Note
Without kidding, the cover where Athy appears in the white dress and with a swan is one of the most beautiful covers of all the manhwas out there. Not only because Athanasia looks too beautiful but also because the swan is supposed to be Diana and that makes it so beautifully sad.
Right? I know I'm biased (duh, this is a WMMAP blog), but I really think Spoon draws the absolute best covers out of all manhwas. The covers for volumes 1-3 are very beautiful, but they don't reflect any deeper themes. But from volume 4 onwards, all of the covers are full of symbolism, creative composition, etc.
I agree with you 100%. Volume 7 is my favorite by far, it's just so breathtaking. Athy looks straight out of a fairy tale. The branches of the World Tree in the background representing how Diana and Athy were able to meet in the manhwa. Swan!Diana, as a reference to how she was reborn "incompletely" because of the piece of her soul that stayed behind. The way in which her wings embrace and shelter Athy... Something interesting is that daffodils, the yellow flowers in the cover, signify rebirth and new beginnings in some cultures.
I also love the chibi Lucas in the back of the book holding the branch of the World Tree, it matches so well with the book's mood.
This is also a good opportunity for me to ramble about the chibi Athy used in this volume (if I haven't done so before).
Diana (along with Claude) has been associated with swans before, and in the panels shown above Athy is represented as their egg, the "fruit of their love", so to speak. I believe Spoon used this symbolism because swans supposedly only take one mate in their whole lives, they bond for life, and it's common for one of them to die of a "broken heart" after their partner dies. In fact, swans are particularly known for their ability to grieve for a dead mate or offspring. This is obviously a metaphor for claudiana's tragic romance.
The chibi Athy used in volume 7 holds an egg. This is probably a reference to Athy being Claude and Diana's precious child. But I also believe it represents reincarnation in general, of both Diana and Athy, as eggs are a common visual metaphor for "being born" or "being born again".
Volume 7 is just perfect in everything, aesthetics, symbolisms, making me cry...
#has anyone here read Demian by Hermann Hesse?#i adore the egg metaphors#you know i liked this lil post so im going to use the tags#who made me a princess#i suddenly became a princess#suddenly became a princess one day#wmmap#sbapod#sbap#athanasia de alger obelia#athanasia#athy#diana wmmap#wmmap diana#wmmap meta
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DPXDC Idea: Mother of Monsters Dan(yal)
Specifically Fem!Dan because I made this in mind with my Fem Danyal Au bUT. The best part about Dan is that I get to play dress up with her, and Fem Dark Dany is gonna go by Layal (pronounced lae-el) because it means "the nights" and it sounds similar to Danyal, and I think she'd choose that name to mock Dany. ANYWAYS
Mother of Monsters Danyal. She may be evil but she's an Al Ghul at her core (even with vlad's soul merged with hers - however, considering that Layal looks and sounds like Dany, she considers that soul to be the more dominant one.) and loves animals. And she might be heartless, but she adores the monsters of the infinite realms.
Mother of Monsters Layal who hates everyone but utterly dotes and adores on every manner of beast she comes across. Stealing the eggs and infant young beasts of the Infinite Realms to raise as her own because she wanted them. Her own island full of monsters, a monstrous menagerie of her own. She steals most often from poachers or exotic pet keepers and other menageries -- the full grown beasties can keep their young.
And with every monster she raises, she can shapeshift their features onto herself, allowing her to change her shape from humanish to any matter of monster or hybrid creature. She calls herself their mother, and them her children. Her precious little babies, capable of incredible mass destruction and mayhem.
From little griffins the size of kittens, to stymphalian vulture chicks, and leviathan young hatching from eggs the size of her pinkie, to creatures native of the ghost zone that didn't even have names in the living realm. There really wasn't a limit to what or who she would take in and she didn't limit herself to any form of mythology. If they were beasts and they were unwanted, she wanted them. And as such, amassed her own mini army of "children" willing to listen to her any command.
Earth doesn't know what hit it when she attacks them.
There are many monstrous forms she could take on, the first one I've thought of is a combination of various serpentine/reptilian features. The body of a naga -- her lower half long and serpentine, her upper still human -- with spiked fins connecting from the bottom of her arms to her sides, ever seen Sinbad where Eris goes "you might have seen my likeness on the temple walls" and her arms do that fin thingy? Same concept. Her hands are webbed and taloned, perfect for slicing through the skin of the living, and her teeth are needle-sharp and shark like. Her hair can either be spiny and feathery-like like the spines of a lionfish, or frilled like a frilled-neck lizard. It's perfect for dealing and doting on her reptilian and amphibian-inclined darlings.
I'm more of a fan of aus where Dan is a sibling of Danny's rather than their kid, so Layal's redemption(..?? probation?) proceeds with her legally becoming Danyal's "twin" sister, who had been lost to the foster system before the Fentons adopted Dany, and was only recently reunited with her. The two of them look so alike that the lie is easy to take root and spread.
Layal is very indignant to the fact that she's now ten years in the past and has to restart her menagerie all over again. Do you know how much blood and sweat went into raising those children? How dare you separate them from their mummy. Although she'll admit she does miss their juvenile years, so she won't mind (too much) needing to raising them again. Dany is helping her retrieve all of them though, dammit.
long story short: epic the musical's "Scylla" has a CHOKEHOLD on me and this is the result of it
Unlike her Dan counterpart, Layal's voice is dancing and sirenic. It's purposely alluring and motherly, in order to lure people into a false sense of security until she feeds them to her "children." Echidna doesn't have shit on her. She almost seems friendly and reasonable, until you get too close and realize it was all an act and she drops it to metaphorically swallow you whole. She's like an anglerfish that way. She and Dany both sound like Scylla from Epic.
#mother of monsters danny#dpxdc#danny fenton is not the ghost king#dp x dc#dpxdc crossover#dp x dc crossover#dpdc#dpxdc au#dpxdc prompt#fem danny fenton#fem danyal al ghul#danyal al ghul#dany helps laya find one(1) beastie and instantly falls in love. laya does not need to convince her to come help her rob other ghosts blind#of their exotic “pets” or animals or whatever the reason they have beasts that they shouldn't for. she'll volunteer willingly its a trait#that they share. laya knows that raising her babies will be difficult now that she has to g back to *school* but dammit se's not leaving#them in the hands of the people she found them in. those are HER children fuck you.#Layal is the one to reveal to Damian that his older sister is alive and it was on purpose. It was to send him on a wild goose chase looking#for Dany in order to be around to save her from becoming Layal.#'Tragic. Terribly tragic; your dear sister had her soul ripped from her body and merged with another. What was left of her...'#'well. i put out of its misery.' she's very cloying towards damian and this is on purpose because she thinks its funny to get under his ski#goes out of her way to only ever refer to him as 'little brother' but if she can't she'll call him sickeningly sweet nicknames.#this happens about oooo midway 'redemption'? Where Laya is actually rather fond of Dany and is starting to consider her as a sister#as well. and she likes Ali. Laya herself is still rather unsympathetic to the world around her. only acts on a kindness for 'her people'#her people includes Dany which is why she even actually told Damian that Dany was alive and gave him an incentive to look for her#because she saw DAny mourning another lost birthday for her little brother and decided to go 'aw fuck who gave me feelings' and decided to#make it everyones problem.#starry rambles
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(SPOILERS) Ashley, self-esteem, and starvation
So, I adore Ashley. She's this intensely toxic, vicious, cruel, manipulative girl, and her psychology gives me hella brainworms. Andrew's not the only one whose head I wanna crack open and root around lol. She's thrown away the world just to keep her brother by her side, and she'll continue to do worse and worse for the same reason. She's pretty awful! I've been thinking about why, though. How did things get so bad? How did her soul get so dark?
We don't know everything (I'm waiting for those new eps patiently aND CLAWING AT THE WALLS AND FROTHING AT THE MOUTH but whatevs y'know whatevs I'm normal. I'm fine), yet what information we have been given is bumping around my brain like a DVD screensaver on hyperdrive
It's clear from the start that the roots of Ashley's issues lie in her horrible, neglectful upbringing, but it's hinted that even those outside of her family felt the same abt her. I'm lowkey even betting we'll learn later on that she was ostracized by her peers somehow. However, what's most disconcerting, I believe, is how little she was when the results of this alienation are first made apparent to us (bc kids aren't dumb; they notice this stuff oftentimes instinctively, impossibly young, before they even know what it means to be hated), and how devastating the consequences were.
(There's something decidedly childish abt her dream sequence in the "questionable" route—filled with crayon scribbles and rabbit plushies, the metaphors simplistic yet profound—which really hammers in how these sentiments are things that have made a home in her since childhood. Formative subconscious truths.)
Growing up unloved and noticeably unwanted by virtually everyone around her likely left her with a gaping hole in her heart that she'd spend the rest of her life trying to fill. She'd make friends, but she'd always worry that they'd leave her, that they'd betray her, nothing tangible or weighted enough in their connection to trust in its persistence. Why should she expect otherwise? Not even being bound by familial ties ensures affection if her parents are any indication.
Every lesson she'd ever learned had always taught her this: you are easy to abandon. You cannot love and be loved by virtue of your own worth.
You have to rip their affection from their clenched hands if you want it so bad.
This understanding carries with it an undercurrent of degradation, instilling within Ashley a constant, biting inferiority complex which will never fail to be a source of insecurity. She will always be put last. She was difficult to raise, so her parents gave up on raising her. She was difficult to get along with, so her friends gave up on getting along with her.
It's an odd cycle. She's difficult bc she needs to be to get attention, but bc she's difficult, she can't keep it. Not without having whatever fondness she's managed to cultivate within someone fray at the seams, volatile and prone to collapse, bleeding toxicity.
Hence, her relationship w/Andrew.
By being the only reliable constant in her life, caring for her and keeping her company, Andrew essentially became her only source of happiness, and she's since learned not to bother with anyone else. Still, it's dangerous to keep all your eggs in one basket; since he is all she has, she must protect her place in his life with even greater ferocity, which becomes a torturous ordeal when coupled with her damaged self-esteem.
It's apparent in her quarrels with Andrew that she needs constant reassurance that she is wanted in some capacity or perceived in some positive light (getting pouty when Andrew says he's "stuck with her", needing to hear that she's pretty, needing him to "choose her", wanting him to say he loves her back, etc. etc.), yet her insecurity remains, bc unlike her, he's got options. She doesn't think he needs her like she needs him. He's got a gf, their parents love him, her friends love him. Why would he settle for her? What if someone better comes along? Someone she can't scare away?
Wouldn't he just leave her like everyone else?
