#it always felt off to me like i get the whole red herring concept but they laid it on way too thick imo

[phantasmanatic]

okay so they finally put the mentalist on a streaming service and i can watch it without shitty website quality and having to hook my old broken laptop into the tv which is fantastic

what’s also fantastic is seeing Jane interact with Red John in the second episode

SO fucking funny when Jane challenges him to rock paper scissors and he keeps losing. you can see the man wants to kill Jane right then and there soooo fcknndnksksks i love this show

[deactivated072320241242]

₊˚⊹♡ 𝐚 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞

— ₊⊹ 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 . WandaNat x fem! virgin! reader

— ₊⊹ 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 . [based on this request.] Natasha and Wanda's relationship was going well... when talking generally. — they completed each other. but something was still missing. and there was no better person to reach out to, other than you, their closest friend. will you allow them to show you a whole new concept of.. love?

— ₊⊹ 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 . smut! i am not responsible for your content consumption! — established relationship, soft doms WandaNat, subby reader, little bit of angst on the begining if you look very closely, swearing, reader's first time, threesome, making out, Wanda's enchanted strap, breast play (r receives), penetration (r receives), oral (N receives), multiple orgasms, cum eating, pet names, aftercare.

— ₊⊹ 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 . english is not my first language (🇧🇷) so i apologize for any spelling errors! feedback is highly appreciated!! <3

never thought it was so hard to write a threesome 😭

divider credits: @anitalenia . ݁₊

small droplets of sweat started to build on Wanda's hairline, ready to roll down — soft pants and huffs leaving her mouth as she desperately tries to increase the pace, the pace that was already fast — she tries to accelerate even more. to get Natasha there, like she always did. but for some reason, it wasn't working. it wasn't being of any use. no matter how she tried to change positions, or angles.. Natasha just breathed heavily, with no result.

"stop, stop.." Natasha pants out and pats Wanda's shoulder, multiple times. "stop, baby. 'ts okay."

the woman reluctantly slows down her movements and groans, a mixture of tiredness and frustration.. and a little bit of sadness. right now, she was feeling so, so incapable, worthless. since when did that happen? since when a woman couldn't even bring her girlfriend an orgasm?

eventually, she pulls the strap out of her, making Natasha hiss quietly due sensitivity. she turns on her back and removes the strap off herself, waving her hand to disenchant it. her hand reaches out and puts the toy on the nightstand. the witch's eyes squeeze tight, clearing her throat as she does her best to catch her breath again.

Natasha of course, didn't need Wanda to tell her how she was feeling. as a spy, and like anybody else in this situation, she knew it. the russian weakly turns on her side and wraps her arm around Wanda's waist, placing her head on her shoulder and looking up into her eyes. deep down, both of them knew this wasn't physical.. it was phychological. lately, whenever it came to sex, both their minds couldn't completely focus on each other — and it wasn't fault of either of them. their toughts always wandered to her, that girl.. you.

"i'm sorry," Wanda whispers, wrapping her arms around Natasha and pulling her to herself. she sighs heavily and nuzzles into her soft red locks. "i'm sorry."

her heart was at war. battling to decide between giving into her desires, or holding back, in respect to Natasha. she just didn't know that the russian felt the same way. both of them did towards you. you're their closest friend, not an avenger, but an ordinary girl. thinking about that, it made sense — two people with a fucked up past, heavy emotional baggage, needed someone like you in their lives. someone soft, gentle, almost innocent, to say at least. the way you dressed, the way you smelled. always captivated the redheads. in the middle of all the chaos they called life, you were their beautiful, sweet escape of routine.

"don't apologize." Natasha replies, voice low and husky as she traces imaginary patterns on Wanda's chest. "i can't read minds like you do, so why don't you tell me what you're thinking about?"

Wanda chuckles at the remark, and turns her head to look at her girlfriend. she takes a slow, shaky breath again. she knows she can't hide anything from Natasha, and wouldn't try to. "look. can you listen to everything i got to say, before making any conclusions or saying anything else?"

Natasha nods, giving her a small, genuine smile, that showed patience. so Wanda started talking again.

"it's.. it's not easy to talk about this, i admit. it's like a taboo, and stuff.. we've been together for three years now, and i love you. i love you so much. i always tell you that and i always mean it. we help each other, we work together, you're the perfect fit for me, Nat. but.. lately, i've been thinking a lot about.."

"i know." Natasha interrupts anyway, and her smile doesn't vanish. "i know you have. i see it. and god, I think about her too."

surprise immediately shows in Wanda's wide eyes, and she exhales the air she was holding. relief washed over her being, even if Natasha hadn't elaborated yet.

"Wanda, darling." she chuckles, nuzzling closer and placing her hand on the woman's cheek. "we struggle sometimes. and it's not our fault. she's a ray of sunshine. it's everything we need, don't you think?"

"are you saying that we should consider.." Wanda says, in a softer tone.. her hand finds it's way to Natasha's back, nails tracing her spine. the mere thought already got her in a better mood. "inviting.. her.. in?"

"yeah." Natasha bits on her bottom lip. both of them had never tried a threesome before, but it seemed like a good idea. it felt like a good idea. if they both had thoughts and maybe even feelings for you, why don't act on them? "let's invite her tomorrow. tomorrow night."

"oh, Natasha." Wanda chuckles, understanding the implication. she leans down to peck Natasha's lips, and looks at her with a new sparkle in her eyes. "are you sure? completely sure about this? i never, ever want to hurt you, or make things weird between us—"

"we trust her. and basically, the only reason that we've been failing is because we want her and don't act on it." Natasha raises her eyebrows and pokes Wanda's nose, then wraps her arms around her neck. "and also. she's not a child. we'll talk about everything, and if it doesn't work out, we'll just seek another solution."

they both stay silent for a moment, and Wanda agrees. she giggles to herself, pulling the blankets over them and snuggling against Natasha, their legs tangling. they went to sleep happily, the tension from before eased because of you. they would just wait for the next day, and hope for the best.

₊˚⊹♡

the word to describe what you were feeling in that moment was: anticipation.

Natasha and Wanda had never invited you over to their place like this: at night, with no special occasion. they had told you they wanted to see you again, and to talk about a few things. you had absolutely no clue about what it was, so jumping to the most probable conclusion was what you did: a casual catch up.

yeah, for sure.

Wanda was the one to open the door after you knocked, and she shamelessly looked at you from head to toe, which got your eyes to snap open. you cleared your throat as she took in the sight of you, in a small, pink dress that covered just a little more than your ass — hair falling down your shoulders, a light makeup.

"Natasha," she calls out, tilting her head towards you. "you gotta see this,"

okay, you were so confused. first, one of your friends that was taken, clearly looks at you in a not so friendly way, and now, she's calling her girlfriend to do the same? you stand there, flustered, a little disoriented.

the other redhead comes. she opens the door wider so she could see you better, and stops in track when her eyes land on your figure. they exchange looks, and silently communicate — as if saying, why didn't we think of this before?

"come in, sweetheart." the russian says and allows you inside the house, closing the door right after.

you observe as the two of them talk between themselves, quickly finishing so they could return their attention to you. they notice how nervous the greeting had made you, and decide to get straight to the business. they sit on the couch, letting a little space between them and patting on it, so you could sit. you place your purse on the entrance counter and chuckle nervously, then walk towards them and sit where they wanted you to.

"so... hi!" you finally speak, still feeling a little awkward. "uhm.. is everything okay with you two?"

"absolutely." Wanda nods, shifting on her seat. her knee brushes against yours as she places her hand on your cheek, thumb caressing your jawline. "you just look so beautiful right now, we couldn't resist."

as she speaks, Natasha's hand lands on your thigh, and you were absolutely sure you looked redder than a tomato right now. but it still felt wrong. you gently placed your hand above both of theirs to still their touches.

"i don't get it."

"alright, dorogaya. that's the whole reason we invited you over." Natasha says and Wanda nods, allowing the russian to explain. "first, we want you to know that is absolutely alright if you don't feel comfortable with this. you can just say 'no' and leave, we're not forcing you into something you don't want to."

by this moment, just with those vague words, combined with their previous actions, you had a slight idea of what this was about, and it made you shiver. ever since you met them, you had a little crush on both, but they were avengers. superheroes, powerful, and older than you. they're gorgeous women that unfortunately were taken— well, you felt lucky just for having their friendship.

"we've been thinking about you. a lot." Natasha admits with a deep breath and purposefully scoots closer, making you almost a little sandwich with them. "the way you talk to us.. the way you look at us whenever we're together."

"like right now. the way your eyes are sparkling." Wanda breathes, her arms sneaking around your waist and her chin on your shoulder.

"you're so perfect.. so precious to us, detka." Natasha whispers and wraps her arms around you too, tilting her head and pressing a kiss on Wanda's forehead, then on yours. "so we want to know, if you're okay with trying out with us."

a deep sigh leaves you, and you melt like a puddle between the women. your weight leans on Wanda's body, and your eyes travel from one to the other. your defenses vanished, completely, and the thought of this being.. uncommon, was buried deep down in your mind.

"trying out?" your voice sounds more like a whimper, and your hand grabs Natasha's wrist, that still rested on your thigh.

"yeah.. trying out." Wanda whispers on your ear, her hand turning your hair into a makeshift ponytail, exposing your neck for them. "just for tonight.. then we'll give you time to think."

"but i never.." you stutter, feeling Natasha's warm breath on your neck, as her lips began trailing kisses there — right above your pulse. "i-i've never.."

"it's okay." Wanda breathes in your ear, watching as Natasha took her sweet time to taste you, feel the softness of your skin. "we're gonna take care of you."

"i never.. i never had.." you continue, voice becoming weaker and weaker. "i never went beyond kisses.."

that was new information. Natasha slowly pulled away from your neck and exchanged a look with Wanda. so you were still a virgin. that just turned them on even more. they'd be the first ones to play with you, make you their good girl.

"god, sweetheart." the witch purrs, her hands cupping your waist and giving it a little squeeze. "you have no idea what you're doing to us."

the action coaxes a soft, needy sound out your throat, head lolling backwards against her shoulder.

"please, baby. let us have you." Natasha begs. you don't gotta be asked twice.

₊˚⊹♡

the room was dark — burgundy walls, the yellow light of the dim lamp casting on the furniture and being the only source of illumination. you couldn't put in words the way you felt. Natasha, naked, the freckles on her pale skin on display for you. toned breasts, muscular arms. red hair naturally wavy, not straightened like she usually had it. she looked like a true goddess. her gaze, hungry yet tender, had you frozen in place.

Wanda's hands guided you towards the bed — her chest against your back, an amused chuckle leaving her. you looked so innocent. it was clear you never even thought of the possibility of that.

"look at her," Wanda coos. Natasha's eyes remain glued on you, but travel to your body as Wanda starts to slowly get that dress off you. her pointer and thumb pull the zipper down and the straps fall down your shoulders, revealing your bra. she kisses your shoulder and places her palms flat on your stomach, letting them roam downwards, to your hips, and pulling the pink fabric of the dress down, as it pools around your feet. the woman hum together in satisfaction, being allowed to see your half-naked body. "such a precious little thing. now go with Nat and watch me strip."

you couldn't help but blush a little bit under their gaze, and the way they were addressing to you. doing as you're told, you climb on the bed, and Nat spreads her legs. your heart hammers against your ribcage. she only did that so you could lay against her chest, but accidentally — or not — your eyes landed on her intimacy, and the slick arousal that was almost dripping down her thighs.

"oh my god, Natasha." you moan, allowing her to pull your back against her chest. she smirks, unclasping your bra and tossing it aside.

now, it's Wanda's turn to get the unnecessary clothes off her. she firstly discard her blouse, then her jeans, and lingerie — she uses her foot to kick the pile of clothes away, and walks to the nightstand, opening the drawer and pulling out the.. toy. it does get you a little tense. but they had a way of showing you there was no reason to be. with a wave of her hand, the strap is enchanted, and she will be able to feel everything. everything she dreamed of with you.

"we will take good care of you, kotenok." Natasha whispers and grabs your chin, tilting your head up — and kissing you.

a kiss never felt so good. throughout your whole life, you never had a kiss like this one — warm, slow, needed. her tongue mingled with yours, slender fingers tangling in your hair to keep you in place. Wanda watches with a hungry, almost predatory gaze as she sees her two favourite women making out. she climbs on the bed with you and hooks her fingers on the waistband of your panties, pulling them down — your hips instinctively lifting to make her work easier. you were slowly letting yourself go.

Natasha releases your lips, panting. her hands pull you back even more against herself, pressing your body against hers and go to your breasts, kneading the skin, slowly, massaging them, knowing exactly how to pleasure you. you moan sweetly, throwing your head back against her shoulder as her fingers pinch your hard nipples.

"that's it, baby." Wanda hums, satisfied with the scene. she liked that you were comfortable with them, which meant she could do everything she wanted.

you don't even realize as they start to adjust your body, the positions — Natasha brings her knees up and spread them a little, Wanda bringing your legs around Natasha's, so you were completely spread and open.

"oh, fuck." she says, knees digging into the mattress as she takes a good look between your legs. "such a beautiful pussy. can't believe we're the only ones to have it."

her words make you gasp, and your back arches a little — but before you could do anything, her cock was already stretching you out, with little effort. the woman groans, placing her hands on your waist and hovering you. she leans up and kisses Natasha, a low chuckle leaving her as she whispers. "so warm and wet. she's a perfect girl."

"we're not gonna let you go," Natasha whispers in your ear. her arms wrap around your waist, securing you, and with that, Wanda starts moving.

her movements are gentle — not too slow, not too fast, showing you how it was to be deliciously filled up. the new, foreign sensations consume you, breath coming out in soft gasps. your eyes look at the redhead who was fucking you, half-lidded, in pure bliss, adoration. the strap drags up your sensitive walls, until the tip was the only thing inside of you, then pushes back in, discovering spots you had never found before with your own fingers.

