#but the things she does. the way her whole public life is a performance. it’s not healthy.

[taylorrepdetective]

I’ve mentioned the young swiftie in my life. She’s a young adult who has grown up on Taylor since she was 6. She loves her with her whole heart and was extremely invested in Toe. I think Taylor’s idea of Joe is her dream man so she really bought into it. Nice, intellectual/well-read, artistic renaissance man, humble, no fragile masculinity. You get the idea. She was very sad over the break up 7 months ago.

Then Matty showed up. She is a mild fan of The 1975, so she knew about Matty and thought he was terrible and was not happy at all about it. At some point she mentioned maybe it was just for PR ( I think someone else planted that idea.) she hung onto that idea but expressed a lot of concern about Taylor’s character if she would date a man like that.

She’s heard rumors of her being a bit fruity and I think she thinks it’s probably true but absolutely 100% believes in Toe and hasn’t talked about her bearding, just dating for PR more as a regular celebrity like a Kardashian might do. I do not talk about Taylor being gay and bearding with her. I’ve never mentioned it once, I have always indulged her toe fantasies because it’s nice. It doesn’t hurt anything at all.

But the thing with Matty really shook her. When they broke up she moved on but I think she had been exposed to a lot of the negative stuff that was going around after Matty. Her silence on politics. Working with That Director, etc… and we talked about it just a tiny bit. It seems her Pollyanna view of Taylor had been a little bit tarnished because of Matty specifically because it exposed her to this other stuff. But they broke up and we all moved on and we didn’t really talk about Taylor again much.

But then last night I happened to be with her during the concert. I knew she wasn’t super thrilled with Travis (she sees him as a meathead and not attractive at all. She’s more into the Timothee Chalemet type.) And I told her about Taylor changing the guy on the screen coming home to me to “guy in the chiefs coming home to me,” and let me tell you, I’ve known her throughout her teen years, but when I say she gave me the BIGGEST eyeroll that’s ever been rolled. I laughed and said “yeah it’s a bit extra” and then she just went on this rant. It was fascinating.

Basically she told me that ever since Matty, she’s had to reconcile with herself that Taylor is not the person she thought she was. Keep in mind that throughout her teen years, Taylor was with Joe, so that’s the Taylor she knows. The Taylor that spoke out in 2018-2020 as well, just as she was growing into her own political mind and out there at women’s rights and anti-gun and BLM protests. She basically said “I think there’s a 50-50 chance Taylor is a sociopath” (in all seriousness, not joking around like we do.) We talked about her being a bit messed up by fame and how she has to compartmentalize her public and private lives in order to stay sane. Then she said “but has she? Stayed sane? I don’t think so.” I mentioned about how Taylor has said her life makes her sometimes question if she’s a real person and she’s admitted struggling with this, and all this did was confirm to her that yes, she may very well be a psychopath, and she specifically clarified to me that she meant “evil” psychopath. I tried to be nice and say that her actions generally were pretty benign even if she has a bit of that tendency, and she was unconvinced (see above for the problematic stuff.)

Then I said, “yeah I think about some of this a lot. And you know what, when you hear Dear Reader in this context, it really hits home.” And she said. “Yes! I love that song...”

And that was the end of the conversation. But what I really wanted to say is “but if she’s closeted, she looks a lot more sympathetic and a lot of this makes a lot more sense.”

Maybe that conversation will come in time.

[inamindfarfaraway]

I love how Paul's character in The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals is defined entirely by a lack of desire, or desire defined only as 'not what I don't want'. "What Do You Want, Paul?" is a big joke about what a terrible narrative protagonist he is. But it's deeper than that. Throughout the show, even in the smallest, most insignificant phrasing, this man only ever expresses wants in these negative forms, as if he's incapable of feeling attraction in itself rather than simply avoiding what he dislikes. And only avoiding! He never says that he hates anything, either! That would give him passion, drive, perhaps the goal of actively removing that thing. No, he exclusively uses the verb hate in past tense.

He doesn't like musicals, singing, dancing or public performances. He makes this very clear, to the point that it's one of his most significant character traits. At no point does he ever talk about liking any media.

He doesn't want to do social activities.

He doesn't want to give away his money. About both this and the above, he can provide no logical explanation or moral justification. He just doesn't feel like them.

He always gets black coffee because it has "no cream, no sugar, nothing in it"; that is to say, he might not necessarily love it, merely prefer it over its sweeter or more complex alternatives.

He doesn't believe that Emma should have to sing and dance at work - he doesn't want her life to be so unfair and annoying to the both of them.

He doesn't want to obstruct the workings of his office (saying "that's the last thing I want" triggers "What Do You Want, Paul?").

He says, "I wanna go home!" when Mr Davidson is singing at him, but means that he wants to be somewhere safe and not stuck in this incredibly uncomfortable situation.

He doesn't want to die.

He specifically doesn't want to die in Clivesdale, because fuck Clivesdale.

He doesn't want to join the Hive.

He doesn't want to leave Hatchetfield, even when it's the site of an alien invasion that is his personal worst nightmare. He actually says that "All things considered, I like Hatchetfield", arguably an exception to the standard. However, he's also well aware of the town's flaws and problems. He grew up one of its poorer residents, attending the inferior, underfunded Sycamore High School where he casually admits the students "hated [themselves]" and having to watch its more respectable rival Hatchetfield High's school play. He has no strong investment in his tedious middle-class office job. He doesn't get along with some of his fellow townsfolk, like his coworker Ted and all the employees of Beanies except Emma. He awkwardly evades giving to charity and the homeless every morning on his way to work. His life is decidedly not one of utter bliss, and yet it's good enough for him in that he doesn't have the energy, ambition or imagination to want anything more. Since he's "been here [his] whole life", his affection for his hometown could be more an aversion to everywhere else or the hassle of travelling. Sticking with the devil he intimately knows.

He doesn't think badly of Emma, and says so because he doesn't want her to or believe that he does after learning that she helped make a "hated" experience of his happen.

He doesn't want to let Bill die, which is why he goes with Bill to rescue Alice. His heroism and proactiveness at the turning point of the end of Act One start to notably erode his apathy, but his phrasing reaffirms his negative motivations: "Hey, it's not like you're asking me to go see Mama Mia!", "Emma, there comes a time in every man's life when he has to draw a line in the sand. And I will never be in a fucking musical."

He doesn’t want Bill to blame himself for Alice's endangerment, stay in the area once Alice is revealed to be a vessel of the Hive or kill himself.

He doesn't want to do some light reading on the universal truth of love and the strength of the human heart.

He has no positive motivation. He breaks one of the most basic rules of being a fictional character, let alone the main character the audience is supposed to root for. He isn't just an antihero, he's an anti-protagonist. Although this could easily make him boring or unsympathetic, he manages to seem relatable. Real. Human. He captures so genuinely an ordinary person living an ordinary life suddenly trapped in a horror story. How many of can honestly articulate "one concrete goal that motivates all [our] actions"? Even if you can, you wouldn't undergo a narratively fulfilling and thematically cohesive arc related to that desire the way a fictional character would. We're all essentially just trying to survive each day. To make or keep our lives however we define 'good enough'. We may not have a crystal clear picture of our ideal life, but I bet we all have a long list of things we don't want in it. We're all Paul.

What more appropriate antagonist for this man to face, then, than a force that exists to strip people of their autonomy, their individuality, their personhood, and force them to play archetypical characters in a conventional narrative? The Hive observes that Paul is an anti-protagonist and takes offence to this. It seeks to convert him into his antithesis, the "bold" "leading man" of its musical who the audience can "sympathize with". The Infected highlight this in the opening song, in which they eagerly anticipate and prepare the audience for his entrance... and he misses his cue. He isn't following their script. Perhaps that's why the audience is able to believe in this average, unassuming antihero's potential to succeed, to defeat the Hive or at the very least escape it, despite how fraught and grim the situation becomes. The story certainly proves itself to be cruel to its characters; but Paul doesn't operate like a normal character. The Hive promises to fulfil people's desires and make them happy throughout the play. Charlotte, Bill, Hidgens and Ted's deaths are connected to, either in direct causality or thematic relevance, their respective desires for Sam's love, Alice's safety, world peace (and the glory of a musical career) and Ted's own survival. Paul is uniquely immune to this pattern of death related to a core motivation.

Until:

"I can't leave without Emma”, “a friend of mine."

"Is there a chance of something more?"

"I think so. I'd like there to be. I want there to be."

He wants Emma, her life and her happiness and maybe, just maybe, her love. He wants to love her. To spend time with her. For the first time ever, he wants more out of life, not less. He's a little bit more of a character. After the Infected reprise the "Did you hear the word?" section of the opening song, building up to his appearance, this time he does enter the theatre, coming down the aisle just as he was meant to. Right on cue. Paul is now vulnerable to the narrative - the Hive's narrative. And the Hive's control.

Still he resists, even while doubting if he was ever really happy before. Not only does he use his final words, fittingly, to declare that he doesn't like musicals, but before that he firmly refutes the Hive, and the philosophy behind it and all the pressures and temptatations it might represent: "It doesn't matter what I want." What matters is the good of the world. Emma. Love. Hope. Freedom. Integrity. Humanity, which must be wonderful if we can make sacrifices like this for all the right reasons.

Rest in peace, Paul Matthews. You were the opposite of a conventional protagonist, but a true hero.

[sgiandubh]

So in other words, you agree, Sam and Cait are not very good actors as exemplified by the scene being them and not Beauchamp and Fraser. On that, agreed. She might be a C actor, he's definitely a D

Dear Beauchamp and Fraser Anon,

I suspect you might be a returning one, by the way, hoping to catch me unprepared with a very cheap sophism. Check this concept on Wikipedia if you wish, but I will give you my definition: manipulated or derailed logic, i.e. formally sustainable, but in reality just a fallacy; or, if you prefer, a bunch of crap, just for the sake of it. Also, it would be wise not to try these cheap tricks on someone trained to work with words and doing so every single day: you might find no satisfaction, ultimately.

Fun fact: I don't agree with any single word you just wrote. Sam and Cait are very good and gifted actors. Both of them. They did wonders with a very inconsistent script and under barbaric public pressure. What dragged you in here, Anon? Mrs. Gabaldon's florid, even luxuriant prose? What kept you in here, Anon? Blood and sperm and rape galore? I should wish you were honest, at least for once in your life, and let your answer be 'not really'.

What I meant by that phrase was something very simple: the actors' life experience deeply informing and sublimating their performance. If you think real and creative lives are strictly separate affairs in any intellectual endeavor, then you are probably completely unfamiliar with anything remotely related to writing, singing, playing (an instrument), acting, composing or painting. All these are akin to magic and all of the above are a summoning of sorts: ask any 'content creator', you will probably get a very similar answer. In Cait and Sam's case, their real life story nurtures and elevates their acting, despite people like you.

I am not an actor myself, but a long time ago it was acting that liberated me and taught me to not be afraid of anything. I did not make a living out of it, but I will always have the tools making me able to access that very special energy, any time I should need it. So, I can only offer you an educated opinion of These Two:

C is a very, very good actress. She is classy, sophisticated and knows instinctively how to occupy a stage or a set. She worked and progressed a LOT since Season 1, when it took me a good while to warm up to her. Add to this what I think is arresting beauty. Not really a C-level, in my book.

