#he supposedly cares about and now is romantically engaged with one and they have no chemistry either :/// weird to me

[curiosity-killed]

Okay, so, I gotta ask about your Giselle hate. My only exposure to it was doing a piece from it way back in like Ballet I, so I know basically nothing.

Hahaha okay so this is like. the worst critique of Giselle ever so people who care about such things, look away

But anyway, my beef with Giselle is primarily that it’s boring and sexist and it just doesn’t really have redeeming qualities. Like it’s less racist than some standard ballets but that’s…really not saying a lot (lbr it’s only less racist because it’s not actively doing black face or cultural appropriation and instead is just “look at this jolly old time town of All White People bc immigration in Europe was totally never a thing before 1900.”)

Entertainment value is, of course, wildly subjective, but to me, Giselle drags through the first act and then cuts short the most intriguing parts of act 2. Giselle herself could be an interesting character, but none of the rest of the cast is really engaging. Albrecht is an adulterer taking advantage of his privilege as a wealthy nobleman and Hilarion is just a jealous dick who cares more about vindication than the girl he supposedly loves. The best part of act 1 was the version I saw last year where they had two actual greyhounds onstage and they were very very good dogs

Giselle’s story, in a nutshell:

Girl of Delicate Constitution is kept mostly housebound by her strict mother

Girl ventures out of her house and immediately falls for wandering philanderer

Wandering philanderer is revealed and Girl loses her mind with grief and then dies. From grief. (She has met this dude one (1) time)

Vengeful ghost ladies make men who have betrayed women dance until their hearts give out and they die

Friendzoned™️ dances himself to death

Wandering philanderer starts to dance himself to death but Girl (ghost now) pleads for him and ultimately saves his life

He lives happily ever after ig??

Like. That’s a shitty story!! Wtf! Why are companies still performing this every goddamn season!! The choreography isn’t even that good!! The music is fine but not spectacular! My god y’all!!! Make something new!!!!!

Sexism (& the Feminine Ideal of the Delicate Innocent White Woman) is, yknow, deeply ingrained in ballet and especially Romantic ballets, but Giselle could literally be replaced with a Really Neat Lamp/Flashlight and the story wouldn’t change. La Bayadere has so many problems but at least Gamzatti and Nikiya affect the plot; Swan Lake, again, has Issues but the storyline is compelling and the score is beautiful. Hell, the Nutcracker has a more engaging story with less sexism and it’s the archetypal problematic ballet! I’m not asking for a lot here!! I’m just asking for you to not be Worse Than the Nutcracker and Bayadere

There are so many great choreographers out there!! Hire them!!! Stop only hiring cishet white guys who wanna be the next Balanchine!!!!! Do better!!!!!

[mazojo]

I rly rly hope Aqua doesn't 'end up' with either girl, it would be less creepy if the mangaka didn't keep bringing up the fact that he IS an adult and both of them are teens. Like Kana becomes an idol specifically bc of a crush, and Akane is openly called a kid. And that scene in the diner, where he says he used to play around w girls? Amazing, a harem manga where the LEAST creepy ship is the guy and his mom

AKKSKKSKKWK ANON YOU ARE SO RIGHT BESTIE !!!

Ngl all aqua ships have always rubbed me the wrong way and made me uncomfy. Like I know he has the body of the same age as the others and what not but I can’t stop thinking of him as his doctor self so it just makes me incredibly off put. I like his relationship with Kana as friends because I think he does help both her and Akane in his own kind of weird way to grow as individuals but romantically it ain’t there for me

Specially because he kept using them and like idk,,,,,, they both deserve so much better

[fantastic-nonsense]

oh god re: dick supposedly being a womanizer. That interpretation had an uptick lately because of the whole TTA/Nightwing miscommunication fiasco and GOD. Also, correct me if I'm wrong as I've not read the relevant comics super recently, but people seem to think Dick has commitment issues but personally to me he seems like he has the opposite problem in relationships. He tries to make them work long after he should let them go (and indeed its usually his girlfriends who break up with him).

Yeah, we're not going to talk about the TTA/Nightwing miscommunication, which is happening entirely because the writers didn't bother to talk to each other and clear up timelines to ensure that Dick wasn't cheating on either Kory or Babs with the other.

Anyway, you're right and you should say it! Dick's single biggest issue re: romantic relationships is that he takes every single relationship super seriously to the point where he stays in them far after he should have initiated a breakup. Dick has the opposite of commitment issues; he has over-commitment issues and I'm pretty sure that you're right in saying that basically every time he's broken up with a love interest (at least...pre-reboot), they initiated it.

It's true for Kory and Babs, at least: Kory decided to return to Tamaran for awhile after her and Dick's failed wedding and the Evil!Raven arc, initating the breakup there, and Babs initated both breakups that happened between her and Dick (the first time breaking up with him during the entire Blockbuster-Tarantula nonsense because...well, there was a lot of shit happening there and it would take a lot of time to explain, and the second time she returned her engagement ring to Dick during the acursed Nightwing Annual #2 that literally everyone wants to pretend doesn't exist, because she thought he wasn't ready to get married and needed to "figure himself out" first).

There's also a ton of panels where he's pretty explicitly laid his mentality about sex and relationships out on the table, which I find fascinating since his mentality is basically "I take my relationships super seriously and commit whole-heartedly to every single one, I need genuine time in-between each one to get over the last one, and I'm not about to have sex with someone I don't genuinely love." Here's a couple from the 80s Teen Titans run:

"You also have to understand that I just came out of a romance with someone I thought I cared for. That's why I've been putting you off....You see, I only think I may love you. I mean...not just as a friend. I mean...in a romantic way. Lord, I don't know what I mean. I really need time to sort out my emotions."

"My morality makes me a one-woman man. And you're that woman. you always will be."

"I gotta be honest, Roy--I couldn't make love to someone I didn't really love." "Different strokes, pal. You'll probably go to heaven while I'll sport a perpetual tan!"

So....yeah: Dick is not a womanizer, and in fact if you were going to categorize him, you'd probably sort him into the "hopeless romantic" category because of how seriously he takes the whole concept of "being romantically involved with someone."

Granted, these over-commitment issues do create some extremely funny situations, like that time Dick and Helena Bertinelli had a one night stand (super uncharacteristic of him, it was a whole thing) and Dick tried to like....legitimately take her out afterwards:

"There is no 'us,' Nightwing. There was just one night when you were feeling lonely and I was feeling alone. Let's call it an agreeable indiscretion and leave it at that." "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that. I don't do things on a casual-"

Dick is legit like "okay so are we dating now or something?" out of sheer obligation and Helena's just like "we fucked, Boy Wonder. It was fun. Let's move on." I hated everything about that one-night stand except this conversation, because it was both a) objectively hilarious and b) extremely in-character for Dick to try and make the whole thing mean something other than a fun night. A for effort, Dick. You tried and I love you for it.

[beyondspaceandstars]

Happy Engagement

Relationship: Loki x Reader Warnings: contains some dark elements: manipulation Summary: Loki has always thought of you as his and there isn’t anything he won’t do to keep it that way. A/N: I’ve been sitting on this one shot for a while! I had the idea for it months ago and finally wrote it and then it just sat on my computer while I wrote other stuff but I figured since I don’t have anything really new this week it’d be perfect to put out! I hope you enjoy it because I greatly do :)

Masterlist

Loki had always been an interesting force in your life.

You two met when you were just children in school. You two were the official unofficial outsides of your school year — he was a prince, you were a peasant. Despite his royal standing, he’d play with you at recess. For these outlier ways, you two never interacted much with the other kids, life practically forcing you two to one another.

At such a young age, you hadn’t realized how significant this bond would become. As a child, you were just glad someone was talking to you. He shouldn’t have even been looking at you, should’ve maybe been disgusted with your presence alone. You should’ve been some onlooker, amazed by him and his magic but you weren’t — well, except for the magic part. His magic was little when you were kids but it drew quite the amazement from you.

Over time, you two naturally grew with one another. From childhood into your teens and still, now, you two made an unlikely pair of best friends as young adults. All of this though did not come without some bumps along the way.

In your teens, Loki had almost completely shut you out. For some reason, he seemed to be acting embarrassed by you. Your mother had warned you this may happen but you thought he was different, swore he was, unless his sincerity was like the many other tricks he played. Eventually, supposedly after some talking down from his brother, Loki appeared back at your door asking if you wanted to go for a walk.

This disappearing and coming back had become a habit for him over his teenage years and into adulthood. Loki never explicitly told you why but you could tell there was something eating away at him. It had been there a long time and it felt like disassociating himself with you was his solution.

You thought everything was coming to an abrupt end when you fell pregnant. You had been seeing a nobleman who was a regular customer in your parents’ shop. He was absolutely charming and delightful, practically swept you right off your feet within minutes of meeting. Your parents were ecstatic when he asked to court you.

You yourself were stunned but you ran to tell Loki about it. He was speechless. You tried telling him about the man but something in Loki snapped. He got unreasonably upset, spewing hateful comments about the man, practically forcing you out of his chambers in the process. He went radio silent again.

You tried to ignore losing your best friend — again — and focused on your new relationship. He wooed you endlessly with dates to lavish dinners and dawning you in lovely gowns. It was all so much more than you had ever expected in life. He’d tell you you deserved it and whisper sweet nothings in your ear as you two would get so lost in one another.

A bit shamefully, hypnotized by the romantics of it all, you gave yourself to him. Tangled in the sheets with him as your guide, you let the man you felt you would marry have every last bit of you.

And for a while after, it was blissful. Nothing had seemed to change between you two until he announced he had to go away for a bit. Confused, you asked why suddenly now facing the fact you were losing another person in your life. He explained he was needed by his father on a different realm, part of the family "business," as he described it.

Days after his departure, you learned you were pregnant. Around this time, Loki popped back up in your life. You felt relieved having someone to confide in but when you told him of your pregnancy, he was far from the supportive force you thought you’d get. He didn’t yell or get upset per se but he was beyond stunned.  

He left for a bit then but can back in less time than last. This time he brought along baby supplies and congratulated you. It was a complete one-eighty from his prior behavior but you accepted it, gratefully. Loki ended up being your main person throughout the pregnancy as clues of when your boyfriend would return were nonexistent.

"Did he know you were carrying his child when he left?" Loki had asked you one night. You two were sitting in the living room of the makeshift house you had acquired. You didn’t feel very good that this was the home you were bringing a child into when you knew her father could’ve provided her with a better one. But, at the end of the day, it was a roof over both your heads.

You crocheted another knot in the baby blanket. "No, he didn’t. I didn’t even know."

Loki gave a passing hum at that answer. He didn’t ask about your boyfriend very much after that.

Once your baby girl arrived, she became your entire world, your entire focus. Between caring for her and working to provide, you had little time to worry about your boyfriend still being gone. But it wasn’t as lonely as it may have looked because Loki was always by your side. Working around his royal duties, he’d take time to come visit you and your daughter even sometimes staying for dinner or to play with her. You didn’t miss how he was unintentionally becoming the father she was missing. You never said anything, though, always biting your tongue as you waited for her father to return.

Hope began to face on that front after your daughter turned three. Maybe he was just a footnote in your life, a foolish hopeful dream, but at least he had given you the lovely gift of your child. You weren’t giving up, still placing him in the boyfriend spot of your mind, but you couldn’t deny doubt crept in. Maybe a relationship of any capacity just wasn’t in the cards for you.

Or so you thought.

As Loki continued with his royal responsibilities, he was growing older and more powerful. That’s when the rumors of marriage began floating about. Your mother had brought it up to you once asking if you met any of his potential suitors. Your stomach did a somersault. You didn’t even know there were suitors, let alone met any of them. You tried to keep your cool and just told her no.

Who these suitors were and if they really existed, you never found out. You never even had the guts to ask about them especially after Loki pulled you aside one night after a dinner at the palace.

He rarely ever invited you to dinners with his family so to get this spontaneous invitation, you didn’t hesitate to attend. He even allowed you to bring along your daughter. She was playing with some servants’ children when Loki asked you to the garden.

"Feeling like a nighttime stroll?" You asked with a little laugh. Loki just smiled.

"There’s actually something I want to speak to you about."

"Oh," you frowned. "Is everything okay?"

Loki nodded. "Yes, yes, everything is fine." He looked up at the sky, almost lost in thought as you walked. You thought for a split second how lovely he looked. "I’m sure you have heard by now the…talk about my anticipated engagement."

Your heart practically stopped beating at that moment. Your hands instinctively gripped at the skirt of your dress as if you were ready to run away at the drop of a hat. Trying to keep your voice stead, you said, "Yes, I believe my mother mentioned that to me the other day."

He shot you an unreadable side glance. Your hands gripped the fabric tighter. Why were you feeling like this? Was that…jealousy you felt? You didn’t understand where that had come from. This was your best friend. Your prince best friend. He was bound to get married and have a lavish life with his bride. You couldn’t stop that, you couldn’t change it.

