#i feel like some of the fucking crazy antics i went through in my teens are pretty interesting stories

[weed666]

man :/ trauma stuff uwu

thinking about how when i was 15 i dated a fictive who was 16 but was bodily 18 but like the host also had a crush on me and wanted to date me but i told her i didnt feel that way about her and she LITERALLY said like "i dont understand, youre supposed to like me back!" and like had a breakdown over me not liking her back. but i continued to date her headmate and be tentative friends with her. what a fucked up era of my life god damn. was gonna say "whyd i do that" but its because i was 15. more like whyd SHE do that. she was 18 and out of high school and had a job and i was a sophomore in highschool. hello???

like looking back on it, its now COMEDIC how she literally did the "but you were nice to me. youre supposed to like me back. thats how this works. i dont understand." and i, a 15 year old, had to tell her, an 18 year old, that she was not entitled to me liking her back just because i was nice to her. a 15 year old should not have to do that. a 15 year old should especially not have to remain kind while doing that, but i did.

and she just did so much fucked up stuff too while i was dating her headmate like she made me uncomfortable constantly bc she would talk about sex and i, a 15 year old sex-repulsed asexual, told her to not fucking do that, and she would get upset and offended that i set that boundary. and would frequently break it after the fact.

another thing that i can now see as comedic is that. ok so the fictive in question that i was dating was vriska. and like a few months before we met, i had also formed a vriska fictive, and knew it was a plural thing, but was syscoursed out of knowing this, and instead was just like "im kin with vriska and have 'kinshifts'" but i was kind of secretive about it for a while because, yknow, everyone hates vriska. i didnt want my friends to know. so i started dating this vriska fictive and i remember she was like. uncomfortable with the fact that i cosplayed vriska. and in my head i was like LMAO IF U THINK THATS BAD WAIT TIL YOU HEAR THAT SHES LIVING IN MY HEAD. but i never told her. lol.

idk why im posting all of this i guess i just want to be like. seen. bc yeah that was definitely abuse and like. idk attempted grooming??? like she was definitely trying to make me comfortable with talking about sex with her but i wasnt having that shit.

anyways. lalalalala im gonna go back to reading now

[pastel-peach-writes]

“Well, You’re A Fun One, Aren’t Cha?” | Jinx x Reader Headcanons

╰┈➤  PLOT: Jinx stays true to her word. She said she was going to make Y/n her best friend and apprentice and now, that’s who they are to her. Life is different for Y/n as they stay at Jinx’s place, however, they’ve gotten used to the bright blue-haired human.

**╰┈➤  WARNINGS: Cursing, Not Safe For Ramadan, Mentions of Blood (Minor), Cuts and Bruises (Injury), Not Proof Read

This is a prequel to my previous Jinx x Reader! Also, these are some headcanons and quick stuff I’ve thought of. I literally made this on a whim LMAO.

 ೋ Enjoy!⍣ ೋ 

– SOOOO after she picked Y/n up and dragged them to her base, Jinx cleaned up their injuries and tended to anything else. She wasn’t one for caring for people, at least in a nursing way, but, being Vi’s little sister does have some benefits.

– As she’s cleaning up the dirt and blood on their face, Jinx’s bright blue eyes scan their skin and cheeks. At first, it was to make sure there wasn’t anymore small cuts or rocks hiding, but in the light and with their eyes red and puffy from crying, Jinx realized a small something.

--

“You’re actually pretty.” Jinx rolls in her chair to throw away a cotton ball.

Shocked by the sudden compliment, Y/n looks over at the round cheeked woman. “What?”

Looking back, Jinx turns to the smaller human. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

--

– Jinx obviously had no clue about the affect she had on the newly made apprentice. She didn’t know her thumbs grazing their skin made them hot and squirmy. She didn’t know her gaze was intimidating and enticing at the same time. 

– She didn’t know her small bounces and excited tone made them smile so wide, their eyes grew wrinkles in the corners and their cheeks burned from pain.

– Nonetheless, after Y/n got over the crazy and swirling emotions that rose about a week or so after they’ve been “kidnapped”. 

– Spending days, weeks, and then months with Jinx, all her antics became second-nature. It was normal to see her with a crooked smile and walk like an upset teen whenever Silco pissed her off. 

– In fact, Y/n now knew what and what not to do when Jinx gets pissed off.

--

RULES OF THE JINX

ONE: no touching. 

Do not touch her shoulders, back, hands, legs, NOTHING. If you do, a bomb will go off.

TWO: give her space... but also allow her to be in your space.

--

– Jinx is the type of person who wants to experience her emotions alone and fully before she gets any advice or wants to talk about it. She would find a spot on a couch, on one of the metal pillars, or sprawl herself on her workstation. 

– HOWEVER.

– If she wants to be with you when she’s feeling down, for FUCKS SAKE DO NOT TALK TO HER. 

– Your company is comforting and helps her through the tough feelings. Your company, and most importantly, your silence is enough. 

--

With a loud groan, Jinx grabs the black chewed up office chair. She rolls it over to her working partner. The high-pitched squeaking of chair’s wheels going ee! eer! with every roll. Jinx sits in the chair, cross-legged with her elbow on the table and her cheek resting on her knuckles. For a second, she smiles. The tongue that poked out the corner of Y/n’s mouth as they soldered two metal rings together the cause.

However, once the tongue slipped back into their mouth, she frowned again. She brings her other elbow to the table and holds onto her arms. She rests her forehead on her forearms and closes her eyes.

Y/n noticed Jinx’s energy drop and assumed it had something to do with the long-faced bitch. So, they went to their secret chamber of snacks and grabbed one of Jinx’s favorite. They placed it in front of her arms before they went back to work.

The crinkle of the bag sparked Jinx’s interest in what Y/n had bought over. She lifted her eyes, sees a small multicolored bag of purple, hot pink, and bright blue, and perks up. She sniffles and wipes the tears that rolled down her cheeks with the back of her hand before she grabs and opens the bag.

Y/n smiles a little to themselves as they listen to munching of the happier girl.

--

– Despite the rollercoaster of emotions, highs and lows, and the breakdowns she’s gone through, Jinx is actually the most stable person in your life right now... I know. Crazy, isn’t it?

– But, she shows you she cares and worries about your well-being.

–– _“Hey! Did you eat today? Drink water? If the answers to those questions are no, you better go and change them~!” _

_––“You’re kidding, right? Y/n, that’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard from you. Are you okay? I’m usually the one with ideas like that.” _

––“Jinnnnx! Get off!” “Noo! You have a spot of dirt on your face, let me lick it off!” “WHAT THE HELL?”

– Jinx making you her apprentice is probably one of the best things to happen to you. You have someone you’re close with, you’re given a home... even though she destroyed your last one, and someone to talk to.

–– “Hey, you have a cute butt.” –– “EXCUSE ME?!”

Oh, yeah... and there was her outbursts too. Still, you love Jinx and wouldn’t want to change your relationship for anything... even if her hand looks so pretty to hold.

[erythrum]

𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘖𝘯𝘦

𝙋𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜: 𝘙𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘹 𝘧𝘦𝘮!𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜: 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨,𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘧𝘧,𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘢𝘧𝘦,𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘹,𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘴,𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨

𝙖/𝙣: 𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺

𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩: 1.9𝘬 +

𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮: 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘨𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘺/𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘧𝘦

✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵

The boneyard was a melting pot, pogues, tourons, and kooks unalike all gathering for one of the last kegger's of summer. This mash together of kids from all over Kildare and the mainland always ended in chaos, it was just a matter of time before shit went down tonight.

Rafe had his arm thrown around my shoulders as we walked down the path to the boneyard. I could faintly see Topper and Kelce downing the cups of pogue provided beer. Didn’t matter whether or not the kooks or pogues could get along, as long as it was on the cut and alcohol was provided, the teens could get along for a limited amount of time.

“Hey y/n! What are you doing here? I thought you were leaving for college this week?” It was Sarah who yelled out to me, running up to her brother and I in her floral printed dress. Rafe’s arm dropped to his side as she came with Topper not far behind.

“Oh I just couldn’t miss my last kegger before leaving, Duke can wait on me one more day.” The two of us embraced in one of those hugs that has you shifting your weight from side to side. I guess she didn’t realize I wouldn’t leave for college for another month, but I was sure she was already too drunk for me to explain it to her that she was not thinking of the right month.

As Sarah was hanging onto me probably a little too tight, Topper was giving Rafe one of those looks that said everything but also nothing at the same time. Like prior knowledge had to be known to understand the context. I of course did not, those two always had some stupid shit planned and I can almost guarantee it had to do with messing up the pogues’ little party.

The sun hung low on the horizon after I had finished my third cup, the colors illuminating the sky so brilliantly it felt like a fantasy. I stripped off my top and headed for the water, the pinks and purples of the sky reflected in its crashing waters. It was so cold, the temperature sent shivers up my body and a familiar rush in my energy. Almost waist deep now, I submerged my body completely under the water. It was always how I remembered it, calm and refreshing.

“C’mon Rafe! Don’t be a little bitch and get in there, I see the way you look at her,” Topper spewed, pushing his friend to have a little courage.

“Man what the fuck are you even talking about?” Deny everything Rafe thought.

“Oh come on dude, you’ve been making please love me eyes at her since the sixth grade, and please fuck me eyes at her since the tenth, when are you gonna do something about it for once? You’ve got a month to make a move, or regret it your entire life,” Topper continued his monologue as Rafe tuned him out, too distracted by the girl, his girl, staring out into the Atlantic like it was calling to her.

His heart was pounding as he made a B-line for the water, a light jog, but not so fast someone would think he’s crazy, or just madly in love. He swiftly pulled his polo over and off his head before plunging into the chilly water. Topper clearly knew whatever he'd said had worked.

I heard him before I saw him, Rafe approached and submerged himself just as I had a few minutes before.

“If we get hypothermia I'm sending you my hospital bills.” He laughed, wading around in the shallow water.

“Oh shock! Rafe Cameron threatening his medical bill payments? I never could’ve guessed!” We enjoyed our few minutes of peace before talking again.

“But it’s basically impossible anyways, you get use to it after awhile, maybe it’ll calm your hot-headed ass down,” I giggled and prepared for what always came next. Rafe pickup me up around my waist, lifting me over his shoulder before attempting to sprint as fast as he could deeper into the water. His hands had been wrapped around the back of my knees for a few moments until he threw himself and I down into the deeper water, both of us completely submerged beneath the surface.

The sun was dipping below the horizon now, and the deep blue of the sky was beginning to envelop the boneyard. We had come up for air, and I began splashing him with the water around us, payback for his antics. Theres no way in hell I’d be able to throw him down into the water too, this was the best I could come up with. The two of us were laughing before Rafe grabbed my arms and twisted me around so my back was flesh against his front. I gave up on trying to fight him off. Instead I just rested against him in an attempt to catch my breath.

“Hey Rafe, can we talk about something?” Oh fuck she knows, he thought. This was gonna be it, it’s going to fuck up his entire plan.

“Yeah, uh sure, like here?” He questioned.

“Maybe not here, I think we’ve got as audience,” he knew she was referring to Topper and Kelce, they were watching from the beach.

"The truck then?" I nodded my head, not at all prepared for the favor I needed to ask of him.

The sand stuck to my feet as we headed back to where his truck was, the chilly air wrapping around my body. Rafe opened the backseat door and pulled out a towel for me, always prepared. He pulled the passenger side door and I slid into the seat, the heat of his car pumping through the interior. My heart was pounding, but I wasn’t sure if his was too. We made it about halfway to tannyhill before speaking.

“Soooo,” he said.

“You’re going to think I’m absolutely crazy, Rafe," I laughed in an attempt to hide my nervousness.

"First of all, you're already crazy, and second of all, I'm pretty sure I know exactly what you're going to say," his hands were clenching the steering wheel harder now.

""Oh really? You already knew that I was going to ask you to take my virginity?" I don't know why, but I just blurted it out.

His car came to a screeching halt on the side of the road, lunging me forward as he stared in disbelief at the road infront of him.

"Im sorry, what did you just say?"

"That I want you to take my virginity? V-card? Cherry? Damn Rafe how else am I supposed to say it?"

"And," there was a pause in his voice like he didn't believe me, "your being serious, correct?"

“Correct.”

“And, come again? I need to hear that one more time.”

“Jesus fuck Rafe, I’m being dead serious, I want you to take my virginity, what about that is so hard to explain?” It came out as more of a yell than a scream, he took a long sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. He was thinking long and hard, I knew because he always had something to say, and now he wasn’t saying anything at all. It felt like hours had past before he spoke again.

“Why?”

It was my turn for a long sigh.

“Well, I guess I’ve been thinking about it for awhile, and I want to do it, but whenever I think about it in my head the only person I can see doing it with is you. You’re the only person I trust enough with my own body, I mean shit,” I had to think for a long time before admitting what came next.

“Whenever someone, you know like Scarlet or whoever, asks about who I’m interested in or whatever it may be, not a single person ever comes to mind except you, it’s like all I see when I look at you is you, everything else is like blurred around you and whenever I think about who the love of my life will be, I always think of you, not some mystery guy that I haven’t met yet.” I didn’t plan for this to be a full confession on how I feel about him, but here I am spilling everything I’ve been holding in my heart for the last three years.

“And I know that sounds fucking stupid I know, I mean we’re still teenagers for crying out loud, but when I’m with you it always feels like I’m home.” I was nearly crying at this point, struggling to get the words out of my chest that had been waiting for so long. He was listening, deadly quiet, and I had no idea what he was thinking for once in my life.

“You know what? Just forget about it, can you take me home please?” I was definitely crying now, it felt like I’d ripped my own heart to shreds. Theres no way he could ever feel the same way about me, he protected me like I was his own blood, not like he was in love with me. My face was nestled into the sleeve of my hoodie as the tears came out. His hands had moved back to the steering wheel now, gripping onto it so tight I thought it might break. The muscles in his forearms almost looked like they were twitching, but he still had the car in park.

He wanted to just grab her and kiss her right now, the girl he'd been in love with since the sixth grade sitting in his passenger seat, her seat, confessing her feelings to him. Rafe knew it was alot for her to ask, but it meant even more to him everything that she had said after her original question. And there was no way in hell he was going to let her get away again.

Rafe reached his hand over to hold onto her tear stained cheek.

"y/n," The bother of them were breathing heavily.

"I'm in love with you," it slipped from my mouth and he leaned in to kiss me. It felt like I had a wave of electricity coursing through my body. His hand grasping onto my face as he leaned over the center console. My hand reaching for his chest, his lips on mine as we intertwined with one another. It felt like everything in my life was complete, and the tension has been released. His fingers tangled in my hair.

It was over before I realized it, and Rafe was driving me home. My breathing hadn't normalized in any way, it was like I needed to throw up my heart to get the knot out. I couldn't stop thinking about the way his had felt on me, the way his lips felt on mine, the way it felt for once in my life like I was loved.

"i'll think about it," his voice cracked.

I leapt out of his car as fast as I could with tears streaming down my face. Did he feel the same? Did he not? My brain was spinning so fast I barely made it inside my bedroom door before collapsing. I wrapped myself up in the thick comforter, a heart full of ache and a body exhauster with sleep.

✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵

[starkerdestroyedmylifee]

Thief

Peter tries not to feel the weight of his backpack as he makes his way up from the lab. He really does. But, it’s heavy. 

‘Well, of course it is.’ 

Peter curses himself, popping up each step and hoping- praying- he doesn’t bump into anyone on the way. It’s still heavy, though. Even with his super-strength; heavy, and metal, and not his, because he really, really shouldn’t have it.

At all.

When the day had begun, Peter’d played the part of ‘devastated mentee’ to a T. His eyes had been puffy, exiting his aunt May’s car, rubbing his runny nose on the cuff of his suit.

No, not his suit.

Some store-bought thrift that didn’t quite fit his shoulders. A black jacket with fabrics frayed at the base, and dress-pants not quite long enough. Pepper had offered paying to get something tailored, but Peter’d declined quickly. It didn’t feel right, taking money from Mr. Stark’s fortune, even beyond the grave. They hadn’t known each other well enough. Which is odd, considering he’s currently attending said man’s funeral.

Peter tries not to linger on the fact that he’s technically (Technically meaning actually) stealing from Mr. Stark, and instead makes his way through the crowded living room. The majority of guests seem to be winding down now, what with Tony’s eulogy all said and done. Only soft, meditated tones, and consoling hands on shoulders, and Ms. Pepper Potts- smiling politely, but dead on her feet- striking up some conversation about sewage. He meets her gaze, and the weight of his backpack is bone-breaking.

She doesn’t walk over to him, thankfully. Of course, he’s just another kid wrapped up in her late husband’s antics. The invitation sent their way had been courteous at best, but worded as something that was supposed to happen, despite being a bit inappropriate. Peter’s a stranger, after all. And, what happens when you invite strangers into your house?

They steal your stuff.

Still, Ms. Potts nods his way. Soft; disinterested. Her gaze quickly slides over him, onto another guest far more deserving of her attention. Despite this, Peter’s back goes rigid for the few seconds spent on him. He holds his breath- freezes- before letting it out in relief.

‘This is horrible.’ Peter thinks to himself. ‘I’m literally going to hell for this.’ 

It doesn’t matter at this point. Not with his mind fogged in an overwhelming cloud of grief, or his eyes still stinging from such a heavy cry, or his throat burning from yet another wave of anguish. ‘No,’ he decides, tapping his aunt’s shoulder. ‘It doesn’t even matter at this point.’

He feigns a stomach ache, by which May thinks he’s playing sick to escape the depressing atmosphere of his idol’s funeral, and drives him home before Happy can so much as woo her to stay at his place.

Up the stairs.

Through the hallway.

Into his bedroom.

He shuts the door. Crumbles to pieces. Because-. Because, he finally starts realizing what he’s just done.

‘Oh, god. Oh god, this is so much worse than I thought it would be. This is- This is literally the worst idea I’ve ever had. Stupid, stupid, stupid!’

Peter can’t help his hands from shaking as he lifts the metal helmet out of his bag. It’s cold against his skin, which only makes his mouth go dry. Mr. Stark used to wear this. He used to wear this, and it’d been cold. Heavy and cold.

“...I really fucked up.” He says out loud, which only seems to solidify it.

