much I love every bit of you.

Though I am aware I find many things worthy of praise. I want to let you know that you're different.

I don't just want to praise you, compliment you. I wish to love you, hold your hands and protect you with my life, no matter what it takes.

I love you so much, and if I could be so lucky to call you mine. Well, I think I'd be the happiest man alive.

I will return soon,

Signed

Argenti"

"Morning, Afternoon or Night

I'm not too sure when the Cloud Knight will give this to you, or when I'll give this to them. Whatever the case, I won't beat around the bush too much.

I love you.

Nothing could compare the feeling in my heart when I see you.

The smile that will never fade as long as you're there by my side.

You are just amazing. In all my years of living, never would I have thought to have met someone as perfect as you.

Even Fu Xuan herself can see just how enamoured I am for you, although for her. She's been using it as an advantage to do work.

'If you finish now you can see them quicker'

'How would they feel knowing that you're not working?'

'Stop dozing off or they won't come to see you ever again!'

I must admit, they all do work. Even if in hindsight, not only would I still see you even with work uncomplete, I'll see you plenty of times and more to come but I don't think you care all too much about my sleep.

But I digress.

I hope this letter finds you well, take as much time as you need to consider my words and think about your own feelings.

I'll be waiting where I always am.

Jing Yuan"

"Dear Y/N

Aeons this is embarrassing. But it would be even more embarrassing if Serval kept teasing me about this. I've been putting this off for so long, worried about how you'd react.

Your answer.

And if this would change your view on me...but you're not that kind of person. I know you're not. And after a bit of thinking, to save me from stumbling on my words. I decided to write a letter.

Serval should be the one giving this to you, so I hope she didn't say anything to you, I would nearly die of embarrassment if she did. Anyways!

So...I know it's probably not much hoping Serval wouldn't say something actually, knowing her, she gave it away with one sentence but...

I like you, a lot. More than you could ever know.

And I'm more than happy to talk to you about this in full once I'm back from my mission.

I can only pray you feel the same, but even if you don't.

I hope we stay friends.

Until next time,

Gepard"

WOOO FINALLY GOT THIS DONE AFTER FOREVER.

Sorry if any characters are OOC, I tried my best with writing what I think they'd write in a confession letter, but I hope you enjoyed this anyways!

[myersesque]

i genuinely have so many emotions abt npmd, especially about max jägerman

he's such a tragic character!!! like yes max is the villain but he also Didn't Have To Be. one of the biggest issues w hatchetfield in-universe is how willing people are to take horrible things at face value - nobody thinks max can change because bad shit happens all the time in hatchetfield, nobody cares why this ONE kid is acting out. nobody looks for him when he disappears because people go missing all the time in hatchetfield, what's one more kid gonna do. even once they've found his body they barely mention him; richie gets more love and mourning and he was actively bullied by half his classmates. they care more about losing the big game than they do max's death.

and yes ok the repeated mention of them being 18 is 1) a joke abt slasher movie teens conveniently being Just Old Enough to sexualise and 2) a joke abt grace thinking that perfectly normal barely-flirtatious activities (like max offering to carry her books) are too scandalous and explicit for 18 year olds. but also like. he's a kid. 18 is an adult but also a kid, yknow? and he. literally thanks them for making fun of him because it's the nicest thing anybody's ever done for him. he takes it as an olive branch for friendship rather than the mockery it was meant to be. he's just a kid with a shitty life who's taking it out on people because nobody cares about him. he himself sings about how he knows he's gonna peak in highschool, so why not do whatever he wants now, since he'll amount to nothing later? and once he dies, his own friends sing about how much better their lives are without him.

yes obviously he's a bully and a villain, i'm not disputing that, but there's something so painful about seeing that glimmer of hope for redemption right before his death - that maybe he was wrong about them, that maybe his dad was wrong about him, that maybe they could be friends and he could have people who care about him and be somebody other than a mean jock - and then it's instantly snatched away from him, and all that's left is humiliation and misdirected rage. it's so fuckin sad.

or maybe that's just me. i dunno.

[mochinomnoms]

MOCHII

Hi hi hello

What do you think will happen if like— one day Crowley finally find a way to bring back mc back to their world?? And mc just went with it cuz like personal reasons.

How would the PTM characters especially Jade would react?? I wanna hear your thoughts about this PLEASE MOTHER FEED ME ANGST??

Within the 'canon' of PTM, Yuu can't actually go back, but more information as to why will come up in the later chapters, so I haven't actually thought about it tbh.

Considering how attached all the characters are to Yuu at this point, it would be absolutely devastating to most of them. Some understand, those who are particularly attached or close with their family, and while sad to see you go are happy for you to finally found your way back to your loved ones. They couldn't imagine their own life without their family, being so close with them, so they understand why you went.

Some are less than understanding, maybe even angry! They can't understand why you'd want to go after all you've gone through with them! Do near-death experiences mean nothing? Does their care for you mean nothing? Why, how could you leave!? It ends up with a bitter goodbye, something that they'd grow up regretting as they remember the last time you spoke, full of anger, tears, and spiteful words.

But Jade? Well, it greatly depends on whether or not a confession has happened yet. If taking place before, then there's a great divide within him to confess and yet not. If he confesses, then you might feel obligated to stay with him. Or not, he's not sure what would feel worse. But there's also the possibility of you resenting him if that were to happen, the pressure to stay taking away your only remaining opportunity to go back.

But personally, I feel like it would be much more devastating if Jade and Yuu were already a couple by this point, and they decided to go back. He spent so long pining after you, with you, knowing just how deeply and intensely he cares for you. How you know him so intimately, not just from your telepathy, but just in your ability to read him in a way no one else really has. It's not like he can even lie to you, you can hear the thoughts in his head, the devastation, the pleading, the sheer feeling of grief washing over you as you leave through the mirror with olive and gold eyes watching your form merge with the mirror. What makes your heart mourn and the tears fall from your face is the blankness in his stare, the lack of feeling other than a soft, polite smile on his face. No one else, except his brother and even Azul perhaps, can tell there's something off about him. The whispers of others commenting on his lack of reaction, their doubt of his affections for you, it only deepens the wound. Perhaps it was foolish of him to open up, to be vulnerable with you, to be someone other than Jade Leech, all to become yours. Now all he's left with is a gap in his heart and an even crueler disposition.

[letters-to-lgbt-kids]

My dear lgbt+ kids,

I have been openly living as a trans man for some years now. And I'm at a point where it doesn't take up so much mental space anymore.