S is a wonderfully gifted actor who, unlike C, does not have any idea of this potential and, to be honest, gives the impression to even not care about it. He singlehandedly dominated some of the most difficult moments of the series (that unwatchable Wentworth episode comes to mind). His mastery of the Stanislavski and Lecoq methods and techniques is excellent. He is likeable, personable and has an innate emotional intelligence, helping him navigate and compensate the weaknesses of (yes, I insist!) an often insufficient script. I have already written about it, with arguments, when I found some very interesting parallels between The Fiery Cross episode and Laurence Olivier's performance in Shakespeare's Henry V. I will say it again: this guy has been grossly miscast, spare for JAMMF.

Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the whole preparation and rehearsal process when producing a movie or a series or a theatre show. These people don't just learn their lines by heart and turn up for readings and rehearsals. They also read and watch a lot of things that could help them build better, more credible characters. But what makes the sometimes very subtle difference between a decent performance and a stellar one is the amount of themselves they allow inside their acting. And in this respect, I think Sam and Cait have been very lucky, in what is a very clear case of Art (instinctively) imitating Life.

I doubt this answered your question and to be honest, I don't care.

[lillified]

I love your versions of the decepticons but I do have a question! I honestly love tarn and his brooding nature, so I wanted to know what happened to him? Why’s his face absolutely destroyed and why does he hate megatron,,?

hey, that’s a good question! I believe I’ve answered something similar in the past re: Tarn’s deal, but I can rephrase it again+give some additional context below the cut!

Tarn and Megatron have a very similar background. Both come from low-caste professions (Megatron, obviously, a miner, and Tarn a construction hauler) and both became gladiators to an impressive degree of celebrity. Tarn was an artist in his own right, being a musician and composer (which wasn’t as broadly commercially appealing as Megatron’s writer-artist repertoire, but certainly attracted its fans).

On Cybertron, gladiators have their own sort of “stardom.” Regular audiences aren’t just invested in the sport, but the story behind it, and so the performers become “characters” in themselves. Established fighters often have a dedicated fanbase, lore, and even “managers” or “agents” to manage that public persona. These “careers” can be lucrative, but, unsurprisingly, very brief.

In his heyday, Tarn was everything the gladiator celebrity complex favors: young, charismatic, attractive, skilled, and, above all, marketable. The music he made enhanced his character, and, in turn, his gladiatorial feats promoted his music. He found a degree of purpose in his popularity.

Tarn’s era of celebrity ended when, in his closest match, he lost his face. He survived, but this spoiling took away the foremost aspect of his fame—his identity (in the past I’ve talked about the culture around faces and their irreplaceability, which applies here). Having no choice but to wear a pit mask to protect his exposed interior, he gradually faded out of popularity, in favor of the new wave of rising stars. Over time his music lost its audience and he became cemented in the second rate.

When Megatronus came along, she was quick to gain notoriety for the same reasons Tarn had, with a very similar audience. It was almost natural that she would fill the same niche, with a similar backstory, skillset, and audience appeal. Tarn immediately became jealous, but also couldn’t resist the familiar pull of a world he’d been unceremoniously excommunicated from: in Megatron, he found a way to live vicariously, and quickly began to see her as some parallel proxy for his lost ambitions. All gladiator friendships are underscored by a sort of tired acceptance of impending doom, but, in Tarn’s case, he abused their gallows goodwill to be an extremely two-faced fairweather friend.

Though they certainly shared some traits, Megatron and Tarn were notably different. Where Tarn found earnest purpose in his success, Megatron resented her popularity, engaging with her high society pass with cynical disdain. She invited scandal and scorned the whole scheme until she could use it to get what she wanted. Tarn frequently scolded her for her shallowness, but envied her and the attention she received immensely. This resentment only ever festered and grew.

Internally, Tarn’s wish has always been to witness Megatron’s downfall, and to indulge in her suffering. As his proxy, he will only ever be satisfied to know that she is more miserable than him. The only things preventing him from killing or hurting her directly were his deep desire to live her life, and his own utter hollowness and insecurity.

[yonkokraven]

I am glad I found someone that is highly critical of the LOV, because I have to be honest, that’s all these guys needed up being: destroy the world because we want to! If they wanted to prove the glaring flaws in society, I’d be willing to at least understand why I should care about them. But nothing about their actions makes me care about them. Yes they had sad backstories, but that only goes so far.

I wanted your opinion on something.

I have been especially critical on Toga, because no matter how many times I try to understand her, she only seemed to harm and ruin Ochako’s character more. In my perspective, people always seem to criticize Ochako for being nothing more than a satellite character to Izuku (where THAT honor goes to Bakugou), and I feel Toga’s part of the problem for this critique because that is literally their ONLY connection together: their shared feelings with a boy.

People will say both of them have repressed feelings and that Toga helped Ochako feel she can express those feelings.

As if Ochako isn’t surrounded by other characters that are expressive and outgoing or that she doesn’t have alternatives, like I don’t know, her parents, a teacher, Tsuyu, or Mina. People a lot more stable and less murdery in “expressing themselves”. Their whole reason for being foils just seems so forced and it drives me up the wall what happened to Ochako.

And the stans of Toga and the shippers don’t help. Especially when they seem so content on reducing Ochako to being nothing more than a love interest for Toga that is just meant to be her personal food source and to make it all about her.

I don’t hold it against Ochako for wanting to help her as she is a hero, but how it was written and how she feels responsible for Toga when it was in no way her responsibility for Toga’s actions.

Am I wrong for thinking this way?

Absolutely not!

One of the things I criticize most about Horikoshi's writing aside from the contradictory character development lines, is not having a consistency outside of panels when it comes to ALL the characters.

This theme of Uraraka and repressed feelings also enters into Hawks' plot which consists of heroes being able to have free time (i.e. personal lives).

From the first year she represses her feelings and adapts to the current conditions of heroism which are reduced to serving the public as a security tool against villains of all kinds and catastrophes

And she's not the only one, the entire class stops having a personal life and extracurricular activities from the moment they start at UA, and it's something that Horikoshi points out in SBS mentioning that those who enter the hero course can't even enter UA clubs.

In order for Uraraka to realize that what she does is wrong, since the performance of a hero is not tied to his feelings or relationships, I think the right people would have been Midnight and Mic.

And I don't say this only because they, unlike Aizawa, know that students are still children and not soldiers, but because they are already experienced heroes who were unable to properly build a life after graduating.

Furthermore, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary if thanks to those two the things changed for class A. In canon, Horikoshi makes the teachers stay out of class A's problems because Aizawa is the Homeroom Teacher, but logically and according to the personalities of the teachers, Aizawa should have been dismissed from his position between the final exams and the provisional license tests.

Having Midnight or Mic as Class A's Homeroom teacher means that they could slowly vent about their responsibilities and worries.

(Yes, Aizawa "helped" Yaoyorozu with the trust issue, but other than that it was a "fix your own problems" thing.)

With them being treated like people her age, Uraraka would realize that being a hero doesn't exclude you from having at least a moment of life and lets her feelings be free like her whenever she can, and this triggers the doubt in Uraraka's head about "who saves the heroes if they are also people?" little by little transforming into "how is a villain born?"

This is shared with Midoriya (at this point you can imagine that they are a couple in their first steps or that Uraraka is preparing to ask him out) and from here both of them do introspection on the subject to the point where they ask themselves a question that they should have asked since the camp arc:

What happened to the league to end up like this?

I'm not saying anything about them immediately deciding to save them, but that with time and thanks to Tsukauchi and All Might they discover on their own the origin of Toga, Shigaraki, Spinner and Twice, and think about those problems sharing it with the class in their free time or among themselves

You can imagine that over time they both decide to help the league, but with the same result, since as I said Horikoshi has written to the league to point out the flaws in the hero system and still die because his characters don't have the common sense to have a logical evolution.

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

Wait im sorry if like youve talked about this before but what is everyones roles in the fantasy au 👁️👁️ or jobs?

i've just Thought Aloud in bits and pieces but hey. i feel like talking today so i'll put it all in one place with Updated Thinkings

(i like to imagine that they all kinda Quit their initial jobs/lives to go adventuring with each other, either by choice or... not. except Howdy, who's a multitasking king). the Neighborhood party earns their wages by completing jobs/quests, though some of them have minor supplemental ways of adding to the coin collection

Wally, of course, didn't really have much of a Before. he didn't intend on becoming a warlock/wizard - that choice was kinda made for him by the circumstances of his existence. but Wally had to pretend to be a wizard for his own safety, and wizards have a sort of societal expectation to be Helpful and Magical and Wise and Existing For Public Service. so while Wally would have rather just been a painter, he's obligated to be a wizard - that's technically his role/job. within the Neighborhood party, he's a bit of a distance fighter/support! he doesn't really do the whole up-close / physical aspect of battle, though he technically knows how. He casts spells from afar, which tend to be widely benign. artsy little cantrips and inconveniences to make it harder for the enemy to fight. he's also a bit of a bloodhound - illusions don't trick him, he can "see" most magic, and he's really good at getting around unnoticed. if they're stuck somewhere, Wally can probably get them out

Barnaby's "job" before going adventuring with Wally - it started out as just the two of them! - was just working on the farm with Ms. Beagle, where he had been his entire life. Sure he'd sometimes do public performances/acts in town, which would earn him extra coin, but that was more of a paying hobby than anything (a paying hobby he will Continue) in the Neighborhood, he's... uh. their cheerleader? that's not entirely inaccurate! he's not big on combat or effort i'd reckon, so he prefers to just keep morale high. offer background music, funny commentary, jokes to lighten the mood, mediate tensions, etc. if necessary, he makes good backup - he has his illusions of course, and he Does pack a mighty punch if need be! he's also very helpful when retreating - he can grab the smaller party members and run

Wormie is the group mascot <3

Sally was a bit lost before joining the party - i like to think that she was constantly on the move as part of a traveling theater troupe, but she wasn't the star or director. she was just part of the group, uninspired and with a full well of untapped potential. one day she up and left (dramatically) to find her own inspiration/muse & path to stardom, which ended up being several years of wandering until she happened across the budding Neighborhood and went "this! this will be the source of my stories!" as for her role, she's a bit of an everyman. front lines fighter, entertainer, mediator, etc. she views herself as the party "leader", or rather, their Manager. she keeps the party entertained with stories, and bolsters their reputation in the same manner. in a battle she's a bit of a powerhouse - her light magic is useful both in combat and entertainment! she keeps a "book" of the Neighborhood's exploits (she swears it will be edited/published someday) holy shit she's moominpappa, and in their Extended downtime she writes and throws plays inspired by their adventures at their home base (town).