"oh my god," you grip Wanda's shoulder with one hand, and intertwine your fingers of the free hand with one of Natasha's that held your waist. your hips buck upwards, matching the movements with Wanda's cock pounding inside you. "feel so good,"

"you're so tight, detka," Wanda mutters, feeling her climax starting to build up. she had to speed up, had to feel you more, clenching around her so perfectly.

"s-shit... ah.." you moan and arch your back, doing your best not to fall apart that quickly. but Natasha doesn't allow you to hold back.

her hand slides down your stomach, to where Wanda was connected with you, and starts to rub lazy circles on your clitoris, looking up at her girlfriend with a satisfied smirk. "you can come for us,"

"i'm close too," Wanda moans, head lolling back as she grips your hips tighter, chasing after her so needed release, which doesn't take long to come.

your vision starts to blur a little, not being able to focus on anything specific. your eyelids fall shut, and all the sounds around fade — the first real orgasm you ever had washing over you. an almost pornographic moan echoes on the room, coming from your throat, and your legs tremble around Natasha's — cum coating Wanda's strap, juices rolling down your legs and mixing with Natasha's who was under you. Wanda's climax comes right after and she quickly pulls out, painting your stomach white as you laid there, dumb and cute, drained.

Wanda rolls on her back and closes her eyes, the high still present. she hadn't felt that good in so, so long, she had missed it so much. now it's Natasha's turn to take control.

she carefully lays you down next to her and licks Wanda's release from your stomach, missing the taste of it. she takes some on her fingers and point them at your mouth. "open up,"

you blush softly, opening your mouth and welcoming Natasha's fingers in. your tongue swirls around her digits, swallowing obediently.

"good job, malyshka." she praises, cradling the side of your head and pressing a kiss on your forehead. you look at her up and down, then weakly sits up on the bed.

"wanna taste you too, Natty," you say, and it drives her crazy.

undoubtedly, Natasha was more than dripping, and yes, she wanted you to teach you how to eat a woman out. she leans back against the headboard of the bed and intertwines her fingers with her tired girlfriend, winking down at her. she spreads her legs. "come over here, princess."

your legs, still shakily, dig into the mattress and you settle yourself on your knees, hands holding Natasha's thighs apart as your face approaches her core. she was so sensitive and achy.. and you'd repay her, for everything she had done. it shocked her, you didn't show inexperience — your tongue licked a long strip, slipping between her folds and brushing inside her, stimulating her g-spot and making her mouth agape. her fingers gently tug on your hair, pulling you closer, pressing your face against her cunt. your nose brushes her clit, and it doesn't take long for Natasha to cum too.

"oh, malyshka.." she stutters out between moans and whimpers, hips bucking upwards as she released. "s-such a.. perfect.. mhm.. girl.."

you swallow her sweet juices, pressing a kiss on her inner thigh and pulling your face back. just by watching both of their expressions, a tired and proud expression showed on your face, knowing you did a great job.

₊˚⊹♡

now, the digital clock on the nightstand showed 2AM. the sheets were crumpled, blankets all over the floor, long forgotten. you laid there, naked and vulnerable on the bed, waiting for Wanda and Natasha to come back to the room.

when they did, they were both wearing silky robes — Natasha held aspirin and a bottle of water, and Wanda, a cloth, and an additional robe that they hoped would fit you.

they walk towards you and Natasha places the items on the nightstand, sitting on the edge of the bed. she carefully handles your body and pulls you onto her lap, holding you closely, your side against her chest. you felt warm again, fuzzy, happy.

"you were perfect, sweetheart." Wanda smiles, carefully spreading your legs and using the cloth to clean the sticky cum still there. you whimper, feeling a little stingy and sore.

"we got aspirin for tomorrow, in case you need it." Natasha grabs the water bottle and opens it, bringing it up to your lips, helping you sip on it. "there you go..."

"now, we'll sleep. and tomorrow we are gonna prepare you a nice warm bath." Wanda chuckles and puts away the cloth, closing your legs afterwards.

you all settle on the bed comfortably again, having to grab the blanket from the floor and cover you up. you sigh softly, lying between them and gathering courage to speak.

"was this just... a playtime?"

that question was expected, and they were ready for it. they sweetly smile and replied in sync.

"you are our missing piece."

para o anon que fez o pedido: mto mto obrigada!! eu sei que adicionei várias coisas, porém eu precisava de um contexto para encaixar o seu pedido. espero que tenha ficado bom! 🥹

[bellaxgiornata]

Acquaintances

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader Word Count: 4.4k

Warnings/tags: 18+; bit of light angst, running into exes, brief fluff, and a hopeful ending

Summary: He was once the love of your life in college–someone you'd been planning a future with–but seeing him now, he felt just like a past acquaintance in a bar.

a/n: So the concept for this one shot was something that I'd written about back in a creative fiction writing course years ago and figured would be fun to rehash with Matt (who forced my hand with the hopeful ending). But that whole idea of knowing someone so intimately and then not knowing them at all is just...weird and relatable. Also, this is set more towards future Born Again era if you can't tell by all the facial hair. Feedback is always appreciated!

Matt Murdock one shot tag list: @pazii @shouldbestudying41 @kmc1989 @ebathory997 @mattkinsella @yeonalie @shiorimakibawrites @xxdrixx @wkndwlff @leikelle @pinkratts @lazyxsquirrel @1988-fiend @marvelcinematiquniverse @carstairswife @stilldreaming666 @kiwwia-wiwwia @willwork4dilfs @will-delete-this-later-probably @mattmurdocks6thscaleapartment @theetherealbloom @yarrystyleeza @dramaholic18 @ladywholikesreading @sleepysleepymom @tartbeanpuzzles @harleycao @sunflower-tia @gamingfeline @juskonutoh @kezibear @ninacotte

“Ohh, wait,” Olivia said, catching your attention as she came to an abrupt stop. “What about this place?” 

Stopping on the sidewalk next to her, the city foot traffic began to stream around the pair of you. Your gaze followed her finger to the bar she was pointing at that you’d both stopped beside. ‘Josie’s’ was glaring back at you in red neon through the window. Taking a step closer to the glass, your feet unsteady in your heels from the couple of drinks you’d had earlier, you peered inside at the bar.

“Here?” you asked her skeptically.

You pulled a face at the dive bar before you, your eyes catching sight of the many gruff-looking men in cut-off shirts throwing back bottles of beer at the bar. The sound of rock music was noticeable even from your place on the sidewalk, and there was a sports game playing on the television that was hanging on the wall beside the bar. Despite you both living in Hell’s Kitchen, this place looked nothing like the usual bars the pair of you frequented to drink–certainly nothing like the bar the pair of you had just left.

Looking back over your shoulder, you raised a brow at your friend. “You want to go here ? I thought we were walking home.”

Olivia pouted back at you. “Oh come on, please?” she asked. “Live a little tonight. For me? Please just try something new? We can stop here for just one drink and then call it a night. For real, this time.”

Sighing, you threw your hands up in defeat. “Fine, if that’s what you want,” you relented. “It’s your promotion we’re celebrating. If you really want to finish your night out at a dive bar in Hell’s Kitchen, then I suppose I’ll support you.”

“Great!” she exclaimed.

Not waiting for you to rescind your answer, she excitedly grabbed you by the hand and tugged you forward towards the door of the bar. Throwing it open wide, Olivia sauntered inside on her heels as if she hadn't just finished throwing back shots at another bar a few blocks away. You stepped inside behind her, running a hand nervously through your hair as Olivia continued to drag you over towards the bar.

When the pair of you reached the counter, you squeezed between your friend and the back of a burly man. Eyeing the sticky bar counter, you very carefully rested your hands against it as beside you, Olivia caught the attention of the older woman tending the bar. You noticed she was also dressed in a cut-off shirt, a dirty towel slung over her shoulder and a frown on her face. As she made her way over, you could see the way she scrutinized the pair of you like you didn’t belong.

“Can I get you two something?” she asked roughly, resting both of her hands against the opposite side of the counter. 

“Do you have a wine list?” Olivia asked. 

The woman behind the bar shot her a flat look. “No, I don't,” she answered simply.

“Then we'll take two glasses of whatever red you have,” Olivia continued unphased, the wide smile still on her face. 

Wordlessly the woman turned away, grabbing two wine glasses and beginning to work on pouring your drinks. Shifting to the side, Olivia rested an elbow on the bar as she focused back on you, beginning to dig through her purse.

“A wine list, seriously?” you asked her, opening up your own purse. “Here?”

She shrugged a shoulder. “Doesn't hurt to ask.”

“Right, well, I don't know what your intention with coming here was, but I doubt it'll be to experience a good merlot before we head home,” you teased. 

Olivia shrugged again, throwing some cash on the bar before you'd managed to dig it out of your own wallet. 

“My treat here, you've bought me enough drinks tonight,” she told you.

You opened your mouth to protest but were cut short by the surly bartender roughly setting two wine glasses onto the bar beside you. You shot her a friendly smile as you reached a hand out to grab the stem of one of the glasses, but the woman's expression still remained sour and unchanged.

“Enjoy,” she said flatly. 

Without another word, she grabbed the cash from the bar and turned, walking away to focus on another patron. Picking up your glass of wine, you exchanged a look with Olivia as she grabbed hers. 

“Such friendly service here at least,” Olivia joked.

You laughed, raising your glass out towards her. “Just remember this was your choice to come here,” you said. “But congratulations once again on the promotion. I know you heard that plenty when we were back drinking with everyone at Rosewood, but I'm proud of you. And I just want to add that I hope your wardrobe increases along with that new salary of yours because you deserve it.”

“Amen,” she replied with a grin, tapping her glass to yours.

You brought your glass up to your lips, drinking down some of the wine at the same time as Olivia beside you. Though it was bitter and unpleasant as it passed over your tongue and you pulled a face while reluctantly swallowing it down. Next to you, Olivia cringed as she set her own glass back onto the bar counter. 

“Well, it'll at least help get us drunk,” she muttered, making a face at the wine glass. “So there’s that.”

“Not exactly my goal tonight,” you reminded her.

“I'm still going to get you to relax one way or another tonight,” she said, pointing a finger at your chest. “But first, I might need to use the bathroom.”

Her eyes darted around the dimly lit bar as she began to search for the bathrooms. Slipping your phone out of your purse, you turned to face the bar counter more fully.

“I'll keep an eye on your drink then,” you told her.

She murmured a quick ‘thank you’ before slipping past you, making her way through the bar and towards the bathrooms. Unlocking your phone screen, you began to scroll through your work emails as you waited for her. Absently you picked up your glass of wine again, taking another sip. You immediately winced as the unpleasant taste hit your tongue once more and quickly set the glass back down, pushing it slightly away from yourself.

As you continued skimming through one of your messages while waiting for Olivia to return, someone roughly bumped into your elbow as they sidled up to the bar next to you. Your hands fumbled with your phone as it slipped momentarily out of your grasp. Hurriedly, you attempted to catch it before it could drop down onto the dirty floor.

“Shit, sorry,” the man beside you quickly apologized.

Finally getting a grasp on your phone, you glanced over at the man that had bumped into you, lips parting to say something back to him. But the sight of him caused you to pause, your mouth left hanging open. Something about him seemed oddly familiar as you stared at the side of his face. 

“Josie!” he called out, waving the surly bartender over and paying you no mind. “We need another pitcher of beer!”

“I'm not putting it on your nonexistent tab, Nelson,” she replied, picking up an empty pitcher. 

Nelson? Why had that name sounded familiar?

“Oh come on, we're your favorite patrons and you know it!” the man said.

The sight of the woman actually breaking into a smile as she began to fill the pitcher took you by surprise, briefly breaking through your attempt to wrack your partially inebriated mind for how you knew the man beside you. 

Brows drawing together as you glanced back down at your phone, you kept repeating the name ‘Nelson’ over and over in your mind. Out of the corner of your eye you saw the man look over his shoulder at you before focusing back on the bartender. But then you saw him quickly do a double-take, his attention fixing back on you. You frowned, now entirely positive you somehow knew each other.

“Holy shit,” he breathed out. Swiftly turning where he stood, the man faced you and said your name in something like shock. “Is it really you?”

Lowering your phone, you glanced back up at him. And then it fully hit you now that you weren't staring at his profile. Despite the hair he now wore cropped vastly shorter than back in college, the facial hair he’d clearly grown out, and the fact that he'd traded band shirts for a suit, you recognized him as Franklin Nelson–your college boyfriend's absolute best friend.

“Foggy?” you asked, surprised.

Josie set the pitcher of beer on the counter, her eyes dancing curiously between the pair of you. “You two know each other?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Foggy answered, a look of shock still on his face as he continued to stare at you. “We were close in college. She dated Matt for a long time. But I haven't seen you in years !” He reached a hand out, roughly clapping you on the shoulder. “How the hell have you been?”

“Uh, good,” you said, still surprised that you'd run into him. “How've you been doing?”

“Good, good. Believe it or not, Matt and I actually did it,” he told you excitedly. “We opened our own law firm!”

Brows rising up onto your forehead in surprise, you felt something stir in your chest at his name mentioned once more. It had been so long since you'd thought about him now. Even longer since you'd last seen him.

Matthew Murdock. You'd dated back when you'd both been going to Columbia. You’d both met in a philosophy class that you'd taken during your early college courses while working on your different degrees. The heated debates in class between you and Matt had led to discussions which had carried on outside of classes. And those had quickly devolved into grabbing drinks together while Matt openly flirted with you. Eventually the pair of you had begun to date, becoming nearly inseparable outside of classes. Until your graduation day, of course. 

Your breakup with Matt had been the hardest breakup you'd ever endured when things had finally ended. It had ultimately been a fairly amicable split despite the pain of the situation, though. But you'd never spoken to him after you graduated, even after sending him one final text a week later simply saying you were sorry. He'd never responded to that text.

“Oh, wow, that's impressive,” you said, trying to ignore the weird feeling suddenly stirring inside of you. “I'm surprised you guys actually did it. That’s–that’s great, really.”

“You know, you should actually come say hi,” Foggy told you, enthusiastically gesturing a thumb over his shoulder. “Matt's here, too.”