Even before getting locked in the coffin of their apartment, starvation's been a constant theme in Ashley's life. She's constantly aching for love, and Andrew's the only one who can feed her. When you're forced to fight for a bite to eat or suffer every moment you hunger, you become ravenous—covetous—when faced with food; you don't want the hunger to return, so you lock down the source of your sustenance, wary of its retreat. Ashley's in a permanent state of intense insecurity, always anxious that the love that gives her life will leave her.
Andrew knows Ashley better than anyone else in the world, and it's obvs to everyone and him how desperate Ashley is for him, but I don’t think Andrew has truly, consciously processed the depth of that desperation. It's there buried in his head somewhere no doubt, but rn, he doesn't operate w/the direct awareness that he is everything. He is brother, mother, friend, and soulmate. He is life and love, air and water, everything that is good in the world—everything that there is to justify existence.
It's heartbreaking, in a way, that it's so difficult for Andrew to convince her of his loyalty. This goes further than his tendency to hide his true feelings, bc when push comes to shove, he's at her beck and call. Objectively, he's hers. She doesn't see that bc all she sees is all the ways she can lose him.
So, she gets bratty. She gets pushy, possessive, territorial. Manipulative. Gets under his skin, guilts him to exhaustion, bc she can't see him staying any other way, bc he doesn't get it, bc it works. He bends to her will, for her sake. For now. It's always "for now", bc he'll start slipping away again, and then it'll get worse. She does worse.
Becomes worse.
#honestly??? it's bc he's everything to her that the decay ending where she shoots him is so messed up#so much sadder#I've got something abt that in my drafts somewhere#it might not see the light of day so I'll just say:#imo she isn't shooting Andy‚ she's shooting Andrew#bc if he's so far gone he'd kill her#then her beloved is already dead#the coffin of andy and leyley#tcoaal#ashley graves#coffincest#character analysis#txt post#this is all my interpretation btw hope no one presumes I'm pushing these analyses as fact#to the ppl who read these ty.... you have my heart...... 🫶
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🔵 Kodaka BlueSky Q&As: Female DR Characters (Specific)
⚠️ DISCLAIMER: Please be advised! Translations of all Japanese answers derive from a combination of Google Translate and my manager's three-quarters-remembered Japanese. We've tried our best to work out what he's saying, but there will be mistakes here and there. Do not take this as gospel!
To avoid spreading (too much) misinfo, where we're completely boggled about an answer, we've decided not to even make an attempt. We'll still list the post, but mark it accordingly.
➡️ AN IMPORTANT NOTE FROM KODAKA BEFORE READING:
First of all, the questions answered here are not official. Everything that is official is what is said within the work. In contrast, this is simply what Kodaka, the creator, thinks, and it is not the correct answer. Use this as a starting point to enjoy the depth of each character, or to say, "That's not right!" and enjoy it with your own interpretation. I think of this as a way of communicating with the characters who live in fiction. This is important, so please spread the word.
💕 FEBRUARY 2024:
Q: I apologize if this has already been discussed somewhere, but I would love to hear about the reasons and episodes behind choosing Kitayama Takekuni as the author of the novel "Danganronpa Kirigiri."
A: I like Kitayama's novels. They are mysteries, but I felt there was something in common between them [DR & Kitayama's work] in the writing and dialogue.
/////
Q: In her report card, it was stated that SDR2's Nanami Chiaki has a father and brother who are programmers, but does this only apply to SDR2's Nanami and is she separate from Despair Arc's Nanami? In the reference book, there is no data about Nanami's alma mater, but is there a possibility that information such as the alma mater of Despair Arc's Nanami will be released in some form in the future?
A: That's right. It applies to only SDR2 Nanami. I wonder if there will be any information released about Despair Arc Nanami...
/////
Q: Excuse me for asking a question!! I think games are essential to Nanami, so I wonder how she would react if they were confiscated!
A: I guess she'd end up looking like Gudetama.
NOTE: The adorable Sanrio depressed egg guy.
/////
Q: Mr. Kodaka, do you have any comments about Kitayama Takekuni's "Danganronpa Kirigiri"?
A: Before the series began, I had consulted with them about the overall structure and points of reference, but after the series began, I felt like I was mostly enjoying it as a reader.
/////
Q: Excuse me for my second question. I would like to know the reason why Kirigiri Kyoko has her braids undone on one side in the timeline of the anime "Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak Academy Future Arc" and the manga "Danganronpa Gaiden Killer Killer" and if there is any background reason for this...
A: I've not heard why, in part because it was left up to Komatsuzaki-kun. I thought on my own that it was because she had become an adult.
NOTE: Komatsuzaki is the guy behind Danganronpa's art.
/////
Q: Excuse me for the second question! Yumeno-chan was called a "shishamo roe" by Iruma and a "grilled horse mackerel" by Ouma, but what does she think about those metaphors?
A: "Huh?"
NOTE: A shishamo is a type of fish. Also, he's answering as Himiko, if it wasn't clear.
/////
Q: Why do we not get any undisguised Mukuro sprites in Danganronpa S?
A: I had absolutely no involvement with Danganronpa S.
NOTE: You'll see him reference this a few times too. He didn't do Summer Camp at all!
/////
Q: Why did you decide to become a maid, Tojo-san?
A: I think that because she could do anything, she felt it was boring to use her power for herself and felt more comfortable serving others, and that is why she was so selfless.
/////
Q: If the characters in Danganronpa were 16.7 years old in 2010, they would be 30 years old in 2024 if they were still alive. What do you think they would have been like when they turned 30 if they had lived a normal life? I don't need to know everyone, but I'd like to hear it.
A: At the very least, Fukawa is dead.
NOTE: It's true, but he shouldn't say it.
🍀 MARCH 2024:
Q: In the profile of Genocider Syo from Ultra Despair Girls, she lists "girls that aren't moe" as something she dislikes, but since she has deliberately stated "aren't moe", does that mean that "girls that are moe" exist in Genocider Syo's opinion?
A: "I think it's either 'not moe' or 'other.' I don't do moe."
NOTE: Answering as Syojack, it seems.
/////
Q: Does Yumeno-chan ever wear casual clothes? If so, does she wear a wizard's hat?
A: "A robe like a dark mage's is my personal attire. I don't go out on windy days because it all flips up."
/////
Q: when you wrote the ending to Danganronpa Another Episode, were you expecting to use Monaca more or was her arc always going to end the way it did in Danganronpa 3?
A: In truth, Monaka's story ended with just another episode. However, we wanted to have as many characters in Danganronpa 3 as possible, so we decided to add her to the anime.
/////
Q: Does Harukawa-san eat sweet things?
A: She used to lick rock candy on the job to replenish her energy.
/////
Q: What would happen if I confessed to Mioda Ibuki?
A: She sometimes responds with songs, but she usually doesn't know how to answer.
/////
Q: I believe the character of Fukawa Toko (Genocider Syo) is originally based on the protagonist of Clock Tower GH, but are Genocider Syo's murder weapon and motive for murder also based on Tono Masayuki's mystery novel "Scissors Man"?
A: Neither of them are right...! I imagined Genocider as a monster like the ones in Ushio & Tora.
NOTE: Clock Tower GH is a video game known as Clock Tower 2 in the US. It's a point and click survival horror. Ushio & Tora is a supernatural/dark fantasy manga from the early 90s.
/////
Q: Does Fujisaki have a favorite food?
A: Mini katsudon.
NOTE: Katsudon is a pork cutlet bowl.
/////
Q: What kind of clothes does Fujisaki Chihiro like to wear (or usually wear)?
A: Unisex jeans.
NOTE: It's not exactly a question so I won't list it here, but a Chihiro fan responded with excitement, at which Kodaka replied "100 points for your reaction."
/////
Q: Excuse me for asking a question! In Ultra Despair Girls, Fujisaki Taichi had a photo of Fujisaki [Chihiro] in a sailor uniform, looking like they were in their rebellious phase (?)! It's so cute! I'd really like to know how the photo was taken and if there are any untold details about the Fujisaki family!
A: No matter what Fujisaki [Chihiro] is, their father can't help but take pictures because they are a cute kid, but Fujisaki [Chihiro] themself is embarrassed, and since those around them are becoming more and more rebellious, they are acting a little like a rebel, but later they will probably feel sorry for their father and be depressed.
/////
Q: Why is Enoshima Junko so cute? What's her favorite food?
A: "I think it's because I live life the way I want to. I get bored easily, so my favorite things change every day."
🥬 APRIL 2024:
Q: I think Celes' dream is to live in a Western castle surrounded by handsome men, but if she had to choose one of the handsome men from Danganronpa, who would she choose? From watching Celes' fantasy scenes, it seemed like she only had a limited number of handsome men, so it's possible that there isn't a type among the characters that appear, but if there is, please let me know.
A: Probably none of them are in that category. I think she wants to create a world like Interview With Vampire.
/////
Q: Yumeno-chan, what type of handsome guy do you like?
A: Something like a pop star.
NOTE: My manager says another great translation would be "trendy bastards." Kodaka loves his fictional daughters...
/////
Q: Why does Fukawa Toko hate taking baths?
A: It's a hassle because you have to put the clothes on after you take them off, and you have to dry them after they get wet.
/////
Q: Today is Asahina-san's birthday. What would you give her that would make her happy? I'm sure she's been getting lots of donuts from everyone, so I'd like to give her a unique present that will leave a lasting impression!
A: "Shoes for my younger brother!"
🌺 MAY 2024:
Q: Did Enoshima clean up the victims' bodies and rooms?
A: I think she used technology to that extent, though Enoshima, impatiently cleaning up the mess, also looked hopelessly cumbersome and hopelessly kawaii.
/////
Q: Why does Yumeno-chan hate the ocean?
A: Because it's big.
/////
Q: Excuse me for asking a question! Is the story about the school festival in the Danganronpa original drama CD written by Kodaka-san? There is a scene in the drama where Fujisaki wants to wear a cute apron, which was quite unexpected for Fujisaki in the main story, so it was a shock. Was there a possibility that Fujisaki would embrace cute things in the main story as well?
A: I think I only wrote the very first one. The one that has a white and black disc. If I remember correctly.
/////
Q: Excuse me for asking a question! I think that in the articles(?) released during the development stage there were many scenes that were not in the main story. Were these scenes faked to hide the contents of the main story, or were they actually there during production? I'm curious if there were any scenes where Fujisaki-kun was suspected in court!
[This person included this image:]
A: This is an image made up for a proposal. It was made before the story even existed.
/////
Q: What do you think is Kyoko Kirigiri's favorite type?
A: Just look at Danganronpa!
/////
Q: Iruma Miu's favorite thing is "programs for young children," but what kind of programs for young children does she like? Programs where you can sing and dance along, educational programs, or maybe anime programs for young children...
A: "I sing along when the host sings, and I work with her when she's doing crafts. Other than that I just watch while swearing."
/////
Q: Can you cook, Kirigiri-san?
