#like with other women I’ve had feelings for that are in long term relationships

[sassmill]

More confusing feelings today/into tonight. I was at work for like 13 hours. But it was very good.

[yamujiburo]

HANAMUSA (JESSIExDELIA) MASTER POST

I probably should have started doing this forever ago but I wasn’t sure how long I was gonna stick with drawing these comics. But I guess we’re in it now! This will be continually updated~ EVERYTHING UNDER THE CUT

BEFORE YOU START:

This post is required reading about Team Rocket’s ages since that’s usually a question that comes up a lot LOL. As for Delia’s age, she is said to be 29 in Takeshi Shudo’s (original writer on Pokémon) novel that built out the world and characters of the anime.

Next, I feel like this chart helps give the vibe of what these characters relationship is (all just headcanons except for their names and ages)!

WHERE TO START:

Here’s a post I made detailing how Jessie, James and Meowth initially start living with Delia. It also goes into what each character does in this AU. Before going into the post, you might enjoy this fanfic my girlfriend commissioned! It’s based off of said post and is a more enjoyable read.

Here’s also a list of headcanons!

COMICS:

Here’s all the comics I’ve done! The order of most of them are pretty ambiguous and up in the air but I put them in the order I kinda see in my head! There are some that do take place before Jessie and Delia start dating though! Also a few comics that have several parts but the “next” and “prev” links will be in each comic. So I’ll only link the first part of those ones in this masterpost.

Pre-Relationship

Fast Food

Ophidiophobia

Whipped

Making Eyes

Hairbrush

Inquiries

Separated

First Kiss

During Relationship

Big Bed

Tattoo

Crumbs

Pet Clown

I’d Like To

Jessica

Lipstick (not a comic but some fun extra dialogue for this)

Glow

Official

Stare Down

Shovel Talk

Invisible Walls

Date Night

Face Blind

One Motto Away

Snowgasboard

Delia’s Got a Cold

Mr. Jessie Ketchum

Peek-At-Chu

Hands Off Pikachu!

Wine Nights with James

Beauty and the Beach

Turning Point Arc

Sunscreen

Where Do Babies Come From

Love Life

Ugly

Ace Trainers

Pikasitting

Mother’s Day

Father’s Day

Gift for Delia

Gift for Jessie

Jessilina Fan

Crossdressing

Hickeys

Journey Arc

Tone

Cooking Twerp

Son

Cooking Advice

Serperior Facts

Cassidy’s Cabin Arc

Father/Son Bonding

Glasses

Uniform

Study Help

Happy Valentine’s Day

Wrapped

Daddy Daughter Double Battle

Splinter

Married Life

Wedding

Arbok/Weezing Reunion

Snake Eyes

MISC DRAWINGS:

I’ll update this with links to my other miscellaneous drawings later! 

FAQ:

What does "Hanamusa" mean?

Hanamusa is a combination of Delia and Jessie's Japanese names, Hanako and Musashi respectively.

When does this AU take place?

It takes place sometime after the Mezase Pokémon Master/To Be a Pokémon Master series. So all the events that happened in the series, unless retconned within the series, happened. Ash is 10 at the start of the comics.

What's the status between Jessie, James, Meowth and Giovanni/Team Rocket?

Not great terms since they were fired, but also not the worst terms. Giovanni just let the three of them go without any further issues. I will say that I've always loved the theory that Giovanni keeps Jessie specifically around because of her parentage and he as a soft spot for her that he keeps a secret. I feel like Matori was the one that got the three of them fired and Giovanni wasn't able to make an excuse for them this time (without showing nepotism/special treatment) so he was forced to let them go.

If you headcanon Delia as a lesbian, how did Ash come to be?

Delia was young when she had Ash and I hc that she just didn’t really explore her sexuality much! I myself didn’t realized I liked women until I was 18 and didn’t know I liked ONLY women until like 2 years ago. She got married, had a baby and realized after her husband left that she liked women (trans people exist obviously but I’m also interpreting Ash’s father as a cis man).

Who do you think Ash’s dad is?

I don’t know and I don’t really care to explore it. I’m going off of the novel interpretation that he’s just a deadbeat that left to be a trainer, failed and never came back because of the shame. He’s not important.

Isn’t Giovanni Ash’s dad?

That’s a common misconception that people remember wrong from the Pokémon Live show. Delia mentions she dated Giovanni but then left him and his gang after meeting Ash’s father. I also don’t consider the live show canon personally! I follow The Birth of Mewtwo timeline where Madame Boss founded Team Rocket.

Do you think Delia and Giovanni dated at least?

Nah, I think he’s too old for her? I always got the vibe from The Birth of Mewtwo that he was quite a bit older than Jessie and it’d be sus if he was dating Delia when she was married to, and had a child with her husband at 18/19. He’s a bad guy but not a BAD guy.

You mentioned you still ship Jessie and James. Why not make a Jessie, James, Delia polycule?

I have a few reasons I’ve mentioned before! 1. I’m in super deep with this AU already and I feel it’d be very confusing for casual viewers of my stuff if James was added into the relationship haha. 2. I’ve drawn Jessie and James together since 2011 and took this AU as an opportunity to try my hand at writing them as queer, platonic besties bc I love that interpretation of them a lot as well. 3. I’m not poly myself and the way I write this ship is largely based off of my experiences with my girlfriend. I just know I’d favor the Jessie/Delia of it all which isn’t fair and not a good interpretation of a poly relationship. All that said, I DO super enjoy seeing peoples’ poly headcanons and art!

Who does James end up with in this AU?

No one. He's aroace and is happy to be single

Do Jessie and James have all their Pokémon in this AU

I think they have all the Pokémon that they did by the end of Mezase Pokémon Master (all their Pokémon that were left at HQ). Most of their released Pokémon have stayed released and the Alola Pokémon are still in Alola. I bring back Arbok and Weezing post-Jessie and Delia getting married. I may bring back Chimecho, Growlie and Cacnea if I think of an idea I like!

What are Meowth and James up to in this AU?

Hop back to the top of this post under the "Where to Start" section. All your questions will be answered.

Does Ash travel with anyone at this point of his life?

I don't have anyone in particular in mind! I could see him making new friends (Nemona???) or traveling with different combinations of old friends. Like him, Misty and Goh, him, Dawn and Cilan, him, Serena and Lillie etc.

Will Delia ever get over her phobia of snake Pokémon

Not fully! I think overcoming fears is fine and good but I think real PHOBIAS are much harder to get past and I don't want to cheapen it. She slowly gets used to Jessie's Seviper specifically and gets to the point where she can pet it comfortably with Jessie in the room. But otherwise, still scared and would need that same amount of time per Pokémon

Is Jessie gaining weight or is it just me?

Not just you! Jessie puts on a bit of relationship weight overtime as you'll see in the later comics in the timeline. Jessie grew in poverty, never knowing when her next meal would be and that continued into her life as a Team Rocket member. Once she was able to settle down (with a woman who runs her own restaurant no less) she's able to live a healthier lifestyle with regular meals and puts on some weight because of that.

Does Jessie ever feel self conscious about gaining weight?

Nope! She feels happier and healthier and hotter. She's also unreasonably excited to clear out her old clothes and get a new wardrobe.

Would Jessie and Delia ever have kids together or adopt?

Nah, Ash is enough for them! I have come up with hypothetical kids for them but they're not canon to this AU. Just a fun little thing for me.

Will you ever put this on webtoon?

Nah. People mostly ask me this because they want to read everything in the order of the timeline but to my knowledge, you can’t reorder chapters or installments which would defeat the purpose. I also don’t think nintendo fan stuff would fly there. Also, also it’s just extra work and another place to upload and I want to keep this all fun for myself~

[multifandomgirl08]

Mini Verstappen

Dad!Max Verstappen x Fem!Reader

Summary: You get a small surprise the first time you visit Max's apartment

Warning(s): Slight angst (if you squint), child from a past relationship (Max), reader coming to terms with her feelings (on screen), ambiguous ending

A/N: I may add more to this in the future. Right now it's just a stand-alone.

Words: 1.3k

Previous Part → Next Part Mini Verstappen Masterlist

From the moment you met Max, you knew that he was complicated. From his busy schedule, to the people he surrounded himself with when it came to his job. You knew it would be hard to keep up with a guy like him. But you had gotten the greatest shock of your life when you had showed up at Max’s Monaco apartment.

Max knew that you were going to be visiting him, he was the one who invited you to stay with him. And given that you had been doing long distance for about 8 months it only recently seemed like things were turning serious. Max had been very secretive about his apartment, he never invited you over when you had initially met him, and given that you were doing long distance, you only got to talk to him in the morning your time.

You had knocked on his door before he opened it to see him holding a toddler. Your hand dropped from your luggage. This was the last thing you were expecting. “Hey.” He muttered.

“Hi.” You said back. It was all you really could say looking at the child sleeping on Max’s shoulder.

“You should come inside.” He pushed the door open with his free hand. You could hear the light curse in Dutch that he let out under his breath.

As you made your way into Max’s penthouse, you started to internally connect all of the dots. This was why he normally answered you only at night, this was why all of his social media accounts only had work-related things posted on them aside from the few sporadic pictures of his family.

You set your bags by the door, turning to Max to see him place the child on the couch before covering him with a blanket with little F1 cars making up the pattern.

“I normally don’t do this,” He said, his accent coming through.

You furrowed your brows together in question. “Do what?”

Max looked at the couch as if he was pointing to the child. “I don’t normally introduce people that I don’t work with to my son.”

You honestly just felt awkward standing there. You had only really been on a number of dates with Max that weren’t phone calls. You traveled often enough for work that you got to see each other a few days every month or so, but it seemed like things were going rather well between you, you hadn’t expected this however.

“Normally, the women that I start to see don’t last more than 3 or 4 months, then they start to expect things. Getting invited to races and being invited to my apartment.” He offered up. That was maybe one of the reasons why you were here, you never pressured Max into inviting you over. You never asked him for more than he was willing to give.

Max moved to sit on the couch brushing his hair to one side like he couldn’t help but fumble with something given how strange this whole thing was for both of you.