For a moment you stood there awkwardly, mouth opening and closing as you gaped at Foggy. That strange and unfamiliar feeling began to writhe in your gut, one you were sure had nothing to do with the terrible wine you'd just been drinking. The thought of seeing Matt again with the history you two had after all these years that had passed just felt…odd. 

“I'm sorry, is that weird?” Foggy asked when you hadn't responded. His nose scrunched up on his face as he nodded, studying the look on your own face. “Yeah, that's weird, isn't it? Who wants to see their ex, right?”

“I–”

“Hey, who's this?” Olivia asked, reappearing on the other side of Foggy and eyeing him curiously. “You make a new friend already while I was gone?”

Clearing your throat, you shook your head. “Actually, Liv, this is an old friend of mine from college,” you told her. 

“Oh my God, that’s right!” Olivia exclaimed, her eyes going wide. “You did go to college nearby!”

Foggy immediately turned towards Olivia, sticking his hand out towards her with a large smile on his face. “Foggy Nelson, nice to meet you,” he greeted her.

“Olivia Martinez,” she introduced herself, shaking his hand in return. “So I take it the pair of you were catching up?”

“Somewhat,” Foggy answered, watching as she grabbed her glass from off the bar beside you. “I'd actually just stuck my foot in my mouth asking if she wanted to go say hi to her college ex. I mean that’s weird, right?”

Olivia's eyes lit up at his words and your shoulders slumped at the sight. You knew where this was heading. 

“Your ex is here?” she asked curiously, eyes darting between you and Foggy. 

“Apparently so,” you answered awkwardly. “But look, we are here celebrating you and–”

“No, no, no!” she exclaimed, waving a hand at you. “I don't mind at all! We can go say hi if you want. I'd certainly love to meet your college friends. Maybe hear some embarrassing stories.”

You stood there, your heart speeding up in your chest nervously as both Foggy and Olivia continued to stare expectantly at you, waiting for a response. Mouth feeling dry, you reached your hand out and grabbed your glass of wine from off the counter beside you, forcing a smile onto your face.

“Okay, yeah, sure,” you replied. “I can–can go say hi, I guess.”

“Great!” Foggy exclaimed, reaching past you to grab the pitcher of beer Josie had set down a bit ago now. “You can meet our other firm partner, too. Karen Page. You’ll love her, I promise.”

You hummed out a noise in response, grateful Olivia was at least excitedly talking Foggy’s ear off as you began to follow behind him through the bar. Raising your wine glass to your lips as you walked, you drank a few deep gulps of it down and fought back your urge to gag at the taste. Seeing Matt again certainly hadn’t been on your agenda for the evening, and now you worried about how seeing him was going to make you feel with the way your body was already beginning to react at just the prospect of it. 

In your final year at Columbia, you swore Matt was going to be the one. You’d had plans to get an apartment together in Hell’s Kitchen after your graduation. Matt had even been the one to suggest the idea of moving in together, often talking about how excited he would be to finally have you all to himself, not having to worry about roommates and dorm room rules anymore. You’d grown excited at the idea too, already imagining how your lives would blend together as you both steadily found your place in the city. You’d even begun picturing marrying Matt–though you’d planned for that to be far later, years farther down the road still. Sometimes Matt himself seemed to even hint at your futures entwining together with how he talked about plans he was making. Everything had always sounded so perfect, feeling like both your lives were easily falling into place as if they were always meant to. 

For the duration of your senior year the pair of you had been planning everything out together, covering every detail as you both laid awake–sometimes in Matt’s dorm, sometimes in yours. You’d be wrapped around each other, hands clasped together, discussing everything from how you’d furnish the apartment, to dividing up chores, to future date plans when you both weren’t so broke. You’d both even talked about getting a cat, joking back and forth about names and never being able to agree on one. But the entire beautiful image the pair of you had been painting together had shattered to pieces when you’d been offered a job all the way out in Miami, Florida.  

There’d been a job fair shortly before graduation. A friend of yours had talked you into attending with her and you’d gone, hoping to line up a few prospects somewhere in the city and end up with something in order to afford the apartment you and Matt had both been hoping to get together. It was just because your friend had encouraged you that you’d done it, leaving your resume with a recruiter for a position that you knew was in Miami while knowing full well Matt had no interest in ever leaving Hell’s Kitchen. He’d told you countless times over the years that this city was his home. You honestly hadn’t expected a damn thing to come of it though, forgetting entirely about the job shortly afterwards. But a few days after the job fair you’d been asked for a phone interview and barely a day later you’d been offered the job. And it had been the only job offer you’d received.

You’d cried in your dorm for two nights straight, lying to Matt about why you couldn’t see him and telling him you’d felt sick. And truthfully you had felt sick to your stomach. Part of you was tempted to reject the offer, knowing at some point you could have found something in the city here and continued on the path you’d already planned out with Matt. But the certainty of a job and a salary with an amount you could barely fathom what to do with had you struggling to say no. The only thing holding you back from accepting it had been Matt. If you knew he’d have come with you to Miami, you’d have immediately taken the position.

Eventually through tears you’d told Matt what was going on and why you’d been avoiding him. How you’d been struggling back and forth with figuring out how to make the right decision on something so big. He’d been the one to solemnly take your hands in his and insist that you take the job, telling you it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. He promised the pair of you would figure things out, maybe manage something long distance for a brief bit while he finished his law degree. But as the final weeks passed for you at Columbia, things had grown tense between you two. And after graduation, you’d come to the heartbreaking decision to end things with him, not knowing how a long distance relationship would work with the way things had already started to fall apart. Still dressed in your powder blue cap and gown, you broke down on campus amidst all the other excited students as you ended the years long relationship with Matt. You’d both sat together on Columbia’s lawn for an hour afterwards, crying and holding each other as you said your goodbyes.

And that had been the last time you’d ever seen Matt.

Until right this very moment as you approached the table he was sitting at, Foggy and Olivia walking a few steps ahead of you. Matt was sitting beside a pretty blonde, the pair of them laughing lightly with each other. For the briefest moment your feet faltered on the sticky bar floor as your heart nearly lurched straight out of your throat at the sight of him. He’d certainly changed over the years, but you could still tell it was Matt beneath those red glasses, that dark beard, and the crisp navy suit. 

But at the same time, it was difficult marrying the image of the man sitting right there with the same one you’d known all those years ago. Gone was the fresh shaven face and his black, rectangular glasses you’d always known. The hands that were currently holding an almost empty glass of beer might have been the same hands that had once tenderly held you all those years ago on the night you’d lost your virginity to him. They might have once been hands that had carefully and gently loved you, hands that had held yours and comforted you, but now they were attached to a man you didn’t even know anymore. 

The feeling that washed over you as Foggy greeted the table was impossible to capture into words. It was something that felt jarring and unsettling as you stared at him. Years ago you’d planned to have a future with him, but looking at him now, he felt almost like an acquaintance you barely knew despite the intimate past you both shared. 

Your hands tightened around the stem of your wine glass, your pulse racing as you mentally kicked yourself for agreeing to come say hello to him. He was practically a stranger to you now, both of you having lived entirely separate lives for longer than you’d even been together. What were you even supposed to say to him? He couldn’t possibly care about catching up with his college ex. 

“Matt, you are not going to believe who I ran into at the bar!” Foggy exclaimed.

You continued standing just a step behind Olivia as if you could somehow hide behind her. But as Matt’s head tilted curiously to the side–an adorable habit of his you were surprised to see he still did–the blonde at the table focused her eyes past Olivia and on you. She shot you a warm and friendly smile as if she could see the nerves written on your face, but the sight of it did nothing to slow the frantic pounding of your heart. You felt like you were going to be sick as Olivia continued to stand there, openly gawking at Matt.

“Who?” Matt asked curiously, a crease forming between his brows.

Foggy said your name and you watched as recognition gradually dawned across Matt’s face. It suddenly felt like the bar was closing in on you, both of your hands growing damp against the wine glass you were clutching.

“Wait, she’s here?” Matt asked next, shock evident in his tone. “Here in Hell’s Kitchen?”

“Yeah, buddy, I was just as surprised as you are! I told her she should come say hi because it’s been so damn long,” Foggy answered before glancing back at you, a bright smile on his face.

Thankfully Olivia spoke up first, giving you a chance to find your voice as you stood there, your eyes roving over Matt’s face. There was something strange in the way that it was familiar yet so changed. And in the years since you’d last seen him, he’d only grown more handsome.

“Wait, that’s your ex?” Olivia said, gesturing a hand towards Matt. “You mean to tell me you two dated in college?”

Tongue feeling heavy in your mouth, you nodded slightly. “Yeah,” you answered, your voice sounding a little off. “For a few years.”

Matt’s gaze immediately landed on you when you’d spoken, his brows twitching faintly above his glasses. It was hard to read the expression on his face with the way they were covering his eyes. Eyes that you’d always thought were so beautiful and expressive, whether it was when he was arguing with you in an impassioned, philosophical debate, or fondly focused on you as he confessed that he was in love with you. 

“I thought you were in Miami?” Matt questioned.

Swallowing hard, you tried to keep your trembling knees from giving out beneath you under the heavy weight of his sightless stare. How was seeing him again after all of these years having such an effect on you? 

“Yeah, I was,” you answered, aware of three other sets of eyes curiously darting between the pair of you. “Until almost a year ago. I was looking for a change and missing the city. Grew tired of the humidity and hurricanes, too,” you lightly joked.

A faint smile tugged the corner of Matt’s mouth upwards, your gaze dropping towards the movement. It was once the same mouth you’d kissed so many times before without even thinking about it. A mouth that had spoken so many encouragements and declarations of love to you, but also one that had told you jokes and brought you pleasure in ways that no other mouth ever had since. It was both familiar and not all at once.

“So you came back?” Matt asked.

  “I came back,” you repeated softly. “Suppose it’s no surprise you’re still in Hell’s Kitchen though.”

He shot you a small smile as he nodded his head. “I never could manage to leave it,” he told you.

For a moment the pair of you stood there, eyeing each other wordlessly in your own ways as the sound of the bar filled the growing silence. Out of the corner of your eye you could see Olivia watching you curiously, swirling her wine in her glass. To your left, you could see a smile gradually spreading across Foggy’s face before he glanced over at the blonde.

“Who says we pull up two more chairs?” Foggy suggested, loudly breaking the lull in conversation. “We can all get to know each other! Get reacquainted again and catch up!”

“I think that sounds like a great idea,” the blonde replied, that friendly smile never leaving her face.

“I agree,” Matt said, still focused on you.

Glancing over at Olivia, you saw the mischievous grin growing on her face. She gave you a slight nod of encouragement, her eyes pointedly telling you to say yes. Nervously biting your lip, you glanced back over at Foggy.

“Yeah,” you agreed. “That sounds good.”

Foggy beamed back at you before he turned, grabbing two more chairs from a nearby table and drawing them over to where the others were sitting. The blonde slid over to make room at the table, introducing herself as Karen as she did. Olivia was fast to introduce herself to the group, quickly making herself comfortable in a chair. 

Hesitantly you made your way over to the table, sitting down in the last open seat which was on Matt’s left. Setting your glass of wine onto the table, you slowly lowered yourself into the chair beside him. Matt immediately focused his attention on you and you ducked your head, feeling even more nervous sitting beside him after all of these years. 

“Hey,” he greeted you softly.

“Hey,” you greeted just as quietly back.

“It’s been awhile,” he said.

“Yeah,” you agreed, glancing up at him from beneath your lashes. “Quite a few years.”

“Guess that means we have some catching up to do,” he told you, a smile gradually growing on his face.

Your eyes spotted the lone dimple of his; it was just barely visible beneath his dark beard, but it was there. Some other feeling began to gradually fill you at the sight of it, this one warm and familiar in comparison to the way you'd first felt when you’d spotted him sitting at the table. You always had loved that lone dimple. 

“Yeah, I guess that does,” you replied, gradually smiling back at him.

[pommpuriinn]

ㅤㅤ⁔⁔ ۟ㅤ ⊰ ㅤ ۫ㅤ 𑁤ㅤ ۪ㅤATHENA’S JOURNEY IN ILANDㅤ֗ ⸃⸃

᱈ ۫ ﹏ 𐀓synopsis››› ִ ࣪ - many highlights of Athena’s journey during land and what got her where she is now, enhypen.

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ the camera slowly pans up to Athena making her way down the trail heading towards the iland building. “Wow I’m really in the middle of nowhere.” Athena chuckled softly while walking up to the huge front door

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena was greeted with a moving stage and seeing all the other trainees watching her with shocked expressions, mostly liking because she’s a female trainee

“it’s a girl!”

“Is she going to be the only one?”

“woah, she looks imitating.”