A: "I want to cook but I need to wear gloves and that's where I'm stuck. I really want to cook." In response to all this, that guy…(oops, no more on that)
/////
Q: Excuse me for asking a question! (Sorry for asking so many times lol 💦) In DR2, Nanami Chiaki said, "I have a father and brother who are programmers," and I interpreted this as Fujisaki Chihiro and Fujisaki Alter Ego but are they actually different people (because they were created by the program left behind by Fujisaki?)? She also said other things that reminded me of Fujisaki, so I've been wondering about this for a long time!!! I look forward to your answer!!!
A: I am pretty sure that was the impression I had at the time.
☀️ JUNE 2024:
Q: Celes, I believe you usually wear gothic lolita clothes, but do you ever wear sweet lolita, hime lolita or other types of lolita clothes?
A: "I just tried them on and threw them away."
/////
Q: Does anyone in the Danganronpa series get headaches?
A: Fukawa.
🎇 JULY 2024:
Q: Is Nanami-chan popular with the guys?
A: I think a lot of guys like her.
/////
Q: What content does Tsumugi Shirogane like more? Yaoi content or Yuri?
A: "I like all of them, so I change my taste depending on the season."
/////
Q: What were Junko and Mukuro's parents like?
A: They were an ordinary couple and a normal family, but their ordinariness had made Enoshima Junko despair from the moment she was born.
/////
Q: I'd like to hear more specifically about Maki Harukawa's usual diet!
A: Rations.
🌭 AUG 2024:
Q: I would like to know about Mioda's family relationships. I wonder if she often plays alone because she didn't have a good relationship with her parents.
A: It is possible that the whole family is like that.
/////
Q: If there was a punishment for Iruma Miu, what do you think it would be? She has a bad mouth, but I think she's a good girl at heart and I love her, so I want her to be happy.
A: You can't be as happy as a good child. It's so unfair lol
🍁 SEPT 2024:
Q: Do you have any favorite games, Owari-chan?
A: Any where I don’t have to use my head.
/////
Q: What is your best magic, Yumeno-san?
A: Self-hypnosis magic
/////
Q: Did Kirigiri cry as a child the first time she went on detective work with her grandfather (a murder detective would see a body)?
A: Kirigiri has never cried over a dead body.
/////
Q: If there was a motivation video in Danganronpa 2, what would Nanami's video look like?
A: 4K video of the Despair Arc of the anime, in which Nanami Chiaki, the model for the character, dies.
/////
Q: What would Chiaki Nanami do when she's in a desperate situation? Will she become a million-man murderer?
A: No.
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Danny's Daycare Part 11
[Master List]
Dragging himself off the couch (where he’d actually gotten a few hours of sleep- how’s that for ‘not normal’ Red Hood?), Danny checked his phone. He had a missed call from an unknown number two texts, one from Damian one from Tim, and a reminder that Damian was coming over sometime after noon.
Tim: No worries, Danny. I hope everything’s all right?
Danny decided to respond to that later when he heard the bedroom door open and remembered he needed to get breakfast started. Hopping up, he moved to the kitchen, feeling lighter than he had in weeks, and started searching for food.
“‘Morning.” Santi murmured, taking a seat on the stools across the island from Danny. “Wha’s t’eat?”
He’d learned early on that the boys’ Gotham accent was even thicker after waking up and had to keep himself from cooing at how adorable it was. You’re not their dad, chill.
“Looks like….” Danny pulled out the container Red Hood had left the night before and read the little note he also included. Gallo Pinto, make some eggs and toast to go with it- there’s plenty so actually eat it, Danny. -Red Hood “Something called Gallo Pinto. I just have to make some eggs.” He ignored the pointed remark about eating the food and he definitely ignored the part about toast.
Santi sighed and placed his head against the counter.
“You okay, kid?”
The boy nodded. “‘M tired. Miguel’sa bed hog.”
Danny laughed. “Looks like you and I have something in common.” Santi looked up, questioningly. “Older siblings who hog the bed. I bet he steals the covers too, huh?” When the boy nodded Danny chuckled again. “Yeahhh…. They always use the ‘I’m bigger’ arguement too.”
“‘F I had a younger siblin’ I’d do it to ‘em too.” Santi sighed. “Did you do it ta Dani?”
“No I… I never had the opportunity.”
Santi tilted his head. “How come?”
He hadn’t told the boys much about himself, though he never held back information it usually just didn’t come up. He wondered though… if they outright asked him about certain things, Phantom, ghosts, Jack and Maddie, would he tell them? “We didn’t grow up together really.”
“But she’s yer sister.”
“Yes, well… I… didn’t meet her until I was fifteen and she was twelve and even after that we didn’t spend much time together. She spent her teenage years traveling and I- well I didn’t.” He let out a puff of air, Santiago was clearly very interested in this topic so he continued. “Dani’s a free spirit, she’s always come and gone as she pleased and well… I couldn’t be happier that shes’s decided to stay here for a little while. Don’t tell her but I kind of missed her.” He stage whispered the last sentence as if she would overhear him.
Speak of the devil and she shall appear. His door opened and closed without so much as a knock and then a very familiar face walked around the corner. “What’s to eat? I'm starving!” She exclaimed obnoxiously.
~~~
“So this friend of yours…” Miguel trailed off, Danny waited in silence for him to finish his sentence. “So your friend….” Danny nodded. “You have friends?”
Dani cackled while Danny huffed, exasperated. “Of course I have friends!” Miguel and Santiago shared doubting looks. “Listen, I just don’t have a lot of time to hang out with people. But there’s Sam and Tucker, we’ve been friends forever, and then Valerie joined the group- oh and Wes is definitely a friend too. We became friends towards the end of high school though so we don’t keep up as much. But yeah, I have friends.”
“Dude.” Santiago breathed. “That’s like… four people.”
“I’m pretty sure every friend is canceled out by an enemy so you’re at net 0 brother.” Dani laughed. “The negatives even.”
Miguel frowned. “You have enemies?”
Danny’s rebuttal was cut off by the knocking at their door- saved by the bell, well, sort of. Metaphorically. Damian was on the other side of the door, wearing slacks and a nice sweater (why was the kid always so dressed up?) and had a bag in one hand weighed down by (theoretically) cat stuff.
“Hi Damian!” Danny greeted. “Come on in!” He’d noticed throughout the time he’d known Damian that the boy was rather proper. He was always dressed nicely, always spoke politely, his posture was perfect, and he had an air about himself… like he knew his importance. He supposed it was good that the kid had that much confidence- maybe it would rub off on Miguel a bit.
Leading Damian to the dining room (which was really just a table in the kitchen), Danny started introduction. “I know you guys met briefly at the store-”
“You’re that guy whose brother goes by dick!” Santiago laughed.
Damian quirked an eyebrow. “Yes, Richard insists on going by it which I think is absurd.”
Santiago quirked his head. “Why you talk like that, man?”
“OKAY!” Danny clapped his hands together. “Let’s not be rude to my friend who is here to do us a favor and teach you boys about owning a cat, capeesh?” The boys nodded, Santiago sheepishly, and Damian untensed slightly. “Miguel, Santi, why don’t you show Damian your apartment and he can answer any of your questions.”
The boys nodded and Damian followed them without a word. The second they were out of earshot Dani gave him a Look.
“What?” Danny asked defensively.
“Oh my Ancients.” She breathed, her eyes widened as if she’d just realized something.
Danny looked between where Damian had disappeared and his freaking-out sister. “What?”
“Nothing. You’re a dumbass.” She stood up and stretched. “This has been fun but I’ve got some things to see to, people to visit, you know…” She trailed off.
Pursing his lips, Danny tried not to ask. He’d suspected for a while that she was hiding something from him, but he didn’t know what or why. And he didn’t want to know. She was free to keep things to herself, he didn’t need to know everything she was doing at all times. “Okay- don’t forget, tutoring with Jason starts a week from tomorrow and you might learn a thing or two from him.”
“Pffff.” She waved a hand at him dismissively. “I’m already great at English!”
He deadpanned her. “You remember who you’re made from, right?”
~~~
“Do either of you have any questions?” Damian asked, looking between the two boys who’d been listening to his instructions without interruption for the past thirty minutes. When he’d met them- or, re-met them, he’d thought they would be incapable of listening to his expertise without butting in constantly, but he’d been wrong.
Miguel and Santiago shared looks, the older one was the first to speak up. “I don’t think so. Guess we can always ask Danny if we think of anythin’ later on.” He shrugged.
Knowing that Danny was not only new to owning cats but also incredibly busy, Damian hesitantly offered his own number. “If you ever have questions that Nightingale cannot answer or is not around to answer… you may… call or text me.”
“Oh shit man, really?” Santiago blurted out.
Miguel smacked him upside the head but it seemed to be more of a brotherly affection than anything else. “Manners, man.”
“Right, uh. Sorry.” Santiago offered. “Just excited I guess, we never got a pet before.”
Damian knew the feeling. When father had first agreed to letting him get a cat he’d been ecstatic. One cat, dog, and cow later and Damian was still excited any time he rescued a new animal or was able to get another one himself. “That is understandable, I too was excited to get my first pet.” Checking his watch, he stood. He still had homework to do before patrol tonight. “I should be going, but let me know how things are going once you’ve gotten all of the necessary supplies and have fallen into a routine.”
After saying goodbye to Danny and heading out Damian couldn’t help but hope the boys would text him. He pushed the sentiment away quickly. They either would or would not message him and it did not matter either way.
~~~
“So Danny’s like- not human, right?” And wasn’t that a crazy way to start a conversation?
“Hi Santi, what happened to hi? Hello? How are you? My name is?” Miguel joked back, not taking his eyes off the textbook in front of him.
His younger brother groaned. “Come ooooon! There’s somethin’ weird ‘bout him! He’s gotta be a meta, right?”
Spinning his pencil, Miguel responded absentmindedly. “What makes you say that?”
“‘Member when he was having a long day last week and accidentally ripped the handle off the fridge ‘cause it wouldn’t open? Or how ‘bout when I left some stuff here the other day and came ta get it while he was at work an’ he was also here? And at dinner that night I asked ‘im how work was and he said it was good?”
Miguel hummed. “Maybe he took that day off and didn’t want us to think he was bein’ a helicopter parent.”
“AH HA!” Santiago shouted, jumping to his feet and pointing. “You called him a parent!”
The older boy groaned. “Santi- I didn’t mean- look, he’s like five years older than me! At most he’s like an older brother and even then-”
“Tell me again how ‘e chased down your kidnappers and kicked their asses? Or how safe you felt when he moved you out of the way of danger? Or how he checked on us a buncha times at night and got you anythin’ you asked for?”