Eddie was still, originally, a mailman. or i suppose in a fantasy setting - a courier! until one day he saw a group of people being attacked by some bandits, managed to fight them off, and immediately got roped into helping rescue the folks' entire town from the bigger group of bandits. then they told others about Eddie's help, they wanted his help too, one thing after another and now he's got a full set of armor, a sword, a shield, and his whole thing is saving people. huh? how did that happen? he was delivering letters a month ago! if i had to give him a title... i'd say he's a Protector! he seems like the type! he always has his fellow adventurer's backs - i bet he has his hands full trying to cover everyone at once. outside of combat, he's still very helpful and does whatever is asked of him / needed. collecting firewood! pitching tents! stirring soup! getting Frank to remove a centipede from camp! in downtime he probably takes small bodyguarding gigs. he also is a minor healer - he took some sorta oath for some sorta god (or virtue) that he can't remember, but he has minor healing/cleansing powers. he's also good at sniffing out evil & dark magic! some would joke that he's the party's guard dog

Frank was raised in a monastery that believes in "using your body to fight for the greater good". this was not his job when they became old enough to actually Act on his training! nah they ran away in his mid teens because they wanted to fight things on his own terms. also they want to study bugs more than anything, which he does! for a long time! then they meet a certain princess, befriends her, and helps her run away. he only joins the Neighborhood because Julie wants to, and it's a good way to travel - read: study more arthropods - and earn coin. fighting is a bonus aspect Frank's role is... front line fighter, bookkeeper, and the Guy Who Knows Things! what monster are they dealing with? what are its strengths/weaknesses? Frank probably knows! can they afford a room or two at an Inn? Frank knows (no, they cannot)! who's throwing themself into direct mortal danger with gusto? it's Frank! no but really, Frank is like their resident nerd who can beat pretty much all of them in hand-to-hand. in downtime he probably has a garden purposefully full of plants that can be left alone for long periods of time... maybe they sell half the things grown for extra coin!

Julie, of course, was a princess! that was her whole job! it was incredibly boring and restricting, so she ran away with the help of a funny nerd. after that her whole life was just "avoid getting recognized while figuring out how to live in a world without the comforts/ease of castle life". i'd think she much prefers her new one! as a role, Julie joins Barn and Sally in the "entertainment category". while they entertain with humor/stories respectively, Julie goes straight for games and activities to fill the lull between action. keep the blood pumping, spirits high, and bonds Solid! camp games, road games, locked-in-a-dungeon games! in combat, she's on the front lines with her oversized sword. i think another fitting role would be "navigator" - she can ask plants for directions! technically Julie is a secret powerhouse. her flora magic is insanely powerful, though she prefers not to use it for several reasons

Poppy, i like to think, did indeed have a bakery. it was well-loved in her community, her staff were wonderful people, and it all burned down in a night due to raiders. luckily for Poppy and her town, Eddie was nearby and got on the case to get rid of their problem - maybe Poppy felt obligated to help in some shape or form, and Eddie wound up inspiring her to learn healing magic. She moved into the town that would become the not-yet-existing Neighborhood's HQ to try and restart her business, but it just wasn't the same, and she had gotten a taste of what it would be like to directly save/heal people Poppy is the party's cook, healer, and ultimate voice of caution! the most she'll do in battle is sprint into danger to drag an injured person to safety for healing - she doesn't have a combative bone in her body i'd guess! does she enjoy being in the Neighborhood? eh... it's stressful and terrifying, but she couldn't live with herself if she let them all brave the wild without an adequate healer OR an adequate cook. i like to think that she saw the state they were traveling in and went "oh no"

Howdy, of course, has his tavern! it's a popular hub for travelers, townsfolk, pretty much anyone and everyone. of course it helps that it's the only tavern in town! the only reason Barnaby managed to convince Howdy to join the Neighborhood on one of their jobs is because Howdy realized that he can widen his net & sell to new people On The Go. finally, a use for that magic backpack collecting dust in his room! Howdy got a taste for adventuring and joins the Neighborhood every once in a while, usually only for shorter jobs - he doesn't want to be away from his tavern for too long his roles are support, professional haggler, sarcastic commentary. he doesn't have a crumb of magic in him, but he's clever! he's learned how to make his own support items - including his fancy revolvers with magical crayonsbullets. Howdy rarely fights, choosing to watch over his pack, dole out items when needed, and listen to Barnaby's running commentary. when it is necessary that he join in on combat, he can usually clear the playing field in a matter of moments. he's skilled with both the revolvers and using his own items - he's a one man four armed army!

Home's job is "keep Wally upright and powered". they prefer to be an observer in all situations, even after their existence becomes common knowledge to the Neighborhood. the most Home will do is nudge Wally in the right direction or alert him to something important. Home's literally just hanging out behind Wally's eyes w/ a bucket of popcorn. unless something happens to his beloved little puppet, in which case Home becomes the biggest baddest bitch around and sends everyone else to the bench

tl;dr: Wally: support fighter, magic geiger counter, escape artist Barnaby: entertainer, backup Wormie: mascot Sally: storyteller, fighter, Manager Eddie: protector, minor healer, "paladin" Frank: bookkeeper, fighter, scholar Julie: activities director, navigator, fighter Poppy: cook, healer, overthinker Howdy: tavernkeeper, inventor, support Home: just keeping an eye out

[crybabylipstick]

TALKING ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MELANIE MARTINEZ:

In November of 2017, Timothy tweeted "what if I have my own story of a*use but I'm scared to ruin the persons life and I still love them in a f*cked up way and the public really loves them and most probably wouldn't believe me".

On December 4, 2017, Timothy publicly accused Melanie of s*xual as*ault on Twitter. She alleged two nights during which she "repeatedly said no" to advances from Melanie, claiming she kept secret for years and describing how Melanie had performed s*xual act*vities on her without her consent.

Melanie replied to the accusation shortly after claiming Timothy's allegation was false:

"I am horrified and saddened by the statements and story told tonight by Timothy Heller. What she and I shared was a close friendship for a period of time. We came into each other's lives as we were both starting our careers as artists, and tried to help each other. We both had pain in dealing with our individual d*mons and the new paths we were forging, but I truly felt we were trying to lift each other up. She never said no to what we chose to do together. And although we parted ways, I am sending her love and light always." (In case the picture is blurry).

- Melanie Martinez

In an interview with Newsweek, Timothy claimed that Melanie tried to contact both her and her boyfriend around 20 minutes after publishing the accusations through text and phone calls. No evidence to back this up was ever shared. In the aforementioned interview, Timothy went on to say that Melanie's dismissal of her account "says it all":

First of all, I did say 'no,' multiple times, but even if I hadn't, that doesn't mean I wanted it. She dug her own grave saying, 'she didn't say no'. That's not consent."

- Timothy Heller

On December 10, Melanie thanked her fans who supported her after the accusations.

"I understand how hard it could be to see my side of the story, considering no one with a heart would want to invalidate anyone speaking up about this topic. I want to thank my fans who took the time to research the timeline, analyze past Instagram photos, and question the story being told, which reveal her false statements. I trusted so many people in my life who took advantage of that trust for their own personal gain. Please know that my intentions with everything that I do in my life are always pure and I would never be i*timate with someone without their absolute consent." (In case the picture is blurry).

- Melanie Martinez

On July 19, 2024, 6 years after the controversy, Timothy posted a 6-minute video onto TikTok detailing how she had been h*rassed and bullied off the internet due to speaking up about the all*gations. She also said that she felt "quite validated" from Melanie's response due to Melanie admitting that the two had something take place between them.

(screenshot of the video Timothy is talking about Melanie and the whole situation).

Now, before anyone says something like "Oh wow you're supporting a 🍇pist" "You support 🍇pe" "Can't believe you believe Melanie" etc. I don't believe anyone, I'm not picking sides neither I'm trying to start a fight or offend anyone. I've been getting a lot of hate about the whole situation from people who don't even know me, saying stuff like "You support 🍇pe" "I hope you get 🍇ped too" "Supporting a 🍇pist" and really mean and offensive stuff like that. I DO NOT support 🍇pe. I just wanted to clear some things out, just because I'm a fan of Melanie doesn't mean I support everything she does and believe in everything she says etc. I'm just a fan and nothing more, I DO NOT care about her personal LIFE or what she DOES. I just listen to her music and art. I'm not trying to offend anyone or anything. And I'm not saying you shouldn't express your thoughts or opinions on the whole situation or anything like that. Neither I'm saying you are in the wrong if you believe Timothy/Melanie. All I'm trying to say is we shouldn't judge or pick sides because only Melanie and Timothy know what truly happened. We might never know the truth, and that's totally okay. The only people who can judge each other are Melanie and Timothy. We don't even know what happened. Timothy could be lying, Melanie could be lying, who knows? Also, Melanie hasn't been proven GUILTY neither is Timothy's story INVESTIGATED or proven to be TRUE.

Another thing I want to point out is that even tho Timothy claims to be traumatised by Melanie and the whole situation etc. Timothy in 2015/2016 had dressed up as Melanie:

( 1st photo edited by me (I mean how I compared the pictures) , please give credits if you use etc. Thank you 🌬️🤍).

I'm sure you don't dress up as someone who has done something so serious and mean to you.

Not to mention when Timothy said the date that apparently the whole situation happened Melanie was in another state on the "CRYBABY TOUR". The last time I checked, you couldn't f*ck someone from that far away. (Not trying to offend anyone). And she also has claimed that she didn't remember the date that well yet she is still giving us a date.

Anyways, that's all I have to say, if you read all that, thank you, I really appreciate it. 🌬️🤍

( By the way, this is MY opinion about the whole situation. NOT trying to start a fight, be mean or offend anyone. Saying this so that there won't be any misunderstandings or false information 💕🩹).

[horsefreek151]

I went to Pride in a Wheelchair!

I love going to things and haven't been able to do more than one thing a month for YEARS till I got my wheelchair. I went from ambulatory 100% of the time to having to take any trip where I'll be standing for more than 10 minutes in a wheelchair within four years (let's be honest, its been two years since I started using a cane). I got my "over-the-counter" wheelchair last February after using the wheelchair service for the first time at an airport. It's been LIFE CHANGING.

I can run errands with my husband and go to one store on my own while he goes to the other. I can take myself for a "walk" without worrying about falling or getting too exhausted. I can do stuff all day and be in so little pain I can cook dinner and take care of myself and the animals.

I was really anxious (I'm Autistic, have ADHD, and suffer from CPTSD, so new things are stressful), but I decided to go to Pride this year with my husband. We hadn't gone since 2019. I wanted to finally go out again. And I wanted to take my wheelchair. I didn't want to go out, and I knew I would come home and be stuck in bed for two days after.

My Service dog can perform around the chair. Honestly, she does better in the chair because she can reach me more easily. She's six pounds, 2.72 Kg, so it's easier for her to check in and tell me if something is wrong. It's also a good training opportunity. The only hitches were on the way was that there was a dude who thought it was ok to CLIMB over me (The MBTA worker chased him down, hollering at him for it before letting me off, Bostonian MBTA man, you are my hero <3). A very nice Queer Butch Vet helped me when I got stuck at one point partway off the train, with my dear husband pulling me. The other hitch was a very eager pitbull puppy (like a year or two) who practically jumped in my chair to say hi to my service dog (who shockingly didn't bat an eye at the head larger than her whole ass body, just looked slightly confused). I shoved him off my chair, saying "Fuck off" sharply, and my husband hip-checked the dog back. His handlers looked horrified, but we were fine. He was just so strong they didn't realize. We had a wonderful time at the parade, and my service dog had some great socialization (she has a "say hi" command cause people will say hi anyway, and I want her to be able to snap back to attention). I learned she knows the difference between someone in a mascot suit and someone who is a furry in a fur suit (I think she can tell emotional investment; she dislikes mascots and loves fursuiters). I met a photographer and their partner, who gave us a photo of her. I got to go on a roll without my husband and a friend who joined us to go talk to a few booths, Including a queer library where my librarian husband could do some volunteer work. After, we went to the block party, and I chatted with the Sex Workers and Volunteers at the Sex Work Decriminalisation booth (something I'm INCREDIBLY passionate about) and showed off her "Working Girrrl" patch I made her for her little pride outfit (It was a huge hit and they gave her a button). I plan to try to do some graphic design and art for them! We had a wonderful time. We went home after 8 and a half hours. I LASTED 8.5 HOURS. It was amazing. We got home and soaked our sore joints, but I was able to do stuff the next day with no problem! It was shocking; I felt almost normal. I felt like myself again for a bit. I would have barely made it through a bit of the parade, let alone through the T and public transit, with my service dog. I felt free.

