#how do they hire this deadbeat i know but not me

[bugsmoocher]

saw a big fat cricket at work today

[theood]

I've been making so many adult phone calls recently and now Im playing will my doctor fill my t prescription, they haven't gotten back to me I've been off T since the day after my one month mark, they needed PA for my insurance to cover it, "we'll get back to you in one to two business days" it's been much longer, the pharmacy wont tell me when PA is required leaving me to wait longer, I still don't have a job, I have to call my doctor tomorrow to ask whats going on. If I get told anything with my insurance is fucky, that the PA didn't go through, I have to pay out of pocket I can't afford my T. I was so fucking happy to start it, I was over the moon I FELT happier, I was so excited to wake up every day, I haven't felt like that in so long and it all got torn from under me and I am trying to hard to stay positive and that it will all be okay because it HAS to be okay because I chose to live, because I chose to keep going, because I want to be alive, but all of this really takes it toll and I am just tired. I am so tired of being the adult. I've been playing adult for so long I want to step back and I cant and I have to keep going because that's just life and I just want one stable thing again

I want to be on T again. I want to be happy. I want to be myself. I chose to be happy why is that so hard too keep

[imperiuswrecked]

pssst can i please ask you to spoiler the raven baby reveal to me...?

So the summary of X-Men Blue: Origins (2023) Mystique is wandering around New York acting crazy and mumbling about her lost baby, Kurt catches up with her and tries to talk her into calming down.

Kurt gives Raven his sword which breaks the mental barriers and it's revealed that while Raven was married to Baron Wagner, she and Irene were an on again, off again, couple who would hook up with other people whenever it helped their goals.

Raven had hired Irene to be the housemaid so she could stay close while Raven was married to Wagner, using his money/influence as they wanted and having a torrid love affair with Irene in private. Azazel shows up and Irene encouraged Raven to have an affair with him as well, because she had visions of the future.

Basically Irene wanted a love child with Raven, but needed Azazel to believe he was the father because she knew that unless Kurt was set on a path to be his constant foe/destroyer of his plans then Azazel would rise to power.

Irene's visions aren't something she can stop and she lives her life according to how to bring about her visions but she doesn't tell Raven any of this until 5 years after Kurt's birth. So she and Raven have a child, Kurt, and from my understanding of the reading, Mystique can copy the genes down to a molecular level and took the gene patterns from Azazel and Baron Wagner and impregnated Irene. So Kurt doesn't have 2 parents, he has 4, well 5 including Margali Szardos who was his adopted mom. Kurt is now battling for the #1 spot for "most parents and most confusing parental origin in comics" and he's up against the Maximoff twins who have gone through 3 sets of parents.

Back to the story, Raven dumps Azazel who is such a pathetic loser, I love that lol. Raven fakes being pregnant by shapeshifting to look like she is pregnant as the months go by. Baron Wagner discovers his wife's affairs, and being the homophobe he is, is stabbed by Raven who then spends the next few months switching between forms to make people believe that the Baron and his wife are both still around, waiting until Irene gives birth. I'm guessing because Raven intended to use the Baron's money/pretending to be him so she and Irene could live in comfort or until they wanted to move on.

Irene is the one who gives birth to Kurt, and Raven overcome with joy/love for Kurt doesn't want his first sight of her to be human so she reveals herself.

The townspeople are of course in an uproar, want to kill the demon woman and her demon child, Irene tells Raven to get to safety and that she would be ok, but Raven fears for Irene so she leaves Kurt under a tree and rushes back to kill the people who would hurt her wife and discovers Irene is missing, she runs back to find Kurt and he's gone too.

Five years pass and she finds Irene again, this time watching a young Rogue, Irene reveals everything to Raven, the Azazel vision, Irene needed Kurt to be raised as an outcast etc. Raven and Irene both know they are in a toxic relationship, but they love each other too much so they went to the one man who can make everything worse, Charles Xavier. Of course Xavier does what he does best, erases people's memories and implants new ones.

So now Kurt has 2 deadbeat mutant moms, 1 deadbeat demonic mutant father, 1 dead human father, and 1 adopted mother and they all give him the most drama & trauma that you will ever see in comics! Love wins (?)

I am currently taking donations to hire Kurt a therapist (who isn't Professor X), save an elf's sanity and donate /jk

I will say that this origin, though very messy, does at least confirm that Irene is just as messy/toxic as Raven, so I hope they continue to be totally bad for each other and 100% in love, which is very refreshing to see in wlw couples and I really hope they do not try to soften their edges, especially Raven's, I do not want a "good mother Raven", but time will tell. Also finally Kurt is Baron Wagner's son technically due to partially copied genetics so it finally makes sense for why Kurt has the Wagner last name, which is something that always bugged me, because imo if he had zero connection to the Baron then he wouldn't have the Wagner last name. Also this doesn't invalidate the Azazel retcon from before because again technically Azazel believes Kurt is his son, and Kurt does have partially copied genetics from Azazel.

I think it was a really tough balancing act to have to write, I wish it could have been written a bit better or the thoughts of Rogue actually being Irene/Raven's daughter would have worked better. Like imagine if Raven and Irene were both pregnant, Irene had Rogue and Raven had Nightcrawler or Irene had them both as twins, then they wouldn't just be foster/adopted siblings but also bio siblings, and it could have opened up the door for more stories involving them as brother and sister trying to deal with their mothers. Marvel constantly ignores the potential for Rogue and Kurt's sibling dynamic and I wish we got more of it in the comics. I get that the writer was trying to keep to the old canon while creating the new canon and using the original plan for Kurt's parentage, so while I feel it's way too complicated this is also comics where complicated plots and retcons have been a long standing tradition meant to torment us readers.

[astonmartingf]

REAL LIFE RELATIONS — BREAKING NEWS

mick schumacher x reader x liam lawson

series summary— the world of motorsports is vast, yet it is also very limiting. like an intricate web of relationships, connections can get you everywhere, and underneath the pinnacle of motorsports are the secrets waiting to be unfolded.

OPENING — SCARY AS HELL BUT I LOVE THE THRILL OF IT

drama seems to follow you around— after a long time of hiding the paddock puts the pieces together about your true identity.

warnings: mommy and daddy issues, toxic family dynamics, there's a bit of mystery going around so there's that

masterlist ★ next

If you had to choose between going to a family dinner with your forsaken father and stepmother of the decade or jump out the window from your apartment, hop in a hot blondie's motorcycle and run away for the rest of the evening, you'd choose none and hide in your friend's apartment.

Your reason? The family dinner is a farce you didn't have time to deal with, while the motorcycle sounds promising, said hot blondie gets attached too quickly for your own liking. And you didn't like to get tied down.

Why is it that you're so bent on "running away"?

Simple.

If given the chance to annoy your deadbeat of a father and overbearing stepmother, would you do it? You would.

And that's where hot blondie comes into the equation— he's just convenient. Especially when you learned to wrap him all over your fingers. Yuki would be disappointed in you, both at the fact that he knows how much you'd rather stay up holed in his crib, and how you're manipulating hot blondie.

If you're so hell bent on not going, why not just go with hot blondie? The predicament you're in is— you're already stuck in the family dinner.

Stopping the urge to roll your eyes, you watch them make small talk about their day. Your father is watching your stepmother with honey dripping his eyes, further reminding you of the hot blondie's invitation.

A "get out of jail for free" card he says. This wasn't your personal cell, rather it felt like a personal hell. There are a hundred other things you'd rather do, in fact you'd rather babysit your step siblings and connect with them, but no— insisting that you come with them and catch up.

Catch up?

What is this dodgeball? Because that would be fairly entertaining, you chuckle imagining yourself throwing it in between them to catch. There's no need to catch up, not with the guards they hired to keep you in check.

A headache they said, you don't mind your father calling you nicknames knowing he has given up on you decades ago. If only your stepmother would stop being so relentless in building back your relationship with your father.

Some things aren't worth fixing— your relationship with him is one of them.

Your eyes wander around the restaurant, watching people come and go under the windy London weather. The glint of a familiar helmet caught the corner of your eyes.

A few feet away from the window of the restaurant, you see hot blondie's motorcycle lights blink, calling your attention, lulling you away from your meal. You'd give it to him though, his persistence beginning to change the train of thoughts in your head. Smirking to yourself, you halt in playing with your food, taking a few bites planning the next steps to your escape.

