#it just... doesn't make sense to exclude her | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

goomyloid · 21 days ago

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After reading the Noelle kissing Kris manga, I just had to talk about the tearjerking and heart-warming moments about it all.

I found it adorable yet also pretty telling that it took Noelle several attempts to get the kiss right with Susie with all the preparations, and the environment being perfectly set up for them to do it, but she nailed it perfectly on her first attempt to kiss Kris in that moment, with no prior build up. I also liked what compelled Noelle to kiss Kris, was them expressing their happiness for Noelle and Susie, while also seemingly intentionally excluding themselves from the equation altogether. Which leads me to talk about tearjerking moments.

When I read it all, from the look on Kris's face, it really did feel like they were genuinely trying to exclude themselves from Noelle and Susie's happiness, while trying to do everything they could to ensure they were both happy. It's like they had a face where they were genuinely happy for Noelle and Susie, talking about how great a pair they were, but also putting up a front to hide the pain of thinking, they'd be better of if they weren't part of the dynamic, which I think Noelle pick up on.

When I look at Noelle kissing Kris I think of it as a twofold kind of thing. Noelle says she was just in a kissing mood, but I genuinely do believe she acted on her subconscious desire to show Kris that level of affection when the opportunity presented itself, especially considering she wanted to kiss them again under the impression that she didn't do it right, and also appeared to want to tell them something but stopped upon seeing Kris's blushing face.

Whereas Kris has now been made aware that Noelle does in fact have deep feelings towards them, and doesn't know how to handle the revelation. Honestly I think it's pretty awesome that for all of Kris's talk about them Noelle and Susie being great pair, and getting closer, Noelle just expressed, unintentionally or not, that she also wants to get closer to them in the same manner.

this was AWESOME to read, i felt like you put into words everything subtle i tried to convey with that comic… its perfect

i enjoy the idea that like, as much as kriselle feels like It Shouldnt Be Happening (with suselle being the obvious endgame, probably) (or just the fact that it’s “obvious” at all) it simultaneously feels like its fated or meant to be. it’s not what the story is pushing towards, but realistically, it seems like the most viable option long-term (imo). underneath all the baggage, kris and noelle are super comfortable with each other, shes the only non-family member to really understand them, and vice versa, they dont have to put up any fronts. i suppose that kind of ties into susie and noelle’s “messy highschool romance” kiss vs. kris’s and noelle’s “accidental this-has-awakened-something-in-me weirdly perfect” kiss. just the fact that noelle turns around and kisses kris after susie feels like “it shouldnt be happening” (i know we all want polycule here but lets pretend they’ve barely entertained that idea yet) and makes things needlessly complicated, but suddenly, this seems like the more interesting path…

“forbidden” romance not in the sense that theres something actually wrong with it, but instead its simply not the path that the narrative is pushing towards (something something the forbidden path starts with ice magic…)

noelle choosing to kiss kris in that moment also kind of reflects what it is she likes about them, like you said. a tag i got a really long time ago on a reblog was “noelle’s image of kris in her mind is a kind one.” underneath all the pranks and goofs, they always mean well in the end. but when kris expresses that kindness by saying noelle and susie would make a good pair, noelle, who knows them so well, can still see past their words — more as a gut feeling than anything else — because the mere gesture of trying to hide their feelings to maintain her happiness is ALSO kind of them.

i keep saying that kris is the kind of person to run from their feelings all the time because i really believe it’s the case. theres only so many ways you can achieve that kind of stoicism lol. they hide and repress and keep those feelings locked away (both good feelings and bad ones) because they dont want to be a burden and mess things up for everyone. i think this was definitely a product of their home life, too — things get so chaotic that no one has the time or energy to pay more than surface-level attention to you (with asriel being the one genuine exception i think). it eventually just becomes easier to shut up and cut off all the emotions that might make you dare to Feel Real Things out of fear of rocking the boat. all of this is to say that how kris feels about noelle is just another thing they have sealed away, eventually just internalizing as genuine care for her wellbeing, with Something Else still hidden deep inside. and noelle kissing them undid all of their many many years of careful feelings-control because “oh shit oh god noelle no you cant kiss me havent you considered the Consequences??? the ramifications?? noelle the rammies. Tje consequences ive made up in my head”

and again like you said everything is incredibly subconscious on noelle’s end and she barely notices it. part of it could be from genuine Lol That’s Kris thats My Friend! without taking 5 seconds to think deeper about everything and unpack her own feelings. she Feels her feelings but is too mentally preoccupied to understand what they mean. i actually made this diagram just last night to convey basically exactly this

ultimately the whole shoujo romance thing makes the stakes way lower so now things are like, Oh no someone’s feelings might get hurt rather than Oh no the entire world is actually going to end. (maybe part of why i internally set it to take place multiple years in the future where they’re all in college or something and the dark world stuff is behind them LOL)

im gonna stop myself before this post gets too disgustingly long but man i have so many thoughts about them. sometimes i fear i treat them more like ocs so i have to realign myself and think “ok this still lines up with canon right.” but everything ive said is just what “feels right” to me i guess

#mailbox #thank you again for this ask!#deltarune spoilers #long text

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2b4st4r · 15 days ago

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Hehehe hiii;) can you please write the strawhats with a fem reader who feels like she gets left out? Like she grew up feeling like she wasn't wanted or that she was never included with those around her? Like when theyre on an island she always offers to stay behind and watch the ship because she doesn't wanna feel like she's intruding on their group(family)? Basically she just excludes herself because she grew up feeling excluded and now she just does that because she's so used to it and thinking thats what people want. But the strawhats make her feel wanted, loved, and included?

-☺️

Fringes to Family

₊˚⊹ ᰔ Straw-hat Pirates x Reader ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 Words: 4,505

ᯓ★ Warnings: Emotional trauma, Bullying, Neglect/exclusion by family, anxiety, self esteem issues. hinted female reader.

˚｡⋆ Master list ˚｡⋆

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

The scent of salt and adventure was as familiar to you as your own heartbeat. The rhythmic creak of the Thousand Sunny’s mast and the distant cries of gulls were your lullaby. Here, amidst the boisterous laughter of your found family, the Straw Hat Pirates, you felt a belonging that had always eluded you. But before the boundless horizon and the camaraderie of Luffy's crew became your reality, your world was a much smaller, colder place.

Growing up, the world felt like a party you were never invited to. You'd stand by the fence, watching the other children squeal with delight as they chased each other through sun-drenched fields, their bright clothes a blur against the green. Sometimes, you'd even hear their parents call out, "Come join us, everyone!" – everyone, that is, except for you. Birthday invitations, vibrant and promising, would circulate through school, passed hand-to-hand with whispered excitement. Your name, however, was never on them. You'd see your classmates gathered in hushed circles, planning sleepovers and beach trips, their eyes sparkling with shared secrets, and a leaden weight would settle in your chest, a silent acknowledgment that you weren't part of their "we." You remembered the sting of watching from your bedroom window as the house next door, usually quiet, erupted with light and laughter, spilling out into the twilight as a dozen kids celebrated. You were close enough to hear the pop of balloons and the happy shouts, but a chasm away from being included.

The loneliness of being an outsider was a constant companion, but it was the cruelty that truly carved its mark. The playground, a place of joyful freedom for others, was often a minefield for you. You'd feel a sudden, jarring shove from behind, sending you sprawling into the dirt, your knees scraped and your pride bruised, only to hear snickers and see retreating backs. During dodgeball, the balls always seemed to find you, thrown with an unnatural force and a malicious glint in the eyes of your peers, leaving you red and aching. Once, a group surrounded you, chanting taunts about your appearance, their words sharp little knives that pricked at your skin and burrowed deep into your spirit. Another time, you found your schoolbag emptied, its contents scattered and trampled in a muddy puddle, a cruel joke played while you were in class. The worst was the silence that followed these acts—the way adults often looked away, or offered platitudes that felt hollow, leaving you to nurse your wounds alone. Each deliberate exclusion, each harsh word, each malicious act chipped away at your sense of worth, leaving you with the quiet conviction that you were inherently different, inherently flawed, and destined to navigate the world as a solitary ship in a vast, uncaring ocean. But even then, a flicker of defiance remained, a tiny spark of longing for a place where you truly belonged, a place you would one day find.

The ache of being an outsider wasn't confined to schoolyards and neighborhood gatherings; it seeped into the very foundations of your home. Family dinners, meant to be warm and bustling, often felt like another stage for your quiet exclusion. You'd sit at the table, a phantom limb in the lively conversation, listening to your cousins recount their adventures, their shared secrets and inside jokes flying over your head like birds you couldn't quite catch. When board games came out, you were always the odd one out, the extra person. "We have enough players," a family member might say, not unkindly, but firmly, leaving you to watch from the periphery, the colorful pieces and excited shouts a world away.

