#and then they'd be like I'm a terrible partner and beat themselves up about it

[saltyfilmmajor]

thinking about how my ex expected me to watch all their standup comedy but couldn’t make the effort to read any of the fanfic i made

[the-modern-typewriter]

If you're willing, can we have your take on the "there's only one bed" trope? Villain/hero please.

Looking at the single bed in the room, the hero was tempted to say 'I'll take the floor', but they could just imagine the look the villain would give them. It would be filled with a gently mocking sort of amusement, not unkind, but...but the hero would see it, and want to curl up in a ball and die.

The hero swallowed.

"Would you like me to take the floor?" the villain asked.

Somehow, that was possibly worse than the amused look. It had the same knowing. Again, not unkind, but...the hero's face burned. "It's fine!" they said. "I don't mind sharing." They closed their eyes, briefly. "I probably won't hit you in the face."

"What?"

The hero cleared their throat. "I'm not trying to make you take the floor, and I'd be - er - obviously I'm not going to make you take the floor."

The villain stared at them.

The hero wanted to curl into a ball and die, so maybe there had never been any avoiding that. "I. Um. I move...in my sleep. Apparently."

"Apparently?"

Apparently, it had been a very a long time since the hero had shared a bed with anyone, ever since their last partner stopped after the hero kept having nightmares and accidentally punching them in the face.

"I'm just going to take the floor," the hero said. "I've slept in worse places."

The villain raised a brow. "They've only provided one duvet. It's cold."

"Terrible place. I know. I'm going to give it such a bad review on TripAdvisor."

"No, you won't."

No, the hero wouldn't. They'd always felt giving people bad reviews was mean.

"Take the bed with me," the villain said, moving forwards. "You're not going to hurt me. I'd have you pinned the second you tried."

"Um." They tried not to picture that. They failed.

The villain flashed them a look over their shoulder, already in the process of taking off their clothes. "I also promise not to molest you. In case that's your concern."

"No." Maybe, it should have been. Mostly, it was the possibility of accidentally punching the villain in the face. It was all well and good to punch them on purpose. In their sleep felt a bit off.

"Chop chop then." The villain smiled, and let their shirt drop. "I'm knackered, and we have an early start."

The hero quickly looked down to avoid staring. They were not especially self-conscious about their body, or sharing beds with people in general. At least, they hadn't been before the nightmares and punching. A bed was a bed was a bed. It didn't have to mean anything.

Somehow, the thought of sharing a bed with the villain, having their bare skin inches away beneath the sheets, got to them more than it would have done with anyone else. Their heartbeat quickened.

They shucked off their own, travel-worn and impossible to sleep in, clothes until they were only in their underwear. They quickly dove beneath the covers, keeping to the edge of their side. It wasn't really a big enough bed to have much possible 'sides' to it. When the villain got in, the hero could feel the heat of them, close. They could feel the way the villain held themselves, avoiding the contact.

The hero huffed. "Put your arms around me," they said. They closed their eyes so they wouldn't see the villain's face.

"Little spoon so you don't punch me?"

They didn't have to see the villain's face to hear the smirk.

"It's not funny," the hero muttered. "I'm told it hurts."

The villain's arms curled around them after a beat, pulling them flush and holding them close. Their breath tickled the hero's neck. Their grip was firm and secure. The hero didn't actually think they could have broken the hold so easily.

Most of their previous partners held them with such tenderness, like they thought the hero might break if they held on too tight, and it wasn't a bad thing obviously, but...

The villain's hold was so reassuring.

"This okay?" The villain's voice was by their ear. "You stopped breathing."

The hero shivered.

They knew the villain felt the shiver, but they didn't react.

"Yeah," the hero managed, a little hoarse. "Fine. I'm fine. It's fine."

"Good. Goodnight."

The hero cleared their throat. "Goodnight."

They expected it to take them ages to fall asleep, given vulnerability around enemies and all that...but with everything that had happened in the last forty eight hours they were exhausted, and they couldn't quite believe the villain would hurt them. At least, if they did, it wouldn't be while the hero was sleeping. And, so, after a few minutes of being agonisingly aware of the villain being behind them, they drifted off more sweetly and easily than they had in a long time.

When they woke up, it wasn't in the middle of the night, from a nightmare that left them flailing to defend themselves. It was morning. They were warm. Neither of them had moved.

The villain's breathing was steady and peaceful.

And the hero found maybe, just maybe, they would have left five stars on TripAdvisor for being crammed into a tiny single bed, with their villain, because there were no other rooms.

[xenadreamer]

The Remastered Dragons as Partners

Oh boy, I recently got my hands on the new Monster Core book and boy do I have thoughts on the new Dragons introduced. I'm excited to see Paizo expand the list- especially for the possibility of Daemonic/Demonic dragons & Nirvana/Elysium dragons. But for fun I decided to ask myself which of the new dragons would be best as a Husband/Wife/Life Partner, and here's what I came up with! enjoy!~

#1 Adamantine Dragons are literally described as Steadfast and Loyal. Once they dedicate themselves to you, they'll never stray from you- they'll be at your side forever.