Placing your fork down, you wipe your mouth using the napkin. "Excuse me, I'll use the powder room for a moment."

Your father grunts, nodding his head towards the bathroom, you smile courteously fighting the urge to do anything that could trigger your father's outbursts.

You weren't tiptoeing around him per say, it's more that you'd rather keep him calm and at peace in public knowing very well that your next action might burst a vessel in his frontal lobe.

Reapplying your lipstick, you clean the edges adding finishing touches before making a beeline to the back door, to meet hot blondie where he'll be waiting and save her escape the jail that is disguised–

"Going somewhere?" The voice of your stepmother causes you to freeze. Shit. She's learning much more quickly than your father.

Slowly turning around you and putting another facade in front of her, as much as you tried to hate your stepmother, she cared for you if not more than your father ever did. But caring is not enough, not at least for you. It's not an excuse to let your father continue doing what he does the best.

If comparison is a thief of joy— then they're both thieving the joy out of you. Your father for his usual antics, and for your stepmother, whose presence only reminded you of what you'll never have.

Your silence throws your stepmother off, surely by now you'd have spoken a string of curses towards her. But this time you're silent, you learned the hard way.

In a series of unfortunate events the universe keeps shoving at you, you end up causing a scene in a restaurant, which ends up with you getting grounded. One that wasn't even your fault to begin with, but your father is not a man of reason, not that he was ever a man to you. All you could see was a weak man, with a bruised ego, who is a deadbeat of a father to you.

And it hurts more seeing him playing family with your stepmother and step-siblings knowing fully well you'll never get the same affection from him. He often looked at you like scum on his feet, the lowest of lows. Which is why you knew that you couldn't act in front of your stepmother like that, not when she's the only thing holding your family together— or at least she's trying.

"You don't have to say anything. I saw his motorcycle move to the back of the restaurant, is that how you've been leaving events and galas without us?"

You raise your brow at her statement, clearly avoiding conversation. One thing you like about your stepmother is her astute perception, at some point you found yourself enjoying her company more than your father's.

But she doesn't have to know that, and your stepmother knows her boundaries, if she wanted to keep this relationship civil, she'd walk away without saying a word.

"I'll talk to your father about it, you're free to go."

You turn your heels walking away from her, scoffing— she always has to be the hero, the good guy, and because she lets you leave, you owe her one.

Grabbing the helmet presented in front of you the moment you open the back door, you slide into the back of the hot blondie's motorcycle. Arms around his waist, you close your eyes, the sounds of the engine revving up accompanied by the goosebumps glittering around you as the cold London weather lingers atop your skin.

Relish in the moment, you keep your eyes closed, pressing your body closer to his for warmth, as your bodies cut through the wind. It was your escape.

He was your escape.

"Feeling better?" The blonde asks, grabbing the helmet from your hands as you settle in a park near the river. The weather is not as cold as you thought in comparison back to when you were in the motorcycle.

"I know you don't want to hear this, but-" You roll your eyes, scoffing at his words. One thing or another at least you know you don't have to hide in front of him, not that you are being truthful to him as well, but blondie doesn't need to know anything. As long as he's catching up on the important bits and pieces, there are still lines they don't cross.

Lines that you won't let him cross.

"Then don't. If I wanted to talk to him I could've chosen to stay in that damn dinner, but guess what I'm here with you aren't I? Or is this interrogation a part of the "get out of jail for free " card?"

The blonde male raises his hands in surrender, dropping his jacket on your legs before situating himself next to you.

"Don't you think it's better for you to stay in the restaurant."

Flabbergasted, you turn around raising your brows. "I mean look at you in that fancy outfit, it's probably 8 degrees out here, isn't it much warmer there? And with food, sure the company isn't as lovely as you want to be..."

Your eyes squint, watching him intently, "For someone so adamant about me leaving the restaurant you keep saying contradicting things. Is this a test? I want to be here, I think I am capable of choosing what I want to do blondie."

Shaking his head, he chuckles at the mention of the nickname you coined a few years back. "You've got to stop calling me that."

"It stuck around with you, I'll never stop calling you blondie."

A sigh escapes your lips, thinking back on your memories together. Life was easier then, young, naive, full of life, and free from the sins that follow the controversy of your family.

Not that anyone else knew, they worked hard to keep it out of the news, now they're just whispers, fragments of the reality. Even to you, it's all a mystery.

Somehow they couldn't keep you away from the paddock, despite all the talk and hearsay about what actually happened you chose to stay and that's all because of blondie.

You're a ghost from the past— each day as you live, a piece of you slowly gets taken away. Forced to hide away from the world you didn't choose to live in.

"Heavy thoughts there... come back down?" You blink, facing the blonde beside you, your stomach growling.

"Let's go eat somewhere before you drop me off."

In an instant, the blonde stands up wiping his hands clean before hoisting you up from the grass.

"You want fries?"

Your eyes dilate, nodding your head excitedly grabbing on eof the helmets, putting it on the blonde males pushing him to start the motorcycle.

"And tacos." You mumble under the helmet causing the blonde to laugh at your antics.

"And tacos, here we go."

His voice infecting yours illiciting a laugh from your lips. He has that effect on you.

Which is why you'd never let him cross that line, what you have with each other— no one can take. Not even your father.

Which is someone you'll have to deal with once you get home, hopefully stepmother dearest has done her best to placate his anger. You didn't want to deal with any more bullshit as is.

But a funny thing about being under the scrutiny of the spotlight is that no matter how hard you try and hide, someone is always lingering around, poking and prodding, waiting for you to fuck up and shit yourself.

amgf ★ superstars @woozarts @minkyungseokie @iienstein @eugene-emt-roe

[writerblue275]

Heartsteel!Sett Becoming a Dad

Inspiration: Listen I’ve had a hellish week and I need this. The other person who did what I do at work left so I’m flying solo at the moment, on top of training a new hire. Things are just bonkers and I’m fucking stressed and I need fluff god damnit.

Extra Inspo: Also @milksuu has me stuck on the thought of Dad!Heartsteel. (GO READ THIS AMAZING DAD!PHEL HEADCANON POST (HERE) AND CRY WITH ME.)

Genre: Headcanon

Type: Fluffy as fuckkkk

Gender: Reader implied afab/able to carry a pregnancy. Use of “mother.”

TW: Discussion of pregnancy, discussion of a deadbeat dad (not Sett ofc). Swearing.

(I don’t even want kids irl but damn I would have his children without question kthxbye.)

When you tell him you’re pregnant, Sett is so so SO fucking excited. Like over the moon thrilled.

The two of you often talked about your future together and starting a family would eventually be a part of it. So while this baby wasn’t exactly planned, it’s not unwelcome news. The timeline just got bumped up a little bit.

Watching him kneel down (because he’s fucking TALL) and rest his forehead against your not-yet-showing belly is heart-melting.

And it is something he does quite often, especially once your bump starts to show. It doesn’t matter whether you’re standing, sitting, or laying in bed.

Sett loves to softly sing or talk to the baby. He sings his favorite songs and tells the baby all sorts of things. Like stories from when he was little, stories about the two of you, the shenanigans him and the other Heartsteel members get up to, or even just what the weather is currently like. Talking to you and your tummy while you gently play with his hair and ears is his definition of domestic bliss.

He’s so extremely helpful. Like just an absolute angel of a partner. His love language is acts of service, so showing his love by doing things for you is already very natural for him. Crank that up to 11 when it comes to you being pregnant. Also your mood swings don’t phase him like at all. He knows it’s the hormones.

He’s meal prepping healthy and pregnancy-safe meals for you, but he’s also happy to run to the store/to get carry out at night when a craving hits. Sometimes you just gotta have fried chicken and ice cream at 11:30pm. He understands!

Whatever you need, Sett’s going to do everything in his power to do it for you. How could he not? You’re going through so much to bring this child into the world. He wants to make it as easy as possible for you.

He tries to make sure he can make every one of your pre-natal appointments if at all possible. He’ll take the day off to make sure he can go with you. And if there’s ever an appointment he can’t make because he’s out of town or something, he’ll face time in so he can still be with you in some way. He never wants you to feel like you’re facing any part of this pregnancy alone. Lean on him. He’s your rock, your partner, and he’s got your back through it all.