"Do you know anything of the women I have been offered?"

Was this another one of his cruel jokes? You wanted to vomit all over the bushes of flowers passing you as you walked. You managed to shake your head in response. "I’m sure they’re all wonderful."

He scoffed. "More like they’re all incredibly boring."

You gasped, "Loki, I’m not sure you should be speaking that way of them."

"It’s doesn’t matter," he shrugged, "because none of them are what I want."

You didn’t know if you actually wanted to know what he was seeking. You looked at him wearily.

You two walked in silence for a moment. Loki was now watching the ground intensely. You couldn’t believe how much his gaze was wandering. It must’ve been for courage because the next words out of his mouth were ones you had never thought you’d ever hear. From anyone.

"I believe you could be what I want," he said. He spoke your name so softly. "I’d like to ask for your hand in marriage."

You stopped walking, your legs suddenly unable to move. Your eyes grew wide as complete shock raced over you. You didn’t know what to do, too scared to speak because you didn’t know what was going to come out. Your first thought was that this was one of his magic tricks. Maybe he wasn’t even here, just a clone of him as he wished to make a fool of you. It wouldn’t be the first time but he had never been so cruel.

"You’re not saying anything," Loki noted. He had stopped a few feet ahead of you, completely taken off guard by your halt.

"I-I don’t understand." The words felt so heavy forcing their way out of your mouth.

"I don’t believe I stuttered, dear."

Your jaw dropped, surprised it hadn’t hit the floor already. He was seriously asking this. Loki, a literal prince, and your best friend, was asking for your hand in marriage. But — But you just didn’t know why. Why would he ask such a thing? Not only were you an unwed mother, he knew very well about your boyfriend. It was almost insulting he’d think you’d give up just because business or whatever it was was taking a while. You didn’t even want to begin to think about what this could all mean for your daughter.

"Loki… I… I don’t know. This seems crazy—,"

"Crazy?" His expression turned dark. You suddenly regretted the word despite it holding true. "What is so crazy about me wanting to take your hand? I thought this could be good. You and your daughter would have everything you’d ever want. You’d be a princess for crying out loud!"

You flinched at his anger. You had never seen him so enraged before. It made your whole body stiffen.

"I see. This… This is very generous of you but my boyfriend…"

Loki chuckled but there wasn’t any humor found within it. "Of course. The nobleman." He rolled his eyes. "Tell me again, dear, how long has it been? Do you really think he’s going to just show back up one day?"

"Of course," you nodded. "He told me—,"

"He’s not coming back."

You began shaking your head, growing more and more upset as the seconds passed. "You don’t know that."

Loki sighed, defeatedly. "I do know that, dear." A heavy pause. "I know that because I’m the one that sent him away."

You were certain in that moment your heart had stopped. Everything had stopped. You could barely tell anymore how you got from point A to point B.

"Wh-What do you mean?"

"What I mean is I’ve had my eye on you for a long time," he explained. He was standing so tall making you feel minuscule. "I always thought you could be just right for me but then that nobleman waltzed into your life. Granted, he wasn’t me. He couldn’t give you what I could but he tried his best." Loki shrugged. "I had no choice, really. He threatened everything. He derailed my plan but it’s alright. I think after tonight it’ll be back on track, correct?"

You held your hands up in defense, practically begging Loki to slow down. Your head was spinning. "You sent away the father of my child?"

Loki sighed, sounding actually regretful. "Truly, that wasn’t ever my intention. I didn’t know he was going to do that."

"And you think since you forced him out of the picture, you can swoop in and ask for my hand in marriage? We never had a courtship! Are you even hearing yourself?"

"I’m a prince, darling." He sounded so casual. "We do not court like the rest of you."

Gosh, you felt like you were going to vomit. Your hands fell to your stomach as you tried to calm yourself. You had never heard Loki separate you two so clearly before. Like he had drawn a line, definitively.

Your words tasted like venom as you forced yourself to speak. "Can I at least think about it?"

"I’m afraid not. They’d like an answer tonight."

Tonight. That was what this dinner had been for. You weren’t invited just out of the kindness of his heart. You had been attending your own engagement party.

"Loki, this… I— This is insane. You’re— You’re insane—,"

"Am I, really?" He pressed, taking a few steps closer. You trembled under a darkened gaze you had never seen before on him. "I’m not sure that’s how you should be speaking to the man trying to offer you a bit of… stability."

"Stability?" You repeated. "You think that’s all that I want?"

"Would this not grant your daughter a better life? The little shop of yours is only getting you two so far, dear."

The shock had worn off as you were now being filled with rage. "Don’t you dare bring my daughter into this anymore," you gritted. "Of course, I want nothing but the best for her but I also deserve someone who will truly love me. You’re — You’re just asking to fulfill some royal commitment and trying to pass it off like this is some big, grand gesture to help me."

Loki looked a bit taken back by your words. Even you were a bit surprised by yourself. You didn’t know where this fight was coming from within you. Probably from the depths of motherhood, if you had to guess. But it felt good in a way.

After a heavy moment, Loki asked, "Was I so wrong to assume this proposal could actually help us both?"

That was the real kicker of it all, you thought. This actually could help you both.

"I want to marry someone who loves me."

Loki seemed to debate around the idea mentally. "I’m certain that within time something could bloom. I’m not a psychopath, darling." He smirked. "But I truly can’t believe you’d give this up all for the minuscule chance at love, the hopeless thing that got you where you are today."

You gasped. "I would’ve had true love if you hadn’t banished him away!"

Loki let out a humorless laugh. "You are so adorable, you know that?" You flinched as he got close enough now to place a hand on your damp cheek. You were practically forced to look in his eyes as he spoke. "That man was nothing but a spoiled brat and I refuse to believe you actually fell for his game."

You felt yourself crumbling down again. Way beneath him. "He… He was really…"

"Don’t you dare try to defend him, do you hear me?" Loki spat. That darkness was washing over but this time it felt like a storm you couldn’t escape. "I will not have my bride speak such niceties about another man."

"Your bride—,"

"While I’ve enjoyed this little midnight confessional, we have some good news to share with everyone, don’t we?"

You didn’t know what to do. What to think anymore. He wasn’t letting up. You were trapped. It was like the prison gate had shut behind you. You were stone-cold now, completely under his control. You were giving up in complete defeat. You could scream until you were blue in the face but you were running in circles. At least your daughter would know a home.

"Yes."

Loki’s face lit up. He removed his hands from you. "Fantastic," he said, heading back towards the palace. You helplessly followed beside him. He wrapped an arm around your waist and said, "Happy engagement, dear."

[mrpenguinpants]

Okay so after pulling Childe (and getting him to almost lvl 90 the same day lmao but I ran out of exp books) I started thinking about Chaeya x reader and I have to share my brainrot with someone so here you go:

Childe suddenly shows up to Mondstadt one day, supposedly to check out the Windblume Festival, but it had already been over for a few days before he arrived

You walk in on him and Kaeya glaring daggers at each other in the middle of the street, Kaeya sending terse smiles and veiled threats while Childe is nearly vibrating with the effort to keep himself from stabbing Kaeya in broad daylight. Who cares if he's a captain of the Knights? This guy's pissing him off

When you make your presence known it's like a switch flipped inside the two of them and they both turn to you like "ah yes here is the love of my life :)"

"Childe? What are you doing here?"

"Aw, can't I come say hi to a friend?" He replies, flashing you a grin.

"In that case, you've said your hellos," Kaeya interjects. He drapes an arm across your shoulders and pulls you closer to him. "They'll be coming with me now."

"I'm not just here to say hello." Childe steps toward you, sending a cold smile in Kaeya's direction. "I'm here to spend the day with them. Now, if you'll excuse us…"

You sigh as you realize that you have to be the peacekeeper here otherwise who knows what these two will do to each other?

To stop them from fighting and to lighten the tension in the air, you jokingly say, "Alright you two, settle down. I have two hands."

Even though you clearly meant it as a joke the boys each immediately grab one of your hands and you end up sandwiched between them for the rest of the day while they engage in Friendly Banter™ but don't you worry it's totally lighthearted and doesn't really mean anything (:

You are exhausted from babysitting these two grown ass men at the end of the day

Fast forward a few weeks and Kaeya invites Childe to have a Civil Discussion about their mutual feelings towards you

Bc while Kaeya would be perfectly content (he tells himself) with burying his feelings and letting someone else sweep you off your feet if it means you get to be happy and safe

He absolutely cannot let you fall into the hands of the Fatui, especially not a Harbinger

He's already lost his family because of the Fatui, he's not going to lose you too

These two somehow manage to make it through their chat without stabbing each other, which is a miracle

They decide to confess to you together and let you decide who to keep

The day comes when they both planned to confess to you. They somehow both kept their promise of not confessing before the other person which is also quite the miracle (maybe they signed a contract with Zhongli as the mediator lmao)

Anyway, they take you out to the cliff next to Stone Gate bc no one ever goes up there lmao so they won't be interrupted

(Kaeya lets Childe go first bc he thinks he would be able to deliver a more romantic confession than this two brain cell Fatui Harbinger)

Idk how to break it to you Kaeya but your poetry sucks (jk jk pls still come home I need your constellations 🥺)

After hearing two heartfelt confessions from your two favorite people, you had to take a moment to process what just happened

They both like you??? Wtf???? And here you were losing sleep over how you'd handle your crush on both the Cavalry Captain and the Harbinger

So if course you suggest a poly relationship. After all, you had two hands ;)

The boys didn't quite know how to handle your response, but after explaining it to them they both agree to give it a shot

So that's how you managed to capture the heart of these two idiots

And with your help they eventually realized that, huh, maybe the other person isn't so bad. They're actually kinda hot, ngl 👀

From then on, all the evil in Teyvat knew to not mess with you if they valued their existence. Your boyfriends aren't known to show mercy against those who hurt their loved ones

Ahaha this was long but I hope you enjoyed it!! If I have more brainrot to share I shall return with a part 2

Being completely honest. I really like Childe + Kaeya. Zhongli + Childe is really nice and wholesome but no one really writes smug Zhongli (THE. LOST. FUCKING. POTENTIAL???) but I care about fake smug Childe being paired with actually smug bastard Kaeya. But then you throw a reader in and holy shit, have I mentioned how much I love poly relationships?? I'm so honoured you came to me of all people to brainrot;; I also love the idea of reader acting as a wingman for two separate characters.

Dude, I can literally astral project and see this in my mind. I fully commit to the idea that Childe is an overgrown child and Kaeya acts like one when he gets pissed lol. Yo, if they signed a contract with Zhongli I can feel evil dad Zhongli hovering behind them anytime they try to make a move. But I was also not a fan of Kaeya's poetry. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I hate big acts of affection. Or just any act of affection that oversteps above platonic cause I would not be writing poetry for my friends unless it was a joke. It makes my spine turn to liquid. I'm gonna be real, even tho I just said that, I'm super down to hold anyone's hand or link arms. I'm gonna use "I have two hands" one day.

I can totally see their relationship starting with I love this person and I want to fuck this other person. There is no in-between. Then it slowly develops and what are these feelings I'm having??

[whengeorgiawentblue]

I disagree. I think if Misha really is straight and if Jensen really were in love with him, then Misha would not have participated to the extent he did in what you consider the most important cockles proofs and many other things.

I mean, Misha was part of that 10 year anniversary dinner too. He went there with Jensen, took that romantic selfie with him, had nothing against Jensen posting that picture on Instagram and calling it a 10 year anniversary etc. Misha even re-posted that picture on his own Insta stories and so on.

Similarly, Misha also voluntarily went outside into a secluded area after the straddlegate panel and obviously got veeery close to Jensen there, nip to nip, dick to dick, and again was fine with taking a selfie like that.

If Jensen really were in unrequited love with Misha, I don't think Misha would be so cruel as to engage in such intimate, even romantic behavior with Jensen, all the while knowing that he'll never give Jensen what he wants. I think Misha would obviously still be friends with Jensen, but he would keep more of an emotionally healthy distance between them to not make it even harder for Jensen and not give him false hopes.

I only really see 3 options here:

1) Misha and Jensen really are just 2 very close straight bros who don't give a fuck about what's expected of them and aren't afraid of being touchy or emotionally initimate with each other. Which is plausible, J2M have all talked about how they basically don't give a fuck about toxic masculinty anymore, how they tell each other "I love you" all the time and how touchy they can be. Also, and I know cockles people don't like hearing that, but Jensen and Jared have a long history of unusually intimate behavior for 2 straight guys as well. They have told stories about stuff like Jensen wiping Jared's food from his mouth in restaurants for example (they've done that at cons too actually). I also remember seeing set pictures of Jensen spoon-feeding Jared ice cream. I don't know any straight guys irl who do stuff like that, but supposedly these 2 are (or were) just very close bros. If that's the vibe they already had going on, it's easy to picture someone like Misha, who was unconventional already anyway, just joining in with their behavior and that's just how they act with each other now.

2) Misha lied for whatever reasons about being straight aka he went back into the closet, but cockles is still real.