Don't get me wrong: I certainly do not mean "it doesn't matter anymore" here. I am not a "just call me whatever pronouns, I do not care" person and I don't think I ever will be. Nothing wrong with feeling that way, it's just not how I feel. Being adressed with my name and my pronouns is still important for my mental well-being, and it still triggers feelings of dysphoria when people misgender me.

Even apart from misgendering: My identity is still important, and it always will be! Being trans is not some small thing that loses its importance over time. It's who I am. Being a man - and having grown up in a society that told me I wasn't - influences the way I experience everything in my life (from my self-image to my relationships with others to... well, everything).

What I do mean here is: Before coming out to others, and also before coming out to myself and accepting myself as a man, there were naturally a lot of questions running circles in my brain. Why do I feel so sad when adults tells me I'll grow into a woman? Why does it cause me so much stress when mom tells me to put on a dress? Why does it make me so euphoric to use masculine scents? When I try to picture myself kissing a boy, why do I see two boys? Ah, I just learned trans people exist, why does this fascinate me so much that I can't stop thinking about it? Am I creepy for being so fascinated by them? I'm older now, why is that sad feeling not going away? Why is it only getting worse now that I have "grown into a woman"? Why do I keep getting this horrified feeling that I took a wrong route somewhere and was never meant to arrive at "woman"? Wait... could this mean I am trans? Is it too late to realize I am trans at my age? Can I really be trans when the whole thought of even just considering surgery feels overwhelming and scary? Will I ever be ready to actually come out as trans? I really want to get married some day, could I even find love as a trans person? Can I ever be happy in a relationship if I hide who I am? Can I go on living in the closet? Okay, I am trans and want to come out, is it safe to do that? Will my family still love me? Will I ever be brave enough to come out to people outside of my immediate circle? Will people take me seriously? Will people hate me? Will I regret coming out? What if I fuck up my life?

Well, I came out and the world didn't end. All these questions, I either found answers to them or they just dissolved over time - and that frees up a lot of energy and mental space. The space that was occupied by these questions and concerns is now available to me again.

I do not wonder if I am a man anymore. I just am one. It has become something that is just self-evident to me. It goes without saying - or without conciously spending time thinking about it. Of course I am a man, of course I am Oliver. Who else would I be?

We all have a limited amount of things we can focus on, and many trans people share this experience that over time they do not need to focus so much on it anymnore. But this is not unique to the process of figuring out you are trans - in the sense that a cis gay, bi, ace etc. person could also relate to this, but also in entirely non-lgbt-specific ways. Think about a person prepping for an important exam for example. A lot of their energy and mental space will be tied up in exam related questions... which obviously will not be a permanent state. After the exam, they will naturally no longer by preoccupied by wondering how the exam will go!

I'm telling you all this because one of you asked me if I struggled with coming to terms with being a trans man - and this is my very long way of saying: Yes, I did (and it's pretty normal to do! It's a really big realization about yourself!) but struggling isn't a permanent state.

You'll find answers to some questions, some questions will just fade away. You'll figure things out.

With all my love,

Your Tumblr Dad

[hotgrrrlgross]

YES !! YES !!!!!! AHAHAAAA YESSSS !!!!

my personal headcannons for the loveliest of lovely little guys <3333

extra info + flags!!

randy: (pan and agender)

-fibromyalgia for sure, trauma does shit things

-probably needs a cane or something similar to aleviate pain (doesn't think he's ill enough to need one, absolutely is)

-if he gets high please treat him like a fish in an aquarium, probably would hate the lack of control

-flushes really easily, and constantly clammy

-if you put a blanket on his head he'll fall asleep

-narcolepsy

-loves the feeling of a nice, heafty, soft quilt and a hot cocoa on a cold afternoon...

oliver: (trans, gay and demiromantic!)

-has a stuffed animal collection 100%

-probably picks up a million different projects only to put them down, a new hyperfixation every week kinda guy

-him being a stoner is basically cannon but, in specifics he seems like a bong or joint guy to me, would let u smoke the first hit (bc he's nice)

-rollerskate date :]

-glasses to at least semi help his shit 'eye' (optical sensor) and lack of depth perception (they can only do so much though)

karen: (nonbinary, lesbian)

-doesn't particularly care about gender as a concept

-has a bunch of tassles and cords in her house she has braided

-can't keep a plant alive to save her life, has mourned at least 20 house plants, has a fake one (somehow dies too)

-mitski.

-the biggest sweet tooth out of the group

-will lock herself away for hours and hours, sometimes an entire day or two, just creating. only to come out of a hole haggard and exhuasted with her New Horse Drawing.

-hEDS, uses a walker to get around!

Norm: (questioning/bi ?)

-writer (how the hell else wouldn't he go absolutely bonkers all alone, other than having a goal and spite i guess)

-uses coffee to live, but definitely enjoys tea in his free time

-probably learned archery at some point

-whittles little sculptures to pass the time (made karen a little wooden horse sculpture once)

-randomly schedules cook outs/junctions when he's feeling lonely and isolated

-he would absolutely take the will graham route and end up with 20 fucking stray dogs out of a deep empathy and then wake up one day and realize the mess he got himself into.

-grilldad. (duh)

phonegingi: (genderfluid, polyamorous, pan)

-gender? yes.

-sexuality? yes.

-will consume your clothes if you are not careful with your gingi Care instructions. (taking little nibbles is okay as a treat)

-if weed is consumed it basically acts as a horrifically strong catnip, and it will get the zoomies and make it everyone's problem

-purrs

-pays really good attention to detail stuff, and its brain is basically a filing cabinet. but big events are basically a blur

-gets SUPER !! fluffy during the winter and there's an awful period where it's shedding and it's...super patchy and silly lookin

-me and the bitches i pulled by being HORRIFYING and lovely,,,,

bigfoot: (aroace. i don't take criticism.)

