#i do think that they're both pulled between genuine interest in each other and the competitiveness they are put in

[sainztander]

In one of his latest interviews Carlos said that he and Charles could definitely be friends after they stop being teammates, then said that they’re already friends and finally that there is distance between them — and I don’t know what he exactly meant by this, maybe that they get along but still keep each other at a distance because of the whole being rivals thing — so my question is Carlos, what’s the truth? Are you fellas friends or not? And also why do you feel the need to keep some distance if you guys aren’t actually friends?

I don't find it that strange tbh, it's something that a lot of close teammates have said too. Some months ago Carlos talked about how his relationship with Lando has been a lot better since they're not teammates anymore and now they can speak about more personal things; I also remember Daniel saying something similar about Max, when he left Redbull. Both teammates duos that you'd surely define as friends, but actually admitted to becoming closer only when working in different teams.

It's pretty clear that Carlos and Charles get along very well. They share the same goal, the same attitude, the same passion and love for their team, they're both hard-working and humble and respectful for their rivals. They're also young and friendly, share the same interests, work-ethics and have fun together.

I think that being teammates always kinda freezes any real possibility of being fully open with each other tho - which is the distinction they make, I think. They like each other, they work incredibly well together - as we've seen it's not a given between teammates - they share notes, give advices to each other, meet up as soon as they're out of the car to talk, etc. But even putting aside the kind of competition they're put in, I don't think it would be that easy for Carlos to share everything he had on his mind lately (esp thinking about how all the hate he got (from some specific people) may have affected him) with Charles, who in turn thought about the championship and his anxiety for his future. This without counting the incredible pressure the entire team had this entire season, and whatever tensions were in play behind closed doors.

But you know what? With the year they had, the fact that things between them are still so smooth, they still look and sound so fond of each other, being ready to give up podium positions, to celebrate the other's good results, to hang out together, etc etc, says A LOT about their relationship, and the real admiration and affection they feel. It is very very very sweet <3

[othervee]

Finale thoughts!

Interesting to find out that Hillerska has had multiple warnings over several years and still didn't pull their heads in. Clearly they thought they were invincible.

Vincent and Nils stepping up to the plate when they see August's genuine distress, the way Vincent is stroking his arm. There's real friendship and love to be found, but you only see it when you're honest. Similarly, their reactions when they find out that August is backup. August receiving the posioned chalice. What else can he do now, though? He's lost Arnas, or at least part of it. He has to do the military service; he's in the position Wille has been in.

Haha, the housemaster having a drink with the boys. What else is he going to do?

Loved the scene with Felice dragging Wille to the party. Her facial expressions, she's so cute. Wille negotiating with Malin shows a level of maturity, but the male bodyguard is SO not impressed as he follows them to the palace, LOL.

LOVE that Simon brought Rosh and Ayub to the white party. And Ayub reassuring Rosh, after Stella shows herself for who she is. She's chosen the Hillerska way, all the way.

The scene between Wille and August in the clubroom. He didn't know it, but that was the closure he needed. THat they both needed. They've made peace, they can even develop a familial relationship again into the future, but right now this is as close to peace as they can have at this stage.

Nils, you giant dork. And also... They're shocked he didn't say anything earlier,  but would things have been different if he had?

No Royal house, no Prince, no socialist, no drama. No before. No later. Only now. As the previous song said, back to basics. Back to the pure connection they have with each other.

The lake scene. So beautiful.

Simon's Song! Did Felice initiate that, do we think? A few of the choir were smiling at Simon. Nice to see they all (or most of them) wanted that and not the musty old version.

Oh, Kristina, that really is too little too late, but I'm glad you came through in the end.

The little token the Queen and Duke put around August's neck is a frog prince. The symbolism would be a sledgehammer if the direction or script drew attention to that, but they don't.

In the car, Wille beginning to feel the panic attack happening, the constriction of the collar around his neck, and realising what that means. This is an unhealthy system and if he stays in it, this will be his life. The constriction, the desperation, literally struggling to breathe. Echoing Simon's words to him, "I've seen how it makes you feel". Being calm because he's no longer coming from a place of despair, a place where he has no control. And Kristina knows it. It was important for Wille to tell his parents he loves them. He's coming to terms and making peace with everyone.

That closing scene, oh my god. The montage was cheesy as fuck and I am here for it. The dialogue and the execution were not cheesy. They established the important things. Wille is doing this for his sake, not for Simon's. For the first time in his life he is making an informed, calm, active choice.

Simon's FACE. OMG. The shock, barely daring to believe it, but knowing when Wille says 'For my own sake' that this is it. It's real. And then! The tears, the gasping, the incredulous joy! Omar is a natural who stepped it up even more this season, and I do hope he continues to take on acting roles because he is amazing.

Wille's FACE. The joy but more importantly the PEACE.  His entire being, his posture, his aura changes and he radiates rightness. Edvin is incredible.

Also? They both look so, SO beautiful in this episode. This closing sequence, but really the entire episode.

Heading off into the sun, in white, whooping and cheering, Felice with her legs up on the dashboard, free.

And now I want LOADS of future fic about The Adventures of Wille, Simon, Sara och Felice. Tack, Lisa, for leaving it so open for us to do that!

[fuckyeahisawthat]

One of the most interesting things about the Atreides characters to me is the constant tension between formal and informal power dynamics going on in that House.

Leto and Jessica seem to have a fairly equitable relationship where they genuinely love and respect each other. This rests entirely on the fact that Leto is generally a Good Dude on an interpersonal level, who like, sees Jessica as a person and recognizes and appreciates her intelligence, skills and political acumen. While concubine to the head of a Great House seems to be a fairly high-status role in their world, we know it is not equal in social standing to the role of a wife, and certainly not equal to the male head of the House. Leto does treat Jessica as his equal informally, but by the social rules of their world he certainly doesn't have to.

Similarly, Leto treats Gurney, Duncan and Thufir like trusted colleagues and confidantes, and while they formally treat him with a certain amount of deference (addressing him as Sire or my Lord and accepting that he will be the final authority on things), it's also clear that informally, none of them are hesitant to speak their minds in front of him, offer suggestions or contradict him on something.

Paul's relationships with Duncan and Gurney are similarly complex. They're both older than him and serve as his mentors/teachers. Neither of them are afraid to tease him, challenge him, or reprimand him when they think he's doing something risky. They love him in an almost-familial way and would protect him with their lives. It seems like Paul would like to be friends with them on equal terms. But formally they are both his servants. Or, more precisely, while Leto is alive they are his father's servants and know they have Leto to answer to if anything should happen to his son.

The moments when the formal power dynamics assert themselves are always fascinating. When Paul and Gurney are first reunited, I would say Gurney is still treating Paul like a Duke's son and not a Duke. He's loyal and he is overjoyed to know Paul is still alive, but he still calls Paul by his first name and talks to him like he's giving advice to someone who's still learning. But then there is that moment when Paul pulls rank and gives Gurney a direct order to go to the south and Gurney's demeanor immediately shifts. He only ever addresses Paul as my Lord after that, and he treats him with a deference that makes it clear they are lord and vassal, not friends or family members.

(And like, technically once Leto is dead, Paul is the Duke and everyone in House Atreides is Paul's vassal--including Jessica. Practically when it comes to Paul giving Jessica an order she does not want to follow...well I would like to see him fucking try.)

Leto's leadership style with those close to him seems very much based on creating a familial, mutually protective vibe that wins him intense loyalty. (It is really interesting to see him try this on Stilgar who doesn't buy it for a second.) We see Paul try to emulate that, possibly with an even more intense longing for relationships of genuine equality that's born out of growing up with no peers of his same age and status around him.

But there is still always a little bit of power imbalance, because the chill vibes rely entirely on the continued benevolence of the Atreides men, and that benevolence can be withdrawn at any time.

[somuchbetterthanthat]

OKAY SECOND POST: I am officially fascinated, intrigued, enthralled even, by Alice and Gwen's relationship.

At first glance it seems like they dislike each other. And I don't doubt that there's some animosity here, but from three episodes we've already got two actually genuine conversations between them.

Obviously it's too early to say it's going to be a pattern, but it seems to go like this: Alice will riled up Gwen, unprompted, just because she can because she's so into her it makes her dumb, and they snipe at each other, except they... Don't. Not really. Gwen deflects first, then eventually says something honest, something that might actually be troubling her: in ep 2 it's her blurting out that Lena might fire them both, and Alice is more or less reassuring about it, even if it doesn't land with Gwen necessarily. And then, in ep 3, she doesn't rise to Alice's bait about her friends specifically, but also even the field, so to speak ("we earn the same, Alice") then admits that she's not keen to seeing friends move on in their carreer when she's stuck at level 1 still. To which Alice immediately says "It's not so bad here".