Even the simple act of choosing teams for a backyard game of catch became a stark reminder. Your name was consistently the last called, if it was called at all. You’d stand there, hands shoved in your pockets, a knot forming in your stomach, as the excited chatter died down and an awkward silence filled the air, until someone, usually an adult, would sigh and say, "Oh, right, Y/N can be on my team, I guess." The reluctant tone, the lingering glance that suggested you were more of a burden than a teammate, cut deeper than any outright insult. You learned to occupy yourself, to retreat into books or solitary walks, finding solace in the quiet companionship of your own thoughts, because the alternative—the constant, subtle rejection—was far more painful. You were present, yes, but never truly included, always an asterisk in the family narrative, a quiet figure in the background of their vibrant lives.

The transition from a life lived on the fringes to the boisterous, vibrant chaos of the Straw Hat Pirates hadn't been seamless, but it had been, unequivocally, the most profound shift of your life. Just a few months ago, you were a solitary figure on the bustling, pirate-infested island of Tortuga Grande, your skills as a quartermaster a sharp, honed edge born of necessity and a lifetime of self-reliance. You kept to yourself, managing your sparse resources with meticulous precision, always aware of your surroundings, always ready for trouble.

It found you, as it often did, in the form of a particularly nasty gang of local thugs who mistook your quiet demeanor for weakness. They cornered you in a narrow alley, their sneering faces promising pain, but they clearly hadn't accounted for your years of fighting for every scrap of dignity and survival. You moved with a practiced, almost brutal efficiency, deflecting blows, finding openings, and taking them down one by one. You weren't flashy, just effective, each movement deliberate, each strike purposeful.

As the last thug lay groaning, a shadow fell over you. You tensed, ready for another fight, but what you saw made you freeze. A young man with a wide, infectious grin and a straw hat was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, his eyes shining with an almost childlike wonder. Behind him stood a diverse, equally stunned crew – a green-haired swordsman, a navigator with a fierce glint in her eye, a long-nosed sharpshooter, a blonde chef, a talking reindeer, a quiet archaeologist, a cyborg, and a skeleton.

"SUGOI!" the straw-hatted captain, Monkey D. Luffy, bellowed, his voice echoing in the alley. "You're amazing! Join my crew!"

You blinked, utterly unaccustomed to such direct, unbridled enthusiasm, let alone a genuine invitation. Your usual response to social interaction was a carefully constructed wall of polite distance, a reflex born from years of rejection. You mumbled something about preferring to work alone, your gaze flickering from his earnest face to the curious, hopeful expressions of his crew.

But Luffy was relentless. He pressed closer, his eyes practically sparkling. "Please! We need a quartermaster like you! Someone who knows how to keep everything in order, who can fight like that! We need you, Y/N!"

The words hung in the air: "We need you." It was a simple phrase, yet it resonated deep within you, touching a part of your soul that had been starved for warmth and acceptance your entire life. No one had ever begged you to join anything before. No one had ever looked at your abilities and declared them necessary. It was the first time you felt truly, unequivocally wanted. The years of being the last pick, the overlooked one, the person no one considered, melted away under the force of Luffy's genuine plea.

You hesitated for only a moment, then, a tentative smile gracing your lips for the first time in what felt like an eternity, you nodded. "Alright," you said, your voice a little softer than you intended. "I'll join."

And you have been with them ever since. The Thousand Sunny became your home, its deck a place where the awkwardness that still sometimes clung to you in social situations slowly began to dissipate. You still found yourself fumbling for words, or retreating into quiet observation during boisterous conversations, a lingering echo of your solitary past. But with the Straw Hats, it was different. Here, your quietness wasn't met with pity or disdain, but with understanding, and sometimes, even a gentle prod to join in. For the first time, you were not just present, but a vital, cherished part of something bigger than yourself.

You were on the Thousand Sunny, among them, yet a whisper in the back of your mind constantly questioned: were you truly there? The open deck, bathed in sunlight and laughter, was a stark contrast to the shadowy corners you’d always inhabited. The Straw Hats were everything the people from your past were not. They didn't just tolerate you; they welcomed you with open arms, their smiles genuine, their invitations to join games and conversations sincere. Luffy would practically drag you into whatever chaotic fun he'd concocted, Zoro would offer a rare, gruff nod of acknowledgment as you passed, Nami would consult you on supplies, Usopp would try to impress you with his tall tales, Sanji would fuss over your meals, Chopper would worry if you seemed quiet, Robin would share a knowing smile over a book, Franky would include you in his "Super!" exclamations, and even Brook would ask if you'd like to hear a song.

This overwhelming, unconditional acceptance was, paradoxically, terrifying. It was a warmth you hadn't experienced, and its intensity felt scalding, dangerous. Your entire life, you'd built an intricate fortress around your heart, brick by brick, from every slight, every exclusion, every time you were deemed "not enough." You knew how to survive in the cold, how to endure being pushed away. But you had absolutely no idea how to exist in a space filled with such genuine warmth.

So, out of habit and a deep-seated fear of being hurt again, you pushed yourself away. When Nami invited you to a game of cards, you'd politely decline, mumbling about needing to check inventory. When Luffy wanted you to join a silly dance party on deck, you'd find an urgent chore in the galley. You kept your meals separate sometimes, opting for the quiet solitude of the crow's nest rather than the boisterous main table. You’d offer logistical advice during battles but rarely engaged in the pre-fight banter. You were always just outside the circle, observing, contributing when necessary, but never fully immersing yourself.

They weren't like the others, the ones who had left you out, who had made you feel invisible. That was precisely why it was so petrifying. Because if you let them in, if you allowed yourself to truly feel this belonging, what if it was all just a mirage? What if, one day, they would realize their mistake, or find you lacking, and the familiar, crushing weight of rejection would descend once more, but this time, from a height you couldn't possibly survive? Better, your bruised heart reasoned, to keep a safe distance, to remain detached, to leave yourself out before anyone else had the chance to. The irony wasn't lost on you; you were doing to yourself what others had always done to you, simply to protect a heart that had never learned to trust kindness.

The ingrained habit of self-exclusion was a shadow that clung to you, even under the bright sun of the Grand Line. It was a subtle, almost unconscious act, born from a lifetime of anticipating rejection. You didn't just feel like you were intruding; you genuinely believed it was what others expected, what they preferred. It was the only social dynamic you had ever truly known.

This pattern manifested in countless small ways, moments that might have seemed innocuous to an outsider, but to you, were deeply rooted in your past. When the Thousand Sunny would drop anchor near a vibrant, bustling island, the crew would erupt in excited chatter, plotting their shore leave adventures. Luffy would declare he was going to find the biggest meat, Usopp would plan his souvenir shopping, Nami would eye the local market, and Sanji would dream of exotic ingredients. As they gathered by the gangplank, a wave of familiar anxiety would wash over you. You'd find yourself stepping back, subtly, almost imperceptibly, from the excited cluster.

"I can stay behind and keep an eye on the ship," you'd offer, your voice calm and steady, but inside, a quiet apprehension fluttered. "Someone needs to make sure everything's secure, and it'll give me a chance to re-inventory the supplies."

Your reasoning was always logical, practical, even helpful, but the underlying motive was the deep-seated conviction that you would be an imposition. Why force yourself into their joyful expeditions, you reasoned, when they clearly formed a cohesive unit without you? Your mind conjured echoes of past exclusions: school trips you weren't invited to, family outings where you were always the extra wheel. It was easier, safer, to volunteer for the solitary task, to proactively remove yourself from the equation before you could be left out. You imagined their unspoken relief, a slight easing of their collective shoulders that you weren't tagging along, even though their faces only ever showed genuine concern or gentle confusion.

Sometimes, Chopper, with his innocent empathy, would tilt his head. "But Y/N, don't you want to explore? There might be new medicines!" Or Usopp might scratch his head, "But who's gonna listen to my amazing tales of exploration if you're stuck on the ship?" Luffy, in his usual direct manner, might simply whine, "But Y/N, it's more fun with you!"

Their reactions were never what your internal narrative predicted. They didn't sigh with relief; they genuinely seemed to want you there. This kindness, however, only amplified your internal conflict. It was like they were speaking a language you only partially understood, a language of unconditional acceptance that your childhood had never taught you. So, you'd offer a small, polite smile, reiterate your commitment to ship duties, and watch them depart, the lively sounds of their receding footsteps leaving you with the familiar, yet increasingly unsettling, silence of the empty ship. You were safe from rejection, but also, frustratingly, safe from the very connection you secretly craved.