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ as the stage moved her closer to the other side she met eyes with Sunghoon, she hid her smile by rubbing her lips together. Athena’s favorite figure skater wants the same dream as her, it caught her by surprise. “Hello.” Athena bowed towards everyone and took the empty seat next to Jay

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ once it was Athena’s turn to perform everyone was on the edge of their seats and the second they heard the song everyone cheered making Zico, Rain, and Sihyuk laugh at their reaction. Athena was performing ‘Monster’ by Red Velvet’s Irene and Selugi, people that were and weren’t watching iland kept on reposting her performance video gaining lots of attention for Athena

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena ended up passing the audition round with getting everyone’s vote to enter iland

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ throughout watching everyone’s performance Athena kept a poker face until people started messing up she would rise an eyebrow at them, which people thought it was funny and made it a reaction meme

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena was very hesitant about joining iland because of the all boy group concept and her knowing that she was going to be the only female trainee

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ she was a bit awkward at first and always thought the boys would vote her off to ground, but it never happen since the boys really admired her talents and skills

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ many times the producers gave Athena compliments while giving harsh criticism to the other trainees, which Athena felt like there would always be tension after the producers would leave because they wouldn’t give the same harsh words to her and only them

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena was very quiet during iland until Heeseung would constantly try to get Athena out of her shell sometimes it would work other times he respected that Athena just wasn’t comfortable enough to let loose

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ “Athena-ah let’s eat together?” Heeseung asked with big puppy like eyes. “Mmm…ok.” Athena shrugged, and got out of bed. Heeseung felt like he won the lottery because Athena only eats with Sunghoon and sometimes Jungwon

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ before Sunoo was in ground for the first part of iland Athena quickly got comfortable about him just because she liked his vibe and they instantly clicked and got along. She would sometimes cry because she wanted Sunoo in iland with her instead of ground, and he finally entered iland again she cried because of how much she missed him

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ during Athena’s time there she didn’t really get into arguments not even with Heeseung for center parts, they both knew in their heads they were rivals, but never had full arguments about it. Until most group members agreed to give Athena a part that K also wanted

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ “I think that part should go to me because I want to showcase my skills while you had many parts already. Plus since I’m older I should have that pick instead of you.” K argue to Athena. The room fell into silence everyone was taking little glances between the two. “I understand that, but this mission is about teamwork and having everyone agree on the same thing, plus doing what’s best for the team.” Athena’s voice was no longer soft and timid, it was stern company with sharp eyes staring down at K

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ “well it doesn’t matter about the team because we are going to be individually graded!” K was getting more irritated by the second. “The whole point is-you know what? Just do whatever you want then.” Athena stood up and walked out of the room. The members were shocked seeing Athena storm out of the room

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ thankfully Athena and K did have a heart to heart conversation with K immediately apologizing for his behavior, and Athena accepting it saying ‘no hard feelings’ Athena knew they’re in pressure inducing environment, and they’re going to lash out at one another at some point

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ whenever Athena would be shown on the big screen everyone would be blown away from her visuals. “Woah handsome Athena!” Sunoo called out. “She’s perfect.” Jay was in awe. “I’m jealous~” Jake whined.

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena found it funny whenever the members would tease anyone would be staring too hard at Athena, it was mostly Sunghoon who they would tease a lot. Since everyone knew the two had some history before entering the trainee world (they were talking about Athena being a Sunghoon figure skater fan and meeting him)

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ once Sunoo finally was able to enter iland in part 2 both Athena and him became inseparable, even choosing to be in the same team together

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ chamber 5 Athena made the girls kick their feet because of how cute she was acting while performing, even all the boys were giggling when Athena came on camera

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena would play tag with Niki during their break time so the cameras would just catch two blobs speed running throughout the whole place

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ the editors made a mini montage of Athena sleeping anywhere at anytime with the footage that her team members would take of her

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena ran the practice room like the military when it came to singing live while dancing, she didn’t want to ever rely on backtrack

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena global votes were very similar to Sunoo’s she was a fan favorite for sure because of her constant help towards her team members making sure no one was behind, along with her own amazing skills and visuals. Lots of female fans started crushing over Athena

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ during the last episode once Athena’s name was called to be in the final line up she fell to her knees, it was like the huge pressure of debuting was lifted off her shoulders. The members gave Athena a big group hug welcoming her into Enhypen

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ “don’t cry noona!” Jungwon wiped Athena’s tears, while still hugging her. “I never seen you cry this much Athena-ah.” Jake rubbed her back. “She held it all in.” Jay patted Athena’s head affectionately. When the other team members cried because someone got eliminated she would be the first there to comfort them, so now it’s their turn to care for Athena like she always did for them

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ iland was not an easy experience for Athena, but it did help her open up and meet new people who she can call her family

[midnightechoes]

Five years ago today, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power premiered on Netflix. I had seen a few preview articles about it, and liked what I saw. Those articles mostly focused on She-Ra’s, Adora’s, Glimmer’s, Bow’s, and Catra’s redesigns, and I thought they were fabulous. I loved Adora’s new red jacket and bouffant hair style. Glimmer’s entire redesign was inspired, and I loved that they made Bow black so we could have more diversity in the main cast.

It was She-Ra’s and Catra’s redesigns that caught my eyes the most, though. They made Catra an actual catgirl, and not just in the anime sense where she's just a cute girl with cat ears and maybe a cat tail. She was a full-on furry. It was a brilliant design choice. Honestly it’s no wonder that so many were instantly drawn to her.

And of course, She-Ra herself. I loved her new look, and her huge ass new Sword of Protection. In fact, I loved it so much that I drew this picture of her before the show even came out:

Then the show came out, and needless to say, I fell in love. And honestly, it changed my life.

I know, I know. That sounds very hyperbolic, and to an extent it is, but in a lot of ways, I’m absolutely serious.

Alright, I have to back up a little. Back when I was in college, and for a few years after, a couple of friends and I tried to make a webcomic called The Devil’s Gate. It was minorly successful but eventually floundered. Then I met some people and we tried to make a video game, which also failed. After those few years, I found myself on my own and trying to rework the concept of my webcomic. Making comics, creating stories, those have always been my dream, and I was desperately trying to figure out a story I could make work, something that I believed in. But it never truly got off the ground. By the end of 2015 I had given up on the comic, realizing that after working on it for years in different forms that I needed to step away from it.

I didn’t really know what to do after that. I was still doing my quick daily doodles, but I wasn’t writing, I wasn’t drawing anything of note. I felt emotionally and physically drained of my creativity. I was honestly getting to the point where I thought it might be time for me to give up on trying to be creative or making things all together.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power came out on November 13, 2018, but despite looking forward to it, I didn’t actually watch it when it came out. It wasn’t until that weekend that I decided to check it out.

I was instantly hooked. I binged through the entire season in two days, and did plenty of crying and cheering. And then rewatched it immediately. I was in love. I was obsessed. It had been a long time since anything grabbed me like SPOP did. I loved the characters. I loved the colorful, sci-fi-fairy tale world of Etheria. I loved how unapologetically feminine it was. And most of all, I loved how queer it was.

I hadn’t done a ton of shipping before SPOP. I’ve been down bad for harlivy for what feels like my whole life, and I was angry when Mika and HG didn’t get together in Warehouse 13, but more often than not I had just been conditioned not to look for queer things in mainstream culture, and even barely in subculture.

That is to say, when I was smashed in the face with Catradora I was surprised how much I glommed onto it immediately. I was absolutely taken with Adora and Catra and their relationship. Both characters were so relatable, and despite not quite being text (although the subtext was so loud and obvious it might as well have been text), it was impossible to not read their feelings for each other as romantic.

It wasn’t just Catradora, even if that was a lot of it. Spinnerella and Netossa being canon from the start was wonderful. How much Glimmer and Bow screamed “BISEXUAL DISASTERS” from the start was adorable. Scorpia’s crush on Catra was as cute as it was sad in its one-sidedness.

I had never really been in a fandom. That is, yeah I’ve liked things, loved things even, but I never found other people to talk about it at length, never found discords just for that thing, never read or wrote fanfic, barely ever drew fanart. 

But, I watched SPOP, and then I watched it again. And then I drew Catra. And then I drew Adora. And then I drew them again. And suddenly I was on AO3, a site I never frequented, reading Catradora fics. And then I had an AO3 account. That December I participated in Catradora Week 2018 (I’d never heard of this kind of thing) and drew two pictures for it and wrote my first fanfic.

By the end of February I had drawn more in the three months since the show had premiered than I had in the previous year. I was working furiously on a long, multi-chapter fanfic, and writing more words than I had in the previous couple of years combined.

I was inspired again.

In the 18 months that SPOP ran for, I drew more than I had in years, I wrote hundreds of thousands of words. I felt so rejuvenated and happy about my creativity and free for the first time in years.

It’s hard to put into words exactly how it felt. I was so close to giving up my art and writing, which honestly, would have been giving up a part of myself. An important part of myself. It’s not overstating that SPOP saved me, or at least my creative spirit.

I also learned about the wonders of being in a fandom and fandom things like fan weeks, big bangs, zines. And I made some wonderful friends that I cherish to this day.

Even as I inevitably moved onto other hyperfixations, my love for She-Ra hasn’t diminished. Plushie Catra and Adora sit next to me on my desk every day. Catradora art still hangs on my wall.

The inspiration that SPOP ignited in me hasn’t died either. It’s carried me through a tremendous level of creativity that I’ve been riding since the premiere. It let me create a ton of fan art for SPOP, and then RWBY and then the Witch From Mercury, and I’ve written a ton of fanfics for RWBY and Supergirl. And perhaps the best, that inspiration has helped me create more OC stuff in the last couple years than I had in a long time.

I owe She-Ra and The Princesses of Power so much. I am so happy that it exists and that it happened when it did. I’ll always cherish it.

And for real, Netflix, SPOP spin-off movies WHEN?!

[alotofpockets]

First crush | Yelena Belova

Pairing: Yelena Belova x Reader

Summary: Yelena experiences what a crush is for the first time in her life.

Masterlist | Marvel masterlist | Words: 1.4k

Yelena didn't exactly experience her teenage years the same way most people did. She didn't get to have crushes, or relationships. She didn't get to experience love, though she had learned that not everyone experiences love when they are a teenager, and that many people experience their first love in their twenties, at least that's something she wasn't behind on in life.

When she met you, after her sister brought her back to the compound, she didn't understand what it was that was different about you. You made her feel warm inside, her stomach felt funny when you smiled her way, and her heartbeat sped up when you would touch her arm. At first she thought that something might be wrong with her, so when the symptoms weren't going away, she went to the infirmary to get checked out. 

When Dr. Cho asked her about the symptoms, the woman realized what was happening right away. She did some tests to make sure there weren't any underlying things that would cause the same symptoms but she couldn't find anything. “Yelena, you have what they would call a crush.” Yelena looked at the doctor in confusion. “A crush?” Dr. Cho nods, "It's when you have feelings for someone. It's nothing medical, and I did some check ups just to be sure, those revealed that you're perfectly healthy.”

Yelena walks out of the infirmary confused. What did it mean to have a crush? Why did she only get it when you were around?

She nervously knocked on her sister's door, maybe she has some answers for her. “Hey, Yelena, what's up?” Natasha asked as she opened the door. “Have you ever had a crush?” Yelena walks in without an answer from her sister and sits down on her bed. “I have.” Natasha replies, “Why, what's going on?” 

“Well I went to Dr. Cho because when I was around y/n, my heart would race, and my stomach would feel weird, and I thought something was wrong but she told me that it's nothing medical. She said I had a crush, and I don't know what that means.” Natasha's eyes softened as she sat down next to her sister. “Oh yeah, it's nothing bad. A crush means that you like someone. So, in your case, you like y/n.” Yelena's brow furrows, “But there's other people I like too, and they don't make me feel that way.” 

“You're right, I didn't explain that very well. So, you can like someone and you can like-like someone. When you like someone, you enjoy being their friend. When you like-like someone, you like them more than a friend, you might even want to be in a relationship with them.” Yelena finally started to understand what it meant to have a crush. “So, you had a crush on Wanda because you wanted her to be your girlfriend?” Natasha watched her sister with a smile on her face as the younger woman looked as if a whole new world was opening up for her. “Exactly, I had a crush on Wanda, and then I asked her to be my girlfriend when I realized that she had a crush on me as well.” 

Natasha spoke more about crushes to her, and answered all the questions that Yelena had. She started to understand the concept and the meaning behind the things she was feeling a bit more. However, that didn’t mean that this ‘crush’ wasn’t scary anymore. Yelena had no idea what she should expect next.

You would be lying if you said you didn’t like Yelena from the minute she had entered the compound alongside Natasha. Did you believe in love at first sight? No, you did not but you believed in connection at first sight. She was beautiful, even when it looked like she had just fought off an army, which wasn’t too far off you heard later when the two told the team about taking down the red room. She was witty, always had a comeback right away, and above all else, you were attracted to the way her smile lit up your world. 

You loved the way her cheeks would blush when your hand touched her arm at something funny that she had said. The way she would get nervous when the two of you had eye contact for a moment longer than necessary. She was adorable, and you hoped with all of your heart that you were reading into her actions correctly. 

It wasn’t until a few months later that you had made a move. It was just something simple to test the waters, a movie night in your room. You had gotten a bunch of the girl's favorite snacks, asking Natasha for help. The evening had started with the both of you sitting on your respective sides of the bed, but throughout the movie both of you kept scooting closer together, until she leaned into your side, and your hands had intertwined in her lap. The simple gesture made your heart race. 

You had asked her if you could kiss her when the movie ended, and she was about to go back to her own room. “I’ve never done that before.” She had told you nervously. “That’s okay, we don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.” Her eyes shot up to yours, “Wait, I do want to.” You smile at her softly. “Do you trust me?” She nodded. You reached up your hands to her cheeks, keeping your eyes on hers in case you saw any hint that she was uncomfortable. You lean in slowly, until your lips are on hers. The kiss was soft and sweet, and when you pulled away both of you were left smiling like teenagers. 

Yelena had shared more about her childhood, and the lack of being able to explore who she was, and what and who she liked. You had told her that you were okay with taking things slow, and that you wanted her to be comfortable every step of the way. So, that’s what you did. 

Slowly over time Yelena started to get more confident in her touches, and her kisses. Yelena made you very happy, and everyone around you could see that the two of you were meant for each other. You had never minded taking things slow, just being with Yelena was enough to make you happy.

That’s how you found yourself five months later, surprising Yelena with a movie night for your anniversary. You wanted to commemorate your first date in a special way, so you had set up a big blanket fort. The blanket fort was filled with pillows, blankets, fairy lights, snacks, and pictures of the two of you together. You looked at your creation proudly before you finally let Yelena open her eyes to see the surprise. 

Yelena cannot believe her eyes when she sees the fort. She instantly reaches for your hand and pulls you into it, looking around at all the decorations you had added. When she feels that your eyes are on her, she turns around to face you. Her heart skips a beat, the way the fairy lights lit up your face and how they sparkled in your eyes had her mesmerized. “This is amazing, I love it so much.” She says as she goes in for a hug, tackling you to the pillow covered ground in the process. You’re both laughing until there are tears in your eyes. You loved moments like this. Once you had both wiped away the tears, Yelena was looking at you full of adoration. “I love you, y/n.” Her words catch you by surprise. “You love me?” Yelena nods, “I do, and I think I have for a while.” Your smile grows wide, and the butterflies in your stomach are going crazy. “I love you too, Yelena.” The girl looked as if she wasn’t expecting you to say it back for a moment but the look quickly changed into excitement. She leaned up and connected her lips with yours. 