I was so glad and told my therapist I wanted to go out more with my chair on trips, to visit places and events! I want to go out and about again! She was very excited.

It's been over a year of resting and waiting till I get better, but knowing deep down, that wasn't going to happen. I'm so glad to have that bit of me back.

[yutahoes]

Caramel

(Part Four)

characters: stripper! Yuta x female! wealthy! Y/N genre: chaptered, smut, fluff, angst word count: 3.2k words summary: Y/N has everything in her bitter life, not until she meets a sweet-looking stripper. warnings: matured theme, stripper au!, third person POV, inferiority complex, a hint of misogyny, complicated family dynamics, alcohol consumption, mentions of taken virginity and unsafe semi-public sex, mention of death, romantic Yuta, an attempt on kissing, you might hate Jungwoo but I'll redeem his character soon, cursing, physical assault, robbery taglist: @cherrymotodude @tenjyucat @justsomekpopstuff

Part Three

Y/N breathed heavily, repeatedly rubbing her right shoulder to ease the stiffness of her body. That was such a long meeting, it sucked the soul out of her. “Miss Y/N, your brother is inside.” Her secretary claimed that made her nod although curious. Why is Jungwoo here? What does he need now? 

But as she opened the door, she stopped in her tracks to see the older Kim sitting on the couch. “Could you please get something to drink for Doyoung?” She asked the secretary before turning to her brother, asking him what he wanted to drink but he shook his head. “Then can you just get me coffee? Thank you.” 

“How many cups of coffee have you had?” Doyoung asked, which surprised her. “Did you even have lunch yet?” She lightly glanced at the clock on her desk. It was past noon and all she had was a cup of coffee for the whole day. “Did you even sleep?” 

Maybe she does look awful that Doyoung had to ask that. It has been a hectic week. She had to attend meetings with the investors of the company, even presenting new ideas and strategies for the company. To be honest, she doesn’t even know what day it was. She’s just glad that her secretary is responsible enough to remind her of what she should do during the whole day. “I took care of some of Dad’s workload since he went to Bali.” 

Because it’s Junyoung summer vacation, their parents had given the younger one a trip to his favorite beach. They even asked if the three wanted to come but Y/N rejected it because she had to handle some company matters, Doyoung had his stage play performance coming up, and Jungwoo had some scheduled shoots. “Junyoung wanted to stay a bit so I took the liberty of taking some of Dad’s work to ease his worry.”  

The guy just nodded, making her purse her lip. He is so quiet, in contrast to Jungwoo’s puppy-like energy. Among the two, even the three, she felt intimidated by Doyoung’s presence. He is the eldest son of their father, the true heir to the company. Although he had repeatedly claimed that he didn’t want to run the company, he still held some power on the board. Something that she doesn’t have, even if she worked hard for it. He’s usually reserved and she’s scared that her actions would all look clumsy in front of the matured Doyoung. 

When the secretary came, with her cup of dark coffee, Doyoung asked her to buy Y/N something for lunch. The girl even revolted when he handed the secretary his card. “I know you need to do these things, Y/N. But please, don’t forget to take care of yourself.” She only nodded in answer. “Eat your lunch before attending the board meeting, hmm?” Then he went out of her office, leaving the girl feeling dejected. 

Is this a premonition of something? Why is Kim Doyoung attending the board meeting?  

Y/N knew something bad would happen. Maybe it was a woman’s instinct. While the male-dominated board was discussing the future of the company, she remained quiet in her seat. They had been arguing about the next company leader since the president wasn’t here and it made her feel smaller. 

The moment she graduated with a business degree, she had been dreaming of taking a seat in these board meetings. But as she started working her way to the top, she wanted more. Yearn for more. To be frank, she doesn’t want to be the president. She knew how Doyoung and Jungwoo’s grandfather created this company from the bottom and she didn’t want his hard-earned achievement. 

She wanted her own achievement. A company that she worked hard for. Not this. 

But now, it was too late to back out from this company. Her stepdad had put great trust in her and she wanted to repay all the kindness he had shown her by working in his esteemed company. But how far does she have to repay that ongoing kindness? How can she create her own company if she’s harboring this feeling of owing things to the family who took her and her mother kindly? 

As the older males kept on distributing tasks to the other departments, Doyoung’s eyes were on her. She wanted to disappear from her chair. Are her efforts not enough for this company? Why does she feel smaller and smaller as time passes by? 

Doyoung was rubbing his temples as he sat on the couch of her office room, “Why do I have to talk to the investors? You know them and they know you.” Y/N doesn’t know what the older men are planning but she knows Doyoung would benefit from these tasks the most. He obviously needed to be visible as part of the company, especially to those investors, when he inherits the company sooner or later. “And you know very well that if Dad was here, he’d give this task to you in a heartbeat.” 

Y/N shook her head, laughing lightly. “Doyoung, I believe in you. You can easily charm those investors.” But the guy only sighed, feeling hopeless already. “I can give you notes.” The guys just stared at her as if she were some lunatic. 

“And besides, I think I need this break.” 

If there was one thing Y/N desperately needed, she realized, that was to find herself first.

—-----

The last time Y/N got drunk was when she was with Yuta and that feels so many nights ago. 

It isn’t bad to flood herself to drink tonight with Jungwoo. But as he picked up his phone, she realized she could not do that. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re in Milan?” She asked, whining. She badly wanted to drink tonight. But she cannot do that unless her brother is here to take her home. It was for a modeling gig, he reasoned out. Even claimed that he could go home now if she wanted but he’d take a few hours to reach her destination which she rejected. She cannot bother her brother like that. Jungwoo even reminded her to watch her drink so she could go back home safely and to call him again. 

The feeling of loneliness came. She can call Doyoung but she doubts he’ll come to drink with her. Curse her for not having close friends at her beck and call.   

Maybe she won’t be able to drink tonight. 

Y/N had already finished half the bottle of cheap beer but she knew she had to wait before she could head home. Well, she could call for a driver. But it would be such a hassle. So she just started picking the almond nuts from the regular peanuts to pass the time. “Y/N?” She looked up to see the man she was just thinking of earlier. Yuta. “Are you alone?” He eyed the bottle of beer and the scattered nuts on the plate. 

The girl nodded, “I’m just passing time before going home.” She reasoned out then shook her head, “What are you doing here?” And she wanted to mentally kick herself. This is a public pub. What the heck was that question? 

“I’m here with some friends.” He then glanced at the group of guys laughing amongst themselves. “Do you want to join us?” 

Y/N profusely shook her head. “I’m leaving in a sec.”

“Did you call for a driver?” But she shook her head, claiming that she would just drive back. “Will you be alright?” 

The girl nodded, smiling. “I’m not that drunk, Yuta.” One of his friends called for him and he excused himself, which made her nod. 

It feels pathetic. She wanted to get drunk but she could not and now Y/N is just frustrated at herself. When did she become such a lonely woman? 

Before she could stand up, someone sat on the vacant chair in front of her and called the older woman serving in the pub. “What are you doing here?” She asked Yuta before eyeing his friends who were looking at him. “What about your friends?” 

The guy just smiled, “They can find their way home.” He claimed, taking the menu and asking her if she wanted some fried chicken and grilled squid to go with her beer. Y/N only nodded as he expertly ordered snacks and two bottles of beer. He poured the remaining contents of the beer into her glass as she noted that he was getting her drunk once again. “You’re cute when you’re drunk. And you probably need it.” 

“Then will you also drink?” 

Yuta shook his head. “I have to drive you home safely.” He then pushed the empty bottle away from her, “You did bring your car, right?” Y/N nodded. To her amusement, he started separating the almond nuts on the plate. “Shouldn’t you just call your brother if you’re drunk and alone instead of driving yourself home?” 

Y/N had to hide her smile by drinking beer, “He’s in Italy right now.” Then stopped, looking at him in question. “Wait, how did you know I have a brother?” 

He chuckled before sliding the plate of separated nuts to her, “I kinda met him back at your apartment.” Oh, she remembers now. Jungwoo kept on asking about Yuta that morning. “Do you want the almond nuts or the plain nuts?” 

“Both.” 

“Then why are you separating them earlier? I thought you were allergic or something.” She chuckled at that, claiming that she was just passing time. 

The ordered bottles of beer came and Yuta expertly opened the lid with a spoon which amazed the girl. The many talents of this man. “Speaking of which, I haven’t paid you for that night.” He shook his head. “Why not? That’s clearly not a lap dance.” 

“Well, I didn’t do anything.” He shrugged, pouring beer into her glass. “There’s no extra service given.” 

The girl snorted in disbelief. “I experienced my first orgasm that night, you can’t tell me that’s nothing.” 

“Your first?” Then Yuta lightly coughed to hide his amusement, “Please don’t tell me it’s also your first sexual experience.” 

She shook her head, “I don’t remember much but I know the first is in a movie theater.” That piqued Yuta’s curiosity. That is a peculiar place to have your virginity taken. “I was young and his mom owned the theater.” The male laughed, that makes sense. “Is it that funny?”

He shook his head, apologizing with a laugh. “And you just let him have sex with you in a movie theater?” 

Y/N drank the contents of her glass, “It’s his birthday.” Yuta laughed wholeheartedly. “It’s Valentine's and the only movies playing in the theater are racy ones. What can I do?” The snacks came and Yuta carefully placed the plate of fried chicken and grilled squid in front of her. He even took the knife and fork to remove the squid from the skewer and cut it into bite-sized pieces. How is he so considerate? He obviously knew how to take care of a girl. Maybe he has a girlfriend. A wife? But she isn’t in a position to ask that right? 

“Did he even use condoms?” She shook her head as he handed her the fork so she could eat first. “I didn’t know you could be that wild and reckless.” She took a bite of the fried chicken and hummed. That is one of the best fried chickens she ever had. “You're lucky your dad didn’t kill you.” 

“Oh, he died even before that happened,” She claimed casually munching on the fried chicken while poking the grilled squid with her fork. 

Yuta glanced at her in surprise, “I thought your dad was the president of the company you work at?” 

Y/N nodded while chewing her food. “The president is my stepdad.” She supplied. “You know, difficult family dynamics.” He inquired about her brother and she stated that Jungwoo is actually a stepbrother. Yuta just nodded, taking all the information. “This is so good,” She mumbled, pointing at the grilled squid. “I could eat ten of these.” 