-banana,,,

-genuinely pretty attentive and smart

-becomes a painter because he is INSPIRED ! by his friend karen

-absolutely splendid lad

-i wanna live in a world where one of his passions is making and wearing silly hats, please, PLEASE

-karen showed him mitski,,,god help him he's sad now

-knitting,,,he knit giant banana,,,,

[notmorbid]

garden of earthly bodies.

dialogue prompts from garden of earthly bodies by sally oliver.

do you think this is a mistake?

i think you should say you changed your mind.

do you remember what we talked about?

i have endless stores of self-pity.

i feel less awful than before.

you're allowed to lose it now and again.

i don't mean to be horrible.

you can't adopt someone's pain to dilute your own.

stop being smart with me.

you'll give me a heart attack one day.

you're pushy.

life has a way of revealing the truth to you before it occurs.

how come you haven't said anything?

i wish you'd take things more seriously.

i wish i knew when i was going to die. then i could be ready for it.

i'm relieving you of your conscience, alright?

i don't want to write about it. i don't owe that to anyone.

nobody has seen your face in half a year.

i had a strange dream in the night. you were in it.

you probably won't remember most of it.

you need to look out for yourself. nobody else will.

can you stay in my room tonight? i don't want to be alone.

there's no point in being secretive.

you can't shut everyone out. one day they won't bother.

i don't think i'm really in myself.

i miss you all the time.

are you in any pain?

i'm bored of waiting for everything.

you're almost smiling again.

think more of yourself and less of others.

don't give away your thoughts. you won't get them back.

you don't have to say anything if you don't want to.

i wanted you to love me the same way i love you.

do you believe in god?

what can you not tolerate in others?

what is the quality you least like about yourself?

i love my parents, but i've never understood them.

this is the most alone i've ever felt.

i have to find something to wear.

hospitals manage despair, not disease.

it helps if you're stoned. only, don't do that.

i don't want to leave you if you're so unhappy.

watch the road, not me.

do you visit cemeteries often?

female comradeship is its own religion.

don't pull that sad, serious look you do.

i'm running out of ways to procrastinate.

i could like anything about you.

i wonder if you'll ever hate me.

life is too long and too brief.

i was always going to come home again.

you don't look like you.

you'll get back to feeling like your old self. just let it happen.

i don't even know what it means anymore. to 'be myself'.

i know who you are. i just can't believe it.

i'm not going to make this easy.

nothing is ever as sinister as you think.

i can tell something's not right.

we'll move at your pace.

i miss who i was. i don't feel like the same person anymore.

a life can end and not be over.

you had me. what about me?

[slutforsilverfoxes]

Two Dirty Martinis and One Olive(r)

[A continuation of Oliver with a Twist 🖤]

—————

“I just miss him so much,” you sniffle, scrolling through an album simply yet effectively titled with the olive emoji and a green heart. “Do you think he knows that I’m coming home? Or do you think that he thinks he’s getting abandoned over and over again? Oh my gosh, that’s so sad,” you lament aloud, bottom lip trembling while you stare into your cat’s soulful eyes on the dim screen.

“How much has she had to drink?” Aaron murmurs to JJ as you continue pining for your fur baby and talking Emily’s ear off across the table.

“Well, none of us really ate today, and she’s had one green tea shot and one-” The blonde grimaces as you down the rest of your glass and amends, “Make that two dirty martinis.”

You pop the singular olive swimming in the last dregs of the alcohol into your mouth before your eyes grow comically wide. “I just ate my son,” you declare, your statement accompanied by a gasp.

Aaron smooths a hand over his face to resist laughing at your antics and excuses himself to get you a glass of water. Leaning against the bar while waiting for a bartender to become available, he studies the way you talk so animatedly, emphasizing your thoughts with your hands, and the way everyone around the table has an easy smile on their faces while they listen to you. This team has always felt like family, but your presence has made them complete.

He can’t help but think of his own little family of two, and he wonders how Jack would feel about a new special friend in his dad’s life. Aaron’s seen the way you interact with children on cases, and he has no doubt that you and Jack would get along exceptionally well. Plus you have a pet? His son would be elated to have a cat to-

“What can I get for you, sir?”

He’s abruptly pulled from his daydream of the two of you coming home from a case to your two-legged and four-legged sons, the back of his neck heating up as he turns to face the bartender. Clearing his throat, he requests, “Just an ice water, please. Thank you.”

Beverage in hand, Hotch overhears the last of your statement to your best friend on his return to the table, “…would be nice to come home to a man.” Emily raises an eyebrow at him over your head sleepily nestled in the crook of her neck, and he fixes her with a look that clearly reads Don’t you dare.

She dares.

“Any man?” the brunette smugly prompts.

“There is this one guy,” you confess in what you believe to be a whisper but in reality is heard clear as day by the whole table. You let out a hum and a dreamy smile spreads across your face. “He’s perfect. At least, I think so.”

Aaron focuses intently on a bead of condensation running down the glass holding your ice water, fighting the urge to confess his love for you right here and right now in front of the team. His other option, which isn’t looking entirely unfavorable, is to place the drink on the table and flee the scene.

“But he’s so dumb,” you announce with a huff of frustration, and Hotch swears the world around him comes to a dead halt with a record scratch.

Stifling a laugh at the way the man in question’s sheepish smile has immediately melted into a frown, JJ inquires, “How so, hon?”

“I mean, what’s taking him so long?” you demand. “I’m pretty cute, I think. I’m clearly single thanks to this fuckin’ job. And I’m-” You wave your hands around in front of you before clarifying your meaning, “-putting out all the signals, y’know?”

“Well, why don’t you just ask him out, mamas?” Derek offers. Your girlfriends’ heads swivel in his direction with narrowed eyes, and he shows his palms in mock deference, mumbling a placating, “Damn, okay,” around the lip of his beer bottle.

A sigh rattles out of you as if Morgan has grievously inconvenienced you before you explain, “I can’t, dummy.”

“Why not?”

Aaron can’t wait to hear this.

Your best friend rushes to cover your mouth before you say something you’ll regret when sober while Penelope and JJ jump in to change the subject, but your muffled voice escapes through Emily’s fingers anyway. “HR says fraternization between a unit chief and their agent is a big no-no,” you elaborate, stretching out the word for emphasis. Aaron’s palm is damn near frozen now from stupidly standing there holding the glass, but his feet simply won’t move. “And trust me,” you carry on, bowling over Emily’s desperate attempts to shush you, “I wanna fraternize with that man,” you declare giddily.

Aaron clears his throat to announce his presence, hoping that the dim lighting in the bar will mask his pink-tinged cheeks. You turn to see him standing there and your face splits into a wide grin, your alcohol-addled brain seemingly not connecting that he bore witness to the entirety of your confession. “Hotch!” you cry happily. “You’re back! And you brought me a water,” you sigh, reaching for the glass.

“Figured you could use it,” he mumbles quietly, pulse racing when your fingers brush as the glass exchanges hands.

You assert, “You’re the sweetest ever,” and he’d be lying if he said his heart didn’t skip a beat at that.

The girls are studiously avoiding eye contact with him while Derek is staring at him, dumbstruck, and Spencer is quietly calculating the odds of you two confessing your feelings to each other before the night is over with a small smile on his face.

Hotch finds himself really wishing Dave hadn’t turned in early tonight. Or that he, too, had embraced being a senior member of the team and gone to bed instead of celebrating closing this case over drinks.