Well, he can’t take it back now. Not if Pepper ends up noticing that it is gone. A monument. A goddamn trophy of Mr. Stark’s. One of his earliest models, with the classic red spray and golden faceplate. Christ, if he’d wanted it so badly, why didn’t he just buy a replica?

Because it wasn’t the same.

It isn’t the same.

But, damn it all, it’s also not his. 

Peter had just wanted something to remember Mr. Stark by, and-. God, that helmet had called to him like a siren. 

‘Mr. Stark would want you to have it.’ His brain had supplied.

Which-.

Uh.

No.

No, he would not want a literal child hanging onto his legacy like a fucking baseball card, instead of in a museum, or some well-maintained pedestal, or in a safe to be preserved for the next thousand years. Tony had been over the top like that. He liked to think his work was worth something. It was meant to adore.

The thought of Peter one day throwing it on top of his dirty laundry made him want to cry.

“Oh, god. Oh- Oh, shit. Okay, Peter. This is-. Oh, shit.” He tosses Mr. Stark’s helmet on the bed, and really does almost cry. A High-Tec, revolutionary piece of hardware, worn by Earth’s savior had just been thrown on his rumpled bedsheets, and goddamn fucking shit Peter is definitely- definitely- about to have a panic attack. He throws his arms up.

“That’s it.” Peter rambles sharply. “I’m screwed. I am so screwed, because I-. Oh my god, is it chipped? Of course it’s fucking chipped, Peter. It-. It’s Tony’s. Of course. Oh my god, I’m going to jail.” He peeks out the window, half-expecting to see cop cars at the entrance of his apartment complex. “Why did I do this?”

That’s the big question. Up until this point, Mr. Stark had only ever been an idol. Then a mentor. Then a father figure.

And, then-.

Okay, no. Peter is not going there. He paces around his room, onto his walls, the ceiling, hanging off his fingertips before plopping back onto his bare feet. He sighs, cursing, before making his inevitable journey back to the helmet.

Picking it up, his senses note a slight rise in temperature. It’s still cold, obviously. His room is well-heated though, unlike the lifeless cellar they’d had it cooped up in just hours before. Which makes Peter feel a little better about things- he smiles, tilting it this way and that. ‘Ha! A real home.’- before noticing a patch of crumbs on the helmet’s jaw from when he’d eaten Cheetos on the bed, wiped his fingers against the sheets, and seamlessly forgotten to throw them in the wash.

Peter almost faints.

Luckily, they’re easily wiped away by some bed-side tissues (Peter tries not to remember what he uses said tissues for. He’s already mortified by his poor treatment of it.) He sits on the bed with a huff, settling Mr. Stark’s tech in his lap like a pet. Peter runs his fingers over it apologetically, but it doesn’t feel like enough. Nothing feels like enough. He sighs, lowering his head.

“I bet you think this is pretty funny, huh?” Peter supplies, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Well, it’s not… It’s a little funny, but only because I know you’d probably have some quippy one-liner set up for me.” He falls onto his back, bringing the helmet to rest against his chest. Breathing out through his nose, he raises the metal mask just above him, so he can stare up at it. His bedroom light catches the surface of gleaming red, and Peter feels like a dirty slob just touching this rare treasure.

“Something like…” He pauses, thinking for a moment. “‘Oh, Peter. Looks like you’re a head of the game…’ That was really bad.” He chews his lip. “‘Sorry, kid. I want you to fill my shoes. This is a little much.’ God, no. That doesn’t sound like Mr. Stark at all.” Peter turns onto his side, letting the helmet lay against his pillow. They stare intimately at each other. ‘They’ being Peter and a lifeless curve of metal. He pulls the mask a bit closer.

“‘Woah there, Spiderman. At least buy dinner before you take it to bed.’” Peter turns his face into his pillow, groaning pitifully. 

“Why are helmet jokes so hard?” He pauses, mulling his complaint over. “Okay, that one wasn’t bad.” Like that, Peter angles his face to check on the helmet, and looks to see its reaction. Which creeps him out, of course. Alright, so maybe there are even more implications to stealing his idol’s helmet then the fact he stole it. Maybe it’s just bad to have an inanimate object symbolic of Mr. Stark around him.

‘No shit.’ Peter thinks to himself, drawing a hand down his face.

Still…

He places a finger along the metal mask’s faceplate; feels the cool of its surface, the crisp curve of each indent. It’s nice. Really, really nice. Which is exactly why he has to pull away and face the wall of his room.

‘Nope. No chance. Time out, Peter.’

He closes his eyes, counting back from one hundred. He does it seven times. Eight. It doesn’t matter. Peter turns around to face it again, and does exactly what he’d been doing before. His fingers map out the metal slabs, just imagining what it must’ve been like inside.

‘It probably smells like him.’ Peter’s brain coos.

‘What? Like booze, and sweat, and morning breath? Is that what you’re tempting me with?’

‘Yes.’

It doesn’t smell like Mr. Stark, for the record. It smells sterile and lifeless and unworn, like someone went and purged it of everything Tony. Which, Peter assures himself, is completely, totally fine. It doesn’t bother him a bit.

Not one bit.

Not when he slips a hand inside and feels the strange padding used to cradle Mr. Stark’s head. Or when he pulls it out, not devastated to find the man hadn’t shed any hair. Nope. Not even a little. Because that would be weird, and a little obsessive. A lot obsessive. It’s not like Peter could clone Mr. Stark if he had any kind of DNA. It’s not like Peter wants to.

He checks his alarm clock, the same one still ticking five years after the blip; 10:47.

Not crazy late. On the contrary, it’d be amazingly early for the hyper-active teen to turn in just yet. That’s what he tells himself as he reaches over his night stand, tugging the string of his lamp light. The room goes dark and Peter tries (Read: fails miserably) to fall asleep. Looking his crime in the face anymore than he already has to is punishment enough, at least for today.

He tries to ease his muscles, but they just won’t let up. There’s a weight in his bed that he’s not used to, and it sets all his human nerves on edge, even with his Spidey-senses dormant. Peter should put it in the closet, but he can’t bear the image of allowing it to collect dust. On the contrary, the thought leaves him choked and wanting a glass of water he doesn’t have the energy to grab. The idea of mistreating anything Tony Stark-related has the young vigilante in shambles.

Which is why he soon finds himself rotating around to face the helmet in his bed. Even through darkness, he can make out a sharp outline of lunar beams streaming in through the window. It’s soothing. It’s reprimanding. Peter sniffs, blinking away what feels like an ocean of tears.

“I’m sorry…?” He offers shyly. His tone breaks, shoulders bunched, brow pinched with a grimace only offset by the flush of his cheeks. ‘At least here,’ Peter thinks to himself, ‘I can get some kind of closure.’ 

Which is exactly what leads him to kiss the metal armor.

Soft, across where he’s sure Tony’s lips would be located. It’s quick. Innocent, really. If things weren’t so different in the 21st century, people might mistake it for a platonic peck. Because Tony- brave, wise Tony- was like a father to him, in the only way he understood a father could be. It’d been so tender, after all. With those sweet, thin fingers caressing, not pulling, and palms that cradled, not smooshed. Nothing demanding. Nothing sexual. Just a good ol’ fashion kiss, which lasts no more than a few seconds.

Peter promises himself it isn’t anything else. It’s a platonic kiss on the lips. Which is a thing. It is, but other people might make it out to be something more. Someone like MJ would probably cackle her ass off if she knew he’d given the mask a kiss, as short as it is.

The few that follow after are a bit longer.

By the time Peter finishes, he’s relaxed in the worst way possible. He feels groggy, worn at the lips, and shitty as all hell because that last kiss had definitely been excessive. 

And, okay.

Peter has a massive crush on Mr. Stark.

It’s terribly obvious. And tragic as shit, since the man is dead. Despite reminding himself, he can’t help but cling onto that damn feeling of metal on chapped, teenage lips. He feels sleepy, and he suddenly doesn’t want to be. It feels immensely inappropriate falling asleep next to a helmet he smooched to pieces.

Like sleeping next to Tony in Peter’s perverse, miserable fantasies.

Where Ms. Potts is away on business, and Mr. Stark is oh-so alone, and oh-so desperate for some kind of bodily touch. Where Peter is his sexy young intern, who has the confidence to wear feminine lingerie under his work clothes, and doesn’t mind brushing hips. They could make hot, passionate love in the lab for all he cares, and Mr. Stark would call him Baby, and Peter would call him Daddy, and it would hardly be funny to say in the moment, though he might snort when thinking over it later.

Best of all, Tony likes Peter best in his fantasies.

Parker is his favorite.

It’s only ever fantasy, though. Peter knows better than to indulge it.

In a conflicting fit between putting the helmet away, or pulling a sheet over top, or entertaining the notion of sneaking it back in place before anyone notices it’s gone, Peter decides to give the mask his bed while he sleeps on the floor. He’d much rather give Mr. Stark his best than chance disrespecting the man’s memory in favor of comfort. He obviously can’t be trusted, getting too close to Tony-related objects.

Laying on his bedroom floor twiddling his thumbs, Peter can’t help but wonder: What has my life come to?

[adultswim2021]

The Brak Show #1: “Leave It To Brak” (AKA “Mr. Bawk Ba Gawk”) December 21, 2000 - 5:15AM | S01E01 regular series version aired October 7, 2001 @ 11:00PM

I’m trying to break the habit of assuming only my friends are reading my various blogs, but I failed in one fundamental way: I didn’t really describe the premise of Sealab 2021, like, at all. Despite digging into it’s roots somewhat by watching it’s various pilots, I failed to include even a paragraph with the basic premise of the show. I’ll try not to make the same mistake with Brak. Instead I'll make a DIFFERENT mistake by writing way too long of a blog entry.

On December 21, 2000, after Sealab 2021, The Brak Show, then titled “Leave It To Brak” debuted. Who the fuck is Brak? Brak began life as a villain on the 1960s iteration of Space Ghost, a fairly garden-variety Saturday morning action kid’s show. He appeared in, I wanna say, a very small handful of episodes. I’ve seen the whole series, and I don’t think he was like, a regular or anything. Without looking it up I'll say he was on it twice. In the show he was a space pirate and had whiskers. He has a very memorable design. I’ve never been sure if we’re actually looking at Brak’s face or if he’s wearing a helmet. His fangs imply that we’re looking at his actual face (or at least his actual jaw), but that little curtain thing that hangs down from his, uh, ears? Is that a naturally occurring part of his head? It suggests that his wardrobe is actually his body, and vice-versa. He just looks absurd, making him perfect fodder for an absurdist revision.

Brak as we know him today was first used (barring some kind of Cartoon Network commercial that I’m unaware of) in Space Ghost Coast to Coast, appearing with Sisto. Sisto is his twin brother who appeared in the 60s show. Why Brak was targeted for comedic revision and not Sisto eludes me. I’m guessing “HI MY NAME IS BRAK” just sounds funnier than “HI MY NAME IS SISTO”. Anyway, in the first Coast to Coast episode they are voiced by C. Martin Croker (RIP) doing a Beavis and Butt-head parody. Eventually Andy Merrill took over the role, basically turning Brak into a, uh, childish adult. Okay, he’s basically doing a retarded guy voice. Sorry, but it’s time to grow up.

Space Ghost Coast to Coast debuted in 1994 and remained a cult hit on the network until it was moved to Adult Swim and eventually canceled in 2004. The concept of Space Ghost Coast to Coast was Space Ghost, a super hero from the 60s, now hosts a modern 90s late night talk show, interviewing live-action celebrities on a monitor that hangs over the set. Random obscure Space Ghost villains would show up with skewed personalities from their original 60s counterpart. Brak was easily the runaway star of the touted rogues gallery. He would come in and cheerfully sing a song about beans or something else equally wacky. He rarely had a definable role on the show, he was just a figure that was around and would wander into the set.

A second 90s Space Ghost spin-off was commissioned called Cartoon Planet. This was an actual kiddy show that aired during the day as opposed to Space Ghost Coast to Coast which was kid-friendly but meant for adults. This time Space Ghost, Zorak (Space Ghost’s bandleader on Coast to Coast), and Brak would host an hour of classic cartoons, with little absurd skits between segments set in a studio SORTA like the Space Ghost Coast to Coast set but different. LOTS of Brak’s fandom is based on these skits, which were a little more silly and lighthearted than the material on Space Ghost Coast to Coast. The skits were popular enough that they repackaged them into their own half-hour show, sans classic cartoons. This was an early point of confusion for me. Beloved Brak songs turned out to be from Cartoon Planet and NOT Space Ghost Coast to Coast, so I'd tune into Space Ghost wondering if they cut out all the Brak segments or what?

Cartoon Planet would answer viewer letters (conceivably real ones; they DID include various ways to contact “Ghost Planet” at the end of both Space Ghost Coast to Coast and, I’m guessing, Cartoon Planet, which I never did see in it’s original form). They actually answered the reason for Brak’s lack of intelligence (brain-damage caused by Space Ghost, using an actual clip from the 60s show). I bring this up not out of genuine concern for continuity or canon; these aren’t huge concerns for the writers of these shows. The real reason Brak is dumb is because Andy Merrill thought the voice was funny, probably. I bring it up because generally the premise of Space Ghost in the 90s is that even though he IS a super hero with super hero abilities, he’s also an actor who makes cartoons about being a super hero. So, it can be concluded Brak’s brain damage is from a stunt gone wrong and not carried over from the fiction of the show.

The premise of Space Ghost Coast to Coast is that Space Ghost has captured evil villains Zorak and Moltar and is forcing them to work on the show. But they also freely reference their personal lives outside of the show, breaking character. They are actors who are sticking to a premise only when it’s convenient. Yes, it’s fun for the kids to pretend that Space Ghost has enslaved his enemies to work on his talk show, but the reality is that when the camera turns off they all go home to their apartments or wives or whatever. This concept feeds directly into The Brak Show: we aren’t watching Brak’s real home life; Brak, cartoon character and actor, is playing himself in a sitcom. His mom isn’t his real mom. His Dad isn’t his real dad. Zorak isn’t his real best-friend. They are all actors. This isn’t played up in any significant way on the show itself except for a few moments and certain episodes, but THAT IS WHAT’S HAPPENING and you wouldn’t really understand that just by watching this episode and nothing else. You would have to have been paying attention all this time to Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Cartoon Planet, and also, yes, Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak.

Okay, Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak isn't REALLY required viewing for this series. But guess what? I watched it for the first time ever in preparation for this and now we all have to deal with Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak. Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak (sorry I keep repeating the full title which is Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak) was a two-episode special presentation that aired on Cartoon Network while Space Ghost was on hiatus and before The Brak Show's stealth premiere. It (Brak Presents The Brak Show Starring Brak, that is) was a Sonny and Cher style variety show, featuring Brak and Zorak on stage together performing songs, intentionally corny sketches, and a LITTLE BIT, but NOT A LOT of backstage drama; which could be argued to have been part of the show itself. Variety shows doing sketches fictionalizing the backstage antics of the production is nothing new. There are also live-action integrated celebrities, and the show comes to a screeching halt whenever they show up. Maybe their performances are hampered by having to perform on a green screen, but these segments come off lame and pandering. Space Ghost Coast to Coast would make it's name featuring washed-up, kitschy, or counter-culture celebrities. Here we are treated to Monica, Freddie Prinze Jr. (whose segment in particular really drives me up a wall), some wrestler guy, and a lady who's name I don't remember. Okay, I admit I fast forwarded through the second of the two episodes a LOT. Sitting through one episode in real time was just too much to bear.

Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak is written off by a lot of Brak fans as a substandard product, and they're not wrong. I myself never sought out the whole special until I started writing this blog. But there's one thing I'll give it, the visuals (minus the live-action celebrity parts) are actually pretty fun. There's a lot of weird character designs, and the same playful use of stock footage and kinetic editing from Cartoon Planet carries over into this. Skipping past the celebrity guests and watching the special on mute would be the preferred viewing method here. Honestly, I've never been that charmed by Brak's songs. I never cared much for Cartoon Planet.

Brak Presents the Brak Show Staring Brak eventually became The Brak Show, but with one more step: a scrapped audio-only pilot. This pilot appears as an audio commentary track on The Brak Show Volume 1 DVD set. I discovered it by accident. In preparation for this blog I popped the DVD in, saw there was commentary for Mr. Bawk Ba Gawk, and pressed play. Instead of Andy Merrill and Pete Smith dryly talking about their creative process, I was treated to what would have been the audio for a Brak Show pilot (there are stage directions being read in lieu of visuals), roughly the length of an 11 minute episode. This version plays up the backstage antics of Brak's variety show much more, kinda like Larry Sanders meets Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak. Returning from the show is Brak and Zorak, along with Allen Wrench, a talking Allen wrench that appeared in Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak. On Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak, Allen had a crazy high-pitched voice. In this audio pilot he sounds closer to Meatwad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Also present in the audio pilot is Thundercleese, who curiously sounds like the regular series version of Thundercleese. In “Leave it to Brak”, Thundercleese sounds slightly different. Maybe they went back and rerecorded Thundercleese for the DVD?

That FINALY brings us to the actual episode. “Leave it to Brak” was the first episode of “The Brak Show” proper to air (though if I remember correctly from what was reported way back when, they wanted to call the actual show “Leave It To Brak” but couldn't for legal reasons). It feels more like a first episode than Goldfish does, which was the first episode I saw when Adult Swim officially began in 2001. “Leave it to Brak” introduces each character with fake studio audience applause. They even introduce Sisto, who simply walks in front of the camera, farts, and is not seen again. The premise of the show is this: Brak stars in a family sitcom. His mom belongs to the same species as Brak, but his dad is a tiny human voiced by George Lowe doing a Ricky Ricardo voice. According to this episode; Brak is roughly high-school aged, but it's all a pretense to get this cast of weirdos together under one roof. Again, Brak is a cartoon character playing himself here, so we're not meant to actually think these are his real parents; Brak is not half-human, necessarily. It's all just for the sake of this dumb show.

The plot of the episode is this: Zorak, Brak's best friend and worst influence, convinces Brak to help him kidnap the mascot of their rival high school, a chicken named Mr. Bawk Ba Gawk. Having done this, Brak grapples with the morality of his actions, tries to deceive his parents by dressing the chicken up like a little man, is caught, and is taught a lesson. There's a comedic final scene that reverses the lesson Brak supposedly learned, and then it ends. Somewhere in there we are introduced to Brak's giant robot neighbor who blows up Zorak for ripping up his lawn.