Miguel groaned, completely forgetting about the textbook as his brother listed off more times Danny was ‘meta like’ or ‘dad shaped’. It wasn’t untrue- but Miguel had said he didn’t want Danny to play parent and he meant it. He’d had parents, he knew how that song and dance went, and he wasn’t looking to suffering it again.
Danny was cool, he fed them, helped them with school stuff, took care of them, all the things a parent did, but he didn’t get on them about curfew, or eating their vegetables, or grades, or any of that bullshit parents got upset about. He was cool. And safe.
He didn’t remember a lot from his kidnapping- Danny said that was probably for the best- but he remembered a lot of loud noises at one point and how badly he wanted them to stop. And all at once they did. After that there was a voice, it was comforting, calming, and gentle hands that held him close. Danny had told him after the fact that he’d moved Miguel away from the danger and had Red Robin take him home.
Because apparently Danny wasn’t done. Miguel had no idea how many guys Danny took out, but any amount was too much. After the way Miguel had treated him, the way he’d yelled at Danny and got mad at him for just trying to help- Miguel didn’t deserve Danny’s help.
“Are you even listenin’?” Santiago asked, leaning close.
“So what if he ain’t human? Meta’s’re cool.” Miguel argued.
Santiago looked at him like he’d said something stupid. “Obviously. But Batman hates ‘em! What if he finds out ‘n kicks Danny outta Gotham!”
Anxiety clawed at Miguel’s insides but he pushed it down in favor of quelling his brothers’. “That aint’ gonna happen dumbass. Batman don’t care ‘bout Danny bein’ a upstandin’ citizen.”
“Hey guys,” Danny knocked on the door and leaned into Miguel’s room. “Dani wants to go out for a couple of hours this afternoon, go shopping, get food, stuff like that. You guys want to come?”
The boys looked at each other, knowing why Dani was trying to get him out of the apartment. “Nah, got work to do.” Miguel answered casually.
“Okay… Santi?”
Miguel froze.
“‘M good, gonna stay with Mick.” Santi answered, unperturbed.
Danny shrugged and left them to their work. When Miguel was sure he was gone he whipped around to Santiago. “You let him call you Santi? Since when?”
His brother bit his bottom lip nervously. “Uh… when… he called me that when I… when you were…”
Right. That made sense. High stress moments make people form bonds or whatever. Jazz said something about that the last time she’d swung by. She was never around for long, just enough to ask the boys about themselves and make sure Danny was eating and sleeping (he wasn’t). “Do you�� want ‘im to call you that?”
Up until this point, Miguel had been the only person allowed to call him that nickname.
“I mean… I kind of… like it?” Santi mumbled. “He’s just so nice and he takes care of us and- and I- I… he’s okay- okay?”
Feeling a twinge of guilt and jealousy, Miguel shrugged. “You can let anyone call you whatever you want, Santi.” The two worked in silence for a moment before Miguel’s phone buzzed. “Dani says they’ll be gone for at least three hours ‘n that we can get to work now.”
“I still can’t believe he didn’t tell us ‘bout his birthday.” Santiago huffed as he stood up and followed his brother out of their apartment and to Danny’s.
Miguel shrugged. “He don’t know ours. Maybe he don’t like it?”
They could both understand that a bit. Birthdays were a touchy subject for them, maybe that was the case for Danny?
~~~
Danny was kind of oblivious a lot of the time, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know why his younger sister had dragged him out of his apartment for a multi-hour shopping trip on his birthday after very obviously not mentioning his birthday. He tried not to think too much about what the boys might have been dragged into back home while his sister buys anything she sees and likes.
To be fair, she really did need some stuff for her apartment, she’d furnished it almost immediately after moving in, but she lacked decorations. Dani was a maximalist, she liked displaying her knick knacks from her trips around the world, covering every piece of furniture in pillows and blankets, and making the place feel overall, homey. Something Danny wasn’t as good at.
(Where the hell did she get that from? It certainly wasn’t him. His and the boy’s apartments were true testament to his lack of decorating skills and although he’d offered the boys many times to take them shopping for decorations and whatnot it seemed they felt similarly about the subject.)
“Danny come on!” Dani sighed dramatically. “You’ve been dragging your feet all dayyyy!”
With a scoff, Danny picked up the pace. Luckily they’d already been shopping for a few hours and she had promised this was the last store. He froze when he saw the store. “I am not going in there with you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a boy. It’s just bras.”
“It’s not the bras- it’s shopping for bras for my sister. Not happening.” He was putting his foot down on this one. Dani shrugged and disappeared into the store for way longer than he’d expected. Finding a nearby bench to sit down on, Danny pulled out his phone.
Tim: Astronomy, huh?
Danny: Yeah its like the only thing Im good at
Danny: After science that is
Tim: And running a daycare apparently
Danny: In my defense I didnt know Id be good at that until I did it
Tim: You’re telling me you just kind of…. Did it?
Tim: No thoughts?
Danny: Something like that
Tim: Dude. What the fuck
Danny: Okay, your turn. Hobbies?
The two had been talking on and off for the last week since Danny had reached out but they were both incredibly busy and often only sent a couple of texts a day. Dani’s impromptu shopping trip gave him a good excuse.
Tim: Skateboarding and photography
Danny: Thats so cool! I remember you said you were going skateboarding with your boyfriend?
Tim: Yeah one of them
One of them? Danny looked up for a moment, his brain rebooting to understand- what the fuck? He couldn’t even get one partner and Tim had two?! How was that fair? Shaking his head, Danny responded.
Danny: Thats cool, does the other one not skateboard?
Tim didn’t respond quickly enough before Dani came rushing out of the store with a large pink bag and a big smile. Danny put his phone away and picked up the myriad of of bags he’d been tasked with carrying throughout their shopping spree.
“Is that everything?” He asked, trying to keep the whine out of his voice.
She rolled her eyes, carrying only the bag from the last shop they’d been to. “Yes, Danny. We can go home now Ancients, you’re so impatient!”
“I don’t know where you got your love of shopping from but it was not me!” He was just grateful they could fly home invisible and intangible and it wouldn’t take long although it would take a bit longer than if he weren’t weighed down by a dozen shopping bags.
They got to the apartment building a few minutes later, stopping in Dani’s apartment first to drop off the bags- he hadn’t bought anything after all.
Dani set everything down then gave her brother a thoughtful look. “I wanna say hi to the boys.”
“O…kay?” Since when did she need his permission to say hi to the boys? Before he could ask she’d grabbed his hand and dragged him from her apartment to his. She made a lot of noise trying to open the door instead of phasing through which was strange but Danny was tired.
As the door opened he noted that the lights were all off- maybe the boys were in their apartment? Now that he was thinking about it- hadn’t they been at their place when he and Dani had left earlier? Why did she assume they’d bein his-
“SURPRISE!” The lights flickered on as a chorus of voices shouted at him.
Startling slightly, Danny gained his bearings. Standing in his living room were the boys, Sam, Tucker, Jazz, Valerie, and Wes, all wearing party hats and smiling widely at him. He hadn’t spent his birthday with anyone in a few years so he hadn’t expected anything like this. He probably should have.
“Happy birthday, little brother!” Jazz exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug.
“Dude! You should have seen the look on your face!” Tucker laughed, joining in the hug Jazz had started. Sam joined too and for a moment Danny felt completely at peace.
Someone shoved through the tangle of limbs and bodies. “Yeah yeah, happy birthday Nightingale.” Valerie scoffed.
“Man you didn’t tell us you had kids!” Wes shouted from the couch.
Danny made his way into the living room and collapsed into an armchair, exhausted from the shopping. “That’s because I don’t.” He thought he caught a frown flit across Miguel’s face but he pressed on. “But they’re good kids and I’m happy to talk about them. Is there food? I’m starving?” He hoped getting the focus off of the boys would help them feel a bit more comfortable.
He wasn’t exactly unhappy that everyone was visiting- he was incredibly grateful they’d taken the time to come all this way and spend his birthday with him but he was worried. The boys had been forced to socialize with people they didn’t know without anyone they knew there to act as a buffer. Sure they’d met Jazz a few times, but they were more comfortable around Dani than they were around her.
Miguel especially didn’t like when there was a lot of attention put on him.
“Of course there is! I brought a meat platter-” Tucker started.
“And I brought a veggie platter and vegan dip.” Sam cut in.
Valerie rolled her eyes. “I ordered pizzas- meat lovers and vegan.”
“I brought drinks!” Jazz offered.
Wes looked around. “Well shit- no one told me to bring anything! Besides I just got off a double shift at the Planet and drove her right after! I haven’t even showered in two days!”
“So that’s what that smell is.” Danny smirked.
Overall, it was a success. The boys seemed to loosen up once everyone started eating and relaxing, Valerie played with the kittens (who were getting quite big at this point) while catching up with Jazz, and Wes was ranting about work.
“I mean- the guy “gets a few interviews with superman” and suddenly he’s like the go to guy! He’s literally superman! That isn’t investigative journalism! It’s an autobiography!” Wes shouts, finishing his rant by stuffing the rest of the pizza in his mouth.
Sam snorts. “Wes, come on, Clark Kent is not Superman.”
Wes gave her a Look. “This is high school all over again! I told everyone I knew who Phantom was- and I was right!” Danny gave him a pointed look before glancing at the boys. “I know who Superman is, I’m ninety-eight percent sure I know who each of the Gotham vigilantes are, I’ve got the Flashes figured out, and no one believes me!”
Miguel tilted his head. “Who’s Phantom?”
Now you’ve done it. Danny glares at his friend. “Small town hero from our hometown. No one’s seen him in years though so you couldn’t possibly know who he is.”
Looking between the curious teenager and the possibly enraged eldritch being that could tear him apart with the snap of his fingers, Wes chose life. “Yeah… you’re probably right.”
Tucker and Sam laughed as Wes slunk to the kitchen to get more food. “Don’t worry Wes! I’m sure the Planet will recognize your brilliance soon and you can score your own interview with Clark Kent- sorry- Superman.”
~~~
Turns out, Dani had only bought a bra so she could disguise her gift for Danny in a bag she knew he wouldn’t carry for her. He hadn’t expected gifts but upon opening them he couldn’t have been more grateful. Jazz’s gift had been a yearly pass to the planetarium and observatory in downtown Gotham. She mentioned that he was allowed to bring one free guest with him every visit.
Sam, Tucker, and Valerie had gotten him a bunch of new space themed clothes, blankets, and books- including a new book he’d been debating getting for a while.
Wes promised his gift was coming but ‘it was a bit sensitive and he’d understand when it arrived’. That only worried Danny a lot.
Dani had gotten him the newest model of the Celestron telescope. There was no way a store was just carrying one of those, she’d have to have ordered it specially. Turning it over he found his name engraved into it along with his favorite constellation. He almost cried.