The plan of watching a movie was long forgotten as the sweet kiss turned more passionate, and led you to make out in the fort. You were a big fan of these new plans too, as always just happy to be with Yelena. It was safe to say that the blanket fort was a big success. 

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[milaisreading]

I love your manager requests if you can make one if you don't mind one where ness or I could say reader to ask ness out on a date in front of the guys and have the guys go see spy on her date with ness if it's What do you want and don't mind making my request?

Author: OmG I love that concept sm! Hope you are alright with this story and thank you for the request! Have a great day/night🩷

Warnings ⚠️: Reader uses she/her. Requests are open. I listened to Cupid by Fifty Fifty and may have gotten carried away a little

Pairings: Blue Lock x manager!reader (Ness x Reader)

⚽️Blue Lock belongs to:Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura⚽️

Ego expected a lot of chaos to come from training kids...teenagers who want to be always right and on top of everything. And while he enjoyed that part, it was really the main reason he started the Blue Lock project, he didn't necessarily like kids. And today was one of the days he remembered he didn't want any. Ego's day started off to begin with, he woke up without Anri and he didn't see her or (Y/n) in the cafeteria,  where they usually ate breakfast. During the day Anri kept texting back and fourth with someone, then tried to get him to agree on letting (Y/n) help out Noel instead of the Blue Lock team. He of course said no. And now, when he tried to calmly eat his lunch, (Y/n) decided to barge in while squealing.

"And?!" Anri yelled as the younger started giggling and nodding her head along.

"He said yes! We are going out tomorrow!"

Ego watched with a dumbfounded face as the two started speaking over each other.

"What are you two even squealing about?" Ego asked, causing the two to stop and look at the older man.

"Well..." (Y/n) started, getting shy as Ego stared her down.

20 minutes ago...

(Y/n) felt like her stomach was about to explode, the whole day yesterday and this morning Anri was practicing with (Y/n) how to approach Ness. Tomorrow was their day off so asking him out on a date now is the last chance for her.

'How should I approach him? Calm and collected?! Or should I just blurt everything out?! God help me.' She gulped as her face started getting redder.

'Also why is everyone so loud?' (Y/n) wondered, cringing when she heard Shidou yell something and Baro chiming in.

"Otoya! Karasu! Stop eating (Y/n)'s food!" Aryu scolded the duo, who by now had pulled (Y/n)'s tray closer to them.

"It's not like she is eating!"

"(Y/n) needs to eat and you idiots took all her food. Here, you can take my lunch, (Y/n)." Isagi offered, only to get ignored as the girl kept staring at the door.

'Those gorgeous, big eyes and that smile... And his voice! Ahh~ if only he will say yes!' (Y/n) prayed to herself.

"(Y/n)!" The girl jumped a little and looked over at Isagi in a daze.

"W-what?"

"You want my lunch. Those idiots ate yours." Isagi said, pointing at Karasu and Otoya.

"It's fine, you can eat yours Rin."

(Y/n) said absent-mindedly as the door opened, revealing Kaiser and Ness.

'There he is! Ahhh~ his hair looks so fluffy!'

"Rin?! (Y/n), that's Isagi." Aryu said as he pointed as the offended boy, but she ignored it and got up to walk towards Ness.

"Tha-Thanks Chigiri, I will check it out in a minute."

"Chigiri?! Rin?!" The table exclaimed as they observed the girl. Reo, Nagi and Bachira, who were sitting nearby looked over at the table and then watched as (Y/n) called for Ness.

"What is she doing?!" Reo exclaimed.

"I don't know... and thanks to them I can't hear anything." Nagi groaned, looking over at Rin, Baro and Shidou. Bachira's hands twitched under the table, knowing whatever it was, it won't end well.

"N-ness... h-how are you today?" (Y/n) said with red cheeks as the boy sent her his usual smile.

'I think I have diabetes from how sweet he looks!' The girl thought.

"It's been great. Noa has been giving us some crap over the defense, but all in all good. Kaiser and I came here to eat lunch, want to join?" Ness asked, pointing at the table where the blonde and some other players of his club were.

"A-ah no... I just wanted to ask you something."

Ness grew a little concerned at how red her face was.

'Maybe it's a flue.' He thought as he touched (Y/n)'s forehead.

'Ehh?!' The girl thought as she looked at the boy.

"You seem to be alright, but you face is completely red. You want me to bring you to the nurse?" Ness asked with a frown as (Y/n) shook her head.

"N-no need... I just wanted to ask you... to go on a date with me tomorrow." Although she finally said that, it was pretty silent and add to to the other 3 bickering Ness didn't understand anything.

"To what?"

"To go out with me." (Y/n) said it louder this time, but Ness still couldn't hear her and glared at Shidou, Baro and Rin, who were about to get scolded by Reo and Kunigami.

"I said..." (Y/n) took a deep breath.

'My heart is about to explode!'

"Will you 3 shut up?!" Reo yelled causing the other 3 to grow silent for a moment.

"Will you go out on a date with me tomorrow?!"

Kaiser spit out his drink as be looked at the two and there were light choking sounds coming from Chigiri.

'Ahhh! Why did they have to stop arguing now?!' (Y/n) thought in embarrassment and looked at Ness again, who had a red face matching hers.

"S-sure... when?" The boy stuttered out, feeling his heart explode.

'She looks kind of adorable with that face.'

"T-tomorrow?"

"Alright. I... we can make some plans at dinner then?" Ness suggested, both feeling awkward as the players stared at them.

"Great idea!" (Y/n) said back as she played with the hem of her shirt.

Present time...

"You both are yelling here over a date?" Ego asked in disbelief as (Y/n) nodded her head.

"It's cute, Ego-san! This place misses some romance and drama, in my opinion." Anri said, making the man facepalm.

"This is for football not some weird drama, TV show..."

"Alright! Do we have everything set?!" Kunigami yelled as they went over the plan for tomorrow.

"Yes, Reo, Nagi, Bachira and I will form a group and follow them." Baro said bitterly as Reo sulked while the other two looked like they were out for blood.

"Then you have Yukimiya, Chigiri, Rin and I." Isagi said, dreading to see (Y/n) all lovey-dovey with the German boy. Rin and Chigiri were cracking their knuckles while Yukimiya was taking some notes.

'Whatever he is doing...' Isagi thought, worried that they might end up in jail.

'But it's for (Y/n)'s safety.'

"Then you have Kurona, Hiori, Otoya and I. We will beat Ness up." Karasu said with a murderous glint as the other three nodded their heads.

"No beating up! For now..." Kunigami sighed.

"That leaves Niko, Gagamaru, Aryu and I. When did you hear the date was again?" Kunigami asked as he looked over at Bachira, who was clenching his fists.

"At 9 they will meet up. They will go to the nearby town for a few hours. Can we beat him up after?"

"Maybe. I still don't see what (Y/n) loves about that freak when I am over here." Aryu sulked.

"You all... do you think (Y/n) might pick to work for Bastard München after this?"

The guys turned to look at Gagamaru, who was on the verge of crying along with Niko.

"The hell are you even saying?! She won't leave me- US like this!" Rin yelled, clearly the most upset about the whole incident.

"Calm down, Rin! What makes you even say that, Gagamaru?" Otoya questioned the boy.

"You all do remember that she never turned down Noel-san's offer officially." Gagamaru reminded them.

"Oh... But still, she wouldn't leave us for Ness... right?" Isagi said, chuckling nervously.

"No, of course not. We are still her number 1 priority!" Reo said as Nagi groaned.

'Why that bastard of all people?! I was right there (Y/n)!' The boy thought.

The next day (Y/n) woke up bright and early, got herself ready and dressed in some clothes Anri helped her pick up, then went to meet up with Ness at the entrance.

'He looks so dreamy~ those eyes!' (Y/n) blushed as the boy glanced at her.

"Should we go and eat first? You didn't eat anything." Ness offered as they walked down the road. Clearing her throat, (Y/n) nodded her head.

"Sure! Where do you want to go? I heard they have so many good restaurants."

"Whatever you pick, I trust your instincts." Ness smiled, shyly offering his hand for her to hold.

'Ahh! It's happening!' (Y/n) thought and took it.

"I saw good reviews on a restaurant down the road. They serve some French pastries too."

"What does he mean by instincts? Is he calling her gluttonous?!" Rin whispered from behind the wall as he glared at Ness' head.

"Can we beat him up now?" Yukimiya questioned as Isagi and Chigiri shook their heads.

"Not yet, later. Chigiri go and call Kunigami and tell them where to go." Isagi said as Yukimiya pointed frantically at the duo.

"They are holding hands! Red alarm."

"Maybe we could beat him up now." Isagi said as a dark aura formed itself around Rin and him.

"It's so nice here, the food is good and even the music is right. That doesn't happen often." (Y/n) said as she ate her katsudon, enjoying the crunch of it.

"It's really nice. I need to eat it again when I visit Japan. You were right with the katsudon... was it?" Ness asked nervously as he took another bite.

"Aha~" the girl said as she happily took another bite.

'She seems to like food a lot... Hmm there are nice places in Munich I could bring her to once she visits again. So cute~' Ness sighed with a blush as he kept watching her eat, the facial expressions were adorable to him. Noticing that she nearly ate her fried meat and put some of his unto her bowl.

"Ha? Why aren't you eating it? Is it bad?" (Y/n) asked in panic, but the boy just shook his head, giving her another one of his smiles.

"I ate enough fried food for the time being... besides it seems to be your favorite part of the dish and I like how happy you look when eating it."

'Ahhh! I can't take it anymore!' (Y/n) thought as her face grew a bright red and stuttered out a quiet thank you. Then she looked down at her bowl to see what she could give him

"Are they sharing food now?" Niko asked in shock as the group observed them from a few tables away.

"I thought that was a thing she exclusively did with me..." Gagamaru said, sounding heartbroken as Niko added in.

"I feel so insulted... the two of us got closer thanks to food... and now she does the same with another dude."

"I still can't believe she never noticed us. Her eyes are completely glued to that Ness dude."  Aryu bit into his napkin, jealous of the heart eyes she was sending him the whole time.

"Calm down you all, I know this sucks and I rather we pull (Y/n) away from that dude, but we can't cause a scene." Kunigami warned, contemplating to go over there and pick the girl up from the seat.

The whole table then frowned as the two laughed at something.

"The shrine is pretty nice. And you are sure I can take pictures?" Ness wondered as he took out his phone. (Y/n) looked once more at the signs and nodded her head.

"Yep as long as nothing is disturbed it's fine to take pictures." She summarized what the writing said and Ness nodded his head. (Y/n) watched happily as he took pictures of the place.

"Thanks, Liebling."

'He looks so lovely... I hope I can take him to another shrine the next time he visits. He will love the ones in Osaka a lot.' (Y/n) thought, swooning a little as he smiled again.

"What is he doing? Why is he ignoring (Y/n) like that?" Nagi watched the scene in disbelief as Reo tsked in distaste.

"If I was him the only pictures I would take ar ethe ones with (Y/n) in it. He must be stupid to act like this." The purple-haired boy huffed and looked away.

"What's worse is that (Y/n) doesn't seem to realize her own worth if she let's this slide. Can I kick something at him?" Bachira wondered.

"Not now, I don't want toe hear Mr. Hero scolding us. But I do agree that he must be blind to ignore her like that." Baro crossed his arms as they continued torturing themselves with the duo.

'Why him?! Why does she look at him like that?!' The four thought.

"That was a really nice day, when is the bus arriving again?" Ness asked as he squeezed (Y/n)'s hand tighter.

"I think in about an hour or so. I really hope you liked today, it wasn't much but uh... maybe next time..." (Y/n) looked around the place nervously as Ness nodded his head.

"Next time we can plan something for Tokyo. I always wanted to visit Shibuya, Liebling."

The boy said as (Y/n) nodded her head.

'So there will be a next time!'

"Oh... I wanted to ask you what that means."

"What what means?" Ness raised an eyebrow.

"Lieb... Liebling?" (Y/n) repeated in broken German. Ness thought for a moment and then leaned down to whisper something to her.

"Basically it means Honey."

'Ahhh!! This isn'ta dream?!' (Y/n) thought to herself.

"What did he say?!" Otoya whisper-yelled as he glared at the boy as he moved away from (Y/n) a little.

"Karasu! Don't cause a scene! Hiori help me hold him back." Kurona told the blue-eyed boy, who reluctantly came to help.

"I say we let him get a beating. He is literally stealing my manager."

"Our manager, Hiori. And I just don't want to see (Y/n) sad."

"True... that would suck..."

"And?! How was it?! I want to hear all the details!!" Anri yelled excitedly as (Y/n) entered Ego's office.

"Do you two have to talk about it in my office?" The man groaned as Anri sent him a glare.

"Yes. Yes, we do. And?!" The woman said as she pulled (Y/n) to a corner. The girl blushed a little and hid her face with her hands.

"I think we will be having another date again."

Ego rolled his eyes as they kept on talking.

'Kids are a hassle.'

[suzukiblu]

Expanded version of Tim's next scene in the Core Four poly-pocket soulmate AU, with a read-more for length.

The adorability of Pockets as a concept y'all can thank @bucky-boychik-barnes for.

Tim's Pocket refuses to wear a mask, which is an issue. He doesn't want to wear the tiny wire-rimmed glasses either, or even change out of his weird straps-and-belts version of the Superman suit into . . . literally anything else, at this point. Tim would take anything else. They've given him options, but he's refused them all. He won't take off the costume.

Also he won't stop flying around the cave like a bat out of hell, and it's seriously annoying.

"Have you successfully selected a name for your Pocket, Master Tim?" Alfred inquires as he pours everyone tea at the table while Bruce is staring assessingly at Tim's Pocket, including four little Pocket-sized cups' worth–one for Bruce's Cat ("Kitty" to the tabloids), one each for Dick's Red and Star, and one for Tim's . . . whoever.