The Straw Hats, in their own unique and wonderfully chaotic way, weren't oblivious. They noticed your quiet retreats, your polite refusals, the subtle ways you kept a sliver of distance between yourself and their boisterous camaraderie. They worried, not with judgment, but with a genuine concern that stemmed from their deep-seated belief in the power of nakama. They were a crew built on forging unbreakable bonds, and the sight of you, silently excluding yourself, stirred a fierce determination within them. They wouldn't let you stay on the outside looking in.

Luffy, ever the direct and unwavering force of nature, often tackled your self-imposed barriers head-on. If you offered to stay on the ship, he'd pout dramatically, then declare, "No way, Y/N! You're coming with us! It's boring without you!" Sometimes, he'd simply grab your wrist and drag you along, his infectious enthusiasm making it impossible to argue. He didn't understand the nuances of your anxiety; he just knew he wanted his friend there.

Zoro, in his gruff, understated manner, would sometimes lean against a mast near you when you were observing from a distance. He rarely spoke, but his presence was a quiet, steady anchor. On occasion, he'd simply hand you a sake cup during a celebration, or nod towards the ongoing festivities, a silent invitation to join that spoke volumes. He understood solitude, but he also recognized the difference between chosen peace and enforced isolation.

Nami, ever perceptive, often approached with a more strategic touch. If you were meticulously checking supplies, she might join you, starting a conversation about inventory that subtly veered into plans for their next adventure. "We're thinking of checking out the market for some new fabrics, Y/N. Your eye for detail would be really helpful," she'd say, framing inclusion as a practical necessity, knowing that appealed to your methodical nature.

Sanji, the ever-chivalrous chef, used food as his weapon of choice. He'd bring you specially prepared snacks or drinks when you were holed up in the crow's nest or poring over maps. "A lady needs her nourishment!" he'd declare, his exaggerated charm a thinly veiled excuse to draw you closer to the warmth of the galley and the crew's chatter. He'd notice if you hadn't eaten with the others and subtly ensure you got a plate.

Usopp, despite his own timidities, was surprisingly bold in his attempts. He'd try to lure you into his games or storytelling sessions, sometimes even creating a specific role for you. "Y/N, the brave quartermaster, would know exactly how to defeat this sea monster!" he'd announce, hoping to spark a response, or at least a chuckle, that would draw you into the narrative. He understood the power of being acknowledged.

Chopper, with his boundless empathy, worried visibly. He'd often approach you with genuine concern, his large eyes filled with kindness. "Are you feeling okay, Y/N? You seem a little distant. Is there anything hurting?" he'd ask, his medical instincts kicking in, but his true aim was always to connect, to make sure you knew someone cared.

Robin, with her quiet wisdom and keen observation, was perhaps the most understanding. She never pushed, but she often positioned herself near you, offering a comfortable silence. Sometimes, she'd simply share a book, or a knowing glance when one of the others was being particularly boisterous, a silent acknowledgment of your shared appreciation for quieter moments, and a subtle invitation to her company.

Franky, in his boisterous, "SUUUUPER!" way, tried to include you in his creative projects. "Hey, Y/N, you've got a sharp eye for detail! Come check out my new invention! Your input would make it even more SUPER!" he'd exclaim, hoping to engage your practical skills and draw you into the energy of his workshop.

And then there was Brook, who, with his unique blend of humor and heartfelt sincerity, might play a melancholic tune that resonated with your quiet nature, or offer a simple, "Yohohoho! A beautiful day for some company, wouldn't you agree, Y/N-san?" He understood the nuances of longing and connection, even in silence.

They were a whirlwind of personalities, each one chipping away at the walls you had meticulously built, not with force, but with unwavering kindness and a fierce, unspoken promise: You belong here.

Despite their varied approaches, the Straw Hats' consistent efforts began to chip away at your carefully constructed defenses. It wasn't an immediate crumbling, but rather a slow erosion, like waves against a fortified cliff. You still found yourself offering to stay behind on islands, but now, when Luffy would simply grab your arm and declare, "Let's go, Y/N! There's an awesome market with weird hats!" you found it harder to resist. His sheer, unadulterated will often bypassed your mental walls before you could even formulate an excuse. You might still feel a flicker of anxiety as you stepped onto the bustling streets, but you were there.

Zoro's quiet presence became less of an unspoken challenge and more of a comforting anchor. One evening, after a particularly chaotic day on an island, you found yourself sitting near him on the deck, watching the stars. He simply handed you a small bottle of sake. "Good day, Quartermaster," he grunted, taking a swig from his own. It wasn't a conversation, but it was shared space, a quiet acceptance that spoke louder than any words. You took a sip, the warmth spreading through you, realizing you hadn't felt so at ease in a long time.

Nami's tactical invitations slowly morphed into genuine shared moments. You'd find yourself brainstorming supply routes with her, and the conversation would organically drift to her latest fashion finds or her dreams of drawing a world map. You even started offering your own observations, not just practical ones, but sometimes a quiet comment about the beauty of a new port, or a funny anecdote from the island. She'd listen, genuinely interested, her eyes sparkling, and for the first time, you felt not just heard, but valued for your perspective.

Sanji's culinary efforts, initially met with your polite, distant gratitude, eventually broke through your reserve with sheer deliciousness. He'd catch you sketching in your notebook and bring you a specially brewed tea, commenting on your drawing with an encouraging smile. "A true artist needs proper sustenance, Y/N-chan!" he'd croon. One afternoon, he managed to coax you into teaching him a new knot you knew for securing cargo, turning a practical lesson into a shared, lighthearted exchange.

Usopp, with his boisterous tales, slowly drew you into his world of exaggerated adventure. He'd corner you and launch into a story, and while you'd initially just listen, you eventually found yourself interjecting with a question or a skeptical "Really, Usopp?" which he'd take as an invitation to embellish further. He'd even start asking for your input on his inventions, clearly valuing your methodical thinking, which surprised you every time.

Chopper's innocent concern was perhaps the most disarming. He'd pat your arm gently, "Are you feeling better, Y/N? I made you some special herbal tea." His unwavering belief in your well-being, his simple, pure desire for you to be happy and healthy, made it harder to maintain your emotional distance. You found yourself confiding in him about small things, like a headache or a minor worry, because he genuinely listened without judgment.

Robin's quiet understanding became a cherished comfort. She never pried, but her presence was a constant, gentle invitation. You'd often find her in the library, and you'd slowly gravitate towards her, picking up a book yourself. Sometimes, you'd exchange silent smiles, or she'd point out an interesting passage, and you'd find yourselves in a calm, intellectual discussion, a shared space where your natural introversion felt not like a flaw, but a comfortable aspect of your personality.

Franky's enthusiasm was impossible to fully ignore. He’d proudly show off new modifications to the Sunny, expecting your feedback. "Y/N, check out this SUPER new cannon! What do you think of the trajectory calculations?" he'd bellow. His genuine excitement for his creations, and his desire to share it with you, slowly chipped away at your need to stay aloof, pulling you into his boisterous world, even if just to offer a quiet, "Looks efficient, Franky."

And Brook, with his unique blend of music and morbid humor, often found a way to connect. He'd sometimes play a soulful melody that resonated with the quiet parts of your heart, or make a joke that made you crack a rare smile. "Yohohoho! You have a lovely laugh, Y/N-san, though I have no eyes to see it!" he'd quip, and for a fleeting moment, the years of feeling unwanted would recede, replaced by the simple, joyful sound of laughter.

You were still Y/N, the one who had spent a lifetime feeling left out. The automatic reflex to withdraw hadn't vanished completely. But now, when you instinctively pulled back, there was always a hand reaching out, a voice calling your name, or a shared glance that said, You're one of us. You belong. And slowly, tentatively, you were beginning to believe it.

The true turning point, the moment the final, stubborn brick of your self-imposed wall truly crumbled, came not in a quiet conversation or a shared laugh, but in the white-knuckle chaos that so often defined the Straw Hats' lives. It was during a furious storm, a sudden, monstrous tempest that descended upon the Thousand Sunny with a vengeful roar. Waves the size of mountains crashed over the deck, the wind shrieked like a banshee, and the ship, usually so sturdy, groaned under the assault.

Everyone was scrambling, fighting against the elements. Zoro was struggling to secure a flailing mast, Sanji was battling to keep the galley from being destroyed, Usopp and Chopper clung to anything solid, terrified. Luffy, though resilient, was momentarily overwhelmed by a rogue wave that swept across the deck. In the midst of the chaos, a massive piece of debris, torn from a passing shipwreck, hurtled towards the main mast, threatening to splinter it and doom the Sunny.

