#i wrote this instead of homework

[oaw-thewriter]

It Goes Deeper

It beckons me come closer

It goes deeper

Twisting tunnels in deep damp darkness

Here we are warm

and here we are safe

Join us in the tunnels trade sight for serenity

It goes deeper

far into the ground

Mother Earth cradles our carcass close

And sings us buzzing mumbling songs sung

by cicadas and crickets

Deeper still and we are safe in packed earthy dirt

Deeper still and we curl close to companions in cozy burrows

Deeper still and we are loved by the limited air itself

Come close

Come deeper, into our world.

[incorrectpizza]

I firmly believe that the best thing the MCU could do right now is release a statement and a "guide" to content. Yes, I understand that everything's interconnected.

And yes, I think it's insanely fun to watch all different kinds of movies/shows and then watch them slowly link and come together.

However...

It's getting to be too much for the vast majority of fans. The content amount is overwhelming, and there's been too many niche shows that are very stylistic and haven't been received with the overwhelming amount of goodwill that other projects have.

So, I have a proposal for Mr. Kevin Feige:

Give up on the "everyone, watch everything!" pitch.

Then, find a way to market and brand them just a little more like comics.

Tell fans what projects will form a "story arc". Since we aren't getting as many trilogies about the same titular hero as rapidly in the past, and more and more side characters are weaving in and out of their own and others' projects. Right now, we have far too many projects that no one understands "why now?" and that's putting a damper on everything. So, Mr. Feige, a little more open and up front. Of course, there will be cameos and such outside these: just focus the main narrative flow into easier-to-digest chunks. Tell us where a show like "Moon-Knight" or "She-Hulk" is headed so we can have a reason to watch it! Don't just show us a bunch of cameos of kids - tell us we're getting a "Young Avengers" team-up in "____" movie and give us hints at what projects will lead into it. If you don't find an arc compelling, that's fine! There can be a few different ones going on at once and they can all culminate in "crossover" Avengers (or, potentially, other team) movies - people who watched all the arcs will get the most enjoyment, but by all means people who have just seen one or two will be satisfied.

Do "one-shot" style projects. Werewolf by Night seems like it might be kicking this off, and I think it would be a really fun addition to the MCU.

Don't make everything 616-canon. "Spider-Man: Freshman Year" looks like a fun, exciting project but its marketing has been atrocious so far. It's canon, but an AU, but also canon?

[rhys-writes-some-shit]

The Dilemma of a Rubber Duck

Alastor x Reader (Queer-Platonic) ft. Bestie Lucifer

(TW: Mentions of depression, mentions of suicide attempts)

You knew Alastor didn’t like Lucifer. You weren’t 100% sure why, only that the King of Hell really got on Alastor’s nerves. Ever since Lucifer had moved into the hotel in the aftermath of the battle with the angels, Alastor had spent hours ranting and raving to you about him. They were constantly trying to one-up each other. It was comical, really.

Except that you were stuck in the middle of it. 

Unlike Alastor, you and Lucifer had hit it off right away, getting along like two peas in a pod. There was a certain camaraderie that came with being clinically depressed and still having to force a smile, which both you and Lucifer were experts at. Many late nights had been spent exchanging stories and finding humor in things other people might not otherwise find humorous. 

(“I tried to kill myself twice, and then end up getting hit by a car! That’s how I end up in Hell? What did I do all that work for?” That was the first time that story had been met with laughter, and that was when you knew Lucifer was a good guy.)

You were constantly thinking about how Alastor would react to knowing you enjoyed hanging out with Lucifer, or vice versa. It worried you to no end, so you tried to keep your friendship with Lucifer under wraps, for Alastor’s sake. He needed someone to back him up, and you wanted to be that person. You wanted Alastor to know he could trust you.

One evening, you and Lucifer were talking in the parlor, drinking tea. Alastor was out for a fancy Overlord meeting, so you were able to relax a bit. 

“I’m so glad we have Niffty around,” you were saying. “Sometimes I just can’t find the energy to do my laundry, but I know that if I leave it on the floor, she’ll take care of it right away.” You thought for a moment. “It’s not like I’m forcing her to do it. Or taking advantage of her. Right?”

“Nah, I thought cleaning was her job,” Lucifer reassured. “My loophole with that is all my outfits are the same. Also magic. Magic is very helpful.”

“Man, I’m jealous!” You gave a lighthearted groan. “I wish I could have magic like that.”

“Who’s saying you can’t?” Lucifer shrugged, sipping at his tea. 

You snorted. “Have you seen me? Do I look like Overlord material to you?”

“I didn’t think Mr. Crimson Asshole was an Overlord, so looks aren’t everything.” Lucifer hesitated. “Oh, shit, I shouldn’t have said it like that. You two are like, dating, right?”

You made a ‘fifty-fifty’ gesture with your hand. “Eh… Not really? It’s like… a mutual relationship. Neither of us are the ‘dating’ type, so we just kind of… vibe. But it’s fine, I get it. You should hear the things he says about you.”

“Oh?” Lucifer leaned forward, curious. You mimed zipping your lips, grinning playfully. “Alrighty then, keep your secrets.”

The feeling of guilt you’d been getting used to returned, but you smiled past it. If there was anything Alastor taught you, it was that you could hide everyone behind a smile. And it worked, for the most part. The only person who’d ever been able to see though it was Alastor himself. Similarly, you were the only person able to see through his ever-present smile.

Setting his cup down, Lucifer waited for a lull in the conversation. “Before I forget, I have something for you.” With a wave of his hand, a little yellow rubber duck appeared in his palm. Its features and markings made it resemble you. 

Eyes wide, you carefully took the duck from his hands like it were an actual duckling.

“This one doesn’t breathe fire or anything, but…” Lucifer paused, like he was struggling for words. “I haven't had a real friend in… a really long time. S-so I wanted to thank you. For that.”

You were at a loss for words. The only other person to get you gifts since you’d died had been Alastor. That feeling of guilt hit you like a train, but it was masked with a bright, grateful smile.

“Lucifer, I… I’m honored. Thank you.” You struggled to tear your eyes away from the duck. “Can I hug you?”

Instead of replying, Lucifer pulled you out of your chair, hugging you close. You matched it, hoping your appreciation for his existence was properly conveyed.

“Ahem.”

You and Lucifer pushed each other apart like a teenage couple caught making out. Alastor was standing in the entrance to the parlor, teeth bared. His grin was sharp, borderline violent, and his eyes were narrowed. 

“Al,” you tried, but no other words followed.

Then Alastor sighed, and the murderous look in his eyes disappeared. You were still holding the duck Lucifer had given you. Looking down, you realized you were shaking, and felt a little faint. 

You stumbled back, right into Alastor’s arms. Head spinning, you allowed him to set you down on the chair. Alastor kept a hand on your arm, watching your every movement with surgical focus. He knew, you realized. He knew how guilty you felt, how much anxiety it was causing you. How long he’d known, you had no idea, but you could feel it in the way he wouldn’t let you go. You didn’t want him to let you go. 