3) Misha and Jensen both consider themselves straight even though they have fucked and have some kind of flirty tension going on. But maybe it's just a "friends with benefits" thing to them or stress relief and they mainly consider themselves straight.

But I really can't see Misha acting the way he does with Jensen, if Jensen really was in love with him, but he was straight. He isn't that heartless.

All you said are very valid points!

I must say I made that post as a way to explore that possibility. But if I'm honest, I think there's something else behind Misha coming out as straight. I really don't think he's totally straight, and maybe he's actually bisex but had to come back to the closet for some reasons.

I'm very confused, just like everybody else. And every and each one of us has their own theories. But of all the theories I've seen trying to explain Misha's statement, I think the most thoughtful one is this one:

Have a look, in my opinion, it's the one that could be closer to the truth.

[lilxberry]

‘Evil’ Step-mom - Kevin/Tom Keller (Platonic/Romantic)

Requested by: @thanossexual​

Hi! So if you decide to write for Riverdale parents could I perhaps request Tom Keller x Reader, Platonic! Kevin Keller x Reader , where Y/n is in her thirties and is engaged to Tom and Kevin's friends come over to cheer him up when they find out cause they think that he's mad or sad but he's actually getting along with the reader and gossiping with her about boys and teenage drama and their reaction is just priceless when Kevin tells them that he's basically on best friend terms with Y/n. 😎

Ofc feel free to ignore this request if you don't like it!

I LOVED this request so of course I wasn’t gone ignore. With this, I mainly focused on giving a little detail between Kevin and readers’ relationship and how the girls had assumed that Kevin would be upset with Tom and readers’ engagement.

I do plan on making a part two, where I would focus more on Tom and reader, maybe a slightly prequel about the night they had gotten engaged or the aftermath of their engagement. Maybe a lil’ conflict between whatever Josie’ mom name is and the reader. (I lowkey don’t care. She is just as irrelevant to me as she is hot lmao). Maybe because she’s jealous or something, I dunno, I’m brainstorming rn.

Anyways, I’ve waffled on long enough so I hope you enjoy.

Warnings: None really, just humour tbh. I’m shocked too.

Words: 777

Pairings: Kevin Keller x reader (Platonic) (Female Reader). Mentions Tom Keller x reader (Romantic)

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Kevin’ morning had been a…confusing one at that. At soon as he walked through those doors to enter the school, the girls had flanked him and offered him their ‘condolences’, even Cheryl. His raised eyebrow and utter confused expression were definitely comical and just so him.

They had refused to bring whatever was supposedly upset him up or give some form of explanation to the young man, leaving him with little to no answers and a sore neck from all the shaking he has done through the day.

This continued until, finally, the bell to signify the end of last period sounded, giving the student body the freedom, they had craved all day.

Kevin had no desire to rush, wanting to take his time to put whatever textbooks into his locker and collect whatever he may need until tomorrow. But the girls had other plans. As soon as Kevin had passed the door exiting the class, he was flanked. Veronica on his right, Betty to his left.

“C’mon Kev, we’ve got some shakes to sip at Pop’s,” stated Veronica, clearly showing that he had no say in whatever they had planned. “Cheryl and Toni are going to meet us there.”

Kevin sighed deeply through his nose as he rolled his eyes before offering both of his arms to the girls which they quickly linked with their own. “Fine, but I need to get something from my locker.”

“Come on then, we don’t have all day,” Betty remarked playfully, eliciting a collective chuckle from the trio as they began to walk down the hallway and towards Kevin’ locker.

_______________

Being sat with the girls at Pop’s really hadn’t given Kevin any clarity on why they were acting so weird. Weirder that what would be considered standard rate in Riverdale, at least.

“As much as I’ve loved the attention from my girls, truly, can someone please tell me why you’re all acting strange?”

Toni, Veronica and Betty had all simultaneously decided to take another sip from their milkshakes as they adverted their gaze. Cheryl had looked towards each of her female companions before sighing exaggeratedly and turning her attention towards Kevin who sat opposite to her.

“I don’t understand why you would want to bring it up and not just accept how great friends we are being right now. I mean, the amount of support we’re showing you at this terrible time is impeccable,” the red head spoke, slightly trailing from the point.

Kevin gave her a blank stare, waiting for her to finally spill what was going on. She sighed once more before speaking again. “We are simply trying to help you through the terrible news of your father proposing to Y/N.”

Kevin’ eyebrows furrowed; face scrunched up into confusion. Why was that terrible news? He greatly liked Y/N, he loved that she was now finally going to join the family officially. He was even the one to push his father to propose. Hell, he was even there when he had done so.

Shaking his head, he stuttered slightly as he spoke. “I-I don’t understand. Why is that bad?”

All heads at the table had snapped to look at him, all held a look of utter shock, as if he what he had said were incredulous.

“I thought it was gonna be an evil step-mother situation, honestly. We all did.” Toni was the first to break the silence, voicing what everyone had clearly thought was his feelings about you.

Kevin shook his head, a smile now forming on his lips. “No, I love Y/N. She’s awesome and she makes my dad happy, which makes me happy. Plus, we gossip all the time. Half of the drama I’ve know has been because she constantly texts me.”

Veronica smiled at Kevin as she rested her hand upon his arm in a friendly manner. “I’m sorry we got it so wrong. I’m glad, we’re glad, that you love her so much.”

“Yeah. We should have asked. We’re all sorry.” Betty gave him as side hug which he had happily returned.

“It’s fine. But yeah. Maybe ask next time.” They all shared a small laugh, resuming the chit chatting from before, taking sips from their shakes once more.

Quickly finishing off his drink, he looked towards the girls before speaking up. “I should get going, me and Y/N kinda have a movie night planned.”

“And you didn’t invite moi?!” Veronica feigned insult with an overdramatised gasp and hand over her chest. “Have fun, Kev.”

After more farewells from the rest of the girls, Kevin hastily left the diner, on his way to spend time with his favourite gossip guru and soon-to-be step-mom.

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Honestly, can we appreciate how quickly I have gotten these last two fics out because holy shit lmao

I really did have fun writing this and hope I can create a good part 2 where I focus on the relationship between Tom and reader

Anywho, I hope you enjoy

As always, constructive criticism and requests are welcomed and greatly appreciated :D

[linssikeittomies]

The Unexciting Comfortableness

AO3

I started a version of this fic back before When Villains Rise was published, and never finished it. Now that the Webtoon has reached my favorite part, I got the inspiration to finish it - and scrapped everything but the basic premise of talking-about-sex. I'm a shipper at heart, but I also like the ambiguous relationship Nita and Kovit have at the end of the series, so I decided to embrace it. Cuddling and semi-platonic kissing ensued.

--

Sometimes, maybe after a particularly interesting lecture, or when she felt a strong surge of determination, or just when words weren’t enough, Nita would kiss Kovit. Sometimes, perhaps when he was feeling particularly frustrated about having to play nice, or when memories of his childhood came to the surface, or just when he was having a good day, Kovit would kiss Nita. They still had little practice interacting with other people, and couldn’t say what exactly they felt towards each other -and that was fine with them. They suspected it wasn’t quite friendship, but neither was it really romantic. They fit together naturally enough without a clear definition, and that was enough. Nita, for her part at least, could say for certain Kovit was the most important person in her life. The only one she looked forward to seeing every day, the only one she cared to touch. She could withstand other people touching her, briefly and by accident, but for her, there was only one person in the world she would want touching her. Her classmates were two people she would never be able to understand. “It was just one time!” the man groaned. This was the third time, as far as Nita was aware, that it had been ‘just one time’. She seriously hoped the couple would stop airing out their grievances in public. “And Claire?! Was she just one time also?! At least Derek and Ashley were actually just one time!” the woman shrieked. And so the argument went on. Nita quietly packed up her things, genuinely baffled by the amount of people those two had slept with, and kept sleeping with, endangering the relationship they supposedly cared so much about. Or maybe the flashy engagement rings had just been an apology from one party to the other. Still, they did at least tolerate each other enough to have stayed together the whole year Nita had had the displeasure of knowing them. One other classmate, who had been involved in the drama, had snidely claimed it was purely because the sex was great. What a strange thing sexual pleasure apparently was. Able to tie together two people who hated each other’s guts. Made powerful men and women throw their careers in jeopardy, spend their fortunes for those fleeting moments, ruining their marriages for those precious ‘just one time’s that couldn’t possibly live up to the hype. Oh, Nita could admit being curious, and maybe willing to try it sometime, but she knew that the act merely released some chemicals that tricked the brain into wanting to continue the species. She knew all about those chemicals - she could, and even had, produced those very chemicals in her own body, and knew for a fact they would never be enough for her to risk being late to class, never mind threaten her whole education! Ridiculous. It couldn’t even just be a human thing - just as many unnaturals had been involved in sex scandals as humans. Living beings were weird.

Sometimes, maybe after a particularly interesting lecture, or when she felt a strong surge of determination, or just when words weren’t enough, Nita would kiss Kovit - this time she kissed him because she was tired after a long day, because she wanted to thank him, because she was curious about how it would feel. Pleasant. Familiar. Unexciting. Very different from the few kisses they had shared before their “new life”. Didn’t leave her yearning for another right after. “What’s for dinner?” she asked, taking note of Kovit’s ashy skin and dull hair. He had gone without a proper meal for too long, but with the second trial still ongoing he didn’t have many opportunities to go out and find one. Too many watchful eyes. “Hot pockets.” “Very healthy.” Kovit rolled his eyes. Nita agreed whole-heartedly - at least they were tasty, and with Nita being the only one able to earn an income and their busy schedules they couldn’t exactly afford real food. Kovit lifted his knees to make space for Nita on the couch, and she leaned on them. Studying his face, while he studied his phone. She lowered her head to rest her jaw against the knees, circled her arms around his legs. He looked very tired. Dry lips, irritated eyes, dark bags. “You should go visit the emergency room.” “I hate going to the emergency room”, Kovit grumbled. “More than you hate me nagging you about eating properly? Until you can stop acting like a good boy that’s your best option. I’ll go with you, for company.” He couldn’t wait for the day he himself would be sending people to the emergency room - or more often the morgue - and this was the only comfort she could offer in these trying times. “Tomorrow, maybe”, he conceded, sighing and putting away his phone, picking up Nita’s hand in its stead, playing with her fingers. “Need help with schoolwork?” “Nah, I can handle it.” While college hadn’t been the dreamland she had always pictured, she really liked it. She was doing well, even under the enormous pressure of school, Adair’s mentoring, work, constant surveillance, paparazzis, and witnessing in court. At least the black market attacks had died down, all those eyes on her making it very difficult to attack and stay under the radar of law enforcement. That, and the threat of cohabiting with a zannie - even one who publicly presented as safe. She would’ve liked to see Tony and Anna try to handle all that - or maybe she actually would’ve, it might have put things into perspective for them. “ What I can’t handle is people. People are stupid.” Kovit snickered and flashed an evil grin. “Need to get rid of someone?” It was testament to his good looks that even like this, tired to the bone and smirking like a cartoon villain he still managed to be hot. “Once you have free reign of the place, maybe”, Nita smirked in response, not serious, and she knew Kovit could tell. “They keep fighting about their relationship troubles in public. It’s so annoying.” “I feel you”, Kovit said and rolled his eyes. “The judge is going through a divorce and it’s totally clouding his judgement.” Nita already knew that, the lawyer Fabricio had hired for Kovit was working on getting a mistrial somehow on those grounds. He was a confident fellow, and still high on his success with getting Kovit out of a jail sentence in the previous trial, the one regarding his crimes in the States. Considering those had involved a decade’s worth of murder and torture, his Canadian crimes should be a cakewalk. He parted his legs to pull Nita down on his chest, twisting a strand of her hair between his fingers, pulling the curl tight and then letting it bounce back. She should get a trim, the ends were splitting something bad. “They both keep cheating on each other and screaming about it at school”, Nita sighed, settling down comfortably. “Is sex really so good that you need to keep having it and then make a scene in public?” Kovit shrugged, with some difficulty since Nita’s head was resting on his shoulder. “For some people, I guess.” “I hope they never procreate, for the

sake of humanity”, she groaned into Kovit’s neck.