There's clearly so much pull and push going on here, but they keep meeting/confronting in the middle of it, on some level they /do/ seem to get one another, pushing each other already to a certain level of honesty, and that's. SO. Interesting. I cannot wait to see where they're going with this (it's clear in the backstage everybody is very fond of the relationship between Gwen and Alice and i can see why, the chemistry - whether it turns romantic or not at all - is OFF CHART)

Also want to reiterate I think Alice actually cares about this job a lot more than she initially let on, and therefore she and Gwen do share the same drive, even if they're not seeking exactly the same thing about of the work they do here.

In a way we know our characters can quit in this universe, but the ones we do have around really don't want to quit, for some reason or another, and i'm all ::eye:: about it.

[loving-family-poll]

Ultimate Incest Tournament - Round 1

Norma and Norman Bates sculpture by artist "Rainman," titled Murderer

Propaganda under the cut:

Dante/Vergil:

The entire game is about how the power of twincest and a little gratuitous dadson/unclenephew can overcome the cycle of generational trauma

They are half-human half-demon twins who got split up when they were 8. Dante is the more normal one although he is mega depressed and doesn't like being around full human people. Vergil is kind of the evil twin although he is not that evil

They meet again when they are 19 and fight a few times and generally seem like they don't like each other (at one point Dante says "how about a kiss from your little brother" before pulling out a gun) but later on they team up and act like the brothers they once were

Vergil jumps into the demon world (and it's implied that it's a kind of suicide attempt, I think) and stops Dante from reaching for him. Dante is very emo about this and basically considers Vergil dead. He then names his devil hunting business Devil May Cry after how he cried because of Vergil

10 years later Dante comes across a brainwashed Vergil and kills him, not recognizing that it was Vergil until he is dead and gone. Dante is very emo about this

Like 10 years after this Dante comes across Vergil's accidental kid and acts like a distant enigmatic uncle toward him. Like 5 years after that, Vergil is back and splits himself in half, and when one half tells Dante that the evil demon they need to stop is Vergil's other half, Dante gets super pissed at him because he thinks he's lying and doesn't like people using Vergil's name in vain, I guess.

Eventually, both halves of Vergil recombine and he and Dante fight again but Vergil's son tells them to stop doing that and they're just like "okay".

Then a portal is opening to the demon world so someone has to go there and stop it but they'll be trapped there. Both Vergil and Dante go. Vergil tells Dante he doesn't need his help and that he can leave but Dante is like "no 🥰". We see them fighting in hell (in a friendly way) and fighting other demons together, just generally having a good time. Currently, they are still trapped there.

TLDR: Dante is very depressed when it comes to Vergil because he's lost him like 3 times and just wants Vergil to be alive and with him. At the end of the last game, Dante is super genuinely happy with Vergil in the demon world. We see less of Vergil's side of things, but he loves and hates Dante because he feels inferior to him (for mommy issue reasons). Vergil only smiles around Dante and honestly likes fighting him for fun. There's a lot more I could say but this is already so long so... They are complicated but they love each other <3

Norma/Norman:

The weirdest, most charming mother/son duo ever. Bates Motel took an interesting story and turned it into something greater, exploring Norma and Norman's relationship with sincere sympathy. Their love for each other is beautiful, but destructive; their intimacy was born out of necessity and shared pain; the world won't leave them alone. It's awful to witness. It's beautiful and heartbreaking.

i mean COME ON. Norma is constantly upset that Norman expresses interest in other women. She hid her husband from Norman because she knew Norman would throw a hissy fit over them being together (which he did)

He tried to commit murder-suicide so they could die together and when he survived he taxidermied her corpse so they could be together forever

Norman “It’s like there’s a cord between us” x Norma “Honey that’s - that’s from Jane Eyre” are everything to me. I’m barely scratching the surface in doing justice to their insanity. They mean everything to each other and I love their fucked-up codependency so dearly.

After he killed her he couldn't live without her so literally absorbed her personality and started wearing her clothes and speaking for her and carrying her corpse around and when a woman he was attracted to showed up at the hotel he killed her as his mother bc of his mother's jealousy??

[nyx-lyris]

i love the potential of all the hazbin ships, platonic or romantic.

the beauty and the beast feel that radiobelle has. alastor's desire to control her and manipulate her for his own ends eventually being drowned out by his caring and respect for her. realizing he cares about her more than he cares about himself.

the divorced dads who are sticking it out for their daughter feel of radioapple. the idea of them being rivals who develop a mutual respect for each other over time, eventually becoming friends, trading jokes and vehemently denying their friendship to anyone who asks. and, if we're going the romantic route, eventually realizing they feel much more for each other than they ever intended to and being frightened by it, wondering how on earth they got here.

the way royalhalo could be either long-lost sisters with a sort of tinkerbell and periwinkle vibe, or they could be partners in crime, each working tirelessly in their respective domains to prove that the hotel works and constantly cheering each other on.

connected to the above, i love the potential of charlie's angels - specifically the idea of emily falling because she dared to question the order of things and help charlie, and vaggie unexpectedly welcoming her with open arms because she knows what it feels like to be abandoned by those you loved and trusted.

though i feel they fumbled it on the show, the potential of rainbowmoth is incredible. an ex-exorcist having to deal with the guilt of what she's devoted her life to and making up for that by protecting and helping the daughter of lucifer, who is unexpectedly the kindest and most caring girl she's ever met, and doing everything she can to make her dreams a reality. the bodyguard x ward, sunshine x sunshine protector energy these two have.

i love the one-sided, unrequited love of radiostatic. the idea that vox grew up with radio hosts like alastor and dreamed of becoming someone just like them, meeting alastor in his afterlife and growing genuinely fond of him, only to be unintentionally slapped in the face when he realizes alastor doesn't feel the same, and deciding to hate him (because we all know he doesn't really hate alastor, he just makes up for the hole in his heart by acting like he does). or, if we're writing it where they do actually get together in the end, alastor rejecting vox, then having to deal with the conflicting feelings in his head - they're rivals, but he hates the idea of harm coming to vox, or vox focusing his energy on anyone but him. both of them continuously in denial until a heated situation pushes them both over the edge and they finally give in.

then there's radiodust and the strange but lovely respect and bond that could come with it. just the idea of both of them being pranksters to boot, and either starting a prank war in the hotel or working together to pull pranks on everyone else. angel cracks his usual hyper-sexual jokes, but he never pushes it too far with alastor. he greets him every day with "hiya smiles" and alastor hates to admit it, but he's grown fond of it. the idea of alastor making a deal with valentino, or conniving some scheme to release angel from val's deal. the idea of angel, who's probably tired of sex despite his hypersexual behavior, and alastor, who has never been interested in sex, and angel finding a sort of reprieve with alastor.

on the same note, huskerdust. the way their relationship exists on the show is just perfect. the idea of husk, who is immune to angel's flirting, and angel who wants someone who understands what he's going through, someone to relate to - and both of them having a hard time coming out of their shells. both of them trying so hard to maintain the fragile relationship they've created between them (think ineffable husbands). both of them being terrified when they realize they have genuine romantic feelings for each other; husk, who hasn't loved anyone in years and isn't sure he knows how, who used to be in valentino's position, who knows what it's like to have and enjoy having power over others, who is afraid that he'll mess things up if he says anything; and angel whose every relationship has gone to shit, who hasn't experienced a properly healthy relationship and is now afraid to engage with anyone in that way for fear of getting hurt again. and don't even get me started on the idea of overlord!husk x angel and how complex and interesting that dynamic could be.

the idea of radiohusk, especially now that we've seen what their canonical relationship is really like. husk grappling with his hate for alastor, realizing maybe he doesn't really hate him, and that he sees him in the same way that he sees angel - as a faker, someone who hides behind an elaborate mask so no one knows what he's really feeling. alastor refusing to admit that he actually cares about husk as a person, refusing to admit that husk is right, that he's afraid and maybe he needs to face that fear. alastor eventually letting husk go, starting a chain reaction that ends in alastor letting many of his accumulated souls go, and treating others with a bit more respect than he did before.

then, of course, radiohuskerdust - all three of them in the same shit sandwich, coming to terms with their situations and their feelings for each other. all of them with their trust issues and the masks they hold up so the world never knows what they're truly feeling. the three of them grappling with how each relates to the other - alastor, who owns hundreds if not thousands of souls, including husks, and who treats them poorly; angel, whose soul is owned by valentino, who has been abused by his owner for years (and who was likely manipulated into signing the contract under the guise of val actually caring for him); husk, who has been on both ends, giving and receiving, and understands both of them. all of them dealing with the complexity of this, realizing that they have more in common than they think. basically combining the aspects of the previous three ships.

then there's radiorose, the platonically married couple. the idea that they got married for tax benefits and to appease the standards of their time period is absolutely golden. but also, if you wanted to go the romantic route with them - rosie being completely respectful of alastor's boundaries, despite her feelings for him, and alastor realizing she's the only person in his life (other than, perhaps, his mother) who really knows him, the only person he can really talk to without fear of judgment. just the idea of these two being a power couple, whether platonically or romantically.

or, on the more niche end of the spectrum, spidermoth and radiomoth. just the idea (going the romantic route) of vaggie and angel realizing that maybe they aren't as exclusively into girls or guys, respectively, as they thought, and growing on each other more and more. the banter between the two of them, both of them understanding what it means to be betrayed by someone you thought cared about you and had your back, their mutual mistrust of others and their intentions (which could also of course be a point of conflict in their relationship). or the idea of vaggie developing actual feelings for alastor and hating it the entire time, being even more hostile towards him than usual - and alastor finding her hatred of him entertaining, which eventually develops into genuine fondness. alastor teasing her more and more, her reacting even more explosively each time, until finally she can't take it anymore and shuts him up with a kiss. both of them being utterly surprised and refusing to talk about it for weeks. or, on the platonic side, alastor unwittingly proving himself to vaggie as an ally of the hotel and charlie, earning her begrudging respect over time. eventually, his constant teasing of her becomes something she enjoys, and she'll even poke back now and again.

idk just... hazbin ships, ya know?