“Are you okay?” Lucifer looked frantic, obviously worried. “Do you need water? Something to eat? Medicine? I’m sure there’s some around here somewhere, if you just give me a minute—”

“I’m fine,” you interrupted, trying to muster a smile. You failed. How Alastor held his grin all day, every day, was a mystery to you. “Well, okay, maybe not fine.”

“They could use water,” Alastor provided, only a slight edge in his voice. Nodding, Lucifer ran off to get a glass of water, leaving you and Alastor alone in the parlor. 

Alastor was silent for a moment. You could tell he was trying to figure out what to say. “I apologize for not noticing your anxiety sooner.” A little joy fluttered in your chest. Alastor enjoyed watching everyone’s suffering—everyone except for you.

“It’s not your fault,” you told him. “I should’ve been more upfront. I just…” You were still a little shaky. Alastor’s hand moved so it rested over your hand. The rubber duck was still in your other hand, and you turned it over with your fingers, fidgeting with it. “I didn’t want you to leave me.”

“Now that is nonsense if I ever heard any!” Alastor laughed. “What a ridiculous sentiment, my dear. It would take more than that to take me from you, I assure you.”

“But I know how much you hate him.” You looked towards the direction Lucifer had gone. “You hate that he’s here. You hate that he’s meddling. And this is just another reason to hate him.”

Alastor was contemplating his words again when Lucifer came back. He gently handed you the glass of water, causing you to have to put your duck down. Alastor was right to ask for it—the water helped. The air was tense as Lucifer and Alastor glared at one another while also keeping an eye on you. 

“When you are happy, I am happy,” Alastor said out of the blue. Both you and Lucifer looked to him for clarification. “If talking with Lucifer makes you happy…” Alastor swallowed, gritting his teeth, glowering deeply at Lucifer, “then, by that logic, it makes me happy.”

“Hey, same here.” Lucifer put his arms up symbolically. “I’m not gonna leave my friend just because I hate their boyfriend– er, whatever you are, that is.”

“Partner,” you and Alastor said in unison.

“Right. That.” 

The air was still tense, but it made you feel better knowing that Alastor and Lucifer wouldn’t be fighting over you, at the very least. 

“Okay,” you said suddenly, having finished your water. “I’m going to bed. Thanks again for the duck, Lucifer.”

You barely heard Alastor growl at Lucifer upon realizing that he’d given you a gift, but it just caused you to smile fondly. Alastor was quick to step in beside you, taking your arm to escort you up to your room. 

“You’re welcome!” Lucifer called back. “But don’t think that just because you and Alastor are partners that I’ll make one for him too!” You had to stifle a laugh. Lucifer was too sweet for his own good, no matter how awkward it made him seem.

You turned so Lucifer could see your grin. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

[zukkaoru]

My ninth grade English teacher walks us through the prologue of Romeo & Juliet, explaining how it serves as a synopsis of the play, and how it spoils the ending. Here are our characters, here is where they live, here is why their love is forbidden. You will spend the next two hours learning to love them only for their blood to spill across the stage. This is the only ending they were ever meant for.

There is no universe in which Romeo & Juliet can survive.

jujutsu kaisen, gege akutami || a collection of tragedies, zukkaoru (march 15, 2023)

[id in alt text]

[sandeewithtwoe]

This is what happens when someone tells me I can “go ahead”

[silenceinternalmonologue]

I JUST. i was reading the goncharov screenplay and can we talk about this for a second??? i don't understand how dudebros can POSSIBLY think this movie is about heterosexual relationships when this exists... not subtext, just straight up text written out on the page.

the explanation given for why goncharov is refusing to confront any of the issues facing his mafia family is because everything that has happened so far has been a product of him and andrey working together. and as soon as andrey stops talking to him, he stops caring. everything goncharov has fought to achieve feels useless and empty without andrey by his side, and that's exactly what katya calls him out for. ALSO!!! goncharov's dogged devotion to andrey seems to be what inspires katya to leave him for good and pursue her own homosexual relationship? before this she was always trying to put distance between her and sofia because she felt like she had to be a good wife. but when she sees goncharov so heartbroken over andrey she realizes she needs to cherish what she has with sofia. she's still sad over goncharov since he's her friend and they've been through so much together, but she leaves him anyway because she knows she can't save him. and sure she and sofia end up being terrible for each other too but for now it at least looks like they could have a future??? unlike with goncharov who is pretty much sitting around waiting for his own men to kill him at this point

[anamenooneowns]

AN: just so ppl know. my works are almost always going to be with black, chubby women in mind (and if not chubby they will still 100% be black). also, i have not seen EITHER of the spiderverse movies, i'm just a hoe who thirsts over any fictional man so i just kinda made an amalgamation of hobie's personality from the fanfics i've read and viola. i just free-flowed this to procrastinate from doing my anatomy and physiology homework. enjoy.

warnings: shibari, cam-girl, face hidden, voyeurism (hobie is watching behind the cam), masturbating, bar-spreader, fem!reader, afab (and i think thats all, lemme know if i missed sum)

MINORS AND BLANK BLOGS DNI

Just Enough

You shrieked, legs trembling but unmoving. The intricately knotted ropes where your knees met your thighs were kept open with a spreader bar at your ankles. All from the diligent hands of your lovely boyfriend - watching from behind the camera as you squirted - stroking his cock as the steady hum of your wand echoed in the room.

Your head rolled back between your shoulders, a sob of - "Fuck!" - pouring out of your lips as you clit throbbed and ached. The pearl was shiny and round as it stuck out from under it's hood.

The gentle chime of a noise akin to coins dropping on the sidewalk were like adlibs to the symphony of your moans, his slick strokes, and the vibrator. Your body - lovely in all of it's curves and planes - open for the eyes of ten-thousand horny, voyeuristic people around the world.

But Hobie? Oh, Hobie got all of this for free. He was an artist - obviously. A connoisseur of music... in his own way, of course. But there was no denying that the moment you handed your time over to him, your emotions, your love - your very heart. He knew you were something special.

Your voice was dulcet. A sound that talking-wise he would never be able to get enough of. Hell, talk to him about the Big Bang Theory and he'd be sleeping like a baby from your voice. So when you gave him the grace to make you feel good, and bestowed your sounds of pleasure in his ears? Hobie knew he had to make you a star.

In your own right, of course. With the mutual condition that it was anonymous. Now, Hobie was a man who liked to show off, but your face was his. He can imagine it right now, even with your head pushed into the pillows and your back bowed from the overstimulation of six - going on seven - orgasms. Hobart Brown was a very imaginative man. And he could see how your eyes smoothly looked inward before rolling back, your bottom teeth tucked between your lips before releasing when a moan bubbled out, and those pretty tears rolling down the sides of your face.