Now of course, not everything is sunshine and rainbows. Sett fully believes you’ll be an excellent parent. But surprisingly, that’s not necessarily a belief he holds for himself…

One night when you two are just relaxing together, enjoying the nightly routine of him resting his head on your thigh and talking to your bump, you notice his expression get a little more serious.

“Can I tell you a secret, nugget? One that I haven’t even told your mother yet?” Sett glances up at you shyly before looking back down at your growing bump. “I’m…I’m a bit scared to be a father,” he murmurs. “I’m so excited to meet you and help you grow, but I’m also terrified I’ll mess up too much. I’m afraid I won’t be a good father to you. My dad wasn’t around very long so it’s not like I have someone in my family to look to as a good example of fatherhood…”

Your eyes widen as you listen to him continue to vent his lack of confidence in himself when it comes to being a good father. It breaks your heart. All of this self-doubt coming from the man who makes sure to never miss an appointment, even when he’s in a different country, who took all sorts of brochures from your OBGYN’s office, ordered parenting books galore and has been reading them non-stop, the man excitedly painting the walls of the nursery and helping you build a crib or rocking chair once he’s home from work.

“Settrigh, look at me,” you say softly as you gently run your fingers through his hair.

He looks up at you, his eyes clearly showing his nerves at what your response might be, though he tries to pass off a small shaky smile. “Uh oh…the full name comes out. That’s never good.”

You let out a soft giggle as you look down at him adoringly and gently move your hand down to cup his cheek. “Do you really think I’d still be here with you right now, 7-months pregnant with your child, our child, if I thought you’d be a bad father? Absolutely not, my love. You know I don’t tolerate fools or bullshit. There’s no one I’d rather start a family with and I think you’ll be an incredible father.”

He leans into your touch. “But I don’t know how to be a good father….not with the way mine was…”

“There’s no fool-proof guidebook for parenting, Sett. Even with your Ma as an amazing example, I don’t really know how to be a mother yet. Parenting is something we’ll learn together along the way, yeah?

He nods. “You’re right baby, as per usual.”

Your smile widens before you continue. “While yes, your father is a shitty deadbeat, that doesn’t concern me. Do you know why?”

He gently shakes his head.

You smile softly again. “He wasn’t the one who raised you, babe, your Ma did. Your Ma is one of the kindest, strongest, most loving beings in this world. Despite everything the world threw at her, she survived and she never let it break her spirit. She raised the best life partner I could ever ask for, and I know you’ll pass on all her lessons to our little nugget. Your heart and your upbringing come from your Ma, Sett, not your dad.”

He nods gently and sighs. “She really sacrificed a lot to make sure we’d be ok. I’m so lucky to have her as my Ma.”

“All it takes is one look to see that sacrifice wasn’t in vain. She’s so proud of you, Sett. She feels so lucky to have you as her son. She’s told me so herself.” You run your thumb along his cheekbone. “You’re not your father. I know you’d never just leave, forcing me to fend for this baby all by myself. Hell, you hate leaving me just to go on short work trips with Heartsteel! You’re a far better man than your dad ever was and you’ll be a far better father than he was too.”

His eyes grow soft as you speak and you feel him relax a bit. “You really think so?”

“I know so!…Also, babe, even in the extremely unlikely case you did leave…you know damn well your Ma would hunt you down and drag you back here herself.”

When he’s out of town with Heartsteel, he’s making sure to check in on you and call/facetime at least twice a day.

During each call Sett has you lower your phone down to your bump so he can say hello to the baby. (And if you’re ok with it, he’ll let the other guys/Alune come over and say hi to you and talk to your belly as well. “They should know their uncles and aunt!”)

Even while he’s out of town you know you’re in good hands. His Ma assures you she’s only a call away and is happy to come keep you company if you want her to. She’s truly a saint, offering advice anytime you or Sett ask her for it while also never going against a decision you and him make. She understands better than anyone how chaotic and unpredictable parenthood can be, and she knows the two of you will always do what you think is best for your baby. She’s just the most supportive woman and she’s utterly thrilled to become a grandma.

The two of you decide to wait to find out the sex of the baby. It’s not really important to Sett to know early. Whatever sex, as long as you and the baby are healthy, that’s all he cares about.

When the moment eventually comes and your water breaks, it’s a little hilarious how panicked he gets, dashing around the house to make sure everything important is in the car.

You grab Sett’s arm to get him to pause his scrambling. “Babe out of the two of us, I feel like I should be the one panicking,” you let out on a laugh, leaning up to kiss him softly. “Breathe. We have time. This is why we prepared early and pre-packed the hospital bags in the car, remember? We’re as ready as we can be, my love, so let’s go become parents.”

As you talk he takes a couple deep breaths and relaxes slightly. As you finish, he kisses you gently. “Let’s go become parents,” he murmurs. Before he steps away completely he kneels down and kisses your tummy. “See you soon, nugget…”

Once he gets over the initial wave of anxiety, Sett gets into the zone. Just an incredible birthing partner to have with you. He’s guiding you through your breathing exercises. He has no issue letting you squeeze the fuck out of his hand or arm. He’s even calm when you cuss him out during particularly intense contractions. He knows you don’t really mean what you’re saying, you’re just in a lot of pain. He calmly keeps wiping off your face and neck with a cool towel and murmuring words of encouragement into your ear, smiling gently and holding you as you eventually melt against him for support.

Hates that you’re not allowed to eat anything. He’s not eating anything either in solidarity. What kind of asshole would bring food and eat it while their partner giving birth can’t have any?? Like Sett doesn’t understand people who do that so don’t worry, you definitely won’t experience that with him.

And once the time comes for you to push, he’s wherever you want him to be, whether that’s right next to you holding your hand, helping the nurses by holding a leg, or even sitting behind you, holding you against his chest. He wants/needs to be useful for you. Wherever he is, he’s encouraging and praising you to high heavens, in absolute awe of you and your strength.

And once the baby comes…🥹🥹🥹

Sett’s eyes are watering as soon as he sees the the teeny tiny ears on top of the baby’s head.

But first he’s hugging you, making sure you’re alright, telling you how amazing you did and how proud of you he is. And as soon as the docs/nurses give the all clear, he’s giving you your fav snacks that he packed so you can finally eat something.

Once he sees you holding the baby, that’s when the tears really start falling. His heart can’t handle it. You, the love of his life, holding your baby, a direct result of your love for each other. It’s one of the most beautiful sights he’s ever witnessed.

He’s sitting next to you on the edge of the bed, his arm around you, looking down at this squalling bundle in your arms with the biggest, most adoring smile on his face.

And when Sett gets a chance to hold the baby? He’s finally able to talk to the baby outside your tummy? Oh he’s so excited! His heart is filled with so much love it’s about to burst.

As is yours, seeing your massive partner holding this small bundle so carefully and protectively in his arms. He’s so gentle and sweet as he welcomes your child into the world and promises he’ll always be there to love, protect, and guide them as best he can. You know Sett means every single word with his whole heart, and it brings happy tears to your eyes as you start this new journey together as a family.

Ah! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed! I just really needed Heartsteel fluffiness at the moment and the thought of Sett as a dad is just so cute. (Especially the thought of him as a girl dad oh my fucking god.)

[fractiouslemonofficial]

Regarding Banana Pie's Money Trouble

Hello, everyone. This is FractiousLemon speaking. I'm a good friend of Banana Pie and I know there's been some controversy surrounding his financial situation, so I'd like to explain if I can.

First of all, I understand that the spot he's in right now looks shady. Our friends all had a lot of questions to ask about it at first as well. From the sound of things, he'd filed his taxes incorrectly over the past four years due to misunderstanding how the papers are written and not being aware that he could hire someone else to do the work for him. Honestly, I find this easy to believe. Filling out any kind of tax related paperwork is a nightmare for me and I know I'd be making the same mistakes if I didn't have anywhere else to go.

The tax department evidently updated their computer system recently, which made them aware of cases like his, of people who've incorrectly filed--either intentionally or not--and they contacted him saying that he owes the previous four years of back taxes.

Compounding the problem is the fact that he recently lost a job and then found a new one only to lose that job when the company began to lose business. He's unable to ask for help from his parents because they're currently going through a divorce and his only friends are other deadbeat artists like myself with no money to spare. And on top of it all, he has difficulty with English and social norms. There are many times when he doesn't know how to phrase himself correctly or doesn't understand that some of his actions may bother others.