The Brak Show was possibly the most anticipated show when Adult Swim was announced. We all quietly ignored how much Brak Presents The Brak Show Starring Brak sucked; mostly because this was touted to be a show for adults. Afterall, Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak's biggest shortcoming was the fact that it was the first Brak-centric product to pander directly to children. Brak was always seen as a uniquely weird creation that just so happened to appeal to kids, kinda like Pee Wee Herman or Joe Camel. Also the idea of parodying the sitcom genre seemed novel, despite the fact that it wasn't really a new idea. Now it just comes off like a shallow observation: boy, old sitcoms sure were corny, right?

I don't know exactly how to pinpoint what was so disappointing about this show. I can see there was a genuine effort to make it funny. Dad was a decently funny character. They weren't just trying to mock sitcoms, they were trying to build a genuinely strange world that resembled our own. Brak lived in the suburbs but there were aliens and robots everywhere. Sci-fi situations casually reared their ugly heads into the lives of these characters. I mean, look at the plot description of Brak stealing a high school mascot; it's an ACTUAL SITCOM PLOT. There's no real subversion to it other than the fact that Brak and Zorak from Space Ghost Coast to Coast are doing it. This could have been decent as a one-off special like Tim & Eric's Bag Boy staring Steve Brule. But they made more.

Oh wait, I figured out why The Brak Show sorta sucked. It's the fact that the show was a musical. Fuck, I hated that so much that I blocked it out of my head until this moment. Every episode had musical numbers in it sung by Brak and the family. Ugh. They were supposed to be funny nonsense but I never liked it. In fact if there were ever an edit of the show without the songs I would probably remember it much more fondly.

This version of the pilot had very simplistically drawn backgrounds. When the show went to series they redid the backgrounds with photo-realistic settings and props. It's a much more appealing look. This version of the pilot was briefly featured in an episode of Sealab, where Murphy was flipping through the channels on his monitor. He flips past this and Aqua Teen Hunger Force and maybe Space Ghost? This was back in the early days when every show seemed like it was connected to each other. I miss that. The “regular series” of The Brak Show used to give the show a different parodic on-screen title; “Mr. Bawk Ba Gawk”, which aired fifth on Adult Swim, had the opening title “B.J. And the Brak”. “Goldfish” used “Leave It To Brak”, which causes some episode guides to get confused over which episode is which. In fact, Adult Swim's website features the pilot version of this show and incorrectly uses the plot summary for “Goldfish”. I'm not linking to it because the listing says it expires today. But go look for it if you want.

The other big difference between this version and the “regular series” version is there are a few missing bits here and there. For example, the pilot version starts with Dad asking Mom for another biscuit. She sighs and says “maybe later”, to which dad just shrugs off. There's also a cut song I call “Kiss you hot” that dad sings to mom. There's probably other differences here and there. Oh, Brak's clock is the beeflog illustration from Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak. Isn't my life fuller for being able to make that connection? God, I'm so glad I watched Brak Presents the Brak Show Staring Brak last night instead of getting an extra hour of sleep.

So what's good in this? I REALLY like the scene where Bawk Ba Gawk is at the dinner table and everyone keeps stealing his little hat to wear. Mom scolds Dad for wearing the hat, to which he mutters “I'll do what I damn well please”. Mom then plucks the hat from his head. When we cut to the wide shot, she's wearing it. Funny! SOLIDLY VERY FUNNY. But the series generally suffers from them trying to cram in weird pointless bits of absurd comedy. Only sometimes does it work. Not sure why. But that's how it goes, I guess.

[disfordevineaux]

I don't know if you've done this before. But, do you have any Chase headcanons about his childhood or early teens? I'm kinda curious about how my favorite disaster boi could've been like back then 🤔

Chase childhood/teen/early 20s headcanons

I actually answered an ask I will link HERE with a little bit into what I think about his whole ‘growing up’ situation, if you can even call it that. I’ll delve a bit deeper into my hcs but I recommend you read that post I linked. It establishes my thoughts on his childhood to where a lot of these hcs will spawn from. So essentially this is a Part 2 of my Chase childhood headcanons. Going to focus on his late teens and early 20s.

As stated in my previous hcs Chase was an ‘orphan’ until his uncle (his mothers older brother) who magically showed up to adopt him for the government checks. His uncle was a long haul fisherman or something along those lines. This is where he officially received his last name of Devineaux once again.

I have a feeling his name wasn’t originally Chase. That being most likely his middle name or one he came up with which he changed to be his first, either shortened from something or just as is. He seems like an Alexandre to me. He would have negative connotations towards that name and preferred to decide a name a for himself rather than keeping the given name from a mother or family who didn’t really want him. He would have changed it once he left home.

No matter the living situation he was in, there wasn’t a lot of money around and if there was it wasn’t shared with him.

The majority of his teen years or the years that sculpted him into who he is now were in a town North-West of Paris along the coast. Somewhere like Dieppe, a fishing-port town.

You’d think by looking at him as an adult he was a bully or one of those ass hats at school who tried to be cool by being a dipstick or forcing a ‘class clown’ motif. In reality, he did everything in his power to blend into the shadows as he hated school, especially the social aspect of it.

Still, he was a sarcastic little shit when needed.

Spent a lot of his time outside or working dead-end jobs. Sometimes couldn’t return home or had to get into his house through a window instead of the front door.

Didn’t have many valuable possessions but had many crazy experiences like witnessing a flock of birds attack a drunk man, and won.

Was strangely optimistic about his future. Couldn’t get any worse than this, yeah? Yeah, it can and it will buddy.

Did watch Footloose religiously and intensely enjoyed it. *Wink*

He was reasonably good at school and tried to fast track it and graduate a year early. His application was accepted even with the few blemishes on his school academic report thanks to a few fights he partook in.

He was best at literature, English studies and writing in general. He was the top English and writing student and once even tried joining the drama club but the second he walked in the door he was instantly annoyed with everyone inside and did a full 180 out of that hellscape.

He then tried out for the sports clubs and teams but didn’t have time between work after school.

Chase actually made a friend during his last few years at school who managed to be the school’s main weed dealer (Chase draws chaos to him enough said). They actually were a good duo and Chase developed a serious attachment to him. His friend had a lot of money thanks to his business and often would get Chase to be his ‘bodyguard’ when selling to older clients.

They were both weird guys with different levels of intensity over random things. Both had that ‘dudebro’ vibe who would listen to Abba but in reality, the type of dudes who sit right next to each other in a hot tub, no need for 5 feet apart.

Somehow both comfortable with their sexuality which is refreshing. But, that won’t last long :(

They never got to really developed their relationship further before Chase left but it was a silent agreement between them that they liked one another on a physical and emotional level. They rekindled and I guess, ‘officially’ date when in the Air Force when training together. (Lovers in the military trope don’t @ me it fits him PERFECTLY.)

He and his friend were actually going to join the Air Force together. And they did. Chase first and his friend later.

Dude did some stupidly impulsive shit. Especially once he had a friend. Antics? Yes, many. Young, bored lonely boys with repressed feelings do stupid shit to fill the long hours. Jumping off things at high speed? Yes. Buring stuff? Yes. Smashing stuff? Yes. Listening to Green Day? Unironically, Yes.

No doubt they once burned down an abandoned house while trying to hotbox in one of the rooms. Nearly replicated the incident with the school DURING CLASS in the janitors closet. Boys just wanna get high and kiss okay?

Chase was born strong physically but mentally? Nar. Could fight a bear but would crumble under an anxious moment.

Never wanted to appear weak. It was what everyone expected but he never backed down from a fight or rivalry to his detriment. Stood up for himself no matter the circumstance. He always stood up for his boyfrie- SORRY I MEAN FRIEND.

He was an angry guy, mostly because people constantly tested his patience and intelligence and his home life was always a tense situation where there was no time to be soft or delicate.

Did get into many fights with one particular guy during school and out of school hours.

He was an attractive teenager. I like to think (like is a strong word) he was targeted by this one particular asshole because of their pent up feeling towards Chase. Chase either rejected his advances which set it all off or you just got that vibe from all their exchanges. Either way, at one point the tormentor made his feelings cryptically clear and Chase made sure they weren’t reciprocated.

One particular final fight between them, Chase wound up with a bat to the face which broke his nose badly.

The nose never really healed the best or back to how it was originally. This was something that scared him forever, becoming more resentful and unable to let things go. A lot more guarded from then on.

Chase used to be the pretty buff tall boy but the nose downgraded him to just a tall buff boy who has hints of a pretty boy in him.

Worked a few jobs during most nights. Needed money, mostly supported himself financially. Worked as a dish boy in a local restaurant and at the cinema as a cleaner. He always seemed to get the cleaning jobs.

Chase used to skateboard. He was pretty good at it too.

He started smoking young, around 15-16. And thanks to his companion, would often smoke weed supplied to him by his friend.

Loved going to the dentist when he could. He started eating those strong cheap dusty mints when he smoked as it was a cheap form of keeping his breath fresh after he smoked. Also, he thought it made him look cool and ended up getting addicted.

He wasn’t a joyless kid or teen, He just wasn’t one who smiled a lot.

Chase never really trained for his driving license. He just went for his test at the police station. They made him drive around the block once and they just gave it to him.

Chase: the aspiring pilot.

Chase wanted to be a pilot ever since he was young, specifically the French Air Force. No real trigger set that dream in motion, he just liked the idea of piloting a high-speed plane and seeing the world from up above. Moving fast is his ultimate goal.

He studied and prepared early to join the École Militaire de l'air (Military Air Force before it folded into the Air School). But you have to be over 18 and with his plans to complete school early, he would spend the year until then in basic military training, then would transfer over. All of this was to increase his chances of being accepted along with the examination, which he passed thanks to his passion for it.

Of course, things don’t always go to plan and even though he was on a path to graduating early a huge final brawl broke between him and a longtime bully halted this.

He had always fought with him specifically and this time, after years of building it all up, it hit the fan.  The incident put a hold on his plans and wasn’t able to graduate a whole year early.

Fast track forward and due to home pressures and school weighing him down he decided to just leave school and home and when he left, as one last ‘fuck you’ to his tormentor, his friend helped him break into his house and stole his car and drove it straight to Paris, abandoning it in the countryside just before. No one ever knew it was him and it is by far his greatest victory, as he knew how much he loved that car. Major mood. Chase was tempted to push it off a cliff in spite but couldn’t find one.

Chase still went into the general military before transferring to the Air Force once over 18 and acing his entrance evaluations.

Chase and his ‘friend’ managed to get in at the same time. Que, LLLLLLLL LOVERS!

They made sure they were in the same dorms, ‘classes’ and that their schedules lined up. They even swapped around so they had the same duties.

Chase thrived and was a great pilot. He achieved his pilots’ license and began working his way to completing the 2 years here then moving on to a higher position. His friend focused more on the engineering courses.

For someone spontaneous in an impulsive way, he liked the regimented schedule. It gave him purpose and meaning

Chase ended up getting kicked out after a massive brawl incited by an argument with another cadet about the particular notion of his relationship with his ‘friend’.

It was made clear to him such behaviour receives no second chances and was forced to leave, meaning he never officially completed his 2 years and was never allowed back in the foreseeable future.

Chase was desolated and once again hardened by this turn of events.

His 20s in a nutshell

Chase sought employment in the police force thanks to his military origins. He did, in fact, complete the basic military training aspect so he was a front runner for the police force.

He needed a job as all his money was wasted on a fruitless dream.

Spent the first few years of his police force employment as a ‘beat cop’ until his arrest numbers/success and work availability sought his promotion to a detective quite early in his 20s.

Chase was used to working full time and all the time at odd hours from very early on. He started his work career young.

They say you have 10 years in the prime of your career and Chase used that up instantly, shooting up the police then detective ranks fast due to how hard he worked, non-stop. His obsession and dedication with keeping busy and solving cases made him unmatchable.

Chase was physically skilled despite his smoking habits and mentally quick too, even if he acted dangerously without foresight sometimes.

He was very successful as a detective. It was his true calling

Chase has seen some nasty things and is a very good shot with a handgun.

Has he killed anyone? You decide. Personally? Yes, obviously. This has never and will never phase him.

He has been through so many police issued cars he now gets the second-hand cars due to how reckless he is.

Perused criminals with crazy car chases even when he was just a lowly beat cop. It got worse when he became a detective.

No doubt he kept and took home case files (sometimes even evidence) and didn’t give them back even when he became an Interpol liaison. He worked on those cases, he solved them, they are his. He keeps them all either at his apartment or in a storage unit.

Work became his life. His only vice.

Opted out for a partner as it wasn’t a department regulation just a personal option if wanted. Don’t need someone wasting his time, slowing him down or possibly taking away his shine.

Developed obsessive tendencies.

Detective work is competitive. You end up running around trying and fighting to get the best brutal murder homicide case as it will look great to your superiors. It was all a race to see who was the best. Chase was one of the best thanks to having no outsider life to distract him.

Somehow Chase wasn’t a suck-up his those above him. You would think he would be but Chase just enjoyed working and solving, completing things.

You are measured by your achievements and you have to be sure of yourself and your capabilities to survive in the race.

For work that was on the outside very heroic and selfless. Most detectives he worked around and ‘with’ were selfish, heartless and egotistical. The successful ones were anyway. Chase one of them.

He hated them all just as much as they hated him.

Ended up not caring for normal citizens and fellow employees disdain for his abrupt nature. Developed a superiority complex as a result.

But he remained composed and well mannered when dealing with victims and witnesses.

He was very susceptible to the alluring nature of the egotistic know it all.

All of this aged him rapidly. I have no doubt he is only in his early to mid-30s (in the show) but has aged himself visibly with unhealthy working hours and lifestyles.

(I’m not going to go too deep here as at this point I might as well insert my dam fanfiction. I have a whole story planned for what I think his detective days were like. I’ll give you a hint, it’s dark.)

Final relationships.

In regards to his love life? Don’t have one. One night stands? Eh, maybe very occasionally but he isn’t the sort of person to get wrapped up in such things. He is very professional and despite being touch starved he can live without physical relationships easily. They also make him uncomfortable now due to certain events.

His ‘friend’ asked for Chase to wait for him, that once he was finished in the Air Force his partner would come find him. Chase did for the entirety of his 20s and pretty much would for his entire life. First loves are hard to forget.

They only met up again once when Chase was in his late 20s and his friend no longer felt that way towards him or that kind of way anymore. He had a family. Chase sort of understood that his lover realistically would have moved on and blamed himself for not looking for him instead. He became obsessed with his success with work after all.

He couldn’t comprehend why his friend would finally contact him after all these years just to tell him he didn’t love him anymore. He always assumed it was to tie up loose ends or to make fun of him for waiting. To hurt him.

Chase was physically and mentally devastated to say the least. Especially when the last interaction they ever had was his old friend handing him a goddam conversion camp pamphlet.

This really dragged on and I’m sorry I really went off there. I hope it was at least relatively what you were after.

[nobodyeverasked]

decalcomania; txt

(2565 words) - medium

--platonic--

Summary: Let the engravings of our memories last a lifetime.

A symphony of alleviating breaths and careless whispers floated amply throughout the hotel room, the ivory sunlight pouring through the small windows in thick pinstripes caressing the skin of the four boys sprawled along one of the beds. The white sheets that once laid flat along the mattress left on the carpet, and sitting forlornly in the serene presence of the natural happiness flourishing throughout the room.

Beomgyu, Soobin, Taehyun and their best friend Y/N laid in the thin waves of the white fabric below them, the youngest - Y/N - wrapped in the blissful gales of comfort. With his head nestled snugly in Taehyun’s lap, haphazard fingers twirling locks of his hair, and his legs intertwined with Soobin’s.

The euphonies of their calmness, and the embers of their comfort that stirred between their sighs of relief were cut short when a knock on the door echoed throughout their room, four heads shooting up to the sound. Short glances of confusion were tossed around the room and volleyed through the air, Beomgyu, who leaned up near-instantly to the sound, deciding to speak up for the boys frozen over with perplexity.

“Go away!” Beomgyu yelled, before collapsing back onto the bed, the gentle flurries of laughter festering around him making a radiant grin bloom across his own lips.

“No, wait, did someone order room service…?” Taehyun instantly looked over at Soobin, who whipped his hands up in defense.

“Why do you think it’s me?!”

“‘Cause you’ve literally done it the last three nights!”

“I mean, yeah, good point… But it wasn’t me this time, I swear!”

With an amalgamation of sighs ending the conversation, Y/N decided to speak next, after all, he was the least stupid and crazy out of all of the teenagers that he decided to accompany on a road trip. In all honesty, he would not be surprised one bit if they ended up stranded in the desert or somehow stuck in the middle of the ocean.

“Who is it…?” Y/N could barely keep the deep breath from bursting from his pursed lips as Taehyun began to drag his fingers through the younger’s hair once more, the comforting touch of his friend’s fingertips carding languidly through the locks of his hair always finding a way to sift out the tension and annoyance that lingered in his system like a rancid poison.

Despite their antics, he could not have asked for better friends. He appreciated all five of them in ways that the boys laying around him could only begin to fathom. Being there to brighten his smile on days that become harder as time passed by in a dreadful trudge, or to light him ablaze with the callow embers of warm hugs and affection whenever his conversations with the waning moon grew stale. The people he could text in the middle of the night to whip up some random food he found in the back of his cupboard, and the five pairs of ears that have heard all of Y/N secrets that were sheathed under the evening haze. Being here with them again after so long made him realize how much he needed them in his life.

Little did he know, all of the other five felt the exact same way.

“Hello…” Was all that was heard from behind the thin door between the two groups of people, one being a group of befuddled teens, and another being Hueningkai and Yeonjun, deceptive and mischievous shimmers lining their dark eyes, pillows clutched tightly in their hands. The only thing they needed was for someone - one unlucky soul - to open the door so they could wreak havoc. “You got a delivery.” Hueningkai tried to lower his voice as much as possible, a laugh beating at his restrained smile, Yeonjun’s cheeky grin not helping him in the slightest.

“A delivery, here?” Y/N cocked his head, shifting himself in the ivory ripples of the sheets, and playing with Soobin’s fingers that rested under the pale streams of the sunlight. “The fuck?”