Your quartermaster instincts, honed by a lifetime of anticipating disaster, kicked in with lightning speed. There was no time for hesitation, no room for the quiet politeness that usually dictated your actions. Your past, with its lessons of self-reliance and the urgent need to protect what little you had, merged with your burgeoning loyalty to this crew. With a primal shout, you moved. You grabbed a spare, incredibly strong rope, securing one end to a reinforced cleat. Then, with a burst of strength you didn't know you possessed, you flung the other end with pinpoint accuracy, snagging the debris just as it was about to strike. With a grunt of effort, muscles screaming, you braced yourself, pulling with every fiber of your being, guiding the massive wreckage just wide of the mast, sending it plunging harmlessly into the raging sea.

You collapsed, gasping for breath, your arms trembling. As the immediate danger passed, and the crew slowly regained their footing, their eyes turned to you. There was no casual acknowledgment, no polite nod. Instead, there was a collective, overwhelming surge of gratitude and awe.

Luffy, soaked to the bone but grinning, bounded over and wrapped you in a bone-crushing hug. "Y/N! That was amazing! You saved the Sunny! You saved us!"

Nami, usually composed, ran a hand through her wet hair, a genuine, heartfelt smile on her face. "Y/N, you're incredible! We would have been done for without you!"

Even Zoro offered a rare, genuine grin. "Nice work, Quartermaster. Truly."

In that moment, battered by the storm but surrounded by their raw, unfiltered appreciation, the last vestiges of your protective shell shattered. You saw it in their eyes: not pity, not obligation, but unadulterated relief and profound acceptance. You were not just on the ship; you were part of the ship's survival, an indispensable thread in the tapestry of their crew. The warmth that flooded you wasn't scalding or terrifying anymore; it was a comforting, blazing hearth.

You looked at each of them, truly seeing them not as a group you observed from afar, but as your family. The years of being left out, of feeling unwanted, of anticipating rejection—they didn't vanish, but they receded, becoming distant echoes. You were still Y/N, quiet and methodical, but now, you were also Y/N, the Straw Hat Quartermaster, cherished and undeniably, irrevocably, wanted.

From that day forward, the "offers to stay behind" became less frequent, replaced by a quiet, confident presence beside your nakama. You still chose your moments, still valued your solitude, but the self-imposed distance had vanished. When the laughter erupted, you found yourself joining in, sometimes with a shy smile, sometimes with a full, genuine laugh that echoed across the deck. You no longer pushed yourself away, because you finally, truly understood: with the Straw Hats, there was nowhere else you needed to be. You were home.

#one piece x reader #one piece #one piece x y/n #one piece x you #one piece fanfiction #reader insert #straw hat pirates #straw hats #straw hats x reader #reader angst #left out #abandonment #abandoment issues #one piece fanfics #one piece scenarios

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on--the--cusp · 12 days ago

Text

You know.

I don't think Gwi-Ma told Jinu his mother and sister wouldn't be welcomed into the palace or he would never have brought them there. He wasn't cruel as a demon, he doesn't seem to have been cruel in life. He was poor, likely uneducated, naive, but musically gifted.

When he made that deal, he just assumed, his family would go with him. All of this was about him being able to support them, after all. All of it for them but they were the cost he would pay, it makes so much demon sense.

I just can't see human-Jinu having been savvy enough to think in fae rules when dealing with Gwi-Ma. He didn't explicitly include them in the deal, and excluding them was such an excellent foothold for the shame to spiral out of control within Jinu and his full demon form to manifest. For his soul and servitude to be Gwi-Ma's that much quicker.

I can't imagine that the palace was at all what he had anticipated. He wasn't like those people, hadn't been raised as they were, I can't imagine they had much in common, tbh. I imagine he felt isolated. I imagine that, even in life, he regretted his choice. Would have undone it if he could have.

But what's done is done. What is debt must be paid.

"You left them" - the torment, the unyielding refrain in his head, the memory the strongest weapon Gwi-Ma has against Jinu.

"You left them" - and for what? An eternity under Gwi-Ma's boot? You can see the loathing in Jinu, it's the only thing almost as strong as his shame.

Gwi-Ma manipulated him over 400 years of death and however many years of his life to believe only the worst version of himself in the worst version of his own story he could.

"You left them."

It wasn't as if Jinu could deny it. Eventually he wasn't even able to contextualize it any longer.

And then, he uses it as a weapon himself. He uses what he has come to believe is his truth to try and hurt Rumi. To drive her away.

She wasn't angry enough, she was talking to him, not fighting him, she was hurt and exposed and vulnerable - and she was still trying to /understand/ him. He thinks if he tells her the very worst of himself that it'll break what they have built between them. I think he wants her to kill him.

Instead, she accepts it, and she accepts him. The parts of him that he hates, the parts of himself he was willing to go to such lengths in order to erase.

And she reminds him that isn't all he is.

"You gave me my soul back."

She's just lost everything and she still wants to save him. She still wants him to be part of the solution.

Jinu fucked up by having the most honest, open face a demon could posses. He fucked up by never lying to her more than vaguely via omission in that one instance. He fucked up by being so very clearly in pain, so openly haunted by his human past, with how real his hatred for his so called 'King' was - all things Rumi could absolutely relate to.

She couldn't hate him without hating herself and lbr, she was already doing enough of that. Instead, by being someone she could love, she had to accept that she was worthy of that love, too.

Anyway, just some thoughts.

#kpop demon hunters #jinu kpdh #kpdh #jinu's family #rumi kpdh #rumi x jinu #gwi ma #let's be real Jinu had her at for what it's worth i don't think you're a mistake #did i mention the part where they save themselves by saving each other? or save each other by saving themselves #mobius strip of saving

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sur-i-ki · 9 months ago

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𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦

To anyone from the outside looking in, you and Naruto were the least compatible together. For anything.

The constant squabbling, the fighting, and the sheer annoyance the two of you exclude when together would easily make someone think: 'Dating? These two can't even be friends'

For instance, take last week for example; the two of you, one board game, and the rest of your mutual friends glancing nervously at the two of you. The end? You refused to give Naruto his monopoly money, and so you dumped his instant ramen all over him. Sasuke and Sakura both kicked you out onto the curb for that.

You washed his hair later that night at your house as he littered kisses over your bare stomach.

Anyways.

Or, let's talk about when the two of you had your mouths taped shut because you couldn't decide on a movie. Sitting in silence togther as the rest of your friends sprawled across the floor-for the entire movie.

Except you traced out 'I love you' on his thighs the entire time as well.

Regardless,

There is no regardless. No matter what instance is brought up, there is always something after that, just, makes no sense. Whatsoever.

When Sakura asks Naruto why he fights with you, he replies, "Because we like to. It makes her happy." It’s safe to say everyone's jaw dropped, and probably dislocated afterwards when he looped his arm around you and dropped his head down to kiss your shoulder. You were seemingly unbothered.

When a guy asks you out, not thinking of the hulking blondie beside you, onlookers are shocked to see him pull you into his side.

But, you hate each other!

Do you?

Well, you can't hate him much when he whispers into your ear that you're his, he's yours, and that will hold true forever. Can't hate him when he brings you potted flowers instead of bouquets because "his girl" shouldn't have dead flowers. And you especially can't hate him when he doesn't take any of your insults seriously and returns them tenfold. Even if it’s to see the Cheshire grin on your face when he does.

So yeah, to any onlooker, you both are incompatible, but he says "my girl" and "pretty babe" and so many things when all you do is look at him, and, well, he's pretty compatible with you, so you don't care.

He's yours. And he’s cute. So who cares.

⇝ 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥! 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯

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cosmica-galaxy · 2 months ago

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You know what would be kinda funny? If Baby Witch was, whenever sees Wight Lilly cookie trying to hug her or just be around her. Like imagine that Wihte Lilly is looking really similar to their dead caretaker, and subconsciously, they are trying to be with their mom.

And what would everyone reaction would be if baby witche would call her mom or something like that by accident?

If that were to occur, it wouldn't be looked at as an immediate eyebrow raiser. The kid calls lots of cookies some form of endearing nickname, with some being permanent. Like "Papa Nilly", "CowCow", "Lele Berrwy", or "Mama Cheese". The other ancients would just be a little tickled that the baby witch decided to call two members of the ancients their mom.

But the baby is VERY persistent with calling her "mama". Just..."mama". Not "mama lilly" or "leely". Just..."mama". White Lilly Cookie is very nervous about being around the child at first, as she is still worried that they would bite or do something like that. So she keeps away a bit, despite the kid's adamant nature to get close and call her "mama". However, she eventually has to face the music and will have to endure contact from the little one. Yet, their motions are...very affectionate. They nuzzle into her, look up at her with those sparkling eyes, and they keep just calling her "mama". That is pretty much when the cookies get curious and Pure Vanilla tries to understand the sudden large amount of affection that the kid was demonstrating with White Lilly.