I know this sounds like I'm making excuses, but I've known him for a long time and I can tell you he's a very good person. He's just struggling with a lot of things right now. Unfortunately, I don't have the money to spare and I'm sure many of you don't either, but I promise that he's not running a scam. He's just in a bad spot that seems to keep getting worse for him right now. I was there a few years ago during and after my divorce. Life can be rough at times.

In the end, I know he's sorry for upsetting you and for not explaining himself clearly. Again, I promise he's not a con artist. He's just a guy who struggles with money, language, and (at the moment) life in general. Go easy on him, please.

[rottenpumpkin13]

All the firsts and Zack have decided to each get a house plant to take care of.

The SOLDIERs As Plant Dads

I'll do my own take on this concept, but I really recommend Green Thumb by Soyna on ff.net. This fic cracks me up every time I read it lmao

• After following Angeal to the monthly flea market in the slums, the boys come back with a plant each.

• Zack couldn't say no to Aerith gifting him a little plant. Sephiroth got his finger stuck in a venus flytrap. Genesis bought the venus flytrap with Sephiroth's finger still attached for laughs. Angeal got another plant to add to his collection.

• They're in the elevator going up to their apartments and Angeal is annoyed.

• First he has Zack, who barely knows how to care for himself, boasting about how Aerith is going to be sooo proud of him for keeping his little plant happy and alive.

• And then he has Genesis, who after laughing himself silly at the sight of Sephiroth with his finger stuck, is now trying to pry the venus flytrap away from Sephiroth and grumbling about how he doesn't understand why the plant likes him so much.

• Angeal has enough and says "100 gil says those plants won't live to see the end of the week."

• Zack immediately perks up at this.

Zack: Oh yeah!? Well you're about to be 100 gil poorer, old man! Me and—*he looks down at his plant*—Stefano are going to prove you wrong!

• Meanwhile Genesis, while still trying to unhinge the venus flytrap's jaws, seconds this.

Genesis: Make that 200 gil! Frederick will be alive and happy by the end of the week, you'll see!

Sephiroth: We're naming our plant Frederick? Why don't I have a say in this?

Genesis: Sephiroth, you're two minutes away from losing a finger. Worry about that instead.

THE NEXT DAY

• Zack walks into the training room carrying Stefano, the plant, in a baby carrier strapped across his chest.

• Angeal sees this and immediately loses it.

Angeal: You have got to be kidding me.

Zack: What? I told you I was gonna take this seriously! I'm the best plant dad ever. I'm so not gonna let Stefano out of my sight!

• Genesis walks into the training room nonchalantly and holding a capuccino.

Zack: Dude! Where's your plant?

Genesis: Ah, Freddy is with his nanny.

Angeal:

Angeal: You hired a nanny for a potted plant? Are you out of your mind??

Genesis: What? I had three nannies and I turned out fine.

• Kunsel walks into the training room rolling the venus flytrap around on a baby stroller.

Angeal: KUNSEL is your nanny????

Kunsel: 'Sup.

Angeal: ARE YOU PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR MINDS? THEY'RE PLANTS, NOT CHILDREN.

Zack: Shhhhh you're gonna wake up Stefano!

• Sephiroth walks into the training room with a stack of papers. He walks over to Genesis and drops them in his hands.

Sephiroth: Here you go. They're the papers granting you full custody of Frederick. I've realized I'm not ready to be a father.

Angeal: IT'S A PLANT.

Genesis: So you're just going to walk out on us? Have you no shame? No honor as a man, Sephiroth?

Zack: Yeah, Seph, for shame.

Angeal: IT'S A VENUS FLYTRAP.

Sephiroth: I understand your feelings might be muddled at a time like this. Hopefully in time you'll see that this is the best decision for our family.

Genesis: You know, my mother warned me this would happen.

Angeal: IT CAN'T EVEN TALK. IT'S A PLANT.

Genesis: And in front of the kids? You have no regard for our child's well being, you deadbeat cretin.

Sephiroth: You have every right to be angry. I will also be providing child support.

Angeal, rolling around on the floor: A PLANT.

Genesis: No. You know what? Me and Freddy don't want your money. We'll be leaving now, and you'll never see us again.

• He takes the stroller from Kunsel.

Genesis: Come on, Frederick, we're leaving.

• He strides out of the training room with Kunsel in tow. The following silence is loud until:

Zack: HEY!

• Angeal and Sephiroth look at him

Zack: STEFANO ISN'T A REAL PLANT. HE'S MADE OF PLASTIC!

Angeal and Sephiroth:

Zack: NO WONDER AERITH WAS SO EAGER TO GIVE IT TO ME.

[ultfreakme]

You know, I feel so sorry for Toji Fushiguro, he's an unemployed deadbeat, he has no self-esteem, he's unlucky and he still has memory problems because of the trauma his clan caused him. He deserved it but I can't even hate him For me, he deserved another ending to the story. If I were gojo I would spare your life I would force him to enter the jujutsu school to teach and so he could start working and taking care of Megumi It would work on your emotions. Oh I would put a bracelet on him that would reduce his physical strength so that he wouldn't hurt anyone until he had his redemption.

Wait Toji has memory issues??? Afaik, I don't think he does. I don't think Gojo had any reason to spare Toji's life, or for Toji to accept that. Sorry anon but I think forcing him to teach would take away his individuality and would impose on him the very same principals that made him leave the Zen'in clan in the first place.

First, Gojo had no reason to forgive him, or give the man a chance at all. He's an assassin hired to kill the girl who Gojo treasured as a friend and wanted to protect. Toji premeditated and planned Gojo and Riko's murder, and is implied to have killed Kuroi, the only reason he didn't kill Geto was because he didn't know what would happen to the cursed spirits Geto held but he DID injure Geto terribly(if you wanna piss off Gojo, you hurt Geto- at least during Hidden Inventory days).

We as the audience can have sympathy for Toji because we know about his past but at the end of the day, in-story, Toji made his choices. He's an adult and it's not the responsibility of a (at the time) teenager to fix the man.

Toji might actually laugh in Gojo's face if he told Toji to stop, probably be more vicious in his plans to absolutely destroy Gojo. Because Toji's issue with Gojo is personal. Gojo stands for everything Toji detests about sorcerer society, so to have this treasured heir to the GOJO clan essentially looking down on him, it's like Gojo would be saying "you're not even worth fighting, how about you do what I say?". Gojo's not recovering from whatever Toji plans to do in killing him after THAT disrespect.

Also, Toji being forced to be a teacher with his powers suppressed???? First, he would find a way to escape. Second, he would absolutely not be doing it unless the Zen'ins or Gojo were using Megumi as a bargaining chip and not in a fun way(like a "I will literally kill your son, or brainwash your son to follow our ways if you don't comply") which won't make him a good dad, or a good teacher, like I seriously think he'd be plotting more ways to murder everyone and escape. Toji's smart, he'll find a way and whatever massacre he'd leave behind for being FORCED to work in the very societal structure that made him the way he is would be brutal.

Restricting Toji and forcing him to be a teacher would absolutely destroy Toji as a person. His strength is something he clearly enjoys. He likes the fact that a 'monkey' like him can topple the strongest sorcerers. His powers are him.

This is the thing about redemption arcs, you can't force it. The character needs to realize they're in the wrong. No amount of sticking them next to our heroes is going to work if the character isn't willing. I'm going to use Zuko from Avatar The Last Airbender as an example since his redemption arc is one of the most famous. Zuko was a main antagonist who constantly interacted with the main cast and encountered many victims of his family's atrocities for the first two seasons, but none of this actually flipped him around. His uncle kind of essentially did what you're suggesting about Toji be done to him. Zuko just got resentful, he hated it no matter how much he tried, he actually got WORSE.

His redemption and realization of his wrongdoings happened when he was alone, left with the consequences. No one was forcing him to change, he came to that on his own.

If we do want a Toji redemption arc, I think a different route would have to be taken. I'm not sure what that would be or where it could start, but forcing him to suppress his powers and teach new sorcerers won't work imo.

Sorry if this comes off as harsh, I tried to be as unbiased as I could ;_;Toji's a cool character though, I like JJK because it's not easy to redeem or change these people's lives. I still can't figure out what would've been a good place for Geto to be redeemed, or Junpei to be saved, or anything. All that happens in JJK happens for a set of very interconnected reasons.