“Leave it at the door please!” Taehyun shouted back at the door, rolling his eyes and shaking his head, reveling in the chuckles he earned form Beomgyu, Soobin, and Y/N.

“God damn it…” Yeonjun muttered under his breath before he nudged Hueningkai out of his way. At this rate, how on Earth could he beat his friends a pulp with this pillow? He needed to find another way, he will stop at nothing… “Open the door in three~”

Echoes of laughter instantly soared throughout the room, melting whatever gelid confusion that still hung stiffly in the room. Soobin heaved himself up from the bed - Beomgyu’s legs untangling from around his waist - walking towards the door with a huff. Beomgyu shifted over to rest his head on Y/N’s stomach, the warmth of the hand gravitating to his through the glow of the sun making his body sink further into the bleached ocean below him. “Oh my God- it’s Yeonjun!”

As soon as Soobin opened the door, Hueningkai whipped his pillow behind his back in one swift motion, Yeonjun pressing his back to the wall beside them, hoping that he would not be seen before the time of their ambush.

“Hi.” Hueningkai chirped, a sly sparkle emanating from his smile as he fidgeted with the pillow pressed to his back. His smirk went unnoticed by the tired eyes of Soobin, though, who just tilted his head in confusion once more, his mouth hung open by the words that dripped off the edge of his tongue.

“What’re you doing here…?” Soobin propped himself on the door swung open beside him, arching an eyebrow in the stale silence that started to leak through the threshold of the doorway, everybody’s eyes now dragged to Hueningkai, and his grin - teeth bared with hilarity. Taehyun, Beomgyu, and Y/N knew that this could not be good, the way Hueningkai’s cheeks glowed with a sinister light, one that Soobin, unfortunately, could not pinpoint. At least not right away.

He was too late.

Hueningkai already started to release an onslaught of blows from the pillow behind his back, striking Soobin where he stood and stumbling into the room, his arms wound up for another attack.

Chaos ensued throughout the entire room, with Yeonjun bursting through the door, trying to finish where Hueningkai left off, guns blazing and pillows flailing. Taehyun and Y/N hopped back onto the bed, and Beomgyu scrambled desperately for a pillow whipping it around in a hopeless defense.

The symphonies of joyful laughter interweaved with the stifled screams of terror soaring throughout the room, and before they knew it, four boys stood victorious, and Soobin and Kai laid under a mountain of sheets, heavy breaths scorching the white sheets. The soft burns of Yeonjun and Beomgyu’s relentless strikes still lingering on Y/N’s arms and back. A foolish smile wandered across Y/N’s lips and the embers of satisfaction trailed behind his sluggish footsteps, he could not have expected any less from his crackhead friends, a peaceful morning marred by the echoes of disarray.

“You traitors!” Soobin whined before Yeonjun sprawled across the mound of pillows and fluff that is at least fifty percent human. “How could you do this?!”

Manic cackles overtook the room, fueling the gentle cinders of alleviation amply wandering throughout the room, eyes lined with tears of insurmountable joy, laughter peeled off dry tongues.

“Comfy~” Yeonjun hummed quietly. “We have marked this territory! This is Yeonjunadia now!”

“Kai, why’re you really here? To get demolished in a pillow fight you started?” Y/N leaned back on the bed behind him, elbows propping his body up, and his gaze angling down towards where Hueningkai and Soobin lay defeated, buried under a grave of ivory fabric. He tried his best to hold back a playful snarl when he was hit in the back of the head with a pillow.

“No, I planned to dominate a pillow fight I started! But this works too.” Hueningkai popped his head up from the waves of sheets pooling around him, Soobin doing the same, the embers of happiness and amusement scorched his frayed hair, and a brilliant grin - kindred to the sunlight draping over his shoulders - illuminating the room with a vivid glow. He looked over to Yeonjun, who shifted comfortable on the bed, heavy breaths tainting the air with the heat blooming in his chest, an expectant shimmer dancing in his dark brown eyes. Waiting for Hueningkai to state the true purpose as to why he was here. “Oh! Yeah, and I wanna sleep all in the same bed…”

“One- what?!” Y/N asked, his voice nearly reaching a perplexed shriek. “You mean one room, right? There’s no way all of us are gonna fit on that tiny ass bed, especially with Starfish Soobin over there.”

“HEY!”

“Well, we made your bed.” Taehyun gestured to the mountain of sheets tangled around Hueningkai and Soobin’s limbs.

Hueningkai has always wanted to sleep in the same bed as his four other members, and his best friend. To feel the conglomerate firestorm of comfort seeping into his skin and winding around his body, and to hear the euphonies of sleep-ridden breaths breach the haze of nightfall. He has always treasured his experiences with those that have followed their steady, unwavering promises of friendship, and finally wants all six minds - filled to the brim with blissful memories - to walk the same euphoric planes of their dreams.

“He just wants to sleep in the same bed, c’mon. It’s been so long since we’ve spent a night like this - all of us.” Yeonjun exchanged fond smiles with Y/N, who melted in the warm embrace of the older’s loving stare. It was true, even though the members of TXT have had countless experiences together, whether it be to thwart the mellowing twilight, or to wreak havoc on the clear, blue skies of day, they have barely had any time to spend with one of the most special people in their lives - Y/N. They used to remember the old days, back when their skin was dyed with the scars of the relentless sun. They would hang out around the gravel paths of their local park or somehow convince a parent to let six chaotic humans into one house, their conversations would last until the stars died and until the night bled, and their embraces scorched like the cream sands of the beach that brushed against Y/N’s house.

Now that they were all together again - all six of them - the five members of TXT realized that they cannot take these precious moments for granted anymore. They cannot simply brush past the gentle touches and tight hugs of yesterday, they have to cling onto the starlit gazes and the languid caresses of today.

“Okay, yeah, sure.” Beomgyu instantly agreed, none of them cared about how they were going to fit, they just cared that they were together one more, experiencing the sights, smells, and feelings of a new country, a new place to forge new memories in the flames of their reinvigorated compassion.

“Like, how though?” Soobin heaved himself back onto the bed, shifting his eyes around to find the right ways to put six bodies together on one tiny mattress. “Like this?”

Soobin, Hueningkai, and Yeonjun laid horizontally on the bed, with Yeonjun hanging onto the edge of the mattress for dear life. Hueningkai - who awaited this moment since the thought dawned on him the night prior - laid expectantly, a yearning shimmer overtaking his brilliant gaze - blooming with the flames of glee.

“You guys are like the cutest sardines ever!” Y/N gawked at the three boys snuggled together under a thick white comforter that Taehyun found laying crumpled near their nightstand, elated simpers strewn across their rose lips and hearty giggles escaping their mouth as they all looked at Y/N who shuffled near the foot of the bed. “Lowkey, I think this’ll work.” Y/N trailed off with a wistful sigh, laced with the honey that draped over his childhood memories of the five faces in front of him, their cheeks - once plump from the feasts of their juvenility - now jawlines chiseled from the delicate hands of manhood. However, the gleam of the early summer sunlight that graced their youthful smiles still somehow prevailed through the weeks and months where they stood separated by the emerald seas and the boundless skies.

Taehyun and Beomgyu soon climbed on top of the three boys, nestling further into the sheets splayed under them, the warmth of sanctuary and happiness starting to meander peacefully throughout the room, bouncing off the light grey walls and seeping into their skin.

“What’re you waiting for, c’mon!” Beomgyu snapped Y/N out of his euphoric trance, his eyes lost among those in front of him. “We’re not complete without you!” With that, Y/N was pulled onto the bed, right in the middle of everyone, and surrounded by the equal warmth of all of his best friends.

He was always the Sun in their solar systems.

The youngest slowly curled into the heat radiating under him, the sounds of Hueningkai’s heartbeat, the languid breaths of Soobin and Beomgyu hovering above him, the careless fingers of Taehyun that roamed his sides and Yeonjun’s arms that splayed across his legs lowering him deeper into the intoxicating waters of bliss. The waves brushed against his skin like a gentle wind and caressed his body like the cherishing touches that were sprawled against him. The sparks - that once laid near-forgotten, lit ablaze once more under the evening sun, festered under the sunset that they used to watch together. They get to see that tapestry of prismatic clouds again, as more than just friends, more than just family.

It was like everything was flooding back to them, all of the memories - that seemed oh so ancient - rush back at them like a tidal wave, blessed by the sweetness of their enlivened attachment.

“I love you guys… So much…” Y/N’s voice barely cracked a whisper, but his words as powerful as the childish screams that peppered their past. After his words, everything froze, and the five boys who melted further into the sheets, and clung harder onto their friend remembered the sweet nothings that were whispered absentmindedly beside them - Y/N always thought that they were asleep. The five boys would soften to the echoes of the mantras Y/N would sing to the four walls that encased them in his bedroom, the same melodies that seeped so amply from his lips finally said in the light of day, and not under the ivory cloaks of the moonlight. Those words that Y/N said meant everything to them, the world - no - the universe…

“We love you more, Y/N.” Beomgyu and Soobin let their fingers entangled in the youngest’s hair, the symphonies of unadulterated affected that just left Y/N’s lips fueling the flames of their devotion, burning brighter than ever. Taehyun buried his nose into the curve of Y/N’s neck, his arms encircling his waist. Hueningkai and Yeonjun opened their eyes and took him in, the eyes that shone with the lights of the cosmos and the curved lips that were forever seared into their minds seeming to never change - they loved that.

Almost as much as they all loved him.

[name-me-regret]

The Hoodie Borrower - Chapter 8

Summary:

Tony wasn’t going to get involved with the kid. He’d made a mistake bringing him to Germany. Then he started to realize that he needed to keep this dumbass kid alive. Yeah, that’s all it was.

Author Note: So, I got super blocked and I kept going back to methods of trying to get past it but it didn’t work for a long time. Yeah... so, sorry this is so late. Didn’t mean for it to happen. Thanks to Diana for her spamming and encouragement. You helped me, girl.

Read it on AO3.

- - - - 

 “When the night has come    And the land is dark    And the moon is the only light we'll see    No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid    Just as long as you stand, stand by me         And darlin', darlin', stand by me    Oh, stand by me    Woah, stand now    Stand by me, stand by me    Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me    Oh, stand by me    Woah, just stand now    Oh, stand, stand by me...“

~Stand By Me - Ben E. King   - - - -   Peter grinned as he read the text message that Miles had sent him, always thinking his friend was super funny. He’d just scored a DVD player from the dumpster a few blocks from school as he headed for the subway to get home. Even if it didn’t work, Peter was pretty confident that he could get it working once again.   Miles to go for road work: So... wanna hang out this weekend? I found this awesome cafe last time. Wanna get some food or something?   Peter bee Parker: Yeah sure, that’d be great. MJ likes cafes and stuff, and Ned is always down. Let me ask them if they’re free   Miles to go for road work: Oh, yeah sure. Lemme know.   All the way in Brooklyn, a teenage boy let his head drop onto the pillow with a groan. “Damnit,” he mumbled.   Ganke laughed from his seat at his computer. “Again?” Another groan was Ganke’s answer. “Parker is totally oblivious, man. You gotta ask him straight... well, maybe straight isn’t the right word for it.”   “Fuck off,” Miles grumbled.   “Anyways, what I’m more concerned about are these... new abilities of yours. What’re you planing on doing with them? Gonna become like that crazy dude on YouTube?”   Miles turned on his back and looked at his hand, flinching as electricity crackled along it. “I dunno,” he muttered, flexing his hand and tried to do it again only for nothing to happen. “I think I gotta figure them out first before I decide to do anything.”   Ganke hummed in agreement as he continued to type on his laptop.   - - - -   “Hey May.”   “How was school today?” she asked as he tossed his bag aside and put the DVD player he’d found in the trash on the table.   “It was ok,” he said with a bit of a shrug. “There’s this crazy car parked outside...” He turned to face her and froze when he saw Tony freaking Stark sitting in his living room.   “Oh, Mr. Parker,” the man said with a smirk.   - - - -   Chaos Squad   Peter bee Parker: Sorry guys can’t make it to the cafe! I’ll explain when I get back   Miles to go for road work well go when you get back   Michelle aka the boss has changed the group chat to Nerd Squad   Ned your boi: Type F to pay respects to Peter ‘ditches’ Parker   Miles to go for road work: F   Michelle aka the boss: F   Peter bee Parker: :((   - - - -   Peter groaned as he lay on the concrete of the airport terminal, not wanting to get up but he forced himself when he heard what might have been machine gunfire. He sat up, clutching his bruised ribs and lifted his face. The fourteen year old was horrified as he saw what appeared to be War Machine falling out of the sky, judging by the colors of the armor.   He staggered to his feet, stepping forward as if he would help him, but he didn’t have super speed and would never make it in time. Peter heard Mr. Stark’s desperate cry of the Colonel’s name moments before he plowed at high speeds into the unforgiving ground. Peter shut off the comm with a shaking hand, the other one still holding it against his abdomen.   “Kid,” he heard, turning to see Happy signaling Peter to follow him. He glanced toward the direction he had seen War Machine fall, before he turned and hurried away.   - - - -

Tony went against the doctor’s orders when they told him he needed complete bed rest. He knew he should be resting, because he was in such pain due to his cracked sternum from getting a vibranium shield slammed into his arch reactor in his chest. It had been like after Afghanistan all over again, and it was hard to take deep breaths without feeling pain, and if he coughed or laughed it was agony.   However, he had to see the kid home. He knew that Happy could have easily taken him home, since he’d picked him up four days ago. Tony had to meet with Rhodey and coordinate their plan or attack. It had been such a difficult thing to think about, attacking whom had once been their friends.   And he had almost let Happy take him, because of the pain. Then the image of being knocked out of the air by that giant hand had invaded his brain, Rhodey falling with frightening speed toward the ground. So, he had gotten his battered and bruised body up. As he dressed with difficulty, Tony realized that he never should have taken him into this fight. He was fourteen years old for crying out loud. Luckily, he was more resilient than he gave him credit for, but the imagine of the kid laying on the tarmac looking broken wouldn’t leave his head.   Tony picked up the kid from his hotel room and driven them to the airport. And even if he had been on it before, Peter was still so amazed by the plane and the seats and being in the air for the second time in his short life (fourteen!), and his guileless attitude eased some of the hurt (Don’t think of it).   Then he had fallen asleep, proving he was more tired (or hurt) than he was letting on. That was after eating three servings of the meals on board. Tony was looking through the newspaper Happy had shoved in his hand and was amused as he remembered how much the man had bitched about it.   He must have dozed off as well, since he was also still injured and exhausted (more emotionally than physically). Tony hadn’t even woken up when Happy had lowered his seat to a more comfortable position. It was as they cleared USA airspace that he was woken up, by several dozen beeps. He jerked out of his slumber and into a defensive position, feeling agony shoot through his chest.   The man bit his lip to stop the cry that wanted to claw up his throat, seeing black spots from the pain. His heart was beating wildly in his chest and Roger’s voice (which he’d come to despise) in his ear ’He’s my friend.’ ‘So was I.’ The shield, which had been made by his father and that had once stood for justice, coming down as if for a death blow as he helplessly-   “Oh, mood,” a young voice giggled. Tony’s eyes shifted to the right and came to alight on one Peter Parker, a smile on his face still plump with baby fat. He was looking through his phone and Tony realized all at once that the beeping had been coming from his shitty iPhone. They must have gotten within satellite range of whatever phone company May Parker had.   It took him another moment to realize he was staring, and that’s likely why the teen was giving him a questioning look. Tony cleared his throat before he spoke. “You’re certainly popular, or is it a clingy girlfriend?” he teased, hoping his voice didn’t sound forced. He was certainly forcing himself.   Tony was amused at the look on kid’s face, seeing the flush crawling up his cheeks. “I don’t have a girlfriend,” he muttered petulantly as he hunched his shoulders.   “A cling boyfriend then? I don’t judge. Free love and all that.” Peter’s face was pretty red by then and Tony felt like giggling. He was so easy to fluster, and it was a refreshing change. Peter wasn't like Steve at all, who would have shaken his head and ignored Tony.   Well, he supposed that he still wasn't use to Tony's antics, and gave it a month until he was sick of Tony. It was bound to happen.   "No, Mr. Stark. It's just my friends Ned and Miles. They're roasting me on Discord," he said with an eyeroll but a  smile on his face. It was a fond kind of smile that Tony hadn't worn since the days before the Avengers had become a thing. When it had just been Rhodey and him, and Pepper and Tony had just started what wasn't yet a doomed relationship.   "Oh, is that so? And what are they "roasting" you about?" he inquired, lifting his hands to do air quotes.   Peter giggled. "I can't  believe you did the air quotes. That's such a dad thing to do." He was distracted by another ding on his phone that he missed the stunned look on Tony's face.

No one had ever said he was paternal, in any way, and here was this fourteen year old having just crushed all that with one word. Granted, he hadn't  actually called him dad, but he had said he had done something a father would do (or did).   And even if it wasn't a big deal, since Peter had gone back to laughing at his phone, it was huge to Tony. He had no fatherly qualities and had no plans on becoming a dad, since his own father hadn't been... the best dad. So, he knew he would never make a good one.   As they dropped off the kid off in front of his apartment building, where he had laughed for the first time since before the Siberia incident, he knew he had to put some distance between Peter and him. He'd planned on taking the superhero teenager under his wing and teaching him the ropes, and perhaps he would be better than he had been; wouldn't make the same mistakes he'd once done. Now, however, after that one word, Tony couldn’t take the kid on as a mentee, it just wasn’t possible. He had to break away now, while he still had a chance.   Besides, he'd be fine. How much trouble could a super-kid get into stopping purse snatchers?   - - - -   When he had to save the disaster super-kid from drowning after getting tangled in his own parachute, he knew he couldn’t leave him alone anymore. Now, he had a new job, whether he wanted it or not. That new job was to keep one dumbass super kid from killing themselves.   - - - -   "Uuuugh," Miles groaned as he landed heavily on the concrete, spitting up a bit of blood which got on the mask he was wearing. He'd gotten the idea to use a Mexican wrestler's mask to hide his identity for now, since using a ski mask would make him look like a burglar.   Ganke rushed to his side as soon as he climbed the five flights of steps of the apartment building, breathing heavily. "H-holy... shit, Miles?" he gasped. coughing a bit. "Is... anything broken?"   He pulled up the mask, spat the blood in his mouth and lifted a thumbs up. Then fell back against the pavement, another pained groan escaping his mouth.   "Rip," his traitorous friend laughed at him, reaching out to help him off the ground. "Come on, enough with trying to kill yourself. Don't you have a date today?"   Miles elbowed him with a scowl. "It's not a date."   Ganke just laughed as he clutched his stomach. "Crashed and burned again," he cackled.   Miles only grumbled but didn't deny it.   "Is he still gushing over that Liz girl?"   When his friend's shoulders slumped as he sighed, Ganke only patted his shoulder sympathetically. It was one thing to try and ask Peter out and fail, but another to see him crushing after some girl from his school. Miles was hoping it was more that he was oblivious than him being straight. Because if he was straight, than he was screwed.