He growled when the rise of his orgasm nearly came and firmly grasped himself just under the head of his cock. It hurt more psychologically than it did physically to stave off his climax, saving it for the clenching hold between her chubby, brown folds.

'How much fuckin' longer?' Hobie thought to himself, looking at his phone. The timer of three minutes looked back at him, and his thick lips pulled into a smirk as he ended the livestream and slammed the laptop shut.

"B-baby?" you whimpered, picking up on the familiar sound.

Hobie hushed you gently, removing the bar and your blindfold to see bloodshot, baby browns staring back at him.

"S'alright love. Looked all gorgeous 'nd that tonight."

You smiled, laughing lightly. "You always say that."

"Cause you do," he insisted. Then his hand grasped your face, fingertips digging into your soft cheeks. "You'd look even prettier with my cum on your face though."

Your eyes flitted down to his bobbing length - black with a purple-pink head and soft, trimmed curls at the base - it made your mouth water.

"Got enough in you for another round? Saved everything just for that snatch," he murmured against your lips.

It was comical. The way your eyes glazed over and he felt the air around you bend and shift to the taking girl you were. "Yeah... just enough."

[captorsicallfriends]

why pjo's portrayal of the greek gods is fucked up and how it's affected perceptions surrounding ancient Greece.

*breaks down the door to your inbox with an axe*

start talking now oh my god I want to hear your hot take so bad. I've been interested in religious studies (primarily the Hellenistic and early Roman religious atmosphere (of course acknowledging that the word religion is post-Enlightenment and conceives of supernatural belief as a subjective individual belief, which is inconsistent with how supernatural matters were dealt with in the Ancient world) and how they intersect with early Christianity and proto-Christianity) and I've been fascinated with the Greek gods and I need your hot take on why their portrayal is wrong and leads to incorrect assumptions about Ancient Greece.

oh you bet your bottom dollar i will talk about this. true to the post from which this originated, i will prep no material and all this is off the top of my head so don't quote me!

If you follow my Greek mythology sideblog, you'll know i am unequivocally a Zeus defender. Now I can make a million posts about Zeus alone but I will take a more holistic approach on the gods in general and the perception of Ancient Greece.

The West has been obsessed with Ancient Greece for centuries: the culture, philosophy, history, mythology, mathematical and scientific advancements, and much more. Now it's one thing to take interest in a country's history or a historical era; it is completely another to claim it as your own and make it an ideal state of life to achieve, because if you know literally anything about Ancient Greece, it was anything but. What I'm trying to say here is that Ancient Greek culture has been commodified, glorified, rewritten, and reclaimed by the West when it was never theirs to do so. I've often seen this sentiment expressed by Greeks about their homeland: "The history comes first, the people second." I think a prime modern example of this mindset was when same-sex marriage was legalised in Greece, which was a huge step forward for an Orthodox country with an extensive history of homophobia, but people outside of Greece began making jokes of Greece "returning to their own values" (referring to Ancient Greek practices of pederasty which is hugely problematic and not at all representative of any gay rights if you know what it entails) and people excited to "finally hold lesbian weddings in Lesbos" (signifying the West's perception of Greece as simply a tourist hotspot and not a country with an intricate history and culture). In short, Greece is already unfairly used for the West's agenda of glorification and attempts to build itself a culture that frankly isn't theirs at all.

Now, how does this involve pjo? A lot, my friends, a fucking lot. The publication and popularity of the Percy Jackson series has simply exacerbated all the aforementioned issues in this post. First off, the worldbuilding on which The Lightning Thief relied and the rest of the series ultimately holds is that "Olympus moves with the centre of Western power", which is just. Wow. There are a million things wrong with this concept that would need its own post, so I recommend this article called The Whitening Thief that essentially explains the white supremacy of it all. If you do not want to read the full article, the main premise is that the Percy Jackson series equates Westernism with civilisation and that without it there was "chaos and darkness", which as Paule describes it, is "sipping at a pretty racist cocktail".

note: I have realised how aggressively off-topic this is to the original statement I made, I'm getting there, I promise (although I did warn you it was something I could talk on for hours with little material)

Let's finally delve into the depiction of Greek gods in Percy Jackson. I'll actually start on a bit of a positive note that apart from the weird (for lack of a better term) comparisons of Hades to Adolf Hitler, the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians had some okay characterisation of the gods (I have some reservations about the goddesses on which I will elaborate later). They're prideful and neglectful parents (the myths actually contradict that latter part but I digress) but each with their own complexities and concerns. To use Zeus as an example because he's actually the god who falls short the most in terms of consistent characterisation in my opinion, he lets Percy live in TLT "for the sake of peace in [his] family", indicating a care and sense of duty for Olympus and for his fellow gods, and while he lets his pride and paranoia get the better of him at times, he is shown as a serious authority figure and someone who's trying to keep his realm together, and such characteristics wouldn't be too far off from his mythical counterpart.

But as the series progresses, either Rick got lazy or he attempted to further capitalise his work to make it more palpable, he turns the gods into caricatures by excessively inflating one characteristic they may have into their entire personalities. Returning to Zeus, his paranoia is amplified to an absurd extent that one can simply not fathom why the gods would be the better option than the Titans. As I said initially, he had bouts of paranoia that would be almost normal for someone with such a powerful position, but this is completely derailing any connection with his mythological counterpart, he may as well be an OC with the same name and title as him. To use other gods as an example because I promised a holistic approach and I have seemed to only talk about Zeus (sorry!), the writing of the goddesses Hera, Artemis, Aphrodite, and Athena is simply misogynistic. I'm sorry, there is no other way I can find myself to describe it. Typically feminine goddesses Hera and Aphrodite are extremely demonised and condemned for their flaky and vain attitude; Hera is the evil stepmother archetype and Aphrodite ultimately becomes weak and useless. The "virgin" (quotations referring to Athena) goddesses Artemis and Athena also don't seem to extend past superficial, unoriginal characteristics like being a vehement man-hater who kicked out two sapphics from the Hunt and a goddess who Rick stops at nothing to render her a horrible parent and person (using the Roman myth of Medusa, exaggerating her prideful nature, etc) respectively. And you cannot tell me they're not misogynistic portrayals because just a few minutes on pjo tiktok will show you just how many times Hera is referred to as a bitch (keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth!!). Then there is TOA and COTG, which makes me want to cry just thinking about Zeus' portrayal there (yes we're going back there). The god who was consistently thought of as a gracious, protective saviour of the people in Ancient Greece (full list of epithets of Zeus, read at your leisure) is an abusive autocratic tyrant?