[flaetsbnortoriginals]

Y'know, I have a real soft spot for corporate art.

By that I don't mean stuff like the neat souless twee black guys in Casual Friday outfit, I mean stuff like the story for AAA games. Stuff that isn't at the forefront and that, as far as the corporation cares, exists mostly as a kind of ancillary marketing arm. They have enough money to hire truly talented people to work on it but they also force them to step inside ridiculously rigid limits

I'm talking about Magic: The Gathering. I'm talking, very specifically, about Ixalan.

Ixalan is such a simple concept. It's a world based on the Americas! But it's being invaded! The invaders are basically the Spanish! And they are LITERAL VAMPIRES

That's so dumb! It's hilarious! It's the most obvious metaphor for imperalism you could possibly come up with. It's Baby's First Politically Aware Work. It's a single step above a cartoon of a skeleton labeled CAPITALISM carrying a bag full of money over starving people. And I love it! Give me that slop yum yum yum. If it was a work of art created by people who wanted to, y'know, create art, I'd be much harsher on it. I'd praise the intention but suggest something more nuanced (or, if they were going for it deliberately, more raw). But I know that even this much must have been a hard sell for the suits! I remember Mark Rosewater talking about how much Ixalan was a hard sell and imagine the execs going 'nooooo, what if our core demographic likes imperialism?'

And of course, because you get talented people to do the story and you cater to detail-oriented nerds, you also get an incredibly detailed backstory to this silly, Lorax movie level metaphor. The faux America is actually in the middle of a protacted war, no noble savages here. The vampires get a side of catholicism with their vampirism that makes Vampire: The Masquerade roll on the floor. It's all weirdly elaborate under the simplest possible concept, like deep-fried caviar.

The story for Outlaws of Thunder Junction went pretty much the same way for me. It's the culmination of Kellan's year-long quest to find his dad, who turns out to be a deadbeat that doesn't care about him at all, and only care about finding the treasure hidden inside a vault... who turns out to be a LITERAL CHILD who is wanted by two people in TRUE LOVE. That is DUMB AS HELL, it's the simplest parallel possible, and again, if someone was writing it out of a desire to simply Make Art, I'd praise the intent but have notes for the execution. But as an ancillary marketing action to sell us cardboard rectangles? That's the most delicious crap I can think of.

[artistic-izzy-multifandom]

Izzy's Heavily Improvised Essay on Bambi 2

(to folks who follow me for other stuff, I apologize right ahead of time, just doing my "multifandom" name justice XD)

Okay y’all, bear with me, this was written in the heat of the moment and therefore I might go around in tangents. I’ve been dying to write this essay thingy for months actually, but I kept chickening out when I went to try and just do it. And it was also inspired by Wreckham’s own Bambi post that I saw a while ago, so uh... Yeah.

(also this mainly features my opinions, don't take them as facts >_<)

So, starting things off with this:

It shall be no secret that I’m an avid fan of the Bambi movies (more the second than the first, but we’ll get to that in a bit). 

It’s no surprise that visually speaking, Bambi is a spectacle from beginning to end, on top of having a beautiful soundtrack and a fascinating way of being the closest thing to an animated documentary with its environments.

However, it comes with the price of... Well, lacking a concrete plot. And by that I mean outside of just showcasing Bambi’s life from birth to adulthood. Not to say there’s no value in that, but I reckon it’s not the kind of movie lots of people nowadays would just want to watch multiple times in a row.

(plus considering how much of the novel’s plot they cut out when adapting it to the screens… That’s a can of worms for another day)

Yes, even I, the avid fan, will admit this flaw in the storytelling. And it’s a big reason why I maintain my statement on loving the second movie more than the first.

And oh where do I begin?

Namely how its plot is basically about the time that happened between Bambi’s Mother’s death and the scene with all those cheery singing birds — in other words, the period in which Bambi was raised by his father, the Great Prince of the Forest.

While animation’s changed significantly (given that, y’know, 64 years apart) and also different voice actors were hired for the characters (again, 64 years), I will come here and say that visually the movie did the original justice, and did it in spades!

Plot-wise? On one hand, there’s more dialogue and the humor is a bit more targeted for younger audiences, which in fairness will put off some who are more inclined towards the original.

On the other hand, the movie is also not afraid to explore some darker subjects, some indirectly (like the whole aspect of grief both for Bambi and his father and their respective ways of dealing with it), and some directly (such as the entire Deer Call scene).

And the fact that unlike the first movie, the characters here are more fleshed out, the main highlight of that is none other than the Great Prince himself; in the first movie he... Didn’t have nearly enough screentime or lines to justify his status as protector of the Forest, at best he was a minor character given too much importance, and at worst he was a living prop.

In the second? He’s the second main focus of the story, with a whole character development arc on how to be a father to Bambi despite his belief in tradition (aka the whole “the does care for the young” thing). In fact, I think I should dedicate this part of the essay on his character, shall we? Because years of rewatching the movie made me think a lot of things regarding him (which I don’t see many or even anyone talk enough about):

If we’re gonna think about it, we never really get to know the Great Prince too deeply prior to his mate’s death. Everything we do know about him personality-wise came afterwards, at a time when he had to look after Bambi while also looking after the Forest as a whole.

It’s incredibly easy to label him as a jerk and a deadbeat father when one fails to consider a few things:

1- His mate died, and given the timeframe, the Prince was unable to reach both her and Bambi in time before Man shot her; made worse when you remember that in the first movie he was able to save them both from Man. Literally, at the beginning of the second movie, one of the first expressions we see from him is sadness. Wouldn’t you think he was feeling not just grief, but guilt too?

2- He was left to raise his son alone, at one of the harshest points of wintertime, and only asked Friend Owl to find a doe because the owl offered some help in the first place; recalling the tradition thing, the Prince had no experience with children whatsoever, can you blame him for being baffled at the idea of him raising his son at first?

3- He’s the protector of a whole forest. That’s like, hundreds and hundreds of lives he’s dedicated to keep safe from Man at all times every single day, hundreds and hundreds of animals depending on him to not get shot. Even if he’s experienced at what he does, that’s still a huge pressure onto a single individual, and the fact that he can’t always save everyone every time Man is in the woods.

And a bonus: forget his status as the Great Prince of the Forest for a moment, and what do you have? A stag who lost his mate (whom he genuinely loved) and is left to raise their son entirely on his own.

If I were to guess, I’d say the Great Prince was far more serene prior to the tragedy; still a recluse, what with being the protector of the woods and then some, but less stern in general.

Everything we see of him before the completion of his character development, is him trying to make do with something that was out of his control and dealing with its consequences. (there’s a reason why ‘Parents as People’ is a trope, y’know)

Hell, it was all but stated that even before he became more open towards Bambi and embraced his role as a parent, he already cared about his son in his own way. I’m under the belief that he’s always been capable of raising him, all he needed was some time (and a bit of a nudge from Bambi himself at points).

Plus he was already regretting the whole “new mother to Bambi” plan and intending on calling it off by the time Friend Owl brought Mena, he only went through with it anyway because he thought he screwed things up with Bambi for good - btw I do not blame Bambi for being mad, poor guy’s spent most of the movie trying to impress his dad and taking every lesson to heart, only to find out about the arrangement at the worst time possible.

On another tangent, I feel like one aspect that’s often overlooked is how both Bambi and his father reacted to going through with the arrangement:

By the time Bambi was going to leave with Mena, he wasn’t even mad anymore, just downtrodden and upset that he wouldn’t get to see his friends as often, but otherwise resigned and accepting that it’s what he should be doing. Putting up a brave facade all the while, much like the Great Prince himself.

Same for the latter, he was trying to keep his regal facade up as well and insisting that “a Prince does sacrifices” - he was mostly talking about himself, having to give his son up so he’s raised by someone better than the Prince.

And let’s get one fact clear before heading to a main point in this essay: although Bambi did get mad at his father (down to even wishing his mother was there instead of him), he was far more upset at being separated from him and not getting to see him as often, and it’s made obvious he regretted yelling those words at his father.

Otherwise, Bambi wouldn’t have rushed back to nuzzle him goodbye, wouldn’t have thought of retaliating against Ronno when the latter taunted him about being “given away” due to his father “being ashamed of him”. And he certainly wouldn’t have run to another cliff to meet his dad after defeating the last of Man’s dogs.