“I’ve never gotten this far with someone since I’ve had him in my life.” It made sense why. He didn’t want someone around his son only for them to leave soon after, not a lot of people could handle taking care of a child as well as being in a relationship with their parent so early on.

“How long have you had him?” You asked wondering how long Max had been a part of his son's life.

“Almost 2 years. My last long-term girlfriend ended up pregnant. At first, she was going to keep him. She gave him up at the last second. She contacted my agent since we ended things not long before she found out.” He seemed to be answering in short sentences, almost as if he was afraid that his English couldn’t keep up with him.

Max was giving you a lot of information, probably because the only people he really got to talk to about this were the guys on the grid - guys who although they were around Max’s age didn’t have a child to take care of by themselves.

You couldn’t help but walk closer, almost dragging your feet but didn’t want to wake the little boy up by doing so. He looked like Max, like he was his little copy, down to the wide smile and the slight quiver in his brow as he slept. You couldn’t help but lightly smile seeing the little boy fist the blanket in his small grip.

You moved to sit next to him waiting to see if he’d say anything else. He didn’t, he just stroked the little boy’s hair away from his forehead. You looked to Max to see his blue eyes turn stormy like he was waiting for you to leave him alone with his son.

Was he waiting for you to run?

“I’m not leaving Max.” You said.

Any other person may have run, but Max having a son from a previous relationship although a little like a wake-up call didn’t make you want to run. It just made you more aware of how serious this would be. It wouldn’t just be the two of you, there was also someone else to consider.

You saw him drop his head into his hands, seeing his shoulders shake as you heard the unmistakable sounds of him sobbing. You hadn’t seen Max cry before. He was just one of those people who knew how to keep his emotions in check. It probably had to do with all the time he spent in front of reporters. He only really let go when it was the two of you, he was all smiles. His eyes would squint when he smiled wide at you, you loved looking at him when he smiled at you over candlelight. His shoulders were relaxed, and he couldn’t stop smiling at you. That was how you knew that he was really happy.

Max didn’t look like that now, his back was stiff. He was hunched over in a way that could possibly hurt his back if he kept it up. This just showed you how uncomfortable he was in the situation.

“You’re the only one who’s stayed long enough to meet him.” He sputtered out.

Hearing that just made your stomach turn uncomfortably.

You laid your head against his shoulder wanting to say something to comfort him, but thought it would be better just to stay there with him.

“He looks like you.” You muttered.

You could feel Max’s shoulders shake again, not sure if he was still crying.

“Victoria said the same thing the first time she saw him.” He said clearly. 

You had only met Max’s sister a few times before. She seemed to like you from the conversations that you had.

“I understand why you waited to tell me about him.” You would like to find out his name, instead of referring to him as Max’s son.

“I didn’t want to drop it on you, I just didn’t know how…” Max’s eyes shifted once again to the sleeping boy.

“Well, I am a little bit shocked, and this wasn’t what I was expecting when you invited me to come spend the week with you but I’m up for it,” Max telling you he had a son wasn’t a part of your plans, however, given that you had almost been together a year. It felt nice that he was finally letting you into his world a little more.

He looked up at you, and you could see that he was shocked. His face was completely slacked, his plump lips open. His eyes were still red from crying but could see that they were getting clearer.

“His name’s Nico,” Max offered up.

You felt really tempted to reach over and move Nico’s hair from his eyes but instead just dropped your hand to Max’s lap and whispered against his cheek, “It suits him. Nico Verstappen.”

He looked at you like he wanted to tell you something, instead he just reached for your hand. Clasping them together in his grip he said, "Thank you, for not leaving."

[kirisredriot]

After Vil’s Broomquet card was released I saw a lot of theories about what happened to his mom since he’s never met her and doesn’t even know her identity. I’ve had this idea for awhile and I haven’t seen this theory yet (apologies if it has been thrown out there and I just didn’t see it). But what if Vil’s donor conceived.

What if Vil’s dad was struggling to find a long term relationship. Someone who can handle being with one of the most famous actors. Someone who wants him for him and not the money. He wants kids and as the years go by he feels like time is slipping away. He see’s his costars kids when they come to visit their parent on set and the joy on his costars faces when they see them. And he wants his kid to come and visit him on set too.

Finally Vil’s dad was done waiting for the right partner to come around and takes matters into his own hands. He contacts a clinic known for its discretion obviously recommended to him by costars who needed some help conceiving. He’s offered a book of women who donated their eggs and he flips through it looking for the right woman to be the “mother” of his child. He chooses one and then is connected to a surrogate who will carry his child for him. The surrogate signs a NDA and he hands over his genetic donation so Vil is 100% his father’s son. A month later he is contacted by the surrogate letting him know that she’s pregnant. Vil’s dad is over the moon his dream is finally coming true. A few months later he’s informed he’s having a boy.

He goes on as if life is normal for the next nine months, giving nothing away as he secretly prepares for his new arrival. The nursery is decked out and outfitted with only the best. Nannies have already been interviewed and hired at the ready for when he inevitably has to return to work. Then he gets the text he’s been waiting for. His surrogate is in labor. Baby Schoenheit is on his way.

Holding a newborn Vil for the first time was better than all the awards he’d won in his career.

The tabloids went crazy when Eric Venue announced Vil’s birth. Rumors flew when no one could dig up any information about Vil’s mom as his dad remains tight lipped about Vil’s conception. A one night stand, secret girlfriend, a costar who recently gave birth, and dying in childbirth. The reality is no one knows who his mother is other than a now redacted donor number.

[honeybleed]

“then so be it” ⋆ red haired shanks

content & warnings: female reader, she/her pronouns, black-coded reader, conflict angst, fluff

author’s note: opla shanks is sexy, tbh so is animanga shanks 😹 so u can imagine which ever

word count: 1.5k

He means well.

That’s what you believe, and when he does things that chip away at that thought, it's what you say aloud.

You feel silly. because when you try and face reality with the way Shanks disrespects you, you hear a voice in the back of your head pull up that same excuse.

Descending a path of overthinking never helps you. All it does is make you panic and question your sanity.

You’d been in a long-term relationship with the notorious Red Haired Shanks, captain of the aptly named Red Haired Pirates and it was never going to be a walk in the park.

He drops by when he can to your home island, even if it irritates his crew members but he can easily pacify them by making a detour to the local tavern and having some alone time with you for a few nights before he's off heading to whatever journey to god knows where.

You reminisce on how you two met.

Your village had always been under an oppressive tyrant's rule but it was lifted thanks to Red Haired pirates. Now your home was back to normal and free.

Apparently, that’s what Emperors of the Sea could just do.

It was slightly embarrassing for you to admit to Shanks later on that you had fallen for him the moment you saw him. How cliché.

But as soon as you had given him the green light for him to pursue you, he made sure everybody knew you were his.

*

"Jeez, what's with you Captain? You look like shit." Lucky commented after Shanks had been uncharacteristically quiet for the last few days.

"Always can count on you for honesty, can't I buddy?" Shanks chuckled as he straightened his posture slightly.

"You and the missus on bad terms or what?" Beckman questioned as he leaned his elbows against the bar and tilted his head back.

"How’d you know, you sneaky bastard?"

"Written all over your face. What's the damage?"

"Stood her up." Shanks said, thumping his head on the counter.

"For how long?"

"Waiter said the sweet thing had been sitting there for two hours. Christ, I’ve never fucked up this bad."

"Damn, you missed your anniversary cos you were out drinking with us?"

"I’m a dirtbag." Shanks groaned, still wallowing in his guilt.

There was a slight commotion and clamouring of other pirates at the front of the tavern, Lucky turned his head to see what all the noise was about.

"Oooooweeeee!"

"Smokin' hot!"

Lucky’s eyes immediately widened when he realized who it was.

"Uh Cap, you're gonna wanna see this."

"I don't wanna look at some random broads, Lucky. I’m already in the doghouse and all I can think of is my beloved-"

"She’s right there!" Lucky exclaimed.

Shanks pulled a face and squinted his eyes at the absurdity of the suggestion you were even here.

"Quit pullin' my leg Lucky. You ain’t funny."

"I’m dead serious, Cap! Look!"

Shanks did a spit take when he saw none other than his girlfriend, stood at the entrance with three other gorgeous women.

All in the most showy, dressy attire you could think of.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Yasopp questioned.

It was common knowledge that you stuck on your island. And never left.

There was countless men fawning over the four women, but you in particular since you were sporting a “Come and get me look”

You strut your way towards the bar where Shanks and Lucky were sat. Deliberately swinging your hips, running your fingers through your hair and licking your teeth which only seemed to drive the men more wild.

Countless offers to pay for your drink as they mobbed around you.

Shanks however, was not particularly impressed by the series of events currently unfolding in front of him.

"How are you even here right now?" He questioned, elbow propped against the bar.

"I’m sorry darling, have we met somewhere before?" You asked, in a saccharinely sweet tone as you looked at him through your eyelashes.

The Red Haired pirates burst into absolute hysterics, banging tables, spilling drinks and jeering.

"SHE GOT YOU GOOD SHANKS!"

He simply smirked and turned his head to face his raucous crew members.

If you wanted to get your own back, then so be it. It wasn't like he didn't deserve it.

*

"If that bastard thinks he can CAST ME to the side he's got another thing coming." You fumed, as you ransacked through your closet while your best friend Max sat on the ottoman in your bedroom, cackling.

"You two really are made for each other." She remarked as she puffed out the smoke from her cigarette. "I’ve never seen a man who can fire you up that easily."

"I told you no smoking in my house idiot, go to the window before you make the whole place smell gross."

"Fine." She said, as she got up begrudgingly.

She didn't put up a fight since anybody who knew you and was granted access into your abode knew it was pristine.

"I’m gonna look for the sluttiest dress I own."

"And what?"

"Give him some of his own medicine." You hissed. "He getting way too comfortable. He thinks just because I let him do whatever he can neglect me."

"I don't think he's neglecting you." She replied. "You and I both know he's crazy about you, and that your relationship was never going to be like a normal one what with him being one of the four emperors of the sea."

"I don't need rationality at the moment, Max!" You screeched.

*

He dragged you outside of the tavern and turned to face you.