Pure Vanilla can feel a strange sense of deja vu.... Why does his childhood friend suddenly seem so...oddly familiar? Like he had seen someone similar somewhere before, excluding Dark Enchantress Cookie, of course. Then, it hits him like a lightning bolt. Did...did his little one think that White Lilly looks like their mother...the same one that became dust at Witch's Rest? Pure Vanilla doesn't bring it up, but it makes him very sad once he realizes. His little one must miss their true mother in some form of way. He just hopes White Lilly will open her heart more to the little one in response.

#nota-fox-lazy #hax speaks #haxorus imp #cosmica galaxy #cosmica-galaxy #crk x y/n #crk x you #crk tag #crk x reader #cookie run x reader #cookies and humans #baby witch au

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starboyjuno · 3 months ago

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next batch of geese🧡 requests from @interclover and @aricatastrophe !!

I would absolutely love more requests! please don't be shy :3 also feel free to request sillies from other shows, especially ii, as ill eventually do a lineup for them as well! again, headcannons below [absolute yapfest & some character analysis] , and thank you for 300+ on my last two groups!

more: pencil/pen/marker , tree/leafy/grassy

notes:

- sb and icy are cousins! their parents are brothers. they're also icelandic so the naming conventions are super interesting! if ur icelandic feel free to tell me a bunch of stuff about ur culture cuz it's awesome but! from what I researched, names need to be approved by a government agency and surnames are patronymic essentially, whatever your father's first name is, you take that and then add '-sson' for male children and '-dottír' for female children :) awesome to me i love research!!!!

- sb and icy's relationship is a bit rocky. they were really close as kids but I feel like they drifted apart as they grew older.. I feel like as of tpot they make friends again and start to be kind and nice

❄️ . snowball :

- i need to kill him😭😭😭

- umm i think. from my interpretation of him, sb isn't like. a blatant bigot, he's just kind of insecure and projects his insecurities on other people.. he wants to be the 'strongest ever' and anything that he deems 'weak' doesn't deserve to be around him.. I think in like. a human ver. of the show it would likely be that he was degraded for not being 'masculine enough' and fell down a bit of a pipeline unfortunately

- he's not . evil though. I think he's an ally in the sense that he don't gaf a whole lot.. he supports his friends who are queer [pen/eraser/coiny] and would dropkick anyone who disrespected them. I also don't think he's a misogynist, he just a freak and needs a lot of therapy

- so sorry but that's a cishet white man 😞

- his relationship with grassy is very sweet to me.. I think that. by the time tpot comes around, he's still a little messy but he's kind of come to terms with a lot of his issues, and does his best to treat grassy the way he wanted to be treated when he was a kid.. auauggh.. the brothers 😢😢 through caring for grassy and being there for him sb grows as a person and becomes softer.. in my mind..

🧊 . ice cube :

- she's autistic to me.. likes the hat because it helps with noise reduction. and the pressure of it feels nice (projecting)

- mischievous ass lesbian bro.. she uses tricky schemes and plots to get her way/j but I do think her whole "revenge" thing is due to some of her anger issues.. [runs in the family or whatever] of which she has many. I think she also has a complex insecurity thing with her consistent feeling of being excluded and left out (esp in freesmart) (wow okay autism)

- idk if I'll give her albinism or not.. I think it's cool either way and if she did her and book could be lack of melanin buddies😭

- consistently cold... you'll always find her in sweaters and heavier clothes poor thing has circulation issues i fear

📚 . book :

- I AAAUGGGHH BOOOKKKK😢😢😢 AUAGSHDYEGUWGH 😭😭😭 sorry I like her a lot .. everything to me.. miss girl...

- consistently overlooked, undervalued, and tossed aside..even when she makes mistakes and even if it takes a while she always manages to apologize and try to stay positive with it.. possibly also an autistic queen everything to me I hope she wins bfdia..

- LOVER GIRL!!! she is so full of love both platonic and romantic.. I feel like she has an unrequited crush on icy as well as a probably requited thing with price tag.. idk I like those ships they're cutesy... at least once, she's crushed on each member of freesmart [except for ruby]..

- german heritage is a nod to the gutenberg printing press because it's funny to base nationalities/ethnicities on that sometimes

- HER NAME IS STUPID ON PURPOSE ITS FUNNY AS FUCK!!!!! BROOKE PAGE IDC

okay that's enough from me I'll add more later maybe if i think of anything else

#bfdi #tpot #osc #bfdia #bfdi snowball #bfdi book #bfdi ice cube #ice cube bfdi #book bfdi #snowball bfdi #they look so dumb vro i hate them #bfdi gijinka #bfdi humanized #tpot gijinka #tpot humanized #object show community #juno art #artists on tumblr

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rriffraft · 1 month ago

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Can we talk about how Susie fucking BLEEDS?

So, the whole "Do monsters bleed in deltarune" discussion's been revived with the new chapters, especially 4.

I've seen a lot of people jump to the conclusion of "Susie bleeds, so all monsters must!", but I think there's more to it than that.

In chapter 4 particularly, there was a particular focus on the fact that monsters in deltarune share the aspect of their undertale counterparts in the field that they turn to dust when they die. This is discussed the in this chapter's upstairs book on monster funerals.

(Long theory ramble, more under the cut)

It also mentions that is common knowledge that all monsters know.

Couple that with these lines from earlier chapters,

It strongly implies that monsters do not bleed, and don't really have an understanding of blood. (In all fairness, Noelle's example probably happened when she and Kris were younger, but kids still generally know what blood looks like.)

But then.. there's Susie. The whole debate about whether or not deltarune monsters bleed mainly stems from comments that she makes that imply that they do, particularly this one from chapter 1:

These recent chapters have confirmed that Susie bleeds, and may or may not think that other monsters do too, up to a certain point.

When Kris and Susie discover Gerson's dust in Alvin's desk in chapter 4, it takes Susie a hot second to realize what the heck it is.

Hell, even Kris is freaked the fuck out by it and backs up in shock before Susie makes the connection.

She has to remember the fact that monsters turn to dust. This, along with some lines from her about being an outcast everywhere she moved and not being allowed to play the community piano in one of her old towns because "She looked like she shouldn't be playing" could highly suggest that Susie was raised in all-human cities until she arrived in Hometown.

She knows more about blood then about actual monster anatomy, and this would make sense if she was raised around humans.

Also, she knows how to clean up bloodstains. She helps Kris clean the one by the SOUL cage in their room.

Being the only monster in a town full of humans also would explain why she hated Kris so vehemently when she first met them. They were her opposite. The only human in a town of monsters. And instead of being shunned and excluded like she was, they're just a part of the community. Sure, they're still an outcast, but they're not being bullied for it.

We already know that Kris desperately wanted to be a monster for their whole childhood, and maybe even in present day. Even when they were treated kindly, they still wanted horns like their brother. They wanted magic. They wanted to be a goat monster like their family.

Susie probably went through the same thing, but even worse. After all, humans are far less kind and accepting than monsters are. Susie is ashamed of her tail, and doesn't like people knowing about it. In Hometown, she leans into the scary and terrifying persona we see throughout chapter 1. Maybe because she had to suppress it for so long growing up.

But then, of course, there's the scene of her actually bleeding.

There's no debate with this one. No "Sans' blood is ketchup" or "liquid determination."

She cut her fist on the glass, and is bleeding. It rubs off on Ralsei. The game makes a very prominent spectacle of showing us that yes, Susie bleeds.

There was also an unused sprite of her bleeding in the chapter 2 files, and it seems much more relevant now.

So yeah. Susie bleeds, and so far, I think she's the only one other than Kris who can. Why though?

Could she be partially human? It would explain why she was raised in human towns (if this theory is true) if one of her parents was fully, if not part human.

The prophecy calls her a monster, though. It is debatable whether or not the "girl" in the prophecy is her though, as the descriptions are intentionally vague enough to potentially also apply to Noelle.

Maybe everything I just said is irrelevant and monsters DO bleed, and only turn to dust upon death? Who knows.

Insane chapters, though.