In fact I more than believe that they would’ve reconciled on the spot as soon as they saw each other again, which was what likely gonna happen after Bambi saved Mena and got rid of all the dogs.

But then the cliff scene happened.

(aka one of my favorite scenes in the whole movie, and yes I will defend it right now)

Now, I can see why a good bunch of people hate that scene (namely the whole Disney Death thing), but allow me to say that it’s in the movie for a reason, and it’s not to trick the audience into thinking Bambi did die from the fall.

It’s to showcase the Great Prince’s character arc coming to fruition.

Remember when I said that the Prince did love Bambi in his own way despite not knowing anything about raising children? This is the scene where he finally realized just how much he did care all along, shedding away his “prince does/does not” mentality for good. Realizing that Bambi needed him as a father

There's so much that goes unsaid in the scene.

How the Prince’s voice nearly breaks when urging Bambi to get up, him saying “A Prince does not...” but never finishing it. What was he going to say? We don’t know, and that’s the point. Maybe even he didn’t know, maybe it was said out of reflex.

How he gets down and looks at his (seemingly) dead son before nuzzling him, keeping him as close as he could, and crying.

This all makes it more meaningful when Bambi does wake up and calls him Dad for the first time, showcasing how far their bond has gone and developed.

I believe, among other things, that the scene (and perhaps counting the dog chase as well) was also meant to be a mirror/parallel to the dream sequence from earlier in the movie. But that’s perhaps an essay for another day!

So, in conclusion… I swear I’m 100% normal about this movie, I totally did not spend days on end trying to make this improv essay as cohesive as possible-

[essay ends here, roll credits]

[kulemii]

17, 18, & 20 for Yakuza ship asks ⊂⁠(⁠´⁠･⁠◡⁠･⁠⊂⁠ ⁠)⁠∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠°

since you didn't specify I'm gonna do selfship for both >:D

17. What would a co-op heat action look like for you two?

AIZAWA

Something where I run toward him, full speed then he picks me up and tosses me at our opponent in a flying kick. He's lifting me because I'm short and cannot jump very high.

NISHIKI

Something where he spins me around and I kick everyone my feet come in contact with.... I like the idea of them helping me kick people

18. How would your relationship/story differ in Ishin or Kenzan?

HARADA

Imma be honest, he's such a dick he probably wouldn't even put up with me. I have trouble deluding myself into believing he'd have a sweet, sensitive and caring side like he does as Aizawa. So who knows if we've even be together lolol. Lets say, he'd see me in town and threaten to kill me for looking at him for too long and I'll cry because I just though he was hot. That's our 5 minute love story. The end.

IZO

I would enable him so bad. I would be like 'yes babe, butcher these bitches.' I'm just so proud of him for having a reputation that's kinda badass idc. I would also learn how to make chapstick for him to carry with him for his thin, ashy lips :) because i'm a good wife.

20. What is the most convoluted plot line you can come up with centered around your relationship? Go as wild as possible.

AIZAWA

His father is a deadbeat who wanted to know what he as up to, to know if he'd be a good fit as heir to his legacy. He hires me to spy then report back to him. We fall in love, I ruin ze plan. We marry. I have his babies. His father dies not knowing his grandchildren. We take all his money. The end.

NISHIKI

I see Reina trying her best to get Nishiki's attention. I wingman for her, I fall in love with both of them. I get tangled up in love triangle. I get Reina pregnant- I, what? We steal Nishiki's money? uhhhh, we all marry. The end.

[coquelicoq]

for the asks, what about your worst secondary teacher, your first heartbreak, and your favourite fictional villain?

fuck, marry, kill but instead it’s get them randomly assigned as your lab partner for a whole semester, get trapped with them on a broken elevator for ten hours, and they’re your employee trainer for your new job at McDonalds

this was tough! just to figure out who each of those people would even be. like if heartbreak is a person, i think technically my first heartbreak (and probably also my third) is...me. lol. but let's go with the first person i fell in love with because i broke my own heart when i broke up with her. for the teacher i'm gonna say my choir teacher in high school, who docked my grade because i "don't smile when [i'm] not happy," something i have nursed a deep and abiding resentment over ever since my mom told me about it after parent-teacher night. and for favorite fictional villain i will select gaius baltar of battlestar galactica.

immediate thought is that the choir teacher CANNOT be my mcdonald's trainer. if i don't smile enough for choir, just imagine what he would have to say about me in a service labor environment. NO THANK YOU. but i don't really love the idea of either of the other two scenarios with him either. i was thinking yesterday about how awful it would suck to be stuck in an elevator with someone who needed to fill the silence if that someone had a tin ear, so maybe i'll go with elevator for the choir teacher. at least if he passes the time by singing, i know he'll be good at it.

gaius baltar is a scientist, but i think he would consider lab so far beneath him he might just pretend to have done the experiments and never actually show up. he is always ready to fudge lab results, which would keep me up nights. i do not think that has the makings of a successful partnership. baltar as my mcdonald's trainer though has the potential to be hilarious. he's such a rat bastard, i'd love to see him try to explain to someone how to follow instructions he's probably only aware of insofar as he needs to know what they are so he can flout them. i think that would be very entertaining. that said, if anything goes wrong (which it probably will, as i've just been hired and don't know what i'm doing), he is 100% leaving me out to dry. but i feel like my fellow coworkers would be expecting this and would take me under their wing. we would bond over what a deadbeat turncoat he is.

so this means i'm lab partners with the girl i broke up with. okay, not fabulous. the thing is though that she and i have been...trying to reconnect recently? it's been awkward and emotionally fraught, but we are doing it. we actually have a scheduled weekly phone call lol, so we're already communicating on a regular ongoing basis, as we would need to do as lab partners. one might even say we currently are partners in a lab of ~relationship repair~ and ~emotional maturity~. i saw her in person last week and we made a great team in the grand experiment of Keeping Her Toddler From Being Eaten by a Dog And/Or Falling Into a Ravine. after that, normal lab is basically a cake walk.

[vtori73]

One thing I realized about the bigger part of the JJK fandom that bugs me is that I feel sometimes they are projecting their own prejudices onto the work. What do I mean by this? Basically, while JJK does have issues with how it could spend more time on the girl/woman characters it's definitely not worse compared to a lot of shonen especially compared to ones similar to it and some of what people perceive as misogyny is more so their own misogyny/ poor analysis of JJK.

One moreso small example being the fact that people are quick to say and believe that the girl/women characters have contributed nothing plot or story wise to JJK which is extremely false and makes what they have done seem like nothing and meaningless & they genuinely believe any of them could be replaced by anyone/boys or men which isn't entirely true but even if it were... you could basically say that about any character almost in the story someone was saying Nanami was useless to the plot for fucks sake but we all know it's bullshit doesn't change with the girl/woman characters either.

One example of a character you can replace without also changing the story would be Mai, her being Maki's SISTER is integral to the plot and Maki, the story would not be the same if she was a boy because while there are men who are treated poorly in the Zenin clan it's only if they don't have or have low levels of curse energy while Mai & Maki are also treated poorly not only because of that but because they are woman who are meant to serve the men as well. Maki's arc was about overcoming and defeating an abusive misogynistic family FOR HER & HER SISTER! She, unlike Toji who just left she was forced to come back and made it everyone else's problem because of it which brings to my next example of fandoms own misogyny bleeding into JJK.

Maki keeps being compared to Toji and while I get it of course let's not pretend that a LOT of this continued instance that Maki is Toji 2.0 is just a misogynistic analysis of her character and peoples insistence of it are just diminishing her character and actions. Maki is a BETTER version of Toji, Toji wishes he were Maki, Maki is not an irresponsible deadbeat who SOLD off his child for money and only regretted it as he was dying. Sure, on a technique/power scale they are the same but power isn't the only thing that is a measure of their character (despite everyone wanting it to be because it's a shonen so I get but also... no). Maki IS better, she not only left but dealt with her horrible family and didn't become just some assassin for hire to fulfill her whims of gambling. Sure we can't say for sure how Toji would have been if he were Makis place and had his wife killed by them but also... that would have never really happened mainly because there would be no point for his family to go after him after he left. They went after Maki because as a woman and someone with no curse energy she needed to know her place and so needed to be reminded of it & why they were always interfering with her goals. Maki unluckily had a sister with some curse energy too so they also used her to get back at Maki which caused a further hatred & riff between Maki & Mai but they still cared and loved each other otherwise they wouldn't have cared if the other had died in that disciplinary pit.