He laughed before calling the auntie, “I’ll order more.” The bottle of beer was easily forgotten with the meal above the table. Y/N realized that she hadn’t eaten a proper meal, just the lunch that Doyoung bought for her. When she shared it with the male in front of her, he just gave her a stern gaze. “Your job is that hectic?” 

Y/N shook her head. Honestly, it isn’t. It’s just that she wanted to do her best and she believes there is no room for failure for someone like her. A struggling woman in a male-dominated world. “There’s just been a lot of meetings lately.”   

“Then you must be amazing at your job if you’re part of all those meetings.” A small smile can be seen on her lips. Why does that sound so comforting? 

It is surprising to know that she didn’t get that drunk but she’s already feeling better compared to earlier. She’s also full from the meal that Yuta paid for. She even argued with him but his reasons, that it was her full meal and that it was he who disturbed her alone time so he had to pay, were completely convincing. “Did you enjoy the meal?” She nodded, thanking him quietly. “Then it’s all good.” 

“But I’m the only one who enjoyed it. I will pay you,” She took her wallet from her bag but he shook his head. “Yuta, you worked hard for that money. I can pay for my own meal.” 

The guy took the receipt from the auntie. “And you also worked hard for your money. You even forgot to eat.” She pouted at that. “Besides, a man shouldn’t let the woman pay for a meal.” Y/N only glared at him. 

He drove her car back home. Unlike the first time that he did, she was seated in the passenger seat of the car. Y/N remembered the nervousness she felt the first time Yuta had driven her home, he asked her to sleep with him and she agreed in a heartbeat. Now, she wonders if Yuta had the same thought. Or maybe that changed from the horrible experience the first time. She shrugged. That was Yuta’s job, she shouldn’t expect too much from him. 

She was then amused when he argued to walk her up to her unit. “You might get lost,” he reasoned out. It was absurd. First, she’s not that drunk. Second, she’s been living here for years. She can even reach her apartment unit if she closes her eyes. But she just lets him do what he wants. He’s pretty argumentative today and she just wants to lay down. 

“Do you want to come inside?” That was a tempting question. Yuta badly wants to. But it’s already late and he shouldn’t be inside a woman’s apartment unit this hour. Yet when Y/N turned around to look at him, he felt the self-control in his mind getting smaller. She was leaning by her door, him towering above her. He can easily touch her, easily kiss her. He can give her the pleasure he never gave the first time. 

Y/N lightly bit her bottom lip and his self-control was gone in an instant. He wanted to bite that lip, suck that lip until she gasped for air. Slowly, he leaned in. “Can I kiss you?” The girl visibly gulped before nodding ever so slightly. 

Yuta slowly leaned in, licking his lips in the process, before the door opened. She could almost fall if not for his quick reflex to hold her by the waist, pulling her closer. “Oh,” someone said by the door, then closed it again slowly. “Sorry.” 

The girl gently pushed him before turning to her brother standing by the door. “I thought you were in Milan.” she accused which made the taller guy nod, claiming that he used the family’s jet to come home quickly. Yuta shook his head, that was the richest thing he heard someone say. “Jungwoo, this is Yuta. Yuta, Jungwoo.” She introduced the two and both shook hands. 

“Am I disturbing something? I can leave.”

Yuta shook his head. “I’m leaving. It’s late.” The girl turned to him once again, whispering a thank you. He just smiled in response, “Goodnight, Y/N.” 

“Take care on your way back.” 

“You too.” Even Jungwoo looked surprised at the statement. That was a stupid thing to say. “I’ll see you later?” 

She nodded, smiling. “Later.” 

He turned around after bidding farewell to Jungwoo who was still holding the door. Yuta wanted to kick himself while walking to the elevator. What the hell is wrong with him? Why does he keep acting like a madman in front of her? But wait, this might be the last time they’ll see each other. 

He made a sharp turn, surprising the girl and her brother who were still by the door. Yuta walked briskly to where she was, breathing heavily when he stopped. He could easily kiss her, she did let him earlier. But with her brother’s eyes on him, he debated with his mind not to. “Can I borrow your phone?” She looked puzzled but handed him the device. Yuta started typing numbers and then handed the phone to her, “If you want to drink, just message me.” Y/N nodded and he started walking away from her place.  

Once he was alone in the elevator, the doors closing in front of him, he breathed a sigh of relief. He’s probably going to see her again, right? 

—---

“Ten, can I borrow my phone?” Yuta asked, which made the bartender look at him in surprise. He just checked his phone a minute ago. It is one of the rules in the club that phones are not allowed in VIP rooms, dancers had to surrender their mobile phones to the bartenders. 

The dancer stared at his phone as if a message would appear if he would just look at it. “Are you waiting for a call or a message?” the bartender asked while wiping the glasses. 

Yuta shook his head, handing the phone back to him. Maybe she wouldn’t message him today. He did tell her to message him if she wanted to drink. It’s only been days, anyway. 

Is she busy? Is she that happy that she doesn’t want to drink just yet? Why didn’t he just take her number? 

Once again, Yuta shook his head. He shouldn’t get obsessed with this. 

Even when heading home, he kept on clutching his phone as if waiting for something. It is already early morning, she probably is still sleeping now right? Since the club isn’t that event-packed tonight, the manager gave him an early leave to go home. It’s still dark outside but he didn’t care. He’s just sleepy, he just wants to rest. 

Yuta wasn’t even that far from his rented room when he felt something poking his waist. Someone snatched his phone and then slashed his bag before landing two hard punches on his face. God damn it! He hissed as he saw the blood coming out from his lips. The two hooded guys smirked. “Arigatou, Yuta-kun.” Then they started running as fast as they could, even turning back to laugh at his state. 

His eyes widened in surprise. It can’t be. 

Part Five

[coeluvr]

I was so on the fence about burning down the room because on one hand it would be so fun but on the other…my MC feels more like someone who would bind her time, but then again she is young and she just saw a performance celebrating her family’s death and she’s upset and angry- so hell yeah burn the room down!! but now you’re telling me if I hadn’t Lancelot and luceris becomes canon?? time for a replay to see how that changes things😔✊🏻

my favourite dynamics in the story is lancelot x mc and then mc x luceris. I love how complex your relationship with Lancelot can be because on one hand he saved you but on the other he’s the shield of the king, I love no matter how you decide to play your relationship with him it’s never off for the mc to make that choice because all of the choices are so valid!! It’s so complicated and I love it… Lancelot is just a messed up lil guy tho <3

And then we have luceris and mc…insane relationship frankly <3 plus I play my mc being very…stoic and just doing her duty? she’s doing all the right things in public etc she’s a good consort. She’d loove to call luceris out in public but she won’t (partially learned from burning the room I think) the most she can do in public is call him her husband to annoy him lol. But that means as soon as she’s alone with luceris she can be herself?? like she doesn’t have to watch what she says in the same way she’s sarcastic and mean and tells him to drown himself etc. and just the implications of the fact that she can be almost herself the most around the man she hates the most..,,,,,,the very man she can’t let her guard down around is also at the same time the man she does let down her guard the most around because he knows what she wants…idk I’ve been thinking about it man. Your story is sooo filled with angst which I loooove angst and drama and complexity forever in my heart <3 but also the fact that you can play it in a way so it gets even more angsty????? you’re insane for that <3 obsessed with your brain truly🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

Hey even if MC burned the room MC will be able to encourage L&L to happen... but I doubt many burning room MCs will do that since the whole point of that scene was to make Luceris unhappy lol.

But if they do encourage Lancelot then they can take credit and dangle that in Luceris' face which is fun too in my opinion.

Now I also love love love how complex and insane Lancelot and Luceris' relationship is with MC. 🤭

I've received a few comments on how readers love hate how their MC ended up being like Luceris and that they can be themselves with him but not anyone else which is kinda funny in an insane way. 😭

Imagine the man that ruined your life being the one you can relate to or be yourself with. 💀

Thank you for your kind words, anon. 💗

[dustysalmon]

Show Me Yours And I'll Show You Mine - Asajj Ventress x Crosshair (Part 2)

AN: For the sake of not having our two protagonists perform public/voyeuristic sex, we’re all going to imagine that the clones were given cozy individual homes on Pabu, and are not all living aboard the same spaceship. Thank you for your understanding!

CW: smut; dom/sub dynamics, angst

Word count: 2.5k ⎮ Read on ao3 ⎮ Part 1

"Love what you’ve done with the place." Ventress says as she scans the area. It is mostly grey, and empty. She can’t muster any other word to better describe the place. Empty shelves, empty closets by the looks of it, blinds shut close. There might have been no one living there, there would be no difference. Crosshair is a soldier, after all; more than that, he’s a clone. Theoretically, they have no use for personal items, family pictures and the likes, although Ventress knows a few specimens who would beg to differ. But probably not Crosshair.

"Have you come here just to taunt me some more?" Ventress’ eyes roll to the back of her head in mild annoyance.

"Quit your whining and sit," she motions to the couch, "I’ll check on you." Crosshair’s eyebrows shoot up briefly. 

"I said I was fine."

"Yes, and we’ve established that you’re a terrible liar. Now go on." He is ready to argue some more, but she offers him the same death stare she threw him earlier, just seconds before having him fall on his backside, and he has no desire for a repeat performance. 

"Good boy." 

Crosshair is very thankful for the small amount of light that the closed blinds allow in, because he can feel a hot blush running all the way from his cheeks to his neck. Miraculously, it appears Ventress hasn’t noticed. Kriffing hells, when did he ever let anyone under his skin like that. Dragging his feet, he walks to the couch. And waits. The irritation on her face brings him an inexplicable amount of joy, and a small smirk pulls lightly at his lips. It’s not often he gets to have the upper hand with this one, he will enjoy life’s little pleasures for as long as he can. Eventually, recognising that the enjoyment might hold up to getting his shit rocked for a third time, he lifts up his shirt. Ventress is so surprised that the man is actually capable of pulling a smile that she doesn’t even seem bothered by the whole thing. She simply takes a seat next to him on the couch.

"You froze."

"Excuse me?" He stops his movements, knowing precisely what she is referring to.

"While we were fighting. You had a clear opening," she says matter of factly, "and then you froze." There’s an indescribable expression painting his face, along with a certain darkness, as if he shut down completely. Suddenly he is very conscious of his unstable hand holding his shirt. If it wasn’t currently gripping the fabric so tight, he knows it would waver. 

"I don’t want to talk about it." He says in a low tone. Now, Ventress might be a big tease when she wants to, but she also knows how to read the room. She nods and focuses back on the newly revealed expanse skin. 

The scars on his body are not shocking to her, she has seen her fair share of violence and knows what war does to someone, both physically and mentally. It is more the amount and nature of his scars that baffle her. A lot of them are clearly from old battles, some blasters burns, a few cuts here and there, white criss crosses on his darker skin. Clearly the man has deviated from his initial sharp shooting duties more than once. Ventress can see the bruises of her own making, those will go away in a few days. A particular scar catches her attention. It’s not a wound one earns on the battlefield, that much is clear. This one is clean, surgical even, as if— yes, he was deliberately sliced open. Mechanically, Ventress lifts up the shirt to his upper torso, to reveal the gash in its entirety, running from navel to collarbone. She traces along the abused skin with one delicate finger, and feels him tremble under her touch. Ventress has heard all about the Empire test subjects, the pseudo scientific experiment on aliens, humans, she can only imagine what is done to very expendable clones. She looks up to find his light brown eyes already fixed on her, silently begging her not to ask. 