“This sucks,” he grumbled, Ganke nodding solemnly, even if Miles knew he was an asshole that enjoyed his pain. He didn’t know why he was friends with him.

“Come on, let’s grab some burgers. My treat,” he told him.

Oh yeah, cause he was awesome and bought him food constantly since his metabolism had skyrocketed like crazy.

“Then we can work out why you suck at asking out one guy to a single date.”

Also, cause they were roommates and it was too late in the year to change rooms.   - - - -   Peter jumped as his phone rang, fumbling with it for a moment and it was only his sticky powers that kept it from falling to the pavement down below. "Hello?" he asked uncertainly, recognizing the number but not sure if it was really Mr. Stark.

“Hey, kid, do you want to come over to work in the lab Friday after school?”

The fifteen year old was sure he was dreaming, so he used his free hand to pinch his right arm. It hurt. So, meant he wasn’t dreaming. “S-sure!” he sputtered before he could change his mind.

“Great. Happy will pick you up after school. I’ll call Aunt Hottie and let her know.”

He hung up before he could ask him how he had his aunt’s phone number, but he should have known better. He’d found him when he had thought he was being super careful on keeping his secret identity a.. well, a secret.

- - - -   Peter grinned as he put the finishing touches on his new web shooters. “I did it! I can’t believe I was able to make this all on my own-“

The canister exploded, covering him in webbing as he was flung back. He’d clenched his eyes and mouth closed, his senses screaming at him in time that he was able to spare them from being filled with the sticky webbing. When he opened them and glanced around, he realized he was stuck to the wall, arms and legs spread-eagle. Well, at least he could see, even if opening his eyes had been hard, but breathing was proving to be a bit difficult.

As he wondered how he was going to get out of this, the door opened with a swish and it was only cause he was already facing them that he saw them, since he was barely able to turn his head. Tony and a blonde haired teenage boy he didn’t recognize were standing there. He was super embarrassed, and also, he couldn’t breathe.

FRIDAY must have alerted Tony of this (he also couldn’t hear too well), because the man hurried over, grabbing a screwdriver on his desk to cut away the webbing covering his face. Now that he was closer he could kind of hear him. “Jesus, kid,” he grunted as he freed his nose and mouth, and Peter took in a gasping breath. “Is that better? Breathing okay?”

“Yeah,” he croaked. Peter tried to pull away from the wall, but realized he’d have to use his super strength to accomplish this, and he didn’t want to let this other boy know and possibly oust himself as Spider-Man. By then the other had reached Tony’s side, whom was taller than the man.

“Isn’t there like something to dissolve it?” he asked, eyebrows raised questionably. His dark blue eyes were almost like the deep waters of the ocean.

Peter shook his head when he realized he’d actually been seeing black spots. “Y-yeah, I think it’s in a jar in that drawer behind you.” The kid went to do that while Tony continued to cut away the webbing covering his face. His hands were shaking.

“Don’t scare me like that, Peter. I have a heart condition.”

The use of his name showed how shaken he’d been, and it was a scary thing. He’d been thrown against the wall, and that had punched out the air from his lungs. The webbing had been so thick that he couldn’t get any air in. So, Peter would have been in trouble if Tony and this other kid hadn’t come when they had.

By that time he’d managed to uncover his entire head and face, and the other had returned so he couldn’t say anything to his words. “Is this it?”

Peter had put it in a small spray can for easier administration, so it was easy for Tony to take it and spray it about three times and get him down. “The rest can dissolve in water.”

“You’ll have ta get in clothes an’ all,” the other teen said, and Peter now noticed his southern accent. It sounded nice, a real change from the usual New York accent, and Miles’s Brooklyn accent. He was wearing a black denim Harley Davidson jacket of some kind with a black hoodie under that, and some frayed blue jeans with some beat up sneakers.

“Yeah, I guess so,” he grumbled. There wasn’t enough dissolvent to get rid of all the webbing. He went to walk away and looked at him. “Um, nice to meet you. I’m Peter. P-Parker. Peter Parker,” he stuttered, feeling his face warming.

What a terrible first impression. This was almost as bad as the basketball covered in dog poop incident when he’d first met Miles. Peter just hoped this turned out alright in the end as well, and especially with him having a new friend.

“Nice to meet you, Peter Parker. I’m Harley Keener,” he said with a grin. “Hope we can become friends.”

“Sure!” he enthused, his voice breaking and making him flush even more. “I’m gonna,” he motioned toward the door.

As soon as Peter walked off, the blonde boy turned to Tony. “So, that’s the intern you’ve been raving about?”   Tony sighed and nodded. “Yeah, that’s my disaster kid,” he confirmed.

Harley nodded with a hum. “So, you didn’t tell me he was super cute.”

“Excuse me, what?”

“Since he’s your kid, does that mean I’d be your son-in-law if I started dating him?”

Tony looked at him and then pointed at the door. “Get out of my lab.” Harley cackled and simply ignored him.

- - - -    When Peter came out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around his waist, it was to a pile of clothes folded neatly on his bed. He didn’t have clothes in the room that Tony had dubbed as ‘his’, so they must have been Tony’s clothes. When he saw an old but well maintained MIT grey hoodie, he knew they had to be. It was warm when he pulled it over the slightly baggy shirt and pants.

If he purposefully kept it, well, Tony never asked for it back.-

[jennyboom21]

Stfu. Don’t you dare talk about upbringing and all that shit. Everyone knows you’re not a fucking Kaylor. You’re a Swiftgron. You ship that shit. You’re obsessed with that toxic bs and you need therapy cause you defend that “relationship”.

Oh, my sweet, woefully ignorant, insecure, summer child 😢 You show me a well adjusted teen that can have open dialog with equally well adjusted parents, and they’ll tell you that supporting Jelena is problematic and should be avoided (if not outright vilified, as their fans should be too).

I don’t ship real couples, for the 43rd flipping time (I’m not criticizing anyone who does, you do you, it’s just not for me), so I definitely don’t ship Taylor with anyone, except for singledom, since homegirl didn’t get nearly enough time to properly grieve, and we’re still seeing/hearing the result of that today.

The only reason why I discuss them and Dianna is 1.) Dianna is my kind of people, is very grounded, speaks her mind, and doesn’t take bullshit (Paula sends her regards), so yes, I’m a fan. 2.) Due to the cycling of Kaylors leaving, switching fandoms, coming onboard with the benefit of not going through several droughts, or just here for Karlie while ignoring Taylor’s own journey that started WELL before she got involved with Karlie; we have genuinely curious new shippers who HAVE questions about Taylor’s past. They have questions about current songs that don’t “fit” Kaylor or Karlie. They have questions about Taylor’s best songs being about someone she’s no longer dating, and because of this “Karlie and No One Else” mob mentality, they don’t feel comfortable blogging about it, or going to blogs that dismiss Dianna as not in Taylor’s life anymore (ha!), or better off forgotten since they view Swiftgron as toxic, since that’s easier then trying to make sense of them, and their crazy mad-in-love relationship. Dismissing Dianna doesn’t answer their questions, and it’s irresponsible as shepards of all things Gaylor Swift to do so.

Since you’re the type to be lazy, I know you don’t read the masterposts, and you definitely haven’t searched my archives; you missed when I would drag Dianna’s fuckboi antics and the Pussy Bandit persona, which Taylor dealt with when THEY. WERE. NOT. EXCLUSIVE.

It wasn’t until after KissGate, Taylor either lurked a Swiftie’s blog and liked the GIF, or was searching Dianna’s name, but that’s when I paid attention to them and went back to read up on them again in the context of their social media activities (it was gay).

Last I checked, calling them a MUTUALLY, CO-DEPENDENT, ADDICTIVE couple isn’t making excuses; it’s calling them what they ARE, and one just needs to listen to Taylor’s lyrics to realize that (include the alcohol references too). Much like their relationship, which was consistently inconsistent (on and off), so is their “coincidental” social media activity, and I’m SO glad me and others have noticed and paid attention, because it’s STILL going on in 2018.

Even if you dismiss alllll those coincidences, we’ve gotten WAY more Dianna influenced songs being performed this era than expected, in addition to “new materal” like Babe, allegedly Better Man, and the music videos (Red era for Delicate). If she ever performs EHC live, I’ll be insufferable.

I could make a fandom joke about “Taylor influenced Dianna with the mid term election voting pics being tagged on her IG”, and the insecure Only Karlies would flood my inbox as anons in between teeth gnashing and trashing Dianna, as some of you do. 💅🏼

1 time is an accident.

2 times is a coincidence.

3 times is a trend.

4 times and more is an inevitability.

[thecartoonarchivist]

My Thought on The Dragon Prince

So, the first season of The Dragon Prince released on Netflix yesterday and like the cartoon nerd I am, I binged watched all the episodes at like... 12:00 at night. (Sue me.) 

And I’m gonna be honest: I have some opinions.

For those of you who don’t know who I am, or haven’t seen my posts popping up from time-to-time over the past month or so, I’m the Cartoon Archivist. I’ve watched a lot of cartoons over the years and I help people find the cartoons that they’ve looking for; in my spare time, I write exposés on different cartoons that used to premiere on various networks and rate them. I won’t go into detail about my “cartoon resume” but if you’re interested in what I do, go ahead and check out my blog, or read this post here to get started.

Regardless, I feel that it’s my duty to my followers and my blog as a whole to write an article about what I’ve seen thus far and my opinions about The Dragon Prince.

And honestly?

It’s not that great. Shocking, I know. Unpopular opinion? More than likely. Will I get flack for it? Probably, but I’m more than willing to accept that.

Here’s the thing. While watching this series, I was keenly aware of all the things that it lacked; I knew exactly what it could be and that’s just not a spot that you want to place you want to put your audience into. It then appears to be half-baked, rushed, and disappointing because you know how much work went into the show--- you know how much was sacrificed to get it out on time.

And that’s just sad.

Now, before I go into detail, I feel that I need to clarify a few things. 

As much as it seems extremely unfair to compare this series to that of Avatar: The Last Airbender, that’s exactly what I will be doing but for a good reason. You see, Avatar: The Last Airbender was a trailblazer in a lot of ways. Although it wasn’t the first western animation that featured a large, complicated, overarching plot, it was the first to do so with, not only a plan of how each season was to go and lead towards the finale, but to have such important character growth as well. Shows like Teen Titans, Ben 10, and Samurai Jack to varying degrees all had similar types of storytelling that was present in Avatar: The Last Airbender and these groundbreaking shows helped pave the way for Avatar to even exist. But it wasn’t until Avatar was released that it helped show western audiences the types of stories that could be told in animation. Anime was already telling these stories over in Japan, even premiering some of their stories in the west with television programming such as Anime Network, or Toonami--- but these never really seen such sweeping popularity, and for the most part, was catered towards kids and early teenagers. However, Avatar was so popular that I haven’t met a single person who was a child when this show was airing that hasn’t at least seen the show. (I’ve met one or two individuals who didn’t like the show, but they’ve at least seen it. [Needless to say, they turned out to be very nasty people but that’s neither here nor there...]) It’s probably one of, if not the, cartoon that went from being considered a “children’s show” to being a family show. My parents watched it! My parents loved it! It wasn’t a weird thing to watch this show because it managed to cater to many demographics. And for that, it becomes one of the most influential cartoons within the past 20 years. Avatar has turned 13 years old this past February and it feels like it could of been released this past year. It is simply, a classic.

However, aside from Avatar, there’s not many cartoons to compare The Dragon Prince to. I could compare it to shows that I’ve stated before: Teen Titans, Samurai Jack, Ben 10, Codename: Kids Next Door, and many others. But the problem is that many of these shows focus on one type of storytelling. With Ben 10 and Codename: Kids Next Door, there wasn’t so much of an “overarching plot” that drove the series forward as much as there was character development over a series. You could make a case for Ben 10, saying that Ben 10 gaining the omnitrix and trying to remove it was the overarching plot of the show, but to that I say, there wasn’t a particular finale planned for that “goal.” It was more of a vague possibility that they worked and not every season funneled towards it. There wasn’t an escalation. Not everything was working towards this goal. It was simply there. For Teen Titans and Samurai Jack, there was an overarching plot but at the expense of other things. For Teen Titans, there was an overarching plot for a season; it focused on the problems and the struggles for one of the Titans for a season, maybe even a couple of episodes within a season, but there wasn’t a particular end goal. There wasn’t a final boss to defeat. There wasn’t an overarching plot that connected the overarching plots. It was primarily focused on character growth. For Samurai Jack, it had an overarching plot at the expense of character growth. For the most part, Jack stays the same throughout the series. He may learn some new tactics, become more accustomed to his new surroundings, fight new and increasingly difficult challenges, but he doesn’t grow towards something. He continuously tries to go back home and defeat Aku, but there’s not the constant escalation towards a final battle like there is in Avatar. Because of this, The Dragon Prince is in the difficult position of not only having such a ridiculously small venue to compare itself to, but also the fact that it’s going to be compared to its spiritual predecessor. It’s unfair. It’s cruel. But it’s the only other show that uses the same complete range of techniques that The Dragon Prince uses. I may compare it somewhat to Anime, but seeing as that’s eastern animation versus western animation, I’ll try to refrain from that as much as possible. So while it appears that comparing The Dragon Prince to Avatar: The Last Airbender pre-establishes a bias and unfair advantage towards Avatar, I’m only doing that out of lack of options and opportunity. Otherwise, I will try to remain as objective as possible. After all, The Dragon Prince needs to be able to stand on its own merit, regardless of its predecessor.

Now that that’s out of the way...

One of the first things to comment on is the art-style, and for a lot of people, it’s a bit of a turn-off. For one thing, it’s animated using cheaply produced CGI, which leaves the animation rather choppy.

However, that doesn’t really bother me too much. The character designs are fantastic. The establishing shots and aerial angles of the backgrounds are absolutely stunning. And even while using such a generic type of animation, they were still able to create a unique look to their animation that anyone would be able to identify this cartoon from a mile away. For what the technology they were working with, they did a great job. Could they have used better technology? Certainly. But for what they had, I was generally pretty happy with the result.

On top of this, I was an individual who was able to sit through the awful animation of Ajin: Demi-human and still enjoy myself so... really... it’s not as bad as it could’ve been. (And for those of you who never saw Ajin, here’s a clip of the animation. It’s just... hot garbage...)

Watching all 9 episodes that released yesterday on Netflix, I feel that I can identify 3 major problems that I had with the overall quality of the series.

1.) The Plot Felt Rushed.

The best way I can describe the overall feeling I had from watching this series is if someone tried to explain to me their DnD campaign in the span of 9 twenty-five minute episodes. And to any DnD or Table-top RPG player, this seems like a dream come true. However, in practice? This is a very poor way to tell a story. Having watched way too many hours of DnD livestreams and YouTube shows, I can tell you that when you try and summarize a DnD campaign, it just doesn’t amount to actually sitting down and watching each individual session. Many of the things that the average individual wouldn’t include in their overall summary of the campaign help us feel closer to the characters involved! The weird, crazy antics and conversations that players get themselves into help reveal to the audience (and to each other!) the type of people each character is. If we don’t spend enough time with these characters, getting to know their personality, they’re speech patterns, their quirks, it becomes a whole lot harder to care for what they want or are striving towards. It becomes difficult to relate to them as people and you begin to view them more as symbols, or objects than actual living beings. Watching this series, I felt like I was constantly being fire-hosed with information and plot and world-building and backstory and character growth and new characters and my god how much can you fit into one fucking episode I’m so---- I never had breathing room. I never had enough time to get to know these characters. I never got to see them when things were dull, or they had a long stretch of road to travel, or just having a moment to process all that’s happened. To be honest, I wanted some filler episodes. I wanted an episode or two where we weren’t focused on all the terrible things that were going wrong. I just... I wanted a moment to breathe. And seeing as they only included 9 episodes instead of the standard 24, I can’t help but feel that they should’ve put it off. Now, maybe there was some pressure from Netflix to get this baby out to the public, but really, it was to the show’s detriment. It wasn’t ready. It needed more time. The scripts needed a better once over, another look to say, “You know what? Maybe we should put another couple one-off episodes to make this breathe a little better.” It just... it needed more time.

2.) The Characters Felt Like Chess Pieces, Not Characters.

What do I mean by that? Well, let me explain.

In writing, one of the major things that they tell you is that your characters should fuel your plot. Their actions and reactions should help push your plot forwards; in every scene, they should be working towards their goals and what they want, and if they aren’t well... you should cut it.

If you’re using your characters as chess pieces, that simply means that your characters aren’t fueling your plot, your plot is fueling your characters. Each character does a certain thing, not because your character wants to do X thing, or does something because of X reasons, but simply because the plot calls for it. When this happens, characters become wishy-washy. The small little problems that arise come, not from conscious character decisions and personality clashes, but from lack of communications and convenient drama problems. On top of this, small character quirks, lines of dialogue, actions that actually affect the plot of the story, could be fulfilled by any one of the cast of characters. They aren’t individual people with their own wants and desires, their own personalities and flaws. They simply become pieces to fill a role that’s empty and as an audience member, how am I supposed to empathize with that? How am I supposed to care about these people and their struggles when whatever “3- dimensional personality traits and backstory” could’ve been fulfilled by... anyone... 

On top of this, it causes character motivations to become muddled. They may have a “reason” as to why they act the way that they do, but it doesn’t really affect their personality. 