#deltarune #kris deltarune #susie deltarune #deltarune chapter 4 #deltarune spoilers #deltarune theory #I fucking adore both susie and kris #I love their friendship #aaaoaoughshsu they're such friends #tw blood #sorry this is a little iffy #don't really know how to use tumblr yet

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venussaidso · 3 months ago

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Very interesting that Ashwini is still being overlooked. They saying no way Beyonce is where she is now cause of that ASC, no it's because of something else. The ASC doesn't matter here this time; no way is Ashwini doing anything. Ashwini is NOT a super star nakshatra, even though the Sun loves being there, even though it's literally ruled by the 1H. That's stupid. Why are you focusing on Ashwini? Like no it's definitely something else. Yeah she's not giving Ashwini anyway. Yup it's totally not the ASC, it's her Mars placement. Ashwini who? It's not giving, not vibing at all. Ashwini is not making noise babe. Deeeeefinitely her Pushya placement. Only Pushya makes sense for her star power, like yeah. Ashwini is... meh. It's not giving success, yeah even though it's the Sun's exaltation point. Let's focus on anything else that has nothing to do with Ashwini. It's just stupid horses, who cares. NEXT.

They are humbling us Aries folks and I took it personally because why are you excluding her Leo Sun and Ashwini ASC in your observation of what makes success? The Ascendant, the Moon, then the Sun is more potent than the Ascendant Lord unless it's in the 1H.

Hmmmmmm. Very shady.

Unpopular opinion; her success is mostly thanks to her ASHWINI. VISHAKHA. And definitely LEO, literally in the 5H. The rest of her chart is contributing too but you will never convince me that Ashwini is not the most potent. That's the Ascendant. What.

#random

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needlesknick-knacks · 22 days ago

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something ive been thinking about lately is how for babs being batgirl was something that allowed her to find her identity and i think its also an interesting sort of coming of age/womanhood thing

in bop babs tells helena how bullied she was and how even at her first dance the boy who took her only did so bcs his dad was friends with jim. in batgirl 00 she tells cass about how being in the suit turned her into powerful, confident, and sexy person and in the same bop issue she also talks about how she began to 'fill out' when she was batgirl

anyone whos grown up as a girl and been 'ugly' knows how detached you can feel from womanhood as a whole bcs of it. for babs being sexy and confident as batgirl let her find her identity as a person and as a girl but whats an interesting subversion to me is she does it in a decidedly not traditionally feminine way

like its not really like she starts putting on makeup and dressing different and being like 'yay im conventionally attractive now i finally feel like i fit in as a girl' becoming batgirl was her way of asserting her autonomy and flouting her fathers control--not a really a 'feminine' thing to do, right? sneaking out, fighting criminals, breaking into the 'boys club' of batman and robin-its all her breaking away from what is expected of a girl and actually finding herself and what it means to be a girl for her in the process. i think its neat how batgirl lets her be the sexy, confident woman thats more traditionally a female archetype, but it also lets barbara gordon break gender norms and accept womanhood as babs too

and imo the same sort of thing happens with her oracle persona. she has her autonomy violated in an act of violence i call gender-based and i think its important to note how disabled women also often are treated as not 'real' women

but she once again rebuilds herself and reclaims herself, and i think its once again by flouting the expectations of what it means to be disabled and a woman-shes competent, resourceful, fiercely independent and even becoming a hacker ties into that-again, shes establishing herself in a place which has traditionally been a 'boys club' shes still breaking norms and being a woman her way but also doesn't mean that she doesn't fit into traditional womanhood either-shes sexy, shes confident, shes desired and shes loved!!

(important to note that disabled/poc women being traditionally feminine can often be more empowering than making them not fit bcs they are historically excluded. babs being disabled and being pretty and wanted is really important)

but yeah i just think this sort of thread of babs both finding herself as what it means to be a woman traditionally and what it means to be a woman outside of tradition is such an interesting dichotomy does this make any sense

#this is a bit all over the place #but i hope im understandable #also if anything is mischaracterised #please correct me #id love to hear other ppls thoughts on this #dc comics #barbara gordon #babs gordon #batgirl #oracle dc #dc oracle #needle spins yarns #dc meta

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wannaeatramyeon · 1 year ago

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Goo Kim x Reader: Cycling through the love languages

G/N. Self-indulgent af. Goo has a realisation about you.

Goo knows for a fact you like him.

Who wouldn't? Who doesn't?

Maybe Gun and Charles Choi actually, and he knows he pisses Kouji and Crystal off something bad. The majority of the crews too. And that sour faced woman from the cafe this morning. There was also the guy who yelled obscenities and flipped him off for driving erratically.

Ah whatever. He casts aside his growing list of enemies with a wave of the wrist and an adjustment of his glasses.

Point is, you like him. You. The only one that matters.

Why you can't admit it to yourself or to him, he can't understand.

...Nevermind the fact that it's only recently that he has admitted to himself that he likes you. After one too many knowing looks from Kouji, and then another too many drinks the other night when Gun remained stone faced and Crystal couldn't stop rolling her eyes as Goo started gushing. Tongue loosening and desires spoken and spilling over into reality.

The realisation wasn't so much a shock to the system, as a comforting hug. Like yes, finally.

His weird little daydreams, his growing apathy towards fighting and work, or really anything that excludes you. The way you said you liked his suit the other month and he walked with a spring in his step all morning and afternoon and evening and night, and has worn that suit damn nearly every day since.

It all makes sense.

So yes. Fine. He likes you. A lot.

Sometimes the thought of seeing you makes him feel giddy with excitement. Other times the thought of replacing his first love, good old dependable cash, with you makes him feel sick and he breaks out into a cold sweat.

Here’s the thing though: Goo likes calculated risk. He likes the thrill of the chase.

He-

Likes-

You.

And if you want him to be the one that chases and pursues you then ok. He will. Challenge accepted.

Let's do this the easy way. Flirting.

It might have been more successful if he wasn't so flirty and playful anyway. Curse him and his charismatic ways.

(Or so he tells himself.)

You don't find him too different from usual, all things considered. Maybe more of a nuisance, buzzing around you like an errant fly. His smile is greasier, words honey sweet. He leers at you. Waggles his eyebrows like you're in on a joke together.

Dear heavens, you think he also winks at you too. When you frown at that, he just clicks his tongue in annoyance and says there's something in his eye.

You think that's a lie. In fact, you know it is. His eye is completely fine but he is moody and pouty for hours after.

No, the wink didn't work. The flirting can't really be counted as a success. Nevertheless, his flirting doesn't stop at syrupy words, Goo is touchier too.

He's a touchy person by nature, especially in the right situation and with the right person. Whatever is needed to twist a situation to his advantage. A chin rested on your shoulder, casual arm thrown around your waist. A playful shove, footsie under the table that is more rough and malicious, aiming to hurt, than cute and teasing.

But he's close, closer than ever. Banter muttered into your ear, breath prickling your skin.

Every moment is just a new opportunity to touch you. Your hand, your shoulder, hip, lower back.

You never minded before, you gotten used to his touches surprisingly quickly except now-

The caresses and contact poorly hide a yearning. There's a different intent. It's purposeful and calculated. This doesn't escape your notice.

Goo also doesn't miss the heat that rises to your cheeks. The pretty pink flush when he pulls you near. The hitch of your breath.

Ah. There it is.

Success at last.

Sadly for him, success doesn't last long. You get used to his wily ways quick enough, you always do.

And it doesn't have the profound effect on you that Goo initially anticipated. He thought that might lead to a confession of sorts from yourself, and even you both skipping into the sunset together.

Neither happens. You stay as cutely tight lipped as ever.

Well if he can't worm his way into your heart with his A game and progress whatever this is you both have going on-

(Which is frankly a little insulting to think about. Goo would like you to know that some people have taken one look, one!, at his hot self and thrown themselves to his feet.)

-Then he can just buy your love.

In Goo's world, in this world, there is nothing that money can't solve. Luckily, Goo has lots of it.

He starts small.

Your reaction when he gave you a bouquet of flowers was rather sweet. He takes note of the way your face softens, how your eyes crinkle when you smile, the shape of your lips as you’re surprised with his gesture.

If Goo was the sappy sort, he would say that it felt like his heart skipped a beat.

Turns out that he is the sappy sort, and he talked Crystal's ear off about it until she kicked him out of her office and slammed the door in his face.

Next, the jewellery you seemed taken aback by. A few pieces you looked at in distaste despite the size of the gemstones, had the audacity to say they're garish and inconvenient.

“It’s too much,” you tell him. “Take them back. Return them. Please.”

You left all but one: a simple ring with a plain design.

The affront that Goo felt only lasted for a night at your rejection, dissipating the moment he saw the ring on your finger the next day, shining brightly in the sun. Enough to rival the smile that crept over his face.

Turns out that the car dealership was a step too far though, a step too ill thought out. The gifts gradually got bigger and grander until one weekend afternoon, you were looking around at brand new vehicles with Goo.