[beneathstarryskies]

If you are still taking requests could I please ask for some headcanons of Dante and reader but they're both too stubborn afraid to admit their very strong feelings for each other.

And maybe some for Vergil too if you don't mind? It's hard for me to pick between the two 😔

Warnings: slight angst, GN!reader, mentions of alcohol/going to the bar...that's about it.

A/N: Sorry this took me so damn long! I hope you like it! &lt;3

Dante

Dante has been crushing on you for a while. Despite his cool-guy persona, he actually develops feelings pretty quickly. He just insists on keeping them to himself for the most part.

There are many reasons he does this, but mostly genuinely is out of fear.

If he gives in to his feelings and lets himself hope there can really be something special with you, he's scared it will just get taken away from him.

You misread these signs, because who wouldn't? He flirts playfully with you, just as he does nearly everyone, but always backs off if things become too real.

The push and pull are absolutely frustrating. At times it makes you wish you could just walk away from him, and forget about him. You can't truly imagine that though.

Not to mention every time you genuinely give that a thought, he randomly shows up at your apartment to hang out or he calls you to go to the bar and shoot pool. Then, you really can't imagine walking away.

Dante would need something to motivate him to finally confess, but make no mistake he will definitely be the one to cave.

Most likely it happens when he sees someone flirting with you, and it really hits him that if he doesn't tell you how he feels he's going to lose you forever. He doesn't make a huge scene or anything.

In fact, he doesn't say anything. As soon as you're coming back to him with your drinks, he pulls you close and kisses you without explanation. The fact that you eagerly kiss him back tells him everything he needs to know.

Vergil

If we're talking about DMC3!Vergil, then feels ashamed of developing feelings for you. Not because there's anything wrong with you. Quite the contrary, if he's this interested in you then you must be nearly perfect in his eyes even with your flaws.

For Vergil, at least at this point, the stubbornness is motivated completely by thinking these feelings for you show weakness within him.

He will begin to avoid you completely. He's already given into weakness before, and he won't do it again. You won't ever know how Vergil feels about you.

He'll keep it to himself, and then one day he just disappears. You never knew how he felt, nor did you ever find out what happened to your beloved blue devil.

Now, if we're talking about DMC5!Vergil, then things will play out very differently.

He's had some time to mature and really does some introspection. He doesn't see these feelings as weakness anymore, but he does feel like he doesn't deserve you.

If you know all of the things he's done in the past, he'll convince himself there's no way you could ever share his feelings. If you don't know, and he senses that you like him too, he'll decide it's best that you never really get to know him.

That being said, he can't bring himself to avoid you. In fact he's downright drawn to you. It's the same phenomenon as owning a cat who is always in the same room as you, but acts offended if you offer it affection.

With the way Vergil lingers close to you at all times, you'll catch on pretty quickly. Please, please just confess to him. He'll melt.

[south-of-heaven]

Damian Priest x Reader X Finn Balor if you will, and them watching reader do her makeup? (if you aren’t comfortable with both just pick one of them :) )

Mesmerizing || Damian Priest x Reader x Finn Balor

Summary: Finn and Damian love to watch you do your makeup.

You sit in front of the vanity mirror, a colorful array of makeup spread out before you. Finn and Damian are lounging on the bed behind you, their eyes fixed on your reflection as you begin your makeup routine. Their presence is comforting, and the fond smiles on their lips make your heart flutter.

"You really don't have to watch, you know," you say with a playful grin, catching their eyes in the mirror.

Finn chuckles softly. "Can't help it. It's mesmerizing."

Damian nods in agreement, his gaze intent as he watches your every move. "Yeah, it's like magic or something."

You chuckle, feeling a hint of shyness under their watchful eyes. It's not the first time they've sat like this, curiously observing you as you transform your face with makeup. And truth be told, you find their fascination utterly endearing.

As you start applying foundation, you can feel their gazes following your every brushstroke. It's oddly soothing, knowing that they're right there, taking in every detail. You continue to work, occasionally stealing glances at their reflections in the mirror.

"Have you ever thought about trying makeup yourselves?" you ask, a mischievous glint in your eyes.

Finn raises an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at his lips. "Hey, I did with my demon look! Though I don't think I'd do it very well myself, love."

Damian smirks, his tone equally teasing. "Yeah, pretty sure I'd end up looking like a painted warrior."

You burst into laughter, the sound filling the room with warmth. Their banter is familiar and comforting, a reminder of the bond you share.

As you move on to eyeshadow, they lean in closer, their interest piqued by the vibrant colors you're using. You catch Damian trying to mimic the brush movements with his fingers, and Finn playfully nudges his arm.

"You're never going to get it right without a proper brush," Finn chuckles.

Damian shrugs, a playful grin on his lips. "Hey, I could surprise you."

You finish your makeup with a flourish, your lips curving into a satisfied smile as you admire the final result. Turning to face Finn and Damian, you give them a theatrical bow.

"Ta-da! The masterpiece is complete."

Finn claps softly, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Bravo! Absolutely stunning."

Damian nods appreciatively. "You make it look so effortless."

You blush under their praise, feeling a surge of affection for the two men who find joy in even the simplest moments with you. Their fascination with your makeup routine may be playful, but it's a reminder of the deeper connection you share.

As you stand up, you walk over to where they're sitting on the bed. Finn reaches out and brushes a strand of hair behind your ear, his touch gentle and affectionate. Damian smirks, leaning in to press a soft kiss to your cheek.

"You're incredible," Damian murmurs, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

Finn nods in agreement, his blue eyes locked onto yours. "Yeah, you really are."

The sincerity in their words warms your heart, and you can't help but lean in to capture their lips in a sweet, shared kiss. It's a kiss filled with the unspoken affection and appreciation you all feel for each other, a testament to the unique bond you've formed.

As you pull away, you find yourself nestled between Finn and Damian, their arms wrapping around you in a comforting embrace. With their presence and their admiration, you realize that even the simplest moments, like doing your makeup, can become something special when shared with the ones you love.

[isa-ghost]

Isa my darling! Happy Birthday, albeit a couple of days early.

Seeing you screech in Philza's streams because Apollo hit you with that dodgeball yet again makes me giggle a lot.

How about since headcanon's for qPhilza's past/pre island relationship with qFit. How they got to know each other, and how quickly they became friends?

Idr if I said this on Tumblr yet but deadass I asked Apollo on my pendulum if qPhil is his blorbo and he said yes. He's been as invested in shit as me and it's been hilarious. I literally have crows yelling at me irl to keep writing rn but I'm answering headcanons first.

The entire time I've been distracted between writing these, crows have been yelling at me about it. Which. Is how Apollo communicates with me when I'm not actively talking to him through readings LMFAO.

Also thank you for the birthday wish :D [desperately hoping nothing else horrible happens this weekend please god]

Anyway qPhil headcanons masterlist let's go

Disclaimer that I didn't know of Fit before QSMP (I've only been in mcyt for 4 years monkaS) so these are gonna be largely pulled out of my ass and a lil repetitive.

These two both have experiences in anarchy and war, they've definitely brushed shoulders a couple times bc of it

They admired each other's work ofc. Phil is a macro scale kinda guy, total annihilation and victory that makes a statement. Fit's more of a micro scale kinda guy, zeroing in on one person or group individually and making their lives hell until the end in the name of surviving a little longer

On that note, I think we all sleep a little bit on the fact that Fit is Also a survivalist like Phil, just in a very different set of high stakes conditions. These two are equally skilled in it and equally sharp strategists

On that note, anyone who knew them from the past would fear the idea of them coming together to create a plan of any kind, especially of the anarchist-fueled variety. If the Federation has done their research right, they should know full well how terrifying this duo could be in an effort to dismantle their authority

Btw by brushing shoulders I don't just mean brief passings by, I mean they've like. Camped out for a night together, temporarily truced for the sake of safety in numbers, etc. More than a few conversations have been had even if the time they've spent together totals to less than a week.