Let’s take Zukko for example. It’s goal, his motivation, is to capture the Avatar at all costs. Why? To restore is honor. To be accepted back into the Fire Nation with open arms. To make his father proud of him for once in entire life. Because of this motivation, Zukko is desperate. He wants so badly to be accepted by his father that he’s willing to do anything in order to capture the Avatar. This affects his actions. He’s very rash. He doesn’t think things through to their fullest extent. He’s a very angry character because of the fact that he’s so desperate for the love and acceptance that he’s never received from his father that every single failure, every single step back, every single moment that he has to wait and plan and think things through seems like a delay of his desires. If you were to place Sokka, or Katara, or Aang, or any other character in the same exact situation that Zukko was placed under, they wouldn’t react the same exact way and that’s what makes a character individual. If we were to compare Zukko to Rayla, we see that Rayla’s actions... could’ve been Soren’s actions, or King Harrow’s actions, or even Callum’s actions if placed in the same exact circumstances. The fact that she spared a random human soldier, or the fact that she’s teaming up to save the Dragon Prince doesn’t seem like a decision that she’s actively made. It only seems like she’s made those decisions because the writers wanted her to, or because the plot called for it. The writers say that it’s because Rayla wants redemption for her parents cowardice but I don’t really believe it. If Rayla really wanted to redeem herself, she wouldn’t have hesitated to kill the human soldier. If she found the Dragon Prince with the human princes, she would have taken the egg for herself and became the hero of her people. Why would she care about some war? Why would she care about the “fear in the soldier’s eyes” or “the right thing to do?” The only thing that is established that we know about is that she’s trying to redeem herself for her parents mistakes, which is why she’s the fastest, the strongest, and the most skilled in her group. All these... additional actions? They make no sense. They’re out of character. They just don’t... fit. And because of that, they don’t feel real. They simply feel like chess pieces that the author uses to further the plot. Granted, we’ve only seen 9 episodes of Rayla, but even in the early seasons of Avatar, every character’s actions had a purpose even if we, the audience, couldn’t see it, we could feel the consistency within the character. But with The Dragon Prince? There was no character consistency and because of that, the audience could feel that.

3.) Who’s The Villain?

Consciously, I know who the villain is. Viren is supposed to be this big man-ba-jama that’s supposed to be out to kill the prince. Why? Because he wants the throne... supposedly. But... why? What does he gain by becoming the King of an empire at war? Power, sure but... nobody wants power for the sake of power. If he really did, he would have killed King Harrow a long time ago. But instead, he’s simply trying to pull Scar (from The Lion King) with... no real reason? I mean, Scar wanted power because he wanted people to respect him. But I’m still baffled as to why Viren wants the throne...

And as far as The Dark Magic is concerned, I mean... I get why Dark Magic is supposed to be bad. Using someone’s life-force against their will is... it’s kinda horrific. Not to mention, the process appears to be pretty fucking painful, so yeah. Bad Idea™. But like.... what’s the benefit of using Dark Magic? What do you gain by using it? Like, we have 6 different sources of magic. We have multiple different magical ways to solve a problem, why do we need a new “evil terrible” one? On top of that, Viren isn’t... a threat? Like... yeah, he orders to kill the princes. Yeah, he places Runaan’s soul in a coin which is pretty fucking bad but like... with Firelord Ozai, he killed millions of people. He burned his own fucking son just because dared to speak out of turn, like that’s straight up sociopathic. He uses his children as tools and doesn’t care for anyone but himself. But Viren? He... actually cares? And he has legitimate feelings? And maybe he uses his children as tools but at the end of the day, he still actually cares about them and like... Viren legitimately seems like he’s just trying to do what he thinks as right, but doing it in the worst fucking way possible. 

And maybe that’s the point of the series. Maybe it’s the idea that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” but there just... isn’t enough indication of that fact. The series tries to paint these children as “right” and Viren as “wrong” and Runaan as “overzealous” and General Amaya as “misguided” and... when you want to use gray morality, you have to show the good actions people take along with the bad actions. You have to show that the villains are capable of good, that the heroes are capable of bad, and that there’s a reason for everything someone does.

 That’s how you write gray morality. But seeing as the characters aren’t solid personalities and there isn’t really a reason for a character to make any particular action, it becomes nigh impossible to do so.

So, where does that leave us?

Well, it’s not a bad show. The world-building is so vibrant and so alive that I would love to see a DnD campaign or some other form Table-top RPG to come out of this series. The animation was actually surprisingly good for what they were working with. Yeah, backgrounds were a little recycled and a bit bland from time-to-time. They could’ve used some more in-between frames to make the animation more smooth and connected. Even some shots leave me going, “Ewwww.... You really skipped that one for time, didn’t cha?” But at the end of the day, I could dig it. I could ignore it for what was happening.

The problem is that the writing was so rushed. The characters felt lost. The plot was running at a break neck pace. I didn’t understand why anything was happening the way it was. I was just... disappointed. While looking through some gifs for this post, I feel like this one really describes my overall impression of the show.

It needed more.

It needed more time, more character development, more episodes. Just... more.

Problem is that it’s a quality show. It’s so much better than many of the animations that I’ve seen in recent years that it really does become a cut above the rest. However, like I said before, I know what it could be. And that just makes me extremely sad for its lost potential.

Overall, if I had to rate it, I’d give it a solid 7 out 10.

I’m going to keep tabs on it. The first season is always the roughest one, so in the future, it very well could live up to expectations. But for now, it’s just... disappointing. It isn’t bad by any means. I’ve seen some bad animations in my time and this doesn’t even come close to that. But I just feel like it could be so much more and that really bothers me.

If there are any corrections you’d like to make in regards to this post, please feel free to send me a message with your corrections and I’ll get back to it as soon as I can!

Do you remember a cartoon your friends have never heard of? Got a scene from an animated film that you’re dying to know the name to? Send your questions to The Cartoon Archivist and I’ll see what I’ve got in the vault!

[mingyus-noona]

Neighbors (Xiumin, Baekhyun)

Title: Neighbors Members: Xiumin, Baekhyun Fanfiction type: One-shot Genre: drama, angst, smutty Word count: 2,245 Oh, goodness, I’ve had this idea for quite a bit now and started planning it out at work today. I couldn’t wait to get home and work on it, but I didn’t think I’d actually get to finish it and post it tonight. Enjoy. P.S. I just knew it had to be these two because they’re the biggest little shits in EXO. ============================== "Those boys were so helpful the other day," your mother said at dinner. "I wouldn't have expected it from college boys. They're so polite. I wouldn't mind if you married one of them," she joked. You almost choked on a bite of your food, and your father cleared his throat as if to say hell no, no one was going to marry his little girl. "They were okay, but they're still guys after all," he said. "I agree," you said. But your mom just went on and on about how sweet they seemed. But if she knew what happened after she left, she'd think differently. Your family just moved into the neighborhood, and you guys had just started unloading some boxes from the moving van when two guys from next door introduced themselves as Kim Minseok and Byun Baekhyun. They'd asked if your family needed any help carrying the boxes into the house–help which your parents gladly accepted. Eventually your parents made a trip to the hardware store and left the three of you to finish with the last of the boxes. You couldn't help but notice the lewd gestures they mimed to each other or the smirks they sent your way. And eventually, they both took their shirts off, claiming that they'd gotten sweaty after all of the lifting. You called bullshit. It was nowhere near hot outside. At the time, you didn't think too much of it because they were teenage boys. Of course they did stuff like that. You were just a little surprised they'd been bold enough to do stuff like that in front of you. It made you blush like crazy. Not to mention the fact that they were really attractive. It certainly didn't help your cheeks from returning to their normal color. Over the next few days, your mother had seen them outside several times and spoke to them each time. She even gave them some cookies she made as a way to thank them for helping with the boxes. Over the course of the next week, they didn't do anything that seemed off. But one Thursday, you didn't have school, so you stayed home all day. You were used to waking up early for school, so you were up and ready to start the day at 6:30. After preparing some breakfast, you grabbed a book and headed outside to sit on the porch and read while you ate. You didn't realize how long you'd been outside, but sometime around 7:30 or maybe 8, one of the guys from next door came outside and starting doing stretches on the front lawn. In his boxers. If you'd still been eating breakfast, you would have choked on it for sure. You didn't remember which one he was, but he was the shorter of the two. And you really tried not to look, but he did have a nice body. The fact that he was half naked should have had you more embarrassed than you were, but you had your book to hide behind, so you were in the clear. That is, until you thought of something dirty and buried your face in the pages of your book to keep from getting caught. Only, when you pulled your book away from your face, the guy was standing right in front of you, having stepped over into your yard and onto your porch. Your feet hit the porch floorboards as an automatic response, and the swing stopped. "Good morning," you said nervously. "Like the view?" He asked, a big grin on his face. Oh, this little shit. You were tired of conceited guys. You were still nervous being this close to him, but you weren't going to let that get the better of you. He wasn't going to win. "Yes," you said as calmly as you could. You watched as his smirk grew, then you added in, "This is my favorite book actually." "You know what I meant," he said, sitting next to you on the swing. "I saw you blushing." You were sitting closer to one side, so when he sat next to you, he was pressed so close to you that, through his boxers, you could practically feel his hip bone pressing into yours. Did you forget to mention you were in pajamas yourself? They weren't revealing or embarrassing, but they were still pajamas nonetheless. "It's a little breezy out here, so my cheeks turned red. That's all." You opened your book back up. "What are you reading?" He tried to turn your book around to see the cover and accidentally touched your hand. "Geez, your hands are cold. Come here." He grabbed your hands, forcing the book to shut and fall to rest in your lap. He pulled your hands closer to his body to warm them, but they landed in his lap. You could literally feel his crotch against the back of your hand! You couldn't keep your cool act up anymore. You snatched your hands back so fast. "What are you doing?" He pretended to be innocent. "What? You were cold. I'm just trying to be friendly." You stood up. "I have homework to do." You marched inside. You quickly understood that you'd have to avoid Minseok and Baekhyun at all costs. But they still managed to run into you sometimes. And if your parents were outside with you, they always stopped to have a conversation with them. Especially your mom. She still doted on them and complimented their politeness. They pretended to be absolute saints whenever your parents were around. But when your parents were at work or inside the house, they were the slimiest fuckers around. Purposefully joking around with each other and dancing sexily while sending looks your way. You decided to just spend as much time inside the house as you could. You didn't want to let their childish antics bother you and gain a win for all the immature teen guys out there, but they were just too much to handle. Their flirtiness was enough, but you also noticed that the taller one, who you learned was Baekhyun and not the guy who practically made you grope his crotch, had a really hyper and wacky personality. The two of them appeared to live alone, so you figured the inside of their house must be one crazy sight. You unintentionally got your answer one day when you were in your room doing homework. Baekhyun had left his window and curtains open as he was dancing to some weird music that you thought belonged in an 80s exercise video. His dance moves were all over the place, and he was wildly swinging his arms about. But that wasn't the worst part. He started stripping, until he was down to his birthday suit. You were able to see more of him than you ever wanted. And you figured he did it on purpose. It was funny: you'd only been in the neighborhood for a few weeks, but having your hand against Minseok's crotch and seeing Baekhyun fully in the nude gave you all the experience with guys you'd ever had. Not many people could say they hadn't kissed a guy yet, but had felt one up and seen another without one article of clothing on, especially without any alcohol being involved. No matter how hard you tried, you had to just accept that these were the kind of neighbors you couldn't get rid of. You would just have to deal with them for another two years until you graduated high school, or until they moved away. Your mother talked to them often when she got home from work, so she learned that they were both freshmen in college. Which meant that you would probably have to stick it out until your graduation and not theirs. And it sure was difficult to ignore them when they seemed to be everywhere, always trying to bother you. But it was definitely harder to ignore them when they were sitting right across from you at your dining room table. Your mother had invited them to dinner. Then, while she and your father were about to head out to see a play, she suggested the three of you go see a movie. She handed over enough money for all of you to get tickets and whatever snacks you had your hearts set on. You tried to protest, but they jumped at the idea and thanked your parents for dinner and the money for the movies. All the way to the theater, you tried to grit your teeth. Just two hours. And you'd have to be quiet inside anyway, so it probably wouldn't be that bad. If only they hadn't chosen one of those ridiculously cheesy R-rated comedies. They had to vouch for you when the guy running the ticket counter asked if you were old enough. Minseok patted at your head like you were a child. "She's my little sister. I'm her guardian for tonight." Then you were sure you heard Baekhyun make some sort of innuendo under his breathe about "guiding" you to ecstasy as soon as you were far enough away from the counter that the ticket guy couldn't hear. Your goal was to sit as far away from them as possible, but the theater was almost full, so you had no luck. The movie had hardly begun by the time your popcorn was gone. With their hands free, Minseok slung an arm around your shoulder and Baekhyun pulled one of your hands into his lap, interlacing your fingers with his. "Why don't you have a boyfriend?" Minseok whispered. "How do you know if I do or not?" He raised an eyebrow. "I'd know if you did. I never see you with anyone." "You're too pretty to be single." Baekhyun joined in. "I'm not." "So your boyfriend won't mind if I do this?" Minseok kissed you. "Fuck off," you muttered as quietly as you could. "What, you didn't like it?" "Why are you picking on me specifically? Why me?" "You're sexy. And you seem to think we are too. I see you checking us out." At his comments, you stood up and left. They really were pieces of work. What was with them trying to turn you on and appeal to you when you clearly didn't like what they were doing? You would have been able to deal with them if they tried to harmlessly flirt or ask you out. But trying to act all sexy to "win you over" or whatever it was they were trying to do? Yeah, you'd pass. You'd just have to do a better job at ignoring them. * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ "You're sexy when you're angry," Baekhyun said as he came outside. You were raking leaves in your yard. They had finally started turning color and falling off the trees. You'd now been living here a few months, and while you couldn't fully ignore the two idiots living next door, you had been better with blocking them out, biting your tongue, and looking the other way. They still tried to flaunt their bodies–showing off their abs, twerking to music out on their pavement, and even streaking late at night when they saw you were sitting at your desk by the window. You'd now seen both of them fully naked, which you assumed was their goal. That or try to get you to fall for one of them. Who knew anymore? "You're sexy when you shut up," you growled back. "So you think I'm sexy?" He grinned. "No, it was just a comeback. Shut up and go inside." "Okay, sweetheart. I just came outside to invite you to our house tonight." "Why?" "It's getting cold, so we decided to start using the hot tub out back. We thought you'd have fun if you joined us." "No, thanks." You dropped the rake and headed inside. They did use their hot tub that night. And every night for the rest of the week. From your window, you could see as they tried everything in the book from wearing skimpy speedos to nothing at all to try and get your attention. And you did see the entire ordeal, but it certainly was not going to get you to go over there and join them. You figured they were done with their charade since you stopped seeing them outside in the evenings, so you thought it was safe to go read on the back porch. Bad idea. One of them must have been waiting until this happened. You heard them come outside and get into the hot tub. Surprisingly, they weren't nude or in speedos. Their bathing suits covered all the necessary bits. And they didn't even say anything to you. Out of curiosity, you glanced over at them and Minseok's eyes caught yours, causing him to smirk. You rolled your eyes and quickly returned to your book. They were quiet for a while, which you found odd. The next time you looked over, you were surprised. Once they could tell you were looking, Baekhyun chuckled and looked Minseok straight in the eyes. Then he inched forward and kissed him on the lips, his eyes wide open the entire time, staring at you. Minseok's were also watching for your reaction. You didn't want to look, but you were so shocked at what they were doing. You were pretty sure they were both as straight as people came, but there they were, making out with each other–tongue and all–to try and mess with you. Boy, it would be a long two years coming.... This was originally going to be longer and a bit different. I made them even douchier than I originally meant to. Oops. Remember, this is just for fun and in no way am I promoting harassment of any kind, as is seen in this fic.

[mirkwoodshewolf]

Bella Notte; Bucky x reader

This was my first ever Bucky x reader romance fluff oneshot that I had ever done on my Wattpad, I hope to do more and don’t worry there will be a few more Bucky oneshots on the way shortly (mainly child/teen fics but who doesn't love a little parental/big bro Bucky am I right?) Now I do NOT own Lady and the tramp nor Bucky *sadly* and if you’d like you all can listen to Bella Notte as you read the scene, hope you guys enjoy :)

Taglist:

@evyiione

___________________________________________________________

"Come on Bucky, the movie's about to start!" I cried out to my sweet adorkable boyfriend of 2 years Bucky Barnes formally known as the ex-HYDRA weapon the Winter Soldier. Ever since Steve found him and managed to rehabilitate Bucky to a certain point, he was allowed to join the Avengers side and that's where we met, my superhero name is known as "Shadow" because I can control and manipulate the shadows to my advantage. Bucky and I would occasionally acknowledge each other until he finally had the guts to finally talk to me in more than just four words.

After some conversations, we soon became best friends always having each other's backs and one mission when things looked critical for me, Bucky actually admitted his feelings for me. Not the best timing for a love confession but I took it and we ended up kissing as a HYDRA base exploded (yeah epic right?)

Now 2 years later we're still going strong and I took it upon myself to catch Bucky up on all things entertainment that he missed while serving as HYDRA's puppet, first starting with Walt Disney animated movies in chronological order. I had just put in my favorite Disney movie of all time growing up, "Lady and the Tramp" and was waiting for Bucky to get back with the snacks.

"Sorry babe, so what's next?"

"Lady and the Tramp. It's always been my favorite movie growing up, I think you'll love it just as much as I do".

"Well then let's watch". Bucky then hit the play button and soon the opening theme started playing.

Later on in the movie, my favorite scene of all time was just about to come on. The restaurant scene.

"Now tell me what's-a your pleasure? A-la-carte? Dinner?" The head chief Tony said as he set the menu down for Tramp and Lady. Tramp barked out and Tony said again, "ah-huh okay. Hey Joe! Poochie says he wants-a two spaghetti a special-a. Heavy on the Meats-a-balls!"

"Tony, dogs don't-a talk".

"He's-a talking to me!"

"Okay he's-a talking to you, you the boss!" Joe then began to mutter angrily in Italian as he took the spaghetti to Tony who took it away from him angrily.

"Now here-a you are, the bestest spaghetti in a town!" My heart fluttered as my favorite scene now began playing.