(He did).
The cake was delicious, Miguel and Santiago ate more than Danny thought they should have (but he wasn’t their dad and wasn’t going to tell them to slow down) and ended up in a sugar coma for the rest of the evening. He moved them to his bed and closed the door so he and his friends wouldn’t wake them (What? He didn’t have to be their dad to take care of them like one).
“So Danny,” Wes started. He was on one side of the couch, his legs on top of Tucker and Sam’s laps who were leaning against each other. Jazz had taken his armchair from earlier with Dani sitting on the arm which left the spot next to Valerie on the loveseat. Ironic. “You didn’t tell us you had kids.” He repeated from earlier.
Sighing, Danny closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the headrest. “Like I said, they aren’t my kids. I didn’t just say that for their benefit or something.”
Everyone nodded slowly, giving each other looks, but Tucker spoke up. “Sure, but like… you house them, clothe them, feed them, tutor them, love them, protect them… That’s kind of like a dad, no?”
“Not my dad.” Danny shot back nonchalantly.
Jazz winced. “But like a dad should be.” She added quietly.
He thought about it for a moment. “I’m only five years older than Miguel-”
“Does that really matter?” Valerie snorted.
Shooting her a look, Danny started again. “I’m only five years older than Miguel and nine years older than Santi but if I could legally adopt them and call them mine, I would. It’s not like anything would change if I did, really. I wouldn’t suddenly be overbearing or whatever, but I promised Miguel when he agreed to let me help them that I would not try to parent them. So I’m not.
“I’m doing what I said I would. Clothing, feeding, housing them, that’s easy, loving and protecting them is something I was going to do whether or not they agreed to let me help. But I’m not going to call them my kids,” not out loud anyway. “I’m not going to… tell them they can’t have more cake than they should or give them a curfew or ground them or- I… I’m not going to parent them unless they outright ask for it.” He finished with a shrug.
The room was quiet for a moment.
“Who would’ve guessed C+ average Nightingale would be the first with a prominent career and kids?” Valerie joked, elbowing Danny in the ribs.
The room erupted in laughter as everyone started bringing up different ideas of where they thought he’d be at twenty-two (twenty-three now) and it was definitely not ‘Daycare owner in Gotham with two pseudo kids’.
Once everyone had calmed down, Danny asked the question he’d been afraid of asking all afternoon. “When do you guys head out?” It had been so nice seeing his friends again, he hadn’t realized how badly he’d missed them since moving to Gotham.
“Well- about that.” Sam chuckled. “I actually got a job under a prominent scientist I’ve been obsessed with since like- forever- so I’ll be moving to Gotham soon.”
“What? Sam that’s- that’s great!” Danny spluttered.
Tucker nodded. “Obviously I’m moving here too and I’ve got a job interview lined up with Wayne Industries.”
“You’re joking.”
His friends grinned, shaking their heads.
“You mean, you two are going to live in Gotham?” They nodded. “Jazz and Dani are already here, and Wes is just in Metropolis,” He turned to Valerie. “What do I have to do to get you out here?”
Raising an eyebrow, Valerie scoffed. “As if I’d move all the way to Gotham city New Jersey to be near you weirdos. I’m only friends with you because my life was boring before.”
“So you’re saying we’re exciting?” Dani chimed in.
“I’m saying there’s never a dull moment with you weirdos.”
Danny shrugged, leaning into Valerie much to her dismay. “Four out of six isn’t bad- plus Wes is within driving distance. But I’ll find a way to get you guys here. Just watch, I’ll climb the social ladder, own this city, and bribe you here with crazy good jobs.”
They all laughed. After all, that was a ridiculous notion.
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#danny phantom#dp x dc#fanfiction#danny phantom/jason todd#danny's daycare#dead on main#jason todd#tim drake#Tucker Foley#sam manson#Valerie gray#wes weston#jazz fenton#dani phantom
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"Oh and You!" ~ Ethan Morgan x Reader
sum! Glue song by beabadoobee, also just cutesy moments with your boyfriend Ethan. (different moments/days)
tw! super fluff in gonna cry
this is so cute, also did yall know i do these a/n's before the fic lolzzz
"I've never known someone like you, ooh. Tangled in love, stuck by you, from the glue."
You and Ethan recently started dating and oh my goodness is this boy the most perfect amazing person boyfriend ever, and my golly he is whipped. He is so so sweet and treats you so so good. Not only that but he just loves you so much. Probably more than you love him.
Nonetheless, even though its been less than 6 months it is still the most perfect relationship and perfect boyfriend ever!
You were walking up to him and his friends at lunch. You sat next to him and he looked at you with those sweet eyes full of adoration and love. God, he loved you so much.
But much like every relationship there were flaws. He would forget to do some things that you had gotten used to, seeing as how this is his first relationship. He doesn't do it on purpose he's just not used to having say 'love you bye!' whenever one specific person is in the same room as him and he's leaving. He mostly gets in trouble over the phone for that though.
The bell rang, signalling that they're lunch was over and they were to head back to class. Leaving you alone.
Ethan was about to just leave. No kiss, no hug, no 'love you bye'.
"Uh, Ethan!" you grab his attention with your somewhat snarky yell.
He looks confused, scanning where he was sitting to see if he had dropped something, "hm?"
"Don't forget to kiss me!" you couldn't hold back your smile as his face came to the realisation.
You then changed to a more smug look when continuing on, "or else you'll have to miss me..."
He smiled and gave you a small but sweet peck on the lips before leaving the cafeteria.
"I guess I'm stuck forever by the glue, oh and you!"
Later that day you were in class together and there was a... pretty girl sitting next to him. She was new to school and needed a tour. She was asking Ethan, before you could interrupt he responded with, "Yeah, me and my girlfriend can show you around."
She immediately shut down the offer and he refused to take her without you. 20 minutes later while the teacher was in the middle of a lecture there was a paper ball wadded up that had hit your shoulder and was now on the floor. You open it up to see in green ink, 'Im stuck by you'
"Finding the right words to use for this song. I have you in mind, so it won't take so long!"
Ethan met you outside of your English class, one of the classes you don't have together. The assignment was, write a poem. About anything, horses, eggs, boyfriend, mom, dad, cat- wait boyfriend?
So you wrote a poem for him, you grabbed the paper out of your bag and read it to him. (im not good with poems you cant make me write one.)
"Never thought I'd find you, but you're here, and so I love you! I'm not wrong when I say,"
It wasn't unknown that Ethan was unpopular. It also was common knowledge that he got bullied. Usually it didn't bug him, but today it did. He walked home by himself. Shut himself out all day. Was consistently zoning out.
You went to the store, bought his favorite stuff and went to his house. You even got him some chocolate and flowers, because how often do guys get those when they feel bad. He immediately let you in when he found out who it was, he just wanted cuddles and you to rub his head. Then he saw you with matching star wars pajamas, chocolate, his favorite food, and flowers. As well as a scarf from his hogwarts house.
He gave you the biggest hug. He didn't ever think he would date you, or even end up knowing you! But you are. And you show up when he's upset, and so he loves you.
"hey, I've been stuck onto you. Like glue." He said peacefully. And while he was acting like you and him were stuck together, you knew he meant metaphorically. And he knew you would understood that.
"I've been stuck by glue. Right onto you!"
"I've been stuck by glue."
"I've never known..."
"I've never known someone like you"
"I've never known..."
Ethan whispered, "I've never known someone like you."
#my babysitters a vampire#mbav#ethan morgan#mbav x reader#my babysitters a vampire x reader#ethan morgan x reader#star wars#beabadoobee#Glue Song#Glue Song beabadoobee
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Ao Lie
referencing posts like; baby Ao Lie meeting the bimawen, and Ao Lie wants to be a godfather.
I thought it would be pretty adorable if part of the reason Ao Lie is able to act a horse so well was because they were like his favorite animal as a little hatchling and while it was considered kinda weird among dragons ("Not even a seahorse? Just a... land horse???") it was fully embraced by a certain celestial stablemaster - Bimawen Sun Wukong.
Ao Lie would run off and "to be a ""play horsey" whenever he wandered away from his dad or brothers when they went to the Jade Palace for summits or banquets. He was too small to actually transform himself into a horse, but he'd turn into his noodley-snake dragon form and slink away into the stables.
Wukong likely came across the white baby dragon as he was riling up the curious horses (they all saw Ao Lie as a snake), and was like;
Wukong: "Damn, how did a baby dragon get in here? Ok little guy best get you back-" Ao Lie, hissing: "No!!! I'm horsey! I stay in stable!" Wukong, trying not to laugh: "Ok? I guess I was wrong. You're clearly a skinny white foal. My apologies." Ao Lie: :3
Even if Ao Lie doesn't remember the encounters that well, it did leave him with a positive opinion of horses, stablehands, and monkeys for some reason.
When the dragon is a teenager by the time of the Journey, all he knows about Sun Wukong is that 1: His dad and uncles don't like him, 2: He steals stuff, and 3: He's in jail. His brain doesn't make the mental connection until much later when Zhu Bajie calls Wukong a "useless bimawen!" during the Gold and Silver demons arc.
When Ao Lie first met Wukong in the stone egg au, he basically had the mental journey of; "Huh. The monkey king is kinda chubby- OMG its an egg!! Why is he walking?! Get off my back Tang monk! Don't you know mothers need plenty of rest?!"
After meeting the steed for the first time Tripitaka wonders why the "Bai Longma" is super insistent on letting Wukong ride him specifically. Remembering that the Monkey is "carrying a stone egg" (Tripitaka only knows that part and thinks its a metaphor), the monk in turn tells Wukong that he should ride instead.
Wukong, tired but still wanting to stretch his legs after 500 years under the mountain is like; "Huh? No way! I'm fine! You ride him."
After a while of Tripitaka insisting that the Monkey rides instead of him, Ao Lie gets annoyed and just sits down, causing the monk on his back to slide off into the mud. Holy cassock now muddy. Wukong gets the message but insists he'll only ride until the next village/when they get a second divine-given horse.
Zhu Bajie tries to ride Bai Longma *once* and he gets bucked off so hard he gets tossed into a lake. He swears the horse has it out for him.
I hc that this was around the time Ao Lie's older sister was having a baby, and he was really bummed out that he wouldn't be able to attend to his uncle-duties cus of his "community service" [ie. the Journey]. So he redirected some of that excitement onto Wukong, who was carrying the Stone Egg. Eggs are a huge cause for celebration among dragonkind either way since they only produce a few in their long livespan.
Wukong was a little surprised/confused by Ao Lie's doting behavior at first, but started to understand why the dragon-horse was acting that way when he spoke to Ao Moang later on during the Tuolong incident.