It has been years since Crosshair has been touched, well, touched that way at least, with care, and no desire to harm. Quite different from the Empire’s claws digging into him the past few weeks, and throughout his life-time really. Property since before he was even created, thrown from one battle to another as a soldier, then from one cell to an operating chamber, and back to another cell after having been declared a traitor to the Empire. 

It’s funny, he doesn’t recall having any particular reaction to Ventress grabbing at him and very much touching him earlier. This is oh so deliciously foreign, it burns him, and he wants more. He wants her to make it all go away, the pain, the memories of his cold and dark room back on Tantiss. He wants the warmth of her presence surrounding him, cradling him to sleep like a little boy. He must not get used to this, he knows that, but blast it, she is making it damn difficult. It’s not simply her touch, though, she is doing something with her hands, with her mind, he realises as a wave of calm runs through him. He feels his entire body relax, his breathing slowing down. He couldn’t explain or describe it, the only thing he is certain of at the moment is that he doesn’t want it to go away. 

Halas, nothing lasts forever, that is especially true of the good things, and Crosshair feels her hand slip away. Only for Ventress to reach up and cup his jaw affectionately. He leans into it so easily and instantly, like a well-domesticated loth cat. Without a word, Ventress glides her fingertips over his mouth, grazing the surface of his now half parted lips before slipping her thumb inside slowly. Their eyes meet as he sticks out his tongue, swirling it lasciviously around her digit and sucking it back into his mouth. They keep this little game up for a few minutes, her thrusting in and out, sometimes switching to her middle and pointer finger while telling him how much of a good boy he is; him taking it all, occasionally humming and moaning with his mouth full.

Ventress straddles him effortlessly, elegantly even, as she seems to do with everything else, pulling his shirt up and off in the same motion. She reaches unceremoniously into his pants and boxers to find his hardening cock, and he gasps as she closes her fist around the velvet and warm skin. In no time, he is melting in her hands, his breathing ragged and eyes shut close as he tries not to explode right here and there. 

"Look at me." A simple command, softly spoken yet he cannot ignore it, not with her intense gaze pinning him down, holding him there. She starts grinding herself against him, because there is no world in which he gets to have all the fun— all the while unfastening her shoulder straps and pulling her shirt and brassiere over her head. Crosshair is utterly transfixed, he is no virgin but it has been a while, and the sight of her rocking against him causes his brain to nearly short-circuit. Soon, he feels her hands at the back of his head, pulling him in, and before he knows it, his lips are wrapped around her nipple, licking and sucking tenderly on the sensitive flesh. Finally something to distract him from the fact that he has never been this hard in his entire life, and that he was seconds away from finishing before having truly started anything. It’s her turn to moan, and he’s not one to brag but he enjoys small victories. Most of all, he enjoys the flurry of praises that escape her lips, affections are so foreign to him, so rare, he had forgotten what it feels like to be handled so delicately, to be touched that way, coaxed into pleasure. 

He releases her nipple and looks up at her, awaiting for her queue as to what is next, and to his surprise, she grabs his face and kisses him. It is hungry, messy, and deliciously addictive,  having her tongue clashing against his while she is clawing at his back. He had wondered about that, kissing her, wondered if it was out of bounds, too intimate, something exclusively reserved for long-time lovers. He doesn’t know much about romance but he can definitely see why people are so tipsy about those things. For the moment, he is just glad that she took the initiative, she has been so very good at that so far. 

They are both breathless by the time they finally part, chest heaving and drops of sweat trickling slowly between their bodies.

"Bed?" Ventress presses, only mildly disappointed in her lack of self-control.

"Yes, ma’am." Crosshair breathes, placing his hands under her thighs and standing from the couch as Ventress secures her strong legs around his hips.

Somehow he’s the one ending up with his back on the mattress, in the meantime, Ventress has already ridded herself of the remaining of her clothes and makes quick work of his. There’s no warning, no preamble when she grips his cock and sinks down on it in a single motion, filling herself to the brim, and he can’t say he recognises the sound that emerges from deep within his chest, something between an ecstatic moan and an panicked howl. It has been a while indeed. It doesn’t help that Ventress sets a vicious rhythm, riding him like a race varactyl on Utapau. Multiple times over, Crosshair attempts to regain control, to set his own pace, but she is absolutely relentless, unyielding. He should have known. 

She shoves him back onto the mattress at each of his attempts to straighten up, hands on his slick chest before finally pinning both his wrists on each side of his head while she keeps moving her hips back and forth at a nearly violent pace. He matches her thrust for thrust, jutting his pelvis up into her as deep as she will let him. Again, it’s a battle he will probably lose, but he is fine with that and decides to give it his all regardless. His resolve finally snaps when Ventress starts to clench around him, gripping his cock like a tight fist, and milking him from the inside. His orgasm overtakes him like a thunderstorm on Kamino, waves after waves of raw pleasure course through him. It is quite special sight, Ventress thinks, seeing this usually stoic clone utterly losing his composure, mumbling unintelligible curses while she is very much still fucking him through his climax to throw herself over the edge too. It doesn’t take long for her to collapse next to him, her chest heaving, and a satisfied smile on her face. 

They lay side by side in the afterglow, Crosshair occasionally brushes a strand of her short hair away from her face, his fingertips lingering on her bone white skin. He is quite easy on the eyes, Ventress thinks, with his sharp cheekbones and features, his beautiful brown eyes, his rough exterior that she now knows conceals a vulnerable being, unique, and capable of so much more than what he was initially created for. She runs the back of her hand against the stubble on his cheeks, enjoying the little tingles it procures on her skin.

"Want me to get out of your hair?" Ventress asks, not particularly eager to retreat to her smaller, and rustic accommodation. 

Crosshair works some saliva into his mouth, "You don’t have to go if you don’t want to," he says, lowering his eyes somewhere on the covers.

"I’m asking you. What do you want?" He knows exactly what she is trying to achieve here, if her wicked little smirk is any indication. All things considered, she has seen him come undone just a couple of minutes ago. Admitting that yes, actually, he enjoys the intimacy doesn’t make him weak, it makes him real. There’s no need to keep up appearances, not with her. 

"I want…" Crosshair meets her eyes once more. "I wouldn’t mind if you stayed."

[sunderwight]

because sometimes it's fun to explore a character's worst nightmare (probably) actually coming true:

fic where Jiang Cheng is a bastard

like, literally

so Yu Ziyuan marries Jiang Fengmian thanks to a political arrangement by their parents, and even though she has a huge crush on him she gets the strong impression that he doesn't like her, and she decides it must be because he's hung up on Cangse Sanren (and also because of her massive insecurities about not being a nice or "desirable" wife) but for this AU it's actually Wei Changze he's hung up on (because he's gay)

so from JFM's perspective his marriage to any woman is purely a matter of appeasing his family and producing heirs anyway, and though he liked and respected Cangse he's heartbroken that Wei Changze actually loves her and chose to be with her for-reals, rather than staying in Lotus Pier and having a secret love affair with JFM behind closed doors. in some universe JFM might have confided something of this to his prospective bride, in the interest of at least having a harmonious alliance if not an actual romance of any kind, but Yu ZIyuan isn't exactly the type to inspire confidence about these things. and to be fair, if JFM told her he was gay, she wouldn't react well

anyway, end result is that he doesn't explain or clarify anything, of course. JFM and YZY consummate their marriage and JFM sort of perfunctorily goes about his duties until it's confirmed that Yanli is on the way, and then he stops. mission accomplished, heir in situ, no more reason to force himself into hetero sex with the socially noxious woman his parents picked out! great work everybody hit the showers etc etc

Yu Ziyuan is, understandably, not thrilled about his conduct here so it doesn't do much for her growing unhappiness with her life and marriage. also she hates being the lady of a household, she just wants to fight shit and go on nighthunts, and she's not allowed to do that while pregnant so boy is she having a time of it (and so is everyone else because she is nothing if not willing to make her problems into everyone's problems). but at least she's got JFM's heir in her, right? at least that's something she can hold over that Cangse Sanren!

well of course Jiang Yanli is born and she's a girl, which is not ideal for sexist cultivation society, and she's also sickly, which is not ideal for ableist cultivation society either

so obviously, they have to try again

except that JFM was enjoying not having to perform those "marital duties" anymore and is reluctant to go back to them. which does excellent things for YZY's temperament too, so she yells and accuses him of cheating and not wanting her and makes a whole big public production of it, which of course feeds rumors that JFM really doesn't like her and also weakens her own position further because sexism and also YZY is not a likable person anyway. she's not popular in the household or sect. people still call her "Madam Yu" to her face, like you're not really "Madam Jiang" here, and there are whispers that it's her fault that Yanli came out sickly (baseless and cruel) and that she can't produce another child and that JFM's going to put her aside (somewhat more plausible)

JFM won't though, because he'd probably just have to marry another woman from Meishan Yu to fix the political fallout, which would be a lot of fuss to just break even. plus he does know that he is part of the problem here, and YZY has given him a child, so he's not actually all that bothered. he has cousins, he can adopt a more suitable heir if he needs to, or Yanli can marry a stronger cultivator into the family instead of marrying out (which breaks up that stupid betrothal with the Jin that he's not especially thrilled about)

but YZY is getting desperate here, so she convinces JFM to take to her bed at least one more time

it doesn't get her pregnant again though

so plan B, YZY finds one of JFM's more envious cousins and fucks him until it does take

this is equal parts actual pragmatism to get an heir, and Yu Ziyuan throwing oil onto the fire that is her marriage. part of her actually wants JFM to call her out or at least seem suspicious, because that would mean he actually gives a single fuck about what she does or who she does it with, even though having the whole thing come to light would pretty much ruin her. she has set herself up on a chair with a rope around her neck and a stool under her feet, waiting to see if Jiang Fengmian will either take her into his arms or kick the stool out from under her

but of course, he does neither

is he suspicious? yes. the dates don't align and some well-meaning servants have mentioned a few things to him. but he was already considering adopting one of his cousins to be his heir anyway, and this actually solves quite a few problems for him. if YZY wants to carry on with a lover who has Jiang blood, it's a win-win. she can give him plenty of heirs now, his own position will stabilize thanks to an abundance of them, and he doesn't have to fuck her!

of course it doesn't work out like that

his cousin is already suffering a crisis of conscience and backs off, and YZY doesn't take up with him again and wouldn't anyway (because it didn't work for accomplishing any of her secondary goals), and then she has Jiang Cheng and Jiang Fengmian just sort of benignly thanks her for the healthy "son" and makes nothing further of the matter. the Jiang sect tutors can handle the kid's upbringing, JFM doesn't feel especially paternal towards him but the kid's not going to want for anything either (materially, anyway) and this frees JFM and YZY both to go back to doing whatever (and whoever) they want in their free time

except

Yu Ziyuan is left in a state of perpetual frustration and anxiety about this, forever waiting for the other shoe to drop, and so she keeps trying to force it to drop. especially after Wei Wuxian turns up. she projects her own affair onto the poor kid, accusing JFM of liking him more than he likes Jiang Cheng (which in this AU is actually true, Jiang Fengmian has a lot of feelings about Wei Changze's son that he doesn't have about The Official Jiang Sect Heir who isn't even his real son), demanding to know if JFM has even heard the rumors (does he know what people whisper? about him? about Jiang Cheng? does he know?) like Yu Ziyuan is really not built for this political intrigue, shrewd strategic live-with-the-lies type stuff

for his own part, Jiang Fengmian is increasingly annoyed and put off by all of this. assuming the genre conventional standards are in play here, if he accused YZY of cuckolding him then he'd be within his rights to have her and Jiang Cheng executed. he wouldn't actually go that far of course, not only because he's been complicit in the whole thing but also because he's not that ruthless, but it's still on the table. and yet here is Yu Ziyuan, basically trying to... what? provoke him into divorcing her?