“Y’gonna just stand there all night?” you ask sweetly before patting the spot in the booth beside you. Aaron looks to his original seat to find that JJ and Penelope, still averting their eyes, have somehow shifted to the edge of the booth, leaving virtually no room for him to squeeze back in on their side.

Equal parts hesitant and hopeful, he slides into the space next to you feeling like a schoolboy with a raging crush when his leg tingles at the spot where the warmth of your thigh seeps through his slacks.

Oblivious to his racing pulse and thoughts, you lean your elbow against the tabletop and your cheek against your palm, looking up at him with a soft smile and a simple, “Hi there.”

“Hi, Y/N,” he murmurs back, and you gasp, “You said my name!”

“I say your name all the time,” he argues.

“Nu uh,” you protest, “it’s always Y/L/N or Agent or Agent Y/L/N.”

He hums in response, unwilling to admit that your name on his lips makes his brain a little fuzzy and his hands a little shaky.

“I like when you say my name,” you confess in a whisper, and Aaron can actually feel his heart swelling when you look at him like that, like he hung all the stars in the sky just for you.

In all honesty, if that’s what you wanted, he would defy gravity to make it happen.

“How’s Ollie doing?” he asks to change the subject, needing you to talk about something that makes you happy so he can keep seeing that beautiful smile on your face.

“Oh my gosh, so good!” you squeal excitedly. “He’s so, so smart. I taught him to sit and shake before meal time. Wanna see?”

“Of course,” Aaron smiles.

With a sly grin, you negotiate, “I’ll show you my kid if you show me yours,” and Aaron’s heart is now trying to actually escape out of his chest. “You…want to see pictures of Jack?”

“Of course,” you echo back. “How could anybody not love that little cutie? He’s got your dimples, y’know.” Your concentration shifts to your phone then, looking for the video of Oliver offering you his paw while Aaron sits there with a goofy smile on his face that has those very dimples making a rare appearance.

The next morning, armed with the logic that you’ll surely need to stave off a hangover, Aaron knocks on your hotel room door and asks you out to breakfast before your flight back home.

—————

Find the third & final part of Aaron, reader, & Oliver's story here!

AH tags 🖤 @gothwifehotchner

[radio-ronpa]

Disney I want songs for each V3 character, go!

I got this a few days ago and I've been ruminating on it. I think I've finally settled on them? Plus notes on why I picked that song.

Here's the rules: Has to be from an official Disney Animated Classic (no Pixar, live action, or straight to vid sequels). Must occur within the run time of animation (no songs that only appear in the credits, ala True to Your Heart from Mulan). Only one song can be used from a particular film.

Let's fucking goooooo.

1. Angie Yonaga - Give a Little Whistle (Pinocchio)

Have you ever seen Jiminy Cricket and Atua in the same place? Think about it.

2. Gonta Gokuhara - The Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book)

Optimistic, joyous, and appreciative of all of life's moments, even if they are very small.

3. Himiko Yumeno - The Next Right Thing (Frozen 2)

If there was a DRV3 stage musical, this would be the number she does at the end of Trial 3. It's literally perfect.

4. Kaede Akamatsu - Good Company (Oliver and Company)

The scene with this song in the movie is literally a piano lesson, and it's about being friends and having faith in that. How could I not?

5. Kaito Momota - Go the Distance (Hercules)

Oh, I want to be a hero because I feel like I don't belong anywhere and I want to be strong enough to give my friends good hugs? Herc and Kaito are both beautiful himbos.

6. Kiibo - Strangers Like Me (Tarzan)

I mean, Keebs is real Pinocchio sometimes, but I started crying imagining him to this song. He's so earnest and I love that for him.

7. Kirumi Tojo - Very Good Advice (Alice in Wonderland)

Classic, underappreciated, and sad as fuck.

8. Kokichi Ouma - The World's Greatest Criminal Mind (The Great Mouse Detective)

Look, this song is just fun and chaotic and delighted by its own mischief. There's so many ways you can go with Kokichi, but I had to pick this one for sheer giggles.

9. Korekiyo Shinguji - Never Smile at a Crocodile (Peter Pan)

JUST READ THE FUCKING LYRICS.

10. Maki Harukawa - Reflection (Mulan)

It's cliche. It's also true.

11. Miu Iruma - The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh)

Kind of unhinged and still somehow endearing. Miu Iruma is bounchy flouncy fun fun fun fun fun.

12. Rantaro Amami - Thomas O'Malley Cat (The Aristocats)

The fucking swagger. The worldliness. The feet that can't stop moving. (Of course Rantaro is my favorite character. I adored that cat.)

13. Ryoma Hoshi - Not in Nottingham (Robin Hood)

For the love of god, somebody hug that man.

14. Shuichi Saihara - This Wish (Wish)

If The Next Right Thing is Trial 3 of the DRV3 Disney musical, This Wish is the end of Trial 6. This is Shuichi standing up and telling the villain that they're not going to give in to despair, honoring Kaede's wish with his own. Plus, it's a princess song. I gotta give the main protag the princess song.

15. Tenko Chabashira - Surface Pressure (Encanto)

Tenko doesn't have a complex about being strong and defending people, what gave you that idea?

16. Tsumugi Shirogane - Mad Madam Mim (The Sword in the Stone)

Using your powers of shapeshifting to delight in causing despair and gloom? Can't relate.

This was a wild three hours of research and spreadsheets, and it was delightful fun to do.

Thanks, anon.

[lemotmo]

They're so angry 🤣🤣🤣

Q. Ryan and Oliver were trolling us. I'm so embarrassed for them. How can you all think they're enjoyable?

Q. So we get a bts pic that's pro B/T and Oliver's response was to run to Ryan's house and troll us while excluding Lou, again from their get together. Yet we're assholes for pointing out how bratty Oliver is. Please. What they last night was unprofessional, immature and super gross.

Q. Yeah we're allowed to say Oliver and Ryan are sabotaging him because they made a point of making sure everyone was aware they were together last night. I don't care if they want Buddie. I don't care if they don't like Lou. I don't care if Oliver is miserable by the storyline. I don't care if Oliver doesn't like working with Lou. I don't care that Oliver and Ryan are besties who hate us. Our ship won. Their ship lost. Tim better have a talk with them this week about professionalism because their behavior last night was appalling. Especially from Oliver because he was clearly the instigator of the entire thing.

Q. Aww your besties ran to each other last night because Tim confirmed B/T fans won the ship war and they wanted to make sure we all knew they hate him and us. Oliver should especially be ashamed because he's clearly the one whose idea it was. He owes Lou an apology and some decent professional behavior.