However, even when they weren't actively paired together, they'd still occasionally trade or gift each other surplus resources. It was a genuine kind act, even if it simultaneously served as a reason for each of them to not come after the other. I scratch your back, you scratch mine.

Like why do you think Fit was one of the first threats on Phil's mind in Purgatory. He Knew(tm). And he knew Fit has an affinity for picking off the weak first, like a lion after a herd of antelope. To him, Purgatory was the awakening of a monster who'd been dormant for a long time.

See, present day they're QPR as fuck, they'd never do this now without 10x the pressure Purgatory put on them, but back in the day they took close notes on each other's strengths and weaknesses. Just In Case, yknow? They could very much kill each other. Back in the day they would've if it came to it, no matter how good an ally they were.

Something about how these two used to be so cold and hard to the world. Be it to self-preserve or some other reason. Something about how now they've both softened and warmed after becoming parents. They never could've imagined the other would "weaken" like this, especially back then.

Phil 🤝🏻 Fit - Phil being a historian of the deities/builds of his Hardcore World, Fit being a historian of 2B2T

A lot of this boils down to mutual respect, common interests, and secret admiration tbh. And what's more homoerotic than that?

[inchidentally]

Why do I feel like Oscar is intentionally keeping Lando at a distance because he assumes it would never work out? And Lando kind of wishes Oscar would show an interest but he isn't so Lando pulls back too? Maybe I'm totally crazy but feels like they're doing a double fake out. If not then why not just be friendly the way they are with other guys?

This is my thought on them too. Anon explained really well. I see the same when I look at them. One of them wanna get more friendly but other's shields up and visa versa :I

(the quote comes from this anon and possibly also this one I'd received before)

I've tried giving this a look at other angles since obv none of us knows - and likely won't ever know - for sure, and I think the one way I can see this being the case is mixed signals? bc I feel like it being deliberate on either of their parts is too far a stretch.

long thing below and usual caveat that no I do not write this stuff thinking I actually know what's going on and it's just for fun and I do not take it seriously !!

like on the one hand, for a while before and even after meeting Oscar, Lando kept having to hear about this "rookie" who'd soon be his teammate and how he'd be the more experienced one etc. jokes about him "looking after" the new kid and how is he settling in blah blah. none of which Lando was remotely enthused about, understandably so. unlike team sports, mentoring isn't really something teammates do for each other in racing since they're each other's greatest measure of competition.

and Lando joined F1 so young (and was in the McLaren development program even younger) that while his talent and personality often deceives a lot of people into thinking he's become established and experienced, Lando himself doesn't rate experience much when it isn't bringing race wins or the WDC any closer. and his personality on camera was largely defined by latching onto Carlos and Daniel. he was a little more vulnerable around Carlos but mostly the dynamic of big brother/baby brother was the same for both those relationships. Lando with Max F and the Quadrant folks is pretty different to who he is with those older guys.

so it's easy to see why he didn't feel at all prepared to play the role that everyone kept assuming for him when Oscar came along. and re this babbling I did I genuinely think the difference between how young and small Oscar still was when they first met in winter of 2022 to the infamous "did you grow, what the fuck" moment was transformational for Lando. you look at his eyes gluing themselves to Oscar when Oscar isn't looking and the cheeky way he keeps getting Oscar's attention - and the way Oscar can't hide his surprise and how pleased he is - and I truly think the dynamic started to shift from a sort of stiff friendliness to Lando being genuinely interested in this guy.

Lando said himself that before the season properly started, he and Oscar had been so busy when they were in the same space that they didn't really talk beyond hello and goodbye. which needn't have been the case. I think a fair part of that was Lando's poor bruised heart at having Carlos leave and then Daniel being bought out, just not ready to deal with what he could fairly assume would be some younger guy jumping in wanting to do the bromance bit and glom onto Lando's popularity - all while probably cynically planning to strategize a way to a better seat or maybe one day take Lando's place at McLaren. his knowledge of Oscar at that point was of what a strong up and coming threat he was and that he had the balls/audacity (depending who you ask) to go up against his development team. and that Oscar had gone F1 fandom viral multiple times and was actually an existing personality to F2 and F3 circles. nothing about Oscar seemed vulnerable or unsure and yet people would not stop asking Lando about him as if he were Lando's responsibility.

and as Oscar said, his low frequency personality can often get mistaken (even by Mahk Wibba!) for not caring or being engaged. and if someone wasn't aware of his social media then I could see them thinking that someone as cool and calm as Oscar was almost aloof or disinterested.

with that limited knowledge, Lando would have been right to be wary. hell, Lando was distinctly cool toward Daniel when Daniel showed up pushing the 'landan' agenda as replacing carlando. we all know they ofc became good friends. but we also know that Lando wasn't remotely going to be guilted by Netflix or the fans into feeling responsible or overly concerned for Daniel's struggles. Lando was still very young and focusing on cementing his place in the sport. Daniel's inner and outer turmoil as a 30-something was for him to deal with.

so knowing what we now do of Oscar, this was not an ideal setup for him to meet the driver and new teammate - The Lando Norris - who he'd been a fan of for almost all of his junior career.

and on Oscar's side, it is extremely safe to say that after the Alpine/DR drama he just wanted to get his head down and prove to McLaren he wouldn't be any trouble and was more than willing to put in overtime at MTC and solo with the engineers (I think he essentially said this in the Laura Winter interview). his time spent in the car would speak for itself. but I feel like it's also fair to assume that Oscar not only being a fan of Lando's already but also knowing that he was following in Daniel's wake, Oscar mostly tried to just… not be a problem for Lando. that he put all the power and control over how their relationship developed outside of the track and meetings fully into Lando's hands - if indeed a relationship would develop (and it doesn't always). Oscar was used to looking after himself and he'd probably preferred to not risk upsetting Lando's routine or worse, pissing him off. I would not be at all surprised if that's what Oscar assumed was the safest, simplest approach.

but !! Oscar not launching into a bromance for the sake of his own image and him not trying to push for a relationship immediately for the sake of cementing the partnership would absolutely have felt weird and alien to Lando. and considering what was popularly said about Oscar following the Alpine stuff, him not pushing himself into Lando's space possibly would've come off as distant or cold and probably a bit calculating/cocky. maybe even a bit as if Oscar was so sure of himself, his youth and so laser focused on his own advancement (and boy did Netflix frame it up that way, dramatic Dutch angle and all) that it seemed as if he didn't see the point or the need in benefiting from an alliance with Lando. again - that's just possible conclusions that someone like Lando who hates having his stability threatened might have felt.

this is an even more HUGE leap but we know that Oscar visibly watched Lando closely since the start of the season and was learning from him and about him. and that Andrea had already instilled his new 'team before driver competition' ethos. and that Lando had seen examples of Oscar showing up for him - as a teammate at least - when their relative 'fortunes' before the updates would regularly see Lando in a better position or a better result. and like, if I were to truly jump to a conclusion here I'd say that Lando's gradual thaw in between Australia and Monaco absolutely delighted Oscar - and that he wouldn't have expected any more from Lando at all. Lando being chummy with him during media and a bit of bonding over the state of the car at the time could easily have felt more than enough for Oscar. (and just to throw in here as well that in those much earlier videos together, there were little flashes of Lando's sarcasm bordering on passive agressive but Oscar just laughing delightedly. like I think he fully either didn't mind or didn't notice that Lando was bleeding a bit of genuine annoyance over the car into their dynamic at times. the British theory test is a very good example of that.) whereas from Lando's perspective, maaaaaybe Oscar being so content with so little effort from him - compared to Carlos and Daniel - could have confirmed his suspicion that Oscar wasn't actually interested in being truly friends or bonding? idk that's me really exploring a big blue vague space asgfjlsagf. even more than I already do lol.

now I'm not saying at ALL that these friendships are remotely phony or PR because they're absolutely close in real life! but there's also no doubt in saying that like a lot of the drivers, Carlos and Daniel show up to a new teammate with the usual bromance shtick in their back pocket. and with how successful carlando and dando have proven to be with fans and sponsors and networks, they play into it with just a touch of cynicism even now. again, not saying that's nefarious at all and Lando's no dummy when it comes to personal brands and "shipping" etc. the boy is a youtuber/streamer lol so he /knows/. but yea, the 'oooh aren't we acting gay!' and overly touchy feely stuff especially is entirely for the fans' benefit. and we eat it up aslgfjsagf.