The thought plagued Nita’s mind the whole evening. Could sex really be that good? She had a hard time imagining it to be true, but maybe she shouldn’t knock it ‘til she tried it. A lot of movies seemed to think so, at least. And politicians, and celebrities, and Tony and Anna. It was easy to imagine fictional media blowing it out of proportion just for the sake of storytelling, but if real people kept doing it then maybe there was a grain of truth to it. After all, Nita had never known how amazing sesame candy was until she had it. She didn’t find it unpleasant to imagine herself having sex with Kovit. She didn’t crave it or anything, but she thought it might be nice. Since she did like having him close, kissing him, and sleeping next to him. Maybe it would just be an escalation of those actions. Unless it was like cake, where the first slice is great and leaves you wanting more, but then after three slices you feel sick and swear off sugar for a week. “Do you think you could ever have sex?” “Huh?” Nita didn’t blame Kovit for his confusion, it had come out of nowhere and he was still half-asleep. “You said you never felt the urge, but would you try if I wanted it? With your fingers, maybe, if you can’t get an erection?” “Uh... Do... do you want it? Pretty sudden, don’t you think?” There was no panic in his voice, but there was discomfort. Nita could also feel his pulse picking up, her ear against his chest. He stayed still, though, holding her in his embrace, like he did most nights. “I’m not sure, honestly. It’s just been on my mind today. I’m ovulating, maybe that’s why.” Ovulation had never had this effect on her before, so that was an unlikely explanation. But it was the only one she could think of. “I think you’re attractive, and I like being close with you. I might be curious. I know that I want to try it someday.” “Thanks for the compliment”, Kovit said, and Nita heard the smirk in his voice, even if his pulse stayed elevated. He didn’t continue, so Nita had to prompt him - well, maybe not had to, since this conversation wasn’t an urgent one, but she would’ve liked an answer. So she sat up and looked him in the eye. “So what do you think of me?” Breasts in full display since it was too hot for pajamas. Perhaps not what you’d call big, but Nita thought they were nice enough. Working on her muscles had given her body definition, and she didn’t have excess fat anywhere. She didn’t look like an instagram model, but she knew that objectively speaking, she was attractive. Sexy, just like Kovit was. “Nita, you’re pretty and hot but - my body missed the memo, remember? I just never got it, the feeling. We could be - doing things and I’d just be thinking about, I don’t know. Pizza?” “No worries, I’m not offended. If you can’t, there’s really nothing we can do about it”, she shrugged, settling comfortably back in his arms, curiosity sated and mind ready to sleep. Kovit didn’t feel the same, evidently, as he broke the silence after a while. “It’s not just that”, he said quietly. “It’s not - it’s not that I’m physically unable to, I mean, I get morning wood sometimes. So clearly the parts work, just on their own schedule.” “I knew that already. We’ve been sleeping next to each other for two years.” “Wha - Nita, are you saying you’ve been looking?” She stared at him like was dumb. She was sure he must’ve felt her being damp a few times, given how entangled they often got. It would’ve been weirder if she had never felt his dick against her thigh. “I’m saying we’re cuddlers. You have your hand on my boob more often than not.” “Really? Sorry.” “It feels kind of nice, actually.” “Oh.” A moment of silence, awkward from Kovit’s side. “Anyway, we’re getting off topic. I’ve heard - that it hurts the first time. For the woman.” Ah, right. That would be breaking two of his rules at once. He’d started reworking them before the trials started, and had been done with updating them by the time the first trial was done. Still, many of them had stayed untouched, among them the two related to the

discussion at hand - eating the pain of someone he knew, and eating sexual pain. “That’s mostly a myth, anyway. If she’s properly aroused and lubricated, it won’t hurt. Usually it’s just that she’s nervous, and the man doesn’t care or know enough to prepare her.” Nita didn’t think she cared enough about social norms to get nervous about such things. If it was Kovit, she could trust everything to be fine. He wouldn’t laugh at her, or use her as a glorified sex toy, or ditch her afterwards. He would care about her pleasure, and he wouldn’t pretend to know better, so he would follow her instructions. If only Nita knew what instructions to give. She wasn’t exactly an expert in sexual arousal, herself - it just kind of happened sometimes, and after a few minutes it would fade on it’s own. She didn’t know how to use her fingers to keep herself interested, and to be honest, learning how to wasn’t high on her list of priorities. This felt much nicer - pressing herself to Kovit’s side, hearing his heartbeat, feeling his arm around her. She breathed deep, drawing in his scent, more comforting than the blankets. It was only when Kovit started shifting uncomfortably, failing to subtly distance himself, that Nita understood he was reading the situation completely different from her. “I’m not coming onto you, don’t worry. Just trying to fall asleep.” He breathed out a sigh of relief, and wrapped his arm around Nita’s waist. Just the way they both liked it.

[julieloveupstead]

"To Infinity and beyond" - Upstead (part 1)

Description: First morning as brides. They are as happy as ever. How will Will react to the news that his little brother has knelt before Hailey?

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

Did what happened last night really happen? Did he really propose to the most gorgeous woman he knew? Did Hailey really say yes? Had he dreamed it?

Looking now at Hailey still sleeping in his arms tears involuntarily welled up in his eyes, his heart began to beat unmistakably fast and his smile widened more and more with each passing moment.

It all seemed surreal to him, but he couldn't have imagined a better evening and a better engagement.

If someone had told him just six months ago that the most gorgeous woman he'd ever met and an amazing police officer with an incredible career ahead of her would choose him over every cop's dream job at the FBI he would have laughed it off.

But he did. Hailey Anne Upton chose his Jay Halstead over a career with the feds. He asked himself what he had done to deserve her.

From then on, he couldn't imagine a morning without her smile, the smell of her skin, and her morning voice. Her kisses and the fact that he was the first to look at her every day.

There wasn't a day that went by when he couldn't imagine a romantic dinner where he would ask her to marry him and give her the ring she deserved and reflect how special she was, even though he knew he would never find one. He even had a plan to write an engagement speech. He wanted to do absolutely everything to show how much he loved her and the fact that he couldn't imagine his life without her.

When he told her that he had been thinking about eternity with her for years, he wasn't lying and he really couldn't remember the specific moment when he had had that epiphany. He felt like it had always been her that mattered.

And maybe his proposal was not as he had dreamed, but maybe that was the secret. All it took was the two of them doing 'Their Thing That Works' to make a supposedly not unusual and not overly thought out proposal be unusual and the way it should be. Just theirs without all the noise and talk.

He felt the small person in his arms move so he looked at her. He smiled and kissed her neck.

- 'Good morning, my fiancé,' she whispered without opening her eyes yet and Jay's heart stopped to start faster. She's going to drive him crazy someday. He thought and kissed her again but this time on the cheek.

- Good morning, my fiancée - he whispered wrapping her in his arms so he could kiss her properly.

- Did that really happen yesterday? - Hailey asked putting her hand on the man's cheek and a smile wandered across her face.

- Mhmm, yes you proposed to me and I said yes - he replied with the same smile and pulled her even tighter to him.

- Fact - she laughed into his chest and feeling grateful that Jay didn't see her blushing. Hailey as she remembered thought it was the craziest idea ever. She had been so terrified after everything that had happened in that warehouse that her only clear thought had just been Jay and that she only wanted to be with him. Her first thought after saying those words in front of Jay was that he would say no and that would be the end of it, and when he didn't answer anything she felt even weirder and the whole situation with Roy.

Then his positive answer and then this time his statement was the last thing on her mind at that moment.

It was like she was in a dream and still it was all not getting to her.

- But you proposed too, and I said yes," she said lifting her head to look into his green eyes.

Jay put a strand of her hair behind her ear and with a big smile and still with tears in his eyes he bent down to bring their lips together.

- How did I ever deserve you? - he whispered against her lips.

- I don't know, maybe with those good waffles and coffee - she replied shrugging her shoulders and drawing stencils from his jaw to his neck and chest.

- I got the message. - Laughed Jay, kissing the top of her head. - And as much as I'd love to make you the first breakfast in bed today as my bride, we did arrange for Will and I to have breakfast today, remember?

- Oh crap actually. Is today the opening of that new breakfast place? - She asked a little disappointed that he was running away from her.

- Mhmm - he muttered.

- All right, what time should we be there? - She asked kissing Jay's neck. He might not get breakfast in bed tonight, but maybe he would get something else.

- O 10? - Jay feeling Hailey's lips on his neck could barely concentrate.

- What time is it now? - she asked without stopping the kisses.

- Mmm - Jay had to pull his neck out to see the time, which forced Hailey to stop. - 7:23, we still have plenty of time. - He replied, and knowing what was going through that gorgeous blonde's head, Jay nipped at her lips with a sly grin.

✾✾✾

- Do you think Will will be very angry? - Hailey asked nervously looking ahead as she and Jay drove to breakfast together. They were quite late, but it was Hailey's opinion that it was all Jay's fault for not wanting to let her go, although she would be lying if she said she protested too much.

- Maybe a little, he'll harbor a redheaded nature, but once he gets his food and finds out about our engagement he should be over it pretty quickly. - He replied with a laugh.

- Do you think so? - Hailey although she was trying to be serious and really cared that the older of the Halsteads wasn't offended at them couldn't help but laugh when she imagined the look on Will's face when they told him.

Hailey looked at Jay who was focused on the road and an even bigger smile appeared on her face. So many hours had passed since Jay had knelt down in front of her, and she still couldn't believe it was happening for real.

She never thought there would be someone in her life who would love her in spite of everything and above all else. She didn't know if she would ever deserve true love, but everything changed when Jay came into her life.

- I love you Jay - those three words had become so natural to Hailey, and yet she still felt excitement every time she said them.

- I love you Hailey - Jay saying looked up at her and put his right hand out, so he could grab her left and intertwined their fingers.

The blonde looked at their hands, and she couldn't feel happier than at this moment and with this man.

✾✾✾

- The big one didn't make it? - indignantly spoke up Will as soon as Jay and Hailey crossed the threshold of the breakfast bar.

- We sorry. - Hailey was the first to speak up when she sat down at the table.

- Can I know the reason? - asked the older Halstead brother curiously looking at his two companions, but noticing the reddened cheeks on their faces and the smiles they were sending out, he regretted asking the question. - You know what I don't want to know, he waved his hand and reached quickly for the menu to hide his embarrassment.

Hailey and Jay seeing the doctor's behavior only laughed and also reached for the menu.

✾✾✾

- I'll tell you how delicious those pancakes were - Hailey put down the cutlery and leaned against the back of the chair she was sitting on.

- Better than mine? - said Jay, leaning back in his chair and looking at his fiancée defiantly.

- Mmm well... I mean - Hailey straightened up at the look on her fiancé's face - I love your breakfast and your pancakes are delicious, but these were delicious too. - She explained quickly hiding her forming smile.

This man will drive her to passion.

- You're lucky I'm marrying you," he leaned closer to the blonde, "because I'll have all eternity to prove to you that my pancakes are the best in the world," he whispered in Hailey's ear, so Will wouldn't hear. The woman had to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud, and then Jay, not caring about the people in the restaurant, kissed Hailey.

- God you guys are awful - Jay and Hailey pulled away rolling their eyes with laughter hearing Will's indignant groan.

- And you've gotten awfully embarrassing - laughed his brother Jay getting a roll of his eyes.

- Okay boys I'll go to the bathroom quickly and we can get going - she said laughing at her brothers.

- Okay but come back quick - said Jay causing laughter from his wife who got up and walked towards the bathroom.

- You guys are really getting more and more unbearable by the day, Will said, drawing the attention of his brother, who kept looking in the direction Hailey had gone. Jay couldn't help it that even in a regular restaurant he had to be 100% sure that his beloved was safe. It's already a habit he hasn't been willing to unlearn.

- Gosh and you're really getting grumpier by the day, the brunet bit back.

- God. - Will rolled his eyes at his brother. He took a large sip of his coffee mug to his lips and put it down, turning back to his brother. - Something makes me feel like I'm probably going to have to pull my mom's engagement ring out of the depths of the dresser and just count down to the time you propose to her.

Jay hearing his brother's words almost choked on his own coffee trying to stop himself from telling the truth. He turned towards the bathrooms checking to see if Hailey was coming back. He didn't want to tell the story without her presence.

- Are you okay Jay? - Will asked concerned.

- Yeah, just - he coughed - I won't be needing that ring anymore.

- What do you mean, you haven't gotten married yet, did you? - asked Will jokingly, but when Jay didn't laugh he widened his eyes and opened his mouth wider. - What? How? When? Why? What? - Will knew that Jay had completely lost his head for the petite blonde detective and with reciprocation, but he hadn't expected such revelations so soon.

- Hey slow down man - laughed Jay at his brother's reaction. - First of all, I'd rather talk about this with Hailey, but since you brought it up yourself, tough. - started the brunet, still unable to stop laughing at his older brother's embarrassment. - Secondly, I proposed last night, and to tell you the truth, she proposed to me first.

- What? - the still surprised doctor couldn't make out the words. - Never mind, it's long story and just Hailey and my story - he stuck his tongue out at his brother. Jay couldn't stop grinning at the memory of those moments. He knew his brother was curious about all the details, but Jay wanted them to stay just for him and Hailey and didn't want to reveal anything to anyone, not even his older brother. What's between him and that gorgeous blonde is so special and just them that he didn't see the need to tell about it. - And to your question 'why?' the answer is simple. I love this woman madly and after everything we both went through before, and now I can't imagine my life without her. These few months with her have shown me that I don't need to procrastinate anymore, that we have already procrastinated too long anyway, so I just said what I felt, knelt down and asked myself if she wanted to spend life with me. She said yes, and since yesterday I am the happiest man in the world. - He said, not ashamed of the tears of joy that appeared in his eyes at that memory.