Q. Wow. Oliver and Ryan spent their Saturday night trolling Tommy fans what a couple of winners they are. Cry harder boys you lost and we don't care if you hate it or him. Lou's feelings must have been so hurt from being excluded. Oliver's immature little brat. Grow up, man.

A. I've changed my mind, Tim. The show doesn't need him at all for a single scene. The story can be told without his reaction to anything. Let's just get the rage temper tantrum over now and the rest of us can and will happily move on. You all took a couple of fun photos between friends playing around with a mustache filter, clearly trolling Ryan's look, and made it about Lou and yourselves. Because of course you did. He wasn't there. Cry harder about it. Oliver and Ryan are friends. Cry harder about it. Guess what? Pete and Angela also don't appear to have been there and you don't see any of their fans whining in my ask box. They were goofing off with an Instagram filter. You had a meltdown over an Instagram filter, and with a straight face, are yelling at Oliver to grow up. Look I get it. You all have had a tough week. You don't know if he was on set, he most likely wasn't. He's not answering, or can't answer, any of your increasingly unhinged messages. Oliver and Ryan are happily hanging out. The hype and support around and for your ship is crumbling right before your very eyes, the proof of that is everywhere, including in your freakouts over absolutely everything. Some of your own are even turning on him. You hung your hopes on a nothing BTS photo as proof of a thing Tim already told you isn't a thing. Using a made up dm that Tim already said doesn't exist. And Lou got removed from a stupid online SWAT poll. You've been busy this week.

I have an incredibly sad amount of asks about that stupid poll. So I will, once again, try to explain the Ryan and Lou difference to you all. No one, absolutely one is pretending Ryan didn't say it. No one is making excuses for him saying it. No one is defending what he said. It was wrong in every way. Now follow me closely on this next part. When he said it, he immediately owned the mistake. He immediately apologized for it. He immediately went to work on himself. He removed certain people, one in particular, from his life, and he allowed himself to learn things he was once ignorant of. That's the point of growing up. Learning and growing from your mistakes. It's why people, including his cast mates/friends don't continue to punish him for it. He learned from it, which is what you want. In contrast, when Lou's behavior was pointed out you all immediately tried to excuse it away. It was everything from people who were taking what he said out of context, despite the fact we heard him say it. Multiple times. To he was just having a laugh and people needed to grow up. Then it was clearly some deranged evil Buddie fan hacked his Twitter account just to make him look like a trump supporting racist. And when it came time for him to acknowledge and say something his response was to post a bizarre screenshot of something about spitting in girls mouths and telling them it's raining. The difference in how the two men handled their responses to their mistakes is the entire point. And you know that, but like everything else regarding your downright bizarre behavior towards Lou, you need to pretend it's something else. All of it is made up in your head.

Finally regarding your demands that Oliver and Ryan apologize to you for being friends, hanging out and having a good time. You all have spent the last 8 plus weeks sending them the most vile, disgusting, inexcusable nonsense. Tagging them in everything from verbal abuse to racist attacks to character assassination attempts. The only thing they owe you is a big fat middle finger.

Thank you for dropping this in the inbox Nonny!

I'm speechless here. I mean... NEVER, in all my years in fandom (and it's been a while now) have I ever come across anything like this. Maybe it has happened before in other fandoms and I'm just lucky to have been in relatively relaxed fandoms? I mean, there were some issues and toxicity in all of those fandoms, but nothing to this degree. I just can't wrap my head around this phenomenon.

And all of it over such a short amount of time as well. Only a couple of months.

We've come to a point where some innocent fun between cast-mates and friends is problematic behaviour now? Really? The cast has been having fun together for years now. And for years we laughed and enjoyed and just had fun with it. But now it's suddenly something bad? Something toxic? Because one man wasn't invited? How? Why? What???

And how is that one vague bts picture proof of BT endgame? HOW??? WHY??? WHAT???

I'm sorry, I'm not going to lose any more brain cells to trying to understand this. After all, erratic behaviour can't be explained by using common sense and logic.

Thank you Ali for dealing with asks like this, so we don't have to. You're a bigger person than I am. I would just ignore and delete. :)

IMPORTANT! Please don't repost this ask and/or a link that leads straight to my Tumblr account on Twitter or any other social media. Thank you!

Heads up! For anyone who is giving me the shifty eyes for reposting Ali's updates instead of reblogging. Read this.

Remember, no hate in comments, reblogs or inboxes. Let's keep it civil and respectful. Thank you.

If you are interested in more of Ali’s posts, you can find all of her posts so far under the tag: anonymous blog I love.

[nonbinarylocalcryptid]

Me: hm, I should take a break from my thesis

Also me: *opens another incorrect quotes generator*

This time, Telemachus & Astyanax edition feat Odysseus

Telemachus : Fuck.

Astyanax : We've got to work on your cursing.

Telemachus : Why? I'm pretty good at cursing already.

--

Astyanax: I'm a reverse necromancer.

Telemachus : Isn't that just killing people?

Astyanax : Ah, technicality.

--

Telemachus , tending to Astyanax 's wounds: How would you rate your pain?

Astyanax : Zero stars. Would NOT recommend.

--

Astyanax : I learned some very valuable lessons from this.

Telemachus : I’m guessing they are all horrible distortions on the lessons you actually should’ve taken away.

Astyanax : Death isn’t real, and I’m basically God.

--

Telemachus : I was arrested for being too cool.

Astyanax : The charges were dropped due to a lack of supporting evidence.

--

Telemachus : Must be hard not being able to laugh

Astyanax : I do have a sense of humor you know

Telemachus : I’ve never heard you laugh before

Astyanax : I’ve never heard you say anything funny

--

Astyanax : You fuckers don’t know about my knife stick. It’s a knife taped to a stick and it’s the ultimate weapon.

Telemachus, not looking up from their book: Spear.

Astyanax : BLOCKED.

--

Telemachus : Astyanax , keep an eye on father today. He's going to say something to the wrong person and get punched.

Astyanax : Sure, I’d love to see Odysseus get punched.

Telemachus : Try again.

Astyanax , sighing: I will stop Odysseus from getting punched.

--

Telemachus : Why are you on the floor?

Astyanax : I'm depressed, my homeland was raided when I was a baby

Telemachus : ...

Astyanax : Also I was stabbed, can you get father, please.

--

(during the suitors fight etc)

Telemachus , to Astyanax : My life is in the hands of an idiot!

Astyanax , motioning to himself and Odysseus : No no no no no, TWO idiots! And one of them shares DNA with you!