but Oscar has literally never had a bromance in any of the stages of his career and he doesn't publicize any of his non-racing friendships like the boys from boarding school he's still close to. we know he has probably a higher level of awareness of queer existence/culture than most of these guys and he doesn't hide it. I know the bar is in hell but it's significant enough that Oscar's never once used 'gay' as either an insult or as a hilarious joke - and he's had an active presence on social media since 2019 (his dad managed everything before that). when a Prema challenge was for him to kiss someone in the room and Arthur kept pushing, we know from the thumbnail that Oscar gave him a kiss through the covid plexiglass and then rolled around giggling. but he didn't treat kissing a guy in particular as 'hilarious' and he's never 'played gay' with any other guys. he also doesn't talk about Lily as if she's an accessory or "his". he brings her up in the context of things they did together or things she told him etc. the boy just doesn't know any degree of toxic masculinity apparently!!

where this gets confusing for Lando is that men are always dying to touch or cuddle or fawn over him - whether it's as a cute little brother like Carlos does (sorry fellow carlandos but that's the non-rpf truth) as a stereotypical bromance like Daniel does (and oh how I love that his ass caught feelings when he didn't mean to) or some potent mixture of fondness and attraction, which constitutes basically every other man who's met Lando.

and god knows I've written time and again how poor Lando does not know what to do with Oscar when Oscar looks with such intensity and he says so many things that show Lando respect and care and kindness. but he simply will not touch him ?? and he won't even half-fake half-serious flirt with him !! and he won't even take the bait when a bromance moment is pushed on them ! and when they're pressed close like in Twister, Oscar looks pink and flustered and refuses to put his leg between Lando's even though Daniel and Carlos have practically wrestled Lando with limbs akimbo multiple times. Oscar initiating the side hug at Silverstone was such an event that even Lando looked staggered by it. that's so strange !! Oscar is not remotely homophobic and he's not at all stand-offish physically and he's fine with people touching and hugging him. sure he doesn't do excessive PDA even with Lily but he still does some. he clearly is fond of Lando and doesn't mind when Lando decides to touch him. but we haven't even seen them hug ! and Oscar will give Lando such sincere praise and respect but he won't use hyperbole or make jokes like Carlos saying he was jealous of Lando liking Daniel or Daniel cracking sexual jokes about him and Lando.

and I fully feel like that breaks Lando's brain a little and has to make him falter at times bc everyone touches Lando and crosses easily over into some form of casual intimacy with him. Lando hides absolutely nothing and is extremely easy going. people feel very comfortable engaging with him, knowing that he'll play along so long as they're being kind or friendly.

and I think that's where the decision Lando made to let his brattier moods out around Oscar comes from. it's a very weird sort of compliment to Oscar that Lando isn't worried about pissing him off or being rejected - and I think it came from Lando being a little frustrated with Oscar for not falling in line with how everyone else is with him and not being able to get a secure read on how Oscar feels about him. as well as like I said earlier how Lando would be a little passive aggressive in his humor but Oscar never took offense. so Lando lets all his petulance and impatience come out around Oscar in a way I don't really know that he does much with anyone else? I think there's been a few times he's gotten like that around Max but Max has a good strong hand with him. but even when Lando goes Full Brat like the beloved Tic Tac Toe filming day Oscar is still endlessly charmed by Lando and you can see Lando soften and blush bc he knows he’s really letting it all out and Oscar is still being so good with him. Carlos would’ve picked him up and put him in a bin and Daniel would’ve out bratted him ajsbjsbsjd.

we know that Silverstone was a huge stepping stone for Lando and Oscar's relationship but I wish I could pinpoint before then when it was that Oscar realized just how much he couldn't apply his former racing friendships as a model for interacting with Lando. that Lando is anything but 'typical blokey guy' and even more than that, he isn't remotely typical or like anyone else in any way. definitely it was after Australia and by Austria the shift had already happened and we could see Lando watching Oscar as much as Oscar watched Lando. the trust and beginnings of feeling comfortable had already begun to be earned before Silverstone for sure.

and by the time he did this BTG interview, the genuinely fond way he talked about Oscar and mentioned the ways they're similar is such a major shift from simply saying that Oscar is calm and super quiet and fast as a driver. then we hit Singapore (where Lando sought Oscar out to spray champagne on him) the double podiums and Oscar's extension.

and then the Austin weekend and the filming they did and Lando posting that beautiful photo of Oscar smiling back at him all seems to have brought them to a place where yea, if we're being honest the lingering looks and the sense of sweetness to their shared humor is the dynamic we've had ever since.

and at this point I think what people are mistaking for a fakeout or misunderstanding is just that their lives outside of racing are so vastly different. Lando is in perpetual motion and constantly in demand and if you don't do a common activity with him like golf or padel then good luck catching him. whereas Oscar has been snared by a growth spurt that seems like it's still going on and he's either sleeping, sleeping, sleeping some more, spending time with Lily, sleeping, or spending time with his friends if possible. so there just isn't really an overlap with how their lives are right now.

to go out on another pretty out there limb, the one thing I might say is that Oscar still defaults to letting Lando call the shots about how much he wants to spend time together outside of being teammates. his own life is so uncomplicated that from his perspective it would feel a little daunting to try and insert himself in Lando's ever-changing schedule and multiple friend groups - esp since he already has so much time with Lando anyway due to the racing calendar. we know that it happens at times and that it's never broadcasted, only mentioned after the fact. it tends to be flying together or choosing to have lunch or after race meals together. the one time that rly gets to me is after Vegas when Lando could barely muster the energy to hit the tables with Max, Ria and Aarava. we find out later he spent at least part of that night with Oscar and someone mentioned that Oscar will have wanted to watch the cricket so like? it's kind of touching as well as saying a lot that the best time for their social lives to overlap is when it can be calm and quiet and Lando specifically does not want to be busy or loud. Lando dopey with painkillers and moody about crashing out of the race, possibly holed up in a hotel room with Oscar and the cricket playing on TV just sounds very sweet and likely. but other than those moments, their social lives just don't intersect easily. yet!!

but yea, I think ?? that by now they've kind of reached a comfortable place of knowing - at least for now - what their relationship is. it's why I honestly assumed Lando was finally doing the visit to Daniel's ranch and wouldn't be meeting up with Oscar in Australia. they're simply not to the point of coordinating off season schedules. even less of a surprise since he ended up spending less than 24 hours in Perth before he and Martin moved on!

ofc we as fans cannot get enough content of them together and just want more. but a lot of that is McLaren social media deciding to drop off just as McLaren started climbing up the grid ??? if they can get their shit together for 2024 then we'll see as much Lando and Oscar as we always did Lando with Carlos and Daniel.

[ctitan98official]

Anonymous: Heya~ is it alright if I ask for what would happen if Bela and Cass fight over a maid/reader. As in they develop a crush on the same person and they're just bickering because of it. Don't get me wrong, I like Dani as much as the other person, but these two have my heart just a little bit more. Poly ending if possible please :)

I love all three sisters, but Cass is probably my favorite :D This is a great prompt. Reader, as usual, is gender-neutral. Let’s get into it!

You’re just a simple servant, you know? You try to do your job as best you can and not get in other people’s way, but… You suddenly find yourself caught in the middle of a very unexpected battle. Alcina Dimitrescu’s daughters have a very… Complicated reputation. They are gossiped about for their flirtatious ways, but they are also feared for their insatiable… Appetites? Somehow, Bela, the oldest, and Cassandra, the middle child, have both developed feelings for you.

You never anticipated this predicament, but now you’re entangled in their sibling rivalry.

Bela, with her golden locks and otherworldly beauty, sends shivers down your spine. She is very similar to her mother in how she behaves. She expects excellence and commands whatever room she’s in. Her piercing gaze makes your heart race. Her pull is undeniable and you find yourself drawn to her elegant demeanor.

On the other hand, Cass’s fiery spirit and mischievous nature captivate you in a different way. Her adventurous impulses and striking looks ignite a sense of excitement within you. Her vibrant personality and devilish smile are impossible to resist.

Now, sisterly bickering is a tale as old as time. But, as you become the center of their disagreements, the tension between Bela and Cass escalates. Despite their well-documented promiscuity, neither of the two have actually fallen for anyone before… But you are different. You make them both feel treasured. You make them laugh. You hang on their every word and always let them vent to you about the frustrations of the day. They vie for your attention, each attempting to outdo the other with grand gestures and displays of affection. Their fighting eventually becomes incessant, as if you’re a prize to be won in a game of love. Poor Daniela spends most of her time in Alcina’s study now to get away from it all.

Bela and Cass each insist that you pick one of them to be with. Yet, amidst the chaos, your feelings become increasingly complicated. You realize that you’re in love with both of them. Bela’s alluring presence and Cass’s infectious energy have intertwined themselves within your being and you can’t imagine choosing between them.