- Wow, I don't know what to say, little brother," he said, still shocked but also visibly happy and proud of his brother Will. - I'm proud of you and happy for you guys.

- Thanks man - replied smiling widely Jay.

- What about the ring, I haven't seen any on Hailey's finger - Will asked, completely forgetting about his coffee.

- Ammm, because it's not here yet. - said Jay uncertainly. - I didn't want to give Hailey our mom's ring because somehow it's unlucky for us - he pointed at his brother and himself. - And besides, I want Hailey to get something special, something that we can associate with this special event and only us, not Erin or Natalie. And most of all, I want to give Hailey a ring that she deserves, that reflects how much I love her and how special she is to me. - Jay concluded. There was silence around the table for a moment. Jay was still reliving the events of last night vividly, and Will couldn't get over how his brother had matured over the years.

- Jay - Will spoke up after a moment, drawing his younger brother's attention to himself. - I'm proud of you. - He said, looking into Jay's eyes, who nodded approvingly. - And I know our parents would be too, especially mom.

- Do you think so? - asked a hopeful Jay.

- I'm sure of it - nodded Will with a confident tone. - Thanks Will - smiled with thankfully Jay.

- What did I miss? - Hailey suddenly appeared at the table and watched one brother or the other with curiosity.

- Nothing much - Will was the first to speak up, getting up from the table and approaching the woman. - Welcome to the family, future sister-in-law - he embraced a surprised Hailey, who looked at Jay and asked for an explanation without speaking out loud.

Jay just smiled, and that was enough for Hailey to guess that Will had found out about the engagement. There was nothing left for her to do but smile gratefully and return the hug.

- Thank you, Will - she said, close to tears and feeling the tension coming off that she didn't even know she felt.

Looking at the two people closest to him, Jay smiled and thought that he had always dreamed of having such a family and that he was really happy.

He also knew that Will was right, his mother and even his father would not only be proud of him but would love Hailey.

He looked out the window and looked at the blue sky and smiled.

Yes, without a doubt, Hailey would earn their adoration.

[jiangwanyinscatmom]

[1/?] Sorry for venting. I just saw some bad takes that gave me a lot of feelings. Personally, JC stresses me out every time he comes on screen, but I don't mind it when JC fans say fan-typical things like how they like JC because he wears purple, or is grumpy, or they think he's hot, or that they ship x*ch*ng because the cql actors have nice jawlines. They're harmless, fun takes, and while I don't agree with some of them, I see where they're coming from

Hello there anon, vent away as that is what my blog is open for as I love/hate on Jiang Cheng as he is in the plot, as well as all of my beef with what has been done to him for the EN side of the fanbase! I am more than fine listening and engaging with the unsavory "unpopular" discussions of his canon behavior and this goes for anyone of course that needs an open play area. I'll try to engage with what you have sent point by point as succinctly as I can.

[2/?] (some of these are obviously crack, and I am a fan of a few problematic faves). But then there are stans that just have to put other characters down to make JC look good. Like, I think some fans take their freedom of interpretation for granted because most of these takes aren't even labeled 'headcanon,' 'ooc,' or 'crack' anymore. Stans feel that their interpretations are valid, and while they are, valid =/= canon, and they're treating these takes as canon, which becomes popular fanon.

I enjoy Jiang Cheng for what he is, however as I had said it took me another reread to get to my stance of him being the negative mirror to Lan Wangji's positive and my comfort with that for the story once I realized what purpose he served. He is only insofar tragic in regards to his circumstances, but it does not absolve him for what he is at his core (no pun, but I can make a very nice metaphor that even with a piece of Wei Wuxian in him he is still forever unable and unwilling to stand by him equally all while stagnating where as Lan Wangji is able to flourish, grow and mature with nothing of import left from Wei Wuxian in a technical sense). As for ships, I am a little dirty Xicheng whore for fun and can say there is a sense of entertainment for me making it work with two people where one is wildly ignorant and the other wildly rabid. But that is outside of what is established as canon in the work and I always try to keep the two strictly separate due to the skew fanon perpetuates.

3/?] And now, it's not clear what part of the fanon references canon JC or the canon events of mdzs. JC is an asshole; I don't like him as a person, but I do think that he's a complex character motivated by many issues (sup, YeeZY), which makes him fascinating to explore. Unfortunately, erasing his culpability also removes his agency. JC should be allowed to be an asshole character who makes his own decisions even if they're the wrong ones. He has made his own tragedy by constantly casting Wei Wuxian as the villain of his life.

Now thanks to you I will be using YeeZY to forever and now to acknowledge Madam Yu (this is your fault for the new tag). From a standing from storytelling I agree that he is complex in the Jianghu for MDZS. Where in the usual political intrigue of Wuxia, he would be the mustache twirling villain that is outright unforgivable in narration, it is by favor of Wei Wuxian's narration that has an early steeping of empathy for him. And he is not meant to be seen as ultimately sympathetic, the work builds up his hate against Wei Wuxian who tries to rationalize it all several times until he is finally unable to. Jiang Cheng is the antithesis to Lan Wangji and the false bait to get attached to in Wei Wuxian's first life. I will make the note their meeting in Yiling is lukewarm between both as they exchange nothing really in terms of conversation and all pleasantries are left in terms of Jiang Yanli for Wei Wuxian. By this point Wei Wuxian has already switched his yearnings of platonically wanting a part of Jiang Cheng's life, to subconscious romantic inclinations about Lan Wangji and the perceived loss of being in the other's life.

The very point of Jiang Cheng as the deconstruction, is that he has no passion in life despite his apparent exploits because he put a shadow to hang over himself as an excuse to say others think he is not good enough. He has no deeper motivations than pure selfishness by the end of the work and is pure frivolity that he has built up losing the meaning of his sect as a tradition. He had his agency (more than anyone I might add in the work due to his social position) that he used to build his reputation as a passive rich sect leader that has little to do with civilian problems.

4/?] And I think a JC, somehow, that realizes that he did something wrong and is working hard to change for the better and gain self-actualization to become that UWU best jiujiu the stans want him to be, who is ready to talk (not yell at) with WWX, apologize to him, and create a better, healthier relationship with him is a much more powerful reconciliation and happy ending than 'everyone is wrong and mean and they all apologize to JC, which magically gets rid of all his issues'.

He is forced out of culpability in reconciliation because simply put, his audience do not like the reality that relationships fray and dissolve with no further resolution other than we as adults both need to move on for safety and good health. It is not acceptable in real life and fiction is allowed to place that also in it's thematic relationships. He has a small, small spark of recognition at the end of the main story, however he himself seems to choose to ignore it, as change is hard and he has never taken to that well as was foreshadowed with his dogs and the idea of sharing a space with Wei Wuxian. To write this is an awful lot of work into his psyche which is not a nice place, he is a terrible being and downplaying that to make a sugar sweet person does not work instantaneously. He is the one responsible for the entire fallout with Wei Wuxian and he hysterically realizes that even as he tries to continue to blame Wei Wuxian.

The issue that I have with his current stan culture, is that they already view him as something he is not. They play at bicycle with all of the other protagonists that have positive traits that they strip as they see fit; Good affirming loving to children adult Lan Wangji, Self-sacrificing ultimately did it all for love and care Wei Wuxian, Hard exterior but softened to who they consider an annoyance Wen Qing, Loyal as partners in their exploits on the field and always have each others back Wen Ning. They even take Jin Guangyao's persona of playing damsel and using that as a positive to soften up Jiang Cheng into something he has never been for anyone for ships.

[5/5] Also, making WWX/WN/LWJ apologize just makes them look better than JC. Like, stans supposedly love JC, so they ahouldn't be lazy and work hard to give him actual character development. Again, I'm sorry for spamming your ask. It just really baffles me about where they get these 'hot' takes (All I'm going to say is that JC was ungrateful, and WN had a reason verbally dismantle him).

They see this, but, they will spin it in any way to excuse Jiang Cheng due to the story itself showing that he was in the wrong to everyone he flung accusations at and his hate. No one but him is at fault for his spite as he had gotten his revenge on the ones that had ruined Lotus Pier and killed his parents. His own resentment pitted him against good and well meaning people that he refused to help as he mimicked his mother's words about raising their heads higher out of goodness instead of keeping low and staying self-centered. There is the underlying criticism of taking individual arrogance as self-care at the cost of others. Each point that Wen Ning makes is exactly what Jiang Cheng himself knows as he hated Wei Wuxian for being something he could not be or even wanted to be. Jiang Cheng wants kindness but does not understand that kindness to others needs to be selfless and accept the hurt that can come with that in life. He encompasses the fall from the path of buddhist lifestyle, "The Three Poisons" to Wangxian's "Without Envy" at the stories end.

[6/5] P.S. I'm not saying I want reconciliation fics, but I just feel that if stans want JC to have a happy ending, then I think that he should actively work for it. I think it would be interesting to see what force of nature would push him through a character development because throwing a therapist at him would result in a murder.

"I'm not saying I want reconciliation fics, but I just feel that if stans want JC to have a happy ending, then I think that he should actively work for it."

They do not think he has to work for it, they say his tragedy is enough, while heaping accusations against Wei Wuxian and saying his own are not enough to absolve him. Something Wei Wuxian has never denied and told all present they are allowed to forever hate him for what he had done in the past, but that they need to find a way to live in a life that is always moving on. He learned that grudges do nothing once they are absolved and it leaves you with hate with nothing else to do with it once that object is gone. In terms of reconciliation, I do not ever think that either want anything other than a distant peaceful out of each other's life set up. Jiang Cheng does not need Wei Wuxian in his life to be satisfied and never has since he used him as the handicap to hide behind to stay angry and miserable. Being without that fallback opens the world far more for him to change than him ever interacting like an old friend with Wei Wuxian ever again, if he ever had the guts to do that.

[chattegeorgiana]

You keep insisting that the ending Naruto pairings are the reason Boruto's sales are nowhere near as great as Naruto's, yet how come Boruto Naruto the Movie has brought in far more income than both RTN and The last combined? The Boruto Movie has gained almost 40.000.000$ while The Last only 20.000.000$ and RTN only around 17.000.000$. The reasons boruto is not as popular as naruto was is because the plot sucks, the anime has too many garbage fillers, the artstyle in the manga sucks, the new gen characters suck, and the manga wasn't even written by Kishimoto until recently. It has nothing to do with pairings. Hell, if NS became canon, people would've hated it even more, considering how hated Sakura was, and you even admitted she is the most hated character. And you also contradict yourself. First you say she's the most hated, then you say SP missed a marketing opportunity with her... like girl make up your mind? She's the most hated character in the franchize, in a poll she was chosen as the most hated by both male and female, even Kishimoto went out of his way to say girls came at him and said how much they despised Sakura, most people don't give a shit about her, using her as marketing strategy would've done more harm than good. She's even more hated in Japan and other Asian fandoms than she is in the western fandom, and that already says a lot! You're really arrogant to assume that the "silent majority" you speak of are all NaruSaku fans. I guarantee you it isn't. In fact, most people don't even care about ships that much. NaruSakus, you along with the SNS fans, SS fans, NH fans are part of the vocal minority that has nothing better to do than bitch about ships all day long.

But did I ever say that they were THE ONLY reason they are bad? They are an integral part of it yes, but not the only one.

Just because you saw some asks of mine here on Tumblr, you just throw these things around, like this is the only place I talk about the story of Naruto and this is the only aspect I do.

Yes, here on Tumblr I might do it through the virtue of the asks I receive, but that doesn't mean it's the only space I address these matters.

I have other social media channels as well where I discuss other aspects as well. Ya know, how like Boruto is nothing more than a tweaked "cooler" wanna-be version of Naruto, with no real substance whatsoever, a story that doesn't truly leaves a message behind, a morale, with characters that are the shells of their former selves or mechanics that are skewed and "free of" any logic.

But sure, make it as if that's the only aspect I talk about if that makes you sleep well at night.

As for the reason Boruto made so much? Well, I'll tell you why: because it had NaruSasu. Because they knew they messed-up with The Last, so they did the next best thing they could to try and keep the fanbase engaged.

Focused on the biggest portion of the fanbase that gathered around both shippers and non shippers by the virtue of focusing on Sasuke and Naruto and their offsprings. You know why? Because this way they catered to two human emotions: familiarity/comfort & curiosity.

Aka familiarity via having NaruSasu and curiosity to see the new gen kids.

Which yes, had momentum and seemed to have a perfect recipe: no focus on the ships that initially brought he whole mess (Sakura and Hinata were close to non-existent in that movie), and "repaying" the fanbase that was initially pissed at the fact that people thought this was gonna be a T7 movie because of the heavy Kakashi and Ssuke advertisement when they were there to be found for onlyyy few seconds, lol.

But you see, in the test of time, Boruto failed because of the aforementioned reasons.