To go back onto the topic, how do Riordan's works affect the overall perception of Ancient Greece? Well, as I said before, it contributes to the white supremacist view of Ancient Greece as the epitome of civilisation and the glorification of the era, but it also turns Ancient Greece into a fandom to an extreme extent. Now, obviously, I'm not talking about people with a healthy obsession with Ancient Greek history and Mythology (myself included) who like to engage in content about it. I'm talking about people who claim Ancient Greece as an extension of Western, mostly American culture, and ultimately engage in a form of cultural appropriation that strips Greeks of their own history and narrative. This includes writing 'feminist' retellings of Greek myths, taking Riordan's (inaccurate) readings of the mythology as indisputable fact, and removing the myths from their historical and cultural context. People forget that much of these myths were stories written for entertainment and take them as a sort of Hellenic Bible (which delves into the Christianisation of Greek Mythology but that's a whole other post). In short, Westerners think they can do whatever the fuck they want with Greek mythology and Greek gods because they think it's theirs with which to play around, ultimately ignoring the country, history, and the culture from which they actually originate, and it's thanks to Rick Riordan that this attitude has blown up to an insane extent.

*sighs* Thank you for coming to my TedTalk and I seriously admire you if you made it this far.

[chaoticillness]

A Memory of the Sunset

»»————-　🎞　————-««

Featuring: Kaedehara Kazuha x gn!reader (can be interpreted as romantic or platonic)

Warnings: mention of blood

Director’s Cut: i abused the enter key so hard on this one. a weird, slightly angsty kind-of character study that i started writing a year ago and restarted today while procrastinating. proofreader said “makes me cry 10/10” so i’m doing my job right. enjoy!

»»————-　🎞　————-««

You were eight when the man with the white hair appeared in your window for the first time.

He was a little kid then too, no younger than you judging by the looks of him. Groggily rousing yourself from the clutches of your comforter, you wobbled over to the windowsill and asked,

“How’d you get up? That’s high.”

He said, 

“That’s a secret.”

You were thirteen when he started appearing every night. Looking back, you wonder if he was lonely. Yeah, your parents would tell you stranger danger and all that, but he just felt safe. Someone to talk to when nobody else was there. Deep down, you both knew neither of you would judge the other.

As the leaves changed, you started riding a bike to the forest down your street. He had told you that he liked the leaves when their colors started to darken, as they fell in preparation for the wrath of Winter. When you asked him why, he murmured something passingly about the wind being stronger and left it at that. He never told you much about where he came from. You figured maybe he and his parents were estranged, what with all the sneaking out. 

On a brutally cold Saturday, you saw him peek his head out from behind a tree in the forest. He glanced left and right, and finally landed on you. 

“Why are you here? You’re not supposed to be here. And what’s with the puffer jacket?”

“Uh, I was taking a walk…”

“Well, it doesn’t matter that much,” he replied, “You’re here now.” A pause, and he adds, “Kazuha.” 

“Huh?” you question.

“My name-“ he backtracks. “I realized that I’d never told you.”

You’d never heard of any… Kazuha in your neighborhood, but you didn’t question it. Maybe you were naive, or maybe you had an inkling of what he really was. Rolling over memories in your mind, you wonder why he stayed that long with you back then, and never anyone else.

• • • • •

The fire escape in your first apartment was faulty. It was temperamental and it damn well never worked when it needed to, but it was his favorite, so you kept it. He liked to sit there with you and watch the purple sunsets over the bustle and brass of the street under. Talk about anything, everything. Except his family. He knew yours, every cousin and every grandparent, but when you tried asking him on that fire escape his face crumpled. Squeezing your hand, he murmured, “It’s a long story.”

You never asked him again.

Kazuha never seemed to have any milestones, or commitments, or anything at all. He was there, and then he was gone. But he was always there for yours, whether it was your high school graduation or your cousin’s wedding. The boy had carved a place out for himself in the muscle fibers of your heart, slithering through your bloodstream, an essential element of your functioning. 

And then he was gone.

• • • • •

Some people are just born to wander, leaving their fingerprints on everything they touch, a sign they were there. That they loved and they lost and they lived.

And some people are born to be left behind by the wanderers, to be the canvas for those fingerprints, a sign that they were there too. 

The sunset is beautiful tonight.

»»————-　🎞　————-««

A/N: fun fact! when i first started writing this, it was intended to be a Peter Pan-esque AU inspired by Devil by the Window by TXT, but i left it sitting in my notes app until now and it turned into this weird word vomit about loss. what can i say? inspiration strikes when it wants. <- (me pretending i write more than once every six months)

[kunikidas-lost-glasses]

- Theory on Dazai's family -

- Why I think that Dazai is closely related to the former boss of the Port Mafia - A BSD analysis based on facts from the main manga series, the light novel "Bungo Stray Dogs: Dazai, Chuuya Age Fifteen" and the manga "Bungo Stray Dogs: Dazai, Chuuya Age Fifteen" -

Contains heavy spoilers for Dazai's backstory, the Dazai, Chuuya Age Fifteen manga and the Age Fifteen light novel

TWs: Dazai typical mentions of sewerslide, mentioned abuse, picture which shows a scene in a hospital explicitly

English isn't my first language so I apologize for any grammar mistakes.

Not completely proof read by now since I realized that I have a lot of homework while proof reading and panicked. Will be proof read in the next 24h.

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

Okay so I had this theory since I read the age 15 novel last year but I've never got around writing it down since some pieces were still missing.

In the following I will first talk about Dazai's relationship with Mori and showing parts of the age 15 novel to proof why they very popular theory that Mori is Dazai's father/a relative cannot be true. Afterwards I will talk about my theory that Dazai was already in Mafia, way before he met Mori before I will talk about my theory about why I think that Dazai is closely related to the former boss of the port mafia is either Dazai's father or a close relative like a grandfather or uncle and gonna show supporting proof from the BSD light novel "Dazai and Chuuya age 15", the BSD age 15 manga and the main BSD manga series.

1. Why Mori cannot be Dazai's father or a relative

Mori being Dazai's father or being directly related to him is a very popular opinion in the BSD fandom and which is very popular especially under anime onlys or new fans. To be honest, I had this theory too when I first started watching BSD but by now I am completely sure that this cannot be true.

Direct proof for this can be found in the BSD light novel "Dazai and Chuuya age 15" which reveals a lot about Dazai's and Chuuya's past in the Port Mafia as well as about some characters in general.

In this light novel it gets clear that Mori and Dazai are still pretty much strangers which are connected through the murder of the former boss of the Port Mafia. This also gets specifically stated in said novel on page 8 and page 7.

As stated here, they've been brought together by common destiny.

On page 7 however, is a even better proof that they aren't related at all and it also gives out another very interesting information about Dazai's family.

As stated here, on page seven, Dazai is "neither Mori's secret illegitimate child nor an orphan he adopted [...] ". I think that with this information, we can be pretty sure that Dazai isn't related to Mori at all. It also gets stated again that they are bound together by "common destiny" instead of any kind of relation.

Very interesting is, that it gets mentioned that Dazai isn't an orphan which Mori adopted since this information can be read in two ways. One option is, that he simply isn't adopted by Mori while the second option is, that he isn't an orphan at all. (English isn't my first language so I don't know if it can be read in only one way so feel free to correct me.)