--

Store Worker: Would the Prince Telemachus please come to the front desk?

Telemachus , arriving at the desk: Hello, is there a problem?

Store Worker: points to Astyanax and Odysseus

Store Worker: I believe they belong to you?

Astyanax and Odysseus , simultaneously: We got lost :(

Telemachus : I didn’t even bring you guys here with me-

--

Telemachus : What do you think Astyanax will do for a distraction?

Odysseus : He’ll probably, like, make a noise or throw a rock. That’s what I would do.

*Building explodes and several car alarms go off*

Odysseus : ... or he could do that.

--

Telemachus : We need a distraction.

Astyanax : Is anyone here good at jumping up and down and making weird noises?

Odysseus , whispering: My time has come

Telemachus: what's wrong with you two??

Astyanax: Tele, my bro my guy my dude, have we ever tell you about the time we get lost at the sea FOR TEN YEARS???

--

Telemachus, holding a python: Guys I impulsively bought a snake, what do I name him

Astyanax : You did WHAT–

Odysseus : Polyphemus Poseidonius the First

--

Telemachus : *Screams*

Astyanax : *Screams louder to assert dominance*

Odysseus : Should we do something?!

Penelope , observing: No, I want to see who wins this.

--

Telemachus : *Gently taps table*

Astyanax : *Taps back*

Odysseus : What are they doing?

Penelope : Morse code.

Telemachus : *Aggressively taps table*

Astyanax : *Slams hands down* YOU TAKE THAT BACK-

--

Telemachus : You are now one day closer to eating your next bowl of olives

Astyanax : That's the most hopeful thing I've ever heard.

Odysseus : But what if I die tomorrow and never eat any olives?

Penelope : Then tomorrow is olive lucky day.

--

Odysseus : Why are Telemachus and Astyanax sitting with their backs to each other?

Penelope : They had a fight.

Odysseus : Then why are they holding hands?

Penelope : They get sad when they fight.

--

Telemachus , banging on the door: Astyanax ! Open up!

Astyanax : Well, it all started when I was a kid...

Odysseus : No, they meant-

Penelope : Let them finish.

And that's all for now

[t3a-tan]

Giant James, tiny Tanner - 12&4 (angst??)

Word Count: 3,107

4. “I’m not scared of you, not really. You’re just… big.” 

12. “I know I must seem big and scary to you, but I don’t mean any harm, promise.”

James and Tanner may have bitten off more than they can chew, but they're trying their best!

From this!

-----

“Are you ready?”

Tanner nodded stiffly, though he kept his eyes focused down towards his brown boots. It had been months since Oliver found him again, and in that time he had been gjven new clothes and all the berries and food and water a borrower could ask for. It was a peaceful and calm life, especially in comparison to how his life had been for the years leading up to being found.

At first he had been so scared and touch-starved, constantly clinging onto his cousin and refusing to leave the burrow. Oliver had taken care of him the whole time; reading stories and singing little songs to help calm him down, making tea when he was cold, treating his wounds, tucking him in— Oliver would sit beside his bed and stroke his hair every night so that Tanner could fall asleep.

Tanner didn't think he would ever feel that kind of love and care again after being separated from his sister.

As time passed, Tanner noticed Oliver mentioning a name often; James. It was a friend of his cousin— but whenever he would ask about him Oliver seemed to avoid the subject… until recently when he confessed that James was a human.

At first the thought frightened Tanner deeply, but as weeks passed and the revelation wasn't as much of a shock, Tanner realised sadly that because Oliver was busy looking after him all the time, he hadn't been able to visit his friend at all. Feeling guilty, he suggested going to James's house— not to meet him himself, but so Oliver could see him. Oliver had agreed, albeit hesitantly.

For three weeks now Tanner had been to the human's house, once each week, and although he had only managed to skittishly introduce himself on the first week, he had interacted with James very minimally for the following two. This week it was different though, because Oliver wasn't going to be there.

He had a job to do; helping a nearby family of borrowers move safely to another residence. He suggested that Tanner could stay with James in the meantime since Tanner was scared of being alone, and although the thought of being alone with a human again was terrifying he had simply smiled and nodded.

So here he was, preparing to properly interact with Oliver's human friend. Alone. Tanner bit his lip nervously before following his cousin out of the wall to where the human was waiting.

“Hey Oliver. Hey Tanner.” James lowered himself down more as he noticed Oliver gesturing for him to do so, before focusing on the kid again. “You're gonna be fine, munchkin. I don't bite.” He assured with a soft smile, seeing how fidgety the boy was. He couldn't exactly blame them— Oliver hadn't gone too in depth about things, but James didn't need exact explanations to know the kid was traumatised.

Tanner nodded slowly and offered a meagre wave, though he held onto Oliver's arm and stayed behind him anyway. He wished he wasn't here doing this, but he didn't have the heart to tell Oliver— and it might hurt James’s feelings, which he didn't want either. He was his cousin's friend after all, no matter how large and scary.

“I expect you to be on your best behaviour James.” Oliver spoke sternly, before turning to face Tanner, patting his head in a comforting manner. He offered a smile and cupped his scarred and burned cheek with his calloused hand. “Remember, James is safe. There's not anyone in the world I would trust more with you, okay?”

Tanner leaned into the touch, placing his own smaller and shakier hand over Oliver's, his fingertips tinted black as if perpetually frostbitten. Oliver always felt sad seeing the difference, but happy at the same time to feel his cousin was alive. He pulled him in gently for a hug before taking a breath, mentally preparing himself to leave and desperately hoping this would go well.

“Alright. I'll be back in a day or two.” And with that, Tanner had been left alone with one of the worst and most horrific predators a borrower could face.

He couldn't bring himself to look at the man no matter how hard he tried; his hands clenched and his shoulders bunched up with discomfort as he shifted his weight from foot to foot on the counter. Say something. I shouldn't be rude… He's Oliver's friend..! Even if he's big and scary and huge and terrifying and— At least it's not as bad as the bad place.

“I know I must seem big and scary to you, but I don’t mean any harm, promise.” James assured, smiling lopsidedly in sympathy for the boy's obviously nervous demeanour. He expected this kind of interaction thanks to the small interactions he had already had with the boy so far. He would never make eye contact and always seemed on the verge of tears if James would get too close. But I'll gain your trust today, I guarantee it!

Tanner bristled slightly in surprise at those words, glancing up very briefly before quickly looking down again. Do humans read minds? I don't think so...

“U-um…” He began, clasping his hands together behind his back to try to stop them from shaking. Tanner managed to force himself to look up at James and smiled sheepishly. “I’m not scared of you, not really. You’re just… big.” He lied.