Shanks never got angry. But when he did, it was spine chilling and it took everything in you not to scuttle away like a scared critter.

You were inebriated, struggling to stand upright.

"I let you have your lil payback but why are you dancing with other men in front of my face?" He questioned as he furrowed his brows together.

"Oh, now you care."

"Y/N, don't be silly! When have I not cared? Is this about the anniversary?"

You struggled to come up with an answer on the spot.

"There’s more to it than that Shanks, and you know it! Yeah, that anniversary date meant a lot to me but you blow me off all the time. And don't use your job crap because a good chunk of your time is spent partying it up and drinking with your buddies!"

"I am only doing what you asked." Shanks sighed, anger dissipating away. "I asked you to come with me, does that ring any bells? And you said no. I try to visit you when I can."

"What? So its just all my fault? Yeah I wanted to stay home cos I have a life outside of you!”

"I know." Shanks said, defeatedly.

You swallowed thickly as you felt a lump form in your throat and tears prickle at your waterline.

"I don't know why I insisted...on being with you." You began, unable to face him. "You told me so, huh Shanks?" You said with a wry chuckle as he gazed at you.

"I didn't say that to be a smart ass. I love you. So much. With every fibre of my being." He said, as he moved closer to cup the side of your face with one hand.

He could be romantic when he wanted but he liked to get under your skin, as he grabbed hold of your jaw and smooshed your cheeks together, making your lips pout.

“Shanks, you’re not funny…!” You barked, sounding ridiculous as you struggled to pull out of his grip.

He let go and chuckled.

“I’m sorry, baby. You’re easy to tease.” He scoffed, then pulled you right against his chest.

"You’re making it worse." You murmured as you felt yourself crumble internally as he rubbed your back gently and kissed the top of your head.

"Then so be it.”

“…Shanks.”

You leaned up to brush your lips against his but he was unreceptive.

“I wouldn’t feel right, baby.” He said gently with a smile, pulling away from the kiss. “You’re drunk. Let’s get you to bed.”

“But…I came with my friends.”

“I’ll take care of it, I promise. We’ll drop them home. I’ll let you sleep it off too.” He said, reassuringly as the two of you began to walk back to the tavern.

Soon enough, you rested in the bed of captain’s cabin’s of the Red Force. Mind drifting off to sleep.

He knew you well, despite barely being around. He was a smart guy, despite it all.

He knew you were a sleepy drunk.

“I’m lowdown and no good for an angel like you. But, I’ll do my best to make it up to you.” He murmured as he sat on the edge of the bed, taking your hand in his and running his thumb across the hollow of your knuckles.

You were half asleep and bleary eyed, but his gentle tone and rocking of the ship was enough to lull you back to sleep.

“I mean it.”

You squeezed his hand gently, making him smile. He then pressed his lips against the crown of your head and made his way out.

author’s note: ty if u read dis far im publishing dis late af so sawry if there’s any mistakes

[9w1ft]

I'm a gaylor myself so this isn't coming from a place of hate but I really don't think karlie and taylor are still together, I think taylor still references her in her art and probably will for quite some time because that relationship -- whatever the nature of it was -- left such a deep impact on her. but I really can't see them still being together, I think she's forced herself to move on from karlie and has since dated a lot of other women. that doesn't mean her feelings for karlie have faded, just that they will probably always be there but they broke up for sure before 2019, I think. folklore and evermore, midnights even, are all breakup albums, I just can't see how they could still be together. especially all her anger and sadness in those songs that are thought of to be for karlie (like my tears ricochet or exile or mad woman) also the cover art being shoot in bedfords, new york, the exact same place where karlie got married feels more like taylor revisiting this place to really say goodbye and mourn her for one last final time so she can move on

sorry, this got a bit long, I just don't understand the appeal or the reasoning for lsk's because taylor has indicated so many times that they are over, she's been mourning her relationship with karlie quite publicly since 2019 (wearing all black during the lover era) so yeah

hi! i don’t usually respond to these but i’m not sensing any ill will so i’ve decided to give a reply a go.

first off, for me, i kinda just interpret her wearing black in the back end of lover era because her masters had gotten bought by scooter. and maybe the fact that she decided to not come out. there can be other reasons, but i really do not think that her breaking up with karlie has to be one of them.

another thing i can’t shake is the fact that it was a very notorious troll/manipulative person on tumblr who spread the first rumor that they broke up in 2019, a fact that is well understood by a lot of OG’s, and this troll got in the head of a few popular kaylor and gaylor swift accounts at the time and in doing so she got a lot of people to fold. she then went on to write all this progressively unhinged fanfiction about taylor and karlie trying to make one another jealous and sleeping with all these women, presented with the same level of seriousness with which she pushed the breakup agenda. even to this day, i see present day gaylors talk about stuff that stems from narratives this account and a few other power hungry accounts spread around many years ago and it honestly just goes to show how a lot of well known gaylors may be platformmed up but that don’t really know what they’re talking about.. i only write this because the troll deactivated about a year ago (maybe they’re lurking on platforms with more malleable minds—once a troll always a troll—but at least they’ve left here), they were a really dangerous person.. and several have wild receipts to prove it.

anyways sorry i recognize that’s a tangent, i guess what i mean to say by it is, a lot of the sentiment surrounding the idea of a 2019 breakup and the reinforcement of the narrative by a gaylor community none the wiser stems from the work of someone with disingenuous intentions. a lot of “masterposts” or “realistic timelines” draw from what this person made up and it’s gone through enough filters for it to seem like credible sentiment but like, if you were there and you read all of what she wrote you know how silly it all sounded and how incoherently it was all written.

okay so to circle back to more of a content-centric angle, in my interpretation of the events that gave us folklore, evermore, and midnights, taylor had so much to be sad about. her mom had been very sick, the pandemic arrived and she had to cancel lover fest, she had to come to terms with scott b having sold her work to her sworn enemy… songs on midnights and folklore, and on her lover era apple music playlist allude to certain other things that may have had her in a mournful mood. things were bad! and i don’t doubt that her and karlie have been through a lot. but for me, when you’ve got a ride or die love, you don’t just break up. this has been something frustrating for me and others, i think, to see so many people treat a relationship as either being all systems go or broken up, as if long term partners can’t experience sadness together, difficulty together, even heartbreak together.

i don’t like getting in to touchy subjects so much but there’s just been too much pointing towards what i consider to be a rather simple narrative that is a natural progression for people committed and in love. how did the lover music video begin and end? whats a randomly specific word in a song she performed at the grammys minutes after someone was announced to the world? what about taylor’s envisioned future stands out about the anti hero music video? i think i’ll stop here but idk man 😆 poke around my archive if you feel like wasting a few days of your life… there’s just been a consistent flow of the same kind of hijinks that we’ve seen from them for years, and i’d say that there are many songs that back up everything i’d want in order to stay invested in seeing if what i believe is true.

now, i know i just wrote what reads like a bunch of mumbo jumbo to people not following kaylor. but im okay with that. i’ve accepted that. and i know that the whole patterns and koincidences and twinning and symbolism beat isn’t for everyone and so i respect people’s decisions to believe they aren’t together, but in closing i’ll just say im sometimes at a loss to see time and time again people suggest that kaylors believe in kaylor because they find it appealing or because they want to ship it. when it’s literally not that— it just makes the most sense to a lot of us!

also, does this look like the face of someone mourning?

[starastrologyy]

Astrology Observations🖤

Please do not plagiarize anything that I write or repost on any other social media platform🤍

I’ve noticed that couples who have their composite midheaven in Virgo tend to be criticized quite harshly by others. Hailey & Justin Bieber are a celebrity example! It’s interesting because Justin & Selena have their composite midheaven in Cancer, which explains why so many die-hard ‘jelena’ fans were (and still are) so emotionally invested in their relationship although they have both moved on.

If you have your natal Uranus in your 6th house, you may work many different jobs in your lifetime. Alternatively, you might work a job or jobs that other people may think are unusual or eccentric in some way! Working In a science or technological field is a possibility. You are best suited to work in a job that gives you a lot of freedom and one that is not boring/routine or predictable.

A “father wound” tends to be common in the charts of people who have Chiron in the 10th house. I have also seen this happen when a persons Sun opposes their natal Saturn. This wound can occur in the charts of people who have an afflicted Sun! Meaning their sun is in the sign of its fall/detriment or their sun receives mainly hard aspects (squares/oppositions) from the other planets.

If you have your Chiron In the 11th house, you may feel as if you don’t fit in or as if you will never find a sense of community or belonging. These people often feel isolated from the world at large, or it can mean you experienced many painful issues surrounding your friendship. This placement can also manifest not always having a sense of direction, or not knowing what it is you actually want from life outside of your daily routine. On a more positive note, this placement can indicate wanting to transform society as a whole, or wanting to get involved in some sort of a project that heals or benefits large groups of people.

If you have Gemini over your 2nd house cusp, you can make money in ways that are related to communication or writing! Alternatively, you may make money doing many different things that are not always linked to each other since Gemini is a sign that represents duality.

If your Ascendant falls into someone else’s 7th house, you may be exactly what they are looking for in a long-term partner (physically). Your physical appearance, personality & how you present yourself to the world is aligned with how they would want their ideal partner to look/be perceived. However, the 7th house is also the house of open-enemies, so caution is always required when it comes to 7H synastry.

A solar return year with an 11th house emphasis, is likely going to be a year where you will be focused on expanding your social networks, or you may be compelled to go after your worldly ambitions. This is a year where you are likely to reap benefits from your career (especially financial ones) or you may be redefining what it is you want from life. Working with an organization or people who value philanthropy and service is also a possibility. You are also likely going to be using social media quite a lot during this solar return year.

Your moon line in Astrocartography will show a place in the world where you are likely to experience many fluctuations. It is also a place where you may feel a strong emotional attachment, or perhaps you may experience many different emotions in that part of the world . Women are also likely to play an important role in your life in these locations.

It’s very interesting because I know quite a few people (myself included) who experienced an increase in sexual activity/experiences when they had their Solar Return Sun & Venus in their solar return 8th house!

If you have your natal moon in your 5th house, you are likely to be more fertile or actually become pregnant/give birth once transit Jupiter enters your 5th house and makes a conjunction to your natal moon!