You say that people would've hated the ending if NS would've been canon, yet curiously enough the number of people that are even non shippers and agree to the idea that NS should've been canon has been increasing over the years. Which in a really curious way was surprising to me too as an NS fan that returned to the fandom after so long.

So you see, I am not sure exactly about that aspect there. Not to mention, since when does a story has to do what the fanbase dictates it? The story should follow its course and intended narration and that's that.

Yes, Sakura was hated, but that's not a reason to not have Naruto end-up with her because within the story mechanics we had many proofs that indicated that they should've ended together, regardless of how people felt about them.

Kishimoto didn't say girls came at him, he said girls sent him letters, which are two different things, because to his face no one truly said that, minus the editors who kept pushing Hinata forward and their bias as well.

Lol at you saying that using her as a marketing strategy would've done more harm than good when she's the only female character being marketed right now via figurines and all those other things.

So reality seems to be contradicting you a bit on that side.

Not to mention, you say that she's the most hated even in Asia and Japan? LOL, where did u even take out these lies?

The hate phenomena has always been a western fandom thing, not an Asian/Eastern fandom one.

You say that the pairings ripped with Sasuke and Naruto as well (funny how NaruSaku isn't dead even after years of being supposedly dead tho), for a character that should've been hated??

This whole hate thing was always a western fandom mirage, sadly, but in Japan and Asia she's always been loved. Like where did u even pull out that information from?

Also what I always said about a NaruSaku ending was that they could've taken a RTN route where they could've had ALL the pairings shown within a parallel universe, but sure, nice way to twist my words and make it like "I can't decide".

There are slight nuance differences which you either purposely not address or you don't know how to do the difference. The truth in this case only you know it.

But stop trying to act that high and mighty coming here on anon making it seem like ooh, I contradict myself and spread nonsense, just because you read a faction of all the ideas I discuss over my social media.

And now to address the silent majority argument. I never said silent majority are ONLY NaruSaku fans. That's what you assumed. Silent majority included NaruSaku fans yes, but also other fans who ya know, have some common sense within them and see how the story has been butchered for the sake of poorly treating a certain aspect of Naruto, which was the romantic one.

Which btw, you say that it wasn't a big deal, yet it was the no. plot included within the story, being presented as early as chapter 3, because chapter 1 and 2 revolved around Naruto wanting to become Hokage for people to acknowledge him and create bonds.

You say that the pairings aren't such a big deal in the fandom, yet guess what, SJ and SP directed a movie on that specific subject. Makes you wonder why now, doesn't it?

And it's a normal aspect to care about if you think about it for a manga that has been focused on BONDS. The romantic plot gets weaved in within the one about bonds really easily, because at the core of it it's about relationships.

And this whole world that we live it it's a relationship: between the body and the spirit, between then heaven and the earth, between friends, between relatives. EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD HAS A RELATIONSHIP BASIS: atom interacts with atom and here we are, living, breathing beings.

But sure, come to me and paint me in this way you're trying as if talking about relationships and their quality is a bad thing.

Mhmm.

Whatever floats your boat, I guess.

You're free to have your opinion, sure.

I just happen to not agree with it.

And that's that.

Have a good day or night or whatever.

[ketamineharry]

Happier - Ethan Payne  Requested: Yes ~ Hiiii bestest bitch💖💖💖 pls can I request unrequited love with Behz so likeeeeeThe reader has feelings for him but they aren’t mutual and he only realises he feels the same when he sees the reader with someone else after they’ve finally moved on??? XBREAK MA HEART GIRL XLove u x

It had been a month since you had last seen Ethan. Since you had discovered you had feelings for him, around six months ago your relationship had never been the same. The usual dynamic, for years, had been ripping jokes and constant banter. That was until he hit a severe depression and nearly took his own life; although he was one of your closest friends, it hit you a lot harder than you would have expected. Perhaps, that’s what kickstarted your feelings for him, you weren’t quite sure. The dynamic changed from that moment, you had made sure that Ethan had known just how much you cared about him, which undoubtedly increased your feelings tenfold.

After you had plucked up the courage to tell Ethan the intensity of your feelings, Ethan pulled back. He just didn’t seem to handle it well, or at all. He had left your flat, and you hadn’t heard from him since. Meanwhile, you had really hit it off with your neighbour Callum. It was certainly unexpected, but love is supposedly unexpected. Within the few months that you had been with Callum, your relationship had already gone from strength to strength. 

-

To celebrate your six month anniversary with Callum, you had both decided to really spoil yourselves and head to the new Italian restaurant in town. As you fiddled with your little black dress, and applied your lipgloss, Callum walked into the bedroom, placing a hand on the small of your back as he placed a soft kiss to your forehead. 

“You look breathtaking tonight,” he mumbled into your hair. You grabbed your bag from the chair in the corner of your bedroom. “Ready?” You ask, as you interlock your fingers with his. Heading out to the car, an instant breeze hit your skin. It was February and you had skipped out on a jacket, not the wisest of decisions. 

The journey didn’t take as long as you had anticipated, traffic was minimal — even when there were longer car journeys though, you barely noticed because every second that you spent with him, felt like gold dust. 

As you entered the building, you were hit by just how romantic it all was. The lighting was low enough to create just the right atmosphere. Candles adorned the walls and a huge chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling. A waitress came to greet you, she complimented your outfit as she showed you to your table. 

Sitting down, you hear a familiar laugh. Fuck. Anyone but him, any day but today. As you turn your head, you see Ethan and the rest of the Sidemen boys having a spectacular time. In the same VIP area that Callum had booked for your dinner date. The waitress takes your order for a starter, you had opted for something simple. Cheesy garlic bread. She hadn’t asked you what drink you wanted though, which struck you as odd. Maybe she had just forgotten. 

A senior member of staff, approached your table with two champagne flutes filled to the brim, and a champagne bottle. “On the house,” he says, shooting a quick smile at Callum before leaving to tend to other tables. 

Gingerly, you took a sip of champagne. You swirled it around in your mouth a little, trying to coat your tongue with it so you could get the full flavour. That is, until you felt something hard clink against your teeth. You swallowed the liquid, being extra careful not to swallow the object. You picked up one of the red napkins and spat it out, revealing the object to be a ring. An engagement ring. As you looked to your side, Callum was on one knee, and the entire restaurant lulled into a deafening silence. 

“Y/N, Y/L/N these past six months with you have been the best of my life, you have been such an unadulterated joy that I didn’t expect. You are a tornado of fun, energy and chaos. You remind me that there’s equal power in losses and wins. You are beautiful and courageous. You are everything I have ever dreamed. Will you please do me the honour of becoming my wife?” He asked. 

With tear filled eyes, you nod. In no way were you expecting a proposal this soon, but everything just felt right. Callum was the person for you. However, you couldn’t shake the feeling of red hot daggers being shot at you from behind. You knew it was Ethan. Why he was so pissed off, you had no idea. Surely, if he was as good of a friend as you thought he was, he would’ve been happy for you. 

He stormed out of the restaurant, jacket in hand. Not daring to even glance your way. This was pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. “I’m just going to go to the bathroom,” you say, excusing yourself from the table. You needed to confront him and see what the fuck this was all about. It wasn’t amusing anymore and, in all honesty, you missed him. You missed your best friend.

As you followed Ethan outside of the restaurant, you could see him perched against his car. Jacket sprawled across his lap, phone in hand as he aimlessly scrolled. 

“Ethan, we need to talk now.” You demand, crossing your arms. A reflex, partly due to being cold and partly because you felt an indescribable amount of anger you felt towards him at that moment. Why couldn’t he just be happy for you? 

“No, Y/N just fuck off. Fuck off back to your fiance and leave me alone.” He shouts, turning his back to you. What the fuck had caused all of this? You just didn’t understand, and maybe it was best if you never did. 

“Fine Ethan, I’m done. We’re done.” You say in defeat, you just didn’t have the strength to fight with him anymore. Both of you needed to move on with the next stages of your lives. Of course it was going to hurt, you had been friends for years, you had talked about being at each other’s weddings, being an aunt and uncle to each other’s children and for it all to just end like this. It felt wrong. 

“No Y/N, wait.” Ethan called, causing you to stop in your tracks. “I guess I owe you an explanation. I guess I was too quick to jump the gun all those months ago. You were and still are such an important part of my life…” He says, placing a hand on your waist. “I just didn’t realise I reciprocated those feelings for you until tonight, until it was far too late.” He glances down at your hand, seeing the diamond ring reflect in the moonlight. Tears began to well up and fall from his face, before he turned away from you completely. 

“Just know that if he breaks your heart like lovers do, that I’ll be waiting here for you.”

[azz-clazz-shit]

Love is War by @/xXKrist_CrosserXx on Wattpad.

[It is based off the anime Love is War. Like the first half of the first episode. And I already asked the author if I could publish it on tumblr and they allowed it.

Italics are the narrator.]

You fall in love with someone...

In a cloudy and dark area,  Sugino stood in front of Kanzaki. "Pl-Please be my girlfriend!" He said bowing down with his hand out for the girl to hold.

...confess that love...

She gasped in surprise with a blush on her face and slowly let her hand rest against the Sugino's palm. 

... and become a couple.

Then all of a sudden, the sun came up, along with doves and a church. Along with many  animals and people that joined in as well.

Everyone would say that's a happy thing.

They all let out cheers as confetti and ribbons were released to the sky. 

But they're wrong!

A gift fell to the floor, breaking it apart.

Even among sweethearts, there exists a distinct power relationship!

She had a sweet smile on her face until all of a sudden, the smile turned to something more dark and sinister. Sugino had a shocked expression on his face as he tried to back away.

A side that exploits and a side that's exploited.

Kanzaki stepped on his head. She was holding chains as she let laughed at his misery.

A side that's devoted, a side receiving devotion. A winner and a loser!

If you're trying to live a noble life, then you mustn't become a loser.

Love is WAR!

Karma stared at Gakushuu with daggers behind his back where as Gakushuu also stared at karma with a gun behind his back.

The person who falls in love loses.

Kunugigaoka Academy!

It's a prestigious school with an ancient and honorable origin, founded as a faculty to educate upper-class children. The focus on nobility is gone,  but many talented students born into wealthy, distinguished families and shouldering the future attend the school.

In the hallway, the students passing by greeted each other.

One girl widened her eyes as she spotted something or someone.

Naturally ordinary people wouldn't be permitted to lead and bring these students together!

A boy with strawberry blonde hair passed through the hallway along with a person with red hair.

"Everyone look." The same girl said. People turned to the direction she told them to look and as they did they were filled with admiration.

"The Student Council members!" She squealed out as Karma and Gakushuu were walking. Gakushuu was in the front, reading a book while Karma was just right behind him.

Karma Akabane, the vice-president of the Student  Council at Kunugigaoka Academy. Total assets: 200 trillion yen. Yes, more than Koro-sensei. He family owns the Akabane group, one of the top four financial conglomerates in Japan, with over 1,000 subsidiaries. 

Benefitting her superior lineage, e was a talented young man, who has attained splendid achievements in various fields. Such as, traditional performing arts, music and martial arts. That is Karma Akabane. And the one Karma supports is...

Gakushuu Asano, the president of the Student Council at Kunugigaoka Academy. He's wise and intelligent, strong and silent. He scores first place in the practice exams. In contrast to the talented Karma, his devotion to studying commands awe and fear. And because of that exemplary behavior, he was selected to be the Student Council  President, despite being relatively new to the school.

The red armband that stays on his sleeve has been passed down from president to president at Kunugigaoka Academy  for all the years it existed!

Both walked down the hallway, hearing the chatters of many other classmates who made a pathway for them to continue walking as they just stared at them. 

"Those two always look so good together." A girl murmured. 

"There's even a dignity to them!" Another girl chattered back.

"Do you think they're dating?" A friend of theirs asked.

"Somebody please ask them!"

"I wouldn't dare!"

"It would be presumptuous to even get close to the. Let alone ask such a question!"

The doors of the Student Council opened. Then, the thud of the door, signaling it's closed brought the chatters of the students to shut down.

Karma poured tea into a cup. "It seems that... there's a rumor going around... that we're in a relationship or some such." He placed the teacup he poured in front of Gakushuu.

"That's normal for their age. You should ignore it." He advised to the red head. 'The fools do enjoy talking about nonsensical love affairs. Although...' His eyes turned to Karma's direction. And with a turn Karma looked at the Asano while holding a tray close to his chest. 'if Akabane demanded that I go out with him, I suppose I would mull it over!' He boasted to himself. 'And I'm certain she has feelings for me. Probably just a matter of time.' He let out a chuckle. 'He should just take off his prideful mask of a perfect, pampered young man and make his blushing appeal to me.' He thought to himself as he imagined Karma all fidgeting with the tray and blushing while facing his face away saying "Pr-president, I need to talk to you." He let out another chuckle. 