Maki and Toji are similar and I won't deny that but denying Maki is her OWN character who is probably objectively better than Toji is just fandom being misogynistic! "Well one eyed cat compared them," yeah COMPARES and that happened maybe once or twice, but fandom won't shut up about it despite the fact that Gege does this ALL the time because he likes to, it's part of his storytelling, he likes to call back to older scenes! And again, that doesn't somehow make her Toji 2.0 because of it. I honestly don't even think Gege is trying to make her that either, she is too different from Toji, not to mention she has never met him or anything, i would get it if there had been even SOME connection to them besides the family thing but there is nothing else to connect the two besides Heavenly Restriction which is JUST a technique doesn't mean she's suppose to be Tojis replacement (technically I do think she is but not because he misses Toji she was always meant to be a better version of Toji OR what is more correct Toji was a weaker inferior Maki and Maki replaced him).

.

.

.

I'm also going to argue now after thinking about it that she is supposed to be better than Toji on a technical/skill/power llevel as well because SHE FUCKING DID WHAT TOJI DID TO GOJO AKA BABY GOJO BEFORE HE BECAME EVEN MORE POWERFUL AND MAKI DID THIS TOO SUKUNA THE KING OF CURSES WHO DEFEATED GOJO WHO WAS AT FULL POWER (yes, I know Sukuna is in a weakened state, so was highschool Gojo if we are being honest)! Sure, the scene was probably moreso just a callback but maybe also possibly to establish the power level Sukuna is at right now... But who knows, for NOW I would much rather just claim it Maki is more powerful than Toji! 😛

Oh, also yes, I do not think it's at all farfetched to think fandom misogyny is coloring people's perception of the series ESPECIALLY considering how much misogyny is in fandom in general(not just JJK) that people within don't even notice and let slide so it's not hard at all for me to think some wires are getting crossed.

[falloutstasis]

They went that-a-way Part 2

Vikkie and Vance Casino

After equipping themselves with brand new armor for them, the Merc Adventurer Outfit, that they won off of a gun fight against a Escaped Convict, June went inside Vikkie and Vance Casino and was immediately greeted by Johnson Nash.

"I don't know what it was that brought you to Primm, youngster, but you might want to rethink your plans. Town's gone to hell."

"So I've heard." June responded. They knew who this man is. The man was the one who ran the Mojave Express outpost, who June is currently working for.

"Wait a second. I think I recognize you." Johnson tried to recall who June was. "Weren't you the Courier that was suppose to deliver a chip of some sorts? June wasn't it?"

"Yeah. Key word is 'suppose to'." June, once again, sighed. "Some jackass in a checkered suit shot me in the head and stole the chip."

"Well, damn. Do you have a delivery order you can show me? I might be able to help you out since you came all the way back here."

June nodded and handed Johnson a sheet of paper with the information of the delivery order of a 'Platinum Chip''.

"Ah, this one." Johnson tapped his index finger on the paper a few times. "This job had strange written all over it."

"What was strange about it?" They asked.

"That cowboy robot had us hire six couriers. Victor, he said his name was. Each was carrying something a little different. A pair of dice, a chess piece, that sort of stuff. Last word I had from the office, it looked like payment had be received for the other four jobs. Courier Five is just in the process of finishing hers. Five's was weird too."

Huh, Courier Five's delivery was weird?

"How weird?" June asked.

"Well, for one, she was to deliver blueprints for the cowboy robot I mentioned before. Didn't know what was those blueprints were about and I don't want to know." Johnson explained.

So Victor wanted some blueprints? He didn't really mention any type of blue prints to June when they first meet him.

"Can you tell me the name of Courier Five?"

"She didn't give me a full name, but she called herself 'Valentine'."

It wasn't nothing to major, but she'll make a mental note of remembering Valentine later on.

"Anyway, I'm sidetracking here. First deadbeat we hired to do the job canceled. I hope a storm from the Divide skins him alive."

June squinted their eyes at Johnson. "You don't sound to happy."

"Of course not." He crossed his arms. "He had this look when he saw you next down on the Courier list. His expression turned right around, asked me if your name was for real. I said, sure as lack of rain, you were still kicking. Then he turned down the job, just like that."

"Weird. Anyone would have taken that job with that kind of money as payment."

Johnson nodded. "That's what I said, too. But no. He said, let 'Courier Six' carry the package- like the Mojave'd sort you out or something. Then he just up and walked out."

June felt like there was some...unknown grudge between them and this Courier stranger they barely even knew. The only information they've been given by Johnson is that this person is a Courier. That's it.

"Do you have any idea where he went?" June asked.

"No idea. It sounds like you two had some kind of history between you. I assumed you would know too. But from the looks on your face, you have no idea who this person is do you?"

All throughout this conversation with Johnson and how this unknown Courier with no name was first brought up, all June had this confused look on their face. "I have no idea who the fuck this person is."

Johnson chuckled at their response. "Well, sorry if I wasn't much help with that. I do have someone who knows about the men in the checkered suit. His name is Beagle. Last time I saw him, he was eavesdropping around the Powder Gangsters."

If June had to put two and two together, they figured that Beagle was the one who gotten himself in trouble with the Powder Gangers. And the prison was just in front of the entire town! If they were going to get their information about the man who shot them, they were going to make their way to the prison.

"Oh, I have a favor to ask. If you don't mind that is." Johnson had stopped June at their tracks, their hand humorously almost at the door.

"I was wondering if you can stop at my home. It's front of this casino." He pointed out the door. "There's this busted up eye bot that needs repairing. So far I haven't been able to get it fixed. Could you, maybe, get it out of my home? It's yours if you can get it working."

What an odd request.

June wasn't sure how to answer other than a, "Uh, yeah, sure."

And with that, they quickly headed to Johnson's home, beside the dead body slumped against the wall. They knocked on the door once and when no one answered, they let herself in. No one was home, but the damaged Eye-Bot that was laying on the front desk.

"Hm. Poor guy."

This is an advanced model robot with a reinforced frame. It is well weathered and appears to have seen a good bit of action. There is very little in the way of serious damage.

June did their best to get the Eye-Bot back up and running, with the scrap metal, sensor modules, and scrap electronics she had left over during her trip to Primm and her experience into repairing robots and other Protectron Robots. It took about at least thirty minutes to get this bot up and running. Not a minute longer, the Eye-Bot zoomed upward and made direction attention towards June.

<Curious beeps.>

"Oh, uh, yeah. That was me. Nice to meet you." June didn't think this Eye-Bot would be up and running this quick.

<Informative beeps. It seems to be giving it's Eye-Bot ID number.>

June blinks twice at the Eye-Bot. "Uh, Eyebot Duraframe Subject E? That's a long name, friend. If it's alright with you, can I give you a different name?"

<Conforming beeps.> The Eye-Bot moves its entire body up and down once, like if he was nodding at her.

"Alright! Let me call you..."

June had noticed the car plate that was stuck on the Eye-Bots left side. ED-E59.

"Is ED-E alright with you?"

He did the same motion. <Conforming beeps.>

"Alright, ED-E! We're about to go a prison to rescue someone! Want to come with me?"

<Confident beeps.>

He places an old school cowboy tune as he follows June out of the building.

[minouyujis]

i love the idea of dad toji.

nothing thats meant to be kinky or sinful at all, just plain out platonic and loving.

he had met you when you were basically six years old, stranded and lost in the woods when he had been busy fighting his enemies. with fat globs of tears running down your eyes you begged him for help, you didn't know what had happened to your mommy or your daddy and they had left you alone for the last few days.

oh yeah, did i mention this was mafia!toji we're talking about?

you had been the missing child that everyone has been on search for, and he had felt terrible to know that you weren't aware of your parents being murdered in the exact area the both of you were standing in.

megumi would be about, i wanna stay four years older than you atleast? maybe three, it would just be nice for him to play the older brother part even if he has no choice but to do so.

mama fushiguro would still be gone, but that doesn't mean toji and megumi split apart. i imagine toji to still be here throughout the rest of megumis life only because you're apart of their family now.

"daddy," you spoke to toji at seven years old, watching him grab the steak off of his plate. "you have to wash your hands first before we eat, 'member? that's what teacher tells me to do every time we eat lunch and go to recess!"