[affixjoy]

Today I continued my Star Trek journey by rewatching Star Trek (2009) and boy howdy do I have some thoughts.

So first off, I saw this for the first time when I came out in 2009. It wasn’t my first experience with Star Trek, but it was probably my first with Kirk and Spock and that gang. I remember liking it a lot.

Now that I’ve watched all of TOS and a few of the movies with the original cast my feelings are a little more complicated.

Overall, fun movie! I imagine they had to have felt the weight of recasting and redoing such iconic characters, and in a lot of ways they succeeded. It certainly got younger people like me interested in the franchise!

💫 Spock: I do love this version of him. His “live long and prosper” to the VSA is perfectly bitchy and I’m obsessed with it.

💫BONES!! if you’ve read any of my other posts you’ll know that somehow Bones snuck up on me as my favorite character. I love his intro here, and I think Karl Urban gets the tone just right. This really is a buffet for the McKirkers out there, I can see how this led to 1000 academy era fics of them.

💫Kirk: oh Jim. Jimmy Jim Jim. Baby boy. What are you doing. How did being played by Chris Pine (who is incredibly hot) make you LESS attractive??

Obviously this Kirk suffers from some Kirk drift and the added trauma of losing his dad. He’s so much angrier, so much less sweet and nerdy. Rewatching this now I can see why I was so hesitant to like him in TOS because he’s a lot less lovable here.

💫 I get it’s an emergency and they had to for plot reasons, but almost all of Pike’s staffing choices make no sense. Sure, Spock as acting captain, I get that. But everyone else?? Imagine being one of the other people there who has been with starfleet for years and seeing him hand Kirk the role of first officer. The ship can’t be entirely cadets can it?? Imagine the group texts going around after like “thank god he didn’t die because I really need to bitch about this.”

💫 I love all three Uhuras (tos, aos, and snw) and I get why they made her Spock’s love interest here because they’ve got fun chemistry! They have a lot in common, they’re both hot and smart, I get it. But cmon guys, that man is a 6 on the Kinsey scale. You keep pairing him with women and it doesn’t work.

💫 I feel like they worked in lots of little references to classic trek, from plot stuff to smaller details like when Spock enters from the turbolift at the end in a very TMP way. I love that, it makes me feel like the people making the movie really care about the stories and the characters. When Spock Prime says good luck I felt all the weight of his relationship with his Jim and how it changed him. So lovely and touching.

And just how close they made Kirk and Spock stand, especially towards the end of the movie. They were always glued to each other in TOS and JJ must have known us Spirk shippers needed something to latch on to 😅

💫 There’s too much action in this movie for me. We didn’t need to see Scotty beamed into the water tank. The best sf stuff is always story based, I don’t need extravagant fights and cgi shit. I’m sure there are people who watch science fiction for the spectacle but I’m here for the ideas and the feelings.

💫 goddddd everything with Vulcan and losing Amanda. Rip all our hearts out why don’t you. Spock’s mom dying is just heartbreaking. I know they had to lose someone we knew to make the destruction of the planet more real to us as viewers but so crushing to see it.

💫 Old Spock 😭😭😭

He knows right away who Jim is and expects that Jim found him on purpose.

Old Spock just launched right in to the mind meld huh. To me this really says that he and his Jim are on very casual mind meld terms and he’s not fully understanding that this Jim is not his Jim.

Think about how fucking weird all this must be for old Spock. How heartbreakingly strange it would be so see a young version of your husband and send him to a young version of yourself. Meeting all your old friends young selves, years after you’ve lost them all.

And from here out it’s just miscellaneous thoughts I jotted down while watching that don’t fit great anywhere else:

⭐️I love when the redshirt is so excited to get the Romulans and Kirk gets this look like… that’s why you’re here? Dude the battle not the appeal here. A nice glimpse of how this Kirk is similar at heart to TOS Kirk.

⭐️Love you Sulu and your fencing skills

⭐️I love when they stop the lift for emotional reasons.

⭐️“Our destinies have changed” goddddd great speech Spock

⭐️Jim has the look of a man who is frequently escorted places by security

⭐️Spock wants to break Kirk so bad 😂

⭐️When Jim slaps Spock’s back and Spock has a look of “I think that just awakened something in me.”

⭐️Spock you’re calling him Jim already? You slut. (Delighted, affectionate)

Overall I think it’s a fun movie but it misses a lot of what’s at the heart of the classic Trek I love. They try to do everything too fast and it just doesn’t work as well for me. I’m excited to rewatch the next two and see how these versions of the characters change!

[macdenlover]

Question for ya about genderbent mac and gender/sexuality performance. Assuming she would have a similar repression then coming out experience, would you change her appearance/presentation? I feel like in recent seasons mac's changed so much so I'm curious how you'd represent that in your art!

okay so! @bitseventimes made some really good points in this post about this idea already so i’m kinda piggybacking.

short answer: not really? i’d keep her presentation pretty in line with canon mac so she’d be rockin the tommy bahamas shirts the same seasons as him. i think my version of fem mac would have always been sorta masc except for the few occasions she’s had to put on a dress. but she’d complain about it the whole time. I think her evolving relationship with gender expression and sexuality over the seasons would be less visual and more internal/behavioral.

long answer: unfortunately i don’t think it’s really possible to do a perfect 1 to 1 genderswap parallel that carries ALL the nuances of a character’s relationship queerness/gender expression while still keeping that character recognizable. so it’s okay to bend the rules a little. my headcanon is that fem mac was always a tomboy but saw femininity as a shitty obligation you have to deal with once in a while for show, similar to canon mac’s relationship with having sex with women. i think i saw someone hc that fem mac would wear dresses to church to be closer to god and like yeah. that’s exactly it. overall her demeanor and interests and style would stay pretty close to canon mac. i think early seasons mac would feel ashamed for not being as put together as other girls and especially denise who always has perfect hair and perfect makeup and mac can’t even put eyeliner on without almost blinding herself. and that combined with repressed lesbianism would manifest into this misogynistic pick me “i’m not like other girls” mentality. she’d still have just as much cognitive dissonance as canon mac—convincing herself that dudes like natural girls better anyway but also of course denise has gotten laid so many times she always looks like a whore. and then that changes when mac comes to terms with being gay. (some of the misogyny is still there though this is it’s always sunny in philadelphia). anyways she starts fully embracing the butch thing with more confidence in the later seasons because turns out bitches really dig it. but if denise wants to do her make up every once in a while she sure won’t complain. if you really want to explore queer repression in relation to hyperfemininity it’s wayyy more interesting through denise’s character and it fits really well with whats already established in canon dennis. mac’s performance of femininity would exist as this external factor but denise’s performance of femininity would be so much more internalized and rooted in her self worth. mac takes her heels off 15 minutes into the party because she’s impulsive and it’s irritating and denise bears through the pain because if she can’t be beautiful then what is she whats the point? denise would belittle mac for not putting enough effort into her appearance but deep down she wants the strap so fucking bad would be sort of jealous of the freedom mac has with her appearance and she’d grow more and more resentful toward her in the later seasons after mac comes out.

sorry this turned into a macdennis analysis post and i’ve flown way off the rails from ur ask 😭😭😭 but hopefully you get what i’m saying

[tinydeskwriter]

Cosmopolitan Couple’s Timeline

A/n: this is the Part II of Buzzfeed Article; It’s fluffy 💓, and more about their relationship. The photos used are only illustrative because after writing I got too lazy to search into pinterest. I hope you all like it as much as you liked Buzzfeed Article.

A Complete Timeline of Jack Harlow and Y/n L/n’s Relationship, Because You’re Nosy

There are celebrity couples who make sense and then there are celebrity couples who click together so seamlessly, their love is basically an aesthetic. Jack and Y/n are proud members of the second group. They are both infinitely photogenic and seem to float through life like it’s all one photo shoot that they were absolutely prepared for.

Quick question: Do you remember where you were when Y/n L/n and your boyfriend Jack Harlow went Instagram official? their *little* (read: earth-shattering) relationship caused women everywhere to weep real tears. Life’s a beach, ain’t it? Since then, these two have been sharing teensy looks here and there at their equal parts enviable and adorable relationship.

(Rude of him not to be dating me, but okay.)

That said, there is a LOT of ground to cover in Y/n and Jack’s yearlong relationship, including how Mr.Harlow went down to one knee, so let’s get down into the details of the Hollywood coupling almost too good to be true. Almost.

August 13, 2021

Newly single Y/n basically ✨manifested✨ her beau after posting this, on Twitter:

L/n had just got out of a long term relationship with Australian heartthrob Liam Hemsworth, the two had been going strong since October 2019 (visit their timeline here if your feeling nostalgic) with rumors of a engagement on the horizon, sources close to the former couple claim: “Liam was very much ready for the next step, and he wanted that with Y/n, they are very likeminded, but Y/n didn’t see herself as a wife and mother at this stage of her life. She is also very close to her family and the idea of living permanently in Australia wasn't very attractive to her, she'd lived there with him during the pandemic, and she was terribly homesick.”

September 13, 2021

They met on the red carpet, minutes before posing for pictures “Tommy Hilfiger set us up” the actress joked, recalling the moment, “The flowers on my dress and in my hair were made from scraps of fabric from Jack's suit”. “I was a little anxious, trying not to let it show, and this one turns to me, cute smile and all, and says, just pretend I'm the most perfect thing you've ever seen and the pictures will be perfect, and in my head I’am: I don't think I need to pretend.” Jack comments nearly a year later when the couple is interviewed by Vogue.

There you have girls, those looks of pure adoration were legit. A source tells Us Weekly, “They were all over each other. Super smitten and gazing into each other’s eyes as they danced together their whole night.” Jack and Y/n left the Gala together (she had his suit over her shoulders). 

They reappeared together in Virgil Abloh's After-Party—and again left together—. L/n described the moment to Net-a-Porter magazine: “On the way back to the hotel we stopped at this hole in the wall pizza place, I was starving, we ate in the van because they were already closing, we played a game of 'forty questions', and in the end I just wanted to run away as fast as possible, because I was like: oh shit I've known this guy for a few hours and I'm in serious danger to falling in love' surprisingly Jack felt the same, and didn't run away, he basically picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, caveman style, so, you know, we can say that we have been together from the day that we met! Two weeks later he accompanied me to Ireland for a month.”