#2 Empyreal Dragons are wise, considerate, and compassionate, and have boundless patience and understanding. All good traits to have in a romance.

#3 Horned Dragons might seem big, bulky, and monstrous, but they're actually very focused on knowledge and self discipline, and they're apparently very open to speaking with outsiders. A Horned Dragon won't beat around the bush- they'll be up front and honest and tell you what you need to hear. They're also pretty beefy and can probably suplex you or any potential threats to you!

#4 Omen Dragons might not be as available as Adamantine, Empyreal, or Horned dragons, instead you might have to be the one to be by their side. They are hounded by visions of the future constantly, which they feel compelled to share with you. You could use their insight to benefit the both of you, or you could simply ignore the prophecies together with them- and just enjoy the moments you have together. Whichever future you two are together is good enough.

#5 Fortune Dragons. I was tempted to rank them above Omen Dragons, but its situational. Theoretically, a Fortune Dragon could be a great partner- treasuring you as the crowning jewel of their collection. However, Fortune Dragons are also fickle- always looking for something new and original. If you were consistently interesting, they'd stick by you and treasure you. However, if you started to become routine their interest would wane and they'd cheat on you for their next new fling.

#6 Mirage Dragons are the first entry in the 3 I like to call the "emotional abuse" tier. It's hard to rank these 3 because they all sound terrible to have as partners. But Mirage Dragons seem slightly less bad than Conspirator Dragons and Diabolic Dragons. Mirage Dragons are vain and egotistical, and will manipulate you into staying with them or believing something they think is beneficial to them. If you're ready to devote your whole life to worshiping someone, then I suppose you're ready for a Mirage Dragon.

#7 Diabolic Dragons are tyrannical and abusive, but at least they're up front about it. They have a very dominating presence, and will probably force you to convert to worshiping Devils if you aren't already doing so. Sees themselves as an alpha and will try to break your will and corrupt you into a willing servant of Hell.

#8 Conspirator Dragons will not only manipulate, gaslight, and control you- they will delight in doing so. They will lie to you and keep lying to you for no other reason than it thrills them to do so. You do not "date" a Conspirator Dragon- they own you, mind and all, and they will socially engineer you into a doll they can play with whenever it suits them. That's why they're bottom of the tier list.

But what do you think? Would you rank any of the Dragons higher or lower than I did? Feel free to let me know!

[thephantomcasebook]

Emily Carey's rich mom is happy that her daughter dates a rich girl who happens to be an indie singer. In her upper class circles, they'd rather to have a lesbian daughter that screws a rich heiress than a straight daughter that fancies plumbers. My "conservative" grandfather chose my sister as his heir even if she had a wealthy girlfriend because I was seeing a poor literature male student.

We live in a world where a fancy white red hair rich girl believes she's more oppressed than coal miners' grandchildren for being a lesbian. What's so special about a lesbian Queen?

I once investigated a pipeline of Australian Actresses that went from L.A. to Vancouver - Australian Nickelodeon to the CW network. And there was a shit-ton of grooming and underage sex perpetrated by older female executives with these young Australian actresses.

I once interviewed one of said actress that aged out of the system. And they couldn't wrap their head around the idea that they were being groomed and raped by these older women, because, they were women and told that it was only rape if a man does it and that it was safe and normal as long as a woman does it.

She gave up the names of the male executives behind it, but she wouldn't say the female executives, even the ones that had forced her to have sex with them and their friends, cause, 'they were nice to me' and 'I don't blame them.'

We got into a screaming match and I was sent to observe ... nothing ever came from it.

But, yeah, that shit is toxic as fuck when it comes to the Lesbian community - worse than the issues in the gay community. There is no oversight or resources in the Lesbian Community for victims, so there's a ton of grooming and sexual assault, as well as a terrible amount of domestic violence that goes unchecked and unheard, because, of this strange sanctifying of the Lesbian relationship as ideal and safe by modern progressive society.

I've heard and seen a female partner beat the absolute shit out of her femme and then gaslight her to believe that if she tells anyone - especially a man - that she is betraying the "sisterhood' and that it will hurt all lesbians and make them look bad.

Men groom boys into silence through shame. But Women groom young girls by guilt.

I'll admit that I have to really, really, focus on the rational and constantly question myself if I'm being fair and open minded when dealing sometimes with Lesbians on serious matters, cause I've just seen so many pieces of absolute shit get away with the worst things cause they claimed to be queer or were queer.

Because, the LBGTQ mafia have made sexuality a defining and protected class, it's become almost a cashe or status symbol of virtue to be said thing, even if you're not. And sadly too many parents have almost groomed their own children into being in that community in order to make themselves feel and look special.

I can't say for sure about Emily Carey or her mom, but I know that London is a growing hot spot for rich older women to groom younger women by offering quid-pro-quo favors. I've been seeing and hearing about trends that worry me lately, especially, in the British entertainment industry.

People often forget that Women - just like men - are human beings with the same weakness for power and control ... and that they're just as susceptible to it's corruption as men are when in power.

I don't know if that answers your question ... but I hope it commiserates with your thoughts.