Prince Moang: "I must pass on congratulations. It's not common among either of our kind to behold future kin." Wukong: "Oh really? When's the last time you've seen a dragon egg?" Prince Moang: "Last year actually! Our sister Zhūlong's egg hatched around the time of your release." Wukong: "Oh. that explains why Ao Lie spoils me." Prince Moang, excitedly: "My little brother is here!? I have to tell him everything! I have woodblock paintings of the baby!" Ao Lie, running over still in horse-mode: "Show me! Show me!" Zhu Bajie, watching: "Weirdos. Its just babies. Everyone's having 'em."
And Ao Lie continues to be super doting and attentive to Wukong as the Journey continues, though he does ask after a few years when the Egg is supposed to be laid. Wukong doesn't have a clear answer for him.
After a while, Wukong says almost in jest; "With how well you've been tending to me and the Egg, I might as well make you their godfather!"
Ao Lie just *shrieks* with joy!! Yes yes yes! He would be so honoured!
Wukong doesn't even have time to explain it was a joke when the dragon hugs him, heavy tears falling on his fur.
Ao Lie: "I'm sorry. It's just that... no one at home has really trusted me with anything so important before. I know that you might... get really hurt when your Egg finally arrives and I am so glad that you trust me to care for them if you have to leave us."
Wukong realises in that moment... Ao Lie knows about Stone Eggs. He eavesdropped on a conversation held between Wukong and the Bodhisattva Guanyin early on, and silently held onto that knowledge until Wukong was comfortable sharing it with the others.
The Monkey King decides in that moment that he doesn't want to trust anyone other than the dragon prince to care for his future child. He's already proven his kind nature - and if the future Stone Monkey were to truly be born an orphan, Ao Lie would gladly help to raise them in secret away from the prying eyes of Heaven.
Unfortunately the Samadhi Fire made it so that Ao Lie would be unable to fufill this duty either...
#bai longma#lmk ao lie#sun wukong#jttw stone egged au#slow boiled stone egg au#pregnancy tw#jttw#journey the west#stone egg talk#the monkey king and the infant#the monkey king and the infant au#lego monkie kid#lmk#lmk aus#gif warning
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i love rereading laoft because ive read it enough to have noticed like most of the metaphors and easter eggs and im generally pretty sure i know whats going on. but then i also just got to this part of like my pulse beneath it
"Roman grabbed him by the wrist, reaching his other hand towards Patton’s head. Patton felt a snarl bubble up in his throat before he even noticed. “Stop fucking touching me,” Both Roman’s hands careened away like hooked fish. His face morphed from panic to downright terror."
and was like "wow this scene really cements roman as a character who is doing everything he can to not hurt his friends, he listens when patton doesnt want him to touch him even though theres clearly something up- OH WAIT PATTON HAS THE VOICE CURSE AND HE JUST TOLD ROMAN TO DO SOMETHING" i have read this fic so many times over the span of the past 5 years. just everytime i got to this part i apparently forgot pattons whole plotline. amazing.
this is a frequent missed step! which i find adorable - everyone thinking roman is so chivalrous he'll concede a grab intended to countercharm against possession if asked aksdjhakjsdh
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Book Review 43 - Even Though I Knew The End by C. L. Polk
Oh this was fun. Never would have heard of it if it hadn’t been nominated for a Hugo, and devoured it in the course of a computer-less Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t exactly reaching for the stars, but it knew what it was about and it executed it well; there’s a real virtue to that. Also I adore slightly cheesy but self-serious noir and the early 20th century really is the ideal setting for classical urban fantasy.
The story follows Helen, a private investigator and warlock in 1930s Chicago. Ten years prior to the story, she sold her soul to a demon to resurrect her younger brother from a car crash that would have otherwise killed her entire family – for her trouble, she was cast out from the magical brotherhood training her as a mystic and forced to make a living as a cut-rate diviner and gumshoe in Chicago. The plot kicks off three days before the deal comes due and her soul’s forfeit, and she takes one last consulting job to add a bit more to the nest egg she’ll be leaving for her girlfriend Edith when she’s torn from the mortal coil. And then, of course, she finds out that a) her employer is a demon, b) the case she’s consulting on is someone ritually murdering other poor souls who’ve made deals, days before they come due, and c) if she solves it she’ll get her soul back, along with enough money to make to San Francisco with Edith and start a new life free and clear.
So this is not a book that sets out to surprise the reader. The storytelling is efficient and the foreshadowing is reasonably honest – you can guess just about every twist well ahead of time with even the slightest bit of effort. I’d say the book isn’t trying to break any new ground, but actually it’s the only example I can think off hand of this sort of genre emulation period piece that both has a queer protagonist and doesn’t either elide or edit out the homophobia of the their environment, so there is that. Anyway, ‘genre emulation’ is the right term I think – snappy, tightly written noir plot that doesn’t outlast its welcome (this was absolutely a novella-sized story).
I really don’t know the author or their work well enough to know how intentional it is, but the ending very much felt like a comment on the whole Bury Your Gays/Tragic Lesbian trope. Essentially, Edith gets herself heroically sacrificed saving Helen’s life in the climactic showdown. Then, once the dust has settled and Marlow (her demonic client) has given Helen her soul back she…immediately sells it again to bring her back. Better ten years of Californian bliss with her true love then an eternity in heaven (and besides, that brother she’d saved the first time had just killed an angel, so someone’s going to need to keep him company in hell). The book’s title is in no way subtle or metaphorical, it is a line of the protagonist’s internal monologue.
The story’s universe is a folk-Christian one, and it is absolutely imperative that when reading it you don’t poke at the underlying metaphysics at all. Angels and demons are real and magicians are the distant descendants of Nephilim and some of the Grigori still haunt the earth, and we have it on good authority that God doesn’t actually care about being gay and everyone seems very frightened of the idea of summoning the Archangel Michael to earth, but start asking any followup questions about angels and world events during the Roosevelt Administration and you’re ruin the story for yourself. Just don’t worry about it.
As a final note, I really did love Marlowe – or properly, she’s one of my favorite types of demons in these sorts of stories. Epitome of high class beauty, lives in a palatial penthouse waited upon handed and foot by layers of servants, eats the best food and wears the best clothes and has the best lovers, even a generous employer and creditor as long as you do what she wants and give her what she’s owed. The sort of demon who seems like falling out of heaven was worth it, and one you can imagine actually convincing someone to sell their soul. She’s fun!
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Weaponized Incompetence
Weaponized Incompetence 2/?
John ‘Soap’ MacTavish x Reader
Warnings: none? other than my near endless supply of stupid shit that can be said to make men think you’re stupid. Sfw
Part 1
You were entirely blameless for the next incident. Truly, you had been minding your business, avoiding responsibilities like any good non-commissioned officer. Secluded in one of the far off storage rooms on the west side of the complex, counting boxes of paper towels - far enough out of the way that Sgt. MacTavish had to have come looking for you, specifically. Adorable man, you thought giddily, watching him situate himself in the metal fold out chair next to you.
He wasn’t a tall man, maybe the shorter end of average, but you figured he made up for it by being the general size of a wide-load tractor trailer. Which was to say, when he slid the chair - legs scraping against the concrete ground - closer to you, he invaded like the tide. “Listen, lass,��� he started, like you couldn’t smell his cologne over the stale, dusty air. Tobacco and vanilla, maybe. A little slutty, combined with the eyes and the facial hair and the accent.
Maybe you were just projecting.
“Ah get that you come from tae city,” he continued, phone in one hand while he braced the other one on the back of your chair. A part of you wondered if you should be worried; cornered in a far off room by a commanding officer wasn't the best start to happily ever after, but whatever. You were here to drive him up a metaphorical wall, not a white picket fence. “And ye probably never had tae deal with farm animals, but ye can’t go ‘roond spoutin’ nonsense like the other day.”
Was he still on that? You had hit him with that well before the weekend, and he hadn’t wasted time with cornering you. It was Monday. God, you thought, I am blessed to live rent free in the Scottish Highlands.
He wiggled the phone entreatingly.
Staring back from the screen was Google, “are eggs dairy” typed into the search bar. Pressing your lips together, you slanted a sideways glance at him. He looked back, expectant.
The nice thing would be to let him win this, you knew. A little tee hee, so sorry sergeant, let it die down before you hit him with some other out of pocket shit. But you hadn’t gotten this far in life by letting men win, even pretty ones.
Especially the pretty ones.
“Ohh,” you breathed, nodding to yourself like you’d had a world breaking - egg cracking, even - revelation. Sgt. MacTavish smiled, broad shoulders relaxing as he leant back, dipping back out of your personal space. “I get it now.”
“An easy mistake,” he placated. You both knew it wasn’t.
“No, yeah. You still think birds are real.”
An atom bombed dropped slower than his smile did; there one moment, gone the next. Total annihilation. You would have to play this one carefully. Not laughing hysterically would be a herculean effort, but so worth it.
“What tae fu -”
“No let me explain,” you cut in, flapping your hand at the wrist. It annoyed men, for some reason, a floppy wrist. Like a weak handshake, it triggered their little neanderthal brain. “I get that it sounds weird out of context. But like, okay. So in the, like, 1970s, in America? They had this President, right, Ronald Reagan?” Wrong. “And he, like, hated birds. So he formed the CIA,” made even funnier by the Task Force tangentially being CIA controlled, “And had them capture and kill all the wild birds, right? Except obviously people would have noticed if all the birds just disappeared, so he had them replaced with robots.”
You stared at him for a moment, waiting to see if he was keeping up. He stared back, lips pressed together and nostrils flared. “Or androids? I don’t really know. Are they different? I think they’re synonymous. Anyways, he had robot birds made so that he could spy on the American people during the Cold War. And, like. He couldn’t do it with domesticated food birds, so he had them sterilized. And cows evolved to make eggs because birds couldn’t.”
You nodded, and smiled, empty. Vacant. Not a thought in this head. “So I guess you used to be right,” you finished, patting his arm like it was a consolation.
MacTavish opened his mouth, closed it. Let out a breath through his nose like an angry bull. For a moment, you wondered if this was it. Was this really all it took? The Birds Aren’t Real Conspiracy? You had so many more. GMOs. Bananas. You could be a very convincing Flat Earther. Buffalos. God, you loved the buffalo bit.
“Who,” he stopped. Started again. “Who told ye that?”
“My Governments teacher,” you answered immediately. “Mr. Schumacher. I loved his class, he taught us soo much.”
“He lied.” MacTavished butted in, voice low. You bet he sounded like a blender in the morning, all gravely bass. You wanted to coo at him, at how cute he was, all ruffled. Instead, you did your best sure, Jan and shrugged.
“I mean, I think a teacher would know better than the internet, but if you say so, sergeant,” you agreed placidly.
Stressed, he rubbed a hand over his mohawk. And then, phone still in hand, he pointed at you, and left.