"This is by appointment only," he doesn't hesitate to brag. "It's exclusive. They managed to fit me 'cos I'm kinda a big deal."

You hum in response, your usual go to reply when Goo is feeling particularly full of himself and you’re half listening.

"What do you think of this one, sweetheart?" he asks, steering you towards the most expensive vehicle in the showroom, with more horsepower or torque or whatever it is enthusiasts talk about.

A sleek and shiny sports car that you know for a fact costs more than you will ever make in a year. All chrome and aerodynamic lines, that screams I have money and the biggest dick around here (or tiniest, depending on who you ask and whether you think they're trying to overcompensate).

You take one look at Goo, eyes dropping to his crotch and feel your body flushing. You quickly try to shake those obscene thoughts from your head.

"Um," you clear your throat, which has mysteriously dried up at the last second, "It's nice I guess? Bit much though." You poke your head through the window, admiring the top of the range features and the smell of fresh leather. Goo is nothing if not in your face, and this car certainly fits his vibe.

"Nothing is too much for you!" his voice floats over your shoulder, and you whip your head to stare at him.

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

"What do you mean?"

"It's on me, cupcake! For you." He throws his arm around your shoulder, a touch of sincerity under his usual viper grin.

Huh. Not only is this excessive-

"My apartment doesn't have any parking," You state, and Goo starts calculating if he likes you enough to buy you a new apartment also and unfortunately the drop in his bank balance still doesn't outweigh his feelings for you. Whether you will accept is the question but he can work on that.

All thoughts are derailed though with your next words-

"I can't drive. I don't have my licence. And the thought of navigating Seoul traffic," you grimace at the idea, "Nightmare. Not for me. No thanks."

Oh. For fuck's sake. There goes the idea to buy your love with gifts. Most people would say thank you with a smile and go to at least sell the car but of course you would rebuff him. He’s been letting you take advantage of his bank balance, his hard earned money, and of course you’re too good to him to do that.

‘So this entire day was a complete waste of time,’ Goo thinks sourly hours later, meandering the streets side by side with you, spending the rest of your afternoon together. Until-

"Oh my god I love these!" You exclaim, taking a bite out of the hotteok. Fresh off the grill from the street vendor, paid for by your companion. Out of everything he has given, or tried to give you - you're the happiest with the cheap street food. "You're the best!" you tell him between mouthfuls.

Goo doesn't stop his chest from puffing out at that comment. Those words elevating today from being deemed a waste to... fun.

And actually, a little sweet.

If he can't win you over completely with gifts, then he will show you how irreplaceable he is.

Over the next week, Goo is at your beck and call. His clinginess taken to whole new levels. He's at your home more often than not, by your side almost every moment of the day.

"Don't you have work?" You ask when he's glued to your side one morning.

"You're more important, sweetheart," he says, words off the cuff and surface level.

It's only hours later, when he has reluctantly peeled himself away to finish a task with Gun, he realises that it's not entirely inaccurate.

Free time is spent driving you from A-to-B. Heavens forbid you are forced to use public transport (Goo shudders at this thought) and since you hate Seoul traffic, he might as well keep you company.

He's on his most gentlemanly best behaviour.

Holding doors open, draping his jacket over you if so much as a gentle breeze is around. Hand-made meals, lunches and extravagant dinners. Even chores.

"Do you live here now?" You ask, padding out to your kitchen. Half asleep, hair in disarray to Goo humming and washing your dishes.

He smiles, sly and snake-like, "Are you asking?"

With a yawn, you burst his bubble, "Nope."

Goddamnit. Not even trying to be the best househusband seems to be working. What will it take for you to confess that you like him? He's getting sick of this song and dance.

He scrubs with a huff at a particular stubborn stain on a pan. Stupid pan and stupid chores and stupid househusbandry.

Ugh. What pisses him off most of all is: he thinks he can get used to this.

Being around you all the time, taking care of you. Not even you in your ratty old sleepwear, with threadbare knees and oversized t-shirt dims how he feels about you.

Goo isn't an idiot, despite what Gun might say.

He possesses frightening intelligence even if sometimes his common sense is nowhere to be seen.

You like him, he knows this. He likes you, he also knows this.

Then why on earth can't he bring himself to tell you? Is it that expressing it is a vulnerability he's not used to having on display? That despite everything, speaking it into existence means that he's offering you himself and there is always a chance of rejection?

If Goo was more mentally balanced and less self absorbed, maybe he would dwell on these doubts and feelings. Be introspective for the first time ever.

He is not.

Instead he feels overwhelming indignation that it has come to this, that nothing has had the desired effect, and most importantly it's all your fault.

He puts all his energy into storming his way over to your home, wanting everything and everyone around him to be also darkened by his mood. Makes sure his displeasure is felt through the way he stomps, how he slams his car door, how he blasts through traffic lights. Buzzing himself into your apartment building with vehemence, pounding on your front door until he hears your exasperation from somewhere inside.

"Hold on Goo! What the hell!"

The door is yanked open. For a brief moment Goo sees your annoyed expression, before he too is yanked inside.

"What is your problem?" Each word is punctuated with a jab in his chest.

Goo refrains from devolving into a tantrum. Realises that he already seems unhinged enough and doesn't want this conversation to get any worse.

Taking a deep breath, he grabs hold of that jabby finger (noting with amusement that other people's fingers he has broken for much less), adorned with a familiar ring, pulls your hand into his and strokes over your knuckles once, twice, three times.

He is absolutely not buying time. But really, why has it come to this: sincerity and honesty. How unseemly. This is so not him that even the idea of it sends shivers down his spine.

Whatever. With one last breath he forces out any trepidation and regains his usual composure. The one that is all confidence and captivating and can talk circles around anyone anyday.

"Y/N,” he purrs, "I like you and you like me."

You open your mouth to say something but he presses on. "It's obvious. I'm not stupid.” Goo points to his glasses, “I have eyes. I can see how you are around me, cupcake. And it's painfully obvious that I like you too." He allows himself an irritable sigh at this.

"Honestly I'm the one that gets courted. I'm a catch. People chase after me," he mutters to himself. "And yet look at me now." Huffing at himself for his behaviour, he turns back to you. "Why don’t we see how this-" signalling between you and him, "-goes, hmm?

"Wait," you take a step back from his presumptiveness.

Which isn't wrong, per se. In fact, he is completely spot on. Goo is an objectively attractive guy, you would be blind not to realise it (or have questionable taste). Sure his personality offsets his looks, because good god it can be grating as hell, but even with all his flaws he has wormed himself into your heart and into your life too.

You flitter somewhere between friends and more. Friends, with this odd, prickly, scheming creature is a miracle in itself. You’re not sure why this red flag shines green with you but he does. You don't know how you balance each other but you do. You don't know how it works but it does.

Moving this to something more though, it scares you. Especially if he's as blasé and unserious about this as he is with most things in his life that don't revolve around money.

"Goo..." You try to phrase this delicately. "Your relationships or encounters or whatever you want to call them don't end well." He gasps at your words. "I don't want to start up some casual whatever with you for you to then change your mind. It could really mess things up between us."

"Casual?" He scoffs, dismissing your concerns with a wave of his hand, "I've been 100% from the start. You should know I'm all in, sweetheart."

Your breath hitches. This wasn't what you meant. This wasn't what you were asking but he answers your doubts anyway.

"I'm all in on this," he repeats, crossing his heart mockingly though there is no disguising the earnestness in his words; how his actions over the last weeks and months have shown you that he's serious.

Still. You want to double-check.

"...Are you sure?"

"Y/N. Sweetheart." he places your own hand over his heart, "I've never been more sure of anything."

His glasses catch the light. Flashing mischievously and wickedly like it always does yet you can't see any ill intent. There's no hesitancy in his conviction.

"We fit, don't we?" Goo smiles, sensing your apprehension wavering and crumbling.

You can't deny that you do.

"Yes," is your simple reply. You peer at him from below your lashes and find him looking at you with an intensity you’ve never seen before.

Still pressed against his heart, Goo moves your hand up to his lips. A playful grin that is full of promises spreads across his face. His eyes don’t leave yours as he seals it all, marks it official, with a kiss.