Alfred doesn't have a Pocket of his own. Tim's always felt too awkward to ask about it.

And Jason never got a Pocket at all.

"No, not yet," Tim says, because the whole no-mask/yes-cape issue has been a lot more immediately concerning than naming him. He can't take a Pocket Superman home to his dad. Pocket Clark Kent is going to be bad enough.

Assuming Tim's Pocket ever puts the stupid glasses on, anyway.

"You should get on that," Dick advises as he picks up his teacup with an appreciative nod of thanks to Alfred and takes a sip. "Red got really mad at me when I didn't name her right away. I mean, like, naming Pockets is so . . . outsider, you know? And kinda gilly, too. But that's how Babs grew up, obviously, and I don't know how they did it on Krypton, but Uncle Clark was raised by gadje too, so . . ."

Tim understood absolutely none of that, but just nods like he did and makes a note to go do some research later.

"Sure," he says, just hoping he can convince his Pocket to ditch the damn cape sooner than later. Red wheels her tiny wheelchair over to the Pockets' nicely-set little tea table and ignores Star floating down to land in the seat across from her. They don't usually get along very well, which is a little weird to see in Pockets who didn't come from people who are, like, on the literal opposite ends of the ethical spectrum, especially ones that belong to the same person, but they both settle in all the same. Cat does an artful flip off of Bruce's caped shoulder down to the table and then strolls over to join them. Tim's Pocket looks curious, but stays hovering in the air just over his shoulder.

Is his Pocket, like, antisocial or something? Is that a concern? Usually Pockets group up really easily, from what Tim knows. Not that he's ever had one before, and admittedly his parents' had always mostly ignored each other, but . . . normally they do, right?

Cat chirps impatiently and makes a beckoning gesture at Tim's Pocket, but he, very weirdly, sort of floats backwards and almost . . . hides behind Tim's head. Just for a moment, but . . .

Weird, Tim thinks. Weird, and not very Superman-like. Pockets are usually a bit more emotionally honest than the people they come from, but Superman's met Cat as many times as Bruce has met Laney, so why would a Pocket that came from him ever hesitate to go over to her?

Star chirps too, holding out her arms and starting to glow with intensely bright solar radiation that would only be an encouraging gesture to a Kryptonian, Tim is sure. It does the job, though, and his Pocket pauses for just a moment longer, then goes to the visible effort to put on a bright grin and darts over to land beside her. She immediately starts chattering at him in Pocket-talk and he chatters back easily, and Tim then has to witness his own damn Pocket start undeniably flirting with one of Dick's Pockets.

He has never been more mortified in his life, he thinks right up until his Pocket turns his head and starts flirting with Cat.

Tim disassociates a little. Like. Just a bit.

Or a lot.

"Hm," Bruce says while Tim is busy dying of mortification, his eyes narrowing assessingly. Star is happily flirting back at Tim's Pocket, to Tim's absolute horror, but worse, Cat is actually humoring him.

Tim has died and this is hell. There's no other explanation whatsoever for this.

Cat reaches over and scritches his Pocket behind the ears. He looks startled, then visibly zones out for a moment, and then leans into the contact and purrs. Cat chirps approvingly, Star laughs, and Red snorts, but fondly.

Tim is definitely, definitely in hell right now. Oh god. What is happening right now and why is it happening to him?

"Well, he's got aspirations, I'll give him that," Dick says wryly as he leans back in his chair. "Though I don't think Lois Lane would appreciate them."

"It's not Superman," Bruce states matter-of-factly. Tim and Dick both blink; Tim's Pocket immediately scowls.

"You sure, B?" Dick asks skeptically. "He looks just like him. And he literally showed up wearing the El crest."

"I knew Smallville," Bruce says, ignoring Tim's stubbornly glowering Pocket. "He was nothing like this Pocket. And Superman is undeniably dead. Believe me. We checked."

Of course Bruce checked, Tim thinks. They know so little about Kryptonian physiology, after all, and even less about how Kryptonian physiology works under a yellow sun. It's not as if Earth is spoiling for other Kryptonians.

And Clark Kent was Bruce's friend.

So of course he checked.

"It is true that Mr. Smallville did have a markedly different personality from the one our new young Master Pocket seems to," Alfred says, delicately setting a tiny tray of tiny Pocket-sized treats on their tea table. Tim has no idea how Alfred even makes cookies that small, but he does it. "I don't think I ever once saw him in any semblance of Superman's costume at all, in fact."

Tim's Pocket looks briefly puzzled, and then very worried. Tim isn't sure what to think about that, but it makes him feel a little useless. He doesn't know how to take that worried look off his Pocket's face, but he feels like he should be able to do something about it all the same.

He tells himself–soon. Once he knows him a little better. He'll be able to do it then.

Or he hopes he will, anyway.

Star and Cat get Tim's Pocket to sit down at the table and scoot their chairs in to pin him between them, which seems to help more than Tim was going to be able to figure out how to. At least, his Pocket looks a bit less anxious about the conversation now.

He's still shooting Bruce sullen little glowers, admittedly, but one step at a time.

"Maybe your Pocket's just really work-focused, Robin," Dick observes wryly, and Tim's Pocket immediately laser-focuses in on him and jumps back to his feet so fast he knocks over his chair and nearly Star and Cat and the tiny tea table too.

"Rob!" he shouts excitedly, definitely not in Pocket-talk, and Tim blinks down at him in bewilderment, trying to figure out if he just hallucinated hearing that or not. That was–that was so fast for a Pocket to have picked up their first non-Pocket word. Most Pockets don't even care to learn more than a handful of those, and certainly not so quickly. And Tim's not an expert on Pockets, obviously, but . . .

"Hm," Bruce says.

"You probably do need to name him pretty soon, if he's already latched onto your name this quick," Dick says, leaning forward a little bit to peer a little closer at Tim's Pocket. Tim's Pocket ignores him to grin delightedly up at Tim, which Tim feels very weird about. No one ignores Nightwing for him. Ever.

He guesses if anyone would, it'd be his Pocket, but still.

"That's not technically my name," he reminds Dick. Dick had it first, after all, and Jason had it too. Tim just . . .

He didn't even inherit it, really. It's not like Jason deliberately left it to him or anything. He doesn't even know what Jason would think of a Robin like him.

His Pocket scowls again.

"Rob!" he insists loudly, flying up into Tim's face so fast he nearly smacks into it. "Rob! Rob!"

"Tim," Tim corrects, although obviously his Pocket isn't going to pick up two words on his first day of existing, it's just–

". . . Tim?" his Pocket repeats uncertainly, his brow furrowing as he stares much too intently at Tim.

Tim has absolutely no excuse for how red his face turns.

"Hm," Bruce says again.

[hazeltongzhi]

hi hazel!

this is a rather personal ask, and i’m sorry to burden you with it. i saw that you said venting is okay in ur inbox, but i’ll try my best to minimize it.

long story short, i am a very very well-off filipino in the philippines, and i’m trying to get my friend into marxist-leninist theory.

my father works for the adb, and prior to that, the imf, and i was born in usamerica. i live in manila and i am a minor (i read ur dni and im sorry TT… i just needed to ask this question really quickly, im trying to source from multiple communists) and i am trying to become a marxist-leninist.

lamentably, i’m sort of a shut-in + very whitewashed. i don’t like bgc, i don’t like looking around the city (makes me sad), and i can’t even speak tagalog, really, because my parents don’t speak it at home unless i ask (they’re fluent, but don’t speak it frequently) and i really feel rather useless if not super sad about the whole deal. this isn’t getting in to even my affluence: i go to an international school, i’ve never worried about financial issues, i don’t worry about my own personal well-being. we go to usamerica frequently for family members too.

i’ve always felt guilty about this, and while learning about theory and making attempts to be more useful have helped me feel better, and i feel a little good that instead of wallowing or even sinking into liberal delusion (like i did when i was younger: my father is a liberal and i would just go along with it because i was at a loss for what to do or ideas on how to progress in such conditions, and i would just believe what he said/school said in order to feel better) i am making efforts to get better, however, i feel like i need to read more and learn more.

recently, i’ve been talking to my peer, another rich filipino who goes to the school i go to, and i have been trying to introduce her the science of marxist-leninism. there are many ideas i wish to introduce her to, and she’s a very receptive listener, and a very nice one. she is interested in the topics i bring up and the concepts i’m trying to explain to her (shoddily), and so i feel like if i give her meaningful, concise resources about scientific socialism/dialectical materialism i can convince her to join me in learning about it, and then i can seek to convince others in her/our friend group. this would be a major success for me.

anyways, i have a long way to go till i can move out (i love my parents, and i so badly hope one day i can convince my father too) and i’m focusing on this short term goal. do you know what resources i should give (and also resources i should read) on, say, things like historical accounts of socialist states + comprehensive, easy texts about theory? i’m gonna send her principles of communism and i already sent her the soviets saw it coming, and i feel like historical accounts would make for very good evidence (our school’s teachers/classes, of course, portray communism in a malignant light, as if they are either a far-fetched idealistic dream [nonsensical, and i need to provide her/prove to her the scientific nature of it] or merely banally Evil and Wrong for the sake of…idk whatever they dont like communism for)

sorry, and thanks anyway even if u dont read this . bye :)

Hello!

I'm happy to hear that you're learning and teaching. I spent my days in high school more or less doing the same; reading, watching videos, doing shitty small organizing at my labor aristocrat school. I find that Michael Parenti's books, especially Blackshirts and Reds, are a wonderful beginner's resource for history with an ML perspective. They're not super hard into theory so they're more approachable than more advanced texts. There's Human Rights in the Soviet Union which talks about the life under socialism and compares it to the united states. For China, this article goes over some major statistics and has citations, graphs, and comparisons. As for your personal learning, there's always another book or account to read so that never truly stops, but assuming you've finished the basics (e.g., the manifesto, wage labor and capital, principles of communism), getting a grasp on the dialectical materialist and historical materialist framework of analysis is fundamental (on contradiction, on dialectics, dialectical and historical materialism, etc.). After that, a study on imperialism is equally crucial.

I'd also like to add that you're very lucky to have found someone of your particular background who is open to socialism. When I was attempting to organize at my high school, where the average income was more than 120K USD p/year, very few, if any people were interested in anything except minor concessions. Despite this, I think it's still good to get some experience in organization under your belt, be it a book club or a social gathering or a tabling or even handing out/putting up flyers. Being able to leverage your privilege will help with that. You might not convince many people, but knowing how to adapt your goals to your condition and, potentially, lead and work with a group of people is experience you cannot learn from reading alone.

Good luck!

[lightvixxen]

WARNING THIS POST CONTAINS A DARK CONCEPT: STEPCEST + DRUGGING, IMPLIED NONCON, YOUR MEDIA CONSUMPTION IS YOUR OWN. ALL CHARACTERS ARE 18+!

Stepdad aaron hotchner who roofies his stepdaughter to stop her from going out

Aaron fucking hates it when you go out, absolutely despises it, you wearing those short ass dresses, heels, nothing to protect yourself.

He tells himself he’s doing this to protect you, as he puts the small tablet into the drink he made you. He knows you, he knows you like to have at least one before you go out, to loosen yourself up a bit.

The FBI agent in him is screaming at him for doing this, it is illegal, you could press charges and he could lose his job as a result, but he knew you wouldn’t. The desire to protect you always overtook the rational side of his brain. And he knew he had you wrapped around his finger. Especially when he tiptoes into your room at night to use your body, and you let him.

When you come down the stairs you smile at seeing Aaron, he’s taken to making your pre-nightly drinks, at first you thought he’d done something to it but after a month you’ve came to enjoy the sentiment. Especially since you knew his opinions of you going out.

“Evening, Aaron.” You say to him, smiling as you lean over the kitchen island, facing him.

“Evening, sweetheart.” He smiles at you, finishing up the drink he’s making you, he looks at the glass to make sure the pill had dissolved completely before sliding it to you.

“What have you made for me tonight?” You ask him, taking a small sip of the drink, Aaron watches you intently before responding.

“Oh just something I thought up, it has a pink lemonade vodka I thought you’d like.” His eyes follow your mouth as you take another drink of it.

“I do like it! Its pretty sweet for vodka too.” Aaron just nods.

“What’re your plans for tonight? Anywhere special.” He eyes the sparkly red dress you have on, a drastic change from your simple black dress. You shake your head ‘no’,

“Just wanted to spice things up a bit…” you tell him, and he hums, he’s stalling, it’s been about three minutes since you took your first drink, the drug takes effect in five, at least thats what he was told.

You knock back the rest of the drink, thanking him for it before you push off the island. Almost immediately you stumble, bracing yourself on the island again.

“Sweetheart, are you alright?” Aaron rushes over to you with feigned worry, checking to make sure your alright.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m okay just…dizzy…I typically don’t get tipsy this fast…” in another second your collapsing, Aaron catches you before you hit the ground. Bracing you with his arm before picking you up bridal style.

“I don’t think you should leave the house tonight, your certainly not in the state for it.”

You nod, your whole body felt heavy, you assumed that maybe you were sick and just hadn’t realized it yet.

“Lets get you to bed baby.” Aarons voice becomes muffled as you slowly loose consciousness, slowly nodding and cuddling into your stepfathers chest.

Noticing your unconscious Aaron smiles wickedly, realizing he was successfully able to drug you and you didn’t question a thing. He placed you gently in your bed he realized that he could do anything to you in this state, and you wouldn’t know, let alone feel it.

He suddenly understands why people do this.

[asha-mage]

WoT Musing: Bits and Bobs from a book nerd

A few unsorted/random thoughts from a book mega nerd about various things in the show-

It's interesting to me that they changed Logain's innate talent from being able to see ta'veren to being able to see when a man can channel or not. This is practically probably because Mat was also in that scene, but I've also noticed that they've dialed back on the use of the term 'ta'veren' as a whole this season. Probably to avoid over cluttering all the concepts their having to introduce.