oh. well. maybe that is what she wants? what she's been trying to get with all of this? she wants him to disown Jiang Cheng and send her home in disgrace so that she can stop being his wife?

that actually would make more sense than what's really going on, in fact

but Jiang Fengmian still needs an heir and this kind of move would leave Jiang Cheng in limbo, and throw Yanli's parentage into question as well, plus it would make him the butt of a lot of jokes. so he just lets Yu Ziyuan basically move into a separate house and avoids her as much as possible, lets her do what she likes and waits for this to blow over

(it doesn't blow over)

then another problem becomes apparent. which is that Jiang Cheng is a concerning heir for the Jiang sect

the kid, understandably, takes after his mother. since she's the parent who actually spends time with him. but unfortunately a lot of that time is spent projecting all of her problems onto him. he's got a temper, he's wildly insecure, and surprisingly conservative and risk-averse. at administration and organization he's not that bad, he can at least do math, but his diplomacy skills leave a lot to be desired and do nothing to soften the blow of his mother's bad reputation. it's obvious that he desperately wants JFM's approval but JFM can't muster up much sentiment except vague disappointment for him. even as a cultivator he's just kind of average

the one benefit of marrying a powerful female cultivator with a strong will was supposed to be that she'd give him strong and talented heirs. but now he's got one daughter who can't cultivate and an adopted son who has inherited every single one of his mother's detrimental personality traits, who is actively the opposite of everything the sect is supposed to stand for, and now Jiang Fengmian is objectively worried that this kid will actually ruin his sect in the long run if/when he becomes sect leader. or at least that he won't be able to rally enough support from the internal factions to even peacefully claim the leadership role

maybe it'd be different if Jiang Cheng actually was his son, but since he's not, JFM can't help but think about the many other candidates in his family who would make more suitable heirs

and the main reason he doesn't take action, over time, is because it would still be bad for his own reputation to reveal the whole torrid controversy. at least with the way things are, nobody really wonders why his marriage with YZY isn't working out, and it's not JFM who takes the brunt of the criticism

but as time passes and Jiang Cheng gets older and YZY's miserable lashing out continues unabated, he finds himself thinking that he'd rather weather the storm of speculation about his prowess or orientation than continue to deal with this

finally, shit reaches a breaking point. something goes awry, another straw is piled onto the camel's back, and then there is a fight and finally Jiang Fengmian decides he's done living like this

so ten years later than anyone ever expected, he finally just kicks out the stool

Jiang Cheng isn't his son. congratulations, Yu Ziyuan, your wish (as JFM perceives it) is being granted. you get a divorce. you're free. go home to Meishan and live out the rest of your life however you please, and take the boy with you

of course this doesn't go over peacefully. YZY tells anyone who listens that JFM is impotent, JFM just kind of shrugs, Meishan Yu is stuck between being offended and being apologetic, but JC fails all the paternity tests so they're kind of forced to settle on the latter, which they also take out on Yu Ziyuan, but that's just the fallout among the adults

Jiang Cheng's entire world is uprooted. overnight he goes from being a sect heir to being a disgraced fatherless outcast. every fear or insecurity he ever had about his place in the world is abruptly validated

Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian are also upset, like up until now they have both strongly invested themselves in looking after Jiang Cheng, of supporting him as future sect leader and brother, and now that's all just... gone? and so is Jiang Cheng?

and it's extra difficult because Lotus Pier is more peaceful without Madam Yu storming in to pitch a fit once a month. but also the status quo has been totally changed around, Jiang Cheng is gone, and there are a lot of rumors and whispers and even speculation about Yanli's parentage too. the fact that some days it seems like life has improved just colors it all in this deep layer of guilt, because it's like someone wished to get rid of Yu Ziyuan and accidentally took Jiang Cheng out in the same blast. talking about it is taboo, too, so there are not a lot of chances to even sort out all the emotions involved. at one point Wei Wuxian tries to borrow a boat and go to Meishan, full of half-baked plots to somehow fix things, but he just gets caught and sent back

anyway, flash forward several years

the Lan lecture series begins

the Jiang send Yanli and Wei Wuxian to go mingle with the other young heirs and learn from Lan Qiren

and Meishan Yu sends... Jiang Yu Cheng

[blaqueswanzaghouliishiilikeda]

mmm…

i wanna talk about paul. i dont think i lingered too much there. bc it’s a sensitive spot i guess? it’s a sensitive thing to be openly unwell. my focus with this post if i really even have that is his relation with louis. i wanna talk about paul in relation to how louis treats him and that being a reason why i love louis so much too. i love both characters. i think paul doesnt really ever get mentioned in fandom much. which is the psychosis experience tbh. so it tracks.

it’s a public spectacle every one wants so desperately to ignore and to be over. in my personal experience (and i don’t think i’m alone in this) the person going through it wants it to be over too. wants that people don't see them that way. but paul’s whole character is generally ignored other than in conversations about whether or not lestat caused his suicide, which was a compelling conversation. whether or not he did is a incredibly prickly thing in the gut of the story. and to be followed up with Louis staying with Armand after having killed claudia who has a thread with paul too. she has a manic/psychotic moment. she’s a collector. she’s a lot of things that society doesn’t want to see exist. (nor does the fandom but i digress) and the way she lives in this undead world is as if she doesnt exist at all so manny ways (like paul in life too in ways) we’ve spoken of if you are someone who dares to acknowledge the fullness of her character. i said this was about paul but im working through a connection in real time. i think that’s why i wanna talk about paul. bc he carries so much of the story in the little time he was alive. and his death is the catalyst for louis’ initial death. not the one lestat gave him, but the one that made it possible for lestat to convince him in the first place. ( the spiritual one maybe? idk. im just thinking thoughts)

what i never question in regards to paul and louis’ relationship, is that louis loves him. that’s what actually makes that: “did lestat kill him really? and whether or not he did kill him….louis thought he did and stayed?” conversation so insane in the membrane to me. because the way he treated paul shows me he does love him so much. one: something in him died with paul. another thing is that louis genuinely wanted him around. he advocated for him to stay out of the hospital. he took him out as soon as he was given the power to as head of household when his father died. (i have so many questions about his own feelings and opinions on his father.) he openly spent time with him. paul was his favorite person. he let paul crawl into bed with him. which is kind of big deal from what i know in the openly unwell population. not a lot of people want to comfort that. and louis allowing his male brother into bed with him for that tender moment is kind of a key moment for him to me bc of how the pressures of homophobia can affect how men are made to feel they can treat their male family members too. Louis sees him and his need and is willing to give it to him. louis wants to be there for his brother. he decides he’ll be the one to take care of him. tells grace not to worry about paul. he would take care of him. he assures paul he wont see lestat anymore. louis’ love for paul was in the way of lestat’s wants and desires. maybe paul did have suicidal ideation already. maybe many things can be true.

(i meant to post this during disability month, but i went through it and so now i’ll just continue where i left off)

louis struggling with killing a man with a daughter and wanting to go home to his brother…😵‍💫. paul isnt a child, but louis was his caretaker. in paul you see louis shine in that role (barring the bit where he pulls a knife out, and threatens to gut him, bc that was a performance. it’s not great but he didn't even want to do that). louis recognizing that locking away a man for having delusions just because he has them at all made paul worse was such a powerfully impactful thing to me. i say this fully well knowing sometimes going to the hospital can be beneficial these days, but even still being locked up there?? drugged and treated horribly given he was black and in a time when mentally ill people were treated heinously? louis saying he belongs at home and seeing to it that paul gets to be home with his family. spending time with him like he’s a person beyond his disability. beyond his delusions. that shit makes me like quiver and cry tbh. that’s mostly what people going through that need most of all and don’t receive. he loved paul. and when paul dies louis dies. idc. (so if lestat’s did take paul away from louis….he killed him twice….also while i’m here i have stirring thoughts about lestat knowing he could tell paul his truthful intentions in town and that out of paul’s mouth no one would believe him. maybe that’s the whole thought. or maybe i’ll come back to it. idk)

(i think in some ways claudia was also theyre to fill the casm paul created too. sorry none of this is like linear or anything im just thinking i guess. maybe i’ll make get into how i see they’re related later.)

[luna-3-clips]

What I think each characters sexuality's are and why

(I'm taking another small break from the basic info. series but it's almost finished, I have 12 characters I still wanna do, and I can do any others if you guys want)

Straight:

Jingo Raichi - I can't really see him liking guys or anyone else other than girls, but he would be hella supportive. He's that friend on pride month who would wear a rainbow flag or put one outside his house just because at least one of his friends is part of the LBGTQ+ community.

Yudai Imamura - He's a playboy, I don't know what you expect. But he isn't homophobic and he acts VERY gay, even though he's not.

Okuhito Iemon - I can only picture him liking girls, although he would be supportive of the community. He's like the dad friend of the friend group so he wouldn't care who you like as long as his friends are happy, then he's happy.

Keisuke Wanima (Younger) - He's definitely not part of the community, and he might not show it, but inside I can picture him being a bit homophobic, but he wouldn't show it since his own twin is part of it (maybe, who knows? *wink wink*).

Zantetsu Tsurugi - He doesn't know what the LGBTQ+ community is, but once he found out he was like: "That's cool, but I only see guys as bros, nothing more." He would be sweet about his reaction but I but dumbfounded since he's still new to the whole thing.

Rin Itoshi - He is not part of the community, but he supports it since his brother and his enemy.... (only for his brother, not his enemy *a lil bit of a spoiler*).

Adam Blake - He looks straight (to me). He is straight. Periodt.

Anri Teieri - (Sadly) I can picture her being straight, but she supports it. [Quick lil headcanon: I can imagine Anri (even without being told) putting up rainbow flags around the Blue Lock facility during pride month.]

Jinpachi Ego - I cannot for the life of me picture his as part of the community. Although, he would be the type of person to act homophobic "Because love gets in the way of your performance" but on the inside he would be supportive.

Oliver Aiku - He would be that friend that acts hella gay even though he's the straightest friend in the group.

Mark Snuffy - I can't see him being part of the community, he's supportive though.

Don Lorenzo - Again, I can't see him being part of the community.

Issei and Iyo Isagi - I can't see them being LGBTQ+, but they'd be supportive.

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Bisexual:

Yoichi Isagi - He most definitely likes guys, but he likes girls too but he hasn't seen one in a while (besides Anri) so he's grown attracted to some of the guys.. *Cough cough* Kaiser *Cough cough*

Rensuke Kunigami - I can't really explain it.. he just is..

Asahi Naruhaya - He acts homophobic, but in reality he's bi as fuck.