October 2021

They had been seeing each other for two weeks when Y/n had to jet off to Ireland to re-shoot scenes for her new project. Very romantically for someone who claims to have never been in love—and shockingly—Jack accompanied his Lady Love. Perhaps even more shocking is the fact that the couple at that moment had not even exchanged their first kiss. Yeah, they were taking things *slow*. “I’ve been jumping from relationship to relationship since I was eighteen, I wanted to make sure it wasn't just infatuation,” the Golden Globe-winning actress told longtime friend Hailey Bieber on an episode of 'Who's in my Bathroom.' “He was super patient and by the end of the second week I was pretty sure he was going to be my last first kiss, we kissed on our first night in Ireland, we were coming back from dinner at the local pub, we took the scenic route by the sea, it was very romantic.” Our hearts.

October 28, 2021

Just a few short weeks after that initial Met Gala meet-cute, Jack and Y/n went Instagram official on *both* of their accounts. It came just days after Harlow went solo for Doja Cat's 26th birthday party at Delilah’s, at the time it was widely reported that the Atlanta-based rapper was staying at the actress' home in Chatsworth, no explanation was given for L/n's absence, leading some outlets to report that the romance had come to an end. Y/n posted a couples picture that oozed Gen Z Fifty Shades of Grey vibes (in a good way).

Jack shared two pics—one of Y/n solo in bed, city lights in the back, and, a very sweet kiss pic, captioned ‘The best view’:

October 31, 2021

Vas J Morgan and Michael Braun Halloween Bash. It was the place to be on Halloween, and it was the first appearance of the couple after making the relationship IG official. Everyone who follows Y/n knows that Halloween is the actress's favorite time of year, and she takes it seriously, Y/n is one of our favorite celebrities to watch this time of year because she always comes up with the best costumes. And she didn't disappoint. Jack and Y/n appeared in a couples costume, Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, and they looked sexy.

November 16, 2021

Weren’t expecting Jack to be so open about his relationship with Y/n? Same, TBH! In a new interview with Complex, Jack said that being open about his relationship with Y/n isn’t exactly his style, he usually prefers to keep things more private, but he decided to switch up his usual tactics because he’s sooooo smitten with her. “She’s game-changer.” “I’m a private guy and I want to protect that, but it just felt like trying to hide it only make things worse, makes curiosity around us grow, especially when your dating someone like Y/n, she has one of the most recognizable faces in the world, it’s insane, she got that level of fame,” he said. “I feel more comfortable about the public nature of the business that we’re in nowadays than I did a year ago. So for me, it was a moment to, I guess, take ownership of that and then get back to work.”

November 25, 2021

Thanksgiving was a good time for the couple. From Y/n’s Instagram photo and video dump celebrating the day, the couple spent the holiday together and with his family ~Yes, girls! He took her home to Louisville to introduce her to his mamma!~ from the looks of it, Y/n also met all of his childhood friends, and was given a tour of the city. Your! Faves! Could! Never!

December 5, 2021

It was Jack's turn to meet his girl’s family. They spent the beginning of December in Vermont enjoying snow sports. Apparently Jack immediately bonded with everyone because the universe had fated this romance, clearly. The Kentucky rapper along well with Y/n's older brothers, if you can’t tell from the countless photos the three men shared on IG. He took her younger siblings snowboarding~our hearts~, and played Tea Party with her adorable nieces. The young couple was photographed by fans having lunch in town with Y/n's parents, and according to the photo's author, "They seemed very comfortable together, and Jack and Y/n's father seemed very friendly to each other. ”

December 25, 2021

The couple spent their first Christmas apart, and Y/n shared a photo of the couple with the caption “miss u❤️”

December 29, 2021

She didn't miss him for long however. On December 29th the couple was spotted in Miami, where Jack was performing at NBC special Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party (Yep, Miley, her ex-ex), before jetting off to Hawaii where Y/n presented us with a certain enviable level of photo dump. To be her.

January 8, 2022

Ireland was also the place for several important milestones for the couple. Like Jack bringing up the subject of children. Yep. That happened.

About the episode, Jack commented during a radio interview in early January, “I knew from the first smile she gave me that I wanted her to be the mother of my kids, I was like, Damn, I want my kids to have that smile.” The rapper revealed. “Fast forward, we're in Ireland, and I had no idea Ireland could be so romantic, I went to visit her on set, totally unprepared, Y/n is there, fully dressed in her character's clothes, and she has a baby in her arms, that made me feel something,” the Kentucky native continued, “there were other kids, because they were still testing various ages, but none were older than, I don't know, six, and they were all relatively similar to her. It made me want things.” “Did you guys have that talk?” The radio host asked. “Oh, Yeah.” Jack replied with a self-satisfied smile. “It was how we ended up with a dog. If Jacques is alive and healthy in a year we will have this conversation again, she says.”

Their dog is adorable by the way. And huge. But his parents are 6ft3 and 5ft7, so 🤷🏻‍♀️.

January 9, 2022

Y/n was nominated for a Golden Globes, we were ✨finger cross✨ hoping to see Jack Harlow as her arm candy on the red carpet, but we were holding back on our expectations since Y/n famously doesn't walk red carpet with her boyfriends (we've had our hopes crushed when she was dating Harry Styles and then later with Liam Hemsworth, the actress' two longest relationships to date), we were already resigned that we would see the New England beauty walking accompanied by one of her yummy looking brothers when they arrived, AND! WE! GASPED! First, he opened the door himself and helped her out. 

Second, he straightened the train of her dress BEFORE he offered her his arm and they walked down the red carpet like a couple out of a Hollywood Golden Age dream (with a futuristic twist), they were wearing Dior, which the actress was recently announced as a Global Ambassador, and they looked to die for.

And the glances? It's like their eyes scream 'I love you'.

February 8, 2022

Jack celebrated his Oscar Nominee girlfriend with a post and a sweet caption: ‘Just found out I have a Academy Awards Nominee girlfriend. Congrats my heart, you deserve all the validation for the fantastic work you've been doing over the last decade.’

February 14, 2022

2021 crowned Michael B Jordan the ultimate King of Valentines Day surprise, we ~and the rest of the world~ thought it would be hard to beat closing an aquarium for a romantic dinner.

Boy, were we wrong.

'Cause Jack Harlow managed to close the Griffith Observatory for Y/N's Valentine's Day Surprise and we're dying… of envy. God does has favorites, and little Miss L/n just happens to be one of them. 

According to an anonymous source, 'Jack turned the place into a blooming garden, Soul Food, Y/n's favorite pastry from a Vermont bakery, he went all out for their first valentine's day. She was really touched, no one has ever done something like this for her before, she felt bad that she only bought him a watch.' 

Unfortunately, Jack and Y/n haven't shared their Valentine's Day photos with their followers.  But when asked about the gift he received for Valentine's Day Jack replied: 'Y/n gave me a Rolex, the same type and year of manufacture as the one Paul Newman got from his wife, on the back she had it engraved: Come home, we miss you. And before rumors get wild, the 'we' in question is her and Jacques, our dog' the rapper clarified, when asked what he got his girlfriend he said: 'I bought her a necklace, she hasn't stopped wearing it, so I think she liked it.'

February 18, 2022

The couple managed to steal the spotlight from another rapper-actress couple during the NBA All Star Games weekend. Not a feat for many women, but Y/n managed to overshadow Megan Fox.

For starters, she was dressed cute and to die for in a vintage Versace look wore in ‘95 by Kate Moss ~a bit reminiscent of a cheerleader/schoolgirl outfit~, white New Balance sneakers, her hair pulled back in a ponytail with a 'Harlow' silk ribbon, and Team Nique Varsity Jacket with number 80 on the back.

Second, she cheered her man for every point he made like he had just own a Grammy ~goals~. Last but not least, Jack dedicated his 4 pointer to his lady, which was sweet. Team Nique lost, but you wouldn’t say that by the kiss the couple exchanged courtside.

March 13, 2022

On Jack's 24th birthday, Y/n posted several pictures of her boyfriend and the couple on her IG, including some messages exchanged between them that give us a glimpse into their relationship. And it's gold. The actress captioned it: 'Happy your day, old man. As part of the old L/n tradition, I'll expose you. But I love you❤️.'

The post was later followed by another photo of the couple, captioned with a love declaration by the actress ‘My Handsome Jack, I knew I like you when you made me feel nervous, and my heart would beat faster than the wings of a hummingbird every-time you looked at me with your gorgeous ocean blue eyes. I knew I loved you when I felt calmer with you than without you, and just your presence there was able to calm my anxiety attack. You made love songs make sense to me. You made home a person instead of a building for me. I love you Cowboy, my barbarian, my angel. Thank you for holding my hand and never letting me run away.’ and Jack replied in the comments with 'I love you babygirl'

Let's not forget they were in Turks and Caicos with Drake at the time.

Oh, and the Valentine's Day necklace finally made a visible appearance in pictures, it’s a diamond ‘J’on a white gold chain, how very Taylor Swift’s Call it What You Want of them.

March 27, 2022

The 94th Oscar Ceremony. Where to start with this ceremony?

For starters Jack and Y/n again rocked the red carpet in Dior. As a nominee for one of the main categories, Y/n went all out in a gold gown and, yes, she wore a star-studded tiara in her hair ~but she is just that level of gorgeous~. A couple in their early twenties has no right to look as cute and put together as these two *they even look like they smell good, if that's possible*.

Will Smith vs. Chris Rock happened.

Will Smith won an Oscar and received a standing ovation ~although Y/n neither clapped nor stood up, and the camera focuses on the exact moment she shakes her head at her boyfriend~.  