"ah, that's right. sorry princess, daddy's just so hungry."

you and megumi were the only thing keeping him going. i do imagine him having to hire a babysitter because as going along with the plot, he can be a deadbeat sometimes but now that he had added another child into his life at least he was trying to put some effort into it.

he'd give up every now and then, but hey. this is literally toji we're talking about.

after all, it was never easy being one of the biggest underground bosses in tokyo.

megumi would be hesitant at first to accept you as his new little sister. first of all, the both of you did not look anything like each other so whenever people would ask you guys how you were related, it'd irritate him. he hated nosey people and the attention that you attracted.

but that didn't mean he wouldn't beat up your bullies for you. he had his own ways of caring, and that had been one of them.

you feel like toji has been the best daddy ever. you can't remember what life was like with your biological parents anymore due to how much happiness he gives you now.

toji makes sure to tuck you in extra when you're feeling sick, and he stays home that day from his duties, leaving his co-partner in charge for the day, whom we all know as gojo.

you remember your eleventh birthday. toji got you a kitty cat that day, and you've taken care of it ever since. it was your source of entertainment and happiness whenever your adoptive family wasn't around. this was also the time that megumi had started transitioning into high school, so the two of you weren't as close anymore.

he takes you and megumi to your dentist and doctors appointments. megumi seems to be in perfect condition, and as for you.. some work has got to be done on your teeth. so your stuck with braces. it's okay though! dad thinks you still look beautiful no matter what. whenever you like to roast megumi out of a basic sibling bonding, he uses your teeth as a snarky remark. it shuts you up.

"you still call your dad... daddy? you're such a freak!"

"why do you make it so weird? just leave me alone..."

yeah. ever since megumi's distance, the bullies never left you alone. you never found it in you to fight back, for christ sake you're a fushiguro! how hard was it to be just like your older brother and your dad? they were always so strong.

you never thought much about it until your daddy found you crying after coming home from school that day. toji's business meeting was finished earlier than expected, so seeing him home this early was not what you had in mind. as soon as he spots your teary eyes, your hairclips in different directions, bruises on your knees and your clothes all dirty as if someone shoved you into mud, he's pissed.

"how come you've been keeping this from me, princess? you're being bullied at school?"

"because 'gumi would help me, 'gumi would always protect me!"

"damnit girl, you can't just let this happen and not tell me! hurry up, we're going back to your school."

pulling up to your school was more embarrassing than being picked on, as you would tell yourself. after tugging on your arm with toji forcing you to point to which group of boys that did this, it wasn't too long until they had stopped picking on you for good.

lets do another timeskip, shall we?

maybe about... two years later. you're now thirteen and megumi is seventeen pushing eighteen. he's going to be going off to college soon with all of the scholarships he had applied to.

you guys are still close. megumi now drives, so it helps toji out a lot when he comes to pick you up from school. your friends aren't even your friends, they just like standing next to you after the bell ends because they think "your brother is cute". you get grossed out and tell them to leave him alone.

i like to think that toji finally finds it in him to remarry. this is when tsumiki and her mother steps in. toji priorities them alot more now that it starts to concern you. it's not like they would take your dad away from you, right?

tsumiki is pretty. it feels nice to have an older sister as well, she's taught you many things about womanhood. you barely see your stepmom, dad and her are always put working together. you still don't know what daddy does till this day. he puts off telling you.

you'd like to think it would be great getting closer to tsumiki, but it seems like she's only busy trying to get close with megumi. maybe because they're literally the exact same age and it's easier for them to understand each other? you get jealous. megumi had never been this easy with you the way he was with your guys new sister.

this makes you sad. as time goes by quicker, the years go by faster. your family feels like it's falling apart. dad and stepmom are never home anymore and megumi and tsumiki moved out, both being in college.

you're left alone with kitty. so you call dad.

".....hello?"

"dad? when are you coming home? i miss you."

"i'll be home soon, kid. busy with work. don't call me back, i'll text you when i'm finished."

"....okay. i love you daddy."

".......i love you more, princess."

you believed it up until dad and step mom both leave the three of your lives without any explanation.

your heart drops. you were only fifteen years old when your family had left your life, once again.

dad didn't pick up your calls anymore. your messages would not deliver, and the color bubble turned green. it was either he had turned off his phone or he simply blocked you. you couldn't contact gojo either; no one was answering. not even gumi. the only person who had been considerate enough throughout this process was tsumiki.

up until she had fell into a tragic coma.

you don't understand what's going on. why is this happening? what did you do to deserve this?

you missed dad. he would take you out to eat at two am if you were caught going through the fridge. he would always check up on how you were doing in school, if the bullies were back and if you were making new friends.

why did he have to go?

why did he leave you and your siblings to fend for yourselves? you were so hurt. you felt belittled.

and so when you left the hospital your sister had been staying in, playing your last kiss on her forehead that you had ever given her, it had been time for revenge.

you didn't know where you were going or where you were headed off too, but you were tired.

tired of abandonment. tired of being ashamed.

tired of being a fushiguro.

and so you said goodbye to tokyo, leaving behind everything you had found so hard to let go of.

especially your daddy.

a/n: kinda want to make a part two to this, idk.

[thatbadadvice]

Help! I Could Keep My Brother Alive, But I Don't Like His Wife!

Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 1 November 2021:

Dear Carolyn: What do I owe my siblings, if anything? My husband has been fortunate enough to make a lot of money, and we agreed long ago that it was for us and our adult sons, not our (many) deadbeat relatives. My older brother pretty much raised me and helped my husband when starting out. Brother had a severe stroke three years ago, and Second Wife claims they have gone through all their savings and are now $140,000 in debt with all the costs. She is trying to guilt me into helping them. I do not feel this is appropriate.

She did quit her job to take care of him, but they were improvident and did not buy long-term care insurance. I ask her why she does not put him in a home or hire a full-time aide and she says they can’t afford it. Brother’s adult children tell me Second Wife is horrible, which is why they choose not to help, either. Second Wife had the nerve to ask me to help buy Brother an oxygen concentrator. It is expensive: $2,500. I think this is pushing it. She comes off as bitter, so we said no.

Now she tells me she will have to launch a GoFundMe, because otherwise they will lose their house. This will be extremely embarrassing to my husband and me, because we are prominent in the community. What do you advise? — Family

Dear Family,

While your problem has, on the surface, a very obvious solution — let the brother who raised you and gave your now-wealthy family its start in the world die a slow, desperate death in poverty because you don't like his wife's attitude — families are complicated. Sometimes it's not as easy as getting what you want from someone financially and emotionally and then abandoning them forever because you don't care whether they live or die — because then the neighbors might talk! What a pickle.

Of course your brother should be forced to forego the medical care he needs because you don't like his wife. That much is clear. It's not about the money — you'd never miss a dime — but you think your brother's wife sucks, so it's just really not worth ensuring he has the medical care and housing he needs. Anyone in your shoes would make the same calculation without a second thought.

However, things get sticky when we start thinking about what really matters: how embarrassing it will look to people you aren't related to, who you've never met and have no responsibility toward, if it comes out that your brother is an irresponsible poor who didn't even get long-term health insurance before deciding to have a stroke in a country with an exploitative, unjust, discriminatory, and deliberately impenetrable medical system that drives millions of people into unimaginable debt every year.

It would be a kindness if the man who raised you and seeded your family's vast financial success could just suffer in silence and die in the streets with his bad wife and leave you out of it. That's an outcome you could be proud of — the kind of comfortable, happy little family story you'd be fine sharing with a few intimate friends at the club. But for your sister-in-law to publicly humiliate you by trying to stay alive and housed in order to fund your brother's medical care, when she knows you simply can't help him because you hate her! That is impudence of the highest order, and your brother's wife is only creating for everyone a self-perpetuating cycle wherein she quits her job to care for her husband and has to beg other people for money to stay alive, and you have to keep not giving her money because you hate her because she's so poor and embarrassing! The one and only solution in this situation is so simple — she shuts up, he dies! — and yet, this self-absorbed couple just can't bring themselves to take the necessary steps.

There's nothing you can do here, since funding your brother's medical care as the most minimum thanks for his support at the most crucial times in your own life will only help him live a longer and more comfortable life without his wife having to make a big public show of their poverty at you. Some people really can't see past their own self-interest! An upside: if your in-laws go forth with their crowdfunding plan, you will see your own visibility in the community grow in some interesting new ways.