#noone but this goofball can motivate me to randomly write almost 3k words #but daddy i love him #lookism #lookism x reader #goo kim #goo kim x reader #kim joongoo #kim joongoo x reader #lookism fics #wannaeatramyeon

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krispdreemurr · 10 days ago

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what are your thoughts on carol not as a character writing-wise but like as a person. she's kinda the character i feel most conflicted abt bcs on one hand the one type of character i will always be harshest on is a parent. something about seeing a kid (inherently a powerless position) be harmed in even of the tiniest of ways pisses me off (nothing to read into there, we all had amazing childhoods right?). so the initial reaction is to hate hate HATE carol.

but then. every little detail points to her caring sooo much about her kids and just. sucking at conveying it to them (or not even!! it's hard to gauge noelle's opinion of her overall based on one scene where carol was upset!!). the fact that dess has a million things in their room that carol would be paying for. the snowflakes at carol's office. the fact that it was clear that kris felt welcomed and safe at the holiday home.

and those are just the little things! obviously if dessknight it true, and carol's helping-- that's an INSANELY large commitment!

but also. it's so hard to keep any of that in mind when watching a single, potent scene. of noelle scared of upsetting her. argh. i'm usually a nuance enjoyer but carol just feels so hard to process.

sorry if this comes off more as an annoying rant as opposed to an actual discussion question. she's just a really interesting character writing wise, but like. where she is morally feels so hard to judge. she doesn't feel grey. it feels like with parents, because there's such a vulnerable person relying on them, there's a really strong instinct to view them as either completely evil or completely kind. or again maybe i'm projecting sorry

here's the thing for me. i can buy a situation where she reconciles with Noelle and maybe even with Dess, where she learns that her idea of love as preservation is fucked up, where she comes to care for them again. her love for her family and her children is genuine and real, and under many circumstances it could resolve into something kinder.

but there's another kid in this situation.

(slightly heavy stuff behind read more)

if you think she's in on the knight loop, and especially if you think she's the phone voice (which i do for now), she has been watching Kris destroy themself to get Dess back for years. she knows they have sacrificed their autonomy, she's probably watched them sink into depression, she's asking them to help with kidnapping people for vaguely specified sacrifices, there's a fair chance that she knows Kris expects to die at the end and she's still having them do this. the first time Kris even considers acting selfishly she's on the phone in seconds reminding them that they made this promise that they're locked into.

and it's not that it doesn't make sense. they were as desperate as her to get dess back, they offered everything they had, they have connections to the prophecy and abilities she just doesn't have. everything she's asked for they've agreed to without even complaining. they're on the same team, her knowledge and their nature working in tandem. she may not even be fully aware of how she's been breaking them; she's just the steady hand guiding them both to what they want, helping them return to the path when they falter. they both carry guilt, and they'll both fix it, and kris is as willing to sacrifice as her.

but fundamentally, she is the adult and the one with power and the one who should have realized a long, long time ago that asking this of Kris was terrible.

and so I think that even if Dess comes home, even if Carol realizes the mistakes she made with her daughters, even if everything is reconciled - once Noelle looks at the tired, empty thing that she watched Kris become over the years and understands what made them that way... once she knows that Carol was drawing away from her to set up this web of lies that she was excluded from to try to fix her family by sacrificing her friend... once she hears Carol claim it was all for her while she's remembering hours spent outside the gate and Kris not even helping her any more... she will not forgive Carol.

#deltarune spoilers #ch4 #i think she is a complex and nuanced character who has crossed a moral line that i can't see a way back from #child abuse implied sort of?

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badgalsasuke · 8 months ago

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I've been thinking for a while on how filler content that tries to make NH and SS more bearable and sensical is constantly downplaying Naruto's status as a Jinchuuriki, leaving out Kurama out of the story.

In The Last we see how Naruto is put in a genjutsu just so he can have all these visions of times Hinata "was there for him" so the movie could push him to "realize he's in love with her" even though canon-wise he is immune to genjutsu because he's a Jinchuuriki

In filler novel Sasuke Retsuden Naruto doesn't appear in the story at all because apparently and out of nowhere, Naruto turns out to be allergic to Kurama's chakra because of an autoimmune condition or something that Jun Esaka pulled out of her ass

And I found very weird and strange this fixation to put aside Kurama in these filler stories that try to make sense of NH and SS, like why you need Kurama out of the picture so freaking bad???????

Then I wondered if it had anything to do with chapter 698 and Kurama saying:

Could it be that filler stories that try to push NH and SS as these very romantic passionate ships down our throats downplay Kurama's role because *HE KNOWS* Naruto's real feelings for Sasuke?

The Last and Retsuden already depict incredibly out of character Naruto and Sasuke, so it's interesting that they drew the line at Kurama and instead of having him be out of character too, they simply exclude him from the het! narrative. Hmmmmmm

#narusasu #sasunaru #sasunarusasu #sns #anti sasusaku #anti naruhina #anti ss #anti nh #sns meta

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bugsbenefit · 11 months ago

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who's getting books and who isn't?

tells you a lot actually

in lieu of us getting a Dustin companion book soon i'm doubling down on my point about how insanely telling these books are about where the story is going. especially if you look as who is getting books. and i'm saying this both about El and Will (where it's already kind of obvious why s5 is important for them) as well as Mike (where it's also kind of obvious why s5 is important for his character but it hasn't reached mainstream awareness yet apparently lmao)

as of now Lucas, Max, and Dustin (about to come out), as well as Robin and Eddie, and even Hopper and Terry have one. and they all explore things outside of the main canon by doubling down on what filmed canon already established and adding a bit more layers since they have the time to focus on a single character (like exploring racism and how Lucas deals with it in his book, something the show doesn't dwell on, or exploring Robin's queerness, taking place before the events of s3)

and the focus these books have makes sense since they're mostly written by commissioned writers. so obviously they want to skirt any topics that delve too much into plot heavy areas where the writers a) wouldn't know where the story is going or b) even if they got notes, you don't want important lore drops that impact the later story dropped in companion books

in short we're getting extra story's about no spoilery topics the main story doesn't have time to/want to explore

which makes it all the more interesting we're already getting books about someone like Robin when you know if you asked fans what povs they'd like to see someone like El would rank significantly higher if you trust favourite character rankings. but for some reason El, Mike, and Will have never gotten one

and some of these reasons are just really obvious, especially when it comes to El and Will

1) they obviously can't just drop a book on El yet. on one hand, because her backstory with the lab is a major plot point of the show and they can't spoil it in a book (even if they tried excluding it, writing 200ish pages for a character who can't remember what happened before they turned like 8 is one of those things that would be kind of hard to avoid coming up). even post s4 there's still so many questions about her past and time at the lab, they just shouldn't give unlimited access to her inner monologue about it yet. and on the other hand, El finding her place in the world is quite literally one of her characters main recurring motives, even a companion book as innocuous as "El tries out hobbies" would be exploring something we'd kind of want to see on screen since it'd be a resolution to her character growth and not a fun side quest

2) they also just can't drop a book on Will. the fact that we never found out what actually happened to Will in the UD is already reason enough, the show clearly wants to explore it on screen later on. (now even more obvious since there's already confirmed s1 UD Will in the s5 official teasers). you really can't write a book from someone's pov who's main trauma and life changing moment is something you don't want to get into yet. just doesn't work

there's plot points the show obviously saved for later so both Will and El are pretty unfit as book topics

but with Mike that doesn't actually apply in the same obvious way. Mike not getting a book despite being the leader of the party, having the most on screen defined dynamics with the other kids, and being part of the shows "main" ship would be really odd. like. Really odd. on paper he'd probably be one of the first choices for an easy book protagonist for a fun party side quest. of course unless one of the two book deal breaker reasons applies also:

they can't give his pov because giving his unfiltered inner monologue would spoil s5

they want to explore something relevant to his character themselves on screen and it's not fit for a companion book

but again, in comparison to Will and El where the why is really obvious Mike sticks out because we don't officially know what he's got going on yet. he has no mysterious absence where we don't know what happened to him like with Will and no open ended origin story like with El

it just makes it a bit funnier to me how many people are still fundamentally unconvinced Mike has something going on that's important for the outcome of s5. post s2 the show tries to get some distance from Mike's head and he's joined the club of main characters who don't get books alongside major canon event magnets El and Will. and yeah, obviously you wouldn't want a book from the characters pov who's feelings and sexuality you're actively hiding. it's also a bit of a no brainer you don't want a companion work going into how he's not been doing so great over the past few years because the reasons for that are kind of relevant to the main story. Mike feeling guilty for El dying all the way in s1 is something that might be more fit to bring up in show when their relationship is being addressed instead of in side material

but all in all? the fact that out of all the kids El, Mike, and Will are the only ones who don't get secondary material yet is probably the biggest give away that the three of them are who s5 is planning to give the most insight on even all the in show build up aside. they're being skipped as book povs despite existing public interest and seeming like conventionally easy picks for book side stories

in the current economy around shows franchises, going against what'd be a good marketing decision is always a dead giveaway something is going on

#st5 speculation #el hopper #mike wheeler #will byers #byler

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