My secret date fantasy is for me and my boyfriend to reenact this scene while we eat spaghetti, this song being sung by real Italian chefs, and then share that Lady and the Tramp magical kiss. Then walk around the park late at night together hand in hand. If I'm being honest, my last two boyfriends before I joined SHIELD thought this was a stupid idea. My first boyfriend in high school thought it was the most stupidest thing he had ever heard, and my second boyfriend sophomore year of college was too germ-a-phobic to even kiss me on the lips and said he wouldn't even understand why anyone would share a single plate of food.

As the song now began playing, I leaned against Bucky's chest and sighed softly.

"What is it doll?"

"Huh? Oh umm nothing".

"That sigh wasn't a nothing sigh, come on tell me".

"I don't wanna bore you with this, just go back to watching the movie". Bucky wrapped his metal arm further around my shoulder rubbing it with his thumb while his real hand was laying on top of mine and my thumb was stroking his fingers.

About 20 minutes later, the movie ended and I looked up at Bucky and said.

"So what did you think?"

"I honestly loved it, now I can see why that's your favorite movie".

"Told yah you'd love it. Think you wanna call it quits for tonight? Or do you wanna watch another movie?"

"We can watch one more, but before we do, I wanna talk about something".

"Okay, what is it?"

"During the restaurant scene, you sighed a sad sigh. Why was that?"

"Oh Buck, I thought I said it was nothing".

"Doll, I know you better than you do, now come on confide to your Bucky-bear and tell him what's wrong?" I giggled at his antics and said.

"You're gonna think it's stupid and cheesy".

"Hey, you're adorable and cheesy, now come on no more stalling".

"Okay. The reason why Lady and the Tramp has always been my favorite is because when I was a little girl, I had always dreamed of having that same date they had. As I grew older it became more romantic to me more than any other dates that you see now-a-days. I told my fantasy date to my two exes from way back when and my first high school boyfriend thought it was the dumbest thing he had ever heard and said that our first date should be us fucking under the bleachers by the football field, so I beat his ass in the dark and dumped him. Then my second boyfriend my sophomore year of college was sweet but he had a problem with germs, not like an extreme phobia but he just wouldn't see himself kissing me on the lips and thought it was said in strangely the nicest way possible that it's gross to even think of sharing a single plate of any food and try to share one strand of food just to reach each other's mouths. So I politely dumped him because I couldn't see it going anywhere after that. And now every time I watch that scene my heart now feels broken and heavy knowing I may never share the kiss of my dreams, but my inner child is still hoping it will happen".

I tried to keep my cool but tears formed in my eyes and my voice started quivering. I sniffled and muttered.

"God I'm such a baby".

"Hey, hey now" Bucky brought me into his arms as I began to let the tears out on his shoulder. "Shhh, shh, no you're not a baby. I think that's the cutest thing I've ever heard in my life, besides your own voice that is" I sobbed out a small laugh as I felt his human hand was rubbing soothing circles on my back while his metal hand was stroking my hair. "Listen doll, those guys were dicks to make fun and torment your childhood fantasy. They didn't fully understand how important this meant to you to share your favorite childhood movie moment in real life". He said again as we separated and he lifted my chin up with his metal index finger.

Bucky wiped away my tears with his human thumb gingerly and continued.

"You keep holding onto that dream baby girl, don't ever let it go, okay?" I sniffled and whimpered.

"I'll try".

"That's my girl, say why don't we just get some sleep, we can continue this in the morning okay?" I agreed with him because I was just too upset to watch Sleeping Beauty. Bucky and I cleaned up the bedroom and then got back under the covers for bedtime. Bucky held me close to his chest and kissed my forehead lovingly and whispered.

"I love you doll".

"Love you too Bucky-bear". As I fell asleep against Bucky I didn't notice the face of determination spread across his face.

A couple weeks later after the fantasy talk I had with Bucky, I couldn't help but notice that these past couple weeks Bucky has been acting rather strangely, staying out later than usual, making mysterious phone calls, and constantly checking the computer for something. I didn't want to think that Bucky was seeing someone else but the evidence seemed to be that way.

I went to Steve one day to confide my worry for Bucky and to see if he mentioned seeing someone else behind my back. His response to me was this.

"(Y/n), Buck's been through a lot, and you were the one to bring him fully back, he's more crazy about you than I've ever seen him be with a woman before. He loves you too much to even think about cheating on the girl whose helped him fit in and catch up on all that he's missed. Do you trust him enough to not cheat on you?"

"Yeah but—I would like to know why he's been doing what he's been doing".

"Don't worry (y/n), I'm sure Buck has his reasons, now how about you head to the training room and I'll be there in a moment to help you, okay?" I nodded then Steve and I hugged each other then I headed down the elevator to the training level. "So you've seen the museum?" Steve said. 

Bucky then came out of the corner and stood in front of his best friend and said.

"Yes, it's amazing, I know she's gonna love it".

"God I can't believe you're gonna ask (y/n) to marry you after you give her her dream date".

"I know."

"Show me the ring". Out of his pocket, Bucky revealed a small red box and opened it up to reveal a beautiful silver ring and (insert birthstone) for the main gem. "Oh man Buck, she's gonna love it".

"I think it might be best to plan the engagement a little early, I don't want her to think I'm cheating on her, I can't believe she'd think I'd do that to her".

"Well you were quite a lady's man back in the day, and doing all the things you have been doing to plan the dinner and the museum where they also host weddings in such a secret tone, it practically screams affair at least in this age".

"Okay not helping here Steve, but I'm gonna prove to her she's my only one".

"I'm proud of you Bucky, I'm happy you found the right girl for you". Steve and Bucky did a brotherly hug and Bucky said.

"Thank you for introducing us Steve, without you this wouldn't be happening. And I already know the answer to this but will you be the Best Man at our wedding?"

"I've been waiting for you to ask me that since the 40's. Now go get your best girl". Bucky then raced towards the elevator and headed down to the training floor.

I was currently waiting for Steve to come down and when I heard the elevator ding and expecting Steve, coming out was actually Bucky.

"Oh, hey Bucky, what are you doing here?"

"What can't I come down and see my baby girl train?"

"Well no, but where's Steve?"

"Oh he uhh—he suddenly got called on a mission by Fury, but hey what do you say we skip training and I take you out for dinner tonight. My treat". Now this time he was beginning to act like a giddy schoolboy with a secret he just couldn't wait to tell, but this is the first time in weeks since we've been able to have a date night since we had both been busy with assignments.

"Sure, what time?"

"7pm".

"Where are we going?"

"That my dear is a surprise". Bucky tilted my chin and kissed my nose lovingly making me twitch my nose and him chuckle softly.

At 6:55pm just five minutes before we left, I was doing the final touches on my makeup and checking to see if my hair was okay.

"Hey (y/n)? You ready?"

"Just a second Bucky!" As soon as I felt ready, I stepped out of the bathroom and met Bucky in the living room. "Well, what do you think?"

"Doll, you look absolutely beautiful". He brought me into his arms and we kissed lovingly. "Now come on, I have reservations for us at a special restaurant".

"Can't you at least give me a hint on where we're going?"

"Sorry babe can't do that otherwise it would ruin the surprise". He then led me outside and we both got onto his motorcycle and he drove us towards the restaurant.When we arrived I was shocked to see that it was the best Italian restaurant in town.

"Oh my god—Bucky....."

"Surprise, now come on, our table awaits my lady". Bucky got off his bike first then held out his hand for me to take. I smiled and took it and he helped me off the bike and we walked into the elegant restaurant.

"Hello, reservation for Barnes please".

"Ahh yes, right this way your table is all set". Said the waitress. She picked up two menus and our silverware and we were escorted to our table.

Our table was outside in the cool air right under the stars and it was beautifully decorated with lights hanging above us.

"Oh Bucky—"

"Come on, let's sit down and enjoy our meal". Bucky pulled out my chair and I sat down in and as a gentleman he scooted me in before sitting himself down.

"Quite the gentleman tonight Barnes".

"Only the best for my best girl". The waitress set down our menus and we ordered our drinks first.

"So any particular reason we came here?"

"Well there is a reason, but just wait a few minutes and you'll find out why". As soon as our drinks came by a waiter this time, he said to Bucky.

"Mr. Barnes, your meal is just about ready, now do you want to go heavy or light on the meatballs".

"Heavy".

"Alright sir, right away". As our waiter left, I raised an eyebrow and had to ask.

"Alright Bucky no more games, no tricks no lies, I want to know what is going on and I want to know now!" I was starting to get annoyed with these games of his and just before I could fully blow my top, our waiter came back and he said.

"Now here you are, the bestest spaghetti in town". He soon set down one full plate of spaghetti and I just stared in shock. I looked at the meal then up at Bucky then back down again. Back and forth my head went as I was completely speechless and Bucky chuckled softly.

"But.....but.....how?"

"These past couple of weeks were me trying to set this perfect date up. When you told me about your fantasy dream date and how your exes didn't care enough to make this happen, I knew I had to make it my mission to make this possible". Tears of happiness formed into my eyes but I tried to keep myself together as to not ruin my makeup.

"Thank you Bucky, you have no idea how much this means to me".

"Happy to give you what you deserved for so long, now what do you say we dig in?" I nodded then we both took a single bite into our spaghetti. The dinner only got better as soon as I finished slurping up my strand of spaghetti when an accordion suddenly came playing a familiar tune. One of the performers that plays and sings for the restaurant came out along with another performer on a small lute guitar and the accordion player began to sing "Bella Notte".

They came around us with the singer standing beside me and the lute player beside Bucky. I couldn't almost believe that Bucky had gone to great lengths to do this for me. I took another bite into my spaghetti but I felt myself being pulled to the side as I try to find the end strand and next thing I knew, Bucky and I met in a kiss.

The Lady and the Tramp Kiss.

I turned away blushing and trying to keep myself from bursting with joy. I finally got my dream kiss with the perfect guy. And what Bucky did next only made my heart flutter even more, he scooted the last meal ball towards me with his metal hand. I had absolutely no words for him as we stared into each other's eyes lovingly and deeply.

After dinner, we took a romantic walk through the park and I don't know if it was on purpose or accident but we had walked on wet cement and there was a drawn picture of a heart with cupid's arrow through it with the initials J.B + (F/L/N) (L/L/N). Bucky and I placed our hands right underneath our initials then once we made the imprint we removed our hands from the cement and I turned away bashfully while Bucky grinned.

We continued to walk side by side as the fireflies seem to dance around us and other couples seem to be out on dates too. I looked up at Bucky and he kissed my forehead lovingly as we now approached a small bridge and we stopped right at the arch and watched as a pair of swans swam underneath us. Bucky's arms wrapped around my waist and my back against his chest. I rested my head underneath his chin and placed my hands on top of his stroking his fingers with my thumbs.

Finally we were sitting at a hill top that looked over the rest of the park and faced towards the moon.

"Thank you Bucky, this has been the most memorable night I've ever had".

"You deserved it doll, and there's one more thing I have to ask you," he faced me and took my hands in his as he continued, "(y/n), when we first met I thought you were the most beautiful girl in the world, but with my past I always believed that a girl like you would never go for a guy like me. But as time passed, you gave me a chance and saved me from the darkness that HYDRA had given me and showed me a whole new world. You are my best girl and I can't imagine anyone else being here with me". He then changed into a kneeled position and revealed a small red box.

I gasped as I couldn't believe what he was about to do.

"(Y/full/n), will you do me this great honor and become Mrs. (Y/n) Barnes?" He opened the box revealing the most beautiful silver ring with my birthstone as the main gem. Tears fell down my cheeks and I held a hand to my mouth and nodded.

"Yes, yes, Bucky I will". He smiled then placed the ring on my finger and we kissed each other passionately then embraced each other as I was now a blubbering mess of emotions.

When we got back to the tower, the whole team was standing there with anxious excited faces so I broke the news.

"We're engaged!" Everyone cheered and came running up at us and soon we all were in a great big group hug.

"This is the least jealous I've ever been!" Natasha exclaimed as she stroked my hair.

For the rest of the night after the team was finished congratulating us, Bucky and I slow danced in our shared bedroom with "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton playing in the background.

James Buchanan Barnes had taken my childhood dream and made it a million times better, now the two of us would soon begin our lives together forever on this Bella Notte and for all the other nights to come.

[writingevil]

The Click of a Mouse

by E.L.B

It’s funny how many things can start from the click of a mouse. Things such as; a new obsession, a friendship, a career, or even a love story. Helen was an avid watcher of youtube. She spent many ours clicking on video after video. She’d go to tumblr and look up her favorite youtubers and ships to see what people had created. She started an art blog to try to make fanart. Many of them were shit but through perseverance she gained a small following. 

CrazyCasey was one of the older channels on youtube. They had started making videos when they were still in their teens as a hobby and by their twenties they had a few thousand subscribers. They decided to move to LA and try doing youtube full time. Case would try to interact with their fans as much as possible. Answering asks and tweeting people. They just hadn’t told their fans one thing, they were nonbinary. They had come out as a lesbian a few years back and they didn’t want to go through all of the drama of justifying their gender and sexuality.

Helen was clicking on random coming out videos trying to work up the courage to finally do it. She clicked on one from a youtuber named Casey.

“Hello! A lot of you have suspected this but I’ve never officially said it before. I’m gay...” Casey said. “Yeaaahh.”

Helen smiled at the girls antics.

“I’m telling you all this because you might notice I’m not in my bedroom. I moved out... Or rather I was kicked out. I came out to my parents and they said I couldn’t live there anymore.” Casey paused. “I want to let you all know that coming out can be hard but only come out when you fully come out to yourself. I would have never been able to handle it if I was still doubting myself. Be true to yourself.” 

The girl went on to talk about a few other things and Helen laughed a few times before the end of the video. She clicked like and checked out the channel which was called CrazyCasey. A few hours after watching many of the girls videos she clicked subscribe.

“And I’ll see you guys later! TaTa!” Case said with a wave to the camera. They turned it off and started turning off the bright studio lights. They sighed and sat on their bed. They were too tired to edit today they had gone out with friends earlier in the day and dancing around a camera for two hours after that had mental worn them out. Case sighed and grabbed their computer. They opened up tumblr and laughed at a gif of one of the netflix shows they’d started watching. 

Case reblogged some fanart and found a user that was doing hilarious pictures of their favorite book. They looked at HumbleHelen’s tumblr and followed them after a few scrolls just because they thought their art was funny. Case opened their ask’s which they had been putting off for a while. They deleted the ones that had anything to do with gender.

anonymous asked

Hi Casey! Who was the first person you ever came out too? Other than yourself of course.

CrazyCasey- Probably my best friend. We were watching a TV show and I just slipped it into the middle of a sentence. Something like “That character is going to get themselves killed. I’m gay. They shouldn’t go into that creepy cave.” Great way to come out. They threw popcorn at me for about an hour. 

generic-username asked

Who are some of your favorite youtubers?

CrazyCasey- This is hard. I watch all of my friends videos but other than that I don’t think I have any particular favorites out of them.

anonymous asked

IF YOU WERE A POTATO WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE MADE INTO?????

CrazyCasey- FRENCH FRIES ALL THE WAY!!!!

After a few months of watching CrazyCasey’s videos Helen logged onto tumblr and saw she had a new follower. Said new follower made Helen spit the coffee she was drinking out and proceed to run around her apartment. Her roommate was questioning whether or not Helen had gone insane.

“Sam! SamSamSamSam!!!” Helen yelled running circles around her poor roommate.

“Yes? Crazy demon that has taken over my roommate?” Sam said.

“SHE FOLLOWED ME!!!”

“Who is stalking you?” Sam asked.

“CASEY!!! CRAZYCASEY FOLLOWED ME ON TUMBLR.”

“That’s nice dear. No more coffee for you.”

“I HAVE TO DRAW HER! MAYBE SHE’LL LIKE IT! WHAT IF SHE COMMENTS ON IT?”

“I need more coffee in order to deal with you right now.” Sam said as they slouched off to the kitchen. 

Helen ran to her room and took out her drawing pad and hooked it up to her computer. She had to think of something funny. She raked her brain for an hour before Sam came into her room.

“I’m not funny.” Helen said with finality.

Sam laid on their roommates bed and opened a game on their phone. “Mhmm.”

“What am I going to do? She’ll never notice me if I don’t think of something funny.”

Sam continued playing their game. “You’re absolutely right.”

“Why can’t I think of something funny? I normally come up with jokes within five minutes.”

“Mhmm.”

“If I don’t come up with a joke and just draw her she’ll think I’m weird cause I normally have jokes attached to them and she’ll unfollow me because I’m weird!” Helen panicked.

“Tragic.” 

“Are you even listening?” 

“Mhmm.”

“Sam I’m pan.”

“That’s nice, dear.”

“Sam the house is on fire.”

“WAIT YOU’RE PANSEXUAL?” Sam said dropping their phone and sitting stick straight.

Helen laughed uncomfortably. “Yeah?”

“AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME THIS??? EVEN AFTER I CAME OUT TO YOU AS GENDERQUEER??”

“I wasn’t ready?” Helen said sheepishly.

“You owe me dinner.” Sam said with a pout.

“I’ll order pizza in a few minutes.”

“Why not now?” 

“Cause I just got my idea.”

“Write it down and then order I’M STARVING.” Sam groaned and slouched out of the room. Helen laughed and began to draw. 

Case had finished answering all of the asks they wanted to and began scrolling through their dash again. They saw a few random posts about feminism. They reblogged an edgy picture of some graffiti. They scrolled past a picture of themself. They ate a chip. They realized what the fuck just happened and quickly scrolled back up. 

It was a picture of Case grinning from ear to ear and about to take a bite out of a huge pizza. Written above it was ‘PIZZA IS MY SPIRIT ANIMAL’. 

HumbleHelen- just had to draw this picture of @CrazyCasey who is probably my favorite youtuber at the moment. If you need a laugh go check them out.

Case blinked and reread the message a few times. They smiled. Without even knowing it this person had used the right pronouns. Case clicked on their profile and sent them a quick message. 

Hi I’m Case. Your artwork is fantastic. I would love to chat with you sometime.

Case groaned. Why did they have to be so awkward? They hit send anyway and waited for the response.

AN- I’m gonna end this here. I might do another part of this but I’m not sure yet. Case is based off of @milesaaronmckenna or mileschronicals on youtube. I have to misgender Case unfortunately from Helen’s POV I’m sorry I feel awful about doing it. Nothing in this story is actually real it’s all fiction. I had a great time working on this and miiiiight do another part if I feel like it. Try to sleep. 