The last proof for that Mori and Dazai aren't related to each other, can be found on page 9.

The whole page makes clear, that Mori doesn't really know Dazai at all/ that he only knows him for only one year and that he only knows him on a "Coworker level". He isn't familiar with Dazai's way of thinking, speaking and acting. He simply cannot figure Dazai out and he is kind of scared of him. Dazai isn't someone he knows since a long time. If anything, he is still trying to get to know Dazai and his ways of thinking. If Mori knew Dazai since a very long time, I'm sure that he would know at least a bit about how Dazai acts and reacts to things so that he wouldn't get as uneasy as on this text page, when Dazai is showing his serious, cold and calculating side again.

This is only a speculation though since Dazai and his ways of acting and thinking are in fact nearly completely impossible to figure out for nearly everyone.

Besides this, there is a clear distance between them without any familiarity. This distance can be often found between strangers who know each other solely through working together for whatever reason, but who never hang out together in the way friends or relatives do, which creates this distance between them.

Now that I've shown some proof which supports the theory, that Dazai isn't related to Mori in any way, I'm firstly going to show proof for why I think that Dazai was already in the Mafia, way before he met Mori before I will talk about why I think that Dazai is specifically related to the former boss of the Port Mafia.

2. Why Dazai had to be in the Mafia, way before he met Mori

Now, about why Dazai had to be in the Mafia way before he met Mori.

As seen in one of those panels of the first phase of the age 15 manga, Dazai is dressed on somewhat formal attire, wearing a white button up shirt and dress pants. Those clothes suit him perfectly and they look rather formal and expensive so it's unlikely that they were given to him after he got brought to the hospital. Those are his own clothes.

Now, if he would be an orphan who lived on the streets, which is another popular theroy in the fandom, he wouldn't be wearing such clothes.

Also such black and white, formal clothes/suits are commonly worn in the port mafia, often by people of a higher rank or by guards which suggests that there is some kind of a dress code among the Port Mafia. The clothes which Dazai is wearing, suit perfectly into the dress code of the port mafia.

Another point as to why he had to be in the Mafia already is the fact that he was brought to Mori, an shady underground doctor and the personal physician of the former boss of the port mafia after attempting suicide. If he would have been a normal child, no matter if orphan or not, he would have been brought to a normal official hospital in Yokohama and not to Mori.

Besides this, Mori is well aware who Dazai is, calling him by his name which suggests that Dazai isn't only already in the port mafia but also that he is known there and not just another nameless assistant.

Of course, Mori could have been informed about who this kid is by the person who brought him to him but if Dazai would really have been a random kid who wasn't involved in the Mafia, they wouldn't have any information about his name.

All of these points like the expensive and formal clothing, the fact that he seems to be involved with the Mafia already, the fact that he was brought to the underground doctor Mori (who is also the personal physician of the former boss of the port mafia) and the fact that Mori knows who Dazai is, lead me to the next point which is why I believe that Dazai is closely related to the former boss of the port mafia.

3. Why I think that Dazai is closely related to the former boss of the Port Mafia

Firstly, all the previously mentioned facts like the expensive clothes and all, are things which support my theroy in some ways but of course they aren't enough proof since alone from those facts alone, we could also think that Dazai is simply related to a executive or someone in the Mafia who has a higher rank but there are things which lead me to think that Dazai is related to the former boss of the port mafia.

Let me show you.

First of all, Higuchi telling Dazai that Dazai's blood is not only "Mafia black" but also that it's more Mafia black than anyone else's in the country.

While this could also be seen as her referring to him being the feared demon prodigy, it also suggests that he is deeply connected with the port mafia. Also, talking about a connection to something through someone's blood gets often used to hint that someone is connected with something through family.

With saying that his blood is more black than anyone else's, she also says that he is deeper connected with the Mafia than Mori, Hirotsu, Chuuya or any of the other loyal members of the Mafia and besides this, she also tells him through this, that he would be more cruel than any of them.

Now the only other person about who they talk like this and who gets referred to be more cruel and deeply involved with the port mafia, who is basically anchored in the history of the port mafia, is the former boss of the port mafia himself.

Higuchi saying that his blood is mafia black, more than anyone's in the whole county, could easily be a hint that Dazai is in fact, related in some way to the only other person who's blood is mafia black, the former boss.

While this point is more based on speculation, the next point is based a lot more on the things which are actually specifically shown in the manga.

During the flashback which shows how the former boss of the port mafia died, we can see that Dazai isn't standing next to Mori but far away from the bed next to the big window.

If Mori wanted to make Dazai pretend that he would be his new assistant, Dazai would stand next to the bed or would stand at least close to Mori to "watch and learn", to assist him or to hand him any tools or medicine he might need but this isn't the case. He is standing far away from Mori and the bed, silently watching and not assisting at all. He isn't holding any tools and he also obviously isn't looking for anything which he needs to bring Mori. Here he has the role of a bystander and is the witness.

But why would Mori bring a random child with him, only to watch him and which would later be his witness. It would make no sense and it would make him seem even more suspicious. Even if he would have waited with the murder, bringing Dazai with him a couple of times before killing the boss, it would make him look suspicious. After all, suddenly bringing a child with him which then suddenly happens to be the only witness, really is suspicious and I doubt that Mori would have made such a risky and unwell calculated plan.

If that would be the case he also could have picked any child or like any person in the Mafia. After all, there are a lot of people who wanted to see the former boss of the port mafia dead because of his brutal and cruel way of leading the Mafia and because of all the terrible crimes but again.

However, despite the large amount of people who would (most likely) happily assist Mori with getting rid of the former boss, he directly approached Dazai and he does so confidently as shown here:

He seems like he knew exactly that Dazai wouldn't deny his request and he also seems as if he had picked Dazai to be his perfect assistant for this case but I genuinely don't think, that it's only because Dazai is a suicide patient.

In both, the manga and the light novel, Dazai tells Mori that of course the latter would see him as the perfect assistant because he would need to get rid of everyone who was aware of what really happened during that night and since nobody would suspect a thing if Dazai would suddenly commit suicide under unknown circumstances but while this is a good point, more on the other hand states in the light novel that he can't let him die because then the supporters of the previous boss would turn on Mori and claim that he would have killed the predecessor but I will come back to that in a second.

As previously mentioned, I don't think that Dazai being suicidial was the point which made Mori choose him as his assistant. After all, it wouldn't make anything less suspicious due to the reasons I mentioned previously.

So why did he pick Dazai if suddenly bringing a person with him, shortly before murdering the predecessor would only raise suspicions?

Well it would only raise suspicions if the person wasn't already in the room before he came to visit the boss and if they weren't in this room already since quite some time.

This is one of my main points to support the theroy and it also suits to the fact that Mori wouldn't risk seeming any more suspicious throughout bringing a random person with him and it also suits to the fact that Dazai is standing far away from the bed, obviously not pretending to be a new assistant of Mori.