Y/n L/n then won the Oscar for Best Actress, and delivered THAT viral speech, 'Over the years I've watched my idols at these big fancy events, over the internet, and on the streets protesting countless causes, it made me proud to see these people who inspired me on the front lines of such noble causes, made me want to do more. Over the years we protested for the BLM, Violence Against Women, the Me Too Movement, we protested against violence, period. And tonight something happened, which under all California laws is misdemeanor crime, by the way, perpetrated by one of ours against one of ours, and in an act of absolute hypocrisy, you, who march against acts of violence, who protest against acts of violence, gave a standing ovation to the aggressor, you normalized aggression against an act of comedy […]Toxic masculinity in 2022 is not an excuse[…]So tonight, I applaud you, the Hollywood Elite, for your hypocrisy.’ The actress, who did not accept the Oscar upon going on stage, was about to leave, to the silence of the audience, when she returned, accepting the award from Anthony Hopkins hands, who quickly congratulate her. 'I was going to leave this here in protest, but I deserved it, and it may be the only one in my career after today.' The actress was finally applauded by audience members ~mostly the younger generation~.

The actress' attitude was congratulated by many industry members, despite having received criticism online and from other actors.

April 2, 2022

Their GQ Couples Quiz. It’s the most viewed Couple Quiz in the channel and is #couplegoals. This couple is *obsessed* with each other, as we’re obsessed with them. In the nearly twenty minutes video we learned that they are living together full-time now—at Y/n LA house, that once belonged to Frank Sinatra—but Jack claims that none of them are LA people. Their song is Fire on Fire by Sam Smith, 'but there's a lot of Taylor Swift on our relationship playlist' the actress admitted while her boyfriend hid his face behind the questions cards. They're a compatible couple according to their zodiac sign—he's a Pisces and she's a Taurus— 'We were meant to be, Sunshine' Jack jokes. 

'What would make me the happiest man alive?' Jack asks with a smirk. 'This one is easy, are you ready?' Y/n asks looking at the production behind the camera with a mischievous smile. ‘Okay. Hands down. Eight mini-me.’ Minute of silence ‘She’s right.’ The rapper agreed with a lazy smile.

Our favorite moment must be the ‘Describe me in one word.’ to which Jack responded with a smirk ‘Mine’ and like Y/n we just melted.

(You can watch the full video here)

April 3, 2022

The Grammys! Jack was nominated for two awards, and would perform alongside Lil Nas X. The couple arrived in all-Black Givenchy, and Y/n absolutely slayed in sheer lace. 

The couple also accidentally starred the cutest moment on the red carpet, when without realizing they were separated during photos and interviews, Y/n turned her head looking over her shoulder in search of your beau ~a move worthy of Sharon Stone and Angelina Jolie~, the microphone of the E! Channel captured the moment when the actress asked her assistant 'where is Jack?', and almost instantly, in five strides, the rapper is reunited with his girlfriend, their hands intertwining almost unconsciously, and he just looks at her with a smile and 'Hey babygirl' as if they haven't seen each other in days. *Again, to be her*

About the couple, Little Nas X, who is a close friend to both, commented 'They're one of those weird couples that even breathe in sync.'

Jack didn't take the Grammy home, but the couple had fun, and Y/n was dancing and singing along during her boyfriend's performance.

May 2, 2022

Jack may not have followed the assignment, but Y/n rocked the theme for both of them *and even made us imagine her in a wedding dress*.

May 6, 2022

Not only was it the Kentucky Derby and the couple attended together, it was also the release day of Jack's new album, Come Home The Kids Miss You. Y/n was the star of the 'First Class' video, an obvious choice when your girlfriend is a world-famous movie star, she's also going to appear in the 'Churchill Downs' music video with Drake by the looks of it.

In interviews prior to the album's release, Harlow commented that he was moving back to Louisville, initially it was unclear how the move would affect the couple's relationship, however in an interview during the Derby the Louisville native confirmed that Y/n and him were making the move together.

May 13, 2022

Am I the only one who finds it absolutely adorable that this couple is exactly two months apart in age? The actress celebrated the date being pampered by her boyfriend, surrounded by family and friends at the couple's new home in Louisville, Drake was present at the party. 

Jack shared a birthday tribute to Y/n, which he captioned, “Happy birthday my dreamgirl, the love of my existence 🤍 you have the most beautiful heart and soul I’ve ever known.”

June 2022

You might have thought that at this point in Jack and Y/n’s Hollywood love story, they were out of IG milestones, but on June 13, Y/n took it to the “publicly calling each other soul mates” level calling her handsome beau “the other half of her soul”.

And not to be out-gushed, Jack called his “soulmate,” which is basically a synonym.

Due to professional commitments, the couple spent some time apart in June, which Y/n briefly commented on in the 73 Questions with Vogue video. Y/n posted on IG with the caption: I miss you, please, bring your ass back home.

July 2022

Were we ready? No! Did we know it was going to happen? Yes! On July 13th (always 13th because 13 is a lucky number for the couple, they were both born on the 13th, Y/n ✨manifested✨ Jack on the 13th, they met on the 13th…) Jack got down on one knee in the couple’s home in Louisville. The first floor was transformed into a sunflower garden, there were candles, and the couple's playlist playing in the background.

“Today I asked my soulmate to marry me and she said yes, babe we’re using the buddy system for the rest of our lives, ” he wrote. “I promise to be the best husband and the best father for our future eight daughters 🤍 I love you babygirl.”

September 13, 2022

Jack celebrated his and Y/n’s one-year anniversary with a thirst-inducing, sexy picture (is that now the new traditional first anniversary pic)?

“365 days by your side, My Heart” he wrote. “I’m the luckiest man in the world to be able to call you mine. I cannot wait to grow old with you and start our team of mini-us. love you so much sweet girl🤍”

September 19, 2022

Jack appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and shared some previously unknown details about his proposal to Y/n.

Jack went all out to maximize the romance at the proposal, which he said took place at  their home and involved a a entire floor filled with Y/n’s favorite flower (sunflower) as well as candles, her favorite champagne, and pizza (from the same place they eat that first Met Gala night). While this scenario might scream MARRIAGE PROPOSAL to most people, Jack and Y/n are so romantic in private and gush about their feels so regularly that she didn’t actually realize what was going on at first, “I don't think she ever imagined herself living in Louisville, Kentucky, and I don't believe anyone imagines a woman like Y/n living in Kentucky, she's the pinnacle of glamour, someone you imagine living in LA or NY, so when we broached the subject of living in Louisville, she touched me when she said that as long as we were together anywhere was home, I promised I wouldn't let her regret that decision, so grand romantic gestures are common at home.”

“Man, you're making some of us look bad.” Kimmel joked. “I just like to make her happy, it's not that hard.”The First Class rapper said with a shrug.

But that was not the initial plan, as bad cold postponed the proposal. “I had planned a trip just the two of us, our families were going to join us, but she didn't know that part, I planned to propose to her on June 13, under the light of Aurora Australis, there was a Symphony Orchestra hired for the occasion, and Maria Grazia from Dior—thank you Maria, you absolute angel— sent the dress she was supposed to wear, I already had her father and grandfather's permission, her overprotective older brothers too, her mom gave her blessing, but then on the 10th Y/n had the worst cold, and I ended up canceling the trip.”

During the interview with Kimmel we had another huge revelation:

“But it all worked out in the end, you two are happy…” Kimmel commented. “Yeah, yeah, my wife and I are really happy...” Jack said with a smirk. “Your wife…?” Kimmel asked with a double take. “Oops.” It was the only thing the rapper said, covering his mouth, making the audience cheer with the confession. “When did this happen? Congratulations!” “We are legally married, on the 14th we took a flight to Vegas just the two of us and our parents.” 

They are planning a ceremony for after Jack's tour ends. Our bets are that the ceremony will take place in Kentucky or Vermont. The bride will probably wear Dior and the groom Givenchy.

September 20, 2022

The day after Jack's interview on Jimmy Kimmel's show, Y/n posted a photo of the couple in Vegas with the caption, “Since the cat is out of the bag… our first photo as Mr and Mrs Harlow, I love you husband. ”

[family-tree-of-ships]

So, I’ve been thinking.

Buck has some seriously bad taste in girlfriends over the course of these glorious 6 seasons, before he decides to see if the other side can bring some light in. I mean, all of the women he has seriously dated had some strong likable qualities to them and they all wanted what’s best for Buck (I’m trying at my own share of optimism here). I think, from all of them, Abby was his most successful one (before it obviously crashed and burned and shattered his big wonderful heart). It had something none of the other ones had. Acceptance and honesty. Abby accepted his job, listened when Buck was caught up into his head about the stresses of the job. Buck accepted her problems with her mother and helped her through while she was alive and for a good time after she passed. Buck was honest with her, as she was with him. They had been through their fair share of trials and tribulations. Up until she left for Europe, I honestly liked them together.

Once they’re officially over, all the other relationships he has either miss one or the other.

Ali couldn’t get over the dangers Buck was open to while on the job.

Taylor fully accepted his job, even was honest and genuine with him at some point. Buck didn’t reciprocate either. He couldn’t get over her intense ambition for every new story she could use to her benefit (to which she obtained by breaching his trust, both when they first met and when they were well into their relationship). He wasn’t open with her, again, in many circumstances. Even cheated on her with Lucy, for whom he didn’t have any sort of feelings other than attraction. When you get drunk, the truth comes out. There’s no devil, just a complete lack of self-restraint. If Buck truly loved her, which we know he didn’t, since her answer to her confession was literally “Good.”, getting drunk should’ve confirmed his affections, not completely contradict them. Buck, seems like an affectionate and happy drunk, since that’s who he is. If he loved Taylor, we should’ve gotten a sequence in which he calls her and starts spitting dramatic declarations or even comes home to her because when you love someone, they’re your home. Your instinct is to go them, not kiss the next person you see. Then, he lies, once he gets to his apartment, after this ‘mistake’. And asks her to move in. Because he got nervous. He couldn’t be honest with her. When they found out, they brushed it off quickly, never to be mentioned again. As if they wore both scared. They break it off, eventually, after a story that should’ve remained private made the headlines. It was an important breach in trust, but it shouldn’t have been enough for Buck, considering how loyal he is (just look at how much he waited for Abby). But it didn’t need to be too much, since there wasn’t anything too significant or tethering between them to begin with.