'The ignorant children with their common talk.' Karma thought with a smirk on his face. 'Who do they think I am. I'm a member of the Akabane family, the heart of this country. How did they reach the conclusion that I would be dating a commoner?' He took a peek of Gakushuu. 'Well, I suppose there could be a very slight possibility. If he gets on his knees and offered up his body, soul and hometown, I suppose I could train him to be a person who measures up to me.' He let out a light chuckle. 'Certainly, there's no one who doesn't pine for me. It's probably just a matter of time.'

Both were just creepily laughing to themselves in the empty room.

While they were engaging in this kind of thing...half a year has passed! Nothing of note happened during that period.

Both were in the Student Council room doing paper work sitting next to each other. And oddly enough, there was a steamed bun in the middle of the table.

"By the way, today there were snails in the interior of the apple and cherry relief in the courtyard's water fountain." Karma said, trying to start a small talk.

"My younger sister once caught a cold taking a dip in the water fountain, even though it was hot outside. When you act according to emotions, there are no good results." He responded blankly.

During this period of nothingness, their thoughts shifted from 'I wouldn't mind dating him.' to 'Maybe I'll make him confess his love to me.' Meanwhile, one other person had no idea that two super high school-level minds were in engaged in sophisticated strategizing.

A girl with green pigtails sat across from them. "Ah!" Kayano Kaede, the student council secretary of Kunugigaoka Academy. "That reminds me! Listen to this! I won a pair of movie tickets, but my parents won't let me see stuff like that." She said while grabbing something out of the pockets in the school uniform. "So, are you two interested?" The tickets she held up had the name 'Love Refrain' making it pretty obvious that it was a romance movie.

"Hmm," Gakushuu thought about it because Note: he is a cheapskate. "Come to think of it, I have a rare free weekend." He opened up a pocket planner and flipped to a page with nothing scheduled on it. "So, Akabane, why don't we-"

"Supposedly there's a jinx. If two people go see this movie together, they'll become a couple." Kayano interrupted him. 

Gakushuu's face suddenly turned pale and was dripping in cold sweat from hearing that.

"How romantic!" She squealed, squirming in her seat.

"Oh, President." Karma placed the pen he was working with down. He turned to face Gakushuu. "Did you just invite me?"

A drop of Gakushuu's sweat dropped.

"You want to go with me to a movie in which pairs are said to be a couple if they see it together. Oh, dear, that sounds a lot like..."

'Like I'm asking him out on a date!' Gakushuu, screaming mentally with his eyes twitching, finishing the sentence with his thoughts.

The Asano's predicament was, in romance, 'The person who falls in love loses' is the rule! As they were both filled with pride, neither one could confess one iota of romantic interest!

'What should I do? It's blatant. The only I could do is smooth it over!' Gakushuu tried to think of a scenario.

"Why don't we sell the tickets to a scalper?" He suggested.

"Oh, President, I've never seen you so flustered before." Karma said from behind. Karma let out a little smile as Gakushuu's face turned blue. "How cute." Karma said ever so slowly, looking down on him with his dull mercury eyes.

'This is unacceptable! There is no escape route of the path that Asano conquers! You're the one who's going to run, Akabane!' He was determined.

"Yeah, I invited you, Akabane. I don't care about rumors like that, but it sees you do." He grabbed the tickets from Kayano's hand. "Do you want to see this movie with me?" He asked as he waved the ticket in his hand.

That moment, Karma thought...

'After indicating the intent to invite me, he assigned me the choice of whether we see the movie or not. Well played. I could choose to refuse, but then all of y preliminary arrangements up to now would become meaningless. I went to all the trouble of fabricating a prize and putting it in Kaede's mailbox. My plan to aim for one of the president's rare free days would be for nothing! And if I turn him down now, the president may never invite me to anything again! From the viewpoint of a guy, I say no! And I say no to that kind of choice!' He mentally pouted at the last few sentences.

"Yes, well..." Karma finally spoke out. "I can't help believing in stories like that." Karma had a  fucking adorable face that I can't describe so just imagine Karma having the puppy eyes and blushing and everything around him is sparkling. "So if we are going, I'd like you to at least invite me with more passion."

'Innocent' skill implemented!

Because of that skill, Gakushuu was shocked as if he just stepped on a puppy or kitten. As if he had done something that would bring him to all the gates in hell, maybe even more.

It's a  negotiating skill passed on from father to child in the Akabane family. It's said this calculated expression and voice even make the gods' hearts beat faster. In truth, Gakushuu's thoughts were also in disarray. 

'Well, I guess it is an Asano's duty to ask a person out.'

That thought crossed his mind! Of course, Karma didn't let that chance go by! He pursued without a moment's delay.

Karma's eyes hatched onto him like a prey and acted hastily by grabbing his hands, which caused the tickets to fall to the ground. 

"I'm at the age where I'd like to try a little romance too." He looked away as if he was shy and Kara's atmosphere was filled with lovely hearts. 

Gakushuu flinched as a growing blush would soon fill his pale face as his eyes turned wide and wavering. Whereas Kayano just sat there, watching all this happening. But the an idea came into her head as she grabbed something out of her pocket.

This battle of thoughts seemed to be like a chess problem. Kara cornered Gakushuu, who searched for an opportunity to turn it around. The brains of these prodigies raced two steps ahead, clashing with each other as wheels turned faster than any ordinary mind! Karma strengthened his defense! Gakushuu tried to break through! They both constructed a theory leading to a conclusion! The one who completed the theory first would be the winner! 

"Ah!" Kayano voiced out. "If you don't like love stories, you can also use these tickets..." Karma and Gakushuu looked at her as if she somewhat interrupted something. She held out two tickets with both of her hands. "...to go see the movie, 'The Birdie from Tottori.'"

"'The Birdie..."

"...from Tottori?'"

Both said, looking at Kayano with a confused yet shocked expression on their face. 

Chaos Theory. Secretary Kaede's casual remark added an element of chaos into the theories that were all but completed! It was only one element, but like the Big Bang, the chaos increased the possibilities. In order to process the vastly expanded choices, the wheels in their brains spun even faster, going beyond their limits!

Gakushuu's and Karma's head erupted steam from all the thinking they had to do. They sat blankly as if someone just asked them 'Is the sun a planet?'

"Un, is something wrong?" Kayano asked in concern of the two people. 

As a result, their brains craved a great deal of sugar! The only sugar in the Student council office was in a single steamed bun! Thus, whoever obtained the steamed bun would be the winner!

Both rivals dramatically reached for the steamed bun. As soon as it was in the grasps of their hands, Kayano turned to the clock and said "Afternoon classes are about to start." She had the steamed bun in her hand and had a 'nom' of it as Karma and Gakushuu were frozen in place. "Well, see you again after school." she muffled out with the steamed bun still in her mouth as she walked away all innocently. She jumped in the air, letting go of the steamed bun and ate it whole, with a lick of her lips.

Both rival's souls seemed to had left their bodies. They both suddenly collapsed on the table as soon as Kayano left. 

It was a sophisticated battle of the brains, with the ingenuity and pride of these two geniuses on the line. Todays Battle result: Both sides defeated.

[newsmutproject]

Cunning Linguists Author Interview: Seb Palumbus

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to tell me, darling,” he said softly.

They tilted their head and huffed a sigh, but a smile tugged at the corners of their mouth. Victor drew his hand back, expecting them to launch into one of the signs they had already picked up from their relentless reading, but instead they deftly undid the buttons of his shirt and plunged their hand beneath it, caressing the twin loops of long-healed scar tissue nestled at the edge of his pectorals. They traced their fingers up, moving across the borders — invisible, and always slowly changing — between the places where his skin was still numb to their touch and the places where the familiarity of it was almost an ache, before circling a nipple that had lost its puffy softness in favor of a stiff tightness and giving it a gentle tug that made his breath hitch. They looked back at him, eyes gleaming expectantly.

    Flushed and flustered, he tried to gather his scattered thoughts and piece together what Adam was saying. Where now was the supposedly genius mind that had allowed him to snatch the only person who ever cared as much about unlocking the secrets of life as he did — the only person who had ever touched him like this — his laboratory partner, his partner partner, from the jaws of death? He didn’t feel like a genius; he felt like an incredibly fortunate idiot.

He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing before understanding suddenly dawned on him. He pointed at what Adam had bared of his chest and back at theirs, something twisting warm and low in his gut.

“We match now,” he said, his voice wobbling.

Their face broke out into a brilliantly crooked smile as they nodded and gestured towards the rest of their body in an open invitation.

-from “I Ought to Be Thy Adam” in Cunning Linguists

Seb Palumbus (any pronouns) is a speculative fiction enthusiast of multiple pen names interested in exploring the complex relationships people have with their bodies, each other, and the natural world. Never one to be pigeonholed, they enjoy reading and writing tender and playful queer erotica and unsettling body horror in equal measure. In their spare time they can be found taking advantage of museum discounts, enjoying the weirdest trans and anti-capitalist games itch.io has to offer, and falling into research rabbit holes over anything under the sun. They can be reached at sebpalumbus@gmail.com.

What inspired this story?

The dynamic between Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and his creation has always been fascinating to me. When so many people struggle to find and nurture unconditional love (whether platonic, romantic or outside definitions) there’s something so compellingly tragic about characters uniquely poised to understand each other rejecting an opportunity for connection.

“I Ought to Be Thy Adam” was my attempt to explore the opposite alternative—an established relationship between two partners who know and embrace each other’s similarities and differences. A kind of love that provides its possessors the strength to reject external pressures to label parts of themselves—whether it be their gender and their bodies, how they engage in kink, or how they navigate one partner’s new nonverbality—as abnormalities that require explanation. A celebration of the enormous potential of mutual and intertwined self-creation.

And as a newer writer, I’ve learned in the process of that fanfiction and sex writing to me offers similar challenges and rewards; overcoming embarrassment or stigma yields the opportunity to respond to preexisting works, traditions, and ideas—whether to critique them or to draw inspiration from them—in a much more personal way than most literary analysis essays. (I have been influenced by many, many authors, both outside and inside fanfiction, but I do feel obligated to give a shoutout to NSP’s own TS Porter, since I was recently delighted to learn that I had enjoyed their work and its trans representation under a different pseudonym long before I had the fortune of learning about the New Smut Project.)

The road from a 19th century novel to 21st century T4T/NB4NB wish fulfillment may have been a long and winding one, but it’s definitely been fun!   

Cunning Linguists comes out May 18th, 2022! This anthology of language, literature, and lechery is available at

Gumroad (use coupon code NEWSMUTPROJECTFAN for $1 off)

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And add it to your shelf on Goodreads and LibraryThing 

[drpierceandmrhyde]

okay here’s me blathering about “Hawk’s Nightmare” for ~1350 words

I’m going to talk about Frank and Margaret’s conversation in post-op first because it doesn’t fit with the other themes of the episode that I want to talk about, but I still like that scene, so I want to talk about it anyway.

    Margaret’s “I happen to be an engaged person” is very Gender, but I also like her “I’m a one-man woman” because … well, she is. Sure, she had a long affair with a married man, but that affair could have been born from mutual loneliness as much as from attraction, and as far as I remember she is never in a relationship with both Frank and Donald. When it’s clear that Frank is never going to divorce his wife, Margaret calls their affair quits. And she commits to her relationships, even if the men with whom she is involved don’t share her commitment. She sticks with Frank through countless empty promises, and Donald leaves her, not the other way around. (Also, I hate to say it, but “I know God exists because you exist” is quite a romantic line.)

    Now for the on-topic stuff.

    From the opening scene we see the impetus for the themes of Hawkeye’s sleepwalking and dreams. The episode opens with Hawkeye lamenting on the age of his patient. This isn’t the first time this has happened; he and Trapper had the whole “I’d swear this kid is really a kid” scene in “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet.” But Hawkeye seems especially worked up about this patient’s age, even countering Frank’s claim that their patients are proud soldiers by saying that they’re babies. So it makes sense that this fixation on the youth of these soldiers would lead to dreams about people from Hawkeye’s own childhood.

    The youth of Hawkeye’s patient is further cemented in a later scene when Hawkeye is visiting with him in post-op. The patient hadn’t even heard of Korea before the war started. And when Hawkeye says that he’s from Crabapple Cove, the patient says that it sounds like a place where Winnie the Pooh hangs out. There’s something unnerving about a soldier talking about something as childish as Winnie the Pooh. It reminds you that he’s just a kid whose government forced him into this war.

    The episode is full of little moments that show the care that the 4077th has for Hawkeye. When BJ sees him asleep in bed without a blanket, he puts a blanket over him. When Klinger and Radar catch him sleepwalking for the second night in a row, they very calmly and gently get him back to bed without waking him up. When Hawkeye wakes up Radar in the middle of the night because he’s desperate to check on a friend back home, Radar places the call without hesitation, and Colonel Potter asks Radar to call Sidney but does so discreetly because he doesn’t want Hawkeye to know. Even Frank kind of tries to offer comfort depending on how you look at it. I know Hawkeye doesn’t take comfort from Frank saying that there’s nothing in the dark that isn’t there in the light, but in the right circumstances I could see how that sentiment could be comforting to someone. (And I have a weakness for Potter saying “Anything I can do, son?” while putting his hand on Hawkeye’s back and then encouraging Hawkeye to lie down for a while.)