Elayne's desire to work with her hands/fascination with craftsmanship showing itself in her 'sparker trick' being a weave to make alcohol is very funny and on brand.

The show is continuing to walk out the small shifts in it's dynamics born of re-ordering things in a smart way. Everyone being slightly older was felt sharply in season 1: Mat's mischief and gambling is a whole lot less cute and a whole lot more worrying since he's no longer a teen, Perrin is married (like always intended to be) and settled as the most 'responsible' of the boys, etc. In season 2 Egwene arrived first instead of Elayne, and is the more experienced/knowing Novice, to Elayne's naive newcomer. As a result we get to see the slightly spoiled sweet girl she was before the Tower started to bust down her pride and teach her more about the world. She's a little more unsure, and a little more eager to make friends- both of which work in favor of showing off her strengths as a character, endearing her to both Egwene and the audience.

The choice to give Perrin the ability to see visions of the past with his wolf brother powers is interesting. I get that they need a visual way to express Perrin's wolf senses, and this is probably the most direct, since their's not a non-weird way to visually depict smell, but I hope we at least get a TAR related explanation from Elyas.

I find the use of the Crimson Thorn as a symbol of the Red Ajah and the cruel mercy that they grant to be fascinating. More over, I find Nynaeve's being pulled between the Red and Yellow Ajahs (something I suspect we are going to get more of) to be smartly done: Nynaeve has never been afraid of doing what needs to be done, but that doesn't make it easy, and Liandrin is right: to an extent that their always been a little bit of Red in her, a belief that the world would be better if everyone just followed her rules. And yet it is her compassion that defines her, that fuels her rage most of the time. Compassion for those hurt and sick and dying turns to rage against what caused it: a cruel world or a war or a sickness. Compassion for those she cares most for fuels her rage at those that would threaten, hurt, or control them. She left the Two Rivers to protect the EF5 and that remains her goal all the way to the series's end, her character arc is largely about accepting what that will mean, and learning not to be afraid to claim the power to do that.

I've said this in various other forms but it bares repeating: Lanfear really is winning right out the gate. She's got the hot new hardware LTT as her naive sugar baby, their is no one in sight to threaten her control over him with things like 'morals' and 'duty', and he's slowly succumbing to her influence. More then worth the price of having to run a small business in a slum I'm sure.

That said I want a 50k word fic that is just Lanfear's Adventures in Small Business Ownership. We know those drinks where over priced, but where they watered down? Did she have to pay a mortgage? Deal with uppity suppliers? Was their a Darkfriend Company Discount as Selene's Totally Normal And Not At All Evil Bed and Breakfast?

I have two nitpicks that are so minor they barely warrant discussion, and one is not even the show's fault. The first is that everyone keeps saying things like 'your powers' rather then 'strength in the power'. Jordan goes to so much trouble to make the point that people and objects don't have the power, they use it and strong in the power, and then Sanderson changed it to 'my powers' and 'how powerful he is' and *gargles*. This is like the peaches all over again.

The second is that as much as they nail the arches scene/ceremony, I wish they had gone the final mile and said 'Be steadfast'. It wasn't necessary exactly, but it's exclusion made me whisper under my breath, like a rhyme I just HAD to finish.

(This is completely normal and sane person behavior, stop looking at me like that internet stranger).

I don't have to much to say about Mat's story line beyond being VERY interested in where they are going tying him and Min together. I still needs to get off the ground for me to have more Thoughts.

Adeleas being Cringefail re: Lan is so funny to me in ways I can't quite explain.

I reiterate the point that since Rand's can't be Warder trained, giving him an old veteran blade master who is suffering from PTSD/Dementia was a VERY smart move that fits the feel of the books.

RIP Joshua's soft boy curls. You where a casualty of this war.

[amethysts-tavern]

A Moment of Magic.

Gale’s Weave scene with Tav from his POV, ‘cause why not?

Gender neutral, good-aligned, red-headed bard Tav.

______

You catch a glimpse of Tav from across the campsite. Gods, they’re beautiful. You can’t help but notice how the firelight shines off their auburn locks and gives their cheeks a warm glow. They were smiling at something Karlach had said, playfully swatting at the fiery tiefling.

You had asked Tav to join you tonight after dinner. Maybe it will bring the two of us closer together. But to what end? You had been smitten with Tav from the moment your hands touched while you were on the other side of the malfunctioning portal - the gentle way their fingers grasped yours - then the way they cocked their head and smiled softly as you introduced yourself. As the days progressed, your affections for them only grew when you learned more about their kind nature, their eagerness to help those in need, and their fierce loyalty to their friends.

Maybe this whole idea is silly. It’s not like there can be any real future between us, seeing as I might explode at any moment. And what if they don’t feel the same? Am I prepared to feel that rejection again so soon?

Truthfully, it had been over a year since you and Mystra had called it quits, but sometimes it felt like yesterday. You missed her. Or rather, you missed what she represented to you. Calling up an illusion of her visage, you feel a momentary calm, only to be shaken from your reverie when Tav approaches.

“She’s pretty,” Tav says from somewhere behind you.

“Oh you startled me. I was miles away,” you reply, dismissing the illusion and feeling a bit embarrassed that you were caught looking at images of your ex-lover in front of the one you hoped to someday be a current lover.

You begin to tell Tav what magic means to you. How it’s everything you’ve ever known, ever wanted, and ask if they are interested in experiencing some of it for themself. They agree! You show them an easy spell - dancing lights. Really anyone could perform this spell with the right tutelage, but you’re hoping that Tav doesn’t know that. You watch and laugh inwardly as they over-perform the somatic components. But smile as their lips wrap around the words of the verbal component of the spell, breathing life into the magic. Finally, you ask them to look within themself and picture the concept of harmony (that should be easy for them, seeing as they’re a bard). And their dancing lights begin to take shape - a twinkling glow in the dusk of night. You feel the Weave surrounding you both and you wonder what it feels like for them. For you channeling the Weave was always accompanied with scents of warm spices like cinnamon and cloves with a just hint of citrus and a sense of peaceful serenity unlike anything you’ve ever experienced outside of the Weave. Almost like a homecoming.

Tav steps back from their conjured lights and brushes into your hand with theirs. Accidentally, or on purpose, you’re not sure, but your heartbeat picks up as the Weave connects you. It’s intimate, like you’ve always known it to be. And now you are sharing it with Tav. You can sense their emotions, you can feel their deepest desires. All they have to do is share them.

There are no words needed as Tav shares a thought of tenderly kissing you, which leads to a more passionate kiss. Your eyes grow wide at the idea. Have they seen through my ruse to bring them over here? But what about the orb? But… oh! What a glorious thought this is! Maybe we can find a way to make this work… but don’t get ahead of yourself, Gale. You don’t want to detonate all over them!

“I wasn’t expecting…” you start. “But it is a pleasant image to be sure! Most pleasant. Most welcome,” you say, as your gaze into their eyes intensifies. But just as quickly as it enveloped you, you begin to feel the Weave evaporate around you, wisping off into nothingness. “Oh, there it goes. How easily things slip away from us, no matter how hard they were in the obtaining.”

You wish you could share more with this lovely creature who stands before you. More of the Weave, more of you, more of those intimate thoughts. But you know that you must call it a night and ponder the future. You have to ask yourself if it’s worth telling Tav how desperately you crave the kisses they envisioned. It wouldn’t be fair to them to start a relationship tonight when you could be gone tomorrow. So instead, you step back and bid them a good night. There would be more discussion in the morning… but tonight, you will sleep with your thoughts full of the lovely auburn-haired bard on the other side of the camp.

[colourstreakgryffin]

If u still write for Haikyuu, I have this little yan!Sugawara x fem!reader concept: Reader is a new 1-2nd year at Karasuno who got dared to disguise as a boy and join the boys volleyball team as a dare but actually got in, so now she has to keep up her disguise until graduation. For some reason, the other boys dont realize and just think Reader is a really feminine dude with a manbun💀 (reader never cut her hair)

One time, Sugawara just accidently finds out reader's gender because he came over to her house once and reader PANICS. Like "OHMYGODPLEASEDONTTELLANYONEATSCHOOLABOUTHISISWEARI'LLDOLITERALLYANYTHING-" readers thinks shes cooked as hell basically (she kinda is)

(I'm sorry if this is too much, what I just wrote is a whole fanfic 💀)

Oh. Right! Okay, normal love(what I got from your follow-up). I do not like when the request is written for me but you know what. I really like this concept, it’s got so many Mulan vibes and I’m gonna do it! Thank you for the Haikyuu request, I haven’t written for Haikyuu in such a long time

Koshi Sugawara- Red-Handed

Koshi Sugawara has really been suspicious of you since the first time you entered the Gymnasium… you proclaim you’re a boy, you do… look like one, no real feminine body parts so that’s a good sign but you’re also kinda curvy, kinda delicate and have a long man-bun. Well, he can’t really talk much about man buns… Asahi

However, he always felt like there was more with you than meets the eye, it is a feeling stirring in his gut for such a long time now yet it laid dormant for as long, out of how nonsensical it truly is. He just knew it, he just didn’t want to speak up

That’d just be plain rude

This day flies by as every other day, Koshi watching over and working with both Ukai and Daichi to watch over the second and first years of the volleyball club. Hinata and Kageyama eagerly but competitively throwing spikes and hits to each other over the court and the net. Tsukishima just listening to his dear friend, Yamaguchi‘s comments. Nishinoya and Tanaka making quite the big deal over Kiyoko giving them wet towels whilst basically worshipping her every breath, during the break the whole team are taking… but where are you?

Koshi wanted to explore where you are and find out why you always hid away after each break but he is way too polite and well-mannered to dare make his own big deal over you so whilst he watches you arrive back to the court… he thinks you’re odd, always thinks you’re odd. Such a feminine curvy ‘man’ you are, he wonders why but he doesn’t want to press on it too much

After a few more hours, the club finally closes off for the day and as every member begins to clean off, Koshi’s eyes naturally begun to smoothly follow you once more he is done packing up the team’s uniforms, whose is helping Tanaka put away the net on the net set into the storage closet

How weird… but not that important

Koshi is the last member of the club to leave, taking over specific maintaining and cleaning duties off the Coaches and Managers so they can get home and rest sooner, he always wishes to help them as they work so hard for him and the team. His footsteps lightly tap and skid on the slippery wood plane floor of the school’s infamous gymnasium

The keys jiggling loudly in his pant pockets as he checks over the private locker room, going a double check to ensure that no sensitive belongings or important items are left behind and well, yes. There was something… something of yours, your personal club jacket, spotted from the corner of his eyes at your changing locker

Koshi cannot just leave this behind as he picks it up smoothly, his thumbs tracing over the silky soft black fabric and reading over your last name stamped on the back. It’s not even just that, he can feel something harder in the pocket and finds out it’s your phone, making the need to give it back to you more urgent

He does know your address, as all personal information is written down then hidden away by Kiyoko for any possible emergencies. Since you’re also a member of the team, your number and address is dotted down like the rest, including himself

He knows it’s immortal to snoop through confidential information for unnecessary reasons but he doesn’t see it as anymore good to simply leave this possession in the gymnasium where it could possibly be taken by another Club’s members or a faculty member

Koshi, after a few seconds of deep thought and his eyes glued to the folded cellphone his hand is holding through the black club jacket’s pocket, decides that he must personally head to your home and deliver your valuable item himself as he doesn’t want to bother any of your friends nor any of his own teammates to drop it

Setting off on a grave trip to your place after pushing through his own moral thoughts screaming at him to just take your phone number and call you and tell you to come pick up your jacket holding your valuable phone, he can’t bring himself to do so as he locks up the gym slowly and steadily as well as with not even a loud breath leaving him. It’ll be okay

That’s all he tells himself

Koshi, after an almost painful walk with how heavy his heart is over his guilt and shame… he doesn’t know how long this trip took but he didn’t necessarily care, his hands and arms almost possessively clung on the jacket to ensure he won’t lose any little piece of it. He may be a bit suspicious off you but you’re a good kid at the end of the day

He reached a rather pretty looking house in the ordinary neighbourhood of this pretty little town calls theirs, bracing forward with an explanation buried in the wired nerves of his brain and edging on the tip of his tongue. Stopping right before the door, Koshi politely knocks

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock

Then silence falls upon himself and the already quiet household for a few long uncomfortable seconds until it swings open and his eyes widen in surprise… that… is you. This pretty girly girl before him, looks so much like you and the way she flinches and her hand tightens on the doorknob. He has a feeling it may just be you

The new member of the Volleyball club, the ‘boy’ whose man bun could give Asahi a run for his money. However, Koshi shoves it aside for now, suspecting it may just be a sister of yours and he is not one to create unwanted drama so he politely cracks a pretty smile and offers the jacket before saying

“Here, ma’am. This is for your brother”

You, going to pretend like you aren’t the boy who joined the club, takes the jacket and makes your voice as sweet and girly as possible to try deflect off your own awful deep impression of a male voice when you’re doing this longtime stupid dare at the club. Answering with a thank you, your mother ruins everything by merely saying

“Dokusha, honey! When you’re done at the door, come to the table! It’s time for dinner!”

That’s all Koshi needed to hear and all the locked away supscious he had, are rising from the deep soiled ground to explore… you’re a girl? Well, he kinda assumed so but he also hoped he was just tripping but he isn’t and he couldn’t be more… offended

It didn’t take long for you to begin panicking, like properly panicking as your mother didn’t even know what was truly going on from the kitchen in her peacefully cheerful oblivious little world. With a flustered face and much shame and regret and a weight of million apologises and begs for forgiveness, you begin mindlessly crying out

“OHMYGODPLEASEDONTTELLANYONEATSCHOOLABOUTTHISISWEARILLDOLITERALLYANYTHINGSUGAWARA-SAN!IWASDAREDTOATTENDTHECLUBBY MYFRIENDS,I’MSORRY!”