In a moment of clarity, you decide to confront the sisters and express your genuine emotions. You explain that your heart belongs to both of them, and that the thought of separating from either of them is unbearable. You hope they might understand and accept your feelings. “Bela? Cass? I… Think I’m falling in love with… Both of you. Asking me to choose between you two is impossible,” You say quietly.

You expect the worst. For them to scream at you or maybe even… Attack you in outrage for being unable to choose.

Surprisingly, though, Bela and Cass don’t seem upset like you thought they might be. They listen intently, absorbing your words, and after a moment of silent contemplation, they both excuse themselves to go talk privately for a second.

In your mind, you’re gearing up for World War 3. The Dimitrescu women are definitely not people you want to piss off. This was a mistake…

However, it actually doesn’t long for the sisters to rejoin you. It seems they have reached some kind of understanding. “I would like to ask you something, Y/N. But, I want you to really think it over before you answer,” Bela says.

You nod quickly. “Of course, anything, Bela,” You say.

“Cassie and I adore you. But, we also know that you are interested in both of us…” She begins. “We can’t stand to lose you, so what would you say to a compromise?” She questions.

Your eyes go wide at this. “Uhh… A compromise?” You ask, now a bit wary. What could she mean?

Cass can’t help but chuckle at the alarm on your face. “We would like to… Well, share you, darling,” She says, shrugging.

You immediately flush at this. Wow. Two of the most precious women in your life are willing to sacrifice so much just to be with you?

Your heart swells with gratitude and affection. You realize that their love for you transcends jealousy or possessiveness. It’s simple, pure. They just want to spend time with you and they are fine with taking turns every now and then if that’s what it takes. You look at them both and smile. “Let’s do this!” You cheer.

Bela squeals excitedly and gently cups your face in her hands, leaving a chaste, but tender, kiss.

Not to be outdone, Cass wraps her arms around your neck and places a searing kiss on your lips… Her tongue even finds its way into your mouth for a second. She’s getting a little bit carried away, but the sound of Bela clearing her throat gets her to stop.

How did you luck into finding two amazing girlfriends? You are so happy. You didn’t know you could have everything you’ve ever wanted. Together, you, Bela, and Cass create a loving balance, respecting each other’s needs and desires, and nurturing a profound love that defies societal norms.

Masterlist

[theragethatisdesire]

Hey there, asking not quite anonymously: fic-d here (can‘t ask with my main, u know)

let‘s hear some spicy headcanons, i am always down for that.

How would they react when you tell them about that threesome fantasy you had for quite some time. i want to know what name crosses their minds - who wouldn‘t they mind sharing you with? are they bi or bi-curious and if yes, who have they fantasised about?

and what position would totally make them lose their mind?

I leave the choice of who you write about to you.

FICD god u saved me i thought i was actually going to go have to pack my shit (i literally leave europe after 5 weeks tmrw haven't packed a thing)

so.....i'm gonna do a couple of the boys just bc i have my thoughts for each of them

nsfw after the cut

Jean - so jean to me is 100% bicurious. like not full-on bi, but would def fool around with a guy in a 3some situation. he's very situational though. it would have to be your idea, and i genuinely don't think he could do it if you were HIS girlfriend. but if you and eren approached him, for example, and he saw just how needy you are for him, how your eyes light up when his protests start to dwindle, he'd be putty in your hands. would absolutely let eren pull him in for a rough kiss while they're both inside you. has absolutely never fantasized about this exact thing before.

Reiner - reiner i don't see as being bi-curious, but moreso a giant simp who can't say no to you. he's insecure, sure, but he's more interested in watching his precious little princess take two cocks at once, amused by how greedy you always are, crying that it's "too much! too much!" but always wanting more. could only see an eren x reiner threesome if it was the same as the jean situation, but porco??? it takes you 30 seconds to talk him into it. reiner might not have it in him to be full-on mean to you the way you want, but he knows porco's capable of it, and he's more than happy to watch.

Eren - eren is sort of a wild card. he'd either be way too possessive to go for it, but with the right person (i picture him so much with jean its unreal) he can be convinced. he's not good at telling you no, and he's secure enough in your relationship to watch you beg for another man and know at the end of the day, everything between your legs is his. is absolutely shocked at how hot he finds it watching you and another man together, completely loses his impulse control and starts jerking the other guy off until he cums on your face or suddenly starts making out with him. refuses to elaborate on it when you question him later.

[heretherebedork]

I agree with almost everything about Ray and Mew but isn't Ray also using the fact that Mew's bf just cheated on him and they broke up as a vulnerability to obtain what he wants. Which is dating Mew? Again, Ray blamed and hated Top a few episodes ago for "cheating" on Mew with Boston, but the same Ray thinks it's OK to kiss Mew and Sand at the same party.. Same Ray thinks it's OK to have both Mew and Sand.

And here's the thing. I actually don't think he's *corrupting* Mew. He's not. He's not helping, but Mew is making his own choices and Ray is incapable of pulling himself out of his own shit, let alone anyone else. Misery loves company.

But it amazes me that people can see that so clearly and *still* blame Mew for everything that's happening with Ray here, up to and including Ray definitely trying to double-dip with Sand. AND Ray is using Sand. He is using Mew too but he's very much only using one of them on purpose.

Ultimately Mew is using Ray, but Ray's also using Mew.

I'm torn between 'Ray is using Mew' and 'Ray genuinely doesn't know how to say no to Mew' and those two come at the same issue but from different angles.

I don't blame Mew for any of it. Mew's decided to try to live a fantasy with Top and spiraled when it failed. That's what happened and he is using Ray to get down that spiral more easily and he is, in a way, pulling Ray down farther with him because he wants to go farther.

But as for Ray using Mew... that's actually an interesting question about Ray's character. He is definitely spoiled and selfish. He's wanted this chance with Mew forever because Mew literally shaped his idea of love by saving him and I don't think Mew could offer Ray that chance and have Ray turn it down no matter how much he loves Sand.

Now, is that using Mew, being used by Mew, being a broken young man who's struggling with addiction and loneliness, being unable to say no to someone you love? There are so many different aspects to Ray and to their relationship and their very broken friendship that I struggle to tease them apart.

Ray, I think, wants to sincerely love Mew and be the best one for him and, yes, he's taking the rebound from Top... but it's also very clear that it isn't what he expected and isn't fulfilling to him the way he hoped this would be, the way he thought that he would be filled up by love. Mew doesn't make Ray happy, no matter how much Ray wishes he did.

Ray has a very damaged outlook on love, possessiveness, emotions and himself. He was absolutely wrong to walk away from Mew and directly into kissing Sand and he is, definitely, not respecting any aspect of the relationship he and Mew are kind of in.

So... they're using each other equally? I'd really put this fairly equal. Mew is dating Ray mostly to piss Top off and also to try to be more like him while Ray is just desperate for anything and has absolutely no coping skills that aren't addiction.

Actually, I really do think Mew is using Ray more than Ray is using Mew but Ray is doing more wrong and is less able to cope than Mew is with any of what's happening. (Mew has a steady support system in Cheum and his mothers while Ray has a father who yells at him for the cost of his car when he's in the hospital). So... they're both wrong. In different ways.

Ray's damage is not Mew's fault but Mew is using that damage without thinking about it deeper. Mew is wearing Ray's persona as if he truly believes that Ray is doing better than he is at coping when he's the one who saved Ray from himself and has watched him dig a deeper hole constantly over the years and it feels... wrong. But they're all young.

I absolutely cannot imagine blaming Mew for this. But I also don't see the point in blaming Ray for this either. They're both messed up in this and they're using each other.

I just have a soft spot for Ray that I don't have for Mew so most of my focus is on Ray's pain. I won't even deny that. I care much, much more about Ray's eventual happiness than I do about Mew's and that's just me. Everyone is gonna have favorite characters.

But, no, this isn't entirely Mew being wrong or Ray being wrong. They're both wrong and they're going to hurt each other and I hope their friendship falls apart because neither of them is a good friend to the either or, frankly, capable of it at this point.

Mew cannot be a good friend to Ray and Ray cannot be a good friend to Mew and that's okay.

[coffeeghoulie]

Kinktober Day #5: Lingerie

The Ghostober prompts were put together by @kroas-adtam, and divider made by @gothdaddyissues, thank you both so much!

Pairing: Aeon/Cirrus

Summary: Aeon discovers things about himself when he steals a pair of stockings from Cirrus's laundry.

Heavily inspired by That One Picture of That One Person

Read under the cut or on AO3!

Aeon runs the black nylon through his fingers, glancing over his shoulders even though he triple checked the locked door. The feel of the fabric is intoxicating, and he feels like he's going insane.

He stares at himself in the full sized mirror opposite his door. His cheeks are flushed lilac, mismatched eyes wide as they flick between himself and the thigh high stockings in his hands. They're Cirrus's, impulsively nicked from her clean laundry. He had been in charge of returning the hampers of clean clothes back to each ghoul's room, and had snatched the pair of stockings on top of Cirrus's hamper and scurried back to his room, locking the door behind him.