    The episode has some good demonstrations of Hawkeye feeling like he has to be funny, whether the staff has imposed that expectation or whether he’s imposed it on himself. You have “Come on, don’t pull my leg. The shape I’m in, it’ll come off,” and he says “Frankly, I think I’m pregnant” when he’s talking to Margaret and BJ about his first nightmare. It could be humor as a coping mechanism or to keep up with his jokester expectations or perhaps both.

    But I also think it’s interesting that when BJ says there’s no need to make such a big deal out of a little sleepwalking and one nightmare, Hawkeye agrees with him and says that he wouldn’t if it were happening to anyone else. But wouldn’t he? At this point Hawkeye has a history of treating traumatized patients with compassion and taking their trauma seriously, even if he doesn’t always understand the trauma. “Mad Dogs and Servicemen” is perhaps a bit of an exception, but that was mostly because he was trying to follow Sidney’s advice when Sidney couldn’t show up to talk to the patient himself, and behind that firmness I think he still cared about the patient, and he thought that the patient probably didn’t like him because of his treatment.

    We get a taste of Hawkeye viewing his home and his childhood through rose-tinted glasses. He says that Toby Wilder was his best friend as a kid, but when he calls Toby to check on him after his nightmare, Toby only cares about the money that Hawkeye supposedly owes him. And then a few seasons later, Hawkeye talks about his love for his cousin Billy, who almost drowned him.

    I love the way that the writing describes trauma without using medical or psychiatric terminology. When talking about his fear of going to sleep, Hawkeye says “It’s one thing to live in a shooting gallery, but now I’m being attacked from inside. […] How do I defend myself from myself?” And there’s the conversation between Potter and Radar after Potter has called Sidney, when Radar talks about the fight against the war. When Potter says that the jokes aren’t working anymore and Radar says that the other side is winning, it reminds me of Alan Alda saying that Hawkeye doesn’t fundamentally change but rather that his coping mechanisms stop working. And Hawkeye openly says that he’s scared. I always love when characters express their fear outright.

    I love that Hawkeye and Sidney’s scene is framed as a conversation rather than a formal psychiatric appointment. Their friendship and mutual respect has been well established by this point, but this is the first extended scene of Hawkeye being a patient and Sidney being his therapist (we got a little of that in “O.R.” but not to this extent). Hawkeye is relieved that Potter called Sidney, and he quickly talks very candidly about his fear of falling asleep, and Sidney invites Hawkeye to share his own insight into his mental state without trying to twist Hawkeye’s words. “So you’ve been walking in your sleep. What do you think it means?” And as a bonus we get a taste of Sidney’s sense of humor with his “losing your marbles” joke.

    I haven’t seen “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” yet and won’t until the 28th, but from what I know about Hawkeye’s arc in that episode, there is some foreshadowing/reversal in this episode. In this episode Hawkeye is worried that he’s going crazy and eventually asks Sidney point blank if he is crazy, but in GFA (from my understanding) Hawkeye doesn’t think he needs help. In this episode Hawkeye tells Sidney that he’s very reassuring and that he has a great warside manner, but in GFA he calls Sidney a son of a bitch. I’ll definitely revisit this episode once I’ve seen GFA.

    I also love and appreciate that Hawkeye’s sleepwalking and nightmares come from the trauma of the war without Hawkeye dreaming about the war itself. It’s a refreshing twist on war-related PTSD tropes. He dreams about childhood friends, and in the dreams they’re still children, and the dreams all end with the kids dying violently, and Sidney compares those dreams to the children that Hawkeye has had to operate on. And Sidney saying “But there’s a lot of suffering going on here, Hawkeye, and you can’t avoid it. You can’t even dream it away” is yet another indication of Hawkeye being fully, painfully aware of the war and another indication that Hawkeye is drowning in the war and cannot escape the totality of it.

    So overall it’s a great episode that presents it subject matter authentically and in ways that ring true to the characters’ personalities.

[highly-flammable]

Reacting to Legacies 3x03 (SPOILERS):

1. So ARE we FINALLY getting to some proper firstborn Mikaelson witch breakdowns?

2. Oh well, apparently no. They'll just try to wave it off as some one time thing probably.

3. So Hope and Landon are on a break. Okay. TBH watching them sass each other is interesting.

4. The guidance counselor is pretty much a compulsion monster, is that it? Well, I do like his wardrobe.

5. Alyssa's concern for MG is so fake I can't.

6. Nobody other than Jed read for Stefan? THE DISRESPECT.

7. Lizzie playing Caroline makes total sense but them asking Josie to play the lead without even an audition looks a bit bad TBH. Like, give the other interested people a chance, at least.

8. I find it a bit repetitive how there are mind-controlling monsters popping out again and again.

9. So MG is basically going through a phase similar to what Cami was going through when Klaus used to compel her at the beginning of TO. Considering Quincy's fondness for Cami, he must have liked playing that.

10. I understand that Landon is supposed to be a capable songwriter in-universe but it takes more than that to write and direct a musical and it's very weird that they didn't even find a guest star to pose as a Drama or English teacher who is guiding him or something. WHERE ARE ALL THE TEACHERS?

11. I kinda feel like some of the lead characters in this show are colour-coded. I see Hope and Landon in red and blue a lot (the two gowns we have seen Hope wearing also fall into this pattern) and Josie wears yellow in like, every other episode. If I recall correctly, Lizzie wears a lot of white, too. I wonder what the reasoning behind these choices are.

12. Well, I liked Hope and Landon's relationship in S1, I have no idea what was going on with it in S2, and I still don't know what to think about it.

13. Lizzie casts herself in Caroline's role and then chokes at rehearsal. Not totally unrealistic but still feels a bit forced to me. Would have been better if Landon cast her because she's Caroline's daughter and Lizzie was a bit apprehensive in the first place because she didn't want to mess up the role.

14. I appreciate the show taking a moment to talk about Lizzie's bipolar disorder though. It's been a while.

15. "Bonnie just disappears for long periods of time"? Dude, she's still super important and you're putting her in the play. Right? RIGHT?!

16. Landon, THANK YOU for pointing out how weird Caroline and Alaric's relationship was. The guy deadass got engaged to her and had a pissing contest over her with Stefan, that will never not gross me out.

17. So the monster is mind controlling Landon to put Klaus into the play. Saw this coming IG.

18. Hope is painting again, like her dad used to do when he felt things were going out of control. I've been rewatching TO and this is making me so emotional. I MISS KLAUS AND HIS SHENANIGANS. And not a single character on Legacies comes close to Klaus, Elijah and Hayley for me. (Sorry if this hurts anyone's feelings but Legacies really is a downgrade from TVD and TO)

19. Ugh, why would he use the contents of the letter as lyrics? Dude, is it because you're mind-controlled? No, I don't like this. Klaus loved Hope to the ends of the earth and wanted everyone to know but Hope wants to keep things private, and her wishes should have been respected.

20. So apparently Landon tries not to put Klaus' villainous antics into the show. Well, okay, it's definitely a copout but since he is Hope's boyfriend, makes sense. But I don't understand why the musical HAS TO BE about the Salvatore school. The accreditation excuse is lazy, writers! Also, Landon, my dude, Klaus was a major donor of the school. Put that in instead of the other things, stop pissing off your girlfriend FFS. Even if you're mind-controlled 🤦🏻‍♀️

21. I do find it funny how Landon is all gaga over Klaus' use of language though. The guy really did have the best lines, didn't he? (Tied with Elijah, I suppose, for me)

22. The other singers of the first song are really good so Kaylee sounds a bit rusty in comparison. Also, she reminds me too much of Dark!Josie with the hair and makeup. From a distance, she can be mistaken for Nina though.

23. I love that the backstage activities are being shown.

24. I'm digging Jed as Stefan and I really like his singing voice. And the Hero Hair wig cracked me up. Kaleb is obviously good at singing at it's nice to hear more from him. I also like how Chris Lee didn't try to exactly emulate Ian and played Damon how someone who has only heard about him might play him.

25. Is Hope painting herself before the pit or something? Or is this supposed to symbolize her despair at her parents' loss? ALSO, I WANT SOMEONE TO MENTION HAYLEY :( Why is Hayley so ignored?!

26. The same person probably wrote MG's notes and Caroline's letter IRL and therefore, in-universe, MG has Caroline's handwriting and it's funny to me.

27. Jenny sings well, I like it. I don't understand the song though, was Caroline actually ever feeling this insecure? I feel like the song became a lot more about Lizzie than her mother. (It's been forever since I watched TVD, if anyone has yet to guess, I prefer watching TO)

28. The doppelganger thing cracked me up.

29. Wait why did the monster attack Josie?! Ohhhh he's forcing Landon to improvise and put Klaus' song at the end. Well, I guess it makes it seem a bit less like Landon's fault. But would Hope know that?

30. It's hilarious how they lowkey make a call back to Nina leaving TVD and them having to put Elena in a sleep spell though.

31. Landon having a hissy fit is funny to me. Aria needs more comedic scenes.

32. Wait, where did Jade come from? Has she been in the school all these weeks?

33. While the scene seems a bit shabby to me, Klaus talking to Hope reminds me of their scene from TO 4X03. I needed more of Summer Fontana and Joseph Morgan together. Also, the donation did get mentioned, YASSSS. Man did some horrific things but he did fund the school so maybe a little less badmouthing in the presence of his daughter now that you know the story, eh, students?

34. The fact that the guidance counselor actually wore a leather jacket and a henley is cracking me up. It's really bizarre.

35. "Terrible painter" XD Klaus would have eaten you for saying that if he were alive.

36. Um, Hope, wouldn't you ask your family if you are doing enough to make your father proud, instead of this random bloke who supposedly met him once?! Maybe call Freya or Rebekah.

37. Why is this monster being nice to Hope? Doesn't it try to break people up or something? You'd think he'd try to piss her off even more and ruin her relationship with Landon.

38. Stefan was trying to be more like Damon by sacrificing himself? Um, what?

39. Well, this musical at least gave Stefan and Caroline a goodbye scene. I wonder how much the twins remember Stefan, must have been a bit emotional for Lizzie to play that. Jenny's singing was gooood, really liked it.

40. JED WAS GONNA KISS LIZZIE AND I WANTED IT TO HAPPEN. But a forehead kiss does work.

41. Hope's playing Elena now? What?

42. Ngl I want Hope and Jed to be friends. She needs more of a connection to her wolf side. Both of her parents wanted her to be surrounded by wolves and she's barely interacting with the wolves in this show, which always makes me sad.

43. So this monster can also do little spells and move physical objects eh? Whatever, this is random.

44. And this monster brings people back together? Why?

45. So when Hope is singing, is she doing it as Elena or Hope? She came on stage as Elena, but I thought the song is about Hope. So WHAT IS IT?

46. Oh Damon's on stage, so Hope is singing as Elena and it's a call back to the graveyard scene from the TVD finale.

47. Danielle sings pretty well. It's good she decided to perform this time.

48. Okay, that lifting up scene was adorable. I feel like Hope and Landon are at their cutest when they're a bit spontaneous. But she's Elena on stage and it lowkey looks like Landon crashed her romantic scene with Damon to kiss her so I'm cackling.

49. How much older is Jade supposed to be than Josie?

50. So is Josie going to leave the school for a while and that's why Ethan will be back in the picture?

51. Jade used to babysit Josie? Okay, it is hella awkward.

52. Josie why, don't do this, yikes. Kissing her once doesn't make it non-creepy.

53. The Sheriff feels kinda shoehorned to me. Also, I don't care for Matt Davis or his character.

54. So Candice did the voiceover for Caroline's letter. That's nice for the show. I still don't understand why the letter showed up in Hope's fireplace though LOL.

55. This episode should have spent more time exploring the aftermath of the loss of Rafael. The abrupt shift from the last episode wasn't nice.

56. Yeah, kids, talk out your problems, thanks.

57. I feel like Klaus is too much of a controversial figure that Hope's conflict about her father's reputation would be resolved in one day. This is feeling undercooked. Speaking of, when is one of Klaus' or Hayley's enemies coming after Hope, because she did inherit all of them. Would make for better storytelling than this monster of the week nonsense. And yeah, still no mention of Hayley, I hate this.

58. The monster's characterization was really odd to me and I am so tired of this format SMH.

59. So they toyed with MG for weeks to get a vampire for the spell? That sounds like too much effort. There are tons of vampires from Klaus and Rebekah's bloodline, they couldn't find another? Also, I wonder who is the wolf that they will use.

Well, I felt like this episode was mostly okay, but not that well-cooked or epic or whatever. What is horrific is that they didn't show Bonnie, though. They could have at least gotten a female black guest character who is one of the witch students or something. This is very offensive.

Also, I don't think it makes sense for the show to do any more musicals in the future. This ain't Riverdale.