Natalia was fascinated by his death, which was an instant message that this wasn’t going to last in any way, shape or form. Buck is also dishonest with her, about Lucy and his history with her, again. We can understand this, it shines a bad light on him if he confesses he has cheated before, but didn’t he say she sees him? Shouldn’t that bring out at least some kind of easiness into ending up saying the truth? Apparently not.

We can see why the majority dislike Buck’s choices in the women he dates long-term. Ali and Natalia never get fleshed out. Abby and Taylor do and you, as a watcher, can even sympathize with them, but they both end up really hurting Buck. So, what can you do? Settle for what the show gives you? Fandoms don’t do that, especially when they aren’t satisfied.

Okay, so who reaches those two requirements and is constantly present in Buck’s life, who is properly fleshed out? You guessed it.

Drumrolls, please.

Eddie.

Do we even have to talk about acceptance? Come on.

Eddie has been here since season 2. Through a near death experience, then another one, then a lawsuit and then another one (there’s a lot, enough to fill a whole card-based game). Buck has also had to suffer through two of those near-death meetings with Death that Eddie has had. They’ve fully had each other’s backs within the first 48 hours of meeting one another. Honesty between them is natural and that is expressed in a lot of scenes. To list a few, we have Eddie having panic attacks when he thinks of committing to Ana. He goes and talks about it with Buck and Bobby and then breaks it off with her. Secondly, when Eddie finds about the fates of his army friends and destroys his bedroom through a fit of rage brought on by helplessness and fear. A very vulnerable state to be in (let’s be honest, how many damn people have seen Eddie cry his eyes out?). Buck goes in, listens to him, gives him advice and we later see them both patching up his wrecked bedroom walls. Thirdly, we have Buck going to his house to get some reprieve from the constant worry his friends have for him, knowing that he won’t be pushed here, but comfortably accompanied. He falls asleep immediately (let’s ignore couch theory before I go bonkers). That’s both of them expressing vulnerability and raw honesty. More than they’ve done with any lover, no matter how fleshed out.

There’s clearly an answer here. We’re going to wait until they find it.

[glorious-spoon]

Second-Guessing [9-1-1 | Buck/Eddie | 1/1]

Rating: Teen Wordcount: ~1000 Warnings: None Other Tags: Pre-relationship, Emotional hurt/comfort, Friendship, Episode tag - 6x13 Mixed Feelings

-

“Do you think I’m bad at sex?”

Eddie barks out a startled laugh at his ceiling, then straightens up. This is not, unfortunately, the weirdest way Buck has ever opened a phone call with him, but it’s definitely up there. “What?”

“That call the other day, you know, the lady with the vibrator—”

“Jesus Christ.”

“Eddie,” Buck whines. “This is important!”

“Is it, really?”

“Eighty percent. He said that the article said eighty percent of people report being unsatisfied. Do you know how many women I’ve slept with? Eighty percent of that is, like, a lot. Okay? And I was doing some research—on a first time hookup, did you know that only forty percent of women even have an orgasm at all? So if I do the math on that—”

“Buck.”

Buck lets out a deep sigh that crackles down the phone line. “I’m being an idiot about this, aren’t I?”

“Nah. Well, I mean, kinda. But it’s okay.”

“Is it, though? Like—” there’s a rustle on the other end of the line. It’s easy to imagine Buck right now, flopped out across his bed because the couch his parents bought him is a bona fide torture device. In his sweatpants, probably, his hair still damp from the shower. He lets out another sigh, then says, “You know, Bobby was saying—when I was with Taylor, Bobby said that the problem was that I never talk to my partners, that I don’t know how to communicate, and that’s why my relationships always turn into catastrophes.”

“I don’t think that’s quite what he was saying. And Taylor—”

“I know. You hate her guts.”

Eddie snorts. “I was gonna say that it’s different, in a long term relationship.”

“Right, but. I haven’t historically had a lot of success with those.”

“Relationships don’t work out sometimes. A lot of the time.”

There’s silence for a moment. It’s not just Taylor hanging over the conversation now; Ana is there too. And Shannon.

Sex with Ana was always stilted, awkward in a way that he told himself at the time was just the newness of it all. Just a new person, a new body to learn, just Eddie being rusty when it came to literally any form of physical intimacy. He and Shannon were each other's firsts, so of course neither of them knew what they were doing to start with, and what they learned they learned together. By the end of it, sex was the only part of their relationship that actually worked. Beyond that—

He doesn’t really have a lot of perspective to offer Buck, is the thing. Even setting aside the fact that he’s not sure he can give an objective analysis of the sexual history of the guy he’s in love with.

So there’s that.

“It’s just…” Buck sounds quieter now, almost miserable, and it tugs at Eddie's heartstrings despite the absurdity of this whole conversation. “That was like. The one thing I knew I was good at. You know? Everything else, sure, my life was a mess, I made a lot of dumb choices and messed up a lot of relationships and got myself fired, and—but at least I knew how to, you know, make somebody feel good. Except maybe I didn’t after all. And if I wasn’t even any good at that, then—”

“Buck,” Eddie interrupts again. Gently, this time. He firmly squashes the unhelpful little voice in the back of his head that wants to ask for a hands-on demonstration. Buck sounds freaked out enough that he might actually take Eddie up on it, and Eddie is… really not ready to cope with that possibility. “You’re spiraling.”

Another silence. Then: “I called them. Some of them.”

Good grief. “Your hookups?”

“Yeah—is that a disrespectful way to talk about them? I mean—anyway, yeah. The ones I still have phone numbers for, I called them. Most of them didn’t want to talk to me.”

“Shocking,” Eddie deadpans.

Buck laughs, which is what he was going for. “Shut up.”

“So? What was the verdict?”

He regrets asking the moment the words are out of his mouth, but he doesn't take it back.

“Uh,” Buck says, still laughing a little. “Of the ones I actually got a hold of? Yes, yes, probably, no, who the hell are you, I thought I blocked your number, yes, no, I don't remember, yes.”

“More yeses than nos,” Eddie offers.

“Unless they were lying to make me feel better,” Buck counters triumphantly.

“Buck. If someone called you up out of the blue after years of radio silence to ask if you had an orgasm when you slept together, would you lie about it to spare their feelings?”

Buck is quiet for a minute. “Yeah, okay, that was kind of an insane thing to do, huh.”

“A little. Yeah.”

He can hear the fondness in his own voice and is helpless to mute it. Though he's honestly not really trying that hard. Buck deserves to know that he's loved, even when he's being ridiculous. Maybe especially then.

“I just worry. You know, that all the shit I thought I knew about myself—that maybe it’s not really true after all. And if that’s the case then who the hell am I, anyway?”

“Feels like this maybe isn’t actually about whether or not you’re good in bed,” Eddie offers, and bites his teeth on anything else he could say about that. About finding out that maybe the person you thought you were was just a carefully painted mask over the messy, tender reality underneath. He could offer Buck some truth of his own, but he doesn’t. It doesn’t feel like the right time for it.

That, or he’s a coward. He’s working on it, though.

“Maybe not. I guess. Eddie, I…” Buck trails off.

“What?” Eddie asks, when a few moments of silence have passed.

“Nothing,” Buck says. He laughs quietly; Eddie can conjure up the shape of his smile and the crinkles at the corners of his eyes as easily as breathing. “Just. Thanks for taking my call.”

“Of course. Always.”

For a little while, they just breathe together across the miles between them as night falls gently over Los Angeles. Then Buck says softly, “Come over tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” Eddie says back, just as soft. There’s nothing new about the invitation, but it feels new, somehow, anyway. Either way, the answer is the same as it’s always been. “Yeah, okay.”

[whatisthatmae]

Neteyam x Vitiligo Metkayina! Reader

Part 3 (last part)

I’m going to try and not make this too long 👌🏾

Pronouns : she/her

Y/n’s pov

You cant be serious. How could he just confessed to me so openly like that? I look at him in shock before I look away. This was new to me, this whole experience was. I was lost for words. So much that my mouth was completely dry from having it open for too long. I could tell his expression was awaiting on me to answer, so I did. “You..like me?” I paused for a moment before I continued. “I could say I’m very..glad,to hear that from you. As I do like you too but I have just one question. Why? The other boys from my clan don’t see me in the way that you do. So why do you like me this much?” I asked desperately, I hope he’s not just playing with my feelings right now.

Neteyam’s pov

Did she really just ask me that? What I liked about her? I look at her kind of offended. “Are you saying my taste in women is bad? I think your a very pretty girl ____, but that’s not just the only reason why I like you.” I said hoping she doesn’t cut me off as I continue.

“You have this sort of..mysterious thing about you that has me wondering. Wanting to know more things about you. I love the way you smile at me even if it’s not a big one,it still counts. We relate to so many different topics, I love the time that we spend together ____. Every moment I try to spend it with you during that day. That’s why I like you.” I say all of this very confidently. I’ve never shared my feelings this openly to anyone about this sort of topic. It’s new. It’s special at the same time too. “ I hope that you can accept my confession to you ____” I hope she does, back at my original home I never had the time to..have a crush you could say. Now I have a little more time on my hands to do so.

Y/n’s pov

“Neteyam. Do you mean all of this?” If so, please tell me now.” It almost sounds like I was begging at this point. I needed to know the truth before I say my true answer to him. He nods at me, I look in his eyes to see if she’s telling the truth. Being the Tsahik in training had its perks. I read him spiritually, to see if he was lying to me. But I saw now lies, therefore he was telling the truth. I sighed and told him my answer.

“Neteyam. I like you too. I realized it a few days ago, but I really do. I do accept your confession.” I say with almost tears in my eyes. I can’t believe this was happening. He ran up to me and hugged me while lifting me on the air. He started laughing and so did I. For a moment he stopped and I looked down at him to see him already looking at me. I looked deep into his eyes and leaned down..that is how we had our first kiss.

—————————————————————

It’s been at least 3 days since that whole confession happened and me and Neteyam are taking it slow. You could say we are a couple,I don’t really count things as dating unless two Na’vi bond. But we’re too young for that at the moment. Neteyam has been thinking about telling our parents about our relationship. I’ve been against it every time he brought it up.

I’ve only been against it because I don’t know how my mother will react. I’m not too worried about my father, he’s always been an open man. Hopefully he can accept us too,even though me and him don’t get on good terms he’s still my father either way.