He leans closer to the mirror, unable to tear his eyes away from himself, bare except for a pair of well-worn, red boxer briefs. He holds the fabric of the stockings in whiteknuckled fingers, incredulous with himself. Stealing is incredibly out of character for him, not to mention one of his packmates' underwear.

Aeon swallows hard and shuts his eyes. He leans against his dresser, pulling the stockings on. Cirrus is of a similar build to him, and the stockings fit well enough. Aeon hops on one foot, pulling the stocking up. The elastic band, black floral lace, digs ever so slightly into his thigh, and he can't help but curiously poke at the bit of pudge that spills out over the top.

Before he can psych himself out too much, he pulls on the other stocking. Looking down at himself, at his legs covered by the dark, sheer fabric, makes him feel things he doesn't know how to describe. He rubs his calves together, and the novel feeling of nylon on nylon makes him shudder.

There's a burning low in his gut and he realizes with a start he's getting hard. He presses the heel of his hand over his underwear, biting back a groan. The shame of it flushes his cheeks darker, fucking groping himself in Cirrus's stockings, even though no one will ever know about it.

He looks himself in the eye in the mirror. He's going to take the stockings off, he tells himself, put them in his hamper, and go to her and say there was a mishap in the laundry room. Her stuff got mixed in with his. Honest mistake, it happens all the time.

Aeon goes to pull the stocking off and freezes. What if he stretched them out? If he ruined them? She'd know. All of the ghouls of his new pack are intimidating in one way or another, but Cirrus? She's practically the leader of the pack, even though they all swear up and down there's no real leader.

The fear mixes with his arousal in a strange, interesting way, and Aeon's torn about taking off the stockings. He genuinely thinks he looks good, hot, pretty, in a way he didn't before. But he should have asked, he's damned himself to trouble. He gets lost in his thoughts, unable to tear his eyes away from his mirror.

A knock on the door makes him jump a foot off the ground. "Aeon, darling?"

Aeon freezes. It's her. He swallows hard. "Yeah?"

"Can you come to the door please, darling?" she asks, and despite his brain screaming at him to hide, still wearing nothing but his underwear and her stockings, he goes to the door.

He cracks it open a smidge, just enough to look through. "Yeah, Cirrus?" he says, doing his damn best to keep his voice level and his scent a neutral calm.

Cirrus raises an eyebrow. "I'm missing a pair of my stockings from my laundry, darling," she says, and it takes every cell in Aeon's body to keep from slamming the door in her face. "The sisters down in the laundry room said you returned our hampers. Would you happen to know if something happened to them? They're a pair I like quite a bit."

Aeon feels his heart sink, his tail thrashing nervously behind him. "Uh, um, no? I don't know if something happened to them, Cirrus, I'm sorry."

She doesn't quite make eye contact with him, looking somewhere over his shoulder. "Are you sure, Aeon?" She asks, and Aeon swallows quietly.

"Yeah?" he says, mentally cursing the way his voice cracks. "I'm sure."

She looks him in the eye, raising her eyebrow. "Your mirror's right behind you, darling. I can see you."

Aeon's face falls, his hand shaking where he holds on to the doorknob. She can see him in her stockings in the reflection. "I'm sorry," he whispers, the trembling spreading up his arms until his entire body shakes. "Cirrus, I'm sorry, I just wanted to try them on, I know I should have asked, I shouldn't have lied, I'm so sorry, please don't be mad at me, I'm so sor-"

She cuts him off with a finger on his lips. "Let me in, darling," she says, her face so neutral and their mental link inactive, it makes Aeon's mind race frantically, trying to figure out what she's thinking.

He steps back from the door, wringing his hands together as she circles around him like a bird of prey. "Cirrus," he whispers, and he knows she can hear his heart hammering against his ribs.

She stops in front of him, tilting her head at him. She looks him up and down. "You look pretty in my stockings, baby," she says, like she's stating a fact.

"Thank you," he whispers, unable to look her in the eye. "I'm sorry, Cirrus."

She shushes him. "Just ask next time, darling. I'd love to dress you up, make you all pretty. Clearly you like it."

He nods, his face hot.

"You still feel guilty, don't you, baby?"

Aeon swallows, nods again. "I'm sorry," he repeats, unsure if he can say anything else. His face burns when he realizes he's still hard.

"Would you like to make it up to me?" Cirrus asks, sitting down on his bed. She spreads her thighs, her tail tapping against his mattress.

He nods frantically, and she looks up at him, something in her eyes that he can't place.

"Give me a color, Aeon. You don't have to do anything you don't want to," she tells him, her voice much softer, warm, almost.

Aeon takes a deep breath, feeling small in front of her even though she's sitting. "Green, Cirrus," he tells her. "I'm green."

She grins hungrily. "I'll tell you what, Aeon. I've seen the way you kneel for Dewey and Rain when we're performing. I think you'd look so pretty kneeling for me in my stockings."

It turns out that he does.

[eggsaladstain]

I just love the way you write, so gonna pick your brain here: why do you think people are so drawn to Darklina? Is it the tragedy of it? The gothic aspect to it? The darkness (funnily enough) of it? Or is it just the chemistry between the actors? Thoughts?

hi anon, thanks for reading and thanks for the ask! i've been sitting on this for a bit because i don't really ship darklina and thus don't have many thoughts about them but then once i started thinking about them i couldn't stop so here we are.

i can't speak for anyone else but for me personally what i love about this pairing is the tension and symbolism and the epic two-halves-of-a-whole vibe they've got going on and there are also some interesting parallels between darklina and kanej, so despite not actively shipping it, i genuinely think it's one of the most interesting ships in the entire grishaverse and certainly the most complex and complicated relationship alina has.

i'll talk about both the books and the show because i think they each do a good job showing different aspects of their relationship, and i actually kind of think you need to take the books and show together to get the complete picture of this compelling if ultimately doomed ship.

please know, anon, that when i opened this ask, i had planned on a pretty short answer and then i ended up writing 2k words about this because yes, apparently i do have thoughts and yes, that is a threat.

let's dive in.

at its core, darklina is about the attraction and balance between opposites. he summons shadows, she summons light, they're two sides of the same coin, they're made for each other! but then we find out that the darkling is actually manipulating alina, that he's the one who created the fold, that he's her enemy, and instead of sinking the ship, it actually makes it even better because you get that added tension and forbidden attraction between good and evil, between the hero and villain.

in the books, their relationship goes from romantic to adversarial to the mutual understanding that they have a connection to each other that they will never have with anyone else. for all its faults (and there are many), the original trilogy does a fantastic job fleshing out alina's relationship with the darkling and showing the love, the animosity, and above all else, the undeniable pull between them. we really get a sense of alina's acute loneliness and desire to belong somewhere, not just before she discovers her powers, but even after she comes into her power and learns that despite her new tribe with the grisha, she's still different, she's still ultimately alone. it's no wonder then that she would be so drawn to the darkling, who understands her loneliness, who gives her the attention she craves, who looks at her like she is something special. even after she finds out the truth about him, she continues to reach for him through their tether because despite the manipulation and lies, he is still the only one who truly understands the weight that she carries, he is still the only one who truly sees and embraces the darkness within her. he's her mirror image, reflecting not only her capacity for good and her desire to save ravka, but also showing her her darkest desires and instincts.

their relationship doesn't have nearly as much nuance in the show, and i get it, they only had a limited number of episodes, but the decision to turn darklina into a one-sided obsession on the darkling's part in season 2 was a big misstep in my opinion. in the books, their relationship is built on a mutual longing between both of them and even when alina finally kills him, she still grieves for him, says his name, and sees him through his final moments so he's not alone at the end. i've written before how much i love the subversive ending of ruin and rising and i especially love the closure we get in the relationship between alina and the darkling. it's a pyrrhic victory, not a triumphant one, and the darkling's death is very much a loss for alina. she does not kill him because of vengeance or to save the world, she kills him as a mercy, to put an end to his relentless suffering. the final book also acknowledges, crucially, that while the evil is ultimately defeated, this evil was not some monster or demon but a flesh and blood man, a boy.

in the books, alina is in her late teens and while the darkling is centuries old, he looks to be only a few years older than her. i understand why they chose to age up the characters on the show and ben barnes is fantastic as the darkling, but the fact that they were visibly closer in age in the original trilogy means there was less of an overt power imbalance between them because while the darkling was still the leader of the second army, he was also a bit more approachable due to his appearance of youth. not only that, their relationship in the books has an innocence that it doesn't really have in the show because a 17 year old girl being friendly and flirting with a 20 year old boy is fundamentally different from a 25 year old woman pursuing a relationship with a 39 year old man.