You watched him go, agreeable with the way his jeans sat on his ass. You wondered if he ever wore those bedazzled Buckle jeans. You wondered if you could ever get him into a pair either way. The door slammed behind him, shaking a layer of dust off the ceiling tiles. After a moment, when you were sure he wouldn’t be coming back, you tossed your package of paper towels into the nearest box.
You needed a new hiding spot.
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Ohh we’re being evaluated huh?
My favorite scenarios are ones involving curious giants and tinies that desperately want to run away but can’t
A tiny is trapped and a giant finds them, helping them out of the trap and offering safety, food, even letting them go. The tiny is suspicious— what could this giant possibly want? There’s no way that they’re just being kind for the sake of it, everything they’d ever been told suggested that all giants were evil and they should be dead or in a jar right now. The tentative curiosity and choice to stay of the tiny toasts my eggs and scrambles my bread. The initial terror turned confusion turned curiosity turned delight. Mwah, chef’s kiss.
Also the reverse, where a giant who hates tinies gets stuck with one and slowly comes to realize that they absolutely adore them. I love those equally as much.
Dying to know if this says anything about me, assuming you’re still doing these ^^ /nf
BACK IN OFFICE BABY
This is quite the interesting scenario to discect.
So the main theme of note would be subverted expectations- interestingly, this tends to crop up quite frequently in G/t media.
Typically, this can imply some sort of projection of the self, or some reframing of another.
The main thing I would suggest to consider are the traits associated with the giant, as well as what the tiny/and possibly others think of the giant.
Even if you are more tiny aligned, I would still take the time to consider what traits are shown, and ask yourself if any of those reflect personal feelings.
A regularly occurring theme is to project ones own attributes that we see as misunderstood or overlooked onto the giant. Being shy, or intimidating can lead to us feeling unapproachable, and plant that seed in our subconscious that "If only someone got to know me, they would see that I'm [Defining Trait]"
Though that is certainly not the only route. There is another common trend in G/t, and fantasy as a whole, to reframe negative emotions- even fantasizing a different resolution. Do the "scary" traits of the giant remind you of a time you were wronged by someone? It might be that your brain is trying to reframe it to help with coping. The reframing allows for fantastical leeway to suggest they were not actually wronging you- their intentions were just misunderstood. Those thoughts help the mind to feel more in control because it shifts the blame from someone not liking you or intentionally hurting you to being a misunderstanding- a far more comforting concept that being malicious.
Reframing doesn't have to just occur with the giant archetype either. The tiny holds bias and preconceived notions of how they anticipate someone "dangerous" to act. Does the tiny remind you of anyone? perhaps someone that judged you over something you could not change?
As weird as it may be to say, the brain likes metaphors. There is a great deal of meaning within our subconscious imagery. Peeling back the layers and trying to determine what each character represent is quite the peak into the inner workings of our psyches.
Theres also another very interesting projection that could be occurring on the tiny. Do they share any negative or mistaken traits? Are these traits mirroring traits of your own?
The fact the tiny cannot comprehend why someone would be nice for the sake of being nice to them could be very telling about our own internal self reflection- and its important to analyze what traits of our own we might see of as unworthy of unconditional love/kindness.
I hope this breakdown could offer you some insight into the inner workings of this dynamic trope!
Thank you for attending this session, please see my secretary on the way out to book any follow up appointments.
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Revolutionary Girl Utena - S1 E2 "For Whom The Rose Smiles"
Everyone. Is. So. Gay.
How was this aired in the 90s? Seriously
I feel like I heard this egg breaking it's shell thing before, but where?
End of the world sends letters? neat.
I've heard mentions of a potential time loop, so is the "revolution" the ability to be the next loop's looper?
KILL SAIONJI AND EVER OTHER DUELER NOW! ANTHY IS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL!
They're kinda adorable! I have no clue how to interpret this!
Saionji has an exchange diary, with who I wonder? Also, I can see the George parallels now.
Utena, why must you be so oblivious, if you lose Anthy goes back with her abuser!
Does Anthy control the shadows? Please don't answer, just theorizing!
I think that white rose that borderline censored the screen was showing real magic was happening? Sick soundtrack btw. And she won! Kinda a quick change in her tune, but yay!
I have no clue how to take Utena saying it was for Chu-chu but not for Anthy. To me, Chu-Chu seemed to be a metaphor for Anthy's freedom and... Id, for lack of a better term. How would that not be for Anthy? Unless Utena thinks Anthy wants to be caged? We'll find out I guess!
Sorry, but no episode 3 until two days, but will try to get episode 4 in too!
#rgu liveblog#rgu utena#rgu#revolutionary girl utena liveblog#revolutionary girl utena#anthy himemiya#utenanthy#utena tenjou#utena la fillette révolutionnaire#utena revolutionary girl#Confusion!#liveblog
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Yuletide Ramblings
While I'm not religious by any measure, Christmas in Norway is honestly a decently secular experience once you tune out all the songs about Jesus and roses springing from barren fields and whatnot. This is to say that the holidays have always been about family and the people close to me. I may be overstepping my bounds a bit, but let's include my dear tumblr moots and general tumbl-o-sphere in the proceedings and talk a little bit about my 2023 on Tumblr.
If I'm going to be frank, and I want to unless the opportunity to be earnest should present itself, 2023 was a tough year for me. My ongoing journey to finding treatment for my depression stalled out, and my job search has similarly been quietly moved from the "top priority" box to the "it'll happen when it happens"-pile. I've been able to do this much thanks to the welfare systems in my neck of the woods, and although the process has kind of sucked along a number of axises, I do acknowledge it has helped me.
What has also helped me, though, is you guys. After starting using the platform in June of this year, I have found replete friendship and support, an almost overwhelming torrent of commisseration, enthusiasm and the particular brand of weird that seems to be the first language around here. Y'all have helped me get writing and stay writing, and really have honed my "take it easy, but take it" approach to a razor's edge.
While many parts of the internet are slowly but surely content-ifying themselves into a desolate wasteland of human connection, Tumblr keeps going with actually trying out the "social" part of this whole social media thing. Granted, that may be because of incompetence in trying to follow the trends on Tumblr's end. Still, I want to thank all y'all for keeping it personal, for keeping it weird, and keeping it as free of the scourge of "personal branding" as one could conceivably make a site full of artists and freelancers.
Cheerleading social media sites isn't really my bag, but I will concede that I've grown quite attached to the way Tumblr does things, and the weird arbitrary ways it prods us into acting. It's all down to the people, of course, and I've found quite a batch of good eggs on this here site. I almost don't want to shoutout specific users because I'm afraid I'm going to forget someone truly marvelous and even though there's every chance they'll never notice, I will know and the snub will eat at me.
That said, I do want to shout out a couple of people who've made my first half a year of tumblr great. @toribookworm22's timely asks have certainly helped me keep track of the weekdays, as well as helped me with a bunch of worldbuilding and minutiae. @dyrewrites and @teacupsandstarlight have both been great to talk to, and I would be in dereliction of my duties if I didn't at least mention the illustrious @scifimagpie in this context as well. @jeahreading and I seem to mostly pass as ships in the night, but sometimes the distant sound of a foghorn can be just the thing, to torture the metaphor a little. @that-weird-kid-from-your-school is also a joy to talk to, and her palpable enthusiasm is great.
Now for some people whose work I follow who I don't speak to much because I am intimidated by their skills. @canisalbus and their adorable gay dog-men never cease to fill my heart with love. @secondlina and their crows similarly also make me smile. @mlm-blues and @were--ralph have both done wonders for my self-esteem, and it is nice to see and share the enthusiasm for lads on occasion. @shyroism is mostly off-site what with the streaming, but they're definitely an underrated streamer who could do with some more eyeballs on their work. @fidgetspringer is an awesome punk, an awesome artist (shoutout @fidgetspringer-art,) and has a truly magnificent beast of a bird hound. @everythingfox is an endless source of cute animals which is an obvious lifesaver, @bearotonin-international is Important, @raccoon-central similarly does some heavy lifting for my mental health with their lil' grabby hands. @bodhrancomedy is a good lad who does good videos and do the acting real good. @sootchild has good art and I like it.
I'm running out of steam, which is a shame because there are a lot of people who deserve just heaps of praise heaped upon them on here. Hell, if you're still reading at this point, rest assured I think you're at the very least awesome and deserve good things happening to you.
In closing, I would like to once again express my delight and joy for how Tumblr has been in my first half year, and I hope the however long until I get maudling again is just as good if not even better!
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Adore You
Or rather, let him adore who he wants.
The Adore You video is about how his fans treat Harry's partners. To Rolling Stone Harry said:
“This time I really felt so much less afraid to write fun pop songs. It had to do with the whole thing of being on tour and feeling accepted [...] It came late in the sessions: “Lights Up,” “Treat People with Kindness,” and “Adore You” were written in the final week this spring, in a burst of inspiration.
TPWK, Lights up and Adore You each have a message to fans:
Adore You's video asks fans to not make it impossible for him to date his partner(s) of his choosing
Lights up, Harry said it is about "stepping out on his own" the lyrics include "I'm not ever going back" (I infer to 1D)
TPWK is asking his fans to do just that, including him and the people he chooses to date.
Music Video
When asked by Capital FM (4:33) if Harry was the boy in the video, Harry first said it was a metaphor and he acted the part, then when followed up he said "it's a music video everyone!" The start of the video tells of superstitions and silly ideas. Everyone frowns, Harry has a brilliant smile. He is peculiar, the voiceover says:
No one ever meant to be mean towards him, but in a town grown used to how things were, no one knew what to do with something different.
Harry bottles up his rage, is depressed and goes to drown himself. He sees a fish and saving it saves Harry.
Who is the fish? When asked on SiriusFM, (3:00) Harry said, “Is the fish even a fish? Is the fish a metaphor? Who is the fish?” an Olivia is an emotion style answer to say the fish is a metaphor. There is
Taylor Swift has a famous Koi Guitar, called the Koi Living Jewel. the artwork reflects Taylor's guitar and the TVs refer to the fish as a Jewel Coat (Junior Jewel), However
The fish is grey like the salmon in a 1980 Children's book Louis the Fish. The book is about a vegetarian butcher who is turned into a fish. The book has an anti-vegetarian message. Harry is Pescatian. This is utter madness, it reminds me of him saying to Stern that sometimes his fans find unlikely similarities that aren't really there.
The fish is personifying his love for a partner and he is asking is fans to help and not attack the very real people he dates.
The fish constantly get's bigger, Harry does everything but the fish literally doesn't fit in his life. In the end he has to let the fish go and be alone because it is too hard for it to be with him.