[literaryclubiiti]

Growling Shriek(s)

DISCLAIMER: This is an admittedly light-hearted conversation about the trends of our most beloved IIT Indore between two not entirely happy-go-lucky stalwarts about to graduate. Following the tradition, this can be considered as a whole-hearted, but nonetheless well-intentioned rant. Reader discretion is highly advised.

By Amey Ambade and Ashish Bharatwal

(SCENE 1: SILVER MESS)

(It’s about noon on a Saturday in March. Amey is sitting on the wildly recognizable red chair, steel plate on the beige table, as ‘Tip Tip Barsa Pani’ plays loudly on the TV, almost in sync with the water dripping off the water filter behind him. He dons a grin as Ashish joins him, visibly frustrated.)

Amey: Dude, what’s up with your mess refund?

Ashish: Motherfuckers. They should be drowned in their own broth.

(Murderous glances from judgemental postgrads across the table)

Amey (unconcerned) : Hard luck, eh? What did you expect, though? Four years on, they’d understand why you dislike them? Didn’t you get to fill a pointless form to get something out of it?

Ashish: It’s not the first time I am getting the short end of the stick in IITI.

Amey: Not the first time you’ve said that.

Ashish (smiling) : Not the first time you’ve said that. You tend to be able to predict each other’s moves after this long a swim in the shitpool as comrades.

(Random Mess Guy comes up: ‘Bhiyaa, mess fees pay kar di na?’ They look at him disapprovingly, and taking the hint, he promptly disappears.)

Amey (doubtfully breaking a piece off a roti with bare hands) : Amen to that, brother. Chal, aaj khane mein kaunsi insect species ki discovery hogi dekhte hain. Talking of insect species, what’s up with E-Blockers suddenly hitting the gym?

Ashish: Well, whaddya know? Trying their best to feel good about themselves before leaving; what were they even doing the last four years, haha!

Amey: Ah well. You know and I know. Now that everyone else is in Simrol, I don’t know what eyeballs you speak of. I give the fad a month to drop off. We clearly couldn’t give two shits.

Ashish (chuckling with disgust) : Especially now.BTW, speaking of shits, look at this - Lauki Ke Kofte. BC’s trademarked turd-sized dumplings® are turning out to be a favorite of those who haunt the Jain food counter. Tatti khaaye par pyaaz na khaaye.  

Amey (proud to not have made the unfortunate sabzi choice) : Chuck that, chal Fresco chalte hain, Snickers pe fir se PayTM cashback aaya hai.

Ashish: Yeah, I have to get a couple of photocopies too. These B-schools! Why do they even have CAT if that is just meant to be a ‘Fuck you!’ to mediocrity?

(They leave the mess, their untouched food-laden plates still on the table. The freshness outside is liberating, it’s like getting out of a green fart convention.)

Amey (finally inhaling air) : Perceived mediocrity… Thodi toh political correctness chahiye, bhai. But yes, I agree. I’ve been swamped with my MS applications lately, and they are equally exhausting. Thinking about our lives after graduation is perhaps more frustrating than trying to maintain a straight face when Batra talks. Add to that the lifelong terror that we will take away from boarding harmfully yellow buses, and lo, you have the recipe for a migraine.

(They reach Fresco, and scan through the hastily placed products. Amey discreetly picks up a Zandu Balm)

Ashish: Remember when as freshmen we were singing at the top of our lungs the lewd version of ‘Chahun Main Ya Na’ and didn’t give two shits when we noticed a furious Batra peering over us ominously from the half-open door? Ah, I miss those careless times.

Amey: And the countless number of times we partied with complete disregard for the neighbors or Digant? It helped that we had no immediate neighbors, aur guards to apne jigri thhey. But with no authorities to piss off now that everyone except us is thankfully in Simrol, it’s like, hum kiske dimag ko shot de ab?

(They’ve collectively picked up stuff worth 150 bucks but will pay only a hundred because subsidy.)

Ashish (showing his phone screen) : Hey, look at this article in ToI: Fluxus event winners haven’t received their prize money. This one guy says IITI owes him fucking 10k. Much ado about Fluxus every year. The only ones happy are the OCs, until last year, right? From what goes around in the campus, they reported earnings of 3000 from Sunidhi’s concert, and an attendance of 3000 in the media. What an absolute load of crap?! 70 lakh mein toh teen decent Fluxus ho jaayenge BC.

(They’re walking, surrounded by the white buildings with eerily jail-like black railings that have defined their time in Silver Springs. Now that Silver isn’t infested with overexcited juniors, final years are loitering in the quaint streets.)

Amey: I still stand by my idea to only have an e-Fluxus to save the money and the Kejru-level shaming.

Ashish: Haha, if only you knew e-Fluxus actually happened this year. We had a middling singer Shirley Setia adorning the terrains of Simrol. I also heard Aditi Agrawal was their second choice, now that she has her own YouTube channel. Way to go!

(They get to the lift, sharing it with the classically unconcerned 4th floor wali aunty as they hear the dulcet voice on loop, touting “Please. Close. The Door. Krupaya. Darwaza. Band. Karein.” Somewhere, Hodor’s soul is shedding a single heavenly tear.)

Amey: The terrains of Simrol! There’s some places in our new campus that look like scenes from True Grit, Blazing Saddles and Mad Max were filmed there. I could swear the dust twisters could effectively upend an unsuspecting Simmi and Avnish holding three Cormens each. Avnish will probably be ecstatic about that, too.

Ashish: It’s miraculous how so few cases of asthma have popped up given the dust bowl Simrol is and the number of students cooped up in there. We are a resilient lot, I must say.  

(They get out of the lift on the famous 3rd floor and enter D-314.)

(SCENE 2: ROOM)

Amey: We’re wasting an entire sunny afternoon for my bloody transcripts. ( He pauses to check a news notification on the antics of a certain orange unhinged toddler-psychopath.) You have to agree, though, with all the negatives aside, isn’t it actually pretty convenient to navigate around the half-built pods in pyjamas?

(They change in a minute, time is important here, and Amey reaches for his shoes. There’s no way he’s going into the arid Wild West in flip-flops. Ashish checks the bus schedule on his phone. They have bus schedules, for fuck’s sake, doesn’t that say a lot by itself?)

Ashish: Yes, but that doesn’t outweigh having no good food, good booze and good company in a ten-kilometer radius, does it? Taste Butts? Screw you, Rohan Rathore.

Amey (disapprovingly) : No cash, only college Smart Cards accepted. And you have to try the infamous Chicken Fried Rice. Nothing screams appetizing as half-cooked rice with boiled chicken bits and spring onions sprinkled on top to emphasize the near non-existent efforts that went into serving it. Maybe if our batch was shifted to the forsaken place too, we wouldn’t have had such a pessimistic opinion. Maybe angoor khatte hain.

(Both take a minute to check if they haven’t forgotten their ID cards and proceed to exit the building. ID cards hold more importance in the Simrol campus than platinum credit cards.)

Ashish: But then I wouldn’t have been able to go to TIME for classes twice a day at ungainly hours. (Phone pings) Iss Utkarsh Kumar Singh ko chayn nahin hai. And then there’s the IIT Indore Discussions and Complaints and Grievances and Suggestions and Repercussions and Discombobulations and Fornications page. People have no chill, this Gymkhana has no chill. Which is a good thing, actually. This one tried its best to make things right. The Constitution was a pretty good move.

Amey: Yeah, they tried to right some wrongs. Avadhesh is hands-down the most proactive Gymkhana President I have seen, especially in regard to being responsive. Can’t say the same about the vigilants-in-their-own-right juniors who were more concerned about lengthening the mail threads with their bull than making their contribution count. The juniors really get on my nerves sometimes.

Ashish: Sometimes? Hah. What have the Quiz and Literary Clubs been up to? I count one… two… three… Three events in the last year, both our clubs combined - no aggressive, only passive, these runts. I’m pretty sure we left the clubs on high notes, but the future for these exclusive groups of students seemingly aspiring just for PoRs is obscure at best. The clubs are almost decrepit now, but the enthusiasm to forward mails from other institutes’ fests has not dwindled a bit.

Amey: Our work defined these clubs, but I agree, lately, confusion seems to have taken them to a standstill.

(They board the dangerously yellow bus after a 10-mile walk)

(SCENE 3: FREAKISHLY YELLOW BUS)

(Amey proceeds to sit on the right side of the bus. Arey naive child.)

Ashish: Bhai, uss taraf dhoop aayegi.  

(They sit on the double-seat and share a headphone. Ashish bangs ‘Another Day of Sun’)

Ashish: I can listen to the ‘La La Land’ soundtrack on end. This and Abusive Aunty Mix and Chodu Singham...  Did you know they caught a third guy for downloading umpteen gigs of porn @36MBps in Simrol?

Amey: Kya?! Yeh kaise hua bhai? That poor pervert.

Ashish: The IT guys can obviously track you in the new hostels. The surprising thing here is, they cared enough. They ALWAYS care when it comes to the quotidian aspects of student life gone slightly haywire. Khaane mein keede se koi problem nahin hai, par Frooti ka payment overdue hai toh expulsion.

Amey: Well, if one guy hogs the whole network, others have to come jumping like it’s The Dawn of The Rise of The Dusk of The War for the Planet of The Apes. I remember how we used to go bat-shit crazy when someone was downloading the latest episode of Game of Thrones from our gareeb 80GB limited Airtel networks when we already had it. Some people were so goddamn serious about the bandwidth they’d become whinier than a Goth kid trying to find his eyeliner.

(The bus hasn’t started yet. CultSec boards. Bus revvs.)

Ashish: Here comes our poor sacrificial lamb. He should wear a tee that says, ‘I am Kalash and I am not a terrorist’.

Amey: Sir, I have known him since my first day at IIT Indore even though that is technically impossible, but impossible is just a word at IIT Indore and apparently everyone had such a good rapport with him so they decided to keep him 22 km away. <insert GRE words image here>

(Both chuckle and greet Kalash, who proceeds to sit behind them.)

Amey (checking phone) : Naya email. Best BTP submissions ke liye. Alag hi! BTP awards are farcical. No interdisciplinary uniformity in grading or evaluation. Two submissions from Mech and both got some prize or the other at the Symposium because of their presentation.

Ashish: Or just plain luck. Still, man. Our BTPs saw some real effort. Our many advisors deservedly became Associate Professors. It was high time, wasn’t it?

Amey: My faith in the IITI academic system is still maintained thanks to these hardworking guys. You remember how hard they had to fight to get us great courses for a Minor degree?

Ashish: The Minor program was unarguably the best decision that defined the academic policies for our batch. And the future batches too.

Amey: Personally, I’d love to see a core subject Minor for the new batches. And Abhishek Sir is the best DoSA we have had since Granny’s left Silver Springs. He’s doing a commendable job, especially given all the student shenanigans.  

Ashish: I think you discount the students’ role tad too much. Our batch has some of the best coders in the country. Utkarsh and the Shah bros are going to the ACM-ICPC World Finals, hopefully turning it into an institute tradition. Then we have prodigies like Tripathi. These guys have done a lot to promote the coding culture at IITI, if only by setting examples. Look at the placements and internship trends you and I noticed this year at the PO: we are near the top of the ladder in India as far as CS is concerned. But more focus on other branches would not do harm, would it *rant intensifies*? 

...Look at the abysmal performance by Electrical and Mechanical; for a decent salary we non-CS guys either have to learn programming and leave our core studies for the night before the exams, or go into research, or take GATE or CAT or IES or IAS or KLPDS and what-not! While we as students need to grow balls and learn how to not get swayed away by first CTCs, some push from the institute would be great.  

(Amey isn’t listening. Notwithstanding the growls and *shaking* of the bus, Amey is cozily napping.)

(The bus stops at the campus main gate after what seems like the whole length of ‘Jodha Akbar’ and ‘What’s Your Rashee?’ combined.)

Entry Gate Security Guard: Sir, ID card. (Ashish has been pretending to sleep too because guard overlook karne ki probability 80% hai and as accent-torn Deepika Padukone in xXx quotably says: he likes his odds.)

(These adamant seniors are not giving up)

Entry Gate Security Guard: ( unable to cut the bullshit, nudges Ashish) Ser! (shudder) ID.

(reluctantly pulling out his ID, Ashish mumbles under his breath.)

(The insidious dust has broken Amey’s sweet nap. He coughs as the scarily yellow bus proceeds into the vastness of the campus.)

Amey: Look, kids with donation boxes for used clothes. AVANA has consistently been on a roll. Although the sight of someone silently looming over you as you sleep, whispering ‘Thatty Rupes’ is almost as scary as the time we watched The Descent and shit ourselves simultaneously crying and laughing.

Ashish: ( in an impressive Marathi accent) Nepali Vachli bhau. Nepali Vachli. (Both share an inside joke as the bus comes to a halt. Destination reached.)

(SCENE 4: SIMROL)

Amey: ( getting down) In the end, that’s what matters. Although persisting regionalism is a good talking point for students, with all its pros and cons.

Ashish: Closely-knit antelope herds are not easy to penetrate.

Amey: Is that the first time you’ve said that? (another chuckle shared, this is getting cheesy) I don’t even remember why we came here. Oh yes. Transcripts.

(A friendly junior smiles and greets them. In contrast to the shade thrown in Simrol, cordiality is still burgeoning here.)

Amey: There are perhaps no stronger polar opposites than AVANA and SESC. I might be horribly wrong, but from what we’ve noticed, it seems like SESC has become redundant and unproductive. The startups they have been promoting either sold stationery or just took the MHRD grant for pizzas, getting bundled up in a matter of months.

(They approach the Physics Pod complete with cinderblocks to cranes and the evergreen sounds of metal hammering. )

Ashish: Yeh bik gayi hai SESC. Ab is SESC mein kuch nahin hai. Yeh saare milke humko pagal bana rahe hain m--

(Ashish stops abruptly as Professor Vishvakarma passes by, greeting them briefly.)

Amey: This guy is THE man. Our Placement Office and the IAC would never be as well-established without him. What’s up with IAC this year?

Ashish: Santosh Sir worked selflessly for both Placements and the Conclaves. Never will the student members be as happy and well-fed as we were under his rule. Haan, this year’s IAC is going to be a mish-mash effort by Rajveer - all hot air and no real content. Ah, who cares? It is anyway under a different professor now.

Amey: But you must admit, PKU sir has been a worthy successor to SKV. The Placement Office is working as a well-oiled machine thanks to him. Won’t you miss our Placement Office perks?

Ashish: Do you mean the divine morning coffees, occasional mayo sandwiches and sour-ass lemon teas or the long hours of highly productive meetings and equally unproductive bakchodi? We’ll definitely miss both.

(They get to the new Academic Office. Ashish listens to the incoherent dialogue between Amey and Rinki Ma’am, and watches her give Amey his precious transcripts.)

Amey (whispering) : Tapesh sir and Rinki ma’am have really grown on us fourth-years, haven’t they?

Ashish (whispering back) : Yeah. I used to get a cold shoulder earlier. Last time I was offered tea. I guess they understand how being seniors is difficult and that our problems begin to get more genuine as we grow through the college. Familiarity here bred sympathy, instead of contempt.

(Cut to: One hour later they leave from SS in an Uber to the city as the dangerously catchy

Swachh Bharat jingle is being heard everywhere. Pity the driver of those poor garbage trucks, people. You can only listen to so much of Kailash Kher and the Chorus Kids. Hey, Kailash Kher and the Chorus Kids sounds like a decent band name.)

(SCENE 5: INDORE CITY)

Ashish: Yahaan Johnny ke paas rok dena, bhaiya.

(They get out of the Nano and pay using PayTM because demonetization. The driver is conveniently named Ramesh. He frowns over not having received cash. Bitches.)

Amey: Where our fuckbois at?

Ashish: Dugar and Bapat are at Sam’s (free) Momos, they tell me. Diggi, Govil, Dhaivat and Avnish are having Fire Paan. Prajwal is at Nafees for biryani. Damn! His attraction to biryani is borderline sexual!  

Amey: Can you blame him? It is magnificent. Though not as magnificent as the one we had at the notorious Love Palace party. Our juniors will never experience the thrill of gatecrashing a wealthy Punjabi’s lavish food fiestas.

Ashish: That was quite a fiasco! The Curious Case of Love Palace! The slaps, the drunken brawls, the humiliation, and, in the midst of it all, the most delicious meal we have ever had, owing in large part to its absolutely undeserving our shorts, slippers and hoodies.

(For our unwitting readers, on 24th February 2014, allstudent received a mail inviting us to the housewarming celebrations of an ostentatiously built residence, the Love Palace that falls on our way to the Axis Bank ATM in Silver Springs. We turned up in full strength, especially the first years who were early to arrive and plunder and leave. Our super-seniors flocked to the open bar, exhausting it of its offerings within an hour. As it turns out, the mail was a hoax perpetrated by *insert_mysterious_name_here* and we were actually not invited. The hosts were gonna have none of that shit. What followed was some lit slapping and thrashing game from our truly Punjabi hosts, which effectively ceased all the faggotry in mere minutes. Amey and Ashish obviously escaped unscathed because they were dressed decently, which was a camouflage. The Bhatias, in the week that followed, saw the wrath of the slap-ees in the form of broken car windows and some dope graffiti. Some of the first-years got their long-overdue slaps well in advance, though.

This event was perhaps one of the most happening ones at IITI, even more than a few Fluxuses. Or is it Fluxii?)

(As they gobble up a hotdog each, they see their homies approaching and a shitstorm of banter follows)

If you’ve manage to read all of the rant above, you can flatten as you go up. The writers want you to know that despite all its flaws, IIT Indore is actually a pretty good place to be, and they cherish their years here. Ashish (rather suspiciously) knows the roll numbers and names of all the people here, and Amey knows how to ignore them. The best hostels in any IIT system, the united outcry that we so often witness (*cough* mess *cough*), a filial feeling that comes with the perk of having a small student population, and the shared respect for friends, professors, and everyone else around, definitely make our IIT Indore journey memorable.

(BONUS)

director@iiti.ac.in  : Wish you all a great life ahead, Batch of 2013–17!

lenka@iiti.ac.in : And I