Dazai stands far away from the bed, like someone who was in the room already, way before the doctor came in and he steps away from the bed to give room for the doctor so that he can do his work properly. It is a common thing to do for relatives, friends or coworkers who had been staying at the bedside of the bedridden person.

Now why would Dazai be in this room, staying with the pervious boss of the port mafia as the only person.

He is too young to be a guard and he can't be a person who was carrying out missions for the previous boss since Mori is in fact the person who gives Dazai his first mission ever which is to investigate about the rumors of the previous boss of the port mafia coming back as a ghost. It can be seen on this page of the manga where Mori specifically states that this is Dazai's first job as a official member of the Mafia.

So if Dazai can't be a guard, isn't pretending to be Mori's assistant, if it's too suspicious if Mori would bring a random person with him shortly before carrying out his plan and if Dazai can't be someone who carries out missions, and especially if he isn't an official working member of the Mafia until that very moment in which Mori gives him his first mission and welcomes him as an official member of the Mafia, which, by the way, takes place around one whole year after Mori killed the predecessor, why should Dazai be staying in that room since quite some time, by the bedside of the former boss of the port mafia?

The only logical reason for this would be that he is in fact related to the boss of the port mafia in some way and due to this, stays by the side of his relative to help him in his weak, dying and bedridden state. There wouldn't be any other reason for him to keep Dazai around and if there would be, all the other points like Dazai being dressed formal and expensively and Mori knowing who Dazai is wouldn't suit into the whole situation anyways.

If Dazai only would serve as some kind of a servant, he would be someone unknown in the Mafia and they probably wouldn't have brought him to Mori after his attempt.

My last proof which supports my theroy is Dazai's reaction to having to face the former boss of the port mafia again during the fight against Arthur Rimbaud/Randou but also the bosses reaction to facing Dazai again.

On page 95 in the light novel, Dazai and Chuuya face the former boss for the first time in the whole novel and both, the reaction of Dazai and if the both is very interesting and supports my theroy a lot.

Chuuya who was never directly involved with the port mafia and the former boss and only knows about his crimes /was indirectly another victim of one of his crimes, hasn't a very specific reaction towards facing the boss and the boss also only sees him as someone he has attack without any personal connection between them.

Dazai however reacts not only chaught off guard like Chuuya upon seeing the dead body of the former boss of the port mafia standing in front of them, talking and moving but during the whole fight he doesn't say as much as he usually would and is more confused, tensed up and seemingly very uncomfortable and nervous. He does try to cover it up with sarcastic remarks and through smiling but it is very noticeable in the way he acts and talks.

Upon seeing the port mafia boss, Dazai's smile becomes tense and he seems uneasy and he continues to act like this even after knowing that it's only Arthur's ability. It can't be only because he is worried about the boss telling others what really happened since they are currently in Arthur's hyperspace and the boss isn't going anywhere. The whole situation of having to see and having to talk to this person again seems to make him feel uneasy and uncomfortable which makes him turn more quiet, confused and more serious during the whole battle. It actually takes some time until he acts more relaxed and calculating like he usually does during a fight and until he stops bombarding Arthur with questions.

The former boss of the port mafia on the other hand, (and this is an incredibly interesting and overlooked part), calls Dazai "My boy" upon seeing him again, asks him Mori/ "The good doctor" has been treating him well and refrers to Dazai's face as a familiar face before he calls him my boy upon fully recognizing him. He also tells Dazai that it feel like ages since he last say him which implies that they saw each other and knew each other regularly. Him calling him my boy definitely supports that Dazai is related to him and I think it's self explanatory why. If Dazai was only some coworker, he wouldn't be referring to him as my boy.

The way Dazai talks to him also seems like he isn't talking to someone he only vaguely knows.

The distance which is present when he is communicating with Mori isn't present here and the whole way he talks to him and how he is building the sentences but also how the former boss of the port mafia is referring to him as well as how he talks to Dazai, is making clear that they know each other past the level of only coworkers as well as that they aren't just boss and normal subordinate.

The fact that Dazai refers to him as boss, the fact that Dazai assists Mori's with his plan, the way they talk to each other or better the way in which Dazai talks to the predecessor and that the fact the former boss of the port mafia isn't having any issues with killing/attempting to kill Dazai and even shows some kind of enthusiasm towards it, talking about it in a way which is implying that he already hated Dazai way before Dazai assisted Mori ("[...] I never imagined a day would come where I could behead this boy with my own two hands", the previous Mafia boss crowed hoarsely." (p.98;ll.26-28;" Bungo Stray Dogs: Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen") shows the nature of the relationship between those two.

Most likely, the predecessor wasn't treating Dazai good, most likely abusing him which lead Dazai to assisting Mori and which would explain the way they talk to each other as well as Dazai's negative and almost scared reaction upon seeing the previous boss again.

Given the predecessors cruel, cold and brutal personality as well as his obsession with surpressing and killing people/people who acted against the Mafia, it isn't unlikely that he was also abusive towards Dazai.

Another quote which implies that they know each other since quite some time, can be found on page 98 in the light novel where the boss is "mourning" about the fact that his body isn't capable anymore of talking about the past before he kills Dazai. ("" If only we could chat about old times first, [...] "" (P. 98; ll.28-29)

The fact that Arthur also states that he preserved the former bosses personality and memories (P. 99; l.1) proofs that the memories of the boss as well as the way he acts isn't altered at all.

With all of these facts which suggest that Dazai is related to the former boss of the Port Mafia, it also makes sense why Mori needs Dazai to stay alive. Not only it would seem suspicious if Dazai suddenly dies, even if he would die of suicide but also because then, if Dazai would truly be related to the former boss of the Port Mafia, it would seem like Mori got rid of the person who rightfully is the next boss of the Port Mafia in order to be completely sure that he can be the next boss until he dies.

If we see it like this, it would also make even more sense as to why Mori was so scared that Dazai would kill him one day, just like how he killed the former boss in order to become the next leader of the Port Mafia because then he wouldn't just be afraid because of the "Evil expects evil from others" rule, but also because he and Dazai would both be painfully aware of the fact that Dazai is rightfully the next Boss of the Port Mafia and not Mori.

To summarize, Dazai cannot be related to Mori at all. Not only is this specifically stated in the light novel "Bungo Stray Dogs: Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen" but the fact that Mori is still trying to figure out Dazai, that he isn't familiar with Dazai's way of acting and thinking and the fact that there is a constant, somewhat formal distance between them suggests that they genuinely didn't know each other before Mori asked Dazai to be his assistant/witness in his plan to murder the former boss of the port mafia.

Now despite not being related to Mori in any way, Dazai still seems to be involved with the Port Mafia already, way before he met Mori. Proof for that can mainly be found in the BSD Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen manga.