During his time in the bad place, he had learned that he needed to hide his fear from humans— but he had never been very good at it… Tanner had always struggled with anxiety more than other borrowers, and the trauma had only made it worse. He could lie and pretend he was fine, but it didn't work for very long. I have to be okay, or I'll be a burden to Oliver…

“That's good to hear. It's okay if you're nervous though, munchkin. We'll take things slow…” James stood up slowly to save his knees from the aching and creaking they were doing on the floor. He saw Tanner move back and offered another smile holding his hands in front of him placatingly.

“Sorry, sorry. My knees are getting old, so it's hard for me to stay kneeling for too long.” He hummed, glancing back towards the living room before looking down at the borrower again, pointing a thumb behind him. “How about we move somewhere more comfortable? I'll give you a lift there, don't worry.”

Tanner hesitated at the suggestion. He could talk but being near giant hands? Touching them? That would be difficult. He remembered how Oliver said that if he told James no the human would listen, but even so he couldn't bring himself to actually do it. Ryker had made sure to condition that out of him.

Tanner was crying, trying to fight off the invading giant fingers from touching him as he panicked and sobbed. He could faintly hear Sammy screaming his name from the other room, but she was nowhere to be seen. He was alone.

“You're making this more difficult than needed.” The frustrated scientist who was trying to get him to lie flat let out a huff, before finally managing to pin him down to the cold metal table. Tanner felt sick, his head spinning and chest huffing, trying desperately to sit up or move but not even being able to budge.

“Shhh…calm down…” He shut his eyes tightly and trembled as he felt a finger start to stroke his head. Tanner kept trying to fight back, squirming fruitlessly— no matter how much he wanted some form of comfort, he knew whose hands were on him and that only made his skin crawl.

The scientist tutted at his continued resistance, before pressing down on Tanner's chest ever so slightly, enough that his eyes opened wide as he started struggling to breathe.

“I’ll give you some advice…” Ryker began. “It would take me no effort to take your life. It would take you all of your effort to accomplish nothing…” As he spoke he continued to pet the boy's head, looking down at him with a mix of pity and disgust. Tanner shuddered under that cold unblinking gaze, unable to do anything but hope he'll be able to breathe again soon. Ryker hummed.

“Just be good and stop wasting your energy.” The finger soon released from his chest, allowing Tanner to breathe again as he desperately sucked in the air he had just been deprived of. He trembled, staring up at the scientist with a watery gaze.

“Would you rather be a good pet and get comfort from your owner, or a bad pet who gets hurt instead? Either way you're a pet now, so I'd suggest you take the more bearable option.” Tanner hesitated before giving up, no longer fighting and just crying softly to himself, listening to the still present but distant calling from his sister who was no doubt making her hands bloody trying to get out of the cage to reach him. He couldn't help it… he wasn't like her. He was so scared.

He would be a good pet.

Tanner smiled again and nodded, clasping his hands tighter and feeling his muscles aching from the tensity. His head was screaming at him to just say no, but he couldn't help it— the idea of refusing or fighting back now only reminded him of the crushing sensation he would receive back in the bad place, taking his breath away. No. He would rather be good and feeling uncomfortable rather than feel like that again.

He watched the human perk up at his agreement, and couldn't help but look away again, casting his blackened gaze towards the ground. Oliver said it was safe and he was trying hard to believe that; James hadn't done anything bad any of the times he came over, but being alone it felt different… Tanner didn't have much of a voice— depending on Oliver to point out when he was uncomfortable, otherwise he couldn't say a word.

“Alright. Hop on then, munchkin.” James was relieved that the kid was willing to trust him. Oliver had acted like this would be a lot more difficult than it was turning out to be, but he was already making physical contact! He placed his hand down palm up on the counter, laying his fingers flat and trying not to twitch or get too close.

He couldn't help but be in awe watching the tiny kid slowly climb onto his palm. He had held Oliver so many times but this felt different… This was a sign of trust, and even if this ended up being the only physical contact Tanner allowed he would be happy with that.

Carefully, he lifted his hand up to chest level before walking into the living room and sitting down on the sofa. He kept his movements slow and small to avoid jostling the boy around too much. After sitting he hummed, debating whether to ask or not…

“Is it okay if I keep holding you..? Just whilst we sit. It might help you get more used to me anyway.” He asked with a sheepish smile.

“I don't want anymore crying from you when I pick you up. You'll get used to it…”

Tanner jolted at the random flashback, and he couldn't help but feel sad that James even asked. He really wanted to be put down… he could feel the tension in his body and the fear in his chest— his veins buzzing with adrenaline. Despite himself, he nodded again, bringing his knees to his chest and trying to keep his trembling contained.

James frowned, bringing the boy up closer to eye level.

“Um… you don't look okay with it…” He bit his lip, unsure if he should trust that Tanner was just nervous and the nod was genuine, or if he should consider that the nod was not genuine for some reason… He's always said when he's uncomfortable before! Well… Oliver says, and then he agrees. But why would he lie? “I'll…put you down.” Just in case.

Tanner seemed alarmed by his words, looking up at him with wide eyes. James was struck again by his odd appearance— he had seen it before and Oliver had described it, but now that he was holding the borrower so close he couldn't help but find it…disturbing. But the more surprising fact was how the black tint in his fingers and under his eyes seemed to be spreading.

“I-I'm sorry… I didn't m-mean to look scared, I promise— I'm really fine here..!” He mistook James's reaction as disappointment, and though part of him was sure James wouldn't hurt him like Ryker, most of him was scared of the possibility. He had no one around to defend him after all— and he had to be good until Oliver got back.

“Hey hey, woah. It's okay if you are scared, alright? Chill…” James let out a small sigh, unsure what to do. He wasn't used to dealing with traumatised tiny people— so he didn't know whether to listen to the boy or insist. He paused briefly to consider his actions more carefully before lowering his hand to the blanketed arm of the sofa. “Here. Step off if you want, or stay on if you want. I'll just stay still, okay?”

Tanner's head felt like it was in a whirlpool, spinning and spiralling more and more at the decision. Is it a test? No, this is Oliver's friend…he seems nice. But Ryker said I'm naive too! If it is a test I can't risk it… Tanner could feel tears quickly gathering in his eyes the more overwhelmed he felt by the situation, and as much as he tried to keep it in, James took notice.

“H-hey, Tanner.. like I said, it's your choice. Am I doing something wrong..?” James was also starting to get nervous as he realised that he genuinely didn't understand what was happening or why it was happening, assuming he must have done something bad. Tanner shook his head again, burying his head in his knees and letting out a small whimper.