Ryosuke Kira - Is it just me, or does he look it?

Junichi Wanima (Older) - It's like a one sided love with him and Chigiri, he acts like he hates him but he actually likes him.

Aoshi Tokimitsu - He's had a crush on a few guys before but was always too scared to come out since he was afraid of what everyone would think.

Jin Kiyora - He kinda just screams bisexual, I don't know why though..

Ranze Kurona - He definitely likes Isagi...

Eita Otoya - He acts like he's straight, but he has a crush on Karasu.

Leonardo Luna - I can fully picture him being bisexual, he's definitely liked guys in the past.

Julian Loki - I dunno why, but he just screams bi...

Shuto Sendo - He most acts as straight as he can to try not to be suspicious, but he's actually bisexual (but for who?).

Sae Itoshi - Have you seen the way he talks to Shido? He still likes girls though, but the public doesn't need to know about him and Shido.

Alexis Ness - *Cough* Kaiser *Cough* Sorry, I think I had something in my throat. Oh, what's he doing here? He's supposed to be in the straight section...

Chris Prince - He likes Noa, but he's only told one person which is Yukimiya.

Noel Noa - He's had crushes on guys in the past. (And maybe he likes one now?)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gay/Lesbian:

Wataru Kuon - He tried to get to know Team W after making the deal with them and he succeeded but it wasn't for long since he remembered he had a team meeting with Team Z.

Ikki Niko - I think he would be gay, and he looks like he has a thing for sweaty men.

Seishiro Nagi - It's "too much of a hassle" to say he likes Reo so he says he's gay and it's the end of the conversation no matter who he's talking to.

Kenyu Yukimiya - This could just be me, but he looks gay. Is that just me?

Nijiro Nanase - Nijiro in Japanese means 'Rainbow', take that however you like.

Ryusei Shido - I don't even need to explain.

Yo Hiori - I don't know why, but I can see him being gay.

Dada Silva - Brazilian Baller, c'mon now, just that name alone sounds gay as fuck (my opinion).

Pablo Cavazos - Just take a look at him, he's cute, but I see him as gay.

Michael Kaiser - Have you seen how he acts with Isagi?

Lavinho - Noel Noa, end of discussion.

Yu Bachira - She gives off Lesian/Pansexual vibes, I don't know why...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pansexual:

Meguru Bachira - Meguru Bachira in Japanese means 'tour flyer', the tour is around all the different people and he's just the representation of it.

Reo Mikage - He likes everyone and anyone, unless you steal his 'treasure' from him, then he doesn't like you.

Jyubei Aryu - Anyone who's 'glam' or 'has styl(e)' is amazing in his eyes.

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Transgender: (I know you can be trans and gay/bi/etc.. but out of laziness I'm only putting each character in one category)

Gin Gagamaru - I can see him being trans.... somehow I can..

Hyoma Chigiri - He's either trans or girly pop.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questioning:

Gurimu Igarashi - He was raised to like girls and only girls, but upon entering Blue Lock he started developing feelings for one of the players. Now he's trying to figure out his sexuality as well as his true feelings and whether or not he should listen to his parents and the other monks. (I feel like I just wrote a story summary, but I would read that story ngl.)

Shoei Baro - He's had little to no experience in love, and he knows what the LGBTQ+ community is, but he's unsure if he's part of it or not.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keep in mind that this is my personal opinion and none of it (at least that I know of) is canon and actually happened.

That's all, have a good day/night!

[eresia-catara]

Let's say we get a proper movie or series about Dante, like a thoroughly researched and well-written adaptation of his life by people who actually give a fuck. How would you want them to portray his relationship with Guido? Beatrice? How would you like them to portray Dante as a whole? I feel like a lot of adaptations fail to make him human-like, with flaws and strengths.

Oh interesting question...

The main problem with movies about Dante is that it seems the writers and directors sort of get a 'performance anxiety', in the sense that they so desperately want to go over the top and shock and amaze everyone that they end up with total disasters; and this is partly because Dante is the most important intellectual we have in italian literature so it would be tragic to let down the public (and yet it's what they do) and partly because it's just modern culture to want to produce extravagant movies.

My opinion is that we need to briefly take a step back from all these dreams of grandeur and look at things inside their context once more, because it seems people don't really know where Dante's greatness lies, they just know that he was great. At the same time, everybody knows Dante was human, he was an ordinary man with his flaws and virtues, but does that mean we have to show the public that Dante had sex and ate and whatnot? No, because that's a lowly interpretation of humanity, that's actually portraying a generic living animal (cough cough looking ad Dante 2022). Then do we have to show a hallucinating outcasted genius who's above everybody else? No because that's a kind of mystification that actually ends up belittling his greatness. The fact is that Dante was great exactly because he achieved what he did as a human. He struggled a lot, he had his contradictions and moments of weakness and yet what he ended up gifting to posterity is a message of unconditional love and a new look of wonder onto the world. If there is something that needs to be central in a portrayal of Dante then it has to be his love for humanity. Not Beatrice (as in an actual woman), not a crazy love delirium for Jesus. It is through catholicism that Dante manages to accept all the bitter events of his life and thus find beauty in life in itself. I think this is the fundamental thing one has to keep in mind.

So Dante has to be shown — like in any biographical movie — in his different moments of joy and struggle. You can't just skip his youth years in Florence during which he meets some of the (if not the) most important people of his life (Beatrice and Guido), but you can't even skip his travels across Italy during his exile, because it is then that he actually faces life and the difficulties through which his very capacity to love changes and evolves. We need to show Dante as an evolving, dynamic character whose thoughts and opinions change through time, not a static genius who had One thought and pursued it for all his life from start to finish. Is it complex to portray? Yes. But can you make a 2-3h movie? Yes, if you do it well (looking at Dante 2022 once more).

In relation to these considerations, I think the interpretation of Beatrice and Guido also needs to radically shift from what we're used to.

The way I see it is that Beatrice Portinari may have interested Dante in his youth, but after her death, when Dante started to elaborate new ideas and thoughts he chose her as the right figure to embody them, not because his was a desperate love for this woman but it was for his ideals and as a good little medieval man he needed to materialize it through allegories. So Dante's relationship to Beatrice was mainly intellectual, she was the vessel of his creativity and should be represented as such. No salivating after her, no hallucinating about her during sex (do I still need to mention Dante 2022?) because it wouldn't make sense. The thing is that he idealized her because he never knew her that well as a person (because of the customs Dante rarely saw her, speaking to her was even more difficult), and this should be reflected in the movie. You cannot, in fact, intellectualize and abstract a relationship this much if you truly know someone. So the abstraction of Beatrice needs to become the embodyment of the voice of his conscience, of his perfectionism.

With Guido it's more complicated simply because unlike Beatrice he was actually present in Dante's life, he was his actual friend, so he has played both the role of human and of Idea; as such, we cannot think of a black or white relationship like we did with Beatrice. I think that first of all we need to understand their friendship. Dante saw a great man in Guido because the two shared a lot of qualities and passions. They were both poets, inclined to pensiveness and speculation but most importantly both were free thinkers: neither could ever be satisfied by common sense or common ideas, both always looked to find truth by themselves regardless of any convention. This, I think, was the core of such a tight bond. I think the two could truly share all thoughts with each other and such cases can truly create a dynamic that can border on what today we percieve as a romantic bond. It is therefore understandable how disagreements could then be felt more intensely compared to those with other more casual friendships. So Words are the key to their relationship. Guido shapes Dante as an intellectual, we can't marginalize him to the typical two shots of their first correspondence and of his exile. Everything that happened in between is what truly matters. I believe that through Guido Dante saw Man at the apex of his glory and misery because Guido was also heretic and, I believe, self-destructive. So he was an exemplum of both the good and bad. We need to show this. If I were to make a movie I would treat the story of Guido as a tragedy within a biography whose finale gets dragged beyond his death up until the end of the movie, because after all that's what Dante did. So we need to see the human and the ideal mixing.

[originalgenshinscenarios]

So I saw you can do crossovers and I have been CRAVING Genshin girls with a crossover S/O. I was thinking either Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, or Pokemon.

So...if you really don't mind, could I get Ayaka, Yae, and Shenhe with an S/O who is a Pokemon trainer (the Pokemon they have can be up to you!)

(If the whole crossover thing has changed, feel free to ignore this, it seems like a bit of a stretch anyway lol)

I only know something about pokemon from the media you said! But I'm not an expert, somehow pokemon is one of the medias where I am not a total lore nerd... Also it's not general hcs... I just thought about first meeting scenarios and went all in haha...

Also explanation for their "signature" pokemon. Ayaka just cuz I think it suits her lookwise lol. Miko cuz her having a nuisance of a pokemon is funny to me. Shenhe cuz it's is one of the best counters for ghost types. I'm typing this just so people won't write stuff like "bUt wHy DoeSn'T MikO hAVe A VulPIx" she does. I just wanted to include one pokemon per character.

[Pokemon AU] Ayaka, Miko and Shenhe meeting their trainer S/O

Ayaka

She was one of the more popular pokemon idols as well as a gym leader, so she didn't have much time to herself at all.

Froslass is one of her signature pokemon. It was odd that actually when the two of you met, she had an argument with it.

The constant fighting and training for the performances has drained her Froslass, and you saw how upset it made her when you went to challenge her. The very idea of neglecting her pokemon made her feel terrible.

So instead of fighting her, you helped the two get along again. And she appreciated it more than anything else.

Ever since that moment you've been in contact. She wanted to repay your kindness after all.

It took her a long time to reach out again, but when she did she was so happy to see you again.

So you went on a "date" where it was just her trying to thank you for everything. You really enjoyed talking together and if you didn't connect last time, you sure did now.

Miko

Her life was always one where she didn't travel too much unless she needed to. She had a few pokemon she spent her daily life with. She really adored taking care of them. But secretly her pokemon were very well trained.

She liked to challenge random trainers from time to time, often acting like she doesn't know anything.

When she met you, you could immediately call her bluff but you still accepted. Your suspicions turned out to be correct when you saw what kind of a monster her Gengar was.

And her strategy was confusing you. But she had everything planned for a sudden win, rather than overpowering you and crushing your hopes in a minute.

Such playing with her food had caused her to lose because you weren't some newbie. She was everything but disappointed though, although she couldn't amuse herself with your reactions, she was entertained by battle instead- which she didn't think would ever happen.

So ever since that she wouldn't just let such a fun opponent go. She was hoping that the two of you would run into each other more often.

And she wasn't disappointed. Because fate kept bringing you together. By that point you've already became close.

Shenhe

Her job was dealing with ghost type pokemon who were often getting a little bit too comfortable fooling around public spaces.

And one day... She ended up having to scold your pokemon on your behalf before you managed to catch up to it.

You made sure to apologize to her for all that inconvenience, but all she said was that it was okay and then went her way.

She was so beautiful and graceful... When your pokemon saw the way you looked at her... Let's just say that it wanted to play a wingman.

It kept running away from you and making you run into her often. It only stopped once you got the courage to ask for her number.

She was blunt and it made her so appealing. Your ghost pokemon actually really liked her too!... But it didn't get along with her Weavile as much...

In the end your pokemon was listening to her better than to you. You honestly had no idea by that point if it played wingman for you to be happy... Or for it to spend more time with her.

~Mod Lisa