There, Dazai is shown to wear formal and expensive looking clothes when he wakes up after another suicide attempt and Mori greets Dazai with his name, seemingly being well aware of who Dazai is. If Dazai would have been a random kid p.ex. from the streets, he wouldn't be wearing such clothes and Mori wouldn't know his name but he also wouldn't have been brought to the underground doctor Mori who also happens to be the personal physician of the former boss of the port mafia but to a normal and official hospital in Yokohama.

Alone due to the fact that he got brought to Mori, he had to be involved with the port mafia already otherwise he wouldn't had end up in that hospital. Now, him being well dressed, Mori knowing his name and him being brought to Mori instead of to an official hospital could also imply that he is only the son of an executive or another person in the Mafia who is of high rank but the fact that Higuchi tells Dazai years later that his blood is mafia black, more than anyone else's in the country as well as the fact that Mori chooses him to assist him in his plan of murdering the former boss of the port mafia as well as Dazai's position in the bosses room while Mori carries out his plan and his role in this plan imply that he isn't just related to a random person but rather the former boss of the port mafia himself.

Mori could have chosen anyone to be his witness, especially in regards of how many people want to see the former boss dead but he directly approaches Dazai and does so confidently as shown in the age fifteen manga. He seems to be sure that Dazai would assist him but he also seems to be sure that this won't raise any more suspicious.

If he would have started to bring a random person with him to his regular visits to the former boss, shortly before he murders him and the fact that this random person is suddenly his only witness would raise only more suspicious about him killing the boss and given Mori's character, I doubt that he would plan something so risky and uncalculated where it's sure that it would cause him more trouble than anything.

So why did he choose a seemingly random kid as his witness if suddenly bringing a person with him would only raise suspicions in the end? Because there won't be any more suspicious than there are already if the person is located in the former bosses room anyways and regularly.

The theroy that Dazai stays at the room of the former boss gets supported by the fact that Mori is specifically choosing him, seemingly being sure that this won't raise suspicions and the fact that Dazai isn't staying close to the bed or at least next to Mori while he is "treating" the former boss, not pretending to be Mori's assistant. Dazai is standing far away from Mori and the bed as a silent witness next to the window. Stepping away from the bed so that the doctor can treat the person is a common thing to do for relatives, friends or coworkers who had been staying at the bedside of the bedridden person. If Dazai would have pretended to be Mori's assistant he would be staying close to Mori, only stepping away from the bed to get something which Mori needs but this isn't the case. Also the suspicions didn't raise because of Dazai and everything went as Mori planned which is supporting the theory that Dazai was already regularly in the room.

Now why would the port mafia boss keep a child around in his room/at his bedside. Dazai is too young to be a guard, he isn't a official member of the Mafia who carries out missions since it is shown in the manga that Mori is in fact the person who gives Dazai his first mission ever and who is welcoming him as an member of the Mafia after giving him the mission, implying that Dazai wasn't an official member of the Mafia until that very moment which took place around one year after Mori successfully carried his plan out and if Dazai would have only acted as some kind of servant, he wouldn't have been dressed this well, Mori most likely wouldn't have known who Dazai is and he most likely wouldn't have been brought to Mori after his attempt. We can see how the most servants/slaves are treated in the chapter with Ace in the main manga and since the previous boss was even more cruel and brutal than Ace, he wouldn't have treated his servants any better. Given those circumstances, the only logical reason for him keeping Dazai around in his room, is that Dazai is in fact related to him in some way and is now staying at his bedside in order to help him in his weak, dying and bedridden state.

That they know each other past the levels of only boss and subordinate/ coworkers gets shown in the fight against Arthur Rimbaud/Randou where the former boss calls Dazai "My boy" and mourns about the fact that they cannot talk about the old times before he kills Dazai. They also talk to each other in a way which suggests that they know each other since a long time in a relative kind of way.

While Chuuya reacts chaught off guard towards seeing the previous boss as well but while he reacts in a way which makes clear that they never knew each other personally, Dazai tenses up and is nervous and feels uneasy through the whole fight upon having to face the boss again. It takes him a while until he acts more collected, serious and calculating like he usually does in a fight again but the uneasyness never fades fully, no matter how much he tries to cover it up.

The way they talk to each other also implies a deep rooted hate from both sides. The former boss also shows no issues with killing Dazai, implies that he already hated Dazai way before he assisted Mori and even shows some kind of enthusiasm towards killing the child.

In general, given the former bosses cruel, cold and brutal personality and given the way they interact with each other/react towards having to face each other again, it is likely that the former boss was abusive towards Dazai/that the nature of thier relationship was abusive.

During the whole fight, both talk with each other in way which suggests that they know each other personally since quite some time and the formal distance which is always present when Dazai and Mori communicate with each other isnt present between them during thier conversations, making it seem even more like they are related in some way.

All these facts, from the former boss referring to Dazai as "My boy" to Dazai's position in the room and his role in Mori's plan, lead me to think that Dazai is in fact closely related to the former boss of the port mafia. I consciously decided not to refer to the former boss as Dazai's father since I wouldn't go as far as to pinpoint the exact relation but I am almost completely sure he is closely related to him and I think it's likely that he is at least his grandfather or his uncle.

If you read all of this, I love you <3

[waitineedaname]

It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t the life he had hoped for. But it was a life that was livable, most days. The grief of missing his family faded to a dull ache, throbbing in the scar tissue between his ribs. He chose to give them up just like he chose to give his kidney up, and getting them back was just as impossible as regrowing the missing organ. And then Jiang Cheng showed up unexpectedly at his work and punched him square in his jaw. 

surprising no one, my first fic for the untamed is about tragic siblings. because of course it is. this google doc was titled "thanks for the kidney i hate it" <3

[ary11y]

Wait what if this power hour is backwards

Like

Push is someone trying to convince the mc that he shouldn't just push everyone away and keep being sad but at the end they get frustrated with the mc because he won't listen and that's where compelled by hindsight begins

Compelled by hindsight is them confirming all the doubts the mc has about himself out of frustration but they kind of regret it at the end, which is why they try to give the mc hope (another way I can see this is them confirming all the mc's doubts to catch his attention and then make him listen to them or just saying "yes, you're right, but...")

Tbh I don't know how mayday fits in here, maybe the mc just listening to all the bad things the other character told him? Idk

[gay-otlc]

Cognates and Queer Coding

(Note: this essay contains spoilers for Stellarlune, mainly regarding the relationship between Sophie, Fitz, and Keefe)

The similarities between queerness and cognate relationships throughout Keeper of the Lost Cities is shown through specific cognate partnerships such as Quinlin/Alden and Tiergan/Prentice, cognate relationships not fitting into norms of romantic or platonic, and the parallels to coming out.

Specific Cognate Partnerships

According to Mr. Forkle, the cognate connection creates a bond that is similar to marriage; similar enough to marriage that councillors aren't allowed to have cognates due to their rules against falling in love and having families. Because of this, cognates of the same gender could be considered to have been in a same-sex marriage. Before their breakup following Prentice's mind break, Alden and Quinlin were essentially in a queer marriage with one another.