I sighed as Neteyam asked for what it feels like the 10th time today. I stop in my tracks and groaned annoyingly. “ Ugh! Fine, we can tell them. As long as you stop annoying me.” I said glaring back at him while he looks as happy as day.

——————————————————-

We told his parents first. They are a lot more open to new things, rather than mine. I would say the most shocked one had to be Jake, his father. Neteyam has mentioned that a while ago he had told his mother that he liked me,so it wasn’t a surprise to her. None the less, they were happy for the both of us that we were finally together.

Now on to the hard part..my parents. They had been in the Marui for a while now. I sighed as I couldn’t be any more nervous. Neteyam saw this and said “ Hey, it’s going to be okay. If anything happens I’ll be right by your side.” He says as I nod and headed my way in.

“Mom, dad, I have something I would like to tell you.” I said trying to be as confident as I could. “Me and Neteyam are together, as a couple.” I said with a stern face trying to his my nervousness if it ever came through. They look at each other amused before laughing.

Me and Neteyam look at each in question when I ask “What? Why are you laughing?” They stopped laughing and said “Daughter, me and you father already knew. Your nosy brother told us that same night. He was eavesdropping.” My mother said as she rolled her eyes at the thought of my brother. “Even though you don’t need our approval, we accept you and your relationship with the boy.” My father said witha proud look on his face. I looked relieved and thanked them for their consent as Neteyam & I walked out of the Marui.

We looked at each other with a knowing look. Knowing that this relationship with definitely go far. Very far.

THE END!!

[beanlot]

your writing is incredible, i would like to eat it with a spoon <3<3

if your requests are still open and this would be something you’re comfortable writing, i saw your other fics about how Ellie and Sevika would act in an argument, and i would love to see what Abby might be like in an argument w/ the reader as well.

thank you so much, i can’t wait to see what else you write!

emotionally disciplined enough.

i’m talking just enough, because there’s some moments where abby loses her shit and there’s some moments where she can manipulate the overload of emotion.. just enough. firstly, abby doesn’t avoid confrontation - she isn’t one to disregard the erosion in the very sentimental soils of your relationship. she’s composed enough to address it immediately for instant relief on both sides; she’ll want to sit down with you, and it’ll be serene communication. she’ll ask you what’s going on lately, and generally strikes me as someone who takes accountability for everything, that she’s sorry for making you feel that way - and most of the time, it’s just like that.

however, there is a potential for hostility when it’s not most of the time. and not to blame you or anything, but the only way i see abby initiating aggression is when you hit that sensitive nerve, the one that gets her trying to blink away wrathful irises and intimidating tilts of the head. now i’m not saying she’s abusive, but there is no way all that hot hunk of muscle won’t be put to use - she likes to remind you through the brawn that she can decimate you with a hand tied behind her back by intruding your personal space, eyes that mince you to cadavers, making sure you know who the ascendant person is.

what did you just say?

no, go on, say it again.

abby’s actually the first person i think would get physical with you in arguments - not golf club kinda physical, i’m talking like.. confining your jaw in her fingers and forcing you to look at her kinda physical; skin to skin against the wall and (depending if you’re shorter) pillaring over you kinda physical, not being able to move your wrists under the paralysis of her hands pinching them together kinda physical. she knows her biggest element is her physicality, and she’d rather dominate you via her size compared to shredding you apart verbally - on other days, you were equal. but when you get her riled up, you were nothing but inferior, feeble glass on her fingertips waiting to be shattered.

i’ve noticed that when abby does get pissy, she opts for venting that irritability on inanimate objects. so expect a little punch to a door here and there, perhaps a little glass shatter y’know.

let’s talk about hate sex.

i mean.. you saw it. abby likes getting just a little lewd, converting all that ire temper and susceptibility into perhaps, sexual frustration when there’s resentment between you. this would really depend on the severity of the argument and conversations you’d had beforehand on the kinks you’d fantasised about - she’s likely to invite herself to your body, and this wouldn’t only be just another reminder of how much authority she has over you, but this would be your apology to her. of course, she’ll only go as far as to what you’re comfortable with - but that also doesn’t mean she’s gonna go so vanilla on you either.

oh, you like this?

look at where running your mouth gets you.

overstimulation is on the cards if it means she gets you screaming that you’re sorry, and i just like the image of abby slewing a strap into you at full velocity over the kitchen counter, and if you have long hair - that’s a bonus, because she’s gonna have a handful of it.

but in terms of abby’s loyalty, there’s a slight predicament. as much as i’d like to put all my scrubbed-up faith that she’d stay devoted in these extreme episodes, i could also see her potentially using other women as an outlet for her aggravation - i’m not saying it’s guaranteed, it would be a complete rarity for abby to go out of her way and rub the salt in the wound to have her head between another woman’s thighs. i mean, abby literally slept with a guy who has a pregnant girlfriend - what’s gonna stop her from sleeping with someone else if an argument between you is a lethal threat enough to end the relationship? probably not much.

but then again, that’s probably because she couldn’t give a rats ass about mel and was just in the moment. you on the other hand, it’s chess. it’s moving the pawns logically, considering the consequences.

she’s hard to read.

[writing-for-life]

“M/M Ships Smash The Patriarchy”—But Do They?

Little disclaimer first: I don’t have a problem with m/m fics or art, quite the opposite. I’m a bisexual woman, I can find the idea of m/f, f/f and m/m interesting and yes, sexually arousing (each for different reasons though). And I’m saying this so explicitly because the idea that women need to engage in mental gymnastics to justify m/m ships is relevant to this post.

So please don’t take this personally if you like m/m, especially not if what I write very obviously doesn’t apply to you. This also has nothing to do with shipping m/m as a queer person, because the context invariably changes in most cases. This post is exclusively about the “justification” of m/m ships as something that “smashes the patriarchy”.

With that out of the road:

I’ve seen so many posts stating that m/m ships are removing “the whiff of patriarchy from fandom”. That the same dynamics would be problematic in a m/f or f/f ship, but they’re less “harmful” in a m/m ship.

And yes, of course women have been bearing the brunt of these objectifying dynamics since the beginning of time, totally true. But here’s the thing:

a) Problematic dynamics are okay to explore (not necessarily to condone, they are two different things) in fanfiction; it’s happened for as long as fanfiction (no, fiction) exists. We could go off on a whole tangent about what’s “problematic” (or not) in fiction now, and I’m not overly keen on that term, but it’d lead too far because we’d need to talk about a lot of stuff that’s not really the topic of this post.

b) Problematic dynamics don’t magically change because you apply them to a m/m ship, especially if you’re a (straight) woman heavily projecting onto characters. If there’s an age gap, it stays an age gap. If there are power imbalances, they stay power imbalances. If there’s violence/objectification/whatever else going on IT STAYS THAT. The mental leap from, “Men in m/f relationships are often, either consciously or subconsciously through what society condones, the perpetrator in that particular dynamic,” to “that’s why it’s not a problem in m/m relationships,” honesty baffles me.

So my question is:

If you want to remove the “problematic whiff of patriarchy from fandom”, but you are ONLY and EXCLUSIVELY centering two MEN in your fics, art and what you consume, are you really doing that? Where are the protagonist WOMEN that are written or portrayed in a way that isn’t patriarchal?

Too much of a stretch?

Why bring in “the patriarchy” (or whatever other justification) instead of just saying you like the idea of two men getting it on, and that you project on at least one, if not both of them? And I know many women are honest about this, so this is obviously not aimed at them.

And I’m not writing this in a vacuum—there are endless posts about exactly this, and quite frankly:

It is actually patriarchal and misogynistic to deny women the right to just feel horny when they read about/look at two guys fucking. Without justifying it in any way, or making it about something that feels performative (“We like the m/m ship because we’re queer-positive feminists”. Please…). That, right there, is internalised misogyny:

Women don’t need to morally justify their horniness. They don’t need to justify whatever they’re into and turn it into a performative event. They’re just allowed to like it as is. The end.

Why not just like what we like while still critically engaging with the question whether some of what we read and create is potentially fetishising gay/queer men instead of calling it “feminist and queer-positive”?

Because let’s face it: Straight women who ship m/m don’t like gay men because they’re gay. They like them because they project a straight woman on a gay persona that has nothing to do with actually being gay (just like most lesbian porn never had anything to do with being created for lesbians, or f/f relationships in books written by men were always serving the male gaze, but it’s easier to holler about that, right?):

At least one of them is the guy you fancy (sometimes both of them are), and sometimes one of them is (at least partly) you. It has always worked like that and always will.

But back to the main topic of “smashing the patriarchy”: We are talking about fanfiction and fanart here. YOU create it. It’s not the adult entertainment industry making billions that throws it at you. You are the CREATORS and CONSUMERS. You get to CHOOSE. And yes, that choice can absolutely be a m/m ship if that’s what you want. Again, there’s no problem with that.

But if your main argument is that you want content without the stench of patriarchy, how about actually centering women in it, at least from time to time?

[aroaceconfessions]

sorry this is really long…

not sure if i’m oriented aroace or just aroace. i’ve been comfortable with the lesbian label for a while and i’m coming to terms with being on the aro and ace spectrums but sometimes i wish i was unlabelled bc it seems like such a hassle idk. i know i feel different around women/non-men and i’m attracted to them. i’ve tried to be in romantic (online) relationships but it felt off even though it both ended amicably. it was weird bc i love fantasising about romance but the reality didn’t live up to it.

i’ve had comphet crushes but i’ve not had many crushes on women bc i can’t easily develop them like everyone else and when i do, it feels different to a crush that everyone describe - more like a warmth than butterflies. even when i was younger, i never was concerned about marriage or romance in a conventional way. i just wanted to spend time with a girl but in a different way than a romantic relationship but also not in a friend way? if that even makes sense.

honestly, i would prefer to be in a comfortable domestic qpr with a woman/non-man instead preferably with someone on the aro/ace spectrum but does that still make me an aroace lesbian? i feel like im not lesbian enough so i’m wary about calling myself a lesbian or even an aroace lesbian.

do any other aroace lesbians or even oriented aroaces feel like this or is it just me?

Submitted June 12, 2023