The fish starts thrashing when the fisherman chops another fish. To me this is a metaphor for how the music industry and fans treats them. Harry repeats this in Music for a Sushi Restaurant where the shop only keeps him while is singing brings customers.
Seaview Cottage at 88 Seagull Lane is an easter egg for Harry's House (H= 8th letter) and Keep Driving: 'Choke her with a Seaview'. Seagull lane is a reference to Taylors shirt on the cover of 1989. And a townsperson receives a Message in a Bottle.
Harry eventually sails off alone powered by his screams. :(
When was it written
Harry said to Zane Lowe he played Liam Gallagher Fine Line in March 2019 but that Lights Up, Adore You and Treat People were all written later, in the last week. It was written with Amy Allen, who is based in LA. That places it after the Met Gala around 20 May 2019. He was in the studio on 15 May 2019.
Lyrics
Walk in your rainbow paradise (paradise) Strawberry lipstick state of mind (state of mind) I get so lost inside your eyes Would you believe it?
'Walk in your rainbow paradise' responds to Me!'s "Like a rainbow with all of the colors". Both refer to Out of the Woods "The rest of the world was black and white / But we were in screaming color.” Harry and Taylor refer to each other as all the colours. Me was released 4 weeks before Harry wrote Adore You.
Strawberry lipstick state of mind refers to Taylor's signature lip colour, referred to in Style 'Red Lip Classic thing you like' and Two Ghosts 'Same lips red, same eyes blue'.
You don't have to say you love me You don't have to say nothing You don't have to say you're mine
In Little Freak Harry expressed a similar idea of caring but not in a possessive way or asking for anything from her "I'm not worried about where you are / Or who you will go home to". This makes is clear they are not in a relationship.
Honey (ah) I'd walk through fire for you Just let me adore you Oh, honey (ah) I'd walk through fire for you Just let me adore you Like it's the only thing I'll ever do Like it's the only thing I'll ever do
Walk through fire means he is willing to go through the difficulty of fans not liking his relationships, he will lose fans, if his partner will just let him love them. In If I could Fly Harry said he would give up fame to be with his muse "I think I might give up everything, just ask me to"
Taylor sung about this difficulty dating Harry in:
Slut! "If they call me a slut / You know it might be worth it for once", and
Gold Rush "I don't like that anyone would die to feel your touch / Everybody wants you / Everybody wonders what it would be like to love you"
They also described this as guns or bullets in I know places and Sign of the Times.
You're wonder under summer skies (summer skies) Brown skin and lemon over ice Would you believe it?
This verse is describing a summer romance, (Brown skin, Lemonade, Summer Skies) which Taylor also did in this period in Cruel Summer.
Harry talks about his muse as summertime and butterflies in Olivia. He also said he would brown his skin while they waited for him in the Sky in Golden.
You don't have to say you love me I just wanna tell you somethin' Lately you've been on my mind
A similar line is in Little Freak: " I'm not worried about where you are / Or who you will go home to, I'm Just thinkin' about you"
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Fortuna's ML Analyses Master List
Look, I had to do something with my Humanities degree.
Ep. 26 Recreation:
A perfect world and a fake victory
Wrapping up the "running out of time" theme
In defense of s5 finale: the finale was supposed to feel wrong
Ep. 25 Conformation:
The ultimate fight location: the kitchen
Ep. 23 Revolution:
Adrinette love as act of revolt
Ep. 22 Collusion:
Ms. Sans-Culotte and the French Revolution symbolism
Collusion and the political victory of Gabriel/Monarch
Ep. 19 Pretension:
Season 5 and the symbolism of pancakes: Gabriel's illusions of choice
Two designers: Marinette vs. Gabriel
Ep. 18 Emotion:
On Felix, Revolution and Anarchism
Ep. 17 Adoration:
Marinette's healthy relationship message
Ep. 16 Protection:
Meta joke on ml fans
Marinette/Adrien and Gabriel/Emilie parallels (visual storytelling)
Hints that Kagami is a sentibeing too
Ep. 14 Derision:
3 beliefs Marinette acquired due to the prank and how it impacts her relationships
Accepting Chat Noir & Adrien parallels (short)
Adrien's pov on Marinette's anxiety (short)
Ep. 10 Transmission:
Duty vs. Love: how Ladybug and Chat Noir chose love over duty
Metaphor between disease and superpowers: the weight of responsibility
Adrien & Gabriel parallels (short)
Separation and reconciliation of civilian and superhero identities
Ep. 9 Elation:
the Marichat kiss image analysis (l don't have anything better to do)
Marinette and the impossibility to be in a relationship
Monuments' symbolism in season 5
End card: Chat understands that his love to Marinette is impossible (short)
Ep. 8 Reunion:
Post-truth in Miraculous
Ladybug // Joan of Arc parallels: heroes' antagonisation
Ep. 7 Passion:
Marinette and control vis-à-vis Adrien and Chat Noir
Ladybug/Chat Noir roles reversal (short)
Nathalie's discourse analysis and how it reflects her relationship with the Agrestes
Ep. 6 Determination:
Determination in the light of Derision: why Marinette falls both for Adrien and Chat Noir
Marinette crying at the end of episode explained: the duality of Marinette and Ladybug
Adrien falling for Marinette at her worst, loving her as is
Marinette and self-acceptance
Contrast between Adrien and Marinette in understanding their love
Jubilation // Determination speech parallels
the love square is becoming a circle (short)
The symbolism of the museum Grévin? (overanalysis)
The symbolism of wax heroes? (overanalysis)
Ep. 5 Illusion:
Gabriel's emotional exploitation of Adrien
Nino's Resistance: a reference to French Résistance during WW2
Ep. 4 Jubilation:
The importance of rain in Jubilation
On Adrien/Chat Noir and control, aka why is Adrien depressed in Jubilation?
Easter egg in the episode
The power of Jubilation (short)
Reconciling the real Chat Noir and the one in Ladybug's dreams (short)
Ep.3 Destruction:
Parallels between Chat Noir and the Monarch's destructions
Chat Noir vs. the perfect Chat Noir Ladybug wants (short)
General s5:
Miraculous Ladybug is actually a Greek tragedy
Schrödinger's love square (short)
Gabriel and Adrien being each other's obstacle to be with their love (short)
My one and only salt about the scientific error in Ephemeral
I'm doing this list mostly for myself (it was starting to get hard to keep track of some points I previously made when I wanted to link).
I'll keep this updated, and if I have forgotten something (Tumblr's search function has disappointed me once more...) feel free to lmk :3
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Istredd recs
Here are some Witcher recs of Istredd with Geralt and a few stories with Yen 'cause I love Istredd a whole lot!
Geralt/Istredd
Alright, let me tell you about @brighteyedjill 's series Collaborative Scholarship, because this is 100000% my jam.
Research Methods (5,302w. Explicit) features Istredd enlisting Geralt to retrieve some arachas eggs. Of course Istredd discovers Geralt’s unorthodox method of collecting the eggs via oviposition. What you need to know about this fic is that Geralt and Istredd are complete and utter NERDS. And adorable. The story is also incredibly sweet and endearing and god, the banter is so good.
Advanced Study (5,589w. Explicit) is where Istredd gets fisted by Geralt and it’s so fucking cute and dorky and nerdy and hot. The Istredd POV is just absolutely exquisite the entire way through. Denial, cute horny thirst, nerdy. Geralt is dry and funny, but also nerdy and sweet. This fic really does have everything for these two.
The Scholar in the Ruins by @bittylildragon. (9,944w. Explicit). Istredd enlists Geralt’s help with some wraiths at some elven ruins. THIS IS SO SOFT. Like!!! Geralt has such low self-esteem but he ends up having such a good fucking time with Istredd. They're so soft. I adore the way Geralt tries to understand Istredd’s motivations about the elves and how Istredd manages to surprise and disarm Geralt with his sincerity and charm. This fic is a joy to read. (Also it is incredibly hot!!)
The Giant Bumblebee (1661w. Teen) by C_hawk. Istredd saves Geralt from bleeding out and Geralt returns the favor by helping Istredd look for a monster of interest. This is a cute, banter-y fic that sends me in a happy tizzy because their dynamic is hilarious and lovely. I'm smitten with how Istredd doesn't really know what to do with Geralt.
The Thing You Loved (1057w. Teen) by @brighteyedjill. Istredd gets kidnapped! ISTREDD WHUMP. ISTREDD WHUUUUUUMP and Geralt. I adore thiiis fic, I ADORE THIS. This is more Istredd whump than just slash but it just sets off happy firecrackers in my brain because their dynamic!! Is so good!!
points of the same star (468w. Mature) by and_a_dash_of_Angst. This is a great smutty ficlet with some bondage and d/s vibes. The twist at the end is AMAZING!!
If You Go on Like This (4582w. Teen) by @brighteyedjill. Geralt rescues Istredd and they learn a little about each other along the way. I. ADORE. THIS. God… I could just eat up this pairing all day long forever. Jill manages to build up their dynamic so subtly, slowly, delightfully and I am in LOVE. This is more of a Geralt & Istredd situation instead of the slash but ooooh, so delicious.
as flies do by flirtygaybrit (7020w. Teen). Geralt shows up to the conclave of mages on Thanedd and finds an potential ally in Istredd. The ongoing metaphor in this is superb, and Geralt’s humor is just absolutely spectacularly hilarious and dry and witty. ALSO. Omg! Istredd’s first line in this fic: “I can’t say I’d be any richer for being accused of ogling a witcher’s backside.” It only gets better from there. Their dynamic!! is top fucking incredible! If you love delicious imagery and prose, please check out this fic. It’s mindblowingly good.
Yennefer/Istredd
One Last Thing, Before I Go (3283w. Mature) by @arse-blathanna. Alright, so this is a sad Istredd and Yen get back together and breakup again, so it’s painful and ache-y in the most exquisite way. I love this Yen POV and it’s so difficult to let go of that first love. They don’t really fit together in the same way anymore, but they’re trying...even though it’s not enough. So if you’re in the mood for some angst, this is a fic you want punching you in the heart. 😭❤️
A Little Chaos (1223w. Mature) by @brighteyedjill. Istredd and Yennefer. Whumpily sweet sex pollen that is so lovely and emotionally satisfying.
Come Back For You (2:52) by me, @kuwdoravids. This is my Yen/Istredd, Istredd/Geralt, Istredd/History fanvid. Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I say I would be the one to make you feel this way. The love and pain of caring for another person (and about history!). Moving through the shit to be there because that's just what you have to do. Even though people aren't really listening to you. Come for Istredd's gorgeous face, stay for the vibes and feelings!
#istredd#geralt x istredd#istredd x yennefer#the witcher#the witcher netflix#twn#geralt#geralt of rivia#yennefer#yennefer of venegerberg#witcher recs#my witcher vids#kuwdora recs#kuwdora witcher recs
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