a younger darkling is also SO much more tragic, especially since his entire character can be summed up in this absolute banger of a quote from ruin and rising: in this moment he was just a boy - brilliant, blessed with too much power, burdened by eternity. the tragedy of the darkling is that he was forced to bear the burden of his power and persecution when he was just a boy and he had to continue bearing that burden for centuries, and it's so much more tragic to see a life cut short at 20 vs 40 because of that innocence that we associate with youth, even if that youth is an illusion and even (and especially) if that innocence is a lie. the tragedy of the darkling is that he had so much power but at his core, he was just a lost, lonely boy, and it makes him a much better foil for alina because, had she not lost her power in the books, she may have gone down the same path and that quote could have just as easily applied to her.

now, having said all this, the show, for all it faults (and there are also many), does a much better job (more so in season 1) of humanizing the darkling. part of that is just due to the books being written in alina's POV, meaning we never really know how the darkling actually feels, so being able to see the darkling's actions and motivations through a more objective perspective in the show goes a long way in fleshing out his character. the other part is, of course, ben barnes and the way he highlighted the tragedy in the darkling's story and tried his best to elevate the character above a typical villain, despite the season 2 script doing him no favors. in the books, we only see the darkling through alina's lens so we don't ever truly know how he actually feels about her, but the show makes it very clear that the darkling's feelings for alina are real. maybe it starts out as manipulation, but the power imbalance between them very quickly turns in her favor as it becomes clear that he needs her, desperately, in a way that she doesn't really need him. alina may have felt lonely for 20-some years of her life, but for the darkling, it's been centuries. it's centuries of loss and persecution that have made him who he is, and it's no wonder then that he would be drawn to alina, a literal light in the darkness, and see her as his salvation.

as i mentioned earlier, the show makes their relationship much more one-sided with the darkling refusing to let alina go, even after she hurts him, even as she hates him. in their final confrontation after the fold, he knows she is there to kill him, but when his nichevo'ya has her by the throat, he tries frantically to stop it because in spite of everything he's done, all the atrocities he's committed, the one thing he will never do is kill her. he certainly doesn't deserve a pat on the back for this and his behavior towards her is objectively bad and creepy, but it also shows just how all-consuming his desperation is. after centuries of searching, he has finally found someone who is like him, and he cannot bring himself to give her up, no matter the cost to himself, no matter the cost to her. it's incredibly selfish, but it's also achingly human.

in the books, we don't really see this desperation until the end of ruin and rising when alina loses her power and the darkling realizes that he is now truly alone, that he has no longer has an equal, and alina herself realizes that his pain will be endless. in the show, we see this theme - his desire and his need for her - woven throughout his interactions with alina from the very beginning, culminating with her death at his hands, albeit under very different circumstances than the book.

this is why i say that the books and show complement each other when it comes to darklina - with the books, you see how alina was drawn to the darkling and how she genuinely cared for him in spite of everything, and in the show, you see how the darkling was drawn to alina and how desperate he was to save her from following in his footsteps.

there's even a set of complementary quotes that perfectly encapsulate why this ship is so compelling and why it's so doomed.

in ruin and rising, you have the darkling saying you might make me a better man and alina answering and you might make me a monster.

and in 2x08, you have the darkling saying let me be your monster. let me carry the hatred of this world. who will be there to save you? and alina answering, i will save myself.

the allure of darklina is that it's about finding the one person who makes you feel less alone, the one person who can save you and destroy you in equal measure, the one person who sees and accepts you as you are, even the worst parts of you.

the tragedy of darklina lies with the darkling, because he is driven by pain and loss and the desire to escape both of those things. this is a man who will never allow himself to love someone more than he fears the pain of losing them, and he only allows himself to love alina because he believes he will never lose her to the ravages of time, he only allows himself to love her because he thinks he will be safe from pain with her. now compare him to sankta neyar, another character who has also lived and lost for centuries. as i previously wrote about here, the darkling views love as a weakness while neyar views it as a strength, and it is because of this (and, you know, the atrocities) that he ultimately loses alina. and despite how much alina resists him, the darkling is unable to let her go, unable to stop himself from trying to save her, even when she makes it clear that she does not want or need him to do so. the tragedy of darklina is that this is the only way he knows how to love her.

now, let's look at kanej, which has more than a few similarities with darklina. much like the darkling and alina, kaz and inej also have twin traumas, they also understand each other in a way that no one else does, they have also seen and accepted the worst parts of each other. like calls to like applies to them just as much, and even the r&r quote fits them perfectly as inej does make kaz a better man and kaz does make inej a monster. in six of crows, kaz tells oomen, who stabbed inej, my wraith would counsel mercy but thanks to you, she’s not here to plead your case and in 2x08, we see kaz offering to buy out kesh and any other indentures after inej asked him to consider it in 1x01 (gifset here). and it's kaz who teaches inej to kill, who gives her the tools she needs to survive in the barrel, culminating in her vicious threat to pekka rollins at the end of crooked kingdom and her declaration that they destroy him in 2x03 when she finds out pekka killed kaz's brother.

kanej is such a great foil for darklina because where darklina said you might make me a better man and you might make me a monster, kanej said we will make each other better, and we will be monsters together. kaz and inej each put in the effort to overcome their respective traumas in order to be together and they each do violent, unsavory things in order to protect the other, and despite the fact that both crooked kingdom and 2x08 end with inej leaving, it's clear that the two of them will find their way back to each other in time.

alina doesn't end up making the darkling a better man, though on the show, she does become a monster, for mal by using merzost to bring him back, and for ravka, by using the shadow cut to kill the fjerdan spy. it's a really fitting evolution of her character on the show and the natural progression of her relationship with the darkling, that she would defeat him only to become him in the end.

as i said at the top of this, i don't actively ship darklina, but i am fascinated by the tension and complexity of their relationship and i love how the book canon and show canon build on each other to give us a complete picture of these two individuals who are so similar yet so different at the same time. they're parallel lines who will never cross. they're the sun and moon who can never share the same sky. they're the perfect tragedy.

[yesimwriting]

Hey just wanted to say I loved ch 4 of Final Girl 😌 Hope you don't mind me asking, but I'm kinda confused about the Billy and Stu dynamic lol bc it feels like yeah, they are sexually active with one another, but it also seems like the only person they are romantically interested in is Y/n 👀 bc obviously there's a difference between sexual and romantic attraction. It feels like they are only interested in dating Y/n, not each other, ya know?

With Billy and Stu, it's more about using each other from the looks of it, but with Y/n they want an actual relationship, which is why I actually thought this was a vee poly book aka Billy and Stu are only gonna be dating Y/n, not each other, bc that's just the vibe I originally got. I won't lie, I prefer vee poly stuff cause I'm not the sharing type🤣 but obviously that's just a personal preference of mine. I guess I just want some clarification on how Billy and Stu feel towards each other vs what they feel towards Y/n lol

hi!! you're actually doing me a favor by asking this bc i've actually thought about this a lot lol

Okay so the vibe i get from them and am trying to focus on is kind of specific (if that makes sense lol)? Like this might just me projecting my own views on friends with benefit type of scenarios, but i think once you get to a certain level of closeness with someone and you're having sex, is it really that much different than an actual relationship?

We all know Billy and Stu have issues with empathy (in different ways, i'd be willing to elaborate lol) and attachment. They're kind of both all or nothing when it comes to genuinely caring about people. I think that they're both so close and trust each other so much that there is a romantic form of caring there, but it goes unsaid. I don't think either of them would really call or think of each other as 'boyfriends' unless it was during a possessive/jealous moment.

So, if that makes sense, they're 'together' in an unsaid way. Neither of them really cares about anyone else (except for y/n, ofc, but she joined the picture way later obviously lol) and they tell each other everything (even their really fucked up desires--both sexually, and in real life). But they're not really the types to have a sit down conversation and define the relationship. They both are happy with what they have, and like the flexibility of it bc of attachment issues and an awareness that neither of them would care about anyone else the way they care about each other.

What they want from Y/n kind of makes things even more complicated. They want to be with her in a different way than they want each other. Part of it is a little sexist, like bc Y/n's a girl, they think that she'd want a more defined relationship and she wouldn't be able to handle their usual dynamic (kind of fair, but it's not bc Y/n's a girl lol). Also, she's not a killer so that automatically makes her a little weaker in their eyes.

I think a major part of the 'fantasy' of having Y/n comes from the idea of them having her together. I don't know if that makes sense, but they love the idea of getting with Y/n and knowing that it's another plan/thing they pulled off together. Plus they're so attached (even though neither of them would admit it) that having the person they really like, the person they see as different and worth their time, together is really the cherry on top of everything.

Basically, they just have an understanding with each other, but the 'dream' is a relationship with all 3 of them. At least that's how it is in my head, but I try to leave that at least semi-open so everyone can interpret/project what they want lol.