Although they never officially became cognates, Tiergan is stated to wish he'd been cognates with, or "married," to Prentice. This is one of many lines that suggest Tiergan has romantic feelings for Prentice. Throughout the series, Tiergan is shown to be extremely devoted to his close "friend." Despite being stated to be uncomfortable with touch, he is very physically affectionate with Prentice. Additionally, the two of them are raising children together. This has led many in the fandom to believe Tiergan and Prentice are in a romantic relationship.

These two specific instances of queer-coded cognate relationships could imply the queer nature of cognates overall.

Queerplatonic Relationships

Due to its similarity to marriage, use of rings, and frequency of holding hands, cognate relationships are often read as having romantic implications.

However, cognate relationships are not depicted as entirely romantic. Sophie and Fitz were cognates before becoming romantically involved, and hoped to remain cognates even after their romantic relationship ended. Quinlin and Alden were also married to their respective partners while in a cognate relationship with each other. Therefore, while cognate relationships closely resemble romantic relationships, they are not exact.

Because of this, cognate relationships could be read as queerplatonic. Queerplatonic relationships are a type of relationship that don't fit into the traditional boxes of romantic or platonic, and are often formed by those on the aromantic spectrum. While it is unlikely Shannon intended for these relationships to be written as queerplatonic, reading cognates as a bond between two aromantic spectrum telepaths would be an interpretation supported by canon.

Coming Out

The emphasis on sharing personal information with one's cognate, and the potential discomfort with that, resembles the difficulty surrounding coming out as queer. Although doing so is necessary to strengthen trust within a relationship, many queer individuals are anxious to come out and will avoid doing so, even if telling the truth would likely improve a relationship.

Growing up as an elf in the human world, Sophie learned to be a very reserved person and disliked sharing personal information about herself. Even after moving to the Lost Cities and no longer needing to keep her telepathy secret, she continued to prefer to keep things private. When she learned she would need to tell Fitz everything in order to be his cognate, she was very uncomfortable and it made her rethink whether she wanted to become cognates.

Tiergan is also someone who prefers to keep secrets from others, and Mr. Forkle describes him as "particularly adept at misdirection." Avoiding personal questions is a skill many queer people develop out of necessity, in order to remain closeted. Given the Lost Cities' opinions on matchmaking, they are presumably not accepting of queer elves, and it is likely that Tiergan avoids revealing information about himself because of the need to hide his sexuality (and possibly gender).

This similarity is especially prominent when it comes to hiding information about crushes. Having to conceal information about who you're attracted to is a common experience for queer individuals, and it is also something Sophie experiences throughout the series. At first, she is hesitant to become cognates with Fitz because she doesn't want to confess that she has a crush on him, and later, she is reluctant to reveal her feelings for Keefe because she is worried that he will be upset or angry. However, when she does tell the truth, or "come out," their relationship is stronger and they trust each other more.

Conclusion

Although Shannon Messenger most likely did not intend for cognates to be queer-coded in her writing, many aspects of cognate relationships can be read with queer implications and may resonate with queer readers.

[suits-of-woe]

is anyone going to talk about the blatant antonio/bassanio/portia parallels in the andrei/goncharov/katya dynamic and how scorsese literally said in interviews that he wanted certain scenes to have a shakespearean feel to them or do i have to write the meta myself

[smolkuriboh27]

Eddie holding you, your arms draped over his index finger. His thumb travels up and down your back, feeling the curve of your spine. Soft at first, then stronger as he gains confidence and focuses on his work. You can feel the exact moment, too. There's a small pause, then his thumb shimmies side to side. You sigh deeply as the pressure stretches your shoulders apart, relaxing them. Your body rocks with the motion, but you don't make a sound. He's finally getting his school work and you're so proud of him!

You smile, closing your eyes as his thumb presses a circle deep into your back. He'd been hesitant at first, but after learning he couldn't hurt you, you became a staple in his study sessions. You were all too glad to give his hands something to focus on so his mind didn't wander. The full body massage was a welcome bonus.

[teknikolor-walters]

Only the most wholesome of grandpa duo drabbles here on tumblr.com/teknikolor-walters

Also I know that I say I'm not too proud of my writing like every time but this time I'm serious this isn't all that great

Cicada pressed the shotgun to Scarab's chest, but it was more of a display than anything, like an animal, trying to seem bigger than they actually were.

"Put the gun down, asshole."

The cowboy didn't move. "Cicada, if ya'd jus' listen t'me-"

"No, I won't just listen to you," Cicada said through gritted teeth. "You're trying to kill our friend! How could I?"

Jimmy didn't say anything.

"He asked me to, Cicada, d'ya think ah want t'kill 'im?"

"Bullshit-"

"It's true."

Everything slowed, then stopped. Cicada didn't lower the gun, but his voice seemed more hesitant now.

"Jimmy?"

"He's- he's a spy. Fer Ty. He was supposed t' destroy H1VE from the inside out an' then go back."

That was what made Cicada lower the gun, as he looked towards what he thought was his friend. "A spy? Are you serious?" she asked.

He could barely meet her eyes. She let out a laugh, low and hysterical.

"You really are a spy, huh? God. You've been going behind my back this whole time? Fuck you. FUCK you. What about when you showed up to my door with a hole in your chest? Was that a lie too?"

They were crying now.

Jimmy nodded, still not meeting wing's eyes. Bird sneered. "Of course."

An idea clicked in Cicada's head. Without moving otherwise, they reached for the calculator in their pocket. If they could go back to the compound, he could get all of this corrected.

A gunshot. Pain bloomed throughout their face. Cicada whimpered.

"That'n was a warnin' shot, Cicada. We ain't gettin' the compound involved. Ty'll just crack down harder. Ya know he will." Scarab sighed. "Now get on outta here. Ah have a job t' do."

"Cicay-" Jimmy started.

Cicada completely broke at the nickname. He grasped for comfort wherever he could find it, and ended up throwing his arms around Jimmy, sobbing into his shoulder. He returned the hug.

Jimmy ran a hand through her hair. "Aye, Cicay, Cicay, shhh. It's gonna be okay. It's- it's fer the best."

"No, it isn't- I- I don't- I can't watch you die. Spy or not. I mean, am I even gonna see you again?"

"Of course you are. Yer my best friend. I'll make sure it happens. I love you."

"Love you too. But..."

"It's gonna be okay. We're gonna see each other again. Say it back tae me."

"...It's gonna be okay. We're gonna see each other again." Bird stepped back, keeping wing's hand in his for a second. Bird didn't want to let go of him. But they had to, they knew that.

Scarab sighed. "Ya should- ya should go home, Cicada."

He knew he should, but he couldn't. He stayed, and he watched. It was surprisingly fast. He and Scarab talked for a second, then the gun was fired into his head. There was a splatter of blood, and he was gone.