Koshi is quite mad at what he has found this very second as you spill out all your guts through begs for him to spare you, the truth about the ‘boy’ he had many suspicions on for such a while yet had always respected by never speaking on. You’re not a boy at all. You lied right to his face?! All for some dumb little dare from some friends! You don’t need to do this! You committed a minor case of fraud, something very immorally wrong

Whilst he is furious, he isn’t heartless

He gets that children like you make dumb mistakes. He makes dumb mistakes… a lot and he won’t throw the book at you for this, even if it’s wrong. He just will give you a long LONG lecture about why this is bad, to never do it again and work to try get you onto the girls’ Volleyball team. If you’re that interested in Volleyball

Koshi eventually manages to find his voice again after examining every part of you with his sharp eyes to remind himself once more that this is real, maintaining his usual composure and poise in a flash, as to not scare you off. He’s mad but he does kinda understand where you come from

“Dokusha… after dinner, do you have a minute to talk? We… need to discuss a number of things”

[ribbononline]

Oh yeah! Since I have no clue if/when I'm ever finishing these and I've had them laying around for forever by now- here's the adult IT metaverse outfits I've made! They're all based on their ultimate personas and the concept of heros! Since these were made for an aged up p4 cast, these aren't quite what I'd put their during p4 time selves in- some changing more then others- but if you wanna follow me into design details, that'll all be under the cut!

First off to get em out of the way- Teddie is very largely the same as his p4 time metaverse outfit I made for him back here . The design is still meant to be inspired by magical girls, but the biggest change is that while the old one was meant to look like a magical girl protagonists outfit, this one I tried to lean a bit more into the older/more experienced cast member of the magical girl group type design. Overall a pretty minor change (and I will admit, largely because I'm still incredibly happy with that old design) but it felt fitting!

Chie and Yukiko were, as always when I work on them, designed to match. Their masks specifically mirror eachother with the opposites sides sticking out, and they both have a golden dragon pattern on their clothes as a reference to the twin dragons move! Chie was... honestly one where I had to sacrifice my goals a bit. Like mentioned before, these were meant specifically for an aged up cast. And while p4 era Chie I would absolutely imagine in a kung fu Chung-Li type outfit, we know what a more mature version of her action hero dreams look like; the police! And I.... really did not want to put her in a cop outfit, Ill be real. Instead I just tried focusing on making the outfit look more mature. Also tried to combine a practical and strong look with a more feminine aesthetic, since she struggles pretty badly with her femininity in p4 and I like to think she'd grow more comfortable with her own brand of it over time!

Yukiko is perhaps one of the most drastic one for changes compared to her younger self- if you asked me to design a p4 era outfit for her, it would look nothing like this, hah. Anyways, she's definitely inspired by onna-musha! Compared to Tomoe who was a full on commander of an army going out there, for Yukiko the idea was more the women taking up arms to protect their home when the battle comes their way. Fully having embraced the role she has as the next owner of the Amagi Inn and the responsibility and want to protect it, it's meant to be somewhat of an outing of that!

Fun fact: She has two color schemes! Because uhh I did not know what to go for at all. Her ultimate persona is like a single solid color and I kind of panicked and just ended up winging the colorscheme. One is more red since, y'know, thats her color! The other is more white gold to match her actual persona better. Included at the end of this post for the curious

Rise was based on a greek goddess- though not any particular one, moreso how they're commonly depicteed in art and old statues. Pretty, holy, someone you'd go to for advice and help (someone just out of reach from the general public) It just felt like a good combination of something she'd like to be seen as and percieved as as well. She gets two outfits- for scan and fight mode! Kouzeon has no canon fight mode, thats just for Himiko, but man it exists in my heart. The transistion between the two is literally just her throwing off the long overskirt, hah.

How does her mask work? Excellent question. The p5 idea of having it there when vibing but gone when the persona is out feels a little awkward when her persona's whole thing is putting a visor over her face. Quite frankly I have no idea. Sorry folks. Have all concept sketches for the outfits I've done as compensation with a bonus Noot in there that I never continued on and finished.

[the-letterbox-archives]

is there a muse or inspiration you draw from when it comes to your stories? you just have so many and i’m wondering what fountain of immortal writing youth you drank from, dawg LMAO

last ask before signing off! but this is such a fun one to think about!

i don't have one surefire source of inspiration (other than my chronically silly brain), each story has a different landing pad that usually consists of a random thing that i've taken inspiration from, and a question to drive the work (some are very edgy or philosophical haha). they come from incredibly random sources, but i can list the ones i remember!

tales from a dying heart

where it came from: i wanted to write an anthology as a break from my old novella structure, and i was thinking about love. obviously i had to fuck it up because god forbid anything on the archives is happy. fun fact: that was originally the only story the archives was meant to hold! it was the first and only story, and the blog used to be themed after tales from a dying heart entirely (that's why my current pfp is still the heart itself)!

driving question: "why does love hurt people?"

the rockdove promise

where it came from: originally a group project that i had the idea for (i was itching to write something with mythology and more classic fantasy if that makes sense). when the others couldn't continue it, i had already fallen in love with the world and gods, so i added more to the worldbuilding, and added characters i was passionate about (and found my first ever character punching bag, laszlo).

driving question: "how can we save what we care about from oppressive control?"

insincere.

where it came from: i had one of my worst days where i couldn't get out of bed. i had the idea to channel the feelings into a story, so i got out of bed, and wrote insincere., then decided i wanted to keep it going after my initial bad day.

driving question: "how can we feel happy?"

on kingston alley

where it came from: someone, i think it was @noxxytocin, added me in a tag game that involved writing a scene with the provided line. i was a young, growing archivist back then and didn't understand the concept, so i wrote a short screenplay, giving it a fun mystery hook (because i felt like it) and some repressed sapphics, then decided to continue it because the format was so freeing!

driving question: "why do we forget the victims?"

school rules

where it came from: a novel i abandoned because the format wasn't clicking. i axed the mc, replaced them with sunny and remade the old mc to be what is now darcy spencer, and changed the format to my first ever first person story since my first novella!

driving question: "how does academic pressure hurt us?"

the dumaresq poems

where it came from: i was getting overwhelmed with my own expectations for uploads from the rest of volume 1, so i dug up some old poems of mine, rewrote them a bit, and put a cute woodsy aesthetic over it!

driving question: "how can poetry tell us emotional stories?"

the hunt is a dance

where it came from: another project with a friend that fell through, it didn't change much from then. i took the friends desired ideals of religious and folk horror and intertwined it with my own narratives of power, hatred, and misguided justice.

driving question: "why do we bend to corruption, and how can we stop?"

TITANSPINE

where it came from: @ominous-feychild and i were discussing some of her lore, and we both bonded over our love of telepaths/prophets in stories. i had always been fascinated by urban fantasy and had a vague desire to make it, but magic systems are so hard for me. that conversation sparked a drive to actually make it. i named it red velvet, then barlowe told me to change the it (thanks for that btw), and i created the protagonist that shaped the whole story and it's themes.

driving question: "how can we fight social and police corruption?"

n3xt y3ar

where it came from: scandal after scandal, feud after feud about the existence of generative ai and it snubbing real creatives tipped me over the edge, so i wrote n3xt y3ar out of spite, imbuing it with a main character near and dear to my heart due to our similarities, and a world i both loathe and fear. let's see a robot make a story with that motivation. fuckers.

driving question: "how do us creatives find hope in a world of generative ai?"

soleil éteint

where it came from: i wanted to write another fiction podcast style story (school rules technically being the first), and i was on a magnus archives high. i'm fascinated by fear in the real world, and dreams in writing, so with the motivation of some great fiction podcasts, i began writing soleil éteint, which flowed very quickly since screenplays and podcasts are quite easy for me to write as it turns out!

driving question: "how can we stop running away from fear?"

shatter the shield

where it came from: i realised i was long overdue for some tragic gays, and i wanted to experiment with a more distinct narrator without writing a fully discursive piece like a podcast or screenplay. as i was writing the prologue, i knew the narrator, kåre, wasn't the main character. but the love i gave him for the main character, roshan, was so palpable, it made me want to continue the story. i knew by how i wrote it that kåre was going to die, and soon, but i think that added an extra level to the themes of the story.

driving question: "why can't we accept love, and why can't we process grief?"

and of course, volumes 3 and 4 come from even more random places lmao- hope this explained my random writing process!

[ghostoftonantzin]

The WIP Graveyard Game

@phasmama was kind enough to tag me back on her post

The rules: post snippets from at least on WIP you have abandoned! Mine are going under the cut, because I'm going to post the full five, mostly from 2020-2021 times.

I'm going to tag another 5 people, because I can >:) : @achaosmuppet @theshriekingsisterhood @madelgard (yes I know you moved into the star wars fandom, but still) @starkurt, @indashadows

WIP Title: Laura Branigan Lyric (that's what the word doc is called)

Concept: 1980s AU, focused on Laszlo and Nadja as high powered business people with a sideplot of Nandermo paralleling Guillermo's season 2 arc.

Abandoned because: tbh this one was mostly just one I liked to turn around in my head. It never got past the outlining phase.

Snippet:

His friends frequently describe the joy of conquest to him. Finding a beautiful woman, a model or a music video vixen or both, taking her to the hottest restaurants, introducing her to their friends, showing her the kind of life they lead, on the cutting edge.

It reminds Laszlo of the foxes the hounds chased on hunts on his childhood manor. He imagines the woman as a fox set upon by hounds, torn apart under their small teeth.

But this, this… is like being caught, helpless, in the jaws of a lioness.

(this was the only part that made it past outlining)

WIP Title: tie a ribbon back around it

Concept: Jenna/Shanice, Jenna comes to visit Shanice after she's turned

Abandoned because: it just kind of stayed near the bottom of my WIP list until it fell off, pretty much. Plus I could never get the Jenna POV feeling quite right.

Snippet:

Jenna’s phone said 9:16 p.m., so she figured Shanice would be back from her chemistry night lab pretty soon. She shouldn’t be late, unless she got murdered on that one stretch of the walk from the chemistry building to her new dorm with no lights or police call boxes. Jenna knew it was a good place to get murdered, because Nadja had told her so when Jenna had shown it to her.

One downside to being a vampire was the whole no-reflection thing, which made it hard to check her lipstick in the glass. The lipstick was new, a plum wine red color that the saleslady at Sephora said looked good with her skin tone. Not that she didn’t like the red Nadja had lent her on their first night out! But this was one of those liquid lipsticks that was supposed to stay on through anything.

WIP Title: you've got me living only for the night

Concept: a follow-up to come in from the edge (and let the good times roll), my second-ever fic, the one with Karen (from Collaboration, remember her?) and two of the ladies from Simon's gang. Karen is now living with the Freak Sisters and performing at

Abandoned because: partly because it got struck down so thoroughly by future canon installments, and partly because I fell out of love with the idea.

Snippet:

She sits down in the living room to wait for Mr. Fifties. The Freak Sisters had flown ahead, something about a meeting at the club before the show. They obviously hadn’t needed Karen to know more about it, so she hadn’t asked. She’d felt bad about making Mr. Fifties drive, but Despoina had put another bobby pin in Akeldama’s red wig and patiently explained how he was usually looking for an excuse to bring out his stick shift convertible anyway.

They’ve got her bloodstained bra and underwear framed on the wall, like a sports jersey. It’s a little embarrassing, Karen thinks. She can tell how cheap the lace is now; most of hers costs at least twice that now. She models every pair for them, which is more of a thing for her than for them, but they still clap and leer and pull her in close every time.

The Leatherskins have all always been polite about her, but Mr. Fifties has always been a perfect gentleman. He offers her his arm at the door, though she’s wearing slip on sneakers and not heels. Her heels are usually too high for her to really walk in. The Freak Sisters really like that, especially Despoina.

WIP Title: Vampire King

Concept: a follow-up to such strenuous living, i just don't understand, aka the one where Guillermo is a volunteer at a vampire sanctuary. This was intended to be the follow-up covering the release of the documentary being filmed in the original fic.

The documentary being Vampire King, about the controversies behind Simon the Devious's Sassy Cat Vampire Ranch and Guillermo de la Cruz's campaign to have it shut down.

Abandoned because: other ideas took precedence and I didn't want to learn to code the fake tweets. It also never got past the brainstorming stage.

WIP Title: Die, Cry, Hate

Concept: post-season-2 on the run fic, this time where the vamps go and stay with an old friend of Nandor's, Madame Beausoleil, a creepy French ex-aristocrat vampire with live-laugh-love type taste in decor (hence the title) and a questionable tendency towards hypnotizing her familiars. She decides to repay Nandor's past help by hypnotizing Guillermo to seduce him.

Abandoned because: this was brainstormed in the post-s2 hiatus, and canon continuing past that diminished my interest in the idea. Also never got past the outlining stage.

Snippet (in outline form):

-M.B. is laying boxes out on her coffin, kind of ignoring him

            -coffin looks slightly out of place in the room; large white, carved into deep, intricate panels with elaborate motifs and inlaid heavily with gold and accented with pale pinks and blues

-Guillermo asks her about her relationship to Nandor

            -she’s known him a long time, helped her out a lot in Paris, owes him a lot of favors

-turns to him “You will submit to my dark power.”

-fuck.

-“You will be Nandor’s for the daytime, for him to do with as he pleases.”

-“alright, strip”

-Guillermo starts taking his clothes off, stake falls out of his sleeve, sees MB. watching it fall to the floor, but can’t move to do anything about it

-she’s absolutely going to kill him

-She picks up a stake “I didn’t know Nandor was into gardening. I’d always taken that as more of Laszlo’s hobby”

-naked, looking at her, she gestures towards the boxes

-he goes to look at them, opens the boxes

            -lingerie: red and silk-like, black and strappy, white and lacy, pink and sheer

            -she tells him to pick out the pair he think Nandor would like

-“I had to guess your cup size.” She said, glancing at his chest with a furrowed brow.

-feels like he’s walking on the floor above a great machine, feeling its motion beneath him without comprehending it

            -brain working without him

-picks white and lacy (“always knew Nandor was a big fan of the wedding night look”), slides on underwear, garter, stockings