“I-it's really hard…being near a human…” He admitted softly; so quiet that James had to lean in to actually hear him properly. His brows furrowed in concern at those words, going to comfort the boy and assure him again that he didn't have to do anything he didn't want to, only for Tanner to continue.

“Y-you…you seem nice… I-I know you're friends with Oliver…and he's super super nice— b-but I um… I just…” Tanner’s fingers curled in to grab at the bottom of his shoes, feeling the stitching in an attempt to keep himself grounded. It was hard to explain his feelings and emotions over the situation, and even harder to explain why he was like this. He trailed off for a moment, trying to think of the words to say.

“I'm… I always have to..b-be a good pet… and I— I know that Oliver said you aren't like the bad humans, but I can't help it. I-I promise I'm trying, but it's hard…” Tanner hiccuped, feeling the black liquid starting to drip from his eyes and stain his cheeks. “I'm sorry… I'm trying to be good…”

James was taken aback by the sudden confession, not really understanding what Tanner meant but seeing that he was crying…and he heard the mention of being a pet? What? What does he mean he has to be a good pet? Does he think that's what I see him as..?

“Woah, munchkin. That's…no. You are not a pet. And you don't have to be good… I want you to genuinely trust me, not to force yourself to do stuff when I ask. If you're uncomfortable, you can say that to me.” James was quick to correct him, now suddenly finding the tiny weight in his palm made him feel very uneasy. He doesn't want to be there, so why is he still forcing it?

“I-I can't say that…” Tanner responded, and the confusion that gave James made him feel a little frustrated— but not with the boy himself.

“You can. I'm not gonna—”

“No, you don't understand, I can't…!” He insisted, now shaking so much that James could feel it. He could see the boy's skin was getting darker by the second, some of the black spreading through his hair too. The sight was concerning and James didn't know what to do about it, so he just listened for the time being, trying to understand.

“I hear his voice…a-and I feel his fingers pushing on me— and…and his eyes looking at me…and then I can't say no…I-I can't do it… I-I know he's not here but he's still hurting me…” Tanner didn't know the exact terminology of a flashback, so he tried to describe how he felt as best as he could, as frightening as it felt to confess this to a human.

That made things click for James, recognizing what Tanner was describing as a flashback and slowly but surely connecting the dots.

“Oh. Oh… Okay.” The concern was obvious in his expression, and he rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to process everything he had just learned. “Let's take some deep breaths, alright? I'm not gonna let the man hurt you. Ready? In…..and out…”

Tanner began to calm down as he followed James's instructions, and soon his body was returning to normal; the black only remained under his eyes, at the tips of his fingers, and on his actual eyes. James managed to get the boy to settle on a blanket instead of staying on his hand, and he hummed a tune he heard Oliver humming to himself all the time, hoping the familiarity would make the boy feel safer.

Soon enough the boy had fallen asleep, the exhaustion from his earlier panic catching up to him the moment the tension left his body. James stayed where he was, watching for a few more moments, content to see him actually relaxing now. As soon as Oliver returned he would have to let him know what he heard because of how concerning it was— and Oliver was definitely more qualified than him to deal with it…

But until he got back James was determined to make Tanner feel as comfortable as possible. And until he was sure that the trust was genuine he wouldn't touch the kid without being asked by Tanner himself. James smiled again at the sight of the child cuddling onto the folds of the giant blanket.

“Get some rest, munchkin…”

[h50europe]

I wish fans would stop dissecting Buck/Tommy scenes but enjoy them for what they are: flirty banter between two lovers. Oliver stated in an interview he and Tim agreed to keep this relationship on the lighter side, more like a rom-com.

But no people go and dissect it like an alien discovered by NASA in a backyard.

When Tommy throws the line, "God, I hope so," he is nothing but hinting at the age difference, which is, give or take, about 7 years. So what? Seven years is nothing. Still, Tommy refers to it but means it as a joke. And Buck even blushes a little.

I can't remember we've ever seen Buck that flirty and all smiles whenever he and one of his many GFs where together. Can't the pearl clutchers be happy for him because he is finally who he is? Without having to hide a part of his sexuality that he kept buried deep inside before he met Tommy. A side he couldn't even show to Eddie. A side he knew was there but never dared to explore? Tommy came into Buck's life and opened this cage. He understands Buck on a totally different level than Eddie ever could. We see that Eddie has no gaydar. He was also clueless about Tommy being gay. Being so close to Buck, like the tin hats want them to be, he must have realized that Buck isn't only into women but guys as well. "Buddie" lived practically out of each other's pockets. And not once did Eddie ask, "Could it be that you aren't just into girls?" In a serious manner, not as a joke.

How about dissecting Eddie's dating "issues" with the doppelganger of his deceased wife? Does this imply Eddie's into necrophilia? This is ridiculous. It would be only one of their reactions. The nicer one, I guess. But it is no different from their daddy-kink nonsense.

What's wrong with these tin hats who are constantly complaining about LIs in general. No matter if it's Buck or Eddie? Shoving your favorite ship down everybody else's throat is the opposite of being open-minded and tolerant.

If Buddie should ever become canon, they will need a lot of patience. Eddie suffers from PTSD and is mentally unstable. Now, he lost his son. He has so much on his plate already. The last thing he needs right now is Buck coming over him like a force of nature and telling him he loves him. That would be the final straw if you want to see him end up in a loony bin. Eddie has to be on his own for some time to find out what and who he really wants. Something that would have to be stretched at least over a few episodes, if not over a full season. If it should be realistic. It took them 100 episodes to address Buck's bi-sexuality. And we saw hints here and there. We never saw hints of it concerning Eddie. Why do these "fans" think you can turn him bi from one moment to the other? Like Oliver said, it's not what he wanted for his character that Buck is bi, and suddenly, everyone else around him has some sort of sexual awakening. Since when can't a bisexual or gay man can't have a heterosexual bestie?

Also, bashing and harassing an actor for a part he is playing shows how sick these tin hats are. Or do they really think they could scare him off the show with their immature behavior and their unfounded hatred? Such behavior never ended a series character, let alone made a showrunner diverge from his plans and suddenly turn his show into a fan service-only show. Get a life ASAP, you tin hats and spread your toxic behavior among your ilk. It's not our fault you're leading a sad life full of envy and h*te. I am so sorry for you all. Fueled with so much anger must turn you into embittered personalities with no fun and no friends. How many of you opened sock puppet accounts to have at least someone to talk to? Living in an echo chamber can be exhausting at times...